Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. Many aspects of Faith

a) Beginning of Faith

b) Building of Faith

c) Boldness of Faith

2. These are Challenges

a) Challenge to the Individual

b) Challenge to the Church

c) Challenge to our IPC Family of Churches

A GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES

1 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 12:1-2

1. These witnesses of Faith.  (Hebrews 11)

a) They form a great cloud of witnesses

b) They show us that it is possible to have a significant Faith

2. They were cited

a) For our Instruction

b) For our Inspiration

THE THINGS THAT HINDER US

1. The things that weigh us down

a) Worries

b) Wealth

c) Weakness of Faith   (Matthew 5-7)

2. The sin that ensnares us

a) Different for each individual

b) Detect that sin

c) Deal with that sin

HOW MAY WE DEAL WITH THESE PROBLEMS?

1. Endurance

a) See life as a marathon race

b) A key word to bear in mind is “Endurance”

2. Looking up to the Lord Jesus I

a) As the Author of our Faith

i) He writes our story line

ii) What has He written?

b) How does the Lord write our story

2 “You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men;

3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.”

2 Corinthians 3:2-3

i) He uses His servants to write His story

ii) Believers are Epistles of the Lord

iii) The Writer is the Holy Spirit

iv) He writes on tablets of flesh, the heart

3. Looking up to the Lord Jesus II

a) He is the Finisher of our Faith

b) He teaches us by His example

i) He had Joy

ii) He endured the cross

iii) He despised the shame

c) He completed His task successfully

d) He sits at the right hand of the throne of God!

AN EXAMPLE OF ONE WHO SUCCEEDED

24 “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.

27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

1. The example of the Apostle Paul

2. His example is deeply uplifting:

a) He seeks to win his race and an imperishable crown

b) He sees himself as a competitor

c) He is temperate in all things

d) He runs with certainty

e) He disciplines his body

f) He subjects his body to do what it must

g) He does not want to end up “disqualified”

CONCLUSION

1. We have a great Faith

2. We have a glorious Saviour

3. Let us seek to glorify the Lord Jesus in our life

4. Let us look up to the Lord as the Author and Finisher of our Faith