Iron Faith: The Coach(es), the Community, and the Call of Endurance

KEY BIBLE VERSES

• Hebrews 3:7 - Hebrews 4:12

KEY QUOTES

"The [good soil] faith that goes the distance covenants with a body going towards God's final destination."

"These three elements, submitting to the right leaders, submerging yourself in the right

community, and sabbathing in the right direction are a good sign that you have the faith that goes the distance—because you'll be tethered to a body going towards God's final destination."

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DIGGING DEEPER

Through God's mercy, grace, and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can fix our thoughts looking to Jesus as we put Him first in our lives.

As we move toward God's final destination, Jesus will give us direction and coach us as we go the distance and persevere in the Christian life. In his sermon, The Rule of the Race, Charles Spurgeon discussed looking to Jesus above all else. Spurgeon said, "The Greek word for 'looking' is a much fuller word than we can find in the English language. It has a preposition in it which turns the look away from everything else. You are to look from all beside to Jesus. Fix not thy gaze upon the cloud of witnesses; they will hinder thee if they take away thine eye from Jesus. Look not on the weights and the besetting sin-these thou hast laid aside; look away from them. Do not even look upon the race-course, or the competitors, but look to Jesus and so start in the race. What hast thou to trust to but his blood and righteousness? Beware that thou set up nothing as a rival confidence. Look off from everything thou hast ever relied upon in days gone by, and say to thy soul, "None but Jesus." Thou must have a single eye and a single hope. "Christ is all," and he must be all to thee, or thou art out of the race altogether."

We aim to live lives of obedience and reverence for our mighty God, believing in Him and not hardening our hearts. As we encourage one another, we are to be in community, we are to endure and we are to be faithful to our calling. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can avoid sin and live lives dedicated to serving God and others, living in good, fertile soil, and producing a life pleasing to God. 

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WHAT NOT TO MISS

The author of Hebrews ties an enduring and persevering faith to the involvement and engagement in the church.

The good soil faith that goes the distance covenants with a body going towards God's final destination.

Our behaviors don’t save us but can reflect the truth and reality that we are saved.

Three behaviors characterize people with an enduring faith that goes the distance.  

1) People that possess the faith that goes the distance submit to the right leader(s). (Shepherds, Pastors, Elders, Deacons)

• First, we submit to the ultimate leader, the ultimate shepherd, Jesus.
• Second, we submit to past leaders and saints the Bible points out as faithful. (Moses, David, and the Hall of Faith, including Abel, Noah, Abraham and Rahab)
• Third, we submit to present leaders who live, lead and love God's people in a manner that pleases and points to Christ. (Shepherds, Pastors, Elders, Deacons)

      -These leaders live lives worthy of the calling of the gospel. (Model)

      -These leaders lead people by ministering, disciplining, teaching, proclaiming, exhorting, and preaching Christ.

        -These leaders love people through care, discipline, and protection. 

         -Submitting to the authority of these leaders includes honoring and respecting them, trusting them and listening to them.

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2) People that possess the faith that goes the distance submerge themselves in the right community. (Church, Group)

• Who is the right community/church?   

-A group of people who have professed and who pursue Christ as Savior and King.

• What does the right community/church do?  
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  -Fix their eyes on Jesus. (Hebrews 3:1; 12:1)
  -Hold firmly to their conviction on who Jesus is. (Hebrews 3:6; 14)
  -Pay attention to what they have heard and believed so they don't drift away. (Hebrews 2:1)
  -Careful not to be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. (Hebrews 3:13)
  -Don't belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. (Hebrews 10:39)

• How does the right community/church do what they are called to do?
  
  -Submit to the right leaders.
  -Watch out for one another.
  -Encourage one another daily in the pursuit of Christ.
  -Spur one another on to love and good deeds.
  -Continue to meet together in public/corporate gatherings of the saints.

After the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, the journey should have taken a few weeks, but instead, it took 40 years of wilderness wandering. 

Why?

-The Israelites rebelled against God.

-The Israelites grumbled against God and His leaders.

-The Isrealites hardened their hearts.

-The Israelites chose not to believe.

What was the turning point? What went wrong?

-Those sent to explore the land spread a bad, unbelieving report about the land they explored.

-Leaders who drifted away and were unbelieving led the whole community to drift away and become unbelieving.  

-The Israelites, who were dumb, directionless, defenseless and dependent sheep, followed the wrong shepherds and it not only cost them their life, but their souls.

Why do people leave the church?

-If what's most important to you isn't most important to the church you are a part of, you'll eventually cut yourself off from that church. 

3) People that possess the faith that goes the distance sabbath in the right direction. (Call, Promises, Future, Goal)

–How do we know we are Sabbathing in the right direction?

• I have given Jesus my life. Jesus is the rest. (Matthew 11:28)
• I am pursuing the life Jesus purchased for me, resting in Jesus. (Philippians 3:12,14)
• We are looking forward to the place Jesus is preparing for us, the New City. (John 14:1-3)
• We are resting in the promise, power and provision of His word. 

The good soil faith that goes the distance covenants with a body going toward God's final destination.

Life Application

Hebrews 3:13 tells us to "encourage one another daily." Think about someone you would like to be your encourager, coach or mentor to help you go the distance in your spiritual journey. Pray about approaching that person to walk alongside you as you strive to endure and finish well the race God has set before you. If you don't have anyone in mind to be your mentor or coach, look at the various LIFE² Groups starting this fall and pick one to join. These LIFE² groups will help you get to know other believers so that you can encourage one another as you move forward in God's direction!

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Small Group Discussion Questions

• What is a goal that you are pursuing?
• What do Hebrews 3:7 through Hebrews 4:12 tell us we are to seek?
• What are the consequences of hardening our hearts, rebelling against God and falling into unbelief?
• How do we find encouragement and rest as we go the distance in our faith?
• How can we change our focus and perspective to prioritize and focus on things God wants us to do?

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Daily Devotional Bible Passages

• Day 1-Believe-Acts 16:31; Hebrews 11:6; John 3:18
• Day 2-Do Not Harden Your Hearts-Proverbs 28:14; Matthew 13:15; Ezekiel 36:26
• Day 3- Encourage One Another-Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Isaiah 40:31
• Day 4- Nothing is Hidden from God-Jeremiah 23:24; Proverbs 15:3; Psalm 139:1-6
• Day 5-Jesus is the Good Shepherd-John 10:11; Psalm 23:1; Revelation 7:17

Prayer

Lord, help me fix my thoughts on You, putting You first in everything. I want to be faithful and have a heart open to hearing, seeing and learning from You. As I read the Bible, let me rest in it as it encourages me, comforts me and provides direction for victorious living that will go the distance and let me arrive at Your final destination. As a part of Your church, give me opportunities this week to be encouraged and to encourage others so that God will be glorified and others may come to know King Jesus.

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Additional Resources

• -Join a LIFE² Group
• Fall LIFE² Groups
• All LIFE² Groups
• -Sign up for the Northland Newsletter.