08/16/26: Worship Guide: Fix Your Eyes On Jesus

1. The Father's House

2. Battle Belongs

3. Graves Into Gardens

MESSAGE: FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS - HEBREWS 12:1-29

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."   Hebrews 12:1–2 (ESV)

"For the Lord disciplines the one he loves... It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons... For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:6–7, 11 (ESV)

"Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord."   Hebrews 12:12–14 (ESV)

15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.    Hebrews 12:15-17 (ESV)

"For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest... But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering... and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."  Hebrews 12:18, 22–24 (ESV)

"Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28–29 (ESV)

1. What weight or sin do I need to lay aside today?

2.Where have my eyes drifted away from Jesus lately – comparison, worry, need to control, self-effort?

MOVING FORWARD THIS WEEK

Read: Hebrews 11:39, 12, 2:3-3, 12:12-14, 12:28-29, & Revelation 22:13, 16:17

Faith Exercise:

We just walked through the “hall of famers” of faith, Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, and others. Hebrews 12 asks the next question: How do we…live by faith? Today? In our world? The author gives us an endurance race, not simply just an all-out sprint. Our life ebbs and flows as we progress through the various stages …energy, suffering, waiting, joy, and growth. A sprint mentality would burn us out. So, therefore, it is crucial to keep our eyes on Jesus. Faith is endurance. And we run this race with others, not alone. Today’s faith exercise asks you: How is your race going? Please consider the following: 

1. Are my eyes on Jesus? 
2. Am I paying attention to other people’s races and comparing them to my own?
3. What weight do I need to lay aside so that I may be successful?

Pray:

“Dear Jesus, please come alongside me in this life of faith and grow my faith. Help me to run this race well through all stages and help others along the way. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”

Live:

This race does not stay the same when run well, nor will you. It will mold you, so that at the midpoint, you are different from the start. From the finish, you are different than you were from the midpoint. Remember, this is not a sprint, but an endurance race. Look after yourself and others on this journey. Bring as many with you as you can. When the race is hard, stay the course. God has not abandoned you. You are no longer racing away from judgement, but towards freedom, my friends. Jesus is not just the start line, nor the finish of your race, but every marker in between.