God said to Jeremiah, I have given you a job. Your job is
to go open your mouth, speak, tell your story to others. And as you do I am
going to pull up, tear down, take apart and demolish strongholds in people’s
lives and then I am going to start over building and planting.
In Hebrew 12:1 believers who told their stories where
described as “a cloud of witnesses.” Chapter 11 describes some of them by name,
Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Gideon, Samuel, David. What must be
recognized is the cloud is not limited to just them, It is comprised of
overcoming saints of all ages.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)
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.
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.
Paul
is saying, Hebrews
12:1-2 (MSG) 1 Don’t
you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these
veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start
running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat.
2 Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.
2 Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.
I used
to think the “witnesses” in the cloud were looking down on us from the
balconies of heaven and saying, “We’re watching you.” But now I realize they’re
not witnesses to our lives, they’re witnesses to the grace of Christ Jesus.
They
were living witnesses to the goodness and faithfulness of Jesus. The story of
their lives testified, “He is a good God!) He is a merciful God, He is an
upright God. I went through the fire, - through rain, the flood and a storm. - I
couldn’t see my way - and at times I feared for my sanity, - But I clung to
God’s unchanging hand - I held on to His righteousness, and He brought me
through. - He led me to victory over my enemy, - and He completed the good work
He had started in my life, His grace was more than enough.
Can’t
you see how that when we are obedient in publishing our story, It is like
running to a phone booth changing into a super hero outfit and then God anoints
us with Holy kryptonite, the power of the Holy Spirit and empowers us to tell
it and empowers our stories to penetrate the hurtful past of others and brings
salvation and restoration.
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