Fix Your Mindset To the Future by Brother Duke Hansen

         This morning, we will be going to the book of Hebrews. We will turn to the 12th chapter and start reading at verse 1. We will stay reading in Hebrews for this sermon with maybe a couple of brief reads elsewhere. 

        Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

        3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

        Chapter 12 of Hebrews is an exhortation of faith, coming behind the previous chapter which had been a showcase of individuals who were of strong faith. Today, you have to let the growth of faith and godliness to occur. Fix your mindset to the future.

        The great cloud of witnesses in verse 1 is a reference to Hebrews 11. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Anger, words, circumstances, emotions, complaints, pleas, these do not move God. Faith always moves God. Examples for you to look at seeing faith in action. Look at Luke chapter 8, Mark chapter 5 for those examples.

        When you really consider Jesus enduring such a contradiction of sinners against himself, it would wear and weaken my mind and yours the longer we dwelled on that, thinking of how it must have been. Some dwell on that so much, they walk right off the path back into the filth they left. God's not asking you to solve a riddle or write an essay to show your faith! He wants you to just believe! Quit trying to break down and comprehend the author and finisher of our faith. Fix your mindset to the future.

        12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

        13 And make straight paths your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

        14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

        Let us look at verse 13 again. Make straight paths for your feet, Stop the half hearted commitment to your walk. Get in the middle of the road and walk. There will be turns, dips, peaks, valleys, but fix your mindset and walk in the middle. Unless your feet cause you to fall, let it rather be healed. Follow in peace with men and in holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. It is not enough to do just the basic steps in just getting onto the path. It is those steps and it's walking in the middle of that path upright before the Lord.

        18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

        19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice that they heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more;

        Verse 18 is reference about the Israelites at Mount Sinai after they had come out of Egypt. If you go to Exodus chapter 19, and read verses 10-25 yourself you will see how God had come down to see Israel after the people had cleaned and sanctified themselves. God wanted the people to come up the mountain towards instant death, yet Moses advocated the people to God. It is an illustration of our perceived righteousness is a failing to God. Look up Isaiah chapter 64 verse 6.

        You are going to be raised as a child, corrected as one, and chastised by God from time to time as well as from your brothers and sisters in Christ. There's no bargaining or work arounds in the scripture that keep you away from this and still be his. To build upon your faith, go and read the different miracles in the gospels as well as in the book of Acts. Line up with the word of God. Make straight your path today. Fix your mindset to the future.