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God has been talking to me a long time. I can go back. Dr. Pirtle spoke the word of God that led me to Jesus. Jay Fesperman led me into a disciplined life in God. Bob Mumford challenged me to submit to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Derek Prince helped me see how fully I am redeemed. Jack Graham shows the way to the goodness of fellowship. Sally Fesperman on how intercession is the way to Gods absolute perfection. On and on it goes. His word right out of the mouths of those I know.

It is a lengthy line of men and women who have addressed me in diverse ways. And it started way before me. Thousands of years going back to the beginning, the word has come to me through those who went before me. And there were those who proceeded Jesus. In the scheme of things, which wasn’t that long ago. Jesus’ word holds true today coming to me directly.

It was through Jesus (and the word He spoke) that God created everything that we know as the world and the universe. God created it and it will all be His in the end. It will all belong to Jesus for sure. Jesus perfectly mirrors God.

  • Everything God is stamped into who Jesus is now.
  • Because God spoke it to begin with.
  • God is now holding it all together today by the same word He spoke so long ago.
  • He has such powerful words.
  • Oh, my goodness, God’s word blasts forward to make it all happen.

Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. [1]

Hebrews 12:1-2

The “great … cloud [assembly, mass] of witnesses” was introduced to us in Hebrews 11. They are the heroes of the faith. It is not suggested here that these men and women now in heaven are watching us as we run the race, like people seated in a stadium. The word “witnesses” does not mean “spectators.” Our English word “martyr” comes directly from the Greek word translated “witness.” These people are not witnessing what we are doing; rather, they are bearing witness to us that God can see us through. God bore witness to them and they are bearing witness now to us.

“I rarely read the Old Testament, except for Psalms and Proverbs,” a believer once told a pastor.

“Then you are missing a great deal of spiritual help,” the pastor replied. He asked him to open to Romans 15:4 and read the verse aloud.

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

  • He then explained that “patience” means “endurance,” and that “comfort” means “encouragement.”
  • One of the best ways to develop endurance and encouragement is to get to know the godly men and women of the Old Testament who ran the race and won.
  • If you are having problems with your family, read about Joseph.
  • If you think your job is too big for you, study the life of Moses.
  • If you are tempted to retaliate, see how David handled this problem.[2]

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[1] New American Standard Bible. (2020). (Heb 12:1–2). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 322). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

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