In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of the "great race of faith" that has been run throughout history. He mentions various biblical figures such as Gideon, David, and Samuel, who demonstrated faith and achieved great things through God's power. The speaker emphasizes that believers today can also be part of this race by repenting of their sins and accepting Jesus as their savior. The sermon also highlights the importance of obedience to God's commands, using the example of Abel who obediently sacrificed as God instructed, even though it cost him his life.

So we just pray, dear Father, this song is the prayer of our hearts, of my heart, Lord, and we pray that in this meeting, we will allow Thee to have Thy way in our hearts, and have Thy way even with the words of our spirit, Father. In Jesus' name, Amen. Now before I start, I just want to thank you all for the outfit. It's not often that I get something that's brand new, from top to bottom, and I thank you very, very much, and I will enjoy wearing it. Today, we are going to talk about our race, and we can turn to Hebrews 12, verse 1 and 2. Wherefore, seeing we 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, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the same, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Now I've felt led by the Lord in these two days to share with you about our race. Now when I'm talking about our race, I'm not talking just about the race of faith, but I'm talking about our race as women. I believe that even though the world may say we are equal, I believe that the women's race is very unique. Our race is not in the public eye. Our race doesn't make the headlines of the newspapers often. Our race is often behind closed doors with many disturbances and irritations and petty hindrances and things in our homes. And yet the glorious fact remains that we are part of the great race of faith, the race that has been run from the beginning of time, the race that is being run now, the race that will be run till the day that the Lord Jesus comes back in glory and great men, if you think of the great men of faith which have run before, isn't it wonderful that we, you and I, can be part of this great race? Now when I was thinking about the race, I felt that there were a few C's that the race divided into, and I'm not going to tell you how many C's because I'm doing it over two days, but the first C that we have to consider is the commencement of the race. One can't run a race unless you have a starting point. When I was a child, I went to a village school, and they used to have sports there. Now the sports track was just a grass field, and they marked the lanes with chalk, and I can still relive today the fear I had when I had to stand ready to run to wait for that gunshot. When the gun went off, I froze, and then I jumped, and only then did I run. It was a frightening thing for me. As a little child, I would have loved to have just run a little bit ahead and let them listen to the gunshot, or even to enter the race after they had started running. But I had to start at the beginning. I couldn't miss that start. That is why the Lord Jesus said to Nicodemus, Nicodemus, you must be born again. Nicodemus, you are in a race. You are in a race of religion, of good work, of being an example to others. But Nicodemus, you haven't passed the starting point. You've got to go right back and start at the beginning. Now, some of you may say, well, I'm very religious. I write Bible notes. I sit at the front of the church. Even my brothers and sisters turn to me and ask me about religious matters. But what God is asking you and I is, have we come to the starting point? Have we come to the Lord Jesus? He's the only way that we can enter the race. He said, I am the door. He is the door for us to the race. He that has a son has life. He that has not the Son of God has not life. If we have not repented of our sins and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, we haven't started. And then we have to get back to the starting point. Now, when I was at high school, I had to go to boarding school. And I was 14. And there, the nicest day was sports day as well. We didn't have any homework. We didn't have any books. And we were just sitting in our houses. And each house was screaming louder than the other. But every now and again, there was an absolute silence. And the silence was for everybody waiting for their gunshot to go off again and for the runners to start. Even they couldn't jump the gun. And when they stood ready in a row, somebody jumped ahead of time. They had to start off all over again. You see, they too would be disqualified if they didn't start at the starting point. My father's mother, we used to call her Oma. It's the Afrikaans name for grandmother. She was a very religious lady. She was a very good lady. In fact, her life was so exemplary that her children felt that she must have got saved as a little girl. And so they never asked her whether she was saved, even though they were older and they had got saved. And one day, a little missionary lady came and visited all the farms in our community, and she didn't have a car, so she walked from farmyard to farmyard. And when she came to my Oma's house, she said to her, Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ Jesus Christ? Are you sure that you are saved? And she burst into tears and she said, Oh, for years I've been longing that somebody would help me. I do not have the assurance of salvation. And there the two of them were able to pray together. You see, the family thought she was way down on the track. She seemed ahead of them. But she hadn't passed the starting point. And the first question God wants to ask us today is, Have you passed the starting point? Have you commenced the race? The next key we get in the race is right here in the verse for us, and it is the cloud of witnesses. And what a mighty cloud of witnesses we find in chapter 11. When I was a little girl, I had a very vivid imagination, and I used to imagine that all the cloud of witnesses were looking at everything I was doing. And when I wanted to do something wrong, I used to say, Oh, what if they could see? But then the Lord Jesus spoke to me and He said, I'm the one who sees everything that you do. He is in me. I am in heaven's glory. My race is finished, run, and you, my child, for me, my dear, this life's great challenge, run. I wait with caring interest. I watch you from above. It triumphs, hallelujah, to crown a Savior's love. So it is the Lord Jesus that can see us, even when others can't see us. But chapter 11 gives us a wonderful list of examples. Now, when I looked at chapter 11, which we haven't done this morning, but when I looked at chapter 11, there were a few things that I noticed. One of the things that I noticed that is mostly men that are in chapter 11. And perhaps that is because, as I said before, the woman's race is not in the public eye. It is many a time behind closed doors. And yet the woman's race is so precious in God's sight. The other thing I noticed was that if you look at the names in chapter 11, you and I know that some of them really stumbled on the way. They didn't run perfectly. And yet a God who is so full of compassion, that removes our sins as far as the east is from the west. He didn't look at their sins. He just saw that they had repented. And he speaks to them as men and women of faith. Isn't it wonderful to serve such a God? Now, what we're going to do this morning, just for a short while, is we're going to pretend that we're going right back in time. And we're going to stand next to the racetrack. And we're just going to look at the runners running by. Now, the first runner is Abel. Abel had a very short run, didn't he? And if a person had to have a banner across Abel's life, it would be, he did what God asked him to do. Abel did what God asked him to do. He knew that without shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. He knew he had to sacrifice exactly in the manner that God asked him to do. And because of his obedience, it cost him his life. But isn't it wonderful that he was willing to do what God asked him to do? And so we see him run past. The next one we see is Enoch. Now, it's very exciting to me that in the Bible, we see Enoch starting off. In Genesis 5, verse 21, it says, Something must have happened at the birth of Methuselah that drew Enoch to the starting point. It's wonderful. We see him starting off. And we see him running. And you know, he ran so well. The Lord wrote across his life, through his words, he walked with God. He was running absolutely in step with God. He didn't deviate to the right or the left. It was as if he and God were running as one. And the exciting thing about Enoch is he didn't cross the finishing line like we have to. God was standing at the finishing line and he ran right into the arms of God. The next one we see running past us is Noah. Now, perhaps across Noah there would be the banner, Noah is always an exciting runner to think about, even as a child, to think of that ark that he built, that he believed a God of the impossible. Imagine an ark as large as he built. Imagine telling the people that the animals had to go in and he had to obey the God of the impossible in the midst of a mocking and spawning people. There was no rain, they didn't know rain. He had to build a thing to float in an area without water. I think Noah was an amazing runner. We know that he failed when he came out of the ark and got drunk, but God overlooks it as he sees his face. And we need to believe the God of the impossible. When God asks us something that seems impossible, even if it is to be victorious in an impossible situation, let us let Noah believe the God of the impossible. Now, the next one we get is Abram. And across Abram running, we could write these words, obedience despite impossible odds. Obedience despite impossible odds. Well, Abram is called out of Ur, and I used to think Ur was just a real little, what you'd call, I don't know if that's the right word, a dump. I used to think it was just these little mud-type houses. But if you go back and read up a little bit about ancient civilizations, you realize that Ur was a city that was much more civilized than we imagined. And God called Abram to leave Ur and to go live in tents, not knowing where he was going to take him. And I think that was tremendous faith. And sometimes God does ask us to do things where he doesn't show us the end. Even as Job, what he went through, God didn't show him the end. But Abram was faithful to just believe and obey the God of the impossible. Now, in our country, there is a race. It's called the Comrace Marathon. I don't know if you've heard about it. It's between Durban and Peter Maritz first. And in that Comrace Marathon, there's a section that is so steep that many of the runners that have run well up to that point suddenly give up or slow down or fall down because it is so difficult to pass what we call the Polly Short. Now, I think the Polly Short for Abram in his race, this steep incline, was when God asked him to offer up Isaac. It was not only to sacrifice his child, but it was that in this child all God's promises were contained. And yet Abram obeyed God. He believed that God could be the impossible, that God could even raise up Isaac because he had promised that. I sometimes think that heaven was quiet watching as Abram lifted up his arm to see if he was really obedient, knowing that later the Lord Jesus would be sacrificed and there wouldn't be a substitute for him. So Abram is a wonderful runner to us. Isaac and Jacob just go fast, quickly, blessing their offspring. Then we see Joseph. Now, there's so many wonderful things that could have been put in about Joseph, but the only thing that's mentioned here is Joseph saying, when you go out, you must take my bones with me. I'll be dead when you go out. But I know that God said when Israel goes out, I know that Israel will go out. And God treasured that faith that Joseph believed God so implicitly. Next we get Moses. Now, we all know about Moses. The interesting thing about Moses is that in chapter 11, it first speaks about his parents. You see, they ran ahead of him, and they were obedient to God. So Moses was following in the footsteps of his parents. And in the same way, you and I are running, and our children are running behind us. We also see Moses living in the lap of luxury, running in the king's palace, and suddenly there's a choice. He has to decide whether he's going to follow God's way with hardship, or if he's going to carry on in the riches that were almost like his inheritance at that time. I also think heaven waited to see which turn in Jerusalem, and he chose God, with the affliction and suffering that it was going to bring. Well, I think the next one we get here, I've missed my place. Now we get to the first lady. The first woman is Sarah that we see running. Well, it's exciting that it's a woman, but there are many things in Sarah's life that really disappointed me in the Bible. One of the big things that disappointed me about Sarah is that when Abram asked her to lie and pretend that she was his sister, which was a half-truth, he didn't go to Abram and say, Oh, my husband, I really do not think this is the right thing to do. You see, we as women, if our husbands want to do something that is wrong, we have the chance to just say to them, I don't think this is the right thing to do. Don't you think it would honor God rather to spoke the truth? But she didn't take that chance. And you know, she so lived out what he told her to do that when Abimelech realized that she was Abram's wife and not his sister, he rebuked Sarah. And he said to her in Genesis 20, verse 16, that her brother, in other words, her husband, must be as frontless to her eyes. What was he saying to Sarah? He was saying to Sarah, you know, because she had a husband, your eyes should not have been wandering around as they were. He was saying, Sarah, your eyes were not the eyes of a married woman. Isn't that a rebuke? We also know Sarah gave her a maid servant into Abram's arms. She did many things that were wrong. She laughed in disbelief. But you know, when God looked at her, he did not see those iniquities that had been washed away. And God saw her as a woman of faith. Now, we spoke about Abram leaving earth, but it wasn't only Abram that had to leave earth. It was Sarah. And when God called Abram, Sarah could have said, no, Abram, you're asking too much of me. I don't want to leave earth. I'll stay behind. You go ahead and go on this wandering into the unknown. I'm going to stay where I know where I am. But Sarah didn't say no. We can say bravo, Sarah, because there are many women who stand in their husband's way when their husbands are called to work for the Lord, to do missions. I know of particularly one person in our country, the husband longing to be in the Lord's service, but his wife didn't say yes like Sarah. His wife said no, and he's out of God's service today. Sarah also had, she might have laughed initially, but eventually she had the faith to believe God would give her the strength to have the child that He had promised. And that faith was so practical that it sustained her right through. And so we say, bravo, Sarah, you've run well. Now, Isaac and Jacob, we've done, Joseph, we've done, and then we get to another woman, and that is the harlot, Rael. Now, it's quite a shock to find the harlot, Rael, in the runners, isn't it? And yet it is Rael who was the harlot. And I think God puts that word, the harlot, in because He wants to say, you and me, that no matter how dark her sin was, because she repented, because she embraced God, when the spies came to her house, and she realized this is the true God, and she embraced their faith. When she hung the starlet cord out as a proof of her faith, and that God would keep His promises, it was Rael, the harlot, no more. But even in Matthew and Luke, in the Deanna, I don't know how to say it right now, she is there, because God has forgiven her. And to me it's exciting. Rael married Sammon. His son Boaz married Ruth. Their son was Obed, their son was Jesse, and their son was David. So Rael, the harlot, became Rael, the great-great-grandmother of David. Isn't that exciting? She had many runners behind her. One day I was praying about somebody that had fallen into sin. I was so shocked, and I was depressed, and I was kneeling beside the bed and praying for that person, and suddenly the Lord pointed me back to the New Testament, to the woman who fell into sin, and His reaction to her. And then I wrote these words. It was Thy mercy that looked down on her, not He condemned. Thy voice, the angry cries, distemmed, and shamefully, shamefully, they dropped each stone, thus seed of sand, a maze, alone. Thy blood for her, could Ian atone. Thy grace did make her fit for home. O love that sees the erring soul, and gently comes to make it whole. It was Thy mercy that looked down on her, and in her bosom hoped to stir. For did the Master not implore, Go, my child, and sin no more? When I thought of that woman in sin, I thought of what she must have thought. Imagine what, Yeshua is going to be stoned to death, a scream, a shout, a stone hitting her, and suddenly the Lord Jesus came in a mist, and everybody shrunk away, and there she stood. And I tried to imagine what she thought. Can I ever, ever pen the eyes from which no judgment came? Sorrow for my sin I saw, O to stumble nevermore. Knowledge of my sordid life, every cause, and every strife. Sadness at my fallen state, yet He willed another plague. Pardon for the life before, mercy, hope, for evermore. Perhaps even in this exemplary room, there may be somebody who has something in their past, something as dark and as dreadful as Ra'ed. But God can wipe it away. God can wash it away. And like Ra'ed, you can become one of the great runners of faith. Isn't it wonderful? Now the list goes on, and I'm just going to read the last of the list to you. And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Tester, of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophet, who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of aliens, women received their dead, raised to life again, and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others at trial of cruel mockings and scourging, yammer ever of bonds and imprisonment, they were stoned, they were sworn as thunder, were tempted, were slain with a sword, they wandered about in steep steams, and ghosting, being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth, all these, and these all, having obtained a good report, through faith, received not the promise of the Lord Jesus Christ, God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us, should not be made perfect. Isn't it amazing, the people that have run ahead of you and I, in the race, and you know the race went on, it went through the inquisition, it went through the torturing, that other ladies had to go through, that we haven't had to go through, and then we see Susanna Wesley run fast, and Amy Carmichael, and it is common, different ones have run ahead of us, and we, if we've entered, are running, and one day perhaps our children will run behind us. It is awe inspiring to think, that you and I are given the privilege, to be part of this race. Now the next thing we're going to deal with, is the casting off of weight. Now it says here, wherefore, you see, wherefore, we also are compassed about, with so great a cloud of witnesses, because of the way they ran. How can we allow anything, to be a weight, to be a hindrance, on us? They gave their all, how could we not give our all? Now weight is not necessarily a sin, it's not a wrong thing. If I were to run in a race, and I wanted to put on boots, and I wanted to put on a coat, and a thick hat, they wouldn't stop me, there's no rule saying exactly, what you must run in a race, but it would be foolish to us, wouldn't it? And yet we as Christians, so often hamper ourselves, with weight, unnecessary weight, and these trip us up, in our running, in our race. Now the first weight, that we can carry about with us, is the weight of criticism. I'll never forget a little lady, that's in heaven now, who came to me broken, depressed, she'd lost her joy, because of the criticism, that people levelled against her. It was family, that criticised her, on her husband's side, and she said what broke her, was that her husband allowed them, to criticise her, because he didn't want to lose, his family. And there she had to endure, all these remarks, put in here and there, continually, and she was definitely stumbling, on the way. And then I said, well, when the criticism comes, look at it. Is it from God? If it is not from God, leave it behind you. Cast away that weight. It's not from him. Don't carry it with you, and allow yourself, to become depressed. Sometimes, it is our criticism of others, that become a weight, in our race. You know, if you run in a race, and I've seen many a race, where a person turns around, to see how the other person, is running, and while they're looking, that person passes them. And so, if we, in our Christian race, are continually looking and seeing, you know, I wonder what they're doing. They're doing that wrong. They should do it my way. And you're continually looking back, and giving advice, in your heart, to others. It's going to become a weight, in your Christian walk. The next thing that can become, a tremendous weight to us, is the past. Even the sins of the past. I knew two men, who had been in the war. The one man, was never able to leave the war behind. It was always with him. And if the war was mentioned, he just used to get into a state, because he's not thrown that past behind him. There was another man, who was a prisoner of war, in the war, World War II. He had to escape. He had gone through many dreadful experiences, but he was able to speak about incidents in the war, because the war wasn't with him anymore. He was even able to laugh about, some of the dreadful things that happened to him, in the prisoner of war camp. You see the war was behind him. Now in the same way, I knew two Christian friends, who'd been living in sin, and who made a step towards the Lord. And the one, had left the past behind her. But the other one, if you spoke about, what did you do when you were, where were you when you were 12? Which town were you in? She almost wanted to go to Zurich, because it was all so real, and so with her. She had dragged it with her. And the sad thing was, that this girl returned to that sin, because she hadn't thrown it aside. You know when my mother was at a junior school, the school asked her to help out, with their teaching. And she decided to help out, against impossible odds. And she said, I could share this with you. She had to cross a river, that was in flood, on a tractor. She didn't want to teach, because she wanted to be at home, but they were desperate for help that term. And so she said yes. Well, she went, she had to wait for a tractor, to take her across the river. She got to the other side, she had to wait for somebody, to give her a lift. And then eventually, she arrived at the school, a few minutes late. Now, the head of the school, turned to her, and reprimanded her, for being late, in front of everybody. Well, my mom, my dad hadn't wanted to really, to teach her new, she had to help out. But he said to her, if there's any problems, come home. So what did my mother do? She hadn't signed yet, so she took off her bag, and she went home. And there she found another teacher. It wasn't really her failing, but that thing that happened, lived with her, for a number of years. And it lost her, of her joy. It lost her, of her confidence, in our community, for a few years. And then, when my mother was, at the edge of death, and when the doctor said, she can't even live. And when she came back, from the verge, of stepping into that, other world, that is so much more pure, and holy. She came back, and she said, she couldn't speak, for a few days. But when she could speak, she said, I must write a letter, to that princess. I want that incident, that happened, to be erased. And you know, when my mom wrote that letter, and she posted it, she was a different person. Everybody said, what has happened here? Because the past, was now, in the past, and it wasn't a weight, in her walk. Now, the glorious past, when I'm talking about, the glorious past, is sometimes we have, tremendous victories, and triumphs, that can also be a weight, upon us. You know, you can carry a book, with you, of all the wonderful achievements, that you've done, for the Lord. The souls you might have won. And so, you're running along, and you sit in the track, and you're just looking, through your photo album, of all your triumphs. The glorious past. And others will run past it. We cannot allow, the glorious past, the victories of the past, to, instead of being a blessing, to be a weight, upon us. I don't think, there is a better example, to me, of the sins of the past, the failures of the past, being a weight, upon us, than Peter. So, I'm going to quote, Peter again, because I feel, it is such a vivid picture, of a life failure, even in the home. To drag it with us, instead of just, putting it behind us. We would say, Peter was not, what he should have been. So, we say, not Peter, when the Lord Jesus said, he must cede his seat, and he must strengthen, the brethren. Not Peter, who had failed, so sore, denied his Lord, and even swore, he deceit, he could not be. Strengthening others, no, not he. Right before, the gathered crowd, he had failed, so coarse, so loud. Surely, he should shrink away, he who went, so far, astray. Sorrow, repentance, deep regret. Oh, the wrath words, that fear begins. He, his master, saddened, glanced. Oh, that he had another chance. Peter, I know, you failed, so sore, and I recall, your boast before. Pardoned you are, I tell you three, strengthen, and feed, my sheep, for me. Many, have failed, with fear, hard pressed. Many, have failed, when sore, oppressed. Like Peter, they sorrow bitterly. Oh, I know, that the Lord, would pardon me. Peter, his given task. Peter, did all, the Lord had asked. Sweet, the forgiveness, was to him. There is, that failure, that public sin. Maybe, you too, have deep remorse. You too, have stumbled, on the course. Satan, would keep you, in his power. Be God's, forgiveness, as they are. And you, who have never, failed like him, why should you, judge the weaker, sin. Rather, lift up, the erring ones, seeking forgiveness, to God's own sons. Humbled, but steadfast, they'll walk aright, they'll run aright, we should say. Never to, lean on their, own might. Rather to cling, to the Lord, as they say. Keeping them, true to him, all the way. Don't let us, let the failures, whether it be in the home, before our husbands, before our children, the failures in front of others, become, a weight. Let us, cast it behind us, as Peter did. Because Peter, did feed the sick. He did, strengthen the brethren, as God had planned, for him to do. Now, childhood hurts, can also be, a weight. I have spoken to people, and the hurts, of 60 years ago, 70 years ago, 30 years ago, are so real, to them, that even speaking, about them, can make them, burst into tears. They've carried it, with them. It has, hasn't been, flung away. Some of us, may have been, deeply hurt, as children. We may feel neglected, we might have come from, unhappy homes. And yet, we have to lay aside, every unnecessary weight. And that includes, the hurts, that if we carry them, with us, they become, a weight, on our race. Another thing, that can be a weight, is hobbies. Now I, hobbies are a very, good thing. And I love, working with my hands, and drawing, and doing all sorts of things. But a hobby, can also become, a weight, if a hobby, is an obsession. Now when, Noel and Roy, were small, I, with two boys, close upon each other, and I was sure, that I'd at least have, about three girls next. But the girls, didn't arrive. But I, started thinking, well I'd like to make dolls. So I went to a lady, and had lessons, and made a porcelain, two dolls. A Hans, and a dream, a reproduction doll. Oh, and I was into dolls. And when I walked, past the shop, oh, I used to pop in, and look at the doll books, and I knew all the names. And I just, went to town, on this whole, subject of dolls. Until God, put up a red light, and said, no, no, no, you're going, you're spending too much, time on this, as a hobby. And I stopped. Just to make sure, that it isn't too much, for me, the very Hans, that I made, so much bird ate, off all the fingers. But, another thing, that can be, a hobby, is reading. You know, I love reading. Reading, is a blessing to me. I read books, and then when I've read the book, I want to be a better person. That's, right. That's how it should be. But, a little old lady, once said to me, a godly little lady, she said, Jenny, don't allow, good books, to come between you, and God. And when I take time to read, I always remember that comment. And I just say, Lord, I love books. If I had a choice, I'd just be reading all the time. But I mustn't allow it, to come between me, and God. Negativity, can also, really, be a weight, upon us. I've come across people, who are so, negative. One lady phoned me, on the phone, about a wonderful answer, to prayer. And I thought, isn't it wonderful? She's leaving negativity, And I said, oh, isn't God good? But she said, oh yes, but. Everything, is negative. And that is really, not glorifying to the Lord. And that will trip us up. It's a real, weight. Another girl, I knew, was also very depressive, and negative. And I visited a home, where she came. And you know, the whole atmosphere of the home, became negative, with her there. So don't let us, allow negativity, to become a weight, in our race. Now, the Bible, also talks about, the besetting sin. And the besetting, and the sin, which does so easily, beset us, is the besetting, sin, I've put under the weight. It's sometimes difficult, to think what is a weight, and what is sin. They seem to be, so close to each other. Now, covetousness, can also be, a besetting sin, or a weight. God says, be content, with such things, as you have. In Hebrews 13, verse 5. I was with my mother, in an antique shop. A dear little, Jewish lady, had this shop. And you've got, beautiful things. I mean, the furniture, Victorian, Edwardian, Georgian, the whole works. Beautiful pieces of furniture, French. And the little lady, turned to me, the Jewish lady, and she said to me, Jenny, isn't it wonderful, that you are a missionary? Because a missionary, cannot, covet. So I thought, goodness, that is a statement. And, I thought about it, for a moment, and I said, no, that isn't correct. A missionary, or any woman, can covet. But by the grace of God, we don't covet. And it was impossible, to cover those things, it wouldn't fit, into our house. Now, another area, which can be a weight, in our lives, is jealousy. As children, it's very easy, to be jealous, of the talents, of the things, that our brothers, and sisters have. And even as women, we can be jealous. I remember, when I was a child, I had thin, fine, very little, mousy hair, which I still have, with a lot of grey, in between. But my, one sister had, thick, lots of hair. If I didn't have, my plait, and I timed it, by ten, it wouldn't fill her, thick, plait, of hair. The other sister had, blonde, curly hair. And I used to say, to the little girl, Lord, couldn't you just have, given me a little bit, of my sister's hair? Or couldn't you have, given me a few, of my other sister's curls? They don't need, all they've got. Why did you give me, my hair? And then God, said to her, she's thankful, for what I gave you. I could have given you, no hair. I remember, also being, a little bit jealous, of their voices. On my mother's side, of the family, they're very musical. And my sisters, and my brother, could sing beautifully. And they sang at, Christian camps, and conventions. But I inherited, my father's voice. And it definitely, wasn't in the same caliber. And I used to go to my room, and get on my knees, and say, Lord, please, won't you give me, their voices? Just, just a bit of, I just sing in tune. If I do, I'll sing in the conventions, for you. But God, didn't do that. Because I used to go out, and start singing, with confidence, when they're singing. And I've got a very, straightforward family, that say, no, no, no, no, stop. We don't want you, singing here. So I had to learn, to accept, and not be jealous, of that, which God gave, to others. And it's very easy, to be jealous. Even as a woman, of the talent, of the holy circumstances, that others have, it seems so much easier. But God says, you must be content, with such things, as you have. Even if it's, what we are. Now, the last weight, we're going to talk about, is the tongue. I'm not going to go, into the tongue, because we've dealt, so much on the tongue. But I've written a poem, for us in the home, on the tongue. As women, we are powerful, within the walls of home. For we, within our fragile grasp, a mighty tool, to own. We use it, every morning. We wield it, through the day. It never, ever leaves us, upon our mundane way. A little daughter, quivers, beneath its crushing blow. A brother, sister, falters, for it has laid them low. A line, of devastation, can lie within its path, both buried, hope, and laughter, the dreaded aftermath. But yet, this sordid weapon, can be a healing stream, can be a source, of comfort, the light, of heaven's being. What is the tongue, within this? Is it a gentle, friend, to all who come across it? To which youth, does it lend? Our tongue, to God, I give thee, his servant to obey. So that his only blessing, that follows, on your way? Is the tongue, a weight upon us? Or is it just a blessing, upon our way? We have to ask ourselves, a few questions. We've got to ask ourselves, first of all, have we started the race? Have we commenced the race? Then we think of the cloud, of witnesses. They've been such an example, to us. Are we running, in their footsteps, in the footsteps of the Lord, Jesus Christ, first of all? But are we running, knowing that they sacrificed, their lives, for us? And the third thing, we need to ask ourselves, today, is, are we allowing, weight, to hamper us, in our run? Are we stumbling, in our run, so that others, stumble behind us, because our weights, are obstacles, that they're tripping over? Ah, glorious race, that I should run. We ran, the saints of old, that in the footsteps, stained with blood, my very path, unfold. I'll clutch, no weights upon it. I'll throw them, all aside, that naught, may bind, and hold me, in conjuring, my stride. Amen. We'll do the rest of the speech, tomorrow. Thank you again, for the privilege, of being able to speak to you. I'm keen to, speak to each one of us. Shall we pray, Dear Father, there's nothing, that I can say, that can bless, anybody's life. We lift his hands, to come and speak, to us Lord, and that we may, be open to hear, thy voice, inspiring us, to run, in thy race, as we've never run, before. Help us Lord, and bless us, and may we sense, thy presence, and hear thy voice, in Jesus name. Now we're speaking about, we have spoken yesterday, about the race, and, we're going to continue today. The race of faith, does rhythmically move on. Down ages dark, and turbulent is gone, and now in worldly times, so remnant, still, of faithful, God, to thee, this march, does echo, in my God, oh may I, patience, steadfast, onward go, of the foe. We read in Hebrews 12, verse 1 and 2, and we will just get it in my Bible, otherwise I'll stand here. Wherefore, seeing we are compassed about, to so great, a cloud, of witnesses, let us run with patience, the race, that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author, and finisher, of our faith. Yesterday we considered, to be in a race, unless you started running. Nicodemus was religious, but he had to, pass the starting point. He had to be born again. My father's mother, was so exemplary life. Next, we consider, that he may run, with patience, the race, that is set before us. And you know that word, with patience, is so wonderful. It shows us, that we have got, an understanding, God. A God, who knoweth our frame, who remembereth, that we are done. And if we are going to, sprint, he tenderly, puts in those words, run, with patience. In Isaiah 40 verse 11, it says, he gently, leaders them, that leader them, that lady, that was then, when do you have your point? She said, I'll close the door, and nobody can bother me. Another lady said, I'm praying to the Lord, was the last lap. Christianity, because, they're not running, with patience. There was a lady, when Isaiah was bedridden, she had to look, in a prudent manner, in prayer, early in the morning, I pray, I lean, and I'm still hoping, to find her, for a few minutes, and that's how, she coped. Another lady said, you can pray, and she knew in that way, they couldn't fall off the bed. So we have, and they thought it was, the blood test. The doctor said to her, lady, your body has just, collapsed. It keeps racing, and again, into school, race, girls race, young girls, and I think, will break the record. Still saying, is it going to be, the black head one, or the blonde head one, that's going to win. Ran through them, and passed the pack, and then she ran, as everybody in the stage, started to look at each other, and then everybody, stood up, and watched, with bated breath, as she ran, past the front, two winners, and won the race, and broke the record. She would never, have won that race, if she jumped out, to the front, at the beginning, but she knew the secret, of running, with patience, and we need to, run, with patience, the race, that is set before us, run, so that we are able, to be close enough, to God, to hear His voice, saying, that is the way, walk you in it. I know of somebody, that was, at Bible college with me, who had so many things, she was speaking, she was, speaking at ladies, meetings, reciting, doing so many things, and you know, she ran, at the forefront, but today, she is, not there anymore, she has, gone, off the way, I think, perhaps it was, because she didn't run, with patience, the race, that is set before us, and isn't it wonderful, that God is so loving, that to you and I, He says to us, I don't expect, the impossible from you, I'm only asking you, to run, with patience, the race, that is set before you, now the next thing, that we are going to deal with, is our course, now, it's, it says, that we may run, with patience, the race, that is set before you, but in another rendering, it says, the course of the race, that is set before you, each of us, have, a particular, lane, to run, my lane, is not, your lane, God gives, each of us, a particular, lane to run, and I think, it's wonderful, that God has a plan, for each one of our lives, that right there, in eternity, we have planned out, a course, for you to run, and for me to run, and sometimes, the course, that he puts before us, is difficult, to understand, my mother's sister, had a breast removed, with cancer, and in December, she went to the specialist, for a check up, and she said to them, you know, it feels, as if something is wrong, something is not right, and the specialist said, no, and they didn't take, any notice of it, a month later, she had to see, the specialist again, and she said, you know, I feel, as if something is wrong, but they didn't hear, the warning, and for six months, she asked for attention, but they thought, it was nothing, and after six months, the specialist said to her, you know, you're such a healthy lady, that we only want you, to see the GP, you don't have to see, the specialist anymore, but let me just have, a final check up, and then he felt, something wrong, they did further tests, they put her through, the tunnel, and they found, that she had cancer, she had fourth degree, cancer, in every, it's gone right, through her body, in her lungs, but also, in all the bones, of her body, and that there is, no hope for her, now she is a godly lady, she has stood out, in the community, she's got a heart, for the lot, every worker, on her farm, she tries to reach, she holds Sunday school, for the little children, of the workers on the farm, she has stood out, in the community, and she said, in December, that something is wrong, with me, one cannot understand, the way life goes, the way our past, whines for us, but she had to come, to the place, where she said, God allowed it, I have to rest, in that, which he allowed, now in, Texas, there's a family, that would have liked, to have been there, at the camp, and they couldn't, be here, they also had, a difficult path, a path, that you can't understand, why God, allowed it, I remember the lady, phoning me, from Texas, and saying that, something had happened, to the house, which the floors, that had water in it, is going to cost thousands, and thousands of dollars, to fix, and her husband, was so despondent, about it, and she turned to her husband, and said, we've got to trust God, nothing comes, that he doesn't allow, so her faith, stood strong, and she thought, well that's an enormous hurdle, that path has really, gone steep, that's what God, is going to allow, to come into her life, she was expecting, a baby, but the next thing, that happened, is her husband, had meningitis, so badly, that he went, into a coma, and for a long time, they despaired of his life, he was hanging in, hanging on the balance, in the balance, so there she was, she's expecting, she's got quite a few children, her house has, half collapsed, and her husband, has meningitis, and the doctors, are despairing, of him ever coming, out of it again, so she had to spend, her days at the hospital, this woman, this woman of faith, she had to spend, her days at the hospital, the older daughter, had to look after, the little children, and then eventually, he came out of a coma, but he has not, up to this day, got his whole memory back, and she's had the baby, since then, so sometimes, our powers are so, you know, we want to question God, and say, why, why has this happened, but we've got to trust God, and that woman, really trusted God, each step of the way, that he had his hand, upon them as a family, and that he had a reason, for that which he did, dear God, my heart cries out, gripped by despondency, beneath the crushing weight, of stress, I'm losing trust in thee, unfair the heavy load, my lot, my work, my way, with anger, at my given lot, I struggle, through each day, you did not see, my anger, outstretched, helping hand, you did not wait, to hear my voice, as your full days, were planned, I'm here, to bear your load, I'll be your strength, and stay, so that, no thing, no one, no trial, need cripple you, today, our powers are so different, but God expects, each one of us, to accept, to accept, the path, that he allows us, to walk in, and to realize, that this, is my path, and one day, when I get to heaven, God's gonna not ask me, why did this one do that, or why did that one do that, or why did that one, move off the path, he's gonna ask us, were you faithful, in the course, that I set before you, even if you're small, you've got your course, to follow, even if you're old, you've still got your course, to follow, and God asks us, to hold fast, hold fast, hold on dear child, to all my words I say, hold fast dear child, to keep within the way, the word of God, thy only guidance say, for it's the world, that many a martyr slay, don't heed dear child, the tempter's whispered words, his last is thou, but once his whispers heard, to lead thee from the path, thy master plans, to drop thy master's loving hand, loving hand, our child, so much I have reserved, for thee, do not forget, thy heavenly destiny, how can you dare, to wander from my path, how can you spurn, my mercy, for my wrath, take heart dear child, although the mass is strong, hold fast dear child, that no man, take thy crown, remember child, this world is not, not your home, you're passing through, to meet me, at this realm, now children, can also be, part of our path, and they are part of our path, for many of us, your brothers and sisters, are part of your path, your grandchildren, so we've got to be, faithful in our path, to do what God, wants us to do, in our path, with those around us, you know sometimes, I've come across, homes where, mothers would do, anything, outside, the home, the path, if it's a prayer meeting, or if it's a meeting, they can just leave the children, with somebody else, and just do, something away, from the path, that God has led them, we've got to be faithful, even if it involves, our children, they are our path, they are our mission field, and sometimes, when God gets a difficult thing, in our path, something that we know, the Lord wants us to do, we are tempted, to flee away, but God says to us, to you and I, are you in the path, that I have put for you, are you true to me, or have you sort of, moved a little bit, to the right hand, or a little bit, to the left, one day I was praying, for a minister, a minister, who left the path, he had been in the ministry, but he turned off, and went into a life of sin, he has repented since then, but thinking of him, and praying for him, I thought of Jonah, you know, Nineveh was a horrific place, no wonder Jonah, didn't want to go to Nineveh, but that was the path, that God had for him, sometimes the path for us, is as bad to us, as Nineveh was to Jonah, but we need to not flee, but rather to obey God, fleeing, fleeing, fleeing, Jonah in the storm, direct disobedience, here the scriptures warn, see the prophet, writhing, penitent at last, in the belly darkness, three full days of fast, fleeing, God is watching, sorrowing at you, O return, he's waiting, he can pardon you, others saw you failing, others saw you fall, weaker ones may stumble, heed the master's call, back to where he wanted, you to do his will, in the lane appointed, there your work fulfill, let us not wonder, from the lane, that God has for us, no matter how difficult, it may be, now the next point, we're going to do, is the concentration, of the runner, the concentration, of the runner, wherefore seeing we are compassed about, with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does, so easily beset us, and let us run with patience, the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author, and the finisher, of our faith, our concentration, must be on the Lord Jesus Christ, and that is the only way to stay, within the track, now he's the author, and the finisher of our faith, we have said that, we cannot be in the race, unless we have passed through, the commencement, which is the Lord Jesus Christ, so he's the author of our faith, if the Lord Jesus is not, the author of your faith, then you aren't in the race, he has to be the one, through which we enter the race, he's the author of the race, but the wonderful thing is, that he's also the finisher, of our race, a second journey, takes us to that other land, or is it less, when in the twinkling of an eye, we are so blessed, for heaven's gates are opened wide, and we are at our Saviour's side, to worship at his feet, unending joy, oh bliss complete, isn't it wonderful, that he's the finisher, of our race, I love that portion in the Bible, that speaks about Stephen being stoned, and when Stephen speaks, he says, I see the Lord Jesus standing, at the right hand of the Father, now one usually reads, that the Lord Jesus is sitting, but the Lord Jesus is standing, and I like to think, that he stood, because he knew, Stephen would soon be there, he stood to meet him, isn't it wonderful, that the Lord Jesus, is the finisher of our race, that when we run, when we finish life, with all its trials, and all the difficulties, that are in life, that at the end, he is there, he is the finisher, he is waiting, at the finishing line, for you and me, you know, it's so essential, to have your eyes, on the Lord Jesus Christ, and I, my granny, when she was getting older, I used to think of her, in the end of her days, going towards heaven, going towards the finishing line, with her eyes, on the finisher, and this is what I wrote, as a young girl, she's older now, the red cheeked, blushing maiden, has slightly grown, and frailer is her frame, she does not bounce, her step is slow, she hardly hears her name, those auburn locks, are snow white now, her face, with wrinkles strewn, it seems the cares, of many years, the lines have finally dooned, but as she hobbles, heavenward, with slow, but steady pace, the glow of glory, beams on her, she sees, her saviour's face, oh it's so essential, that we realise, and thrill at the fact, that we have to keep our eyes, on the Lord Jesus Christ, you know, I was walking along a street, and talking, and I was looking, talking to somebody, and as I was talking to somebody, I walked straight into a lamppost, I don't know if it's happened to you, before, but it was very embarrassing, and very painful, if we look at others, even if it is, as a leader spiritually, if I look at the mission heads, of our mission, if you look even at your parents, and try and keep your eyes on them, instead of keeping your eyes, on the Lord Jesus Christ, you're also going to stumble, we have to keep our eyes, on the Lord Jesus Christ, I tried to imagine, what it was like, when my granny eventually died, she was such a saint, and she had such a difficult life, I wasn't at her death bed, my sister, and my mother, and aunts were there, and I just, tried to imagine, what it is like, when you step in, over the finishing line, at the end of the race, and I said, her feeble lightest flickering, she lay upon the bed, and people whispered tenderly, as in them, as they tread, she lingered on, and childhood days, so long ago, crowd in, her mother, father, home, so much, of all that being, oh glorious trust, eternal rest, it was not in vain, she chose God's best, well done, of faithful travellers, they gently, gently, carry her, isn't it wonderful, to know, that at the end of the race, he who started us, off on the race, who was with us, every step of the way, is going to be the finisher, the one who welcomes us, into his presence, but now, he's not only the author, of our faith, he's not only the finisher, of our faith, but he becomes to us, so much, as we keep our eyes, upon him, 2 Samuel 22, verse 29 says, Jesus, the Lord, who lightens, my darkness, the Lord, who lightens, my darkness, and as we run, and we don't keep our eyes, on our neighbours, and how they're running, but if we keep our eyes, on him, the author, of our, and finisher of our faith, he becomes to us, the Lord, who lightens, our darkness, the Lord, will lighten, my darkness, my loneliness, despair, when everything's, against me, and no one, seems to care, the Lord, will lighten, my darkness, with deep, financial strain, I turn to him, for, for wisdom, to meet, each pressing, claim, the Lord, will lighten, my darkness, if sickness, takes a hold, I'll lean, upon his bosom, and there, my hurt, unfold, the Lord, will lighten, my darkness, when I, I, I'll turn to him, for comfort, for I, his love, have proved, the Lord, will lighten, my darkness, whatever, life may bring, to him, eternal refuge, my fragile, heart, will cling, imagine, what we miss, if we don't, keep our eyes, on he, who will lighten, our darkness, there's a safety, in keeping, your eyes, on the Lord, Jesus Christ, there is, if you keep your eyes, on others, I'm warning you, you will go, off the track, even if you just go, slightly off the track, the only way, to keep on the track, and in the course, and in the lane, that God gives, each one of us, is to keep, our eyes, on the Lord, Jesus Christ, if we follow him, he will be guiding us, every step, on the way, and we will not, wander off, my child, you cannot follow me, and wander into wrong, your very walk, should show, always show, to whom you do belong, I know, the constant call, to you, of evil, everywhere, but resolution, to abide, should never, leave you there, you have to follow, only me, determined, to stay true, or else, the very call, of wrong, will surely, cripple you, my child, the choice, is only yours, each step, upon the way, the course, you choose, to follow, and whom, you will obey, now, psalm 17, verse 4, says, by thy word, have I kept myself, from the paths, of the destroyer, Isaiah 30, verse 21, says, this is the way, walk ye in it, so we look to him, we follow him, he is the one, who lightens our darkness, he is, our guide, my child, how long, that you may look, to me alone, as guide, I wish, it in my ears, alone, your hearth, and fears, confide, my child, is not the world, to claim, our covet, you may win, but rather, that you'd follow me, victorious, over sin, and if the lane, seems steep, and rough, I'll have you, lean on me, with peace, and joy, this world, can't give, my own tranquility, cause only, when I'm all, in all, no other guide, but me, that you fulfill, the purpose, dear child, that I decree, he's the one, who lightens, our darkness, he's the one, to follow, he's our guide, and he's also, the one, who bears, our burdens, you know, it's so wonderful, that we have got somebody, going ahead of us, that when we can't, we really feel, it's too much, he comes, and he literally, carries us, he bears, our burdens, there have been times, in my life, when I've said, Lord, I just don't know, what to do, I just, I just don't know, how to cope, your burdens upon you, he becomes, as we keep our eyes, on him, the bearer, of our burdens, cause he, who will bear, your burdens, as you walk, upon life's way, cause he, who will show, the pitfalls, that may stagger, you someday, cause he, whose arms, will hold you, when the lane, gets far too rough, cause he, who will stop, the tempest, who will cry, cause he, to look ahead to, as you run, your single course, cause he, who, no, wait a minute, cause he, who will look ahead to, as you run, your single course, cause he, whose arm will lift you, if you fall, with deep remorse, cause he, who will stand awaiting, when the final round, has come, cause he, who will say in triumph, yes, the crown, dear child, to be able to look to him, who bears, our burdens, if we, keep our eyes, on the Lord, Jesus Christ, the author, and the finisher, of our faith, and so much more, to us along the way, we will not be disappointed, if we read, in the Bible, David disappointed us, didn't he, even Sarah, disappointed us, many disappointed us, and in our daily walk, with everybody running, their lanes beside us, they will disappoint us, but he, will never, fail us, he will never, deserve, he is ever there, each step, upon the way, and he is so, compassionate, and full of love, and understanding, that, it would be folly, to not, keep our eyes, fixed on him, each moment, of the day, whatever, life may bring, now the last C, is the culmination, of the race, the culmination, of the race, or, we can call it, the crown, now for me, the culmination, of the race, would just be, to get, he's well done, just to be able, to get, to enter heaven, and to have him say, well done, oh, I covered that, with all my heart, in John 17, verse 4, we read, I have finished, the work, which thou gavest me, to do, wouldn't that be wonderful, to say at the end, of the race, I have finished, the work, which thou gavest me, to do, God has got, a work for you, and he's got a work, for me, he's got a lane for you, and he's got a lane, for me, and he asked, each one of us, at the end of our days, we'll be, have to give account, whether we've done the work, which he gave, gave us to do, Paul said, I have finished, my work, I have kept the faith, henceforth, there is laid up for me, a crown, of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me, and not to me only, but unto all them, also, that love, is appearing, it's you, it's his righteousness, the crown of righteousness, that he puts upon us, a little lady in hospital, said to me, oh, Jenny, two more souls, jewels to put on my crown, she was looking ahead too, to that day, when she enters into heaven, and she not only, comes to God, but can bring to him, all the souls, that she had reached for him, but to me, it's so precious, that when we get to heaven, when we get to the end of the road, that he will be there, to say, well done, thou good man, faithful servant, you know, in the secular world, people go to tremendous sacrifice, for an earthly crown, if you're a runner, you spend hours, practicing, to be the best runner, I remember, people came to stay with us, in the home, and their daughters, were provincial swimmers, and I was amazed, that the hours, that were put in, for those girls, to be the best, now they do it, for an earthly crown, but we are running, for the heavenly crown, and I think, if we think about that, and we think about the sacrifice, that others have gone through, for that crown, we should run, with all our might, with patience, with steady, active persistence, that we cannot, hold anything back, because at the end, it's not only, the Lord Jesus Christ, but he's well done, that you and I, need to covet, I think the Lord, wants to gently ask us today, a few questions, he wants to say to you, and I, my sister, daughter, grandmother, have you entered the race? Have you commenced, running in the race? Others may think, you're far down the track, but you, as God looks at your heart, know, if you really, have started, and if you haven't started, if you're in a race, of good works, and beautiful outside, and just the right kind of dress, and whatever, and God, if you suddenly realize, no, I have not started that race, I have not repented, of my sins, I have not accepted, the Lord Jesus Christ, as my savior, I'm not walking with him, then God calls you today, and he says, come, come and join, that great, grand, mighty, famous race, in his eyes, then God says, just look at the cloud, of witnesses, look at all those people, who gave their lives, to run faithfully, take their lives, as an example, isn't it amazing, that I am allowing you, to be running, in the same race my child, and then he says, how can you keep back, anything, even if it isn't a sin, but you know, it's a weight, upon your walk, how can you keep back, anything, in my race, cast it away, and you, who know perhaps, that besetting sin, that secret sin, that is your stumbling block, don't hold on to it, throw it aside, so that you may not be crippled, and stumble in your run, and allow others behind you, also to stumble, and then God says to us, in deep compassion today, it is my child, I know, that you are not, a giant, with strength, to do the impossible, I don't ask of you, the impossible, I ask you, to run with patience, with steady, active persistence, the race, that is set before you, I'm not going to ask you, of you, more than you demand, if you're fainting, and failing along the way, isn't it crass, because you're sprinting, when I ask you just to run, then the Lord says to us, my child, you've been looking, at others around you, you've been following, their example, but I'm asking you today, come back, and keep your eyes on me, let me, who is the author, of your faith, be your guide, right through, and be the finisher, of your faith, if you follow me, my child, you're not going to go, off the track, if you keep your eyes, on me, you will stay, in the lane, that I've appointed, to you, and my child, in my race, carrying is allowed, and when the lane, gets too rough, that you say, Lord please, I can't go, you know what, I'm going to do, my child, I'm going to come, and I'm going to carry you, over those rough, stretches, and when the way, seems so dark, my child, that you look, and you say, Lord, I can't even see, I'm in the pit, of despair, I will lighten, your darkness, I will lighten, your darkness, and then God says to us, end of the race, as you run in the course, that I've told you, to run not off the course, I will be there, at the finishing line, I'll be standing, at the ribbon, and my child, I will welcome you, and give you, my well done, our glorious race, that I should run, we ran, the saints of old, that in the footsteps, stained with blood, my very path, unfold, I'll clutch, no weights upon it, I'll throw them, all aside, that naught, may bind, and hold me, encumbering my stride, I'll run, the lane allotted, I'll trust, He knoweth best, for then, I know for certain, our path, each, stringent, test, I'll keep my eyes, on Jesus, who ran, ahead of me, until I've crossed, the ribbon, into, eternity,