The Growing Cloud of Witnesses

Jesus is inspiring people to cross the finish line.

produced by static force llc sometimes things don't change.

Transcript

Title: The Growing Cloud of Witnesses

Subtitle: Looking to Jesus with Endurance

Description: Jesus is inspiring people across the finish line

#GospelAccordingToTheRock

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2076577/episodes/17296486

The Growing Cloud of Witnesses

by Eric Engelmann

All content © 2025 Static Force, LLC

Here's a Scripture passage about looking at Jesus and having endurance:

Hebrews 12

Verse 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.

Note that the race we run has a landmark we navigate by: Jesus on the throne at the right hand of God. 

Every cross country race has some surprises and turns in the course, but in our race, the landmark we keep spiritually looking to is the throne of Jesus.

We run with endurance learning to not work against ourselves. We get rid of sins and distractions that slow us down. 

We spiritually look to the throne of the Most High.

The cloud of witnesses show that it's possible to trust God; it's possible to hear and obey Him. It's possible to finish the race.

The biggest witness is Jesus, who's sitting on the throne of heaven. He sees us and He calls us to His holiness. He's overcome mockery. He's overcome suffering. He is now alive and receiving the joy of His Father.

This is like what Peter points out in 1 Peter: Jesus is the cornerstone of a new spiritual temple.

A cornerstone tells us a lot about a building. It tells us which way is up, which is a good thing.

The corenerstone tells us where the walls of the building are. The boundaries of inside and outside.

I want to share some nuggets from 1 Peter 2 that complement the running of the race in Hebrews 12.

Here are verses that talk about laying aside every weight and sin that slows the running of the race:

Verse 1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.

Here's a verse about the target of our journey:

Verse 4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 

Like Hebrews 12, 1 Peter 2 talks about the reward of coming close to the Father:

Verse 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 

That's how the Most High's cloud of witnesses continues to grow.

All content © 2025 Static Force, LLC