CityLight Church

Sunday Worship 10 AM

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      • Mission: Brazil 23.1.2011
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        • “Back to Bethel” – Gen 34-36
        • “Can’t Silence My Love” Gen 39-41 13.2.2011
        • “Crossing the Line” Gen 46-47 2011.2.27
        • “Dream Big” – Gen 37 (31.1.2011)
        • “Dream Big” – The Life of Joseph, Gen 37-50
        • “Lasting Words” Gen 48-50 2011.3.6
        • “Why him?” Gen 25-27
        • 10.10.2010 “The Stories We Tell” Genesis 22
        • 17.10.2010 “Captivating” Gen. 24
        • 19.9.2010 “Dinner Date w/ God”
        • 22.8.2010 “The Soap Opera Life”
        • 26.9.2010 “Good & Terrible” – Gen 19
        • 29.8.2010 “Inside Out” Gen. 17
        • CityLight Feb 2010 Media
        • Feb 14/2 Gen 1: “In the Image of God”
        • Feb 28/2010 “Rest for your Souls” (Gen 2:1-3)
        • Gen 13 – “Overweight”
        • Gen 15 “Fear Not”
        • Gen 1: “In the Beginning” Feb 7/10
        • Gen 2 – “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made” Feb 21/10
        • Gen 20-21 Old Sin, New Grace
        • Gen 27-33 “Finding Jacob”
        • Genesis 12 – “Lost” 20.6.2010
        • Genesis 14 – “Naturally Supernatural” 4.7.2010
        • Genesis 15 “Spiritual Explosion” 17.7.2010
        • Genesis 38 “Skeletons” 6.2.2011
        • Genesis 41-45 “Rags, Riches, Restoration” 20.2.2011
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        • Exodus 15:22-27 Thirsty? >
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        • “How is your heart?” Exodus 4-12 10.4.2011
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        • “My Strong Song” > Exodus 14-15
        • “Pure Fear” – Exodus 19 + 20
        • “Remove+Redeem” Exodus 16:1-16 16.5.2011
        • “Wait” Exodus 24-32
        • Exodus 17-18 “My Banner”
        • Exodus 35-40 “Move Me”
        • Loving the Law – Exodus 20
        • On The Edge
      • Leviticus / 3. Mojžišova
        • Leviticus 18-20 – “Sex City”
        • Leviticus 23 “Cycles of Celebration”
        • “Be Different” Leviticus 8
        • “Called To Worship” Leviticus 2-7
        • “Calling All Pagans” Leviticus 1
        • “Clearly Seen” Leviticus 9
        • “Come Confident” Leviticus 16
        • “Life Blood” – Leviticus 17
        • ‘Freedom Feast’ Leviticus 21-23
        • 1Samuel 1-3 “Shhhhh!”
        • By the Book – Leviticus 25-27
        • Honor – Leviticus 24
        • Leviticus 1-5 & Isaiah 43:21-44:23 “Chosen”
        • Leviticus 11-15 “Mr.Clean”
        • Leviticus Series – it’s all about worship!
      • Numbers / 4. Mojžišova
        • “I Am Blessed” Numbers 6:22-27
        • Num 35 “Refuge”
        • Numbers 1-2 “Centered”
        • Numbers 30 – ‘Broken Promises’ 14.10.2012
        • Sunday 21.10.2012
        • “Of Blessings and Curses” – Numbers 21-25
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        • Deut 12-26 More Than A Song
        • Deut 5-6 “If you love ME…”
        • Deut 1-4; 7-10 Remember
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        • Joshua 2 Check Out
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        • Joshua 5 – Cut Out
        • Joshua 10-12 Sun Stand Still
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        • Acts 3:1-10 “One Day”
        • Acts 3:11-26 “ReThink”
      • JESUS word.life.art – Teaching Series
        • Mk 1 “Not Alone”
        • Mk 2 “Out of the Box God”
        • Mk 4 “Kingdom of God”
        • Mk 5 “Does God Care?”
        • Mk 6 “Amazed”
        • Mk 7 “Clean?”
        • Mk 8 “Open Eyes”
        • Mk 9 “Transformed”
        • Mk 10 “Rich?”
        • Mk 11-13 “Temple Teachings”
        • Mk 14-15 “Jesus Life”
        • Easter 2013 – RISE!
    • Topical – CityLight Teaching Team
      • “A Joel Moment” 18/4/2010
      • “HOPE” 4.4.2010
      • Esther 21.3.2011 “Purim- Revealing the Mystery”
      • Hebrews 12:14-29 “Esau Syndrome” 1.10.10
      • “Conversations” – 2yrs of CityLight!
      • “God Man” – Chad Shively 8.5.2011
      • “God Names” – Chad Shively 1.5.2011
      • “Good & Pleasant” Acts 2:42
      • “Grow” 1 Samuel 1-3 13.3.2011
      • “I was blind, but now I see” – John 9
      • “Kingdom” – Alberto Melo
      • “Life for God’s Sake” Romans 12:1-2
      • “Thanksgiving Always” – 1 Thess 5:16-18
      • “Treasure” Psalm 37
      • “Vision – Living Words” Acts 2:42 / James 1:22
      • ‘BE___’
      • 15.8.2010 “The Journey Home” – Hebrews 11
      • 25.7.2010 “At His Feet”
      • 3.8.2010 “Tithe as Worship”
      • A Good Year – John 2:1-11
      • Advent #3: “Come Let US adore HIM” (Mt. 2:1-12)
      • Advent 2012
      • Advent 2015
      • Advent: 13.6.09 “Revelation as Gift”
      • Advent: 6.12.09 “Pregnant with expectation?”
      • Body & Bride
      • CityLight – April 26 : “20/20”
      • CityLight April 19 – “Remember”
      • Declare OUT! – Acts 11
      • Dynamically Driven and Devoted
      • Epiphany
      • Erik Racz
      • Erik Racz: Acts 16 – “Road to Freedom” 5.9.2010
      • Erik Razc – “PS 95” 27.12.09
      • Festival of Lights!
      • Gifted to Give (1 Cor 12)
      • Give 11.4.
      • Hebrews 12 “Strip down, Shoot straight” Jan 3/10
      • Hebrews 13 “Continue in Love” 17.1.10
      • Joel 2 “New Creation” 27.3.2011
      • Kid’s Ministry Seminar 2011
      • Life Together
      • Light of My World
      • Lighting the Way
      • LOVE IS
      • Loving the Light – Matthew 2:1-12
      • Passover 2011
      • Resurrection: Proofs & Power
      • Rise – Easter 2011
      • RISE 2012 – John 11
      • “Dynamically Driven and Devoted” (Acts 2:42-47)
      • “Shaped to Serve” (Eph 2:10)
    • Guests / Hosť
      • Saved By Fire – 25/4/2010
      • “Good God – Psalm 73” 24.7.2011
      • 12.9.2010 “Praying for the things we really need”
      • 8.8.2010 “Learning the Lesson” – Frank Gonzales
      • Greece 16.1.2011
      • Mission: Brazil 23.1.2011
      • Worried World – Pastor Oto
  • Vision

Hebrews 12 “Strip down, Shoot straight” Jan 3/10

Sometimes you have get rid of extra baggage (emotional, relational.. and good old fashion “stuff”). Sometimes “less is more” in this spiritual journey with Jesus. As we simplify we are able to gain a uncanny focus on what is important and take in views from heights not normally seen. That seems to be the message in Hebrews 12 – “Strip down, Shoot straight, Stand tall.” And all of it is in the context of “Let us” – specific responses to Jesus that we do together as a community.

Jules Verne wrote a novel “The Mysterious Island” which tells of a Civil War prison break via a hot balloon (think: cool gadgets of 007 or Batman). The 5 inmates are carried far out over the ocean and the balloon is slowly descending into the deep. The save themselves they begin to strip off everything that is not essential until its simply them hanging from the ropes of the balloon… (you will have to pick up the book to finish the story). But the point is – when survival and success are on the line you really begin to evaluate what is important. In our faith journey we also have to strip ourselves of “stuff.”

Hebrews 12:1-2 encourages us to get rid of anything that slows us down from running to Jesus (responsibilities, relationships, ministries, ideas, enter your “pet” here _________.)
It also speaks about not getting tangled up in sin… an easy thing to do. But as we begin to remove or untangle ourselves from these distractions we begin to gain focus, things… actually HE, Jesus, begins to become clearer and clearer. And its at that point that we are pressed to “fix our eyes on JESUS” (v3).

All of this is easier said then done – right? I think that is why the author of Hebrews slipped in the part “run with perseverance the race marked out for you.” Perseverance is not in some of our vocabularies. We like instant photography, soup, coffee, gratification, and results. We are part of the “Why wait when I can charge it now?” culture. But we could use a bit more perseverance in our lives and the qualities of patience, endurance, and steadfastness that come with it. If you make an honest try at this whole Jesus Journey you will realize it’s not as easy as it sounds. You might even get weary and start to loose heart. So, how can we persevere? The Scriptures tell us to “consider Jesus” and what he endured and that in that meditation of His life we will find strength to press on.

Also don’t forget that you are not alone in this race. The Father is running alongside you, wanting to support you and help you finish even when you would rather give up and fail.
Below is a video clip of Derek Redmond (Barcelona 1992) whose amazing run demonstrates the spirit of persevering and the Fathers love for us. Enjoy, be inspired, run the race to win!

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Comments

  1. Susan January 15, 2011 · Reply

    My Brother Frank Gonzalez sent me your link, which I now book marked. I loved your illustration of the balloon along with Hebrews 12 “strip down” & the awesome video of Derek Redmond & his father, which brought tears to my eyes. I have served the Lord now for 42 years & many times running the race has been pretty rough, 32 of those years has been serving God as a Pastors wife. Whenever I have wanted to quit running the race because of the pain that others have caused I remind myself of the joy of seeing my Brother Frank and several other family members get saved and to see him used of God especially in a foreign country makes me fight the battle even greater. I am a strong believer in prayer I have seen so many miracles in my life that literally strengthens my heart & walk with the Lord. I’m so grateful that the Lord saved me and He is like the father in the video who never lets me run the race alone even in my greatest trials & testings as he will be there for you and my Brother & Susie. Keep pressing on Pastor and thanks for your website. Much Blessings!!!

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