Pastor Andy · 26 July 2026
Sermon — "Don't Give Up: Run With Endurance"
Drawing from Hebrews 11:1-40, Hebrews 12:1-6, Galatians 6:9, Romans 5:3-5, Numbers 23:19, Romans 10:17, 2 Corinthians 1:20, and 2 Corinthians 9:7, the key themes were:
Faith defined — from Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The whole of Hebrews 11 is a roll call of men and women who lived and died by faith — Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses — each one acting on what God said, not on what they saw.
Without faith it is impossible to please God — from Hebrews 11:6: "But without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." The pastor's study Bible noted: "Regardless of what else you do for God, your life is not pleasing to Him if it is not characterised by faith." The only time we truly make God happy is when we say — "Lord, I believe. And Lord, I trust."
The cloud of witnesses — from Hebrews 12:1-2: "Therefore, 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, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." The pastor challenged: those who went before us in faith are cheering from the balcony of heaven, saying "Come on, church — we would have loved the Holy Spirit that you have. Why are you not excited?"
God's chastening is not the devil's attack — from Hebrews 12:5-6: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him. For whom the Lord loves He chastens." The pastor urged the congregation to discern the difference between the enemy's attack and God's refining hand. Not everything difficult is the devil — sometimes God is building character through the trial.
Don't grow weary — from Galatians 6:9: "Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." In the middle of the toughest time, God is going to show you something. At the end of it, you will look back and say "How did I get through this?" — and the answer will be God.
Tribulation builds perseverance — from Romans 5:3-5: "Tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance character, and character hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit." The pastor shared his own medical testimony — his blood count came back at 2.25 and he responded with "Thank you, Jesus! I'm still going to be good." He challenged: going through something means God is building perseverance, character, and hope in you.
Lay aside every weight and distraction — from Hebrews 12:1, the pastor challenged the congregation to identify and throw off everything that slows them down — not just sin, but mindsets, negative self-image, words spoken over them by others, and phone distractions. A lady in the week had lost all self-worth because of what her children had said to her. The pastor declared: "Before God you are made perfect. God made you good enough."
Change your mindset — the pastor urged the congregation to move from a worldly mindset to a Word-based mindset. He referenced Romans 10:17 — "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." He illustrated from his own life how having multiple credit cards and worldly security felt like abundance, but when it all collapsed, God guided him through — and that season built the deepest intimacy with God he had ever known. The higher the battle, the deeper into relationship with God he went.
God cannot lie — from Numbers 23:19: "God is not a man, that He should lie." And from 2 Corinthians 1:20: "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen." Every promise God has made is yes and amen. People lie — but God does not. Trust what God says, not what man says.
Remembrance fuels faith — the pastor shared a powerful personal testimony: a man he had just visited on the South Coast told him as he was leaving to give his banking details — and then deposited R50,000 into the church account the very next day. He declared: "You can never out-give God." He urged the congregation to take a moment, remember the last time God came to their rescue, and let that remembrance renew their faith to run again.