Theme:
Perseverance
Title:
Running with Horses
Desired Outcomes:
This uGroup message is focused on motivating members to run their full race and teaching them how to run with horses. This implies, not giving up until you have laid hold on the purposes and promises God intended for you to have.
Core Scriptures:
- Hebrews 12:1-2 – Running the Race
- Jeremiah 12:5 and 1 Kings 18:46 – Running with Horses
Welcome:
Any fun and welcoming Icebreaker that gets the members moving, on their feet, where all the members can participate in. If there are new members be careful not to create a space where they feel exposed or uncomfortable.
Word:
The following could be relevant questions to ask:
- How many hours a day do you use for leisure and pleasure (Facebook, Instagram, socializing, watching series, playing games), as opposed to the number of hours you spend working towards God’s calling for your life?
- Do you perceive the things you do, to move towards God’s calling, as work?
- Are you running with horses – giving it your all?
- What keeps you from running towards what God called you to?
- Are you tired of running your race?
How to Run the Race:
- Remove everything that hinders you from running, everything that weights you down (Heb. 12:1). The natural question would be, what weights you down? A mindset, friends, sin, wrong decisions, disobedience?
- Know your race (Heb. 12:1) – Know God’s will for your life. If you don’t know what your race is, ask the One who made you.
- Fix your eyes on Jesus (Heb. 12:2) – Imitate Him who ran the full race. Do everything as if doing it unto God (Col. 3:23; Eph. 6:7). Keep His commandments (Jhn. 14:15). Choosing to live like Jesus also replaces your heavy burdens with a burden which is light (Mat. 11:30).
- Build you faith by listening to the crowd that cheers you on (Heb. 12:1), not to the crowd that pulls you down (Ps. 1:1).
How to run with Horses:
- Do not complain about your current trials, but use and see them as preparation for the challenges that are coming – running with horses (Jer. 12:5).
- Do not run with your own ability, or in your own time, but do so after receiving the power of Holy Spirit (1 Kgs. 18:46; Act. 1:8). The natural question is, how do I receive power? Consider the following: prayer, pleasing God, holiness, allowing the Holy Spirit to teach/correct you, glorifying Jesus (with your words, with your worship, with your life).
- Ensure that you wait on the Lord (His ways, not my ways; His time, not my time; His will, not my will) so that you receive the strength that will keep you from getting tired. Also, persist in your prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving so that you may enjoy His peace (Phil. 4:7).