Hebrews 12:1-3-Wherefore seeing we also 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 shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. (KJV)
Hebrews 12:1-3-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,
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. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. (NKJV)
Hebrews 12:1-3-Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in heaven. Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him, so that you don't become weary and give up. (NLT)
Mike Kollin, a former linebacker for the Miami Dolphins, was asked to do some recruiting for his old team. The linebacker said, "Sure, coach, what kind of player are you looking for?"
The coach said, "Well, Mike, you know there's that fellow, you knock him down, he just stays down?" Mike said, "We don't want him, do we, coach?"
"No, that's right. Then there's that fellow, you knock him down and he gets up, but you knock him down again and he stays down."
Mike answered, "We don't want him either, do we, coach?"
Coach said, "No, but Mike, there's a fellow, you knock him down, he gets up. Knock him down, he gets up. Knock him down, he gets up. Knock him down, he gets up."
Mike said, "That's the guy we want, isn't it, coach?"
"No, we don't want him either. I want you to find that guy who's knocking everybody down. That's the guy we want!"
You want some encouragement about the race that God has set before us, then look at the contestants in Hebrews 11, look at those men and women who have run the race before we had entered the race.
God used Abraham a liar, to be the father of nation, a nation that God would use to bless the whole world!!
He used Sarah, a woman who laughed in disbelief when God promised to bless Abraham and Sarah’s union with a son, and she became the mother of a nation.
God used Moses, a murderer, to deliver the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage.
God used Jacob, a liar and trickster, to remind us that God doesn’t give up on anybody, even when we are our worst enemy!
God used Rahab, a prostitute, to remind us that God has a plan for everybody, no matter what their background may be, not matter what their circumstances may be!!
God used David a adultery, a murderer, to remind us that even when mess up, I mean, when we really mess up, we can still be used of God
God used these runners in the race to fulfill His purpose, and He used them in spite of their weaknesses, their attitudes and their circumstances.
God can use you for His purpose as well, no matter what you’ve done or what you’re going through.
Weight-Heavy Load-There are some things you need to let go of, some things you need to lay down, maybe you haven’t forgiven yourself of some things you have done in your past, or maybe some things that were done to you and they are like a big heavy weight on your shoulders and you can’t run your full potential with all that weight!
On the biggest loser after the contestants have lost a lot of weight, they make them put on these vest that weighs what they lost and they have to run a race, or obstacle course.
We come to Christ and become freed from of a lot of things and yet the longer we are in this race, it seems that we allow ourselves to be burden down with a lot of things!
Mental Burden-You are having trouble running because things are weighting heavy on your mind…Things that could happen, things that did happen, things you have said, things that have been said to you, and they keep playing over and over again, and you can’t focus on God or His Word, or serving Him and you need to release those things, you need to clear your mind of those things. (Like when you know you need to go to sleep)
Are you weary, are your heavy hearted-Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus
Power To Influence Or Persuade-There are people in your life that are weighing you down, maybe they have such a strong personality or your so connect to them, or you have a history with them, but when you are with them they drag you down to their level, maybe they are negative all the time and when your around them you become negative, or maybe they have such a influence in your life that they can talk you into doing things you wouldn’t normally do, maybe your act different, you talk different, behave different when you are around them. They influence you so much that it interferes with the race you are running, so I’m telling you for your on good that you need to distance yourself from them, doesn’t mean you can’t be friends with them, or hang around them sometimes but don’t let them influence your life as much as they have!!
One version says, “Lay Aside Every Weight“, another version says, “Strip off Every Weight” either way it is our decision, it is our choice, it is something we have to do for ourselves, if we want to run this race to our full potential.
The whole point of this race is to honor God!
Now let me ask you question, isn’t He worth you doing your best, giving your all to honor Him?
