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)
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!
So Easily Beset Us-To harass or trouble somebody continually
Surround somebody from all sides, besieged
So Easily Ensnares Us-Trap, entangle, snare.
So Easily Hinders Our Progress-Hold back, hamper, obstruct, delay
Is there a sin in your life that has given you trouble since you first got saved, seems like you can’t get away from it, it besieges you, it feels like it surrounds you, it has entangled your Christian life, it has delayed your Spiritual growth, it has held you back in having a victorious Christian life, and it has obstructed your view of what God has for you.
The sad part is, those words that is found in all three versions…So Easily!
It so easily ensnares us! It so easily traps us! It so easily entangles us!
It’s that one sin in our life that God has heard us ask for forgiveness time and time again!
What can we learn from this? You are not alone in having this besetting sin in your life!
Also, my besetting sin maybe different than your besetting sin!
What I’m dealing with, maybe different than what your dealing with!
What I’m struggling with, maybe different than what your struggling with!
Let Us Run With Patience-We need to remember this race is not a sprint, it is a marathon!
This statement is a great encouragement, because it reminds us that the things that weigh’s us down, the sin or sins that beset us, it may take time to overcome them, but have patience’s but by no means are we to quit the race, or give up on the race or let these things disqualify us in the race.
Looking Unto Jesus-Not at Lord’s Supper, not Baptism, not at Church membership, all these things are good but they should not be our focus, Jesus should be our focus!
Formula For Spiritual Success:
1-If you want to be distressed-Look Within
2-If you want to be defeated-Look Back
3-If you want to be distracted-Look Around
4-If you want to be dismayed-Look Ahead
5-If you want to be delivered-Look Up!
I have seen it happen in high school, college and even professional football, you have a runner who has the ball and he looks behind him to see how close the other team is to him and that’s when they are able to catch him.
When every we start looking around and start noticing how other people are running the race and take our eyes off of Jesus that’s when we get into trouble. (Remember what happen to Peter when he took his eyes off of Jesus-Matthew 14:30-But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink.
There is another thing we need to remember, that we are not all running the race at the same speed, some are faster and some are slower.
In the Tour De France, when Lance Armstrong was competing, did every wonder why they all competed if they knew he was going to win, I believe they all had their own personal goals, I believe God has given each and everyone of us personal goals that we are to reach before this race is over!!
Author And Finisher Of Our Faith-Quite simple, He started you out in this race and He will help you finish it!!!
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.
Consider Him:
Are you tired of always being the one who does the right thing?…Then Consider Him (He was and is the only one who always does the right thing!)
Are you tired of always being the one that has to forgive?…Then Consider Him (How many times has He forgiven you?)
Are you tired of people being around you, just so they can use you?…Then Consider Him (How many times do we only talk to Him when we want something?)
Are you tired of people being your friend on facebook and completely ignoring you in public?…Then Consider Him
(We acknowledge Him church, but do we acknowledge Him in public to others?)
Are you tired of always giving and giving?…Then Consider Him
(For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16)
Are you tired of always being the one who says, “I Love You” first…Then Consider Him (We love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19)
The dog who bragged to all the other dogs that he could out run anything, one of the spoke up and said, “I bet you can’t out run that rabbit!” So the dog took off chasing the rabbit and sure enough the rabbit out run him, and all the dogs were laughing at him and said, “We thought you could out run anything?” and the dog replied, “That wasn’t a fair race!” the dogs said, “Why?” He said, “I was running for fun, he was running for his life!”
The difference between the rat race and the race that we Christians are running is this: Rat race is about you winning, the Christian’s race is all about Jesus’ winning!!
What are you running for and who are you running for?
