Run For Your Life! (Hix)

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.