What’s Your Focus?

What’s Your Focus?

Hebrews 12:1-2NKJV

We all know what sins are, but let me focus for a moment on those hindrances.

Hindrances (Weights) are those things that may not be sins, but still keep you from living a life totally surrendered to God.

Imagine you are at a track meet, and they’re lining up for the 100 meter dash. Everything’s fine except for one contestant. Instead of the regular shorts and track shoes, he’s wearing a snowmobile suit and galoshes.

Now that’s probably not against the rules, but he’s not going to win, if he even survives the race.

The clothes are a hindrance to his success.

Take an inventory of your life to see if there are any hindrances (weights) to your walk with Jesus.

Hebrews 12:1-2NKJV 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, 2 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. 

This great cloud of witnesses that encircle us can be found in Hebrews 11.

Men like, Abel—By faith Abel’s blood still speaks even though he was dead.

Noah—By faith, He built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.

Abraham— By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

Vs 30, of Hebrews 11, By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.

Vs 31, of Hebrews 11, By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient

Back to the text, Hebrews 12:1b…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us,

Jesus not only conquered sin, but He demolished its weight! Colossians, says He spoiled principalities and powers.

Notice in Hebrews 12:1, the author commands us to release all past weights before we are able to deal with the sin.

This I know—If the weight of sin isn’t dealt with, endurance for the race won’t last. That’s why many give up, or seemingly quit. P.H

Here’s some weights:

The cares of the world—daily activities drag you down.

The love of money—Money comes first.

Shallow Christianity—stunted growth.

Paul wrote a master piece in the Book of Romans, Romans 8:1NIV Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

Jesus declares—rest in your faith, stretch your faith, John 15, Jesus states, Get out on a limb and bear more fruit.

Jesus declares over His own, trust Me, believe Me, confess your declaration.

Presently, I make this declaration—over my left index finger, I declare total wholeness, I declare perfect movement, better than before, in Jesus’ name. P.H

Exodus 14:13NKJV  And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.

To stand still in Jesus Christ means, to trust Him. Trust, His written word.

According to Jeremiah 23:29NIV “Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

The hero’s of faith listed in Hebrews 11, learned exactly that—When they couldn’t seem to find a way, they stood still—They trusted.

Listen again to Hebrews 12:1TPT As for us, we have all of these great witnesses’ who encircle us like clouds. So we must let go of every wound (weight) that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us.

The healing begins as you let go. Let go of all past hurts, let go of past failures, let go of past defeats—Let go of every hurt and wound!

One thing I know about running a marathon is, "One single gain of sand positioned just right, can rub a quick blister on your foot. One irritation, one past wound, one hurtful word or one past weight, can hinder the path already marked out for you.”

The writer of Hebrews, commands believers to look away from all past sin, and bitterness, that we easily fall back into. Again, Let go of the weight.

Back in the day, we had a high school coach who placed 4 pound bags of sand around his players ankles, they would wear them all week. Right before the game, the coach would tell every player to untied the weights. Upon taking the weights off, every athlete felt as if they could jump higher, and run faster as they laid aside these weights.