What Gets in our Way?

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What Gets in our Way?

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Hebrews 12:1-3 (NKJV)• (Heb 12:1-3 NKJV) "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,

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Hebrews 12:1-3 (NKJV)• (Heb 12:1-3 NKJV) {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. {3} For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."

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Let us lay aside every weight

• The weights that are referred to here are the training weights of the athletes.

• For the real race, the athlete got rid of all but the barest necessities of clothing.

• The Christian is to lay aside the weights, but what are they?

• For many, it is the care of daily living• Peter says to cast our cares on God.

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1 Peter 5:6-7 (NKJV)• "Therefore humble yourselves under the

mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, {7} casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."

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Our Faith Overcomes• (1 John 5:4 KJV) For whatsoever is born of

God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

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“The sin which ensnares us”• What is your besetting sin?• "The Sin"--Is it one sin?• I believe it is "the sin" that ensnares you.--

Sins get personalized.• Any addition that interferes with our

Christian life or work.• Lack of discipline that keeps us from serving

the Lord effectively

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Discipline• (Heb 12:11 NASB) All discipline for the

moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

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Our Discipline should include:

• Taking time for Bible study and reading during the week.

• Taking time to pray to God for so many things.

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Time to Pray• (1 Tim 2:1-4 NKJV) Therefore I exhort first of

all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, {2} for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. {3} For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, {4} who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

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The weights & sins• Any addition that interferes with our

Christian life or work.• Lack of discipline that keeps us from serving

the Lord effectively• Failure to do the good things that we know

we should do, and are capable of doing.

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Doing the Good• (James 4:17 NKJV) Therefore, to him who

knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

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The weights & sins• Any addition that interferes with our

Christian life or work.• Lack of discipline that keeps us from serving

the Lord effectively• Failure to do the good things that we know

we should do, and are capable of doing.

• Attitudes that tear us and/or others down.

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Attitudes that tear us down.

• The lack of faith attitude, or “I can’t do that!” • An unforgiving attitude.• An unkind/mean attitude.• A thoughtless attitude.• Bitterness is a very serious bad attitude

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Bitterness : a very serious attitude

• (Heb 12:14-16 NKJV) Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: {15} looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; {16} lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.

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The weights & sins• Any addition that interferes with our Christian

life or work.• Lack of discipline that keeps us from serving the

Lord effectively• Failure to do the good things that we know we

should do, and are capable of doing.• Attitudes that tear us and/or others down.• Bitterness will be dealt with later in this chapter.• Blaming others, or circumstances, or things of

the past, can make us an ineffective person.17

Blaming others!• (Gen 4:9 KJV) And the LORD said unto Cain,

Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

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Sins can ensnare us• 1. The original word was used to speak of a

pack of animals that would encircle their victim, so that there was practically no way of escape.

• 2. We may feel so guilty that we don't feel right about coming to church, or praying, or trying to get right with God

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Let us run with endurance • A. The race is a marathon; it isn't a 100

yard dash.• B. Our encouragement is to the example of

others• 1. "Since we are surrounded by so great a

cloud of witnesses."• 2. Our greatest example is Jesus

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Our greatest example is Jesus

• Hebrews 12:2, "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith"

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“Be faithful until death”• (Rev 2:10 NKJV) ""Do not fear any of those

things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."

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“Endure to the end”

• (Mat 10:22 NKJV) ""And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved."

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Do Not Be Discouraged• Hebrews 12:3 For consider Him who endured

such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."

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“Souls” – “psuche”• lest you become weary and discouraged in

your souls."

• “souls.” “faint in your minds.” (KJV), lose heart. (NIV & NASB)

• original: psuche

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“Looking unto Jesus”

• {Hebrews 12:2} 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.

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Remember Paul’s words

• (Rom 8:18 NKJV) For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

• Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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But what about us? 1. Will we allow our sins and our weights

to get us down? 2. Or will we look to Jesus and overcome?

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Let Us Lay Aside Every

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Conclusion• Are there things in your life of a public nature

that need to be confessed publicly?• II. Have you obeyed the gospel, and put on

your Lord in baptism?•

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