Faith Family Church

• What race are you running
• What’s slowing you down?
• Where are your eyes fixed?
• Will you finish well?

Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)
…let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up…

strip off - a thorough and intentional shedding of things that hinder the race of faith to be run effectively; to lay aside

sin - anything God has clearly called us to avoid

weights - things that may not be sinful, but they keep us from God's best; they burden us down

The word weight refers to a burden,mass, or unnecessary load that hinders movement.

We carry things God never asked us to carry:
• Offense
• Worry
• Busyness
• Comparison
• Fear
• Unforgiveness
• Comfort

"You cannot run toward God's future while dragging yesterday's burdens."
—Unknown

Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)
…run with endurance the race God has set before us.

endurance - steadfastness, patient perseverance, cheerful consistency under pressure

God's people have always needed endurance:
· Noah built the ark for decades.
· Joseph waited years.
· David waited for the throne.
· Abraham waited for Isaac.
· Jesus waited thirty years before three years of ministry.

God develops endurance before He releases destiny.

"By perseverance the snail reached the ark." –Charles Spurgeon

Hebrews 12:2 (NLT)
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus...

looking unto Jesus - to turn your eyes away from everything else and fix them completely upon one object (Jesus); not a casual glance—a fixed gaze

Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)
He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

“The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One.” –A.W. Tozer

Hebrews 12:3 NLT
Think of all the hostility He endured … then you won’t become weary and give up.

think - to carefully consider or continually reflect upon

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (EXB)
16 So we do not give up [despair; lose heart]. Though our physical body [outer person] is becoming older and weaker [decaying; being destroyed], our spirit inside us [inner (person)] is made new [being renewed] every day.
17 We have small troubles for a while now, but they [For our brief and insignificant trials/tribulations] are helping us gain [or producing in us] an eternal glory [burden/weight of glory] that is much greater than [overwhelmingly exceeds] the troubles.
18 We set our eyes not on what we see but on what we cannot see. [For; Because] What we see will last only a short time [is temporary/transitory], but what we cannot see will last forever [ is eternal].

Sometimes spiritual victory looks like:
• One more prayer.
• One more church service.
• One more act of obedience.
• One more day trusting God.

“Faithfulness is not measured by spectacular moments but by consistent obedience.”
–Rick Warren

Practical ways to live out Hebrews 12:1-3:
1. Ask God daily: "What weight do you want me to lay down?"

Practical ways to live out Hebrews 12:1-3:
2. Spend time fixing your eyes on Jesus.

Practical ways to live out Hebrews 12:1-3:
3. Take the next step of obedience.

Practical ways to live out Hebrews 12:1-3:
4. Stay around people who strengthen your faith.

Today, ask yourself:
• What weight do I need to lay down?
• What sin needs to be surrendered?
• Where have my eyes drifted from Jesus?
• Am I growing weary, or am I trusting His strength?
• What is one practical step of obedience I can take this week?