“THOW OFF EVERYTHING

THAT HINDERS...”

HEBREWS 12: 1 - 3

V1 – 3: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great

cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders

and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with

perseverance the race marked out for us, 2fixing our eyes on

Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set

before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat

down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider Him

who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will

not grow weary and lose heart.”

•“The cloud of witnesses surrounding us...” Bad hermeneutics (bad

interpretation of Bible): picture of believers living in a football stadium and

the believers who finish died are watching us live on earth. They see

everything we do...

•Let’s put it back in context (Heb 11): We are not the first to live by faith, look

at Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Israelites

crossing the Red Sea on dry ground, the fall of Jericho, Rahab...

“What shall I (writer of Heb) say!?!”

“Look at Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, Samuel, David and all those

who died before”...even today: Charlie Kirk, Nigeria, China, Indonesia...

These are all witnesses determined to live by faith through obedience.

“The cloud of witnesses

surrounding us” from the

beginning of time through

now!

They/we are witnesses of His

justice, mercy, and grace.

Because we join the

multitudes of believers ...

“let us throw off everything

that hinders and the sin that

so easily entangles.”

“let us throw off everything that hinders...”

Pictured in Mark 10: 46 –52

•Jesus walking near Jericho, Bartimaeus is

sitting at roadside.

•He hears it is Jesus and shouts, “Have mercy

on me!”

•The crowd rebuked him –he shouted even

louder

•Jesus called for him, Bartimaeus threw off his

cloak, jumped up and ran to Jesus.

•Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for

you?”

•“I want to see!”

•Jesus said, “Go, your faith has healed you...”

V2 “and the sin that so easily entangles.”

Throw off things that block you from Jesus and

throw off sin that so easily entangles.

Throw off transgressions = making choices we

know are wrong –STOP –you choose

Throw off what entangles us = infirmities

(hurts, insecurities, things that steal our

attention away from Christ)

What is stealing your joy? What is your cloak?

What is causing you to look away from Jesus?

•Bartimaeus jump up and ran to Jesus –see his heart = he knew his need,

had faith that Jesus could and would meet his need, dropped what

slowed him down (his cloak), jumped up and ran to Jesus.

•Recognizing our needs (Blessed are the poor...Matt 5), stopping what

blocks us from Jesus’ presence, confessed his need, and Jesus healed him

•V1 “...And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us...”

Perseverance: continue efforts to do or achieve something even though

faced with difficulties, failure or opposition...keep going no matter!

•“...the race marked out for us...”

Each life has a purpose designed

by the Lord!

•Jeremiah 29: 11, “ For I know the

plans I have for you,” declares

the Lord, “plans to prosper you

and not to harm you, plans to give

you hope and a future.”

•“...fixing our eyes on Jesus, ...”

“fixing our eyes on Jesus”

•“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” = Jesus is the

pioneer (a person who is the first person to do something) of our faith

•Jesus is the “perfecter” of our faith = It is Jesus Who helps us grow and

improve...I Peter 1: 15, “But just as He Who called you is holy, so be holy in

all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”

•V2... “For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its

shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

•“For the joy set before Him” = He knew His sacrifice would set us free from

things that hinder/block us from Him and the sins that entangle/trap we can

throw off!...This was His joy!

V2 For the joy set before Him (our salvation) he endured the

cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the

throne of God.

V3 “Consider Him, Jesus, Who endured

such opposition from sinners, so that you

will not grow weary and lose heart.”

•What is your ‘cloak’ – block your time

with the Lord?

•What do you need to throw off so you

can run to Jesus and keep your eyes fixed

on Him?

•Ponder/think: suffering for our sins was

“joy” to Jesus because of our salvation...

Communion