Hebrews 12:1 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,

Hebrews 12:1 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,

Weight = Hindrance –Not necessarily sinful, but not helpful (1Co.6:12) “Therefore…let us lay aside every weight…and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Lay Aside Every Weight (Heb.12:1)

1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

Lawful Helpful

Weight = Hindrance –Not necessarily sinful, but not helpful (1Co.6:12) If desire is to finish - shed the weight! Key is DESIRE / VALUE (Mt.6:21) “Therefore…let us lay aside every weight…and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Lay Aside Every Weight (Heb.12:1)

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Weight = Hindrance –Not necessarily sinful, but not helpful (1Co.6:12) If desire is to finish - shed the weight! Key is DESIRE / VALUE (Mt.6:21) “Therefore…let us lay aside every weight…and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Lay Aside Every Weight (Heb.12:1)

Great in God’s mind or in man’s eyes? –(Mk.10:43-45)(Jo.12:42-43)(Jo.5:44) “Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant” Desire For Worldly Success

Mark 10:43-45 (43) "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. (44) "And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. (45) "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

John 12:42-43 (42) Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; (43) for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

John 5:44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

Great in God’s mind or in man’s eyes? –(Mk.10:43-45)(Jo.12:42-43)(Jo.5:44) Why is this a “WEIGHT”? –Because you may have to lose “worldly success” in order to remain faithful to God (Mt.10:22-25) (1Co.4:11-13,16) “Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant” Desire For Worldly Success

Matthew 10:22-25 (22) "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved… (24) "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.

Matthew 10:22-25 (25) "It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!

1 Corinthians 4:11-13,16 (11) To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. (12) And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;

1 Corinthians 4:11-13,16 (13) being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. (16) Therefore I urge you, imitate me.

Great in God’s mind or in man’s eyes? –(Mk.10:43-45)(Jo.12:42-43)(Jo.5:44) Why is this a “WEIGHT”? –Because you may have to lose “worldly success” in order to remain faithful to God (Mt.10:22-25) (1Co.4:11-13,16) “Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant” Desire For Worldly Success

Women pressured to follow the world’s standards for success –God’s priority for the woman - “home keeper” or “home manager” (Tit.2:5) (1Ti.5:14) Desire For Worldly Success

Titus 2:4-5 (4) that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, (5) to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

Titus 2:4-5 (4) that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, (5) to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

1 Timothy 5:14 Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

1 Timothy 5:14 Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

Women pressured to follow the world’s standards for success –God’s priority for the woman - “home keeper” or “home manager” (Tit.2:5) (1Ti.5:14) –Women were created for this purpose (Ge.2:18) (1Co.11:9) (1Pe.3:1-6) (Pr.31) Desire For Worldly Success

Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him."

1 Corinthians 11:9 (8) For man is not from woman, but woman from man. (9) Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.

1 Peter 3:1-6 (1) Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, (2) when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.

1 Peter 3:1-6 (3) Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-- (4) rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

1 Peter 3:1-6 (5) For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, (6) as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

Women pressured to follow the world’s standards for success –God’s priority for the woman - “home keeper” or “home manager” (Tit.2:5) (1Ti.5:14) –Women were created for this purpose (Ge.2:18) (1Co.11:9) (1Pe.3:1-6) (Pr.31) –“Older women” should be “teaching” this! (Tit.2:3-5) “She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness” (Pr.31:27) Desire For Worldly Success

Titus 2:3-5 the older women(3) the older women likewise, that they be… teachers of good things-- that they admonish the young women(4) that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to behomemakers(5) to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

Women pressured to follow the world’s standards for success –God’s priority for the woman - “home keeper” or “home manager” (Tit.2:5) (1Ti.5:14) –Women were created for this purpose (Ge.2:18) (1Co.11:9) (1Pe.3:1-6) (Pr.31) –“Older women” should be “teaching” this! (Tit.2:3-5) “She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness” (Pr.31:27) Desire For Worldly Success

Women pressured to follow the world’s standards for success –Priority is determined by the time and effort devoted to a task –Women are being “weighed down” and torn apart at the seams trying to be “super-mom” and pursue things that are not their responsibility “lay aside every weight… and … run with endurance the race that is set...” Desire For Worldly Success

Weight = Hindrance –Not necessarily sinful, but not helpful (1Co.6:12) If desire is to finish - shed the weight! Key is DESIRE / VALUE (Mt.6:21) “Therefore…let us lay aside every weight…and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Lay Aside Every Weight (Heb.12:1)

Great in God’s mind or in man’s eyes? –(Mk.10:43-45)(Jo.12:42-43)(Jo.5:44) Why is this a “WEIGHT”? –Because you may have to lose “worldly success” in order to remain faithful to God (Mt.10:22-25) (1Co.4:11-13,16) “Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant” Desire For Worldly Success

Women pressured to follow the world’s standards for success –God’s priority for the woman - “home keeper” or “home manager” (Tit.2:5) (1Ti.5:14) –Women were created for this purpose (Ge.2:18) (1Co.11:9) (1Pe.3:1-6) (Pr.31) –“Older women” should be “teaching” this! (Tit.2:3-5) “She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness” (Pr.31:27) Desire For Worldly Success

Women pressured to follow the world’s standards for success –Priority is determined by the time and effort devoted to a task –Women are being “weighed down” and torn apart at the seams trying to be “super-mom” and pursue things that are not their responsibility “lay aside every weight… and … run with endurance the race that is set...” Desire For Worldly Success

Women pressured to follow the world’s standards for success –God’s priority for the woman - “home keeper” or “home manager” (Tit.2:5) (1Ti.5:14) Desire For Worldly Success

Titus 2:4-5 (4) that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, (5) to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

Titus 2:4-5 (4) that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, (5) to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

1 Timothy 5:14 Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

1 Timothy 5:14 Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

Women pressured to follow the world’s standards for success –God’s priority for the woman - “home keeper” or “home manager” (Tit.2:5) (1Ti.5:14) –Women were created for this purpose (Ge.2:18) (1Co.11:9) (1Pe.3:1-6) (Pr.31) Desire For Worldly Success

Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him."

1 Corinthians 11:9 (8) For man is not from woman, but woman from man. (9) Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.

1 Peter 3:1-6 (1) Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, (2) when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.

1 Peter 3:1-6 (3) Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-- (4) rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

1 Peter 3:1-6 (5) For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, (6) as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

Women pressured to follow the world’s standards for success –God’s priority for the woman - “home keeper” or “home manager” (Tit.2:5) (1Ti.5:14) –Women were created for this purpose (Ge.2:18) (1Co.11:9) (1Pe.3:1-6) (Pr.31) –“Older women” should be “teaching” this! (Tit.2:3-5) “She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness” (Pr.31:27) Desire For Worldly Success

Titus 2:3-5 the older women(3) the older women likewise, that they be… teachers of good things-- that they admonish the young women(4) that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to behomemakers(5) to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

Women pressured to follow the world’s standards for success –God’s priority for the woman - “home keeper” or “home manager” (Tit.2:5) (1Ti.5:14) –Women were created for this purpose (Ge.2:18) (1Co.11:9) (1Pe.3:1-6) (Pr.31) –“Older women” should be “teaching” this! (Tit.2:3-5) “She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness” (Pr.31:27) Desire For Worldly Success

Women pressured to follow the world’s standards for success –Priority is determined by the time and effort devoted to a task –Women are being “weighed down” and torn apart at the seams trying to be “super-mom” and pursue things that are not their responsibility “lay aside every weight… and … run with endurance the race that is set...” Desire For Worldly Success

Pursue job at cost of God? (Jas.4:14) Desire For Worldly Success

James 4:14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

Pursue job at cost of God? (Jas.4:14) –Does job regularly cause missed assemblies? (He.10:25) Desire For Worldly Success

Hebrews 10:25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Pursue job at cost of God? (Jas.4:14) –Does job regularly cause missed assemblies? (He.10:25) –“Ox in the ditch”? (Lk.14:5) Desire For Worldly Success

Luke 14:5 Then He answered them, saying, "Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?"

Pursue job at cost of God? (Jas.4:14) –Does job regularly cause missed assemblies? (He.10:25) –“Ox in the ditch”? (Lk.14:5) Desire For Worldly Success

Pursue job at cost of God? (Jas.4:14) –Does job regularly cause missed assemblies? (He.10:25) –“Ox in the ditch”? (Lk.14:5) Get another ox! “No one can serve two masters… he will be loyal to the one and despise the other” (Mt.6:24) Desire For Worldly Success

Pursue job at cost of God? (Jas.4:14) –Does job regularly cause missed assemblies? (He.10:25) –“Ox in the ditch”? (Lk.14:5) Get another ox! –Most believe that there will be “a time” in the future when they will fully devote their lives (Js.4:14) (Lk.12:15-21, 42-47) “No one can serve two masters… he will be loyal to the one and despise the other” (Mt.6:24) Desire For Worldly Success

James 4:14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

Luke 12:15-21 (15) And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." (16) Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully…

Luke 12:15-21 (18) "So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. (19) 'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."'

Luke 12:15-21 (20) "But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' (21) "So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

Luke 12:42-47 (42) And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? (43) "Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.

Luke 12:42-47 (44) "Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. (45) "But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk,

Luke 12:42-47 (46) "the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

Luke 12:42-47 (47) "And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

Pursue job at cost of God? (Jas.4:14) –Does job regularly cause missed assemblies? (He.10:25) –“Ox in the ditch”? (Lk.14:5) Get another ox! –Most believe that there will be “a time” in the future when they will fully devote their lives (Js.4:14) (Lk.12:16-21, 42-47) “No one can serve two masters… he will be loyal to the one and despise the other” (Mt.6:24) Desire For Worldly Success

Desire For Worldly Friends Friend of the world / Enemy of God (Jas.4:4) –Dating a non-Christian (1Co.15:33) Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” The insatiable desire for people of the world to approve of us and befriend us

Desire For Worldly Friends Friend of the world / Enemy of God (Jas.4:4) –Dating a non-Christian (Prov.12:26) The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray. “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” The insatiable desire for people of the world to approve of us and befriend us

Non-Christians 149 Total 106 Left the Lord 43 Faithful 44 Divorced 26 Converted Mate Marriage of Christians To… “Nor shall you make marriages with them… For they will turn your sons away from following Me” (De.7:3-4) Christians 112 Total 8 Left the Lord 104 Faithful 4 Divorced 71% 29% 30% 18% 7% 93% 4%

Desire For Worldly Friends Friend of the world / Enemy of God (Js.4:4) –Dating a non-Christian (2Co.6:14) (1Co.15:33) Trying to become like the world (2 Co.6:17) –Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” The insatiable desire for people of the world to approve of us and befriend us

Desire For Worldly Friends Friend of the world / Enemy of God (Js.4:4) –Dating a non-Christian (2Co.6:14) (1Co.15:33) Trying to become like the world (2 Co.6:17) –We should be separate from the world so we can reach the world! (1Pe.3:15) “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” The insatiable desire for people of the world to approve of us and befriend us

Desire For Worldly Friends 1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” The insatiable desire for people of the world to approve of us and befriend us

Desire For Worldly Friends Friend of the world / Enemy of God (Js.4:4) –Dating a non-Christian (2Co.6:14) (1Co.15:33) Trying to become like the world (2 Co.6:17) –We should be separate from the world so we can reach the world! (1Pe.3:15) –Church should change world, not be changed by the world (Tit. 2:11-14) “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” The insatiable desire for people of the world to approve of us and befriend us

Desire For Worldly Friends Titus 2: For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” The insatiable desire for people of the world to approve of us and befriend us

Desire For Worldly Friends Titus 2: looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” The insatiable desire for people of the world to approve of us and befriend us

Desire For Worldly Friends Titus 2: who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” The insatiable desire for people of the world to approve of us and befriend us

Desire For Worldly Friends Friend of the world / Enemy of God (Js.4:4) –Dating a non-Christian (2Co.6:14) (1Co.15:33) Trying to become like the world (2 Co.6:17) –We should be separate from the world so we can reach the world! (1Pe.3:15) –Church should change world, not be changed by the world (Tit. 2:11-14) “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” The insatiable desire for people of the world to approve of us and befriend us

Desire For Pleasure Or Fun Pleasure is deceitful and can bring one under bondage (2Ti.3:1-5) 1 – 1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:

Desire For Pleasure Or Fun Pleasure is deceitful and can bring one under bondage (2Ti.3:1-5) 2 – 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Desire For Pleasure Or Fun Pleasure is deceitful and can bring one under bondage (2Ti.3:1-5) 3 – 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,

Desire For Pleasure Or Fun Pleasure is deceitful and can bring one under bondage (2Ti.3:1-5) 4 – 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 – 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”

Desire For Pleasure Or Fun Pleasure is deceitful and can bring one under bondage (2Ti.3:1-5) –Keep kids too busy to learn godliness? “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”

Desire For Pleasure Or Fun Pleasure is deceitful and can bring one under bondage (2Ti.3:1-5) –Keep kids too busy to learn godliness? Self-indulgence of Samson (Judges 14:3) “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”

Desire For Pleasure Or Fun Judges 14:3 Then his father and mother said to him, "Is there no woman among the daughters of your brethren, or among all my people, that you must go and get a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?" And Samson said to his father, "Get her for me, for she pleases me well." “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”

Desire For Pleasure Or Fun Pleasure is deceitful and can bring one under bondage (2Ti.3:1-5) –Keep kids too busy to learn godliness? Self-indulgence of Samson (Jud. 14:3) Esau (Heb. 12:16) vs. Moses (Heb. 11:24-26) “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”

Desire For Pleasure Or Fun Esau: Hebrews 12:16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”

Desire For Pleasure Or Fun Moses: Hebrews 11: By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,

Desire For Pleasure Or Fun Moses: Hebrews 11: choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,

Desire For Pleasure Or Fun Moses: Hebrews 11: esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

Desire For Pleasure Or Fun Pleasure is deceitful and can bring one under bondage (2Ti.3:1-5) –Keep kids too busy to learn godliness? Self-indulgence of Samson (Jud. 14:3) Esau (Heb. 12:16) vs. Moses (Heb. 11:24-26) “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”

Desire For Wealth Wealth is not evil - but the desire for wealth is a tremendous weight –(Pr.23:4) (1Ti.6:9-10) (Lk. 12:15-21) –Abraham (Ge.24:35) Job (Job 1:21) - rich and faithful –May restrict path to Heaven (Mt. 19:24) –May choke out the word (Mk. 4:19) “Labor not to be rich…for riches certainly make themselves wings.”

In order to RUN (He.12:1) –Like our examples (He.11:25-38) –With endurance (He.12:1) –Prepared for persecution (2Ti.2:4) In order to FINISH Why Lay Aside These Weights? “Therefore…let us lay aside every weight…and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Look to the AUTHOR and FINISHER –His example (He.12:2) For the joy that was set before Him Endured the cross Despised the shame Sat down at the right hand of God –His teaching (Mt.18:8-9; 10:37-39) –His zeal (Mk.3:21) How Do We Lay Aside These Weights? “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”

Do You REALLY Want To Finish? “For the joy set before Him” Weight = Hindrance –Not necessarily sinful, but not helpful (1Co.6:12) If desire is to finish - shed the weight! Key is DESIRE / VALUE (Mt.6:21)