Therefore since we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Lay Aside Every Weight (Heb.12:1)

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 patience the race that is set before us.” Lay Aside Every Weight (Heb.12:1)

Success in God’s eyes or in man’s eyes? –Mat 6:24 24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and riches. –John 5:44 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? –John12:42-43 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess lest they should be put out…. Desire For Worldly Success

Why is this a “WEIGHT”? –Because you may have to lose “worldly success” in order to remain faithful to God Mt. 6:33 Dad as an example: “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.2:4-5.. that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, …. “She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness” (Pr.31:27) Desire For Worldly Success She should not feel guilty if she works as a home maker, and only a home maker!

Women continued: –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? –Does your job regularly cause you to miss services? Hebrews 10:25 –“Ox in the pit”? Luke 14:5 –Most believe that there will be “a time” in the future when they will fully devote their lives to God & family James 4:14 “No one can serve two masters… he will be loyal to the one and despise the other” (Mt.6:24) Desire For Worldly Success Get another ox! Men and Women

Desire For Worldly Friends Friend of the world / Enemy of God (James 4:4) “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” The strong 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 2Timothy 3:1-5 1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

Desire For Pleasure Or Fun Pleasure is deceitful and can bring one under bondage –Keep kids too busy to learn godliness? –Every school activity imaginable Self-indulgence of Samson - Judges 14:3 Get her for me; for she pleases me well. Esau verses Moses NEXT SLIDE “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”

Desire For Pleasure Or Fun Esau as a bad example: ….lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright - Heb. 12:16 Compared to Moses By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. - Heb. 11:24-26

Desire For Pleasure Or Fun Ashli telling me about college girls going “Clubbin” Watching vile and filthy T.V. Music that is vile. Friends who are a little more than a walking cesspool “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”

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 Change your thinking - Romans 12:1-2 Actively serve the Lord - Titus 2:14 How Do We Lay Aside These Weights? “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”

Do You REALLY Want To Finish? Focus On The Cross Jesus died for you!