2. Hebrews 12:1-2
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3. Cloud of witnesses = the catalogue of individuals of faith
Hebrews 12:1-2
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Cloud of witnesses = the catalogue of individuals of faith
Hebrews 11

4. Hebrews 12:1-2
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

5. Hebrews 12:1-2
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

6. Hebrews 12:1-2
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

7. 1. Let us lay aside every weight
Weight = hindrance  lack of endurance
1 Cor. 9:24 – Run to win
What are the weights?
Not sin (context)
1 Cor. 6:12

8. 1. Let us lay aside every weight
1 Cor. 6:12 “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any”
Lawful
WEIGHTS
Helpful
Not Lawful (Sinful)

9. 1. Let us lay aside every weight
What are some of these weights?
1. Worldly Success
Desire to be great (Mk. 10:43-45)
Praise of Men (Jn. 12:42-43)
Ought rather to be like Moses (Heb. 11:24-26)
And like Paul (Phil. 3:3-8)

10. 1. Let us lay aside every weight
What are some of these weights?
1. Worldly Success
2. Worldly Acquaintances
1 Cor. 15:33 – Be not deceived
Prov. 22:24-25 – Lest thou learn their ways
Prov. 13:20 – the influence of other

11. 1. Let us lay aside every weight
What are some of these weights?
1. Worldly Success
2. Worldly Acquaintances
3. Wealth
Mark. 10:23-25 – difficult to enter into heaven
1 Tim. 6:9-10 – the love of money
Proverbs 23:4-5 – labour not to be rich

12. 1. Let us lay aside every weight
What are some of these weights?
1. Worldly Success
2. Worldly Acquaintances
3. Wealth
Anything we hold onto more than our desire to make it to heaven (Matt. 6:21, 33)

13. 2. Let us lay aside the sin that so easily besets us
Sin is a heavy burden that prevents/retards our running
The nature of sin (James 1:14-16)
We are to lay it aside, put it to death when we become a Christian (Col. 3:1, 5-10)

14. 3. Let us run with patience
We have a need for patience (endurance) – Heb. 10:35-39
We get this endurance by looking unto Jesus – Heb. 12:2-4
Paul’s example – Phil. 3:12-14
We must run until the end – 1 Cor. 15:58; Rev. 2:10
We can only run with patience after we have:
Laid aside every weight
Laid aside the sin which so easily besets us

15. Conclusion Instructed to do three things. Let us…
Lay aside every weight
Lay aside sin
Run with endurance
Have we done these things?