What’s Your Focus?
Hebrews 12:1-2NKJV
We all know what sins are, but let me focus for a moment on those hindrances.
Hindrances (Weights) are those things that may not be sins, but still keep you from living a life totally surrendered to God.
Imagine you are at a track meet, and they’re lining up for the 100 meter dash. Everything’s fine except for one contestant. Instead of the regular shorts and track shoes, he’s wearing a snowmobile suit and galoshes.
Now that’s probably not against the rules, but he’s not going to win, if he even survives the race.
The clothes are a hindrance to his success.
Take an inventory of your life to see if there are any hindrances (weights) to your walk with Jesus.
Hebrews 12:1-2NKJV 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, 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
This great cloud of witnesses that encircle us can be found in Hebrews 11.
Men like, Abel—By faith Abel’s blood still speaks even though he was dead.
Noah—By faith, He built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.
Abraham— By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
Vs 30, of Hebrews 11, By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.
Vs 31, of Hebrews 11, By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient
Back to the text, Hebrews 12:1b…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us,
Jesus not only conquered sin, but He demolished its weight! Colossians, says He spoiled principalities and powers.
Notice in Hebrews 12:1, the author commands us to release all past weights before we are able to deal with the sin.
This I know—If the weight of sin isn’t dealt with, endurance for the race won’t last. That’s why many give up, or seemingly quit. P.H
Here’s some weights:
The cares of the world—daily activities drag you down.
The love of money—Money comes first.
Shallow Christianity—stunted growth.
Paul wrote a master piece in the Book of Romans, Romans 8:1NIV Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Jesus declares—rest in your faith, stretch your faith, John 15, Jesus states, Get out on a limb and bear more fruit.
Jesus declares over His own, trust Me, believe Me, confess your declaration.
Presently, I make this declaration—over my left index finger, I declare total wholeness, I declare perfect movement, better than before, in Jesus’ name. P.H
Exodus 14:13NKJV And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.
To stand still in Jesus Christ means, to trust Him. Trust, His written word.
According to Jeremiah 23:29NIV “Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?
The hero’s of faith listed in Hebrews 11, learned exactly that—When they couldn’t seem to find a way, they stood still—They trusted.
Listen again to Hebrews 12:1TPT As for us, we have all of these great witnesses’ who encircle us like clouds. So we must let go of every wound (weight) that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us.
The healing begins as you let go. Let go of all past hurts, let go of past failures, let go of past defeats—Let go of every hurt and wound!
One thing I know about running a marathon is, "One single gain of sand positioned just right, can rub a quick blister on your foot. One irritation, one past wound, one hurtful word or one past weight, can hinder the path already marked out for you.”
The writer of Hebrews, commands believers to look away from all past sin, and bitterness, that we easily fall back into. Again, Let go of the weight.
Back in the day, we had a high school coach who placed 4 pound bags of sand around his players ankles, they would wear them all week. Right before the game, the coach would tell every player to untied the weights. Upon taking the weights off, every athlete felt as if they could jump higher, and run faster as they laid aside these weights.
These weights are past memories of sin. The regrets, the pain, and the suffering caused by sin. The failed commitment through covenant vows. Then and only then, can we run life’s marathon with passion and determination.
Just like you, I have run into many bitter, and or, cold Christians. The path marked out for them was once clear, but now, it’s very dim and foggy—The path seems painful, anything but bright. P.H
What did these hero’s of faith have in common? Hebrews 11:1-2TPT, Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen. 2 This testimony of faith is what previous generations (Elders) were commended for.
The Greek NT—suggest that faith is the title-deed of things hoped for. In other words, If you obtain the faith of God, you will possess a good God report.
John 9:4ESV Jesus said, 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.
How does a believer work? Through faith.
Hear this word—The inward substance of faith moves our heart, while the external reality (of faith) moves mountains.
Back to the text, Hebrews 12:2TPT We look away from the natural realm and we focus our attention and expectation onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be His, He endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!
This I know—Jesus endured, so you can too. Enduring in Jesus is a life of faith.
A life of belief in the present and future.
A life of confession, What is confession? It’s saying what you believe.
A life filled with His super natural.
A life of fruit.
The writer of Hebrews 12:2, Gives us at least 4 words to give attention to:
Look away from the natural.
The natural realm won’t be needed, or used in heaven—Moreover, it’s not much use now.
Romans 8:5-9NIV Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.
“Part of being a person of faith is to accept that you have His spirit living inside of you." P.H
Again, Look away from the natural.
2. Focus your attention and expectation on Jesus, the One who birthed faith.
Here’s the rock solid truth—Jesus’ birth, His life, His death, Jesus’ resurrection, and His ascension, changed everything. P.H
Jude 1:24ESV Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,
Again, Hebrews 12:2, Focus your attention and expectations on Him who birthed faith within us.
3. Focus on Joy.
You can focus on joy—because while on the cross, Jesus focused on joy for our sake.
Hebrews 12:2b…Because his (Jesus’) heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!
When you focus on Jesus, you’re focusing on joy! P.H
Again, What’s your focus? Cares, anxieties, earthly possessions.
Like your results?
Hebrews 12:1-3TM Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. 2 Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how He did it. Because He never lost sight of where He was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—He could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now He’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. 3 When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility He (Jesus) plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
4. Focus on Him seated. Hebrews 12:2c…and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!
As Jesus is seated—He’s focused on you; He’s continually interceding for you, Hebrews 7:25.
In closing, listen to, Hebrews 12:3-4TPT So consider carefully how Jesus faced such intense opposition from sinners who opposed their own souls, so that you won’t become worn down and cave in under life’s pressures. 4 After all, you have not yet reached the point of sweating blood in your opposition to sin.
“Your focus will determine your results!” P.H
Again—What’s your focus?
Benediction.
