This verse is worth memorizing:

Hebrews 12   1Therefore, 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.  2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him 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 sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

 

Today, let’s talk about:

“let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,”

 

What is everything that hinders?

 

As my wife and I spoke to one of our children yesterday she said something so profound that it impacted me immediately.

She said: 

“First you obey … then you understand”

 

Nothing could be more true.  And this is the reason why Christians are mocked, misunderstood, and even hated by some aspects of society.

 

But the reality is that if we do not do that then we sometimes miss out on what God truly has for us.

 

The Bible is filled with people who OBEY … and THEN UNDERSTAND.  They have no idea WHY they are doing something … they just do it.

     I can remember I was driving, alone, to California.  I felt a strong prompting to pull off at an upcoming exit.  As I talked audibly about “why would I pull of at this exit?” I soon decided to just do it.

     When I did, I was humbled.  A man in a wheelchair was unsuccessfully trying to change the tire on his car.  It was easy for me to get out, help him, and send him on his way.

     Had God prompted me to help someone that He cared about?  I believe with all of my heart that He had.  Nothing can change my mind about that.

 

OBEY … Then UNDERSTAND.

 

And what about:

“the sin that so easily entangles”

 

I think that, if we are truly honest, we all understand that.  And God assures us that our sin is REAL.

1 John 1 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

 

And part of this is realizing that sometimes, if not all the time, we ARE the problem.  Not a result of the problem.  Not a response to the problem.  Sometimes we ARE the problem.

Jeremiah 17  9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.

 

I would also like to mention that we must even mention our STRENGTHS in this.  Sometimes the very thing that “hinders” us is what we do well.

 

Solomon knew this.  And he has so eloquently passed this concept to us.

Ecclesiastes 1  16 I thought to myself, “Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” 17 Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.

 

None of us wants to end our days here on earth and realize that we have done EVERYTHING and yet nothing.  That we were chasing after the “wind”.

 

“let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,”

 

This is not an easy word.

  • Finding that we might actually be the problem.
  • Discovering that, even in our best moments, we might be pushing Him out of our lives.

 

But as, my wife encouraged my daughter, I want to encourage you:

 

OBEY … then UNDERSTAND

 

 

In The Name of the Father and the 

Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE8f0OaPSEQ

 

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Coach J