Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

North of our home in Glendale I regularly see hot air balloon's tower above the hills.

I have never actually been up in a hot air balloon but I am familiar with how they work.

The baskets are set out and laid on their sides.

Then they take the balloon and unroll it from its stored position.

They attach the unrolled balloon to the basket and then start blowing air into the balloon with a large fan (powered by a generator).

Once they have the balloon filled with enough air they begin to fire the torch and heat the air inside of the balloon.

After a few minutes the balloon begins to lift into the air and sit upright.

While they are waiting for the passengers to get into the basket they will sometimes attach weights to the basket to keep the balloon from lifting into the air.

When the time is right and they are ready they will release the weights and the balloon will soar into the air and the passengers will then experience the heights and panoramic views they have set out to enjoy.

God intends for you and I to soar to heights He has designed, he has a predetermined goal and order to arrive we must first remove the weights!

I.

The Event

The event is the race!

The Christian life!

II.

The Encouragement

Encouragement comes from those that have run the race before us.

Some have thought that this verse is teaching we are being cheered on from heaven- Although it may be true that those who are in heaven now are cheering us on, the passage is teaching us to be encouraged by those who have made it home.

Warren Wiesrbe says:

Our English word “martyr” comes directly from the Greek word translated “witness.”

These people are not witnessing what we are doing; rather, they are bearing witness to us that God can see us through.

God bore witness to them (Heb.

11:2, 4–5, 39) and they are bearing witness now to us.

III.

The Encumbrances

Hebrews 12:1

"lay aside every weight"

Runners must be as light as humanly possible- light clothing - light shoes - anything extra will weigh us down!

A. Spiritual Weights

i. Unbiblical thinking

ii.

Lack of assurance of Salvation

B. Emotional Weights

i. Depression & Discouragement

Sometimes it can be traced to sin in our lives

Sometimes it is self reliance

Illustrate: (Casting with a fishing pole) The word cast means to throw!

Similar to what you do with a fishing pole- do you remember learning how to cast a fishing pole for the first time?

ii.

Bitterness

Quote: Bitterness is the only chemical that destroys its own container

C. Material Weights

Madonna sang a song in the 1980's called "Material Girl" where she laid out her life's philosophy - she says "the boy with the cold hard cash is always mister right".

In other words money is all I need.

This world is enamored by money and riches and if we are not careful we can be subject to its weights

A Job that keeps you out of Church

Side work to earn extra money on Sunday

An inheritance

A business windfall

i. Be Content

"pierced themselves through with many sorrows"

ii.

Seek Eternal things

Illustration: Have you ever been feverishly looking for your keys or your wallet?

Digging under couch cushions, laundry baskets EVERYWHERE!! Seeking!

D. Recreational Weights

Most of us enjoy some sport or recreation and that is a healthy thing - the issue is keeping it, in its proper place

Do my recreational activities regularly keep me from my local church?

Is this limiting what God can and wants to do in and through my life

Final Application

Application: One of the most difficult aspects of ministry is teaching people the importance of faithfulness.

Men are natural leaders and that is the way God has designed it.

But teaching men to be faithful is so very important.

I can promise you that God wants to use you in a leadership capacity, but if you are allowing "weights" to hinder your faithfulness to your devotions, your church attendance, your giving etc... you are limiting your influence.

IV.

The Example

"looking unto Jesus"

Illustrations: As men we may not like to read instructions.

We may feel we do not need them but I can promise you that we need to see the example set by our Lord and we need to pattern our lives after it!

A. His faith

"the author"

B. His focus

"who for the joy that was set before him"

Jesus was focused on fulfilling the fathers call- his will

C.

His finish

"...is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

He is "set down" because he has finished - on the cross he cried out "it is finished"