Traveling Light
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Introduction
Introduction
Text -
Text -
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Illustration
During our trip to Cabadbaran this summer, our kids brought so much clothing, more than half of our baggage were never used. They used up space in the car and added to the weight of the vehicle.
The journey becomes less enjoyable when we carry so much baggage they demand our attention and keep our focus away from our destination
Main Points
Main Points
The real problem of those who backslide
The real problem of those who backslide
Having enough evidence to the truth of the faith does not ensure we will arrive at our destination.
Many Christians who have known the truth failed to finish the race of faith.
We need to fix our eyes on Jesus
“looking unto Jesus”
But we cannot fix our eyes on Jesus when we have so much baggage that draw our attention away from Him.
The problem is not that there were not enough proof, nor that God is not true to His words.
The problem is we lose sight of the goal because we carry so much worldly baggage.
Main Points
Main Points
Two Things to watch out
Two Things to watch out
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Hebrews 12.1
The “encumbrance”
The “encumbrance”
Grk. onkos, weight, bulk, mass, impediment, hindrance
Something that interferes with, or delays action or progress
Paul had no specific object in mind, it could be anything that does not contribute to growth or progress.
The “sin that entangles”
The “sin that entangles”
Grk. hamartia, “a missing of the mark”
to sin is to “miss the mark”, to fail to do what is expected
Sin “entangles” - Grk. euperistatos, controlling tightly, constricting, obstructing, distracting
Let us “lay aside” the sins
Let us “lay aside” the sins
Lay aside
Grk. apothitemi, put off, take off, lay down, put away
Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
remnants of sin in our life
that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
the old self
Ephesians 4.22
Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.
Ephesians 4.25
For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,
and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.
Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,
like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,
if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
1 Peter 2.1
Because sin “entangles”
Because sin “entangles”
“entangles” - Grk. euperistatos, controlling tightly, constricting, obstructing, distracting
1 Corinthians 10.1
For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea;
and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
and all ate the same spiritual food;
and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.
Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.
Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.
Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play.”
Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.
Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents.
Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
Because sin “disqualifies”
Because sin “disqualifies”
But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;
and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Therefore do not be partakers with them;
for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light
Ephesians 5.3-5
Lay aside the encumbrance
Lay aside the encumbrance
an encumbrance is something that “hinders” or obstructs
Beliefs
Beliefs
You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?
This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.
A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.
Galatians 57-
Material things
Material things
And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!”
The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
“On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back.
“Remember Lot’s wife.
“Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.
Luke 17.31-33
Fix your eyes on Jesus
Fix your eyes on Jesus
Grk. aphorao, to look to (without distraction)
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
One cannot look to Jesus undistractedly with so many worldly baggage in life.
One cannot look to Jesus undistractedly with so many worldly baggage in life.
the rich young man was not able to return
But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.
Looking to Jesus requires leaving “everything”
Looking to Jesus requires leaving “everything”
Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.”
Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake,
but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.
“But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”
They were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking on ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were fearful. And again He took the twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him,
Mark 10.28
leave everything means -
to entrust all your cares to God’s care and direction
to give up things that consumes more time and attention than is necessary
Conclusion
Conclusion
When Jacob ran away from Laban, he didn’t know that Rachel held on to his father’s idols.
“Now you have indeed gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house; but why did you steal my gods?”
Then Jacob replied to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force.
“The one with whom you find your gods shall not live; in the presence of our kinsmen point out what is yours among my belongings and take it for yourself.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.
So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent and into the tent of the two maids, but he did not find them. Then he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent.
The result is that Laban came after him.
But when it came time to stand before God at Bethel, Jacob and his household knew that “all must go”!
Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”
So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves and change your garments;
and let us arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.”
So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which they had and the rings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the oak which was near Shechem.
Genesis 35.1-4
