7 Things From Hebrews 12:1-2

Next Sunday I am going to be speaking at my home church, The Fellowship (in Sandy Utah )  on "Looking at God."  Here are 7 observations that center around this key concept - focusing on Christ - from this great passage in the Book of Hebrews 12:1-2:

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,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.
1. We must remember those saints who have gone before us - they cheer us on in our quest to see the Lord, and they remind us of all the flawed saints who rose above their sufferings and sins to achieve the goal.
2. We must lay aside the weights of time, distractions, unbelief and anything else that might cloud our view of Christ. Laying something aside requires a conscious effort on our part. Don't entertain anything that will hold you back from your destiny in Christ.
3. We must lay aside sin that so easily traps us and takes us out of the race of life. The words for "laying aside" in Greek, apotithēmi, means: to renounce or cast off. (BTW this Greek word occurs 10 times in the New Testament.)
4. We must run with endurance. As with everyone who runs a race, we have to use all our strength and focus to achieve our goal. The word for endurance indicates a patient and steadfast focus on the goal. Nothing should distract us from moving forward.
5. We must keep our eyes on Jesus. He is the One who designed us perfectly and who will give us the strength to finish this race of faith with strength and victory.
As we follow the example of Christ, we must consider these next two points: what were the key things that got Jesus through the trauma of the cross and the burden of the weight of the collective sin of all humanity?
6. We must serve the Lord with joy - it is joy that gave Jesus the strength and hope to continue - joy that carried Him to the finish line. In Deut. 28:47-48 God told His people that if they would not serve Him with joy, they would end up serving their enemies:
"Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart,for the abundance of everything,therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the Lord will send against you...
7. We must despise shame. Of all things that have the power to cause us to give up, it is shame that will cripple, and even destroy our faith. We all have things in our past that have the potential to hold us back - things that the enemy wants to use to hinder us in the race, and confuse us along the way. The Greek word for "despising" is kataphroneō which means to think little or nothing of these things that we are ashamed of. We need to know who we are without the saving grace of God, and we need to walk with humility. Let your past failures establish you in these, but don't allow them to pull you down to shame and despair. Remember, there is nothing big, or strong enough to keep you from the love of God and His daily grace that keeps us moving forward. Never underestimate the power of the cross to remove all sin and shame from your life. Jesus' death and resurrection are enough to keep you running with confidence and to finish with honor.
Above all things, keep your eyes on Jesus.
Here is Hebrews 12:1-2 from the Message Bible:
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.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.