Sometimes what’s obvious to everyone around you is hidden to you until you really search. This is kind of self-reflection is what the Hebrew writer is getting at when he writes in Hebrews12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, Parts of your life aren’t serving you and aren’t glorifying God. They need to be intentionally sought out and tossed off. If you’re in Christ he has gotten rid of your guilt and now it’s your turn to get rid of the sinful areas of your life. We call this . What is repentance? By running the race we mean intentionally following the way Jesus lived day after day until our life has finished. This is a simple concept but not an easy one. It isn’t just hard for us, it was also hard for those closest to Christ. Paul writes this in Romans 7:21. In his struggle, he recognizes that the changes he wants to see in his life can and will only happen as he turns to Jesus. And he has to keep turning to Jesus again and again. As you follow Christ and throw off sin, the Hebrew writer wants 2 things from you. Intentionality and toughness. He calls this endurance. We must be willing to live hard now so that we can live well later. That means we must: Stop sleeping together before our marriage. We are not already married in God's eyes. Stop taking a little off the top. Stop letting our anger and pride control our mouth so that we abuse others. Stop letting the sin everyone else is involved in be our permission to be involved in it too. To run with endurance is to run through the pain. And he tells us how we can do it! (Hebrews 12:2) 2 keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Psalm 110:1 Jesus had a picture of the end result in mind that allowed him to endure every hard thing he faced as he moved towards our redemption. What picture do you have in mind? This picture is crucial because you’re going to endure pain as you walk with Jesus. When you decide to throw off your sin you’re going to endure: Opposition from sinners and from saints - (1 Peter 4:4, Acts 9:26) people will either hate the change or doubt the change. They’ll hold your sin against you. Shameful Memories – satan will seek to remind you of your sin to steal your voice and stop your growth. Lasting Consequences – some of our actions will have long term repercussions. Even our good actions. We may get fired. Exposure - To throw off the kind of sin that clings to you you’re going to have to expose it. You’re going to have to tell someone. (James 5:16) You can’t hide your sin and display Christ. If you decide to follow Christ, to really follow Christ, this is the option when it comes to our sin. We can either throw it off or we can wait for God to show it off! God loves you too much to leave you in sin. The Hebrew writer tells us this in Hebrews 12:5 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons? “My son, do not scorn [think little of] the Lord’s discipline or give up when he corrects [elencho] you. The Greek verb ἐλέγχω (elenchō) implies exposing someone’s sin in order to bring correction. He does this for the purpose of helping you grow. It’s a sign that you’re his! 6 “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts.” Proverbs 3:11-12 Chastise here is To cause one to learn. 1 Timothy 1:20, 1 Corinthians 11:32, 2 Tim 2:25? Rev 3:19. We call this learning the hard way. This is firm grace. Ask yourself these questions: What is an area in your life that you’re glad you were caught in What is an area in your life you wish you were caught in What needs to be exposed right now? Why aren’t you exposing it? 7 Endure your suffering as discipline; [in order to become disciplined] God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? 8 But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons. The revealing of our sin is part of the work God does in our lives to bring about change in it. This is not a condemnation meant to banish you to hell, this is an shaping meant to help us have a fuller life in Christ. illustrated in vs 11. If your sin isn’t being exposed then you aren’t being led by the spirit? (John 16:7-8) To endure this you’re going to have to walk with the belief that this is producing something greater than your pain. Vs 9-11 tell us what that is 9 Besides, we have experienced discipline from our earthly fathers and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life? [Proverbs 4:13, 6:23, 10:17, 16:17] 10 For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness. 11 Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it. Application: So it’s time to man up and Throw off the sin – What is it you need to throw out? Take out your phone, select your closest friend’s name, and type, “I need to talk to you about something.” If this is true, hit send. Make a public confession. Cancel the subscription. Trust Jesus to handle the sin you’ve thrown off. Keep giving your sin to Jesus. Stop reliving your guilt. Choose to trust his salvation. Run with Pereverance Endure Hardship as discipline - reframe your thinking about the consequences of your or other’s actions. ask yourself: What will this exposure produce in me? How will I live differently? Where am I experiencing the grace of God in this? Keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Dedicate (be purposeful about) your vision. What are you looking at and who are you comparing yourself to? 2 encouraging words: You’re not dead yet, and Jesus is where you are headed Here’s some good news (Hebrews 12:4) “You have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed in your struggle against sin.” You’re not dead yet! Resisting and confessing sin hasn’t killed you. It may hurt and may be hard, but it hasn’t killed you. Throwing off sin is going to require us to endure hardships but focusing on Jesus will help us endure. He came a long way to bring you home. Hebrews 12:3 Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up. You can watch a video of John Stephen Akhwarihere. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOfScqWaEKI&t=12s) just make sure your sound is off! Looking at Jesus’ motivation and strength is meant to motivate us. When someone asks Jesus, “Why did you go to the cross when so many people were against you?” I think He would smile and answer, “I didn’t come all this way to live with death. I came to conquer it.”