Bible Studies

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Hebrews 12:1-2 – “Therefore, 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. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God.”

Thesaurus Fun:

Hinder – hold back, delay, hamper, encumber, obstruct, impede
Entangle – snare, entrap, catch up, trip up
Perseverance – insistence, urgency, firmness, resolve, determination
Fix – fasten, attach, glue, stick, secure

God has a plan for your life, a path marked out for you that He calls you to. There are many things that slow down our progress toward the God-centered life that would keep us from walking in the centre of God’s will. The most obvious problem is “sin that so easily entangles”. Mostly this refers to a habitual sin that clings to us and is always tripping us up. It’s like having heavy weights shackled to your legs, it slows you down considerably. As long as you consistently walk down the path of sin, you cannot walk in God’s perfect will for you and you cannot do all that He has for you. We all know how hard it is to break a habit. It can seem impossible but, “all things are possible with God (Matthew 19:26)” and He has provided us with the Holy Spirit through whom we can walk in victory over sin.

There are other things that hinder us as well that are not so easily recognized as sin or not. These things can be hard to recognize and even harder to deal with. Another translation says, “let us strip off every weight that slows us down.” There are many emotional burdens that weigh us down and keep us from following God completely such as; fear, doubt, anxiety, nervousness, depression, worry, or uncertainty. Such things keep us from living out our full potential in Christ. These hindrances are not from God, but from the enemy who would cripple you and weigh you down. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but of power (2 Timothy 1:7) and if the Spirit of the living God lives in you, what is there that you cannot do if He calls you to it? As Scripture says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)”. Not just some things – not just having health, wealth, and favor – but also victory over sin, anxiety, and depression, to walk in confidence, live in love, joy, and peace by God’s power and calling.

So how do we walk in this confidence and victory? By keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the One who overcame sin and death by the cross. In Him is our hope, through Him we receive the upward call of God (Philippians 3:14), and by Him we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37) because what He has begun He will complete (Philippians 1:6). Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10)”. This life He gives is nothing less than the awesome and almighty power and presence of God at work in us that we should desire and be able to follow His will (Philippians 2:13) for our life all of our lives. Believe it, claim it, proclaim it, and live it out.

Point to Ponder

Is there some habitual sin that you’ve allowed to entangle you and keep you from walking in God’s will? Is it really worth all you are missing out on in your walk with God? What are you able to see in your life that weighs you down and keeps you from truly running in the race that God has marked out for you? Are you ready to be bold and, by God’s Spirit, reject these hindrances that you might live the abundant life that God desires for you – a life that is lived for Him alone? If so, then begin praying this kind of prayer every day…

We pray, “Our almighty God, we thank You for Your Word and for Your promises. We thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit who lives in us and helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:26). Help us now as each of us prays, “In the Name of Jesus Christ, by faith in His blood, relying on His Word, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, I declare that these things shall no longer have any place in my life; fear, doubt, worry, anxiety, nervousness, hesitation, depression, self-consciousness, discomfort, uncertainty, or anyone’s perception of my strengths or abilities that I may obey my God immediately and completely all my life and so persevere in the path marked out for me throwing off all burdens, hindrances, and sins by keeping my thoughts and the eyes of my heart fixed on Jesus who has begun this work in me and will see it done. Amen!!”

Hebrews 12:1-2 paraphrased – “Therefore… let us throw off everything that holds us back and slows us down, especially the sin that so easily traps us and trips us up, and let us run with resolve, insistence, and determination the race marked out for us. Let us fasten, permanently set, and secure our eyes on Jesus…”

See these songs; I Am Free, I Can Be Anything

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