I. Cast aside the weight of the world and sin.

A. If we possess something in our hand, we don’t have enough room to hold anything of value in our other hand. Therefore, to hold on to what we possess (or even to what possesses us – I think of Jacob – Ph. 3:12-14)

B. Weights belong in the weight room where we get our strength, not on the field of play. So, we do not take barbells and dumbbells to the track and run our race with them. We learn to endure the weight of suffering which makes us stronger and more prepared. But as we run the race, we are stripped down to as little as possible. Greek athletes often performed their events with little to nothing covering their bodies. They understood the importance of making sure there was nothing that could slow them down.

C. Think of the baseball player who metal weights at the end of his bat and swings with those weights in the on-deck batters’ circle. Right before he steps up to the plate, he leaves those weights behind.

1. Romans 12:1–2

2. 1 John 2:15–17

3. James 1:27

II. Continue with enduring patience 12:1c-2

A. Continue with eyes fixed on Christ.

1. “fixing our eyes on Jesus” This Greek word has the idea of gazing intently on a distant object. It carries the connotation of the children of Israel who were being bitten by the serpents in the wilderness (Nu. 21:6-9).

2. He is the one who brought you to faith (2b).

3. He is the one who is perfecting your faith (2b).

4. He is the one who endured all suffering and punishment for sin so that you wouldn’t have to (2c).

5. He is the one who endured all the humiliation of man (2d).

6. He is the one who finished what He set out to do (2e).

7. He is your one and only inspiration to not falter or fail in your faith (3).

Faith is important to the book of Hebrews. The phrase “by faith” is mentioned 21 times in Hebrews 11. It is only by faith in Christ that allows us to endure.