“...let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight)…” (Hebrews 12:1 AMP)
As we have discovered over the past several weeks, Hebrews 12 verse one, talks about laying aside every weight of encumbrance in order for us to run the race that God has set before us.
But what exactly are these weights that may or may not necessarily be sin in your life?
Here are just a few that I felt led by the Holy Spirit to share with you today.
1. Some of the friends and people that we associate with may be unnecessary weights that are slowing us down in the things of God.
Now, I am certainly not talking about disassociating yourself from people because of an attitude of superiority or self-righteousness.
I believe that in order for us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world and to reach people for the Lord, we ought to associate with people.
God does want us to REACH and WIN people for Him.
But there are certain people in our lives (you know who they are), who just do not have our best interest at heart, and who in a very inconspicuous way, seek to do us harm.
We may have to distance ourselves from such so called “friends” because they are “unnecessary weights”.
2. Not all of it, but certainly many areas in our “thinking” and “mindsets” are like weights that are hindering our race.
Most of our thinking and mindsets evolved as a result of the way we were brought up, some of it good but some also bad.
And a lot of how we view ourselves, as well as others, stems from these mindsets.
Many of God’s precious people carry such negative thinking, that it is virtually impossible for them to live victorious and triumphant lives.
You will hear these same people talk about the peace, joy and victory that they will experience WHEN they get to heaven.
Well, God gave His very best, Jesus, so that we could have His very best RIGHT NOW even while still wrapped up in this body of flesh and living on this earth. We don’t have to wait to get to heaven to experience what Jesus died on the cross for us to possess.
And friend, let me be honest with you, the only thing that is going to help you change your thinking, is when you get a hold of God’s Word and begin to read it, confess it and declare it over your life.
The power of God’s Word is absolutely mind blowing!
And nobody can do that for you except you!
3. Another aspect where we may have to do some “load shedding” is in the area of our culture.
I know that there are many people who are sensitive about racial and cultural issues.
But friend, let me tell you that in His sovereignty, God designed us to be unique and diverse, as reflected by the different race groups and their distinctive languages.
And no matter from what ethnic group you are, you are beautiful, having been fearfully and wonderfully made by God. (Psalm 139:14). You are unique and there is no one else like you!
God never ever meant for one race group to dominate another race group. He meant for each group to live in harmony and unity with the other.
Sadly, many believers hold their culture in higher esteem than the Cross.
It seems like they have more faith in their culture than in what Jesus did for them on the Cross.
But I learned long ago, that the moment I became born again, washed in the blood of Jesus, I became part of God’s wonderful family and a part of His Kingdom.
And did you know that in His kingdom there is neither black nor white, male nor female, Jew nor Gentile? (Galatians 3:28).
We all carry heaven’s citizenship and now possess the culture of God’s Kingdom.
And His Kingdom culture far outweighs and overrides any natural culture, whatever it may be.
Culture is not, in itself, sinful but as you know many cultures carry within it certain practices that can and do open the door to various forms of demonic activity, because of their root of origin.
And for many, this is an unnecessary weight that will slow them down and hinder them from running and winning God’s race.
These are just three weights that I have discussed today. There are many more and next week we will discuss those.
But I believe that as you have read this newsletter today, that perhaps the Lord has identified other weights in your life.
The most important thing is to keep your heart open to the Holy Spirit. After all, He created you to be a champion and champions run to win!
PRAYER:
Holy Spirit, thank You for revealing the unnecessary weights in my life that I, by faith, choose to lay aside so that I may run to win.