(Pastor David Herne) "Press On-Freedom" Hebrews 12:1-2
00:00 Opening video, song, prayer and verse
6:57 Worship through music
25:41 Pastor's message, communion and closing prayer

“Let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us”

Lay aside- a deliberate decision to make a permanent change in attitude or behavior.

If we want to live by faith, we must choose to remove from our lives anything that will hinder our race. This is a purposeful and intentional choice. Freedom is the result of laying aside the weight that so easily ensnares us.

A weight is anything (and everything) that slows us down in the race that God has put us in.
1. Confess sin and repent of sin.

2. Evaluate the “good” things in our lives to achieve a balance. Be aware of making idols of the good things in our lives. Good things can hold us back and affect our ability to effectively run the race.
1Corinthians 10:23 “All things are lawful for me, but all things do not edify.”

3. Consider the things in our lives that are weighing us down by consuming our time, and our focus unnecessarily and keeping us from spending time with The Lord.

4. Consider the weight of guilt and negativity on oneself. Purposefully lay aside every weight.

Philippians 3:13-15 “I do not count myself as apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press on toward the goal of the upward call of Christ Jesus.”

3 questions:
What is our ultimate goal as a believer?
Are things or attitudes embracing me or hindering moving toward the goal?
Am I purposefully laying down the things, even the good things, that are hindering the race?

Press On with freedom!

Hebrews 11

The besetting sin that can overtake us at any time is unbelief.
It blinds us from the truth. It deafens us so that we cannot hear the voice of God through His Word. It also deafens us to the testimonies of those that have already crossed the finish line.

Numbers 13:1-2, 24-33
Numbers 14:1-4, 26-35
Unbelief blinded the Israelites to God’s power and provision.

Unbelief will paralyze and bring in fear, frustration, anger, doubt, rebellion and disobedience.

Look to The Lord! Listen to His Word!
Lay aside every weight. Lay aside the sin of unbelief that can so easily ensnare us. PRESS ON!