LAYING ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT

It is impossible for an athlete who want to win a prize or medal to now put on a load on himself or maybe he wears a heavy coat or peradventure he now puts on a keg of water on himself expecting himself to win the medal after he might have ran, Apostle Joshua Selman said “that is the path to great failure”. It is so sure that he is going nowhere and won’t win any prize or medal, though he might know how to run and even be the best athlete but as long as there is that WEIGHT upon him, it is impossible for him to run the RACE WELL, he might still try to take a step or peradventure run but the truth is he cannot run it well. NOT THAT HE LACKS THE POTENTIAL OR STRENGTH TO RUN AND WIN A MEDAL BUT THEY ARE BEING PULLED DOWN AND MADE NOT EFFECTIVE BY SOME WEIGHTS.

Also I will like us to see our Christian journey as a RACE in which I and You must run, and not just only run but running it well. Apostle Paul admonishes us “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible” (1Cor 9:24-25). Now that the foundation had been laid, that this Christian journey is a race which each and every one of us must strive to run knowing fully well that there is a crown (Medal) awaiting us, and not like earthly one that one person wins the medal this one as long as you end well you get it, I know by now you are ready and enthusiastic to run and win the prize.

Looking through the scripture, there is a verse there which helps us know what next we need to do after knowing that our Christian journey is a race. “ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside EVERY WEIGHT, and the SIN DOTH SO EASILY BESET US, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1). The first thing I will like you to know is that in this incorruptible Christian journey there are CLOUD OF WITNESSES, what do I mean by that? I mean there are people who had ran these race before you and I and they are now watching how you are running yours, they passed through what you are passing through now and even more than, yet they ended the race well winning the Crown (notable examples; Stephen, Gideon, Daniel and Apostle Paul to mention but a few). What will now be your excuse? During their own time there was no megaphone, Concordance, Nice shoe or cloth, Internet, different versions of the Bible which you now have yet they ran the race and ended well, tell me what will your excuse be?

Now that we are aware that there are many witnesses watching us how we are running this race, which sounds as a point of warning unto us. The next thing there in Heb 12:1 is “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin doth so easily beset us”. If you look painstakingly at that verse there was a punctuation mark there (,) before the next instruction, telling us that there is a continuation don’t just stop at the knowledge of the fact that some people are watching you, there is something else needed of you to do. It says “let us lay aside every weight and sin doth so easily beset us”. What then are these weights? Why do we need to lay them aside? Can’t we just carry it along like that? It is that necessary and compulsory? By definition, Weights are things that slow down the pace of a man, IT DOESN’T NECESSARILY STOP YOU FROM RUNNING IT ONLY SLOW YOU DOWN”, they are things that keep us from meeting the Master, they are things that make us get tired in this Christian journey, IT IS AN HINDRANCE BETWEEN YOU AND GOD.

Looking back at our text Heb 12:1, there are something’s  I want us to look at together as the Lord teach us, the first thing it talked about there was not “running the race” rather it first talked about “lay aside every weight” and “lay aside every sin that doth so easily beset us”. Meaning that until a man lay and put aside those two things it is highly impossible for him or her to run the race set before him or her. This shows the efficacy and importance of laying it aside if truly you are determined to run the race, you can’t manage it with God, you can’t stay in the middle because if you do he will spit you out “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold or hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will Spue thee out of my mouth” (Rev 3:15-16). THINK ABOUT IT, IF YOU ARE OUT OF GOD YOU ARE SURELY IN THE HANDS OF THE DEVIL

Brethren, what are those weights that easily weigh you down? What are those things that cut you off from the throne of grace?  Bible says  “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matt 16:24). If you must follow the OLD RUGGED WAY and run this Heavenly race then denial of yourself must take place (i.e. you must lay aside worries, sorrow, bitterness, anxiety, habits, addictions, weights, sins that easily besets you which does not glorify God). Dr Paul Eneche says and I quote “Until a man comes to the end of himself he does not connect with the help of God”. In this heavenly race your strength or will power can’t take you far only the help of God can but if you don’t put away those weights and sins the help won’t be available. Think deeply and check through yourself to see those weights of your life; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, wrath, masturbation, pornography, envy, drinking alcohol, lying, lust, pride, jesting, filthy communication, unforgiveness, sleeping, too much comfort, talking too much according to (Gal 5: 19-21; Col 3:8-9, 13; Prov 20:13; Gen 12:1-2; Eph 5:4; Prov 10:19), have they not eaten up your life so much that it has deprive you from God’s presence and your best not allowed to manifest.

Don’t be satisfied with the level you are now, that’s not God’s agenda for you some weights and sins had brought you and kept you there. If only you will arise now and cry to God that Lord I am tired of this level I am deliver me, even Apostle Paul in Rom 7 and 2Cor 12 explained to us how some weights were pulling him down and he cried not gently here but with groaning like someone who is serious and meant it that he is tired of those weight, someone came to help him then “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? ...I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 7:24-25a). Jesus is also here to help you, why don’t you stop covering up, stop giving excuses, call unto Him that Father am drowning help me. The weight of unbelief caught peter and he began to sink, the next thing he did was not to cover up like you are (God understands now, at least it’s my body that sin my spirit is holy, the grace is there for me and more others that many do say I PITY YOU!!!!) rather he cried unto Jesus and raised up his hands to show submissiveness and he was saved. Why don’t you also surrender all and lay down at his feet helpless and crying unto your savior? Come unto Him with fear and trembling.

It doesn’t matter if it is small or big and whatever it might be, AS LONG AS IT IS NOT HELPING YOUR HEAVENLY RACE IT IS SO VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU LAY THEM ASIDE. Is it that boyfriend or girlfriend that you are keeping but you yourself know that it is weighing you down, pushing into sin and taking you out of God? The word is coming to you right now COME OUT!!! LAY THAT ASIDE!!! IT’S A WEIGHT!!! “THE LEVEL OF YOUR PACE IN LIFE IS DETERMINED BY HOW LIGHT YOU ARE”, shed off those weights and repent now tomorrow will be too late. It was after Apostle Paul shed off the weights that he could run the race and end it well “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course (race), I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of   righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2Tim 4:7-8). If you want to take up the crown and not hear the word “depart from me ye workers of iniquity” (Matt 16:24) on the judgment day then put aside those weights, flee from all appearances of sin, don’t put fire under your bosom or else you will be burnt greatly, cry out and confess to your pastor or fellow brethren in Christ to help you in prayers, it is an addiction that your will power alone cannot deliver you.

If you are ready to give your life to Christ, say this after me with a determined heart “Lord Jesus here I am, I am a sinner and I have cut short your glory, Lord am sorry for my sins and I will never return back to them, I accept you today into my life as my Lord and Saviour, use your blood to wash away my sins and write my name in the book of life”.

I welcome you into the Kingdom, just make sure you join a believing Church where the Word of God is being taught and make your Bible your friend not forgetting to be having your quiet time every day. God bless you!