Cleaning out the junk drawer

Hebrews 12:1-2

1. Every home / garage / shop – has a “Junk Drawer.”

2. Screwdriver, duct tape, paper clips, screws

3. Most of this stuff we no longer need or want – just don't throw it away.

4. TV program – Hoarders – Storage units = large junk drawers

5. Hebrews 12:1-2 talks about this.

Main Points

1. “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses...”

   1. Cloud of witnesses – not witness to our sin – witness against us in court

   2. Witness – Been there, done that – encourage us, cheerleader

   3. At any major sporting event – past champs are there – not to condemn, but to cheer us on to victory

   4. Feel the roar of the crowd

   5. In order to win – we need to get some stuff out of the way.
       

2. “...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us...”

   1. Weight = Slow us down, ensnare us, hinder us, keep us from running well

   2. Sins = addictions, temptations, weaknesses, out of control

   3. These sins must be thrown away

      1. Covetousness – Luke 12:15; Luke 18:22-25; 1 Timothy 6:9-10

      2. Drunkenness – Luke 21:34; Romans 1????

      3. Variety of sins – Colossians 3:5-8

      4. Anything that comes between us and Jesus – Luke 14:26-33
          

3. “...and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith...” Hebrews 12:2

   1. Run – get off couch, get out, start moving

   2. With patience – Christian life is not a sprint, dash – it is a marathon (long distance)

   3. Look unto Jesus – Keep the goal in mind, don't get distracted

   4. Illustration: The snow covered the ground where three boys were playing. A man came along and said to them, "Would you like to try a race and the winner receive a prize?" The boys agreed, and the man told them that his race was to be different. He said, "I will go to the other side of the field, and when I give you the signal, you will start to run. The one whose footsteps are the straightest in the snow will be the winner." The race commenced and the first boy kept looking at his feet to see if his steps were straight. The second lad kept looking at his companions to see what they were doing; but the third boy just ran with his eyes steadfastly fixed on the man on the other side of the field. The third lad was the winner, because his footsteps were straight in the snow . He had kept his eyes on the goal ahead of him.

   5. Let us patiently run with our eyes centered on the Lord, the author and finisher of our faith.