Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT): “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith…” 

Most Folks Are Unaware of What’s Around Them Has Actually Bound Them. 

Your Surroundings Are Important To Your Development and Success. ‘Surroundings’ are the things and conditions around a person or thing. Fact: Your Environment is Shaping You Unless You Are Shaping Your Environment Culturally, Socially, Physically, Theologically. ‘Surrounded’: perikeimai (Grk): Placed Around, Encircled. ‘We are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to this life of faith.’ God has placed people around us Naturally and Supernaturally.

3 Things Regarding Our Surroundings at Crossroads Community Church: 

RECOGNIZE there are people who have gone before us. We are without excuse: “I can’t” needs to be replaced by “I can” because “they did.” 

RECOGNIZE there are people who are going with you:

The people who are surrounding you are the people who are shaping you. 

Surround yourself with Champions, and you’ll be a Champion. 

Surround yourself with successful people, and you’ll be successful. 

Surround yourself with hard workers, and you will work hard. 

Surround yourself with losers, you’ll be a ……..? 

The Most Important People In Your Life Are the Faith Builders. The worst people in your life are the Faith Killers. Check Your Circles, Who Are You Running With? They Determine Where You’re Running To. What Race Are You Running?

RECOGNIZE There Are People Coming After Us. What you are living is what you are leaving. If people were to watch the video of your life: What would they see? What would they say?

What You Might Be Holding On To, Might Be Holding You Back. “Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up…” Hebrews 12:1 (NLT). Strip Off: Apotithemi (Grk): To Place Aside… Weights are heavy and slow us down. Weights: You may have  heard “That was weighty” or Heavy. Insecurity – heavy, Inadequacy – shortcomings. Fear – Very Heavy, Phobia = exaggerated fears. Loss – Extremely Heavy. We are not called to lose, we are called to win. Your destiny isn’t behind you, it’s in front of you. You can’t move forward while holding onto the past. Your scars aren’t there to remind you of defeat. They are there to remind you of victory.

ESPECIALLY SIN. Sin will trip you up: It will take you farther than you want to go. It will keep you longer than you want to stay. It will cost you more than you want to pay. 

Let The Life You’re Living Be the Race You’re Running. “And let us run with endurance the race God has set before you,” Hebrews 12:1 (NLT). 1 Corinthians 9:24 (NLT): “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!” The problem is too many people are running their race and they’re not running His race. Protithemi (Grk): To Place Before. We are called to Run the Race God has Set Before Us. THE RACE: Agnon (Grk): Contest or Conflict. If you’re not in the Contest, you’re in a Conflict. THE COUNSEL: “We do this by keeping our 

eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” Hebrew 12:2 (NLT). When we focus on Him; He focuses on us!

In Closing: Press On (Philippians 3:14, NLT): “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Pray On (1 Thessalonians 5:17, NLT): “Never stop praying.” Preach On (Ephesians 6:20, NLT): “I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.”

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