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Hebrews 12:1-2

Discover how emotional scars, fear, pride, and other strongholds hinder our relationship with God, and learn ways to overcome these obstacles through faith, trust, and spiritual warfare.

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Hebrews 12:1-2

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  1. Hebrews 12:1-2 1Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

  2. Hebrews 12:1-2 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

  3. How We Can Hinder Our Relationship With God Hebrews 12:1-2

  4. Emotional scars Guilt - shame Fear Pride Judgment Bitterness Selfishness Controlling Closed minded Trust issues What we bring to any relationship

  5. Fellowship with God I John 1:1-3 • The word fellowship is not only the idea of relationship, but having a common mindset and having a common lifestyle Isolation opens us up to spiritual attacks: Sin, depression, selfishness, anger, etc.

  6. Feeling Unworthy • This feeling comes from Satan -- the accuser of the brethren! He tells you, "God can't use you until you sit down and get this thing figured out. You can't even come into his house until you've made yourself worthy!"

  7. Feeling Unworthy • How can God love me • I need to get myself together before I can have a good relationship with God • God is not able to use somebody like me Progress and not perfection should be the goal

  8. Busyness • Work • Sports • Selfish desires • Caught up in works • Life in general Is it a matter of being too busy or is it a matter of being too busy for God?

  9. Busyness • Luke 10:41-42But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are getting worried and upset about too many things. Only one thing is important. Mary has made the right choice, and it will never be taken away from her.”

  10. Fear To experience fear is normal, but to be paralyzed by fear is an indication that we question God’s ability to take care of us

  11. Fear • Moses feared returning to Egypt • He feared facing Pharaoh • He made excuses as to why he was not the right man for the job Fear evaporates when we trust God

  12. Doubt • Allowing our past to haunt us • Looking at our imperfections • Having a low self-esteem • Education level, social-economical status, gender, race, etc… “God does not call the qualified, He qualifies those He calls”

  13. Doubt • Abraham and Sarah doubted that God could give them a child • Gideon doubted that God could use him to give victory to the Israelites • Thomas doubted that Jesus had been resurrected When we doubt, we express our uncertainty of God’s promises, provision and power

  14. Unaddressed Sin & Other Strongholds • Samson, Delilah and other foreign woman • David and Bathsheba • Nation of Israel • Us still today We can sin in ignorance or willingly, but neither are excused

  15. Unaddressed Sin & Other Strongholds • There is a ebb and flow to our relationship with God • Many times our thoughts, desires and actions are not of God • Strongholds of sin can cause the spiritual low points that we experience as Christians. • The strongholds of sin work to push, pull, and separate us from God. We must wage spiritual warfare against our own strongholds of sin, because if we ignore them, they will damage our relationship with God.

  16. How can we overcome • Refill • God’s word & God’s Spirit • Refocus • God is bigger than our problems • Reject the lies Satan tells you • Retreat • Spend time with God and don’t allow busyness to take over

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