"Great Cloud of Witnesses"
“Great Cloud of Witnesses”
Blessings folk!
The Lord has given us so much in His Word.
One thing He has given is “real-life” examples.
His account of people.
His account that is to encourage, exhort, teach and instruct us.
In Hebrews, the Lord refers to these as a “great cloud of witnesses”.
Heb 12:1
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us,…
Note the verse begins with “therefore”.
The witnesses recounted are covered in the previous chapter.
We will examine them…will take awhile. 
The testimony of the witnesses surround us.
But there is more.
There is purpose to the account of the witnesses.
Read the balance of the sentence…
Heb 12:1-2
Therefore, 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,
fixing 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.
The great cloud of witnesses are to encourage us to…
lay aside every encumbrance
lay aside the sin which so easily entangles us
run the race set before us…with endurance
fix our eyes on Jesus
understand who Jesus is and what He did
author of faith
perfecter of faith
endured the cross…for the joy set before Him
despised the shame of the cross
sat down at the right hand of Father
Know Jesus, The Witness!
Knowing the witnesses…
Knowing what they encountered and endured…
Such will equip us…encourage us…inspire us.