April 26, 2009
Morning Service

Heb. 12:1-14

 

Review:

1.      The writer of Hebrews gives us a history lesson in chapter 11.  The great faith chapter of the Bible.

2.      He started out with a  definition of faith, and then in verse 6 told us how important it was that we had faith.

3.      He concluded the chapter by telling us, that even though all these heroes of faith, showed their faith by the acts that they did, will not be made perfect, or receive the promise, without us. 

Heb 11:39-40  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:  (40)  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

4.     Paul describes the time when we all shall be made perfect.  1Co 15:51-52  Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  (52)  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

 

SO TODAY WE WANT TO LOOK AT CHAPTER 12, AND SEE WHAT THE LORD HAS FOR US.

 

Heb 12:1-29  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,Just as the blood of Abel still speaks today, the witnesses of faith still surrounds us, and speaks today.

• Lay aside every weight = anything that would hinder you from being a faithful servant of God.  Whatever it is that keeps you from doing, and giving your best for God.  YOU THINK ABOUT IT.
• And the sin which doeth so easily beset us = to sin is to miss the mark.
• To beset = 1. To surround; to enclose; to hem in; to besiege;  or 2. To press on all sides, so as to perplex; to entangle, so as to render escape difficult or impossible.
• Lay it aside, you lay it aside.
• I think we all know where we are missing the mark, but should you not really know, the Word of God will help you define what they are.  That’s why we must read our Bibles.  This is God’s way of speaking to you, and letting you know what His expectations are in our lives.
• Kinda like the Apostle said in the Colossian letter.

Col 3:8-9  But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.  (9)  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

• You see, this is the kind of admonition, and instructions we receive from God when reading the Bible.  These are God’s expectations for us.  Lay them aside, or put them out of your life.

 

• So the encouragement, and instructions from the writer is to examine ourselves, think about, and acknowledge our sins, or where we are falling short in our walk with God, and work on them.

 

SO THEN WHAT?

 

and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 

• THE RACE = The Christian manner of life.  Living the expectations that God has for us.  Then at the end of the race we enter into eternal life, living with the Lord forever, and ever.
• BUT, RUN IT WITH PATIENCE.  Don’t get discouraged, and fall away.  Remember what the writer said back a little bit;  Heb 10:39  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
• The latter part of chapter 10 deals with us being steadfast, and not giving up our walk with God.

 

But how are going to do this?

 

(2)  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;

• The only way we can make it is by keeping our eyes on Jesus.  In His Word, through prayer, and fellowship.

 

 

 

AND I THINK HIS ATTITUDE, MUST BE OUR ATTITUDE;

 

who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

• The joy = sitting down a the right hand of the throne of God.  Entering into His role as our Great High Priest.
• Endured the cross;  Yes, it most definitely was an enduring.  We see the terrible cost of salvation every Easter.  

(3)  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 

• Christian, it will not be unreasonable to think that you may receive a small measure of persecution, He certainly did.

(4)  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 

• One writer put it like this;  you have not yet been called in your Christian struggles to the highest kind of sufferings and sacrifices. Great as your trials may seem to have been, yet your faith has not yet been put to the severest test. And since this is so, you ought not to yield in the conflict with evil, but manfully resist it.

(5)  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:  (6)  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”        Pro.3:11-12 

 

(7)  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  (8)  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye illegitimate sons, and not true sons. 

• How does God chasten?  I believe He allows things to come into our lives that will cause a certain amount of worry, or concern to us.  I believe it is mostly mental, and can be relieved by prayer, and dedication to God.

(9)  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 

 

(10)  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 

• And this statement is why I said we can eliminate the chastening from God through prayer, and dedication to God.  Letting God know that you want to do better, and live for Him.

(11)  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 

• God will take away the feeling of guilt when we repent, and let Him know our hearts desire.

(12)  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;  (13)  And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 

• This is the results of true repentance.

(14)  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

• And here again we see two more expectations from God.  Living a peaceful life with all men, and doing our best to live holy for God.

 

WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE EXAMPLE OF ENDURANCE, AND SUFFERING OF CHRIST, AND SHOULD EXPECT SOME OF OUR OWN.

 

AND BEEN ENCOURAGEMENT TO ENDURE THE CHASTENING THAT SOMETIMES WILL COME FROM GOD TO HELP US BE WHAT HE WANTS US TO BE FOR HIM.

 

MAY GOD QUICKEN THESE WORDS TO OUR HEARTS THIS MORNING, CREATING A GREATER DESIRE TO SERVE HIM FAITHFULLY.