May 3, 2009
Morning Service

Hebrews 12:15-29

 

Review:

1.      In chapter 11 the writer told us about all the many wonderful people of God, and the acts that they did by faith.

2.      He closed chapter 11 by telling us that even though these people were so in tune with God, they still didn’t receive the promise.  “God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.”  We all shall be made perfect together at the resurrection.

3.      He began chapter 12 by telling us that these special people, and their testimonies were still with us today, they did it, so we can do it too.  He encourages us to lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and run with patience the race that is set before us.

4.      Then he taught us concerning the chastening of the Lord.  That we must learn to endure it, and sometimes expect it.

5.      We stopped with verse 14, “Pursue peace with all men, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:”

 

Let’s begin with verse 15.

 

Heb 12:15-29  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 

• Can’t we see how up to date the teachings of the Bible are?  Hopefully we know where this root of bitterness comes from, it’s certainly not from God.  The enemy has done this.
• The writer is telling us to watch, and not let things like these arise in the church.  They will cause bitterness, and destroy many.
• Along these same attributes are envy, strife, backbiting, gossip, like we said last week, put them out of your life.  It could be that one of these is the weight, or sin that does so easily beset us.

(16)  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.      Gen.25-27;

• Fornicator =   

1. An unmarried person, male or female, who has criminal conversation with the other sex; also, a married man who has sexual commerce with an unmarried woman. [See Adultery.]

2. A lewd person.

3. An idolater.

• Profane = In the New Testament “profane” occurs in the sense of unholy, godless, regardless of God and divine things.
• And this is the pitiful plight of Esau, twin brother of Jacob, when times were tough, sold his birthright for a bowl of soup, and counted one of the highest honors he could receive as nothing.  

(17)  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected:

• This is really a difficult story for me, living in the time of grace, and the teachings of our Lord.  Two people involved here in deception.  Rebecca, and Jacob.  They connived to steal Esau’s blessing.  So I wonder why Esau was so bitter, you know like bitterness.
• The Lord teaches us not to get involved with any wrong doings such as this.  See how He helps eliminate these situations in our lives?  When we understand the full meaning of what Jesus taught on love, and said that we should love one another, as He loves us, your not going to do anything like this to someone.  You are not going to allow these fleshly attributes to rule in your life.

for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. 

• If you take time to read the story, you will see that Esau was pretty tore up on what had happened. 
• His father Isaac did bless him, but that he would serve the younger brother.
• But the truth is, there is a true repentance, and God will accept it from anyone. 

 

 

 

 

 

• Listen to Paul;  2Co 7:9-11  Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.  (10)  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.  (11)  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
• Jesus said, “all manner of sin, and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men, except blaspheming the Holy Ghost.”

 

(18)  For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,  (19)  And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:  (20)  (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:  (21)  And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) 

• There is your eye for an eye, the law was given on this mount. 

(22)  But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,  (23)  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,  (24)  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 

• This is your covenant of Grace, and Truth.  The New Testament.

(25)  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:  (26)  Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 

• Isa 13:13  Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
• And Peter said; 2Pe 3:10-13  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.  (11)  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,  (12)  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?  (13)  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

 

 The writer concludes chapter 12 by saying;

 (27)  And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.  (28)  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:  (29)  For our God is a consuming fire.

A KINGDOM WHICH CANNOT BE MOVED!

Rev 21:1-8  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  (2)  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  (3)  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  (4)  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  (5)  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.  (6)  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.  (7)  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.  (8)  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.