I’m tired, Boss.
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Regardless of what you face in life there is an immutable fact: You will not rise to the level of the challenge, but sink to the level of your training.
We think of this in the sense of imminent danger, (Fight, flight or freeze).
Turtle on the road (Oil spot avoidance)
But it is also true when you are tired, beaten down by life. When all you can see is trouble and hardship. “Christian life shouldn’t be this hard.”
Wednesday night Johnny was talking about work and the stress that someone causing him. He was under persecution. “I’m going to make her cry.”
The early Jewish Christians were under persecution. The temptation was to say, “It shouldn’t be this hard. I’m too tired.”
The temptation was to go back to what they knew; to go back to what they were comfortable with.
The writer of Hebrews in the passage that we will look at this morning gives them (and because we have God’s Word, us) very practical advise and instruction on what we should do when we are tired, as both an individual follower as well as a Church.
Vs. 12 starts out with “Therefore” which demands a review of the topic.
He encourages us with the examples of God’s faithful in the OT. He encouraged us with the example of Jesus. He encouraged us with the truth that our Father would train us to deal with live’s difficult circumstances and starting in verse 12 say’s “Now it’s your turn. Here is what you need to do and what to watch out for.”
12 Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,
13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.
14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;
16 that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.
17 For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.
12 Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,
If you have ever had an injury, you understand the pain of physical rehabilitation.
EXERCISE.
Application to the body of Christ.
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
We are in a race, but the goal isn’t to beat everyone else, The race isn’t won until the last person crosses the finish line.
Go Ruck Memphis. “Leave no man behind.”
13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.
Water takes the path of least resistance. A couple years ago I went on a hiking trip that followed the Buffalo River. There were ups and downs and obstacles. The worst part was the the side hill part. We finally found a gravel road.
Someone had done the hard work of laying a foundation and at the point I was tired and hurting, I made it to the place that was easy to walk.
When we put in the work, it not only avoids the risk of further hurt, but it allows for healing.
Pray for one another. Love one another, Check on one another.
14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
Pursue: Go out of your way.
“Sanctification” Not peace at the cost of Holiness.
Look at the verbs:
Strengthen, Make Straight, Pursue. But for what purpose?
Don’t Miss the Grace of God
Don’t Miss the Grace of God
15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;
When you are tired, we as Christians get down on ourselves and think, “I just need to do more.”
Don’t miss God’s grace.
It is finished
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Do what you need to do within God’s grace, not to gain God’s grace.
Don’t let bitterness cause trouble
Don’t let bitterness cause trouble
15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;
Bitterness will spring up.
Like weeds. Must be torn out by the root.
Forgiveness is the tool that
21 Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
There can be no reconciliation without repentance.
Reject immorality and godlessness.
Reject immorality and godlessness.
Gluttony
20 Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine,
Or with gluttonous eaters of meat;
21 For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty,
And drowsiness will clothe one with rags.
Comfort food.
Your comfort comes from the Lord.
The example of Esau.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
