Warning #5 - Refusing God's Grace

Introduction:

Pledge

Passage -

English Standard Version Chapter 12

14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.

17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest

19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them.

20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.”

21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,

23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.

26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”

27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,

29 for our God is a consuming fire.

Pray

Segway:

Would it be safe to say that “ALL WARNINGS” are good for you?

It would be hard to find a warning that is out there that is not good for you.

Tell the Story of Shelly allowing Logan to whip her with the belt.

I warned her “this is not a good Idea!”

Why is the Author warning the reader?

Let me make this statement, “Nobody had’s ever been warned about something that has never already been done!”

There is that deer in the headlight look again.

Let me explain ....

We warn our kids ....

“Don’t get near the fire or Don’t touch the fire.”

Why do we warn them of this?

Because someone has already done this!

There is only 2 people over the entire time of existence of man kind who was warned about something that someone else didn’t do already, ....... Adam and Eve!

Follow me on this ......

Warning #1 - Drifting

The author warns them about drifting in their ....

..... relationships

..... parenting

..... spiritual walk

WHY?

Because someone has drifted before.

Warning #2 - Unbelief

The author warns them about Unbelief.

Not allowing their hearts to be harden

Moving toward no longer believing in the power of God

Slowly starting to turn away from the living God.

Someone has doubted God before.

Warning #3 - Apostasy

The author warns them about denying their Faith they once believed in.

Getting off the milk and onto solid food (Metaphorically)

Get to serving!

Someone has walked away from their faith before.

Warning #4 - Willful sin

The author warns them about willfully sinning against God and how to protect oneself against it ....

Draw Near (Intentionally)

Hold Fast (Sensitive to ones convictions)

Stir Up (Get Passionate)

Someone has willfully Sinned before.

Remember, Nobody has ever been warned about something that has not already been done.

Church this should be good news for us ..... We are not the first ones who may have done this.

Better yet, we can learn from those who have done it and “DON’T DO IT.”

Let me asked you this, “Isn’t victory in Jesus nothing more than living a life thats free from the bondage of Sin?

Fulfilling the purpose God has for you

Having more faith

getting off the milk and onto solid food

becoming intentional , sensitive to your convictions and passionate about Jesus.

Isn’t living this life of Victory nothing more than obeying the warnings?

PAUSE

Body:

So let’s look at the final warning found in the book of Hebrews.

Warning #5 - “Refusing Gods Grace”

This is what we read in Vs 25

“See that you do not refuse Him who is speaking.”

I would be safe to say everyone of us here this morning has heard that “STILL SMALL VOICE” inside you saying things like,

..... “I’m here!”

..... “Don’t do that!”

..... “Listen to me!”

..... “I Love You!”

..... “Come back to me!”

I would go even further to say everyone of us has probably ....

Ignored ..... Denied ..... or Refused that still small voice!

The author warns us “See that you do not refuse Him (That still small voice) speaking!”

I’ve shared the story of my Son Lucas going to the E.N.T. about his ears.

We determined he didn’t have a hearing problem

He did have a listening problem.

Would you agree with me that we are living in a day and time where people have a listening problem?

They hear but they don’t listen.

I had a good friend tell me how he listens to people then takes a few seconds to process / then he responds.

We have a culture today that want’s to over talk people.

They are no longer practicing “listening” which has some negative effects.

They don’t hear correctly which leads to them to not responding correctly.

Climax:

When we don’t listen to God we are refusing what he has for us .... Grace!

There are three classifications of People when it comes to God’s Grace.

There are people who abuse God’s Grace.

God Loves me! He will not sent me to Hell!

There are people who are confused by God’s Grace!

Someone has lost their home in a storm and people don’t understand the Grace of God on those people as they Thank God for His protection.

There are people who Refuse God’s Grace.

Let me challenge us today with this thought .....

Let us be people who receive God’s Grace not refuse it!

How do we know we are that person who is receiving not refusing?

A person who is receiving and not refusing is one who strives for peace (Vs 14)

A person who is receiving and not refusing is one who has Godly morals and not worldly ones (Vs 16)

A person who is receiving and not refusing is one who is seeking. (Vs 22)

A person who

A person who is receiving and not refusing is one who is Listening! (Vs 25)

A person who is receiving and not refusing is one who is Grateful! (Vs 28)

A person who is receiving and not refusing is one who Worships God (Vs 28b)

Acceptable Worship (Reverent and AWE!)

Have the Praise Team Come up .....

Look at what God was speaking through Paul in this pericope.

Warns them of “Bitterness” springing up and causing trouble.

Warns them of “Sexual immorality”

Warns them of “Unholiness”

How many of us know of someone who is experiencing Bitterness, sexual immorality, or acting unholy?

How many of us are hearing that still small voice whispering in our hearts saying, .... “Bitterness has risen up in you!” “You are not being sexually pure” “You are doing something that is not pleasing to God.”

And that voice continues to speak these words, “Listen to me”, “I’m Here”, “Don’t do this”, “Come back to me”, “I Love You.”

Conclusion:

God is warning you and I today .....

Don’t refuse Him who is Speaking (in that still small voice).