Hebrews 12:3-17
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Hebrews 12 begins a series of exhortations (emphatically urging someone to do something)
Example: a coach giving a pre-game speech (reminding them of the game plan).
Last week we concluded with the idea of that as we “run … the race that is set before us” or “marked out for us” we need to “Fixing your eyes upon Jesus” …
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Example: An athlete in training will study great athletes that have gone before them.
Golf - Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Tiger Woods
Baseball - Ken Griffey Jr., Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Pete Rose or Derek Jeter
Basketball - Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Pistol Pete Maravich, Larry Bird
Jesus, our example, perfectly finished the race. You might push back and say, “Yeah, but this is Jesus we’re talking about!”
Jesus is the ultimate “hero of the faith” (Heb 11), he looked beyond the cross ahead to his reward.
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
“Consider him” is another way of saying “set your mind” … on Christ.
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
“The secret to enduring is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.” Elisabeth Elliot
“The secret to enduring is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.” Elisabeth Elliot
Quick history of Elisabeth Elliot:
4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
This is not talking about our personal struggle with the temptation to sin, rather our struggle against sinful people.
Even though Jesus warned us about this, it’s difficult not to become discouraged:
20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.
The Jewish Christians were so discouraged … experiencing social and economic persecution but not physical persecution. (shedding of blood)
5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
Example: It never gets old hearing my (step) dad call me son! “I love you too “son.”
“Much difficulty in our Christian life can be traced back to those tree words: You have forgotten.”
Example Cont: I had a lot of difficulty with my dad’s discipline! (I forgot that he was my new dad and that he loved me!)
My dad would occasionally say … “If you’re going to cry, I’ll give you something to cry about!”
Hebrews 1. Remember the Exhortation regarding the Discipline of the Lord (5–6)
“I have often heard a father say, ‘Boy, if you cry for that you shall have something to cry for by-and-by.’ So, if we murmur at a little God gives us something that will make us cry. If we groan for nothing, he will give us something that will make us groan.” (Spurgeon)
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?
David Guzik points out that many people claim an inability to relate to God as a loving Father because they never knew a loving human father.
Based on this, some have an inability to accept discipline.
24 Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.
For God to not discipline … doesn’t love us and for us not to receive God’s discipline … we don’t love God!
(We probably all had friends or neighbors that didn’t discipline their kids … they ran wild)
Hebrews God’s Discipline Proves His Love / 12:1–13
While we may indeed know of some children who were never disciplined, we also know what kind of children they are—unruly, destructive, mean, and lacking self-control (the book of Proverbs also attests to this; see Proverbs 5:22–23; 10:17; 12:1; 13:18; 15:5).
17 Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
5 A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.
These verses seem to be common sense but …
Application: How do we know whether the difficult times we face are part of the Lord’s discipline or something else? Are they a result of our own dumb behavior or an attack of the enemy? Answer: It is difficult to know.
Solution: We can treat all difficulties as an opportunity to learn and grow.
8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Verse 8 gives us this understanding that discipline and fatherhood go hand in hand and without it, one is not truly considered a child. (illegitimate children were those born of a slave or a concubine)
Example: a step child that is truly not embraced by the step father. “I don’t care, not really my son” or “you can’t tell me what to do, you’re not my dad!”
Verse 9 reminds me that I didn’t always agree with my dad, but I always respected him!
Verse 10 reveals to us God’s ultimate purpose … our holiness which results in a much deeper relationship with Him.
Verse 11 - At the moment, I hated my dad’s discipline (grumbling and complaining) but later I was able to say “thank you mom and dad” for your discipline.
Hebrews 4. See the Result of Chastening More than the Process of Chastening (11)
The peaceable fruit of righteousness: This fruit must be evident in the life of the Christian. The reason why many experience a “one-crisis-after-another” life is because they are either blind to God’s chastening or they resist it. They are not trained by it and therefore the peaceable fruit of righteousness is not evident.
“trained by it” in the Greek language is a word from the world of athletics. The training of an athlete is marked by some agony … so is our training by God as “spiritual athletes.”
This next section we get back to a series of exhortations: (When I read these verses I picture the coach giving a half-time speech)
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,
13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
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.
Verse 12 (Isaiah 35:3) what he is saying is “Get Stronger.” God becomes our coach and challenging us by pushing us to our limits.
I know your hands are weak because you’re exhausted but adjust your grip … I know your legs are weary but adjust your stance and stand firm!
Verse 13 When you’re legs are week it’s much easier to walk on a straight path that someone has laid out as compared to the rocky and hilly terrain. This reminds me of …
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Verse 14 Mention the word “holiness” and you’ll receive a lot of push back from the world as well as some believers. (The Holiness movement come across very condemning to the world) But we are to strive for holiness and strive for peace with others.
3 Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?
4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.
Hebrews 2. Get Right (14–17)
“Unholy Christians are the plague of the church. They are spots in our feasts of charity. Like hidden rocks, they are the terror of navigators. It is hard to steer clear of them: and there is no telling what wrecks they may cause.” (Spurgeon)
Verse 15 A “root of bitterness” can be destructive in any relationship … friendships, marriages and church.
Verse 16 & 17 This lack of holiness leads to selling out God’s standards. That’s why fornication is mentioned. And Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of soup.
Closing
Closing
In your difficulties, trials, persecution, don’t give, don’t grow weary! This may be the Lord disciplining you and it may not, but we need to be reminded that our Father loves us, knows what’s best, and wants us to be victorious!
Hebrews God’s Discipline Proves His Love / 12:1–13
MOVING ON
How can we get a new grip and stand firm? We can reconsider our purpose. Is your purpose continued misery, or progress? Another day of self-pity, or a breakthrough into joy?
If your purpose is misery, then try this: Get bitter about your problems, escape through some chemical addiction, and die snarling that life should have been better.
If your purpose is progress, try this: Get adjusted to the reality that God knows what he is doing, agree to cooperate with God’s agenda, and live in the light of God’s promises.