Divest, Run, Focus, and Consider
Opening:
Good morning, two weeks ago when I was with you we looked at Hebrews 11:20-22, Three heros of the faith – Issacc who had a surrendered faith – Jacob who had a strengthening faith – and Joseph who had a superior faith. But they all illustrated a faith in God, that he would do what he promised – even if they died before ever realizing it. Today, we are continuing in Hebrews 12, vs 1-5 and looking at what is expected of us. Let’s look at the text for today.
Bible Reading:
Hebrews12
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
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.
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Prayer:
Introduction:
Review Chapter 11,
examples of faith. . . .
We see a strong use of the third person, as we look at the faith of many throughout the OT and Israel’s history.
In Chapter 12, we see several marked transitions.
1st, we see the text change from third person to first or second person.
2nd, we see the verbs change from statements of fact (indicative) to imperative, or commands.
3rd, we see the opening word of Chapter 12, “consequently”, or therefore – directly connects chapter 11 to chapter 12 but directly tells us that we are changing our view.
Exegesis
Vs 1:
“Hebrews12
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely,
We should not be having a chapter break here. It is there for the editor, not for helping to study the word.
This vs opens, moving us into the stadium – like at Ephesus, or Delphi, or Aphrodisias, and just about every major city of the day. 600 feet long, flat at one end and rounded and closed at the other. They often were filled with 30000 or more “witnesses” The key competition was always the foot race – they would start at one end, at the starting “blocks” and look to the end for the finishing block and never take their eyes of of it. They would also take off anything that impeded their ability to run. Their goal was to run and to finish.
In view of this great cloud, of OT witnesses, believers ought to run with perserverence – endurance. – Standing ones ground – or holding out. Perseveranece is talked about 3 times in these opening verses. .
We should not picture the cloud of witnesses as watching us. It is not that they are watching us. Rather, they have witnessed to us of the faithfulness of God. The word for witness is martyres, witnesses of the ture faith for us because God witnessed to their faith in the pages of the Bible.
As contestants in the race we are to look to their example . . .
God has given us the whole of the OT for our patience, and comfort – See Rom 15:4
Romans15
4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Patience = endurance, and comfort = hope.
A great way to get endurance and hope is by getting to know the OT saints who ran the race and won.
We are to throw off all that hinders. Any association or activity that handicaps us – and the sin that so easily entangles. Otherwise we may miss out on the prize, which is God’s gracious gift of eternal life to all who complete the race.
Think of the Bball batter that is in the next to bat circle – swinging with the “weighted donut” on his bat – and then he heads off to bat without removing it. We would not be able to perform right with that weight on the bat.
When the runners came to run, they stripped off all their clothing so that they could run unencoumbered by anything. We are to take off things that may in themselves be good things – but if the encoumber us then they are hurting our spiritual life and must go. They might even be viewed as OK by some. A winning athlete does not typically pick between good and bad – they choose between better and the best.
Many believe that the sin here mentioned is the sin of unbelief. It kept the people out of israel for 40 years. Note that chapter 11’s key point is :by faith”
The word used for sin, is a word that tells us that this sin clings to us. Ever ready and present. It is not THE sin - but rather sin in general with special emphasis on apostacy and unbelief. Unbelief often looks trivial to us but Moses was kept out of the promised land because he treated God’s word lightly on one occasion (Deu 32:51)
David appears to have thought that his twin sins of Adultery and murder could be covered up – but God sent Nathan who confronted David
Hebrews12
1b and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
The fact that we are to run with perseverance (endurance) the race that is set before us suggests the race is more of a marathon than a short sprint.
The author used the stronger word for race – it’s greek form is “agon” which is where we get our word agony.
It is interesting to note that running the race is in the present, as is looking to Jesus. BUT the setting aside of hindrences and sins in AORIST, indicating they are to be set aside, and it is a done deal.-
We see in vs 1, that the author of hebres is telling the people that their duty has two parts – one an preparatory stage and the second one a perfective stage.
Preperatory – laying aside every weights and the sin…
Perfective – run the race with patience that is set before you.
1) we have a race to run, of service, suffering, and obedience
2) the race is before us and marked out. By Gods word and examples of God’s servances
3) the race must be run with patience and responsibility.
4) We have a greater example in Jesus – He is the great leaderand perfector of our faith.
a. He is the precedence and finisher of our faith.
b. He endured the contradiction of sinners against himself.
c. He had the joy that was set before him, to sustain him.
d. His reward, he sat down and was done. He was exalted to a station of thei highest honor, greatest power, influence, and is at the right hand of the father.
e. Our duty,
look unto him,
f. Our advantage – a means of preventing weariness and fainting. We always have a tendency to grow weary – the best way to prevent it is to keep focused and looking unto Jesus.
Vs 2:
“Hebrews12
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.
Looking to - means looking from afar, fixing our eyes upon the jesus seated on the throne of God.
Our greates encouragement is after looking at the cloud of witnesses, turning and looking to Jesus. More than the author, he is the originator, the captain and finisher of the faith. He is the initiatior of true faith by opening the way to God and enabling us to follow in his foot steps.
Faith enabled Jesus to endure the cross. He never used his divine powers for his own personal needs.
It was in looking to him that we were first saved. Looking to jesus suggests an attitude of the heart, not just a single act.
We can remember when the people were dying from the snake bites. They needed to look to the brass serpent to be healed – look to and believe Jus as we look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.
He is the perfect example for us to follow. He endured the Cross. Involving shame, suffereing, contradiction by sinners, temporary rejection by the father. On the cross he suffered for all the sins of all the world.
He endured the cross, scorning the shame and then sat down at the right hand of God. He achieved the ultimate goal – he is faiths perfector. He gives faith a perfect basis by his high priestly work q
We can be encouraged by his endurance of sinful man and never growing weary or losing heart.
When we take our eyes off of Jesus, like Peter, we will sink deep into the waters. Keep our eyes focused on Jesus.
Note – it is not that he is the author and finisher of our faith – rather he is the author and finisher of all faith.
There is more than example in Jesus – there is also empowerment. Momment by moment, day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year – as we look to him we shall find strength imparted to us. He imparts faith to us and power through the Holy Spirit of God.
Vs 3:
Hebrews12
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
Two askpecs that can encourage us not to grow weary -
first, he endured worse than the readers had.
second, he too endured shame, just as they were exposed to insults
This consideration compares and weighs. It implieis the concentration of the wandering gaze into a single direction.
The words for growing weary and fainthearted are ones that look to the athlete who flings himself over the finish line and then collapses. Having finished thed race. The author here is saying don’t give up tooo soon, don’t collapse until the winning post is passed.
Turn away from those things that distract, and turn to those things that are in an act of conciously focusing and ministering /meditating on Jesus. We must be totally Christocentric. We need to read and reread the gospels.
Vs 4:
Hebrews12
4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
We see here, the author is stressing the essential costiness of Christian faith. It cost the lives of the martyrs, it cost the life of him who was the son of God. A thing that is so costly cannot ge lightly discarded. A heritage like that is not something that a man can hand down tarnished. These two verses make the damand that comes to every Christian. Show yourself worth of the sacrifice that men and God have made for you.
Application
Without steadfastness of faith, the goal is/will not to be obtained :
It shows itself not mearly in the power of unfailing patience in suffering, and as unbending firmness in trials – but also as courageous persistency in the noblest triving and unyielding exertion in struggling for the highest goal.
It is the duty of every Christian for self-preservation to divest ourselves of every thing that obstructs our spiritual endeavors and hinders our progress to the goal. The surest means against spiritual feebleness is an uninterrupted looking to Jesus, the perfect hero, the greatest sufferer, the perfect conqueror, the theanthropic helper.
In the Christian life, we have a goal – we are not an unconcerned stroller along the ways of life.
We have an inspiration – the witnesses of clouds ogf OT saints
We have a handicap – our sin. As with climbing, if you travel far you travel light. Here, you must travel light and divest of sin.
We have a means – steadfast endurance. – that endurance that will keep you from collapsing until you cross the finish line.
We have an example – the example of Jesus himself.
DIVEST, RUN, FOCUS, CONSIDER,
Introduction to Communion
Institution of the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26)
26 vNow as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and wafter blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; xthis is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he yhad given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for xthis is my zblood of the2 covenant, which is poured out for amany bfor the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you cin my Father’s kingdom.”
[1]
Passing the elements
1 Corinthians11
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Closing Prayer
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v For ver. 26-29, see Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:18-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-25
w See ch. 14:19
x 1 Cor. 10:16; [John 6:53]
y See ch. 15:36
x [See ver. 26 above]
z Ex. 24:8; [Zech. 9:11; Heb. 13:20]
2 Some manuscripts insert new
a See ch. 20:28
b Mark 1:4; [Luke 1:77]
c [ch. 13:43]
[1]The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Mt 26:26-29). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.