The God of Peace

Hebrews 13:18-25 (ESV)

Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.  [19] I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.

[20] Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,  [21] equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

[22] I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly.  [23] You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon.  [24] Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings.  [25] Grace be with all of you.

The writer of Hebrews has one last surprise for us.  As he’s done so many times in the epistle, he’s thrown in one more reason for us to love Christ.  His picture of Christ is one of multi-colors and multi-facets.  The glory of Christ, the writer pictures for us, is like a diamond with multi cuts that glimmer as it is examined.  As we look to Christ new dimensions are seen and as we study the Word we should step back in awe when a new truth is shown to us. Continue Reading

A True Worshipper

Hebrews 13:1-17 (ESV)

Let brotherly love continue.  [2] Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.  [3] Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.  [4] Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.  [5] Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  [6] So we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper;

I will not fear;

what can man do to me?”

[7] Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.  [8] Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.  [9] Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.  [10] We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat.  [11] For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp.  [12] So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.  [13] Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.  [14] For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.  [15] Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.  [16] Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

[17] Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

As the writer finishes the Book of Hebrews, he wants us to see the importance of a faith that functions for the good of others.  We must realize that walking by sight is sinful and it means living for yourself.  Walking by faith is glorious and serves others well.

How is it that you can best glorify Christ and serve your church well?

Truth Taught- A true worshiper serves his/her church well by actively loving Christ and loving others. Continue Reading

A Mountain of Judgment or a Mountain of Grace

Hebrews 12:18-24 (ESV)

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.

The writer continues building our confidence in the New Covenant.  He sets up a classic comparison which he does so well in other parts of the Book of Hebrews.  It is the classic comparison contrast, not this but that.

He’s already told us that the New Covenant is far better than the Old Covenant.  The New Covenant is extremely important in the Book of Hebrews. Continue Reading

Getting Your Second Wind

Hebrews 12:12-17 (ESV)

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.

Truth Taught- As believers running the race of the Christian life, we must seek holiness and peace with one another.

Our modern day world is so quick to equate suffering with bad or evil.  We think that the ultimate goal in life is prosperity, and comfort.  When we enter into suffering, no matter the form, there is a pill readily available to help take the edge off.  Often times, it could be that we find ourselves working against the Holy Spirit when we take pills for depression, for example.  If you suffer from depression, ask yourself why?  Also ask yourself what is the Lord telling me through these dreary days?  By medicating yourself, you may miss what God is doing, therefore prolonging the misery.

Last week, we learned that pain is not hatred from God but the love of God.  We know this from the text from last week.  We are not enemies with God but sons of God.  He isn’t punishing us but working for our good.

Hebrews 12:5-8 (ESV)

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.”

[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?  [8] If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

This is an extremely important text of Scripture.  Last week we learned how to think about God’s discipline.  We saw that He only disciplines us because we are sons and daughters and He is our heavenly Father.

One point I want to make very clear this morning before we launch into this text, is that as believers, we should never think of God’s discipline as punishment.  God never punishes one of His children.  We are so used to thinking of God apart from grace that we think we will be punished for sin.  Jesus Christ was punished for our sin.  He alone paid for our sin debt.  God will not punish the same sin twice.  The entire wrath of God that His children have accumulated was spent on Christ.  Those sins we have committed and ones we will commit have been punished already. Continue Reading

God’s Work of Training Us

Hebrews 12:3-11 (ESV)

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.  [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.”

[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?  [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.

Last week we were encouraged by the Apostle to Look to Christ as One who ran a perfect race of endurance.  We looked to the Old Testament saints and then to Christ for endurance.

This week we are exhorted to look to Christ in yet another way.

How many of you have ever been discouraged and tired as a Christian.  How many have ever felt beaten down by the world and even wondered if you had the stamina to continue?  The original readers of this letter to the Hebrews were weary and tired in their souls.  They were about ready to quit.

For them, the cause of their weariness came because of hostility from sinners.

Hebrews 10:32-34 (ESV)

But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings,  [33] sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.  [34] For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.

They seemingly did well at first as they underwent persecution.  These early believers suffered well for the glory of Christ.  As time went on, they grew weary and tired in their souls.

The apostle reminds these saints of one huge invaluable point.  This truth, understood correctly, would give them the spark they needed to endure.  This one truth would change everything.

The hostility from sinners that the Apostle speaks of was really God working.  We often don’t think that God uses ungodly people to accomplish His purposes. Continue Reading

Looking To Jesus

Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)

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.

We’ve been gone from the Book of Hebrews for about a month so I’d like to review one point before we launch into the rest of the book.  The saints of old were looking to not only a city whose architect and builder was God, but also to a person, the Messiah, Jesus Christ.  By faith they saw Christ.  It was this vision of Christ that motivated them to endure.  Moses left Egypt having seen Him who is invisible.

If we are to endure to the end, we too must be looking to the unseen Christ.

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

After coming through chapter 11 of this Book, where are we?  Has the testimony of the heroes of faith left us encouraged continuing our walk of faith?  This text today is the proper place that Chapter 11 should lead us to.

1.  Every Christian Must Run in the Race (Hebrews 12:1) Continue Reading