Heb. 10:19-25  As You see the Day Approaching

 

Intro: Joe is 45 yrs old – he has a great job & really a wonderful life

A)Great wife in Suzy married for 20 yrs – 3 awesome kids/ Billy is 15

Janie is 13 / Becky is 7 – She was a Surprise

 

B) Active in their Church / great circle of friends / but all of that Changed when he went in for his yearly Physical –

1)   There he Discovered he was in the advanced stages Cancer/ His Doctor gave him 6 months to live What a Shocker!!!!!

 

C) How would your life Change if you found out that you had 6 months to live ? What would be your priorities / What would change / do different ?

 

What about if the Lord somehow revealed to you that the Rapture / Jesus comes for his Church would occur in 6 mths / sometime in DEC

A)Not saying – he is coming in 6 months – but what if the Lord told you that ?

  What affect would that have on your life !!!!

 

B) One of the things that made the early Church so effective / so powerful / one reason that they turned world upside down

1)   And spread the gospel of JC all over the world w/out the use of modern day Communication Technology i.e. TV Radio / modern Transportation

 

C) Huge Motivation for all that they did . They believed that Jesus could come back at any moment !!!

1)   Now Peter tells us in his epistle – why the Lord has delayed 2 Pet.3

 The Lord delays because He desires more people to be saved

 

D) Waiting giving more people the opportunity to Repent – Turn from sin & turn to Christ – experience ETERNAL LIFE

 

E) Six months to live ? Six months before the Lord returns – What affect should that have on our lives ? Heb 10 gives us some insight v.19-25

 

Up to this point in our study in Hebrews, the focus has been on the Doctrinal aspect of the completed work of Christ!

A.)Proving that Christ is better High Priest, Who offered a better sacrifice, He established better Covenant

 

B.) In fact We have seen the writer - tear apart each aspect of the Old Covenant in contrast it to Christ / Clearly Showing He is superior!

     1) Offers a  Complete salvation available to anyone who asks

 

C)At this point in the epistle - He begins to exhort the readers: Having proven his point - (it is useless to go back to rituals - Judaism)

1)   V.19-21 Gives us a quick recap-  Therefore:

 

We have Boldness to enter into the Holiest – Access to God – Intimacy

A)BY  His blood – w/out the shedding of blood ….. sins / Jesus blood opens the door – Satisfied the Requirement of a Holy God

 

B) V.20 BY  A New & Living Way : His Rez. establishes a New Covenant.

 

Interesting SIDE NOTE talk more Wed. His body the Veil

 

C) V.21 Because He lives – WE HAVE A HIGH PRIEST Who is / seen:

1)   After the order of Melch - Priest & King / Compassionate –able to sympathize w/ us / Merciful / Faithful / Interceding

 

So He gives a  Quick recap of the main points that He has been drawing our attention to:

A)What should be our Response ? What should we be about ? What should we be doing / especially in light of the last phrase v.25

 

As we see the day approaching: The day of Christ Return

 

B) Like the Days of Noah – Increase in Population/ Increase in Violence – Japan / Increase in Sexual Immorality -  All time Highs

1)   What Should be our Response – 3 things : Let us – 3 heads of Lettuce

1st – Let us Draw near w/ a True Heart:

A) What an INCREDIBLE INVITATION:

  

B)Hebrews 4 - encouraged to come boldly - before throne of     grace, receive mercy to help in time of need!

 

C.) This takes it one step further - "Come and draw near!"

 1ST SERVICE  1) Descriptions of NEARNESS in scripture

 

Man w/ His Wife – Nearness – Intimacy – We are the Bride\

Mom w/ Her Kids – Nursing – very affectionate & Near

Mother Hen w/ her Chicks – Hidden under her wings

 

D)This is what the Father desires - nearness of His kids!  

     1.)     My kids - watch movie - Odyssey - seen before - "Dad sit with me -

            I love it!

 

D) Father says to us - draw near!- No reason to be ashamed - You are welcome & wanted!

     1)That is all I need to know - the Father is so in love with me!                 

 

** David Forgave Absalom but didn’t see him for yrs

( Some live like that w/ the Lord failing to realize – Nearness is his desire

A) Prodigal came home – not just forgiven / hugged / embraced /

    Heaven rejoices – (not worship / saved

 

But notice also the attitude in Coming – 1st True heart / A true heart speaks of 3 things

A)#1 – True about me – Realize that I am a sinner – saved by grace / only way Access – is because of what Christ did

 

B) Only way to approach God is thru Jesus !!!

 

 

C) #2 - True heart -  speaks of a Sincerity  it is  genuine, without superficiality, hypocrisy, or ulterior motive.( Money / Person/ Blessing)

  1) Not trying to Bargain w/ God – Real 

 

D)#3 A True heart speaks of speaks of a whole heart not 1/2 heartedly but - fully committed to Father!

  1) As we see the day approaching / Not time for a ½ hearted walk w/ God

     Whole heart!  He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him

 

The committed heart - leads to preparation!

Prov 23:26 "My son give me your heart & let your eyes observe my ways"

 

A)Brides - for wedding day! /  Usually wait put dress on at church

     Not going thru the drive thru at Taco Bell- My bride - no burrito stains!

 

B) She is committed so she wants to be prepared

   1) Many people never experience all that the Lord has for them         because –

        approach is half hearted!

    

 

2nd we are to draw near In full assurance of faith!

A.)    With an assured confidence!  Not questioning our right of access, or the certainty of gracious acceptance through Christ!

 

B.) Not divided in confidence but in fullness of faith in Christ & His finished  

        work! 

         

C) Why Full assurance of Faith : Our Hearts sprinkled and bodies washed

      W/ His Blood / So Our  conscience  clear!/ Guilt is Gone !!!

 

D)So First – Let us Draw near w/ True heart – does that describe your relationship w/ God ? 1st - Draw Near!  Intimacy and closeness to the Lord

 

 

 

2nd – V.23 Let us Hold fast the Confession of our Hope w/ out Wavering

A.)Notice first  the word Hope = Absolute Expectation of coming      good!  Not a wish / absolute - sure thing  ( Padres win Pennant – no Sure thing)

 

B.)What is our hope? That Jesus is preparing a place for us!  That He is coming again!

     1.)     That we have eternal life!  Inheritance in Him!  Hope of Glory!

 

C.)Paul put it this way: COL 1:27  God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

 

D.)    Paul also said in Titus 2:13 -  We were to be looking for the      blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and  Savior Jesus Christ!

 

2nd Notice: this hope is to be a confession!

A.)    Something we believe so strongly in that it is talked about focused upon!  - Confessed

     1.)     Confession strengthens the hope! – Marriage in 3 months

 

B) Confession gives others a Chance to Have this Hope

1PE 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason      for the hope that is in you,

 

C) Hopelessness of Our world !!!

 

We are to Hold fast ….Greek is firm hold that masters that which is held

A.) Idea is The reality of our hope should be so strong / so firm that it radically effects our lives!

     1.)     1 John 3:3 - He that has hope purifies ... pure!

 

B.)    It is when we lose sight of this hope that we find ourselves         compromising - becoming complacent

Some years ago a hydroelectric dam was to be built across a valley in New England.  The people in a small town in the valley were to be relocated because the town itself would be submerged when the dam was finished.

   

 During the time between the decision to build the dam and its completion, the buildings in the town, which previously were kept up nicely, fell into disrepair.  Instead of being a pretty little town, it became an eyesore.

 

   Why did this happen? The answer is simple.  As one resident said, "Where there is no hope in the future, there is no work in the present.''

 

If we Lose our Hope in the soon return of Christ that is the first step toward letting things go & losing our effectiveness in this world !!!!!!

 

Why is our hope so sure?  Here's key

A.)    Because He who promised is faithful / put it another way: Jesus keeps His promises!  300 prophecies first coming / End times Israel/ Technology

 

B.)The Source of our Hope - is Him!

     1.)     That's why Paul said person without Christ had no hope in this world!

 

C.)    The world is fading away - perish it is going down but Jesus remains

    1) So hold fast confession of hope - because He is faithful

 

3rd v.24 Let us consider one another in order to stir up love & good works

A.)    The hope we have should encourage us to stir up each other!

1.) Note that Consider means perceive clearly –

 

B) Paul said in 2 Cor.5:16 That he was going to regard no man according to the flesh – He didn’t want to see his Bros / sisters in the flesh but in Christ

1)   In Christ went on New Creation

 

C) Sometimes we can be so critical of others so judgmental of others – when we do that we are not seeing them clearly – seeing only the flesh

Jesus used this word Consider in Matt 7 when he said why do you look at your brother & see the speck in his eye & Not Consider –  Not perceive clearly the log in your own

A)Often times the reason I can come down on others is I am not seeing them or myself clearly – that I am like them a sinner saved by grace

 

B) And that In Christ – they are now the Apple of His Eye

In Duet. 32:10 the Lord describes His people in that way – Apple of Eye

 

C)The Apple of His eye refers to His Pupil – which is an interesting analogy

1) You see if you talk to an optometrist – The fasted reflex in your Body is the reflex that covers your Eye when Danger is heading its way

 

D) Quicker than any reflex or response in your entire body – in fact they say that it responds at one one thousandth of a second

 1)So if bug coming / finger poke the reflex is so quick that it cover the Eye

 

So follow the Analogy : the Lord is saying that I care so much about you because you are the Apple of my eye

A)    That there is nothing that is going to come my way that will catch him off Guard

 

B)    When Danger comes – He is there !!! He is on it !!!!  - Because we are the apple of His eye !!!

 

This word Consider also speaks of having  attentive continuous care for one another!

A)Consider each other in such a way – Caring Concern for that persons well being – Care about the body - focus is on other's not on myself!

 

B) Consider one another in order or for this reason to stir up one another to love & Good works /

1)   Here we see the Characteristics  of true fellowship!  That which stirs  

    each other up in love of Christ – service/  Iron sharpens iron ... friend!

 

C.) The word stir up = to Stimulate – Paddles used to stimulate the heart to get it going again / Electrical currents – limbs going

 

D.) We need Friendships that stimulate your walk with the Lord!

     1.)     Build up rather than tear down!

 

Think about your closest relationships - what are the key ingredients? What effects does time together have on you?

A.)    Tim F.  vs Gaeln

 

B.)    Idea of stirring  up reminds us of what happens when coals are in a     fire!  Get hotter!  -  On fire for Jesus!

 

C.)    I pray be a stirred up church –Stimulating one another – to Love Christ more / to Serve Him more / Seek Him more diligently -

     1) Excited about Lord's return. Excited about serving; evangelism!

 

 

24And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some,

A)Not Forsaking fellowship as is the manner of some : Why do some people forsake fellowship ?  several reasons

 

1) Lazy – { Time when you don’t want to go to Church is when you need it most.

 

2) Some would rather feed their flesh rather than the spirit. Stay home watch TV or movies – think tired this is what I need – Spirit is craving fellowship

 

A)Always amazing me – how sit down to watch a movie or something on TV thinking – so fried just want to veg.

1)   When it is over – feel more fried – less refreshed –

 

B) Spirit can be so completely stimulated – built up – come to church on Wed. – take in worship / word / fellowship

3) Some think that they don’t need it – strong w/ out it ! – Think stands take heed lest he falls – Redwoods – never alone – Interlocking root system

 

4)Seasons : Too busy at work / kids are  young School / kids in sports

A)You give God time – He gives grace for the next day

 

B) Sports tell the coach – Wed. night Priority – Family goes to Church – that is what Daniel did – God honored him for it

 

5) Discouragement : No one loves me / no one cares about me / God doesn’t love me – ( Nothing further from the truth)

 

Why is it important not to forsake Fellowship – 6 reasons - 3 Neg / 3 Pos

A)1st Neg #1 The devil feeds & discouragement – he will seek to thru discouragement – keep you away from fellowship

 

B) Discouragement leads to Doubt - / Doubt to being Disillusioned / Disillusionment to Despair

1)   Seen people completely apostatize – that is where it started – Satan got them Discouraged pulled out of Fellowship –

 

C) Don’t forsake but Exhort one another – Exhort is Parakaleo – taken from Comforter in JN 14 – One called alongside to Encourage

1)   You can not be encouraged when you are not here

 

#2 Laziness leads to  Lethargy –which leads to complancy that leads to compromise

During World War II, the enemy conducted experiments to find the most effective type of punishment for eliciting information from prisoners.  They found that solitary confinement was the most effective.  After a few days of solitary confinement, most men would tell all.

 

That is why we need fellowship without it we too become easy prey for temptation and abandonment of our values.

A) David fell wasn’t w/ the Bros/ Hanging out alone by Himself

#3 When we feed the flesh –we give opportunity for the Devil to get a foothold in our lives

A)Some people wonder why they are anemic spiritually why not growing – answer – Mostly feeding flesh – stronger ( Two dogs)

 

3 More Positive :

#1 You need to be in fellowship for strength

Pastor went to visit a person .....been in a while / chilly night / fire / big chair / greeting sat silence / fire After some minutes, he took the fire tongs, carefully picked        up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the

fire place  Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. 

                                        The host watched all this in quiet fascination.

 

As the lone ember's flame diminished, there was a momentary glow, but then its fire was no more and it was cold and dead.  Not a word had been spoken since the initial greetings.  But as the minister rose to leave, the host said,

 

"Thank you so much for your visit—and especially for your fiery sermon.  I shall be at church next Sunday."

 

C)  The body of Christ is like coals in a fire; together stirred up keep

          warm --do great things

          1) 12 disciples stuck together & turned the world upside down!

 

D) But if you take that coal out & set it by itself - no fire - dead!

          1) No lone  ranger  Christians!

 

E) Often where backsliding starts ; when fellowship & bible study no longer become a priority! /  Others things are allowed to creep in! work / hobby

 

F) No one ever decides to just backslide  "  Hey lets go party pick up

          babes wreck families catch aids  ruin lives " sounds great .

          1) Often Begins by forsaking fellowship.

 

Like Redwoods we have an interlocking root system

#2   You need to be in fellowship because you are needed.

A) You are a part of the body of Christ / Many members / parts

            functions  gifts  all important

            1)  You have a place a ministry & it is not to keep a seat warm.

 

B) Lord has you here because your gifts & talents needed.  He wants

        you to be used .

 

 

As members of the body of Christ, we can be compared to pieces in a jigsaw puzzle.  Each piece has protrusions and indentations.  The protrusions represent our strengths (gifts, talents, abilities), & the indentations represent our weaknesses (faults, limitations, shortcomings, undeveloped areas).

 

The beautiful thing is that the pieces complement one another and produce a beautiful whole picture ( Your strengths cover my weaknesses vice versa )

  

Just as each piece of a puzzle is important, so each member of the body of Christ is important & can minister to the other members of the body

A)  What happens when a piece is missing from puzzle / obvious

       It damages the picture

 

 B) So also is the whole weakened when we are absent from the body of Christ

   1) In a puzzle the pieces all blend together so too in the body of Christ.

 

  EPH 4:11-13      And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,     for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,     till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

 

#3 Testimony to the world .

A) the world looks at the Church & is amazed.

          1) Jesus said know you are my disciples ...Love "

Why do you go to Church ?

A)Duty Religion – missing out on that Relationship – Draw near – Be true Lord I am a mess / thank you for your mercy

 

B) Minister to Him – What can I get -/ what Give / Upreach

 

C) SEE FRIENDS ? Fine but can I encourage you to take it one step further Consider each other stir up stimulate

1)    This is the Huddle FOLKS – Life is the game – Be real – guy drops a pass back to the huddle – Ok you will catch it next time –

 

C)  Hope Built up : Good remember He is faithful

 

 

Maybe you are here today- doing religious thing – Never really drawn near to God – been here for months – No relationship

A)God wants you to draw near / Price paid /way open – Jesus is the door

 

B) Maybe here tough week wiped out need encouraged -