HEBREWS 12:12-29 The Glory of His Grace

INTRO.: In Hebrews chapter 12 - seen Christian life is likened to a race!

A.)Marathon race; hills, valley, mt. tops - run in all seasons - keep on running

B.) The Lord is our coach and we are told how we are to run

1.) Laying aside weights and the sin

2.) Run w/ endurance - conquering over - not passive

C.) Run looking unto Jesus - Author and Finisher of our faith

1.) Example and our enabler - run not in our own strength but His strength

imparted to us

In our study Sunday v.5-11 We saw that the focus shifted from God’s Role as our Coach / to our Parent/ Don’t despise the Chastening of the Lord

A)We looked at the Lord’s Method of Training his Children / Whom he loves He Chastens – trains Correctional/ Instructional/ Preventional/ Motivational

B) Tonight we pick up in v.12 ¹²Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, ¹³and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

C) The word THEREFORE is a word that is always pointing back to what has already been said – recap

1) Therefore or Because we have this great cloud of witnesses ( testifiers) surrounding us ( testifying this race can be run)

D) Because Jesus has ran before us – paved the way for us / Author & finisher

1) Because Chastening or training of the Lord is a sign of his love / & that we are his Children

2) Because He uses the Chastening to make us Partakers of His Holiness ( more like Him ) and He uses it to make us – FRUITFUL

For all of those reasons strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, ¹³and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

A)That is our Context – what does it mean ? Again these believers were going thru difficult times / they were getting discouraged

B) Hands that Hang down / feeble Knees –refers to being spiritually, Physically and emotionally wore out

1) Like a runner –hands are hanging / Knees are giving out – barely trudging along not sure he can go another step

C) Sometimes the trials in our lives can be so heavy – this is how we feel –I don’t think I can take another step

1) Just Wiped / Physically / mentally/ emotionally – even spiritually / discouragement can set in.

D) It is normal to get discouraged – it happens to the best of us. Paul / David Elijah / Even great Giants got depressed /

1) Spurgeon – talked of his great Bouts w/ Depression – left him in bed for days at a time

Listen it is normal to get discouraged / it is normal to have bouts w/ depression / Most go through that –

A)What is not normal for the Christian is to be overcome by those things / God has given us the tools to Overcome

B) Take David ² Psa 6 :2 LORD, have mercy on me because I am weak.

Heal me, LORD, because my bones ache.³ I am very upset.

LORD, how long will it be? ⁶ I am tired of crying to you. Every night my bed

is wet with tears; my bed is soaked from my crying.

⁷ My eyes are weak from so much crying; they are weak from crying about my

enemies.

C) David went thru some huge bouts w/ Discouragement – Fugitive for 13yrs

^{PSA 42: 3} My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me,“Where is your God?”

⁴ When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me.

For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God,

With the voice of joy and praise,With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.

But we are told in 1 Sam that David Strengthened Himself in the Lord

A)Those Psalms of despair end w/ declarations of Praise

^{PS 6:9} The LORD has heard my cry for help; the LORD will answer my prayer.

Psa 42: ⁵ Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.

B) David Knew that what was needed was to take his eyes off the situation and to Focus on the Lord – Give Praise to the Lord

1) Remember His Greatness

6 Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,

And from the heights of Hermon, From the Hill Mizar.

⁷ Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;

All Your waves and billows have gone over me.

⁸ The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,

And in the night His song shall be with me—

A prayer to the God of my life.

C) So even though it is normal to have doubts w/ depression & discouragement like David we can rise above it as we see the Lord

1) Like David we can strengthen our hands in the Lord

D) But we also read 1 Sam.23:16 of a time in David’s life where he needed his friend Jonathan to do that for Him

1)David in great despair –God sends Jonathan to strengthen David’s hand in the Lord by reminding David of God’s Call on his life & faithfulness

That is what this is referring to Strengthening each other in that way

A)What the writer of Heb has been doing for 12 Chapters – Reminding these Believers of the Greatness of Christ / Completeness of His Work

So strengthen the Hands …..down / feeble knees v.13 ³and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

B)In times of Difficulty it is sometimes normal to lose your step – get off the path – not seeing things straight / clear /

C) Often Problems can seem bigger than the are / blinded by the despair / become a bit irrational

1) Instead of walking straight we walk from side to side – putting out fires or going around in circles

D)Now for someone who is injured exercise is important – but A Crooked path is the worst thing for someone in Rehab – needs healing

1) My Hip – Hiking – Straight lines /

Well next he mentions some things to keep in mind that help us keep paths straight – Keep eyes on the Goal – Read v.14-17

A.) v.14 is not easy to interpret and has been a problem for many believers

1.) At first glance it seems to be teaching salvation by works

B.) That is if we successfully pursue peace and holiness we will be saved, and see the Lord!

1.) The truth is, however, that a person who is not saved cannot pursue either peace or holiness; not successfully!

Isaiah 57:21 "There is no peace for the wicked" and Isaiah 64:6"man's attempts at righteousness are as filthy rags"

C.) Only a Christian through the power of the Holy Spirit has the ability to live in peace and holiness

I believe the writer is referring to practical peace and righteousness!

A.)Positionally as Christians already at peace w/ God & righteous thru Christ

But practically a lot left to do in our lives

B.) Because we are at peace with God, we should be peacemakers

1.) Because we are counted righteous, we should live righteously

C.)In other words Our practice should match our position and profession - or else the unbeliever will ask - why don't practice what preach!

1.) Thus - phrase - "Without which no one will see the Lord" - I believe

the reference is to unbelievers

2) Notice passage doesn't say - You will not see the Lord! No one will see the Lord in You – that is what all about – Matt. 5 Lights …..

D) Called lights to the world - what TAINTS that light IS hypocrisy - believers live - unrighteously

Here is how to keep Path’s straight – Pursue Peace w/ others & holiness

A) Pursuing peace primarily relates to loving people; pursuing holiness to loving God

B) Jesus said – love God ….. mind , & love your neighbor / in these two things all the Law is Fulfilled

1) That is our aim – live right before God / Light before people so that they can see the Lord

"One day as I was reading the second chapter of I John, I realized that my personal life's objective regarding holiness was less than that of John's. He was saying, in effect, "Make it your aim not to sin.' As I thought about this, I realized that deep within my heart my real aim was not to sin "very much' Can you imagine a soldier going into battle with the aim of "not getting hit very much?'" (Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness )

C) How often do we have that same thinking/ goal today is to not sin very much in doing so we rationalize it is just a little thing!

D) PURSUE = To earnestly endeavor to acquire- The Word has a sense of urgency about it!

A desire to be at peace w/ others & to live for holiness & is born out of the life that realizes the extent of what Christ did for them!

A.)When I realize how much I am been forgiven of – it makes me forgiving of others / Realize the extent of His love for me / easier to Love

B)And when I realize the Price He paid - the gift He gave - a desire for holiness is the natural result!

The great missionary David Brainerd, who spent his brief life (he died before the age of thirty) ministering to American Indians, wrote in his journal these words: "I never got away from Jesus and him crucified. When my people were gripped by this great evangelical doctrine of Christ and him crucified, I had no need to give them instructions about morality. I found that one followed as the sure and inevitable fruit of the other.''

He also said this in another place: "I find my Indians begin to put on the garments of holiness and their common life begins to be sanctified even in small matters when they are possessed by the doctrine of Christ and him crucified.''

C)What Brainerd was saying was this: when a Christian realizes who Christ is and what Christ has done for him

1) it has a dramatic effect on this life, not only in salvation but in holiness.

D)Now think about all the things we earnestly endeavor to acquire! That we

pursue and seek after!

1) Well, writer says here put these 2 at top of your list peace!

Because the world -Know my disciples by your love/ Love God / other

So Pursue Peace & Holiness but watch out for Bitterness

A)V.15 - Looking carefully looking over same word Peter uses of elders - 1Pet 5:2 - Watching flocks!- OVERSEER

B) Watch out that you don't fall short of the grace of God! What mean?

1.) Mean - not careful you can lose salvation? No – not the context

C) The Context is speaking of our actions around others / the outwardness of our faith - how we act around others

1) Falling short of the grace of God in the sense of not being very gracious / showing undeserved favor

Once on a railway train an elderly man accidentally broke a minor regulation and was unmercifully bawled out by a young train employee. Later a fellow passenger nudged the old gentleman and suggested he give the employee a piece of his mind. But the old man just smiled. "Oh," he said, "if a man like that can stand himself for all of his life, I surely can stand him for five minutes."

D) Listen we can either Pursue peace / show grace or we can get Bitter

1) Root of Bitterness – many to become defiled – Seen whole families destroyed by Bitterness – root that uproots homes / Churches / Marriages

The Writer gives the example of Esau who allowed Bitterness to send him over the edge – Sold his birth right

A)Hatred for his Brother was so great -He became a bitter and ungodly and immoral man

B) Esau had tears after he sold his birthright but not repentance / he was sorry but not really to the point of Repentance

1) Root of bitterness took root & began to grow in his life

C) Esau is an example of a person who was only interested in the outward Blessings & not the spiritual blessings –

D) In V.18 the writer shifts gears here to one more time illustrate to these people of not being focused on the outward physical things

1) But to understand the spiritual Significance concerning what Christ did on the Cross at Calvary. Read v. 18-21

The first thing He draws our attention to is our Position is Christ

He takes a picture out of the O. T. when the old Covenant. was given at Mt. Sinai . Probably one of the most radical times in O.T. history

A)Ex. 19 Scene : Assemble the people at the base of the Mt. /don't touch the Mt. or the Base " God is going to speak"

B) There was smoke & fire on the Mt. / Trumpet was heard by everyone / God spoke the ground began to shake

1) The whole scene was to magnify the Glory & power of God & to put fear in the hearts of the people ( Reverence!)

C) It worked - Ch. 20:18,19 Result "Moses you speak w/ us "

1) The whole focus of the Old Covenant. was one of Distance !

D) That scene was the Ultimate example

Now when Moses came down the Mt. after 40 days w/ the

Tablets the people were in heavy sin! ( Calf )

A) Three thousand died on that day because of their rebellion!

B) But notice what says Heb. v18 "you are not of that Mt. "

1) There was another mt. another time when sky black / earth

shook ! Mt. Calvary

C) Not When the law was not being given / but the Son!

1) Pentecost / Spirit given = life 3000 saved!

D) The Pt. You are not of that Mt. represents the Law / Distance / but

Calvary = Life closeness!

1) the law said do, do ,do, - Calvary Jesus said " Done"

The law revealed that man couldn't keep it / man sinned , missed the mark / God sent His Son!

A) The Old Covenant. Spoke of work to be done; New - that work was Done!

1) Old of Distance / New Of closeness /

B) With the Old came fear And Judgment w/ the New Grace & Mercy!

1) So great the INTIMACY we can have

So you are not of that Mt. Switches from Sinai – to Mt. Zion – v.22-24 describes the place that we are going to.

A) THE CITY OF GOD- talking about Heaven /

B) Notice described as a city! Misconceptions about heaven! Clouds / floating around /

1) Here Heaven is referred to as a city / diff from our cities / but

some type of City streets of gold /

C) That which has such value to us is so common in heaven! Asphalt!

Notice also who is going to be there! V22 Innumerable company of Angels

A) Michael / Gabriel / Angelic Choir sang at Christ's birth Your Guardian Angel

B)A lot to talk about ! " Remember the time " Me bike ride eyes closed!

C) And V.23 The Church those names written in the Book of Life !

Paul / Apostles / Martyrs

D) V23b The spirits of just men made perfect - Ref. to the O.T.

Saints - Abraham , ...........

1) Sit down and talk together w/ all of these people we will

have all the time in the World ! Exciting!

E) Heaven is going to be one big Family gathering - " Hey Mo pass the Potatoes " Play football w/ David & Jonathan / Awesome time!

Don't forget the Guest of honor V.24 Jesus is going to be there! "Our hero , Our Lord , Our Friend!

William M. Dyke was a young man who became blind at the young age of ten. Despite this handicap, he grew to be a very intelligent, witty and handsome young man. While attending graduate school in England, William met the daughter of an English admiral.

The two soon became engaged. Though never having seen her, William loved her very much. Shortly before the wedding, at the insistence of the admiral, William submitted to special treatment for his loss of sight. Hoping against hope, William wanted the gauze from his eyes removed during the ceremony. He wanted the first thing he saw to be his wife's face.

As the bride came down the aisle, William's father started unwinding the gauze from around his head and eyes still not knowing if the operation would be a success. With the unwrapping of the last circumference, William looked into the face of his new bride for the first time. "You are more beautiful than I ever imagined,'' he said.

Like the young groom, though we have never seen Jesus, it will be worth the years of darkness to "see him as he is'' (1 John 3:2).

A)More Beautiful than we ever imagined !!!!!

B) We are going to see Jesus our Mediator / King / Scars be

reminded of the Love / blood shed for us !

C)The Blood of Abel speaks of murder /of Judgment of sin / man's selfishness / abortions / crime / speaks Loud!

1) But the blood of Jesus speaks louder / speaks of better

things of cleansing of forgiveness / of life / of Grace!

²⁵See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, ²⁶whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I ^£shake not only the earth, but also heaven.”^{£ 27}Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

As we come to V 25 we come to the 5th warning in the book against going back wards & forsaking Christ

A)If those in the OT- perished because they refused the Lord- turned to idols – How much more so will those who turn away from Christ now

B) How much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven- ²⁶whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I ^£shake not only the earth, but also heaven.”

C) He is speaking of a judgment that is coming / God is going to do some shaking!

1) Everything that can be shaken will be shaken – the foundations of men’s lives will be exposed & only that which is founded in Jesus will stand !!

Lastly V29 Consuming fire

A) Fire can be a good or bad thing depending on your relationship to it !

1) Fireplace warm you or fire can burn you!

B) God wants to Brighten us up not burn us out !!!!