To he who has ears let him hear…
Hebrews 12
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 [/SUP]looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 [/SUP]For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. [SUP]4 [/SUP]You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
5 [/SUP]And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
[SUP]6 [/SUP]For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”[SUP][a][/SUP]
[SUP]7 [/SUP]If[SUP][b][/SUP] you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? [SUP]8 [/SUP]But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
[SUP]9 [/SUP]Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
[SUP]10 [/SUP]For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
[SUP]11 [/SUP]Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12 [/SUP]Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, [SUP]13 [/SUP]and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
14 [/SUP]Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: [SUP]15 [/SUP]looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God;
lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; [SUP]16 [/SUP]lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.
17 [/SUP]For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.
18 [/SUP]For you have not come to the mountain that[SUP][c][/SUP] may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness[SUP][d][/SUP] and tempest, [SUP]19 [/SUP]and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. [SUP]20 [/SUP](For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned[SUP][e][/SUP] or shot with an arrow.”[SUP][f][/SUP] [SUP]21 [/SUP]And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”[SUP][g][/SUP])
[SUP]22 [/SUP]But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, [SUP]23 [/SUP]to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, [SUP]24 [/SUP]to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
25 [/SUP]See 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, [SUP]26 [/SUP]whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake[SUP][h][/SUP] not only the earth, but also heaven.”[SUP][i][/SUP] [SUP]27 [/SUP]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.
[SUP]28 [/SUP]Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may[SUP][j][/SUP] serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. [SUP]29 [/SUP]For our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 12
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
- Lay aside every weight (everything that will hinder your walk with God). As we can see, the Lord describes this as a race. There is a prize. Who wants to run a race carrying a loaded backpack? NO. Lay the weight aside. Are there idols in your life causing you to spend less time with the Lord? Lay them aside. Are there things consuming your time during the day which have no eternal value? Lay them aside.
- Lay aside every sin. Every one of them. For sin is a trap. A person walks into it, not understanding the gravity of it, not understanding that it pierces his soul. This is written to believers. Therefore, believer, lay this sin aside. We are commanded here to do so. Stop believing the lie that somehow “sin” is no longer connected to us (Gnostic belief system). We are to do a “work” of laying these sins aside and no longer walking in them.
- Run the race of faith. It is an endurance race. The length of the race is the number of years and days God has granted to you. If you overcome, you will be granted eternal life. If you keep the faith in Christ, not falling back, you will walk with God. And your walk will be characteristic of what God has in store for you, for He has set this race before you.
- If you carry along baggage (the weight) your progess will be slowed, if you carry along your sins without repentance, you will be ensnared (trapped). A trapped animal can no longer run the race. The animal can no longer make progress. Lay aside your sins so that you avoid these traps and finish strong. This is God’s will.
2 [/SUP]looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- So how do we run this race? How do we run to win this race? We look unto Jesus.
- For it is Jesus who gave us the seed of faith (even the size of a mustard seed)
- For it is Jesus, who, if we remain in the faith, will bring the work of faith to completion. For Faith is made perfect by works.
- It is on our part to continue in the faith (believing), and it is on our part to obey the Spirit in His leading. If we do this, we do all that is required to live holy lives before the Lord of Heaven and Earth.
- For the joy that was set before Jesus was the adoption into the family of God, many sons and daughters, redeemed from the world, without spot or wrinkle, that we give Him all glory honour and praise.
- We are to look unto Jesus as our example, as a pattern for how we are to live our lives. He endured the cross (verse 2) just as we are to have endurance (verse 1), and He sat down at the right hand of God the Father, just as we, having endured will inherit eternal life.
- Jesus was obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross Philippians 2v8.
- You, believer, are to follow the same pattern. Obedience to the point of death. Even if you were personally to go to the cross.
3 [/SUP]For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. [SUP]4 [/SUP]You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
- Let the context be established clearly. You have a choice to make. Are you going to live according to the flesh or according to the Spirit?
- For God’s will is that you lay aside every weight and sin.
- Will temptations come? Yes. But the word says this: James 1v12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
- You see the crown of life is RESERVED for those who endure (the race of life), for those who overcome (Revelation 2v7), and the final judgement of the Lord when he approves those who have endured and overcome.
- And who are these who endure? Who are they that overcome? Who are they that the Lord approves? ----- it is those who love the Lord (James 1v12). And those who love the Lord are those who obey the Lord (1 John 5v3). And his commands are not burdensome, for we have the Spirit of God, who by the power of His grace gives life to our mortal bodies.
- So, believer, when confronted with temptation, what will you choose? Will you resist (even to the point of bloodshed). Or will you yield to this temptation? Do you not know the power of Christ in you? Do you not know that the Lord overcame all sin? Do you not know that you are a new creation? Do you not know that we have a new Master, and that the old master has been dethroned? Oh – where is this “faith” that you so bravely bandy about? Where?
5 [/SUP]And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
[SUP]6 [/SUP]For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”[SUP][a][/SUP]
[SUP]7 [/SUP]If[SUP][b][/SUP] you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? [SUP]8 [/SUP]But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
- All those who claim faith in Christ are chastened (all have become partakers)
- Those who repent (verse 7) by enduring this chastening, are treated as sons.
- Those who reject this chastening (non repentant – continue in their sins), by their actions, disqualify themselves as sons. They are called illegitimate.
- You have not yet RESISTED to bloodshed in STRIVING AGAINST SIN.
- The chastening process is the process used this side of the grave by the Lord to get the believer back onto the right path. Will you agree to this? Or disagree to this? By your actions you decide what camp you are in.
[SUP]9 [/SUP]Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
- Humble yourselves. God gives grace to the humble, but resists the proud. James 4v6 [SUP]6 [/SUP]But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
- Will you kick against this process? Will you not heed the Lord’s correction? Will you stubbornly continue in your choicest of sins? This is the essence of Pride. You will not receive then, the Grace that saves. For you are not living by faith.
[SUP]10 [/SUP]For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
- We see from these verses it’s not about positional holiness, once for all time, at the point of conversion.
- Holiness (sanctification) requires obedience.
- Run with ENDURANCE the race (your whole life) that is set before you by the Lord.
- Resist Sin
- Accept the Lord’s chastening with a glad heart. For when he chastens you can be certain that He is still working with you. Directing your paths. Calling you back to Himself. Do not resist the Lord. Make the changes that you need to make in your life. Choose the way of life in the Spirit.
[SUP]11 [/SUP]Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
- Chastening brings forth sanctification (holiness) and its fruit is righteousness (wherein we know we have peace with God).
- Believer, will you get with this plan of God?
12 [/SUP]Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, [SUP]13 [/SUP]and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
- Stop being discouraged
- Look to Jesus for strength
- Do not turn to the left nor to the right, but make straight paths for your feet Proverbs 4v27 [SUP]27 [/SUP]Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.
14 [/SUP]Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: [SUP]15 [/SUP]looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God;
- Pursue holiness. You, believer, (yes you reading this) --- pursue holiness, pursue righteousness – it’s a “work”. You have to do something. I know that’s not what you want to hear. That’s your flesh kicking back.
- Do you still not realise that God is coming for a bride without spot or wrinkle?
- And that something is to walk in righteousness before God, resisting sin, not yielding to temptations. The whole of the bible talks about this, scripture upon scripture, precept upon precept, all the way from the garden to today – this is the Lord’s will. A loving and obedient people, who are to worship Him in Spirit and in truth.
- Do you want to see the Lord? Then pursue holiness. Pursue peace with all people.
- Or do you think Grace covers it all? Do you think grace covers a willfully disobedient lifestyle? Do you think you cannot fall short of His Grace? Well then re-read verse 15 again, and again, and again. Romans 6v1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? [SUP]2 [/SUP]Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; [SUP]16 [/SUP]lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.
- Do you see it believer? That bitterness, or fornication, or profanity can disqualify you from your birthright?
- Like how Esau (serving the flesh) lost his birthright --- do you see this believer? Do you not know that those who serve the flesh cannot inherit the Kingdom of God Galatians 5v19-21
17 [/SUP]For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.
- Believer, do not mock God. Do not treat this covenant as a common thing (Hebrews 10v29). Love God with all your heart, mind, body and soul. Esau, who had opportunity for such a great blessing and inheritance, was found disqualified when he SOLD this inheritance for the temptations of the flesh.
- Are you, church, selling your inheritance for the temptations of the flesh?
- Malachi 1v2-4 [SUP]2 [/SUP]“I have loved you,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says the Lord. “Yet Jacob I have loved; [SUP]3 [/SUP]But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage For the jackals of the wilderness.” [SUP]4 [/SUP]Even though Edom <Esau’s descendants> has said, “We have been impoverished, But we will return and build the desolate places,” Thus says the Lord of hosts: “They may build, but I will throw down; They shall be called the Territory of Wickedness, And the people against whom the Lord will have indignation forever.
- Esau (Edom) is a type of Apostate church.
- Not only did Esau (Apostate Church) sell their inheritance (heaven/eternal life) for the temptations of the flesh, the Lord also describes them as the Territory of Wickedness. This apostate church is the one where Grace is used as a big “cover-up” to live a life of accommodation of sin (Territory of Wickedness).
- Hebrews 10v29 [SUP]29 [/SUP]Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
- Therefore believer, look carefully lest you fall short of the grace of God (verse 15).
- 2 Corinthians 13v5 [SUP]5 [/SUP]Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
18 [/SUP]For you have not come to the mountain that[SUP][c][/SUP] may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness[SUP][d][/SUP] and tempest, [SUP]19 [/SUP]and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. [SUP]20 [/SUP](For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned[SUP][e][/SUP] or shot with an arrow.”[SUP][f][/SUP] [SUP]21 [/SUP]And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”[SUP][g][/SUP])
[SUP]22 [/SUP]But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, [SUP]23 [/SUP]to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, [SUP]24 [/SUP]to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
- This is that great cloud of witnesses (verse 1), witnessing our conduct here on earth
- Comprised of: An innumerable company of angels
- Comprised of: The church of God in heaven, the saints who have gone before us
- God Almighty (Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit who is omnipresent)
- How then, should our conduct be here on earth? Will you lay aside every weight which hinders you, and sin which ensnares you? Will you run the race to win, like Paul says?
- 1 Corinthians 9v24-27 [SUP]24 [/SUP]Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. [SUP]25 [/SUP]And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. [SUP]26 [/SUP]Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. [SUP]27 [/SUP]But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
- Church, are you able to hear these words? Are you able to understand?
25 [/SUP]See 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, [SUP]26 [/SUP]whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake[SUP][h][/SUP] not only the earth, but also heaven.”[SUP][i][/SUP] [SUP]27 [/SUP]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.
- If we refuse God's words we will not escape.
- Mark 8v38 [SUP]38 [/SUP]For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
- Jesus in this final hour will begin to shake the heavens and the earth. There will be a sifting that will happen. The true bride will come forth, without blame spot or wrinkle.
- Ephesians 5v26-27 [SUP]26 [/SUP]that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, [SUP]27 [/SUP]that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
- The apostate church will be shaken and be removed in the final hour. For they are the ones who forsake the covenant they have with the Lord. They didn’t heed the words of the Lord. And He is an all-consuming fire.
[SUP]28 [/SUP]Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may[SUP][j][/SUP] serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. [SUP]29 [/SUP]For our God is a consuming fire.
- To the bride of Christ. To the true Church. To those who love the Lord. To those who obey his commands ----- to you be grace, by which you can serve the Lord acceptably, with reverence and godly fear, presenting your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to the Lord, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12v1-2
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