“THE PROMISE OF PERSEVERANCE”
Hebrews 6:4-20
August 17, 2008
Pastor John L. Harper
Warden Assembly of God
Introduction:
• This passage is not a condemnation to Christians, but a warning of the consequences of turning away from Christ.
• This passage needs to be read in context, and understood in the time it was written.
• The recipients of this letter were enduring persecution and thought if they would turn back to Judaism, the persecution would end.
• This portion of Scripture is to warn them about turning away from the only one that can keep them from everlasting destruction.
• We should read this letter and heed the warning of looking for salvation in any other way. The consequences of this decision are horrendous.
I. THE DANGER OF FALLING AWAY (vs. 4-8)
Maturity, Spiritual:
In "First Things First," A. Roger Merrill tells of a business consultant who decided to landscape his grounds. He hired a woman with a doctorate in horticulture who was extremely knowledgeable. Because the business consultant was very busy and traveled a lot, he kept emphasizing to her the need to create his garden in a way that would require little or no maintenance on his part. He insisted on automatic sprinklers and other labor-saving devices. Finally she stopped and said, "There’s one thing you need to deal with before we go any further. If there’s no gardener, there’s no garden!" There are no labor-saving devices for growing a garden of spiritual virtue. Becoming a person of spiritual fruitfulness requires time, attention, and care. - Bill Norman Ontario, Canada
A. It is impossible (to be brought back to repentance)
Illustration: Man drowning refuses help from lifeguard
1. Those who have been enlightened
2. Those who have tasted the heavenly gift
3. Those who have been partakers of the Holy Spirit
4. Those who have tasted the goodness of the Word
5. Those who have tasted the power of the age to come
B. Because of the denial of Christ
1. They crucify Christ again (expound on this)
a. If you could do it again
b. Their offense is so horrible
2. They subject Him to public disgrace
C. Because they don’t prepare the soil of the heart
(Mat 13:23) But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
1. Rain is useless if it does not soften the soil
(Psa 65:9) Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.
(Psa 65:10) Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.
(Psa 65:11) Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.
2. The Blessing of God is on the one that
a. Cultivates the soil
(Hos 10:12) Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
b. Receives and drinks in the rain
D. Beware uncultivated soil profits no one
1. Land that produces weeds is cursed
2. Land that produces weeds will be burned
Application: What is the condition of your heart? What are you doing to prepare the soil of your heart for God’s harvest?
II. THE DILIGENCE OF PERSEVERANCE (vs. 9-12)
A. We believe better things for you
1. That accompany salvation
2. God will not forget your good work
a. the love you have shown Him
b. as you have helped his people
B. We want you to be diligent
1. Diligent about your salvation
2. Diligent until the end
a. so that your hope will be certain
b. so that you do not become lazy
C. Imitate those who have received the promise
1. They received the promise through faith
2. They received the promise through patience
Application: Are you diligently pursuing salvation until the end? What could you do today to be intentional about your walk with God? Could you begin getting up early for prayer and Bible reading? Could you turn off the TV and spend that time with the Lord?
III. THE DECLARATION OF THE PROMISE (vs. 13-20)
A. God made a promise to Abraham
1. Promise of a son
2. Promise was certain
a. It was from God
b. He swore by Himself
B. God kept His promise (Gen. 15:4-5)
(Gen 15:4) And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
(Gen 15:5) And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
This promise was made after Ishmael and Isaac. He saw Isaac, but Christ was the blessing of Abraham. (Gal. 3:16)
(Gal 3:16) Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
1. He reminded Abraham of the promise
a. After he offered Isaac to the Lord (Gen. 22:15-18)
(Gen 22:15) And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
(Gen 22:16) And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
(Gen 22:17) That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
(Gen 22:18) And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
b. After he already had Ishmael and Isaac
2. Abraham waited patiently
a. He was 75 when he was promised a son when he set out from Haran (Heb. 11:11-12)
(Heb 11:11) Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
(Heb 11:12) Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
b. He was 100 when he had Isaac
C. God marked His promise with an oath
1. Men swear by themselves to someone greater
2. Men use an oath to end all arguments
3. God wanted man to see His nature
a. His nature is unchanging
b. His nature is truth (Numbers 23:19-20)
(Num 23:19) God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
(Num 23:20) Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
4. We are encouraged with hope
a. this hope is an anchor (we need an anchor to keep us through the storms of life)
The Anchor Holds
The Anchor Holds
Words and Music by Lawrence Chewning and Ray Boltz
© 1994 - Word Music
I have journeyed through the long, dark night
Out on the open sea,
By faith alone, sight unknown,
And yet His eyes were watching me.
The Anchor holds, though the ship is battered.
The Anchor holds, though the sails are torn.
Well I have fallen on my knees,
as I faced the raging sea,
But the Anchor holds, in spite of the storm.
I’ve had visions and I’ve had dreams;
Well I’ve even held them in my hands,
But I never knew those dreams could slip right through
Like they were only grains of sand.
O, the Anchor holds, though the ship is battered.
The Anchor holds, though the sails are torn.
Well I have fallen on my knees,
as I faced the raging seas.
O, the Anchor holds, in spite of the storm.
Now I have been young, but I am older now.
O and there has been beauty these eyes have seen;
But it was in the night, when I faced the storms of my life.
Oh, that’s where God proved His love to me.
The Anchor holds, though the ship is battered.
The Anchor holds, though the sails are torn.
I have fallen, fallen down on my knees
as I faced the raging seas.
But the Anchor holds; O, in spite of the storm.
I said I’ve fallen, fallen down on my knees
as I faced the raging seas;
But the Anchor holds, in spite of the storm.
b. this hope is firm and secure
5. Hope has a name
a. His name is Jesus
b. He has gone where no man has gone before (forerunner)
c. He has entered on our behalf as our High Priest, according to the order of Melchizedek
Application: What has God promised you? Are you willing to patiently wait and obey the Lord?
CONCLUSION:
Maturity, Growth over time: Himself
Once it was the blessing; now it is the Lord. Once it was the feeling; now it is His Word. Once His gifts I wanted; now the Giver own. Once I sought for healing, now Himself alone. Once ’twas painful trying; now ’tis perfect trust. Once a half salvation; now the uttermost. Once ’twas ceaseless holding; now He holds me fast. Once ’twas constant drifting; now my anchor’s cast. Once ’twas busy planning; now ’tis trustful prayer. Once ’twas anxious caring; now He has the care. Once ’twas what I wanted, now what Jesus says. Once ’twas constant asking; now ’tis ceaseless praise. Once I tried to use Him; now He uses me. Once it was my working; His it hense shall be. Once the power I wanted, now the Mighty One. Once for self I labored, now for Him alone. Once I hoped for Jesus; now I know He’s mine. Once my lamps were dying; now they brightly shine. Once for death I waited; now His coming hail. And my hopes are anchored safe within the veil.
--A.B. Simpson
R.S.V.P. story from Heaven (Lady who sang in a wedding, and was not let into the Marriage Feast, because she did not R.S.V.P.) Source: “Heaven” Randy Alcorn
