Hebrews Series
Hebrews 12.1-17 Don’t Lose Heart #22
September 14, 2014
Introduction:
A The author has just finished leading us through God’s Hall of Fame (From Able to “the others”), he gives us the greatest example/champion of faith.
1 When our Lord was here on earth, He lived by faith.
a Heb. 2.13, the author tells us that Jesus prayed, “I will put My trust in Him.”
Hebrews 2:13 (NASB) 13 And again, "I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM." And again, "BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME."
aa The whole idea that Jesus prayed to the Father is evidence that He lived by faith.
bb He put His absolute trust in the first person of the Godhead.
b Our Lord endured far worse than Abel, Abraham, Moses, or any of “the others”. (He endured the passion of the cross)
aa It wasn’t just nails, thorns . . . shame, suffering, rejection by the Father for a moment.
bb AND on the cross He suffered for all the sins of all the world!
cc He finished the job, saw the work completed, didn’t come down off the cross until redemption was made.
c What was it that enabled our Lord to endure the cross? To not give up?
aa He kept His eye of faith on “the joy set before Him.”
bb We know He knew that the grave would not keep Him;
Psalm 16:8-10 (NASB) 8 I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. 10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
Enjoy the fullness of the Father;
Psalm 16:11 (NASB) 11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
Jesus knew that He would be exalted to heaven in glory.
Psalm 110:1,4 (NASB) 1 The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet."4 The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek."
2 The audience the writer is addressing had not suffered to the point of death, shed blood, been martyred (by the way, our word for ‘martyr’ comes from the Greek work ‘witness’ in v. 1).
Hebrews 12:1 (NASB) 1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
a His audience were prone to “look back” and want to “go back.”
b Here, he’s encouraging them to follow Christ’s example and look ahead in faith.
aa The heros in Chapter 11 lived their life looking ahead to the future . . . and this enabled them to endure the tough times.
bb Church, there is no grave going to hold your body ground/the veil has been torn/adopted child of God . . . no weapon formed against you can prosper.
cc Psalm 30:5 (NASB) 5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.
c We are aliens, not of this world . . . heaven is ours! Victory is ours! Healing is ours!
B We are not the first who have struggled to keep our faith through difficult times.
1 Paul’s attesting of the “great cloud of witnesses” doesn’t necessarily mean that the saints of old are “watching” us.
a The word “witness” is not used to describe a person looking at something.
aa Its use is more like someone who has a testimony of a product (Laundry detergent, Weight-loss program/product, Cleaning product, etc.)
bb The “witnesses” testimony is being summoned by the writer to speak about what they had seen, heard, felt as to what their faith did for them.
cc They operated/endured through tough times without ever seeing Messiah, but by looking ahead by faith.
b There is a reason why we give testimonies. (A witness to others who are running a hard race.)
2 Notice, the Scripture tells us to “run” (v.1), which is one of four postures for the believer in the New Testament.
a First, the believer sits in the heavenly places (Eph. 2.4-6).
Ephesians 2:4-6 (NASB) 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
aa The word speaks of our security in life.
bb We’re not being seated, we are sitting.
b Second, the believer has a walk (Eph. 4.1; 5.1).
Ephesians 4:1 (NASB) 1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,
Ephesians 5:1 (NASB) 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;
aa This speaks to our purity in which we are to live, manner in which we are to live our lives.
bb Behavior, attitude towards others, public witness.
c Thirdly, the believer has a stand (Eph. 6.11, 14).
Ephesians 6:11 (NASB) 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
Ephesians 6:14 (NASB) 14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
aa We are in a battlefield, not a playground.
bb We must stand as we engage in spiritual warfare as Christians.
d Fourthly, we have a running position.
aa Our run is our work as a believer, winning people into the Kingdom.
bb In our work there are some things that require haste, speed, and endurance.
3 A balanced church must have all four postures. (Some emphasize one more/over others.)
a Some put the focus in our power in Christ over satan (sitting posture.)
aa Some emphasize the “run” posture, like working hard on evangelism.
bb However, balanced churches must do it all. (Personal holiness, position in Christ, Evangelism, Spiritual Warfare)
b One can see these postures as progressive, like when the development of a baby maturing.
aa They first learn to sit, then walk, then stand, and finally run.
bb Few are willing to run (work, witness, etc.)
c How do we run the race of life and finish the corse set before us?
aa I believe the first thing we must do is have a reality check and understand what is truly involved with running the race in such a way that we do not lose heart.
bb Pray.
I The difficulties of the Race (12.1-4).
Hebrews 12:1-4 (NASB) 1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;
A In this text there are two difficulties mentioned: encumbrances & entanglements.
1 Encumbrances means “bulk, mass, . . . a superfluous flesh.” (KJV, weight).
a The implication is that the weight is discovered prior to the running of race during training.
aa A runner may wear ankle weights in preparation of a race; a batter use a weighted bat prior to going to the batter’s box . . . wouldn’t use them during the race/game.
bb The ankle weights/weighted bat aren’t felt until you run/swing. (I don’t know I’m out of shape until I start to run, work up a lather, get up from a chair, etc,.)
b The author is saying that whatever in our lives that do not help us run better, hinders; and the only way we discover what hinders us is by starting to run.
aa When you start working for the Lord, you’ll become aware of sin that hinders you spiritually.
bb We all know Christians who are not living a very “godly” life, but most of the time they’re not running for the kingdom either.
2 Sometimes, it’s not even sin that weighs us down . . . sometimes it’s good things in place of the best thing.
a Churches can be cluttered with meetings, committees, programs and activities that all good . . . but they fail to stay on course for Jesus.
b Christians, like a winning athlete, does not choose between the good and the bad; they chose between the better and the best.
aa IL. In the Revolutionary War, there was a British Admiral who had his sailors target practice everyday by shooting at a flag flying over a fort. He subsequently lost a battle at sea because when the right time came to fire his ammunition, he had already fired it all before in practice.
bb Let us not spend all our time/energy on good things and miss the best.
B Entanglements (KJV, ‘easily besets’) means “readily, deftly, cleverly puts itself around.”
1 It is a sin, unnamed, that easily encircles the Christian runner, like a long, loose robe, clinging to his limbs.
a Most expositors believe that the “sin” mentioned is lack of faith/unbelief (probably right.); it was unbelief that kept Israel out of the promised land, & it is unbelief that hinders us from entering into our spiritual inheritance in Christ.
aa However, it could be something very different.
bb The sin that entangles me may not be a big deal to you, and the sin that entangles you may not be the one that entangles me.
b We’re all running the same race but our hurdles/obstacles are different.
2 Jesus looked to the joy of victory, beyond the Cross to the crown.
a He looked beyond the pain of Calvary to me and you, and the all the souls that would be saved.
aa When life gets hard, race is difficult, we must consider Him (v.3).
bb He fought sin by shedding His own blood, dying.
b We ought to hate sin enough that we would rather die than let it hinder us in our run for God.
aa No difficulty should sidetrack us.
bb Let us look further and see another thing that can cause us to lose heart in the race.
II The Discipline of the Race (12.5-13).
Hebrews 12:5-13 (NASB) 5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, "MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; 6 FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." 7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. 12 Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.
A The key word in text is “discipline”, used 9 or 10 times; means “child training, instruction, discipline.”
1 The word does not mean punishment alone (the implication is present, but not prominent), but rather corrective measures which will eliminate sin and increase holiness.
a In this case, the struggles of that the Jews were having because of their faith wasn’t intended as a punishment, but as a “strengthening” of their faith.
aa The author cites Proverbs 3.11,12 as “how” they should receive discipline from the Lord. (They had forgotten, which is a by product of getting “dull toward the word”; Heb. 5.11,12).
Proverbs 3:11-12 (NASB) 11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD Or loathe His reproof, 12 For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
Hebrews 5:11-12 (NASB) 11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
bb God was using their struggles as a warning not to return to the temple sacrifices, lean into Jesus as High Priest.
b Their persecutions were exercises that the Father was using to strengthen their faith (12.11).
Hebrews 12:11 (NASB) 11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
2 When we’re suffering it’s easy to think that God doesn’t love us so the writer offers three proofs that discipline comes from the Father’s heart.
a The Scriptures tell us so.
aa The key words in this passage (vs. 5,6) are sons, but it doesn’t mean “child”, but rather it means adult child.
Hebrews 12:5-6 (NASB) 5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, "MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; 6 FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES."
bb He deals with us not as infants, but as adult sons/daughters who have been adopted and given an adult standing in His family (Rom. 8.14-18; Gal. 4.1-7).
Romans 8:14-18 (NASB) 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Galatians 4:1-7 (NASB) 1 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. 3 So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
cc The Father disciplining us is proof that we are maturing, and it by that discipline that we mature even more.
dd The Father’s discipline for us shows us He doesn’t want us to be pampered babies, but mature adult sons/daughters who can be trusted with the responsibilities of life.
b Personal Experience (vv. 7-11).
Hebrews 12:7-11 (NASB) 7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
aa Most of us had a father who would discipline us when we needed it (He wouldn’t spank the neighbors kid, he would me), proof that we were in a different relationship.
*Good earthly fathers correct their kids so they will respect and obey them . . . our heavenly father corrects us so we will respect & obey Him.
*A kid who doesn’t learn subjection to authority will never become a useful, mature adult.
bb THOUGHT: I’ve meet people who profess to be saved, but for some reason they never experienced any discipline . . . seem to get away with sin. If I didn’t get disciplined when I resisted the will of God, I’d be scared I wasn’t saved.
cc Maybe the reason those who appear to sin and get away with it aren’t in the family.
dd All true children of God receive His discipline, all others who claim to be saved and don’t receive discipline . . . are counterfeits/illegitimate children.(-According to Warren Wiersbe, Page 324, Hebrews Comm.)
c The blessed results (vv. 11-13)
Hebrews 12:11-13 (NASB) 11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. 12 Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.
aa The Father doesn’t enjoy having to discipline us (no parent does), but the benefits afterward makes the discipline an evidence of His love.
bb Nobody enjoys it . . . but with it we continue in sin, weighted down by sin, can’t run very well.
B His discipline towards us shows us . . .
1 A mark of His love (v.6), a sign of sonship (v.6-8), a warning to repent (v.9), an encouragement to holiness (v.10), a training for fruitfulness.
Hebrews 12:6-8 (NASB) 6 FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." 7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
Hebrews 12:9-10 (NASB) 9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.
2 vv.12,13 sound likes a coach “lift up those hands, strengthen those knees, get those feet on the track . . . on your mark, get set . . . GO.
III The Dangers of the Race (12.14-17)
Hebrews 12:14-17 (NASB) 14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; 16 that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.
A The dangers that the author points out in the verses are not external/outward like the difficulties of the race, downward from the Father (who disciplines us), but rather inward, hidden dangers. (Heart/soul of a person).
1 We’ve already been instructed to “look unto Jesus” and “consider Him” (12.2), & to subject ourselves to the “Father of spirits” (v.9).
Hebrews 12:2 (NASB) 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:9 (NASB) 9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?
a Now it’s about sanctifying what is on the inside of us, the inner man.
aa Cleaning up on the inside of our hearts.
bb Without cleaning up on inside it will prevent us from finishing the purpose God has for our lives right now.
b Not everybody is interested in getting along the way (The race elicits conflict).
aa Some are running hard & some are not.
bb It’s the job of us who are trying to run straight to love, encourage those who are pacing themselves.
2 The first “inner” danger is called “root of bitterness” (v.15).
Hebrews 12:15 (NASB) 15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;
a This is a bad attitude toward others that poisons all of life.
aa It comes when you refuse to forgive, carry a grudge or a vendetta against someone.
bb MacCarther, “refers to a person who is superficially identified with God’s people, and who falls back into paganism. He is defiant concerning the things of God; he thumbs his nose at the Lord.
cc The writer tells us to put this out of ourselves/avoid it in the church. (Ruins the rest of us)
b The second danger is inward wickedness. (V.16)
Hebrews 12:16 (NASB) 16 that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.
aa Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of stew (gave away the spiritual for the temporal)
bb The blessing he lost could never be retrieved, couldn’t get it back. (Once it had been given to Jacob, it couldn’t belong to Esau again.)
B This passage tells us three things sin will do to us.
1 It can entagle you (v.1); cripple you spiritually (v.12,13).
Hebrews 12:1 (NASB) 1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Hebrews 12:12-13 (NASB) 12 Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.
a The worst thing sin will to you is stop you (v. 15-17).
b You can be less than the grace of God intended you to be . . . live under your destiny.
aa Fall short of running the whole race, missing the finish line.
bb Miss your potential.
2 Esau didn’t lose his salvation, but he lost his blessing.
a Standing before God as a believer will not be like those who stand before Him who didn’t believe.
b However, it’s not going to be easy to see . . .
aa All the blessings we missed out on because of sin.
bb What have done in comparison to what we could have done had we ran better.
Conclusion:
A We have been given grace for the race ahead, so let’s not stop until we cross the finish line.
1 As we run we hear . . .
a Abel cry, “nothing but the blood!” Enoch “Heaven is but a step away.”
b Noah, “No disaster can stop you!”, Abraham shouts, “Remember, nothing is impossible.”
c Sarah, “You’re never too old with God.”; Moses, “There is no foe that can stop you, and no sea that can drown you. Keep running.
aa Rahab, “There is no sin so great He can’t cleanse, nor a life so broken He can’t put back together.”
2 Standing at the finish line is the One who reaches out a nail-pierced hand that once was nailed to a cross, He calls out, “Follow Me. Run the race, run the race.”
B Prayer
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