"our Journey"

Our Journey Hebrews 12:18-29

1. The bible is a Book full of Journeys

• God calls a man to take journey to a country he knows nothing Abraham by faith went from Ur of Chaldeans to Canaan.

• Jacob, also took a trip to Egypt, not to see the pyramids but to be reunited with his son, Joseph.

• Moses took Israelites on a journey which lasted 40 years in a wilderness

• Joshua journeyed with the Israelites threw the Promised Land

• Centuries later Israelites once again go on another journey to Babylon

• 70 years or so later they return to their homeland

2. Jesus journeyed according to Luke’s Gospel Born in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes,

• Journeys to Galilee where he choose=s 12 followers

• Journeys to Jerusalem to the Cross

• Enters Jerusalem on a donkey The Triumph Entry (19:28-44). Then The Cleansing of the Temple (19:45-48).The Last Supper (22:1-38). Jesus Praying in Gethsemane (22:39-46). Jesus' Arrest (22:47-65).Jesus on Trial (22:66-23:25). The Crucifixion (23:26-56).

• He closes His earthly travel with The Resurrection (24:1-12). And The Ascension (24:50-53).

3. Hebrews tells us we are strangers sojourning in strange land ones citizenship is in heaven

• Recall the old folk song I’m just a poor wayfaring stranger A traveler through this world of woe But there's no sickness, toil nor danger In that fair land to which I go

• I’m going there to see my father I'm going there no more to roam I am just going over Jordan I am just going over home

• I’m going home to see my mother She said she’d meet me when I come I’m only going over Jordan I’m only going over home I’m just a-going over home

4. Hebrews shares with us a journey to encounter God

• He begins by sharing that the journey is a race of perseverance “run with perseverance the race that is set before us” (v. 1) with Jesus — who endured his journey to the cross (v. 2) — as the example. In verse 12, the writer encourages his people to “lift your hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, In other words, the journey is going to be a rough one, but the destination is worth it.

• In the old testament it was a Journey of fear to access God the Writer speaks of a mountain that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, C 21The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."D

• Our Journey to access God is nowhere near like it was in the days of Moses Mt Zion 22But you have come to Mount Zion City of God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, You have come to God, the judge of all men 24to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

5. Finally in Our Journey we are traveling we need to know a few things

• We need to know that God is serious about dealing with sin

• We need to know that God is holy and just and set apart before we can really worship him.

• We need to know that God came in person to save us once and for all

• We need to know The death and resurrection of Christ opened the way for not only God’s chosen people but all people to reach the destination of “Mount Zion … the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem”

• We need to know Rejecting Christ is a bad choice 25See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him, how much less will we, if we turn away from him

• We Need to Know our Journey will end and it can end in “the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (v. 22). Or it can end in a literal blaze of fire, darkness, gloom, and tempest