We Are A Gazingstock Series

I. EXORDIUM:

Do you want to bear the profit?

If yes, then share JESUS, and allow the curses and insults from unbelievers.

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To give comfort to those who are insulted and cursed because of the name of CHRIST. These curses fall unto JESUS, what we get are blessings or profit for us.

IV. TEXT:

Hebrews 10:33 (Amplified Bible)

10:33 Sometimes being yourselves a gazingstock, publicly exposed to insults and abuse and distress, and sometimes claiming fellowship and making common cause with others who were so treated.

V. THESIS:

Praise You LORD JESUS and Thank You very much because You turned every insult and curses for me into blessing and the curses and insults falls to you because You loved me.

VI. TITLE:

We are a gazingstock

Subtitle: Study on the Book of Hebrews

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Date of writing: Before AD. 70

B. Style of writing: Best Greek style

C. Authorship: Not specific, but generally attributed to Apostle Paul. Can be also ascribed to Barnabas, Luke, Apollos

D. Audience: Hebrew Christians

E. Theme: Christ is superior to the prophets; Christ is superior to angels - J. Vernon McGee's Thru The Bible

F. Purpose: The chief doctrinal purpose of the writer was to show the transcendent glory of the Christian dispensation, as compared with that of the Old Testament.Thompson Chain - Bible Book Outlines

Gazingstock or "theatrizo" in Greek meaning:

1. to bring upon the stage

2. to set forth as a spectacle, expose to contempt

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Sometimes, we are publicly exposed to insults, abuse and distress

"Sometimes being yourselves a gazingstock, publicly exposed to insults and abuse and distress,"

Moses, can become son of Pharaoh's daughter but he refused it and bore the shame

Hebrews 11:26 (Amplified Bible)

11:26 He considered the contempt and abuse and shame [borne for] the Christ (the Messiah Who was to come) to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt, for he looked forward and away to the reward (recompense).

Psalms 69:9 (Amplified Bible)

69:9 For zeal for Your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches and insults of those who reproach and insult You have fallen upon me.

Romans 15:3 (Amplified Bible)

15:3 For Christ did not please Himself [gave no thought to His own interests]; but, as it is written, The reproaches and abuses of those who reproached and abused you fell on Me.

Don't be ashamed when we are insulted for CHRIST's sake because the LORD turns every curses and insults we receive here on earth into blessing.

Deuteronomy 23:5 (Amplified Bible)

23:5 Nevertheless, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam, but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing to you, because the Lord your God loves you.

Nehemiah 13:2 (Amplified Bible)

13:2 For they met not the Israelites with food and drink but hired Balaam to curse them; yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Psalms 109:28-31 (God's Word)

109:28 They may curse, but you will bless. Let those who attack me be ashamed, but let me rejoice.

109:29 Let those who accuse me wear disgrace as though it were clothing. Let them be wrapped in their shame as though it were a robe.

109:30 With my mouth I will give many thanks to the Lord. I will praise him among many people,

109:31 because he stands beside needy people to save them from those who would condemn them to death.

B. Sometimes, we claim fellowship and common cause with others who were to so treated

"and sometimes claiming fellowship and making common cause with others who were so treated"

Sometimes we suffer with those who suffer. Our response is totally different and opposite from what the world normally expects and what their normal responses do.

Colossians 1:24 (God's Word)

1:24 I am happy to suffer for you now. In my body I am completing whatever remains of Christ's sufferings. I am doing this on behalf of his body, the church.

1 Peter 1:6 (God's Word)

1:6 You are extremely happy about these things, even though you have to suffer different kinds of trouble for a little while now.

1 Peter 4:13 (God's Word)

4:13 but be happy as you share Christ's sufferings. Then you will also be full of joy when he appears again in his glory.

Example of Onesiphorus:

2 Timothy 1:16-18 (God's Word)

1:16 May the Lord be merciful to the family of Onesiphorus. He often took care of my needs and wasn't ashamed that I was a prisoner.

1:17 When he arrived in Rome, he searched hard for me and found me.

1:18 May the Lord grant that Onesiphorus finds mercy when that day comes. You know very well that he did everything possible to help me in Ephesus.