Sunday Morning Service (Hebrews 12:1-13)

Hebrews 12:1-13          

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“A Matter Of Perspective” • 3.11.18 • Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service

Intro

- The museum curator, the author of the book of Hebrews, has just closed the hall of faith behind his tour group.

- There are many who are standing there who are proud of their heritage. Several are nearly shocked by what they had never known before the tour started.

- All of them are impacted by the implications: "If these godly heroes of the past lived in such a way without having seen the promise of Messiah fulfilled, how shall we live, who know His Name?"

- They don't have to wait long! Our author is standing at the lectern, ready to put it all into heavenly perspective! Verse 1.

Text

• Hebrews 12:1,2  : "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, 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." : The Old Testament saints were marked by a faith response toward God. "We also" have been marked by faith!

- The Hebrews were to be the next exhibit pieces! It was theirs to provide the world with ongoing testimony to the reality of a faith relationship with God through Jesus Christ!

- By extension, "we also," living 2,000 years removed from our brothers and sisters, are the next ones to exhibit to the world what it means to live by faith in the Savior!

- We cannot avoid that reality. There is an innumerable host that stands around us, not to watch us from a heavenly set of bleachers, but to encourage us from the pages of scripture.

- We might complain that our age is too advanced to begin serving the Lord. Abraham whispers to us when we read Genesis, "I was 75 when I got started!"

- We say, "But I can't walk another moment!" Enoch flies off the page and informs us that 300 years goes by awfully quick when the Lord is by your side! It's indisputable!

- In light of this great cloud of witnesses that surround us, we are to be resolute in our actions moving forward. Before we move though, we must cast off certain items.

- The tense of the words, "cast off' appear to relate to a settled position. There has been a decision in the past and there remains a commitment in place to set these items aside.

- There are some that may group the two items together. Sin is indeed a weight to carry.

- I would suggest however, that we have two categories before us. There are the "weights" and there are "sins." "Weight" can refer both to physical weight, as well as a "training" weight.

- Our author is about to call us to the starting line of a race. Before a person gets there, he has made a decision to go forth into the race physically, personally unencumbered.

- With regard to their own body, athletes do the necessary work to lighten and strengthen their bodies. They have limited their caloric intake and have maximized their muscles.

- In the life of faith, there must be a similar life of discipline. Is my spiritual diet healthy? Am I limiting unhealthy viewing and listening?

- If I am person given to anger, I might not be doing myself a favor by ingesting a steady diet of radio talk shows. If I struggle with sexual sin, it'd be good for me to avoid suggestive movies.

- On the other hand, there are actual training weights that a runner must leave behind as well. These are good items to train with, but would not be desirable to run with!

- I would ask myself this: "What good freedoms and liberties do I have that might effectively drag upon me?" For a Christian, the mentality must be central to the activity.

- A Christian cannot settle for what is "ok" for them. They must ask themselves if their current action is what is best and most productive to do in light of what they must do!

- There are habits, recreational activities, priorities that require constant evaluation, not by the question of their inherant evil, but by their potential good! "Is this encouraging my growth in the Lord?"

- I have the freedom to have a drink, but I never will. It won't help me compete. I have the freedom to engage with online arguments, but I won't. It's drags from my energy!

- Feel free to keep your body and your training weight on. Just know, that you will not likely be happy with the outcome! You will have made your own race a misery! Consider the second category.

- Sins are known offensive actions against the will of God and there are some that are blatantly obvious and categorically condemned. You know that you aren't to murder or to steal.

- Our author's meaning is much more nuanced. Look at how sin is described. It is something that easily ensnares us. This phrase is widely translated and the results are helpful.

- The KJV calls this "besetting" sin. The NIV and the NASB both concur that it is the "sin that entangles us." The ESV calls it the "sin that clings so closely." This starts to come close to it.

- A final translation for us to consider: This is sin, according to J.B. Phillips, that "dogs our feet." You get the idea that this is something that we have become used to carrying around.

- "It's not that heavy. It's something that I have to carry!" The problem is that it's clumsy. It keeps falling in front of our feet. It keeps impeding our forward progress. What is he talking about?

- For the Hebrews particularly, there was an unhealthy attachment to their culture, which bred in them, a fear of men. That might not be particular to us, but we can come close.

- Many of us were raised with certain ideals, which, within our specific cultures, may have been tolerated or even celebrated.

- A person in the world might say, "That person is a fighter. They never give up or give in!" The world applauds. But, as the person comes to Christ, this characteristic becomes problematic.

- This person is stubborn and unteachable. Perhaps you can think of many other cultural comfort zones that you have tolerated in your life.

- These are the things which you might blame on your genetics or your family history. "All of us have acted this way!" There is a resignation to it's existence and dominance in your life.

- This is exactly what the author is telling the Hebrews to decide to cast aside! My culture, my character predisposition and my identity must not clash with what Jesus is doing in my life!

- Hanging onto that kind of "respectable" sin besets your course, entangles your legs and dogs your feet! And the sin won't have a difficult time doing that!

- The idea behind the word "entangles" is to skillfully cut off a competitor. For every strategy that I have, that sin has a counter strategy. It is inevitable. If I carry it around, it will entangle me!

- The Hebrews had given up too much ground to their non-Christian counterparts. They had let the fear of man dominate their response to God!

- Perhaps you need to stop excusing your "irish" temper or your "scottish" lack of generosity,  and embrace the Christian call to set them aside! It will be difficult, but it is in our power to choose!

- "Let us cast off the unnecessary weights." "Let us cast aside the cunning sin that surrounds us!" God never commands His children to do something that they cannot do! The question is our will.

- Once that is decided, we are to run at the pace of endurance! Our running in this spiritual life will not be marked by speed, but by perseverance!

- Your goal as a Christian is not to outrun another or to run in a fashionable way. Your goal is simply to finish, which can only be accomplished when one runs with perseverance!

- "Endurance" conveys the idea of moving one foot in front of the other with a determination which will not be hindered. It "keeps on keeping on!"

- Of all the characteristics that I wish to find more of in the body of Christ, it is perseverance! I have lamented it's lack greatly in these last years!

- If a person is going to follow Christ in this life, they will have to get over their own feelings as quickly as possible and determine that nothing will shake them from their course!

- That is the general necessity that is laid before every believer. Notice now the specific condition: "Run with endurance the race that is set before you!"

- There is a specific course that has been laid out before each individual church and person. There was a specific course that the Hebrews had to run and it was full of danger.

- There is a course that we need to run together as part of the same church, and a course that must be run personally! We don't choose it for ourselves. It has been laid out before us!

- For the Hebrews and for us, each race will take place within a certain context of time and temperature for or against the gospel.

- Think about what it must have been like to minister during King David's reign? A holy King on the throne, insisting upon righteousness throughout the land? A seeming cakewalk!

- Compare that with Elijah's or Jeremiah's time, when neither man knew of many others that were willing to listen to God's ways!

- The Hebrews that were listening to this knew that their race was held in a hostile, "road" environment, with very little encouragement to be found.

- I'm sure you who have been running for some time can relate. It is a long race and it's not really ever an easy one! That is why our author directs our attention to Jesus!

- This isn't a casual glance but a continual gaze. Christian: Jesus Christ is your point of reference. Commit to keeping your eyes upon Him!

- The Hebrews had been looking at everything else! "Look at what they are doing." "Look at what I am doing!" Our author reminds us to look at the One who has run and is done!

- To fix our eyes upon Jesus is essential, especially because we are following Him to our shared destination! Remember that the writer calls Him "the Forerunner!?" (Hebrews 6:20)

- He knows where He is taking us because He is both the author, the Pioneer, and finisher, the perfector, of The Faith! He began this work in you and He will complete it! Look at His example!

- We have mentioned that we are run the race that is set before us. Let our author expand our vision. Let us run like Christ who ran with His goal ever in mind!

- Jesus kept His gaze upon the joy that was laid out before Him. He fixed His eyes upon the completion of His Work and the satisfaction of His Father.

- That was so valuable to Him, that He was able to endure the shame that accompanied the cross and thought nothing of it in light of where He was going! Consider that example Hebrews!

- He went through the greatest suffering that anyone can imagine and has now settled Himself in the presence of His Father! That is where you and I are headed! He continues in verse 3.

• Hebrews 12:3-8 : "For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 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; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.' If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons." : Our author commands his readers attention. He commands them to "consider" Jesus.

- The word is a compound of two words, the second of which is the accounting term we looked at last week. Essentially, we are to weigh sufferings against those that Christ suffered.

- This is not meant to minimize our suffering. What we have to deal with is very real and difficult. However, our perspective can often be, especially in isolation, a little overblown.

- Our author wants us to taper our expectations and measure our suffering against what Christ suffered! Christ ran toward the finish line in spite of opposition from sinners that stood against Him.

- Hebrews, you are not alone! Ponder that truth before you become sick in your heart and despondent in your mind! We would want to give up if our Founder had not set the tone!

- And what had they suffered? In the present moment, they had been questioned, ostracized, perhaps even mocked. Had they endured a beating for their struggle against sin?

- Had they even received a bloody nose for the sake of following after the Lord Jesus Christ? The question is not meant to mock them, but to shake them back into reality.

- We don't have it easy, but compared to Jesus Christ, none of us have it hard either! Besides, it seems that they have not recalled to mind the scripture that is meant for them.

- Our author is quoting from Proverbs 3:11,12. He reminds them that the context of this particular proverb is related to Solomon's son.

- "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord." You and I think of "chastening in one way and that is synonymous with the corrective discipline of a Father.

- That is a part of the truth, but the word relates itself to the intention of that correction.

- For example, an athletic coach that orders more repetitions after practice is chastening his team. He is educating their bodies for what he knows will be their experience.

- Whatever suffering God is allowing in their life is related to that purpose!

- Solomon's son is to know that he isn't to think lightly about the training hand of the Lord! He is not to faint when the Lord shows him his deficiency! Why? Because it is a signal of God's love!

- God only orders more experience for the members of His team, the family that He loves! He won't discipline anyone that isn't His!

- Their experience wasn't punitive. God was not punishing them or forsaking them. Their fellow non-Christian Hebrews seemed to have it easy at this moment. "They don't belong to me!"

- God has allowing them to endure what they were, to allow the experience to teach and temper them! In that way, they are going through the school of God's wisdom.

- There isn't a good Father on earth that doesn't act this way toward his children. The author says that if you haven't experienced it, you are not His child! Verse 9.

• Hebrews 12:9-11 : "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? 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. 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." : When our Fathers imposed this sort of discipline on us, we respected it, especially when we were old enough to comprehend it.

- How much more should we submit ourselves to our Father, the Father of Spirits? How can I not bend my knees to His wisdom? Think again of our Father's discipline.

- Remember that their discipline didn't last for an interminable amount of time. They disciplined us for "a few days." Literally, it's a "puny" amount of time.

- Relative to our entire life, what percentage of your life did the discipline of your Father occupy? I am not referring to an abusive Father, but a gracious and good Father.

- Even being generous, for example, let's say he disciplines you for every minute of your first 18 years. Let's say that you live for 80 years. That's still only a quarter of your life!

- Second, the discipline was in line with a good purpose. It seemed best to them. The word refers to pleasure and it's not that they derive pleasure from your suffering.

- There's no pleasure in the process but there is in the goal! They believed that their discipline would effect a good outcome for the one disciplined. They knew it would enrich and better our lives.

- For you and I as the children of God, we will be partakers of a spiritual benefit: His Holiness!

- We aren't being groomed for behavior modification. We are being groomed to reflect the holy life that comes from him! That does not come to us without pain!

- The peaceable fruit of righteousness, "the peaceable harvest," will bring you far greater joy than the pain you experience now! That doesn't grow naturally.

- It comes to the ones that have been trained by it! "Trained" comes from the word for "gymnasium." These that receive a peaceable harvest have been in the gym of God's discipline!

- Your current experience, as difficult as it is, reveals God's intention to work you out! Verse 12.

• Hebrews 12:12,13 : "Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed." : Now that you know that God is training you for a peaceable harvest, let's pick up our weary hands and weakened, sickened knees!

- He commands them to level the path before their feet, so as to maintain optimal health in our joints. It's a beautiful metaphor for the type of determination that a believer needs in this world.

- I am sure that Satan is somewhere, tripping someone up. However, most of the time, we are busy tripping ourselves up by not attending to the paths before our feet!

- If your path is cluttered before you, you'll soon find your feet and ankles out of joint. It'd be better to smooth it out so that you'll be healthier for the long haul.

Conclusion
- Our author has done his best to give his readers the proper perspective. They have been entered into a race that has been held in every life since Genesis 4.

- It's an endurance race that will be much easier without unneccessary and unhealthy weight. It's overseen by the Lord, who knows what hurdles will best train His people for all He intends.

- He knows it's difficult. He has run the same course Himself. He ran it while looking to the great joy of being the first to make it home!

- Now, Jesus Christ sits there waiting for His brothers and sisters to finish their course and join Him in His rest! Sometimes, all we need is a little perspective!