Let Us Run With Patience!

Let Us Run With Patience
Hebrews 12

It is without question that we are in a struggle, and whether you choose to call it a race like the writer of Hebrews did or by some other name, that is up to you. The writer of Hebrews did indeed call it a race, and there is a great analogy that can be used to help us to understand the urgency of getting it right.
It is so easy for us to lose focus, when there is so many things out there to grab our attention, but as the writer of Hebrews points out; “We are also compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses”.

The opening line for this passage uses the word “Wherefore”, so in order to find out the meaning of this passage we will need to see why it is there. The previous chapter is talking about the men and women of faith and discusses the how and when they were faithful.

Today, we are going to incorporate that discussion into this passage and discuss at least for a bit about their influence on us as Christians.

The idea that we are compassed with this great cloud of witnesses can go one of two ways. We can read from this that the patriarchs and matriarchs of faith are in Heaven witnessing our day to day struggle and cheering us on, or we can look at it from the perspective that they have already witnessed to the faith that we have through their own struggle of life. To today’s discussion the thought that they are watching over us and cheering us on is going to be left as we choose to talk about the pre-existing witness for the faith during their own life.

Lest one should think we are ignoring such an interesting topic, I make this statement: “I do not believe that Hebrews 12:1,2 is talking about such a witness.” This is not to say that they cannot see into this world and see what is going on, but even though that is doubtful, it isn’t what our discussion needs to be about.

Going back into Hebrews 11, we should ask this question in conjunction with today’s study. Who are the witnesses?

We discover that because of their testimony/witness we are encouraged to lay aside the weights, and not only the weights but also the sins that we get tripped up on so easily.

Supposing that you are running in a marathon (26 Mile race) and decide you want to carry some sort of weight with you, something simple like a hand weight. Now in training that is fine to tie weights of any sort to your hands, arms, and legs as a means of building muscle; but as the big day for the race arrives, you take off those weights because even though you have gotten used to running with them they will weigh you down.

The same applies to our spiritual race. We must lay aside the weights or anything that would be a hindrance to our race. This could be different for different people (see Romans 14). We need to pay attention as we run to see if there is something that is hindering us from using our full strength to gain ground.

The weights could be stumbling blocks to us which cause us to sin. If something knowingly is left in place, creating a stumbling block in your path your energy will consistently be used to stand back up to try again. We are created for so much more than just surviving spiritually.

Running with Patience is translated from the word which means running with endurance. Are your spiritual muscles straining as you go along? Are you putting everything you have into the race? Too many Christians are running their race in a halfhearted way, not willing to exert the energy they need to “run well”. These Christian’s will most likely become focused on themselves and their race rather than looking at it like it is God’s race and we are all part of it. In 1 Corinthians 9:26 Paul talks about running aimlessly or fighting as one that beats the air.

In reality our focus should not be on the race we are running, but on the one who created the race. The Marathon was brought about during a time of war when a battle was fought and then won. As was their custom, they would send a runner back to headquarters with a message which at that particular time was about 26 miles away. The messenger was sent with a message that the battle had been won and he ran, without stopping the entire distance and as he approached the commander in chief he shouted we won, and then collapsed and died. His focus was on getting the message of the victory back to their headquarters, thinking not at all for the discomfort it would cause him, rather he expended all of his energy to get that message delivered. How are you running your race?

Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith finished his race well and has gone on before us to sit down in his rightful place as both victor and King. Jesus despised the shame that was his to bear. Are you willing to bear the shame that may be set before you. The name of Christ has been associated with good things in the past, but today, with so many professing christians living in whatsoever many they may choose to fulfill their lusts; many people are looking on at the name christian with disdain. Since the Law of God has been written on the heart of man, the onlookers know that when a christian sins something isn’t right, especially if it appears to be intentional.

What does it mean to follow peace with all men? (see Romans 12:18) Does this mean that in our dealings with others that peace will always win out? If we follow the path of peace, it will be our goal to bring peace to all men. How did Jesus bring peace to the people of His day? Sometimes Jesus confronted their sin and their psuedo-spiritual traditions in order to bring peace to them. It stands to be said that not everyone Jesus was bringing His peace to was willing to lay down the very things that were causing them a lack of peace.

Follow peace and holiness. If we follow peace with all men and we follow holiness; though there could be a potential for the two ideals to be at war with each other; if we have and understanding of both of these two words peace and holiness they will compliment each other. John 14:27 We can look at this passage from a worldly perspective and read peace as the absence of conflict (peace, peace when there is no peace), or we can look at it from God’s Perspective and see peace a a re-instatement of fellowship with God and man. Enter into this equation holiness. How does holiness fit with the kind of peace that God gives? In reality you cannot separate this kind of peace from the holiness of God.

Let’s talk a little bit about the phrase “lest any man fail of the grace of God”. How can a man fail of the grace of God? (see Romans 6:1-8) If we propose to take advantage of the grace of God by choosing to sin, we then in fact have become a rebel against it and have fallen short of it. I will be quick to say that if a person does fall into sin, God’s grace is there; but remember, as we discussed in previous lessons, there comes a point in time when outright rebellion is viewed as past hope because of our having blasphemed the Holy Spirit.

The rest of this section talks about what happens after a person has fallen from grace and allows a root of bitterness to grow. They become defiled, and become a fornicator, or profane person who cares not for his birthright and chooses to walk away from it as well as his sonship. Hebrews 12:17 says that when Esau realized what he had done, he tearfully sought to have it restored, but to no avail.

What does it mean to “Come unto Mount Sion”? Mount Sion was a term used for the Holy Mountain where God tabernacled with His People. As Christians and not just Jews Mount Sion is a spiritual mountain. It is a place that Christians will go to worship God. There was a lot of symbolism under the Old Covenant as we discussed in previous lessons, and this is one of them. As Christians we have been brought to a place where we can sit in heavenly places even though we are still on this earth.

The sacrifice of Jesus is better than the sacrifice of Abel or any animal sacrifice, and Jesus as the mediator has a better message than what Abel carried. We don’t really have Abel’s message recorded, but can assume based on several verses that his message was one that matched the prophets of the Old Testament. The message that Jesus carried would then have been the fulfillment of the message the prophets carried which made His message more powerful and carried more authority.

The writer of Hebrews, yet again issues a warning not to ignore the voice of Jesus. He patiently explains why in various ways indicating that under the Old Covenant if someone ignored the message of Moses, or another of the prophets, they were punished. After showing the superiority of Christ, the writer of Hebrews shows his audience that the message of Jesus carries more authority than any of the previous prophets, thus making disobedience of Him more severe.

Today our culture, and I am not just talking about the worldly culture has come to the place that we do not respect God for who He is. Lest one should think that we are trying to portray God as some distant impersonal God, that is not my point. We believe that God is our Abba Father and cares deeply for us, but that we have lost sight of His Holiness and have created more of a buddy than recognizing Him as a Holy God. Hebrews points out various times that a lackadaisical attitude can cause someone to fall from grace, or straight out unbelief in God’s Promises, and by willful disobedience.

For some reason, today we as Christians look at all sin like an error or mistake; but I propose to you that we abhor all sin whether intentional or otherwise. If a guy has to exert some effort to sin, that is no mistake but intentional. If he has to schedule an appointment to sin, that is intentional. We have found ourselves excusing these types of behavior as mistakes but they aren’t and they as well as we will pay for this. Sin has lost its ugliness.

We need to remember that we have received a kingdom, the kingdom of Heaven, and that as residents, even ambassadors of that kingdom we should be exhibiting the fruits of it. I understand that sometimes our spirit is willing, and our flesh is weak; but that really is no excuse for falling into sin because the power of God is real and if we are walking in the Spirit we will show the Fruits of the Spirit. We again have an appeal to hold fast that we may serve our Lord with the reverence due Him and with Godly fear.

“God is a consuming Fire” and woe unto whom the fire should swallow. If our hearts are in the right place, then we have nothing to fear, but for the vast majority of people, they shall face the wrath of God. Knowing that God is a God of Love is comforting to us, but if we stop there and refuse to recognize the other attributes of God, like God is a God of Judgment, or God is a Holy God, or God is a Righteous God; we are missing a reality that would cause us to lose touch with reality and we would not recognize the severity of the situation.

We may give lip service to God recognizing in word who He is, but our hearts can be far from Him; just like the Pharisees were in Jesus day.

Let Us Hold Fast!

Let us Hold Fast!

Hebrews 10:19-38

The significance of addressing the readers as brethren should indicate the care the writer of Hebrews felt for the people he was writing to. Usually, even in a secular setting, to call someone a brother indicates a particular level of feeling for that individual. Often in secret societies, gangs, and other groups/organizations there is a form of brotherhood present that even though they may have a high regard for each other as “brothers” it is a pseudo-relationship that has recognized the deep necessity of filling a void that can only be filled through a true brotherhood. The constitution of true brotherhood is based on the familial relationship which comes through having the same parents. As sons and daughters of God, we can experience that true brotherhood.

As an example of this pseudo-brotherhood I give this story. During the Civil War (or was it the Uncivil War) The future President William McKinley was visiting the Army hospitals on the field and as a Free-Mason noticed a fellow Free-Mason lying there in the hospital bed. Now this young man had been injured in the battle and though he had been fighting for the south (the opposite side), William McKinley indicated to those in charge of the hospital that they should take extra good care of the young man due to the “brotherhood” they shared in the Masonic Lodge.

If the Free-Masons can understand the concept of brotherhood, then shouldn’t we also who are born of the Holy Spirit also understand what a true brotherhood really is?

The encouragement to enter into the Holiest with boldness through Jesus blood may seem like an obscure reality, and so it would have been for the Jews as they struggled with the thought of entering into the Holy of Holies which was prepared for the presence of the Holiness of God. They understood that even the high priest couldn’t just go in; but once a year having sprinkled blood of a perfect animal over everything and through ceremoniously washing himself, prepared himself for this grand entrance into the presence of the Holiness of God. Now that the veil has been rent, torn top to bottom; there is nothing that can stop the child of God from entering into the presence of God their Father. The thickness of the veil appears to have been at least 4” thick so that along with it being torn from top to bottom indicates no ordinary feat of tearing the veil. The rending most assuredly came from the hand of God as He had prepared the way back into His favor through the death of His perfect Son.

The veil was representative of the flesh through which we are separated from the presence of God. When the body or flesh of Jesus Christ was broken or rent the symbol also was torn giving us access into the Holy of Holies.

The boldness that we may experience as a child of God is not an arrogance (which is a sin) but a humble acceptance that God wants to be your Father.

The story of Ananias and Sapphira are an example of entering into the presence of God with arrogance. The name Ananias means “Whom Jehovah has graciously given”. It seems as though Ananias was living his Christian life in a state of hypocrisy. He appears to have been one who delved into and claimed the mercy and grace of the Lord, notwithstanding that he was missing the characteristic of God that is Holy and Righteous and hates a lying tongue. Proverbs 6:17

In order to understand what is meant by the new and living way we go back to look at the old way. Romans 7:1-25 The Old Testament Law was not meant to bring death, but to bring life. As we continue on in this passage and as we have looked at in past lessons the Old Testament Law had no power to bring life to those who adhered to its principles. Sure, if it was kept perfectly, there was a blessing that fell to those who kept it; but life itself was not issued by the Old Testament Law. As Romans 7 says “when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” The Old Testament Law gives us insight to the Holiness of God and our woefully inadequate righteousness which is as filthy rags before the Holiness of our Lord. The New and Living way is being delivered from the effects of the Old Testament Law which condemn us to death for our unholiness to a New Testament Law that is written on our heart so we may serve the law with our spirit and not just by our deeds. This New way has the power to make you alive in Christ, since His Spirit has quickened or made us alive just as the bones were resurrected in Ezekiel 37.

When an individual draws near, he gets closer to something or someone. This is part of a plea to live godly, and as we go down through the passage we will continue to see the with clarity the necessity of being an intentional Christian. When the verse says draw near with a true heart, we could first look at what a true heart is. A true heart is one without pretense. It is without hypocrisy. A true heart can be trusted for its honesty. A true heart lives in full assurance of faith.

There is no place for the Christian to begin doubting his Salvation. This is not to say that if you do, you are not a Christian. What is being said by this is that when Jesus reaches into your heart and cleanses it from your unrighteousness, “sprinkling his own blood” upon the mercy seat of your heart; He has begun the work of redemption in your soul and to doubt that is to doubt the power of the Lord at work in your life. That is sin, and since that is sin it needs nipped in the bud and doubts need given to Jesus to gain that victory and any future victory. There is a reason why the armor of God includes the Helmet of Salvation.

As the Old Testament priests did their work in the temple sanctuary, they would be sure their first stop would be the laver. They would always wash themselves with this Holy Water before proceeding with any other type of service in the tabernacle or temple. The symbolism of this is they were to purify their bodies physically before they proceeded to sprinkle the blood on their toes, on the walls, and on the mercy seat. As a spiritual type, we too must be cleansed; first of all being drawn by the Holy Spirit and then having our hearts sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ.

Hold Fast! The message is getting more intense as the author here gives plea that invokes a lot of feeling. Hold fast to the profession of our faith. First of all, what is the profession of our faith? What have we professed to believe? The profession of our faith is that Jesus Christ, God incarnate, has come to pay the penalty for our sins and the sins of the whole world. Hold fast onto that belief, that truth without wavering. The word wavering has the meaning of bending or leaning back and forth similar to the setting of the sun. Hold a steady course with your belief! What does it profit if our belief wavers like a man on a tight-rope. He tries to balance himself, but the rope keeps moving around and his foot has to be placed very carefully. He may make it across the rope, but how about securing your belief in something more secure like complete trust in the sacrifice and atonement of Jesus Christ.

The word provoke has the meaning of stir up, to agitate. Is good works wrong. There is a push to say that heaven is a reward for those who have merely accepted Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for their sin, and that is indeed where it starts. These people believe that works good or bad have no bearing on whether you will actually receive the crown of life that has been promised. The reality is a Salvation experience that is not followed by Good works is dead. If we are to provoke each other to Good Works (stir up if you will) then how do we accomplish that without being impatient with the lack of growth in some of the babes in Christ? The good works we are to exhibit may include things like our kids club, going into prisons, going on the mission field, etc., but the main thing that should never be missed is the fruit of the godly which should then be what gives birth to the aforementioned works. The writer of Hebrews was concerned about the laziness in which the Hebrews were living their lives and was giving them instructions to stir each other up in Christ.

Encouragement is also a part of the Christian’s vocabulary and as we encourage each other in the Lord we will be stirred up to lived Godly.

Apostasy:

The Word of God says: “Buy the truth and sell it not”, and then in another place “You will know the truth and the truth shall set you free”.

What can be expected if we have knowledge of the truth, and have experience the truth in our hearts and then we choose to sin wilfully? It is clear that there is but one sacrifice that is accepted by God for the sins of mankind and if that sacrifice along with the blood of Jesus that was shed for the sin gets trampled underfoot in the process of their rebellion, there is nothing left for them but an end where the wrath of God is felt.