Hebrews 12:12-17
Hebrews: Jesus is Greater • Sermon • Submitted
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· 29 viewsThrough trials and temptations we have a tendancy to want to give up. In this message we will look at what the author of Hebrews has to say about enduring the trials and pushing through.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Recap last weeks message
The next section is a series of exhortations:
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,
13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.
17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.
Verse 12 - In an almost poetic way the author combines two Old Testament references (Isaiah 35:3 and Proverbs 4:26). This pictures God as a challenging coach who pushes us to our limits, encouraging us to go beyond what we think we can. The prior section provided an exhausted list of reasons why we should never give up, now it’s time to put it in to practice.
“take a new grip” - tired hands tend to want to stop working … These Christians were at the point of sheer spiritual exhaustion … morale was low … rather than concede defeat, a follower of Christ must make every effort to endure. Sometimes we say things like, “I’m at the end of my rope.”
“When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on. Franklin D. Roosevelt
“When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on. Franklin D. Roosevelt
(Show kitten slide)
Example: My recent experience with a new Cross-fit coach (pushed me beyond my limits). That night at softball I pulled my hamstring.
“Stand firm on your shaky legs” - This gives us the idea of “standing strong” not in our own strength. What do we base this on? The expectation of the return of Christ!
37 For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.”
Verse 13 - This pictures a nature trail vs. well defined path. The path has been carefully laid out. Rocks have been removed, holes filled in and leveled, the path has been cleared of debris. This idea ties in with Hebrews 12:11 (discipline … a harvest of righteousness) which is the result of the person who faced discipline and has worked hard to remove all the stumbling blocks.
13 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.
“Mark out a straight path for your feet , then those who follow you will become strong.”
Example: Mountain biking with Pastor Michael (I prefer the blacktop trail around the lake!)
Application: How can we get a better grip and stand firm? Determine our purpose. Is your purpose another day of self pity and discouragement? Or is your purpose growth … breakthrough … more joy?
If it’s the 1st … get bitter, withdraw, maybe even find escape in some type of addiction.
If it’s the latter … Adjust your mindset to the reality that God knows what He is doing and agree to cooperate with His plan … Determine to live your life in light of God’s promises!
Verse 14 - We can’t get around this no matter how hard we try, we must get right with God (salvation & holiness) and others (purse or strive for peace). These words show us that it is not easy to do, but God calls us to do it. (salt and light)
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
Possible example: Dave Reese - Angry at God, took it out on me. Said negative things about me around his kids … swimming pool)
“strive … for the holiness” - The believer is made holy because of Christ’s sacrifice - We are perceived by God as holy because of Christ. I believe this verse is teaching us how to pursue holiness in a very practical way and that is how we treat others (friends, neighbors, co-workers, spouse, children, and even enemies).
Holiness should cause the behavior, thoughts, and attitudes of Christians to be different from unbelievers.
We are given a promise that a believer who pursues peace and holiness will “see” or “encounter” Jesus in a way that others will not.
2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
“see the Lord” - No just to visibly see but this phrase means; to understand, experience, learn about, to acquire information about.
The next 3 verses carry with it negative effects if the previous direction is ignored …
Verse 15 - “Look after each other” or as the Greek puts it “See to it” (to be vigilant or to be on the lookout).
Peter uses this Greek word when instructing Pastors in caring for the flock … (“watching over them”)
1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;
Earlier in Hebrews, we were instructed to help those who might be in danger of drifting away (Hebrews 2:1-4), but also, through our love and example of faith we can help soften the heart of those who might become hardened.
12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.
“See to it” … “the grace of God” - The “special favor” of God refers to the special benefits of being His child.
William Barkley wrote that the phrase fall short of the grace of God might also be translated ‘failing to keep up with the grace of God.’ (missing out on all of God’s grace)
What the author is saying is that we should encourage one another to appropriate these blessings.
(simple silly example: Dakota wanting to ride in the front seat of my truck … rock, paper, scissors … D: “he’s your dad, you can ride with him any time you want”).
“root of bitterness” comes from the language of Deuteronomy 29:18-19 - While the same can be said of “bitterness” or a “bitter person” this verse is actually talking about unbelief. (Many people who claim to be agnostic can trace this back to a moment of unbelief (not doubt) which may have caused them to become bitter).
“Causes trouble … defile” - Morris states “a bitter root is a root that bears bitter fruit.” In my experience, if this “bitter root” is not dealt with or cut out, it can spread to the entire community of believers.
Verse’s 14, 15 and 16 are really a domino affect. Lack of holiness leads to missing out on the Grace of God … root of bitterness (unbelief) … sexual immorality … unholy behavior.
“unholy like Esau” - No mention of Esau’s immorality in the OT … Some Jews regarded his marriage to Hittite women as being immoral (Genesis 26:34-35). It states that this was a source of grief for Isaac and Rebekah. Another way to state this is “godless like Esau.” The word godless (bebelos: pronounced vevelos) can be translated “profane” or “irreligious.”
We are instructed in the NT to deal with sexual immorality … should not be tolerated in the church (1 Corinthians 5:1-11)
God forbids sexual sin because of its power to destroy us physically and spiritually! Consider what it did to Esau who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son (Genesis 25). Esau showed complete disregard for “spiritual blessing.” - He “failed to keep up with the Grace of God.”
Verse 17 - Finally, Esau’s godless behavior and rejection of God’s plan shows us that sin sometimes has lasting consequences. Repentance and forgiveness do not always eliminate the consequences of sin.
(Example: Jon Shaffer on house arrest)
Closing Prayer - Pray through these verses.
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.