Two Keys For Avoiding Discouragement (2)
Following Jesus: The Letter to the Hebrews • Sermon • Submitted
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Hebrews 12:3-11
3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.
4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you.
6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?
8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.
9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?
10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.
11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
INTRODUCTION:
In Larry Olsen's Outdoor Survival Skills, he tells of a guy who has been lost in the desert for days. His water and food have long since run out. His lips are parched, and his tongue is swollen. His legs are bruised and bleeding from dragging himself across the desert floor. His body is scorched from the sun and covered with insect bites and cactus pricks. As he props himself up on his bleeding elbow to look over a knoll, he sees nothing but wasteland through his sand-peppered eyes, and comments, "You know, a few more days like this and I might get discouraged." * Illustration Digest, Fall 1993
I. MEDITATE ON THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS (Hebrews 12:3-4).
I. MEDITATE ON THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS (Hebrews 12:3-4).
3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.
4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
A. Think about Him
A. Think about Him
“Think about” = Ἀναλογίσασθε = to think or reason with thoroughness and completeness—‘to think out carefully, to reason thoroughly, to consider carefully, to reason, reasoning.
1. Think about who He was.
a. He was the Son of God.
(John 1:34)
34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”
b. He was the creator of everything.
(Col. 1:16)
16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.
c. He is the sustainer of everything.
(Col. 1:17)
17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.
d. He was God in the flesh.
(John 1:14)
14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
e. He was the one who offered unconditional love and pardon for sin.
(John 3:16)
16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
B. Think about what He went through:
B. Think about what He went through:
1. Hostility from sinners.
a. The constant stalking of the Jewish religious leaders.
b. Followers who just did not “get it”.
c. Disciples who forsook Him in His hour of greatest need.
(Mark 14:50 )
50 Then all his disciples deserted him and ran away.
d. The mockery of kangaroo courts.
1.) The court of Annas (John 18:14)
14 Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders, “It’s better that one man should die for the people.”
2.) The court of Caiaphas (Matt. 26:57).
57 Then the people who had arrested Jesus led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of religious law and the elders had gathered.
3.) The court of Pontius Pilate (Matt. 27:11).
11 Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor. “Are you the king of the Jews?” the governor asked him. Jesus replied, “You have said it.”
4.) The court of Herod (Luke 23:6-12)
6 “Oh, is he a Galilean?” Pilate asked.
7 When they said that he was, Pilate sent him to Herod Antipas, because Galilee was under Herod’s jurisdiction, and Herod happened to be in Jerusalem at the time.
8 Herod was delighted at the opportunity to see Jesus, because he had heard about him and had been hoping for a long time to see him perform a miracle.
9 He asked Jesus question after question, but Jesus refused to answer.
10 Meanwhile, the leading priests and the teachers of religious law stood there shouting their accusations.
11 Then Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus. Finally, they put a royal robe on him and sent him back to Pilate.
12 (Herod and Pilate, who had been enemies before, became friends that day.)
e. Physical abuse at the hands of enemies.
1.) The beating with the cat-of-nine-tails.
2.) The crown of Thorns.
3.) The beard torn from his face.
4.) Slapped around.
5.) The crucifixion.
f. Made to bear guilt that was not his own.
(2 Cor. 5:21)
21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
g. A bloody death that was not deserved.
1.) He bled and died for us.
C. Consider your own trials in light of His. (Hebrews 12:3-4)
C. Consider your own trials in light of His. (Hebrews 12:3-4)
3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.
4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
1. This will help you avoid “weariness” and “discouragement”
a. Weariness = κάμνω = to grow weary, be weary. To be sick.
b. Discouraged = eκλύω = to be enfeebled through exhaustion, to grow weak, grow weary, be tired out. To despond, become faint hearted.
2. Your trials cannot compare to His.
a. What have you had to endure for the cause of Christ?
1.) Ridicule and mocking cannot compare.
2.) Mistreatment at the hands of the world cannot compare.
3.) Poverty and need for following Christ cannot compare.
3. You have not paid the supreme sacrifice in “striving” against sin.
a. There are some believers who have shed their blood for the cause of Christ.
1.) Stephen (Acts 7)
2.) James the brother of John (Acts 12)
3.) Peter and the other apostles (Only John died a natural death).
4.) Many others through the ages (Foxes Book of Martyrs)
b. You and I have not been called on to die for Christ.
1.) Any suffering we do for Christ cannot compare with His suffering and death for us.
II. LOOK FOR LESSONS IN THE CORRECTION OF THE LORD (Hebrews 12:5-11) .
II. LOOK FOR LESSONS IN THE CORRECTION OF THE LORD (Hebrews 12:5-11) .
A. The correction of the Lord is the guarantee of sonship. (Hebrews 12:5-7).
A. The correction of the Lord is the guarantee of sonship. (Hebrews 12:5-7).
5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you.
6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?
1. Take courage from the fact that you are corrected by God…it proves you are His child.
a. Chastisement is proof of God’s love.
1.) The newspapers once carried the story of a father and mother who, finding that their little girl had taken and eaten something from the cupboard, began to shake and slap the child. When the child became drowsy, they did not let up, but continued their shaking and slapping for four hours. What cruel punishment for such a little offense! No, it was compelled by love. The child had swallowed ten sleeping tablets, and the doctor said the only hope of saving the child's life was in keeping her awake. We do not always understand the path through which God leads us, but we may be certain His chastisement is always born of love. God does not choose to stop the harshness of the winds, but He rather directs us through them.
2.) The purposes of chastisement and correction are: redemption of our lives, and instruction in righteousness.
a.) Our souls and spirits have already been redeemed.
b.) His desire is to redeem our bodies from sin.
c.) He instructs us on how we are to live through correction.
3.) We are not to despise the correction of God.
a.) “Despise” = oλιγωρέω =to care little for, regard lightly, make small account.
b.) “chastening” = παιδεία = the whole training and education of children
B. The lack of correction indicates the absence of a relationship (Hebrews 12:8).
B. The lack of correction indicates the absence of a relationship (Hebrews 12:8).
8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.
1. The lack of chastisement for sin is indication that you are not His child.
a. He calls such “illegitimate” (νόθοι) or not his.
C. The key to benefiting from correction is being submissive. (Hebrews 12:9).
C. The key to benefiting from correction is being submissive. (Hebrews 12:9).
9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?
1. “Be in subjection” = uποτάσσω = to subject one’s self, obey. To submit to one’s control.
(James 4:7)
7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
2. When we become submissive, we gain through His instruction.
a. The only choices are to submit or to rebel.
1.) The example of Elijah at Mt. Carmel:
a.) He was afraid, lonely, and discouraged.
b.) God taught him some valuable lessons because he was willing to submit to God.
b. The best way to see your circumstances is a learning experience.
(1.) Not all circumstances come directly from God, but can become vehicles of correction and instruction.
D. Correction is always for our benefit. (Hebrews 12:10).
D. Correction is always for our benefit. (Hebrews 12:10).
10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.
1. Notice the contrast:
a. Earthly fathers chastened us for what they thought best.
b. Our Heavenly Father chastens us for what is for our benefit.
1.) Only He knows our future.
2.) Only He knows our heart and mind.
3.) Only He knows where our decisions will lead us.
E. Correction bears fruit in our lives. (Hebrews 12:11).
E. Correction bears fruit in our lives. (Hebrews 12:11).
11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
1. Chastening never seems pleasant at the time.
a. It seems “grievous” = λύπη = sorrow, pain, grief, annoyance, affliction
2. Chastening always produces the fruit of righteousness if we accept the instruction God gives.
a. We must use what he teaches us if we are to benefit.
1.) “Trained” = γυμνάζω = to exercise vigorously, in any way, either the body or the mind.
2.) Remember, “No pain, no gain”.
CONCLUSION:
A. Summary:
1. When going through the difficult times of life, the keys to avoiding discouragement are:
a. Look at the example of Jesus.
b. Look for lessons in the correction of the Lord.
B. Invitation