Jesus the Author and Perfector of our faith has some instructions at times that are difficult to endure but necessary if we are to grow in grace.
Hebrews 12: Jesus, Founder and Perfector of Our Faith
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Do Not Grow Weary
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives."
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
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.
A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken
18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest
19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them.
20 For they could not endure the order that was given, "If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned."
21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear."
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,
23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.
26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."
27 This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of things that are shaken---that is, things that have been made---in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,
29 for our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 13: Sacrifices Pleasing to God
1 Let brotherly love continue.
2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.
4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
6 So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?"
7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.
10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat.
11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp.
12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.
13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.
14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.
15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.
19 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.
Benediction
20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,
21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
22 I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly.
23 You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon.
24 Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings.
25 Grace be with all of you.
Things to think about…
This life can often be endured rather than enjoyed. Jesus endured the cross to enjoy future glory with His people, Heb 12:2. This is why we are called to run the race of endurance, vs 1. Races are hard work and are endured until the finish line arrives. Let’s do as the writer says and ‘run the race set before us’ regardless of the course the Lord has mapped out for us. Run to win the prize where there is joy at His right hand. Easier said than done at times. But there there is an exceeding weight of glory at the end of the race, hallelujah!
Sometimes we need to be corrected. We are spiritually unfit at times and need to be disciplined as part of our preparation, Heb 12:5-11. The goal is ‘the fruit of righteousness’, vs 11. The purpose in it all is conformity to Christ’s image and not our own, even though it is painful at times, vs 11.
This is why encouragement is so important, so that we don’t become like Esau who was an immoral, worldly man who despised his birthright. When he sought the blessing there was no place in his heart to repent, even though he cried many tears Heb 12:17. Esau had a worldly sorrow and he wept because he lost his birthright blessing, but did not weep over his sin and thereby inherit the heavenly blessing. We should not make a bed of comfort down here that leads to loss in eternity. Endurance involves discipline. Earthly comfort satisfies the flesh but squashes the Spirit.
In Heb 12:18 the verse says God is a blazing fire and in Heb 12:29 it says He is a consuming fire. These are the bookends that give the context to the verses in between. The passage concerns the ‘voice’ of God, Heb 12:18&26. The Israelites who came to Mt Sinai did not listen and perished, but we have come to Mt Zion to the heavenly Jerusalem, vs 22 and hence we are those who should be listening to God’s voice. God will return and shake things ‘yet once more’, vs 27 to establish the eternal things that cannot be shaken. As such we are called to offer ‘acceptable worship, with reverence and awe’, vs 28. Why? Because ‘our God is a consuming fire’. We must get over any notions that God somehow drops this characteristic out because people don’t like to talk about it. Hell fire is frightfully real and so is God’s purpose in consuming everything that rebels against His order in creation.
Hebrews 13 gives the whole point of the book. While Hebrews is very theological with respect to the person and work of Christ and His fulfilment of the law and prophets, the point of it all is the practical application of this knowledge in the people of God. Hence the opening line – ‘Let brotherly love continue’, Heb 13:1. Consider all the other practical things that are listed – hospitality vs 2, visiting brothers in prison, vs 3, honouring God in marriage, vs 4, acknowledging leaders, vs 7, don’t be led by strange teaching, vs 9, offer praise to God, vs 15, do good and share, vs 16, obey church leaders without complaining, vs 17, pray vs 18. All practical things that are influenced by a person’s theology.
The central purpose of writing the book is that we may be equipped to do His will for His glory, Heb 13:21.
The final greetings in Heb 13:22-25 give very strong indicators that this letter was in fact written by the Apostle Paul. He mentions Timothy who was his beloved disciple, he sends final greetings to the ‘leaders and saints’ which is a very Pauline trait at the end of his letters. He mentions Italy which is where he was imprisoned for two years, Acts 28:30, Phil 1:13 and to whom he had written the book of Romans. Finally he signs off with a trademark which he says is his very own ‘Grace be with you all’. He mentions this as his signature signoff in 2Thess 3:17, 18 also cf 1Cor 16:21; Gal 6:11; Col 4:18. But to make this point slightly in doubt John signs off in Rev 22:28 with the same signoff Paul also uses I.E “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you”. So did Paul write Hebrews? I think so, but you be the judge. The point is that the writer gave thanks and greeted other members of the body of Christ who were dear to him.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
For Cell Groups.
Reading was from Rev 1 - Title “Who is Christ really?”
1. When you read Rev 1:4-20 what are some of the gleanings you understand about who Christ is?
2. Andrew Otte mentioned some of the misunderstandings people have of who Jesus is especially around Christmas. How has this affected the message of the gospel and the effectiveness of the church.
3. When was the last time you had a right fear of Christ and the fact that He is a Judge and the One who will declare to many “Depart from Me I never knew you”. How does this sit with you?
4. Pray for the church and especially the teaching ministry in the church that there is an accurate portrayal of who Jesus is.
Prayer Points
1. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
2. New families as they settle into church.
3. Church finances to meet our new staff and to put a roof over our café.
4. Getting drawings into council.
5. Sunday’s message – Pastor Jay.
Praise Points.
1. Saturday night men’s movie night. Praise the Lord for the freedom we have in this country.
2. Praise the Lord for Caleb – Recharge, keep praying the Lord reveals His will.
3. Praise the Lord for the Kids@church ministry. Thankyou Maddison.
4. More new folk on Sunday – Praise God.
5. Praise and worship – pray for continued growth and blessing.
6. Unity, peace and grace at CBC.
Announcements
1. Recharge Progressive dinner. All high schoolers. Be at church at 6:30pm Friday. $10 to cover costs. Get youth to invite their friends.
2. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
