Hebrews 12 8 th February 2015

Christians are running a race and fighting a war Sometimes it is really difficult to keep going, especially when things are going against us

Jesus is our goal and our reward Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12 v 2a

Christ fought the battle before us For the joy that was set before Him, Christ endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12 v 2b

We, like Him, will go through pain and suffering In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. Hebrews 12 v 4

But there will be an end to it, an “afterwards”, a joy that will last for eternity I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8 v 18

So why does God allow the pain and suffering? Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? Hebrews 12 v 7

God uses hardship to develop our character and to grow our faith God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. Hebrews 12 v 10

We can have two wrong attitudes to His discipline Either, we can despise it as being worthless or we can lose heart and give up the struggle

There are two good attitudes we need to have to His discipline We need to realise that it is a sign of His love for us and proof that we belong to Him

We must not be like Esau When he was experiencing hardship (extreme hunger), he counted all God’s promises as worthless and “for a single meal sold his inheritance”. Hebrews 12 v 16

Instead, we must look beyond the trial to the outcome No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12 v 11

Trials help us to mature as Christians Asking God to take them away is like a child wanting to leave school and go back to the nursery

We must endure hardship and call upon His grace Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 2 Timothy 2 v 3 and 4

The Hebrew Christians were getting weary from their trials They were tempted to give up on Christianity and go back to Judaism

There were two alternatives for the readers of this letter They could go back to the earthly covenant of Sinai Or they could remain in the heavenly covenant of Jesus

The old covenant would lead to death and separation The new covenant would lead to eternal life Every person on earth has the same choice to make between life and death

God gives us a stark warning See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from Him who warns us from heaven? Hebrews 12 v 25

The writer finishes this section with a positive note Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12 v 28

Are you currently going through a difficult trial or hardship? If so, recognise it for what it is - God building you up into a stronger Christian And all of us must draw alongside those who struggle and support them with prayer and fellowship