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Psalms
145:1-12 A psalm
of praise of David. I will exalt You, my God and King, and praise Your name
forever and ever. I will praise You every day; yes, I will praise You forever.
Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure His
greatness. Let each generation tell its children of Your mighty acts; let them
proclaim Your power. I will meditate on Your majestic, glorious splendor and
Your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I
will proclaim Your greatness. Everyone will share the story of Your wonderful
goodness; they will sing with joy about Your righteousness. The LORD is
merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all His creation. All of
Your works will thank You, LORD, and Your faithful followers will praise You.
They will speak of the glory of Your kingdom; they will give examples of Your
power. They will tell about Your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory
of Your reign.
Father God send you’re Holy Spirit to us each day to guide
us in running the race of faith. Open our hearts so that we know when your Holy
Spirit chastens us. In Jesus name we pray, Amen!
Book of Hebrews 12:1-11 NKJV
Only a
few lessons left in this book of Hebrews. I must say it has been a very
enlightening book which I have learned a great deal and have applied things to
my life to come closer to Jesus. I truly hope that it has made you think and
that some things have changed in your life so you are walking closer to Jesus.
Verses
one through four of this lesson is about a race of faith. Do we have endurance
to stay in the race to receive our reward? Do you have the correct food to
nourish you spiritually? Do you run the race at a fast pace and then have to
stop and rest or do you go at a steady pace? If you run the race fast and then
stop and rest, be cautious of that old Devil cause he will move in with the
temptation of his world. We have to be vigilant at all times to run the race of
faith and stay on the lighted path.
Verses
five through eleven deals with the children of God being chastised or
disciplined by Him, just as parents correct their children as they are growing
up, God also corrects His Born Again children as they grow in faith. If the
Holy Spirit doesn’t discipline us as we grow in faith we lose sight of the
lighted path that we are to follow. We then fall victim to the lust of our
flesh and the lure of the world. With the genetic seed that the Devil planted
deep within each of us, the sin nature, we will drift away from God. That is
why we need to keep our eyes focused on Jesus and stay on the lighted path the
Holy Spirit guides us down. If we allow that seed (sin nature) to grow to full
maturity, we will fall from God’s Grace. Being a Christian is no easy task, in
fact it is a battle and a race we must continue in at a steady pace each day,
and with the leading of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God we can run a race
that is not filled with mountain peaks and valleys. We need to read the Bible
on a daily basis because it is the armour that will help us in the race of
faith. With that said let’s get started.
1 Therefore
we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay
aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the
race that is set before us,
Therefore
we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses; Who is this huge cloud of
witnesses? This "huge cloud of
witnesses" is composed of the people described in chapter 11; it is those
that lived by faith in the OT; it is those around us today that live for Jesus;
it is Born Again believers. Their faithfulness should be a constant
encouragement to us. We do not struggle alone, and we are not the first to
struggle with the problems we face. Paul struggled because he stated in Romans,
“why do I do the things I do not want to do”. We all struggle in our walk of
faith. Romans 7:14-19 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am
carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what
I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then,
I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it
is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know
that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present
with me, but how to perform
what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Others have run the race and won, and
their witness stirs us to run and win also. What an inspiring heritage we have!
Let
us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us; What are these weights that slow us
down in our race to God’s Kingdom? If we are honest with ourselves we all have
secret weights that bog us down and cause us to sin. They could be things like
alcohol, pornography, gambling, using God name without meaning, sports,
shopping, lying, gossiping, dirty stories, love of money, not being able of
forgive, holding grudges, selfishness, etc. The list is long and if a person is
plagued by a particular weight they need to give it to Jesus and pray, pray,
pray about it to Jesus that you need His help to overcome this weight.
Long-distance runners work
hard to build endurance and strength. On race day, their clothes are
lightweight and their bodies lean. To run the race that God has set before us,
we must also strip off the excess weight that slows us down. How can we do
that? 1) Choose friends who are also committed to the race. Wrong friends will
have values and activities that will deter you from the course. Much of your
own weight may result from the crowd you run with. Make wise choices. 2) Drop
certain activities; change your routine; examine your habits. These may be a
weight that is restricting your race. 3) Get help for addictions that are disabling,
talk to your pastor, submit totally to Jesus. 4) Read and study the Bible
daily.
And
let us run with endurance the race that is set before us; The Christian life involves hard work.
It requires us to give up whatever endangers our relationship with God, to run
with endurance, and to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to defeat sin. To
live effectively, we must keep our eyes on Jesus. We will stumble if we look
away from him to stare at ourselves or at worldly things. We should be running
for Christ, not ourselves, and we must always keep him in sight. Luke 9:62 But Jesus said to him, "No
one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom
of God."
2 looking
unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our
faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Looking
unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our
faith; It is Jesus
that will carry us through all trials and tribulations as long as we keep our
faith in Him meaning staying focus on Him and what He did on the Cross for us.
He is the Source and the Cross is the means.
Who
for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame; The cross was a degrading way to die.
It was used for the most wicked of people in that time, which Jesus didn’t
deserve, but He endured the death of the cross because he loved us and knew the
happiness which he would experience from the consciousness that he had redeemed
the world. He was willing to bear the burden of our sins. It was a joy knowing
that redemption would be possible for all that would seek Him.
And
has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God; Being seated at the right hand of God
signifies His work at the Cross was finished and that God fully accepted His
Sacrifice.
3 For
consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you
become weary and discouraged in your souls.
For
consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself; “Him” is referring to Jesus and all
the hostility that was directed toward Him from all of Israel’s leaders and the
Jews that didn’t believe He was the Son of God. So we see two things here; 1)
unbelievers are sinners and; 2) sinners are enemies of God.
Lest you become weary and discouraged
in your souls; The
meaning is, that there is great danger of being disheartened and tired out by
the daily conflict of walking in faith. But with the bright example of Jesus who
was never disheartened, and who never became weary in doing the will of God, we
may persevere. The best means of leading a faithful Christian life amidst the
opposition which we may encounter, is to keep the eye steadily fixed on the
Saviour.
4 You have
not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
The general sense of this
passage is, “you have not yet been called in your Christian struggles to the
highest kind of sufferings and sacrifices. Great as your trials have been, your
faith has not yet been put to the severest test. And since this is so, you shouldn’t
yield in the clash with evil, but boldly resist it.”
Jesus went to the Cross
for us so we don’t have to be nailed to a cross for the reward of Heaven. All
we have to do is believe in Jesus and place our faith in all that transpired at
the Cross in our place.
We really don’t know what
persecution is, compared to the Dark Ages, or even what is going on in the
Middle East today. Here in America we may get our feeling hurt, but so far our
life is not at stake, but I do believe there is a time coming when our life
will be at stake and we will have to make the decision of not denying Jesus as
our Saviour. Is your faith where it needs to be to stand up for the name of
Jesus?
5 And you
have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "MY SON, DO
NOT DESPISE THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD, NOR BE DISCOURAGED WHEN YOU ARE REBUKED
BY HIM;
And
you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons; Paul is using an example here of how
parents correct their children when they do wrong. He is asking his adult
listeners if they remember chastening their children. God does the same thing
with those that are Born Again, His children. God corrects His children to
produce positive effects in their lives, therefore, we ought to bear them
patiently. Proverbs 3:12 For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a
father the son in whom he
delights.
"MY SON, DO NOT DESPISE THE CHASTENING OF
THE LORD, NOR BE DISCOURAGED WHEN YOU ARE REBUKED BY HIM; This is taken from Proverbs
3:11. We need to be
aware of God correcting us when we do wrong. “Chastening” is the act of correcting
and not punishing. Correcting that will eliminate evil in your life and
encourage that which is Righteous.
Do you examine your life
when things seem to be going wrong? Is it sin that causes one’s life to be in
turmoil? Something to think about, isn’t it! Everything that happens to a believer
is either caused or allowed by the Lord. Are we vigilant enough to learn the
lesson to be taught by God?
6 FOR WHOM
THE LORD LOVES HE CHASTENS, AND SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES."
This is also a quoted from
Proverbs 3.
It means that it is a universal rule that God sends trials on those whom he
truly loves. It does not mean that he sends chastisement which is not deserved;
or that he sends it “for the mere purpose” of inflicting pain, but it means
that by his chastisements he shows that he has a paternal care for us. He does
not treat us with neglect and unconcern, as a father may do toward his
illegitimate child. The very fact that he corrects us shows that he has fatherly
feelings toward us, and exercises paternal care.
7 If you
endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom
a father does not chasten?
If
you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; Chastening from the Lord is one of the
greatest signs that He loves us, and loves us dearly. Chastening guarantees
that one belongs to God the Father.
For what son is there whom a father
does not chasten; We
use many types of correction with our children to get them to obey, with the
love God has for us, why wouldn’t He do the same for His Born Again Saints?
8 But if
you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are
illegitimate and not sons.
Let’s rephrase this verse:
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.
What a strong statement
Paul is making here. Many people claim to be True Believers, but continue in
sin. There are many passages in the Bible that describe sin; Romans 1:22-32; Galatians
5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-7.
These people are never chastised by the Lord therefore showing they are illegitimate
children. Their salvation is in something other than the Cross, like religious
rules, regulations, a 12 step program for salvation, the purpose driven life,
sacraments, etc. Each of us need to ask ourselves on a weekly basis, where is
our faith, is it truly in Jesus or in one of the man made religions of the
world. Do you get chastened by our Lord; do you hear the Holy Spirit when you
do wrong or think about doing wrong?
9
Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more
readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
Paul is again using earthly
parents here as an example. If we understand we are to be subject to our
earthly parents, then surely we should understand that we are to be subject to
our Heavenly Father. If we aren’t subject to Him, we could lose our souls.
10 For they
indeed for a few days chastened us
as seemed best to them, but He
for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
Let’s rephrase this verse:
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 profit
by sharing in His holiness.
The phrase, “as seemed best to them” refers to our
earthly fathers disciplining us, and sometimes it may have been incorrect due
to their human nature, but they did the best they could. We are disciplined
according to God’s righteousness, which sometimes we find it hard to accept, but
being children of God, and being chastened is what is needed so we can be
partakers of His Kingdom.
11 Now no
chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless,
afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been
trained by it.
We respond to discipline
in several ways: 1) We can accept it with resignation; 2) we can accept it with
self-pity, thinking we really don't deserve it; 3) we can be angry and
resentful toward God; or (4) we can accept it with open arms in response to the
love we owe a loving Father. We need to humble ourselves and embrace chastening
from God.
Who loves his child more, the
father who allows the child to do what will harm him, or the one who corrects,
trains, and even punishes the child to help him learn what is right? It's never
pleasant to be corrected and disciplined by God, but His discipline is a sign
of His deep love for us. When God corrects you, see it as proof of His love,
and ask Him what He is trying to teach you.
Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created
that are in heaven and that are on earth,
visible and invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
All
things were created through Him and for Him.
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God,
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you,
unless one is born again, he
cannot see the kingdom of God."
Bill
Wiesbrock https://www.facebook.com/bill.wiesbrock?ref=tn_tnmn
The
Lighthouse Full Gospel Church
Sinners
Prayer; Pray this, and if you believe it with your heart, Jesus will save you!
“Lord Jesus I know I am a sinner. I confess my sins to you; I am sorry for my
sins; I repent (Meaning, desiring to turn from a sinful lifestyle.) of all my
sins, and I am asking for your forgiveness of all of my sins. I believe that only you can forgive sin. I commit my life to you and ask you to come
into my heart, direct, and take charge of my life. I believe that you died to set me free from
my sinful lifestyle and you rose from the dead to give me eternal life, and
right now you are seated at the Right Hand of God Almighty. I believe you are
the Son of God; the only Way, the only Truth, the only Life, and my
Savior.” I believe this and have faith
you will make a new person out of me, by sending the Holy Spirit to dwell in my
heart and lead me in a new life. In Jesus name I pray Amen.” (John 3:16,17;
Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1
John 5:11-14; 1:6-10) (Sin: Rom.
1:22-32; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:3-7)
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