Hebrews 12 – Surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
- The title states that “we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses” – they’re watching
- Therefore (because of this fact)
o Let us throw off everything that hinders (which means anything defocusing you)
o And sin that so easily entangles (which means it traps you)
o Run with perseverance the race marked out for us (focus, direction, effort)
o Fixing our eyes on Jesus (His face & sacrifice)
§ The pioneer and perfecter of our faith (made a way there was none)
§ Will be faithful to complete it
o For the joy set before him he endured the cross
§ Scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (finished) – He was able to do it because of the joy set before Him (He stayed focused on the prize not the pain)
o Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners
§ Look at what He went through
§ So that you will not grow weary and lose heart (your suffering is nothing compared to His)
God Disciplines His Children
4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
- Yes, we struggle with sin but not to the point of death
- We should remember the word encouragement (a father to son message)
o Its based on love and help
- God does discipline His children because He loves us!
- Don’t lose heart. Receive it. Learn from it. Listen to it. Obey it. – Move on!
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 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.
- Huge revelation!
o Endure hardship as discipline
o If you are experience hardship you are being disciplined by God
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