Note: This sermon came out quite different in the preaching than from the manuscript. You are welcome to request an audio recording of the sermon by e-mailing or calling the church office.
2007 Book of Hebrews Series –
“Those He Loves”
Hebrews 12:4-17
Sermon preached at Curwensville Presbyterian Church – September 30, 2007
Prayer Introduction: The question is asked, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Rabbi Kushner and others have answered in ways that completely miss the mark. In fact, the question itself shows error. There are no “good” people.
The right question is “Why does the loving God allow His children to Suffer?” People have suggested either God isn’t loving or He isn’t sovereign – that He can’t control it, because of our free will. These answers completely miss the mark as well.
This morning we get the right answer to the right question – from Hebrews 12:4-17. If you hear the answer it will change your life. Let’s pray …We pray now for the preacher in the pulpit. He is not worthy, but by your grace he is able. And so it is through Jesus Christ that we pray – Amen!
I. Endure Hardship as Discipline from the Father Who Loves You (vv.4-11)
READ Hebrews 12:4-11
There is a comic strip called Curtis (you won’t find it in The Progress), that I used to read in the Detroit Free Press. In one of the strips Curtis is trying to convince his mother to let him go hang out at a certain place with some new “friends” that have been a bad influence on him, and his mother says, “No.” Curtis starts to go into a rant: “Mike’s mom doesn’t care if he goes…Mike’s mom doesn’t care what he does…Mike’s mom doesn’t care...Mike’s mom – doesn’t care!” And then it dawns on him. He gives his mom a hug and with a tear in his eye says, “Thanks for caring, mom.”
A caring mother and father say, “No.” A parent who truly loves their children does not let their children do whatever they want, but disciplines us for our good.
We have all known parents who did not discipline their children, and we have seen what kind of children they have become. We have also known parents who basically beat their children into submission – and we have seen what kind of children they have become.
There is nothing more loving (and difficult) than a parent who seeks to discipline their children at the heart level. Not just behavior modification, but heart modification.
Our heavenly Father models this love to us – his adopted sons and daughters – those he loves.
Notice how our Father disciplines us – through hardship – through the temptations and trials we face. Verse 4 begins, “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.”
“In your struggle against sin…” Have you noticed that many of the trials we face are from people sinning against us? Someone talking behind your back, slandering you. A boss treating you unfairly. A family member falsely accusing you. We have all been the target of attacks.
The author of this letter recognizes that the Hebrew Christians have, in fact, been severely persecuted – for their faith. But they had not endured anything as bad as Jesus suffered.
Verses 2-3 tell us to fix our eyes on Jesus who endured the cross to bring us to God by faith. We should consider Jesus who endured such opposition – for us.
And then verses 4-11 tell us to be encouraged that we face hardship – because it shows that God loves us. Citing Proverbs 3:11-12 verses 5 & 6 of our passage tell us that we should not make light of the Lord’s discipline because the Lord disciplines those he loves.
We have all asked the question, “Why is God letting this happen to me?” Which is really a question that wonders how God feels toward me. Most people think that suffering indicates a vindictive God who is angry at them. The truth is that suffering indicates a loving God who is actively loving you.
It sounds crazy, right? It’s actually quite incredible. God doesn’t love us for who we are. God loves us despite who we are. God loves us in order to change us. God doesn’t accept us for who we are. God accepts us for who Christ is. God accepts us in order to change us.
Lots of people – who consider themselves Christians – have missed this most important point. It is why many people find God boring – they already “believe” in God, why keep coming to church to talk about it? Why keep going to Bible Studies to talk about it?
Why? Because genuine belief in God means being changed by God; and it can only happen when we come to God.
And so we see why God allows his children to suffer. In order to change us. We suffer because we are loved.
God is not interested in making us happy, but in making us holy.
In the hymn, “How Firm a Foundation” we sing:
When through fiery trials thy
pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
The fiery trials of life consume the dross – in order to refine the gold. Trials are given to direct us to the all sufficient grace of God, by which we shine.
When you face a hardship in your life, say, “Praise God.”
“Thank you, sir, may I have another.”
Mark Twain – “Most people are bothered by those Scripture passages which they cannot understand. But for me, the passages in Scripture which trouble me most are those which I do understand.”
Endure the hardship. Rejoice in the hardship. By it, God is causing you to shine.
II. Mortify Sin (vv.12-13)
READ Hebrews 12:12-13
A. Past Grace – As Christians we know that we are saved by God’s grace through faith. That is past grace, which can be a wonderful reminder – and brings us partial assurance of our faith.
B. Present Grace – Is where we live right now and gives us greater assurance of faith. The question is not just “have we believed” – but also “do we continue to believe?” The question is not just “have we been changed” – but also “are we continually being changed?”
Verse 12 says we need to strengthen feeble arms and weak knees. Why are they weak? Because of the trials we are facing. We need to return to the cross and be renewed DAILY by God’s grace. Temptations and trials took shots at us again yesterday. We need present grace to heal these wounds.
We also need present grace to forgive today, to be reconciled today, to repent and confess today. Do not let bitterness take root. Do not self-pity take root. Be healed today.
C. Future Grace – Is how we press forward in faith. We will face new temptations and trials today, and tomorrow, and the next day…
Verse 13 tells us to make level paths. In other words, we need to prepare for tomorrow’s temptations today. Do not prepare by the law (“I must try to obey”), but by future grace (“God loves me tomorrow, just like he loves me today and loved me yesterday. Morning by morning new mercies I seek.”)
III. Make Every Effort (vv.14-17)
A. “…see the Lord” – holiness [READ verse 14]. “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” You can talk until you’re blue in the face; but unless people see holiness they will not see the Lord.
It isn’t the holiness you say, but the holiness you show, by which people see the Lord. This is the fallacy of those who simply claim to “believe in God and be Christians.”
“You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-- and shudder… I will show you my faith by what I do” (James 2:19, 18b).
Make every effort. Do all that you can by living a holy life. It takes two to tango. Some will attack you. Some will sin against you. Some will never live at peace with you; but you can still make every effort.
Romans 12:18 – “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge…”
B. “See to it…” – holiness [READ verse 15]. “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” Christianity is a team sport. We must encourage the weak (“see to it...no one misses the grace of God”) and oppose those who are apostate (“see to it…no bitter root grows up”). All of the trouble in any church comes from these two factors – typically the latter.
If a bitter root grows up – it causes trouble and defiles many. If someone is allowed to complain, allowed to grumble, it affects us all. If someone is left unconfronted in their neglect of the means of grace, it affects us all. The burden is on those who are here to go to those who are neglecting their relationship with the Lord.
C. “See that…” – holiness [READ verses 16-17]. “See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau…”
Notice that sexual immorality and godlessness are the only two items opposed here. Remember that the author of Hebrews is talking to the covenant community of the church. He isn’t focusing on the immorality and godlessness of the whole world (though that is a concern) – but primarily the immorality and godlessness among those who claim to be Christians.
The example is than given of Esau despising the Lord by selling his inheritance for a meal. You might think that is pretty ridiculous. How could someone reject the Lord for just a bowl of soup?
But consider the ridiculous reasons that people reject the Lord in the church today.
“Worship is a half-hour earlier…”
“We sang a song I didn’t recognize…”
“So and so didn’t say hi to me…”
“So and so looked at me funny…”
“The weather was bad for a couple of weeks in a row and I got out of the habit…”
“The pastor didn’t visit me enough…”
“The pastor said something that made me mad [though what he said was true]…”
“I stay up too late on Saturday nights…”
“I’m trying to remodel my “
“It’s too hot…”
“It’s too cold…”
“There are too many hypocrites…”
“There are too many sinners…”
These reasons make sense in people’s minds – but it is like selling your soul for a bowl of soup. God is calling us to remind ourselves and others of His grace. God is calling us to remind ourselves and others to repent of grumbling and bitterness.
Endure hardship as one who is loved by God. Let God make you holy through hardship.
MAY THE TRUTH SET YOU FREE – AMEN!