This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Love, Our Greatest Gift" 9/30/2012

LOVE, OUR GREATEST GIFT

 

Hebrews 13:1-3, 1 Cor 13:1-13

 

 

This text emphasizes Love.  It focuses on who God is. He is Love. It is not an attribute. It is not a characteristic. It is who He is.

 

God wants us to be like Him. The greatest desire of man should be to be like the Lord.

 

LOVE IS OUR GOAL

Hebrews 13:1. "Let brotherly love continue."

A. Brotherly Love = philadelphia= kindness, good will, friendship

    1. Let us comfort and support one another.

    2. Let us be one family and be in unity with one another.

    3. Let us support the welfare of each other.

B. Be careful to remove all impediments to brotherly love.

   1. Remove any jealousy.

   2. Remove any envy.

   3. Remove any competition.

   4. Remove any hates.

   5. Remove any selfishness.

   6. Remove any lust in the heart.

C. Continue your love.

   1. Continue growing and striving together.

   2. Let nothing hinder your love.

      a. Don't let differences of opinion or ideas destroy togetherness.

      b. Don't let differences of interpretation of doctrine tear you apart.

V.13:2. "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."

A. Be hospitable to strangers.

    1. Do it with a cheerful heart.

    2. Do it willingly.

    3. Do it with  a humble spirit.

    4. Make it our business and our occupation.

B. Strangers may hold blessing that God has for us.

   1. Strangers may have the answer to that which troubles us.

   2. Strangers may hold the key to doors that are closed to us.

   3. Strangers may be the opportunity to use the gifts that God has given us.

C. Every man coming to Jesus finds friendship, fellowship and love.

   1. We are told that it is more blessed to give than receive.

   2. Abraham received an angel who blessed him and Sarah with the promise from

       God of a future son.

   3. Mary received an angel who blessed her with the Son of God.  

 D. Angels are messengers of God. We never know when they will show up in our

     lives.

    1. I know a woman who has a daughter who was born with a skin allergy that caused

        her to itch all the time. Doctors could offer no cure. By chance, she met a woman

        that gave her the solution to the problem. The simple over the counter treatment

        cured the problem. She was at the end of her rope and didn't know what to do. An

        angel showed up with the answer to her prayers.

Hebrews 13:3. "Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body."

A. Take note of those that are in trouble.

     1. But more than remembering, we must force ourselves to consider their trouble as 

         our own.

     2. If we can feel their pain we can be moved with compassion to be helpful.

B. We must careful to consider that but by the Grace of God that their situation is not

     ours.

    1. It is the compassion that we have for others that draws us closer together in love.

    2. If we suffer in the heart as others suffer, we can appreciate the God that can bring

        about relief.

    3. We have a duty and a responsibility to be constantly in prayer for others.

 

GIFTS ARE USELESS WITHOUT LOVE

1 Cor 13:1.  "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal."

 A. Tongues = gloossais = language of a particular people.

      1. Speak= laloo= emit a voice

      2. Charity= agapeen=affection, good will, benevolence

          a. It is used for the love of God and Christ toward men. John 15:13

          b. It is used for the love of men toward God. 1 John 4:21

          c. It is used for the love of men toward men,  Rom 13:9

          d. This Word is what God is.  God is love. 1 John 4:16-19

 B. Though= ean=a conditional particle, "If"

     1. Though is also a connective particle.

        a. In this case it is connecting verse 13:1 with verse 12:31; "A more excellent

            way."

        b. Love or Charity is the better gift.

        c. Love should be pursued first.

        b. Love is the prerequisite to proper use of God's gifts.

    2. The apostle Paul is not saying that there is a gift of the language of angels. He is

         saying that "If" you had that gift it is not better than "Love".

        a. Angels are perfect, therefore their language is more exalted than man.

        b. Certainly they communicate with God to bring a message to man.

        c. In all cases in the Bible where angels spoke to man, they spoke in a language

            that  man could understand.  Some examples are Abraham, Jacob, Mary and

            Paul.

    3. Gifts without love are useless.

       a. The key issue here is that gifts are given for the love of man, not man for the

           love of gifts.

       b. God gave us gifts that they may be used to edify the body of Christ.

       c. The use of gifts without love is noise without focus. 

 V.13:2. "And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing."

A. Prophecy= profeeteian= prediction, an utterance inspired by God, to a thing that can

     only be known by divine revelation.

B. "Understand all mysteries"

    1. If I could understand the mysteries of nature and if I could understand what others

        cannot understand, this would be useless without Love.

    2. Love causes one to use one's gifts without being puffed up.

    3. Love causes one to use one's gifts to the benefit of others.

C. "Though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains"

    1. It takes a strong faith to move mountains. I don't think you can have that level of

        faith without love.

        a. Jesus had that kind of faith, but He is Love.

        b. Faith without love is ineffective.

    2. It is the love of God that is the cause of a strong mature faith.

        a. It is the love of your neighbor that puts faith into action.  

V:3. "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing."

 A.  "Feed the poor"=peoomisoo= to feed by putting a bit or crumb into the mouth.

      1. This would imply time and tenderness.

      2. If this is done without love, then it is done out of selfish motives.

          a. Selfish motives never pleases God.

 B. "Though I give my body to be burned"

      1. Burned = kaucheesoomai= to glory, for boasting

      2. All boasting about self is selfish.

      3. If I get the glory, God does not get the glory that is due Him.

      4. What I do out of love for others gives God the glory.

      5. When God gets the glory, I get the profit.

 

WHAT LOVE IS

V:4. "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up."

A. Love suffers long.

     1. Love suffers the weakness of others.

     2. Love suffers the ignorance of others.

     3. Love suffers the errors of others.

     4. Love suffers the evil of others.

     5. Love never runs out.

B. Love is kind.

    1. Kind=chreesteuetai=gentle, tender, compassionate.

    2. Love considers the needs and position of others.

C. "Love envieth not".

    1. Love does not desire what others have.

    2. Love is not grieved by the possessions of others.

D. Love does not vaunt itself.

    1. Vaunteth itself= perprereuetai= boast, brag, does not desire to be noticed

    2. Love is confident in itself.

    3. Love does not need anybody else to validate it.

E. Love is not puffed up

    1. Puffed up = not inflated

    2. Love does not have an elevated sense of importance.

    3. Love is full of humility.

 

V:5. "Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil."

A. "Love does not behave itself unseemly."

    1. Love is never out of place.

       a. Love does not force it's opinions on others.

       b. Love does not force others to do what they have no desire to do. (except as it

           relates to parenting).

   2. Love does not seek its own.

       a. Love is not selfish. Love seeks the welfare of others.

       b. Love does not seek only it's happiness but the happiness of others also.

       c. Love does not just seek its own comfort, but the comfort of others also.

B. Love is not easily provoked.

    1. Love does not sweat the small stuff.

    2. Love does not get bent out of shape because things are not going as planned.

    3. Love does not get upset when others won't take good advice.

    4. Love does not get angry at the evil of others.

C. Love thinks no evil.

    1. Love thinks the best of others even if the best is not evident.

    2. Love seeks the positive qualities of others.

    3. Love considers the good in everybody.

    4. Love considers that we all got issues, and no issues are worst than others.

 

V.13:6. "Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth."

 A.  Love does not find joy in falsehood.

     1. Love finds joy in the truth.

     2. Love finds joy in the Word which is the truth.

 B. Love does not depend on others for the truth.

    1. Love seeks the truth for itself.

    2. Love does not listen to gossip, but waits for the truth to avail itself.

C. Love does not follow unrighteousness.

    3. Love seeks the righteousness of God.

 

V:7. "Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."

 A. Love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

    1. Love over looks certain things.

    2. Love bears the evil of others.

    3. Love conceals that which needs to be concealed.

    4. Love keeps secrets.

 B. Love believes all things.

    1. Love takes a person at his word until his word is found to be untrue.

    2. Love sees a person as he is not by what is said of him.

C. Love hopes all things.

    1. Love looks for the best in others.

    2. Love expects the best out of others.

    3. Love is willing to help others achieve their best.

D. Love endures all things.

    1. Love draws its strength from the Lord.

    2. Love does not depend on itself.

    3. Love depends on God.

 

LOVE IS PERMENANT

V:8. "Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away."

A. Love never fails because the source of love is not of man but of God.

    1. God is love and His love never ceases.

    2. God's love is not dependant on man.

    3. Man is the object of God's love.

    4. God uses man as a vessel of His love.

    5. God has an unlimited number of people He can use to dispense His love.

    6. There are two things that never fail; God's love and God's Word.

B. Prophecies will fail.

   1. There will come a time when all the prophecies of God are fulfilled.

   2. Those who have the gift of prophecy will see their end in death.

   3. In the New Heaven and the New Earth there will be only one event;

       praise and worship of the Lord.

C. The gift of tongues (languages of men) will cease.

    1. Even today there is no need for the gift of languages. We have computers and

       cell phones that can translate one language into another language.

    2. We have language teachers who can teach any foreign language.

    3. Technology has outdated the need for the gift of languages.

    4. In heaven, there will be only one language.

D. The gift of  knowledge will vanish away.

    1. On the internet we can find information on any subject.

    2. Those who study the Word of God have the indwelling of the

        Holy Spirit as their teacher.

    3. In Heaven there will be no need for knowledge, because everything will be

        known.

       a. God is omniscience. In His presence, everything will be known.

E. God is love and He can never cease to exist.

 

OUR PERFECTION

V:9. "For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

 A. Our knowledge on earth is limited compared to the unlimited knowledge of the Lord.

     1. We can process only a small amount of that which is before us.

     2. We have no knowledge of heavenly things.

     3. The Bible is closed. God has given us in His Word all He wants us to know.

          Rev 22:9.

     4. Man can only know what God inspires Him to know. 2 Tim 3:16

         1. God will not inspire you to know anything that is not in His Word. Ecc 1:9

 

V:10. "But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away."

A. The current heaven and the current earth with all of its imperfections will be

     done away with. 2 Peter 3:13, Rev 21:1

   1. God will create a new heaven and a new earth. Rev 21:1

   2. God will give light to all that are saved. Rev 22:5

      a. The light of the Lord is perfect.

 

OUR MATURITY

V:11. "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."

A. The Apostle Paul now speaks of the maturity of the Church and the maturity of

     individual members of the Body of Christ.

   1. The Church is now in its mature state. We have the Bible, the Word of God in it's

       completed form.

   2. The books of the Bible were written by men inspired by God. These books were

       collected and put together in what we know as the Bible by men I believed were

       also inspired by God. We have verified  accuracy of the work of this latter group

       with the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

      

   3. All believers have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Rom 8:9, 1 John 3:24

       a. The Holy Spirit is our teacher to understand God's Word.  John 14:26

B. Because the Church is in its mature state, the two gifts mention in this text,

     prophecy and tongues (languages) take a less important role.

   1. Love is the greatest asset of the Church.

       a. Love is the excellent way to glorify God.

 

V:12. "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."

 A. While we are on this earth, we have only partial knowledge.

     1. Mirrors in Paul's time were made of polish metal.

     2. The image was dim.

     3. A mirror can only reflect what is in front of it.

        a. A mirror cannot reflect what is behind it.

        b. A mirror cannot reflect into the future.

        c. A mirror cannot reflect what is in heaven.

    4. The image of the mirror is only partial.

 B. Like a mirror, our knowledge of the world, nature and heaven is limited.

    1. When we get to heaven in the presence of the Father, all things will be made

         known to us.

 

THE GREATEST GIFT

V:13. "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."

A. Faith is the Christian foundation.

    1. We come to Christ by Grace through faith.

B. Christian Hope in the Word of God.

    1. Our hope, peace, joy and provisions are in the Word of God.

    2. Our eternal hope is presented in the Word of God.

C. Love, agape love is the greatest gift of all.

    1. It is because of God's love that He created the heavens and the earth.

    2. It is because of God's love that He created man.

    3. It is because of God's love that He redeemed man after the fall with the death of

        His Son.

    4. It is because of God's love that believers have a heavenly home.

    5. Love is the greatest Gift of all.

 

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Saved By Grace", 9/23/12

SAVED BY GRACE

 

HEBREWS 12:18-29

 

In this text two dispensations are presented; the dispensation of the Law and the dispensation of Grace. Verses 18-21 points to the dispensation of the Law. Verses

23-29 presents the dispensation of Grace.  Dispensation just means house rules; the way

God deals with man. God gave the Law to the Jews, but He gave Grace to all mankind.

The Law was fulfilled in Jesus death on the cross and Grace began.

 

THE OLD APPROACH TO GOD: THE LAW

V:18. "For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest."

A. God will not tolerate sin in His throne. The mount refers to Mount Sinai where God

     gave Moses the Law.

   1. The Jews were warned not to touch the mountain unless they were destroyed.          

       Ex 19:12

   2. The Holiness of God was separated from the sinfulness of man.

B. Those who willfully disobeyed God's commands faced the burning fire.

   1. Believers do not face the fire, but are saved by Grace through faith.

   2. The Law was given to the Jews as a tutor until Grace began.  Gal 3:24

 

V:19. "And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more."

A. The sound of the trumpet was a call to attention to God's also a battle sound.

     1. At the mount, they heard the Word of the Lord but they could not see

         Him. Ex 19:16       

     2. They were  frightened by the trumpet and Word of the Lord.

B. They prayed that the Word would not be spoken directly to them.

     1. The Lord is and awesome God and ought to be feared by all.

     2. In His presence, we ought to present ourselves holy and acceptable to Him.         

         Rom 12:1

C. The Jews preferred that Moses to be the mediator between them and God.

     1. His awesome power was fresh on their mind from the parting of the Red Sea and

         destruction of the Egyptian army.

     2. God had set them free from 400 years of slavery, yet they were afraid of His 

         voice.

     3. If you are doing the right thing, you have no need to fear God.

 

V:20. "For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart."

 A. The voice of God was so powerful that the Jews could not stand to hear it.

     1. The voice of God reminds you of His holiness and your sinfulness.

     2. God's vastness and your littleness are recognized when you meditate on the

         Word.

 B. Anyone who touched the mountain while God was present died.

    1. God separated Himself from the Jews to reinforce His Holiness. 

    2. This is illustrated by the death of Uzzah  (2Sam 6:6) when he touched the Ark to

         keep it from falling. The Ark represented the presence of God.

       a. The Ark contained the Stone Tablets which the 10 commandments were written.

       b. The Ark represented the Old Covenant of the Law.

       c. The Ark represented the presence of God.

    3. We are now under the New Covenant that was ratified with the blood of Jesus.

       a. We are made holy before God by the blood of Jesus.

 

V:21. "And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake."

 A. Moses, God's selected leader of the Nation of the Jews feared God and probably

     trembled in His presence.

    1. Moses understood the awesome power of God to destroy the unrighteous and save

      whom He please.

    2. Moses understood that God is no respecter of person and that the wrath of God

        could fall on anyone.

   3. Moses understood that the God he served deserved his respect and honor.

   4. Moses understood that the God he served was to be feared above all mankind.

 

THE NEW WAY TO THE FATHER: GRACE

V:22. "But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels."

 A. Sion is God's throne room made accessible to all believers through the blood of

      Jesus.

    1. The throne room is the dwelling place of God.

    2. The throne of God is surrounded by a host of angels giving praise to God

         continuously. Rev. 5:11

    3. The throne of God is our heavenly hope.

        a. Jesus said, "Where I Am, you will be also."

 B. Believers have a place in heaven.

        a. Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you."

 C. We do not have to fear coming to the throne of God.

      a. We have been made holy by the blood of Jesus.

      b. God has not given us the spirit of fear.

 

OUR FAMILY

V:23. "To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect."

 A. We are all part of one big family.

     1.  "To the general assembly"

         a. Those who have been predestined to be part of the church, but not yet called

             out.

         b. To the Jews, God's first family.

         c. To all the angels in heaven.

     2.  "To the church of the firstborn"

         a. Those who have accepted Christ as their personal Savior.

         b. Those who are part of the body of Christ.

     3. "To the spirits of just men made perfect"

         a. We are made just before God through the death of Christ.

         b. We are only perfect in death.

         c. Those just men who died and are now with Christ.

     4. "To God the Judge of all"

         a. God is the Father of us all.

         b. It is by His judgment that we will enter into heaven.

         c. Good News; we were predestined before the foundation of the earth to be

             in heaven.   Eph 1:4, Rev. 13.8

B. " Which are written in heaven"

    1. All who God has claimed as His, have their names written in the

        Lamb's Book of Life. Rev. 21:7

 

V:24. "And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel."

 A. We have to give thanks to Jesus for volunteering to die for our sins.

     1. The old covenant was made with blood of animals.

     2. Abel brought the first and the best of his flock for a sacrifice to God as an

         offering for sin.

       a. The problem with Abel's offering, was it had be continuously reoffered.

B. The blood Jesus shed on the cross ratified a new covenant with God for the sins of

     man.  Luke 12:20.

C. Jesus is now the mediator between God and man.

    1. The blood of Jesus on the cross cleanses man of all unrighteousness before God.

    2. The sacrifice of Jesus was made and once for all.  Heb 10:10

 

OBEDIENCE TO THE FATHER

V:25. "See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven."

 A. We should be careful to pay attention  tothe Word of God.

      1. The Word is the truth concerning the righteousness of God.

      2. The Word is the truth concerning the way of life.

      3. The Word is the truth concerning the rewards for living according to God's

           commands.

      4. The Word is the truth concerning evil.

      5. The Word is the truth concerning the consequences of sin.

B. God gave His Law to the Israelites through Moses.

     1. Obedience to God's commands resulted in successful living.

     2. Disobedience caused God to withdraw His hedge from around them and

         they suffered the consequences of God's wrath.

 C. We have the Word of God from heaven.

     1. We have an advocate in heaven seated at the right hand of the Father.

     2. If we disobey God's commands, we will be chasten by the Father.

V:26. "Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven."

THE POWER OF THE WORD

A. It was by the Word of the Lord that the world came into being.

     1. It was by the Word of the Lord that the earth was flooded.

     2. It was by the Word of the Lord that the earth was repopulated.

     3. It was by the Word that Jesus came down from heaven and died

         for the sins of man.

B. It is by the Word of the Lord that the current heaven and earth will be

     destroyed by fire.

   1.  It is by the Word of the Lord that a new heaven and a new earth will

        come into existence.  2 Pet 3:13

   2. It is by the Word that saints will live forever with God.

 

V:27. "And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain."

 A. Under the Law, certain commands of God to the Jewish nation were temporary 

      to be done away with the coming of Jesus Christ.

    1. The sacrifice of animals for the atonement of sin was replaced with final

        sacrifice of the life of Jesus.

    2. Under the Law, the priest interceded for the people with the Father.

        a. Jesus seated at the right hand of the Father is the intercessor.

   3. Under the Law, the Veil in the Temple separated holy of holiness from

       the rest of the Temple. Only the High Priest could enter the Holy of

       holiness where the Ark of the Covenant was kept.

       a. At the death of Jesus, the Veil was split into from top to bottom.

       b. Believers now have direct access to the Father through Christ Jesus.

 B. With the death of Jesus all of the requirements of the Law was fulfilled.

      1. Under Grace, Jesus is the one true sacrifice.

      2. Under Grace, the temple is the body of believers.

      3. Under Grace, sin is atoned for by the blood of Jesus.

      4. Under Grace, the Spirit of the Lord dwells in all believers.

      5. God now deals with man by Grace and not the Law.

 

OUR HEAVENLY HOME

V:28. "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear."

 A. Jesus is the King on the Throne over all mankind .

     a. Jesus said, "All Power Has Been Given To Me Over Heaven And Earth."

     b. We receive the Kingdom by Grace through Faith.

 B. The Kingdom of God is permanent.

     1. Our citizenship is secured by the Holy Spirit.

     2. The purpose of our being is to serve God and give Him glory. 1 Cor 15:58

     3. We are to serve the Lord with our whole heart.  Eph 6:7

 

V:29. "For our God is a consuming fire."

 A. God is the great Judge of all mankind.

     1. He has the power to create and the power to destroy.

     2. He deserves our praise and worship.

     3. He deserves our undivided devotion.

     4. He deserves our complete love.

     5. He deserves our complete obedience.

 B. It is by the fire of God that we receive eternal life with the Father. Mat 3:11

     1. It is by the Spirit's fire that we are stirred up to serve God.  1 Th 5:19

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Week's Sunday School Lesson "Running The Race For Life" Hebrews 12:1-11

RUNNING THE RACE OF LIFE

 

Hebrews 12:1-11

 

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE RACE

V:1. "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us"

  I. FAITH

 A. Throughout Biblical history, God picked men and women to show us faith in action.

      1. Out of obedience, they followed God's Word to accomplish the work He laid out

          for them.

      2. They trusted God to provide, protect and guide them.

      3. By faith, they ran the race of life that God laid out for them.

 B. By Faith, Noah built an ark on dry land even though he had never seen a flood.

     1. By faith, Abraham left his home in Haran with his family and resettled them in a

         new land.

        a. Even though he had no children, he believed God's Word that he would make

            him into a great nation.  Gen 12:1.

     2. We are a people of faith. Our grandparents trusted God to provide for them

          through troubling times.

     3. It is impossible to please God without faith.  Heb 11:6

      II. GET RID OF THE WEIGHT

  C.  Since we know the Word of God, we know the race of life can be run

        successfully.

      1. The problem is that we are carrying some weights that can slow us down, throw

           us

         off track and leave us limping on the sideline.

      2. The weights are a product of a worldly attitude.

          a. Pride of life

          b. Lust of the eye

          c. Jealousy

          d. Envy

          e. An unforgiving spirit

      3. Our sinful behavior can throw us off track.

          a. We have the sin of unbelief.

              1) God said it, we just don't believe it.

              2) Believing God's Word is the key to moving forward successfully in life.

          b. There is willful disobedience.

              1). We have God's commands before us, but they are inconvenient  to follow.

              2). God's commands do not always fit our life style.

      D. God has a solution.

           1. Lay the weights and sins aside.

           2. To run the race, we have to lighten our load.  

 III. PATIENCE     

 E. The race has to be run with patience.

            1. We can't run anybody else's race.  

            2. We have to run at our own pace.

            3. I remember one of my childhood stories about a race between a rabbit and a

                turtle.

                a. The rabbit was much faster, but he got easily distracted.

                b. The turtle was slow and study, but he finished the race first.

      

 F. For the Christian, the finish line is heaven.

           1. Faithful living will get us there successfully.

 JESUS, THE ROLE MODEL OF THE RACE

V: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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

 A. Jesus is our greatest role model for faith.

     1. It was by faith that He called the world into being with His Word.

     2. It was by faith that He formed Adam out of the dust of the earth.

     3. It was by faith that after Adam sinned that He took on the role of being Savior for

         all mankind.

     4. It was by faith that Jesus step down out of heaven and became man to die for our

         sins.

         a. It was faith in His statement, that "No man takes my life. I have the power to

             lay it down and the power to take it back up again."

  B. It gave Jesus joy to die for the sins of the world to reconcile it back to Himself.

      Col 1:19-20

  C. Jesus is the finisher of our faith.

       1. He is seated at the right hand of the Father making intercessions for

           us.  Isa 59:16-18         

          

       2. Jesus finished the work of the Father. John 4:34

       3. He is waiting for us to finish the race. 1 Cor 9:24, Act 20:24

       4. We can call on Jesus for help anytime during the race.

           a. It is the Word that will encourage us when we are down.

           b. It is Jesus who will strengthen us when we are weak.

           c. It is Jesus who will give us joy in the mist of troubling times.

 

V:3. "For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."

 A. Jesus was opposed by an elite group who studied the Word and were responsible

      for

      teaching the Word to others.

     1. The Chief Priest, Sadducees, Pharisees and the Scribes opposed Jesus to the point

         of lies, paying false witnesses and persecution.

     2. Jesus kept His focus on the Work of the Father which He came to finish.         

         John 4:34

     3. He planned His own death as a sacrifice for the redemption of mankind.         

         John 5:36

 B. Christians are to expect persecution as a result of their faith in Jesus. Luke 23:31

     1. Jesus said we are to take up our cross and follow Him. Mark 10:21

     2. We should not get weary in well doing. Gal 6:9, 1 Pet 4:19  

     3. We draw our strength from the Lord to keep pursuing the will of God.

 

DISCIPLINE REQUIRED FOR THE RACE

V:4. "Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin."

 A. Jesus faced the ultimate test of His Faith in the will of the Father; His death on the

      cross.

    1. Many of the earlier Christian Fathers faced persecution and death for their faith in

        Jesus.

    2. The opposition of our faith is small in comparison to death on the cross.

    3. Our work for the Lord requires a personal sacrifice of our interest in favor of

        the interest of the father.

       a. Our devotion requires a sacrifice of time and resources which God so gladly

           replenishes.

 B. Striving against sin requires that we offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to the

      Lord. Romans 12:1.

     1. We have to be watchful and careful because sin is present in every aspect of

         our lives.

        a. We have to choose the right friends.

        b. We have to avoid places where we are tempted to sin.

        c. We have to watch what we see; TV, internet, magazines.

 

V:5. "And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him."

 A. Whom the Lord loves, He chastises.

       1. There is a benefit in God's chastisement.

       2. He chose us to be perfect before the world as His role models.

       3. His love precedes His chastisement which is designed to draw us closer to His

           righteousness.

 B. God's chastisement is designed to point out our weaknesses and areas we need

      improve.

     1. God's chastisement may come in the form of trials and tribulations which we are

         to count as joy.  James 1:2

 

THE LOVE IN DISCIPLINE

V:6. "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth."

  A. God is love.

      1. God loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for us.

      2. God's love includes correcting us when we are wrong.

      3. Proverbs 13:24 states, " He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves

          him

          is careful to discipline him."

      4. We are God's children and He selected us to give Him glory.

      5. We give God glory by following His commands.

  B. It is the responsibility of  good parents to discipline their children when they are

      disobedient.

     1. God is watchful of us, his children and will discipline us when needed.

        a. We should thank God for His discipline.

 

V:7. "If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?"

A. God shows Himself as a true Father when He chastises us.

   1. We should expect the discipline of the Father when we do wrong, when we are

        disobedient

       and out of control.

   2. His love is expressed in His desire for us to have His best.

       a. We hinder God's blessings when we are out of fellowship with Him.

   3. We should come to recognize the discipline of the Father and endure it with

       patience.

B. What is good for us is not always pleasant.

   1. What is good for us is sometimes painful.

   2. God designs His punishment for our good. Heb 2:10

 

V:8. "But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons."

 A. Chastise= paideia= tutorage , education, training, disciplinary correction.

     1. Because we are His Children, God takes the time to educate, train and correct

         us.

     2. If we were not His children, He would let us face the consequences of our actions

         without correction or training.

 B. To get any pet to do what you want, you have to train him.

     1. Training requires discipline for inappropriate actions.

     2. You show your love for your pet by training him in the correct way.

 C. God instructs parents to train up a child in the way he should go.

      Prov 22;6, Eph 6:4

 D. God loves us, therefore He disciplines us. Prov 13:24

 

V:9. "Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?"

 A. We should not get upset with God because He chastises us.

      1. We should love God more because He chastises us.

 B. We never hated our parents because of their discipline.

      1. We hated the punishment, but we loved our parents.

      2. The discipline by our parents drew us closer to them.

      3. The discipline by our parents caused us to respect them.

      4. The discipline by our parents guided us in the right way.

  C. God is our heavenly Father and He knows much more than our parents.

      1. God loved us before we were born.

      2. His discipline is designed for us to give Him the glory.

 

THE SUCCESS IN DISCIPLINE

V:10. "For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness."

 A. The discipline of our parents was limited to their way of thinking.

      1. They disciplined us to what seemed right to them.

      2. Sometimes they disciplined us when it was convenient for them.

      3. Sometimes they disciplined us according to the pressures of the world's

          standards.

      4. Sometimes their discipline was just for the moment.

      5. The discipline of our parents was focused on this life time.

 B. The discipline of the Lord is to mold us into the image of Jesus.

     1. The discipline of the Lord is focused on eternal benefits.

     2. The discipline of the Lord is focused on the quality of life we need for peace and

          joy in fellowship with Him on this earth.

     3. The discipline of the Lord is designed to mold us into effective role models that

          draws the world to the light of Jesus.

 

THE JOY IN DISCIPLINE

V:11. "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."

 A. Training for the race of life requires chastisement.

    1. An athlete has to beat his body into submission with rigorous training.

       a. The training is hard, tiring and continuous.

    2. The end results is a body fit to compete successfully in the race.

    3. The athlete has to race with the finish line in focus.

B. God trains His children for the race of life so that they are fruitful productive vessels.

    1. The trials and tribulations of life are God's chasten tools.

    2. James says we are to count it all Joy. James 1:2