The Letter to the Hebrews Message 30

C. Exhortation to Fortitude. Hebrews 12:1-11 Because of –

1. Their Fellowship. 12:1-3 (Fortitude to run the race)
a. The Participants.
b. The Preparation. To put away –
c. The Pace. Practical guide to long distance runners.
d. The Purpose. 12:2,3
2. Their Future. 12:4 “…not yet resisted unto blood…”

Today we look at the exhortation to –

3. Their Faith. Hebrews 12:5-11
(Fortitude to accept the correction as faithful children)
They needed to –

a. Remember God’s Word. Hebrews 12:5,6

The recipients of this letter would immediately recognize the Scripture Paul quoted and understand that the Lord does discipline His people. Their knowledge of His Word and His actions in the history of Israel would convince them of the justice of God –

Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Israel had been chastened for their sin and were, as children are when they receive a punishment, hurt, sad and crying. Note the psalmist description of them in captivity –

Psalm 137:1-4 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land?

And the love of God in restoring them –

Psalm 126:1-3 When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

The chastening of God is for their good and for His glory. He will not allow those that bear His name bring shame to Him!

We should be convinced that God will correct His children. Knowing this is true Paul wanted them to –

b. Review their relationship. Hebrews 12:7,8

1). The evidence of your relationship is in the interaction between the Father and the child. The pattern of this interaction is followed in the church through the instruction of Paul to Pastor Timothy –

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

The child of God understands that while the chastening of God is not pleasant at the time, it is a proof of we are the sons of God!

Hebrews 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

2). The evidence that you are not a child of God is when you can live unto yourself and willingly sin without receiving any correction from God.

Hebrews 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

If you feel that this is the case, you receive no correction from God for your sins, you need to refer to –

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

The world has no understanding of Scriptural truth and so has no ability to receive instruction in righteousness. Their need is conviction of the need of salvation.

c. Reverence the Lord. Hebrews 12:9-11

Do you realize that there are some children that actually get angry with their parents for correcting them?

They Plead –

Proverbs 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

They Pout
They Protest – slamming doors, stomping feet, clinching fists.
They Plot – I will just run away

What should they do? They should be Pentitent – repentant and seeking forgiveness from God.

What we should do? Submit to God and obey Him.

Remember the warnings given in Scripture –

David lost his children because he refused to correct and to chasten them.

1 Kings 1:5-6 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.

You would have thought that David would have heard the stories told by Samuel and Eli the priest and the destruction that came on his family because he refused to correct his sons –

1 Samuel 3:12-13 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

Please do not get this wrong in your minds – we should want the correction from the Lord in our lives because it keeps us from serious consequences which we bring on our selves.

Hebrews 12:11 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.

Do you want the peace of God to rule in your heart?

Listen to Him through His Word.
Learn from Him and obey.
Live out your life to His glory.
Thank Him because He loves us enough to correct us.