Hebrews 12 A
Hebrews
{12:1} 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
{12:2} 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.
{12:3} For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
{12:4} Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Jesus is our example.
Jesus is the author and the finisher of our faith.
Jesus is our High Priest.
Jesus is our advocate.
Jesus endured so much when He didn't have to endure anything at all. No one forced Him.
Jesus suffered.
Why do we think we shouldn't have to suffer?
Why?
We do think that. We do.
We hate suffering and would do anything to not suffer. We sell our souls so to speak so we don't suffer.
Anything we cry out, anything so the pain goes away.
The trouble is that anything so we don't have to suffer is often too much and because we'd rather not suffer at all.
Christ didn't want to suffer, but he chose to because it was the only way He could obtain salvation for us.
If He being innocent suffered so much greater than we ever could even in the most horrific of ways, we who are guilty at least deserve our punishments, our suffering. Even if we think we don't, even if we think we are *good* people, undeserving of any suffering, in truth we're not. We're guilty sinners and we need to recognize that and understand that any suffering we are asked to endure now is nothing compared to the suffering of the Innocent One.
If our Savior suffered, we will suffer.
Sin, any sin we cherish we will have to suffer to lay aside and if we think for some unknown reason that we don't have to suffer, that we shouldn't have to give up any sins, well, just read this again--
Hebrews
{12:1} 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
{12:2} 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.
{12:3} For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
{12:4} Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
May the Lord bless and keep us by His mercy and grace, helping us to realize that we need to set aside ANYTHING that would keep us from following Him, anything.
In His Name now and forever.
Amen.
2/15/10
2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2Ti 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
The Lord knoweth them that are his.
How amazing is this, how comforting. Combine that with this--
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
-- and we can see how important it is that God knows us, that we are known by Him. Doing *works* isn't what it is all about because preceeding that last verse is this--
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
If people are prophesying in the Lord's name and if they are casting out devils, and doing many wonderful works they ARE going to believe they are doing the Lord's work so it will be a shock to them when He says He doesn't know them.
2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2Ti 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. If we claim Christ as ours, if we claim Christ in our life, if we claim to have Christ in our actions doing these marvelous things then we can't sin at the same time, rather we can't sin willingly, knowingly.
That verse above goes on to say that in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but of wood and earth, some to honor and some to dishonor. Our lives have to be to the honor of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Our lives have to be dedicated to Him fully for His honor. We can't sin willingly, knowingly, wantingly and expect Christ to know us. We will be Christians among others that claim they are Christians and not all of us will be preachers, prophets, healers, and such, but we are all Christ's. Some preachers, prophets, and healers won't be to Christ's honor, they will be to His dishonor, it will be those that He professes 'I never knew you, depart from me, yet hat work iniquity.' We have to examine our lives, our hearts and surrender all to God for His honor willing to let Him work in us the righteousness of Christ because we have none of our own. We have to live for Christ in all that we do and while the world with Satan at it's helm pulls out all the stops to get us to dishonor God, we have to cling to Christ all that much more and pray for an indwelling of the Holy Spirit living in us to will and to do of God's good pleasure now and forever, this is my prayer.
Amen.
2/15/11