Post on 16-Dec-2015
transcript
Headlines from HebrewsHeadlines from Hebrews
Wk 1Wk 1 Jesus at the centre
Wk 2Wk 2 From heaven to earth
Wk 3Wk 3 Persevering through
difficulty
Wk 4Wk 4 Faith triumphant
Wk 5Wk 5 Running a good race
Wk 6Wk 6 Our constant companion
Headlines from HebrewsHeadlines from Hebrews
Persevering through
difficulties
Hebrews 10: 19 - 39
Happisburgh, Norfolk
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with
the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, not giving up
meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the
the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ and again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering.33 Sometimes you were publicly
exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For,
‘In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.’
38 And,‘But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.’
39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
Ever felt you were hanging on by a
fingertip?
Bible has 200+ references to trouble.Our 21st century experience?
Trouble of our own doingBy someone else's handRandom chaos
Ever felt you were hanging on by a
fingertip?
Jesus saidIn this world you will have trouble…But take heart! I have overcome the world.
John 16:33
The reality
Difficulties can:•irritate and annoy•disturb and distress•swamp our emotions•confuse our minds•wound our hearts •challenge our beliefs•erode our faith
The realityDifficulties have no respect for
• Age • Wealth• Education• Faith
Foundation stones from Hebrews to help get us through difficulties and tough times.
Let us hold unswervingly to
the hope we profess for he
who promised is faithful. v23
Brick one
Difficulties can breed despair.
We can fall into a pit of hopelessness.
What does unswerving hope look like in the face of difficulty?
Draw near to God v22Our difficulties are on God’s mind.We can approach him with confidence. v19
Knowing our part What’s for us to do?
Trusting God with the outcome.He is faithful. v23
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another… v25
Brick two
Difficulties can cause powerful emotions in us.
Fear, shame, anger, hurt can make us shrink back. v39
Pressing through our natural inclination to withdraw strengthens and encourages us. v25
What does this look like?
Coming to church when we don’t feel like it.
Allowing people to minister to us when we’re vulnerable.
Keeping engaged and accountable with God and others. v26
Remember those earlier days… when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering v32
Brick three
Difficulties can do us inThey can bring •Erosion of joy•Erosion of faith
Eph 6: 10 - 13 We are in a spiritual battle. Satan would love to take us out.
What does it look like to stand our ground?
Recall memories of what God has previously done. v32
Like the Psalmists we choose to praise despite our circumstances.
Praise and thanks always disarm the enemy.
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. v35
Who is our anchor-man?Brick four
Difficulties can bring doubt and confusion.
Difficulties can severelytest our faith.
What is God saying and showing us?
Where does ourconfidence lie?
Who is our anchor-man?Brick four
God promises to be one thing in life that never changes. Rev 1:8
Faith grows throughdifficulty.
We see positiveoutcomes in theworst of times.
Next week …
Who is our anchor-man?Brick four
Headlines from HebrewsHeadlines from Hebrews
Wk 1Wk 1 Jesus at the centre
Wk 2Wk 2 From heaven to earth
Wk 3Wk 3 Persevering through
difficulty
Wk 4Wk 4 Faith triumphant
Wk 5Wk 5 Running a good race
Wk 6Wk 6 Our constant companion
God is here today •to help us deal well with our difficulties•to help us to persevere•to keep us from being done in and destroyed•to save us from despair
Brick One, Two, Three, Four
But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but tothose who havefaith and aresaved. v39
Brick One, Two, Three, Four