The Third Message: 11:1-13:19
brief notes only for this part
- All the heroes of faith are cheering you on, so run the race!
Point A. 11:1-40 Examples of those who were commended by God for their faith, who looked for a future inheritance
- Faith is the Celebration of what we hope for
- the Certainty of what we do not see
- 11:3 Theme of visible and invisible running throughout whole book
| Visible | Invisible at present |
|---|
| to those in wilderness | the promised land |
| | Our inheritance in glory |
| Sarah’s old age | Promise to Abraham of children |
| Levitical priests | Jesus, in glory |
| Earthly sanctuary | Heavenly sanctuary |
| sacrifices of bulls and goats | Jesus’ blood |
| 11:6 faith | God |
| Noah: no rain | coming flood |
| Abraham: left his home, no land | an inheritance |
| etc... |
| the earthly reality | the heavenly reality |
|---|
| will be “shaken” | cannot be shaken |
| giving hospitality to a stranger | in reality an angel |
Point B. 12:1-13 They didn’t receive what was promised but you able to if you persevere in following Jesus, the pioneer
- The main point is that this is like a relay race and we have the last lap
- All the other runners are watching from around the arena, cheering us on
- If they went for the promise, how much more us, who have the final lap!
- The main point of the point is the motivation
- the discipline is worth it because the prize is so great
- sacrifice the visible for the invisible
- What do you think this discipline looks like in practice?
- Physical sickness?
- God is not the author of evil, but he can allow sickness
- John 5:5,14
- Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.
- Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
- 1 Cor 11:28-32
- For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
- For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
- For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.
- But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
- James 5:14-16
- Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
- And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
- Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
- Rev 2:21-22
- “And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.
- Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.
- Num 12:10-14
- And when the cloud departed from above the tabernacle, suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow. Then Aaron turned toward Miriam, and there she was, a leper.
- So Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord! Please do not lay this sin on us, in which we have done foolishly and in which we have sinned.
- So Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, “Please heal her, O God, I pray!”
- Then the LORD said to Moses... Let her be shut out of the camp seven days, and after that she may be received again.”
- With Israel, it was generally economic chastisement—crop failure, poverty
- Broken relationships
- No favour on our projects
- allowing us to reap benefits of our foolishness (speeding—>no license)
- “wakeup call” type events
- shame, e.g. Peter denying Christ
- lack of peace in our hearts
- ??
- We have to be very careful that we don’t get into a mindset where when anything goes wrong we immediately assume that God is stomping on us for some sin
- This can really get us into bondage
- We can spend all our time trying to analyse whether we have sinned in some way
- God is a good and gentle father
- If we sincerely ask us to show us if what is happening is due to sin, then he will!
- (It would be totally counterproductive if he didn’t!!!)
- Don’t forget that we are living in a fallen world where bad things happen, cars break down, homes need maintenance etc.
- We are living “between the ages”—the kingdom is “here but not yet fully here”
- Part of the curse is that man has to “work by the sweat of his brow”
- Jesus still had to work, even though he was perfect
- This is part of “learning submission” and is not because God is “punishing us”
- God’s discipline can be very gentle and kind
- Motorcycle accident in London
- follows a particular method of guidance and the Father let me see its foolishness
- One of the most effective has been gentle correction from other Christians
Point C. 12:14-13:19 What it looks like to persevere in following Jesus—love and good works
- 12:14-17 Following Jesus—love and pure lives
- 12:18-24 The fearful voice of the Old Covenant compared with the superiority of the New
- 12:25-29 Take care not to refuse this voice!
- 13:1-8 Following Jesus—love and pure lives
- 13:9-16 Don’t be caught up in worthless ritual sacrifices—God wants a sacrifice of praise
- 13:17-19 Remember your leaders, and pray for us!
Andrew Fountain, 2007 Back to loveintruth.com/teaching