Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Reading v12-14
• Have you ever felt discouraged?
• As Christians, we know what it is to be discouraged
  • We need to be lifted up
  • Personal example
    • God renewed
  • We go through dark and difficult times
    • God renews us
• These verses (12-14) are a tremendous encouragement to Jewish believers
  • A time of great persecution – Acts 8 – examples
  • Some thought about returning to their previous Jewish faith – examples
    • The new covenant was better than the old covenant
    • Christ is the author and finisher of their faith
  • Mexico 2016 – example of the Brownlee brothers
    • The writer is concerned that all would complete the race
• Some wonderful chapters in Hebrews
  • Chapter 11 – Reminders of Faithful Men
    • Example of Noah, Abraham, Moses
    • Example of those who were persecuted
    • The obtained the goal of their faith, pressing onto the end
  • Chapter 12
    • 12:1 – lay aside every weight and run with endurance
    • 12:2 – look to the finishing line, look to Jesus Christ
      • Look at how Jesus run His race – "He endured the cross for the joy set before Him"
    • 12:3 – consider Jesus, lest you be discouraged
      • Example of ill health, work problems, financial problems, the hardness of life
      • Listen to them, point them to Jesus, remind them of how He suffered on our behalf
    • 12:5-11 – God uses trials and pain to discipline and train us
      • Much more than a human father uses discipline and correction
      • There is fruit and a result from good discipline – righteousness and harmonious life
    • 12:12 – "Therefore"
      • Remember the previous verses, remember chapter 11
      • In the light of all this, strengthen yourselves
• Overview:
  • Proposed overview Reasons / Results / Remedies
  • Looking at these 3 areas with an emphasis on the remedy

Weary in Well Doing

• We can get discouraged/wearied in well doing
• Example of Hebrew Christians
  • Heb 10:32-35
  • It began with great conflict
• As a new Christian you can cope due to new joy and family
  • As time goes on, it is easy to falter and become discouraged
    • It is hard to keep going when trials continue
    • It is hard to keep doing good – examples
  • Discouragement can set in
    • We can feel a failure
    • We can be resentful
    • We can be tempted to give up
  • Gal 6:9- "do not be weary in well doing"
    • You will reap in due time if you do not faint
    • Remember we are not doing in for people but for the Lord
• Remedy:
  • Remember the promises of God
  • Remember that you are doing it for the Lord
  • Remember that there will be results in God’s time
  • Remember the work of Jesus – example
  • Train yourself to keep running the race

Struggling with the Will of God

• The Hebrew Christians may have been struggling ‘why are we suffering so much’ / ‘surely it is easier to be a Jew?’
  • They needed to endure (v2)
  • They needed to persevere
• There are complications
  • Example of Peter Morgan
  • Example of Manuel
  • Other examples
• We may question why?
  • God has purposes in all things
• Remedy:
  • We need to pray together
  • We need one another
  • We need to lift up one another in prayer
  • We need to support one another

Struggling with Sin

• If we give way to sin, we lose joy and blessing
  • We must confess our sin and repent
• Remedy:
  • To cast off sin and to seek holiness
  • Example of Jim Peters
    • We must continue to the end, not to be like Solomon
  • We need to fight the good fight and finish the race
    • We can do this in the strength of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit
    • Christ understands our weakness and has overcome all things
    • Strengthen your hands in prayer

General Trials

• General trials in life
  • Jesus has said we will have tribulation and persecution
    • The Christian life is not a ‘bed of roses’
    • We must take up our cross daily
  • God does not punish us for our sins – Christ has taken these on the cross
    • He may discipline us
    • God may refine us
  • Jesus has overcome

Relationship Difficulties

• It can be wearing if you feel misunderstood, judged, a relationship that is not right, betrayed
  • Think about the Lord Jesus – examples
• Remedy:
  • Purse peace as far as you can (v14, Romans 12)
  • Seek forgiveness
  • Pray for them, be kind to them, do good for them
    • As Christ has for us

Our Bad Decisions

• Example of David
  • He strengthened himself in God
  • He did not give up
  • He encouraged his men to do the right thing
• If we make foolish decisions
  • Look to Christ
• Remedy:
  • Run true, remain in your lane – Prov 4:27, v13
  • Example of David
  • Do not give up

Closing Remarks

• Look to Jesus
• You can overcome in Him (like those mentioned in Hebrews 11)