Episode 128: Part 2 - Some Keys to Endurance/Steadfastness - Hebrews 10, 11, 12, and 13

PART 2 – SOME KEYS TO ENDURANCE  James 4:6 – But He gives (a) GREATER Grace / MORE grace   Other Definitions – 1. Being “gracious”/ “grace-oriented” – 2. Saved by Grace” (undeserved favor)  Grace? charis (gk) - “the power of God to enable Christians to live the new life in Christ” Divine Enablement - “an influence that produces a result… it is the essence, the energy, the power and working wrought within as HE DOES for us, to us, in us, and through us! God’s grace, divine grace, then, is DIVINE ENABLEMENT!”  Hebrews 4:16 - Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. ****THE KEYS**** 1.  ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE Heb. 10:34 - For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one Heb. 11:13-16 – 13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Heb. 13:13-14 - 13 Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp and bear the reproach He endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.  James 4:14 - …What is your life? For you are a mist (a vapor) that appears for a little time and then vanishes  2.  DEAL WITH FEAR Heb. 11:23 - By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, …and they [his parents] were not afraid of the king's edict.  Heb. 11:27- By faith he [Moses] left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.  Heb. 11:33 - who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight Heb. 13:5-6 - 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Rev. 21:7 (Cowards?) - 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” 3.  GATHER IN PERSON Heb. 10:24-25 - 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.  John MacArthur - "Look, Zoom church is not church. It’s not church; it’s watching TV. There’s nothing, there’s nothing about that that fulfills the biblical definition of coming together: stimulating one another to love and good works, coming together, singing, speaking to yourselves in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord, sitting under the Word of God, praying together, being led by those who preach the Word and open the Scripture. The definition of a church is crystal clear in the New Testament; we see the picture of it. They came together on the first day of the week. They worshiped the Lord. They prayed; we know it was the apostles’ doctrine, prayer. It was fellowship, and it was the breaking of bread in the Lord’s Supper. So the church is defined clearly, and it’s the communion of the saints, it’s fellowship, it’s partnership. And the term koinōnia means “a coming together,” “a unifying together.” It doesn’t even function unless people are mutually—as we were saying this morning—mutually using their spiritual gifts for one another, and meeting the wonderful fulfillment of all the one anothers. How many times in the New Testament—edify one another, pray for one another, rebuke one another, build up one another. On and on, one anothers, one anothers. We’re only the church when we are together; and the church is the church when it corporately worships, when it corporately prays, when it corporately hears the preaching of the Word of God. Those are the things that define the church. I was listening to the latest in the podcast that Austin Duncan’s been doing…how the church is this communion of people, this fellowship of people whose lives are all blended together in a profound expression of love and unity. And that does not happen in any kind of video environment. I don’t think it even happens in a “church” where you’re watching a video of a pastor, because it’s very important that that man’s life be exposed and visible and known to everyone."  James 5:16 - Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.. 4. FORGIVENESS  Recent Encounter – PhD – Getting, being and remaining offended) Heb. 12:15 - See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; Colossians 3:13 – “forgive one another AS GOD IN CHRIST has forgiven you. So, you must also forgive” Matt. 6:14-15 - 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 5.  REJECT “LAZY RIVER” CHRISTIANITY – No problems, Cheap Grace, Do nothing… Heb. 10:32-36 - 32 But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners (companions/associates) with those so treated. … joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, …36 For you have need of endurance (hupomoné - Gk), so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.  Heb. 11:25-26 - 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.  Heb. 11:35b-38 - 35 …Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated - 38 of whom the world was not worthy - wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth Heb. 12:5-7 - 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?  2 Tim. 3:1, 12 – 1 …in the last days there will come times of difficulty… 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted Matt. 10:22 – and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 1 John 3:7 – …make sure no one deceives you…the one who practices righteousness is righteous (obedience) 1 Pet. 1:15-16 - but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” I Tim 4:7-8 …train yourself to be godly.   6.  REPENTANCE (Dealing with sin in our lives) Heb. 10:26-31 - 26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.  29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.  Heb. 12:1 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside (throw off) every weight, and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race… Rev. 2:14-16 – Church in Pergamum – “I have a few things against you…practice sexual immorality…therefore repent” (To believers, to the church) False Grace / Hyper-Grace Message = No need for Christians to repent 7.  BELIEVING GOD’S WORD (AGAIN?) - PRESUPPOSITION Heb. 12:25 - 25 See that you do not refuse Him who is speaking 2 Tim 3:14-17 – 14…continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed…15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God (God-breathed) and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. John 14:26 - But …the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Daniel Wallace (Dallas Theological Seminary) – “voice of Jesus” Mike Licona – Matt 27:52 vs. Early Church Father