HEBREWS 29


     We will begin this lesson in 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,"

     These witnesses that are watching every thing you do and say, can
easily be won over to Jesus, if you live the Christian life before
them every day. The best sermon any of us can preach, is the one we
live. Christianity, is a turning away from the old habits, and
allowing Jesus to live in you. This next Scripture explains it better.
Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet
not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the
flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave
himself for me." Romans 2:7 "To them who by patient continuance in
well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:"
When a person truly loves Jesus, it is no longer a chore to do good
things. It is the desire of their heart to do good things. These next
few verses of Scripture really tell us what the difference is. We are
not part of the dark side of life, if we are a Christian, we are of
the Light {Jesus Christ}. Romans 13:12 "The night is far spent, the
day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and
let us put on the armour of light."  Romans 13:13 "Let us walk
honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in
chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying." Romans 13:14
"But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the
flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof]."  The flesh is opposed to God.
The battle going on in every person is between listening to the sinful
flesh or listening to the spirit. If we belong to Jesus, then we have
put our flesh under the control of the spirit.  I Corinthians 9:27
" But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that
by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a
castaway." These 3 Scriptures tell us what it is necessary to do to be
able to walk the Christian life every day. Notice in these verses that
the Christian has a free will in this, and must will, to do this.
Ephesians 4:22 "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the
old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;" Ephesians
4:23 "And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;" Ephesians 4:24 "And
that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in
righteousness and true holiness."  Have we become a Christian to the
extent this is speaking of?

     Hebrews 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."

     This very thing is what disturbs me about the casual attitude
most believers have about Jesus Christ. We must first realize who
Jesus is. He is the Christ, the Son of the living God. He is the Word
of God which created the entire world, and everything in it. He
created you and me. He is not only the Author of our salvation, but he
is the Author of our life as well. He was Creator God. John 1:1 "In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God." John 1:2 "The same was in the beginning with God." John 1:3
"All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made
that was made." He loved us enough to, suffer on the cross for us,
because we were His creation. He bought us back with His precious
blood. We belong to Him. If we have accepted Him as our Saviour and
Lord, we are not our own, we are His. The contract says paid in full.
He is seated at the right hand of the Father because His work is
finished, it was finished on the cross, and at His resurrection.
He defeated sin, when He took sin on His body on the cross. Sin died
for the believer on the cross, when Jesus said it is finished. Death
was defeated when Jesus rose from the grave.  IT IS FINISHED.

     Hebrews 12:3 "For consider him that endured such contradiction of
sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."

     At one point, the non believers, even said that Jesus was of the
devil. What a terrible accusation to make to the Son of God. Even
those who were astonished at the miracles Jesus did, thought He was
someone else. Even today, people speak of Jesus as a man. The real
problem then, and now, is in realizing who this Jesus Christ really
is.  Jesus Christ was Emmanuel-God with us. God Manifest {made real}
in the flesh. Matthew 16:13  "When Jesus came into the coasts of
Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say
that I the Son of man am?" Matthew 16:14 "And they said, Some [say
that thou art] John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or
one of the prophets." Matthew 16:15 "He saith unto them, But whom say
ye that I am?" Matthew 16:16 "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou
art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Matthew 16:17 "And Jesus
answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for
flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which
is in heaven." I have a question for you, Who do you say, this Jesus
Christ is?

     Hebrews 12:4 "Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving
against sin."

     One of the greatest consolations that I have, when I am told, it
is not the will of God for me to teach, is the fact that my Leader
[Jesus Christ] was rejected also. The church people of Jesus' day gave
Him no encouragement at all. I cannot say that to be true with me,
many of them have encouraged me. Just a few rejected these teachings.
I believe this Scripture above is for people like me and for the
disciples of all ages. I certainly have not resisted to the point of
shed blood. I have not been nailed to the cross. In our society today,
just the fact that you are a Christian, labels you as being weird. The
majority of people today, are living to please the flesh. The only
consideration of whether they will do something is, will it be a
pleasure to me?  James 4:7 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist
the devil, and he will flee from you."  Stand up for what you believe,
don't follow the crowd. Know in your heart what is right and then do
it. I Corinthians 10:13 "There hath no temptation taken you but such
as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to
be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also
make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it]." A Christian
should never say {I can't do it}. God will help you, and you can do
what He has called you to do. The desire of my life is to be able to
say with Paul, at my departing: II Timothy 4:7 "I have fought a good
fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith:"

     Hebrews 12:5 "And ye have forgotten the exhortation which
speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the
chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:"
Hebrews 12:6 "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth
every son whom he receiveth."

     The way we grow in the Lord, is to face problems, and overcome
them with the help of the Lord. Romans 5:3 "And not only [so], but we
glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh
patience;" Romans 5:4 "And patience, experience; and experience,
hope:" Romans 5:5 "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of
God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto
us."  The lessons that we learned the best when we were a child, were
the ones we were spanked for. If God did not chasten us, it would mean
that we are not His. We are a pretty rough stone when God first
accepts us as His. He has to smooth us down to make us into the
beautiful stone fit to be placed next to the chief Cornerstone {Jesus
Christ}. Proverbs 3:11  "My son, despise not the chastening of the
LORD; neither be weary of his correction:"  Proverbs 3:12 "For whom
the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son [in whom] he
delighteth."  I am thoroughly convinced that the reason children feel
so unloved by their parents today is because they do not punish them
for wrong doing. Children need a standard set. When they break the
rules, they should be punished. If they are not properly punished for
their misdeeds, they are never able to release the guilt they bear for
that misdeed. If you love your child, show him you do, by punishing
him for wrong doing. Guilt is a terrible thing to carry around. If you
sin, pray and ask for forgiveness. God will forgive. Let us see what
Jesus said about this in Revelation 3:19 "As many as I love, I rebuke
and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent."  The best thing to do
is not sin in the first place then there will be no punishment.  James
1:12 "Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is
tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath
promised to them that love him."












                             Questions 29

1.  Why is it so important for us to lay aside every weight and sin?
2.  How are we to run the race that is set before us?
3.  How can we win these witnesses to Christ?
4.  What is the best sermon you can preach?
5.  Quote Galatians chapter 2 verse 20.
6.  When does it cease to be a chore to do good?
7.  Are we Christians, of the night, or of the day, explain?
8.  What is the battle that goes on in every person?
9.  What is necessary to do to walk the Christian life every day?
10. Who is the Author and Finisher of our faith?
11. Where is He now?
12. What is the very first thing we must do before we can live for
    God?
13. Who created the world?
14. He is not just the Author of our salvation, but the Author of what
    as well?
15. In what Scripture is Jesus called the Word of God?
16. Why did He love us enough to suffer on the cross for us?
17. When did Jesus defeat sin?
18. When did He defeat death?
19. What was the worst thing the nonbelievers, said about Jesus?
20. Who did many of Jesus' followers think He was?
21. Who did Peter say He was?
22. Who do you believe Jesus to be?
23. Ye have not yet resisted unto _____, striving against sin.
24. In our society today, to be a Christian is to be labeled as what?
25. How do the majority of people decide whether they will do
    something or not?
26. If you resist the devil, what will happen?
27. With every temptation, God will make you a way of _______.
28. What should a Christian never say?
29. What does the author desire to be able to say, that Paul said?
30. Whom the Lord loveth He ____________.
31. Why should we glory in tribulation?
32. Blessed is the man who endureth ___________.