July 29, 2007

Hebrews - Part 11 : The Discipline of the Lord

Steve Lane

A. Review/Introduction

Superiority of Jesus
A stern warning: Don't drift. Stay on course. - Responding to God

God desires to communicate with you

Hebrews 10: 19 - 25
Drawing near and staying near

Severe warnings - cheap grace

Hebrews 10: 36 - 12: 3
Faith

What displeases God? Shrinking back
What pleases God? Faith

What are you counting on for strength and encouragement?

Don't grow weary, don't lose heart - focus on Jesus
Hebrews 12: 1 - 3

Discipline is a sign of God's love, not His disdain.

Hebrews 12: 4 - 6
The Lord's discipline is not simply punishment for a wrong act.

Hebrews 12: 7 - 11
Think of the response a parent wants from a child.

Hebrews 12: 12 - 15
For others who may be struggling, weak or new in the faith.
Strengthen your weak arms, and get back in the race

B. Living For Today [My Purposes, Rather than God's]

Hebrews 12: 15
Make sure this doesn't happen

Where do you get grace to carry on?
Hebrews 4: 16

Bitterness can poison a whole community of believers - encourage one another.

Those not responding to God begin to live more and more for the here and now, this life.

Hebrews 12: 16
Esau, who traded a life of faith for the temporary and immediate meeting of his desires.

Hebrews 12: 17
Esau's life was one of refusing to see the bigger purposes of God.
A whole perspective change needed to take place.

Signs of not responding to God: bitterness, immorality, self-focus, and a wrong view of God.

C.
A Correct View of God

Hebrews 12: 18 - 24
Your view of God is distorted if you are not responding to Him.

God is a communicator.
Hebrews 12: 25 - 29

Don't fall into the habit of not responding to God.

D.
Esau's Problem wasn't Soup

Sinning less is not what got the chapter 11 guys on the list.

Daily pursuing God's grace.
He wants you to desire Him above everything everyday.