Stay the Course, Hebrews 12:12-17

 

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12 Strengthen

13 Straighten

14-17 Sacred Strategy

Hebrews 12:12-17
 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

Therefore, means, I said all that to say this.

Said all what?

Previously in Hebrews 12, from verses 5-11, we repeatedly read the word, “chasten” (seven times).

God chastens His children.  

In verse 11 we read:

¹¹ Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Chasten (Παιδεία, Paideia), means, discipline, instruction, training, education.

 

 Trained (Γυμνάζω, gumnazó), means intense disciplined workout, obtaining full agility, skill, endurance, gained only from constant, rigorous training.

In other words: chastening on steroids.

Why?

To prepare for our Divine Eternal Purpose and calling. Which is, to receive and possess His kingdom, being join heirs with Christ, glorified with Him, judging the world and even the angels, reigning with Him as kings and priest, the overcoming redeemed saints of God, singing a new song. (Daniel 7:18, 27, Romans 8:17, 1 Corinthians 6:2-3, 2 Timothy 2:12, Revelation 1:6, 2:26, 3:21, 5:9-10, 20:4, 20:6, 22:5).

 

12 Strengthen

Therefore, since God has big plans for us, strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees. 

This is a quote from a beautiful Old Testament chapter depicting the Millennial Reign:

Isaiah 35:3
Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees.

I just turned 65, so now I’m officially a senior citizen, and a brand-new member of Silver Sneakers. Now, insurance pays my gym membership. How awesome is that?  

So, now I can strengthen my hands and knees... 😉.

Actually, our text is not talking about physical strength, but spiritual.

Not physical hands and knees, but deeds.

Let us, then, be up and doing,

With a heart for any fate;

Still achieving, still pursuing,

Learn to labor and to wait.

A Psalm of Life, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Galatians 6:9

Weary not in well doing, for in due season you shall reap if you faint not.

We must be up and doing our Father’s work. Strengthening and preparing for His kingdom. Not storing where moth and rust corrupt (Matt. 6:19), but for our real Home, in Heaven. 

Look at your hands (representing your deeds).

They are tools, given by God.

What have you done with them?

Use them for His honor?

Build His Kingdom?

Fold them strong and often, in prayer?

Therefore, strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,

Strong knees depict courage and ability to stand strong and move forward.

Whereas feeble knees symbolize faltering courage, weakness.

Knees bow in prayer. Weak knees reflect weakness in prayer.

Strengthen the feeble knees by bending them strong and often in prayer. (Even if you’re unable to bend physical knees, you can bend the knees of your heart).

The directive is clear.

Be strong in the Lord and the Power of His Might. Eph. 6:10.

How?

Ephesians 6:16, tells us regarding the armor of God, “above all take the shield of faith.”

Romans 10:17, tells us faith comes by hearing, the Word of Christ.

And Ephesian 6:17, shows us the only weapon in the armor of God is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Which is exactly what Jesus used when He was hungry and weary, and tempted by the devil. Matthew 4:1-10.

Neh. 8:10 says, the joy of the Lord is my strength.

Psalm 16:11 says, in His Presence is fullness of joy.

Psalm 22:3 says He inhabits the praises of His people

Matthew 18:20 says wherever two or three are gathered in His name, He’s right there in the midst of them.

Add it all together and His Word is crystal clear, to graduate strong from God’s Academy of Chastening, to be prepared for our Divine Eternal Purpose and calling of ruling and reigning with Christ, we need to be actively, faithfully, gathering in His Presence, Bible reading and Prayer.

Be faithful in those foundational principles and watch God show up actively, faithfully, powerfully, in every area of your life.

Therefore strengthen and...

 

13 Straighten

13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

Walk in such a way, leaving a trail, so those who follow in your footsteps won’t stumble, and fall, but rather grow stronger as you walk the straight and narrow in the footsteps of Christ.

Whether you like it or not, you’re leaving a trail, are you leaving Breadcrumbs to nourish those who follow? (Breadcrumbs of the Bread of Life).

Where does your trail lead them?

Proverbs 4:26. Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil.

Habakkuk 2:2. Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.

14-17 Sacred Strategy

14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

The sacred strategy: pursue peace with holiness, with all.

Peace and holiness are connected. There can be no True Peace without holiness.

Peace is not appeasement.

True Peace is not living peaceably with all at the expense of holiness. We must cultivate peace in holiness.

That means having difficult discussions.

Making unpopular decisions.

Not compromising conviction just to get along.

Doing it all, in love.

If we abandon holiness, for peace, we’ve abandoned God for people.

In this Sacred Peace Pursuing Strategy, we’re given three things to watch out for.

·       Fall short

·       Spring up

·       Sold out

They progressively get worse.

Fall short:

15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God;

The grace of God is unmerited favor, available to anyone, anywhere. There’s no place God’s grace can’t reach.

So, if a person falls short, they are the ones holding back, not God.

Okay, I believe Jesus saves some people, but just not me.

Alright, I can be saved, if I do...

They’re facing Jesus, but stopped, because of unbelief.

He just won’t do it for me.

He needs my help.

False humility? Pride? Religion?

When my kids were young, on the rare occasion they got in trouble. We’d take our walk to the woodshed (bedroom). After we had a little talk, and they knew it was time for “chastening” on their bottom. Sometimes, I’d look them in the eye and say, “Today, you’ve met the grace of God.”

I’d take the spankin’ to show God’s grace and what Jesus did for them.  

If you know someone falling short of the grace of God, they may just need to see Jesus with skin on. You show them the Love of Christ. You show them His unmerited favor. You show them His amazing grace.

Hopefully, prayerfully, they’ll see the Light, get out of their own way, and let Jesus be Lord of their life.

If they don’t, a root of bitterness may spring up.

Spring up:

lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

Bitter root produces bitter fruit.

One bad apple spoils the whole bunch.

Harbored hurt and unforgiveness, metastasize into bitterness that can infect everyone around it.

If you or someone you know is bitter, this needs to be addressed lovingly with prayer, and counsel and grace, and forgiveness.

They can be healed.

If not, it may fester and grow into a car ramming, Charlie Kirk assassinating, monster.

Then, finally, there’s something else to look for that’s not so obvious, but just as deadly:  

Sold out:

16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

Esau’s dad, Isaac, was the son promised by God to Abraham and Sarah.

Through his Seed all nations of the earth would be blessed.

Esau was firstborn into an exceedingly wealthy household. (Gen. 26:13).

He was in the position of the golden child. The blessing. The birthright. Everything.

But he chose instant gratification of the flesh over the gradual eternal blessing of God.  

Esau was rejected.

Jacob was chosen.

The worst part is that he found no place of repentance.

He knew better but sold his soul for a bowl of stew.

I know all that Jesus stuff, but I’m hungry for some food, some fun, some... maybe later, Jesus.

But then, something happens. Life goes sideways. You know you blew it. You even cry and beg for mercy, for forgiveness.

But God knows, and way down deep inside you know it too. You’re not really sorry for your sin. You’re just sorry about the circumstances.

You love the sin.

Even if you want to repent your heart has gotten too hard. You’ve passed the point of no return.

Esau was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

Dear Saints, as much as it depends on us, our Sacred Strategy must be to never allow anyone we know to get this far gone.  

We must be alert, sensitive in the Spirit, because they are easy to miss. They are the hard ones because life for them is good. They are happy, got it all together. They look blessed. They even know Christianeeze.

But, before long, they’re numb. Too far gone to find a place of repentance.  

Stay the course dear Saint, strong and straight and steady.

Jesus puts it like this:

Matthew 7:13-14
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, please strengthen and straighten us, give us a heart for any fate, to lift those fallen, sweeten the embittered, and snatch from the jaws of hell, those about to pass the point of no return. Help us Lord to stay the course, leaving a trail leading many straight to You.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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