Gtcotr/ss022413
Hebrews 10
22 let us draw near with a
true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil
conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the
confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is
faithful.
24 And let us consider one
another in order to stir up love and good works,
25 not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but
exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day
approaching.
The
“Day”
·
Many
scholars imagine this, in a larger sense, to be the second coming of the Lord
Jesus. Of course this is the ultimate fulfillment of many references made by
the Holy Spirit through the writers of the scriptures.
·
However,
it is certain that this writer is
speaking to the generation who occupied seats in the first century Church and
just as well to those of us who occupy seats in the 21st century
Church.
·
Each
generation and every congregation faces difficult days which call for and
critically demand strength to endure and overcome.
·
When
the book of Hebrews was penned, the first Church was about to enter into the
most difficult days of its existence.
o Rome was poised to
unleash unheard of persecution and vile retribution upon the Christians and
Jews alike.
o Jerusalem was to be
trodden underneath the foot of these gentiles and soon the first Church would
be all but gone
o Families would be torn
apart
o Church leaders
martyred
o And congregations
scattered
·
This
“Day” was keenly anticipated not only by the writer but also by all those who
had their spiritual eyes and ears open to know the times and seasons which were
upon them. By the end of the first century Believers were on trial throughout
the known world.
·
Since
that time, each generation of Christians have had their own set of struggles,
whether they be physical, mental or spiritual struggles, each generation has
faced formidable pressure to compromise their faith and forego the practice and
pursuit of pleasing Almighty God.
o Temptations to
compromise come in many forms
This
morning we are going to discover, or for some, rediscover, what the Bible
instructs us to do when we find ourselves in trouble or when we sense difficult days approaching.
And
BTW – if you have not yet noticed … trouble is all around us and our generation
is headed down the road which leads to what many believe will be some very
difficult days: financially; socially; politically; physically, with such
simple things as health care and fundamental rights; and spiritually.
I
don’t want to take our time and paint the wrong picture. We are not here to
exalt or magnify the evil which is all around us. It is not the goal of the
scriptures to leave us anxious, afraid or borrowing trouble from tomorrow’s
woes. Rather, God would have us shine a light on the answer. We have come today
to hear the voice of God’s Word and follow His prescription for our lives. This
is what the scriptures encourage us to do when we are either in trouble or when
we sense difficult days approaching:
1. Draw near
a. to God - with a true
heart
b. certain of our faith
– (trust in the Truth – God’s Word is Truth)
c. with a clear
conscience
2. Hold fast
a. the confession of our
hope (the anchor of our soul - Heb 6:19)
b. Why? - because you
can afford to – He is faithful
3. Consider
a. one another (so as
not to turn inward or consume ourselves)
b. stir up one another
(the fellowship we have in Christ is interactive)
c. to love and do good
things
4. Do not Forsake
a. coming together to
encourage one another (it’s not about us)
b. especially in “The
Day” to come …
