Gtcotr/ws01122
Hebrews 10 NKJV
32 But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings:
·
Struggle
– fight = the struggle of a wrestler in the Grecian games
· With sufferings – it was a costly struggle personally which was endured because of the enlightenment which they received when they were personally born again by faith in Jesus Christ.
33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated;
·
You
endured partly while you were:
·
Made
a public spectacle
o Gazing-stock –
publicly and openly shamed in front of friends and strangers
·
Reproached
– insulted as weak, stupid, fanatical
·
Pressured
and Persecuted
·
Tribulations
– afflictions = some positive form of punishment or loss
·
And
partly while you chose to become:
·
Companions
of others who were being treated in like manner
o You decided to stand
with, sympathize with, or support those being shamed, mistreated and suffering
public ridicule for their beliefs.
o Both the personal
struggle and the personal support of others were valuable assets offered to
God.
· The occasion on which the writer speaks is not fully known however he does mention one particular case in point as proof of his claim to their sympathy and the godly stand their took.
34 for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.
·
It
was in that day and still is today, an all to common practice of hate filled
groups and demon possessed public officials to exact fines and place undue
burdens on those with whom they disagree. It has always cost to stand up for
what is right and righteous.
·
These
Believers joyfully accepted the plundering of their goods because they had an
enduring promise and enduring possessions waiting for them in heaven.
· When all else seems dim and when it looks like it will cost you to stand up for truth, justice, the mistreated, and the will of God, stand up and speak up with joy – knowing that you might lose you job, your house, or your reputation among some, but you have an enduring inheritance in heaven.
The aim of this passage is to remind these Believers that God was with them during their last trial and the persecution they endured by their faith and because of their faith was worth it in the eyes of heaven. The hope is that these Believers would also see the temporal earthly and the eternal value they are to God when they stand strong and boldly speak the truth.
The Holy Spirit is inspiring and encouraging us today to do the same.
35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
· Confidence – From the Greek/English Dictionary
3954 παῤῥησία parrhesia par-rhay-see’-ah
from 3956 and a derivative of 4483;
AV-boldness 8, confidence 6, openly
4, plainly 4, openly + 1722 2,
boldly + 1722 1, misc 6; 31
1) freedom in speaking,
unreservedness in speech
1a) openly, frankly, i.e without
concealment
1b) without ambiguity or
circumlocution
1c) without the use of figures and
comparisons
2) free and fearless confidence,
cheerful courage, boldness, assurance
3) the deportment by which one becomes conspicuous or secures publicity
Joshua 1:7-9
36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
·
Two
questions:
o Why do I need this
endurance?
§ (Greek – Hupomone)
o What is exactly and
specifically is “the promise?”
·
First
– endurance is persistence …
·
Second
– the promise is eternal reward.
o The scripture does not
intend to say that if you are patient, after you have done the will of God in
standing up and speaking up for truth, justice, and Jesus Christ, that you will
receive your new car or new house or get out of jail or win the lottery or your
dog will come home. There are other scripture verses which I can point you to
that will give you hope and a platform for trusting God for a better life on
earth.
o This passage is aimed
at the just living by faith that you have been promised an abiding and eternal
enduring possession in heaven.
o Don’t let this world or tribulation or persecution or shaming or loss of material possessions or intimidation or threats or anything else move you from believing and standing up for the truth which is in Christ Jesus.
37 “For yet a little while, And
He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by
faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”
39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
How does a person get this endurance and the ability to continue strong in the face of opposition and adversity?
God has designed us so that our resistance to an ordinate amount of adversity strengthens us and supplies us with greater endurance.
This is exactly what Hebrews 10 is talking about. You resisted and it worked a greater ability in you to resist. Now, resist this time too …
And remember, God will not allow more to come on you than you can bear. But He will always make a way of escape so that the pressure and weight will not exceed your capacity to choose to stand up for Him. However, it is still always a choice.
Romans 5
3 And not only that,
but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces
perseverance;
4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
James 1
2 ¶ My brethren, count it all
joy when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of
your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Trials make us stronger. God does not send us trials, rather He sends us strength.
2 Corinthians 4
17 For our light affliction,
which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory,
18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
The
promise is eternal! Faith might cost us some in this life, but it will be
exponentially made up throughout all eternity.
