Gtcotr/ss081422
Hebrews 10
23 Let us hold fast the
confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is
faithful.
·
Hold
fast … to take possession and keep secure.
·
Confession
– Greek = homologia
o Homo = The same as; together;
along with
o Logia = The Word
o To express your
heartfelt agreement with God
·
Hope
– our expectation; our anticipation.
·
Without
wavering – firm; unmoved; without bowing or backing up
· The One who announced it is committed to see it come to pass
Say yes to God and – Stop saying no to yourself.
24 And let us consider one
another in order to stir up love and good works,
·
Consider
– to attentively observe and engage in an effort to understand
·
Stir
up – provoke; stimulate; irritate; incite; sharpen (in yourself)
·
Love
– Greek = agape
· Good works – precious and useful undertakings, acts, and deeds
God knows when you don’t want to, and He has made a way to fix it.
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.
·
Don’t
neglect, abandon, forsake, or stop getting together … (The writer is talking
specifically about Church, but the same principles apply to family, friends,
and co-workers)
o The Church is family
but contrary to some non-biblical philosophies, family is not Church.
·
A
person may say, “I don’t need it!” or “I have my reasons.”
o But - It’s clearly not all about you and yours …
o The admonition is to
exhort others …
· Exhort – Greek = parakaleo – to call alongside to strengthen and encourage, to comfort and console, and to instruct and entreat.
Now, let’s apply this to some of the more important priorities of our life. First: Take possession and keep secure -
Marriage
·
Be
attentive to your spouse
o Don’t stop taking time
for each other …
o God has designed our
hearts and minds so that being more attentive, (considering one another) will
stimulate love and your desire to do things for your spouse.
o
God knows when you don’t want to, and He has made a way to fix it.
·
Pray
for and with your spouse
o Make bold confessions
and hold firm to the hope you have in God’s Word.
o Express your agreement
with God
o But don’t preach when
you pray …
§ If you have something
to say to your spouse, say it to them instead of pointing it out in prayer in
front of them.
§ Don’t make your
prayers sharp points of contention.
§ Pray God’s will be done, not yours. God can fix it!
Children
·
Engage
with your children
o Don’t neglect or
abandon getting together … It’ just not God!
o Seek to understand
before you seek to be understood
o The more you understand
your children and what they are facing for the first time in their lives, the
more your heart and mind will be stirred up and provoked to love them and
create meaningful moments with them. God can fix it!
·
I
pray our children hear us pray for them.
o Pray for and with, and
prophesy over your children.
o Confess the hope of
God’s Word over their lives.
o The One who promised is faithful to perform.
Job
·
Engage
with your co-workers
o Don’t withdraw and
don’t allow division.
o Your job determines
much of your peace and income and future opportunities to be successful and
provide for your family and be a blessing to others.
·
Make
good confessions over your company, you employer, your employee, your
supervisor, your co-workers, and your customers.
·
Realize
that not everything is always all about you.
·
Be
a part of what’s right about your job and not what’s wrong.
o Give your supervisor
and co-workers something good to say about where they work, if it’s only
something good about you.
o Be kind, attentive,
considerate, and caring.
·
Pray
for and with your co-workers. God can fix it!
o Be the light in their otherwise dark day.
There
is no time better than right now decide and commit to changing some things
you’ve been needing to change in the primary relationships God has given you.
·
Your
marriage
·
Your
children
· Your job
You
might say, “Pastor, I’m not married; I don’t have children; and I don’t’ have a
job.” I’d say great! You have a chance to get it straight right from the start.
God is committed … how committed are you?
·
Commit
today that you will start off each new endeavor in agreement with God,
considering others, and refusing to allow yourself to neglect or abandon the
relationships God gives you in the future.
·
Everything
should begin with prayer … and that’s what we are going to do now.
· God can fix it! We do it all in the name of Jesus!
Say yes to God, and Stop saying no to yourself.
Take possession and keep secure – Hold fast your confession of hope …
Let’s
pray!
