Do not back away (Hebrews 10: 32-39)

Do not back away (Hebrews 10: 32-39) 

32 But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 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; 34 for you had compassion on me[h] 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.[i] 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 “For yet a little while, And He[j] who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the[k] just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”[l] 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

Intro)

1. Famous Russian novelist and thinker Tolstoy had three questions since young age, which are ‘when is the most important time in my life? , who is the most important person in my life? , and what is the most important thing in my life?’ His questions were answered later years. The answers were ‘now, who are near me, and loving who are close to him. Everyone the time we have now is so valuable. Every day is important. What kind of mind did you have as you live your life?

 2. Today’s content is God’s words for early church saints. They overcame hardships well, but after the hardships there was doubt, apostate, and people who turn back on Jesus. So, recorder of Hebrews sent message through verse 23-34

³² But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 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; 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.

 

After early church, Jewish Christians gone through hardships in political, family, and economical, but they overcame. However, because of they weren’t welcomed they were locked up in the cell or stoned to death, and kicked out of family and work.

Hebrews 10:34 says ³⁴ for you had compassion on me^[h] 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. They had unfair treatment due to believing in Jesus, but they took it gladly, because they knew there was better life in the heaven.

 

1. Indeed, Heaven is ready for us. The place more beautiful and forever.

   They knew there was better place, so although they treated wrong they could take it.

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  However, through the unfair treatment and prejudice some people started to turn back on Jesus. Today’s verse says we can’t have more Christian who go back ward in spiritually. Let’s learn how we should keep walking forward in spiritual life in three ways through bible.

 

Body)
 A) First, have confidence.

Verse 35 says, ³⁵ Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.

 

Confidence means ‘belief.’ We have to keep our belief of our faith, and then there will be big reward from God.

 

When we face hardships we often think about is it really God’s blessing? or am I living a right life?

 

Some other thinks ‘I have offered so much for the church and went to church for 52 times in a row, but why my life won’t get better, but worse? What is good in having a faith?’

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When we have hardships like this we have to have confidence in us to live in our belief and to get reward that God has for us.

Hebrews 11:6 says ‘⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.’ Therefore, we have to strongly believe in it and don’t give up.

 

Once peter followed Jesus to walk on water, but all sudden he had doubt that if he really can do it like how Jesus does. When he saw waves he fell into water. When we lose our confidence and faith we will fail.

Peter was a coward who denied Jesus the day Jesus was captured. Matthew 25:75 says ⁷⁵ And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.

 

Later on, he wore confidence of Holy Spirit and became great evangelist. Peter had 3-4 thousands of followers and guided them to Jesus. (Acts)

Be confident, because end has not come yet. At the end we will get unimaginable reward.

    B) Second, be patient.
  Today’s verse 36 says, ‘³⁶ For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:’ To see God’s promise we need patience, there are two promises for those who waits for God’s promises.

First, Matthew 28:20 says ‘²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.’this is blessing of Immanuel.

  Secondly, for those who are patient will have wonderful house in the heaven forever for them, and promise they will be leaded to where Jesus is at.

 

 

Galatians 6: 9 says ⁹ And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. James 5: 11says, ¹¹ Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. We can see patient will make us winner at the end of the race.

 

121 years ago from today, when New York was starting to develop and expand people in New York needed bridge to across for transportation, but the force of water was too great it was a challenge to build a bridge. Architect John A. Rebling had to build a bridge where there not many of piers. He made a plan, which is putting bridge without legs of bridge touching the ground, but to connect them with strings in the air. Many people laughed at him, because it does not sound realistic. John however he did not give up, but continue to build the bridge. Later on, there was an accident occurred in construction site. Father John died and his son had damage in his brain. Son of John can only move his one finger. His effort was spread, and workers were inspired by his dedication, so people started to work on the bridge again and after 13 years the Brooklyn Bridge was made. After so much of trouble, but overcoming the hardships the bridge became famous. Edison experienced 6 thousands of failures and on 6001th try he succeeds. We should not afraid of failure.

 

 

Loving everyone, todays live in faith, daily life we have hardships, but we need to continue to look forward and overcome for much more beautiful, and permanent heaven’s reward.
    

  C) Finally, never back down.
Today’s verse 38-39 says, ‘³⁸ Now the^[k] just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.”^[l]

³⁹ But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.’ In our Christian lives there’s no backing away. Why? It is because God does not see it pleasantly. God hates us running away. People of Israel who ran always died. In Genesis 19 When Lot and his wife was coming out of Sodom and Gomorrah castle they forgot about God’s word and became Salt pillars.

 

   

Con)

 Loving everyone, have you backed away from our spiritual lives? In offering, church work, or spreading gospel? Apocalypse says Jesus had reproof to 7 churches in Asia and said ‘You have forsaken your first love.’ When church believed in Jesus their faith should get bigger and bigger, but it was going back award. Now it’s the time for us to go step forward in our Christian lives with confidence! Hallelujah!!

 

* By Ik sun, Ahn  /  Translated Sung hyun, Ahn 112716