Timeless Truths. The Cure for Ailing Christians
Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.
Hebrews 12:12-17 [ESV]
Two Things that Paralyze the Church
EXTERNAL DIFFICULTIES
Problems will come your way.
These dissuade us from focusing on Jesus.
If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.
John 15:18
This is a primary cause of "ailing" in Christians.
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,
treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
INTERNAL PRESSURE/DIFFICULTIES
This is results in Spiritual Fatigue.
Drooping hands indicate giving up . . .
. . . maybe because you feel like you're not appreciated.
- Pick up your drooping hands.
- Get your spiritual act together.
- Get back to work for God!
Run to the end of the race.
You are working/running for God, not for human acknowledgment.
The CURE from Hebrews 12
Look to Jesus as the Author and Finisher of your faith.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Submit to training and instruction.and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,
"my son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor faint when you are reproved by Him;
for those whom the Lord loves he disciplines,
and he scourges every son whom he receives."
It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful;
Hebrews 12:5-11a
Exercise and receive discipline.yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,
Hebrews 12:11b-12
Thanks to Pastor Larry Craig for the central teachings in this post.
Next Timeless Truth: Baccalaureate Address: Put Up or Shut Up!
Next Timeless Truth: Baccalaureate Address: Put Up or Shut Up!
My website is: www.crdowning.com
I'd appreciate your feedback as a comment on Blogger!
Comments
Post a Comment