A Call to Listen to God
Hebrews 12:14-29
- What did it mean to the original reader or original audience?
- If you could choose any city to move to with the right job, by what criteria would you choose: friends or family? Climate? Housing? Culture or athletic pursuits?
14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 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; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 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.
A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken
18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
The author again warns against the sin of unbelief.
The Contest (12:1–4)
II. The Chastening (12:5–13): Divine discipline is the theme of this passage.
III. The Challenges (12:14–17)
A. The author’s exhortation (12:14–15)
1. “Try to live in peace with everyone” (12:14a).
2. “Seek to live a clean and holy life” (12:14b).
3. “Watch out that no bitter root of unbelief rises up among you” (12:15).
B. The author’s example (12:16–17): Esau is held up as a tragic example of what not to do.
1. He was immoral (12:16a).
2. He was godless (12:16b).
3. He despised his birthright (12:16c–17).
IV. The Contrasts (12:18–24): Two mountains are contrasted.
A. Mount Sinai (12:18–21)
1. The person (12:21): Moses.
2. The principle (12:18–20): The law of God.
B. Mount Zion (12:22–24)
1. The person (12:24a): Christ.
2. The principle (12:22–23, 24b): The grace of God.
V. The Caution (12:25–27): The author solemnly warns his readers about the terrible results of unbelief.
VI. The Consuming Fire (12:28–29)
A. Our God is a coming King (12:28).
B. Our God is a consuming fire (12:29).
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- How do the instructions and Esau's example (vv. 14-17; see Genesis 25:29-34) relate to disciplining your weaker members (vv.12-13)?
- What is the point of the comparison between Mount Sinai (vv. 18-21) at Mount Zion (vv. 22-24)?
- What is the “better word" (v. 24) in contrast to “no further word" (v. 19)? What do the words “once more" convey (vv. 26-27)?
- How does this play on words sum up the author's argument throughout the book? What happens to any who refuse to hear God's voice (vv. 18-21, 25-29)? To those who heed his call?
- What efforts have you made to “live in peace with all”?
- In relationships that fail, do you believe it is because one or both parties didn't try hard enough? What can be done to see that people who are torn apart, despite their best efforts, do not also miss the grace of God?
- What in his passage comforts you? What makes you uneasy? What thrills you most about the city of the living God?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Where were you on September 11, 2001? I'm sure you remember.
That date will be engraved on the memories of Americans everywhere for generations to come. On that terrible day when terrorists commanded several passenger planes and killed thousands of innocent people, we began to realize the true depths of evil in the human heart, and the uncertainty and fragility of life itself.
What lesson would God teach us from such an appalling tragedy? I confess I don’t know the answer. I do remember, many people for the first time faced the shallowness and emptiness of their lives, and turned to God as a result. Millions came together to pray.
But one lesson God would teach us all is this: our only lasting hope is in Him. Life has always been uncertain; September 11 only made it more apparent. Where will you turn for your security? Put your life in Christ’s hands, for only He offers us a “kingdom which cannot be shaken.”
At the 9/11 national day of prayer in remembrance service, Billy Graham shared these words:
“We’ve always needed God from the very beginning of this nation, but today we need Him especially. We’re facing a new kind of enemy. We’re involved in a new type of warfare, and we need the help of the Spirit of God. The Bible’s words are our hope: ‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.’
Thought of the Day: My prayer today is that you will feel the loving arms of God wrapped around you, and will know in your heart that He will never forsake you as you trust in Him.
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