HEBREWS 12:14-29
Pastor
Rick Jackson
I recall seeing a Bugs Bunny cartoon where Bugs led some
hunting dogs away from a fox. One overweight dog kept saying, “Which way did he
go? Which way did he go?” And of course Bugs always led him astray.
Now what happens today is people ask, “Which way do we go to
get to Heaven?” or “Which way do we go to be successful?” and the Devil always
leads them astray.
I. WHICH WAY DO WE GO TO GET TO HEAVEN?
1. The Only Way to Heaven is Holiness [v. 14]
Where Satan misleads people is how holiness can be attained
2. The Wrong Way is Away from Grace [v. 15-21] -thinking works can produce
holiness [v. 15]
-putting fleshly,
temporary things over spiritual, eternal things [v. 16-17]
-thinking the Law
is a means of salvation [v. 18-21]
3. The Right Way is through Christ and Christ Alone [v.
22-27]
II. WHICH WAY DO WE GO TO BE A FAILURE AS A CHRISTIAN?
If Satan fails to keep a person from being saved his next
goal is to have them be a failure as a Christian- and he uses all his wiles to
accomplish this goal. He even uses Christians. [remember Simon Peter and the
Lord- “Get thee behind me Satan…”]
1. The Way to
Failure is the Way of Disinterest [1 Thessalonians 5:19-20] Quench not the Spirit. Despise
not prophesyings.
2. The Way to Failure is the Way of Distraction [2 Timothy
4:8-10]
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me
only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Do thy diligence to come
shortly unto me: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world,
and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
3. The Way to Failure is the Way of Discouragement [2
Corinthians 2:6-7, Phil. 3:12-17]
Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was
inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and
comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch
sorrow.
Not as though I had already attained, either were already
perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am
apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:
but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching
forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize
of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be
perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall
reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let
us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers
together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
III. WHICH WAY DO WE GO TO BE A SUCCESS AS A CHRISTIAN?
1. The Way of the Cause [1 Samuel 17:29, Colossians 1:9, 1
Thessalonians 2:13]
And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not
cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge
of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because,
when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as
the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually
worketh also in you that believe.
2. The Way of the Cross [Luke 9:23]
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let
him deny himself, and take up his cross daily , and follow me.
3. The Way of the Christ [the Gospel of John]
1:43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee,
and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they
follow me:
12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me;
14:1 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way , the truth, and the
life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
21:19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should
glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I
come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
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