Missions Paul

A woman rushed up to famed violinist Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962) after a concert and cried: “I’d give my life to play as beautifully as you do.” Kreisler replied, “I did.”

If you plant a Chinese bamboo seed, it will sit in the ground for five years and appear to not be making any changes. Then, over a six-week period, it will grow 90 feet.

There is a giant Himalayan lily which spends most of its life looking like nothing at all but then after 5-7 years it grows to 9-10 feet tall and produces the most amazing delicately shaped flowers.

The national tree of Sri Lanka is the talipot, it is a palm tree that grows to a height of 82 feet. It only flowers once but it happens some time when it is between 30 – 80 years old.

Hang in there! It’s worth it. That’s the message.

In view of the many trials the community of believers were facing, seeing others fall away and return to Judaism and on top of that facing an uncertain future the Pastor exhorts them:-

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. ³⁷ For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” ³⁸ And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” (Hebrews 10 v 36-38)

Using Isaiah and Habakkuk there is a hint that one of the difficulties the believers were having was that it wasn’t looking like Jesus was indeed returning. The setting of Habakkuk was not dissimilar to what they were going through. He lived at a time of unrighteousness and on crying out to God for help the response was to be patient.

Hang in there!

Whatever you are facing today. You may wonder if you will get through.

“May the God who gives endurance …” (Romans 15 v 5)

Mark 13: 13 “Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” The Message “Stay with it—that’s what is required. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry; you’ll be saved.”

Where God is everything changes. He takes the bitter and makes them sweet; He takes the broken and heals their hearts; He picks up the fallen; He energises the tired; He cleanses the stained; He revives faith; He refreshes anointing; He renews His relationships; He encourages what is not there to be there.

You can hang in there! He believes in you far more than you do. He is always speaking well of you before you have even done anything of merit. Your actions don’t bring His praise, you do, without doing anything.

So get up if you have been knocked down. Get ready and have another go. Serve Him where you are right now, to serve Him is to serve others. Lay your own agenda of what your life should be or what others expect and to live it out for Him alone.

For in doing so you will receive what He has promised.

Some are asking that question today. I guess we all have at some point.

Waiting for God to fulfil His promises that are being held on to can lead to this question.

Lives that feel like they’re simply treading water, years being wasted as they wait for God to step in and do what they have declared He can do.

What if He doesn’t? Will this have been worth it? This faith; going to Church; believing for something.

This is not just in 2024 but it was definitely in the first century. The author is pleading for the Christians to stand firm and not return to Judaism. It seems some have already done so. They have been told to remember what they have received and what they have endured. On the basis of that:-

“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.” (Hebrews 10 v 35)

Today God is crying out to us through His Scriptures such as this one, ‘Don’t give up!’ Into a multitude of voices trying to convince you through lies, disappointments, hurts and doubts it is His voice that we need to hold on to. “Don’t cast off, throw away, don’t walk away now, you will cheapen everything you have stood for and all that you have endured.”

If the battle for your mind is intense right now then just maybe it is because you are about to enter into something new. Keep your confidence, your boldness, your fearlessness, hold on to the promises of God, to God Himself. The reward will come.

The author begins to pastorally lead this community of believers to the great hall of faith and then finally to the author and ‘perfecter’ of this faith, Jesus Christ, the One who concludes an amazing line-up of faith life-stories.

It is clear some of the community have already left, they have deserted this faith and others are wondering if they should follow. We all know people who have done so and we perhaps know some who are on the edge. What do we say to them? How can we help them not to abandon ship?

“Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. ³³ Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. ³⁴ You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.” (Hebrews 10 v 32-34)

There are times in all our lives when to come aside is essential. To turn back is better than to go ahead because we need to rest and reassess the path that we have taken. The decision needs a lot of wisdom and often not to be taken in isolation. However, there are also times when we need to press on because looking back on the story of our life we see how far we have come but also how God has helped us endure. These Scriptures and others have become important for us:-

Isaiah 41: 10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalm 121: I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? ² My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

The Pastor appeals to the believers to look back on what they have endured. To walk away now would be a waste of how far you have come and all God has done to enable you to stand firm.

• You went through a great conflict.
• You were publicly exposed – the world looked on as you suffered.
• You aligned yourself with those who were also publicly exposed.
• You put yourselves at risk by actively involved with those imprisoned.
• You have been robbed of your possessions and the security they bring.

We can make our own list up. We may not have gone through persecution but we have had to endure various difficult seasons. So whatever you are facing today that is calling you to back down or walk away is not as overwhelming as we might think.

We don’t have to abandon our faith, walk away from church and distance ourselves from God. We don’t have to make that choice. Remember how you have endured in the past and so today you can endure again. When it was tough you didn’t give up instead you rose to the challenge. You cheered others on to do what you were doing yourself, enduring.

This is how we help others to stand firm and how we help ourselves.

Yesterday we looked at the warning to the apostates (10 v 26-31) and today through the next verses we are answering the question: how do we warn those who are on the verge of turning away from the Christian faith?

The author begins to pastorally lead this community of believers to the great hall of faith and then finally to the author and ‘perfecter’ of this faith, Jesus Christ, the One who concludes an amazing line-up of faith life-stories.

It is clear some of the community have already left, they have deserted this faith and others are wondering if they should follow. We all know people who have done so and we perhaps know some who are on the edge. What do we say to them? How can we help them not to abandon ship?

“Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. ³³ Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. ³⁴ You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.” (Hebrews 10 v 32-34)

Tell them to remember.

These are the words that you could say:-

Remember what you have received. Remember the light that shone in the darkness of your soul. Look back on what has been taught you over the years. Remember the day you gave your life to Jesus. Remember the baptism of water. Remember the songs, the worship times when you experienced the presence of God. Bring to the surface the shaping of God in your life. Those high moments when the Spirit came on you and the Word directed your life. Don’t let go of the past victories.

Retain what you remember. If your present life as a Christian is less than what it was yesterday then get it back. Refresh. Set the renew button. Hold on to what you had, retain it. If you believed for revival and a powerful move of God in the past retain it now. If you were passionate for Jesus in the past then keep that passion now. If the Church or the Christian is worse than its past then it lost something but it can get it back. Retrace your steps as you remember what you have received and heard and then take hold again and this time retain it.

Remember the one who passed the baton to you. They may have died some time ago. But remember how they influenced you and the story of your life. Look behind you for a moment, who is there? There will be people you have forgotten. Their acts of kindness, neighbours, old friends, work colleagues, church believers, their words of comfort, cards and letters written. They are innumerable. They did it to pass the baton on. And you have been running with that since those days doing exactly the same thing. Living your life unselfishly, thinking of others that you too can pass the baton of the good news to.

Repent means to change your thinking. Often we only think it means to change our behaviour. But if we don’t change our thoughts then our behaviour will not move an inch well not permanently anyway. Our thoughts are the default of our life. It all starts there and it all ends there too. You can choose what occupies your mind. You can think differently. You can remember what you have received.

I know a person who once walked with God, they spoke of Christ, they encouraged others to be filled with the Holy Spirit, though never perfect and they did sin, they were seen as a very spiritual person. The person was in Bible College. They ministered in churches and brought blessing to many because they submitted to the divine power moving through their life.

Today they have rejected everything they stood for and everything they proclaimed. It is as if they are a complete different person.

It would appear that for the Pastor writing to the community of believers they are aware that some have left. Despite the encouragement of the community to spur one another on in love and good deeds; despite making sure that each one of them were holding on to what they have believed and confessed: some have decided to reject the Christian life and return to Judaism.

“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, ²⁷ but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. ²⁸ Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” ³¹ It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10 v 26-31)

This is not those of us who continue to lapse into sinful ways but it those who purposely reject Christ and they reject His death and resurrection. They once accepted it but now no longer believe, they have walked away from community, they are like the person I describe above.

The result is because there is no other substitutionary sacrifice; there is no other place other than the cross to go to; there is no other person other than Jesus Christ then all that is left to wait for is their judgment. Their actions are an insult to the ‘Spirit of grace’. Remember the words of Jesus regarding the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3)?

The author is adamant. If we turn away from all that God is, has done and offers to us then it is to turn into something that is ‘a dreadful thing’.

Use these words and warn those who are on the edge who are thinking of abandoning the faith and turning to other religions or none.

It is an appropriate title for a Sunday don’t you think?

In calling us to draw near with boldness the author gives 3 instructions that will enable us to do just that. We have seen the first 2.

1. Make sure you we are all holding on to what we have believed and confessed.
2. Make sure we are all living a life of Agape
3. Make sure you get people to Church meetings!

“ … not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10 v 25)

A survey published only 5 years ago said that out of the then population of 61 million people in the UK, 35 million were Christian. Isn’t that amazing?!!

However out of the 35 million Christians only 9 million went to Church!

Do you ever wonder why people have stopped attending Church?

How sad it is when Churches have declined because people stopped going there.

“Personalities united can contain more of God and sustain the force of his greater presence better than scattered individuals.” Dallas Willard wisely said.

Transformation requires community. It is how and why we were created. But also hearing God, guidance, healing, His glory is better seen in community.

There are many in prisons of persecution today who would view it an anathema that there are 26 million Christians in the UK who are not in a construction called the Church.

It would appear that these 1^st century Christians were beginning to miss from the church gatherings. We don’t know why but maybe they were under pressure from people not to attend. Was this the daily meetings (can you imagine that commitment?) or was it now the Sunday gatherings? Whatever it was the Pastor was calling the people to make sure they encourage one another to not give up attending.

Is there someone you can encourage with this today?

Agape love. The pinnacle and the foundation of everything. Without it nothing makes sense. This is not a feeling towards the person you are loving but it is a strong commitment that will not let go until that person understands, receives and prospers from the purpose of your love. It is the highest form, of sacrificial commitment love. The cross is how God demonstrated Agape to the world.

In calling us to draw near with boldness the author gives 3 more instructions that will enable us to do just that.

Make sure you we are all holding on to what we have believed and confessed.

Secondly, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10 v 24)

2. Make sure we are all living a life of Agape

Keep an eye on one another. That’s what is needed then and now. Not negatively, not with a critical eye highlighting failings, but to spur each other on. This is not that the pastor is teaching the church to love and to do good. But rather we all are encouraging one another. Love will not just happen we have to work at it, we have to stand for it and defend it. This agape is the highest form of love. It is the agape that God has for us and the expectation that we should have for each other. We love each other how God loves us. It isn’t easy. That is why we need to think of ways to spur each other on. People can be difficult. However agape isn’t based on what we get back in return. We show kindness, speak kindness, respond kindly, we agape every person we come into contact with. Why? Because He first showed agape to us.

How is it seen? Through good works. Agape is seen through acts of kindness. Not holding back but freely, generously, sacrificially helping, blessing and honouring others above yourself.

In calling us to draw near with boldness the author now gives 3 more instructions that will enable us to do just that. Here is the first one.

Don’t let go of what you have believed and confessed.

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10 v 23)

Here we have another ‘let us’. Not only should we draw near but now ‘let us hold’.

Find someone. A helper, a friend, do not struggle alone. This is a call which clearly shows that the author wants the whole of the community to do this. Do not idly sit back and let someone’s faith to waiver. Don’t watch people walk from your community. Speak up.

If there is one major threat upon the Church it is that they choose not to lean as much upon Christ.  Maybe through disappointment or failure and discouragement or perhaps through temptation of wanting what others seem to have there can be a tendency for our faith in Christ to take a back seat. Community prevents this. Community encourages us to not move from our position, we hold fast to our confession of hope in Jesus Christ. We do it because He has given us promises and He is faithful in delivering on those promises!

Who can you help today to hold on?

Like these believers there are many reasons why at times we feel we cannot come to God confidently. This community seemed to have lost or were in danger of losing their close relationship with Jesus. They were facing pressure to return to their culture of Jewish duty. Like us they could blame many reasons for this. Today we face so many problems and difficulties that in the end they can become enemies to us for experiencing the presence of God. They become barriers and then on top of that we are sinners and our guilty consciences drain any confidence we might have to draw near. However, we must tell ourselves that we are not the only one. Everyone feels this way at some point but we all need to learn how to lean on Jesus and what He has done and less on ourselves and what we have done or not done. Above all we must never return to religious duty or performance and that is the heart of what this Pastor is writing to this community.

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10 v 19-22)

The pivotal moment of this letter, the pastor (I call him simply because he shows so much pastoral care for the community of believers, they are his brothers and sisters, a description of love) summarising all that had been said and making this the crux of the letter calls them to draw near to God. Their culture was once a year and only the High Priest. Not even ordinary priests could draw near never mind the people. They were always at a distance.

So if you feel like that today, at a distance, then something is not quite right. It has to be you. It cannot be God. He has done everything that needs to be done. He has made you holy in His sight. Jesus has come and been the once for all sacrifice. His blood was shed. It was more than enough so that we can draw near. So shake off the lies and the doubts. We never gain access to God by our own efforts and qualifications. It is always His! So lift up your head and don’t come dragging yourself or embarrassed to do so but come with boldness, with confidence and with energy:-

• Because it is a ‘new and living’ way – every moment is like it is the first time moment, Jesus isn’t sacrificed again and again but this event 2,000 years ago is as powerful every day as the first day, it is living, it is not old and stale, it doesn’t need reviving, it is powerfully as new as the that last hour of His death.
• Because His body is the curtain (that separated you from the Holy presence of God) that is now ripped open to let you in. The separation can never happen again. The curtain will never hang there saying you cannot come near to God. It isn’t there because of the crucified body of Jesus.
• Because we have our great priest, our High Priest, Jesus Christ, who gives us the confidence based on what He has done and never on our performance. We don’t prepare to come into His presence; what could that preparation be? It would never be enough if we had to prepare. But we draw near because our High Priest has opened the way and has already prepared us.
• Because what prevented us from doing so has been settled. The inner transformation of the heart and the outward baptism which is the sign of what has happened within (the baptism isn’t the emphasis but what it signals).

If you cannot perform anymore because trying is tiring and if you realise all your efforts to be that good Christian are not enough then these verses are what will save you from a life of working hard to be someone you already are.

“The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.” (Hebrews 10 v 15-18)

If ever anyone says the Bible is not written by God then these verses along with many others prove He did. The author again quotes Jeremiah (31) and quotes not from a distant past that has no connection to us but as something that continually impacts our lives today. It is this one thing: the work of the Holy Spirit is working within our hearts and minds to do what the law could not do which is the transformation of who we are.

So our part is

1. To remember this inner work of the Holy Spirit in us.
2. To copy what God does and not keep beating ourselves up because of past behaviours. He remembers no more.
3. To enjoy the forgiveness of sin.
4. To live in a way that demonstrates that Christ’s sacrifice is enough, all other efforts as a means for acceptance or approval is unnecessary.