As we look into Hebrews 12 today, the theme of the passage is DISCIPLINE – There are a couple of different aspects of discipline used in the passage that will need definition so you can understand what the writer is trying to say – First, discipline can mean “training” or “development” – Second, it can mean “to punish” – Third, discipline is a mindset, more likened to being intensely focused – all of these definitions will apply as we walk through Hebrews 12:1-17.

Verses 1-2 – Sam walked us through chapter 11 last week, known as the “Hall of Faith”, mentioning that chapter 11 is like the Mount Rushmore of some of the greats of the Bible – And contextually, the author is speaking to Jewish believers who would’ve really leaned forward to the mentions of Abel, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and their faith to stay focused on God when the culture was opposing them.  But here at the beginning of 12, author is saying that all of those people, “great cloud of witnesses” are actually cheering them on as they run this race, and that they are not to look BACK at them, but look FORWARD, “fixing their eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith” – All of the heroes of the faith were actually pointing to Jesus. This is yet another JESUS IS BETTER moment in the book of Hebrews.  Abraham is great, but JESUS IS BETTER – Moses is great, but JESUS IS BETTER.

Danger in our culture today of worshipping celebrity pastors – think about Ravi Zacharius, who was a modern-day hero of the faith, but was found to have a woman problem after his death.  Or, disgraced Hillsong pastor Brian Houston, who has two documentary series in his honor, exposing the dark underbelly of the Hillsong movement. Or, maybe Mark Driscoll, who was dragged through the mud after a huge fall – Not to mention Tim Keller, great man, who passed away a couple of weeks ago – Point is this: fix your eyes on man, and they will always disappoint, but fix your eyes on JESUS, and you can never be disappointed, because he never fails – “Run the race with perseverance” like JESUS - “for joy set before him he ENDURED the cross” – this is the first example of a DISCIPLINED mindset.  Jesus was focused not on the cross, but what it would accomplish – YOUR FREEDOM!

Verse 3 – Consider him who ENDURED opposition from sinners, so you won’t grow weary and lose heart – Jesus set the pace for you and me – Jesus showed what a disciplined and focused mindset looked like – Throughout gospels, told disciples, “I am headed toward a brutal death” – he was born to die – even toward the end, he begged God for another way, but stayed focused on the JOY of the CROSS – What is the implication here? If Jesus suffered, you will suffer – If Jesus endured, then you will be called to endure – If your theology doesn’t make provision for suffering, then you will grow weary and lose heart – and if you lose heart, you will likely give up.

Verses 4-6 – Whose sin are they struggling against? Other’s sin – So, the early hearers of this letter are struggling against early persecution of the church, and writer is saying, “Jesus died at the hand of sinners, and you’re not dead yet.” Then, he quotes Proverbs 3:11-12. “Don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline” – The word for discipline here is “training.” Ok, this is problematic here – writer is saying that the struggle here is against the sin of others, and that God is using it to train you – does that bother anyone beside me? God is using a sinful culture to TRAIN YOU, and, “He TRAINS the ones HE LOVES.”  So he is using fierce opposition for HIS GOOD PURPOSE in you BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU. WHAT? This is Philippians 1:6, 2 Timothy 3:12, James 1:2-4, Matthew 5:10-11 (words of Jesus himself). A major part of God’s training process is SUFFERING.

Verses 7-8 – ENDURE hardship as discipline, EXPECT discipline, because it is proof of God’s LOVE and proof that you are his legitimate child – “I am allowing hard things in your life because I love you and am TRAINING YOU to depend on me” – remember, Jesus had a JOYFUL MINDSET, a deep sense of FOCUS, not on the cross, but on what was being accomplished – So, it’s not WHETHER you suffer, but HOW you suffer.

Verses 9-10 – The writer once again uses an argument of lesser to greater – If earthly fathers disciplined and we respected them, then HOW MUCH MORE should we respect and submit to God’s discipline – and the writer explained the purpose: FOR OUR GOOD, to SHARE IN HOLINESS – Ok, so now we are getting somewhere – You need to get this: God is always working FOR YOUR GOOD. In fact, HE is more FOR YOUR GOOD than you are – Romans 8:28.  God is working ALL THINGS, even HARD THINGS, for YOUR GOOD, and it is the process of BECOMING HOLY – Zechariah 13:9, Isaiah 48:10, Malachi 3:2-4. Refining process, getting out all of the impurities – 1 Peter 1:15-16. The goal of God’s discipline is being refined, becoming like him, HOLY.

Verse 11 – Discipline is not fun but PAINFUL – Look it this way: If you don’t believe that GOD is FOR YOU, and is working out something IN YOU, then you will not submit to the painful process. Look at what if PRODUCES? “Harvest of RIGHTEOUSNESS and PEACE for those TRAINED by it.”  PEACE and RIGHTEOUSNESS are on the other side of ENDURANCE – Galatians 6:9  Harvest comes to those who DON’T GIVE UP.

Verses 12-13:  Get in shape, y’all! This is a call to the secret place. It is in BEING WITH JESUS that you learn that HE IS GOOD and HE IS WORTH IT, and through it you are strengthened or BECOME LIKE JESUS.

Chad Hedrick won 5 medals for speed skating in Olympics, a gold in 2006. Thousands of hour roller skating, inline skating, and ultimately ice skating to develop the skill necessary to compete and win at the highest level. All the hours on skates were necessary to reach the pinnacle of his career. Point is this: You don’t accidentally become HOLY. It is disciplined determination that you daily train, Verse 1, shedding excess baggage and the entanglement of sin, FIXING YOUR EYES ON JESUS that you are strengthened.

Verse 14 – “Make every effort…” - again, disciplined mindset.  Two things: Be at PEACE with everyone, and BE HOLY. The LATTER comes FIRST – if you are not living IN PEACE, you won’t be a PEACEMAKER. Part of being holy is exuding FOS, one of which is PEACE.  So NO HOLINESS, NO PEACE. Jesus said in Matthew 5:8 that the PURE in heart, those who have been through his refining fire SEE GOD. So, to truly SEE GOD, you have to go through the FIRE, and those who have endured also emit PEACE into the world.

Verse 15 – “Bitter Root…” – Takes discipline to keep short accounts – but here the implication is bitterness toward God. If you don’t believe that God is always FOR YOUR GOOD, then you will assign BLAME to him every time something hard happens, and eventually bitterness will set in, and it DEFILES MANY.  In watching a Hillsong documentary we noticed many people have abandoned God because of the actions of the church.  In fact, trace the roots of someone’s atheism, and it is usually at the hand of a Christian who hurt them – We are not called to be perfection, but to the PURSUIT of HOLINESS.

V16-17 - References Esau – God’s covenant blessing was going to pass through Esau, and he traded it for a bowl of stew.  Impulsivity is the opposite of discipline. How short-sighted was Esau to trade the inheritance of God’s blessing for momentary fulfillment? How about you? So many are trading God’s blessing for quick fix – Porn, affairs, gluttony, reckless financial decisions, intense impulsivity, Romans 1:25, exchanging truth for a lie.  “This will be worth it,” but always ends in regret “sought blessing with tears.”

I’ve lived two Christian existences – IMPULSIVE and DISCIPLINED.

Closing Points:
1. God is ALWAYS for you and YOUR GOOD.
2. God uses SUFFERING to train you.
3. PEACE and HOLINESS are the PRODUCTS of a daily disciplined life of BEING with Jesus.