Hebrews #36: an exposition of Hebrews 12:4-11. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 4, 2015
Intro:
I have a natural aversion to pain. I don’t like it! In any form. I don’t like hardship. I want life to be smooth with as little interruption and change as possible. All of this to say, “I’m regularly disappointed.” Life in this sin-cursed world is often everything I don’t want it to be. I’m often surrounded by pain and heartache. I regularly deal with people who are in crisis and faith in Christ does not change any of that. Faith in Christ is not a magic potion or talisman warding off pain and heartache. As long as we live in this world there will be sickness, disease, pain, disappointment and heartache. “Thanks pastor, nothing like starting the year off on a positive note.” My intent is not to sound a sour note but to inject a little reality. Too often it is assumed that faith is like a good luck charm. If you hold on tight and say the magic words, bad things won’t happen to you. There is a whole strain of theology that believes if you exercise faith you will walk in health and experience prosperity. I’m not sure those folks have read Hebrews 11 or 12. At the end of chapter 11 we read about men and women of faith who were tortured while others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. Some were stoned, others were sawn in two, or were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated…wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth (11:35-38) all the while “walking in faith.” Not exactly your best life now. Then in chapter 12 we learn that suffering and hardship or normal even necessary components of the Christian life. Our text this morning is found in Hebrews 12 beginning with verse 3.
Text: Hebrews 12:3-11
I’m not a masochist – I don’t like pain.
I don’t suffer from a guilt complex and feel the need to be punished.
I am convinced that the Scriptures teach that God is sovereign even over my pain and heartache. Further, that God lovingly and sovereignly works all things to my good and His glory.
Specifically we discover in this passage that…
Thesis: Suffering and hardship are normative in Christian living and necessary for growth in holiness and righteousness.
There are three things I want to point out as we explore this text.
- The Christian life always involves struggle and hardship. (12:3-4; 10:34; 12:11)
- God is not a passive observer of your struggle. (12:5-8)
- Our loving Father sovereignly uses your struggle to your good that you might grow in holiness and righteousness. (12:9-11)
Conclusion:
I still don’t like pain. I do not enjoy heartache but I’ve come to see that suffering and hardship are normative in Christian living and necessary for my growth in holiness and righteousness. Therefore I’m going to trust in God’s sovereign, providential hand.