Hebrews 12:10-29 A Harvest of righteousness and peace
10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.
Whatever path you take make sure it is leading you to share in His holiness. Jesus is the only way that leads to the Father and to holiness. Yes, Jesus is the only way, however, since each of us is in a different starting point there is no one map that we all will follow. My path to salvation may be different than yours, this is why we need to be able to hear the shepherds voice and follow Him.
11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
The issue is not which is the easier path to take, the issue is which path produces a harvest of righteousness and peace. Which path will lead to you becoming a trained disciple of the Lord. The most difficult times in my life were when I enjoyed the fellowship of His suffering the most and that leads to the outstanding resurrection.
12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
How weak and feeble some Churches appear. Are they really in the image and likeness of the Lord of all? I enjoy Christian forums and debates because to me it is like working out at the gym. On the one hand you can exercise every day and become stronger and stronger in the spirit. On the other hand you need to avoid a rocky road filled with pitfalls. It has to be an even playing field and you have to always be before the Lord so that He can work on you. The goal is not to convince others or beat others, the goal is that you can practice like you would at the gym.
14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
No pain no gain, the harder it is to live in peace with everyone the more you will get out of the exercise. We are not trying to be disruptive. Since when is prayer and worship disruptive. We do everything we can to live in peace with others. I want to live in peace while at the same time I must be faithful to the Lord and His word.
15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.
I believe that many believers have sold their birthright for a single meal. Claiming to be a “pro abortion” pastor is godless.
18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
The tyrants are the ones who are threatening people. There are two systems here, one keeps everyone in line with fear, the other is joyful, full of the righteous who were made perfect. There are two covenants, the better one is mediated by Jesus. Abel's blood condemns this evil satanic system, Jesus’ blood is the way out of this system.
25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?
This is a word of warning. We are being disciplined because we did not stand strong by faith to worship God according to our conscience but rather allowed evil men to infiltrate the church and tell us what we can and cannot say.
26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
If you still think the US government is unshakeable you need to pray about it. When God shakes the US government and removes those that cause offense the entire world will be shaken.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”
Our God is a consuming fire. At the end of the age God sends forth the angels to bundle up the weeds and cast them into the fire. This is before He raptures the wheat to the heavenly barn. Embrace the truth on one side, those on the other hold down the truth in unrighteousness. Holding down the truth is like holding down styrofoam in a pool, you can do it, but it is hard, and it keeps popping up and shooting out of the water.