Scripture:
Hebrews 10:34-38 NKJV
[34] for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. [35] Therefore, do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. [36] For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: [37] “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. [38] Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”
Observation:
Although most people don’t really know who wrote the letter to the Hebrews, most bible scrollers believe it to be Paul, and honestly, I can see why. The literary style is very similar to the other letters he wrote, and there are a few key things said that would indicate that he wrote it as well. Such as the statement in verse 34 that talks about the compassion that they had for him while he was in chains. Although that is a price of why this scripture was chosen this morning, it’s only a small one. As that verse continues, some very interesting statements are made that I believe should catch our attention. So we know that the person who wrote this was in chains much like Paul, but let’s look at the Hebrews who had their stuff plundered. But held on to faith, knowing that this world is not their home. There was someone more. The stuff here on Earth didn’t matter. The author of the letter to the Hebrews was encouraging them because they willingly endured suffering loss with joy, knowing that heaven was on the other side of whatever happened here on earth. Verse 35 continues with this encouragement by saying, “Don’t let go of your confidence, because it has great reward.” What is being said is, I know it looks rough, I know things are not going the way you might think they should, but don’t let go of Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. Moving on to verse 36, we are told where to get our example of endurance from look at the cross, look at what Jesus went through to show HIS great love hold on to HIS example. This life is not the end it is yet but the beginning. Now verse 37 is one of those verses that we have been talking about for as long as I can remember. As a little kid being sent off to church. I would hear the old church lady’s saying it, and over the past 50 years of life, I have come to believe it Jesus is coming back, and when HE does, we want to stand in confidence. That time is getting closer and closer. So verse 38 is very important and wrapped up our observation this morning. ” The just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, my souk has no pleasure in him.” The writer is saying stand firm on the word of GOD that has given you confidence.
Application:
I have a question for you. What does it look like in your life right now? Does it look like everything that GOD has promised is coming true? If it does, then this SOAP might not be for you this morning. Oh, believe me, I would love to tickle your ears and tell you that life is always going to be fluffy cake with rich frosting and a cherry on top, but that’s just not the case. It’s going to get rough at times, and you are going to have to learn how to ensure and not let go of what GOD has promised you. Even if that looks like the end of what’s going on here on earth. As you have red in the bible and have heard me say many times before, ” it’s impossible to please GOD without faith.” There are going to be times when the enemy is going to come against. What GOD has promised you, and it’s going to look like thongs are not going to happen the way HE said. But you are going to have to press on to what HE said through what it looks like. Let me give you an example from the scripture Moses sent 10 spies in the promised land. 8 of them let go of what GOD had promised them because they believed what they saw over what GOD had told them. Do you know what happened to those 8 men. They didn’t get what GOD had promised them. Instead, they got to wonder around in the desert for another 40 years until they all died off. 2 only 2 of the 10 stood on what HOD had told them, and 2 only 2 of them got to move on to the other side. Holding on to our confidence in our heavenly father when things look the exact opposite of what HE said is the key to getting the promises HE has given us. GOD is not a liar. What HE said will happen, and just because it doesn’t look like it right now doesn’t change that. Know HIS word, and when the enemy does his best to convince you that what GOD said can’t happen, you speak it out loud back to him. The enemy knows the power of faith. He knows throughout history what standing on GODS promises have done for those bold enough to do so. Oh, I know it’s easy to look at a huge challenge and say it’s just not possible. But 2 out of 10 will rise to the occasion, and the rest will wander around aimlessly until time has its way. We are called to conquer. We are called to take new land. Yes, the obstacles are going to be big, and the task is not going to be small. But it’s not our fight. This battle belongs to GOD. Our fight is believing that statement and suiting up of it no matter what it looks like. Your faith is your weapon. It’s what gives you the courage to stand in the face of a giant with 5 smooth stones just in case his brothers want to jump in they can die too.
Prayer:
Father, it matters not what it looks like. Our confidence is not in our ability. It’s in what you have said. You told us to get up and move to a land that I will show you, and we have done just that trusting that your promises are true. Right now, it looks as though things are not going to happen the way that you said. The enemy has tried to convince us that you are not going to hold up to your end of the deal. But we are standing on your word. You said we can have it, and we believe you over what it looks like. Our confidence is in your faithfulness. You have never let us down, and we know that the reason you brought us to waters that are so deep is because you have a plan to get us across them, and you also know that our enemies can not swim. We trust you over what it looks like. Help us to hold on to the faith that you have given us. We are fighting from the victory you already said we had. If your word says it, that’s what we believe, and that’s what we stand on. It’s in the mighty and victorious name of Jesus we pray, amen.