How do you get peace in your life? (Hebrews 12:14–29)
Hebrews 12:14–29 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears. 18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised [Haggai 2:6], “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 12:29 “our God is a consuming fire.”– 2nd Coming Fire/Judgment/Hell
- Hebrews 12:18-29 = Exodus 19 – God just destroyed ENTIRE nation Egypt
- God warned people coming to meet, 3 days to repent & prepare
- MEDIATOR Moses – up Mt. Sinai meet w/God. God thick cloud & fire
= spoke everyone heard - Thunder. Lightning. Mt. shook, anyone touch =killed. TERROR
- Heb. 12: “blazing fire”; “darkness & gloom”; “tempest” (violent windy storm)” =‘terrifying”
- People shaking & terrified. Heb. 12:21 “Moses said, ‘I tremble w/fear”.
YOU ARE GOING TO STAND BEFORE THIS GOD!
- 5th & last “Warning Passage” (Hebrews 12:14-29)
Eternal: Peace with God for you
Hebrews 12:14-17 Strive for peace...and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord....See to it that...no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled, that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.
Esau (Genesis 25): case study: Person w/o Peace
-Esau – hard man, hungry, traded birth right/blessing bowl soup w/Jacob
- “unholy” – never worships or prays, no regard for God
- “sexually immoral” – polygamist, base man
God not priority: Pleasure–Short-sight–Want blessing NOT God–tears=NO PEACE
Married Couples: 1. Root Bitterness (A. Unforgiveness B. Discontent)
2. Unholy 3. Sexual Immorality (Esau polygamy) 4. Want blessing = gone forever
Hebrews 12:22, 24-25 come to…Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.See that you do not refuse him who is speaking.
1. Mediator & 2. Martyr = (Gen. 4) – 1st death & martyr: We=Cain. Jesus=Abel.
“Peace” OT Shalom) = harmony, calmness, unburdened, flourishing, hopeful
Wrath went to Jesus; Peace came to us
- God’s grace forgives past sin
- God’s grace reduces future sin (“holiness”)
-What’s in your hands today? -What’s in your heart today?
