‘SEE THAT NO ONE MISSES’

SERIES: LIVING BY FAITH.

TEXT: HEBREWS 12:14-17.

In order to understand what Hebrews 12:14-17 means, there are two kinds of holiness or sanctification-Intial sanctification and progressive sanctification. Intial or positional sanctification or holiness happens when we respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is when we come to Christ in repentance or confession. At this time we are forgiven, saved, sanctified set apart for God. At this intial sanctification, the Holy Spirit comes to indwell us, we are given the new nature, we are made holy-Vs. 14. The word ‘sanctify’ is simply the verb (action) word from the adjective ‘Holy.’ To be sanctified means to be ‘set apart.’

If we do not have this holiness, then we will never see the Lord God-John 3:3.

The second aspect of sanctification is called progressive sanctification or holiness. Progressive holiness or sanctification is the ongoing process by which the christian becomes more and more holy or more and more like Jesus Christ-Heb. 12:14-17.

When we are saved (born again) the Holy Spirit dwelling in us by faith gives us the power or the ability to change into the image of Christ. This progressive sanctification is a process of allowing the Holy Spirit to change us-Phil. 2:12-13.

We must work together with God to become more and more holy.

As we continue to forsake sins and continue to change into the image of Jesus Christ we allow the grace of God to shine from our lives.

If we do not grow in holiness, then the words of Paul in 2 Cor 6:1 come true “We urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.” In other words, His grace will not be passed on to us.

John Newton said “I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am what I used to be. And by the grace of God, I am what I am.”

There are four things that we need to work on if we are not going to let anyone miss the grace of God. Let us learn:-

MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO LIVE IN PEACE WITH ALL PEOPLE-Vs. 14.

• How does one “pursue peace with all men?”
• By pursuing peace with God first-salvation.
• By pursuing peace within you-peace that passes all understanding.
• By living in peace with others.
• Vertical-God, inward and horizontal-others.
• Romans 12:18, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
• Should we compromise our stands or the truth to maintain peace? No.
• What should we do?-Rom. 12:20-21.
• Your enemy is hungry-feed him.
• Your enemy is thirsty-give him something to drink.
• Heap burning coals his head.
• Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

NO BITTER ROOT GROWS UP TO CAUSE TROUBLE AND DEFILE MANY-Vs. 15.

• Have you ever been “burned” by people, you are not alone, everyone has.
• Instead of being consumed by anger and bitterness God tells us to FORGIVE it and let go.
• If we deny that we have been hurt, bitterness brews within us. It is a painful experience.
• The ultimate test of the gracious heart is how we respond to people who have harmed us.
• To deal with bitterness do three things:-

1. Forgive:-Forgiveness is not based on emotions.

• Don’t wait until you feel like it, decide today to let the offense go.
• When you let it go, God’s spirit will calm your emotions and overcome your tenderness to retaliate-Col. 3:13.

2. Pray about it. The moment we sense resentment turn to God and He will give us the strength to act in love rather than react in anger. Romans 12:19, “Do not take revenge my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written, it is mine to avenge, I will repay, says the Lord.”
3. Think Biblically-look up a verse in the Bible on forgiveness and meditate on it-1^st Peter 3:9; 1^st Peter 3:16.

SEXUAL IMMORALITY-Vs. 16.

• Grace is “a gift that brings joy.” One gift that God has given to us is marriage-Gen. 2:24 “Man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and they will become one flesh.”
• The wonderful part of marriage is the one flesh, sex, physical intimacy.
• Sex outside marriage does not bring “joy,” it might bring happiness.
• Moses chose the joy of being mistreated with the people of God, rather than the “happiness” of sin and its pleasures-Heb. 11:25.
• Sexual immorality is using someone to satisfy our lusts.
• God expects us to apply the “golden rule”-Luke 6:31, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
• The “gracious rule” says “Do unto others as God has done unto you.”
• God does not use people nor exploit us. God does not take advantage of us.
• “What is in it for me?” is the opposite of grace-Ephesians 5:3.

PROFANE OR GODLESS LIKE ESAU-Vs. 16-17.

• What was Esau’s first sin?-Gen. 25:34.
• Esau despised his birthright. He despised spiritual and eternal things.
• What was the big deal with the birthright?

1. A double portion of all the father’s possessions.
2. Lord over his brethren.

• In the family of Abraham the first born was the main carrier of promises of God.
• Esau was “a profane person” a common person, a person who lives for the world and not for God.
• Because Esau was profane, a person who lived for pleasure (Hedonism), he missed the grace of God.
• When you live for the world and the flesh, you become secular-life without God (like Kenya state).
• “The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever”-1^st John 2:17.
• Esau was not a bad person. Esau was a nice fellow, a good hunter, a man who loved his father.
• A good neighbor but Esau was not interested in the things of God-he had no spiritual values.
• We become “profane” or “godless” by devaluing our spiritual blessings.

1. In Jesus Christ we have spiritual birthright (condemnation, fellowship with God, eternal life).
2. But we can let careers, hobbies, friends, even families come between us and God.

• Three times in the Bible people we said to “Miss” or come short of the grace of God.
• They did not make it to heaven!!

1. Esau-He had wrong values, profane.

• He treated profanely the sacred, he abused the eternal things of God.
• He was a terminal thinker not relational thinker-Heb. 12:16. He loved instant gratification.

2. The rich young ruler-Mark 10:17-22.

• He missed the grace of God. He lacked one thing “eternal life.”
• He never messed up, with girls, never smoked, no alcohol, respected parents, always went to church. He had a seeking heart.
• But he had a problem of greed-he missed eternal life!!

3. Isaiah 59:1-2.

• Let us not be wiser than God (The cause of the professor who knew all, but could not swim).

CONCLUSION

• Are you in danger of missing the grace of God?
• Are you putting your priority on spiritual eternal things?
• Are you living without the cross and the blood of Jesus Christ? Accept Him.