CALL TO REMEMBRANCE
Wednesday – March 28, 2018 – Nisan 12, 5778
Greetings and welcome back to this faith building Bible Study from the Book of Hebrews. God is so very good. The featured picture is not how it looks here in Maine right now but it will soon have this appearance. I am trying to encourage those who are weary of winter. We will move forward in our study after reading aloud our primary text.
Hebrews 10:31-35 (KJV)
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
As we move forward the human author by the inspiration or unction of the Holy Spirit is shifting gears. It seems that he or she is talking for the most part to believers who have been with Jesus for some period of time, not new believers. These are believers who have stuck with the writer through thick and thin so to speak. In verse thirty-two the word “afflictions” has to do with affections, and lusts according to Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary. These are our own affections and lusts that we had before being saved (illuminated) and continued for some period of time after salvation until they were conquered. If there are remaining sin patterns that remain after a period of time it is because we have chosen to keep them. These are a turning aside to another god and will keep us out of the abundant life Jesus died to give us. Yes, abundant life right here and now!
The author goes on to remind these fellow believers and us that there were times they were mocked or had pressure brought upon them or those they hung out with. Let me point out that the word “affliction” in verse thirty-three is a different word than what was translated “afflictions” in verse thirty-two. This same word is also frequently translated as ‘tribulation’ or even to ‘suffer’. Tribulation is pressure (from the evil ones or other people) and suffering means to put up with various inconvenient things or people for the sake of the gospel. Suffering for the gospel never includes poverty or sickness. It seems that the afflictions of verse thirty-two are things of the world (affections, lusts) that the new Christian hung onto and this brought ridicule into their lives. We might hear something like this: “you say you are a Christian but I don’t see that you are any different than I am”. God fully intends and provided for there to be a distinct difference between us and the world. He intended for our lives to display wonderful things that the world hungers for but is not part of the curse. This reminds me of the parable of the sower.
Mark 4:14-20 (KJV)
14 The sower soweth the word.
15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
Which group have you chosen to be in? It is not your lot (cross to bear) or mine in life to be in a particular group, we choose our group. If we are in any group other than the fourth one we may have our litany of reasons for not progressing, however we are without excuse. Early on in our walk with the Lord the group in which we find ourselves is a function of immaturity and ignorance; however, at some point it was a choice. The author of Hebrews seems to be talking to people who had been there and done that but had preserved forward in the Kingdom. I will speak now to the Parable of the Sower and then tomorrow we will pick up with our Hebrew text. Verse fifteen is speaking about the sinner who hears the Word and the Satan talks him out of it right away likely with “yeah but” arguments. Verses sixteen and seventeen describes Christians who receive the Word with gladness but have no root in themselves. We are responsible to diligently study and receive the Word as the most valuable and precious thing in our lives and put down roots of the Word displacing the roots of the world system. Because there is no root they are toppled over with the least amount of pressure. The third group described in verses eighteen and nineteen describes perhaps a large portion of the Church. These are the people who are going thither and yon with all sorts of supposedly important but generally either self-imposed things or those brought by supposed societal pressures. Consider the following Scripture.
Luke 10:38-42 (KJV)
38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Finally, in the parable of the sower we find the group we must all strive to be a partaker. It is our choice. The seed is the Word of God, we must continually say of ourselves, “I am good ground for I make a point to hear the Word, I make a point to receive the Word, the Word of God is working in me now”. In this way the Word becomes productive, fruitful in our life and we strive for the hundred-fold return. Fruit is something produced in our lives that is useful and nourishes others. We must put aside all that encumbers us. We choose the things of our own volition (will, choice, desire) which encumber (burden, hinder, hamper, impede, load, tax, or handicap) us and we choose with that some freewill the steps which unencumber us choosing the good part, the Word of God. Being busy seems to be a badge of courage, even Godliness today, but I don’t see that promoted anywhere in Scripture. Our Hebrew text is encouraging the believers to remember from where they started and continue to press into the promises of God. Good advice for us today as well.
Until our next publication, I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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