Sermon Sundays

This week our pastor is away at a men's retreat in New Brunswick so we had a guest speaker Mr. Ed Esau from New Tribes Missions.

It was a great sermon based on Hebrews 12:1-12, about God chastening us.

- Vs.1 -This is written to Christians who need encouragement - keep on walking by faith. Endure.
- Vs.2- Keep your focus on the author and finisher of your faith.
- The reality is that we will get discouraged. Things come along that suck. As we focus on Him that will make a difference so we won't get discouraged.
- There is always someone worse off than you.
- Vs. 4 - We haven't reached that yet. It happened to Jesus.
- Wondered has God ever chastened me? If I say no then the Bible says I am not His son. Was I even saved? vs.8
- Vs. 11 Chastening is not pleasant.
- In English Chastening = punishment.
- In Greek it = to train up or educate like a father training up a child it will sometimes lead to discipline.
- Chastening here is the same word as is used in Eph. 6:4 to mean educate.
- Is God punishing me? No. Is He training me? Yes to be more like His Son.
- God trains every son. He teaches us things.
- In difficult times God trains us and teaches us.
- The same word is used again in 2 Timothy 3:16 to mean educate.
- He's been teaching and leads all our lives.
- This same word is used in Acts 7:22 Same word learned in all wisdom.
- Acts 22:3 taught = same word.
- Do not despise God teaching us, training us, educating us.
- We really are His sons if He has been doing that.
- God has not punished us but has brought us through tough times. Leading us.
- We need total dependence on God. He wants to help us. Bring us through the hard times just depend on Him.
- Romans 8:28-29
- Eph.2:10 saved - We are His, Which God prepared before hand.
- God had our path laid before we were ever saved.
- Confidence i being in God's path. Relying on Him.
- 1 John 1:9
- When bad things happen we may wonder are we being punished. But God is working in our heart and life and causing us to depend on Him.
- Vs. 11 says it yields peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised by it.
- Vs. 12 - Pick up and go ahead. we can face difficulties because He is with us.
- Yes stuff happens but His tender love is there for us.
- Whatever you are facing - as you look at them believe that God is at work in your life.
- Trust Him. Depend on Him.
- He works in our heats and lives through the things that happen to us.
- Grace does not run out. We can go to God again and again.

Happy Sunday!
Blessings,
Liisa