The
American
Wisdom Series
Presents
Pamphlet 1991 Hebrews kc 23-1
Do
you desire to be part of that valiant family of God's servants Paul spoke
of in Hebrews chapter 11?
Are you sure... after seeing all the temptations and trials
and tribulations they endured?
One could easily say that many of them went through some
pretty "rough times"!
Yet it was through their faith in Him that they "took
a stand"
and overcame great obstacles and seemingly insurmountable
odds
and emerged as victorious champions of our people who
had "quenched the violence of fire,
escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made
strong, waxed valiant in fight,
and turned to flight the armies of the aliens".
It was also by their faith in Him and in looking forward
to the "recompense of the reward",
the fulfillment of His promises, and to that glorious
city which has foundations
whose builder and maker is God, that they "endured" many
things among some of which were cruel mockings
and scourgings and being sawn asunder. They were also
tempted, some were "slain with the sword:
they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being
destitute, afflicted, and tormented." (Hebrews 11:34-37)
These were truly men and women of faith whose courage
came not from their own strength,
but from their trust in God, from their belief and faith
that He "is" (Heb. 11:6)
and that He is always faithful to His promises because
His Word is the most sure thing in the universe.
So if you do wish to gather with
that "great cloud (assembly) of witnesses"
when Yeshua Messiah returns to
this earth at the sound of the 7th Trump (1 Thes. 4:17)
and ushers in His Kingdom, then
take heed to the words of wisdom
our Father has given us in this
12th chapter of Hebrews through His faithful servant Paul.
Hebrews
12:1
Wherefore seeing
we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,
and let us run with patience the race
that is set before us,
Just before he gave us that inspiring "faith" chapter
packed with excerpts
from the many testimonials of God's faithful servants
down through the ages,
Paul was discussing "patient endurance" and how that
God's servants,
men and women of faith, do NOT draw back
from the Word of God
and follow the "easier softer way" to avoid taking a
stand!
No, they "hold fast" to His Word and do those things which
He commands them to do,
regardless of the obstacles or adversaries which stand
in their way.
You "see", one man and God form a majority
and so His servants know they already have the victory
in Christ and that a crown awaits them at His return!
Let us therefore go back and briefly review where Paul
left off at the end of chapter 10
before he paused to give us all those "ensamples" of
faith in chapter 11.
Remember that he was teaching us that we
need
to have patience which is the endurance to go the distance.
This will help us place Heb. 12:1 in the proper context
from which it flows.
Hebrews
10:36-39
For ye have
need
of patience, that, after ye have
done the will
of God, ye might receive the promise.
Take the time to learn the Greek words for "patience" and
"endurance":
patience = hupomone, hoop-om-on-ay',
Greek 5281; from Greek 5278 (hupomeno); cheerful (or hopeful) endurance,
constancy
:- enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).
Hupomone comes from the word
hupomeno
which defies the entire concept of the any-moment-you'll-fly-away rapture
"theory" which teaches people to make sure they are not "Left Behind".
Of
course Satan just loves that bogus concept because since he (and
his angels) will be the first supernatural entities to come from heaven
to this earth (Rev. 12:7-9), the rapture theory prepares people to accept
him as Jesus Christ, though he will be the false messiah.
Thus, those who are awaiting an any-moment "rapture" shall be the first
ones taken in the field and seduced by the same old serpent from the garden!
Here is the definition of "endurance":
endurance = hupomeno, hoop-om-en'-o,
Greek 5278; from Greek 5259 (hupo) and Greek 3306 (meno); to stay under
(behind), i.e. remain; figurative to undergo, i.e.
bear
(trials), have fortitude, persevere :- abide, endure, (take)
patient (-ly), suffer, tarry behind.
We as Christians have a
choice (thank God) to believe men's fables and traditions
or to have faith and believe
in Jesus Christ, the Word of God.
Now Paul just told us that we are
going to "need" patience to do God's will in this final generation
and that after we
have done so, i.e. after we have finished the work, we will receive the
promise!
Do you believe him?
How about Jesus Christ?
Would you believe Him if He told
you that you must "stay behind" (be "Left Behind"
while the first woman in the
field is taken and spiritually seduced),
in that you must "have fortitude"
and "persevere" and "patiently suffer" TO THE END,
i.e. until Christ returns at
the sound of the last (7th) trump,
which is AFTER the son of perdition
has come at the sound of the 6th trump
and reigned on this earth as
"instead-of-Jesus" (see 2 Thes. 2:1-12)?
Here are Christ's words to those of this final generation
of the fig tree:
Matthew
24:13
Buthe
that shall endure unto the end, the
same shall be saved.
Luke 21:19
In your patience
possess ye your souls.
Mark 13:13
And ye shall
be hated of all men for my name's sake: buthe
that shall endure unto the end, the
same shall be saved.
The Greek word for both "endure" and "patience" in
the above verses is "hupomeno".
And if you take the time to read the verses surrounding
those listed above,
you will discover it is very much like reading Hebrews
11:34-37!
Mark
13:9
But take heed
to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues
ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for
my sake, for a testimony against them.
Hebrews 11:36
And others had
trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds
and imprisonment
Then too, some of you Smyrphs,
those of the churches of Smyrna (Rev. 2:9) and Philadelphia (Rev. :9) who
know who the kenites are,
:should also compare
Rev. 2:10.
The question is: "Are you in the "race" (Heb. 12:1) to
go the distance and go for the 'gold',
the gold crown that is?"
If so, just know that it is going
to take "faith and endurance" to the end
but the reward of recompense
far exceeds anything material in this world!
Therefore, knowing that He is faithful and shall never
leave nor forsake you (Heb. 13:5)
but rather shall be with you unto the end (Mat. 28:20),
there is NOTHING and NO ONE to fear.
Besides, you've read all the testimonies of the patriarchs
and elders to confirm that fact, have you not?
To study the Bible is the noblest of all
pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, you accomplish both.
The
"American
Wisdom Series"
is
Published
by:
Rhine
Publishing Co.
E-mail address - americanwisdomseries@verizon.net
If you would like to have your essay
published
as part of the American Wisdom
Series
submit your manuscript to Rhine
Publishing Co
at the address above for consideration,
or e-mail us
at the address shown on our home
page.
Click
Here to Return to
"The American Wisdom Series" home
page.