Hebrews 12: Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the stake, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

           
For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, my son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Eternal loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.

           
If ye endure chastening, if you endure correction, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the Father does not correct or chasten? But if ye be without chastisement, if you will not accept correction, whereof all are partakers, then are ye not sons but bastards. You are not legitimate sons if you will not accept the guidance, instruction and correction of your Father.

           
Verse 9: Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and find life or live? For they truly for a few days, that is, our physical parents chastened us or corrected us after their own pleasure; but he, that is, God or Christ, for our profit, for our advantage. He corrects us for our advantage, not for his own pleasure. But he, for our profit that we might be partakers of his holiness.

           
No chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

           
When we go astray, when we sin, when we break the commandments, God corrects us. And if we respond positively to that correction by learning to do good, learning to keep his commandments, learning to respect his authority and his wisdom, then we will be better off for the correction.

           
If we rebel and reject the correction, then we are not worthy sons and we, in turn, will be rejected. If we reject him, he will reject us. If we accept and follow him, he will accept and bless us.

           
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

           
If you have spiritual illness, if you are sinning, you need to be healed and you need to be corrected and you need to repent and turn toward God with a whole heart.

           
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Eternal: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.

           
How can you fail of the grace of God? Grace is given. That is, forgiveness is given to those who repent and stop sinning. If you don't repent, if you don't stop sinning, there is no forgiveness for you. There is no grace for you. You will fail of the grace of God.

           
Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For you know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

           
Be very, very careful not to reject God and not to reject his commandments especially if you know God and you think you love God and you think you are keeping his commandments and you find out that you're in error on some points, don't persist in the error. Correct yourself. Change.

           
There are very many brethren who keep the commandments of God and think they're godly people and they stumble over one point here or another point there and they say, "Well, I just can't deal with that" or "I can't overcome that." And they're not willing to repent and they're not willing to accept some little point.

           
Remember what James said, "If you have broken the law in one point, you have broken the whole law." You must keep all the commandments of God as you develop and learn.

           
Verse 18: For we are not come unto the mount which might be touched. That is, the physical Mount Sinai, which was physical and could be seen and touched.  And that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they then heard and treated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch that mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so, terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) But ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels.

           
You have access to heaven. You have access to the throne of God, in the temple of God in heaven. And you have access through the intercession of Jesus Christ, our high priest.

           
Verse 23: To the general assembly and church or ecclesia, that is, body of believers, of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.

           
There it is, just men made perfect. You are to use God's spirit once your sins have been forgiven and repented of, you are to use God's spirit and his power to become perfect. You're not to make excuses for failures. We must honestly look at our failures and say, "I'm going to have to do better."

           
You should dust yourself off. Get up. Go to your God, with all your heart, and soul, and strength, and mind; and seek his forgiveness: and then ask him for and seek his wisdom and ask him for his spirit and the power to overcome and to endure to the end.

           
You must not only endure but you must continually grow and continually overcome until you reach perfection. For it is written in 2 Timothy 3:16, All scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

           
It is through the study of God's word as guided by the Holy Spirit that we can become perfect. It is through repentance from breaking the commandments of God, repentance from sin and the application of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that we can overcome. We can be reconciled with the Father and then he will empower us with his spirit of power and self-control and of a sound mind. He will give us the strength and the power of mind to take control of our mind, to take control of our actions and to resist and overcome temptation.

           
We are not to fudge about some little, unimportant law here or there. We are to keep ALL the commandments because that little, unimportant law, if you break it, breaks a much bigger law. And that bigger law is to honor your Father. And if your Heavenly Father wants you to do something, you cannot just ignore it simply because you regard it as unimportant.

           
He wouldn't have told you to do it, if he didn't think it was important. You have to put him first, and consider that he has more wisdom than you, and what he says must be important, and you don't have the right to judge whether what he says is important to you or not.

           
It is your responsibility to keep your part of your covenant with him and obey him. Keep his commandments and do what he says, regardless of whether you think it's important or not.

           
Now, back to Hebrews 12:24: And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaks. Meaning, speaking better things, then that of Abel. Speaking of  spiritual things rather than the physical.

           
See that ye refuse not him that speaks: for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth. That is, those who refused Moses, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him which speaks from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shall shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

           
And this word, yet once more, signifying the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.

           
He is saying here, God is going to shake things to see what remains. Right now, God is going to shake his people to see who is left standing. And only those who are standing on his word will remain standing. He is testing and trying and sifting his people to see who stands on his word, who puts him first and who would rather consider their church organization as the most important thing, or who would rather put their minister first, or who would rather interpret his word through the eyes of some other man.

           
It doesn't matter whether a man calls himself an apostle or a prophet or any such thing. What matters is whether their words are consistent with God's word. And if their words are not consistent with God's word: then that man is neither prophet, nor apostle, nor man of God.

           
A man of God's words; must be consistent with God's word. And if he does make a mistake and is pointed out and he sees it in God's word and he genuinely understands that he is wrong, then he needs to repent. He needs to own up to it and he needs to apologize for it and he needs to change what he is teaching.

           
Almighty God has a very high standard and he holds all people to that standard. This is not some kind of game that people are playing. This is not about little children playing doctor or playing church or playing school. This is reality and this is the power of the Creator of the universe and the power of the ruler of the universe. And they are not going to give responsibilities to someone, responsibility over nations or over cities unless that person can prove through a lifetime of service that he is absolutely loyal to his king.

           
This King, Almighty God: is not going to have lesser kings, people under him in authority who are going to sneak around and do whatever they feel like doing and judge his word on the basis of what they think is important. The King of the universe wants his instructions to be followed regardless of how we personally feel about them. And you know what, we may think something is not important but over time, we will come to realize that it is very, very important.

           
God knows what he is doing. He is wiser than us and he understands and knows what is going to work out to be the very best for us and for all of his children. God knows what he's doing. And if we want to become kings and priests under him, then we are going to have to prove to him that we are faithful and loyal not only in the big things but in the little things as well.

           
Chapter 13: Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby, some have entertained angels unawares.

           
Be full of God's love. God is love. And if you are a godly person, full of his spirit, you'll be filled with his love which means you will care about others and you'll translate that caring into action. You will help others as the need arises and as you are able.

           
Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them. Think of yourself as being in the same chains as the other is.  Remember them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the flesh.

           
Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. He will condemn.

           
Sex and marriage is for one man and one woman to become one flesh. And sexual activity is to be reserved for the marriage state. It is to be reserved for the union between a man and his wife. And what they do with each other is to cement them together as one flesh. And therefore, it should be actions which are full of love and of concern for the other, and should not be selfish. "Oh, you have got to do this for me because I want it." No. It's "What can I do for you?"

           
John Kennedy, perhaps said that very aptly when he said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, rather ask what you can do for your country" And that is true of marriage and that is true of any kind of godly relationship. It's not what others should be doing for us. It's how we can best serve others. That is the important thing.

           
Jesus Christ gave himself for his creation. We should remember that and consider that example and be willing to serve others. As it is said at Passover night, he washed the feet of the disciples to demonstrate to them not just humility but a life of service to one another.

           
In verse 5: Let your conversation or conduct be without covetousness, that is, selfishness and be content with such things as you have: for he has said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, the Eternal is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

           
Remember them that have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God. This is talking about those ministers who speak the word of God. It is not talking about those ministers who speak their own words. It is talking about those who teach the word of God, their faith follow considering the end of their conduct.

           
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever. God's character does not change. The character of Jesus Christ does not change. Christ said, "I have kept my Father's commandments." He will continue to keep his Father's commandments for he said, "If you have seen me, you've seen the Father.” We are one. We work together. We have the same attitude, the same approach, the same basic understanding and desires and we have the same basic will. We understand each other and we are in full, total, complete, absolute agreement with one another."

           
The Son keeps the Father's commandments and if he {Christ, the Son}, through God’s spirit is dwelling in you, he will be keeping the Father's commandments within you. The spirit of God cannot turn against God's commandments. By its very nature, it keeps God's commandments and it empowers you to do likewise if it is dwelling in you.

           
Be not carried about with various and strange teachings or doctrines: for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace and not with meat. Referring to meat offerings here and sacrifices, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. Remember Paul is writing to the Hebrews {Jews in Judea} here and the subject is the change in the priesthood, covenants and the sacrificial system}  

           
We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the physical tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. That is, the sin offering was taken and burned outside the tabernacle, outside the camp.

           
Verse 12: Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate, without the gate, outside the city. Let us go forth therefore unto him, outside or without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

           
That is, Jesus Christ was rejected from the city of Jerusalem, was rejected by those people of the Aaronic priesthood. He was rejected by the Aaronic priesthood. He was killed outside the city. Showing that he had nothing to do with those people and demonstrating that his priesthood, the priesthood of Melchizedek was to be a different, a separate, a new priesthood and yet a very old priesthood because his priesthood of Melchizedek actually predated the Aaronic priesthood.

           
For we seek a city to come. That is, new Jerusalem, the heavenly city.

           
Verse 15: By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.

           
Do not forget brethren to be grateful for the things that you have, even during times of poverty. Don't focus so much on your trials, on your troubles but rather focus on your calling and on the riches God has stored for you in his kingdom.

           
You have been called to become kings and priests forever. You have been called to eternal life. You need only submit to the Father and obey the commandments which bring life. He's not asking anything really difficult of you. He's just asking you to live a way which brings peace and harmony and life.

           
It is Satan's hatred of God and Satan's hatred of those ways which causes him to persecute those people who do keep the commandments of life. And it is not a burden to keep the commandments. The commandments are not a burden. They are light and easy as Jesus said, "My yoke is easy and my burden light."

           
The heavy burden, is the burden that Satan places upon you, trying to get you to be discouraged, to give up and to quit. Even the poorest among us, the sickest, the people who have the most problems have a tremendous amount to rejoice for. We need to keep our eyes on the future and on God's promises.

           
Verse 17: Obey them that have rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

           
Consider, you are to submit to those who are teaching you the word of God. You are to take what they say and judge it against the word of God. And if you find it consistent with God's word, and if you prove it to yourself out of God's word, then you should submit to that teaching and you are to submit to those teachers as godly teachers.

           
Now, consider the other side of that coin. If you are a teacher, be very, very sure that what you are teaching is out of the word of God, and that it is consistent with God's word and that you are doing it to profit and serve God's people.

           
If you think you're going to make people listen to you and you're going to be somebody and they're going to follow you and you're going to be some great personality, God's not interested in you and you're going to go quickly astray because you lack that key vital ingredient called: humility.

           
Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner. Now, the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant. Make you perfect in every good work to do his will.

           
Whose will? The Father's will. Working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation or listen to it and accept it: for I have written a letter unto you in few words. Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty. He has received his freedom, with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.

           
Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy greet you. Grace be with you all. Amen.

James David Malm copyright 2009