Every Benefit Is By The Saving Grace Of God

Hebrews 12:1-2 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, Vs.2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (the Creator).

This has been taught, that above us is a great cloud of people watching us.

I once heard an elder at Redeemer Church say they are watching us and cheering us on. That didn’t set right with Jarvis although that was part of his doctrine; all these folks up in heaven. He said, well they’re somewhere. Copeland said when the Lord went down to hell and triumphed over them he took all the saints that were in hell and took them up to heaven. That didn’t make sense. There are three words for hell and we’ll get into that sometime.

This cloud is not talking about a bunch of folks up in heaven watching us, cheering us on and praying for us. The dead are not interceding for us. The dead are dead and know nothing. It means a group of people that have a witness of the greatness of the Lord.

Mary is dead and knows nothing. She’s not up there watching us. As much wrong that goes on in the body of Christ why would you want to think your mom, dad, or church people are up there watching you?

When the Lord sent me to Capitol Hill in North Carolina I was in a church parking lot and saw a woman at her car. She was a professor. I started talking to her about healing. Her sister was sick. She feels she is the one that healed her sister because she has powers from her dead mother. This is demonic because they think the dead are helping them.

The church backs it up that dead loved ones are up there watching you and praying for you. The Methodist church said they are going to restudy the role of Mary in the church. This is necromancy.

Hebrews12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Otherwise you have to put up with stuff. Look beyond what you’re going through now. Look to the joy in the future. Pick up your stake or pole and crucify yourself and follow Jesus.

Hebrews 12:4-13 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Vs.5 And ye 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: Vs.6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.  Vs.7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? Vs.8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Vs.9 Futhermore 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 spirts, and live? Vs.10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Vs.11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised (trained) thereby. Vs.12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; Vs.13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

I’ve prayed this a number of times. My knees were falling out of the sockets. I could hear them when I walked but He fixed them.

Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Vs.15 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;

I’ve seen where people have struggled in faith and not get where they want to go. Then they’re in bitterness. Others see that person struggling and say it can’t be true because they were standing and standing and standing and God didn’t do anything. Bitterness gets in there. I’ve told you before how I felt like I was down here doing everything right and He was up there doing nothing.  We have to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. I like thinking about Sarah because she’s listed in the eleventh chapter as a hero of faith yet she messed up; but she got up and moved on. She made a mess and had Abraham produce a baby by her handmaiden which has caused a bunch of problems.  Yet she got her act together. You can get knocked down but get back up.

Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest an man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

We are saved by grace. We are made whole by grace. We have saving health by grace. We have deliverance. Every benefit is by the saving grace of God.

Some people say He doesn’t hear sinner’s prayers. Yet I’ve seen people that aren’t born again pray and get answers. So many followers of Christ are so dependent on how they do everything right. They got baptized right, they do this right and that right. They got so right they missed the grace of God. God says it’s not because you’re so right. It’s because of My goodness. That’s what we have to depend on. We’re expected to walk in holiness and the righteousness He gave us; not that we’ve obtained it by our own strength.

Paul talked about his own flesh.

1 Corinthians 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

He always had trouble with it. When he said he beat it, he means like a boxer. The Romans had leather gloves with spikes in them. He disciplined his body so that his spiritual man would overcome his carnal man; so that his spiritual man would live in Christ. It’s only reasonable you act like you have good sense.

Let us walk in our reasonable service and trust in grace. Fight, contend and struggle for the faith delivered to the saints.