Hebrews 12:12-17

2. “Compromise
BreedsFailure”

3. Why are we losing?
•Most Super Bowl games are nothing
like the last one
•Most are one-sided with the final score
being a complete blow-out
•I wonder about the speech that the coach
must be giving the losing team in the
locker room at half time
•The study today is not unlike that speech

4. Why are we losing?
•They were “losing” because their
hearts were discouraged and their
heads were not in the “game”
•Some of these Hebrew Christians were
considering quitting altogether and going back
to Judaism– some were even hindered by
carnal behavior
•God always teaches us to stay in the fight and
NOT give the Devil a way to “win”

5. “12Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak
and the knees that are feeble, 13 and make straight
paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame
may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.
14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification
without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it
that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no
root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and
by it many be defiled; 16 that there be no immoral or
godless person like Esau, who sold his own
birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that

6. even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the
blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for
repentance, though he sought for it with tears.”
Hebrews 12:12-17, NASB

7. A. Back in the race
•Vs 12-13, after a little re-cap from
last week, the Author inspires us
to get back in the race

8. “11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be
joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been
trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit
of righteousness. 12Therefore, strengthen the
hands that are weak and the knees that are
feeble…”
Hebrews 12:11-12, NASB

9. A. Back in the race
•Vs 11-13, Quick re-cap of the last
two weeks
•In v1, the author exhorts us to run
with endurance
•In v2, he tells us to fix our eyes on
Jesus while we are running
•In v3, he reminds us of the race that Jesus ran ahead
of us, so that we don’t grow weary
•Vv 4-11, he tells us to endure God’s loving chastening
•Now in v12-13, the author inspires us to get back in
the race. (Drill Sgts)

10. B. Pursue Peace
•Vs 14, two things we are
commanded to do here…

11. “14 Pursue peace with all men, and the
sanctification without which no one will
see the Lord.”
Hebrews 12:14, NASB

12. B. Pursue Peace
•Vs 14, two things we are
commanded to do here…
1. Pursue peace with all people
• Paul Said in Romans 12:18, “As much
as is possible for you, live peaceably
with all men.”
•Golden Rule
•No revenge, turn the other cheek

13. B. Pursue Peace
2. Pursue Sanctification
• NIV uses the word holiness
• The Greek word is ‘hagiasmos’
• Its literal translation is “consecration,
purification, sanctification of heart and life”
•Shouldn’t we be Holy?
•Yes, but sanctification means we should be “set
apart” in our daily lives (set apart from wordliness”

14. C.ThreeWarnings
•Vs 15-17, the Author gives us three
warnings about playing with
worldliness and failing to set
ourselves apart from the world

15. “15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of
God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes
trouble, and by it many be defiled; 16 that there be no
immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his
own birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that
even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the
blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for
repentance, though he sought for it with tears.”
Hebrews 12:15-17, NASB

16. C.ThreeWarnings
•Vs 15-17, the Author gives us three
warnings about playing with
worldliness and failing to set
ourselves apart from the world

17. C.ThreeWarnings
1. Don’t let anyone come short of
Grace
• If we somehow think we have to
think like the world, or act like them
to fit in, we shortchange ourselves
of the wonderful Grace of God!
2. Don’t let bitterness take “root” in
your heart– if you’ve been wronged
through assault, divorce, etc…

18. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun
go down on your wrath, nor give place to the
devil.”
Ephesians 4:26-27, NIV

19. C.ThreeWarnings
3. Don’t be like Esau
• Who is Esau? He was a twin
brother of the conniving Jacob
•Though he was the first born of their
father Isaac, the Lord set the
birthright for the younger son Jacob
•Isaac wanted to give Esau the birthright,
against God’s will
•Esau despised his birthright…

20. Take Home!
1. Before you compromise in the
next step worldly behavior,
think about Jesus dying for you
2. Before you compromise in the
next step worldly behavior,
think about how the
consequences will affect your
friends and family