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Branch First Baptist Church

The Root

The Root

Hebrews 12:14-17

February 5, 2012 BFBC am

Intro: God’s Chastening leads us to what? The peaceable fruit of righteousness. What will this lead us to do?

I. Pursue Peace

A. Romans 14:19; Psalm 34:14

B. Who are we to pursue peace with? All. There are no exclusions. We are not limited by our own abilities or desires. The command is clear.

II. Pursue Holiness

A. See v. 10.

B. The thought here is that our sanctification is so essential. We are holy (positional), we will be completely holy (perfect holiness) but now we are being made holy (sanctified). This third aspect is the thought here. We have no part in positional or perfect holiness but we do have a role in practical, day by day, holiness. We must obey the Spirit and walk with God. If we do not, then we are not pursuing holiness.

C. Without this pursuit of God’s person, we will not see Him. Matt. 5:8; Titus 1:15 (to the pure...)

III. Don’t Fall Short of God’s Grace

A. We sing about God’s amazing grace but do we live in it? Do we give it as freely as we have received it? Do we forgive others who hurt us? If we fall short, miss the mark, of grace, notice what happens.

B. Whenever we are not living in grace, a root of bitterness begins to grow. Deut. 29:18. Eventually it will spring up. It will "cause trouble." MANY will be defiled. Do you see the importance of living in the grace of God? If you do not, many will be defiled. Your bad attitude will spread and touch others. You will be the source of defilement. You will be the rotten odor that permeates the entire room. Is that what you want?

C. Esau is given as an example of a "profane" man, that is, a man who is without God. He had no concern for spiritual things. He didn’t care the least about his spiritual heritage, his right as the firstborn to be God’s man. He let it all go for a bowl of soup. God give us men who will stand strong for God’s Word and the truth of who they are in Jesus.

D. Esau was a fleshly, natural man. He cried only after he had lost the blessing. He didn’t truly repent because if he had he would not have tried to murder his brother.

IV. See To It

A. There is such an emphasis on seeing, watching, looking. Go back to v. 2. Looking unto Jesus - that is the secret of living in the grace of God.

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Comments:

Theresa Palmertree

The sermon made me remember Matthew C 18 15 “If your brother or sister[a] sins,[b] go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’[c] 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be[d] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[e] loosed in heaven.

 19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Are these scriptures not related in a relationship being right with God? If not, what Chapter should I read next?

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