Enduring Opposition

Hebrews 12.1-11

We are exhorted to fix our eyes on Jesus in this scripture this morning. This is all important for running the race we are in. This means to turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on something. Many of these other things come under the umbrella of Money, Sex and Power.

In verse three we are told to Consider Him- think over, ponder specifically in reference to His "endurance in opposition to sinful men." He remained faithful to the Father. He could have called 10,000 angels to set Him free. He didn't flee when the crowds, the multitudes turned against Him. He bore bravely and calmly the horrible way He was treated.

1. Opposition Can We Wear Us Out And Cause Us To Lose Heart- v.3
The way to prevent this is not through "getting away from it all". It is not through some motivational program. Rather it is preventing by thinking over and pondering the example Jesus set for us.
He endured opposition.
*Don't look to be set free from opposition.
Life is a series of battles- all winnable through Christ who gives us strength.
*Don't fight- Stand firm!
That soldier Paul describes in Ephesians 6 did not charge, rather he stood his ground. He was admonished to stand firm.
There are many things which oppose our walk with the LORD- with keeping in step with Him.
1-Temptation to be great- All these will I give you if you will bow to down to me (Matthew 4.9)
2-The deceitfulness of riches
3-The illusion of pleasure
Your greatest pleasure as a follower of Jesus is in laying your life down at His feet and saying, "Here I am LORD, help yourself."
We are told how to look at opposition and difficulty.

2- Endure Hardship as Discipline- v.7
See opposition from sinful men, the temptations and the enticements as part of God's overall process and work to make us like Christ.
Discipline is a responsibility of Fatherhood.
Discipline is not just for disobedience, although it is that. It is for everything in life- work ethic, honesty, integrity, etc.
Discipline with money, time, etc.
None of us enjoys pain but sometimes, many times, we must endure it. And as we see in
verse 11:

3. Discipline is Not a Pleasant Experience Rather Painful- v.11
But the process of pain in a believer's life leads to glory. What answers to prayer in your life over the years do you recall the most? Many of these blessings were born out of pain.
The race we are in is marked out for us by Jesus and His life here on earth.
It leads us to where He is! Heaven!
He suffered. He endured opposition from sinful men.
In our lives opposition brings about "a harvest of righteousness for those who have been trained by it." The word "trained" is the Greek word gymnazo. It means to exercise in a vigorous way either the body or mind.

We are to look at opposition as a training to produce a harvest of the fruit of the Spirit. This harvest increases as the believer is pruned and shaped by the Father, Who is the Gardener.

Face opposition head on. Endure it. Realize it is painful but think about what it produces!