Don’t Choose the Stew

—Hebrews 12:14–24

  • Andrew Fountain – May 4, 2025

 
 
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Hebrews 13:9 & 12:13

  1. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings,
    for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace,
    not by food issues, which have not benefited those devoted to them.
  2. and make straight paths for your feet,
    so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but be healed.

Hebrews 6

  1. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

Hebrews 12 & 13 “Straight Paths”

  1. and make straight paths for your feet...
  2. Pursue peace with everyone...
  3. Let brotherly love continue.
  4. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
  5. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.
  6. …Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Heb 4 – Rest in Jesus’s strength

  1. For the person who has entered his rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from his.
  2. Let us, then, make every effort to enter that rest...

Heb 13 – The Power for Spiritual Growth

  1. Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,
  2. equip you with everything good
    that you may do his will,
    working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ,
    to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Structure of Hebrews

✓✓ Jesus! his throne is forever and ever 1:5–14
warn Pay attention to what you hear, don’t drift away 2:1–4
smiley Brothers & sisters of Jesus, living in his victory 2:5–18
hand Therefore: fix your thoughts on Jesus 3:1
warn O.T. warning—don’t follow negative examples 3:2–4:13
heart Approach God’s throne with confidence—find grace 4:14–16
snow New High Priest after order of Melchizedek 5–7:28
snowsnowsnow The point of what we’re saying: New Covenant 8
snow A New way to God and a New sacrifice 9:1-10-18
heart Draw near to God with sincere heart, full assurance 10:19–25
warn O.T. —be inspired by positive examples 10:26–39,11
hand Therefore: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus 12:1–2
smiley God’s sons and daughters! live in New Covenant 12:3–24
warn Don’t refuse him who’s speaking and turn away 12:25
✓✓ Jesus! The same yesterday, today and forever 13:1–20

Don’t Choose the Stew

  1. Last time: Rest in Jesus strength so you can do all this
  2. Esau’s choice
  3. Our choice

The story of Esau
gives a vivid picture
to bring you clarity
in life’s choices.

Hebrews 12:14–15

  1. Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord.

Our Holiness

  • 100% commitment to God because he is 100% committed to us
  • For us to be holy is to be God’s treasured possession.
  • But we belong to him for a purpose, and that is to reflect his goodness, love & truth to the universe
  • So we dedicate our lives to that

Hebrews 12:14–15

  1. Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord. See to it:
  2. that no one comes short of the grace of God,
    that no one be like a bitter root springing up and causing trouble, and through him many become defiled.
  3. that no one becomes an immoral or unholy person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. 17(For you know that later when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance, although he sought the blessing with tears.)

Deuteronomy 29:16–19

Don’t Choose the Stew

  1. Last time: Rest in Jesus strength so you can do all this
  2. Esau’s choice
  3. Our choice

Hebrews 12:18–21

  1. For you have not come
    • to something that can be touched,
    • and to a burning fire
    • and to darkness
    • and to gloom
    • and to a whirlwind19
    • and to the blast of a trumpet
    • and to a voice uttering words such that those who heard begged to hear no more.
  2. (For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”
  3. In fact, the scene was so terrifying that Moses said, “I shudder with fear.”)

Hebrews 12:22–24

  1. But you have come
    • to Mount Zion
    • and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem
    • and to myriads of angels24
    • and to the feast-gathered assembly of the firstborn sons & daughters, who are enrolled in heaven
    • and to God, the judge of all
    • and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made fully perfect,24
    • and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant
    • and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abel’s did.

The story of Esau
gives a vivid picture
to bring you clarity
in life’s choices.

Challenge: Are you an Esau?

  • You value the visible more than the invisible—it smells so good!
  • What is the stew in your life?
  • Are you coming short of all you could have of God’s grace, simply because you are not taking the gift
  • Challenge to both Christians and non-Christians!