Lord’s Day Message: Hebrews 12
Bible Verses: (ESV)
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.
18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken–that is, things that have been made–in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
Next Topics: The Transformation of Christians
Church Meetings/Time/Place
Home Meeting: 20/10 Mon. Cancelled
Young Professionals Meeting:
28/10 Tue. 7:30pm, Meeting Hall
Sister meeting: 29/10 Wed. 10:00am, Anne’s
Prayer Meeting:29/10 Wed. 7:30pm, Meeting Hall
Pursuing of Words: 31/10 Fri. 8:00pm, David’s
Young People Meeting/Pursuing for Adults：1/11 Sat. 7:30pm, Meeting Hall
Announcements:
- We welcome all the new ones who are joining us today and hope that you can leave your information for us to contact you in the future.
- The spending of food for the conference was $2,570, please have the financial offering before the Lord.
The monthly expenses and offerings of the church is shown on the board. Please also remember this before the Lord.
- The church plans to have a gospel meeting of hymns in the morning of December 21. The main topic will be God’s love. We hope many brothers and sisters can begin to prepare.
- The church plans to have a visiting of churches in mainland China on November 17-21. If brothers and sisters have desire to join, please fellowship with brothers Richard Chen or Yulin Wang for details.
<Reminder>
- During the meeting, please turn off your mobile phone or put the volume on silence.
- When you prepare the love feast for Lord’s Day lunch, please do not prepare any food containing nuts that someone may have food allergy. After the love feast, please remember to bring back your plates.
Intercession:
- May our Lord lead us into a fresh church life after the conference that brothers and sisters can have more vivid gathering and more supporting and building up of each other.
- Pray for the gospel friends among us, especially the young people and our family members, so that our Lord can open their hearts to see God’s salvation and be willing to receive the Lord and become the member in God’s family.
- Pray for the year 11 and 12 young people among us that they can experience the Lord’s grace and receive His wisdom and guidance for their future in the HSC.
- Pray for the brothers and sisters who are weak in body or spirit. May the Lord care for them and give them grace. Pray especially for the health of Sister Da-Nan Lu.
Serving Today: (Oct. 26)
- Sharing: Thomas Wu & Yulin Wang
- Breaking the Bread: Shanwon Chow & Patrick Li
Serving Bread and Cup: Patrick Li, Jason Wang & Stven Wang
- Pianist: Hannah Cui
- Cleaning: Brett & Linda Family, Jack Lee, Sean Dong & Wei Qiong Family, Lisa Tao Family, Margret Yang
Serving Next Week: (Nov. 2)
- Sharing: Yulin Wang
- Breaking the Bread: Richard Chen & Thomas Wu
Serving Bread and Cup: Paul Yang, Sean Dong & Jack Lee
- Pianist: Nelson Chen
- Cleaning: Raymond & Lucy Family, Thomas & Lena, Ferry & Inda Family, Michael & Mandy Family, Yulin & Jessica Family
Excerpts of Spiritual Books
Once a man is saved, God puts him into a race. The entire Christian life is a race. This race is not for obtaining eternal life. On the contrary, only those who already have eternal life are qualified to run the race. At the end of the race, some will receive a crown, while others will not receive a crown (1 Cor. 9:24-25). …
After a man is saved, God puts him in a race which is aimed directly at the kingdom. All his words, conduct, thoughts, living, and everything about him have to do with whether or not he will obtain the kingdom in the future. Those who do not join the race have judged themselves unworthy of obtaining the kingdom. Those who do not run the race properly have delayed their obtaining of the kingdom. God has already put every Christian on this way. Whether or not we will obtain the kingdom depends on us. Our abandon, consecration, faithfulness, and victory will make us those that receive the crown. But those who desire the world and walk according to their flesh will see that although they have eternal life through the Lord Jesus, the kingdom of heaven is still not theirs. …
Sin is the greatest hindrance to our progress. Sin causes a runner to lose his qualification. Sin is a violation. A violator will not be allowed to run the race but will be taken out of the race.
We should put aside and reject all the known sins. Envy, pride, filthiness in the heart, lies in the mouth, impatience in our disposition, and debauchery of lusts will all disqualify us from being a runner. Disqualified runners will not be able to enter into the kingdom of heaven or to reign with the Lord Jesus. Believers must stand upon Romans 6:6 and 6:11 and must reckon themselves to be dead to sin. At the same time, we must also reject sin and not allow it to have dominion over us; we should present our members as weapons of righteousness unto God. We have to thoroughly confess, repent, and renounce all our offenses before God and seek His forgiveness. We cannot run the race set before us with an accusing conscience. We should not have any sin that has not been denied and that leaves a prolonged guilty conscience within us. If we have offended anyone, we should confess to him properly. If we owe someone any material thing, we should repay him according to our ability. We should not have any offense against anyone that has not been dealt with. Do not be afraid of losses and do not be afraid of losing face. Otherwise, we will not be able to run the race.
Consider again the words, “put away every encumbrance [weight].” What is a weight? A weight is not necessarily a sin nor something very bad. But it is something which easily besets us. If we do not remove the sin, we will lose our qualification in the race. However, if we do not lay aside our weight, even if we are qualified to run, we will not run fast. Have we ever seen a person running with his leather coat and his jacket on? Anything that hinders us from running fast or advancing forward is a weight. … Weight is not sin; in many cases, it may even be something legal. But it is still a weight and will reduce our speed in going forward. Perhaps our weight is a friendship which we cannot give up, a position which we are pursuing, a little bit of worldly ambition, a pleasant house, a bowl of delicious food, or a beautiful dress. Although these things and thousands of other things are not sin, they will hinder us from running in a fast way.(Watchman Nee)
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