Harry Leafe points out in his book Running to Win (pg.41) that a believer deceived by the philosophies of this world can only be freed by God after careful administration of the Word (2 Tim 2:24-26). At what point does a believer cross into enemy territory and become captive?
The warning in Hebrews 3:12-15 is for doubting believers dangerously close to entering enemy territory. They are warned not to become hardened by sin's deception and become captives. Step 4 of "Remain True" advocates rededication to God rather than capitualtion to the enemy Satan.
What's at stake if one becomes deceived? Life as a prisoner, unable to do the works God prepared in advance in this life and subsequate loss of heavenly rewards (notice I didn't say salvation).
Obviously, the ancestors of the Hebrews had a negative reputation for hardening their hearts toward God. Ask members "How they want to be remembered?" My sense is that we Christians fail to take God seriously when it comes to impacting our priorities on Sunday, much less those during the week. Present the average attandance in your class as compared to the total membership. At what point do our priorities get so out of wack that we become dangerously close to being taken captive by the enemy?
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9 comments:
I just want to thank you for giving these object lessons, extra helps, etc. I am teaching a new class of single adults, the first class for singles ever in our church! I've taught college, youth, and adults over the years, but this is a new genre, so in some ways I feel like I'm just starting out again. So any help is appreciated! Since our lesson is about encouragement, I wanted to encourage you and thank you.
You are welcome! I appreciate you taking the time to encourage me. I'm sure you are a great teacher!
If anyone discovers some neat object lesson or illustration, please take time to post it here as a comment. It will help others!
Thanks again,
RW
I teach a class for young couples, all with young children. I intend to pass out some play-doh at the start of the class and ask the class members to make something that would make someone they love smile (As an example, a flower would make my daughter smile, and cars would make my son smile). After a few minutes, I will hand them each a rock and ask them to set the play-doh down and make the same thing with the rock. Then compare that with God creating everything and wanting to create a good work in us, but when we harden our hearts we don't allow him to use us as he intended.
Hey Ped, nice object lesson! BTW, to transform the rock to a plastic state requires a lot of heat. Heat is symbolic of trouble.
Keep up the good work!
And a great deal of pain, if you are the rock.
How would you explain to someone why a person would go forward during the invitation in worship service to "rededicate" his/her life? Isn't this like a couple faithfully married for years renewing their wedding vows? If you did it the first time and meant it, why the need to rededicate or renew vows? What explanation would you give?
Ethel,
If I understand your point, I might explain rededication (whether or not it's done during an invitation is not the issue) as a recommitment stemming from sanctification. We know that once God saves a person, sanctification begins. The Christian life is a growth process (eg. Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:22-24, and 2 Corinthians 3:18). Greater understanding develops as a person walks with God. It makes sense to me that someone might choose to renew their commitment as a believer in Jesus Christ based on greater understanding. The question is, does this explanation sense to you?
Hi dillon,
It would be interesting to see what others say, but I think Hebrews is a bit difficult since we are so removed from Judaism as practiced when the letter was written. Also, the Hebrew readers would have well understood the writer's references to the O.T.
But it is a very important text for us to study because if nothing else it is a primer on the elementary teachings of Christianity (see Heb 5:12). Pray that God's Spirit will enable us to understand it fully (1 Cor 2:10-13, Eph 4:11-16).
Hope this helps,
I personally understand the need for rededication. At the start of each day, we have the choice of remaining faithful to our committment, and this may be a form of rededication. Some people may choose to show publically their rededication in a worship service, especially after hearing a message that brings conviction and the need for repentance.
I am enjoying the study of the book of Hebrews and reading the OT scriptures the writer refers to. The writer was truly inspired and I thank God every day for His word. The writer obviously had quite a fund of OT knowledge. I was thinking on the ride home from work how Jesus chose fishermen and men from other vocations to be his disciples. They were not scholars or journalists, yet they were inspired to write firsthand what they saw and heard, and accepted this responsibility. Wonder if they gave any thought as to the impact their writings would have?
And maybe I shouldn't have thoughts like this, but I also wondered what women back then would have written had they been literate, and how it would be interesting to read a woman's firsthand account.
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