The Courage to Go On

This is North Way tape number 547. This message, the first in a series on the book of Hebrews, was delivered by Pastor Jay Passavant of North Way Christian Community on Sunday morning, September 28, 1986. I always marvel at the people that come to North Way, particularly those of you who are new, and I recall at different times speaking with ones of you who have come who have really no idea what the Bible is all about. I remember talking with one group of people one time that didn't know the difference between what the Old Testament said and what the New Testament said. They weren't sure which part came first. That's how basic their Bible knowledge was. And yet, most of us here would probably say that we've heard about the Israelites and their wandering in the old wilderness as they parted through the Red Sea and then went on their way. How many of you have heard the story of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness? Anybody? Most of you. If you went to Sunday school, that was one of the favorites, right? And you go through, and the Israelites went out, and they moved about. And God met them at that time, and things happened. But it's so easy to make that an irrelevant application or an irrelevant analogy to our life today. And yet, you know, the Bible says, listen to this, don't turn it, but listen to 1 Corinthians 10, talking about Moses and the cloud and the sea and the man that came down. Listen to verse 6, 1 Corinthians 10, 6. Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil, the evil things as they did. These things are written as examples to keep us from doing the same evil things that the Israelites did. So all those images and all those stories are there, so you won't do the same thing, Mike. And you won't do the same thing, Sherry, and I won't do the same things. God's written those for us. But I keep struggling, well, Lord, give me something tangible to make this analogy fit together for the church. How does the church see itself? As a wandering band, sojourners. The New Testament calls us aliens and strangers, sojourners. In a land that we don't belong. Do you feel like you don't belong where you are sometimes? Lord, why am I still around here? My citizenship, the Bible says, is in heaven. Well, just the other day, the Lord gave me a wonderful illustration of what He meant when He gave us the Old Testament picture of the wandering Israelites and how it applies to the church today. Now, I know I have to be very careful about using analogies in the park anymore. If you were here last week, I was duly corrected. You don't want to hear any more stories about my friend that goes in the park with me, so I'll leave my friend out of this. But you're not going to hear any stories about playing racquetball with Mackie, either. So, that's going to work both ways. But I happened to be over in North Park on Tuesday of this week, and it was raining and drizzly, and as I turned the corner to where I normally start my activity with my friend, my eyes were just taken. I saw this long caravan of tractor-trailers all painted in white and blue, and I saw scores, and probably hundreds and hundreds of little colorful tents all pitched around Pi Trainer Field in North Park, some in the woods, some under pavilions, and there were mobs of people, and I'd never seen this in all the years of trooping over there with my friend. And I had... I was really taken aback by it, and then I noticed, as I started getting closer and running past, I saw on the side of these trucks, the Great Peace March has come to Pittsburgh. How many of you have heard about the Great Peace March? Okay, most of you were awake this week at all. The media let us know that the Great Peace March was here in town. And this group of six or seven hundred people are crossing the country. They're a wandering band on a journey to Washington, D.C., where they're going to arrive in November with a mission. And their mission, beloved, their mission is to bring total nuclear disarmament. They want all the arms, the nuclear arms, to be laid down in the world. A worthy mission, one I would agree with. They're on a journey, and they have a mission. Now, this group of people was really something to look at. I mean, first of all, it was an incredible anachronism. They looked so out of place, driving 67 Volkswagen vans, and really, the big peace sign things. This stuff that's 60s and 70s for most of us. And yet, they were convinced. And you know, this thing was organized. I mean, they had the Great Peace March preschool bus. They had, you know, the food wagons. They had the Great Peace March special maintenance vehicle. I mean, they had it all organized. They were doing their thing. And it was wet. And I mean, it was ugly. And it was raining. And people didn't look all that cheery about being there. But they were fairly friendly considering the circumstances. And I said, Lord, that's such a picture of the church. Wet. Kind of spread out. But on a journey toward a mission. And I began to just think through all the applications. People sacrificing their securities and all their identities so that they might do the very thing that was most on their heart. And that is take a message that we've got to lay down our arms and bring peace. The church, you see, has a message. And the message is that Jesus Christ has come to bring reconciliation, to bring peace between God and man, and man to man. The church also is on a journey. We're going from one place to another. But just like that band of travelers, we encounter all kinds of obstacles, all kinds of resistances, all kinds of judgments. You know, I could see somebody in an ultra-radical right-winger going through that group and just ripping them to shreds and judging them for their clothes and all that kind of stuff. I could see people just saying, you're irrelevant. What do you mean? And you see, to them, the mission was clear. Their journey was the most important thing. And they'd given up their lifestyles to take care of it. And the Lord just so spoke to my heart. He said, Son, remember that my people wandered in the desert for forty years waiting to receive that which I had promised to give them, the Promised Land. Beloved, it was through rebellion, it was through indifference, it was through murmuring that the Israelites did not move in to the Promised Land. You read the incredible story of how these children of Israel in the presence of the miracle-working God continued day by day to clamor and murmur and find fault and criticize until finally one day God said, you can read it in Numbers 14.23, that's it! No more! You said with your own mouth that you're going to die in the desert? Then you will. And a whole generation died in the desert. A whole generation was lost. Now understand my heart when I say it can happen right now in the New Testament church. We can be just like those Israelites. We can say, well listen, we're out of bondage but we're not in a very good state right now. We don't have the things that we need. I just don't want to keep moving on. I just like it here. I just like that seat right there, Bill. I just want to go to this one service and don't bother me with anything else. How many of us know that there are a lot of churches that have encamped themselves at one particular point and that's where they've been for 50 years. They've never moved one inch closer to the purposes of God. They've never changed their order of worship. They've never once, because they've encamped at a place where once they met God. Beloved, we can run the risk of the same judgment of God that those Israelites did. If we allow the voice of the Lord to be overruled by our murmuring, our complaining, our fighting against His purposes. Now, in the book of Hebrews we're going to see some things that I believe will change us because God gave us the book of Hebrews to give us a message and here it is. The message is that we can find the courage to go on from this point. We can find in the book of Hebrews a word of encouragement to go on in God and to know Him more deeply and to fulfill His purpose in our life like we never have. You see, beloved, there's too many of us here this morning who've been wandering in the wilderness of the same spiritual experience that we had five years ago. There are too many here in the church today that are wandering in a desert of dryness spiritually. And if you were really honest today, you're only here because somehow you knew it was something you ought to do more than something you really wanted to do. There are so many who tell me about a barrenness in your life where you don't see any provision and it's a wilderness for you. There are others who say, well, my life's so fruitless, Jay. I mean, if I were to ask you what your ministry is, you'd say, well, I don't know. I'm a good person. I love to hold little babies. I had someone tell me that one time. That was their ministry, was to hold little babies. And I said, well, that's great. But just think what God might want to do through you to train others to raise up a ministry to care to love. You see, God wants fruitfulness. How many of you know that the Bible says that he who bears no fruit, God throws into the fire. We're here to bear fruit. That's our purpose. And I know, and I believe that you know, too, that God has a destiny for your life. You wouldn't be at North Way. You'd be at someplace that's safe. You wouldn't put up with everything you put up with, waiting to get in, walking through the mud. All that happens around here, if you knew that you could go anywhere else. But God's brought you here to find your destiny. Now this book of Hebrews, you see, beloved, is a practical word. I know that I look at the book of Hebrews and I say, well, gee, this is really heavy stuff. You start getting into Hebrews 8 and 9 and all this stuff about shadows and all this stuff about the old forms and all this and what it means. And you say, well, I don't understand that. Well, you see, Paul had a very specific purpose in mind. And this book is a practical word of encouragement to you to give you the courage to go on and take your next step in God, to take your next step in Jesus. Last spring we had the opportunity to take our family down to Disney World for the first time and a few weeks before we picked up one of those I still didn't get his name right. Birnbaum or something like that. Guidebooks. Mike Hirschbaum or something like that. What is his name? Steve what? Steve Birnbaum. Anyhow, it was a great book. Had all the stuff in it about Disney World. All these diagrams, all these pictures. We got excited. We kind of planned out our trip and all the things that we were going to see there. And then we finally got down there and we even remembered to bring the book with us so we wouldn't have to buy another one. Got to visit all those sites, you know, just Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Motel Land and all this stuff, you know. And it was really being there and seeing it all, you realize that as good as the book was, it just didn't begin to do justice to what it was talking about. And when we came back we had the opportunity to sit down with a few folks and take that book and tell them what really that book was trying to say because we'd been there to see it. Do you understand what I'm saying? We had a chance to show them and describe to them, well here it was talking about Epcot Center and all these beautiful countries they're representing. But we could tell them about the intricacy of all the designs and all that stuff. You see, the more we described it, the more the book made sense. Well beloved, the book of Hebrews is just like that. You see, Jesus is the goal of the book of Hebrews. And those of us who know Jesus can come back to the book now through the eyes of Jesus and really see what it's talking about. You see what I'm saying? We know Jesus through the scriptures, but we also know the scriptures through Jesus. And that's my goal, as I teach through, not expositionally, but through different portions of Hebrews, that you'll know Jesus more and that through Jesus, you'll know more of His Word. How do we go on? Where do we find the courage to take one more step in God? Well the very first thing we've got to do, beloved, is to recognize our need. Now we have a little overhead if you want to write down that first point. We want to recognize that we have a need. Who was Paul writing to when he wrote the book of Hebrews? ... Hello. The Jews in Jerusalem, right? Writing to the Jews in Jerusalem, saying, Folks, I've got a word for you. I've got a word for you who are living in Jerusalem. In Acts chapter 20, let me tell you the kind of people that were getting this book. Here's what he was, here's the kind of audience he was writing to. This is the disciples that met Paul when he returned to Jerusalem. He says, ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Pharisees, who were the skilled, learned ones in the law, and then the priests, who were the ones who led the sacrifices. Acts 15 tells us a number of Pharisees received, and Acts 6 tells us that the priests received Jesus. But listen, they all were mixing their old faith with their new faith. They were mixing their old form with their new relationship. They were still living in the old, even though they'd received the new. And it was creating a stir, opposition to the message. Beloved, do you hear what God's saying to us in that today? There are many among us who are holding on to the old. The old form, the old religion, the old church. The old doctrine. Well, God wants to bring the new in. He wants the Messiah to come. He wants wholeness to be birthed. He wants the fullness of Christ, but we'll never receive it as long as we're holding on to the old. Now, I could be real specific here, but I don't need to be, unless the Holy Spirit makes it alive to you. But there are people who come to this church and say to me, Do I need to leave my old church? And what they're really saying is, I like what I see here, because it does something inside of me. I had someone say that in the first service to me. But I don't know if I can leave the old. What will those old leaders say? What will my family say? And we all face a monumental decision, beloved, every one of us. Will we take God? Will we take Jesus? Will we take fullness, or will we mix it with the old? Will we hang on to the old customs? The old traditions? The old ways? And unless we see our need for this, I pray to God you're hearing me this morning, because what I'm saying to you is, we will not take our next step. We won't have the courage to go on, unless we see how much we've mixed the old with the new. I had a very dear friend, some years ago, I haven't seen him for a number of years now, who was close to me, in the church. Had a ministry in the church. Spent time in my home. But he had a problem. And his problem was his sexual orientation. And he tried to deal with it. And he tried to get help. But he would not cut himself off from the influences of his old life. He would not leave the old, and embrace the new. He would not turn his back on the old habits, and receive the new life. And in the end, the old began to consume the new. And how many of you know a little leaven? Leaven's the whole one. How many know a little of the old practices? A little of the old relationship? A little of the old stuff? The old pornography? Leaven's the whole lot. Church, hear me when I say to you, we've got to be honest with God and recognize our need. We need to say to God, Lord, I need the new. I need to be pure. I need to be holy. I need the undiluted truth of your word in my life. You won't have the courage to go on. Satan will rip you apart if you mix your old life with your new life in Christ. And you'll get spit out, just as my dear brother did. And I say that with tremendous remorse, and a great commitment to pray for him almost every day that he is restored in his faith. You see, there's a warning in Hebrews chapter 3. Turn there, would you? Look at it. In all this encouragement, there's a warning, and here it is. 3.12 See to it, my brothers, listen to the appeal of Paul, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. For we have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly, till the end, the confidence we had at first. If you're to have the courage to take your next step, beloved, see. See the need to keep your heart soft. The second thing we need to do is to see reality and not representation. We need to see realities and not just the representation. Now, the Bible says that the laws of God were shadows. Listen to Hebrews 10.1 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming, not the realities themselves. A shadow represents something else. If the sun ever comes out this week, and begins to set in the late afternoon behind a tall stand of trees, what will you see? In front of those trees, Paul. Up in your woods, by your cabin. What would you see if the sun went down behind a stand of trees? You'd see the shadow falling, right? You'd see those shadows. Beautiful pine trees, and now with the leaves. Beloved, the shadow isn't the reality. It's a representation. Some time ago, I was invited to go to a play. And I remember clearly, it was a rather small theater. And I was waiting for the introduction of the prime character. And in this small theater, you could see some things. It wasn't all perfectly, professionally done. And as the house lights went down, the stage lights went down, behind the actor who was in the wings, a bright light was shining. I expect it was just where they were preparing to come out and so on. And the bright light behind this actor cast his shadow right onto the floor of the stage. And I could see that he was holding in his hand a long instrument, a sword or a spear. I can't remember what it was. And it was sort of an exciting moment. The drama was building because the prime actor was coming out on this stage. And though you couldn't see him, you could see his shadow. But beloved, when he came out, the shadow didn't matter. It was the reality that mattered. And Paul is saying to these Jewish believers, Leave this shadow. Go on to the reality. Leave this shadow. Go on to the substance. Colossians 2.17 says. What is the shadow of our Christian life? What are the shadows that we live in? Now, the shadows that I understand Paul to be talking about are places where we have taken legalism for liberty. Where we have taken detail and line by line kind of thinking for the reality of God's presence. How many of you went to churches that, quote, believed the Bible, but had no life in them? A number of your heads are shaking. You see, it isn't just the Word. It's the Word and the Spirit. The shadow Christian life is a life of good intentions, but no follow through. The shadow Christian life is a life of promises, but no power. A life of songs, but no heart for worship. A life of giving, but no joy in receiving. A life of bearing up, but no breakthrough. Am I talking to anybody? A life of activity. Activity. Activity. But emptiness. Inside you're empty. You're going to meetings. You might even be leading a ministry, but inside it's just a shadow. You're empty, and you need God. You need the reality of Him. Someone said, aren't you afraid of burning out? Beloved, there is such a thing as burnout in the Christian life. But my opinion is that burnout comes when the fire that's burning in you is your fire. Because when it's God's fire, it doesn't burn out. And this shadow Christian life is a life that burns on the fuel of your own fire, your own zeal, but not God's fire. I want to be a person that's burning with the fire of God, don't you? I want the substance of God to be alive in me. The third and final thing that we need to have the courage to go on is simply this. And I'm going to develop this more in a couple of weeks. It's to learn to receive encouragement. To receive encouragement. Now you see, the book of Hebrews is a book of encouragement. I've already told you that. Listen to Hebrews 13, verse 22. And I said Paul, didn't I? I was the author, and some of you didn't even shake your head. Well, no one really has proven it, but that is the preferred understanding, that Paul is the author. In fact, who has the King James Version of the Bible today? What does it say in your introductory paragraph there, John, about the author? Do you have an introductory sheet to the book? What does it say, the very first? It says, the epistle of Paul, the apostle. That is, I think, the preferred understanding. As I said in the first service, the reason I believe that is not just because the King James translator said that, but because it has Paul's accent. The book bears the mark. This is how Paul would speak to a people. He doesn't mention his name, but I believe it was Paul. How many of you can tell where someone comes from by the way they speak? There are some folks here from the South. And we know the ones that are from the South. Right, Jerry? And we love that accent, and we can distinguish Jerry anywhere because of her warm accent. Well, Paul's accent is on this epistle, if you ask me. Now, what does he say in Hebrews 13.22? He says, Brothers, I urge you to bear with my word of parakaleo, that's the Greek, encouragement, for I have written you only a short letter. How would you like to get a short letter of 13 chapters and 25 pages? John, I'm going to shoot off a little note of encouragement to you. 13 chapters long. It's a letter of encouragement. All through it we see, encourage one another, lift one another up. And here it is, church. Hebrews 10.25 Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the day approaching. Beloved, I see the day approaching. Can I have an amen to that? I see the day of God approaching. I am not buying into the idea that it's just going to get better and better and better. I just don't believe that. I believe that we are in a grace period of God. And whether or not Pat Robertson gets elected, whether or not we have congressmen and senators that are believers, I'm for Christians taking place in the system, but I don't believe that that's the way the kingdom of God is going to come. And the day of God will come. A day of great judgment on the earth. But as I see it approaching, here's what I'm going to do. Well, I'm going to not give up meeting together. Now tonight, at 7 o'clock, we're going to meet together all around this city. There are groups meeting everywhere to encourage, would you put it up again please, to encourage one another to receive the grace of God. I'm saying, Lord, when my home group meets, I want life to come. I want there to be a flow of life. Not just a ritual, not just a religious meeting, but life. Ministry. Hands being laid. Prophecy being given. The word of God being spoken. Do you want that? Do you want to encourage one another? As you see the day approaching. The Great Peace March will end November the 13th when they arrive in Washington, D.C. But do we really believe that those people will consider themselves a success just because they make it to D.C.? What is the goal of the Great Peace March? I already told you. Complete, total, global, nuclear disarmament. Beloved, hear this last sentence. Our goal as a church is not just to make it to heaven. Our goal is not just simply to hang on until Jesus comes back. Our goal is to see the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our God and of his Christ. We will not be satisfied until every creature has heard the gospel. Until every person that we encounter knows that God loves them and they have a choice to receive. But it requires you to take your next step of faith. Wherever you are, God is saying to you today, take the next step. Have the courage to do it. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, right now, Father God, I believe that you're imparting a vision, Lord, of the next step of faith that many are going to be taking. Oh Lord, and I know that Hebrews is going to come alive to us as we see your provision for the next step, Father God. What you've given us to go on in Christ. We glorify you, Lord. We thank you that because Jesus Christ sat down at the right hand of the Father who is in heaven, that we too, Lord God, have a provision born in heaven. Lord, I just pray today for the courage to take my next step of faith. For my courage to go on. That we as a church can be all that you want us to be. You're so worthy. Glory to your holy name. Blessed be your name. I just wonder today, who's here that you know God is saying it's time for you to take another step of faith. God has been ministering to you even as I've preached this morning or something was done in your prayer circle, maybe just during the week. The Lord was ministering saying my son, my daughter, it's time for you to take your next step of faith. Time to leave that old rut you've been in and go on. Today you're hearing the Lord say it's time to go on and you want to do that. I just want to agree with those of you who would say that this morning. Just raise your hand and say it's time for me to go on and I know it. Okay, yes, yes. All right, many of you are raising your hand and I praise God for that. I want to agree with each one of you. I want to agree with each one of you. You want the courage to go on today. You need a release from God to do that. Is that what you're saying? Those of you that just raised your hand, stand up to your feet. Just those of you who raised your hand. Yes, brother, I'm going to agree with each one of you. You have the courage to stand in God. Hallelujah, Father. Now, Lord God, I just declare by the grace that's in me through Jesus Christ, my Lord, that these who are standing, particularly, Lord God, will begin to receive a fresh anointing of grace, Lord, and courage to face the enemy, God, and take their next step to rise up, O Father, and to become strong and victorious in the very areas, Lord, where they've been suffering and held back and discouraged, Lord. We speak release and deliverance to them, Lord. We speak blessing and encouragement to them, Lord. In the holy name of Jesus, I believe that from this moment, Lord, to be loose toward them. Glory to God. Let's stand alongside of them as a symbol of our encouragement as we sing this. You sat down at the right hand of the Father in majesty. You sat down at the right hand of the Father in majesty. You are God, Lord of all. You are faithful and righteous and true. You are my Savior, You are my Savior, and I am still with You. Beloved, I know this morning that for some of you, the next step is your first step. It's your first step today. I'm talking to some people today that know that you want a relationship with God. You sense something here in this place, the love of God, and you know you want that in your life. You may be visiting for the first time, maybe you've been coming for months, but something's held you back, and today you're saying, God, I know I need You. I'm tired of playing games. I don't want the religious forms. I don't want the shadows anymore. I want the substance of God. I want the real thing, God. I want all that you have for me. I want Jesus to be alive in my life. I want that. Now listen to me. I'm going to do something different today. I believe God wants to give that life to some people. I believe He really wants to give it to some people today. As we sing this chorus one more time, if that's what you want, you say, I really want that. I'm going to ask our elders and their wives to come up with you. They'll come up with you as you come up out of your chair, and I want you to stand right up here. When we sing this and say, I want that life today. I want the reality. Let's do it. Let's sing, You Come Forward Right Now. You sat down Come right now. at the right hand Come, elders. Come, wives. Yes, come right now. Glory to God. You went to sleep. You sat down at the right hand of the Father. You went to sleep. You are God. You are God. You are faithful You are God. You are faithful. You are God. You are faithful. Let's look this way, everyone. Just a moment. Others of you know you need to be here right now. The single most difficult thing to do in life is to confess that we have a need. But I know that God is going to meet a need today of anyone else that wants to step out and say, God, I need you. And I mean business. That's what these that have come this morning said, I need God. I mean business. Well, that's a tough step to take. But if you need it, you know it right now. Glory to God. Let's bow our heads for a moment. Hallelujah. Father, I just sense the reality of your Spirit hovering right now. To bring many, God, into the kingdom right this moment. I'm agreeing with these several that have come forward right now that they are taking a step of faith. The Holy Spirit is moving on their lives right now. I agree with you. Right here, sir. Look at me, sir. Today, you want to begin life with Christ? Okay. I would agree with you right now that Jesus is going to come into your life. And John's going to pray with you. And he's going to get you established. I agree with you right now, okay? God bless you. Let's keep our heads bowed for a second. I just want to ask another personal question right now. Are there any others in the congregation that would say, Pastor, I know I need a change in my life. I know I need something to happen. But it's just difficult. Pray for me. I need something to happen. Pray for me. If that's where you are right now, I want you to raise your hand. I'll just agree with you. Where you're standing. Yes, sir. Okay. Look at me. Let me see your eyes. Yes, ma'am. I agree with you right there where you're standing. Sir, back there. You raised your hand. Just look at me at your eyes. I'm going to agree with you. Yes, I agree with you. Right there. Who else? Yes, okay. I agree with you. Where you are. Right there in the red dress. Yes. Anyone in here? Okay. Yes. Yes, ma'am. Back there. I agree with you then. Today, it's a difficult thing. But God wants to touch you today. Over on this side. Anyone? Yes, right here. Okay. I want to agree with you right now that God is going to meet that need for you. Anyone else? Yes. Just raise your hand where you are. My heavenly Father, you see the hands and you know the hearts. And I thank you for the courage of these that have taken a step of faith. Now, Lord, move us together in your promises. In the mighty name of Jesus. In the mighty name of Jesus. Bless these that have come forward, especially, Lord, and those that have raised their hand that you touch them and make them in Jesus' name. Hallelujah. I'm just going to ask you all to slip over to this side. We're praying right now. Hallelujah. The rest of you would be seated. We want to do one more thing for you. This way. You can be seated. Glory to God. Listen. Those of you who looked at me a moment ago, when others leave here, you can stay and have someone pray with you. The elders will be over here. They want to pray with you. They're men. God loves you and they want to pray with you. If you signal to me, you just come up. If you signal to me, you just come up. You need to make that decision. Those that have stepped out, I believe God's going to meet them in a special way, for their faith. That's his will. Glory to God. It's been good to see the Lord move, isn't it? Man, would you bring the boxes up, please? We're going to pray for our offering. I thought I forgot about that, didn't you? Bring it up here, guys. Come on. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. I love the time that we put our offerings in the box and we present it to the Lord, because it stands for our substance. We talked about shadows and substance. This is who you are, Mark. Hours of your life are in that box. That's right. Donna owns a business. Hours of her life are in that box, an offering to God. Let's present it to the Lord. Father, we present these tithes and offerings, Lord. And Father, we know that in no way will we be diminished by them, but we're going to be increased because of our faith now. And I pray for each one here today, Lord, who needs a job in Je