Peniel Pentecostal Holiness Church

3239 Rosebud Road Walnut Cove NC 27052
Pastor: Dr. Tim Nelson -  Church Office 336-591-36112
A Place To Encounter God Face To Face. Gen. 32:3

A Word From The Pastor Archives 2022
March 2022
 

Those who compete in a long-distance race know the impact of the cheering crowds.  The crowds encourage the runners to continue even when they feel like giving up.  It is even more encouraging when those cheering and encouraging have already run the race themselves.  They know what the runners are going through.  Consider the crowd of saints who have finished their spiritual race, and are now cheering you on.  Be encouraged by that when the course seems long and the way is rough.  DO NOT give up!

Also know this: at the finish line, Jesus is waiting.  His earthly race was so much more challenging than yours or mine.  Yet He never gave up or became distracted.  Instead, He continued to the end, finishing His race, and is now enjoying the victor's spoils.  Hear the cheers of those who have gone before us and let it fill you with encouragement knowing that the race is doable,  and that the reward for crossing the finish line makes the race itself worthwhile.

Adapted From:
https://aclayjar.net/2013/11/a-great-cloud-of-witnesses/

The age old problem of suffering is addressed here in the context of family discipline from a loving heavenly Father.  If you lose heart and take your focus off Christ, you will respond poorly to such pressure and fall away in apostasy, but true sons of God must understand the purpose behind such discipline and see the benefit of promoting holiness and righteousness.

We need to endure, but not with a kind of stoicism, but with the expectation that God is conforming us to the image of His dear Son.  There fore , we should not be surprised by such discipline or suffering and lose heart and become discouraged.  Instead we need to submit to the Father of lights and live by faith.

All discipline is painful for the moment, but it produces peace and righteousness which is profitable for eternity.

Adapted From:
https://www.bibleoutlines.com/blog/hebrews-124-11-benefiting-from-divine-discipline/

Hebrews 12:12-17 is filled with encouraging and challenging commands to keep us focused and running the spiritual race, to assure that we will run to win.

Earlier this Hebrew writer said, since we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us in faith, we ought to run, following their example, with endurance, and with our eyes fixed on the Lord Jesus, who goes before us all, and who strengthens us all for every stride of the race.

Therefore, he commands, do not stray from the straight path, but rather be strengthened for it by grace.  Therefore, strive for peace with one another and strive for holiness and refuse apostasy.  Therefore, walk as His children, intent on the pleasure of God's blessing and not as rebels, intent on the pleasures of sin's false promises.  Run to finish well!

Adapted From:
https://www.refugeutah.org/hebrews-12-12-17/

Mountains in Scripture serve a significant role.  Momentous events occur on mountains.  Perhaps the two most prominent of mountains in Scripture are Sinai and Zion.  At Sinai, the law was given (Exodus20), preceded by the inauguration of the covenant (Exodus 19), and Mount Zion captured by King David (2 Samuel 5: 1-7) was transformed into the place for the Ark of the Covenant, the dwelling place of God: Jerusalem.  Mount Zion became the center of the national life of God's people.  It became a place of sacrifice, worship, festivals and governance.

In Hebrews 12, the writer has called the Hebrews believers to keep running toward spiritual Zion and not return to Sinai.  It was necessary to move from an emphasis on the law (Sinai) to an emphasis on the gospel (spiritual Zion) as the way to draw near to God.  This was a huge transformation of thinking for the Jewish believers.

Some truly thought that they could keep the Sinaitic law (Exodus 19:7-8) and rely on the old covenant to save them, but of course, this was never the point of the old covenant (Galatians 3:21).  They needed to journey from law to the glorious privileges of the gospel.  Men and women yet today often depend more on what they can do, rather than on what Christ has done.  Are you trusting in the One who is the author and finisher of your faith?  Are you running focused on Christ?  Are you marching to Zion, the glorious city of God?

Aapted From:
https://brackenhurstbaptist.co.za/a-glorious-privilege/