September 11, 2022
Passage:  Hebrews 5:7-14
Speaker:  Elder John Lawrence

I. Bad News.  We had a Spiritual Stroke!  It was so bad that we died.  (spiritually)
    –  What, you don’t remember?  That’s because it happened before you were born.
         A. It happened with the first Adam when Adam sinned. (Romans 5:14)
         B. Sorry, spiritual death became universal. (Romans 5:12)

II. Good News.  We can be Born Again.
         A. This is a result of the second Adam. (Romans  5:9-19; 1 Corinthians 15:22)
         B. This is why Jesus told Nicodemus, “You must be born again.” (John 3:3ff)
         C. We are saved by grace alone.  No works get to count toward our salvation.  (Ephesians 2:8,9)

III. Tough News.  We have to work with the Holy Spirit to gain spiritual Maturity.  
        (It is a day by day walk—John 8:12)
         A. Sorry, we start out as “babes,” not as spiritual giants.  We have to grow. 
              (You need parenting!—God’s Word & the Holy Spirit; spiritual people, teachers, shepherds can help)
              (Isaiah 7:15; 1 Peter 2:2; Hebrews 5:11-14)
         B. But we are prepared for good works. (Ephesians 2:10; 1 Timothy 6:18)
             – To grow can take intentional work to get to the good works He has for us.
         C. It takes training. (Hebrews 5:14, 1 Timothy 4:7)
         D. Ouch. We can have mini strokes, cutting off the spiritual blood flow. Remember—He is the vine!
             – Desensitized by sin; but we can come to Christ for cleansing)
             (1 John 1:9; John 15:1-4 …v2-the word for prunes literally means “cleanses”; James 5:16)
         E. Or, we can just be plain lazy, fleshly, carnal, careless, dull of hearing ….
             – producing wood, hay and stubble.
             (1 Corinthians 3:1, 12; Hebrews 5:11, Hebrews 6:8; John 15:6)
             “But we are convinced of better things of you” – Hebrews 6:9
         F. God wants a holy people. (Ephesians 5:1-14)
             … where thanksgiving should be our dialect! (Colossians 2:7)

APPLICATION:
         – Read the Word of God. Study it. Know it. Live it! Trust Jesus, talk with your Father, live in the Spirit.
         – Maybe start with Hebrews 6?  “Therefore . . .
         – Be honest, i.e. an open book, with other believers.  (James 5:16)
         – Be a part of a small group.
         – Ask someone to be your spiritual mentor.
         – The above application is about you; now, about your children . . .     I hope that is one of your greatest motivators.  You are leaving a legacy whether you realize it or not. (Proverbs 22:6)