The Letter to the Hebrews
How to Strengthen Your Endurance
Hebrews 10:32-39
Luke tells us that after Paul had successfully planted churches, he went back to each church with a very important teaching. What he taught them was -- “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).
It’s crucial for believers to understand that the road the kingdom of God – to heaven -- does not avoid tribulation. The road to heaven takes us through tribulations -- through many tribulations, many trials, many difficulties.
And when we understand that, we can see there’s one thing we desperately need. It’s what the Bible calls “endurance.” Endurance means continuing to trust Jesus even when it’s hard. And we need endurance, because the road to heaven takes us through many tribulations.
For example –
· Let’s say you are dealing with cancer and chemo and medical bills and pain. To keep trusting Jesus you are going to need endurance.
· Let’s say Jesus has called you to singleness. To keep sexually pure week after week, month after month, year after year -- you need endurance.
· Let’s say you have been reaching out to your neighbors and sharing the Gospel but no one has gotten saved and some of them talk about you behind your back. To keep loving and sharing the Gospel you need endurance.
So – we need endurance. And in our next passage in Hebrews the author tells us where to get endurance. So let’s turn to Hebrews 10:32. If you need a Bible, go ahead and raise your hand and we will bring one to you. Hebrews 10:32 is on page 1007 in the Bibles we are passing out.
Now before we read these verses let’s make sure we are following the author’s train of thought. In chapters 5 through the first half of ch.20 the author explains how God has solved our biggest problem. Our biggest problem is that we have all sinned against God and face His judgment forever. But Jesus Christ is our perfect priest who represents us before God with the perfect sacrifice of His own shed blood which paid for our sins.
And so, because we have a perfect priest with a perfect sacrifice, there are three things we must to do -- in ch.10 vv.22-25 --
· In v.22 – draw near to God and enjoy fellowship with Him
· In v.23 – hold fast to the confession of our hope – to God’s promises
· In vv.24-25 – don’t neglect gathering together but encourage each other
And then in vv.26-31 the author explains why it’s so crucial that we draw near to God, trust God’s promises, and encourage each other. It’s because if we don’t, then we and those around us could face God’s judgment forever.
But it’s not easy to draw near to God, hold fast to His promises, keep encourage each other, because we will face many tribulations, opposition, and problems. So in vv.32-39 the author urges them to strengthen their endurance. Let’s read those verses –
32 But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings,
33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.
34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.
35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
37 For, "Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay;
38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him."
39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
To strengthen their endurance, the author starts by urging them to recall something. So what did he want them to recall? Read v.32 again –
32 But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings,
So he wants them to recall their early days as believers. And what was true of them in those early days? They endured a hard struggle with sufferings. Underline that word “endured.” That’s the theme of this section.
So what sufferings did they endure? He explains in v.33 --
33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction …
So they were publicly persecuted for their faith. They were arrested, beaten, put in prison. And yet they endured. They kept trusting Christ. They kept sharing the Gospel. So that’s one way they suffered – they were publicly persecuted for their faith.
And there’s another kind of suffering they endured. Start v.33 again --
33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.
34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property [stop there]
Here’s what this means. Some of their brothers or sisters were arrested and put into prison. And prisons in those days did not provide water, or food. So unless they took food and water to their brothers and sisters in prison, they would die. But if you take it to them, you will be recognized as a Christian -- and you could be beaten, thrown in prison, or have your property plundered.
So what did these believers do? They had compassion on their fellow-believers in prison. They took them water and food. And they were exposed as believers, and their property was plundered. And how did they respond? With endurance. Look at the end of v.34 -- “You joyfully accepted the plundering of your property.”
So the author wants his readers to remember their past endurance – how they kept trusting Christ even when publicly persecuted, and how they cared for each other with joy even though it cost them their property.
But he doesn’t just want them to remember their endurance. He wants them to remember why they had such endurance. Where did they get the endurance to keep trusting Jesus joyfully in spite of persecution and suffering and trials? Where can we get this kind of endurance?
So what enabled them to have such endurance? The answer is at the end of v.34 – but let’s read all of 34 to get the full context --
34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.
What enabled them to have such endurance? It was not their strength of will. It was not a sense of duty. It was not that this was what they were supposed to do. No, no, no, no. Way too many Christians think that’s how the Christian life works.
But that’s not what we read here. What gave them endurance was knowing that they had a better possession and an abiding – a lasting -- one. So what is this better and abiding possession?
It’s everything the author of Hebrews has been talking about. It’s that Jesus Christ is our perfect priest whose death pays for all our sin (9:14), and who rose from the dead to break the power of death (2:14f), so that we can enter God’s rest (4:11) and forever join with all the redeemed in knowing God (8:11) and beholding God (12:14).
So the better and abiding possession is God Himself. The whole point of Christ’s work is that we get God – we get to know God, behold God, worship God, love God, behold God, and know God forever. Our better and abiding possession is God Himself.
And that’s what gave them endurance.
· How, when they were publicly mocked and beaten for their faith, did they endure – and keep trusting Jesus and sharing the Gospel? It’s because they knew they had a better and abiding possession – God Himself.
· How, when their brothers were in prison without food and water did they endure – trusting Jesus and risking it all to take them food and water? It’s because they knew they had a better and abiding possession – God Himself.
· And how, when their trip to prison did expose them as Christians so people broke into their homes and stole all their stuff – did they endure, and trust Jesus, and respond with joy? It’s because they knew they had a better and abiding possession – God Himself.
And the same will be true for us.
· How, when you are dealing with cancer and chemo and medical bills and pain can you endure – and keep trusting Jesus? It’s because you know you have a better and abiding possession – God Himself.
· How, when Jesus calls you to singleness, can you endure – and keep sexually pure week after week, month after month, year after year? It’s because you know you have a better and abiding possession – God Himself.
· How, when you have reached out to your neighbors and shared the Gospel but no one has gotten saved and some of them talk about you behind your back, can you endure – and keep loving your neighbors and sharing the Gospel with them? It’s because you know you have a better and abiding possession – God Himself.
So in vv.32-34 the author wants them to recall how much endurance they had in the past – and what it was that gave them their endurance.
But why did he want them to recall this? It’s because they were in danger of throwing it all away. You can see that in v.35 --
35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
What confidence is he talking about? The confidence just mentioned in v.34 – the confidence that God is a better and more abiding possession than anything else.
But they are in danger of throwing that confidence away. Their confidence was weakening. The thought of seeing God didn’t stir their hearts like it used to. They didn’t long for Jesus’ return like they used to. Now they were desiring comfort and bigger homes and nicer clothes more than they were desiring God. Their confidence was weakening – so much so that some were in danger of throwing it away.
And that’s why the author wants them to recall what they experienced in the past – so they would see how far they had drifted – and wake up to the danger they faced.
So how about us? Is this happening to us? Ask yourself. Does the thought of seeing God stir your heart? Do you long for Jesus’ return more than anything? Or do you desire comfort and bigger homes and nicer clothes more than you desire God? If so – your confidence is weakening – you are in danger of throwing it away.
And why is it so crucial that this confidence not be thrown away? The author gives four reasons in vv.35-39. Let’s go through them one by one.
First, because this confidence will bring you a great reward. You can see that in v.35 –
35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
If you are confident that God is a better and more abiding possession than anything else – then you will receive a great reward. What is the reward? The reward of forever joining all the saints in beholding God, worshiping God, knowing God. This confidence has a great reward – so don’t throw it away!
Second, because this confidence will give you the endurance you need to do God’s will and be rewarded. You can see that in v.36 –
36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
The road to heaven passes through many tribulations. So you are going to need endurance. And endurance comes from knowing that God is our better and abiding possession. So if you throw away this confidence, you won’t endure, and if you don’t endure, you won’t do God’s will, and you won’t receive what is promised.
Third, because this confidence will not be disappointed. You can see that in v.37, which is a quote from Habakkuk –
37 For, "Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay;
The point is that Jesus will surely come back. He will not delay. And when He comes back, everything will change.
No more trials. No more difficulties. No more suffering. And He will wipe away every tear from our eyes – and face to face we will see God, know God, worship God. And the confidence you held to for years will be fulfilled – God will be your better and abiding possession.
And fourth, because this confidence will keep you from destruction. You can see that in vv.38-39 –
38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him."
39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
We are saved by faith alone in Christ alone. But faith includes believing that God is a better and longer-lasting possession than anything else in the universe. And so we must not throw away this faith, this confidence, because it will keep us from being destroyed.
So what does this mean for us?
It means – don’t throw away your confidence. Do you know that God is your better and abiding possession? Do you know that and feel that – so you are able to endure anything because you know that one day you will receive Him?
So -- what if your confidence has gotten weak? What can you do? Take some time this afternoon, set aside everything else, and seek God. Confess and turn from other things you’ve thought were a better possession than God. Pray and ask for Him to strengthen your faith. And then pray over passages describing God as you lasting and abiding possession. I’ve listed some in your notes.
Pray over those passages. And pray over those passages some more. As you do that – you will feel your heart change. You will know that God is your better and abiding possession. You will feel that God is your better and abiding possession. And you will have all the endurance you need to keep trusting Jesus no matter what the cost.
Don’t put this off. The time is now. Seek Him – He will give you everything you need.