Hebrews 12:2 The Joy that is set Before Us

[Study Aired February 1, 2021]

Introduction – What is the meaning of this joy set before us?

This joy as unveiled by Christ.

How do we obtain this joy that is set before us?

Introduction

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The question is, “What is the joy that was set before Him?”

That is the question we seek to answer in this message.

What is this joy set before us?

The joy set before us is the reward we will receive if we run this race of life successfully. This reward is given to those who overcome.

What do we have to overcome?

We have to overcome our fleshly human desires!! In other words, the old man within each one of us must die giving way to the new man who is after the image of Christ.

We of ourselves cannot die!!  It is the work of God, and He does it through our judgment.

Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

In any endeavor, the reward is the focus. In the field of sports, participants are aware of the reward they will receive if they win.

In the business arena, the shareholders of a business communicates to employees through management the reward system of a firm if they are able to accomplish their targets.

A good military commander will explain to his army the reward they will receive if they become successful in a war they are waging. Jesus, being our supreme commander, has also taken His time to reveal to us the reward we will receive if we run the race successfully.

Why is it important to know about reward? Knowing the reward in any endeavor we engage in is what motivates people to excel.

From Hebrews 12:2, we can see that Jesus was motivated to endure whatever comes His way because of the reward He would receive (the joy that was set before Him).

We also need to be motivated to endure whatever comes our way because of the reward that Jesus has unveiled to us.

Facts about reward

The size of the reward in any endeavor depends on the level of difficulty of that endeavor.

All the reward system here on this earth are transient. In other words, they last for a very short time. Paul alluded to this by saying the following:

1Co 9:24  Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
1Co 9:25  Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. (ESV)

Jesus Christ has unveiled to us the ultimate of all rewards. What this means is that it is extremely difficult to win this ultimate prize or reward.

However, with man it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible!!

Many are called, but few are chosen

The difficult nature of this race of life means that only a few can win the ultimate prize.

The truth is that many run the race, but only a few win the prize. Why? It is because the many depend on their own strength by what they believe to be their own choices and will.

The few chosen know they are helpless and can only depend on God to run this race of life for them.

Mat 22:14  For many are called, but few are chosen.

The Complete Reward System of God

The Rewards

All the rewards for the overcomers are given to us by Christ in Revelation Chapter 2 and 3. There are seven rewards in all. The number seven signifies completeness. So what is in Revelation 2 and 3 is the complete reward system for the overcomers.

These rewards are spoken of in many parts of the word of God. It is here in Revelation that they all come together.

The rewards are given to us as a deposit guarantee. What we need to know about this reward is that it is only given to us in this life as a deposit guarantee.

Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

The reward is the same for all who overcome. All the rewards that we are talking about are given to the overcomers.

The Bible never said that some will receive higher rewards than others as is done here on earth. We therefore have to be mature Christians in order to win the prize!!

To be a mature Christian means we have to put the flesh to death so that we are not dominated by the flesh.

Reward One: Eat of the tree of life in the paradise of God.

Rev 2:7  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Note: Both the tree of life and the paradise of God is Christ.

Joh 1:4  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The tree of life

Rev 22:2  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Rev 22:14  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Gen 3:24  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

The paradise of God

Psa 16:11  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Luk 23:43  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Reward Two: Not hurt by the second death

Rev 2:11  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

What is the second death? Let’s hear what the scripture says:

Any time we see the words “He that hath and ear” we are being reminded by the spirit that these words will be understood by very few people (Mat 13:9-13).

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

The meaning of ‘second death’

Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

So the second death is to be cast into the lake of fire to be judged!!

Why will the second death not hurt the overcomers? Because they have already been judged while they lived on earth!!

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Reward Three: Being given to eat of the hidden manna and a white stone

Rev 2:17  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

For us to understand this reward, we need to look at the following terminologies:

Hidden Manna
White Stone

What is hidden according to scriptures?

1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

1Pe 3:4  But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

1Co 1:24  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Christ is that “hidden man of the spirit” with “the hidden wisdom,” which is the “hidden manna,” which is promised to “him that overcometh.”

Christ tells us He is the bread that came down from heaven which if a man eats he will live forever.

The hidden manna

What, then, is “the hidden manna”? This phrase comes from the manna which Moses was instructed to place within the ark of the covenant.

Exo 16:32  And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commandeth, Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations; that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.
Exo 16:33  And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations.
Exo 16:34  As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.

The white stone

White is primarily associated with Christ as shown in the following scriptures:

Mat 17:2  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

Rev 1:14  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

Rev 3:4  Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

Rev 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Rev 19:14  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

Rev 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

The stone is also Christ

Dan 2:34  Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.

1Pe 2:7  Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

So the white stone is Christ, and in the Stone a new name is written.

What is this “new name” which is written in this “white stone?” Is there any doubt what name is given to Christ’s elect?

Mat 18:5  And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

Mat 18:20  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Joh 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it

While there are billions of people who claim the name of Christ, there are very few who know that name.

The name of Christ is, for the most part, “blasphemed among the heathen through those who claim that name.

Rom 2:24  For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

We all have blasphemed the name of God in our walk with God.

1Ti 1:12  And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
1Ti 1:13  Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did [it] ignorantly in unbelief.

Reward Four: Power over the nations

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Rev 2:28  And I will give him the morning star.
Rev 2:29  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Rulership

Do you know that the overcomers will rule the whole world for a period of a “thousand” years if we are able to overcome?

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

A good example of rulership is the life of Joseph. When will the rulership be?

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

The thousand year reign

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Rev 20:1  And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 20:3  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

The style of rulership:

Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Ruling with a rod of iron means every disobedience will be met with immediate punishment just as the Israelites were in the wilderness.

Yet nobody will be saved during this period. Why not? Because there is no devil to overcome!! He has been bound.

Who is the morning star?

Rev 22:16  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

The ultimate prize to have is having Jesus!! In this case what is His also belongs to you!!

How is it possible for the world to surrender their power to the elect? The question that may be lingering in our minds is how is it going to happen?

What we need to know is that what has been is what will be!!

Ecc 1:9  The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

The story of Joseph attests to how God’s elect will assume rulership of the world (Gen 41). With God all things are possible.

Reward Five: Clothed in white raiment

Rev 3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Rev 3:6  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Being clothed in white raiment means our righteousness shall shine forth!!

Reward Six: Being made a pillar in the temple of God

Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

The scriptures showing the pillars in the temple of God are as follows:

Exo 26:32 And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.

Exo 26:37 And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.

What does it mean to be a pillar in God’s temple? The four pillars of Exodus 26:32 are the pillars which hold the veil between the holy place and the holy of holies. The five pillars of verse 37 are the pillars at the door of the tabernacle.

It is through these pillars that we must all enter as we seek to come to God. There is no other way to get into the presence of God but through these pillars.

It is only through these five pillars at the door of the tabernacle and through the four pillars at the door of the holy of holies that any man will receive God’s mercy and come into the presence of God.

Being made a pillar in the temple of God is the same as being made the door or the channel through which all men will be brought to God, and there can be no higher blessing bestowed upon any man!!

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

Reward Seven: To sit on thrones

Rev 3:21  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

What does it mean to sit on thrones?

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

So to sit on thrones means to judge the human race.

How do we obtain the Prize?

We should not get entangled in the affairs of this world!

2Ti 2:3  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2Ti 2:4  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
2Ti 2:5  And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

2Ti 2:9  Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
2Ti 2:10  Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

So run that you may obtain the prize!

1Co 9:24  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
1Co 9:25  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1Co 9:26  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1Co 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Press on toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God.

Php 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.