Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
In verse 14, we have another imperative or command. Pursue peace. This is probably the straight path the author had in mind in the previous verse. Let me help you see how similar this is to the apostle Paul’s admonition to the Corinthians to pursue love (1 Cor. 14:1). In 1 Cor. 12:31 Paul wrote, “And I show you a still more excellent way.” Then Paul defined the way of love with its application to the gifts of the Spirit in the body of Christ. The idea was that as you relate to one another with various gifts, make love the way you relate to one another. Pursue the greatest gift of love, not the lesser gifts. In Hebrews 12, the Holy Spirit teaches that we all have various kinds of trials in our race, and the way or the path we need to make is the path of peace. As we relate to one another with our various trials, run together in the way of peace. It’s simply another way to say pursue love or live to love with Jesus.
Why do I say repeatedly, “Live to love with Jesus?” The “with Jesus” is what holiness or sanctification is all about. He is the one who sanctifies. Let me remind you of Heb. 2:11. “For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” The finish line of the race is holiness or the revelation of the glory of God in Jesus. We will be perfectly one with Jesus. In this life, we are being sanctified or becoming more and more one with His life as we cast off unbelief and fix our eyes on Jesus. Heb. 10:14 says it succinctly, “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” The finish line is perfection in Christ, and as we run the race of suffering, pursuing the paths of peace and holiness, God produces a progressing conformity to Christ. 
Here’s the apostle John’s version of the same truth. 1 John 3:2-3. 
Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Heb. 12:14 gives us great insight into what living to love with Jesus looks like. Pursuing peace with every kind of person in their various trials and pursuing oneness with Christ. If the readers of Hebrews were to practice (make paths) like this, they would see the Lord Jesus manifested in their midst. If a congregation isn’t pursuing living to love with Jesus, they won’t see Jesus in their midst. It’s that simple. They will simply be a religious organization or club organized around being victims of the circumstances of life. To live to love with Jesus is to pursue holiness and peace with everyone through Jesus Christ. We are united as one body, in one race, with one access through our high priest, to the grace we need because of what He has done for us. So make some tracks for those following you—the tracks of peace and holiness—or, in my words, living to love with Jesus. You will see the Lord in your midst!

Make tracks of peace and holiness

In this session, Andy Brownlee focuses on the vital role of being servant-hearted in leadership. He explains how true leadership is not about seeking authority or recognition but about serving others, following the example of Jesus. Through practical insights and real-life examples, Andy emphasises the effectiveness of servant leadership in building strong, healthy church communities. This session challenges leaders to put the needs of others first, fostering a culture of humility and service that reflects Christ’s mission.

📺 This course is available in video format: https://thebroadcastnetwork.org/courses/how-to-serve-under-an-apostolic-leader/

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271 - How to Serve Under an Apostolic Leader | Episode 3: Be Servant Hearted (by Andy Brownlee)

Learn about the invisible boundaries that exist in church leadership. Andy Brownlee shares personal experiences, including how understanding these boundaries—like financial authorisation limits—can prevent misunderstandings and strengthen your relationship with your leaders.

Join us to explore the importance of clarity in responsibilities and the benefits of open communication to maintain healthy leadership dynamics!

📺 This course is available in video format: https://thebroadcastnetwork.org/courses/how-to-serve-under-an-apostolic-leader/

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280 - How to Serve Under an Apostolic Leader | Episode 12: Know Where the Line Is (by Andy Brownlee)

Hebrews 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,
This and the next three verses serve as a contrast to Mt. Sinai, where Moses received the first and old covenant. Since we have been thinking about running a race, we might think of it this way. Before Jesus came, the finish line to which all were running was on Mt. Sinai and the course they were running was the Law. The old covenant came from Mt. Sinai and the Law. Now, since Jesus came, the course is Jesus, Himself, and the finish line is heaven. The new covenant comes from heaven. 
The earthly Mt. Zion was the mountain upon which Abraham offered the ram in place of Isaac. It was where Jacob had the dream of stairs to heaven. The city of David was established there. David purchased the threshing floor of Onan to atone for his sin on Mt. Zion. Solomon’s temple was built on Mt. Zion. However, in this verse, we learn that Mt. Zion has a symbolic meaning. It signifies the place where God’s presence is manifested. To the Hebrews, Zion is the place of salvation. Therefore, it is synonymous with the city of the living God (remember, Jesus was the promised King from David’s line), the millennial Jerusalem, and the heavenly Jerusalem, home to myriads of angels. Notice how Psalm 50:1-2 speaks of the Lord’s presence and His word going forth to all the earth. “The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets. From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.” 
The author was focusing on the finish line for us who are running the race. He was giving his readers encouragement to run with endurance. The reward is great to those who run well and endure to the end. In essence, we are looking at this great salvation that Jesus has given to all who believe. In this verse, we are encouraged to live to love with Jesus until we die or Jesus returns by considering our destination, our finish line. We are running to heaven, from which our salvation comes through Jesus Christ. When we draw near to the throne of grace, we are abiding in Christ. We are drawing near to God’s throne in heaven for grace to run the race to the end. It’s where God speaks and shines forth in all His beauty. He is the mighty One. 
In Jonathan Edward’s treatise on the loveliness of heaven, Heaven, a World of Love, he wrote, “Heaven is the palace or presence-chamber of the high and holy One, whose name is love, and who is both the cause and source of all holy love. And this renders heaven a world of love; for God is the fountain of love, as the sun is the fountain of light. And therefore the glorious presence of God in heaven, fills heaven with love, as the sun, placed in the midst of the visible heavens in a clear day, fills the world with light.”
I think you get the point. We are in a full run toward the presence of God, who is love. Now, that love is a failing love. It isn’t perfected, but we are running to a city, a country where we are from, that is all love. Therefore, let loving with Jesus be our course. Stay on course by abiding in Jesus, drawing near to His throne in heaven for grace to endure. We are running to heaven by the grace given us from heaven.

Running to heaven by grace given from heaven

Hebrews 12:18-21 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. For they could not bear the command, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.” And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “I am full of fear and trembling.”
The encouragement we get from this verse is that, thankfully, we have been brought near to God through Christ and therefore can approach Him without fear when we need anything. We can bring with us anyone who is immoral, godless, unbelieving, and bitter into the presence of God to find forgiveness and healing. This is made possible through the New Covenant. 
In contrast, when the Old Covenant was given to the people through Moses on the mountain, access was only given to Moses. Let’s read about it in Exodus 19:12-13.
You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, “Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether beast or man, he shall not live.” When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.
Aren’t you glad that God has not placed such a boundary around His presence now? The throne of mercy and grace is available to all who will come through Jesus Christ, even the repentant immoral, or godless person may come. Listen to the encouragement of the New Covenant. 
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel. After those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen, and everyone his brother, saying “Know the Lord,’ for all will know Me, from the least to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.
God is still a holy God who cannot tolerate sin. He has not changed. What has happened that has changed everything is that He sent His Son to propitiate for our sins, to remove them, and to give us His righteousness. Peter said it well in 1 Pet. 2:24-25. “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.” Jesus has made us holy and perfected us, so we can approach God without fear. Amazing grace and love!
We will learn more about what we have come to through Jesus Christ in the verses to follow, but today, be encouraged to draw near to the throne of mercy and grace, grateful that Jesus has brought you to God for the glory of His name. Live to love with Jesus, depending on grace upon grace to be yours as you abide in Him.

Even the immoral and godless man may come to God

Hebrews 12:17 For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.
Today’s verse continued the author’s admonition for believers to see to it that there be no immoral person like Esau in their midst. We learn some things about Esau. First, he desired to inherit the blessing of his father, even though he sold it for a bowl of soup. I think the point is that Esau had no faith to endure. He couldn’t even say, “No,” to his fleshly appetites. Had he endured resisting his desire for food only a little while longer, he could have eaten and his inheritance would have been preserved. As it was, his desire for a temporal relief was greater than his desire to inherit the blessing. 
Every believer faces similar temptations. We have the promise of mercy and grace in Christ if we will abide in Him until the end of our lives. All we must do is stay on the path of peace and holiness by the grace available to us in Christ. However, as we run the race set before us by our Father, the flesh screams for relief from the trials of life with their sufferings. Unbelief focuses on the momentary distraction of the sights and smells of a fleshly meal. Then it becomes a contest of desires. Esau’s heart desired immediate satisfaction of the flesh. As a result, unbelief easily entangled him, and he disqualified himself for his inheritance. We are to be on the alert for so-called brothers or sisters whose fleshly appetites lure them off course, out of the path of peace and holiness. Let’s call them to repentance and to join us in living to love with Jesus. However, we might be disappointed. 
The second thing we see about Esau is that he couldn’t see that he was at fault for giving up his inheritance. It says, “He found no place for repentance,”  because he wasn’t looking for it. After Esau realized what he had lost, he didn’t take responsibility for losing it. Instead, captured by unbelief and bitterness, he was blinded to the reality that he desired a single meal more than he desired the blessing. That’s what unbelief and bitterness do. They blind us to our true heart condition and we look for someone to blame, like Esau blamed Jacob. That’s why it’s so important to lay aside every encumbrance and the sin of unbelief that so easily entangles us and with endurance run the race set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus. I suggest that if you purpose to live to love with Jesus, you will overcome the temptations of the flesh to be like godless persons. You will look for every place of repentance where you have quit abiding in Jesus. 
A third thing we see about Esau is that the desire for what he had lost brought him to tears. Esau didn’t seek the blessing with tears before he ate the meal. It wasn’t until later that the full weight of the consequence of his immorality fell upon him. The appeal of immorality seems irresistible at the moment, but later, once the gratification passes, one sees what has been lost. Then the tears flow as they wish they hadn’t succumbed to the lusts of the flesh. They feel sorry for themselves and view themselves as victims, resulting in greater bitterness and separation from others. 
I hope, my dear listener that you are not like Esau. However, if you can relate to Esau, in love, I call you to repent of unbelief, immorality, and bitterness. Look for places to repent. Take responsibility for your sin and for hurting those you blamed and defiled. Take them to Jesus. Draw near to Him, and receive His forgiveness and the blessing you desire of peace and holiness. Receive the discipline of the Father, and run the race with endurance now to the end of your life—living to love with Jesus.

Look for places to repent

Hebrews 12:16 that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.
As we know from previous portions of Hebrews, the author’s audience wasn’t 100% believing. Some were in danger of neglecting God’s great salvation (2:2), of having evil, unbelieving hearts (3:12), of hardness of heart (3:13), of not entering into God’s promised rest (4:1), of being incapable of repentance unto life (6:6), and of shrinking back to destruction (10:39). With that in mind, we shouldn’t be surprised at the author’s seemingly shocking admonition to be on the lookout for immoral and godless people. We all have the responsibility to “see to it” that there are none in our circle of believers who would compromise the name of Jesus for momentary, earthly gratification of the lusts of the body as Esau did. 
How do we “see to it?” Three courses of action come to mind. If you become aware of someone who is acting immorally, that could be participating in porn, an unmarried couple living together with privileges, or a married person involved emotionally or sexually with someone who is not their spouse, then 1). in love and concern, confront them with Hebrews 12:1-16, and call them to repentance. That’s also the application of Matt. 7:1-5 and Gal. 6:1. 2). Inform an elder or leader of their church about your concern and love for them based on Heb. 12:15-16. Ask them to go with you to confront the individual(s) to call them to repentance (Matt. 18:15-17). 3). If they will not repent, then in accordance with Matt. 18, unite with the church in denying them fellowship. You are to avoid them as Paul admonished in 2 Tim. 3:5. 
Living to love with Jesus isn’t about making sinners who call themselves Christians feel good. God’s love is the sustained direction of the will toward the highest good of someone, in the power of the Holy Spirit, for the glory of God. Not confronting an immoral so-called believer isn’t in their best interest. Wouldn’t you want someone to confront you if you were caught in a transgression such as this? We should do to others what we would wish were done for us (Matt. 7:12). If we ever are faced with such a situation, let us ask Jesus how He wants to love them. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit, so we can love them well. God has put them in our path, and therefore, we know He intends to love them through us.

Loving a so-called believer caught in immorality

Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;
Today’s encouragement is again to the body of Christ, or the congregation as a whole, and not primarily a personal introspection. We are thinking of our brothers and sisters in Christ as we all run the race of suffering set before us by the Father so that we might be conformed to the image of Christ by the Father’s loving sanctification. In the previous verse, the Holy Spirit admonished us to blaze a path of peace and holiness to see the Lord in our midst. 
In this verse, there is a tremendous insight into how we are to love each other. We are told here that we all have a responsibility to the body of Christ to make sure none of our members falls short of God’s grace as they run their race. Let’s remember one of the most important verses in Hebrews. Heb. 4:16. “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” How does one come short of the grace of God? By not drawing near to the throne of grace. Saving grace is unconditional, but the grace of God to believe, to trust God, and to love is conditional. We must abide in Christ continually. It’s living to love with Jesus. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. 
How can we tell if someone is coming short of the grace of God? We are to be on the watch for bitterness in the body of Christ. Bitterness in one member causes trouble that defiles many because it impacts everyone they interact with. When difficulties arise, if we have unbelief, instead of drawing near to Christ for grace, our hearts will harden and we will become bitter. The author warned of that very thing in 3:12-13. “Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Can you see that this verse is saying the same thing in a different way? If we don’t receive the difficulty as an opportunity to practice drawing near to the throne of grace so we can express the faith and love of Christ, we will blame God and others for our circumstances. The next thing you know, there’s a cancer in the body that is destroying the peace and holiness we are to pursue together. 
If you hear a brother or sister judging, criticizing, or slandering anyone, then you have an opportunity to apply this verse of scripture. You know they are graceless at the moment and are under the influence of unbelief. You know what they need. They need encouragement to repent of unbelief and fix their eyes on Jesus and the Father’s training exercise to build their faith and love. They need to get in the tracks of pursuing peace and holiness with the body of Christ. That’s the way to help someone who has been injured in the race to receive healing. So this is a very practical obedience on our part as we live to love with Jesus. We are on the lookout for those who have been tripped up by unbelief and have become bitter. They need our help!

Be on watch for bitterness in your brother or sister in Christ

Hebrews 12:24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.
We who believe in God, have come to Jesus! There is no other way to get to heaven or God, apart from Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He said that no one comes to the Father except by Him (John 14:6). The Father draws all those registered in heaven to His Son (John 6:44-45) so that they may be partakers of the new covenant in His blood. As our high priest, appointed by God to bring us to Him, Jesus has inaugurated the new covenant by shedding His blood for the propitiation of our sins. The author wrote of this back in chapter 2, verse 17. “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” 
In 11:4, we read about the blood of Abel speaking. “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.” What did Abel’s blood speak? It said he was faithful until the day he died at the hands of his brother, Cain. Jesus’ blood also speaks. It tells us that Jesus was faithful even to death, death on a cross. However, Abel’s blood didn’t enforce an everlasting covenant like Jesus’ blood did. Jesus’ blood also still speaks, and it speaks a better thing. 
All who believe in Jesus have come to the mercy seat where Jesus’ blood speaks, not only to us but to God. His blood mediates a new covenant with God. It says to God that justice has been done against all our sins. There is a basis for forgiveness, access, and intimate fellowship to be offered freely to all who are registered in heaven’s assembly. The blood speaks to the assembly gathered in heaven that their sins are forgiven, they need never fear, and access to intimacy with God has forever been secured. It speaks, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). Abel’s blood could not speak this message.
My dear friend, listen to the great message of salvation the blood of Jesus speaks and walk in His peace. The love of Jesus only flows out of a peaceful heart, anchored in the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ. Receive His love and walk in love and peace with Him.

Walk in love and peace

Hebrews 12:23 to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
Yesterday’s verse focused on the place, the heavenly Jerusalem, to where we are running. Today’s verse has those who dwell in heaven in view. We aren’t living for the glory of God by living to love with Jesus just so we can get to a destination. When we believed in Christ, we came to a new family. We became part of a universal assembly of all believers of all time. The author called it the assembly of the firstborn. Jesus, of course, is the firstborn, the head of the church. 
We also learn that our names are registered in heaven. Are you on heaven’s registry? Paul wrote of this to the Philippians in 4:3. “Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.” We read of this register in Rev. 21:27. “But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Our names are already posted at the finish line! Praise to the Lord!
We are also encouraged that we have come to God, the Judge of all, the Mighty One, as we read yesterday from Ps. 50. Jesus came and died to bring us to God and present us before Him, holy and blameless and without reproach (Col. 1:22). Hebrews 2:10-11 made this point clear. “For it was fitting for Him, for whom and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father. For this reason, He is not ashamed to call them brothers.” We have come to God.

And we have also come to the spirits of the righteous made perfect. Let me quote Jonathan Edwards again from Heaven, A World of Love. “There are none but lovely objects in heaven. — No. odious, or unlovely, or polluted person or thing is to be seen there. All the persons that belong to the blessed society of heaven are lovely. The father of the family is lovely, and so are all his children; the head of the body lovely, and so are all the members. Among the angels there are none that are unlovely — for they are all holy.” 
Can you see who we have come to when we believe in Jesus? We are now part of a community of brothers and sisters who will know nothing but love for one another because the entire atmosphere is love. How do we get ready for that experience? We live our lives to love our brothers and sisters now with Jesus because that’s what we are going to do for all eternity. Let’s get a head start today. Love with Jesus, knowing that God, the Judge, the Father of the family, will reward you greatly and you will be filled with His joy forever.
If you haven’t read my book, Live to Love, I hope you’ll visit livetolovewithjesus.com and get your free copy, or download the audio or ebook. I encourage you to get some friends together to go through the book and encourage each other to live to love with Jesus because you know where you are going and who is going with you.

Are you on heaven’s registry?

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