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Strangers And Pilgrims On The Earth

November 05, 2006

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth (or on the land of promise which they sojourned in, v.9).

All died in faith but their confession

lives on as a witness for us

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we (Christ’s “brethren in the midst of the church,” 2:12) also are compassed about [or surrounded] with so great a cloud [or a great crowd] of witnesses (all those strangers and pilgrims in Hebrews 11), let us (in the same way as they did – strangers and pilgrims on the earth) lay aside every weight, and the sin (unbelief) which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Stranger (Gk.Xenos) a foreigner, an alien, a guest or a visitor - one who lives as a foreigner in a strange land, a person that is a refugee, a person without a country to call home. Some one that is strange because they live not according to the most common way.

Pilgrim (Gk. Parepidemos) one who remains in a place but a short while, as a traveler on a journey. A temporary resident.

Strangers and pilgrims separate – a one way ticket

Hebrews 11:15 And truly, if they (strangers and pilgrims, v.13) had been mindful [call to mind, pondering upon or remembering – imperfect, active, indicative] of that country [a way of life, its present advantages] from whence they came out [or forsaken, separated from], they might have had opportunity to have returned [or turn back to].

Demas returned

2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world (its life style and present advantages), and is departed unto Thessalonica…”

The exodus generation desired to return to Egypt

Numbers 14:3 "Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?"4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.

The wilderness is a very unpleasant place for a pilgrim

Deuteronomy 8:14-15 “…the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; 15 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water…”

A pilgrim endures hardship

2 Timothy 2:3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.(NKJ)

Endurance shall be compensated

James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

The crown of life defined

James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

Consequences for not enduring in the wilderness

Jude 5I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this (something we forget), how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

Our examples

1 Corinthians 10:5-6 But with many of them (“baptized unto Moses,” v.2) God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things (in the wilderness) were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted (in the wilderness).

Sojourning here in fear

1 Peter 1:17And if ye (chosen pilgrims, 1:1) call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

Strangers and pilgrims practice abstinence

1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, *abstain [present tense] from fleshly lusts, which war [present tense] against the soul

The earth in this present age is not home

Hebrews 11:14 For they that say such things (“that they are strangers and pilgrims upon the land,” v.13) declare plainly that they seek a country [or “a homeland” NKJ; “a country of their own,” NAS].

This is not God’s world

1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the evil one.

Great wickedness and corruption on the earth

Luke 17:26 Jesus said, "And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:

Genesis 6:5,11 Then the Lord saw (in the days of Noah) that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.11 Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence.

Is your soul vexed as righteous Lot’s?

2 Peter 2:6-8 And (God spared not…v.4) turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed [present tense – continually irritated, troubled, great uneasiness], with the filthy conversation [or behavior, lifestyle] of the wicked: 8 For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds.

Evil men shall grow worse and worse

2 Timothy 3:12-13 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax [or grow] worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Antichrist shall come

1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

The wilderness journey is going to get harder

Matthew 24:6-13 Jesus said, "And you (His church) will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 "All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. 10 "And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 "But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Don’t settle down in the wilderness

Hebrews 13:13-14 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 14 For here (in this age) we have no continuing [or permanent, fixed] city, but we seek the one to come (in the next age).

We are a church of chosen pilgrims

1Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, unto the chosen pilgrims of the dispersion, throughout, Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, Bithynia (Rotherham)

God has given unto us exceeding great and precious promises

2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us (“the chosen pilgrims…them that have obtained like precious faith,” 1:1) exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature (in the resurrection at the last day), having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Is this your confession?

1 Chronicles 29:10,14-15 Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation:… 14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. 15 For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.

Our home is in the future kingdom

Daniel 7:22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.