Well, good morning everyone. It is great to see everyone
who's here today. It's good to see a full crowd to
worship God. And I know that he is pleased
because we are here because we were doing these things,
according to his will both in spirit and truth.
And I hope that's the case for you.
I want to thank Mike for leading that last song.
Some of the things we sing about there are directly related to
what Hebrews 13 and all of What's led up to it as going to
apply for us in this chapter. So, I appreciate those words.
And I know I was able to sing them this morning with a full
heart because of the study that I've done and I hope you will be
able to do the same after this, as well.
It's good to see everyone. Glad to see our visitors here.
Good to see Kristin, Kristin, Kristin Kristin here.
So looking forward to this study and Hebrews chapter 13.
If you were just here passing through, we have or maybe you
have been here for the whole study every month for the over.
The last year. During my study, I've covered a
chapter or half a chapter of Hebrews and we are Finally
coming to the final chapter. The end of this book, this
letter, written to the Hebrew Christians and so far in this
letter, he has addressed their need to hold on to Christ to not
drift away from him to not, go back to Judaism, but to hold
onto Christ. We talked to a couple of lessons
ago about how they needed to take heed to this gospel to
closely. Hold to it.
And to listen to the correction, that was coming their way
because they're not being corrected by just anyone.
They're not just being corrected by an Old Testament God who
would just bring judgment with fire and brimstone.
They were coming to a loving God who we learned Is giving this
image and Hebrews 12:22 but you have come to Mount Zion and to
the city of the Living. God the heavenly Jerusalem to an
innumerable company of angels to the general assembly and Church
of the firstborn who are registered in heaven to God.
The judge of all to the spirits of just men made perfect to
Jesus, the mediator of a New Covenant and to the blood of
sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel.
We come to a better message therefore since we are receiving
a kingdom which cannot be shaken.
Let us have Grace by which we may serve God acceptably with
reverence and godly fear for our God is a consuming fire.
So we learned right up, leading up into chapter 13 that we need
to serve God being aware of yes, his greatness.
But two of the great plan that he has laid out for us in this
new law, this law of Grace, and forgiveness, and Liberty. and
so, after all of that, Hebrews chapter 13, says basically in
response and an application, let Brotherly Love continue.
So remember he's addressing Hebrew Christians, who were
raised under the Old Law. And so I think his connection
here. He's almost mirroring the Old
Testament. He ended talking about the
greatness and the love. We need to have for God because
of God's great plan for us in the last chapter and now he's
going to springboard in this chapter.
Into things that apply to loving your neighbor as yourself.
So we learned that all the Commandments in the Old
Testament. Hang on.
These two things. Love your God, with all your
heart, soul, mind and strength. We learn New Testament and the
second is like it. Jesus said, love your neighbor
as yourself on those two teachings, every law and
everything from the Old Testament, hangs on it and I
think he's making a connection here for them to bring them back
to not just let their praise to God.
Go vertical. All but two now let that
perspective on God's goodness toward them, go out toward their
Brethren. He says let Brotherly Love
continue, he's going to give us in this study about 10.
I've kind of classified as 10 foundations of their faith that
they need to focus on. So as they are working and
growing in there uh service to God and is they're trying to
hold on to Christ. He reminds them of practical
things they need to be doing and honoring and Thinking about the
first one is brotherly love, and this is going to be a umbrella
term for several others. First, John chapter 4 verse 20
says, if anyone loves God or says, I love God yet, hates his
brother. He is a liar.
So the next several things we're going to talk about whether it's
marriage, whether it's taking care of each other.
These all apply to this concept is that we have to love one
another. In our study in Thessalonians,
we talked about how one day we're all going to be together
in heaven. Why do we think or why do you
sometimes? We think.
We don't need to get along here, we are going to spend eternity
Lord willing with God together. We need to show love toward our
Brethren now. Verse 2.
This is kind of an extension of that of that point, do not
forget to entertain strangers for by doing.
So some have unwittingly entertained angels.
So I believe as he addresses these next couple comments,
these strangers. And as he shows next, I believe
he's referencing specifically Christians.
So I believe he's talking about Christian strangers.
People who you do not know and extending them hospitality, and
I'll go further with that in a minute.
But he says, for by doing. So some have unwittingly
entertained, angels, and Frank repeats this a lot.
So I'm going to say it, just like you said it, I believe the
application of this is that we never know the long-lasting and
the unexpected effects of what Hospitality towards others and
specifically strangers can bring.
Now we don't have any new testament accounts like people
being visited by angels in this way, but we do hear about
several in the Old Testament with Moses in Genesis Chapter
18, and with lot in Genesis chapter 19 where these people
thought they were just showing Hospitality to these passerbys
and it turned out after all these were angels that they had
in their homes, these are angels that they were taken care of And
and so we never know. I think the big point is, we
never know what comes from good Hospitality from anyone.
We might show it to. So, as I said, I believe this is
speaking of brothers and sisters in the faith.
Specifically, So my mind goes to people who it might pass by the
you, we have no clue, we don't know anything about, but I also
think this applies to people who are in this congregation.
There are people in this room who are stranger to you,
possibly, you might not know much about someone who in this
room. You might not know, or maybe you
don't care that much about them yet. it is our responsibility to
show love and to entertain these to show Hospitality to to invest
time in and to take care of Others.
And so if there are people in this room, I encourage you and I
will make it my own goal. Get to know people who are in
this room. Take care of each other in this
room as well as people who you might not know who are
Christians passing by. But as I was studying this, I'd
never want to, I never want to classify a way our
responsibility to serve others. And as I was thinking about
this, I was reminded of what Jesus said in Luke chapter 10.
I don't have these The board because it was really a
last-minute addition. Now I just couldn't leave out
when Jesus is approached by. It says, a certain lawyer.
Jesus was there teaching and said a Behold a certain look and
behold a certain lawyer stood up and test him saying teacher,
what shall I do to inherit eternal life.
He said to him, what it was, what is written in the law?
What is your reading of it? So we answered and said, You
shall love the Lord, your God with all your heart, your soul,
your Strength, and with your mind and your neighbor as
yourself and he said to him, you have answered rightly do this
and you will live, but he wanting to justify himself.
This lawyer said to Jesus and who is my neighbor?
This man, he had a key error review of the he wanted to
justify himself, so may we be careful.
When we look at passages that require something of us to serve
others to take care of others, that we don't seek to justify
and say well, I'm good where I'm at.
So how can I reason this to where I'm just fine?
Where I sit now, now the often the phrases, the our job as
teachers is to comfort The Afflicted and afflict the
comfortable. And so if we feel comfortable
when we read the word, that's not God's intention.
When we are challenged by scripture and so this man, this
lawyer he wanted to justify what he was already doing.
You wanted to justify himself. And so, he asked, who is my
neighbor, basically, classifying things in a way that, well, am I
doing it already? But it's just the neighbor that
I'm supposed to take care of, I'm already taking care of them
and Jesus responds with the parable.
He says, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and
fell among Thieves who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him
and departed. So we have this man from
Jerusalem who is attacked on the road.
And you left him, half dead. Now, by chance a certain priest
came down the road. So, here's a man of God, a
priest comes through. Surely, he'll take care of this
man. But he passed by on the other
side when he saw him verse 32, likewise a levite.
So this is a specific family of the Jews who is revered for
their role in the priesthood, the Levites and levite.
When he arrived at the place came and looked and passed by on
the other side. So two people so far, have come
through and seen this man who was hurt and just walked by but
a Samaritan. As he journeyed came where he
was and when he saw him, he had compassion.
Passion. So he went to him and bandaged
his wounds pouring on oil and wine and set him on his own
animal, brought him to an inn and took care of him.
On the next day when he departed, he took out two
denarian, gave them to The Innkeeper and said, take care of
him and whatever more you spend. When I come, I will repay you So
which of these three do you think was neighbor to him?
Who fell among the thieves? The lawyer responded?
He who showed Mercy on him. Then Jesus said to him go and do
likewise. I am challenged by the scripture
to entertain strangers, and I do believe in context, it's
speaking specifically about our brothers and sisters who we
might not know. And maybe even like the
Samaritan who might have been looked down on by other people,
but I never want to classify or explain away our need to be
hospitable caring. People who serve the world
around us. Jesus said, I didn't come to
serve myself or I didn't come to be served, but to serve others.
I didn't come to be served. I came to serve.
So our job is, this is important in our world that we have a
perspective. We have a lifestyle, we have a
mindset to There's even those who are strangers to us.
So I hope that we will all be challenged by this.
And as I try to find ways that this applies directly to my own
life, I need, I had to say a prayer to myself about this,
that I will have opportunity that I will take opportunity
when it is my job. And when I was my opportunity to
serve those who come in my path, like this Samaritan.
So I hope you will consider that for yourself verse 3, remember
the prisoners as if chained with them, those who are mistreated
since Yourselves are in the body.
Also. So another hint, why I believe
he's talking specifically about Christians as because he
wouldn't say, any prisoners are mistreated the people who are
mistreated are the people who for the gospels sake, and who
people who during this time, were in prison.
And mistreated people who are in prison, rightfully for crimes
are not mistreated, the government.
Is there to punish those who are wrongdoers?
And that's not mistreatment but prisoners for who the gospel are
imprisoned. They were mistreated and he says
to remember them since you yourselves are in the body.
Also, I think this can mean two things, they are also in the
body of Christ but I also believe this is maybe the more
the more pointed point is that they are also in the body.
They are also going through this Earthly experience with us.
They are also suffering things suffering alongside us in our
Christian walk. It is interesting that in light
of the idea that, you know, they're in the body or they are
still alive. They were going through this
Earthly experience that we are having.
He makes a distinction because the world is not distinct, make
distinctions between our Earthly life in our Heavenly life, And
when we think about like that, I don't remember ever or hardly
ever hearing someone say, you know, in this life but in the
next life, this people don't think about or don't talk about
the Heavenly life beyond this life.
And so, all of our problems get bigger and they pile up and the
issue seemed insurmountable in our world, but when we remember
that, we are just in the body for now.
We don't have to solve all the problems of this world because
we are just in the body for a time and we are going to
Eternity later. These people who were imprisoned
were suffering alongside them and he says, to remember them
and I think you and I need to number one, remember those who
oversees especially might be imprisoned for the gospel, to
pray for them to find ways. And maybe that's an area we need
to improve his find ways to strengthen and encourage others,
who are in this position. Because I know personally, I
don't know of many people know, in those positions, but I know
the gospel is not free everywhere in the world.
And I think several people People in this congregation, do
a good job of mentioning them in their prayers.
But I also think it's a good opportunity to reach people who
are in prison with the gospel. There are people who are being
baptized in prisons around the world.
There are people who are being reached with the gospel in
prisons and so that is another opportunity maybe that we can
find our way into as a church verse for marriage is Honorable
among all and the bed undefiled, but fornicators and adulterers,
God will judge. So the fourth thing a fourth
pillar of Christianity that he wanted them to focus on and up
hole as they were reasoning through the transition from the
old, lots of the new law, he's affirming their need to focus on
honoring marriage. Now, the phrase here it almost
looks like he's just saying it. Marriage is Honorable but the
way the wording is in the Greek, it's more like hold marriage,
and honor, honor marriage among you And he's because he's saying
the bed is undefiled, now that's referencing sexual
relationships. But on the other hand,
fornicators those who engage in sexual relationships outside of
marriage before marriage for are fornicators and adulterers are.
Those who break the bonds of a marriage, whether inside or
intruding upon the bonds of marriage.
He said these people, God will judge In contrast to how
honorable marriages marriages, a pure beautiful thing and he
wants them to honor that uphold that as a foundation of their
faith, it is our job as a church to uphold the honor of the
Sacred Covenant of marriage because the marriage is
Dishonored in many ways around us and maybe we've even made
these mistakes. But marriage is Dishonored by
divorce and its many forms. God never intends man to get
divorced. So even the situations where one
of the parties needs to do that marriage is still Dishonored by
by the by the separation. Marriage is Dishonored by living
together outside of marriage. Like, we just read on the last
slide marriage is Dishonored by adultery.
It's Dishonored by neglect and it's Dishonored by redefinition.
Our culture wants to redefine what a marriage is.
And our job is a church is in all these ways to keep marriage
honored to keep it set apart and respected.
And even if you're not, someone who is able to enjoy the
benefits of a strong marriage or a marriage at all, we can still
hold it in honor and we can still respect it and defend the
position that holds in the world and in our lives, verse 5, let
your conduct be without covetousness.
So the fifth kind of She needs teaching be content with such
things as you have. So these two are opposites to
cover another's. Goods is to want something
someone else has and tabanid your conduct is to almost be.
That's what you're about the commentators.
I was reading about we're talking about how this is a
life's motivation to get gain and to get things.
And Covington can often be that someone else has But instead of
that, don't seek for all these Treasures in life and for
focusing on the the Earthly things but be content with such
things as you have. Be content with such things as
you have. That doesn't mean you don't work
hard to make improvements in your life.
That doesn't mean you don't go to school if you want to get a
better job, doesn't mean you don't try to advance and work
hard hours for your family or for whoever it is.
But in the middle of that, we have to fight to keep
contentment. We have to fight to keep our
minds in a place that the end of the day.
I am thankful and at peace with what I have because I can live,
I can budget within the means that God has given me Be content
with such things as you have because he says for he himself
has said he himself is capitalized.
That's not the rider. That's not Paul.
God himself has said I will never leave you nor forsake you
do we have sufficiency in Christ.
Do we have sufficiency and our God to trust that he will never
leave us or forsake us Darren, pray God's.
Not always going to give us this perfect life.
This bed of roses But he has promised to never leave us or
let us be forsaken. May we remember that as we
strive for contentment to take our contentment from God?
The writer wants them to remember that as they change and
as the danger of leaving Christ grows they must know.
It is not Jesus, who changes we're going to get he's going to
speak on this a little more in just a minute, but this passage
I will never leave you nor forsake you as a quote.
Hebrew writer keeps taking them back to the Old Testament, from
Deuteronomy 31 / 6, be strong and of good courage.
As Joshua was, the one taking leadership in this situation, he
was told to be strong. And of good courage to not be
afraid. Do not fear nor be afraid of
them for the Lord, your God. He is the one who goes with you,
he will not leave you nor forsake you that promise is
carried on throughout Generations.
So we may boldly say so in response to that, we may boldly
say, the Lord is my helper, I will not fear what can man do to
me? There is a peace that passes.
Understanding the writer says that comes from, knowing that
you have God, on your side, that comes from.
Knowing the Lord is my helper and as things get tough, and as
you need to reach out to something for help, who is your
helper, is the Lord, your helper.
Because in that case, what can man?
We do to me. What can anybody do to me?
If God is my helper? This comes from Psalm 118 verse
1 says, oh give thanks to the Lord for he is good for his
Mercy endures forever. Let Israel.
Now say his Mercy endures forever, let the house of Aaron.
Now say his Mercy endures forever.
Let those who fear the lord. Now say his Mercy endures
forever. I called on the Lord in
distress. The Lord answered me.
And set me in a broad Place, often times.
David is described as in a cave in hiding and in secrecy, afraid
in the things that were around him.
But he says here, the Lord has answered me and set me in a
broad place. A place of peace and openness.
The Lord is on my side. I will not fear.
Here's the quote. What can man do to me?
Verse 7, says room. Remember those who rule over
you, who have spoken, the word of God to you, whose Faith,
follow considering the outcome of your conduct.
Okay? So, let's let's break this down.
Those who rule over you, he classifies this, you know, how
do you know whether this is the government?
Or how do you know this is? Who's he talking about?
He says those who have spoken the word of God to you, that is
the religious leaders or the congregational leaders.
So in every congregation shouldn't we have autonomous
leadership, and we have others maybe from other congregations
that have taught us God's word and he says, to remember them
Who have spoken the word of God to you.
He said whose Faith follow follow their faith and
specifically for the Jews. Follow their faith.
In making this transition from the Old Law to the new law that
took a big jump of faith for them, considering the outcome of
their conduct. This is important.
Part of the Bible says, by year by their fruits, leaders fruits,
we shall know them. So of leaders have fruits that
are evil. We will know that By their
fruits, if their works are evil will know that by their fruits
but consider the outcome of people's conduct before you
follow or before you. Imitate them as they seek to
imitate Christ. Verse 8 and light of this, Jesus
Christ is the same yesterday today and forever.
No matter what the people who have led you have done.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever.
He's going to say do not be carried about with various and
strange doctrines so things that may change and for these Jews
specifically their devotion was changing.
And our devotion may change our confidence may change our
perception of God. Our perception of his ways, our
perception of our responsibility or whole worldview can change
our bravery in standing for truth might change and
specifically he's going to say next.
The things others teach may change the doctrines.
Other people try to introduce into the church may change.
But Jesus is the same yesterday. Today and forever.
We can have hope in the fact that Jesus is unchanging.
Jesus will never change verse 9. Do not be carried out.
Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines.
There's a lot of things even from the early church, we
started to read in Thessalonians in our afternoon, study that
they started to change things early on.
It was already Brewing from the time.
The church was set up. We learned that the whole point
that we need to take away from that, is we have to love the
truth. Those who do not love the truth
will exchange it for a lie. If we do not individually, love
truth. We will be susceptible and we
will contribute to leaving the truth.
Don't be carried about with various and strange doctrines.
The antidote is to love. Truth above anything, any man
might say, for it is good that the heart be established by
Grace, not with foods, which have not been profited those who
have been occupied with them. So, specifically to these Jews,
they were likely facing some kind of hybrid laws, or some
kind of go back to the Old Testament, sacrifices, or
systems, or holy days, they were trying to draw them back into
Judaism, these Feelings be sacrifices.
And these offerings. He says don't be drawn away in
two different doctrines like that because these foods have no
profit for those people, it's not doing them any good.
He says he wants them to instead have their hearts established by
Grace, Grace has a powerful way and God's grace through the
blood of Jesus has a powerful way of establishing our hearts.
If we will let it but it's easy to see here that that people
often don't let Grace establish. Hearts.
We have trouble as humans letting Grace establish our
hearts may be, may we focus on letting Grace settle and comfort
and strengthen our hearts and dwell on that dwell on the grace
of God, that passes understanding that gives us.
Peace and the grace of God, they would make a sacrifice for us
that we don't have to live in continual sacrifice for
ourselves like the Old Testament, but that we would
rely on the grace given through Jesus Christ.
And his sacrifice for us, These things did not profit those who
have been occupied with them. We have an altar, we as
Christians have an altar from which those who serve the
Tabernacle have, no right to eat.
So there are people who are offering sacrifices on an altar
during you'll test. Or then during this transition,
there's Jews offering sacrifices on an altar.
We have an altar for which those who serve at those Tabernacles
doing those sacrifices still. They have no right to eat.
They have no right to enjoy the blessings of Jesus and his
sacrifice if they're going to hold on to the Old Testament
sacrifices and those systems we have an altar, he's trying to
separate them and show them that we have something to replace
what they're missing. They are missing those things
that they believed white in the Old Testament, there's no
sacrifice. What do I do?
He says we have an altar. For the bodies of those animals.
Those Old Testament sacrifices that trying to continue those
bodies. Whose blood is brought into the
sanctuary. So the blood of an animal, when
the animal is killed, it would bring its blood into the
sanctuary to do their services in the temple.
And he says Those Animals whose blood is brought into the
sanctuary God's Presence by the high priest force in those
bodies are burned outside the camp.
Those bodies are burned outside the camp.
Therefore Jesus. Also here's our replacement for
that that he might sanctify or to make holy or to set us apart
to sanctify and set apart. The people with his own blood
suffered, outside the gate, as we consider how Jesus was
sacrificed. He left the city of Jerusalem He
left the city, he was marched out of town to a Hill Called
Golgotha outside of the city, where he would be crucified just
like those Old Testament. Sacrifices were taken away
outside the camp. And that was a symbol of
suffering that they would be kicked out and cast out.
Jesus himself. Took that suffering on himself
left, this city and was crucified outside the gate.
He suffered outside the gate. And so these Jews were feeling
distance, or separated from their fellow, countrymen and
Judaism, who had not left Judaism.
If they were feeling separate from them and wanting to go back
to Judaism. He could say Jesus suffered in
this way, he was cast out. He was left set apart from
others and he went outside the gate.
Therefore let us go forth to him, let us join Jesus outside
the camp bearing. His reproach there were persons
Jesus is that we take on whatever challenges might come
our way as a result of being a Christian, whether it's personal
sacrifice, whether it's reproach from others or approaches,
basically means the suffering or maybe the things that might come
to you from other people, the disdain or disregard or looking
down on you from other people. We should take that head on.
Take that head on because Jesus went outside the gate, we can
share in his sufferings. The Bible says, if we take that
on for here, we have no continuing City.
They want to Jerusalem back probably, but we don't have a
city that stays even Jerusalem is going to be burned up one day
and the last day when the earth is destroyed, but we seek the
one to come. We don't have a city that's
going to stay here. The ground is going to melt from
underneath our feet but we seek the one to come therefore by him
by Jesus. Let us continually offer the
sacrifice of praise to God. That is the fruit of our Lips
giving thanks to his name, there's multiple ways we can
offer. Thanks to God and the fruit of
our lips, we can speak these things into the world.
But being here to praise God. In song is a primary one that we
do that primary way that we do that.
Now those sacrifices with the we don't have to offer animal
sacrifices, we offer the sacrifice of our lips, and how
should we do it? Well, like the Old Testament
sacrifices, they were offered continually, but we don't have
to kill animals continually. We are to continually offer the
sacrifice of praise to God. I was talking to someone this
week who said, man, they were just talking about how hard it
was to think about animals being killed continually for a
sacrifice. We should be thankful, we don't
do that and our sacrifice takes the form of an outward
expression of our thankfulness to God.
And to remember that things that don't cost us anything.
Aren't often aren't sacrifice. and if we get to the point that
we are suffering, something or losing, something in order to
praise God, that's how you part of how, you know, to sacrifice,
if you have to suffer anything for God, That's part of being
the sacrifice. That's why when David said in
the Old Testament, he was offered the opportunity to get a
piece of land to make these sacrifices, and it could be
given to him freely from the landowner.
David said, no, I'm not going to take that for free.
I'm not just gonna let you give me that land to sacrifice to God
because something that If I don't pay something for, it's
not a sacrifice, I don't want to give to the Lord, something
that's not worth anything to me. If we give the Lord something,
it's not worth anything to us. It's not a sacrifice.
It's our extras, it's our cast off, its our spare change, you
might say, and whatever area of Life.
David said, I'm not going to give the Lord.
Something that doesn't cost me anything.
I know that I can serve god with something that costs me,
something. And that is a pleasing sacrifice
to God. And on the note of using our
lips to praise God, I came across this quote.
It says loving hearts. Must speak.
What would you think of a husband who never felt any
impulse to tell his wife that she was dear to him or a mother
who never found it needful to unpack her heart of its
tenderness? Even in perhaps the inarticulate
crooning over the little child that she presses to her heart.
It seems to me that a dumb Christian or a Christian doesn't
speak. A man who is that?
For a Christ's sacrifice and never feels the need to say so
is as greater than is as great and anomaly.
As either of these, I am described.
It might not be your nature to say a lot to talk a lot, or
maybe even to sing. Maybe singing is weird For You,
especially if you didn't grow up singing in the church, it's
probably uncomfortable. But loving hearts for God must
speak. We must bring praise to God
because that is a pleasing sacrifice to him.
It's part of our responsibility. Now, you don't necessarily have
to sing out loud. It doesn't have to come out a
certain volume. But it's our duty to please God,
In This Way, verse 16. But do not forget, even though
it's important to, to sing with your lips and praise God with
your mouth, don't forget to do good.
Also, it's not just about what we say it's about doing good.
And to share for, with such sacrifices.
God is, well, pleased, that reminds me of the song like let
this morning open my hands and teach me to share to be a
servant. It's not just about the words,
it's about what we do obey those who rule over you and be
submissive for, they watch out for your souls as those who must
give account. I believe again, this is talking
back about the the Christian leadership in a congregation.
There was likely Elders in these congregations.
He's talking to and Elders are ordained leaders of a
congregation He says to obey them now.
We have to be careful that because it doesn't mean turn off
your brain and just follow blindly.
But those who watch out for your souls, who have an honest
interest and who are caring about what's going on in your
life, from a spiritual perspective, he says listen to
them and submit to what they're saying, because an honest leader
is not getting you to try to submit to them.
They're trying to get you to submit to God, and they're
trying to get us to obey, God to submit to God and obey, God,
Because those who lead in a spiritual and a congregational
sense must give account to God. They are those who must give an
account and are going to be responsible for the way that
they lead. This is a servant leadership.
It sounds almost like a rule, like it's a prideful kingship
type thing, but it's not the whole roll of a of an elder and
congregation is to be a servant leader, a shepherd Default to
lead, by example and not as some person who wants the power.
But that's what we do, we submit to one another, that's what love
is. Especially for those who lead
for a spiritual purpose, let them do.
So let them lead with joy and not with grief for that would be
unprofitable for you. It's uncomfortable for everyone,
if people do not follow good spiritual leadership because the
person who is not following is not getting the benefits of the
spiritual growth that they should the Eternal growth that
they should. The relationship doesn't grow as
it should. And on top of that, it's
unprofitable for the leaders because the leaders want things
to go smoothly, want growth to happen.
All the leaders who have a sincere, heart won it for the
best of all involved. It's not profitable for people
to disregard good spiritual leadership.
For anyone involved. Verse 18, pray for us, the
writer says for, we are confident that we have in good
conscience, in all things Desiring to live honorably.
We're doing our best. Please pray for us, he says, but
I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to
you. The sooner, the writer here
wanted to get back to the Hebrew Christians and he wanted them to
pray for him to so that specifically he could give back
to them and be with them and help them again.
So so far we've gotten these nine ish foundations.
He's told them to love their fellow.
Christians to love their brother to show Hospitality to show
Hospitality to strangers to remember the prisoners or those
who suffer to honor marriage to be content and not Covetous to
respect and follow leadership to hold on to truth and to
establish their hearts with Grace.
And finally, to offer, praise to God with thankfulness, and now
we're going to finish the letter.
Now, may the God of Peace who brought up our lord Jesus from
the dead. So he's ending his letter by
giving them the assurance that this is a God of Peace, that is
coming to them, who brought up our lord Jesus from the dead.
Assuring them that this Jesus isn't gone.
He's not something they should leave hope and they shouldn't
just leave their hope in Jesus because he is brother from the
dead. He's not gone.
He's still here that great Shepherd of the Sheep.
Through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant, there are
some more Old Testament references.
This is an Everlasting Covenant, you set up for them.
Not just the blood of a noble sacrifice.
He says verse 21 May the God of Peace, all these things make you
complete in every good work to do.
His will God's work has a continual process of refining us
and he wants that to happen for these Hebrew Christians and may
we be complete and perfected as we grow.
Christian walk in every good work to do.
His will working in you. What is?
Well, pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be
glory forever and ever. Amen.
God wants to work and you he could have done anything.
He wanted. He could have intervened every
second of this world to where things happen, the exact way he
intended them to happen, but he didn't do that.
He chose to let you have choice and how you would let him work
in you and how I will let him work in me.
What is well pleasing in his sight and it's not just a serve
this God of the Old Testament, he brings in it is all through
Jesus Christ. They cannot leave Jesus behind
in their attempt to serve God. It is all through, Jesus Christ,
to whom this Jesus be glory forever and ever.
Amen. And I appeal to you Brethren
bear with the word of exhortation.
Take time to think about this, take time to process and and let
this work on your heart. He's saying there with this word
of exhortation for I have written to you in a few words,
thirteen chapters is quite a bit.
I wonder how many many words would have been to this writer.
He says, I've only written to you in a few words.
No, there are brother. Timothy has been set free.
So, some point, maybe in the Years between 59 and 61 Timothy
was in prison, but good news to know, Has been set free with
whom I shall see you if he comes shortly.
So this Rider wanted to go with Timothy to see them.
If he could be real, if you could shortly, great, all those
who rule over you and all the saints notice from Italy, greet.
You Grace be with you all. Amen.
And that is the close of the book of Hebrews and he wanted
these Christians, these Hebrew Christians.
To remember that the god of Grace was still with them that
they need to hold onto their faith and grow and not slipping
the faith to think. Back of all the things we've
learned about Jesus, being Superior to everything else.
We could serve in this world and we would turn to him, that they
would turn him at, hold on, and growth, and spiritual spiritual,
intentionality, and focus as they strove to hold on to him.
And I pray that the same will be true for us, and we will take
these words and there's a Rotations and grow ourselves.
If you've heard the gospel this morning and you have not
responded to it, you can do that.
Today, we learned that we can hear the word of God and by
faith, we to have faith. We have to here.
So when we can't please God without hearing, we can't.
Please God without believing in Hebrews chapter 11.
And so, in that believing, we're supposed to respond in a true
Faith to confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God to
change our past life to repent of who we used to be to follow
God in a new life. And we can be baptized for the
remission of our sins. If you haven't started that lock
today, you can you can be added to the church.
You can join this walk. This general assembly and Church
of the firstborn. He's talking about being added
to is wonderful, and we can start that today.
But if you've already done that, and you need to make something
right? Or you need the prayers of the
brother. We are a family.
We are happy to take care of that with you and help you while
we stand and what we see. We thank you for listening to
our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.
Road in Bakersfield, if you would like any additional
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