HEBREWS 13:15-16 | OFFER YOUR SACRIFICES
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TEXT: HEBREWS 13:15-16 | OFFER YOUR SACRIFICES
TEXT: HEBREWS 13:15-16 | OFFER YOUR SACRIFICES
INTRO
INTRO
EXPLANATION: The author of Hebrews has walked us over the last few weeks through the altar that is the cross of Christ.
EXPLANATION: The author of Hebrews has walked us over the last few weeks through the altar that is the cross of Christ.
While there were some doing religious things like offering animal sacrifices in the name of God, it had neither the blessing or the approval of God.
In truth, they were doing religious things for appearance sake, and the writer stated so clearly in v.10, “We have an altar”
That altar was the cross of Christ.
It is that altar on which we lay our very lives down to Christ.
It is the altar that is the motivator for our Christian lives!
Because of what He did, we can serve Him!
Because of what He did we now have the privilege to stand in the place of the priest!
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:
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
With that royal access we were challenged in v.13
And in case you lose sight of the cross, he gave that beautiful promise in v.14
We aren’t home yet!
Now as the writer concludes his thoughts, he wants again invites us back into that royal throne room that we now have access to as royal priests.
He begins by reminding us of where this all began… “By Him therefore!”
Because He left the glories of heaven and came to earth
Because He faithfully lived on this earth and was tempted in all points as we are yet without sin.
Because He willingly allowed Himself to be taken by the multitude
Because He allowed Himself to be accused, mocked, and beaten
Because He gave His body to be broken by that cat of nine tails and that crown of thorns
Because He laid down His life on His own when He stretched out His arms on that cross.
Because He took upon Him the iniquity of us all
Because He died… for YOU and for me!
Because He gives us that promise of eternity in heaven.
You and I have a responsibility to step into the royal throne room each and every day of our lives and offer some sacrifices.
The first sacrifice the writer directs us to is...
V.15, A SACRIFICIAL WORSHIP
V.15, A SACRIFICIAL WORSHIP
15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
EXPLANATION: We are to offer the sacrifice of praise!
EXPLANATION: We are to offer the sacrifice of praise!
But lest we think this was a flippant prayer that was said before they ate
Don’t forget the background leading up to this.
He just challenged these believers to go without the camp bearing Christ’s reproach!
It was those that were written about in Hebrews 11:33-38
33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
It was Peter who was crucified upside down
It was Thomas who was speared through by four soldiers
It was Philip, Andrew, Bartholomew, and Simon who died on a cross
It was James, the son of Alphaeus, and Matthew who were stoned to death
It was James, the son of Zebedee, who was beheaded.
It was Judas, the other disciples, who was stoned to death
It was Paul who was beheaded by Nero.
It was Stephen who was bitten and then stoned by the crowd
It was John the Baptist who was beheaded by Herod
It was John the disciple who was exiled to a prisoners island.
It was Mark who was drug to death by horses in the streets of Alexandria
It was Luke who was hanged in Greece
Yes, it was those who understood what it meant to suffer for Christ
Those who knew what it meant to bear His reproach.
It was those who lived with the promise of heaven!
And it was those who knew when v.15 means when it talks of offering the “sacrifice” of praise continually.
Because each one met their end, praising their Savior!
APPLICATION: WBC, what does it take to stop your praise?
APPLICATION: WBC, what does it take to stop your praise?
It’s easy to praise God when things are going well!
It’s easy to praise God when work is good and the family is healthy!
It’s easy to praise God when you are happy and life is easy
And we should praise God in those times!
But for too many Christians, the only time praise comes from their lips is when things are going good.
But we are commanded to offer the sacrifice of praise “CONTINUALLY”
The truth is most of us have no idea what it truly mean to sacrifice, and to praise God through it!
Sacrificing carries with it the connotation that is costs something!
ILLUSTRATION: It’s Peter and John who were taken and threatened not to speak or talk about Jesus.
ILLUSTRATION: It’s Peter and John who were taken and threatened not to speak or talk about Jesus.
There response was simple: Acts 4:19-20
19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
ILLUSTRATION: The reality is most of us don’t really love God as much as we say we do.
ILLUSTRATION: The reality is most of us don’t really love God as much as we say we do.
Because we talk about the things we truly love
Have you ever seen a young engaged couple before they get married.
Usually they won’t stop talking about that guy or girl
It consumes their conversations.
It’s both cute and annoying.
Some of you love the outdoors
Some of you love Fox News
Hopefully you love your kids… Your spouse!
It’s evident because you can’t help but talk about them!
APPLICATION: The reality is, If you and I talked about God as much as you and I say we love Him, this town would be turned upside down.
APPLICATION: The reality is, If you and I talked about God as much as you and I say we love Him, this town would be turned upside down.
But if we would be honest… most of the time we aren’t great at offering the sacrifice of praise.
We don’t really think about the altar of the cross, and we forget about the promise of heaven.
And life get’s difficult, and instead of turning to praise we turn to complaining.
ILLUSTRATION: Job didn’t get everything right, but there is one thing we can definitely learn from his example.
ILLUSTRATION: Job didn’t get everything right, but there is one thing we can definitely learn from his example.
You see Job didn’t have any “things” to praise God for.
Everything he owned was gone.
He couldn’t thank God for his house… his family… his job… his servants… it was gone!
And yet we find those incredible verses in Job 1:20-21
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return thither: The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Because Job knew something we so often forget… the sacrifice of praise isn’t based on what we have...
The sacrifice of praise is based on Who God is.
APPLICATION: And as we talked about in our study through James… God is always good and He is always right.
APPLICATION: And as we talked about in our study through James… God is always good and He is always right.
And He is always worthy of your sacrifice of praise!
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
14 Let the words of my mouth, And the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.
17 I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: And will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.
49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, And sing praises unto thy name.
1 I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
10 In God will I praise his word: In the Lord will I praise his word.
3 I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: And I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
30 I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; Yea, I will praise him among the multitude.
Oh friend, Hebrews 13:15
15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Friend as a royal priest it is our duty to offer sacrifices to God… and the first gift we find is Sacrificial Worship.
And the final sacrifice the writer of Hebrews gives us here in this passage is:
V.16a, A SACRIFICIAL WORK
V.16a, A SACRIFICIAL WORK
EXPLANATION: This is an interesting phrase.
EXPLANATION: This is an interesting phrase.
He says don’t forget to “do good” and “to communicate”
The Greek word for “do good” has the sense of doing good to others.
There’s a lot of ways we can “do good” for one another.
We can serve.
Jesus certainly gave us that example on the night before His crucifixion when He took the towel and washed the disciples feet.
He demonstrated what it was to serve others
We can forgive
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
To give forgiveness to someone who may not ask for it and probably doesn’t deserve it is one of the greatest demonstrations of Christ’s work in our heart!
It’s a powerful example of doing good to someone!
But in this passage, the writer dives further into this idea of “doing good” when he says “to communicate”
Now in our time we view that as meaning we should talk to each other.
And the Lord knows there are some that could grow in that area!
But that isn’t what that word here in v.16 means.
Communicate is the Greek word, Koinonias
It is a word that gives the sense of participating in sharing!
ILLUSTRATION: It’s a constant topic of conversation in our house.
ILLUSTRATION: It’s a constant topic of conversation in our house.
“It’s mine”… actually it’s mine… I’m the one who paid for it.
Multiple times a day the words will be uttered you need to share with your brother, with your sister.
EXPLANATION: In Acts 2 after 3000 were saved, baptized, and added to the church, the Bible says Acts 2:42-47
EXPLANATION: In Acts 2 after 3000 were saved, baptized, and added to the church, the Bible says Acts 2:42-47
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
They weren’t promoting socialism… They were just generous to one another!
And what a wonder… that attitude of generosity one toward another caused the church to grow.
Because they realized that God had been so generous to them!
APPLICATION: When’s the last time you “communicate” with someone else?
APPLICATION: When’s the last time you “communicate” with someone else?
I’m not talking about doing some grand extravagant thing… I’m just saying when is the last time you tangibly thought of someone else?
ILLUSTRATION: Tressa and I hadn’t been married a year, and things are tight when you first get married… and it doesn’t change much.
ILLUSTRATION: Tressa and I hadn’t been married a year, and things are tight when you first get married… and it doesn’t change much.
I’ll never forget the day we got a knock on our door and someone from the church was standing out there.
And they gave us some money and told us, “We wanted you to have a date on us.”
And they got back in their car and left.
I can’t tell you how much that meant to us!
APPLICATION: Friend, you may not have the money to pay for someone else’s date night, but maybe you could take the time to be a blessing in another way.
APPLICATION: Friend, you may not have the money to pay for someone else’s date night, but maybe you could take the time to be a blessing in another way.
You could shovel a sidewalk of snow
You could offer to watch someone’s kids
You could help with a project.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
We live in such a self centered world that if the church would just decide to share with each other and praise God out in the world, it would turn our town upside down!
The doors of the church wouldn’t be able to contain the crowd!
ILLUSTRATION: Galatians 6 is a powerful passage that points to this idea of “communicating” with one another.
ILLUSTRATION: Galatians 6 is a powerful passage that points to this idea of “communicating” with one another.
Sharing in someone else’s struggle and lessening their load.
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Finding that discouraged believer and helping to lift them up again!
It’s so important because the truth is we will all find ourself at that point and need someone to do the same for us.
That’s what he is saying in those next verses Galatians 6:3-5
3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
Paul goes on to encourage the believe to encourage the one who teaches the Word of God: Galatians 6:6
6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
There it is again, “communicate”, Koinonia…
It’s the responsibility of the church to bless those that bless us with the Word of God!
He says the same thing again in Galatians 6:10
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
And I’m thankful for a church that is gracious in this way.
And then Paul writes something that should catch our attention: Galatians 6:7-9
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
When we choose to live life with an open hand toward God and toward one another, blessing one another when we have opportunity, it’s amazing how blessings can so often flow back into our lives.
You don’t give to get… but the principle is clear… so we ought to seek to give!
EXPLANATION: Now here is the key to our giving sacrificially… it’s found at the end of v.16
EXPLANATION: Now here is the key to our giving sacrificially… it’s found at the end of v.16
16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
APPLICATION: When we choose to worship God with the sacrifice of praise from our lips publically
APPLICATION: When we choose to worship God with the sacrifice of praise from our lips publically
And when we “communicate” with each other sacrificially…
It is then that we see that God is well pleased!
And I don’t know about you, but there’s nothing more that I would want more than to please the One Who gave His life on the altar of the cross for me!
Friend… let’s decide today to as royal priests to take every opportunity God gives us, to offer sacrifices to Him!