Acceptable Worship - Hebrews 13:7-19

Acceptable Worship | Hebrews 13:7-19 May 14, 2023 In case you forgot, today is Mother's Day. It's one of those wonderful days on our calendars that "force" us to honor the mothers in our lives. I say it that way because we (I) tend to do a little extra or acknowledge the mothers just a little bit more this day of the year. But let's face it, one day is not enough. One writer said that we should, instead, use this day as a planning day on how we can honor these mothers, and mother figures in our lives consistently and each day. I think that's a pretty good idea. The writer of Hebrews - the sermon series that we've been in - maybe had a similar thought. How can we honor God consistently and each day? How can we worship God in an acceptable manner? This morning, we continue in our final chapter of Hebrews. We'll look today at verses 7-19 of chapter 13. This chapter opened with five commands that showed us how to love in a way that pleases God. This morning, we continue a theme of acceptable worship introduced in chapter 12, verse 28. Let's read our passage today and see what we can learn about acceptable worship. 7 REMEMBER YOUR LEADERS, THOSE WHO SPOKE TO YOU THE WORD OF GOD. CONSIDER THE OUTCOME OF THEIR WAY OF LIFE, AND IMITATE THEIR FAITH. 8 JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY AND TODAY AND FOREVER. 9 DO NOT BE LED AWAY BY DIVERSE AND STRANGE TEACHINGS, FOR IT IS GOOD FOR THE HEART TO BE STRENGTHENED BY GRACE, NOT BY FOODS, WHICH HAVE NOT BENEFITED THOSE DEVOTED TO THEM. 10 WE HAVE AN ALTAR FROM WHICH THOSE WHO SERVE THE TENT HAVE NO RIGHT TO EAT. 11 FOR THE BODIES OF THOSE ANIMALS WHOSE BLOOD IS BROUGHT INTO THE HOLY PLACES BY THE HIGH PRIEST AS A SACRIFICE FOR SIN ARE BURNED OUTSIDE THE CAMP. 12 SO JESUS ALSO SUFFERED OUTSIDE THE GATE IN ORDER TO SANCTIFY THE PEOPLE THROUGH HIS OWN BLOOD. 13 THEREFORE LET US GO TO HIM OUTSIDE THE CAMP AND BEAR THE REPROACH HE ENDURED. 14 FOR HERE WE HAVE NO LASTING CITY, BUT WE SEEK THE CITY THAT IS TO COME. 15 THROUGH HIM THEN LET US CONTINUALLY OFFER UP A SACRIFICE OF PRAISE TO GOD, THAT IS, THE FRUIT OF LIPS THAT ACKNOWLEDGE HIS NAME. 16 DO NOT NEGLECT TO DO GOOD AND TO SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE, FOR SUCH SACRIFICES ARE PLEASING TO GOD. 17 OBEY YOUR LEADERS AND SUBMIT TO THEM, FOR THEY ARE KEEPING WATCH OVER YOUR SOULS, AS THOSE WHO WILL HAVE TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT. LET THEM DO THIS WITH JOY AND NOT WITH GROANING, FOR THAT WOULD BE OF NO ADVANTAGE TO YOU. 18 PRAY FOR US, FOR WE ARE SURE THAT WE HAVE A CLEAR CONSCIENCE, DESIRING TO ACT HONORABLY IN ALL THINGS. 19 I URGE YOU THE MORE EARNESTLY TO DO THIS IN ORDER THAT I MAY BE RESTORED TO YOU THE SOONER. Let's quickly identify our main idea: Acceptable worship is rooted in Christ alone. Let's take another look at verse 8: JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY AND TODAY AND FOREVER. I believe that this verse is the key to this entire closing chapter. Recall, our sermon series title is "Greater Than," indicating that Christ is greater than all other forms or ways of worship. This thesis, if you will, has been defended throughout the entire book by the unidentified author. Now, as he concludes, he is reminding these Christians how they are to live a life under Christ as their head. You might be thinking, Jesus - as we know Him - isn't exactly unchanged. So, what does this mean? John 1:1 tells us that Jesus was there from the beginning. We see in the early parts of the Gospel accounts that Jesus came to the earth in human form, as the suffering servant of Isaiah 53. We see from the book of Revelation that He will return as the conquering King. So, we see that Jesus' form and His role has changed over time, however, His character, His nature, His purpose, His plans and His promises are unchanged. Maybe more specific to this passage, His Word is unchanged. That's why this verse is key to this passage, and chapter overall. So, one may say that Christ is the foundation of acceptable worship. The obvious question is ... WHAT DOES ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP LOOK LIKE? The author lists several things here, first of which is urging that Christians ... * Support your leadership (7, 17, 18-19) o There are several layers to this command. It's also interesting that he places this first in this list. In Paul's first letter to Timothy he writes (3:1): THE SAYING IS TRUSTWORTHY: IF ANYONE ASPIRES TO THE OFFICE OF OVERSEER, HE DESIRES A NOBLE TASK. He follows this with a list of qualifications for the pastor. o One of those specific qualifications is that they are able to teach and that they are "WELL THOUGHT OF BY OUTSIDERS." In other words, that they are living a life that is respected by others. We'll touch on this in a moment. o The author speaks of the leader to start in verse 7, and as you see in the outline, he addresses it in verse 17-19 as well. Here are some of the areas he addresses: * In verse 7, he says to remember their leaders. This seems to be referring to past leadership, not a present one, like in verses 17-18. * I wonder too, if he is addressing a specific group of leaders, or if he is referring back to the "FATHERS AND PROPHETS" of Hebrews 1:1 * He follows this by telling them to imitate their faith. Why? Because of how they lived their lives. * How are you living your life? Are you living your live in a way where other Christians or people want to imitate you? o My favorite quarterback growing up was Troy Aikman. I can recall seeing how he threw a football, and I remember imitating that, and to this very day, I throw a football that same way. * When you admire someone so much, we want to be like them. * When we go ahead to verse 17, we see that we are to ... * Obey and submit to your leadership. * This implies that they are being Christlike. It implies that they are staying true and consistent to the Word of God. * There is a reason attached to this set of commands, namely that they are watching over your souls, and they are held accountable to what they are teaching. James 3:1 warns that there are some in the church that should not be teachers. That term "watching" implies a night watchman who is tirelessly watching over the flock. o I can recall someone sharing something with me, and I was devastated at the news. It wasn't something that directly affected me, but I cared enough about them that I was devastated to hear the news. * I hear of pastors all the time getting burnt out or hey lose the fire they once had, which is why the author says to ... * Pray for your leadership. * In the context of this passage, we ought to be praying that Pat and I are rightly dividing the Word of Truth, for protection from sin, that others are inclined to imitate our faith, and that we are attentive to your needs. o I know we spent a lot of time here, but the author also reminds the church to ... * Stay away from false teaching (9-13) o Verse 7 reminds us that good teaching is from the Word of God. * Paul warned the Galatians that if anyone brings a different Gospel, they are to be accursed. * John warned in his first letter that we are to test the spirits to be sure they are of God. * Just last week, Gerald and I were teaching the kids that the measuring rod is the Bible, the Word of God. * There are many so-called pastors and teachers out there that are only interested in pep talks or motivational speeches. They aren't rightly dividing the Word of Truth or teaching what the Bible says about cultural issues. * I think this is why the author reminds us in verse 8 that Jesus is the focal point of the Scriptures, and that is the foundation. Thus, his ... o Warning against the old way in verses 10-13. * This directly follows the warning of DIVERSE AND STRANGE TEACHINGS in verse 9. * This is a final warning from the author here to not return to the old way of worship. * The description in this passage would be familiar to the reader of that time, it points them to the Day of Atonement from Leviticus 16:27. * This specific sacrifice that the writer alludes to is a sin offering. A sacrifice that had to be repeated time and time again. It was never enough. Which is why the author stated at the end of chapter 9 (27-28): 27 AND JUST AS IT IS APPOINTED FOR MAN TO DIE ONCE, AND AFTER THAT COMES JUDGMENT, 28 SO CHRIST, HAVING BEEN OFFERED ONCE TO BEAR THE SINS OF MANY, WILL APPEAR A SECOND TIME, NOT TO DEAL WITH SIN BUT TO SAVE THOSE WHO ARE EAGERLY WAITING FOR HIM. * This reminder is one for us as well. When we're reading the Old Testament, this reminds us that it all points to Jesus. * I'm not sure how many of you are participating in our Bible Reading Plan this year, but that's what it's all about. Tracing the theme of God's redemptive plan from period to period, book to book, Old Testament to New Testament. * When Christ died and rose again, taking on the sins of mankind, He ushered in the New Covenant, in which we are no longer redeemed through the sacrificial system, but rather through the gift of faith, through the grace of God. * Maybe you haven't received that gift yet. Today is the day to surrender to the Lord and receive this gift of life from Christ who paid the price. * As such, we are to ... * Look ahead to the promises of God (14) o This should be familiar. We covered this when we were in chapter 12. In the beginning of that chapter, we see that there is a prize worth running for - namely, eternity with God. Later, in that same chapter, we saw the picture of Mt. Zion, which was a picture of the New Jerusalem, where the Lord will be among His people for eternity. o He reminds us in verse 14 that we are to seek this place. We are to long for it. Particularly when we see the world around us. o Verses 15-16 give us a couple of commands that we'll address separately. o First: * Do good works (15-16) o The author here may simply be referring to what was covered in the prior section, namely brotherly love, showing hospitality, honoring marriage, remembering those who were persecuted, and being content with what the Lord has provided. o It's also possible, as these are his parting words, that he's addressing those in chapter 10 when he spoke about stirring one another up for good works. o Or, in the larger context of the Scriptures overall, good works are always a sign or a proof of your faith. We do good works because of what God has done for us. We honor our marriages because God has ordained it. We show hospitality because God has been gracious to us, and so on. o When I was working in the hotel business, I always tried to help other departments when they were in need. I did this because it was less about me, and more about the entire hotel's success. o When we do good works, it's not about making ourselves feel good, but its about representing Christ for them. o Who can you bless today and show your faith through good works? o Finally, the other side of these verses urge us to ... * Offer the right sacrifice (15-16) o Since God already offered the ultimate sacrifice with His Son Jesus, our offerings and sacrifices are much different than those of the Old Covenant. o What does the author say our sacrifice is? Verse 15 says, in part, CONTINUALLY OFFER UP A SACRIFICE OF PRAISE TO GOD, THAT IS, THE FRUIT OF LIPS THAT ACKNOWLEDGE HIS NAME. * You see, our sacrifice is our praise and thanksgiving. * How is that carried out? We see this carried out in two ways: * Bearing fruit - those good works we just talked about, and ... * Acknowledging His name with our lips. o This offering of praise is not a new idea, even to the Jews. * Proverbs 21:3 says: TO DO RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE IS MORE ACCEPTABLE TO THE LORD THAN SACRIFICE. * Hosea 6:6 says: FOR I DESIRE STEADFAST LOVE AND NOT SACRIFICE, THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD RATHER THAN BURNT OFFERINGS. * Or Psalm 50:14: OFFER TO GOD A SACRIFICE OF THANKSGIVING, AND PERFORM YOUR VOWS TO THE MOST HIGH * These are just a few of many examples in the Old Testament where the Lord effectively declares, "I want you, not just a sacrifice." * The offering of animals was a picture of Christ - the ultimate and final sin offering. * So now, we respond by how we love God, and how love others. o This is acceptable worship. And this is why we said earlier: acceptable worship is rooted in Christ alone. This is really one of those great passages in the bible that help us to understand the "now what" in our walk with Jesus. We've seen that there are many things that the Christian must consider as they walk with Jesus, but it's all rooted in His finished work. Have you experienced God's grace? Have you experienced salvation from the penalty of sin through the finished work of Christ? If so, wonderful! This chapter showed us what's next ... honor and support your churches leadership, stay away from false teaching, keep your eyes focused on the promises of God, do good works as a result and a response to your faith, and offer yourself to God each day. If you haven't experienced God's gift of faith through grace, then we invite you to do that today. Paul says in Romans 10:9, BECAUSE, IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT JESUS IS LORD AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED. So, each of us today has a decision to make. * Honor God through acceptable worship, or to ... * Confess and follow Jesus. What will you choose today? Let's pray. 2