Staying Faithful In A Strange World

INTRODUCTION: Story of driving car. It is easier to drive when road is strait.

show picture. bumper sticker joke, Gonna give some of you JW bumper stickers.

TENSION: Title today is staying faithful in a strange world. We aren’t talking about marriage, but rather our relationship with Christ. The readers were tempted to leave, but only have a long hard road. In this strange world with competing voices its more important than ever to remain faithful.

Hebrews 13:7 ESV

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.

Remember your leaders - present tense.

Those who spoke to you the word of God. - Primarily speaking about Pastors. But likely other spiritual leaders who helped you grow.

A spiritual leader only has authority of your life when they are speaking God’s word. Some of you have been through abuse because they claimed all authority over you.

Remember the words of God spoke to you. ILLUSTRATION - Playing mom in trivia game.

ILLUSTRATION - FUNNY VIDEO HERE

Consider the outcome of their way of life - Look at their marriage and families. Look at their faithfulness. You should want that.

When I am discouraged I can look at Pastor Carl.

imitate their faith - 1 Corinthians 11:1 “1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” Godly leaders are a blessing because they help answer the question what does living my faith out in 2023 look like?

One of the reasons we have FALSE TEACHERS is because we have celebrity pastors and you can’t consider their way of life.

ILLUSTRATION -Nana Story. Sugar mama. I know I let her down.

Follow Godly Leaders

ILLUSTRATION - following someone who falls, will allow you to see Jesus more clearly.

kids in snow?

Who are you following?

If you say no one, you are likely following the world, because it takes intentionality to follow Jesus. (MORE HERE?)

But if you find yourself saying they all fall short or get off base, that’s okay because in the next verse it says.

Hebrews 13:8 ESV

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Most famous verse in Hebrews and it is speaking of that fact, when leaders fail you align yourself to Jesus.

same - himself. He was himself yesterday, today, and forever.

Forever - end of the age- (Buzz Lightyear)

ILLUSTRATION - first week here I said “ I promise I will get older” And I am keeping that promise. Grey hair is proving it, but you try working with Devin and Chaz and not getting grey.

ILLUSTRATION - But we all change, story of man, “I’ll even write to you”

Align Yourself to Jesus

If Jesus is the same, it means that he is the same towards us as he was to the woman at the well when he said you are thirsty? Come to me and drink.

He is the same to you as when he said in Matthew 11:28-30

Matthew 11:28–30 (ESV)

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

When he reached out and touched the unclean leper for the first time, he is the same when he reaches out to touch us.

He is still all of those things. Just as much as in the Gospels! He hasn’t changed. The one who saved you is the one who keeps saving you.

Have you drifted from Jesus?

If he is the same, it means he didn’t change. So if you aren’t close to him, he didn’t move. You did. But the beauty of it is that as far as you run, you are only one step away from coming back.

ILLUSTRATION - Swimming in ocean story. Couldn’t touch ground.

Hebrews 13:9 ESV

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.

led away - illustration here - (MAYBE CANDY VAN AS A KID? GETTING LOST ON GPS . Here in Brooksville I hear all the time: gps doesn’t work here. There is a thing called a map visual illustraiton. Your own moral compas doesn’t work here).

Diverse - means palet of colors or rainbow.

strange - foreign. It does not mean just anything you disagree with. Giving to the church? Sounds sketch. haha.

The only way to know this is to actually know the Bible.

ILL: FBI doesn’t study counterfeits nearly as much as the actual dollar bill.

Avoid Strange Teachings

Liberal theology - strips away scripture and jesus. Conservative tries to add on more. .

“IDK, how you can be a Christian and....Covid vaccine. Didn’t realize it was grace and right decisions on vaccines. “

Always grace.

Hebrews 13:9 ESV

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.

good - Healthy

for the heart to be strengthened - Strengthen, reinforced.

by grace, - Unmerited favor from God. You didn’t earn it.

not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. - foods speaks of the food of tabernacle. It speaks of doing things in your own effort.

What is strengthening your heart?

Hebrews 13:10 ESV

10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat.

altar - after the animal was sacrificed. The priest would eat and be nourished by the sacrifice.

No longer!

Our alter is in Heaven, Jesus had already died. We take communion to remind us and find strength.

CONCLUSION: Five year anniversary today.

Acts 20 ish.

INTRODUCTION - story of “I’ll write to you. (Maybe this story in verse 4) - other stories of staying faitful in marragie - (forgot her name 5 yaers ago joke).

No one cheats on their honeymoon.

5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY - picture.

Tension: There are so many things today that will try to draw you away from Jesus.

Follow Godly Leaders

Follow leader illustration - Kayne west?

When you are struggling with how to live our your Christian life today, look to Godly leaders.

Hebrews 13:7 ESV

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.

Remember - present tense, continually remember.

I will remember you slideshow - made to elp them.

Leaders - who are the leaders?

Those who spoke to you the word of God - story of playing money at national geographic. haha. ... clearly talking about elders or pastors.

The pastor only has authority when he is speaking upon the Bible.

Many of you had bad pastors of leaders who dominieed.

Consider the outcome of their way of life - Reason why we have so many false teachers today is be because no one can examine. NANA story. Suger mama joke. Truth is I probobly let her down. And I can’t fully minister to her.

imitate their faith -

Who are you following?

illustration of following JEsus. Leads into next verse.

Hebrews 13:8 ESV

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

I’ll even write joke here.

same - autos . Self.

forever - to all time. Buzz lightyear

Same person we see in the gospel.

Same one who said I am the livgin water to woman at well.

Same who come to me, etc..

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Align Yourself to Jesus

Have you drifted from Jesus?

Point 2 - Jesus does not change....The same Jesus of the Bible, is the same one who is in a relationship with you now.

Jesus doesnt’ change, so hold on tightly to him - illustration of capstone or light for ships.

Avoid Strange Teachings

Hebrews 13:9 ESV

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.

led away by diverse and strange teachers - this is easier than ever.

More likely to leave the church if I vote differenltly than if I preach hearesy.

Hebrews 13:10 ESV

10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat.

the priest would eat at the altar. (check to make sure this is actually talking about priests)

But our altar they don’t eat at. We feast on something greater.

Pick up here next week.

What is strengthening your heart?

CONCLUSION - Acts 20:24 bible college story.

A man was invited to some old friends' home for dinner. His buddy preceded every request to his wife by endearing terms, calling her Honey, My Love, Darling, Sweetheart, Pumpkin, etc.

He was impressed since the couple had been married almost 60 years. While the wife was off in the kitchen, the guy said to his buddy, "I think it's wonderful that after all the years you've been married, you still call your wife those pet names."

His buddy hung his head. "To tell you the truth, I forgot her name about ten years ago."

- Submitted by Jokes4U.

I once heard that a story about a couple that was married 60 years. When asked the secret, she said he still calls me sweetie and honey, and baby.

They turned to the man and said yes. I love my darling. AS they were walking away the old man pulled him aside and said. I forgot her name 5 years ago and I’m to embarrassed to ask. (MAYBE GOAT JOKE WORKS BETTER?)