Greater Than (15)
Notes
Transcript
Greater Than
Greater Than
Good morning. I am so glad to see everyone as summer is winding down. This coming week school is starting up. Please remember to pray the students, teachers, and administrators.
Thank you to everyone who came out this last Wednesday to hear about our mission trip to New Mexico. We are excited about what God did and is continuing to do as we prepare to step into the Fall.
If you have questions about the trip to New Mexico, grab one the folks that went and ask away. We will be unveiling and launching our Fall ministries right after Labor Day weekend, so I hope you are ready.
Today we are wrapping up our series in Hebrews, so please turn in your Bibles, apps, or ask Google to go to Hebrews 13.
Great Life / Greater Living
Great Life / Greater Living
It is one thing to be alive, it is entirely a different thing to live.
Billy Graham once said:
All my life I was taught how to die as a Christian, but no one ever taught me how I ought to live in the years before I die.
Great Life / Greater Living
Great Life / Greater Living
For 10 chapters we are shown how there no one and no thing greater than Jesus Christ.
He is the King/Priest who completed all the things needed for us to be restored in relationship to the Father though the ultimate sacrifice.
Jesus has given access to very throne and heavenly holy of holies and reminds us this is forever and permanent.
Then in chapter 11 we are shown examples of imperfect people held to their faith even though they did not see the fulfillment of the promises. They lived lives the world was not worthy of.
Then for the last two weeks we talked about how we live this life of faith. Running light, focusing forward, seeing struggle as opportunity, and not finishing alone. As the journey continues we stay focused as we remember what Christ has done, looking up to know who we are doing this for, and focusing forward knowing the destination is worth it.
What is left to talk about?
The difference between being alive and living is as simple as simply knowing and actually doing.
James said it this way:
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
Great Life / Greater Living
Great Life / Greater Living
This what I want to dive into today.
Please stand with me as we read the only words that lead to life and purpose.
1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.
4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
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 pray.
Great Life / Greater Living
Great Life / Greater Living
So as you read chapter 13, it kind of feels like an “oh by the way” message. It is like the author is saying, “I also meant to tell you...”
We were just on Mt Zion and the amazing destination of the race we run and now we are talking about marriage, hospitality, people in prison, and church leaders.
It is kind of anti-climatic, or is it.
When it comes to God’s Word, you cannot separate doctrine and duty. With revelation comes responsibilities.
The whole point of these last 3 chapters is to focus on living by faith.
The author gave us examples of faith in Ch 11, encouragements to faith in Ch 12,and now in Ch 13 he is giving the evidences in our lives that should be visible as we are living this out.
The way and how we live should reflect our faith, and it should be visible to world around us.
Faith Living shows by Enjoying Spiritual Fellowship.
1 Let brotherly love continue.
Faith Living shows by Enjoying Spiritual Fellowship.
The basis of our fellowship and the glue that holds our relationships together is love.
Our connected love for Christ outshines any other friendships or family.
Many of these Hebrews had been rejected by friends and family for their faith.
Any church based on any other type of love will fail.
We are able to love each other because we are loved by Christ and love him.
22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
Faith Living shows by Enjoying Spiritual Fellowship.
The outpouring of that love in our fellowships is evident in our hospitality towards those who come and our concerns for those suffering.
2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.
Faith Living shows by Enjoying Spiritual Fellowship.
Home and families are the core and foundation where there love is expressed and learned.
4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
Faith Living shows by Enjoying Spiritual Fellowship.
Marriage is what God defines as marriage. It is holy and the first community God ever ordained.
This means loyalty and purity. - I can honestly say that woman sitting there is the only one I think about.
I have not always honored her the way she deserves, but there is no human being I love more.
PG 13 statement so co cover ears if needed, but sex within marriage is an act of worship and that is the only place it belongs.
Finally, that love is evident because we value each other more than stuff.
5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Faith Living shows by Enjoying Spiritual Fellowship.
Comfort can lead to complacency if we are not careful.
There is no amount of stuff or possessions that will ever be enough to make you fell contentment.
One millionaire was “How much money does it take for a rich man to be satisfied?” He replied, “Just a million more than he has.”
When we have Christ we have all we need.
Faith Living shows by Submitting to Spiritual Authority.
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.
Faith Living shows by Submitting to Spiritual Authority.
The local church is an organism and a organization.
Without organization, any organism will die.
Think about Paul: everywhere he went he founded local churches and ordained qualified believers to lead them.
23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Faith Living shows by Submitting to Spiritual Authority.
We all have responsibilities when it comes to the Leaders God has placed over us.
1. Remember them - think about those leader through out your life that have made impact on your life.
Follow their lead. Church leaders should always point to Christ, as we come and go , but Christ remains the same.
Double check them - don't just take their word.
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.
Faith Living shows by Submitting to Spiritual Authority.
2. Obey them - if they are in the Will of God, teaching the Word of God - we submit and obey.
Not a dictator - that’s a red flag
It is easier to talk to the lost than the saints sometimes. As a church grows it becomes even harder to care for all the sheep.
I am so grateful for the other Pastors and as we get larger we have to get smaller at the same time.
24 Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings.
Faith Living shows by Submitting to Spiritual Authority.
Greet them - we should all be on speaking terms with our leaders.
Listen if I know you are praying for me, you have my ear all day. I want people to ask questions or check me when I may go to far.
Faith Living shows by Sharing in Spiritual Worship.
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.
Faith Living shows by Sharing in Spiritual Worship.
We are not involved on a the ceremonies and furnishings of an earthly tabernacle, but we still experience the blessings it represents.
Every Jew could point to the Temple and a City that would be destroyed. We have a heavenly sanctuary and eternal city that will last for eternity that the earthly ones could only represent.
Jesu is our altar through which we offer spiritual sacrifices of praise and worship.
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.
Faith Living shows by Sharing in Spiritual Worship.
We offer praise form our lips and our worship through our actions.
16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Faith Living shows by Sharing in Spiritual Worship.
We cover it all and each other with prayer.
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.
Faith Living shows by Experiencing Spiritual Lordship.
20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Faith Living shows by Experiencing Spiritual Lordship.
One commentator stated:
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Twelve: Pardon Me, Your Faith Is Showing (Hebrews 13)
This benediction seems to gather together the major themes of Hebrews: peace, the resurrected Christ, the blood, the covenant, spiritual perfection (maturity), God’s work in the believer
Faith Living shows by Experiencing Spiritual Lordship.
Christ worked for us while on earth to complete the work of redemption, and now He continues to work in us to mature and bring us into spiritual perfection.
He gives us everything we need to live by faith.
Imagine if this was our prayer every day.
20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip me with everything good that I may do his will, working in me that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Great Life / Greater Living
Great Life / Greater Living
We have a choice, we can just live or exist or we can embrace the call of God on our lives and start living.
How do we stand firm is a world that is shaking all round us?
Know and trust the greater one - Jesus Christ.
He is greater in Person, Priesthood, and in principle of faith.
Build a life based the things of Heaven that will never shake.
RC Sproul once said:
The Christian life requires hard work. Our sanctification is a process wherein we are coworkers with God. We have the promise of God's assistance in our labor, but His divine help does not annul our responsibility to work.
Great Life / Greater Living
Great Life / Greater Living
No on said living by faith is easy, but we are never alone, never without resources and it has been done before.
Church it is time to start running or keep running as the finish line is coming.
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Let’s pray.
