HEBREWS-JESUS IS BETTER: A Path To Reorientation

HEBREWS-JESUS IS BETTER A Path To Reorientation Pastor John Weathersby Sunday October 7, 2018 Hebrews 13:1-6 This passage will bring about an interesting message in: Hebrews 13:2 (ESV) 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Historically folks have heard that and thought, we’ll I’d like to entertain an angel, let me serve people. We’ll take a look at this passage and see something more fulfilling from this reference and remembering the Hebrew hearers of this passage get a more historically grounded picture that will encourage more better our desire to serve other Christians. Today’s passage gives us a path to reorienting our lives. Hebrews 13:1–6 (ESV) 1 Let brotherly love continue. Knowing what we know about God, He’s a consuming fire - being people who do not neglect His word, living on in that pattern of life, allow brotherly love to continue. It’s happening now, and should be allowed to continue on into the future. This should be a hallmark of Christian community. And church we’re selfish. So we read Hebrews 13:1 and we think as a receiver - when I have received me a little bit of Christian love, then we can start to feel bitter towards our fellow believers. What if we read our own mail, not others? Do you know what I mean by that - I mean this, as you read scripture you should be asking yourself, if there is something here for action, for learning/growing, and/or for deeper or more clear understanding about God. Note what you don’t read for, other people’s application. Read your own mail. So then the question or the test becomes NOT am I in a place, a church, a group of friends where I receive a continuance of brotherly love, rather - do I personally give brotherly love? That’s a question, what would that look like? What does it look like? What should it look like in your life, you giving brotherly love? Expositor’s notes here that they’d faded in their Christian Fellowship. Maybe you’ve felt that desire, the want to not participate in the gathering of the saints, maybe you’ve blamed the church for it or heard people blame the church for their desire to NOT want to be around Christians; maybe work yourself to own that. We’re encouraged NOT to avoid, when we do we’re working against scripture. While we’re great at making up excuses they’re largely not valid. Give fellowship for the brethren, people of the same womb the phrase would mean, people with the same father, God. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. I think often people get excited thinking, I’m going to pull an angel into my living room - let me give you something more exciting. Other believers. Stick with me here - he’s talking about family of believers, the brethren. These saints of the Hebrews are hearing this with Hebraic ears; they’ll think of the Genesis account with Lot welcoming in the Angels and Abraham account entertaining the angels and hearing about his coming son. It’s excitement at being part of the plan of God. Then the plan of God was brought through angels, delivered by Christ, and now is carried out by us, the saints today. When we serve and welcome one another we serve and welcome Christ. Matthew 25:38 (ESV) 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? Matthew 25:40 (ESV) 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ 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. He’s working to have the saints see with clarity their new identify is in the kingdom of God, that IS the family. Consider Jesus words: Matthew 12:46–50 (ESV) Jesus’ Mother and Brothers 46 While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Is that how you feel about your Christian family? It’s needs to be. The writer goes on to instruct them in key elements of Christian life: 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.” “Let your marriage be held in honor among all”. Think about what that must be like. I think so often, again we read other peoples mail. We need to read our mail. If you’re a married person, you have a responsibility not that people thing the marriage is good, that they KNOW it’s good. Wives, please don’t talk badly about your husband - he’s your flesh, your his helper, he is to be: Ephesians 5:25–27 (ESV) 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Christian marriage folks, is to be good, very very good. Look for someone in a future-spouse who’ll partner up with you to have a blessing of a great marriage! Why do we live this way? Glad you asked, and so is the Author-Pastor of Hebrews: 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” This is why I said: Today’s passage gives us a path to reorienting our lives. Do you remember what we picked to memorize last week? Proverbs 29:25 (ESV) 25 The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. We’re so often reminded to fear God over man. It sets our feet so that we can endure this life. We bind together as believers, one family. Have you ever been outnumbered in a big family situation, I mean, you’re near or hanging out with a big family and your out numbered? They set the tone for meals and events, you follow along - Christian family, the kingdom of God is like that - we all march to the family drum, God’s on truth and love, that he plays out for people’s benefits through us. Serving each other, having a servant’s heart for those of the fold of God. Let that special internal love be a beacon for those outside the church to see that Christ in your life envelops and impacts every aspect. Let them see in you that you structure your life around worship, there are things that you set aside so that you can corporately worship with the people you have a special and deep relationship with. When it comes to folks wanting to meet - I’m easy to meet with, I’m here almost every single Sunday, let’s fellowship here, corporately. Lets communicate that we expertise a special love here - people are made for worship and made for community - let them know it’s in God’s church. And stick with the passage because today’s passage gives us a path to reorienting our lives. This week consider Hebrews 13:1 as your mail, be excited by the welcoming posture you’re to have towards believers like you would be by receiving an angel as we’re encouraged in Hebrews 13:2 and look at the patterns of life provided for in Hebrews 13:3-5 and consider it all rolling up in the picture given in Hebrews 13:6. Hebrews 13:6 (ESV) 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” As a home group, talk about this “fear of man” when are times’ you’ve succumbed to it, when are times you’ve pushed through it - what was the outcome? What are ways you fight against it or what are good strategies? Inspiring Holy Oriented Living!