Sermon for Sept. 1, 2019

This morning I'll be reading Hebrews chapter 13 verses 1 through 8,,, then verses 15 and 16.

And I'll be reading the Holman Christian Standard Bible.

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Hebrews chapter 13 begins with moral directions in verses 1 through 6 then verses 7 through 17 are religious directions.

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1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it. 3 Remember the prisoners, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily. 4 Marriage must be respected by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge immoral people and adulterers. 5 Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you. 6 Therefore, we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 7 Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

15 Therefore, through Him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess His name. 16 Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.

God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this morning.

Let us pray:

Dear Lord, as we begin this morning, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen.

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This week was a little hectic at the beginning of the week and it was Thursday before I really got a direction from God on this scripture.

Not because God wasn't talking,,, but because I was so busy,,, I was distracted and not listening.

In these scriptures that we just read,,, the first 3 verses are talking about the love that we should share with others.

Then verses 4 through 6 continue with moral directions for them and us today.

Verses 7,,, 8,,, and 15 and 16 are religious directions that we need to learn from.

(3:03)

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Kenneth Sauer says in his sermon that the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews is writing about what it means to be a Christian.

He says that being a Christian means that we will love each other, we will have sympathy for those who are in trouble, we will be content with what we have and will be willing to share it, and we will worship God with praise.

I thought when I read this,,, that his words explained this scripture very well.

Now,,, to truly live out these scriptures,,, we must have the help of the Holy Spirit because this cannot be accomplished on our own.

So this morning,,, we will look at these scriptures and see how they can apply to our lives today and how with the Holy Spirits help,,, we can live the life that Jesus expects from us.

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Beginning in verse 1 it says: 1 Let brotherly love continue.

Jesus' new commandment,,, told us to love one another.

This was after the Last Supper,,, when Judas had just left to go and betray Jesus.

This was a message that He gave to the disciples as part of His final instructions to them that night.

In it says: 34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Paul's message in Romans chapter 12 verse 10 says: 10 Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Before we became Christians,,, this type of love would have been hard to accomplish.

And it’s impossible to do without the Holy Spirits help.

Before I became a Christian,,, I never really thought about loving others,,, by that I mean those that,,, weren't a part of my family,,, I didn't know or didn't like me.

I didn't have a problem loving my family or friends,,, those that were nice to me.

But everyone else never crossed my mind unless they were doing me wrong,,, then the thoughts weren't nice at all!

But once I rededicated my life to God,,, I was made aware of this by my Bible reading and the Holy Spirits help.

Going back to John 13:34,,, the new commandment that Jesus gave us,,, to love one another,,, Jesus also told us in the rest of that verse and verse 35: Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

In these verses,,, Jesus isn't talking about just our family,,, or the ones that love us,,, or the ones that are nice to us,,, or the ones that we work with or go to school with,,,

No!

Jesus is talking about loving as He loved!

That means,,, everyone.

The late Harry Denman was once asked by a young person, “What is the new birth?”

Denman replied: “When you are born as a person you have a physical birth,,, and you love as a person loves,,, which can be very, very selfish at times.

When you are born of the Lord,,, you have a spiritual birth,,, and then you love as God loves.

That's what is required of us as Christians,,, to love as God loves!

(6:38)

And that is only possible with the Holy Spirits help!

We can't do it on our own.

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Verse 2 says: 2 Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.

We know that Abraham and Lot entertained Angels in the Old Testament.

Abraham did in where it says:

2 He looked up, and he saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them and bowed to the ground. 3 Then he said, “My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, please do not go on past your servant.

Lot took two angels into his home in 19 The two angels entered Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting at Sodom’s gate. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them. He bowed with his face to the ground 2 and said, “My lords, turn aside to your servant’s house, wash your feet, and spend the night. Then you can get up early and go on your way.” “No,” they said. “We would rather spend the night in the square.” 3 But he urged them so strongly that they followed him and went into his house. He prepared a feast and baked unleavened bread for them, and they ate.

In both of these instances,,, Abraham and Lot took care of those that were traveling as they were supposed to do.

And as the writer of Hebrews says,,, you might entertain angels when you do so.

Jesus also spoke of this in where He was speaking of the final judgement and told of those that would be separated,,, the sheep from the goats,,, those that fed,,, clothed,,, and took care of strangers,,, were told to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven and those that refused to take care of those in need,,, to enter into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

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Verse 3 says: 3 Remember the prisoners, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily.

We must do our best to understand and help those in prison and those that have been mistreated.

Jesus said that we will have to answer for the way that we treat others,,, or the lack of help that we give to those that need it.

We as Christians,,, must love others as God loved us,,, not as lovable people but in spite of our sins that really made us unlovable,,, but God loved us anyway!

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Verse 4 says: 4 Marriage must be respected by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge immoral people and adulterers.

I believe that this verse doesn't need explaining.

God's word is very definite that marriage must be respected by everyone and those that are immoral will be judged by God.

The Bible is very clear that marriage is between a man and a woman.

It's also obvious that there are things that we do today that aren't acceptable by God and we will be judged for these one day.

There could be things going on in your life that are wrong and you can hide it from others,,, but you can't hide it from God,,, and you will have to answer for it one day unless you repent and believe in the saving grace of Jesus Christ our Lord.

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Verses 5 and 6 say: 5 Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you. 6 Therefore, we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

If we are burdened with the love of money,,, we will never be satisfied.

We will always be searching,,, but never quite reaching what we think is our goal.

If we truly have the love of God in us,,, then we will be satisfied with what we have no matter how rich or poor we are.

Our time on earth is temporary and our focus should be on heavenly riches not things that we can't take with us when God calls us home to be with Him.

We should never be afraid because God will supply us with everything that we need.

Over and over God promised to never leave us or forsake us.

This promise was made to,,, Jacob in ,,, to Israel in ,,, to Joshua in ,,, to Solomon in ,,,

Today we have God with us permanently through the Holy Spirit which became available to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

And as long as God is on our side,,, there is nothing to be afraid of.

(11:22)

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Verse 7 says: 7 Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.

This is another verse that needs little explaining.

As you remember those that have come before us,,, those that were faithful and obedient to God and showed it in the way that they lived,,,

Then those are the ones that you want to remember and imitate.

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Verse 8 says: 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

As we watch those that went before us and use the example of the way that they lived their life to show us the way,,, we don't have to worry about Jesus Christ.

Just like this verse says,,, Jesus is the same yesterday,,, today and forever.

This is something that we can always depend on,,, and it will never change.

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Verses 15 and 16 says:

15 Therefore, through Him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess His name. 16 Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.

Since Jesus has come to earth and has become the ultimate sacrifice,,, there isn't any need of the sacrifices of animals anymore.

But God wants our praise,,, acts of kindness,,, sharing with others,,, all of the things that Jesus has shown us to do.

As you go about each and every day,,, don't forget to thank God in the morning for everything that He has done through the night and the morning,,, then thank Him at least by lunch time for all He has done that day,,, then before going to bed make sure that you thank Him again for everything that He has done all day!

God loves our praise and thanks and we have a tendency to forget Him when things are going good.

So be sure that you are being thankful to God all day long!

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So as we begin our week,,, I want us to remember that God expects us to continue in brotherly love,,, show hospitality to others,,, remember those in prison and those that have been mistreated,,, being sure that we are being obedient to God as far as marriage and immorality is concerned because He will judge us accordingly,,, and being sure that we have our hearts set on Heavenly desires and not worldly desires,,, because our time here on earth is short but eternity is forever.

Also being sure that as we go about our day,,, that we always have praise of God on our lips,,, continuously thanking Him for everything.

And if you haven't accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior,,, please make that choice today,,, because we aren't promised tomorrow.

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So as we sing our final hymn,,, let me remind you that the alter is always open,,,

If you feel God speaking to you,,, don't hesitate to come,,, maybe you just have questions,,, God will answer,,, you just have to ask Him,,, whatever the need may be,,,

As we sing the final hymn,,, come if needed!

Oakdale - Hymn Page -

Seminary - Hymn Page - 382

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Now this morning we will gather at the alter to partake of the bread and cup to remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.

It's not enough to sustain us physically, but what it represents is intended to sustain us spiritually.

"I am the bread of life," says Jesus, "Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

This morning we invite all of you to participate in Holy Communion.

In the sacrament of Holy Communion, God makes use of physical elements (bread and juice) so that with prayer and faith, they become a means of experiencing God’s grace in a special way.

This represents the union between God, ourselves and other Christians.

Eating the bread and drinking the cup shows that we are remembering Christ's death for us and renewing our commitment to serve Him.

Jesus said, "Do this, as often as you eat and drink in remembrance of me".

We do this by remembering what he did for us by his death and also in remembrance that he is coming again.

In

it says:

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 gave thanks, broke it, and said, “This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”

25 In the same way, after supper He also took the cup and said, “This cup is the new covenant established by My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

As we begin, I want to remind each of you that this is the Lord's supper, not ours, and Christ that invites you.

As our ritual puts it: “Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another.”

We do not refuse any who present themselves desiring to receive. Whether you should receive Communion with us is between you and God.

Let's take our hymnals and turn to number 892.

And we will begin reading the bold print together at the top of the page until we get to the red writing where it says all pray in silence,,, then I'll begin with prayer,,, then we will have a short time of silence,,, to give each of us a chance to speak to God silently,,, then I'll close the prayer,,, then I'll begin reading the lighter print below that and we will read the last line together that's in the bold print.

Then we will come and gather around the alter,,, If you can kneel that's fine,,, but if you can't or unable,,, that's fine also. Standing will be just fine.

Let's stand as we begin reading together at the top of the page - #892

Our Heavenly Father,

Who by thy love hast made us,

And through thy love hast kept us,

And in thy love wouldst make us perfect:

We humbly confess that we have not loved thee with all our heart and soul and mind and strength, and that we have not loved one another as Christ hath loved us.

Thy life is within our souls, but our selfishness hath hindered thee.

We have not lived by faith.

We have resisted thy Spirit.

We have neglected thine inspirations.

Forgive what we have been;

Help us to amend what we are;

And in thy Spirit direct what we shall be;

That thou mayest come into the full glory of thy creation,

In us and in all the people;

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Pray in silence) Bow our heads in prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father,,, we come to you this morning and thank you for all the blessings that we have received. We thank you for your Son who died on the cross for our sin's and made it possible to come to you in prayer. I ask for forgiveness for my sins and I know that the Holy Spirit will put before you any that I miss. Now we will take just a few moments in silence to allow everyone to speak personally to you, then I'll finish,,,,. ,,,,

(silence)

Most Gracious and Holy God,,, again we thank you for this opportunity to come before you. Now we ask forgiveness as a church family together,,, for any sins we've committed before we take of your Holy Communion. These things and all others we ask,,, in Jesus' name,,, Amen

The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

If any one sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;

And he is the expiation for our sins,

And not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Thanks be to God.

Now you can come together,,,

When all have received, the Lord's table is put in order.

The following prayer is then offered by the pastor or by all:

Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery

in which you have given yourself to us.

Grant that we may go into the world

in the strength of your Spirit,

to give ourselves for others,

in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hymn 130