Be Faithful to Encourage
Strengthen This Body Through Your Faithfulness! • Sermon • Submitted
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Goals for ABC in 2021
The goals I will lay out for you today lead us in a particular direction. In other words, there is a flow to them that will, if followed will perpetuate itself.
You will find that it is very simple. But I am telling you, if we purpose to pursue this kind of culture at ABC, we will fulfill the Great Commission He has given us!
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“Strengthen This Body Through Your Faithfulness!”
1. Gather - Create a warm, welcoming, and truth-filled place of worship for those who need a church family (Acts 2:42-47)
2. Rescue - Intentional, personal and corporate outreach by every member of this body (Romans 10:14-17)
3. Teach - Robust discipleship available for every new convert as well as all who attend ABC (Matthew 28:18-20)
4. Encourage - Groups of ABC believers throughout this community meeting together for encouragement, prayer, service and love (Hebrews 10:24-25)
This is why the theme for this year is focused on your responsibility to participate in this process. Because of His Faithfulness to you,
Purpose -
There is a relationship which makes life complete. Without that relationship, there is a void, a vacuum in life. Many people, even those who are well-known, can attest to that void.
For example, H.G. Wells, famous historian and philosopher, said at age 61: "I have no peace. All life is at the end of the tether." The poet Byron said, "My days are in yellow leaf, the flowers and fruits of life are gone, the worm and the canker, and the grief are mine alone." The literary genius Thoreau said, "Most men live lives of quiet desperation."
Ralph Barton, one of the top cartoonists of the nations, left this note pinned to his pillow before taking his own life: "I have had few difficulties, many friends, great successes; I have gone from wife to wife, from house to house, visited great countries of the world, but I am fed up with inventing devices to fill up twenty-four hours of the day."
Morning Glory, May 29, 1993.
Why did God create you? Do you think there is a reason for your existence?
What is the Hearer’s problem?
What is the Biblical Solution?
What do the hearers need to know?
Main Textual Idea:
Main Idea: Your Certain Faith Give You Profound Purpose
Interrogative: What is that purpose? That is what we will get in the second point of this sermon.
But there are some beautiful indicative truths we must see before we get to our purposeful imperatives!
Transition:
1. Your Certain Faith Comes from Jesus’ Blood and Position (vs. 19-21)
Lead in...What is the tension here?
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
There are days when I struggle with my faith. It’s easy for me to look at the circumstances around me, become overwhelmed, and turn to old patterns of thought and habits of worry, anxiety, and other destructive mindsets.
I think if we Christians are all going to be honest, we all struggle with lacking in faith at times. It’s just easier to do what we know even if it isn’t any good for us. - The poopy diaper syndrome
The writer of Hebrews bolsters the faith of his (Jewish/Christian) readers by reminding them that their faith is certain because it is firmly rooted in two biblical realities. To specify this, he uses the word “since” twice. Since meaning “to have.”
Let’s take another look at the text to see what I am talking about.
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,
21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
Now, let’s take a minute to drill a little deeper into each “since” statement and see why these two statements bolster our faith.
Since - we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh (vs. 19-20).
Do you understand what the writer is telling his readers here? Things have changed! Back in the day, in the sacrificial system, the process to meet with God was through a priest who would enter into the Holy of Holies in the temple to make a sacrifice on behalf of the nation of Israel.
15 “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat. 16 Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins. And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which dwells with them in the midst of their uncleannesses. 17 No one may be in the tent of meeting from the time he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place until he comes out and has made atonement for himself and for his house and for all the assembly of Israel. 18 Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around. 19 And he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleannesses of the people of Israel.
But, as I mentioned, things have changed now that Christ came. Jesus offered His body as a sacrifice for the sins of not only Israel, but of all nations.
And as a result of His sacrifice, there is now access to God!
This is what the writer of Hebrews is communicating! Because of Jesus sacrifice, God not longer requires the lengthy, bloody process He did in Leviticus. Because of Christ’s sacrifice, through the curtain of His flesh, we now have continuious access to our God.
This is our reality - we HAVE this! This is why the author uses the word since!
YOU HAVE ACCESS TO GOD!
You can boldly go to Him day or night. You can approach Him whenever and however long you want to!
The blood of bulls and goats only atoned for the sins of the nation once each year. Jesus’ blood sacrifice was good for all time!
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
But not only was He the blood sacrifice, Jesus was and is the GREAT HIGH PRIEST.
That’s what the next “since” reveals to us!
Since - we have a great high priest over the house of God - significance of this (vs 21)
As we already read from Leviticus, Aaron was the first High Priest. This was a distinguished position for sure! There are a lot of things to know about the role of the Priest and even the High Priest. And you can read about them in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and even Hebrews in the New Testament.
I also have an article from “Got Questions” that can help as well. https://www.gotquestions.org/high-priest.html
But here is one thing that will help you understand the most significant role for the High Priest...
He stood before God and represented God’s people. (BTW - the Prophet represented God to God’s people)
Aaron may have been the first High Priest, but Jesus is the Ultimate High Priest! Listen again to the writer of Hebrews...
1 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. 4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. 5 They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” 6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.
So think about this. Jesus is the blood sacrifice replacing the blood of bulls and goats became the ultimate sacrifice shedding his own blood as the innocent lamb, paying for our sin debt with His own life.
His blood replaces the blood of the animals that would be spread upon the mercy seat as well as the horns on the altar by the High Priest. The High Priest was replaced by the Christ performing the act once and for all!
Jesus, the High Priest, the representative of man before God, spread His own blood on the mercy seat so those who repent and place their faith in Christ, will go free.
Since Christ used His blood!
Since Christ is the Great High Priest!
Since these two ideas are in fact reality, you can approach God.
Did you know that without Christ shedding His blood and acting as the ultimate High priest, you have zero chance of having any interaction with God.
But because Jesus shed His blood and spread his blood as the great high priest, You can boldly approach the throne of His grace.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Do you understand what a privilege it is to be able to go to God? He, through Christ, now accepts you! You!
A prior enemy of God is now accepted by God because of the finished work of God.
He left heaven to become the ultimate high priest
He left heaven to shed his blood to not just cover your sins, but to wash them away altogether!
He did this for you! So he could have a relationship with you!
I did a lot of stuff to pursue Angie and to try and establish a relationship with her...
But when I consider all that God, through Christ has done to allow me to have a relationship with a God “who’s eyes are too pure to look upon evil”? Wow!
God really does love you and wants to have a relationship with you.
For the unbeliever here - you must believe this!
For the Christian here, doesn’t this reality do something to your heart?
The writer of Hebrews is setting his readers up for something profound. But, He wants them to fully understand their position before he gives them the profound task.
What do you think would happen to ABC if each one of us would truly meditate and understand what Jesus went through to become the Ultimate High Priest and to shed His blood on our behalf?
I think this Church would start to realize her purpose.
That we would begin to see our role as Jesus’ role as priest - Connecting people to God.
5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
We would see our privilege is to sacrifice our own life, our own blood, sweat, and tears for a greater, eternal purpose.
What a powerhouse God’s church would become here in Allendale if we grew in certainty of our faith.
I believe this to be true - the more faith you have, the more productive you will be for the Gospel.
Is your faith a certain faith?
These verses point out that it should be because of who Christ is (our great high priest) and what He has accomplished for us (the forgiveness of sin through the shedding of His own blood).
Review - Your Certain Faith Give You Profound Purpose
Your Certain Faith Comes from Jesus’ Blood and Position
2. Your Profound Purpose Comes from Your Faithful God (vs. 22-25)
I always work better when I find purpose and meaning in my work. It is hard for me to get attached to mundane tasks that have no real purpose.
Illustration -
Honestly, I think we are all like this to some extent. After all God created us to find meaning in what we do. People can become discouraged, depressed, and even die when the they lack meaning and purpose.
Illustration -
But God makes all the difference in our lives.
When we know God, we KNOW purpose!
In order to see God’s profound purpose for us, let take a look at the next few verses in Hebrews 10...
Just like there were two “since” phrases in our last set of verses, there are now three “Let us” phrases in the next set of verses. This is pretty important - especially in light of what kind of culture we should have around here.
Let Us Draw Near to God!
22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Since Jesus is our Savior and High Priest - We can draw near to God! While we need to reverence God, we do not need to be terrified of him. We can now go to our heavenly Father day or night! He is always availble for us for the slightest concern we might have.
7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
We do not need to wait on the high priest to represent us before Him. Because Jesus is the Ultimate High priest, and because we are in Him and He in us, we can draw near to God anytime we desire!
Let Us Be Unwavering in Our Hope!
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Since Jesus is our Savior and High Priest - we have a hope rooted in the faithfulness of God. Being a Christian back in the time of this letter was not easy. Persecution of Born-again Christians was brutal and frequent.
Examples...
It was a time that could cause hopelessness. Ironically, church history teaches that when the new church lived under persecution, she didn’t shrink, but instead grew.
Christians were beaten, the church grew.
Christians were mocked, the church grew.
Christians were killed, the church grew.
The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church - Tertullian
Why is it the church grows when under persecution?
Because....
True, authentic followers of Jesus hold fast to the confession of their hope without wavering.
True, authentic followers of Christ trust their faithful, promise keeping God!
Believers in Christ are a people who are FULL OF HOPE!!!
Illustration - Bob Coone is fully healed and with Jesus!!
55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
Death holds not power over the true believer! Death is now merely a portal to Jesus!
8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
And from God’s perspective...
15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
So, we are here with a job to do for a short season - then we get to go be with Jesus for all eternity! Precious indeed!
This is our hope and believers grasp to it firmly!
And because of this, we are able to accomplish the last “Let us” phrase so well!
Let Us Stir One Another Up To Love and Good Works
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Since Jesus is our Savior and High Priest - we MUST motivate one another to obey these two verses.
And it is these two verses that we will pull the majority of our application. Honestly, I think these verses are the culmination of this passage...
The author of this letter is saying in essence - “In light of who Christ is and what He has accomplished for us, this is how I want you to live.”
So, How does he want them/us to live?
First - they are to “consider” - “to observe, notice, contemplate something.”
What are they to consider? They are to think about “how to stir up one another to love and good works...”
Second - The phase “to stir up” mean to “Provoke,” “Spur,” “Stimulate,” “Motivate,”
So God wants these believers to be intentionally pushing their fellow Christians to two important things. They are motivate one another to LOVE one another and provoke one another to do good works!
The point? Christians have a biblical responsibility to ensure that we are accomplishing these two actions!!
We need to think about how to do this! We need to consider how we will stir one another up!
By the way, this assumes something as well.
It assumes that every action has a reaction.
What do I mean?
I mean that believers are to not only be willing to hold other Christian’s feet to the fire regarding how they exhibit love and doing good works, but they are also to submit themselves to this accountability as well!
Believers need to be willing to give as well as take in the area of accountability!
Illustration - Heather at our Connection Group
Next - The writer of Hebrews tell his readers to consider how to stir up one another to love and good works. But then in verse 25, he gives a very practical way to do this...
Do this by intentionally meeting together. Getting together with the intention of helping another person grow in their faith walk.
YOU BEST GROW IN YOUR FAITH WHEN SURROUNDED BY OTHER BELIEVERS WHO INTENTIONALLY HELP YOU PURSUE CHRISTLIKENESS!
The challenge in this verse is there were some who got out of the habit of intentionally meeting together and it was having an adverse affect on their spiritual life!
The point is, you cannot grow in Christ without a faith community! The church one of God’s best growth tools in His divine tool box!
Why is this so? Because fellow believers are fellow encouragers. The verb in this passage is actually...
παρακαλέω parakaléō; - to the side of, and kaléō (2564), to call. To aid, help, comfort, encourage. Translated: to comfort, exhort, desire, call for, beseech with a stronger force than aitéō (154) which means to “ask”, “request.”
Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).
The church - the group of people that belong to any given local congregation are called to do something very special.
They are to come along side their fellow followers of Christ and comfort, encourage, exhort, call for, beseech one another to love properly and do good to each other and those outside the church as well.
And notice purposeful, intentional activity isn’t supposed to diminish over time. It isn’t to ebb into the waves of apathy! NO! It is to be a continual tidal wave of action, ever increasing until the Lord comes to get us!
That day is drawing closer! Year by year, month by month, week by week, day by day!
Do you sense the good pressure that the writer of Hebrews is putting on the church? Guess what! That Day is nearer today than it was when this was written!
I wonder after hearing what God’s Holy Word has to say about what you have in Christ (Forgiveness through his blood, and that He stands between God and you as your representative). And then what you are supposed to do because of your relationship with Christ (specifically to draw near to God because of your unwavering hope and provoke one another to love and good works - to purpose to encourage your brothers and sister in Christ by speaking into their lives. And be willing to have them speak into your life.
Are you in a place where you are willing to step up? In particular to put yourself in a place where you can speak into others lives as well as have someone speak into yours?
The reality is you have to make that decision! Yes, you! Will you purpose to be the kind of Christian God is asking you to be in this passage.
How do I see this best being accomplished?
Certainly, meeting at church is essential.
But I think the best place for this to occur is in the small group. We have a small group ministry - they are called our Connection Groups.
Connection Groups are specifically designed for building relationships within this faith community. It’s the next level of connection! It’s a place where you can pray for one, encourage, and exhort one another...
By the way, your small group is a place for you to exercise the activities that God gives us in this passage. Your group will only be as good as you make it!
And half the battle is making a habit of showing up! The second half is intentionally loving those in your group and doing good to them.
I guarantee if you purpose to do this, your life will change.
Picture what ABC will be like in five years if we, all of us determine to obey what these verses say - especially in the context of our Connection groups. Everyone will have a place to belong. Everyone will have friends that love them and speak into their lives! Everyone will encourage and be encouraged.
Review - Your Certain Faith Give You Profound Purpose
Your Certain Faith Comes from Jesus’ Blood and Position
Your Profound Purpose Comes from Your Faithful God
Conclusion
A man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder--a waif, a nothing, a no man. Have a purpose in life, and, having it, throw such strength of mind and muscle into your work as God has given you. - Thomas Carlyle
Review Main Idea
Give final application
Land the Plane.
Connection Group Reflection Questions
1. What do these verses teach me about our character?
2. What do these verses teach me about God and his character?
3. Because these words are from God, they are TRUTH! What truth is he asking me to believe?
4. What do I need to do to obey him?
5. With whom can I share these truths?