Less of me part 1

Hebrews 13:1-3 Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.

Hebrews 13: 2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!

Hebrews 13:3 Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.

INTRODUCTION

Good Morning Southpointe! I would like to welcome you and all of you that are still watching online.

This morning we are beginning a new series: “Less of Me”

This final chapter here in the book of Hebrews presents a series of exhortations regarding believers’ social, private, and religious lives.

I have found that time can change a person, whether it good times or bad times.

And the world that we live in today has a way of twisting and turning us to be something that we never thought that we would become.

Changing times create a lot of stuff for us to handle.

Changes in industrial development, transportation methods, and electronic technology have increased throughout recent decades.

But, fortunately, Jesus has not changed at all.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

People have created some remarkable things, yet nothing can or will approach the greatest of God’s creation.

The changeless Christ remains

Regardless of how fast we can travel from one place to another in the future, or how rapidly we can process information in the years to come, but what all people need is the salvation through the Lord Jesus.

With the fast pace, and complete access to the things of this world if we are not careful our attitude can become all about me.

Matthew 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

The idea behind Jesus’ words is that as a christian, Jesus should be the ONLY thing that we desire. You have to have Him. Say it with me: I have to have Him!!

A Christian must understand that we do not surrendered to a good feelings or a great emotions, not even a moral idealism, but we surrender our life to an all consuming fire that will not be denied!

Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

Hebrews 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.

We must offer not a sacrifice of Blood, because Jesus has done that once and for all, but a sacrifice of praise!

Romans 12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

We struggle with this process, being a living and holy sacrifice.

I know that I do. Because I am selfish.

Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow Me.

Php 2:3 Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

When I read scriptures like these then it begins to mess with me>

Because I don’t want to deny myself and live for someone else.

But what we forget so often is serving others is the most acceptable worship to God that we could ever give.

Let’s read it again:

Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

So what is acceptable? serving God. How do we do this? With reverence and godly fear.

In a response to our awe of God, to the reverence for God, our respond is dying to ourselves.

Jesus’ words is that His followers will deny their lives and exalt His kingdom even to the point of death.

Glory to God is our mission.

So how then do we die to ourselves and live in Christ? How can we live a life that less of me.

We see here 3 ways that we are held accountable that is so necessary to bring worship to Him and die to ourselves.

We give Glory to God when, for the Glory of God we...

1. Let brotherly love continue

Hebrews 13:1 Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.

Do you love your christian brothers and sisters in Christ?

John 13:35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.

One of the marks of a Christian is that you love your brothers and sisters.

1 John 2:10 Anyone who loves another brother or sister is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble.

1 John 2:11 But anyone who hates another brother or sister is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.

This kind of love is not sexual… I dislike very much how the our culture has made everything sexual.

Men should love each other, care for each other, help each other on in Christ!

Women should love each other, care for each other, sharpen each other in Christ.

Romans 14:7 For we don't live for ourselves or die for ourselves.

Romans 14:8 If we live, it's to honor the Lord. And if we die, it's to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

2. Do not neglect showing hospitality to strangers

​Hebrews 13:2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!

I know that many of us are tempted to get caught up first in the “Angels part of this”.

A part of our human nature is to seek some sort of divine experience.

Instead to focus on showing love to your neighbor.

Our Lord has this to say in

Luke 6:32 “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them!

Luke 6:33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much!

Luke 6:34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

Luke 6:35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.

Luke 6:36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

In our first point we deal with Love your brothers and sisters but now we are talking about the unloveable.

Showing kindness,love and mercy to everyone.

And look what the Word of God say:

1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore of sound mind, and be sober unto prayer:

1 Peter 4:8 above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of sins:

1 Peter 4:9 using hospitality one to another without murmuring:

This is what needs to be understood, the grace of God that has been given to you will cover a multitude of sins. It is saying because you show love that love will break down walls of bitterness and hatred and division.

That love will turn a man or woman’s heart to a loving caring and forgiving God. Your love to the unloveable, to the stranger, those outside your group will bring people into a relationship with our God.

Less of me oh God less of me!!!

3. Remember those in prison and those mistreated

Hebrews 13:3 Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.

This was actually a commendation from the author of hebrews to this church.

Because back in chapter 10, They were suffering because they showing compassion on those in prison. These were their family and friend!

Hebrews 10:32-Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering.

Hebrews 10:33 Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things.

Hebrews 10:34 You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.

These Christians had suffered for helping other people. Those which had been ridicule, beaten, and thrown in jail.

I want you to think about the people who are in prison. And Yes, we do need a jail or prison ministry.

But there’s more people in prison than the state and federal prison.

Prison-A place where persons are confined, or restrained of personal liberty; 2)a place or state o confinement, restraint, or safe custody.

So many people are living in prison of their past mistake, or the failure of others around them.

We live in world of prisoners, people that are in their own cells. They are not living in four walls cells.

But in walls of pain and regrets and suffering. We must quit just thinking about ourselves and start thinking about others.

Psalm 142:4 I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me.

Psalm 142:5 Then I pray to You, O LORD. I say, "You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.

Psalm 142:6 Hear my cry, for I am very low. Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.

Psalm 142:7 Bring me out of prison so I can thank You. The godly will crowd around me, for You are good to me."

Talk about it:

The key verses here for us.

Psalm 142:4 I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me.

And

Psalm 142:7 Bring me out of prison so I can thank You. The godly will crowd around me, for You are good to me."

In verse 4- no one gives me a passing thought, no one will help, no one cares.

In verse 7— The godly will crowd around me.

When will we be the godly and help, and quit thinking about me. Less of me!!!!

Worshipping self is easy to do> We live or make statement like these: “Follow your heart”, “treat yourself”, “do what you want”, “let love decide”, and “you-do-you”.

Those are not right and proper responses or statements for Christians.

Apostle Paul lived a life of less of me.

Php 1:20 For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.

Php 1:21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.

Php 1:22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don't know which is better.

Php 1:23 I'm torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me.

Php 1:24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.

Php 1:25 Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith.

Apostle Paul had been beaten, stoned, been in Shipwrecks because of helping others become what God wanted them to be.

And here he is saying, I am tired and I could die and receive my reward but for you it is better for me to live so I will continue> less of me.