Sermon Tone Analysis

Last time in Hebrews, we discussed the reality that what we believe should be seen in how we live.

This week, we’re going to look at three very specific areas of lifestyle that should be completely different from what the world would suggest is acceptable.

I understand the desire to fit in and be accepted.

For some reason, many have concluded that if the Christian isn’t too different from the unbeliever, then we’ll have a better chance to share Christ’s love and present the gospel so others might be saved.

That seems to be the opposite of what the Word presents.

Interestingly, throughout the entirety of the Bible, it’s always about us being different, being unique, standing out as light in a dark world.

Some of what I’ll be sharing from God’s Word today may be hard to hear, but it is the truth from God’s Word.

One reason it may be hard to hear is that it is so easy to be conditioned by the world and the god of this age.

Another reason might be that it speaks directly to you or someone you know.

Rather than shut me off, allow the Holy Spirit to do whatever work needs to be done.

Many people want to be saved from hell, yet not as many want to completely turn their lives over to God, Who causes them to live with Godly character.

The one who is truly a follower of Jesus Christ will be recognized by their Godly character.

Sexuality - 13.4

Today, the world promotes sexuality in ways which contradict God’s design .

The believer in Jesus Christ knows the emptiness of that and how it dishonors God completely.

The Christian ought to live out their sexuality in a God-honoring manner.

Hebrews 13:4 (NASB95)

Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

For those who get married, it is a good thing, since God created it in the beginning.

For those who do get married, marriage is to be held in honor.

Yet, not everyone gets married.

Those who stay single and remain pure are not second class citizens.

There were those in Paul’s time, that actually taught that marriage should be forbidden, as we read in 1 Timothy 4.3.

Some would suggest that there was no way that a person could truly serve God with the same devotion if they got married.

Both of those would imply that God made a mistake in creating marriage.

In fact, Jesus’ first miracle must have been a waste of time since it was at a marriage feast.

Maybe all of the instructions throughout the Bible about marriage ought to be removed, if marriage is a mistake.

Obviously, God established marriage, and speaks of it as being honorable.

If God feels that way, the Christian ought to as well.

So, why does the Bible promote and honor marriage?

The most obvious, and I believe, the first reason for marriage, is to have children.

Interestingly, one can have children without being married, but that’s not how God designed it.

A couple can also be married and not have any children.

They’re still in an honorable marriage.

Marriage is also for companionship.

The majority of couples who are married describe one of the main benefits and blessings of marriage as just being together with someone for whom you care deeply.

Marriage can be honored by the husband and wife honoring each other, rather than seeing what they can get out of the marriage.

In all the instructions and guidelines in the Bible regarding marriage, it is always in the context of a man and woman.

That is part of God’s perfect design and plan.

Anything else is of the devil.

We’ll see a little later on why I say this.

The writer of Hebrews goes on to talk about the aspect of sexuality.

It’s frustrating to see how sex is used everywhere purely to grab people’s attention.

It used to be car calendars with barely clad women.

Now we see it in commercials for various shows; entire shows built around the unfaithfulness of individuals; shows focusing on sexuality in trying to find your perfect mate; it goes on and on.

Satan has taken what God created as good and he has twisted and perverted it in his attack against God’s kingdom.

We read and hear of promotion and acceptance of sexual practices outside of marriage.

It’s been compared to nothing more special than eating and sleeping.

People are being encouraged to try more and more sexual activities outside of God’s guidelines; polygamy, polyamory, living together without the marriage commitment, men with men, women with women, etc.

When anyone steps outside God’s standards for marriage, it falls under the category of fornicators and adulterers.

And what does the Bible say about those who practice this?

God will judge.

This does not mean to deliberate and decide if a person is guilty or innocent.

The meaning is that of a condemnation judgment.

It has been said, It is not possible to live and act against the moral grain of the universe established by God and not suffer terrible consequences.

Here is where churches need to stand firm on the sanctity and purity of marriage.

When someone claims to be a Christian and lives an immoral life, not following the guidelines and commands of God’s Word, their testimony about Christ is destroyed.

My friends, my spirit grieves when I hear of people who state that they are Christians, yet practice that which is totally contradictory to what the Bible’s teachings are on sexuality.

I often hear that Christians are narrow-minded and hateful when we point out what God’s standards are and what is wrong and what is right.

My friends, those who are promoting the wrong perspective of sexuality are the ones who are being hateful, for they are misleading others straight into hell.

Even Paul speaks to this in Ephesians 5.3 “But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints . .

.”

The one who is truly a follower of Jesus Christ will be recognized by their Godly character.

This can be seen our our pure character within marriage.

Satisfaction - 13.5-6

The world also encourages people to never be satisfied with what you have.

Rather, they instruct people on how to have it all, or at least a lot more.

They suggest that dissatisfaction is a great motivational tool to get you to pursue more.

Throughout the Bible, we are told that money and possessions are temporary and are like rust or clothing being eaten by moths.

The Christian learns that as they choose to be satisfied with what God provides, there is a genuine contentment.

Hebrews 13:5–6 (NASB95)

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.

What will man do to me?”

Wanting what you do not have is really the biblical word of covetousness.

That word is kissing cousins to the word greed.

The story is told that When John D. Rockefeller was a young man, a friend reportedly asked him how much money he wanted.

“A million dollars,” he replied.

After he had earned a million dollars, the friend asked him again how much money he wanted.

The answer this time was, “Another million.”

I’ve heard it said by many wise people that the more you have, the more you’ll want.

Because what you have will never keep up with what you want.

Understand that no where does the Bible condemn money; rather, it is the love of money.

This covers riches of any kind, not just currency.

When a person has a hungering and a love for money, it takes away from a pure love of God, and even resembles a distrust in what God has done and will do.

Where is a person’s ultimate trust if they’re always chasing after money?

Where are they experiencing security—in God or in wealth?

Please don’t leave today and think I’m against money.

It is a tool which God enables us to use for His glory.

There are many people throughout the Bible who were very wealthy.

There are many people who we know who are very wealthy and they choose to use that money for God’s glory.

However, we cannot place our hope and trust in money, for that would be not trusting in God.

So what’s the answer?

Be content with what you have.

My wife’s ancestors came over to the US with only the clothes on their back and some hard red turkey winter wheat.

They were grateful for what they had and trusted God to provide for their needs.

Many of the readers of the book of Hebrews had lost the majority of what they used to own.

Some of them thought it wasn’t worth losing their material possessions just because they wanted to follow Jesus.

So rather than turning their lives completely to Jesus, they chose to go after stuff.

My friends, true contentment comes from God, not what we own.

My friends, losing stuff or not having things, is certainly a setback.

But if all that you have belongs to God, and you’ve recognized that, then your trust can fully be on God.