[0:00] Hebrews chapter 13. Last time we'll do this, I think. I think.
[0:12] Yep. Hebrews chapter 13. As I've said the last two or three weeks, Hebrews 11, living by faith.
[0:24] Hebrews chapter 12, living in hope. Hebrews chapter 13, living in love. Faith, hope, and love. And we talked about the fact that living in love, it was love in relationships.
[0:38] And that was the first four verses of chapter 13. That was verses 1 through 4. And we talked about the fact that that love that we have, that's shown there, is a love for the congregation.
[0:52] He says in verse 1, he says, let brotherly love continue. We talked about that love includes hospitality to a wider circle of Christians and others, where we're supposed to show the fact that we entertain strangers, and sometimes we entertain angels unawares.
[1:13] So be kind and helpful to everybody you come in contact with. Then love to those who are less fortunate. Verse 3, he says, those that are in bonds and those that are suffering adversity, be showing love to them.
[1:27] And then number four, marriage is honorable in all. He says, show love in your family and in your home. Then he goes on, verses 5 through 9, talks about love and humility.
[1:41] Humility. And basically the humility is being content with what God has given to you. Contentment is being satisfied with what God has provided, being willing to share the blessings that he has given to you.
[1:53] You may not have a lot, but are you willing to share with others? Are you willing to help others in the things that they're going through? And he says, basically, he's talking about that when you love in humility, is to help those around you.
[2:06] And then third thing, Oh yes, you can do that. But just don't be, don't do that at the cost of being helpful to others.
[2:22] You can raise your standard of living and still be helpful to others. You know, giving to charities or doing things like that, helping people out in different ways and stuff.
[2:33] But you can increase your wealth. But just don't forget other people along the way. Some people try to increase their wealth as the only goal in life. And he's saying, no, don't do that.
[2:47] And then he talks about being in love and commitment. Verses 10 through 16. Look at me starting at verse 10. We looked at part of this, but we didn't finish it. So verse 10 says, We have an altar.
[2:59] Wherefore, they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin are burned without the camp.
[3:12] Wherefore, Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth, therefore, unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
[3:24] For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually. That is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.
[3:40] But to do good and to communicate, forget not. For with such sacrifices, God is well pleased. He's saying, look, we need to make sure that we give of ourselves to God and not hold back in that.
[3:58] Because some were saying, look, because you don't have a brass altar and because you don't do the sacrifices there and put the blood there and stuff, you're not really doing the worship of God.
[4:09] And he's saying, oh, but we do have an altar. Our altar is the cross. Jesus gave his blood, his own blood, on the cross. He was the sacrifice for sin that was made.
[4:23] And we looked at Exodus chapter 20, which is the Ten Commandments, and we looked at verses 4 through 6 where he talks about not having any graven images, not having any idols, all of that sort of stuff.
[4:36] And he talked about the fact that, look, we may not have the visible things that other religions do, but we have Jesus Christ who went to the cross and gave himself.
[4:47] And we talked about the fact that back at that time, some Christians were thought to be atheists because they did not have idols and all this other stuff. But their worship was a worship of praying, preaching, and singing and doing that.
[5:00] That's how they gave praise to God. That's how they showed their love for him, not by the things or by the idols, but by the worship that they gave. When they did the sacrifices on the Day of Atonement, they would bring the blood in, sprinkle it on the altar and everything, but the body of the animal that was sacrificed was taken outside the city and burned out there.
[5:27] When Jesus gave himself on the cross, it happened outside the city. The cross, Galgotha, Calvary, was outside the gates of Jerusalem.
[5:39] So when Jesus gave his blood, he sacrificed himself for our sin, and he was outside the gate so that the reproach, you know, the body was out there, and so it wasn't contaminating the city and all of that.
[5:55] So he's saying, look, you Hebrews, don't hold on to that Jewish system. Be fully committed to Christ.
[6:05] Some were thinking, we need to go back. They were taking the ridicule, mocking and things. We need to go back to what it had been, what we used to do. And the writer of Hebrews is saying, no, no, no, no.
[6:18] Do not go back. Kind of like what we were talking about in the morning services. Galatians, no turning back. We don't go back to those type of things. He suffered outside Jerusalem.
[6:30] He was, they were, Jesus and the Christians were reviled by Jews. They were scorned by the Roman officials and everything. But he says, don't go back.
[6:41] Keep moving forward. Look at verse 13 there in Hebrews 13, 13. Let us go forth, therefore, unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
[6:55] A lot of what is taught today is about the fact that when you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, life is just going to be hunky-dory.
[7:06] It's going to be so comfortable. It's going to be so easy. It's just, when you take Jesus in, it is just the easiest thing there is. Which is true in some ways.
[7:17] But not in all ways. He says, look, be careful. The health and wealth thing that's taught today is not what happens.
[7:30] He says, Jesus bared reproach. When you accept Jesus, yes, you're going to face ridicule. You're going to face some mocking. You're going to face some things. But you're not going to face anything that Jesus didn't face for you.
[7:41] It went through for you. So be ready when it comes. He says, you might have to suffer for your faith, but you're identifying with Christ who did the exact same things for you.
[7:54] You know, you think about today. Today, we actually have it pretty easy compared to a lot of what happened back then. What's the cost of being a Christian today? Think about that.
[8:08] What's the cost? Sometimes loss of relationships. Sometimes. Family and friends. Sometimes loss of relationships. Family and friends.
[8:18] Yeah. Sometimes loss of a position. Sometimes loss of a position. Being a Christian, and especially if you're a very dedicated, committed Christian, it can hold you back from getting some promotion or something.
[8:33] Because you're standing up for Christ. And you're making decisions. Say that again. Loss of acceptance in the community. Loss of acceptance in the community.
[8:44] If you're an outspoken Christian, people are going to like, hmm. And when I say an outspoken Christian, can I say this? There are some Christians who are obnoxious in the way they handle things.
[8:56] Not being that type of Christian. Being one who just says, God's word says this. This is what I'm going to do. This is what I stand on. Not in an obnoxious way.
[9:07] Just this is what it says. That's what I'm going to do. Yeah. That's what I'm going to do. If you're an outspoken Christian, you're an outspoken Christian. And you're an outspoken Christian. And you're an outspoken Christian. And you're an outspoken Christian. Yeah. Yeah. But they're doubting you with what they're out there of what they're supposed to do.
[9:23] Right. And they don't have a feeling. But that's not the way they're going to do it. Mm-hmm. Yep. We sometimes just, what was the word you just used?
[9:38] Can't remember. I was going to remember what you said there. It was a particular word you used. Anyway. Holier than thou. Holier than thou. Thank you. That's it. Holier than thou. We have that attitude sometimes.
[9:49] You know, I mentioned before, and I've, you know, we judge things according to the word of God. What's right and what's wrong is according to the word of God. But even when we judge according to the word of God, we do it in such a way that it is to help people, not to, you, you know, point fingers and things at them.
[10:11] Not to say, you know, you're not as good as the rest of us because. No. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
[10:21] Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
[10:32] Yeah. if you just talk like them, don't enjoy the same things they enjoy, they immediately assume you get to them.
[10:44] They label you with that when you didn't even say anything. We face that. You mentioned family and stuff. We face that in our family.
[10:55] They made some judgments about us at times because, well, we're Christians. I'm a pastor of a Baptist church. That automatically means you think this and you hate us because of this.
[11:07] No, it doesn't mean I hate you. It means I think you're wrong, but I don't hate you. We have to be careful. Too often we make judgments about things, and God's the one who does the judging, not us.
[11:25] I try not to judge the person, but the action. Right, the action. The person who's doing it, they're unsaved. They don't know the Lord Jesus Christ. They don't know any better.
[11:38] Those of us who are saved say, okay, here's what the Word of God says, and I'm going to live by that. Simple as that. It reminds me of a story I heard in church once where the priest brought in the mama off the street and talking to the farm over there, and he sat in there and called probably the worst example of society and the priest is pointing out his fault and his fingers.
[12:06] But he said, and that's good in him too. He's a good example of what not to do. Yeah, that's probably not the best way to handle that. No, so probably not.
[12:24] We've been talking about Abraham here in Sunday school and in the morning service, and Abraham, go with me back to chapter 11 for a second.
[12:35] Abraham, chapter 11, verse 9 and 10. Chapter 11, verse 9 and 10 of Hebrews.
[12:47] Abraham was looking for something.
[13:11] God directed him to where he was, and he was looking for it. He never did find the city because that was going to come in the future. But there was a stability that was there because he was looking for what God had for him.
[13:25] Have we found the city yet? No. It's coming. We know it's coming. It's going to be a new Jerusalem. But we have stability in the fact that we know God answers. God, when he makes a promise, is going to fulfill that promise.
[13:39] And so by faith, they could place their hope in God for future things because they knew he always kept his word. And as Christians, we mentioned, they had an altar to which to view as the fact that God does keep his word.
[13:59] God said there was going to be a redeemer coming, and there was. Hold your finger there in Acts chapter 13 and go with me to, I mean Hebrews 13 and go with me to Acts chapter 2.
[14:19] And in Acts chapter 2, if I can find Acts in my Bible, it's a big book. I think I can find it. Acts chapter 2, we're going to look at a section that deals with the early church.
[14:31] And what I want you to see there is he talks about let brotherly love continue. One of some evidences he gives of brotherly love continuing in Acts chapter 2, beginning at verse 42.
[14:47] Let's read through this and then discuss some of the things that he says. Look, here's how you show brotherly love. Verse 42 of Acts 2 says, and they continued steadfastly in apostles' doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers.
[15:05] And fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together and had all things common, and sold their possessions and goods, parted them to all men as every man had need.
[15:21] And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people.
[15:35] And the Lord added unto the church daily such as should be saved. Now as you look through that and it's discussing the early church, what are some evidences in there about their continuing in brotherly love?
[15:48] What are some things they did? They ate together. Okay, you said? They ate together. They ate together. They shared everything they had. They shared everything they had.
[15:59] They were willing to sell things, talking about being commitment and the, I mean, it's okay to gather things, but they also used it to sell to help other people who were in need.
[16:10] So, okay, they did that. The doctrine. The doctrine. They shared the doctrine. They had that in common. As well as fellowship and breaking of bread and in prayers.
[16:22] They were together worshiping God. They were together praying for others. They were together sharing not just goods but faith as well.
[16:35] What else were they doing? Well, it says in verse 45, as we mentioned, they sold their possessions and goods, gave to every man as they had need. They continued daily with one accord.
[16:48] They were united. Had a unity amongst themselves. Breaking bread, eating meat, praising God. They did that together. There was a lot of things that they did together.
[17:02] We so often, we forget. We like to, I'll show up to church on Sunday but other than that, you know, that's enough. I've done my hour for the week. He says, no, no, no, no.
[17:13] They did all kinds of things together. We have a daily. We have a thing coming up Friday night where we're having a get together. Game night and tacos and just, just a chance to get together and have fellowship together.
[17:29] Be reminded that we're not out here all alone by ourselves. We're getting together. Like the Christians back then, one of the things they did was they made their sacrifice to God but their sacrifice to God was what?
[17:46] What came out of their mouths. Praise that they gave and they praised and did it together. They were kind. They had loving actions toward one another. Made that a part of their worship as well.
[17:59] So just helping each other. So there was a lot of things they did that brought commitment to God, commitment to Jesus Christ but also commitment to one another.
[18:11] And so there was love and commitment. Number four, there was love and obedience. Look at verse 17. Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves for they watch for your souls as they must give an account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you.
[18:30] Pray for us for we trust we have a good conscience in all things willing to live honestly. But I beseech you the rather to do this that I may be restored to you the sooner.
[18:45] And he goes on and going to do some more here. The importance of obedience. Love and obedience. Hold your finger there in Hebrews again and go with me to John chapter 14.
[18:57] John chapter 14. I want you to see some verses there. I can see better. So if you go back earlier in this chapter and it's talking about the disciples is that what they're talking about in this last quote that you made?
[19:19] Were they the ones that did it or was it the whole congregation? It has to do with the whole congregation. The whole congregation. On Wednesday night not too long ago we were talking about the fact that the difference between Christian and a disciple and there's not one really.
[19:38] All the disciples would have been Christians. All the disciples would have had things that they did. And so when he says this he's talking to the disciples. He's talking to all the Hebrews here.
[19:50] You need to be doing this. So he's not just talking to the disciples. I mean the apostles let's put it that way. He's talking about every believer. There should be something you do. So yeah.
[20:02] John chapter 14 and this is what Jesus said about it. Look at verse 15. John 14 verse 15. If you love me keep my commandments.
[20:13] That's pretty straightforward pretty easy to understand. Not a lot to mess up there. If you love me keep my commandments. Do we love God? Are we keeping his commandments?
[20:25] Then he goes on down in verse 21 of that same chapter. John 14. Verse 21 says he that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my father and I will love him and will manifest myself to him.
[20:43] He says look if you know my commandments and keep them he said I'm going to then show my love to you and he says not only that he says I will manifest myself to you you will see me actively working in your life if you follow me if you keep my commandments.
[21:02] Verse 23 Jesus answered and said unto him if a man love me he will keep my words and my father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him.
[21:14] He says if a man love me he will keep my words. So question what's the connection between love and obedience? What's the connection between love and obedience?
[21:31] If you love somebody you're going to obey them. It's actions. Good word. Actions. It's one thing to say I love you it's another thing to put it into action and he says look if you love me keep my commandments.
[21:51] If you love me you're going to do the things that I have told you to do. You're going to follow through on all of that. So Christians are to love God with all their heart mind soul and strength.
[22:06] Christians are to love God by showing obedience to his word. Christians are to love by showing love to one another. Do you see how important this chapter is? The importance of showing love to those around us.
[22:21] He says look there's actually two things here. You got the love for your leaders verse 17 obey them they have the rule of you because they're the ones who watch over you and they have to give an account to God for what they do with you.
[22:40] So he says love your leaders and then he says also the congregation should be obedient to those leaders.
[22:51] I hate when this verse because as a pastor I'm like I don't want to say you need to be looking here but that's what he's basically saying there.
[23:03] You need to do that and you need to make sure I need to make sure I'm doing it in the right spirit and the right attitude and you need to make sure you're loving me in the same way right spirit and right attitude and how are we going to show and I don't want to answer this one I just want you to think about it how can we better show love and support for spiritual leaders?
[23:28] How can we do that in a better way? And I'm not saying there's anything lacking here. You know you guys are great I thoroughly enjoy the things that you tell me and the things that you share with me and the things you give me and all these different things so I'm not looking for anything I'm just saying you know how do we show love to those that God has given to us?
[23:48] Then you come down to verse 20 and 21 and he gives a benediction he's about to finish this sermon up and here's what he says in verse 20 and 21 now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory forever and ever amen so he kind of ties this whole thing up and he does it by kind of bringing some things together he mentions an everlasting covenant there in the last part of verse 20 what is this whole thing been about that he's been teaching them through the book of Hebrews Jesus has a better covenant than the Abrahamic one God had set up with Abraham a covenant God set up with Moses a covenant but when Jesus came we have the best covenant we could possibly have he says believe on me and I'll promise you a home in heaven believe on me and I'll promise you the Holy Spirit coming and taking up residence and giving you all the direction and all the help that you need believe on me and there's other things that come along with it we'll talk about that a little bit in the morning service we become heirs of God so he says look trust me follow me obey me and let me do my work in your life then look at verse 22 he says and I beseech you brethren suffer the word of exhortation for I have written a letter unto you in a few words he said this whole letter this whole sermon has been a matter of
[25:41] I'm trying to encourage you I'm trying to exhort you I'm trying to help you to better understand what it is you have in Christ I'm trying to help you understand better what life can be like if you follow Christ and his word and do what it says and then he comes to the end and he just gives them some few details verse 23 know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty with whom if he comes shortly I will see see you Timothy had been in jail Timothy's now out Timothy hopes to come and visit them and if he does Paul's going to come with him and have a chance to see with him and talk to them in person and then he gives a final greeting verse 24 salute them that have the rule over you and all the saints they that of Italy salute you and then he ends with a traditional blessing grace be unto you all amen now I mentioned last week this whole thing if it was to get up and read the whole thing straight through it would probably take about an hour but there is so much in there that he has given to us that we've taken weeks and weeks and weeks and weeks and weeks going through this book but he's trying to teach them things that they need to understand that the Christian life is so much better than anything else again the whole theme of the book is Jesus is better do we understand that what we have in Christ and like I said in Galatians this morning we'll talk some more about that what we have in Christ where his children we talked about last week we're going to go in a little more in depth than that today about what it means to be a child of God so alright that's it for Hebrews next week we're going to start looking at some people that are in the
[27:41] Bible that we have no idea what their name is but how God used them in spite of not knowing what their name is God used them which is a great encouragement to us because most people don't know who we are and that's okay God can still use us in so many different ways so we're going to start looking at that a little bit so let's have a word prayer Father love he's going to be the heart of Krinsky