1. STRANGER with a heavenly home.
Since
Christians are
citizens of Heaven
we
should put
off the former life and
embrace the values of the new man.
2.
FORGIVERS with a tender heart.
Our change in attitude will move us from an inward self-focus
toward an outward look that is tenderhearted and forgiving of
others.
3. DO GOODERS with an outward look.
As we imitate Christ we will have an outward focus
and a heart that devises good acts toward others.
4.
FOLLOWERS with a submissive spirit.
As we join together with other believers to
do good,
we
should consider and follow Christ’s undershepherds.
5.
GIVERS with a generous joy.
As we follow our leaders and collaborate
with other believers,
we
should joyfully and generously support our church.
· This morning we are going to bore down on
the forth commitment to be FOLLOWERS with a submissive spirit.
· “Few lessons are
harder for the average Christian to learn, viz., [than] good following.” --AT Robertson
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press,
1933), Heb 13:7.
· This part of our covenant is primarily
taken from two verses in Hebrews 13.
· PRAY----------------------------------
· Instructions for the kids to follow along.
Book Theme:
Hebrews is written to Jews who had turned to Christ to encourage them
to trust Christ and not go back to the elements of the law.
Hebrews 1:1-3 Following Christ is the Father’s superior and
permanent provision
1 God, who at various times and in various
ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by
His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things,
through whom also
He made
the worlds; 3 who being
the brightness of His glory
and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by
the word of His power,
when He had
by Himself purged
our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high
Hebrews 4:14 Maintain your commitment to trusting and following Christ.
14 Seeing then that we have a great High
Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold
fast our confession.
This
section:
“The
emphasis in this last section of the book is on living by faith.
· In Hebrews 13, he presented the evidences of faith that should appear in our lives if we are really
walking by faith and not by sight.” --Thomas Constable’s Expository Notes
Consider
and follow
Christ’s undershepherds
1. They spoke God’s
word truthfully.
2. Their lives had the right outcome.
3. They were individuals of faith.
vs. those who would not lead them to follow
Christ
Bearing
Christ’s reproach
This phrase from verse 12 emphasizes the
depth of our commitment to following Christ
To
bring them joy.
“Them” is our spiritual leaders. “Joy” does not refer to their personal
pleasure, but to the satisfaction they will have is seeing us draw near to
Christ.
Hebrews
13 contains a series of more than a dozen imparatives. We can talk about cultural setting 2,000
years ago, but these first few seem pretty relevant to todau.
Brotherly love
Hospitality to strangers
Remembering those in prison
Honoring marriage
& Read
Hebrews 13.5-9 esp. v.7
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such
things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor
forsake you." 6 So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not
fear. What can man do to me?"
7
Remember those who rule over you, who have
spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow,
considering the outcome of their conduct.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For
it is good that the heart
be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.
A
Context of verse 7
1) Before: Christ is enough
coveteousness ἀφιλάργυρος - G866 - aphilargyros: lit. not loving shiny things, i.e. not loving riches; not
coveteous
content ἀρκέω G142 (ar-keh'-o), arkéō : apparently a
primary verb (but probably akin to
through the idea of raising a barrier); properly, to ward off, i.e. (by
implication) to avail (figuratively),
be satisfactory
our Helper “I will never leave you…”
Quote from Psalm 118.6
Psalm 118:4-6
4 Let those who fear
the Lord now say,
"His mercy
endures forever."
5 I called on the
Lord in distress;
The Lord answered me
and set me in a broad place.
6 The Lord is on my
side;
I will not fear.
What can man do to
me?
This seems to be pointed toward not simple
avarice , but more to satisfaction with Christs provision and protection.
2) After: Carried about...
13.9 warning about
following “various
and strange doctrines”.
Hearts established by grace not by eating
certain foods (i.e. keeping the law).
B.
Key Ideas:
1.
Remember leaders
This
has in view all leaders past and present.
Many
had (have) significant flaws.
v.
7 !remember 3421 μνημονεύω [mnemoneuo /mnay·mon·yoo·o/] - signifies "to call to mind,
remember;" it is used absolutely in Mark_8:18; everywhere else it has an object —Vine’s
ylt—be mindful; wet—be constantly remembering
2.
v. 7 Consider their way of life, conduct
!consider 333 ἀναθεωρέω, διϊστορέω [anathaoreo /an·ath·eh·o·reh·o/] - to look at attentively, to consider well, to
observe accurately
wet—closely observe; nlt—think of
The verb consider (anatheōreō) occurs only here and in Acts 17:23 in the New Testament
and implies
careful observation.
The imitation which is urged upon the readers is no mechanical copying of the
actions of others, but a call to emulate their faith. Downers Grove,
IL: InterVarsity Press, 1983), 272.
v.
7 Imitate (mimic) their faith
!follow 3628 μιμέομαι (mimeomai): imitate
(mimic)
kjv,
nkjv, nlt—follow; ylt, nasb, esv,
niv, wet—imitate
C. Motivations:
1. The outcome of their lives
Philippians 4.9
The
things which you learned and received and heard and ssaw in me, these do, and
the God of peace will be with you.
2.
The unchanging,
faithful Jesus
The
same Jesus Christ that was strong for past leaders and is strong for present
leaders, will continue to be faithful in the years and decades to come.
APPLICATION:
It
is unwise to claim no leadership…
--Charles
Swindoll in Hebrews
Bible Study Guide Vol. 2
Sometimes
we are isolated and have to go it alone, but the consistent teaching of the New
Testament is that believers are to function in a local churches following
leaders who will direct them toward Christ.
& Hebrews
13.16-18 esp. v.17
12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might
sanctify the people with
His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside
the camp, bearing His reproach.
14 For here we have no continuing city, but
we seek the one to come.
15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer
the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks
to His name.
16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such
sacrifices God is well pleased.
17 Obey
those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give
account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be
unprofitable for you.
18 Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good
conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably.
A. Context: of verse 17
1) Before: Go to
Christ
Verse 11 Here the
writer compared Jesus to the sin offering that the Jewish high priest offered
on the Day of Atonement (cf. Lev. 16:27).
13.12 Jesus suffered and was mocked outside the gate in order to sanctify the
people -- Salvation is thru Christ PAU
13.13 Go to Him and
bear His reproach -- Discipleship
13:14 Our enduring city is still to come
1) Before: Sacrifices
13.15-16 We should offer the sacrifices of praise
and do not forget to do good and sharing
2) After:
Prayer for your leaders
13.18 Pray for us (clear conscience and
living honorably)
"If some Christians that have
been complaining of their ministers had said and acted less before men and had
applied themselves with all their might to cry to God for their ministers —had,
as it were, risen and stormed heaven with their humble, fervent and incessant
prayers for them —they would have been much more in the way of success." --Jonathan Edwards
B.
Key Ideas:
1. v. 17 !obey 3982 πείθομαι (πείθω [peitho /pi·tho/])
to be a disciple or follower of
someone
—not the same as in Eph. 6.1 “Children”
2. v. 17 !submissive 5226 ὑπείκω [hupeiko /hoop·i·ko/] (lit.) to resist no longer, but to give way, yield
(of combatants)
(metaph.) to yield
to authority
and admonition, to submit
1. to resist no longer, but to give way, yield (of combatants)
1. to resist no longer, but to give way, yield (of combatants)
2. Metaph. to yield to authority and
admonition, to submit —BLB
—not
the same as Eph 5.22 “wives”
If
we are not careful, our vigilance for truth and righteousness can turn into
needless antagonism and a contrary spirit.
There
is usually more than one way to do something.
C. Motivations:
1. They watch over your souls
ἀγρυπνέω G69 - agrypneō:
(lit. no sleep); to take care of or to look after
with the implication of continuous
and wakeful concern
for --Louw-Nida
Acts
20.28
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in
which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God,
which he obtained with his own blood.
2. so they will give account with joy
Colossians 1.28-29
28
Him [Christ] we preach, warning every man and
teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect [mature] in Christ Jesus.
29 To this end I also labor, striving
according to His working which works in me mightily.
1 Thessalonians 2.19-20
19 For
what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his
coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy.
Proverbs 23.24-25
The father of a righteous man has great
joy;
he
who has a wise son delights in him.
May
your father and mother be glad;
may
she who gave you birth rejoice!
3
John 4
3 It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to
the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth.
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the
truth.
APPLICATION:
Can your leaders take joy in you?
3 John 1.4
