Saturday, November 21, 2015

FOLLOWERS with a Submissive Spirit - Hebrews 13:7, 17 - 151122AM@TBC



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.
· The writer presented the great examples of faith in Hebrews 11,
· and the encouragements to faith in Hebrews 12.
· 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 φιλργυρος - G866 - aphilargyros: lit. not loving shiny things, i.e. not loving riches; not coveteous
content ρκω 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 ναθεωρέω, 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)
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
γρυπνω 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