A Better Service
Book of Hebrews Chapter 13
We must understand that we were made to worship our Creator!
We must recognize the Higher Authority of our Creator and reverence Him!
He is the Highest of the high!
We live in a world today that rejects authority and everyone wants to do as they please without being held accountable.
Because of sin we had to be "Born Again" again so we could worship God and we have to know the truth of God to understand these things!
We should be able to see from all the previous chapters in this Book of Hebrews that the Lord Jesus Christ did not do away with the Law but He in fact fulfilled the Law.
Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
The Bible would be useless to us if the Lord Jesus had not come to fulfill all the Law and all the prophets!
We need the entire Word of God to understand the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ and the truth of our Creator!
Unlike most preachers and most men of God today, the Lord Jesus did not shy away from giving us the truth.
It is a fact, that the Lord Jesus Christ would not be allowed to preach in most Churches today because, His message was blunt and to the truth of God.
The first twelve chapters of the Book of Hebrews have described to us the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Remember the writer was writing to early Hebrew Christians as opposed to the Greek Christians.
The call of the Book of Hebrews is a call to action!
What is wrong with the Church today? It has become lazy and liberal!
The modern church has gotten so bad, it is rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ who is the foundation of the Church!
God the Holy Spirit has been precise in teaching us that it is the Lord Jesus Christ we are to listen to and not the foolish men of this world, even if those men are so-called men of God .
Since it is "by faith" that we can have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, then we must put action to this relationship we have with Him!
We can describe this "action" as "trust"!
Our lives must reflect the reality of our relationship with our Savior, and we do this when we "trust" what He says and be obedient to His Word!
We are to worship in Spirit and Truth, and it seems we have forgotten these things!
Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
See what the Lord Jesus is saying?
If you are saved, then you have the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost) living within you and it should be noticeable in our worship of Him.
Those who do not have the Holy Spirit living in them, cannot know how to worship God!
It is a shame that those who are lost, worship sin better than most Christians worship our Savior!
They put more effort into sin than they do eternal life, and it is not supposed to be that way!
What is on the inside of our hearts will come to the outside in our lifestyle starting with the words we speak!
Luk 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
It is this Chapter 13 that teaches us how to deal with some of these things.
*****Heb 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.
In this chapter we will deal with serving the Lord.
A good meaning of servitude can be taken from the Book of Romans:
Rom 1:9 For God is my witness, "whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son", that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
Before we can be of service to the Lord, we must have a realistic view of the world:
Mat 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
We are all sinners so how can we even think we could judge others? There is only one Judge, and He is the Lord and he will judge us by His Word
What are some of the places where the Lord has chosen for us to serve?
Rom 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Rom 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Rom 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
If the Lord has something specific for you, He will send it to you by the Holy Spirit.
The one ingredient that will keep us all honest is "Brotherly Love"!
How do we describe "Brotherly Love"?
Brotherly love is that feeling of mutual regard among all the members of our faith.
Brotherly love is a little bit different from the way we love our families.
It is brother like love, it is brother love, the love we must have for our brothers and sisters in Christ. The love of the brethren.
1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Our brethren are all those who try to keep all the Word of God as best they can and are in one accord with us.
1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
1Pe 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
We are all one family because we all have the same Father! God the Father. We also have the same Savior our High Priest the Lord Jesus Christ!
Our soon coming King.
Mat 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
Mat 23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
We do these things because we are all filled with the same Spirit, the Holy Spirit!
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
As we can see "Brotherly Love" is important to the Church, the brethren of the Lord Jesus Christ who are doing the "will" of our Heavenly Father!
Mat 12:50 For whosoever "shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven", the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
If we are obedient servants to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are in the family of God!
We can tell our brothers and sisters by the manner in which they have conversations with us and with others.
*****Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
How can we be content as Christians?
1) Living our life without covetousness. Not loving money and our possessions more that the Church!
2) Being satisfied with what the Lord has provided.
3) Having a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and knowing He will never forsake us.
When we are focused on our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, none of these other things will seem important!
Even our thoughts should be focused upon the Lord "for what He has done for us and how best we can serve Him".
Luk 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Now being content does not mean that we cannot spend some time to improve our situation.
As believers we are to work and labor more diligently than those who do not know the Lord and doing this will sometimes bring rewards here upon this earth.
We have the Lord to provide that additional strength we need to succeed, because the results are in the hands of the Lord.
If we fail for some reason, we can know that a failure is only temporary.
God always works things out for our good!
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
*****Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
As Christians this world and the things of this world can never satisfy us, nor were they intended to satisfy us.
We are not to be a part of this world!
What we are looking for lies in Heaven with the Lord and those who have gone on before us!
The things of this world can only look good, taste good, and feel good, but this is all they can do!
Material things cannot satisfy the soul, remember the Holy Spirit that lives within us knows all about Heaven and He will yearn for His own return to the glory world and pass this yearning on to us as our work upon this earth nears completion.
Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
We can enjoy the necessities of this life, but only after we have first sought the Kingdom of Heaven!
Mat_6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
We should be mindful of the leaders of the Church!
*****Heb 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
The Church leaders we are to be mindful of, are only those who proclaim the "Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ" and "all the Word of God".
If they cannot or do not proclaim the entire Word of God as the truth then, we need to ignore them and find a place where "all" the Word of God is proclaimed as the truth.
If their conviction is that God exist and is the Creator and Ruler of all things.
If their conviction that God is the Provider and the Bestower of eternal salvation.
If they lean on the character of God as written in the Word of God.
If their absolute "trust" and "confidence" is in God's power, God's wisdom, and God's goodness, then they can be remembered as leaders of the Church.
These are living leaders and dead leaders that are to be remembered.
A dead leader would have had the same message as the modern Church leader's message and should not have changed from those who have gone on to be with the Lord.
1Th 5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
1Th 5:13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
Why is this true? Because God does not ever change His character!
*****Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Why can we trust the Word of God? Because God will never change His character!
How can we trust that our salvation is real? Because the Lord Jesus will never change His character.
No matter how much this world changes this change will never affect the truth of God!
National leaders come and go, but the Sovereign Master of Life is permanent, and none can change this fact!
The Lord Jesus Christ is forever!
The Lord Jesus Christ sacrificed everything for us!
The Lord Jesus Christ took upon Himself all the sin of this world, even the sin that is happening today and bore the guilt of that sin and the judgment of that sin for us.
It is by the work of the Lord Jesus Christ that we can become acceptable to God and there is no other way to do this!
No matter how terrible our sin, during the Church Age we will see nothing but "Mercy" from our Lord Jesus!
During this time of the Church Age we will see the "Grace" of God and not the "wrath" of God!
During this time of "Grace" the Lord Jesus will run to us to meet our needs.
Remember the parable of the "Prodigal Son".
Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
We can depend on the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ lives to provide all our needs!
*****Heb 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
If you are Christian and know that the Lord Jesus is the same yesterday, and today, and forever, then you will not pay any attention to strange doctrines and false teachings!
There are many false doctrines that have filtered through the Church since its beginning!
Many of these are the reason behind the many denominations.
These things have carried so many away from the "Grace" of God and led them to a works doctrine, where it is said your good must outweigh your bad.
There is also the doctrine of moderation which does not exist in reality, there is no such law as moderation.
You cannot sin in moderation when the Lord says to do our absolute best to not sin at all!
Rituals cannot replace the Grace of God!
Ceremonies cannot replace the Grace of God!
Trying to abide by those old laws concerning foods cannot replace the Grace of God!
Our foods are bought with money and money cannot replace the "Grace" of God but is for certain the root of all evil!
God will not transform anyone by some physical or material thing!
Baptism cannot save us!
Church membership cannot save us!
Just because the parents were saved does not make the children saved!
The only thing that can make us "pure" in the eyes of God is a personal relationship with His Son the Lord Jesus Christ!
We must get hold of the fact that the Bible is the full and final authority of this world!
We can only be sanctified by accepting the work that the Lord Jesus has completed for our salvation!
*****Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
We get the doctrines of God only from the Word of God!
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2Ti 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
2Ti 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
What is true doctrine? The sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ in payment for our sin.
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Tit 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
The Doctrine of Substitution is mentioned here.
Only the Lord Jesus could be our substitute!
He was Born of a Virgin.
He lived a sinless and perfect life.
He secured a perfect righteousness.
He became the Perfect and Ideal man.
He became the perfect sacrifice for our sin!
There is no other sacrifice that could be made for our sin, beside the Lord Jesus Christ!
*****Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Heb 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Heb 13:15 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.
It is our duty as Christians to guard against strange teachings.
Our best protection is to read and study the Bible for ourselves, and through the preaching and teaching of those who depend upon the Word of God for the truth, because it is the truth if it a translation of the "Received Text"!
We live in a world that is getting further and further from the Lord Jesus Christ.
There is a world of difference between the Gospel of Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and being slaves to sin.
It is a fact that you cannot truly call Christ your Lord unless you have the Holy Spirit abiding within you.
Rom_8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
We must continue to be witnesses for the Lord, even if it causes heart aches to those who reject Him.
We must continue to witness in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, even if it offends some people including our own families!
We must go forth bearing the reproach of our Savior!
We must remember it is our own sin that caused the Lord to have to die for us!
We do not have it in our power to make a sacrifice big enough or worthy enough for God to accept!
We can never be good enough to be accepted of the Lord!
We must know that it is only by the blood of Jesus that can make us acceptable to God!
The greatest problem of most humans "is to confess that what we do is wrong", in the eyes of God!
The world just does not acknowledge the sin mess that causes all the problems in this world.
If we cannot deny ourselves and take up the cross of Jesus, we cannot say we are the children of God!
Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luk 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Luk 9:25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
There is no place upon this earth that we can call our home, we are citizens of the New Heaven!
It amazes me that a large group of our population are trying to reach the moon and even Mars and leave this earth when it is sin that is destroying this earth and they will take sin with them no matter where they go.
No one can run away from the truth of God!
There is another group who think they can save this earth, but they cannot.
There is a place called Heaven and it does not take magic to get there and it is true that it is an eternal place.
It takes a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!
We cannot approach God except by the Lord Jesus Christ!
What sacrifices please God?
1) We must confess His name.
2) We must live a Holy Life in the name of Jesus Christ.
3) We must give to those who are in need.
It is the hypocrite who praises God with his or her lips, but does not live a Holy Life!
We must never forget that God looks into the heart, and He knows what we are.
God cannot be fooled!
1Pe 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Amen
