Gods Family Heb.10.19-25.
Introduction.
From filling up at the petrol station, shopping at the local shopping centre, buying the flat pack from Ikea, Its very rare you find others filling your car at the pump, or somebody else taking your shopping to the car or even the Ikea building your flat pack up (Flat pack house) Society in general has got taken up with a help yourself mentality. We live in a self serve world!
But what about a self-serve Church?
It’s a contradiction in terms! But they do exist.
Individualistic mentality
The people in the self serve Church consider only their own wants and needs rather than others, they consider going to Church is about what can God give them rather than what they can bring to God and others!
The real purpose of the Church is not to serve oneself but one another and for the benefit of those outside of the church!
I believe this attitude goes hand in hand with the great emphasis on the personal relationship with Jesus. People say this is my personal relationship, but that relationship is a shared one with countless others!
Bill withers got it right when he sang ‘we all need somebody to lean on…lean on me.’ We are made for fellowship, community for relationships. It’s the gospel, which creates a real loving fellowship. Sister sledge ’We are family’
“The Church is a building community where everybody is somebody and Jesus Christ is Lord!”
Everybody is somebody
You see when we comes into that relationship we come into a greater family relationship with each other and with God and in no way shape or form is it individualistic. Surely we are all called to follow Jesus as our example who said.. Mark10.45.The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve…
A Church, who understands the gospel, will be serving others.
Jesus Christ is Lord
In fact to be a true Christian Church at all one must be a gospel Church.
Martin Luther put it, ‘The sure mark by which the Christian congregation can be recognized is that the pure gospel is preached there. For just as the banner of an army is the sure sign by which one can know what kind of lord and army has taken to the field, so to the gospel is the sure sign by which one can knows where Christ and his army are encamped…. likewise, where the gospel is absent and human teachings rule, there no Christians live but only pagans, no matter how numerous they are.”
We see here there is a community emphasis on let us v22-25 who are called to demonstrate faith v22, hope v23 and love v24!
1) V22 we are called (let us) to deepen our relationship with God.
(Demonstrating our faith)
Have you ever seen those James Bond films, where he seeks out the the secret location but access is denied him. Only the select few can enter in!
Last week the Oscars took place in America with the likes of Clint Eastwood, Kate Blanchett, Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman picking up Oscars it’s a prestigious event. Only the select few can enter in!
As a young man I always remember being denied access into certain night clubs in Blackpool as I waited in the Que. Other people would stroll to the front hold out their gold VIP cards and go straight into the club. When I eventually got to the front I would be rejected entrance. Only the select few can enter in!
This is the old way
This was the case for Israel in regard to entering the Most Holy place. It was sealed with a curtain from the holy place, only the High priest could enter this holy room, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement when he offered the sacrifice for the nations sins.
This is the new way
V20 But Jesus death has removed the curtain and open up a new living way and all believers may walk into Gods presence at any time (6.19,20.)
Jesus is our great high priest and has become the once and final sacrifice.
The old way would was trod once a year by the select few, but this new way can now be trod at any time and by anybody who truely believes!
In what manner should we draw near?
With the Full assurance of faith this is unwavering confidence which leaves no room for doubt. (Heb11.6) Have you this faith? Confirmed confidence of faith.
Like at the airport you’ve pre booked your seat and your notlike those on standby.
a) It is a gift, which is free when we draw near to God through Jesus Christ! Eph.2.8.
Not on feelings a man came to D.L. Moody said he didn’t feel saved! Was Noah safe in the Ark? Feelings or the ark!
b) Draw near to God V22 with a sincere heart.
A pre requisite for all Christians they should have a sincere heart as they draw near to God. Why? Because God hates all falsehood, hypocrisy and deceit.
Psalm.51.6. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts: you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. John4.10 God is Spirit and his worshippers must worship in Spirit and in truth.
A sincere heart will be the natural outcome of one who has truly been pardoned by God (Jer24.7 I will give them a heart to know me) it cannot be authenticated through outward ceremonies (baptism) or good works. (Jer31.33 Ez.36.26-27.)
It’s the desire of the human heart that has been touched by God to draw near.
King David after his adultery to Bathsheba said Psalm51.10 Create in me a pure heart O God!
Received through the accomplished work of Jesus Christ.
The Old and new dispensation (V22b) Recalling the purification of the priests, the ceremony they would go through before they were fit to approach God (Ex29.4,21)
2) V23 We are called (let us) to stand firm. (demonstrating our hope)
The problem here was that these early Jewish Christians were facing persecution (Heb10.32 -36.) and the call to return to their roots from other Jews and some may have been wavering. Heb10 v29 (Apostasy) And as a result some had given up in the habit of meeting together v25.
Hold unswervingly (Perseverance is the true hallmark)
The writer is calling them to hold fast to what they have now received because through this new living way is a far greater way than the former dispensation and in this they could profess!
Danielle’s sister has a dog-called Jack (terrier, Jack Russell) The children were recently playing with him and one of his toys, he would not let go of it no matter what!
In the same way as the dog held onto that dog toy we are to hold onto the hope we profess that is the gospel.
What about us? Are we together holding to the hope we profess? We must not let secondary issues take us away from the truth of the gospel.
I’ve seen Churches where individuals have shown more passion for minor matters like the tradition of a particular denomination the Church as a building the flowers on a Sunday and yet sadly when it comes to the Word of God they have shown little concern and have compromised it!
Jean Paul Sartre over a month before he died declared that he so strongly resisted feelings of despair that he would say to himself, “I know I shall die in hope.” Then in a profound sadness, he would add, “But hope needs a foundation.”
The Christians foundation and hope is in the gospel alone. We have the same religion as them we have the same profession of faith, we have the same Saviour and the same prospect of heaven we too must not waiver.
We must be aware of those who would try to take us away as a fellowship! (DANGER OF WAIVERING v29 read!) It’s a dreadful thing to fall into….
What enables the Christian to persevere? Because this hope that has been professed is based not on the traditions of man but on the unchanging faithfulness of God
V23Because he who promised is faithful. Heb11v11 Abraham knew this!
1Cor1.9. God who has called you into fellowship with his son Jesus Christ our Lord is faithful. 1Thes..5.24 The one who has called you is faithful.
Since God is so faithful shouldn’t we be faithful to him?
b) Since he is faithful to us should be an encouragement to us to perservere. We are dependent upon Him for grace to hold fast our profession. If God were unfaithful we would have no strength to do it. 2Tim 2.13.
3) V24. We are called (let us) to serve one another. (Demonstrates our love)
The world is increasingly interested in service, but not in the service of what they can give but what they can get! Many people are more concerned with making a good impression or meeting there own needs. We are called to love one another!
Lets us consider! (its not the minister job alone)
As Christians we are exhorted to serving one another, putting others first! We need to encourage one another daily 3:12,13. As we serve one another in love this will prevent 12;15 any bitter root to grow to defile many. (History of the Church)
What will this love look like? 1Cor13: 4-8 read
Love involves building up! 1Thes 511. Encourage one another and build one another up!
V24 is spurring one another on! V25 encouraging one another
Since we share in the benefits of Jesus high priestly work as Christian brothers and sisters, we too are called to minister to one another in an encouraging way. Building up rather than tearing down. Two types of people in the world!
Love involves serving others it will be demonstrated practically in good deeds, when others have problems you will be burdened to help as though they were our own problems. This love for one another demonstrates the unity we share!
1Cor 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is part of it.
This service to others is seen in the work of Christ. We are called to be Christ like towards one another. Phil 2: 1-5
4) V25 We are called (let us) to stay together.
Not individually but corporately (I am a Christian but..)
A genuine mark of a Christian is one who continues to attend with others to worship God. And will desire to meet whenever they meet for Prayer, teaching, breaking of bread and service.
Because at all these times are a means of grace a time of God working upon us together. To neglect these things is to give up encouraging and helping one another. Sharing our faith and to strengthen one another it is vital!
The silent sermon (the coals in the fire) pastor and the brother in his home. The brother had not atttended Church for a few months. So the pastor went road as he was there he didnt say a word and as they sat in the lounge a coal droppped out of the fire. The pastor stood up and put the coal with the tongs back in the fire. The coal began to glow again. It was a silent sermon the minister left and the man was back in Church the following week.We need each other to keep the fire burning within.
The prevention of meeting together
Jewish Christians in Rome were beginning to forsake meeting together and contemplating a return to the Jewish synagogues to avoid persecution V32-34
What prevents YOU from meeting all the more? Many reasons
If we continue taking ourselves away from the means of Gods grace there will become a partial decline in our Christian lives, sluggishness!
V32-35 The spur is to meet together.
As you near the end of the race?
His imminent return Rev: 20v22. Prior to his return we will face more and more spiritual struggles and when these difficulties arise we need to meet together to encourage one another.
v 35-38 Where will we be found? I hope with Gods family. Lets finish the race together....
