HEBREWS 12-13 12:25-13:72009 Teaching by Jerry B Simmons

Teaching Transcript: Hebrews 12-13 12:25-13:7

You are listening to FerventWord, an online Bible study ministry with teachings and tools to help you grow deeper in your relationship with God. The following message was taught by Jerry Simmons in 2009. We are quickly coming to a conclusion on the book of Hebrews. Next week we'll be finishing up chapter 13 and wrapping up the book.

And as often is the case in New Testament books, the last few passages, the last few paragraphs, the last chapter or so,

is really devoted to not a particular topic. As we've seen in Hebrews, we've spent much time in certain topics and chapters dealing with certain subjects. But here at the end, the author hits a bunch of different topics in very quick succession. And he hits this topic, shares a couple words about it, and then moves on. And so there's short exhortations, short commands. And I also believe that these are there because, well...

It's not so difficult to understand what the author of Hebrews is saying as we look at these verses and these passages. As he deals with the subject for maybe a verse or two and then moves on.

It's because it's not very complicated. It's not that we have to spend a lot of time and go through classes and try to learn to understand what it means to be content or to be undefiled or the other things that we'll look at today. But they're very simple things to understand, to comprehend, but

the difficulty comes and where we need to apply ourselves is in the application of our lives. And then putting these things into practice is what is difficult and what we need to expend our energy upon. And so I encourage you this morning as we go through, there'll be six different points we'll look at from the author of Hebrews and the passage we have before us this morning, that he commands us, he encourages us, he exhorts us

to live according to the way that God has called us to live. And so I encourage you to take some time to consider these things, to consider these points, and perhaps there's some areas that God really wants to work in your life. Before we actually get started in the passage this morning, I want to ask you if you have ever...

Try to imagine what your life would be like if you lived, if your home was a dumpster. Here on the church property, we have the green dumpster right there and kind of in the corner. And what would it be like for you to live in a dumpster?

in that dumpster? What would it be like if that was your home? If that was your surroundings, your covering? If that was your source of food? If that was your source of drink? What would it be like to live there in that dumpster? Now on Sunday mornings you might get a little fortunate, you know, maybe someone didn't finish their donut and so you would be able to find a little something to eat or perhaps you could find a, you know, half...

half drink and, drunk and drink, half empty or half full bottle of water, and you could get some, something to drink that way, or maybe a little bit of coffee in the bottom of a cup that you would be able to partake of, or what would it be like

The rest of the week, how would you supply your needs? How would you get what you need? What would it be like to live there and deal with perhaps the insects and the things that go on in a dumpster? What would it be like to deal with the smell and the stench of living in such a place? And what would it be like to...

have that stuff all around you and upon you and in your hair and underneath your fingernails and what would it be like to live in such a way? Well, I ask you the question because for every single one of us, that really is what life is like without God. We, without God and without the life that God offers to us,

We're pretty much living in a dumpster, in the filth and in the sludge of our own sin and our own wickedness. And it's a filthy life that we have without God. And it's full of muck and mire and we're starving and there's no nourishment and there's no way to become clean or to be cleansed. It's just filth. We're stuck in the mire, the miry clay.

without a relationship with God. And so if you were living in this dumpster out here and someone came along and said, take my hand. And I want to take you out of this dumpster and I want to move you into a nice apartment.

And I'm going to provide it for you. It doesn't cost you anything. I'm going to give it to you. I'm going to pay the monthly rent and the utilities. And you can take showers there. You can sleep there. You'll be provided for. I'll make sure that the fridge is always stocked, that there's food in the pantry. I'll make sure that all your needs are met. Just take my hand and come with me. Do you think you would receive that offer?

Because that is exactly what God is doing with us. Without God, without a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, our lives are full of sin. We're stuck in bondage to that sin. We make a mess of our lives. I'm sure you're quite aware of that. And here God reaches out His hand and He says, Come on out. I'm going to get you new clothes. I'm going to scrub you down and wash you up and clothe you with the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Why don't you come to me, you hunger and thirst, come on to me. I'll satisfy you and I'll meet your needs, I'll provide for you. And God even then goes on to say, not only will I take care of you in this life, but one day in the near future, I'm going to give you a mansion that I've prepared for you in my Father's house. An eternal place that will never be corrupt, that will never fade away. An inheritance that is guaranteed for you.

And it's in this light, it's in this context that I want to look at verse 25 as we look at the first point this morning, which is do not refuse God. Verse 25 says, See that you do not refuse him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from him who speaks from heaven. Look at verse 26.

whose voice then shook the earth. But now he has promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven. Notice the first part here of verse 25. See that you do not refuse him who speaks.

And so the picture of you or I living within that dumpster and someone reaching out their hand and saying, take my hand and I'll provide for you and I'll meet your needs, that's exactly what God has done. And the only way for us not to participate in the plans that He has for us and the blessings that He has for us and the eternal life that He's prepared for us is for us to refuse Him who speaks.

God has come to us in the midst of our sin, in the midst of our horrible condition, in the midst of our wretchedness, and He says, take my hand. I offer to you eternal life. I offer to you forgiveness. I offer to you salvation. I offer to you these promises that are yes and amen in Jesus Christ. And I offer them to you, and all you need to do is receive it. So see that you do not refuse Him who speaks. God says,

is such a gentleman. Even though he knows what is best for us, he does not force his will upon our lives. He offers to us his hand. He offers to us his plan, his son Jesus Christ. And he says, receive. And it's up to you and I to partake. It's up to you and I to receive the gift that he offers. And so the author of Hebrews says, see that you do not refuse him who speaks.

You and I have the choice. We have the opportunity to receive what God offers to us or to refuse it. And he's giving us a warning not to refuse it. Because to refuse it is going to bring judgment upon you. He goes on there in verse 25 and 26 to refer back to a situation that happened in the Old Testament. We talked about it last week as well.

where there the children of Israel are in the wilderness, and God descends upon Mount Sinai, speaks with Moses, gives the people the Ten Commandments and the rest of the law, and there He meets with His people and establishes the covenant with His people. And when that took place, as God descended, there was a dark cloud that descended on Sinai, and there was a great earthquake, and it was this incredible scene of God descending upon the mountain.

But even though there was those who witnessed this scene and there's those who saw the earth shake and they saw what was taking place and what the effect of God upon the earth was, there were those who refused what God said. There were those who refused the covenant that God offered to His people. A covenant to walk with them and have relationship through the sacrifices and through that system. And the point that the author of Hebrews is making here is...

Those who refused, they did not escape the judgment of God. They experienced the consequences of refusing Him who spoke. As Moses came down the mountain and delivered the law, delivered the word of God to the people, those who refused did not escape the consequences of their decision. Those who refused experienced the judgment of God.

The voice shook the earth, but now, he goes on to say in verse 26, he's promised, yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven. He's going to shake once more the earth, but not just the earth as when he descended upon Mount Sinai. He's also going to shake the heavens. He's looking at a portion from Haggai chapter 2 verse 6,

Where God speaks there through Haggai that not only the earth is going to be shaken, but also the sea is going to be shaken. And the heavens, that is the stars, the planets, the solar systems, those are going to be shaken. The universe is going to be shaken.

Once more. There's going to be this incredible shaking that takes place. And the common theme that's carried on here in this passage, it's all throughout the book of Hebrews, is the new covenant is superior. And if the old covenant was important, well, the new covenant is far more important. If the blood of bulls and goats under the old covenant was able to cover sin, how much more superior

Under the new covenant, will the blood of the Son of God cleanse your guilty conscience and take away your sin? If the consequences of disobedience under the first covenant were great, how much more the consequences under the second covenant? This is a common thing that he's been teaching us throughout the book of Hebrews, and it's the same thing here. He says, do not refuse God because those who refused under the old covenant did not escape.

So do not think that you will escape if you refuse the relationship with God that He offers under this new covenant, under this work of Jesus Christ, whereby faith in Him, we are forgiven of our sin because of what He accomplished for us on the cross, taking our place, taking our sin and receiving the full judgment, the full punishment of God upon Himself in our place. If people refuse the old covenant, they perished.

How much more then will we not escape if we refuse the new covenant? Jesus said in John 14, 6, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me. Now Moses delivered the law. He spoke from earth. He was a man. He was, well, not like Jesus Christ. Jesus, Jesus is God. He descended from heaven.

If they did not escape when Moses, a mere man, delivered the word of God, how shall we escape if we refuse the Son of God who has brought to us the word of God? The Son of God who has said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me. To try to get to God by any other means is to refuse Him who speaks.

And so he says in verse 25 again, see that you do not refuse him who speaks. See that you come, make sure that you come to God on the basis of Jesus Christ and what he has done for you. On his terms and according to what he has said and not according to your own ideas or imaginations. You either come to God and have relationship with God by Jesus Christ or you do not come to God and have relationship with God at all.

There are those who say, well, I just think, you know, as long as your good works are more than your bad works, and, you know, you kind of do good, more good overall than you do bad overall, and as long as you don't really hurt someone or kill someone, you know, then, and they could go on and on. That is to refuse Him who speaks. It's to refuse God because Jesus said, the one who came down from heaven, the one sent because God loved us so dearly.

He said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me.

And some will say, well, I just think that, you know, you just have to be sincere. And as long as you're sincere, that's what's really important. We all, you know, worship the same God, but it's just important that everybody be sincere in their own beliefs. That is to refuse Him who speaks. To think that, to say that, to believe that, to live that, is to refuse Jesus Christ. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me.

Some would say, well, I believe that God understands. You know, it's really difficult to be a Christian in this day and age, with all of the temptations and all of the difficulties. And so, I think God's going to understand. And even though I'm living in this sinful condition, and I'm practicing this thing, I'm in this spot, or I'm in this way, and I know the Bible teaches differently, but I think God's going to understand. And He's just going to kind of overlook it and have grace upon me.

That is to refuse Him who speaks. We must come to God. The only way to have relationship with God is on the terms that He has provided, based upon the things that He has spoken. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me." And see, the point here is that the earth shook when God descended upon Mount Sinai, but it was nothing like the shaking that is going to happen in the future.

This world, it's not going to last. This life, it's going to quickly be over. He'll continue that thought in the next verses, so I'll come back to it. But in these last days, God has spoken to us through His Son, Hebrews chapter 1 tells us. See that you do not refuse Him.

As God is speaking to us through Jesus Christ. Now this is for those who have never been born again, who have never accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Make sure you do not refuse. Receive what God offers to you. But it's also for us as believers, as the author of Hebrews was writing to believers, to make sure as you walk with God, as you walk in relationship with God,

Don't refuse Him who speaks. Don't let there be those pockets of your life that you do not allow God to have control of. Don't allow those areas in your life where you will not surrender to God in this way or that way. Or you refuse to be obedient in something that He is speaking to your heart. See that you do not refuse Him. Because if they did not escape under the old covenant, the new covenant being far superior, how shall we escape then? We will not escape.

Don't think that you will escape. The only way to have right standing with God is to receive what He is speaking to us for salvation, but also for sanctification and walking with Him. So number one this morning is do not refuse God. Number two, as we go on verses 27 through 29, very simply, have grace.

Have grace. Look at verse 27. It says, Now this, yet once more, indicates the removal of things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken, may remain.

So the yet once more, again, looking at Haggai chapter 2 verse 6, where it tells us there was a shaking back in the Old Testament, there in Mount Sinai, but yet once more there's going to be another shaking that takes place. And there's going to be a removal of everything that shakes. Anything that can be shaken will be removed. The shaking is kind of a purification process, and everything that moves...

Well, that's going to be eliminated. That is going to be destroyed. All of the things that are made will be shaken, but the things that cannot be shaken, they will remain. This shaking is going to sift out those things which are permanent, those things which are eternal, and those things which are temporary. Verse 28 says,

Verse 29, So he says, Again, everything is going to be shaken.

And only the things that cannot be shaken will remain. So what can be shaken? Again in Haggai 2.6 it tells us the heavens are going to be shaken, the earth, the sea, the dry land, the whole universe, the material world as we know it, everything that we can see and touch, it's going to be shaken, it's going to be removed. So what then cannot be shaken?

Well, Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4, everything that is seen is temporary, but it's the things that are unseen that are eternal. The material world is going to be shaken, it is going to be removed, but the spiritual world is eternal. And that is what's going to last. You know, there's a popular saying we often quote, we have one life to live, it will soon be passed. Only what is done for Christ will last.

We have one life. And we can spend that life amassing for ourselves treasures here on earth that will not last, that will quickly perish. The heavens will melt away with a fervent heat, Peter tells us. The universe will be shaken. Or we can store up for ourselves treasures in heaven where rust does not corrode and moth does not eat away. We can prepare for ourselves an abundant entrance into the kingdom of God. It will not be shaken.

And so he says, therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, the kingdom that is promised to us, the kingdom that God offers to us, he extends his hand to us and he says, I want to provide for you eternal life and a place in my father's house. It's a place that cannot be shaken. It's a place that will endure for the rest of eternity. Therefore, he says, let us have grace.

Let us have grace. Since our future is guaranteed by relationship with God. Since eternity is in store for us. He says, let us have grace. Do you have grace? Grace is one of those subjects that we visit frequently because it's so central to the Christian life. We cannot have relationship with God apart from grace.

We can't have anything apart from grace. Grace is God's goodness to us even though we don't deserve it and we haven't earned it. It's Him extending to us salvation and forgiveness and blessings and promises and the hope of eternity through no merits, no earnings, no basis of our own, but just simply because He loves us and desires to give us these things. Grace, it's undeserved favor and kindness. Grace is received.

Because it's simply what God is offering to us. Since we are receiving a kingdom that is going to last, the idea here is let us not get caught up in this life and our kingdoms here on earth, but let's get caught up in the grace of God. Because the things that come to us by the grace of God, those are the things that are going to last. We can spend the extra energy and extra time and make a few extra dollars. How long will that last?

We can spend energy and time and we can store up for ourselves treasures in heaven that will last for the rest of eternity. Have grace. Receive the grace of God. He says, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. It's by the grace of God that we're able to serve Him acceptably. The word here, serve, it means to worship, to offer sacrifice or to render service. Receiving God's grace is the only way

that we can serve God acceptably. Sometimes people acknowledge the existence of God, but they try to serve Him not on the basis of grace, but on the basis of works. It's a tendency we have, and it's a trap for many of us. To try to approach God or serve God, we try to present to God how wonderful we are and how much we do for Him, and it's on the basis of what we do, what we've accomplished, or how good we've been. That's not an acceptable way to serve God.

Since we're receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let's have grace. Let's receive what God wants to give us. Let's receive what God has done for us and accomplished on our behalf. And only by receiving that are we then able to serve God acceptably. Only then is our service to Him acceptable. He says, "...with reverence and godly fear were to serve Him." To refuse God's grace is irreverent.

It's disrespectful and it's arrogant. Thinking that I can earn it or I must earn it or I can do it if I just work hard enough or be determined enough. It's not giving God the honor that He deserves. It's disrespectful to Him. To refuse God's grace is to not fear Him. It's to say, I value my own word and my opinions of life and eternity over God's word, over what He says. Yes, I know that's what the Bible says. I know that's what

But this is what I think, and I'm going to follow what I think. We need to have the fear of God. We need to have reverence. But it's not accomplished by us working hard or being so diligent. It's by receiving the grace of God, receiving what God wants to do in our lives, receiving His work for us on our behalf. It's by faith. And He works in us to do and to will for His good pleasure.

It's only by receiving the grace of God that we're able to serve Him with reverence and godly fear. But we need to do that. We need to serve Him with reverence and godly fear because verse 29 goes on to tell us, for our God is a consuming fire. Our God is a consuming fire. We need reverence and godly fear because our God is a consuming fire. Although we like the picture, the image of God

Baby Jesus there in the manger. And that's an important element of the God that we serve. We must not forget that our God is a consuming fire. In Hebrews chapter 10, the author of Hebrews warned us that it's a fearful and dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Again, we must not be deceived. We must not consider that because this new covenant is a covenant of grace that we can just do whatever we want and live however we please and everything will be fine and God will just cover over it all and we can disregard His word and disregard what He has said and we can live contrary to His commands. We can live in disobedience. We can serve Him however we choose, however we please. Listen, the new covenant...

Yes, it is. It's a covenant of grace. And it must be received by faith. And God has some great things in store. But don't be deceived into thinking that you can just then get away with whatever you want and live whatever kind of life that you want to live. We need to approach God with reverence and godly fear. We need the fear of God because our God is a consuming fire. Fire is interesting because it has different effects depending on

what it comes in contact with. You can kind of lump them into two categories. Things like wood, hay, and stubble. Those things come in contact with fire and it burns. It's reduced to a pile of ashes. But you take an element like metal, perhaps like gold, and you put it in contact with fire, and fire does not destroy it, but instead it purifies it. Sure, it melts it,

It affects it, but it doesn't destroy it. It purifies it. In some cases, it makes elements stronger. It's a productive work in some things, in that which will endure fire. Our God is a consuming fire. If our lives are made up of the things of this world, if our lives are filled with ourselves, with things that are not of eternal value, of things that will not last forever,

when it comes in contact with God, when it comes in contact with a consuming fire, we will be consumed, but all that will be left is a pile of ashes. Everything we worked for our whole lives, everything we spent our time and energy on, it'll be lost. But if our lives are filled with the things of eternity, if we build upon the spiritual house that God has given to us with precious stones and metals, it will last, it will endure, and we'll enjoy the reward for the rest of eternity.

You see, you and I can receive God's grace right now. And we can allow Him, by receiving His word, by receiving what He has commanded us, we can allow Him then to consume our lives right now. And the result will be a consuming fire. We'll be on fire for Him, accomplishing His work in this world. Or we can refuse Him. And we can fill ourselves and our lives with the temporary things that will be consumed in fiery judgment.

So the author of Hebrews says, have grace. Listen, we're receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken. So let's have grace. Let's fill ourselves with the things of the grace of God. Let's fill ourselves with the promises of God and the blessings that are yes and amen in Jesus Christ for us. Have grace. Well, number three, as we move on into chapter 13 now, verses one through three, the point is to love others.

We're to not refuse God. We're to have grace and we're to love others. Verse 1, let brotherly love continue. In loving others, first we look at this subject of brotherly love. Loving the brethren. We are to love one another as Christians. There is to be this bond of love between us that exists in a way that it is not in any other relationship.

Jesus said in John 13, 35, by this all will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another. He says the world's gonna know, the world's gonna take notice and they're gonna understand those people follow Jesus if you love one another. And so the author of Hebrews says, let brotherly love continue.

Love one another. Care for one another. Minister to one another. Share with one another. Meet one another's needs. Look out for one another. There is to be this love between us. Look around at the people that God has placed around you in the body of Christ. Pay attention. How can you serve them? How can you love them? How can you meet their needs? How can you help them in their relationship with God? Let brotherly love continue.

But not only are we to love the brethren, we're also to love strangers. Verse 2. He says, Don't forget also, he says, to entertain strangers or show hospitality to strangers.

Not only are we to love the brethren, but we're to love people that we don't know. There are those that God has placed around us in the body of Christ and we're very familiar with, and it's easy for us to hang out and fellowship with them and spend time with them. But there's also those that we don't know so well or that we don't know at all. We're to love strangers. We're to love those that we do not even know or we're not familiar with.

Here he says in verse 2 that some doing this, loving strangers and being hospitable, have unwittingly entertained angels. They've

Shown hospitality to angels. We have a couple examples of this in the scripture. In Genesis chapter 18, you remember Abraham was there and he sees three guys and he runs to them and says, Hey guys, man, you've been on a long journey. Why don't you come sit down, relax. Let me prepare you a meal. He shows them this hospitality and serves them. Well, it turns out one of them is the Lord and the other two are angels. Abraham says,

unaware, unwittingly entertained angels. Then the very next chapter in Genesis 19, those two angels go down to Sodom and Gomorrah and there Lot invites them into his home. They're staying in the open square and he says, no, come on, I'll provide you protection. I'll put some good food in front of you and I'll take care of you. Not aware, not knowing that he was entertaining angels. Samson's parents also did this in Judges 13 and a couple other examples throughout Scripture.

But the point here that the author of Hebrews is seeking to make is that we need to be willing to be hospitable and be willing to give of ourselves and love people even if they're not the closest of relatives and even if they're not the bestest of our friends. Especially in those days where the climate was different as Christians would travel around

Well, there was not, you know, Motel 6 and Best Western and, you know, the Marriott and the, you know, all of the different hotels and, you know, you go to any city and there's a number of hotels that you could stay at and,

You could be provided for in that way or taken care of and covered in that way. But in those days it was not so. There might be an inn in a city. There might be a place to stay. But very often those were places that were filled with prostitution and idolatry and just, you know, it'd be like going to stay at a saloon or a bar, you know, that kind of scene. And so it wasn't a good place for Christians to be. And so as Christians would travel, they'd

Then it would be important or necessary, it would be really good for other believers to invite them in. Hey, you're passing through, why don't you come on in? Let me take care of you, let me serve you and provide for you this night and then you can continue on your way in the morning. And that's the point here, to love strangers, to be hospitable.

It doesn't mean that every stranger that walks by our house, we're supposed to invite them in, give them a bed, and let them stay there with us indefinitely or anything like that. That's not what he's saying. But he's saying be hospitable, be willing to open your home and spend time with strangers even as God leads, as God brings missionaries or people from around the world together.

throughout the year at this church, there's often, you know, people that come with Pastor Tom from Okinawa or from different places when the pastors and missionaries come back to visit or they come from their churches and they pass through. And very often, there's a need. There's where are they going to stay? And we need to work out some situations and some places for them. And

I would encourage you, be willing, look for those opportunities and be led by the Holy Spirit. And perhaps, you never know, you might entertain angels and not even know it. So we're to love the brethren, we're to love strangers, but we're also to love the persecuted. Verse 3, he says, Remember the prisoners as if chained with them, those who are mistreated, since you yourselves are in the body also. You yourself are in a body.

And you, being in a body, you know what it's like to feel hunger. You've experienced thirst. You know what it's like to feel pain. You know what it's like to be uncomfortable. You know what it's like to be miserable. You've faced lots of situations in your life. Since you are in a body also, he says, remember the prisoners as if chained with them.

Now again, this is not the idea of every prisoner and that type of thing, but he says those who are mistreated. He's talking about those in the body of Christ, those Christians who are being imprisoned and persecuted, mistreated for their faith in Jesus Christ. Christians who are in prison, Christians who are being beaten and mistreated because of a relationship with God.

Now, for you and I, this is a little bit foreign to us, but I hope that you know and understand that it still takes place today. We read about it in the New Testament, and it was taking place in those days. Jesus himself was, you know, a participant or, I don't want to say a victim, because he voluntarily gave himself. He experienced persecution.

The apostles and disciples who followed after him experienced persecution and were beaten and imprisoned for their faith in Jesus Christ. The author of this book, Hebrews, was also in prison. Paul the Apostle was in prison. There's many, many examples. But it still goes on today. And so he says, remember the prisoners as if chained with them. And it's so foreign to us, I think it's even more important then to remember.

It's not like we're living in it and it's happening all around us and so it's hard to forget because we're facing the threat of arrest and beatings and persecution. But because it's not something we're very familiar with in this country, then we need to remember. We need to consciously make a decision to lift up those missionaries or ministers or whoever they are, those who are imprisoned for their faith.

There's a couple of good ways to do this. One of the things that I get on a monthly basis is a publication called Voice of the Martyrs. And you can check it out at persecution.com. You can sign up for a free newsletter they have. You can sign up to write to Christians who are imprisoned around the world.

They do a good job of reminding me on a regular basis of what's taking place around the world and the Christians who are suffering for their faith and the many who have been put to death and imprisoned. And it's happening all around the world. It's not just in New Testament times, but today as well. And so we need to remember. We know what it's like to be miserable, to be uncomfortable. And there's Christians around the world for their faith in Jesus Christ, they're miserable and uncomfortable.

Because they profess faith. Because they walk with God. And we need to be praying for them and seeking to meet their needs and minister to them however the Lord would make that available to us. In 1 Corinthians 12, verse 26, Paul says, If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. Or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. We're members of the body of Christ. And we need to remember those. Part of our body. Part of our brethren.

that are imprisoned, that are persecuted, that are beaten for faith in Jesus Christ. And so we're to love others, to love the brethren, to love the strangers, and to love those who are persecuted. Number four, we're to be undefiled. Verse four says, "'Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled, but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.'"

We're to be undefiled. And he deals with the subject of marriage here. Again, it's just one verse. It's not very complicated. It's not, you know, we need to spend weeks and weeks upon, you know, what in the world is he trying to say here? And let's, you know, dissect each letter. It's very simple and straightforward. But it's the application that people struggle with. It's living this out. There's been much false doctrine that has gone through the church since the very beginning in regards to marriage.

And I think this verse does a very good job of answering all of it. First of all, he says, marriage is honorable among all. Marriage is honorable. It's a good thing. God created marriage. He loves marriage and he blesses marriage between a man and a woman. Some in Paul's day in 1 Timothy 4.3, Paul warns Timothy of those who forbid people to marry.

saying that it's wrong or God is not pleased or God does not desire it or you're more spiritual if you do not marry. No, marriage is honorable among all. It's a good thing. It's an honorable thing and it's something that God desires and blesses as we do it according to what He has called us or what He has laid out for us in His Word. Marriage is honorable and the bed is undefiled, He says. Another wind of doctrine that is blown through the church is

From time to time, as well as in Paul's day in 1 Corinthians 7, he dealt with this. The suggestion that you're more spiritual if you do not have a sexual relationship even within the context of marriage. He says, no, the bed is undefiled. God created marriage. He also created the sexual relationship. And within the boundaries that God has set, He blesses it. Spirituality is not increased by abstaining from sex within marriage. In fact, God commands...

for a husband and wife. To have that intimacy. It's part of his creation. It's part of his design in marriage. So marriage is honorable among all and the bed is undefiled. In contrast to that, he goes on to say, but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Now,

I know it sounds crazy, but the other winds of doctrine that have blown through are really the opposite of the first things we looked at. And some taught that it does not matter what you do in your body. Since it's temporary, since it's physical, since it's material, it's going to pass away anyway. There's some still around today.

that teach that it doesn't matter. You can do whatever you want with your body because it's going to perish. It doesn't matter. And as long as you know your mind, your spirit, that's pure, that's devoted to God, then you can do whatever you want with your body and you can fulfill its cravings and desires and you can just live however you want. A lifestyle of sexual immorality, but that's not true. God will judge the sexually immoral.

Fornicators and adulterers God will judge. A fornicator is one who practices sex before marriage. And if you practice sex before marriage, he says right here, God will judge. Adulterer, again, this isn't very complicated. It's one who violates the marriage covenant. Although married, has a sexual relationship with someone outside of the marriage. The person who practices that, if you're practicing that, God will judge that.

judgment will come as a result of sin. Don't be deceived. There's so much deception in the world. There's so much deception in the lives of people, even within the church. Listen, it's not okay as long as you love each other. That does not justify it. That does not make it right.

Within marriage, that sexual relationship is blessed, it's honorable, it's undefiled, it's pure, it's holy, it's devoted to God, God blesses it. But any other context, God will judge the person who practices those things. He will judge sin. Don't be deceived and think, well, it's okay as long as we love each other and God will understand. It's not okay. God will judge fornicators and adulterers.

Well, some will say, well, but I'm just so unhappy in this relationship with my spouse and God wants me to be happy and so I need to run away with this other person. God does not want you to be happy at the expense of holiness. Holiness is more important than your happiness. Don't be deceived and think, well, God wants me to be happy and so this is okay. It's not okay. Fornicators and adulterers, God will judge. Don't be deceived about that.

Just because you have plans to get married, just because you've set a date, just because you have great intentions, none of that makes it okay. Within the boundaries God has given, a sexual relationship is blessed, it's honorable, it's undefiled. But any other way, God will judge. So be undefiled. Do not practice sin, but flee sexual immorality. Number five, be content. Verse five and six says, 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. So we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me? Powerful verses here. He tells us to be content. Let your conduct be without covetousness. That's without the love of money or the love of material things.

Let your life be without the love and the pursuit of those things, but instead be content with the things that you have. Be content. There's a great danger of covetousness. When Jesus told the parable of the four types of soil, he shared about the one seed that

fell amongst the thorns. And as He explained with that man, He says, look, the ones that fell among the thorns are those who have heard the Word of God and they receive it. But then as they grow up, the Word of God is choked out because of the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so it brings no fruit of maturity, Jesus says. The Word of God is choked out

by the cares of this life, by the pursuit of riches, by the pleasures of this life. And so don't let your life, don't let your conduct have that covetousness. Instead, be content. It means to be sufficient or satisfied. Paul gives a great discourse on contentment in 1 Timothy 6. Check it out on your own time. We need to be content. We need to be satisfied with what we have.

And notice the reason why he says to be content. He says, be content because God said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31, 6 and 8. God said, I will never leave you nor forsake you, so therefore be content. Be satisfied where you're at with what you have because God is with you. He promised He would be with you. He's taking care of you. He's all that you need. But He also promises to meet your needs.

Remember, Jesus said, don't worry about the things that you need. What are you going to eat? What are you going to wear? In Matthew chapter 6, he goes through a long discourse on this. He says, look, you don't need to worry about those things. God knows that you need them and he'll take care of you. You seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these other things. The things that you need will be added unto you. They'll be given to you. They'll be provided to you. So be content because God is with you.

Be content with where you're at. Be content with what you have. Be content and trust God to meet your needs. Paul said in Romans 8, verse 32, Hey, if God didn't spare His own Son, His Son which was so precious to Him, God didn't spare Him. He offered Him. He delivered Him to be crucified. He allowed Him to be put to death in our place. If God allowed that, if the most precious thing to Him is only begotten Son, He allowed that.

He gave for us. How much more will He give us all the other little things that are not nearly as valuable or as important? He's going to take care of us. He's going to satisfy our needs. So be content. Trust the Lord. And don't let your life be consumed or don't let your conduct be with covetousness. The chasing after, the pursuit, the love of money and material things. Finally, number six. Remember your leaders. Look at verse seven.

He says, Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. Remember your spiritual leaders. God has placed spiritual leaders in all of our lives. Every one of us. He's placed men and women of God who have spoken the word of God to us, who have brought to us what God has said and what God would say today.

in our lives. And he says, remember them and follow their example. To remember it means to be mindful, to think of and feel for a person. One of the subjects that often comes up these days in conversations and news and so on and so forth is the whole economic crisis and the financial difficulties we face. I want to encourage you and this is not, you know, I'm not taking an offering that, you know, this isn't for me.

Consider people like Pastor Tom there in Okinawa, Japan. Or maybe Pastor Dylan has ministered to you and shared the Word of God with you. Or maybe Pastor Cisco. Maybe there's men and women of God who God has given as spiritual authorities in your life. Hey, as you face difficulties, as you face hardship, as you face financial crunch, remember them. Be mindful and think of and consider what must it be like for them.

How can I help minister to them and meet their needs? How can I help bless them and be a part of their lives? He says, remember those who rule over you. Consider them. Feel for them. Pray for them. Pray for your spiritual leaders. But he also says to follow them. Now he doesn't say, you know, blindly follow everyone who claims to have authority in your life. He says, those who have shared the word of God with you, follow their example as you see the outcome of their conduct. As you see the fruits of their life.

Do they practice what they preach? Those things, the Word of God that they've brought forth to me, do they live out those things? And as they do, follow their example. Follow their example of faith. Those who have spoken the Word of God to us, as you watch their life, as you see the results of their doctrine, remember them. Take care of them and follow their example, he says. So these six things we've gone through pretty quickly.

Again, they're not very difficult. They're not very complicated in the sense of, you know, we need to spend a lot of time to try to understand and dissect and find the meaning. No, they're pretty simple and straightforward. The difficult part for you and I is now to live it out. Do not refuse God, but have grace. Love others. Be undefiled. Be content. And remember your leaders. We're going to close now with partaking of communion. The worship team is going to come up and

the ushers you can make ready as well. And I want to encourage you to consider this. We started out looking at verse 25 and 26, the idea of not refusing God. Jesus commanded us to partake of communion and to, as often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, to remember His death. It was something He commanded us to do to remember Him, to take some time and remember what He has done for us and He has accomplished for us.

And so once a month we do this, we partake of communion just as He has commanded. And I want you to consider just the visual picture here, because we pass out the bread, which is symbolic, it represents His body that was broken, and we pass out the cup, which is grape juice, but it represents for us, it's symbolic of His blood that was shed to remind us of what He did and accomplished for us there upon the cross.

Here's what we do not do. We don't take the plate of crackers and put it in front of you and grab you by your hair and smash your face into the plate and tell you to eat. What do we do? Well, we pass the plate down the aisle. And as it comes by, you have the opportunity. You get to make the choice. Am I going to reach out and receive what is being offered to me or am I going to refuse it? This is what God has done for us.

See that you do not refuse Him. He offers to us, everything that God offers to us is found in the person of Jesus Christ. Salvation, forgiveness, all of His promises, all of the blessings, everything. It's all found in us walking in relationship with Jesus Christ. It's all in Jesus Christ. See that you do not refuse Him. He offers to you His Son. He will not force you to eat, to partake. He will not force you to receive. See that you do not refuse Him.

So see that you do not refuse, but make sure, see to it that you reach out, that you partake, that you receive what God has for you through Jesus Christ. And if it's salvation, if you've never been born again, if you don't know that you have forgiveness and the hope of eternity,

Then as the plate comes by, I encourage you, reach out and receive. Take that cracker. It represents His body that was broken for us. It represents what He did for us upon the cross. And that our sin, our body, the judgment that was due to us, that was pinned to the cross with Him. He received the fullness of judgment on our behalf. Jesus Christ, being God, became a man to die for us, to take our place upon the cross. In the same way, when we pass out the cup, we don't,

Pull your head back, close your nose, and pour grape juice down your throat. We offer it. You have the opportunity. You can receive it, or you can refuse it. And I want to encourage you this morning as we partake of communion, as they lead us in worship, to consider that picture, to consider that example, and make a decision to receive what God has for you in Jesus Christ. Receive the fullness of what He has for you as He presents to you His Son. Have grace.

Have grace. It's received. And it's available to us because of what Jesus Christ did for us upon the cross. Now, if you don't want anything to do with Jesus, if you don't want to live the way He's called us to live, you can refuse. Just don't think that you will escape. I encourage you to refuse if you don't want anything to do with the Lord, if you don't want to follow Him, if you don't want to be obedient, if you want to just continue in your sinful lifestyle, don't partake. Don't pretend to be religious.

But if you want the fullness of what God has for you, and if you want to walk with God, if you want to have grace, and you want that eternal place that He has prepared for you, then as He offers to you these reminders, reach out, receive them, and remember what Jesus Christ did for us upon the cross. So as we worship the Lord, as they lead us, hold your portions, hold both the cracker and the juice, and we'll partake together at the end.

We pray you have been blessed by this Bible teaching. The power of God to change a life is found in the daily reading of His Word. Visit ferventword.com to find more teachings and Bible study resources.