Living in the Light of Calvary
Introduction
Hebrews 13:1-6: "Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Remember the prisoners as if chained with them-since you yourselves are in the body also. Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you." So we may boldly say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
I want to share a quote with you I read this week... "Can anything be more ironic than the lives of our nation's military? They love America, so they spend long years in foreign lands far from her shores. They revere freedom, yet they sacrifice their own so that others may be free. They defend their own right to live as individuals, yet yield their individuality in that cause. Perhaps, most paradoxically of all, they value life, yet so bravely they ready themselves to die in the service of their country.
Tomorrow, as a country we are going to observe "Veteran's Day." We are thankful for the men and women who loved duty more than life.
So many of our soldiers are never remembered for their loving, courageous, faithful service to protect our liberty in America ... but because of who they are ... we honor and thank God for them ... we are in awe of their sacrifice and dedication toward our country...they are our American heroes ... their sacrifice and commitment should make us want to live better lives.
As we've been making our way through the closing chapters of the book of Hebrews, and we see the kind of faith in God men and women over the years have displayed, and ultimately, as we fix our eyes upon Jesus (the One who laid down His life so that you and I may live forever in freedom), it has caused me, and I hope it has caused you, to begin to think, "How should I live my life in light of Calvary?" Thankfully, the writer of Hebrews gives God's people clear instruction on how to live in light of Calvary.
I. Live Compassionately (1-3)
"Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Remember the prisoners as if chained with them - those who are mistreated - since you yourselves are in the body also." (13:1-3)
In light of Calvary ... live compassionately ... "let brotherly love continue."
Biblical love is not primarily based on "feeling," but on "action." Biblical love is not something you primarily "say," but something you primarily, "do."
You love because Jesus Christ first loved you...you love because a family member is in need...You love because Jesus Christ said, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."
A. Compassion In Action Means Loving Others
In September of 2005, President George W. Bush awarded The Medal of Honor upon Corporal Ted Rubin...The Medal of Honor is the highest award for bravery that a President can bestow.
It is given for acts of valor that no superior could rightly order a soldier to perform. It is given for going "above and beyond the call of duty."
In our President's speech, he said, "By repeatedly risking his own life to save others, Corporal Ted Rubin exemplified the highest ideals of military service and fulfilled a pledge to give something back to the country that had given him his freedom. Those who served with Ted speak of him as a soldier of great skill and courage.
One night near the Pusan Perimeter, Corporal Rubin had been assigned to hold a hill that was essential to the 3rd Battalion safe withdrawal. For 24 hours this lone rifleman would defend the hill against an overwhelming number of North Korean forces. By his actions Corporal Rubin inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy, saved the lives of countless soldiers, and gave the unit time to withdraw.
Those who served with Ted speak of him as a soldier who gladly risked his own life for others. I call this "compassion in action."
In light of all Jesus has done for you...is your compassion in action? We have several awesome outreaches this Fall/Winter...will you be a part of reaching out...demonstrating your love for Christ and others?
"Let brotherly love continue." Love brings us together and makes us strong in Christ.
B. Compassion In Action Means Serving Others
Hebrews 13:2, "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels."
At the time this was written, many traveling ministers relied heavily on Christians showing hospitality by opening their homes to them...providing a place of rest and nourishment before they moved on to the next town...While ministers today frequently stay in hotels when they travel ... there is still a great need for hospitality in the church today!
Hospitality is not about having a perfect home...it's about having a heart to serve others... Some of the ways I've seen you show hospitality would be:
*Taking a meal to someone who is ill
*Supporting the 25th Fire Station/PRC each month with nice gifts of love
*Driving one another to church...to the doctor...to the grocery store
*Opening your home for a Bible Study or Prayer
*Giving financially to support various ministries or people in need
Throughout the Old Testament showing hospitality to strangers was a godly value. Abraham experienced this verse literally in Genesis 18.
In Genesis 18, Abraham visited by three men ... three strangers ... Abraham shows his hospitality by offering to make them a meal ... This was no ordinary "Value Meal."
Abraham had wife Sarah to prepare homemade baked bread.
Abraham sought out his best calf, had it butchered and prepared, along with fresh milk and butter.
It turned out that two of the three men were angels ... the other was the Lord God Almighty Himself!
The word "angels" in Hebrews 13 literally means, "messenger." You may benefit from wonderful encouragement when you open your home to God's people.
C. Compassion In Action Means Remembering Others
"Remember the prisoners as if chained with them - those who are mistreated - since you yourselves are in the body also." Heb. 13:2
Many of the Hebrews were persecuted and placed in jail simply because of their bold faith in Jesus Christ. Believers were exhorted to remember them and reach out to them in love.
Daniel Burgher's dad, David, has an outstanding ministry to men and women in prison called, "Bridge the Gap" ... they are teaching them God's word...ministering to them the love and compassion of Jesus Christ, preparing them to leave prison and work faithfully in the world as they exemplify Hebrews 13:2.
I pray you and I will never be in prison - but if we were there, if we were hungry, if we were starving, we would pray for others to come and visit us. Amen?
Jesus said, "I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, "'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'" Matt. 25:36-20
II. Live Contentedly (4-5)
"Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have." (13:4-5a)
Cultivate contentment in marriage life for, "Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled."
Jesus honored marriage with his presence and first miracle and the wedding in Cana of Galilee.
Jesus said in Matthew 10:6-9, "But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God what God has joined together let man not separate."
Christian marriage under the Lordship of Jesus Christ is a beautiful gift of God. A Christian marriage where husband and wife are learning to love one another and walk in the will of God is one of the greatest witnesses the world can see.
However, we live in a day inside and outside the church when God's word concerning marriage and sexual purity is not highly esteemed.
This week, I heard on TV of middle schools passing out condemns to kids 11 years old. Many of God's people see nothing wrong with TV shows, movies, entertainment, that does not edify their lives; rather, they have adopted the ways of the world over the truth of the word of God!
Christian's don't need to run around condemning the world for living in sexual sin, but if we claim to know and follow Jesus Christ His standards should be our standards. What is that standard? It's the Word of God.
We don't have time to go over each individual Scripture that speaks about God's will for believers, but mark in your Bible:
Ephesians 5:3-7
Colossians 3:1-11
1 Thessalonians 4:3-8
1 Corinthians 6:9-20
The second part of verse 4 gives this strict warning, "...but fornicators and adulterers God will judge."
In Biblical days the ancient culture pressured people to lower their standards and give in to their sexual passions.
Satan whispers, "It is okay - no one will know."
When our young people commit to a life of purity, Satan says, "You are not in the popular crowd - you are missing out. There is something wrong with you."
A young Christian girl was being put down her friends for remaining pure until marriage - her friends kept taunting her and trying to embarrass here. Finally she said, "I can always become like you, but you can never become like me."
Not only should Christians pursue contentment in their sexual lives, but also God's Word says we should pursue contentment in our financial lives. "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have."
King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 5:10, "Whoever loves money never has enough money; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income."
A common myth about money is that we will become more generous when our income increases. Well, do you think you could be more generous if you made $737,000 per month? That is Britney Spear's monthly income. Each month from this amount she spends about $49,000 on the mortgage of two homes, $16,000 on clothes, $35,000 in spousal and child support, $5,000 dining out, $102,000 on entertainment, gifts and vacation .... $500 in charitable contributions.
So many people today are looking for something or someone to bring them contentment and satisfaction. We keep thinking more money, better looks, better relationships or better jobs are the answer to satisfaction in life.
How about looking to Jesus? How about learning to appreciate what God has already blessed you with? How about focusing more on giving, growing in gratitude and developing a Biblical perspective on what is truly important in this life and eternity - that's where joy and contentment comes from.
I love what Paul says to his friends in Philippi, "I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:11-13
Jesus Christ was able to meet Paul's needs and guess what, Jesus Christ can still meet your needs today/ For in Hebrews 13:8 we read, "Jesus Christ...the same, yesterday, today and forever."
III. Live Confidently
"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?" (13:5b-6)
Cultivate a life of confidence in Christ! The material things in life are temporary...but when you have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ...you have what is needed more than anything else in life!
Republican Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee recently spoke to the 25,000 member Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, TX...He said, "There's no guarantee that following Jesus means that we're going to be wealthy...Neither is it His goal to make us poor. His goal is to make us like Jesus, and that is prosperity -- to put in us the character of Christ so that whatever happens in our lives, we're able to reflect the personhood and the very life of the Savior who is in us."
He went on to say, "There are a lot of uncertainties in my life. But here's one thing -- if you're in Jesus Christ, you know how it turns out at the final buzzer...I've read the final chapter in the Book...we do end up winning at the end....The game's already been played at the cross. Jesus paid the price that has to be paid for us to have eternal life and for us to have victory."
In light of Calvary...Live a life of compassion...contentment...confidence...God is your helper...Because of Calvary's Cross... there truly is, "Victory in Jesus."