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Mills River SDA Church

A Study in Hebrews

Cory Reeves

A Study in Hebrews 1: God Still Speaks

A Study in Hebrews Chapter 2: Aid to the Tempted

A Study in Hebrews, Chapter 3: Partakers of Christ

A Study in Hebrews, Part 4: The Promise of Rest

A Study in Hebrews 5: A Call to Grow Up

A Study in Hebrews 6: The Anchor of Hope

A Study in Hebrews 8: A Better Covenant

A Study in Hebrews 7: The Perfect Priest

A Study in Hebrews 9: Once for All

A Study in Hebrews 10: Hold Fast - Faith that Endures

Hebrews 11: Solid Faith in Something Better

Hebrews 12: Running: Focused on the Prize

A Study in Hebrews 13: Seek the City to Come

We began this series by seeing that God speaks fully through his Son, who became our blood brother, uniting us to the family of God, and thus defeating death.

We were warned not to harden our hearts, but to enter God's rest by trusting His Word.

We spoke on the rest we get to have in heaven for eternity.

We spoke of the rest we get to have in knowing that Jesus gave everything for us.

Then we were challenged to grow up, to get off of the infant milk and move on to more substantial religious food.

To flee to Jesus, our anchor of hope and our perfect High Priest, who lives forever to intercede for us.

We celebrated a better covenant written on our hearts, secured by His once and for all sacrifice.

We joined the hall of faith looking to those who trusted God for something better.

And throughout this series, we have seen that Jesus is supreme over all.

He is our perfect high priest who opened the way through his better covenant.

Finally we are called to strip off every weight of sin in order to run the race with endurance.

And now, with our eyes fixed on Jesus, we're going to finish this journey through Hebrews as we seek the city to come.

Any big, I do this to you often, but any big history buffs out there?

So from 1935 to 1939, the French built a line of fortresses along their border except the section of the rugged Andes Mountains because they figured that was bad enough to stop an army.

This line of fortresses became known as the Machinoline.

I even have it correctly enunciated for me in my notes, but I don't do it right.

It was a technological marvel at the time.

It was miles of concrete tunnels, air-conditioned bunkers, underground rail lines, pop-up turrets.

They believed they could just build a strong enough permanent city of defense that they would be safe forever underground.

I have a couple different diagrams of the fortresses they built.

If I go back a slide you can kind of see on this 1 where it's underground, big strong fortresses, and then as it tunnels around they have a little pop-up turrets and little substations to protect themselves.

They built quite the the powerful bridge of systems.

Unfortunately in May of 1940 the German army mounted 2 major offenses right through the Andes Mountains.

Cut off and isolated the British and the French troops along the northern Belgium border at Dunkirk.

Within 6 weeks the German forces were in Paris accepting surrender.

Among the most valuable assets gained by the German army was this actual set of fortresses that allowed them to dig in like never before.

As we look at our lives here on earth today, I fear too many of us dig in to protect our lives here.

Our enemy wants to overrun us and take control of this earth, and we must learn just to let go.

To not dig in, but focus on the city to come.

As we look to close out this book of Hebrews, Paul gives some final appeals here.

We must remember this is a letter meant to be read all at once.

And this last chapter is the final appeal.

If this world is not our home, and the point is that we are citizens of a better country, citizens of heaven, we are called not to dig our bunkers into this world.

And Paul starts out this section by telling us how we are to treat people left in this world.

Hebrews 13, I would recommend you open your Bibles and leave them there.

I didn't give you the book of Hebrews in your notes.

I gave you lots of places to write, but not the book of Hebrews.

So if you give me an amen when you get to Hebrews 13 Hebrews 13 starting with verse 1 Let blood brotherly love continue this thought is that as Christians we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.

I love the way Adventist home page 33 says it.

If he, talking about us, is filled with the love of Christ, he will manifest courtesy, kindness, and tender regard for the feelings of others, and will communicate to his associates by his acts of love, a tender, grateful, happy feeling.

Speaking of love is what we're supposed to do.

When we are filled with the love of Christ, this Love is what comes bubbling out of us.

Friends, when you are truly filled with Christ, you can't help it.

You are a joyful, happy, excited person to share Jesus.

You see, if you struggle with people, don't worry church, get to know Jesus.

Our next verse, verse 2, Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing, some have unwittingly entertained angels.

I have a different version of that 1 memorized so it was really hard for me to say.

The Bible, in Bible times, inns could be dangerous.

Christians, much more than today, would open their homes.

We are called to treat strangers like royalty because we're all children of Christ, Amen?

But in God's economics, they might also be His messengers to you.

Think of the disciples on the Emmaus road.

What if they hadn't taken time to entertain strangers?

Remember the prisoners as if chained with them.

Those who are mistreated since you yourselves are in the body also.

This third verse isn't just about sympathy.

Notice there is no call to inquire whether those suffering adversity may or may not deserve it.

As Christians we are called to know that they are in need of help.

Church, we must stop filtering Jesus' love through a worthiness test.

Let's be honest, how many of us deserves Christ's love?

We should always shine Jesus's love unfiltered to all.

We help them because we are called to help them.

We are called to feel the weight of their chains.

Verse 4, marriage is honorable among all and the bed undefiled, but fornicators and adulterers God will judge." You see, this speaks of Christians living in purity.

Sexual immorality is seeking instant comfort.

It is looking for self and not trusting God for future joy.

Kingdom citizens are called to honor this covenant.

Verse 5, let your conduct be without covetousness, be content with such things as you have for he himself has said I will never leave you nor forsake you.

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Series

A Study in Hebrews

A Study in Hebrews 13: Seek the City to Come

Transcript

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