Well Pleasing in His Sight, Hebrews 13:17-25

¹⁷ Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

¹⁸ Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. ¹⁹ But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

²⁰ Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, ²¹ make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

²² And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words. ²³ Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly.

²⁴ Greet all those who rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.

²⁵ Grace be with you all. Amen.

Outline:

Responsibility

Accountability

Vulnerability

Availability

¹⁷ Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Responsibility

In Hebrews 13 we read in verse 7: Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the Word of God to you... 17: Obey those who rule over you... 24: Greet all those who rule over you.

This is in context of Church leadership.

Unlike Romans 13, which speaks of government. But even there we’re told to submit to governing authorities.

Even Jesus submitted to Pontius Pilate, saying, “You’d have no authority over Me unless it had been given to you from Above.” John 19:11 (remember this verse, we’ll mention it again in a minute).

God doesn’t have a problem with the words: those who rule over you.

God’s Kingdom embraces, obedience, submission, law and order.

1 Corinthians 14:33

For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

The original Greek word, Obey, in our text is: peithó. It means to persuade, convince, trust, or, as the NIV puts it: to have confidence in.

Have confidence in and submit to, the watchmen of your soul who is accountable to God.

Which brings us to:

Accountability

For they watch out for your souls, reminds us of when God called His watchman, in Ezekiel 3:17-21. If the watchman doesn’t give warning, he is accountable for the blood of the lost.

Must give account means they were appointed and called by the Lord.

So, obeying and submitting, is saying to God, “I trust You.” And saying to every authority other than God: “You’d have no authority over me unless it had been given to you from Above.” John 19:11.

Then, as much as possible pursue peace. Matt. 5:9, Rom. 12:18, Heb. 12:14.

And, always ready to obey God rather than man. Acts 4:19-20, 5:29.

 

Vulnerability:

¹⁸ Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. ¹⁹ But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Pray for us.

Okay, sure, why?

Because we are confident that we have a good conscience.

Huh?

Is it just me, or does that sound weird?  

If we put ourselves in their sandals, it’ll make sense.

Our first century family was accused of atheism because they denied the existence of the numerous Roman gods. They were accused of incest and orgies for referring to each other as brothers and sisters and meeting in secret for fear of persecution. They were accused of cannibalism of their own children because they spoke about eating and drinking the body and blood of Christ.

So, in that context it makes perfect sense to say:

“Pray for us; for no matter what you’ve heard, our conscience is clear, we’re innocent. We’ve lived honorably with integrity. So, please pray we’re quickly cleared of these false accusations so I can get back to you the sooner.”

The message for us today dear Church is that we must pray for those God has called to rule over us. 1 Timothy 2:1-2.

The message for dear Church leaders is to be vulnerable, not afraid, or too proud, to ask for prayer. James 5:16.

We all must ask, “is my conscience clear?”

Do I long to be with my Church family the sooner. Or do I dread their presence?

Do I feel people looking down on me?

Is the preacher’s sermon all about me?

If so, no fear. It’s not too bad. It may be miserable, but it’s not terrible. Because, feeling bad is good. It means your conscience may not be clear, but at least it’s not seared. 

A seared conscience can sing in the choir while living in sin and never feel a pinch of conviction. That’s a slippery slope straight to hell.

If your conscience is not clear, if you have no peace, let’s remedy that by talking to the God of peace...

²⁰ Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 

The God of peace raised Jesus from the grave, sealing the everlasting covenant with His blood, making a Way to restore peace between God and man.

A remedy for the guilty conscience.

Isaiah 9:6-7
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷ Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.

But that’s not all.

God wants more.

He’s not only interested in a peace treaty, a debt paid, a war ended.

He wants restoration.

He wants a family reunion.

He not only offers peace with God, He offers the peace of God.

Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

God wants a constant, (without ceasing) ongoing, communication between you and your, All knowing, All Powerful, Ever Present, loving, caring, Heavenly Father.

Which brings us to: 

Availability

²¹ make you complete (equipped) in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

For those whose hearts are available and willing, God gives the want to and the able to do every good work pleasing in His sight.

Phiippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

I want to want to...but how?

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Seek first the Kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33), and watch how He provides the desire and the ability:

2 Peter 1:3
His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.

1 Corinthians 10:31
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

²² And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with (endure, don’t quit) the word of exhortation, (encouragement) for I have written to you in few words (considering the Enormity of Eternity).
 ²³ Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly.

²⁴ Greet all those who rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.

Brethren, brother, greet rulers, greet saints, greet Italians, familial language referring to this one big noisy, messy, happy family of God.

I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God

If you are a Christian, you have a family reunion coming that will last forever. One where there will be no bickering or fighting or crying or complaining.

Sounds like heaven.

Exactly.

²⁵ Grace be with you all. Amen.

Final words.

Final powerful, prayer.

Saved by God’s amazing Grace, unmerited favor.

Grace BE (present tense).

May God’s unmerited favor, eternal saving, amazing grace be ever present with you all, always.

Let’s pray.

Our gracious heavenly Father, oh how we long to be with You, always. Thank You for making that possible. Now, will You help us find our Divine calling, so we can complete all You’ve given us, and reach all those You send us, so we all can finish well and hear You say, “Well done.”

Thank You.

We look forward to seeing You, soon.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

Prayer Requests:

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Email: pray4measap@aol.com

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.

 

The East Gate, Ezekiel 11:1-2

Let’s go back 2,618 years to September 17, 592 BC. and pick up where we left off in Ezekiel’s vision with the Lord and His Cherubim Chariot hovering over the Eastern Gate.

Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the East Gate of the Lord’s house, which faces eastward...

The East Gate was the most prominent gate to the temple. It’s been destroyed or damaged and rebuilt multiple times.

Before this chapter is over, we’ll see the Lord depart from the Eastern Gate.

About 600 years after our time here in Ezekiel, Jesus came and went in and out through the Eastern Gate.

Most famously, He rode the donkey into Jerusalem through the Eastern Gate and was hailed King and Messiah, as the masses shouted, “Hail to the Son of David, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” Matt. 21:8-9.

Most of them had no idea that He was fulfilling, to the day, a 483-year-old prophecy from Daniel 9:25.

That Palm Sunday was such a big deal that we still remember and celebrate it nearly 2,000 years later.

Many believe the Lord will return through the Eastern Gate. (We’ll discuss more about that when/if, we ever get to Ezekiel 43:1-5, 44:1-2).

The Muslims believed it so strongly that about 485 years ago (1541) they sealed up the Eastern Gate with 16 feet of concrete. It’s still there today.

As if that could stop the One who spoke the world into existence. The One, death, the grave, the tombstone, the Roman seal, the gates of hell, the devil and all his demons, couldn’t stop...

But 16’ of concrete, yeah, that oughta do it—His kryptonite?

Oh, and just in case that wasn’t enough, if you go there today, you’ll see they planted a cemetery around the entrance of the Eastern Gate, thinking the Messiah would never defile Himself by walking among the dead.

Newsflash: Jesus delivered the world by walking among the dead.

The Lord just laughs...

Psalm 2:1-4
Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
² The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
³ “Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”

⁴ He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.

Ezekiel 11:1b ...and there at the door of the gate were twenty-five men, among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.

Jaazaniah: Yahweh hears.

Pelatiah: Yahweh delivers.

The devil is a deceiver, a truth twister, he loves to take that which is meant for good and pervert it and turn it toward evil. That’s what he did to these men. Born with potential. Named with hope of holiness. Yet, they willingly yielded to the truth twister and are now forever tormented.

The truth-twister is still around today, taunting and tempting you, please do not make, their same mistake.

Twenty-five princes, probably not the same twenty-five priests we saw earlier worshipping the sun between the temple and the altar. Ezekiel 8:16.

These are princes, civic leaders, movers and shakers, corrupt politicians, basement, backroom, bedroom, deal makers, rogue judges, crooked congress, puppets of the truth-twister...

You don’t have to take my word for it, listen to what God says about them:

2 And He said to me: “Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and give wicked counsel in this city,

These devise iniquity and give wicked counsel.

See? Truth-twisting politicians.

Interesting note:

As Justice is coming to JerUSAlem, God is exposing crooked politicians.

The Bible is timeless, alive, ever timely.  

God is speaking.

Not gossiping.

Calling out iniquity, exposing wicked counsel, is not being judgy or gossipy.

It’s demanding accountability, calling for repentance, setting a standard of holiness.

If we did this from the start, we’d avoid much trouble, individually and nationally.

Nip sin in the bud. Address lawlessness before it grows into a raging inferno.

God shows us how it should be done.

He confronted Cain’s sin while it was still in its infancy, just a bad attitude.

Gen. 4:6, Why are you mad, why such a grumpy face?

Gen. 4:7, If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you must (mashal, master, govern, have dominion), rule over it.

Solomon tells us in Proverbs 22:6, Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani cut crime dramatically and kept it under control, using these Biblical principals.

The first rock, first snowball, first brick, first broken window, changes a lawful assembly to a lawless riot, that warrants riot control law enforcement and arrests.

Stop lawlessness while it’s small, before it grows out of control.

In Matthew 24:12, Jesus teaches that in the last days, lawlessness will abound.

Today many “princes” mayors, governors, members of congress, disguised as angels of light, devise iniquity and give wicked counsel.

They encourage lawlessness, a wildfire that spreads from, screaming, threatening doxing, and whistle blowing, which is obstruction of justice because it impedes communication creating chaos and confusion. The fire quickly jumps to, spitting on the law, and destroying property.

That’s just the start.

From there it has exploded into physical harm.

Vehicles are weaponized with road blocking and vehicle ramming (3,200% increase).

1,347% increase in physical assaults against ICE officers.

8,000% increase in death threats against ICE.

Injuries include concussions, severe lacerations requiring stitches, and legs crushed by vehicles. 

That’s just what we see at street level.

Recently exposed behind the scenes is a deeper, darker, wickedness.

These “peaceful protests” are actually organized teams with surveillance systems and strategies, for tracking law enforcement.

They use tactics and training only available with well-funded, established riot for hire militia groups, deployed to trigger insurrection and chaos for the purpose of toppling governments, regime changes and corrupting elections.

This is no grassroots, organic, uprising. It is a serious assault against US sovereignty.

For Christians, all of these things are sinful, lawless, and completely contrary to the will of God and completely in line with what the Word of God says will happen in the last days.

NO CHRISTIAN WILL ENGAGE OR PROMOTE OR SUPPORT ANY SUCH BEHAVIOR.

Many claim to be Christian while doing these lawless deeds. They willingly reject the Truth and deceive themselves into following the truth-twister.

Jesus spoke of them saying:  

Matthew 7:22-23
Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Speaking of lawlessness.

There is a distinction between the function of the law enforcement and Christianity.

Law Enforcement:

The Law must stop lawlessness when it happens.

Romans 13:1-4

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

In this environment, at the first act of lawless behavior, local law enforcement should immediately shut it down, with arrests and fines to the fullest extent of the law, including all participants and especially those behind the scene princes, who were in any way complicit in organizing, promoting and funding.

To not do so is dereliction of God given authority and duty at best, but most likely guilty of complicity in sinful, criminal activity.

Christianity:

To do Christianity right means stopping lawlessness before it happens.

That means shutting it down before the first act.

That happens inside our soul. Our mind, our will, our emotions. Our thoughts, intentions, desires.   

James 1:14-15, But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires (lusts) and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

Temptation is NOT sin. Yielding to it, is.

Temptation is simply evidence of an area of weakness.

Shut it down while it’s still a seed inside, a thought, a desire, an emotion, an intention.

Much of the time that simply means bridling our tongue.

James 2:2-6. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect (teleios: like a telescope extended to full strength, complete, mature, full-grown) man, able also to bridle the whole body. 

³ Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. ⁴ Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 

⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.

Lord, we pray, Psalm 19:14.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

Bridling our tongue does not only mean biting our tongue, but also to use our tongue to speak the Word of God.

As Jesus did when He was tempted.

The Word of God is the only weapon of God in the armor of God.

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4.

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path. Ps. 119:105.

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God... and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us...  John 1:1,14.

Jesus is the Word.

I can do all things through Christ (the Word) who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13.

In this world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer, I (the Word) have overcome the world. John 16:33.

One temptation, one step, one bite, at a time, with Christ Jesus, the Word.

When we fail, fall, sin. We must check our heart. Do we feel miserable when we sin?

Feeling bad, is good.

If sinning doesn’t make us sad, if what grieves the heart of God doesn’t grieve ours, then our Christianity is in question.

It is a very dangerous place where the heart is so seared it continues to sin without conviction. The heart that claims to be, good and pretti, but practices lawlessness, is on the slippery slope through the wide gate that leads straight to hell.

Like the princes in our text who devise iniquity and give wicked counsel.

The Good news is no one needs to go that route. God doesn’t give up easy and before the end of this chapter, we’ll see that He knows how to soften hearts.

Ezekiel 11:19-20
Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, ²⁰ that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.

 Let’s pray.

Thank You for not giving up on US, even though our hearts have grown hard. Help us Lord to walk in Your ways through the narrow gate, that leads straight to You. So, of US You can also say: “they shall be My people, and I will be their God.”

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

Email: pray4measap@aol.com

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.

We Have an Altar, Hebrews 13:10-16

We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. ¹¹ For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. ¹² Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. ¹³ Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. ¹⁴ For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. ¹⁵ Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. ¹⁶ But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

OUTLINE:

The Altar

We have an altar... 

"We", then meant, the Hebrews, Jewish Christians.

Now, "we", means all Christians, Jew and gentile alike.

However, their idea, and our idea, of the word, altar, was quite different.

Our idea of an altar is steps or benches at the front of the Church.

They thought of an altar as a structure of stone for making sacrifices with fire.

Both, instruments of worship.

Now, thanks to Jesus, when we put together, our text, “We have an altar,” for Christians then and now, means the same.

We have an altar, in the shape of an old rugged cross.

Now, this may feel and sound irreverent, but that altar, that cross, in and of itself is nothing.

Even though we love the hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross,” that very same cross, most likely, absorbed the blood of sinners condemned to death, before and after it soaked up the innocent blood of the Lamb, shed for the remission of sin, once for all.

It’s not about the altar, or cross, but the Sacrifice laid upon it.

So, the Holy Spirit continues saying, “those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.” 

We have an altar, it’s highly exclusive.

Those who cling to a sacrificial religious system, are excluded from receiving Christ as Messiah, as Lord, as King.

No one can serve religious tradition and eat at the Lord’s table. By your tradition you make of none effect the Word of God. Mark 7:14.

No one can serve two masters. Matt. 6:24.

The Way to this Altar, is highly exclusive.

As Jesus said in the Parable of the Wedding Feast: Many are called, few are chosen. Matt. 22:14.

The King prepared a wedding feast, but those He called refused to come.

He invited again, “The table is set, the meal is prepared, come to the wedding.”

But they scoffed and went about their business. Some surrounded the servants who delivered the invitation. They mocked them, doxed them, spit on them, kicked out their taillight, ran over them, beat them, killed them.

When the King heard, He sent His army and killed those murderers and burned down their city.

Then, He said, “My wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.” So, He sent others, “Go into the highways and byways and as many as you see invite them all.”

 So, they went and invited and the wedding hall was filled.

 But when the King came in to see the guests, He saw a man not wearing a wedding garment. 

A man invited but who refused to change, he chose infiltration rather than assimilation.

“Friend” said the King, “how did you come in without a wedding garment?’

Did he sneak in some other way? Did he not come through the Door where wedding garments were given? Or did he simply refuse to comply? 

The man was speechless. For there is no answer for lawlessness.

Then the King said to the servants, “Bind hand and foot this intruder, this illegal alien, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matt. 22:11-13.

Then, Jesus concluded the parable saying, “Many are called, but few are chosen.”

We have an Altar. 

It's very exclusive. 

The invitation to the Altar is extended to all.

Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Jesus clearly tells us that all are invited, but with very specific requirements:

Come to Me. (Specific Person and Place).

Learn of Me. (Attention, education, discipleship). 

Take My yoke. (Work, duty, responsibility).

My burden (His heart, desire, will). 

I AM the Way, the Truth, the Life, no one comes to the Father but by Me. John 14:6.
I AM the Door of the sheep, all others who come some other way are thieves and robbers. John 10:1-10.

The invitation to the altar is extended to all, who will enter by the exclusive Door, the One and Only Way, Christ Jesus.

Lady Liberty extends a similar invitation. 

 "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

Lady Liberty lifts her lamp exclusively for all who enter beside the golden door.

All others who come some other way, are thieves and robbers, to be bound hand and foot and cast out... even amidst rioting, weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth.

We have an altar that paves the exclusive Way to heavenly citizenship.

All others, who bow at some other altar, or serve another tabernacle, or temple, or mosque, or synagogue, or church, or political party, have no right to eat, from the fruit thereof.

Like Jelly Roll said upon accepting a grammy: “Jesus is for everybody. Jesus is not owned by one political party... Jesus is Jesus. Anybody can have a relationship with Him.” 

Jelly Roll gave glory to Jesus not fearing reproach.

Like Moses.

Hebrews 11:25-27
choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the (Grammys and all the trophies) treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.

Jelly Roll rolled without fear of being ostracized, cast outside.

Like our text:

¹¹ For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. ¹² Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. ¹³ Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.

The Outsiders

To benefit from the altar of the blessed blood of Christ we must be willing to step:

Outside our camp, our family, friends, our in-crowd.

Outside our gate, our security blanket, our comfort zone.

Matthew 10:37-39
He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁸ And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁹ He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

Would you follow Christ if it meant losing your life? (It does).

Matthew 16:24
“If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

Would you follow Christ if it meant being hated?

John 15:18-20
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

Feel uncomfortable? Like an outsider?

Good. We should. 

This world is not our Home, it's where we search for it. 

The Seekers

 ¹⁴ For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.

Our examples, our faithful ancestors, were seekers, wandering this earth as strangers, pilgrims, outsiders in search of a Heavenly Homeland, whose Builder and Maker is God. Hebrews 11:9-16.

Philippians 3:20
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ

John 14:2-3
In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Revelation 21:1-2
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Therefore, since we are simply passing through, how then should we live?

The Sacrificers

 ¹⁵ Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God...

We have an altar.

Altars are for worshipping by sacrificing.

Romans 12:1
I beseech you by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

Do you remember when King David was directed by the Lord to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah?

David offered to buy the property, but Araunah offered to give it to David.

David insisted he purchase it saying:  

2 Samuel 24:24
I will not offer the Lord from that which cost me nothing

That altar on that spot turned out to be the very spot where Solomon would build the temple. It was adjacent to Mount Moriah, where Abraham raised the knife and was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac. The place we know today as Golgotha, the place of the skull, Calvary, where Jesus bled and died for you and me.

Wow. What wonder working Power is hidden within our sacrificial seed.

... that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name (words). ¹⁶ But do not forget to do good (ways) and to share,(worth) for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

We have an altar.

Altars are for worshipping by sacrificing.

Lord, as a living sacrifice of praise to you we offer our words, our ways, our worth.

Ø Words: the fruit of our lips. Luke 6:45, out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Ø Ways: do good. Colossians 3:17, do all in the name of the Lord.

Ø Worth: share, our time, our energy, our resources. Matthew 6:20-21, store up treasure in heaven.

Lord, we offer ourselves and Your Word, as our prayer:

Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Lord, we love You, forever.

Amen.

 

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.