7 Remember
those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose
faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
Those who rule over you,
we see those words three times in this chapter.
It appears the curtain closes on Hebrews with the
spotlight, at least in part on: those who rule over you.
This refers to leaders in the Church. Not
government or secular workplace.
God calls and chooses His shepherds to tend and lead
and feed His flock.
A characteristic of any shepherd, any leader called by
God, is that they speak the Word of God.
An eloquent speaker may wax poetic and tickle ears. A
powerful orator is able to trigger emotion and action.
However, no matter how gifted, anyone who stands as a
shepherd, or pastor or teacher or preacher or prophet or evangelist, or anyone
who stands in the Church as a leader, if they do not rightly divide and speak
the Word of Truth, they are at best, a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
At worst, a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
So, dear Church, (unless directed by God for a
specific mission) never sit under the leadership of anyone who doesn’t teach
and preach the Word of God.
Even if, especially if, they make you feel really
good and warm and fuzzy.
The Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than
any sword, it pierces the soul and lays open the thoughts and intents of
hearts. Heb. 4:12.
The Word of God gives comfort and clarity and correction,
not carefully crafted, politically correct, self-help sermons.
Our text tells us to remember (to recall, be mindful,
bear in mind) those who rule over you.
In
part that means we need to pay attention, so we can search the Scriptures
to make sure what they said is True.
Acts 17:11,
These (the Bereans) were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that
they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures
daily to find out whether these things were so.
John 5:39 You search the Scriptures, for
in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of
Me.
Also, we’re told to consider the outcome of their
conduct.
We’re to not only pay attention to their words,
but also their ways.
This leans a little toward leaders who’ve passed away.
Once they’re gone, we can see the outcome of
their life.
Consider their preaching, their praying, their
practice.
Did their life bear Godly fruit?
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such there is no
law. Galatians 5:22-23.
Did they finish well?
Is so, remember them and follow their faith.
Not necessarily their actions, but their faith.
Consider the outcome of their conduct and follow their
faith. Like the faith giants of chapter 11, we follow their faith, not their
footsteps.
Is your shepherd rooted and grounded in the Word of
God? Faithful? Steadfast? Stable?
Like...
8 Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday, today, and forever.
Literally: Jesus Christ,
Himself, yesterday, today and forever.
Malachi 3:6, “For
I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not
consumed, O sons of Jacob.
James 1:17, Every
good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father
of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Jesus. The Word of
God. Faithful. Steadfast. Stable.
Galatians 6:9,
Weary not in well doing for in due season you will reap if you faint not.
That's an immutable
unchangeable Spiritual Law.
Speaking of laws, Jesus
hasn’t added a new law for 2,000 years. And He runs the universe. Amazing!
US state lawmakers
introduce a quarter of a million bills each session.
Hundreds of laws are made
each year in US.
1,000 new laws were made
last year in California (2025).
200 were made in Florida.
In our little village? More
and more every year.
People just can’t seem to
stop the urge to control.
Consider your leaders,
are they like Jesus, faithful, steadfast and stable, or do they need to be
told...
9 Do not be carried about with
various and strange doctrines.
Due to the reproach of Christ, they were tempted to
turn from Christ back to the religious sacrificial system of Judaism or, be carried
away with various and strange doctrines.
That’s the opposite of standing faithful, steadfast
and stable.
James 1:5-8, If any of you lacks
wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without
reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him
ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven
and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose
that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he
is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Hebrews 10:38, Now the just
shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no
pleasure in him.
Luke 9:62, No one, having put his hand to
the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Remember Lot's wife.
Today we’re seeing what can only be described as various
and very strange doctrines of demons.
1
Timothy 4:1-2
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from
the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking
lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
Just as they were warned not to be carried away by
various and strange doctrines, we too must warn and be warned about these
deceiving spirits.
But it’s easier said than done. If you’ve tried to
reason with those who’ve fallen prey to these deceiving spirits and doctrines
of demons, you’ve felt the sting of a viper’s tongue.
Lord, help us.
But don’t worry, the Lord doesn’t give warning, without
giving weapon.
9 For it is good that the heart be established by
grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied
with them.
It’s good, he says, to establish, to strengthen,
your heart.
We’re not talking about heart healthy Cheerios. It
says, “not with foods.”
Their newfangled strange doctrine perhaps dealt with meat
and drink, and physical food, but we’re talking about the real heart. The real
you.
It is good to establish, strengthen, settle, our
heart, by grace.
Paul pleaded, “please take this thorn.” God said, “My
grace is sufficient. For in your weakness, My strength is made perfect.”
2 Cor. 12:9.
God’s strength accompanies His grace.
Grace is unmerited favor.
Zechariah
4:6-7
Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
Says the Lord of hosts.
7 ‘Who are you, O great mountain?
Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!
And he shall bring forth the capstone
With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ’ ”
Ephesians
2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of
yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works,
lest anyone should boast.
Speaking of not boasting. Let’s look at the thrice mentioned phrase: “those
who rule over you.”
Verse 7: Remember those who rule over you...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... 24: Greet all those who rule over you.
Now look at their resume:
1
Corinthians 1:26-29,
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to
the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God
has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God
has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are
mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the
things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to
bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh
should glory in His presence.
God calls and chooses His shepherds to tend and lead
and feed His flock.
In the Kingdom of God all are equally valuable.
However, there are different rules and roles.
There is, authority and hierarchy.
When the family of God functions by the principles of
God, the Kingdom of God flourishes.
The Church must reflect what's needed in the world
When asked about the last days, the first thing Jesus said
is: “Take heed that no one deceives you.” Matthew 24:4.
Then, after listing several things that will take
place, He closed by saying:
And because lawlessness will
abound, the love of many will grow cold. Matt. 24:12.
Today's lawlessness reflects that verse.
Today’s lawlessness is the opposite of God’s
Divine Design.
The lawless one sees the Church gathering,
justice rising, judgement coming and therefore...
2
Thessalonians 2:7-12
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work;
only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of
the way. 8 And then the lawless one
will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of
His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The
coming of the lawless one is according to the working of
Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and
with all unrighteous deception among those who
perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they
might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send
them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that
they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure
in unrighteousness.
Dear Church, we are seeing this Scripture being fulfilled right before our very eyes.
Speak truth.
Be an example.
Respect law and order.
Pray for those in authority.
Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, we pray for those who rule
over us. We pray You guard them, guide them, and use them for Your glory. Dear
Lord, it looks like we’re living in the days of deception, amongst those of a
strong delusion. Please give us Your wisdom and discernment and use us, to save
the savable, to articulate Your Word and live Your Love.
Thank You.
We love You, forever.
Amen.
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Hebrews 13:7-9
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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s
Seed for you to sow.
Thank you for sharing.
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