Sunday Night Bible Study Hebrews 13:17-25 January 1, 1995 Hebrews 13:17-25 Introduction The Jewish believers who were reading the original letter had been going through a great deal of persecution since they started believing in Jesus as their Messiah. Some of them had even been tempted to just give up in trusting in Jesus and go back to Judaism like they were before they were saved. The writer now begins to wrap up the letter with a lot of miscellaneous exhortations. 17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you. :17 that have the rule over you Greek: to lead, to go before The writer is talking about those in leadership within the church. :17 obey ... submit This would be a great time for me to really gain some power and control in the church... But really, this must be in balance with God's Word. If you find yourself in a church where the pastor is getting off the wall and out of the Scripture, I don't think God expects you to submit to the man. Acts 5:29-AV Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. Some of you have come from some strange experiences, where these kinds of commands have been abused. Keep in mind what the pastor's responsibility is... :17 they watch for your souls agrupneo 1) to be sleepless, keep awake, watch 2) to be circumspect, attentive, ready John Wesley: "As they that must give account"-To the great Shepherd, for every part of their behaviour toward you. How vigilant then ought every pastor to be! How careful of every soul committed to his charge! I think Paul gives us a bit of the heart of a good pastor: 2Corinthians 11:27-29 AV In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 1Thessalonians 2:7-13. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: 8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. 9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. 10 Ye [are] witnesses, and God [also], how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: 11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father [doth] his children, 12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. 13. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received [it] not [as] the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. Those of you who want to be in ministry - this is where you should aim. Proverbs 27:23-AV Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, [and] look well to thy herds. :17 as they that must give account RWP: These leaders as good shepherds recognize keenly their responsibility for the welfare of the flock. This is the quality of a good leader in the church, knowing that they are going to have to answer to God for the care they gave the flock. Frankly, this kind of scares me to death, knowing that I must give an account to God for the ministry I've had with you. Those in ministry will give an account to God: 1Peter 5:1-4. The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight [thereof], not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over [God's] heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. :17 joy ... not with grief RWP: {And not with grief} (kai mˆ stenazontes). "And not groaning" Hebrews 13:17-NIV ...Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. It makes me think of the conversation between Moses and God: Exodus 32:7-11. And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted [themselves]: 8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These [be] thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 9 And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it [is] a stiffnecked people: 10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. 11 And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? It seems that both Moses and God were so fed up with the people that neither wanted to call them "my people", but "your people". In contrast, it is such a joy to work for you. :17 for that is unprofitable for you I have heard that in some churches there are people who feel like their call in life is to make life miserable for the pastor of the church. They feel that they are called make the pastor be what he's supposed to be, and that it's for the better that they do it. Hebrews 13:17-NRSV ...for that would be harmful to you. I'm glad I don't have those kind of people in our church. 18. Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. 19 But I beseech [you] the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner. :18 Pray for us Matthew Henry: The more earnestly the people pray for their ministers, the more benefit they may expect from their ministry. ... When ministers come to a people who pray for them, they come with greater satisfaction to themselves, and success to the people. We should seek all our mercies by prayer. I sure appreciate all your prayers. There's been at times a tremendous weight upon me and my family since we started this church. Prayer is the only thing that lifts that weight. Don't tell me to not take the weight of the world upon me. I'm not taking the weight of the world on me, just the weight of the church on me, as it should be. So just pray for me. I am so blessed with our prayer covering ministry that happens on Sunday mornings. I can sense the lifting up of the church and myself as the brothers and sisters are interceding for us. It is no accident that some of the great awakenings in history have begun in prayer. A prayer meeting under a haystack in a rainstorm in 1806 led to the first large-scale American missionary efforts. In 1830 some 30,000 people were converted in Rochester, New York, under the ministry of Charles Finney; later Finney said the reason was the faithful praying of one man who never attended the meetings but gave himself to prayer. In 1872 the American evangelist Dwight L. Moody began a campaign in London, England, which was used of God to touch countless lives. Later Moody discovered that a humble bedridden girl had been praying. The list could go on and on. :19 that I may be restored to you the sooner Depending on who the writer actually was, this might be talking about getting over an illness, or getting out of prison. 20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen. :20 the God of peace It's good to sit and absorb from time to time the way God is described in the Bible. It's good for our prayers. He's the God of peace If you want peace in your life, where do you go? To drinking or drugs? Or to God? :20 that great shepherd of the sheep We saw in 1Pe.5:4 that Jesus is called the "Chief Shepherd" This is why it's good for a person in ministry to realize that they are an "under-shepherd". When it comes to really caring for and feeding the flock of God, it's a job that only the Great, Chief Shepherd can do. We as under-shepherds can only do our best to respond to directions from the boss. Isaiah 40:11-AV He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry [them] in his bosom, [and] shall gently lead those that are with young. :20 through the blood of the everlasting covenant It's through Jesus' blood, the blood of the new covenant, that God the Father brought Jesus back from the dead. :21 make you perfect in every good work to do his will perfect: katartizo 1) to render, i.e. to fit, sound, complete 1a) to mend (what has been broken or rent), to repair 1a1) to complete 1b) to fit out, equip, put in order, arrange, adjust 1b1) to fit or frame for one's self, prepare 1c) ethically: to strengthen, perfect, complete, make one what he ought to be God doesn't make you perfect in that you're going to be sinless and flawless. But He wants to make you what you ought to be in the work that He has for you. We need to realize that God is using all sorts of things in our lives to mold us and shape us. Once someone came on Michelangelo chipping away with his chisel at a huge shapeless piece of rock. He asked the sculptor what he was doing. "I am releasing the angel imprisoned in this marble," he answered. If you look at a tapestry from the back, it's just a bunch of string, thread, and knots. It doesn't make any sense. Until you look at the front of the tapestry. We need to realize that sometimes we only can see the backside of the tapestry of our lives, but that God knows what He's weaving in our lives. This would make a good prayer to use in your prayer time for other people. It's good to find the prayers of the Bible and use them in your own prayer time. The power of prayer Have you ever watched a bird sleeping on its perch and never falling off? How does it manage to do this? The secret is the tendons of the bird's legs. They are so constructed that when the leg is bent at the knee, the claws contract and grip like a steel trap. The claws refuse to let go until the knees are unbent again. The bended knee gives the bird the ability to hold on to his perch so tightly. From sleeping birds we can learn the secret of holding things which are most precious to us -- honest, purity, thoughtfulness, honor, character. That secret is the knee bent in prayer, seeking to get a firmer grip on those values which make life worth living. When we hold firmly to God in prayer, we can rest assured he will hold tightly to us. 22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words. :22 suffer the word of exhortation Hebrews 13:22-NIV Brothers, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written you only a short letter. The writer has had some hard words to say to these people. They've been tempted to leave Jesus behind because of the hard times they've faced. And the writer has encouraged them to stick it out, even when it gets hard! :22 a few words Sorry it's taken so long to get through We started the book on January 2, 1994! 23 Know ye that [our] brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. :23 our brother Timothy At the end of verse 25, in some Bibles, it says that the letter was written from Italy by Timothy. I don't think so. Paul isn't such a bad candidate though, because of his relationship with Timothy. 24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you. :24 Salute all them that have the rule over you Salute! aspazomai AV - salute 42, greet 15, embrace 2, take leave 1; 60 1) to draw to one's self 1a) to salute one, greet, bid welcome, wish well to 1b) to receive joyfully, welcome a salutation was made not merely by a slight gesture and a few words, but generally by embracing and kissing. :24 they of Italy A little insight as to the whereabouts of the writer. 25 Grace [be] with you all. Amen. <<[Written to the Hebrews from Italy, by Timothy.]>> :25 Grace be with you all My wife and I both got each other the same book for Christmas, "Why Grace Changes Everything" by Pastor Chuck. Significant that the letter ends with grace. Grace is receiving from God what you don't deserve. We need to be better receivers, God certainly wants to be giving us more and more. It's not because you've earned it, it's because God wants to give it.