Turn to Hebrews chapter 13. Hebrews chapter 13. We've now
come to the last chapter of this book, this epistle. This is a
powerful epistle. Christ is set forth so gloriously
in this epistle, and He's set forth as being superior, far
above anything and everyone else. He's above the angels. He's above
Moses. He's above the old priesthood.
He's above all. There's none to be compared unto
Him. All the tithes, all the sacrifices
that pointed to Him, they pale in comparison to Him. They're
just tied shadows. Scripture calls them shadows.
That's what they were. He is the one and the only. He's the Redeemer. He's the Savior. He's God. He's all we need. And then he comes to this chapter
13, or this portion of the letter, and it's almost like there's
an abrupt change. In the closing of this epistle,
he gives us things we are to give great attention to as we
pass through this life. After having set forth Christ
in his glory, in his person, in his work, he gives some things
that we are to give great attention to. And the first one he gives
is love. Let brotherly love continue. Let it continue. Look over here
in John chapter 13. In verse 31 of John 13, it says,
Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of
Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in
him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway
glorify him. Yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek
me, and as I said unto the Jews, whither I go ye cannot come.
So now I say to you a new commandment I give unto you, that ye love
one another. Scripture tells us that love
covers a multitude of sins. That ye love one another as I
have loved you. And he sure covered a multitude
of sins, didn't he? His blood has covered a multitude
of sins. That you love one another as
I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall
all know that ye are my disciples. This is a mark of sonship. Genuine
love for the brethren is a mark of sonship. By this shall all
men know that ye are my disciples, if what? If you love one another. If genuinely, you know what it
is to do that to. You know what it is to genuinely
love someone. Know what that is. So he said,
let brotherly love continue. Paul wrote to the Corinthians,
if I have not love, in 1 Corinthians 13, if I have not love, I'm nothing
more than sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. I'm nothing
more than that. Love is the bond between God
and His people. And it is the bond between His
people. It's the bond, the glue that keeps us together. New covenant,
not like that old covenant. A new covenant demands a new
life, one that flows from the heart. A love that flows from
the heart. Scripture says this, he that
loves not, knows not God. I don't care if he does say he
knows God and makes a profession and gives his goods to the poor. If he loves not, he knows not
God. Loving the brethren is foremost
in our relationship to one another in Christ. Paul said, oh no man
anything but to what? To love. To love. To love one
another. It is an expression of the love
of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. When he says,
let brotherly love continue, it is the expression of that
love that's shed abroad in our hearts by the Spirit of the Living
God. Love is something to be exercised.
Love not in word only. It's easy to say, I love you,
I love you. It's a whole different ballgame
to prove it. Love not in word only, but in
deed and in truth. Love is to be exercised. It is
a grace that needs exercise. And it's sad that there's so
much sin still in us that we have to be commanded to love
one another. A new commandment I give you,
that you love one another in glory. Right now, they're not
commanded to love one another. They automatically, I mean, they
do love one another. They're mindful of one another,
courteous to one another, kind to one another. They love one
another, but we have to, in this flesh, say a new commandment,
a commandment, here's one of my commandments that I give you,
that you love one another. That you get your mind off yourself
and you put it on one another. That you look after one another.
The way a parent would look after the child, the children. The
way we are to look after one another. Am I my brother's keeper?
You sure are. You sure are. Then he says here
in verse 2, here's something else that we ought to give attention
to. There are several things here that I'm going to bring
out. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers. You know, I have to
say, me personally, I'm not the kind of person, I'm not a Tom
Hardy. Tom Hardy doesn't know a stranger.
I got out one time, he and I went somewhere together and we stepped
out of the car to get gas and immediately he struck up a conversation
with a guy who was on the pump beside of me. I'd have never
done that. I'd pump my gas and get back
in and go. But Tom, he strikes up a conversation.
Before you know it, he knows half that man's life. He doesn't
know a stranger. He entertains strangers. Open your home and your heart.
And that's not easy. That's not easy. Some of us are
so reserved, it's just not easy to do. But he says do it. Open your home and your hearts
up to strangers. And he's especially speaking
of those in the faith. That's why he's speaking especially
of those in the faith. There are those that believe
the gospel that we don't know of. There'll be some come here
in this conference we don't know of. Open your home and your hearts
up to them. Remember this, at one time, we
were strangers. It says over in Ephesians, we
were strangers from the commonwealth of Israel, the covenants of promise.
We were strangers, but not anymore. Be not forgetful to entertain
strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unaware. You say, well, that wouldn't
happen in our day. He said, I'm not going to add to it or take
from it. That's what he said. Some have entertained angels
unaware of it. Abraham did. Lot did. Edmond Noah and his wife, they
entertained the Lord. They entertained angels unaware. And remember them. Remember them
that are in bonds. Now, we don't know of anyone
that's in prison over the gospel. Not in this country anyway. They
are over maybe some other countries like Iraq, but not in this country.
But remember them that are in bonds as bound with them. And
that's what you call being one. We are one in Christ. We don't
forget our brethren who are afflicted. Because there are those who are
in this country afflicted over the gospel they believe. It says
don't forget them. Don't forget them. Don't separate
your feelings and emotions from their situation. It's so easy
for us in this flesh to turn away from people that's in trouble
because it's troubling. You're not going to walk into
a hornet's nest on purpose. I'll tell you what, if a brother
is in trouble, if a brother is being afflicted, you can't help.
If you're in the body of Christ, you cannot help but be afflicted
with him. You're a part of the body. You're going to feel the
part of the pain. You're going to feel for him
because you're in the body of Christ. Remember them that are
in bonds that are bound with him. And them which suffer adversity,
as being yourselves also in the body, because you suffered also.
Remember when you hurt? Remember that trial that hurt
you? It hurts them too. Now they're
hurting. And you know what it feels like. So remember them.
Pray for them. When you remember them, pray
for them. Call them, write them. Text them, I guess. On this day. But don't forget them. The old
adage, out of sight, out of mind. Don't let that happen. Remember
them. Put forth an effort. put forth an effort to remember
them, be a comfort to them. I wrote down here, we need to
get out of our comfort zone. And I write this to myself. When
I write these things, I write these things to myself. I need
to get out of my comfort zone. I live too much in an enclosed
circle. Get out of that encircled. And
I said, look at the world out there. I've been thinking for the two
weeks now to sit down and write Walter Ruger. I haven't written
to him in forever. I've been thinking about him
for two weeks. Sit down and write to him. Send him a letter. Let him know that here in Ashland
they're being thought of. We're thanking them, praying
for them, supporting them. Remember them. Then he comes
to this thing in verse 4. Marriage is honorable in all,
and the bed undefiled. Marriage was instituted by the
God. It was instituted by Him. In
fact, the first miracle our Lord performed was at a wedding. He
turned the water into wine. He showed up at that marriage.
It's of God. Marriage is a type, we are told
in Ephesians, it's a type of Christ and the church. It's a
type of their relationship. These two shall be made one.
It is a union of two becoming one. And here's where I think
the breakdown comes in so often. It's where the two that are supposed
to become one become independent. We become independent. And when
we become independent of each other, we start to go our separate
directions. I'm telling you, trouble's going
to happen. Let's just go our separate direction from Christ
and see what happens. Are we not married to Him? We become independent. People
feel like they're losing their identity. I tell you what, I think in a
marriage you do lose your identity. The two become one. I want to
lose, I want, and I want you to lose your identity and my
identity in Christ. Should we lose our identity there? Or if we are identified, we are
identified as what? Christians. Christ followers. I saw the second royal marriage,
so-called, and she did not take his last name. This one was just
recently. She didn't take his last name.
She wasn't going to give up her last name. She didn't think enough
of her husband to take his last name. What if we were like that with
Christ? We didn't think enough of Him. We want Him for For salvation,
we want Him for the blessing, but I like my last name better. No, let's lose our identity in
Him. That's what I want to do. I say
this, if you don't, when I was watching this, I thought, if
you don't want to lose your identity, if you don't want to lose your
self-worth and become one, stay single. Just stay single. That's
all you've got to do. And then he said, marriage is
honorable. You know, I looked this word up. It means valuable. It has the meaning of costly.
It's costly. It has the meaning of esteemed.
It has the meaning of precious and had in reputation. That's
what it means. It's honorable. I don't care what day we live in.
You know, the Bible is not outdated. It's never outdated. It's just
true. And the bed, undefiled. He says the bed is undefiled.
That is, the sexual relationship between a husband and wife is
holy. It is holy. It's as holy, the sexual relationship
between a husband and wife is as holy as reading the word of
God. It's as pure and as holy because God ordained it. He ordained it. It's ordained
of God. Paul encouraged it between husband
and wife to prevent sin over in 1 Corinthians 7. Let's look
over here at that. 1 Corinthians chapter 7. You know, we should never feel,
you should never actually, especially adults, never feel uncomfortable
talking on this subject. God ordains it. It's our sinful
minds, it's our sinful self that puts the shadow over it. That's
what it is. And 1 Corinthians 7, look here
in verse 1, 1 through 5. Now concerning the things whereof
you wrote unto me, it's good for a man not to touch a woman.
Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife,
and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband
render unto the wife due benevolence, and likewise also the wife unto
the husband. The wife hath not power of her
own body, but the husband." But now listen, it goes the other
way, too. It goes the other way. And likewise also, the husband
has not power over his own body, but the wife." And Paul says
there, let me go on reading this, "...defraud you not one another,
except it be with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves
a fasting and prayer, and come together again, that Satan tempt
you not for your incontinence." But Paul encouraged it between
the husband and wife to prevent sin. I think so many hang-ups,
so many hang-ups are caused by parents trying to scare their
children straight, and they put so many hang-ups on it that it's
not there. Just tell them the truth out of the Word of God
and leave it alone. Just leave it alone. Don't need to try to scare them
straight or try to put some taboos on it to where it goes with them
through life and causes marriage problems. Don't do it. He said
the marriage is honorable and the bed is on the fowl. It's
as holy as what we're doing right here. I'm telling you the truth. It's of God in its proper place. But whoremongers, this is not
of God. Whoremongers and adulterers, God will judge. Outside the marriage
is not of God. He said that's not of God. But
whoremongers and adulterers, God will judge. God will judge
promiscuous and unchaste sex. That's what I'm saying. But you know what Paul said in
one place? And such were some of you that you're washed, you're
clean. God can forgive whatever sin,
whatever sin. And then here's another one. Let your conversation, this is
your character, let your character and attitude be without covetousness. Covetousness, the scripture says,
is idolatry. It's idolatry. Covetousness is
wanting more than God's given me. Covetousness is wanting what
my neighbor has. It's saying, I wish I had that
job or that house or I wish I had what he's got. I mean, it's a
desire, it's a craving, it's a craving desire to have more
than what you have. It just eats at you. It just eats at you. And he said,
let your character be without covetousness. We have in Christ
all we need to stand before God accepted. And he said, seek ye
first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these
will be added unto you. You think he'd do that? Think
he's good for his word? Yes. Now, I was thinking about
this last night. I was going over this. Desiring to live in a nice home
or have a good job, that's not covetousness. It's not covetousness
to want to provide for your family well, that's not covetousness.
Covetousness is that thing that just takes the place of Christ. You want it more than you want
Him. If you'll give up the gospel and leave and move so you can
have a better job situation, and you can have Christ, that's
covetousness. You want it more than you want
Him. Let your conversation be without
covetousness and be content with such things as you have, as God's
given you, for He said, I will never leave thee nor forsake
thee. I can read it like this. He said, I will never fail thee.
David said, I have been young, now I am old. I've never seen
the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread. I've never
seen it. God promised, I'll never leave
you. I will never forsake you. I will
never fail you. When you go through the water,
I'll be with you. I'll be with you. Don't be standing
on the other side watching Sid, you'll make it. I'll be right
there with you. He has said, I'll never leave
thee nor forsake thee, so that we may boldly, confidently say,
the Lord's my helper. The Lord will provide. A cupboard may be bare, but He
still gives us our daily bread. Our Lord didn't have a pantry.
He didn't have a cellar. He didn't have a refrigerator.
He had his father. And he got his daily bread. And
we're told to ask for our daily bread. That's not just food we
eat. That's our jobs. It's the things
we need to live in this life. That's our daily bread. And he
said, I'll give it. It'll be added to you. Trust
me. That's what he's saying. Trust
me. that we may boldly say, the Lord
is my helper. Here's another one. Remember
them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you
the word of God, and whose faith followeth. Follow them as they
follow Christ. Considering the end of their
conversation, remember them. Remember them. They are your guides. They are the one that God has
put in place as under-shepherds to feed the
flock. I stand here looking at all your
faces. It's my responsibility this morning
to feed you. Feed you with knowledge. Feed
you with truth. Feed you with Christ. It's my
responsibility to feed you. He says, remember them. And here's
how you remember them. Here's how I want you to remember
me. In prayer. In prayer. Pray for me. Pray the Lord to lay the message
on my heart. Pray the Lord give me wisdom and discernment. Pray the Lord give me the ability
to rightly divide the word of truth. Pray for me. You know, Spurgeon attributed
much of his success to this, his people prayed for him. He
said, they prayed for him. Prayer is, I tell you, I believe
that we way underestimate prayer. Have an audience with God Almighty. Have an audience with the King
of Glory. What if you had an audience today?
Let's say over in Britain. Everybody gets all excited over
that wall over there. If you got to go over and visit
today, go into the palace and visit the Queen, How much more should we be excited, thoughtful, when we approach God? Come boldly,
says, to the throne of grace. Cast your cares upon Him, for
He careth for ye. Remember then. I got off on that,
didn't I? Remember them, remember them
which have the rule over you. Follow their faith as they follow
Christ. That's what Paul said in one place, follow me as I
follow Christ. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and
forever. Now look in verse 9. Now here's something else we
ought to give great attention to. Be not carried away or be
not carried about with diverse or different and strange doctrines.
Be established in the faith. Be established in the doctrines
of Christ. I should say the doctrine of Christ. We call them doctrines,
but they're really just all words. Be not carried away with the
diverse and strange doctrines. It is a good thing that the heart
be established with grace, the grace of God. And not with the meats and drinks
that's in the ceremonies. That's what he's talking about.
And not with meats. He's talking about all those
things that were used in the ceremony. We're not established
by those. We're established by grace. We've been established
in Christ by the grace of God. That's a good thing. That's a
good thing. Not with meats which have not profited them that have
been occupied with them. They've been occupied with The
do's and the don'ts. We were looking at this in Galatians. The doing of the ceremonies.
No one was ever saved by it. No
one. I look over in verse 15. I've
got three more I'm going to give you. It says in verse 15, By Him,
therefore, let us offer the sacrifices For the sacrifice of praise to
God continually, here's something that we need to give great attention
to. Giving praise, thanksgiving to God every day. Absolutely every day. Throughout
the day, let us praise and thank Him for
His grace, His kindness, His mercy to us in Christ, Or is
it giving a sacrifice not of blood of bulls and goats, but
of praise? The fruit of our lips giving
thanks to His name. Praising Him for who He is. Would you change anything about
God? I'm glad He is who He is. And
I'm glad He does what He does. When the believer dies, and goes
to glory, and he stands in God's presence,
there is not one thing he would have changed in his life. You would not change one thing.
You wouldn't say, well, I take away that trial or this loss.
Not one thing would you change. We praise Him for who He is and
what He does. His judgments, it says, are just. Then, verse 16, give attention
to this, do good. There is such a thing as good
works. Paul said, be careful to maintain
good works, to be hospitable, be kind, to
help. Do good, and these good works
are works done by the Spirit of God through
us and in us. It says over in Philippians, it
is of God that we are both willing to do in you His good pleasure. You do good and to communicate,
that word means to help. I mean, it means to help, to
take care of the needy. Forget not, forget not. You know, most of the time, most
of the time, not all the time, but most of the time we wait
for someone to come to us if they need help. Let's flip that around. You know
someone in need, go help them. Go help them. To do good and
communicate, forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well
pleased. And verse 18 will be the last
one. And we'll probably look at a couple other verses here
in the next week or two, but that's about it. Pray for us. He says, don't forget to pray
for us. We trust we have a good conscience in all things willing
to live honestly. Pray for us. Pray for one another. Give attention to these things. Give attention to them.