The Courage to Be Different! Hebrews 13b. Hope-Driven Life! Fear-Driven Life! ‘the power of death…lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.’ Heb

The Courage to Be Different!

Hebrews 13b

Hope-Driven Life!

HEBREWS: TWO DIRECTIONS

Fear-Driven Life!

‘the power of death…lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.’ Heb. 2:14-15

‘bringing many sons to glory…He is not ashamed to call them brethren’ Heb.2:10-11

Hope-Driven Life!

HEBREWS: TWO DIRECTIONS

Fear-Driven Life!

‘the power of death…lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.’ Heb. 2:14-15

‘bringing many sons to glory…He is not ashamed to call them brethren’ Heb.2:10-11

12:13

‘Blazing fire, darkness, gloom…’

Afraid of God!

10:39

‘those who… shrink back to destruction’Run from God

12:25

‘do not refuse Him…’ ‘No way! It’smy way!’

12:15

‘the city of the living God!’Live w/ God

10:15

‘have confidence to enter...’Closer to God

12:28

‘you received ...show gratitude!’Live for God

Hebrews 13: Courageous Love'Let the love of the brethren continue!' v.1

'Do not neglect to show hospitality…’ v.2

'Remember the prisoners…’ v.3'Hold the marriage bed in honor…’ v.4

Great source of persecution for Christians




Great source of persecution for ChristiansBut the world doesn't understand marriage…

Source: Univ. Wisconsin, 2001





Sex without comittment is fear-based & childish…






Sexuality is at the core of our beings…

“Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body” (1 Cor. 6:18)






Sexuality is at the core of our beings…

For fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Heb. 13:4



'Remember the prisoners…’ v.3'Hold the marriage bed in honor…’ v.4'Free from the love of money…’ v5Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you," Heb13:5



'Remember the prisoners…’ v.3'Hold the marriage bed in honor…’ v.4'Free from the love of money…’ v5

But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 1 Timothy 6:9

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 1 Tim. 6:17

•IS $$•‘I need security!’Fear




Why fear?

• “being content with what you have…”•IS $$•‘I need security!’Fear




•IS $$•‘I need security!’Fear

•"I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you“ (13:5)

Courage

Either / Or…

• "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. Matthew 6:24

Hebrews 13: Courageous LoveSo that we confidently say, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?" Hebrews 13:6



'Remember the prisoners…’ v.3'Hold the marriage bed in honor…’ v.4'Free from the love of money…’ v5'Those who led you…imitate their faith’ v7The courage to disciple & be discipled…

Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.



'Remember the prisoners…’ v.3'Hold the marriage bed in honor…’ v.4'Free from the love of money…’ v5'Those who led you…imitate their faith’ v7

'Strength from God’s grace, not rules' (v9)

So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them. Hebrews 13:9

We have an altar from which the priests in the Tabernacle have no right to eat. Hebrews 13:10

Hope-Filled Life Thankful Love

“Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable,

let us be thankful…” (12:28)

Hope-Filled Life Thankful Love

“Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable,

let us be thankful…” (12:28)

“Jesus Christ is the same today, yesterday and always.”

Grateful Love1. A life "outside the gates" (v.11)

They threw Jesus away like trash…Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates…


They threw Jesus away like trash…He only wanted to offer His grace and love.Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood.


They threw Jesus away like trash…He only wanted to offer His grace and loveYou, too: prepare for the same!

So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.



Courageous Decisions… Who’s Jesus? Where’s ‘home’ ?



The Kosmos

Grateful Love1. A life "outside the gates" (v.11)2. Strong, loving "Body Life" (v.16-19)And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things. And I urge you all the more to do this, so that I may be restored to you the sooner.

From Fearful to ‘Love Beyond Hope’

Fearful (alone & dying)

Documents

The Courage to Be Different! Hebrews 13b. Hope-Driven Life! Fear-Driven Life! ‘the power of death…lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.’ Heb