Title: Attitude as Example
Intro:
Two “feel good messages” in a row, I think in my old age I’m beginning to spoil you people!
The Fairfax Olympiad and Corey not getting to participate because of discipline issues.
9 Consequently, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience.
“Consequently there remains…”
Because of the ideas we discussed in depth last week, we are a forward looking people, our rest, our sabbath “remains to be fully discovered” in the next life.
It is “yet to come” and it is the greatest thing any human can hope to look forward to.
Three Questions for discussion:
How does it help to be a forward-looking people?
(Take Answers)
Generally, should Christians be optimists?
(Take Answers)
When we are not optimistic, why is that? What is it we forget?
(Take Answers)
Such things we ought to consider when this life has us reeling:
John 14:1-3
“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be.”
Philippians 3:20-21
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our lowly condition into conformity with His glorious body, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
Hebrews 11:16
16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.
So What?
11 Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience.
“Let’s make every effort…”
Does this suggest our salvation and reward of rest is up to our effort?
Then what is it saying?
(Take Answers)
PB’s take: The answer to my question is actually in the second half of verse 11 where we read “so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience.”
Application:
- We demonstrate our genuine love for Christ in the priority we place on Christ in our lives. This concepts includes both the things we do: Church, prayer, study, fellowship, accountability, etc. And the things we don’t do: compromise to the world’s standards of morality, i.e. “flee from sin” 2 Timothy 2:22
2. Likewise, we demonstrate our love for Christ in the way we love others…especially those who are not like us. John 13:35 “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (read Vaeh’s text about the Muslim)
PB’s Final Thought:
Make no mistake, what the author of Hebrews is telling us here is that we, as believers, have a responsibility to set an example for other believers of what it looks like to be an optimistic life filled Christian.
We do this, so that other believers are not tempted to fall into the examples of the world of disobedience.
The author of Hebrews desperately wants us to experience this rest and offers every warning he can think of to keep us on the path towards that rest.
We should be doing the same for each other every day, with edification and encouragement and accountability and fellowship, and most of all, with love.