“ Living the PracticalChristian

Life ”Hebrews 1:1-6

The “Catch-all” room…•Got one of these at home? •Often happens after the kids move out and their rooms become the place for exercise machines, and luggage, and anything else you don’t have a particular place for the items•Chapter 13 is the catch-all of what’s left that they need to know

The “Catch-all” room…•Chapters 1-12, the author was focusing on our “vertical” relationship with God•In 13, the author shifts subjects and addresses our “horizontal” relationships with others•They writing style has been lengthy and theological, but has now become concise and practical– you’ll notice no logical flow this chapter

“Let love of the brethren continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3 Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. 4 Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. 5 Make 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,” 6 so that we confidently say,

“THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID.

WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?”

Hebrews 13:1-6, NASB

A. Brotherly Love•Vv 1-3,

“Let love of the brethren continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3 Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. ”

Hebrews 13:1-3, NASB

A. Brotherly Love•Vv 1-3, American English words have many limitations, especially when you compare them to their Greek counterparts—i.e. “LOVE”

1. Eros2. Phileo3. Storge4. Agapao

A. Brotherly Love•A Church whose fellowship is based on anything other than love for Christ Jesus will fail•In v2, yours may say ‘entertain’•Greek word is ‘philoxena’•Hospitality shows our love for each other– Billy Graham•V3, 1st ref to those imprisoned for the Gospel

“35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 The King will answer and say to

them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’”

Matthew 25:35-40, NASB

B. Purity and Commitment•Vs 22-4,

“Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”

Hebrews 13:4, NASB

B. Purity and Commitment•Vs 22-4, the home is the first place Christian love should be practiced– commitment, purity, loyalty•Any sex outside marriage is sinful and destructive to the family•Sex itself is good, and can glorify God when practiced as designed•This may seem out-dated, but it is not– fornication is against God’s Word

C. Covetousness and Contentment•Vv 5-6,

“Make 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,” 6 so that we confidently say,

“THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID.

WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?”

Hebrews 13:5-6, NASB

C. Covetousness and Contentment•Vv 5-6, today, coveting and greed are excused and even admired by calling it “ambition”•Love of money comes from pride-- thinking that one deserves more than God has provided for them

“For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

1 Timothy 6:10, NASB

C. Covetousness and Contentment•Vv 5-6, today, coveting and greed are excused and even admired by calling it “ambition”•Love of money comes from pride-- thinking that one deserves more than God has provided for them– 1 Timothy 6:10•Contentment is more about who were are on the inside, rather than what we have as possessions 1 Timothy 6:6, Philippians 4:11(b)

“For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

1 Timothy 6:10, NASB“But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.”

1 Timothy 6:6, NASB“…I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.Philippians 4:11(b)

C. Covetousness and Contentment•These last two verses comfort us by assuring us that we don’t have to be covetous, because he is always here with us– especially when we feel deserted, or surrounded by enemies•C.H. Spurgeon said,

“You that are familiar with the Greek text know that there are five negatives here. We cannot manage five negatives in English, but the Greeks find them not too large a handful. Here the negatives have a fivefold force. It is as though it said, ‘I will not, not leave thee; I will never, no never, forsake thee.’”

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

C. Covetousness and Contentment•These last two verses comfort us by assuring us that we don’t have to be covetous, because he is always here with us– especially when we feel deserted, or surrounded by enemies•C.H. Spurgeon•You cannot find contentment from this world– remember all the “bubble” crashes of the last years?– However, Believers have the victory!

Take Home!1. Extend God’s love

to others FIRST.2. Keep your mind and

heart pure to the Lord and to your spouse.

3. Godliness with contentment is great gain.