May 6, 2009

• Hebrews 13:7-9 by Pastor Don Moore

  Hebrews 13:7  Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.

  There are spiritual imitations in the world.  We need to discern who the person we are following is ruled by.  People who rule over us should be following Him, we follow THEIR FAITH, not the person. No one can put themselves over you.  You can put yourself UNDER somebody.  Someone has to subjugate themselves and say, “I give authority to you.” 

  The Jewish Temple priests held authority.  The Catholics tried to imitate that kind of authority.  Martin Luther broke that authority. 

  Our American spirit does not do well being supervised.  It seems to be the natural instinct for us to defend ourselves and rebel.  The Church of Africa does not have that kind of authority issue because they are used to a matriarch, a patriarch, or tribal authority. They yield themselves.  The Latin American church also is yielded.

  The culture the author of Hebrews is speaking about is the early church which was under the apostolic order.  Ananias and Sapphira dropped dead for lying to the congregation.

  We want to submit to the authority of our leaders for they have gone before you.  Remember those who are ahead of you, who speak the Word of God, mimic their faith for they are bearing fruit in front of your eyes.  This gives us a better understanding of what we are facing. 

  Responsibility gives the person the authority.  When authority is exercised you do need to ask yourself, where does that authority come from?  If the pastor or the person in authority over you is doing something that does not line up with the Word of God we need to question them about that.

  God placed His Word above Himself. If God is doing something that seems contrary to His Word, it is possible that we do not have the whole picture. 

  Our pastors do not need to tell us everything that God is showing them.  If our pastor is under God’s authority, we need to find out if there is something that we are not seeing, and are we misunderstanding.  Respectfully we can question the person we are under the authority of. 

  Pick a person and put yourself under the respect of their office, following their FAITH.  This should be someone that you have watched and seen that they are faithful to God, to His calling, to His responsibility.  Are they faithful?  Do they know they are to serve? 

  A good example is Bartimaeus.  The disciples tell him to shut up and not bother their master.   Yet Jesus had the time and faithfulness to heal his blind eyes. 

  Notice how we treat each other and the outcome of their conduct. 

  Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

  This sentence seems to come out of nowhere, but if we look at it in context, it makes sense.

  We looked back at Hebrews 13:4-7 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”^b]’> Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.

  All of these verses point out that the one we should be imitating is Jesus Christ. And He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. What was expected from Him yesterday and today, we can expect tomorrow.  Jesus is faithful. 

  Hebrews 13:9 Do not be carried about^Acap83