March 16th, 2003, Sunday Evening

"Christian Conduct"
God's expectations of our life


OPENING: Hebrews 13:1-6

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• INTRODUCTION: The first twelve chapters of Hebrews discuss the rules of how to walk in your personal relationship with God. This chapter goes into how you should live your daily life.
  
  
• IT'S NOT HOW SMART YOU ARE, IT'S HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR BROTHER (not in the context of your literal brother but your brethren--all men and women, to include those you do and don't know)
  
  
  • Romans 12:10: Be kind to each other as if they were a family member
    
    
  • Hebrews 6:10: Even if no one else sees it, God will never forget every work you do for others, in love
    
    
  • By loving each other, God is preparing us to be servants to each other, just as Jesus first served us (John 13:12-15)
    
    
  • Christianity is defined as the daily loving and kindness toward each other; "sheep don't fight"
    
    
  • On Sundays, Church is the safest place to be: your friends are there and you can worship freely, without fear of reprisal, with the secondary purpose of loving and bearing the burdens of each other
    
    
  • APPLICATION: How are you demonstrating love and kindness to those around you?
  
  
• SHOW HOSPITALITY--ESPECIALLY TO STRANGERS
  
  
  • Hebrews 13:2: An amazing verse that proves angels do walk the earth as people--to perhaps test your kindness!
    
    
  • Deuteronomy 10:19 and Leviticus 19:34: From the Old Testament (God says), we are commanded to "Love ye therefore the stranger" because we were strangers, too
    
    
  • Matthew 25:35-45: From the New Testament, Jesus claims that to help and care for the stranger is to indirectly do the same to Jesus--that's how much strangers mean to God
    
    
    • Know two things about every stranger in this entire world right now:
      1. Everyone in this world is loved by God equally--including strangers
      2. Every stranger has a mother who loves him/her
    
    
  • Galatians 5:13: Paul, in his letter to the churches of Galatia, connects the reason for being saved ("called unto liberty") with love and serving others: we've been given eternal life by God, out of His love for us, in order we may serve one another
    
    
  • If you bypass an opportunity to help another (i.e., "I don't have time for that"), remember that someday you'll be in that unfortunate position yourself
    
    
    • For those of you saved, remember that each of us is a piece (member) of the Body of Christ--we rejoice together, we hurt together--we are to comfort both friend and stranger
  
  
• BE CONTENT/SATISFIED WITH WHAT YOU HAVE TODAY
  
  
  • 1 Timothy 6:10: Be free of the love and priority of money; as the Bible calls it, "the root of all evil"
    
    
  • John 10:10: God wants to you have above and beyond even your prayers and desires--and you will receive if you ask for it (John 16:24)
    
    
  • Hebrews 10:34: Be content with what you have today because it's more than you were born with and you can't take it with you when you die; besides, greater things await for those saved beyond this world
    
    
    • Back in Biblical times, there were people who rejoiced in the unjust confiscation of their possessions because they publicly professed Christ; these people knew true value--that it awaited them in Heaven, not here on Earth
    
    
  • Genesis 28:15: God knows what you currently have and will ensure (never forget) what you need to make it to tomorrow
    
    
  • Joshua 1:5: God knows we've all abandoned and forgotten about Him at times but even so, He will never forget or forsake us
    
    
    • 1 Kings 2:1-4: When king David transferred his kingdom Israel to his son Solomon, he commanded Solomon to love and obey God and in turn, God would not fail him (specifically, to keep his family line as king on the throne of Israel)
  
  
• COMPLETELY TRUST IN GOD
  
  
  • To love and worry about your money is to not trust God and His plans for your life
    
    
  • Psalm 118:6: When you trust God, you don't fear what man can do to you; when we worry, we begin to question God's ability to take care of us
    
    
  • In the days of evil to come, stand firm; there is nothing man can do to you that's not God's will for your life
  
  
  CLOSER

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• Love each other (the brethren)
  
  
• Practice hospitality to others--including strangers; a situation God has arranged for you to care for
  
  
• Do not let the love of money or the worries/dangers of this life dictate your course; trust and fear in God, alone ... then your course is clear