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“Life Before The Shepherd” • 3.25.18 • Calvary Christian
Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro
- Chapter 12 left us with a command to pursue
peace with all men and holiness toward God. The chapter closed with an awe
inspiring portrait of holiness!
- The God of
the Unshakeable Kingdom is a consuming fire, the Judge of all the Earth and the
sanctifiying flame of His holy people.
- Because of
Christ, Christians have passed through the fire of judgment and are exposed
only to the flame of purification.
- This leads
our author to these final exhortations for those that stand in fellowship with
one another. In light of all that we have learned, how should the church act
toward one another?
- That will be
our theme as we close this book! Verse 1.
Text
•
Hebrews 13:1-3 : "Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain
strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Remember the prisoners as if
chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body
also." : Our author commands these Hebrews
to keep loving the family of God and not to neglect hospitality.
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The church will always be known, first and foremost, by their love. A growing
love for Jesus will produce a warm love for His family. You cannot say you have
one without the other!
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In these ancient days, hospitality was one very important element of Christian
life. When a traveler came into town from another church, finding a place to
stay was not guaranteed.
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There were no chain motels and reputable inns were hard to find. The church
furnished a place for their guests to stay and there was a blessing in it. Some
had unknowingly received angels!
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The word "angels" speaks of messengers. Had members of the early
church met with angels, supernatural agents of heaven?
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We've read of many such encounters in the Bible. Literal angels from heaven
have visited men upon the Earth! Abraham, Lot, Gideon, Daniel and Peter could
all attest to their reality.
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This word might also refer to a person with a special and timely message from
the Lord!
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Often, we don't expect much from conversations with people that we don't know,
but in the Lord, there are good surprises! Sometimes, God speaks through the
most unlikely souces!
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Speaking of strangers, don't forget the prisoners. They knew many from their
own body that had been placed in chains for their faith. They weren't just
imprisoned, they were mistreated, tortured.
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Think about them as if you were chained alongside of them. Put yourself in
their shoes. Consider them because they are a part of the body of Christ! Your
body is suffering their loss!
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This was more than a principle consideration. This was a practical matter, as
Roman prisoners were only fed when their family brought them food. There wasn't
a Roman chow line!
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Brotherly love means that you are one with them in Christ! Think about what
they are going through and see how you can help provide or minister to them!
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We may not need to provide a room for one another, but we won't exist if we
won't make room in our hearts for one another! The body must be a place of
family love! Verse 4.
•
Hebrews 13:4-6 : "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.' So we may boldly say: 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to
me?'" : Marriage is esteemed, valuable,
held in respect by everyone. Even today, who can keep themselves from praising
longevity in marriage?
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Why does he write about this? There were many in the early church that wondered
whether they should be married at all given the imminence of Christ's return.
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The Apostle Paul addressed a similar consideration in I Corinthians 7. Our author here is letting them know that God's
view is high and what happens in the bounds of marriage is beautiful.
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The marriage bed is an ancient euphemism for marital sex, which God says is
undefiled. Some translations add in the phrase, "and let the marriage bed
be undefiled." Either is true.
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God has set aside sexual relations to be an exclusive blessing to those who are
in a legally tendered, state recognized, heterosexual, monogamous marriage.
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Anything that promotes pleasure between a man and wife, that which is for the
sake of the other partner's pleasure, is unspoiled. That said, there are some
things that would spoil it!
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Any kind of pornographic material would spoil the mind of at least one of the
two partners. Any involvement from another person would also be out of bounds,
as that would be adultery.
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Anything that requires one of the people to be disrespected or dehumanized in
any way would spoil the heart of God's intention for inventing sex.
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The marriage bed is pure, so please, keep it pure! Those that abuse sexual
expression, or that involve themselves with others that are not their spouse,
can expect to meet God as their Judge!
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That's why you should live your life without wanting something that isn't
yours! That is the essence of indulging any pleasure beyond it's proper use!
Our defense is contentment.
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Be satisfied with what you have! Want what you have so that you have what you
want! But what happens when you don't have anything? You have God and that is
enough!
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Our author quotes from Deuteronomy
31:6,8 and Joshua 1:5.
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There is nothing better in life than to live in the Lord's favorable presence!
Do you want something that is outside of what you have in Him? Be careful what
you value.
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For those that have Him, we can boldly proclaim that we have His help as the
author of Psalm 118:6 did. The Psalm
in question is not accredited to David, but it sure sounds like him.
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Verse 5 describes a man that has
called upon the Lord in a time of distress. The Lord rescued him, putting him
in a broad place, leading him to praise the Lord, his help!
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One has to wonder about the context of this particular section. Marriage is
honorable and the only vehicle through which sexual expression can be
practiced.
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Were there singles that were struggling with this new ethic in the church?
Undoubtedly! The Lord will be with you and He will be your help! Trust Him!
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Be content with what state you are in and wait for Him to bring a partner that
loves God more than He or she loves you! Until then, He is with you and He is
your help! Verse 7.
•
Hebrews 13:7-9 : "Remember those who rule over you,
who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the
outcome of their conduct. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried about with
various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by
grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with
them." : This is a command: Hold these
people in your memory. The idea is to consider them as you live. Keep them in
mind that "rule over you."
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We get our word "hedgemony" from this Greek word which relates simply
to leadership.
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Where does that leadership come from? How is it expressed? Through the Word!
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They have been speaking the word of God to you! In these days, Pastors stood in
front of the whole church, young and old as they assembled together, in the
same room.
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Today, there are Sunday school teachers, home fellowship teachers, men's and
women's teachers who are leaders because of the word and because of their
faithful life!
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The church is to imitate it's leadership, all the while, watching to see what
their conduct produces. Are they at peace? Are they continually growing
spirtually?
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In some, one could even ask by virtue of their death, "How did they
die?" And when it comes to a ministry model, where do they look? They look
at the One that never changes!
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Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever! His character is
consistent and inasmuch as the leadership follows Christ, they will be
consistent as well!
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Consider these connections. Right belief about Christ is will rightly govern our
life. He is the aim by which we mark our conduct! Because He never changes, His
standards never change!
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It's no wonder then that right next to this verse comes the strong admonition
not to stray from proper teaching! "Don't be carried about with various
and strange doctrines!"
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The idea is to be driven around, transported from place to place by all
varieties of foreign teachings. This is always a plague within the body of
Christ.
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The young, immature, impressionable believer takes everything at face value. If
it's in a Christian bookstore or another "Christian" recommends it,
they take a deep dive based on trust.
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How many have been led astray by those that peddle such nonsense? Before that
young believer knows it, they have embraced an unorthodox view of God and the
Bible.
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Because they filled their mind with it early, when the actual authority of
God's Word contradicts their sentimental attachment, somehow, it's the Word of
God that is wrong! Outrageous!
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Instead of renouncing that foreign teaching, eventually they bounce to the next
teaching that "connects with them." Our author is telling the Hebrews
now, "Don't let this happen to you!"
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"It's good that your heart be established, strengthened, confirmed by
grace!" Your stability in Christ will be relative to your comprehension
and embrace of God's grace!
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The teaching of grace, the unearned, unmerited favor of God which produces the
character of God is the only ground for a Christian heart to grow successfully
in!
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Water that seed! Promote that health! Invest in that reality! Don't let your
heart be uprooted to these foreign teachings, especially what had been sweeping
through the church.
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Your heart can be established by grace, but not by "meats." There are
some translations that regard this as "cermonial eating." Generally,
this is a call to abstinence.
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Most of the time, when meat is mentioned, it spoke to the prohibition of eating
non-kosher foods, which, if you did, put you into a right relationship with
God. What weakness that is!
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The only thing that comes from proposing such an idea is spiritual arrogance!
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Here, though, there is an idea that in a certain kind of ceremonial
participation, one would be granted greater access to God. People within the
church had become occupied by this idea.
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The author informs us that this was did nothing for them! They weren't
spiritually enriched for buying into it. In fact, they were missing some
critical information. Verse 10.
•
Hebrews 13:10-14 : "We have an altar from which those
who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals,
whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are
burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His
own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His
reproach. For here
we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come." : This statement in verse 10
is wonderful. The Jews had done much to mock the faith of this young Christian
community.
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Our author has an inspired comeback: They can't even eat from our altar! They
have no right to it! They have no access to it! They seem so powerful and
enabled. They aren't allowed in!
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Jesus Christ has given access to His brothers, His sisters and the food there
is for them!
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Think about this: The Temple is meant to be a place where God's people could
come to bring their offering to Him and yet, when Christ came, a trip to the
Temple was dangerous. "Kill Him!"
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Where were the bodies of the animals disposed of that were a part of the sin
offering? The blood had been brought in to the temple, but the actual animals
were burned outside of the camp.
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In the same way, our Lord's blood was shed outside of the gates of the city!
His blood sanctified, cleansed His people from their sin eternally, apart from
the Temple!
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In fact, He suffered outside of the city, on a hill call "Golgotha,"
which today can be viewed from a nearby bus stop!
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Jesus was born outside of Jerusalem. He died outside of Jerusalem and was
buried outside of Jerusalem. Our entire faith then is centered on a Man whose
life was outside of Judaism!
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What we value in redemption history cannot be found inside of the Temple! The
Lord Jesus is not honored in the Temple. Why we would want to spend any time
where He is not central?
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It's better to endure the insults from the same people that crucified Him than
to seek their approval! These Jews who honored the Temple but rejected Jesus,
had their city.
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You and I, Christians, have no city to call our own. Like the people in the
hall of faith, we are strangers and pilgrims on this planet, seeking a city
that is to come! Verse 15.
•
Hebrews 13:15,16 : "Therefore by Him let us continually
offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving
thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such
sacrifices God is well pleased." : Remember
that Jesus is our High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek. We will offer
through His Priestly office the sacrifice of praise.
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This is to be our continual practice as we gather together. We lift our voices to
increase that volume of praise that the Lord receives weekly from His people!
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Our sacrifice will never be a blood sacrifice because His blood is sufficient
for all time.
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Part of why we are spending eternity with God is to properly express the
gratitude that we will have when we discover the full meaning of our eternal
life.
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That should be growing in our lives now! We should be learning to give God
thanks now and to act toward others as He has acted toward us!
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Give Him thanks, but do not let it be only with words. It must also include
actions! Don't forget to do good and to share! These are the sacrifices that
please God the most! Verse 17.
•
Hebrews 13:17 : "Obey those who rule over you, and
be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give
account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable
for you." : Back in verse 7, our author told his audience to "remember" those that
rule over you. Now he adds the word "obey."
-
The command to obey must be put into the context of the realm of their job
description. No leader is meant to exert absolute rule over the life of the
congregation.
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In the 70's, this verse and many like it, were used to birth the
"Shepherding" movement. In those churches, people allowed their
Pastors to dictate what they could and could not buy!
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When the Pastor is proclaiming the Word of God, the church is obey and submit,
to yield themselves to the Word of God! This isn't for their ego or on account
of their superiority.
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God has set the leadership of the church up for the purpose of keeping watch
over the souls of the congregation. The word that is provided here speaks of
watching over another as they rest.
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While the member of the congregation rests in their life with Christ, the
Shepherd keeps their attention upon what is coming up in that person's life and
how their choices will shape their future.
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He cannot make a person make a proper choice. Some will not consult him and
will simply walk in any way that they choose.
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When that goes bad, that Shepherd will be there to redirect their eyes to Jesus.
Either way, the leaders of the fellowship will one day stand before God and
give an account of how they led.
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This is why the author pleads with the congregation. They could either be a
source of joy in trusting that sovereign oversight or they can be a source of
grief!
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Literally, the word for grief expresses the idea of groaning! When your name
comes up, will it be a joy to report your growth or a groan that indicates your
stubborn resistance to the Lord?
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The former brings profit to both as they enjoy the work of the Lord together.
Ultimately, if they are your leader, be spiritually considerate and cooperate
with the Lord! Verse 18.
•
Hebrews 13:18,19 : "Pray for us; for we are confident
that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. But I especially urge you to do
this, that I may be restored to you the sooner." : Don't you wish we had the rest of the story here? Whoever our
author was representing, it was certain that they needed God's help!
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Whatever their predicament was, they felt that they were on the right side.
They lived before God and thus, they lived rightly before men.
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The Apostle Paul made a similar statement before the Roman procurator Felix.
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He said that it was his to strive to keep a good conscience before God and men!
(Acts 24:16)
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Their greatest concern was to return to this group as soon as possible! This is
what they hoped that their prayers would affect. Verse 20.
•
Hebrews 13:20,21 : "Now may the God of peace who
brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep,
through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good
work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His
sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." : Our author reveals his prayer for them: "I pray that God
would make you what they ought to be." You might think, "That's a
difficult task!"
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The author knows you. It's not difficult. It's impossible! But not for the One
He prays to!
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Not for the God of peace, an exclusive name that Christians experience. Not for
the one with the power to raise Christ from the dead! It's not difficult for
the ultimate Shepherd of God's sheep!
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When you wonder why it is that God will do this, look no further than the blood
that was shed for you! It's an everlasting covenant that God has made with His
children!
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He won't pay the ultimate price and then leave you unfinished! He will finish
what He started, doing in and through you, that which is pleasing to Him!
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We've noted before that the word "weight" refers to the marketplace,
and the price that was assigned to certain items. The "glory"
represented the actual value!
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When your life is submitted to God and is expressed through your love for His
people, your life will be a part of the added weight to God's claim of eternal
value! Verse 22.
•
Hebrews 13:22-25 : "And I appeal to you, brethren, bear
with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words. Know that our brother Timothy has
been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly. Greet all those who rule over you,
and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you. Grace be with you all. Amen." : Our author is begging them: Please pay attention to what he's
taken the time to write! It's just a few words! This is the truth friends!
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We have spent a short time in what amounts to a theological Mount Everest! Believe
me when I say that we have taken "the short tour!"
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And when it comes to the subject of the book of Hebrews, "the Superiority
of Christ," there could be an unending barrage of words employed that
would still yield insufficient results!
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If you don't feel that way, then the book of Hebrews must be read and studied
again! Christ is more magnificent than the entire Bible can possibly convey,
though it is enough for us to trust!
• "Could
we with ink the ocean fill and were the skies of parchment made / Were every
stalk on earth a quill and every man a scribe by trade / To write the love of
God above would drain the ocean dry / Nor could the scroll contain the whole though
stretched from sky to sky!" Frederick Lehman
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Oh brothers and sisters, please revisit this often! Please steep yourself in
the contents of this book! Think about Jesus. Think about His superiority to
everything else!
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Know that He is the only secure King and Priest, who is worthy of your trust!
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At the time that this was written, Timothy was about to be freed from a time in
prison. There are many hints in this book as to who the author is not!
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This is one place that I might say speaks to that. Paul would have called Timothy
his "partner" or "son." Our author was a fellow worker with
Timothy, likely having been trained by Paul.
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In fact, it's likely Paul that communicated the gospel to him, as he announced
in Hebrews 2:3. Whoever he is, our
author planned to join Timothy if he came soon.
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He finishes this epic letter with a greeting to the leaders and all the saints.
He was in Italy and the saints that were with him sent their greetings as well!
May grace indeed be with us all!
Conclusion
- Love the family of God. Open you heart to them when there is a need and be ready to serve when they are in trouble.
- Love the family of God. Open you heart to them when there is a need and be ready to serve when they are in trouble.
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Honor your marriage. Be thankful for what you have in each other. If you are
single, you have the Lord! He will be your help as you wait upon Him in
holiness!
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Submit to and pray for your leaders. Be a source of joy to them as you imitate
their faith and walk with the Lord, thanking Him that He has set a watch over
your soul.
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Do this all knowing that the Shepherd of your souls will make of you what you
ought to be! He will never buy something that He doesn't intend to complete!
Let's pray!