A Church That Is Blessed Of God!

THE CHURCH THAT IS BLESSED OF GOD

Hebrews 13:1-9

Heb 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.

2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. (KJV)

INTRODUCTION: Could we put on our marquee this quotation: “BHBC, The Church That Is Blessed Of God.” If we did display that would it be the truth? Many would assume that any group calling themselves a church would qualify for the blessing of God – not true. Just because a building has a steeple on the roof, an organ on the platform, and a marquee in the front yard does not qualify it as a church building. Actually many organizations that are identified as churches are really dens for the devil.

To be blessed of God a church must have and meet certain qualifications. We will automatically assume that the church has been originated properly; that is, the proper organization was completed. A church must have been started from another Scriptural Baptist church. When a group of people go to a certain location and hold religious services and then call themselves a N.T. Church does not make the claim true. There must be a proper beginning.

Then, there must be a Mother Church. A church is born. To be born there must be a mother. Every Scriptural N.T. Baptist Church must have had a Mother Church that was also Scriptural else there has been no birth.

There are other important issues concerning the proper organization of a N.T. Baptist Church, but these two are foremost and premier.

So now let’s look at the church that is blessed of God.

I. A LOVING CHURCH VS. 1.

Heb 13:1 Let brotherly love continue. (KJV) The Greek word for Brotherly Love is – “Philadelphia”.

“Love to Christians on account of their likeness to Christ is a fruit of the Spirit, and an evidence of being born of God. It is also a means of promoting our love to Christ and the enjoyment of his presence. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” (Family Bible Notes)

Joh 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. (KJV)

Our theme for 2003 was: “You’ve Never Been So Loved.” Just because we had that theme did not bring the blessings of God upon our church. We had to enact that theme. I wonder what kind of grade we made with God in the matter of loving others and continuing in His love? God wants a church to love people. Without that love for people, both lost and saved, we will never qualify for God’s blessing.

A. “Let” – Brotherly Love Continue.

The word “Let” tells us that this will take effort on our part. We will have to work at it in some situations. Why? Because some people are harder to love than others. If “Brotherly Love” continues then we will have to “Let” it continue, or make it continue.

William Burkitt says, “That brotherly love is very apt to impair and decay, if we endeavor not continually its preservation and revival.”

B. It Would Also Mean To “Keep” It Continuing.

“Keep” in this usage, would mean “To guard it”. To keep a certain thing or event in continuity will require a “guarding” of that principle. A woman that keeps her house “spic and span” puts forth a lot of energy in keeping it that way.

Brotherly love will require constant maintenance. We can never put it on cruise control and forget it.

What this verse of Scripture is saying that it is our responsibility to see that “brotherly love” continues in this church.

C. It Will Not Continue If We Practice It Inside The Church Only.

We will have to take it outside the doors of this building.