Hebrews- Part 16 " Follow The Leader" Series

Hebrews- Encouragement for a life of faith

Part 16

“Follow the leader “

As we continue our study of Hebrews this morning

We are nearing the end of this great book

Next week we will end our study with a recap of the last several weeks

But for today

Our writer continues on with his exhortations

I love this about our writer

Even as he closes his book

He continues to teach

And continues to show us

How to be better Christians

He continues to tell us and show us j=how to grow in our faith

And how to guard ourselves against the temptations to go back to our old lives

In this passage he tells us we are to follow the leader

----- Pause------

You all are familiar with the kid’s game follow the leader

Right?

One kid would be chosen to be the leader

And then

He or she would set off

And everyone else had to make a choice to follow or not to follow

I can tell you from my experience

Some kids who were chosen

I would willingly follow

Because I trusted them

And I knew they would not take me places that were dangerous or would get me hurt or in trouble

When others were selected as the leader

I cringed

And sometimes I chose not to follow

Other times

I went ahead and followed anyway usually with less than desired outcomes

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Follow the leader is a silly kid game

But when we think about it

It has

Great meaning in our lives

I can’t tell you the times that I should have followed the right leader

But chose the wrong one instead

Many times

I knew right

But chose wrong

Many times I allowed myself to be led astay

Because I followed the wrong leader

Please open your bibles to Hebrews 13

Let me read for you verse 7 to begin our study this morning

Hebrews 13:7

“Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.”

He says

Remember your leaders – the ones who taught you the word of God

The right leaders

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If you are sitting here this morning as a new creation

A born again believer in Jesus Christ

You owe a thank you to someone

Someone at some time took a leadership role in your life and cared enough for you to lead you in the right direction

It may have been your Grandmother

I know I had the privilege of having two Godly Grandmothers

It could have been your Grand paw

Maybe a Dad or Mom

Or Uncle or Aunt

Maybe

A Sunday school teacher

Or Pastor

Maybe a friend at work or at school

Maybe someone who just passed through your life for a moment but had a lasting impact

The point is

Someone

Loved you enough

Cared enough about you

To tell you about Jesus

To teach you about Jesus

Someone loved you enough

To be the point man in your life

Someone in your life

Showed you by their actions

Told you with their words

The right path to take

-----They showed you the right path-------

How did they show you the right path?

They knew the right path because they being good leaders were first good followers

You see

A good leader has to be a good follower

And a good leader has to follow the right leader

And the right leader is Jesus

I would like to take this time to thank al the people in my life who have lead me in the right direction

If you are listening

You know who you are

Thank you

___________

As I said

A good leader must be a good follower

A good spiritual leader

One who leads us down the right path

Is one who follows Jesus!

They are not distracted by the things of this world

They don’t follow the wrong paths

The easy paths

The well traveled wide paths

They know the sound of the Shepherds voice and they follow because they trust

I am reminded of the 23 Psalm when I think of the spiritual leaders in my life

Psalm 23

Reading form the NKJ simply because it is more poetic and this is how I learned it so many years ago

The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

3 He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.