Reading: Hebrews chapter 13 verse 20-21.
Ill:
Robert Chapman is not too well known among Christians.
• He did not author any monumental books.
• His friends said he would never make a good preacher.
• Chapman was not a world-wide evangelist. He lead no great mission to foreign lands;
• Instead he laboured for 70 years in a small town in a remote corner of England.
• Yet he became a living legend.
• A man who God used to great effect.
• As a young man, Winston Churchill was taken to visit him.
• Charles Spurgeon called him: "the saintliest man I ever knew."
• John Nelson Darby said of Robert Chapman: "He lives what I teach."
• On another occasion Darby said: "We talk of the heavenliest, but Robert Chapman lives in them."
• Chapman was very much one of the ‘Chief Men Among the Brethren’;
• An early leader in our type of Churches.
• One morning R. C. Chapman was asked how he was feeling.
• “I’m burdened this morning!” was his reply.
• But his happy countenance contradicted his words.
• So the questioner exclaimed in surprise, “Are you really burdened, Mr. Chapman?”
• “Yes, but it’s a wonderful burden - it’s an overabundance of blessings for which I cannot find enough time or words to express my gratitude!”
• Seeing the puzzled look on the face of his friend, Chapman added with a smile,
• “I am referring to Psalm 68:19, which fully describes my condition.
• In that verse the Father in heaven reminds us that He
• ‘daily loads us with benefits.’”
Of the five hundred plus blessings contained in the Bible:
• Hebrews chapter 13 verse 20-21 contains, to quote Chapman out of context:
• “An overabundance of blessings”
(1). God of peace
“May the God of peace”
Ill:
Someone has said,
• "The world is so full of problems; that if Moses were to come down from Mt. Sinai today,
• The two tablets He would carry would be aspirin."
• As humorous as that might be,
• It does paint a sad scenario of a world greatly lacking in peace.
The writer of this letter uses this title ‘God of peace’ six times in this letter;
• ill: I think that nearly all other New Testament writers at the start of their letters;
• Use the word ‘peace’ in their opening greetings and salutations of their letters.
• Peace is a quality that is sourced, it is rooted in God;
• And is an attribute, a quality, it is a fruit in the life of the Christian.
Note: The expression "Peace" is normally used in two ways in the Bible.
(a).
• There is personal peace with God;
• This comes when a person accepts Jesus Christ as Saviour.
• Ill: Theological term is reconciliation – two opposing parties are brought together.
(b).
• Then, there is the peace of God;
• Which is available on a daily basis AS we walk in fellowship with God.
• Quote: Charles Swindoll:
• He suggests a practical paraphrase of this term ‘Peace of God’
• Would be the expression: ‘Mental health’.
• In other words God desires that each Christian experience;
• A calm, a tranquil, a peace within their hearts and not a panic or strife or discord.
Note:
• This type of peace mentioned in this verse is divine in origin:
• The writer is not talking about a general peace, he talks about a specific peace “of GOD!”
Quote:
• “God’s peace is both inward and outward,
• Both a matter of how we are within ourselves and how we are related to others.
• It is both horizontal and vertical.
• It is concerns our relationships on earth and above all how we are related to God.”
So, where you find peace mentioned in the Bible it refers either to:
• The reconciliation of a Christian to God in salvation;
• Or to the mental mind-set that should be found in the believer.
• So the New Testament teaches that “we have peace WITH God”;
• And as a result we can experience “the peace OF God”.
Question: Why use this expression here?
Answer: Most commentators suggest that this title for God is used by the writer;
• Because there was conflict and not peace in the fellowship;
• There was disunity among God’s people over the issues addressed in this letter.
• And so the only way to bring harmony and healing into any situation;
• Is to fix your eyes on God who has given us peace with himself through Jesus!
• And that ought to lead to us experiencing peace with other people.
• Ill: Domino effect – God accepts us with our faults & failings – so should we!
Note: The book of Hebrews makes it very clear:
• That ‘we have peace with God’ only through the shed blood of Jesus.
• Ill: In fact it teaches (9:22): “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness”.
• The word ‘blood’ is mentioned twenty-one times in this letter;
• We have an ‘eternal covenant’ with God – one purchased at great expense ‘in his blood’.
Ill:
• In the Old Testament animals were sacrificed,
• But these only provided a temporal covering
• The sacrifice of Jesus supersedes those animal sacrifices;
• It provides a permanent covering. Ill: Squash – deodorant & shower story.
Now because this new covenant is eternal,
• Because it is based entirely on Jesus Christ and his perfect sacrifice;
• We can be sure that his ‘peace’ is also permanently available - as we walk in his way.
(2). God of protection.
“That great Shepherd of the sheep”
Ill:
• Ill: Sheep facts.
• As well as being useful sheep are of course defenceless animals;
• Sheep do not have sharp teeth or razor sharp claws;
• They do not have a sting in their tails or a potion to squirt over their attackers.
• Sheep are defenceless animals;
• Who without a shepherd to watch over them are at the mercy of their predators!
Note: God’s protection does not mean a problem or trouble free life:
• Ill: Remember that the God who rescued Daniel from the lion’s den;
• Allowed Stephen (the first Christian martyr) to have his head crushed by rocks being thrown at him.
• The term protection must mean more than being physically kept safe:
• Ill: Jesus in John chapter 15 promised; “Hatred, persecution, ostracised & even death.”
Ill:
• Just think of the original readers of this letter;
• These believers were experiencing hard times - they were very much under attack.
• The Church that received this letter was primarily made up of converted Jewish people;
• There is not a single reference to Gentiles in the book.
• Nor any mention of problems between Jews and Gentiles;
• Which we find in so many other New Testament letters.
• Jewish Christians were living in ‘no-man’s land’;
• They were rejected by their fellow Jews for not practicing the old religion.
• They were rejected by Gentiles;
Ill:
• In fact under Nero they became ‘scapegoat’,
• Nero blamed them for all sorts of things especially when in A.D. 64;
• A great fire broke out in Rome which destroyed a large part of the city.
• Note: It is into this hard and complex situation;
• That the writer of this book pens his advice.
Note: He reminds them that they are not forgotten – God is still on the job:
Ill:
• The early American Indians had a unique practice of training young braves.
• On the night of a boy’s thirteenth birthday,
• After learning hunting, scouting, and fishing skills, he was put to one final test.
• He was placed in a dense forest to spend the entire night alone.
• Until then, he had never been away from the security of the family and the tribe.
• But on this night, he was blindfolded and taken several miles away.
• When he took off the blindfold, he was in the middle of a thick woods and he was terrified! Every time a twig snapped, he visualized a wild animal ready to pounce.
• After what seemed like an eternity,
• Dawn broke and the first rays of sunlight entered the interior of the forest.
• Looking around, the boy saw flowers, trees, and the outline of the path.
• Then, to his utter astonishment,
• He beheld the figure of a man standing just a few feet away, armed with a bow & arrow.
• It was his father. He had been there all night long.
Note:
• God himself is our Shepherd.
• He is one who cares and guides and protects ill: Psalm 23.
• I think the point is this (Matthew chapter 10 verse 28);
• “Men may harm the body but they cannot destroy the soul”.
This book of Hebrews very much focuses our minds and hearts on the future.
Ill:
A few examples:
• In chapter 2 verse 5: the writer informs us that he is speaking about "the world to come";
• A time when believers will reign with Christ.
• In chapter 9 verse 15:
• We are informed that we share a "promised eternal inheritance".
• Like the saints of old commended for their faith in Hebrews chapter 11,
• We too are looking for that future city of God.
• Like these great men and women of faith, chapter 11 verse 13 reminds us:
• That we today should be "Aliens & strangers (pilgrims) on the earth”.
The writer is telling us that:
• Christians ought to "hang loose" as far as this world is concerned,
• And start living for the eternal values of the world to come.
Ill:
• Our decisions should be motivated by the expectation of receiving future rewards.
• Abraham obeyed God because "he looked for a city" (11:10).
• Moses forsook the treasures and the pleasures of Egypt because;
• "He was looking ahead to his reward" (11:26).
Ill:
• In fact, it was this same attitude of faith;
• That carried our Lord Jesus Christ through the agony of the cross:
• Hebrews chapter 12 verse 2:
• "Jesus who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame".
The emphasis in the book of Hebrews is:
• Don't live for what the world will promise you today!
• Live for what God bas promised you in the future!
• Ant the God who promises always keeps those promises!
• Our inheritance is protected in him!
Ill:
• Back home at 23 Abshot Road, Titchfield Common, Fareham.
• We have window locks, dead locks and an alarm system.
• Yet I know if a burglar wants to break in;
• If they are good enough or determined enough, they will!
• Yet every Christian is protected by the most efficient security system available;
• The power of God and nothing catches Him by surprise.
Note:
• The writer informs us that he is not just a ‘Shepherd’, but he is a ‘Great Shepherd’.
• And there is no safer place for a sheep to be than in the presence of a ‘Great Shepherd’.
• How is God able to keep us safe;
• The writer goes on to tell us……he is a God of power!
(3). God of power.
“Who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus”.
• You might be surprised to know that;
• This is the only mention of the resurrection in the whole letter;
• Elsewhere in the letter the emphasis is on the exaltation of Jesus;
• The fact that he is seated at the right hand of God! Ill: Winning podium.
The writer tells us by his power God raised Jesus from the dead:
• Ill: Old Testament the power of God is always linked to creation.
• Ill: New Testament the power of God is always linked to the resurrection.
• Now because God raised Jesus from the dead:
• He therefore is able to give new life to anyone!
• Then he can resurrect any hope;
• No matter how lifeless, how stiff or how cold! Ill: Lazarus (John chapter 11; “He stinketh”)
Ill:
• The United Nations is a monument to man’s search for peace;
• But it is also a monument to impotence in being able to attain it.
• Probably more wars going on today than at any other point in history!
• Sadly news of peace keeping soldiers being killed is told all too often!
By his power God raised Jesus from the dead;
• And if he can give new life to this corpse
• ill: physically & spiritually battered;
• He can also resurrect anyone of us or any other of his children!
• “With God NOTHING is impossible”.
Ill:
Romans chapter 8 verse 35-39:
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• But God’s help is not just life for those who are dead;
• The benediction shows us hope and help for living for him in the present!
(4). God of Provision.
“Equip you with everything good for doing his will”
In New Testament times the word translated ‘equip’ was used in a variety of ways:
• Ill: To a sailor it meant; to rig a ship for a voyage.
• Ill: To a physician it meant; to set a broken bone.
• Ill: To a fisherman it meant; to mend the nets.
• Ill: To a soldier it meant; to equip an army for battle.
Ill:
• I Guess most of us have found it scandalous and hard to believe;
• That the ‘leaders’ of our country;
• Would send soldiers to fight in wars without the proper equipment;
• But sadly there are many, many cases of this happening.
Ill:
• One such case is of Sergeant Steve Roberts;
• He was shot dead in Iraq.
• Three days before he was shot he was ordered to hand over his protective body armour;
• To another soldier because of shortages.
• An officer from the 7th Armoured Brigade, the Desert Rats,
• Has disclosed that "none of us had body armour when we crossed into Iraq”
According to verse 21 God will never do that!
• He will never send us into action unequipped.
• “He equips us” with what we need!
Ill:
To name just a few things:
• e.g. Holy Spirit; (his power & presence Ill: Campbell Morgan Quote))
• e.g. Holy Spirit produces his fruit in our lives.
• e.g. A spiritual gift(s) – tools for the job.
• e.g. Other believers (to strengthen & support).
Ill:
• This term ‘equip’ carries the idea of;
• ‘Restoring, helping along, encouraging’
• In other words;
• God is not even passively sitting in the stands watching us struggle.
• Instead he is along side us cheering us on.
• He has given us all we need to cope with the situations we find ourselves in!
• Not only does the Lord equip us;
• He works in us to do his will!
(5). God of Purpose.
“…and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Note:
• The verse does not say we are working for God;
• But rather that God is working in us!
Ill:
• We often hear stories of people saying that they are a ‘self-made millionaire’;
• There is no such thing as a self-made Christian!
• Without me said Jesus in John chapter 15; “You can do NOTHING!”
• “But if we remain in him, we will bear MUCH fruit”
Quote:
• We are like passengers on a Jumbo Jet.
• The way we travel is to rest in him.
• His power is what will get us to our destination;
• Not the frenzied flapping of our own wings.
Ill:
• John chapter 15 the key word is "Remain" or "Abide".
• It is used 10 times in the first 11 verses.
• It is emphasising: union / being joined.
ill:
Scissors.
• A pair of scissors consists of two single blades,
• Yet the blades regardless of how sharp or shiny,
• Are useless without one essential element
• The small metal rivet that holds them together.
• Just try cutting a piece of paper or some material without that tiny rivet!
• It would be extremely difficult,
• The end result would not be very pleasing to the eye.
• But when that little rivet is connected between both blades:
• Suddenly the cutting becomes effortless,
• And the end result is pleasing to the eye.
• Jesus is our link:
• The rivet, the link, the attachment in our relationship with God,
• He holds everything together,
• And makes us useful and pleasing to God.
Notice:
• It is God who equips us – “with everything good”.
• God works in us – “what is well pleasing in his sight.”
• He does it through – “Jesus Christ.”
Ill:
• The late newspaper publisher, William Randolph Hearst,
• Invested a fortune collecting art treasures from around the world.
• One day Mr. Hearst found a description of some valuable items that he felt he must own,
• So he sent his agent abroad to find them.
• After months of searching, the agent reported that he had finally found the treasures.
• They were in Mr. Hearst's own warehouse.
• Hearst had been searching frantically for treasures he already owned!
• But he was totally unaware of what he had.
• Had he read the catalogue of his treasures,
• He would have saved himself a great deal of money and trouble.
• Everything we need is to be found in God alone;
• We don’t need to look elsewhere!
• It is God who equips us – “with everything good”.
• God works in us – “what is well pleasing in his sight.”
• He does it through – “Jesus Christ.”
In conclusion:
• As the Good Shepherd (John chapter 10 verse 11):
• Jesus died for the sheep.
• As the Great Shepherd (Hebrews chapter 13 verse 20):
• Jesus lives and cares for the sheep in heaven today, working on their behalf.
• As the chief Shepherd (1 Peter chapter 5 verse 4):
• He will come for the sheep at his return.
• Our Shepherd cares for his own in the past, present and future;
• He is the same yesterday, today and forever!
