We Seek A Country Series

I. EXORDIUM:

Are you seeking after heaven?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that we need to talk the talk, walk the talk and seek after Heaven, our real country.

IV. TEXT:

Hebrews 11:14 (Amplified Bible)

11:14 Now those people who talk as they did show plainly that they are in search of a fatherland (their own country).

V. THESIS:

Praise, worship and thank You very much LORD JESUS, for You have taught us how to desire heaven, and we desire You and everything that is Yours, we talk JESUS, we live JESUS and we seek after JESUS.

VI. TITLE:

We seek a country

Subtitle: Study on the Book of Hebrews

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Date of writing: Before AD. 70

B. Style of writing: Best Greek style

C. Authorship: Not specific, but generally attributed to Apostle Paul. Can be also ascribed to Barnabas, Luke, Apollos

D. Audience: Hebrew Christians

E. Theme: Christ is superior to the prophets; Christ is superior to angels—J. Vernon McGee's Thru The Bible

F. Purpose: The chief doctrinal purpose of the writer was to show the transcendent glory of the Christian dispensation, as compared with that of the Old Testament.—Thompson Chain - Bible Book Outlines

G. Keyword: better

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. We talk like they did

"Now those people who talk as they did show plainly"

Say or "lego" in Greek meaning:

1. to lay forth

2. to relate

3. set discourse

4. an individual expression or speech

"Declare plainly" or "emphanizo" in Greek meaning:

1. to exhibit

2. to disclose

3. appear, declare, inform, manifest, show, signify

What they "say" appears in how they lived. These are the Hebrew Patriarchs, these are their descriptions:

(Source: Barnes' Notes on the New Testament)

1. They lived in tents.

2. They frequently change their residence.

3. They purchase land to bury their dead.

4. They never speak of becoming permanent residents.

Our saying is important, what we say, is it according to what the bible is saying?

Jeremiah is only saying what the bible is saying:

Matthew 2:17 (Amplified Bible)

2:17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:

Matthew is only saying what the bible is saying:

Matthew 1:22 (Amplified Bible)

1:22 All this took place that it might be fulfilled which the Lord had spoken through the prophet,

John, the Baptist is only saying what the bible is saying:

Matthew 3:2 (Amplified Bible)

3:2 And saying, Repent (think differently; change your mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Apostle Paul is only saying what the bible is saying:

Romans 4:3 (Amplified Bible)

4:3 For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed in (trusted in) God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness (right living and right standing with God).

Genesis 15:6 (Amplified Bible)

15:6 And he [Abram] believed in (trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness (right standing with God).

Of course, again it's not in the saying but in the doing.

James 1:22 (Amplified Bible)

1:22 But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].

You're only saying it because the WORD of GOD is filling your hearts. Only GOD's WORDS and GOD must fill up your hearts.

Luke 6:45 (Amplified Bible)

6:45 The upright (honorable, intrinsically good) man out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart produces what is upright (honorable and intrinsically good), and the evil man out of the evil storehouse brings forth that which is depraved (wicked and intrinsically evil); for out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his mouth speaks.

B. We are in search for a country

"that they are in search of a fatherland (their own country)"

Seek or "epizeteo" in Greek meaning:

1. to search or inquire for

2. intensively to demand

3. to crave

4. desire, enquire, seek after

Illustration: When I was an intern pastor, I used to visit people in those days, I have a goal of 120 souls visited within a week. And I have my fill of quota of people during the day, and I also asked a lot of questions to different new people that I meet along the road, asking "do you know this person?", "do you know this street?" "do you know this house?", "do you know this address?" because I'm seeking after this person I have to know the address.

We are seeking after JESUS and we already know the address, that is HEAVEN, but there is a lot infinitely more to know about JESUS. If we know the address, know the PERSON more.. We only want HEAVEN because we know JESUS is in Heaven! We seek after it every moment of our lives here on earth.