Friday, January 11, 2008

“ARE YOU BEING INCONSIDERATE?”

Hebrews 10

I have been looking at a few verses of Scripture this week in Hebrews and after Preaching this morning I went home and looked at them again, because in one of the verses I have been looking at it states “and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” I preached this morning on the topic “THE 2ND COMING OF CHRIST” Now Paul tells the reader of his letter that they are to do some things even more so as we see the day approaching, which is the day of Christ’s 2nd coming. So I was looking at this when I went home because I want to do these things that Paul stated in these verses because I do believe the Lord is soon coming. Now in verse 24 Paul focuses’ our attention on what he is trying to relay to the reader by using a specific word to drive home his point (consider). He tells us “Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:" So he exhorts us that we are to be considerate to one another. Now I don’t want to do an injustice to the Scriptures, but I think it is safe to assume by what is wrote that if Paul wanted us to consider one another and that if we didn’t we would be being inconsiderate.

Listen we are living in a day and age, as I have stated many times before, that people are extremely inconsiderate. People are selfish in most all their motives. A child of God on the other hand should be just the opposite. Paul told the Church at Philippi in chapter 2, Philippians 2:1-5 "If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:"

Listen according to the Scriptures the child of God has no room or authority to be anything else but selfless not selfish. But as it is with most things....when we see the others in this world being that way it causes even the best of Christians to be that way. That is why Paul reminds and exhorts the reader to be considerate....” let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works: So with that being said I want to look more closely what it was that Paul was exhorting them to be considerate of and Preach on this thought.......ARE YOU BEING INCONSIDERATE?

I. CONCERNING YOUR WALK WITH CHRIST vs. 19-23

A. IN OUR ASSURANCE vs. 19 “Having.....boldness”

B. IN OUR APPROACH vs. 20-22 ‘let us draw near”

C. IN OUR APPLICATION vs. 23 “without wavering;”

I think it safe to say that when we are inconsiderate of Christ then anything after that will go as well by the way side. Listen....let me say this. I’m not sure if all of us understand completely what all Christ endured so that we can have what we have today. And the sad part about it is is that He endured all that and we do not even care if we have a walk with Him. Oh... I know someone might say well I do have a walk with Christ. Ok if that be the case then it should be demonstrated. I never have found a secret disciple in the Scriptures. A relationship with Christ demonstrated in the Scriptures was always manifested by what they did after they were with Him.

Let me ask you this.....honestly are you being inconsiderate to your walk with Christ? Let me say this by the authority of the Scriptures and as well as a voice for God by being a Man of God.... Christ sure would like you to spend a little more time with Him than what you may or may not be doing already!

II. CONCERNING YOUR WORK AT THE CHURCH vs. 24-25

Now that Paul exhorts the reader to be considerate of their walk with Christ he now exhorts them to come to Church and share it and be considerate to the other believers in their walk with Christ! I know that to be true because there is a little word there just at the beginning of the verse.... the word AND....for you English scholars that word is called a conjunction. Meaning it joins that verse to those before it that have already been stated. Paul explains 3 ways that a believer can do that....

A. BY PROVOCATION “to provoke”

B. BY PRAISE “unto love”

C. BY PARTICIPATION “and to good works”

Can I say this? When you come to Church it provokes me.....Provokes me to walk with Christ. Provokes me to want to love God more, trust Him more, and lean on Him more. Provokes me to keep going in a day and age when all Hell is breaking lose around us in this world. When you don’t, you’re being very inconsiderate to Christ and to the Church. Hey you don’t nor won’t ever have to worry about me being here. I came half way across the world to this city so as to be able to provoke someone that wants to walk with Christ and work in a Church. Your love for God and the Church demonstrates a praise to Him when you come to what He died for and when you do it will cause you to be involved as well as cause others to be involved. Listen...there have been more than 1 time I have wanted to hand it all into someone else’s lap and see how they would fare once in awhile. I won’t because of my consideration for my walk with Christ.

Let me ask this... Are you being inconsiderate to your work at the Church?

III. CONCERNING YOUR WITNESS IN THE COMMUNITY vs26-39

A. BY YOUR COMMUNING vs. 26 “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,”

B. BY YOUR COMMITMENT vs. 27-32

C. BY YOUR COMMISSION vs. 32a “But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated”

D. BY YOUR COMPANIONS vs. 33 “Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.”

E. BY YOUR COMPASSION vs. 34 “For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.”

F. BY YOUR CONFIDENCE vs. 35 “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”

You know I am always amazed at all the people that want to impress the world with jobs and things and success, but when they get saved they could careless if the world now rather gets impressed with the God that person now serves or should be serving. Listen if we would consider our WALK with CHRIST and our WORK at the CHURCH we would have no problem being considerate of our WITNESS in this COMMUNITY. Problem I have found is most people have fallen prey to the philosophy of this world and they will live there life being INCONSIDERATE! I hope that that is not you tonight. Paul said.....

Hebrews 10:22-25 "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

By Michael Lovett

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey!

I figured I leave a comment today. I come by often but sometimes I don't leave a comment. I pray that in these areas we are considerate because that trump can sound today.


Bro Tim

Anna Joy said...

Very true...especially the part about being a witness in our community...because of our family's descision that the ladies wear skirts and dresses, etc. instead of pants, we get asked often what sort of "religion" we are. I have found that to be an excellent way to witness to someone, especially since where we live a modestly dressed lady is quite abnormal to see! :)