R sbc
June 13th 2004
Sunday Night
The Book of Hebrews
Subject: “ THE BLESSINGS OF REMEMBERING”
TEXT: HEBREWS 13:3
Intro: The word remember in this text does not just mean to call to the mind some things, neither does it mean to try to store something in the memory lobe. The real meaning from the context of this passage has to do with being mindful of. It also means not just to be mindful of but the mindful with a intent to do something about it...It is so illustrated by the Lord Jesus Christ in a certain event in his life:
Matthew 25:34-40 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.
He calls upon these beleivers to remember to sets of peope, we are going to look at two main things in this sermon tonight:
1. WHO IT IS THAT HE CALLS UPON THEM TO REMEMBER:
2. THE BLESSINGS OF REMEMBERING.
I... “ WHO WERE THEY TO REMEMBER?
1st. Those who are in bonds:
The word bond here has reference to those who are in jail. Not for some wrong that they had done, but for the cause of Christ they were put in hold. You remember the story of Joesph how he was sold into slavery then promoted in the Pharoh’s house and then put in Jail. While he was there, he was called upon to interpret a dream, he did and this is what he ask for himself in return:
Genesis 40:13-14 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. 14 But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:
Paul was writing the churches and said these words concerning his prisonment: Colossians 4:3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
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Countless thousands of christian are in prison around the world as I speak. Missionaries endeavcur to minister to these people. They are their because of the truth. Mnay of the prsioners that Bro Anond ministers to in the prisons of Thailand are their not for wrong but because they have no citizenship..
Colossians 4:18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace [be] with you. Amen.
So no doubt we are to remember those who in are in bonds.. But you know I was thinking this that while Paul was in jail, he continue his ministry of the gospel from his prison cell. The reason being the Lord intends for us to reach out to another kind of prisoner, those in bondage to self and sin. In the book of Isaiah it was one of his purposes to reach the spiritual prisoner.
Isaiah 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
There are so many people in bondage tonight as I speak.. How we need never to forget that the primary purpose of this church existence is to PREACH THE GOSPEL OF GOD’S FREE GRACE”
The freedom that sinners need tonight is the LORD.. Paul said Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Christ came in order to do this very thing: Hebrews 2:14-16 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on [him the nature of] angels; but he took on [him] the seed of Abraham.
The great freedom Christ gives... can not be under estimated at all tonight, it is without doubt the greatest thing that could happen to you. Are you in bondage tonight? Then Christ can set you free... Note what he said: John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Example of freedom: Mark 5:13-15 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. 14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told [it] in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. 15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
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2nd. Those that are suffer adversity:
Many people even in our church tonight suffer adversity. There is no doubt all kinds of adversity. Some suffer the adversity of sickness, some the adversity of financial stuggles, some the adversity of children no living right. We have a divine duty to remember these as though it was happening to us. And in some cases it is. If our children or grandchildren suffer we suffer. If any member of this church suffers I suffer as their pastor with them.
A. The pride of the wicked declares he shall have no adversity: Psalm 10:6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for [I shall] never [be] in adversity.
David said: Psalm 35:15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: [yea], the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew [it] not; they did tear [me], and ceased not:
b. God will deliver from adversity:
Psalm 94:12-13 Blessed [is] the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law; 13 That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.
C. The great Prophet Isaiah said: Isaiah 30:20 And [though] the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:
So not matter who it is that is in adversity we the children of GOD should no doubt remember them as though it has happened to us.. If it has not it will. It will come when we least expect it, in those unusual ways...
1 Corinthians 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
The body of Christ at RSBC must help one another, love one another, lift up one another, correct one another, heal one another, because we are told to remember them that are in bonds and in afflciction.
II... “ THE BLESSINGS OF REMEBERING”
Let clear something up quickly, we do not, remember one another and those in adversity or in bonds to get a blessing, we do it because the Bible tells us to.
(1.) There is the blessing that we are not in bonds phyiscal or spiritually:
We are neither in bonds in a prison cell tonight. To be cast into a prison hast to be very tough especially if it because you are serving Christ. To be here tonight free, what a blessing the LORD hath given us his people.
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There is a greater blessing in remembering tonight that is our spiritual liberty tonight, Christ indeed has given us something that cannot be taken away from us..
A. We are free from the law: Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
B. We are free from the ceremonial law..Colossians 2:13-15 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 [And] having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
To be saved and know it is a grand and glorious blessing that the LORD hath given to all of us who are his servants tonight...
2nd. There is the blessings of remembering the poor and the needed:
David said this of the Lord: Psalm 12:5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set [him] in safety [from him that] puffeth at him.
It is such a blessing to think on the downtrodden, those in bondage, those who suffer adversity the LORD does and we are to follow in his steps. Note the example Christ gives concerning the man who helped anther:
Luke 10:30-35 And Jesus answering said, A certain [man] went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded [him], and departed, leaving [him] half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked [on him], and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion [on him], 34 And went to [him], and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave [them] to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
When we give, it will come back to us because that is the way the LORD has designed it. Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
3rd. The blessing that we have of knowing Christ hath not forgot us:
You pour your life into Christ and his work and his kingdom it will not go unoticed by the LORD. Paul said: Hebrews 6:10 For God [is] not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
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Not only did you do it, you are continuing to do it. There is never a time to set down, to quit, to go back.. The word of God says: Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
When the children of Israel sinned agains the Lord and he punished them before he totally destroyed them, he said: Psalm 78:39 For he remembered that they [were but] flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
4th. There is the blessing bestowed upon us that we can remember those we have been instructed to remember..
Just think about, the mental capacity to remember. That my friends is a blessing. It is so frustrating not to be able to focus and think on certain things... In the spiritual realm we are so blessed. God has given us the mind of Christ.. Therefore we are to let this mind be in us. Christ was one who remembered, and put that memory into action.
Psalm 115:12 The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless [us]; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.
May the LORD grant us the wisdom to be mindful of all these things in our daily Christian walk.