A Glorious Benediction

Hebrews #43: an exposition of Hebrews 13:20-21. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 22, 2015.

Intro:

We were horrified this past week with the release of the video showing the 21 Coptic Christians beheaded near the Libyan coast.  Add that to the growing reports of fellow believers under persecution throughout the middle east and we have ample reason for concern.  Few Christians remain in Iraq, once a stronghold of the Christian faith.  There is reason for concern.  Of course in other parts of the world there is, in addition to terrorist threats, the abandonment of the Faith by those who no longer see it relevant.  “Christian Europe” is a thing of the past.  “Christian America” is disappearing.  There is reason for concern.  Long-hold theological truths are question if not outright rejected.  Biblical standards of morality are dismissed as outdated and unreasonable.  There is reason for concern.  To order your life according to the Word of God is increasingly difficult for to do so is to swim against culture.  One must travel upstream against the current of contemporary thought and morality.  When you dare call for biblical standards you will be labeled “troublemaker, narrow-minded and bigoted.”  The question is, “Why should this surprise us?”  The kingdom of God has always been at odds with the kingdom of this world.  We are aliens and strangers here.  We are not “at home” – we are looking for a city whose builder and maker is God.  We are in search of the heavenly Jerusalem.  I think the problem is that too often we are “at home” here!  Having look toward Sodom we then pitched our tent in Sodom’s direction and lately we’ve been seen sitting in Sodom’s gate.  It is time we recognize we are at war.  However, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal for we wrestle not with flesh and blood but with principalities and powers.  The war is for the minds and the souls of men.  We are to order our lives according to the Word of God.  We are to live for Christ our king.  We are called to holiness according to God’s standard.  We are not so different from that band of Hebrew believers struggling in first century Rome.

They wanted to give up.
They wanted to throw in the towel – it was just too difficult.
They wanted rest.
Maybe they made a mistake when they believed.
Life certainly had gotten any easier – it was much harder.

The biblical writer pleaded with them – hang on.  Continue to believe.  Run the race.  Look to Jesus the trailblazer of the faith.  Fix your eyes on him and run.  For 13 chapters he laid out his argument.  Now he comes to the end and pronounces a benediction over them.  Our text this morning is Hebrews 13:20-21.

Text: Hebrews 13:20-21

Here at the end of Hebrews the writer gives an appropriate benediction to fearful and restless hearts.  These folks are uneasy about the future.  He has called on them to continue the race, now he pronounces a blessing/benediction over them.  Having asked them to pray for him (13:18-19) he now prays for them.  As we explore these two verses we find…

Thesis: This glorious, theologically rich benediction reminds us of the basis of our confident hope and the divine enabling for the fulfillment of our God-given task.

2 things:

  1. Our hope is anchored in the great work of our God.  (13:20)
    The God of Peace
    The eternal covenant
    The Great Shepherd
    The writer prays that this God of Peace, who secures our eternal covenant through the blood of Christ, and who raised the Lord Jesus, our Great Shepherd from the dead, equip the church with everything good that you may do his will.
    Our hope is anchored in the work of our God.But let’s note one other thing.
  2. Our God-given task is accomplished by His divine enabling.  (13:21)

The writer prays for 3 things.  3 glorious things.

He prays that God equip them with everything good that you may do his will.
Working in us that which is pleasing in his sight.
This is all for the eternal glory of his Son.

Conclusion:
Watching the news, surfing the internet and paying attention to the world around us is grounds for genuine concern.  Our world is increasingly hostile to our faith.  Dark, troublesome days are on the horizon.  There is ample reason for concern but not despair.  Our God is firmly enthroned.  He is not worried.  He is not threatened.  He has made eternal promises to us, as His people.  I’m not saying, “I’m looking forward to this!”  I’m not saying, “This ought to be fun.”  I am saying, “I belong to a kingdom that cannot be shaken.  I belong to a King who cannot be defeated.  I am hidden in Christ who is secure in the Father’s hand – what can man do to me?”  This has been the hope of the people of God for the past 2000 years and it is our hope today.

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