NXR Podcast - SUNDAY SERMON - Gospel Fruit in Pastors and Congregations | Hebrews 13:17-19
Aired: 2023-03-05
Duration: 46:29


=== Feeding the Church Through Your Word (04:15) ===

[00:00:00]  All right, listen, guys, I get it.
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[00:00:39]  God bless.
[00:00:40]  Good morning, Covenant Bible Church.
[00:00:43]  It's good to be here with you all this morning.
[00:00:47]  For those of you who don't know me, my name is Connor, and I serve as a lay elder here at the church.
[00:00:51]  Many of you may be familiar with me when it comes time to lead worship through song, and it's such a great joy to me to do that.
[00:00:59]  It's been a while since I've last preached, and I'm excited to get to do so this morning.
[00:01:04]  My family and I consider it a great pleasure to have gotten to know so many new faces and families and to worship alongside you all each Lord's Day as our church has grown.
[00:01:14]  Without further ado, we'll jump right in.
[00:01:16]  If you have your Bibles in front of you or a copy of the notes, please direct your attention to the text at hand.
[00:01:23]  This week's text is Hebrews chapter 13, verses 17 through 19.
[00:01:29]  Once more, that's Hebrews chapter 13, verses 17 through 19.
[00:01:34]  And as is our tradition here at Covenant Bible Church, would you stand with me as I read the text?
[00:01:44]  When I conclude reading it, I will say, This is the word of the Lord.
[00:01:48]  And as a congregation, I'll ask that we respond by saying, Thanks be to God.
[00:01:53]  And so this is once more Hebrews chapter 13, verses 17 through 19.
[00:01:58]  The Bible says this Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.
[00:02:08]  Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
[00:02:14]  Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.
[00:02:21]  I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.
[00:02:26]  This is the word of the Lord.
[00:02:28]  Thanks be to God.
[00:02:29]  Please be seated and join me now as I pray.
[00:02:36]  Father, we thank you.
[00:02:38]  We thank you, God, that we are gathered here this morning.
[00:02:41]  To worship you, as Pastor Joel just said, that every Sunday is a lowercase Easter, a resurrection Sunday, God.
[00:02:50]  We come to you joyful and grateful, knowing that our King has risen from the dead as a firstfruits.
[00:02:57]  And we look to him, we praise him, and we honor him, and we thank you for giving us to your church.
[00:03:03]  Father, as we consider your word this morning, I pray first of all for myself, Lord.
[00:03:09]  I am a weak, fickle man.
[00:03:11]  Please help me to preach your word faithfully.
[00:03:14]  And honorably to your church this morning.
[00:03:16]  Please feed your church through your word.
[00:03:18]  I pray for the members of Covenant Bible Church and those who will hear the sermon, Lord.
[00:03:22]  Please bless them with ears and with eyes to hear and to see all that you have purposed your word to do this morning.
[00:03:29]  Help them to hear and give glory to your son, whom your word points toward.
[00:03:34]  And we pray as well, Lord, just that through the preached word, you would be honored and blessed this morning.
[00:03:41]  Let you receive all the glory, God.
[00:03:43]  We pray these things in your name.
[00:03:45]  Amen.
[00:03:48]  If you've worshiped with us over the last few weeks, you may recognize that this is the fourth week that we will be spending in Hebrews chapter 13.
[00:03:56]  Pastor Jill mentioned it last week and this morning, but as this chapter draws to a close, so too does the book of Hebrews.
[00:04:03]  Next week will be the final week that we spend in the book of Hebrews before we conclude the epistle.
[00:04:09]  I pray that our time in the epistle has been as enriching and encouraging to you as it has been to me and to my family.

=== The Shepherd's Heart Revealed (05:12) ===

[00:04:16]  If you haven't noticed it up until this point, The apostle changes his focus in the epistle in chapter 13 in comparison to the rest of the letter.
[00:04:24]  Having laid out the primary theological and doctrinal matters over the prior 12 chapters, the apostle begins to apply these matters to Christian living in chapter 13.
[00:04:34]  This isn't to say that he hasn't done so elsewhere or at other times in the letter, but this closing chapter is especially concerned with the various applications of Christian theology and doctrine.
[00:04:46]  Like any faithful preacher of God's word, The apostle is not content with leaving the matter settled at the 10,000 foot level, where only the pietist or the seminary educated could understand or grasp the truth of the matter and its implications.
[00:05:01]  Instead, out of love for Christ's sheep, the apostle seeks to bring about a deep understanding of God's truth for each member of the body of believers and how it ought to be adopted and applied in every theater or arena that the Christian may find himself or herself in.
[00:05:18]  This is uniquely apparent in the text before us today because this text.
[00:05:22]  More than any that we have seen, I might argue, reveals the apostle's pastoral heart.
[00:05:28]  In fact, I'm convinced that this text reveals to us that the apostle is himself a pastor, a shepherd of sheep.
[00:05:36]  And I think that will become more apparent to you as we continue in our study of this portion of God's word this morning.
[00:05:43]  If we needed any more evidence to bolster the case that the apostle Paul is the author of the book of Hebrews, we could add to it this.
[00:05:50]  In these words, the author reveals to us that he is, in fact, a pastor.
[00:05:54]  With a unique love for the Hebrew Christians that he writes to.
[00:05:58]  If that doesn't sound like the Apostle Paul, then I don't know what does.
[00:06:01]  But anyway, I digress.
[00:06:06]  So if you were here with us last week, you may remember that Pastor Joel preached from Hebrews chapter 13, verses 7 through 16.
[00:06:13]  Much of that sermon focused on the Apostles' appeal to God's grace in Christ, which strengthens the heart of the believer, unlike the diverse and strange teachings which have no benefit.
[00:06:24]  In the new covenant.
[00:06:26]  By these diverse and strange teachings, the apostle primarily refers to the traditions and doctrines of men which were added to the true laws and observances which were fulfilled in Christ.
[00:06:37]  Pastor Joel helped us to see that the apostle again warns his hearers of the dangers of returning to Judaism, especially those practices and observances which had no root in Christ but were instituted by hypocrites, as he taught us.
[00:06:52]  The echoes of our Lord's words ring here.
[00:06:55]  For the sake of your tradition, you have made void the word of God.
[00:07:00]  Matthew chapter 15, verse 6.
[00:07:03]  In this warning, we see the particular danger of returning not to the Old Testament observances which would lead any true follower of Christ to see their fulfillment in Him, but in those that were rooted in sin, in hypocrisy.
[00:07:16]  Here the apostle reminds his hearers of the grace that is theirs in Christ Jesus, the one who their prior leaders and all the types and shadows of the Old Covenant pointed to.
[00:07:27]  At the end of that text was the admonition that was found in Hebrews chapter 13, verses 15 and 16.
[00:07:33]  And I endeavor to read these to you once more to bring them to your remembrance.
[00:07:37]  Through him, then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God.
[00:07:43]  That is the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
[00:07:47]  Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
[00:07:55]  Christ, having fulfilled all old covenant sacrifices once and for all in himself, bids his sheep here to partake of gospel sacrifices.
[00:08:05]  Through faith in Christ, we yield to him our obedience, namely, our praise and acknowledgement of his glory in both word and Indeed.
[00:08:14]  As we have said, these deep realities will result in love for God and love for neighbor.
[00:08:20]  A Christian, the Apostle says, will be a doer of good and quick to share his possessions in continuing the brotherly love and hospitality which were mentioned at the beginning of chapter 13.
[00:08:32]  These verses are foundational and they undergird the way that we are to understand the verses that follow, namely the ones that are before us today, verses 17 through 19 and chapter 13.
[00:08:44]  When God saves a sinner, the gospel of Jesus Christ takes root in that person's heart and transforms him or her from the inside out.
[00:08:53]  That person begins to look more like Christ in the realm of thoughts, affections, desires, and actions.
[00:09:00]  This will have a lasting effect on the way that person perceives the world, the manner in which he carries himself, and the attitude that he adopts in his relationships.
[00:09:12]  One such application of the gospel's outworking, the apostle states, Is found in the church, particularly in the relationship between a pastor and his congregants.
[00:09:22]  What sorts of gospel sacrifices is the minister called to make out of love for his congregation?

=== A Pastor Appreciation Sermon (02:24) ===

[00:09:28]  And moreover, what sorts of gospel sacrifices is the congregation called to make out of love for their pastor?
[00:09:36]  These are the sorts of questions and applications that the apostle seeks to address to us in these verses.
[00:09:43]  Although only three verses, I believe this text is of incredible value to us.
[00:09:49]  Through this sermon, I will seek to highlight three primary points found in the scriptures before us.
[00:09:55]  The first is humble submission and joyful oversight, found in verse 17.
[00:10:01]  The second is prayer from a clear conscience, which is found in verse 18.
[00:10:06]  And the third is the urgency of the matter, found in verse 19.
[00:10:11]  As we consider what the scriptures have to say about this relationship between a pastor and his congregants, I pray that you will recognize what a gift from God faithful shepherds are to the church.
[00:10:23]  Grateful, gospel cherishing hearts will motivate us to action on behalf of our pastors.
[00:10:31]  And lastly, before we begin, I would be remiss if I failed to mention how thankful I am to be the one preaching this sermon this morning.
[00:10:38]  This is somewhat of a pastor appreciation sermon for me.
[00:10:42]  As I was writing it and preparing it this week, I couldn't help being reminded of how thankful I am to be a student under Pastor Joel's teaching and a product of his pastoral ministry.
[00:10:52]  When I first moved to San Diego as a young man in 2013, I would have never imagined being here almost 10 years later.
[00:10:59]  Our Lord is gracious and wise in his providence, and he certainly has been to me and now my family through all that Joel has courageously and humbly taught me from the pulpit, in his home, and through many other meetings and teaching opportunities.
[00:11:15]  There's been quite a bit of solid material and teaching available to us as citizens of the technological age, and I know that no doubt many of you have benefited greatly from these types of ministries.
[00:11:26]  God has used many faithful pastors to help me grow over the course of my Christian life, and yet many of these are men that I have never met.
[00:11:35]  While I thank God for these men and their ministries, it is quite another thing entirely to be faithfully shepherded by a godly pastor week in and week out.
[00:11:45]  I cannot think of a better way to frame this sermon than to highlight how much I and my family appreciate being under Pastor Joel's ministry.

=== Esteeming Leaders Worth Imitating (12:18) ===

[00:11:53]  So without further ado, let us dive into the text before us.
[00:11:58]  Let's consider the first point that I've highlighted.
[00:12:00]  The first is humble submission and joyful oversight.
[00:12:04]  And we'll read again verse 17.
[00:12:08]  The text says, Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.
[00:12:18]  Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
[00:12:24]  The apostle here begins with two simple admonitions to his hearers.
[00:12:29]  He urges them to obey and submit to their new leaders in the faith, not merely giving a listening ear, but to be diligent to heed their warnings and follow their instructions.
[00:12:41]  But who were these leaders who the Apostle urges the Hebrew Christians to obey?
[00:12:46]  We would do well to consider the words of John Gill, who writes here Not the ecclesiastical rulers among the Jews, for to these they were no longer obliged, they being no longer under such tutors and governors, nor civil magistrates, though it was their duty to obey them, even heathen ones.
[00:13:07]  For as for Christian magistrates, as yet there were none.
[00:13:11]  But their spiritual guides and governors.
[00:13:16]  Here, Gill distinguishes between a sample of leaders who may potentially hold sway over the Jewish Christians.
[00:13:22]  They were first of all, or there were first of all, leaders of the synagogue, who the apostle expressly states no longer held any authority over the converted Hebrews.
[00:13:33]  Being members of an entirely different church, the one true church even, such Hebrews were reminded that their baptism into Christ was a baptism into his church, his body.
[00:13:45]  Despite still sharing the Hebrew bloodline, they were to recognize that Christ's claim over them was greater than any ethnic heritage, especially when that heritage denied Christ and perpetuated the religious practice of diverse and strange teachings, which we saw in verse 9.
[00:14:03]  These, said Gill, had no governance over them any longer.
[00:14:08]  In addition, Gill illustrates that though the Hebrew Christians whom the apostle wrote to were subject to civil authorities, even heathen ones, this is not what was meant by these verses.
[00:14:20]  In these verses, it is to be understood the new spiritual guides and governors whom the Hebrews gained through becoming members of Christ's church.
[00:14:29]  Do you remember Ephesians chapter 4?
[00:14:32]  The Apostle Paul wrote there that he, God, gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.
[00:14:46]  Ephesians chapter 4, verses 11 and 12.
[00:14:50]  The Hebrew Christians were to understand that God Himself provided these various officers to His church to edify and to train them for the work of ministry.
[00:15:02]  If you remember from last week, we were introduced to a group of leaders that were mentioned in verse 7.
[00:15:08]  I'll read verse 7 again so it's fresh in your minds.
[00:15:11]  Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God.
[00:15:15]  Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
[00:15:21]  These leaders here may have been the same ones that are mentioned here in verse 17, but there are subtle differences in these two verses that may lead us to believe that these two groups of leaders were, in fact, distinct groups.
[00:15:35]  Pastor Joel faithfully taught us that the leaders mentioned in verse 7 were leaders who preceded the current group of Hebrew Christians being addressed.
[00:15:43]  We know this because the apostle urges his listeners to remember them and to consider the outcome of their way of life.
[00:15:52]  On the other hand, the leaders who are mentioned here in verse 17 are likely to be understood as holding current authority in the church of God.
[00:16:00]  This is evident because the Hebrew Christians were urged not only to remember them, but to presently obey and submit to them.
[00:16:09]  In addition, the apostle writes that these leaders were currently keeping watch over their souls and would one day give an account.
[00:16:17]  These would have been the office holders that we just highlighted in Ephesians chapter 4.
[00:16:21]  Apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers who were given to the church for its continued upbuilding.
[00:16:31]  And so, having thus established who these leaders are, the apostle urges his leaders to obey and submit to them, the ones who he states are held responsible for keeping watch over their congregation's souls and will ultimately have to give and account for their work.
[00:16:48]  The apostle continues this thought with the second half of verse 17 as he writes, Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
[00:17:00]  This second half of the verse is particularly interesting to us because it encourages us and propels us to see the inherent blessing and gift that the church is to us and to our families.
[00:17:13]  The modernist would look at such a text as this and see great violence done in the commands to obey and submit.
[00:17:21]  How hierarchical!
[00:17:22]  How domineering!
[00:17:23]  They might say.
[00:17:25]  But here the apostle helps his hearers to see that proper obedience and submission to ecclesiastical officers is of an advantage to you, our text says.
[00:17:36]  In other words, it provides great benefit.
[00:17:40]  A faithful pastor is used by God to make his congregants wiser, kinder, more courageous, etc.
[00:17:48]  In a word, a believer becomes more godly through his obedience and submission to his pastor's teaching.
[00:17:55]  In ministry, provided his pastor fears God and teaches the truth.
[00:18:01]  Similarly, the apostle helps us to see that the pastor is to complete this work with joy and not with groaning.
[00:18:08]  The minister's work and calling is surely a weighty one.
[00:18:12]  He is called to watch over souls, and yet this is a work that he is to do with joy and delight.
[00:18:18]  Stated plainly, these truths that are laid before us in these scriptures lend towards a mutual satisfaction and unity in the church.
[00:18:27]  Joy on the part of the minister and a maximization of every advantage for the congregation, God's chosen people.
[00:18:35]  The gospel sacrifices which we have mentioned here are clearly displayed and display the gospel's transforming power in the dealings of the minister and his congregation.
[00:18:47]  So, how might we ask is the congregation to obey and to submit to their pastor?
[00:18:52]  If there's anything that we have learned over the last three years, we are to obey our leaders in all lawful forms of authority, and this includes our pastors.
[00:19:01]  We have to first recognize that powers are given by God to each form of authority, and this would include fathers, civil authorities, and pastors.
[00:19:11]  Each authority must take its cues from Scripture in order to learn how to rightly apply the authority given to it.
[00:19:18]  In doing so, the authority glorifies God and causes those who are in submission to it to flourish.
[00:19:25]  This is true of pastors.
[00:19:27]  When pastors righteously wield the authority given to them, our text says that this leads to the congregation's advantage.
[00:19:34]  On the other hand, when a pastor is domineering, this will likely lead to abuse, while an abdication of pastoral authority will likely lead to a wayward and abandoned congregation.
[00:19:47]  So, this leads us to ask then what authority is given primarily to pastors?
[00:19:51]  In Acts chapter 6, we see the first elders devoted to prayer and to the ministry of the word.
[00:19:58]  In 1 Peter chapter 5, Peter writes to elders, exhorting them to shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, and to be examples to the flock.
[00:20:10]  In our text for this week, we see that pastors are to keep watch over their congregation's souls and guard them through the teaching of sound doctrine and the refutation of false teaching.
[00:20:21]  These are but a few examples taken from Scripture of authority that is given to.
[00:20:26]  A pastor.
[00:20:28]  Suppressing forward, then, in what ways might a congregation be called to obey and submit to their pastor?
[00:20:35]  The congregant must first hold the ministry of the pastor with great esteem, so long as he upholds his ministry in a godly fashion.
[00:20:43]  This is how one should regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
[00:20:50]  1 Corinthians 4, verse 1.
[00:20:53]  The Christian must joyfully and humbly submit to his teaching.
[00:20:57]  Output transcript Out of love for Christ and not seek to constantly nitpick and find disagreements with his preaching when he exercises lawful authority as a steward of the mysteries of God.
[00:21:09]  This means that the congregant must also seek to diligently attend to his teaching and desire to apply it to his or her life.
[00:21:18]  Another point worth considering is that a congregant must esteem his pastor as one worth imitating.
[00:21:24]  Brothers, join in imitating me and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example that you have.
[00:21:31]  In us, Philippians chapter 3, verse 17.
[00:21:36]  First of all, this means that the pastor's character must be worthy of imitation, but it also means the congregant should be eager to listen to and follow the pastor's way of life.
[00:21:47]  If you were someone who often has had the thought at church, I wouldn't have said it that way, or I wouldn't have done that, it may be worth examining if that thought is one that truly esteems your pastor.
[00:21:58]  Are your eyes set on your pastor's good and on imitating him?
[00:22:02]  Or are they clouded by your own pride?
[00:22:06]  Again, this presupposes that the pastor is wielding his God given authority lawfully.
[00:22:11]  As congregants, though, we must labor to be patient and make our pastor's work abound in joy, as our text states.
[00:22:21]  In addition, a congregation is to ensure that their pastor is adequately compensated for his work.
[00:22:26]  Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.
[00:22:30]  Galatians 6, verse 6.
[00:22:33]  And let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor.
[00:22:37]  Especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
[00:22:41]  For the scripture says, You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain, and the laborer deserves his wages.
[00:22:48]  1 Timothy 5, verses 17 and 18.
[00:22:52]  If you are not seeking to fairly compensate your pastor within your means through the tithe, then you have means to repent.
[00:22:59]  This is but one example of what it means to submit to God and the leaders that He has placed over us by compensating them fairly.
[00:23:07]  Again, this is not to guilt you into going beyond your means.
[00:23:10]  Or causing you to neglect your financial obligations to your family, but the Lord commands you to adequately compensate the one who labors over you and keeps watch over your soul.
[00:23:22]  The last application I endeavor to make in this regard is that the congregation is to show loyalty to their pastor in the manner of one Sephiroth.
[00:23:31]  May the Lord grant mercy to the household of one Sephiroth, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.
[00:23:39]  But when he arrived in Rome, he searched for me earnestly and found me.
[00:23:44]  May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day.
[00:23:48]  And you all know the service he rendered at Ephesus, 2 Timothy 1, verses 16 and 18.
[00:23:56]  How the words of a loyal congregant make for a joyful minister.
[00:24:01]  One way to ensure that our leaders do their work with joy is to stand by them in their trials, make their burdens light, and refresh them when the going gets tough.

=== Praying for Ministers in Trials (15:47) ===

[00:24:11]  With these applications in mind now, we can now begin to ask the question.
[00:24:15]  What gospel sacrifices is the minister to make on behalf of his congregation?
[00:24:21]  Primarily, the minister's gospel sacrifices are the works of ministry that he performs on behalf of the church he pastors.
[00:24:28]  As we have said, the minister is responsible to care for the church of God, Acts chapter 20, to teach what accords with sound doctrine, Titus chapter 2, and to be examples for the flock, 1 Peter chapter 5.
[00:24:43]  In these duties, shepherds, like the chief shepherd, are to protect.
[00:24:48]  And provide for the flock they pastor, and to do so with boldness, courage, humility, and joy, our text today says.
[00:24:58]  Unfortunately, over the last few years, many pastors have failed to exercise godly oversight and to boldly teach and stand on sound doctrine.
[00:25:07]  For this reason, congregations have suffered from a shallow biblical understanding, have been stagnant in their sanctification, and have been catechized by the world and TikTok influencers more than they have from those who have been charged to keep watch.
[00:25:22]  Over their souls.
[00:25:23]  Other congregants have righteously left such churches to seek out faithful pastors and churches to be ministered from, sometimes miles away from their home and their communities.
[00:25:34]  Where the gospel is neglected, its outworkings and implications too will be affected.
[00:25:40]  But it doesn't have to be this way.
[00:25:42]  When we return to the scriptures and embrace all that God has spoken for us there, we see the gospel take root, as we have said, and work from the inside out.
[00:25:53]  It transforms the hearts of believers, families, and churches, including the relationship between pastors and congregants.
[00:26:02]  Let's move on now to our second point.
[00:26:05]  And this point is prayer from a clear conscience.
[00:26:08]  And in so doing, I'll read for us again verse 18.
[00:26:13]  Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.
[00:26:20]  Having thus explained the outworkings of the gospel in the church between ministers and congregants in verse 17, The Apostle now stresses the importance of prayer.
[00:26:31]  This is crucial because the work of ministry is of great significance.
[00:26:36]  Ministers cannot expect to be effective in their preaching and shepherding, and congregants cannot expect to be guided and cared for apart from the sanctifying grace of God.
[00:26:47]  If we go back yet again to verse 10 of chapter 13, we remember that the Apostle reminds his hearers that it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace.
[00:26:58]  And one of the chief ways that God strengthens the heart of believers is through the regular attendance to the means of grace, especially those that take place on the Lord's day, namely preaching, singing, and praying the word, as well as partaking of the sacraments, baptism, and the Lord's Supper.
[00:27:17]  These means of grace are gifts from God and are administered in the church, most often by pastors and elders, for the upbuilding of Christ's sheep.
[00:27:27]  Here in verse 18, the apostle urges his listeners, To pray on behalf of these leaders, he mentioned in verse 17.
[00:27:34]  He reminds the Hebrew Christians of the preciousness of their leaders and all they were called to do on the behalf of their congregations and urges them to pray that God might grant favor to their leaders' work.
[00:27:47]  So we see, first of all, that the work of pastoral ministry is of significant importance.
[00:27:53]  Remember verse 17, which states that the ecclesiastical leaders were responsible for keeping watch over souls as those who will have to give an account.
[00:28:03]  God considers the work of pastors and ministers of the utmost importance.
[00:28:08]  And here the apostle urges his listeners to grasp that truth and pray to that end, that God would grant his ministers courage, humility, and success in the pulpit and in the church.
[00:28:22]  This is because a faithful Christian pastor's success will be measured by the condition of his church.
[00:28:28]  Are his congregants growing in grace?
[00:28:31]  Are they becoming more like Christ in their private as well as their public lives?
[00:28:35]  Are the members of a church becoming more repentant and obedient to his word?
[00:28:41]  These are the things that God grants to his church through faithful leaders.
[00:28:45]  And the apostle here urges his hearers to pray to that end.
[00:28:50]  Prayer also makes for a joyful and a content heart.
[00:28:54]  Having previously commanded his leaders to obey and submit to their new leaders in the faith, the apostle reminds the Hebrew Christians that these acts of submission to church authority were to be done in faith.
[00:29:08]  As we have said, when pastoral ministry is conducted lawfully, it leads to the upbuilding of the church.
[00:29:15]  Because of the temptation to grumble, complain, or covet, the apostle reminds his leaders to pray, not only for their pastor's growth in wisdom and godliness, but also for their own.
[00:29:29]  So I ask you this morning are you praying for your pastors?
[00:29:32]  Are you praying that they might have courage and find success in the discharging of their God given duties?
[00:29:39]  Are you praying that you might grow in gratefulness?
[00:29:41]  Joy, and sanctification under their pastoral ministry.
[00:29:46]  These are things that God desires.
[00:29:48]  Consider Paul's words in 2 Thessalonians 3.
[00:29:53]  Finally, brothers, pray for us that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men.
[00:30:03]  2 Thessalonians 3, verses 1 and 2.
[00:30:08]  At this point, it is important to note that success in the church.
[00:30:12]  Is not equivalent to what many pastors or churches would consider a success today.
[00:30:17]  By many today, a church would be considered successful if it was conducted in a packed auditorium or if it attracted many high end donors.
[00:30:25]  Successful churches today boast of thriving ministries for children, seniors, pet owners, middle aged singles, and adrenaline junkies.
[00:30:33]  Churches are considered successful by how many decisions for Christ were made and how engaging the professional worship band is.
[00:30:41]  These markers of success are the aims for which their programs and methods are tailored towards.
[00:30:47]  But consider what the Apostle Paul asks the Thessalonians to pray for here, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored as happened among you.
[00:30:57]  We pray for our leaders and for our churches.
[00:30:59]  We are praying that God's word may take root and cause his people to look more like Christ.
[00:31:05]  As we pray to this end, we must recognize that the Lord has purposed that our pastors and our leaders would be foundational in our pursuit of it.
[00:31:16]  One more aside about this phrase pray for us.
[00:31:19]  Is the fact that the author of the letter to the Hebrews is asking his hearers to include him in their prayers.
[00:31:25]  He is associating himself with this group of leaders mentioned here in verse 17.
[00:31:30]  This gives us, as I've said earlier, a strong reason to believe that he himself is a pastor and has a unique love for the Hebrew Christians that he writes to.
[00:31:39]  He continues this trust with the following phrase, giving the reason why such prayers are to be made.
[00:31:46]  He writes, For we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.
[00:31:53]  The apostle appeals to his own conscience before God and before his church and asks for their prayers on behalf of it.
[00:32:02]  In doing this, he seeks to encourage his listeners in their prayers as they strive for him and the other leaders.
[00:32:09]  The Hebrews were to understand that the weighty work of ministry and the keeping watch over their souls was a duty that their leaders were determined to discharge with honor.
[00:32:20]  Their leaders were emboldened by their faith in Christ to glorify God in the work of ministry.
[00:32:26]  And this was meant to be a great assurance to their congregants.
[00:32:31]  Consider what our Lord says in Matthew 24.
[00:32:34]  Who then is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has set over his household to give them their food at the proper time?
[00:32:43]  Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
[00:32:48]  Matthew chapter 24, verses 45 and 46.
[00:32:53]  These servants, you see, whom Christ has set over his household, are meant to be understood as ministers of the gospel.
[00:33:01]  Our Lord has clearly charged them to feed his sheep at the proper time and to do so continually until he returns.
[00:33:09]  In these verses, the Apostle reminds the Hebrews of this charge and his earnest desire to fulfill his ministry as a good steward of God's mysteries, John Gill writes.
[00:33:21]  In this, the Apostle states that he was not beholden to some outside power or authority, but to God alone, and urged the Hebrew Christians to use this as fuel for their prayers on his behalf.
[00:33:35]  Before we move on to the last verse in our text for today, I believe this is an important application we would do well to linger on.
[00:33:43]  As members of Christ's church and of this local body, we would do well to pray for our pastors.
[00:33:50]  We must first thank God for those pastors who serve with a clear conscience and a desire to act honorably.
[00:33:57]  They are those who faithfully preach the word, courageously stand on it, and give their lives to feed Christ's sheep.
[00:34:05]  They remember the charge given to them by Christ himself.
[00:34:08]  And are faithful to do their work in the fear of God.
[00:34:12]  Praise the Lord, there are pastors who serve in this manner today.
[00:34:17]  And I wholeheartedly believe the pastor that we are under, Pastor Joel, is a good example.
[00:34:22]  What a joy it is to be shepherded by these men who truly do serve with honor.
[00:34:28]  In our prayers, let us continue to pray that God would grant our state, our land, and our world more men who pastor his church with this same conviction and a regard for their work.
[00:34:39]  I fear that there are too many pastors who are beholden to their own paycheck, to their Instagram followers, to the fear of their civil authorities, to the CDC, you name it.
[00:34:49]  May God grant us wise and resolved leaders who remember their duties and are committed to honoring Christ and His word.
[00:34:57]  The health of our churches and the state of our land depends on this.
[00:35:03]  And so let us close with the third point that we consider today the urgency of the matter.
[00:35:08]  And this will focus on verse 19.
[00:35:10]  I'll read it once more for us.
[00:35:13]  I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.
[00:35:20]  This last verse is short, but it ties together all that has been said thus far.
[00:35:25]  The apostle charges his listeners to obey and submit to their leaders and continue striving in their prayers on their behalf because of the current circumstances they found themselves in.
[00:35:37]  From this verse, we can tell that there was a considerable distance between the Hebrew Christians and the author of the letter.
[00:35:43]  As the reason he gives for these urgent intercessions to be made was in order that he may be restored to them the sooner.
[00:35:52]  From the text itself, we don't learn much about the nature of why the two were distanced from each other, but we could presume that a physical barrier was the most likely culprit.
[00:36:02]  At the time of the writing of the letter, persecutions for the faith, especially for leaders, were not uncommon.
[00:36:09]  Think of the apostles' imprisonments, riots, and trials, accounts of which we have in Scripture that remind us of the challenges faced.
[00:36:17]  By the early church.
[00:36:19]  Persecution aside, there is also the restraint of the body, of being in one finite place and time, and of being prevented from being in all places that we may desire to reside.
[00:36:30]  In Romans chapter 1, Paul wrote of his intent to visit the Romans face to face and lamented that he had been prevented from fulfilling that earnest desire.
[00:36:40]  He writes again in Romans chapter 15 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit.
[00:36:48]  To strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.
[00:37:07]  In all truth, the New Testament is full of examples like these epistles that were written to churches because the author, apostle, whoever it may be, was absent in the flesh.
[00:37:18]  I'm always reminded of the meeting between Paul and the Ephesian elders in Acts chapter 20, in which many tears are shed on the beach because Paul is leaving yet again and headed towards suspected threats in Jerusalem.
[00:37:32]  In the case of the letter to the Hebrews, whatever the source of distance may be, the author and his hearers were found to be separated from one another.
[00:37:41]  And it is in response to this that the apostle asks that fervent intercessions be made, that the two may be reunited.
[00:37:49]  If you've listened well over the course of our study through Hebrews, you've heard Pastor Joel's case that the book of Hebrews was written just prior to 70 AD, and therefore just prior to the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem.
[00:38:03]  These events were significant in Hebrew and church history, and most certainly, I am convinced, were in focus throughout all that was written in this letter to the Hebrews.
[00:38:14]  Having been warned by Christ of the temple's coming destruction, the apostle instructs his audience.
[00:38:21]  Hebrew Christians who would have likely been raised in temple worship and Jewish tradition to offer these urgent and earnest prayers.
[00:38:30]  He does this pastorally that they might be preserved despite the coming trouble and look to Christ for their newfound hope in Him.
[00:38:39]  Although it would appear that dark days would be ahead, this was the basis for a hopeful eschatology.
[00:38:46]  Instead of being driven to despair, they were to follow their new leaders, pray they may be reunited with others, and pray that God would do all of this for His glory and their good.
[00:38:58]  There's great wisdom for us this morning here in this verse, in verse 19.
[00:39:02]  Our current situation as Christians in America in 2023 may look dire today.
[00:39:09]  Since 70 AD, we have no doubt seen significant advances for God's kingdom and for Christendom.
[00:39:16]  But even today, it can be troubling when we survey the landscape of our society and the times in which we live.
[00:39:24]  Some have indicated that we may be in for financial hardship, and I know some of you may have experienced this.
[00:39:30]  The attitudes towards Christianity appear to be more openly hostile as of late.
[00:39:35]  And there are many reports of Christians being persecuted in Western countries of all places.
[00:39:41]  Younger generations have an appetite for wanton craving and have little respect for prior generations.
[00:39:48]  Older generations have abdicated their responsibility to teach and train younger generations and have allowed their children to be shaped by the television, social media, and the public school system.

=== Enduring Everything for Eternal Glory (04:06) ===

[00:39:59]  These are symptoms of a deeper root cause.
[00:40:02]  We need to repent, return to God's truth.
[00:40:05]  And take the same sort of actions that are prescribed here in Hebrews chapter 13.
[00:40:09]  Our frustrations and our lamentations with the current landscape should lead us back to God and His promises, chiefly in our attendance to the means of grace and patient, hopeful prayer.
[00:40:22]  We do this because of our eager expectation that God will be glorified and that nothing is insignificant or too difficult for Him.
[00:40:32]  We have this same unwavering hope expressed here by the Apostle.
[00:40:36]  That through obedience to his word, submission to our pastors, and patient prayer, that God may perhaps show us favor and bless our land.
[00:40:48]  In verse 19, the apostle expresses that earnest prayer would lead to his being restored to you the sooner.
[00:40:56]  And so I ask you this morning are you attending to the means of grace with joy?
[00:41:01]  Do you see the benefit of worshiping with God's people?
[00:41:05]  Do you see God's grace in submitting to your pastor's ministry?
[00:41:09]  Is your home filled with prayer?
[00:41:11]  And are you doing all of these things earnestly?
[00:41:15]  As Christians, we should be marked by a spirit of eagerness, of earnestness in our attendance to these means.
[00:41:23]  No matter what situation or hardship you may find yourself in, you have been given a precious gift in Christ Jesus that is, faith in his name.
[00:41:33]  And as we live our lives by faith, the times in which we live should cause us not to be slack in our obedience, but to abound all the more in earnest hope.
[00:41:43]  That we may be restored to Christ the sooner.
[00:41:47]  So, as we conclude our sermon this morning, I want to read one more text from 2 Timothy 2.
[00:41:53]  2 Timothy 2, verses 8 through 10 says Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal.
[00:42:09]  But the word of God is not bound.
[00:42:11]  Therefore, I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation.
[00:42:18]  That is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
[00:42:22]  As we consider these verses in light of our text today, in Hebrews chapter 13, verses 17 through 19, we see the words of a man, a godly pastor, who is resolved to endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
[00:42:43]  As I mentioned at the beginning of this sermon, when the gospel takes root in a person, it transforms that person from the inside out.
[00:42:51]  As the gospel takes root in our own lives, the Holy Spirit bears the fruits of the Spirit in us love, joy, peace, patience, etc.
[00:43:02]  This will transform the way that we live as men, women, husbands, wives, mothers and fathers, employees, business owners, pastors, and congregations.
[00:43:16]  No area is left untouched.
[00:43:19]  As we consider the fruit of faith in a pastor's life, I thank the Lord for godly men like the Apostle Paul and Pastor Joel, who truly seek to endure everything for the sake of their congregations, that we may too obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
[00:43:39]  In the same respect, as we become more transformed by God's sanctifying grace, our congregations, our churches, will grow in obedience and submission to an earnest prayer for our pastors.
[00:43:52]  No pastor is perfect.
[00:43:54]  But may God grant us humility and thankfulness to support them, stand by them, pray for them, and give Him the glory for those who watch over our souls.

=== Supporting Pastors Despite Hardship (02:22) ===

[00:44:06]  Let's pray.
[00:44:09]  Father, we thank you so much for your word.
[00:44:13]  Lord, your word is, your law is a light unto our feet and a lamp unto our path, Lord.
[00:44:18]  And your word is what guides us, directs us, shapes us, and transforms us, oh Lord.
[00:44:25]  And we thank you that we receive your word as those who have been enlightened by your grace to trust Jesus Christ, your Son, by faith.
[00:44:34]  Would your word have blessed your people this morning?
[00:44:37]  Would it have glorified you, O God?
[00:44:39]  And let it lead us to action, we pray.
[00:44:42]  Help us to be those who love Christ, love our neighbors, and to do all for the glory of your name.
[00:44:49]  We pray these things in Jesus' name.
[00:44:51]  Amen.
[00:44:52]  Can I be frank with you for just a second, right here at the end?
[00:44:55]  Look, some of you guys, you're financially supporting this ministry, and from the bottom of my heart, I say thank you.
[00:45:01]  I cannot thank you enough.
[00:45:04]  However, some of you, you just, you can't afford it.
[00:45:08]  In fact, some of you, you shouldn't afford it.
[00:45:11]  Let's be honest.
[00:45:12]  I mean, we're living in Joe Biden's ridiculous economy.
[00:45:16]  Our nation and our totalitarian political elites lost their minds over the last three years due to COVID.
[00:45:25]  We have written checks that we simply cannot cash.
[00:45:29]  It doesn't matter if people change the definition of a recession.
[00:45:33]  We are living in a recession right now, regardless.
[00:45:38]  Some of you are struggling to afford a carton of eggs at the grocery store.
[00:45:43]  You cannot support financially this ministry at this time, nor should you.
[00:45:48]  But you could still help us tremendously.
[00:45:51]  I am asking you, please, if you're willing to do so, Take one minute of your time.
[00:45:57]  Leave us a five star review on your favorite podcast platform, iTunes, Spotify, whatever that might be.
[00:46:05]  This is the way the system works.
[00:46:07]  We want to be innocent as doves, but shrewd as vipers.
[00:46:11]  We need to be strategic.
[00:46:13]  You leave us a five star review, and our podcast shows up for more people.
[00:46:18]  And the Word of God and courageous theology applied in practical ways to every realm of life gets out there.
[00:46:26]  Help us get it out there.
[00:46:28]  Thanks for tuning in.