Live As Examples of Christ

Continuing the 7 item list of applications for Christian living:

1) Let brotherly love continue – v 1

2) Entertain strangers- v 2

3) Remember the prisoners – v 3

4) Honor marriage and avoid sexual immorality – v 4

5) Live without covetousness – v 5-6

6) Remember church leadership – v 7

7) Do not be carried away by strange doctrines – v 8

Today we pick up with point 6: Remembering church leadership.

Heb 13:7  Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.

The writer is exorting us to remember (exercise memory, recollect)…

Remembering is a powerful thing!

SEE INSERT

“Exercising memory” is an intentional action of directing our memory in a useful and Godly manner.

2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 

2Co 10:4  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 

2Co 10:5  casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 

“Every thought” in 2Cor 10:5 includes our memory!  We can choose what memories we hang on to, dwell on, ruminate on, to whatever degree we decide, with a direct impact on our present. 

PICTURE example…

The mind is always busy, and just like a child, it needs direction!

What gives that direction?  There are only two choices:

Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 

Rom 8:3  For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 

Rom 8:4  that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 

Rom 8:5  For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 

Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 

Rom 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 

Rom 8:8  So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 

Rom 8:9  But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 

Rom 8:10  And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 

Rom 8:11  But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 

Heb 13:7  Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.

Three roles of church leaders (pastors);

Rule

Speak the Word of God

Live as befitting an example of Christ

Let’s break this down.  

Rule- hegeomai- to lead, command, consider, account.

Church leaders are to lead:

1Co 11:1  Imitate me, just as (insomuch as) I also imitate Christ. 

Mat 20:25  But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 

Mat 20:26  Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 

Mat 20:27  And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 

Mat 20:28  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” 

All authority belongs to Christ, it is only through Him that rulership, oversight, and direction come.

Church leaders are not to be untouchable, aloof, authoritarians, but rather servants, attendants, caretakers, just like Jesus.  

Which brings us to responsibility 2- “who have spoken the word of God to you”.

Rom 10:1  Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 

Rom 10:2  For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 

Rom 10:3  For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 

Rom 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 

Rom 10:5  For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “THE MAN WHO DOES THOSE THINGS SHALL LIVE BY THEM.” 

Rom 10:6  But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, ‘WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 

Rom 10:7  or, ” ‘WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 

Rom 10:8  But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 

Rom 10:9  that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 

Rom 10:10  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 

Rom 10:11  For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES ON HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.” 

Rom 10:12  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 

Rom 10:13  For “WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.” 

Rom 10:14  How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 

Rom 10:15  And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE, WHO BRING GLAD TIDINGS OF GOOD THINGS!” 

2Ti 4:1  I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 

2Ti 4:2  Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 

2Ti 4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 

2Ti 4:4  and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 

2Ti 4:5  But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 

Act 20:22  And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 

Act 20:23  except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 

Act 20:24  But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 

Act 20:25  “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 

Act 20:26  Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 

Act 20:27  For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 

Act 20:28  Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 

Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 

Act 20:30  Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 

Act 20:31  Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. 

Act 20:32  “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Third direction for pastors- live as an example of Christ;

Jas_3:1  My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 

Jas 3:2  For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 

Jas 3:3  Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 

Jas 3:4  Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 

Jas 3:5  Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 

Jas 3:6  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 

Jas 3:7  For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 

Jas 3:8  But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 

Jas 3:9  With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 

Jas 3:10  Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 

Jas 3:11  Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 

Jas 3:12  Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. 

Jas 3:13  Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 

Jas 3:14  But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 

Jas 3:15  This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 

Jas 3:16  For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 

Jas 3:17  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 

Jas 3:18  Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 

Rom 2:21  You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? 

Rom 2:22  You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 

Rom 2:23  You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? 

Rom 2:24  For “THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU,” as it is written. 

Heb 13:7  Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. 

Mat 7:15  “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 

Mat 7:16  You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 

Mat 7:17  Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 

Mat 7:18  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 

Mat 7:19  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 

Mat 7:20  Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 

What happens when “Church Leadership” takes on the pattern of worldly leadership and rejects the servanthood model that Christ gave us:

2Pe_2:1  But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 

Rev 2:20  Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 

Heb 13:8  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 

Heb 13:9  Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.