If fear is the poison of Satan, then love is the anti-venom

June 24, 2002

BaptistWay Bible Study for Texas lesson for July 14

If fear is the poison of Satan, love is the anti-venom

__Hebrews 12:25--13:8, 20-21
___^12:25See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? ²⁶At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." ²⁷The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken--that is, created things--so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
___²⁸Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, ²⁹for our "God is a consuming fire."
___^13:1Keep on loving each other as brothers. ²Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. ³Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
___⁴Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. ⁵Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." ⁶So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
___⁷Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. ⁸Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ...
___²⁰May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, ²¹equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

____By Bobby Broyles
___As the writer of Hebrews continues to deal with the problems that accompany decisions to turn back, he gives us practical lessons to help keep our lives focused on Christ.
___Live thankfully, not fearfully
___Here in verse 25 of chapter 12, we see a powerful contrast between Mount Zion and Mount Sinai. If the "shaking" at Mount Sinai was bad because the people did not listen to the word of God, how much worse will it be for those who do not listen to God himself in Christ.
___Moses was the messenger of God's laws. The Israelites received the law second hand. But now there is Jesus. In him, we have the direct revelation of God. Jesus was the voice of God. Heaven spoke through him. If the people were severely punished for rejecting Moses' words, how much more will they be held accountable for rejecting God himself.
___In Exodus 19:18, the Lord descended on the mountain in fire, the earth trembled at the presence of the Lord in Psalm 114:7. In Psalm 77:18, his voice was heard in the thunder, his lightning lit up the world, and the earth trembled and shook. The writer to the Hebrews refers to Haggai 2:6 in verse 26, when he says, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."
___This shaking of earth and heaven refers to the second coming of Christ (Hebrews 9:28). Whatever one thinks about the second coming, for those without Christ it will be horrible. Hebrews 10:31 tells us, "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
___For those in Christ, except for the burden of a lost world, this shaking of the earth and heavens is not disturbing or frightening. Our hope rests in the God that will never leave us or forsake us. Thinking of those who lose everything without Christ is a sobering thought, but when a man has a relationship with Christ he gains everything.
___The kingdom of God is not shaken no matter what may come, though some Christians want to make other Christians afraid. One preacher said, "If you really want to know fear, run into a church and yell, 'tithe.'"
___Seriously, what are some of the things people want to make us look at with fear and trepidation--the end of America, certain people with certain sins, the tribulation? While all of these things in themselves are terrible, the Christian does not need to be afraid.
___Fear is a tool of Satan, but "greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). Also in 1 John we are reminded "perfect love casts out fear." One thing we can know with all certainty--God is not afraid.
___Therefore, the writer is saying that since we belong to a kingdom that cannot be shaken, we show an unworldly calm. The phrase "let us be thankful" can be translated "let us keep on having grace" or "let us keep on having gratitude." How can we have gratitude in the midst of a world being shaken? Because a child of God knows "the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me" (Hebrews 13:6).
___Hospitably, not selfishly
___We know this word "love" by our own city of Philadelphia, "city of brotherly love" (1 Thessalonians 4:9 and 1 Peter 3:8).
___Many churches and denominations are torn apart due to the lack of brotherly love. We quote the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians, but still we act as if our "tongues of men and angels" are more important than love. We have many self-designated heretic hunters that actually damage the very cause of Christ they are trying to promote.
___Instead of knowing we are Christians by our love, some seem to want the world to know we are Christians by our correct doctrine. Disagreeing agreeably, in many denominational circles, seems to no longer be an option. Brotherly love has given way to brotherly suspicion. We love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and love our neighbor as long as he agrees with us.
___Sound biblical doctrine is essential to the kingdom's work, but when not controlled by love it becomes a whipping stick for people who have all the answers.
___Brotherly love, however, leads us to a life of hospitality. Hospitality was very important to the Christians of the New Testament. Many if not most Christians had little money. Some had to give up everything they owned to follow Christ. As preachers and prophets traveled, they had no money to stay in an inn. Even in the ordinary course of doing business, Christians needed to travel.
___We can only imagine the isolation and loneliness experienced by those who followed Christ in those times. But by being hospitable to Christians who visited their city, they not only were being a blessing, but also were likely to receive a blessing from a messenger of God.
___Hopefully, Christianity still has its doors open to people outside it. It has been said the church may be the only organization that exists for non-members. Seeking ways to invite the lost world into our sphere of influence will continue to be the reason Texas Baptists and other like-minded evangelicals will see God work in mighty ways.
___Verse 3 of chapter 13 tells us to remember those in prison. Often a Christian landed in prison. We find the Christian church here a very present help in the time of trouble. Aristides, an orator who was not a Christian, said when Christians found out one of their fellow believers was in prison for the sake of Christ, "they all came to the aid of the one in prison, even if it meant raising money for the release."
___In a recent meeting with Texas Baptists representatives, pastors and laymen both began to share how God was using them to minister in their communities. International ministries, food and clothing ministries, English-as-a-second-language ministries, music ministries, singles ministries and ministry to the elderly were just a few that were mentioned.
___Prison ministries emerged as one of the most needed outreaches in our state, and also as one of the most effective among Baptist General Convention of Texas church ministries. As we put into practice Matthew 25 and this verse in Hebrews, may God bless our hospitality.
___Honor marriage, morality and the proper use of money
___Contentment is a by-product of a relationship with God. Being satisfied with one's marriage, bank account, etc., comes much easier when given over to God. He has said he will never leave us or forsake us. This assurance from the omnipresent and personal Christ should drive us to become more like him. In chapter 12 of Hebrews, verse 14, we read, "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord."
___One might read this verse and ask the same question as the disciples, "Who then can be saved?" The answer is always the same, with God nothing is impossible. Therefore, all of our lives, our relationships, our morality, our money, all depend upon a trust in an ever-present God.
___When we expect our marriage partner to meet all of our needs, we will not be content. It has been said that marriage is a 90-10 proposition--you expect 10 and give 90. With our human nature like it is, thinking we give more than we receive, we will find more contentment in our marriages. Staying faithful in the good and the bad times is doing no more than Christ has done for us.
___The Bible is not sparing in its instructions and warnings concerning money. The love of money truly is the "root of all kinds of evil." We cannot serve God and money--one or the other must be the priority.
___The rich young ruler rejected the lesson of loving God more than money. Verse 5 can be rendered, "Let your manner of life be without love of money."
___Both the New Testament and our world today show us how the love of money can affect one's character. John the Baptist exhorted, "don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay" (Luke 3:14). When we give all we have for God's use, the life of contentment is sure to follow.
___Follow the leader
___In verse 7 we are admonished to imitate the faith of our leaders. Their faith was dependent on Christ being the same "yesterday today and forever."
___Christ prayed for his church, healed his church, and suffered and died for his church. This is the Leader our fathers of the faith imitated, and he is the Leader we should imitate as well. A sobering question for Bible teachers is, would we want those we teach to imitate us?

Questions for thought and discussion
___ What are some of the things that are shaking your world today? Are you most concerned with global problems or the ones that exist within your own four walls? To what degree do you believe both the global and the more localized tremors are due to not listening to the word God has clearly given?
___ Do you handle your world being shaken differently than non-Christians? Is that too much to expect from yourself--after all, aren't you only human?
___ How effective a tool for Satan is fear in your life?
___ Is faith or fear more evident in the way you deal with problems?
___ How can giving thanks to God be a shield against fear?
___ How good are you at loving your enemies and showing hospitality to strangers? Does fear enter into our ability to show hospitality, especially to strangers? Is it possible that Satan thwarts many opportunites to share the gospel with people we do not know by making us afraid? How do you balance a desire to share God's love with strangers with being wise and cautious about people who may harm you?
___ How can we make certain that the doors of the church are open wide enough to include everyone? Is there any type of person you would not feel comfortable sitting next to on your favorite pew? Does this say more about you or more about them?
___ What is your church doing to minister to those in prisons and their families? What other groups of hurting people could be better served by your church's ministries?
___ Do you agree that "contentment is a by-product of relationship with God"? If so, why are there so many discontented Christians? What would it take to make you more content?
___ Do you want others to imitate you?

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