Hebrews 13 7 16 7 Remember your leaders

Hebrews 13: 7 -16 7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hebrews 13: 7 -16 9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so. 10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.

Hebrews 13: 7 -16 11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.

Hebrews 13: 7 -16 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

Hebrews 13: 7 -16 15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Think Thank Larry Cline - Hardin Valley Church of Christ - 11/24/2013

1. Think About Contentment Hebrews 13: 5

Numbers 11: 4 -6 Numbers 14: 2 -3 Exodus 17: 1 -3

“Be on the lookout for mercies. The more we look for them, the more of them will we see. Blessings brighten when we count them. Out of the determination of the heart the eyes see. If you want to be gloomy, there's gloom enough to keep you glum; if you want to be glad, there's gleam enough to keep you glad. Better lose count in enumerating your blessings than lose your blessings in telling over your troubles. Be thankful to Him, and bless His Name. ” – Author: Maltbie Babcock

2. Think About the Source of Our Blessings (Hebrews 13: 6) When something good happens, who is the first to get the credit? For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? (I Corinthians 4: 7)

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. (James 1: 17) He said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD. ” (Job 1: 21)

Terrible consequences of excluding God. (Romans 1: 21 )

3. Think About Expressing Thanks (Hebrews 13: 15) Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.

§ § § Continuous Sacrificial Purposeful Centered on praise From thankful lips This “sacrifice” is to be:

We express many things almost automatically… § § § Love & affection to our children & family. Anger when someone cuts us off… Frustration when things don’t go the way we want them to. Opinions on everything from politics to sports. Compliments– “Super job!” “You look really nice!” God help us to express our thanks!

Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; (Ephesians 5: 20) In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (I Thessalonians 5: 18)

“Shout joyfully to the Lord all the earth. ” “Serve the Lord with gladness” “Come before Him with joyful singing” { (Psalm 100: 1 -2)