Elder's Report | Pr. Meshack Amayo

It is now another Sabbath. I missed you last week. I was doing a come meeting at Ranen Conference near Central SDA Church. And they sent me with a lot of greetings. I hope we receive. And I realize that one member of that church is one of the visitors that has listed in the book. I request to see your name, your face when we finish the the divine. Um I am glad that we are here again this Sabbath and this Sabbath day we are celebrating elder Sabbath. So we are celebrating church elders and I know many church elders are not here but may I see the elders who are present because some are serving in the schools that we are ministering to. All the elders please stand if you are here serving or not serving but church elders please rise. We celebrate you today. May God be able to bless you and keep you and make you be strong for the service. Thank you so much for standing up. Please you can resume your seats. And hence we have the title of the sermon. The title of the sermon is saying elders report. Elders report. And with that, I request that we humble ourselves as we pray. God in heaven, we thank you so much for your goodness and for your glory that you have given unto us. Lord, as we want to get an encouragement from your word, we pray that we may be encouraged by the power of your Holy Spirit. Human beings, we are sometimes our earthly mind may not be able to fathom the heavenly glory. May you come in our hearts and speak to us that Lord your name may be glorified in Jesus name we pray. Amen. We will be able to get a lot of enlightenment from the book of Hebrews. I once met a pastor friend who told me that the book that he loves is the book of Hebrews. And when you look at the book of Hebrews, you might get the reason why this person was telling me that his best book in the Bible is the book of Hebrews. So we will get our encouragement today from the book of Hebrews. And the very first thing that I would want to tell you that the purpose of writing the book of Hebrews, one reason could be that the writer of Hebrews is telling us about the superiority of Jesus Christ. A lot of places the book of Hebrews is demonstrating that Jesus Christ is superior. And another reason is to encourage Christians during that time not to abandon their faith. Two things that I would not want you to leave this place without. Two things. demonstration of the superiority of Jesus Christ. Christ is superior. That is one important thing that you need to understand in the book of Hebrews. Another one is encouraging Christians not to abandon their faith. Seemingly they were going through a very hard time and the book is telling them or the letter is written to Christians who are going through a lot of stress not to abandon their faith. We can have a glimpse of these people going through hard times. If you go to Hebrews chapter 2 and you see verse one, there is um it says Hebrews 2:1, it says, "Therefore, we must give the more earnest heed to the things that we have heard, lest we drift away. If you we don't keep to the things that we have heard, we may drift away obviously during problems. If you go to verse three, same chapter, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation which at first began to be spoken by the Lord? I can just leave it there. But the statement that we needed, how shall we escape if we neglect so a great salvation? Meaning he is telling the Christians, you may be running away from Christianity thinking that you are going to escape the persecution from the Roman Empire. But how shall we escape if we neglect the great salvation? The only salvation will be through Christ Jesus. And when you go to chapter 10, we can just uh just uh rush to chapter 10 and see verse 32-35. And it says, I will read first Hebrews 10 verse 32- 35. And I tell you, we will come back to it again in um before we finish. But I recall the former days in which after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle struggle with sufferings partly while you were made a spectacle. That word spectacle, we will get something about it. both by reproaches and tribulations and partly while you became companions on of those who were so treated. So you had compassion on me in my chains and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. Therefore, do not cast away your confidence. The ri the the book of Hebrews is telling the people who are suffering, you suffered, but do not cast away your confidence. I can still give you two more verses. There are many, but I will just give a few. Um 13:3 is saying Hebrews 13:3 is saying, "Remember the prisoners as if chained with them, those who are m mistreated. Remember the prisoners as if chained with them. those who are mistreated since you yourselves are in the body also. The writer, let me say Paul is telling them remember the people who are chained in prison and when you are remembering them just put yourself as if you are also a prisoner because you are also in body also. When you go to chapter 12 and you see verse three and four, I am telling you that these people were really suffering and it can be proved here a lot of persecution. Verse three says, for consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. These persecutions can wear you and can make you be discouraged. Verse four, but you have not yet resisted to the bloodshed, striving against sin. They are making you suffer, but you have not resisted till bloodshed. Now I want to tell you that the book of Hebrews is courage encouraging Christians who are going through a lot of sufferings during the Roman Empire persecution in the first century AD. Emperor, the fourth emperor who was called Emperor Claudius in 49 AD really persecuted Christians and his reason was that Christianity was causing commotion in town order. They never wanted anything that was bringing disorder in town. So he felt that Christianity the contention between the Jews and Christians was bringing a lot of contention. So he pushed Christians out of Rome. And that is why pre Priscilla and Aquila in the book of acts 18:2 Priscilla and Aquila left Rome and went to settle in Corinthians in Corinth and that is why they were running away because there was a persecution 49 AD and this emperor started ruling 41 AD to 54 AD. when he died in 54 AD, the one who ascended to the leadership was emperor. Emperor that you know, emperor Nero, the one they say killed Paul and killed Peter. He that was in 54 AD is when he arose to the power. But 64 AD he really persecuted Christians. 64 AD. Why was he persecuting uh Christians? One thing happened. There was something that is called the great fire of Rome. The great fire of Rome. Rome had 14 districts. 14 districts. But fire came that burnt a very large portion of the town in Rome in 64 AD. It burned for 7 nights and 6 days. Seven nights, 6 days. That is a week. But when it ended, other fire still uh came up. And so there are some fire still that came for some days for the entire period that the the great fire of Rome burnt. Nero was away, it was some about 2,600 kilometers away. But it's like when the fire was burning, the rumor has it, one of the rumors that it was his plan that Rome should burn. Reason it was having a lot of wooden houses, a lot of congested houses and it was looking ugly. So he burnt it and after that he made a magnificent office for himself and he rebuilt the city. He made a very good empire for himself. This fire that burnt three three of the districts were completely raised down. Seven of the district had various destructions. That is 10 of the 14 districts were burnt badly and four remained unburnt. Then people blamed Nero as the one who caused the fire. After being blamed that he's the one who caused the fire, he needed a scapegoat and he said it is the Christians who caused the fire. Why was the Christians were the people to blame so fast? They were blamed so fast because they refused to worship Roman gods. Another thing they refuse to worship the empire. Another thing they had a very queer ways of worshiping. Sometimes they were hiding when they were worshiping. Now it was an easy catch for him to blame the Christians. It is being said that even during that time is when he cap he captured Paul and also Peter. And during that time is when it is being said that Paul was beheaded and Peter was crucified upside down. the system that Rome was using to to to kill Christians. One of it was crucification which was one of the most painful ways of persecuting Christians and the second one was by burning. They would just put um some some things to help them light you and then you burn up. And when you are burning up sometimes they used to burn Christians at night. And a a a historian called Tesitus. Tesitus a historian called Tesitus said wrote and said that they used to make Christians be torches. A torch you know a torch. They used to make Christians be torches in the night during public spectacles. I told you when we were reading chapter 10 that that is why Paul is talking about spectacles. In that verse we read chapter 10 verse 303 32. It says that but recall the former days in which after you were illuminated you endured great struggles with sufferings partly with partly while you were made a spectacle both in reproaches and tribulations. That one meaning that they would burn a Christian and a Christian becomes a torch in the night. That is for an amusement also. And also they would release you to the the animals, wild animals in the arena. Another way of killing Christians. There were so many I don't need to say all of them. But just to tell you that the person writing the book of Hebrews is to encourage Christians who are losing the faith never to drift away and to hold strong when things are tough. That is why the person who is writing would want first to bring the superiority of Christ over any other thing. Why is the person bringing the superiority of Christ? The people are now going back to Judaism leaving Christianity saying that in Christianity we will be persecuted. Better go back to Judaism and now they are re leaving the faith going back to Judaism so that they may be able to escape their problem. And therefore he starts by saying that Christ Hebrews chapter 1 verse 1 and 2 is starting by saying that the message that was given to us was given to us by the prophets. But these days God is speaking to us through the prophets. Sorry through his son. not through the prophets but through his son through whom he created the worlds. So Christ is superior to prophets and therefore he comes again uh from verse four I think to verse around 14 in chapter 1 comparing Christ with angels. Christ is superior to angels. When you read verse 4, chapter 1:4, When you read chapter 1:4, the Bible is saying, "Having become so much better than the angels, he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they." If you jump to verse eight of chapter one, verse 8, it says, "But for the son, he says, your throne, oh God, is forever and ever, a scepter of righteousness, is the scepter of your kingdom." Meaning that Christ is superior to prophets. Christ is superior to angels. And after that he goes to to talk about Christ being superior to to to Moses. Christ is superior than Moses. That is in chapter 3. And in chapter 4 he talks about Christ being superior to Joshua. Joshua was supposed to give Israelites rest. That one you can get in chapter 4:E8. Joshua was supposed to give [snorts] Israelites rest in Canaa, but that rest was not enough. So chapter 4:8 is saying, "For if Joshua had given them rest, then he would not have not afterward have spoken of another day when he will be able to give rest." So meaning that Christ is superior than Moses, superior than Joshua, superior I want just to count some other things so that we don't read them. Superior than the priests who were there before you know about priesthood uh of Aaron being compared with that one of Melkisedc. the one of Melkisedc is superior to that one of of who? Of Aaron. And therefore he's saying that even the covenant that old covenant is inferior to the covenant, the new covenant that has been brought by Christ. Again, the sanctuary that they used to have is inferior. The one that Christ is ministering unto us in heaven is superior than what they used to have in the Old Testament and which other one. So the book of Hebrews is bringing to the Christians the superiority of Christ above all that we the they they felt were important and they could be drawn back because they thought they could go back to Judaism. Judaism could not be able to help them. Christ is superior. So any other religion, any other place you can go back to is inferior. Therefore remain in Christ. So that is why he is encouraging them. However much you are going through, however tough experience you are going through, stick with Christ because Christ is superior. When the book of Hebrew is Hebrews is being written, you can get a feel of the language that the person has used. He has used some rhetorical skills, some skills to make the the writing becomes appeal appealing. One thing that he has used is comparing two things. the comparisons that he has used comparing Moses with Christ, comparing the tabernacle in the Old Testament and the one which is in heaven, comparing the blood that was shed during the priest's time and the blood of him who Christ alone. He says that he did not enter with the bloods of goats and and rams and anything to the sanctuary. He entered with his own blood. He is a high priest who doesn't need any other sacrifice to sanctify himself. He himself is holy. So the book is bringing that skill of comparing Christ with all that and you remain to say that Christ is superior. And therefore again another skill that he uses is that he brings something heavier. He tells you something lighter and compare it with something that is heavier. Look at chapter 8 and verse 28 and 29. Hebrews 8 verse uh sorry Hebrews 10 not 8. Hebrews 10 28 and 29 20 from 28 it says or how much worse punishment do you suppose will be okay of how much worse punishment do you suppose will be thought worthy who has tramped the son of God underfoot. Let I that one is 29. Sorry. Let me read 28. Anyone who has rejected Moses law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. If pe two people or three testified that you committed a crime, you died without mercy. They will stone they would stone you. But now it's saying if in that covenant you would die without mercy. NOW VERSE 29, HOW much more do you think a person who neglect Christ will die? He's comparing light things with much more greater things. And then the last part, the last skill that I would want to talk about is that this man is talking about persuasion. The Bible now is persuading Christians in this book that after telling you that Christ is superior, now you are being persuaded. And being persuaded they are telling you chapter 11 verse1 faith is the substance you have been going through all these challenges but faith or now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained the good testimony. So he's saying it has been tough. It will be tough. It will continue to be tough. But the only thing that you need remain faithful. That is the call that he's telling people. He's he's comparing things comparing things and he's saying you cannot go anywhere without Christ. You cannot you cannot leave Christ and go back to Judaism. You cannot leave Christ for any other source source of help. Christ will remain the only help. Christ will remain your only anchor. You cannot go leave Christ and go somewhere else. So he's telling them because you are suffering and you have no any other light of where you are going. We don't have any other light for the future. Now faith is the substance of the things that are hoped for. Let's go back to chapter 10. Let's go back to chapter 10. And from verse 35, he was talking to these people who are suffering. And now he is telling them, "Therefore, do not cast away your confidence which has a great reward. You are a child of God and you are feeling that it is dark in front of you. So he's saying do not cast away your confidence. Have some faith to hold on that confidence. Remain in it. It has a great reward. Therefore, he continuing in verse 36, for you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. After you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. In this world, we will go through many tribulations. But after you have done the will of God, you will receive the promise. That is what the text is saying. God is telling you, you will may go through a lot of things. But after you have done everything, after you have endured, you will receive the promise. Then verse 37 is saying, "For yet a little while and he who is coming will come and will not hurry. For yet a little while he who is coming will come and he will not hurry." When now this the text is saying that you are writing to people who are suffering and you know some of them are in prison and he's saying pray for some of them who are in prison like in chapter 13:3 that we read pray for those who are in prison and you know in chapter 12 we read where he is saying continue resisting you have not resisted till bloodshed Continue resisted. Resisting doing evil. Resist. Continue resisting him. You have not resisted till blood. Then he's now consoling them and telling them my dear brothers, my dear sisters, he is telling them yet a little while him who is to come. Sorry. Yet a little while him who is coming, he's on the way coming. Christ who is on his way coming, who is superior, he will come. You know sometimes you go through some straight until you feel that your hope is useless. And he's saying continue in your confidence. A reward is coming. The promise is coming. Him who is coming will come and he will not hurry. That is an encouragement to someone who is going through some stress in life, some problem in life. And then verse 20 38 says verse 38 of chapter 10. Now the just shall live by faith. Anyone who will remain to be just the only the only thing that will sustain you through the through time the only thing that will make you go through it is if you are living by faith. So it's he started bringing in faith telling you the just shall live by faith but if anyone draws back my soul has no pleasure in him. When you feel that it is too stressful to go ahead and then now you want to draw back. When you feel that Christians has are persecuted, when you feel that it is tough to follow Christ and you draw back, he says, "My pleasure is not is is not in him." I don't love that one who is have having who is drawing back. Then 39 says, "But we are not of those who draw back to pition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. We are not of the people who are going back. We are moving ahead. We are not part of the people who will draw back. We are moving ahead. We are soldiering ahead." And that one tells me that this is an encouragement for all Christians to remain in the faith. And in order to prove to you that you can remain in faith, he is proving to you that it is possible to remain in faith. First he defines faith in chapter 11:E1 and he says that now that faith that I am talking about it is the substance of things that are hoped for. The thing that you are hoping for it is tangible and you will see it one time. It is sub. It is a substance. And then he proceeds to say it is an evidence of things that are not being seen. Why are they not being seen? They are there. They are in heaven. They are waiting for you. But you can't see them. What Christ has placed ahead of you is beautiful. They are good things. They are for your glory. There are things you will enjoy. There are things that will be able to wipe away your tears. The only challenge is that you can't see them now, but they are there. You can't see them by your naked eyes. When you will be translated, you will be able to see them. And that is why he is saying faith is an evidence of the things that we are not seeing. What we are seeing is persecution. What we are seeing is trouble. Where what we are seeing is family problems. But it is there is an evidence that those things are there are waiting for me. And with that to make you feel comfortable he counts some elders and he says for by it the elders obtained a good testimony. Only by elders having faith will they obtain a good testimony. This is an encouragement to the elders. But I also say that you can also encourage yourself with that statement. Only by faith will elders be approved by God. Only when God sees that you are faithful to him. Only when God sees that you are standing with him. Only when God sees that things are difficult with you but you are soldiering on. You are not losing hope. You are not losing your confidence. Then you get the approval of God. You see that one means that it is not the elders testifying. It is God who is testifying about the elders and he testifies about one elder and he says that this elder is faithful. This elder is serving me. This elder loves me. This elder stands for me. Wherever putting an elder, put yourself. And he's saying for by this the elders obtained a good report. That is the title of our sermon, elders report. The report that heaven is having about you is that you are faithful. When you are tested, you are tempted to sin, you remain faithful. At a time you are tempted to draw back, you remain faithful. At a time things become so crowded and you feel fatigued. you remain faithful and you receive the com commendation of God. God approves you and lays his hand on you and he says that this elder is faithful in order to encourage the Jews, Jewish Christians who are suffering and this man is writing to them predominantly Hebrews. If you want to know that it is predominantly written to the to the to the Jews who are Christians, look at how the Old Testament is used. How the feasts that they used to do are used and compared to Christ. What how they have been fulfilled in Christ to bring the superiority of Christ. So this book is to encourage those people to remain faithful and to tell us that we can be able to remain faithful. The text in chapter 11 is counting the elders who remained faithful and counted people like like Enoch, people like Noah. But we can mention about Abraham, one who for 100 years was waiting for a son. But he remained trusting God. In this place, Sarah is counted the wife. A woman who knew that physically we cannot be able to have a child. But when angels told him told her that you will have a child next year time like this even after laughing she believed that still it is possible and she received a child of blessing. Faith here counts people like Moses. And he says that Moses left being an emperor, being a Pharaoh because he was a son of Pharaoh's daughter. This Pharaoh had no son. So he was to ascend to the kingship. He counted being being counted with Israelites as a slave. He counted that much more important than being a pharaoh because he knew the reward what was coming ahead of him. So that is counted to him as faith and he suffered with them for many years and by the way he received nothing. You know, he went to tend the flock for 40 years and after that he came to pick the Israelites from Egypt in the wilderness with a lot of sufferings for 40 years and he dies there. But do you know he was resurrected and captured into the heavenly glory? Faith is an evidence of things we can't see. We can't see them now, but they are there. Moses could not see it for 80 years or for many years for the for the 120 years he lived he could not see it but he is enjoying the manner in heaven today. Faith is an evidence of things not seen. Therefore here verse 18 verse verse 13 is saying these elders all died in faith not having received the promises but having seen them a far off were assured of them embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on earth. They confessed that they needed home. They saw the promises. They get assured of the promises. And they said, "Whatever comes on our way, we are pilgrims on our way. We are waiting for a city that has foundations whose builder and maker is God." So they said we will soldier on, we will press on. When you look at verse 35, I'm starting from the second line. Chapter 11:35. The second line is saying others were tortured not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection. That one is telling you that these people suffered. Others were tortured but they did not accept to go back. not accepting deliverance. The reason was they were holding on to the faith that they may obtain a better resurrection. I bring you to my conclusion in verse two saying that by faith the elders obtained a good report. Only a faithful man, God would want to testify that this one is my church leader. Only the one who will be trusting God to the end, God would want to testify that I know this man. This man is my servant. A good report can only be obtained when you remain in faith [snorts] amidst afflictions, family troubles, family challenges, financial challenges, persecutions. One thing will remain is how you endured when you are going through trouble. How you served God when you were going through challenges. How you are faithful to God when you are going through challenges. How you are faithful to your family when you are going through challenges. By this elders will obtain a good report. Someone church members will trust and say that when you tell elder so and so this thing is secret. This thing is intact. When elder so and so prays that elder is a man of prayer. That elder is a man of God. By this elders obtained a good report.