Sermons
Obey Your Leaders
May 31, 2020
Ministry:
- Sunday Morning
Speaker:
- Jeff Crotts
Text: Hebrews 13:17-13:19
Series:
- Hebrews
Hebrews 13:17-19 Applications
It is easy to believe that concept of submission has become a bad word only in our culture just in recent years.
- Yes, anger in our culture is escalating.
- However, to assume submission is a modern sin, assumes man’s sin nature is somehow now different.
- Somehow advanced from what it was 2,000 years ago.
- There is a “Little House on the Prairie” mentality.
- “If we could only return to those days.”
- “When things were in far better order.”
- A brief survey of the sins of the Bible clarifies that the sins of the heart have been there all along.
The 10 commandments form a template as you walk through the Bible’s story.
- Adam and Eve blaspheme God’s name. “Do not take the LORD’s name in vain”
- Cain murders Abel. “Do not kill”
- The tower of Babel was self-worship. “Have no other gods”
- Polygamy, rape, murders, lies, idolatry, just roll throughout the storyline.
- Jacob deceptively stole Esau’s blessing.
- How about Joseph’s brothers ripping their father Jacob, lying about Joseph’s death.
- David’s sins hit most of the 10 commandments in one fell swoop.
- Paul formerly Saul the perfectionist was undone by the sin of coveting.
Sins of rebellion and self-worship that readily translate into insubordination are not new.
- The genesis of anarchy is not Western.
- Or, even American.
- Or, even 21st
Manifestations here and now might be more flamboyant right now, but these are the same sins because this is the same depravity.
So what about things getting worse in the last days?
ESV 2 Timothy 3:1-5 But understand this, that ain the last days there will come times of difficulty.2 For people will be alovers of self, blovers of money, cproud, carrogant, abusive, cdisobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,3 aheartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, bnot loving good,4 treacherous, reckless, aswollen with conceit, blovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,5 having the appearance of godliness, but adenying its power. bAvoid such people.)
This list signifies the “Last Days.” So when is this?
- The Bible tells us that with Christ’s ascension to God’s right hand, he is now poised to return.
- 2000 years ago, Christ initiated the Last days.
- These sins have been going on for a long time.
- Predicting the end when God sees a day as a thousand years is difficult.
The issue of individualism or insubordination within a church was a problem then as it is today.
- Submitting to “leaders” whether in secular government (cf. Romans 13:1-7 or within the church both requires spiritual mindedness and it requires humility).
Christian submission begs a question.
1. Why submit to leaders (v. 17a)
Submission is a key barometer to your spiritual condition.
The function of spiritual oversight. “…for they are keeping watch over your souls” (v. 17).
- “What is this actually?”
- “Keeping watch” literally “guard.”
- To stay alert, not fall asleep.
- “Wakefulness” of a shepherd overseeing his sheep.
Fits the title and call as “overseers” (cf. Acts 20:28; Phil 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:7; 1 Pet. 5:2).
- The idea is that by obeying and submitting there is a real need for your soul is met.
- I am quick to balance that we are members of what the New Testament calls “the priesthood of the believer” (cf. 1 Peter 2:9).
- The church began with “tongues of fire” resting on each believer (Acts 2:3) signifying how each is a “temple of the Holy Spirit” (cf. 1 Cor. 6:19).
Certainly, we are equipped and responsible as individuals to grow in the Lord at the same time there is shared responsibility leaders have within the church.
- William Barclay said, “A Church is a democracy but not a democracy run mad; it must give obedience to those whom it has chosen as its guides.”
“What role does leadership take in terms of the health of your soul?”
Start with the two commands that are really the same.
- “Obey” and “submit” (v. 17).
- “Obedience” is assent to a direction.
- Submission involves yielding your opinion, yielding to a correct understanding.
- I want to be quick to remind that the standard of eldership is “blameless” or “above reproach” (1 Tim. 3:2).
- All of the qualities regarding character and reputation have to be in check (cf. 1 Tim. 3:1-7).
- A “leader” not qualified will damage sheep, even the most submissive.
- The sole basis for a “leader’s” authority is the Word of God.
- Required to be a gifted teacher and discerner of what is truth and error.
- Discerns where the church should go based on his knowledge of Scripture.
- “Leaders” is plural which is the inbuilt accountability within biblical churches.
ESV Acts 14:23 And when they had aappointed belders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting cthey committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
- Titus 1:5; Acts 20:28 all point to plurality.
- This diffuses personality cults. “I am of…
ESV 1 Corinthians 1:12 What I mean is that aeach one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow bApollos,” or “I follow cCephas,” or “I follow Christ.”
ESV 1 Peter 5:1 So I exhort the elders among you, aas a fellow elder and ba witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:
- Paul used the same word “submission” exhorting the church to “be subject to the governing authorities” (Rom. 13:1).
- The command to “submit” takes on a God-centered focus where the believer sees God through the “leader” (v. 17).
ESV Romans 13:1-2 Let every person abe subject to the governing authorities. For bthere is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
ESV Colossians 3:22 Slaves,1 obey ain everything those who are your earthly masters,2 not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
This neither
- This neither elevates to role of pastor or elder or secular leader to the level too high [unbridled dictator] but it neither takes away from the significance of submission.
Back to the question: “What role do leaders play in terms of the health of your soul?”
- To keep watch over someone’s soul is not a trivial duty.
- The motivation for those with this charge is: “those who will have to give an account” (v. 17).
ESV James 3:1 aNot many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
ESV 2 Corinthians 12:15 aI will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If bI love you more, am I to be loved less?
- Every believer will give an account (Romans 14:10; 1 Cor. 3:13-15; 2 Cor. 5:10).
- Still, there is targeted accountability for the Shepherd.
ESV 1 Peter 5:1-8 So I exhort the elders among you, aas a fellow elder and ba witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:2 ashepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,1 bnot under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;2 cnot for shameful gain, but eagerly;3 not adomineering over those in your charge, but bbeing examples to the flock.4 And when athe chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the bunfading ccrown of glory.5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. aClothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for b“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”6 aHumble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,7 acasting all your anxieties on him, because bhe cares for you.8 aBe sober-minded; bbe watchful. Your cadversary the devil dprowls around elike a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
ESV 1 Timothy 4:16 aKeep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save bboth yourself and cyour hearers.
When you think of salvation, think perseverance.
- Throughout the Bible, in terms of testing someone’s spiritual condition, whether alive or dead (which happens at the moment of conversion), the test is one of perseverance or continuance (cf. Heb. 12:1-2 “running”).
- Throughout Hebrews, the call is to be vigilant over the health and safety of our souls!
- Enduring to the end in faith and obedience (2:1; 3:6,12; 4:1,11,16; 6:1,11-12,18; 10:14,22-31,35-39; 12:1-2,12-17,28; 13:13).
- You can just about boil everyone’s Christian journey as a life-long battle against temptations and unbelief.
Elders are commanded and held accountable to guide and promote perseverance. Running!
- This does not elevate a pastor to “God” status.
- An elder determines nothing!
- Anymore, than we determine someone coming to faith in Christ (though we play a role).
- A pastor or elder has no more insight into the state of someone’s soul than anybody else.
- Why Jesus is the head of the church, not elders, not pastors (cf. Heb. 13:7).
Speaking of testing, testing for C-19 has been a ubiquitous subject.
I have had family members tested to be able to receive physicals or go to job interviews.
Testing in the minds of many is a matter of whether you have contracted a virus that could be lethal to you or someone you love.
There are a-symptomatic carriers who have tested negative who are later known to have had it.
There are those who have shown most if not all classic symptoms for C-19 who tested negative.
[Point] There are parallels to your state of soul – our tests might be elusive or misinformed! You do not want to be wrong on this test!
- You may believe your present state of soul /health is just fine.
- You have had a “test” (conversion experience) when you were younger and have not truly questioned nor examined your soul for years.
- You may have passed an earlier “test” but does this really tell us anything at all?
“What is the direction of your life?”
- What are your spiritual symptoms over the years telling you?
- Appetites, attitudes, and actions toward godliness? Or not?
Again, answering, “Why to submit to leaders?”
- The answer is that these “leaders” will give an account.
- Submission to a leader within the church (similarly to “governing authorities” Rom. 13) is one where you see through the leader to the Lord.
- Submission is predicated on a shepherd’s submission to Christ.
- A leader is accountable for how he tended to the souls of men and women.
- Never unbridled authority, nevertheless the stakes are high!
- There truly are no higher stakes then someone’s eternity.
- When a leader stands before Christ the judgment made is not how well he met your needs.
- Church programs or hospital visits though important are not within the same stratosphere as to what this is talking about.
The second half of verse 17 draws a clear divide (good/bad – right/wrong – helping/harming) between someone’s attitude while “obeying” or “submitting” (v. 17).
- There is a kind of submission that sparks “joy” and a kind that sparks “groaning” (v. 17).
- The significance of how “obeying” and “submitting” to your “leaders” again circles back about with the very end of verse 17.
- How you submit either profits your soul or is unprofitable.
- Your attitude of submission either affirms your spiritual condition or does not.
While submitting, ask yourself, “Is my attitude going to spawn joy in the heart of the leader of grief?”
“Groaning” is a deep sigh. An inner burden.
The Thessalonians brought the opposite, joy, to Paul.
ESV 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 For what is our hope or ajoy or crown of boasting bbefore our Lord Jesus at his ccoming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy.
ESV 1 Thessalonians 3:9 For awhat thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God
ESV Philippians 1:3 aI thank my God bin all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy
- When the attitude is raw, begrudging, going through the motions or a shameful, this submission hardens the heart. “…no advantage to you” (v. 17).
- This kind of submission is literally “profitless” (v. 17). It means it is empty.
- This kind of “obeying” and “submitting” does not affirm someone’s soul.
- Soul’s state is inconclusive.
Keeping your heart soft in submission even when still gaining clarity (using God’s Word) on the issues is the right path.
2.How to submit to leaders (v. 18-19)
a. An informed trust
“Pray for us” (v. 18).
The submissive heart takes up the action to pray for the leadership.
- The burden of leadership is heavy.
- But, biblical submission is not blind.
“…for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things” (v. 18).
- Leaders are tested by Scripture.
- The Holy Spirit is the chief examiner in the life of any Christian.
- And this is the case with leaders in the church.
- Leaders can hide but not from God.
- A godly leader casts himself on the Spirit’s gaze.
- Though leaders are first accountable to God, a leader should report to testify to his life to the flock.
- This leader is “desiring to act honorably in all things” (v. 18).
- He is living the Truth.
- Not the perfection of his life but the direction of his life.
- Not perfect but blameless. Circumspect, humble, and transparent.
To pray for leaders is not bucking but encouraging.
b. A faith action
Verse 19 is an action step.
- This leader calls for obedience and submission. In what? Some moral issue?
- It could have been but in this case, it was the call to pray “more earnestly” (v. 19).
- Exert more faith!
- So that this leader might be unshackled from whatever circumstance and to be “restored” to them “sooner” (v. 19).
- “Prison?” Do not know.
“Prayer is the slender nerve that moves the mighty sovereign hand of God” – Spurgeon.
This is the context – Loving leadership calls for spiritual actions motivated by love! Obedience drenched in faith.