(I often take the foundation of one message and expand it for another service)
Abraham Sojourned In Canaan, But Sought A Heavenly Home.
People err in seeking a home in this world (spending energy, time, abilities, money, talents on the transient).
Love not the World; Lay Hold of Eternal Life; Attain to the Resurrection From Among the Dead.
Secure His Promise; Secure your Passage; Secure your Place.
STRANGERS SEEKING THE CITY OF GOD...
HEBREWS 11:8-10
vs. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
DLG notes...
When God calls us to follow Him in things temporal or things eternal, we should obey by faith.
vs. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
DLG notes...
The promise was made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel), not to the sons of Hagar and Keturah (the Arab world)
Abraham never settled into this passing world, neither should we.
vs. 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
DLG notes...
Though promised earthly real estate, Abraham sought heavenly inheritance, and so should we.
HEBREWS 11:13-16
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
DLG notes...
They (Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob) saw into the future by faith and held to God's promises. They confessed that they were strangers, travelers through a foreign land. simply burying their dead as they passed through.
vs. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
DLG notes...
They made no claim to becoming settled in a strange land, but acknowledged that they were looking for a fatherland, a place of final and eternal residence.
vs. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
DLG notes...
If they would have had a mind to, they could have gone back to the place of their origin. They could have returned, just as we can also return to the beggarly things of this world, as the Christian Jews could have turned from grace to law (Ga. 4:9). If we are focused on following Christ, we do not turn back from our path. If you turn, if you look back, you are not worthy of the kingdom of God (Lk. 9:62).
(Galatians 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.)
vs. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
DLG notes...
While they were strangers in this world, they were focused on an eternal home. Though they lived in this world, they realized they were not of this world, as Jesus had said,
(John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.)
God was not ashamed to be called their God, because they sought a higher, eternal country/city.
LOVE NOT THE WORLD...
1 JOHN 2:15-17
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides forever.
LAY HOLD OF ETERNAL LIFE...
1 TIMOTHY 6:6-12, 19
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
ATTAIN TO THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD...
PHILIPPIANS 3:10-12
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
STRANGERS SEEKING THE CITY OF GOD...
HEBREWS 11:8-10
vs. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
DLG notes...
When God calls us to follow Him in things temporal or things eternal, we should obey by faith.
vs. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
DLG notes...
The promise was made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel), not to the sons of Hagar and Keturah (the Arab world)
Abraham never settled into this passing world, neither should we.
vs. 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
DLG notes...
Though promised earthly real estate, Abraham sought heavenly inheritance, and so should we.
HEBREWS 11:13-16
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
DLG notes...
They (Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob) saw into the future by faith and held to God's promises. They confessed that they were strangers, travelers through a foreign land. simply burying their dead as they passed through.
vs. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
DLG notes...
They made no claim to becoming settled in a strange land, but acknowledged that they were looking for a fatherland, a place of final and eternal residence.
vs. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
DLG notes...
If they would have had a mind to, they could have gone back to the place of their origin. They could have returned, just as we can also return to the beggarly things of this world, as the Christian Jews could have turned from grace to law (Ga. 4:9). If we are focused on following Christ, we do not turn back from our path. If you turn, if you look back, you are not worthy of the kingdom of God (Lk. 9:62).
(Galatians 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.)
vs. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
DLG notes...
While they were strangers in this world, they were focused on an eternal home. Though they lived in this world, they realized they were not of this world, as Jesus had said,
(John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.)
God was not ashamed to be called their God, because they sought a higher, eternal country/city.
LOVE NOT THE WORLD...
1 JOHN 2:15-17
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides forever.
LAY HOLD OF ETERNAL LIFE...
1 TIMOTHY 6:6-12, 19
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
ATTAIN TO THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD...
PHILIPPIANS 3:10-12
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
