Hebrews 13:18-25

   I.  Pray for those who lead.

-pray = proseuchomai = pray; present active imperative

-Spurgeon "My people! Shall I ever lose your prayers? Will ye ever cease your supplication?...Will ye then ever cease to pray? I fear ye have not uttered so many prayers this morning as ye should have done; I fear there has not been so much earnest devotion as might have been poured forth. For my own part, I have not felt the wondrous power I sometimes experience."

-desiring = thelo = want, to will; idea of firm determination

-MacArthur "God is sovereign, but prayer makes things possible that otherwise would not be possible."

 

  II.  Praise our God of peace.

-Jer. 29:11

   a.  He raised the Great Shepherd from the dead.

-brought up = anagago = to lead up, bring up, raise up

-Is. 63:11-14

   b.  His covenant is eternal.

-Kent Hughes "Now reflect for a moment on the richness of our foundation from God: We have his peace/shalom. We have his unbreakable, immutable eternal promise. And, we have his risen Shepherd's care. We have his peace, his promise, his care."

 

 III.  Petition for the body.

   a.  To be equipped to do His will.

-equip = karatizo = equip, set right, make complete, mend

   b.  To be enabled through Christ to accomplish His will.

-O'Brien "Not only does God provide every grace to his people that will enable them to do his will. Through Jesus Christ he also accomplishes in us...what is pleasing to him. The will of God is clarified in relation to what pleases or is acceptable to him."

-John 15:5

   c.  To follow the word of God.

-bear = anechomai = endure, be patient with, give patient attention to

 

-Jesus is the radiance of God's glory and His exact representation.

-Jesus is superior to the angels.

-Jesus is superior to Moses.

-Jesus is superior to Joshua and His rest is superior to the rest Joshua offered.

-Jesus' priesthood is superior to the Levitical priesthood.

-Jesus' ministry is superior to the ministry of the Levitical priests.

-Jesus' sacrifice is superior to the Levitical sacrifices.

-Jesus' covenant is superior to the old covenant.

-Follow the example of those who lived and died in faith.

-Receive God's discipline in perseverance.

-Love one another and demonstrate that love through action.

-Offer sacrifice of praise and service as we look forward to the unshakable kingdom.