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They Desired A Better Country

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They Desired A Better Country

Text: Hebrews 11:15–16

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

1. INTRODUCTION

Picture a traveler who leaves his homeland, not because it was easy, but because God called him. Along the way, he sees the glitter of worldly kingdoms, the comfort of old life, and the lure of “going back.” He has the chance to return — but he refuses. Why? Because his eyes are fixed on something far greater — “a better country, that is, an heavenly.”

This is the story of the faithful in Hebrews 11. It’s the choice of Abraham, Moses, and every true Christian — to forsake the temporary offers of this world for the eternal city prepared by God.

The theme today: We must resist the temptation to return to the world, and instead desire the heavenly country above all else.

2. CONTEXT

The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians tempted to abandon Christ and return to Judaism under persecution. The writer reminds them of their spiritual ancestors — men and women who lived by faith, often leaving behind earthly comfort.

Hebrews 11 reviews these examples:

  • Abraham — left Ur, never went back (Gen. 12:1–4).
  • Moses — left Egypt’s treasures for Christ’s reproach (Heb. 11:24–26).
  • Others — suffered trials rather than compromise (Heb. 11:35–38).

Historically, the first-century world was full of opportunities to compromise faith for safety, wealth, or acceptance. Rome offered peace if one would only worship Caesar. Judaism offered social belonging if one would deny Christ. The temptations were real, just as they are today.

3. MAIN POINTS

·        They Had the Chance to Return — But Chose Not To (Heb. 11:15)

·        They Desired a Better Country — A Heavenly One (Heb. 11:16)

·        God Was Not Ashamed to Be Called Their God (Heb. 11:16b)

·        God Prepared for Them a City (Heb. 11:16c)

4. SCRIPTURE EXPOSITION

I. They Had the Chance to Return — But Chose Not To

  • “Mindful” (Greek: μνημονεύω, mnēmoneuō) means to keep recalling, to dwell in thought.
  • If Abraham had kept thinking about Ur, he might have been drawn back. This shows the danger of longing for the old life (cf. Luke 9:62 — “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back…”).
  • Israel in the wilderness looked back to Egypt (Num. 11:5) — and fell into sin.

II. They Desired a Better Country — A Heavenly One

  • “Desire” (Greek: ὀρέγομαι, oregomai) means to stretch oneself out in longing.
  • Philippians 3:8 — Paul counted “all things but loss” for Christ, echoing the same heart.
  • Matthew 4:9 — Satan offered Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world” but Christ refused, choosing the Father’s will over earthly gain.
  • This “better country” is described in Revelation 21:1–4 — a place without tears, death, or sorrow.

III. God Was Not Ashamed to Be Called Their God

  • When we live with heaven in view, God identifies with us openly. Compare with Matthew 10:32 — “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father.”
  • Shame comes when people claim God but live for this world (Titus 1:16).

IV. God Prepared for Them a City

  • This city is “the heavenly Jerusalem” (Heb. 12:22) — the eternal dwelling of the redeemed.
  • Jesus promised, “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2–3).
  • This is the end goal of faith — not merely escaping hell, but dwelling forever in God’s presence.

5. PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Guard Your Mind — Don’t dwell on the “Egypt” you left behind. What you keep remembering can pull you back.
  2. Value Christ Above All — Like Paul, treat all worldly gain as loss compared to knowing Christ.
  3. Refuse Satan’s Bargains — Every offer to compromise your faith is a counterfeit kingdom.
  4. Live as a Pilgrim — Remember, this world is not your home (1 Pet. 2:11).
  5. Encourage Each Other — Walk together toward the heavenly city; don’t journey alone.

6. REFUTATION

Some say a Christian can enjoy both the world and the hope of heaven — that compromise is harmless. But Scripture denies this:

  • James 4:4 — “Friendship of the world is enmity with God.”
  • Matthew 6:24 — “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

Others teach that “returning” to sin after salvation has no eternal consequence (OSAS). But Hebrews warns of the danger (Heb. 10:38–39) — turning back can lead to destruction, not salvation.

7. CONCLUSION

The faithful in Hebrews 11 faced the temptation to go back — but they pressed on. They could have taken Satan’s bargain, like in Matthew 4:9. They could have clung to earthly gain, but instead they saw it as “dung” for the surpassing worth of Christ (Phil. 3:8).

God was not ashamed to be called their God — because they were not ashamed to live as His people. And for them, He prepared a city.

Call to Action:

Don’t look back. Don’t take Satan’s deals. Desire the better country. Fix your eyes on the city God has prepared. And walk by faith until you see it.

“For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” (Heb. 13:14)

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#Sermon #Hebrews11 #BetterCountry #HeavenlyCity #FaithOverWorld #Philippians3 #Matthew4 #EnduranceInFaith #ChristianLiving #TagalogSermon

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Ninais Nila ang Higit na Mabuting Bayan

Teksto: Hebreo 11:15–16

15 At katotohanang kung kanilang naalaala yaong lupaing kanilang pinanggalingan, ay nagkaroon sana sila ng mabuting pagkakataon upang bumalik. 

16 Nguni't ngayon ay nagnanasa sila ng lalong magaling na lupain, sa makatuwid baga'y ang sa langit: kaya hindi sila ikinahihiya ng Dios na tawaging Dios nila; sapagka't kaniyang ipinaghanda sila ng isang bayan. 

1. PANIMULA

Isipin mo ang isang manlalakbay na iniwan ang kanyang sariling bayan — hindi dahil ito’y madali, kundi dahil tinawag siya ng Dios. Sa kanyang paglalakbay, nakita niya ang kislap ng mga kahariang makalupa, ang ginhawa ng dati niyang buhay, at ang tukso na “bumalik.” May pagkakataon siyang bumalik — ngunit tumanggi siya. Bakit? Sapagka’t nakatuon ang kanyang mata sa isang higit na mahalaga — “ang lalong mabuting bayan, sa makatuwid baga’y ang sa langit.”

Ito ang kwento ng mga tapat na alipin ng Dios sa Hebreo 11. Ito ang desisyon na ginawa nina Abraham, Moises, at ng bawat tunay na Cristiano — ang iwan ang mga pansamantalang alok ng mundong ito para sa walang hanggang bayan na inihanda ng Dios.

Tema: Tanggihan ang tukso na bumalik sa lumang buhay, at itoon ang ating pagnanasa sa bayan na inihanda ng Dios sa langit.

2. KONTEKSTO

Ang aklat ng Hebreo ay isinulat para sa mga Hudyong Cristiano na natutuksong talikuran si Cristo at bumalik sa Judaismo dahil sa pag-uusig. Ipinaalala ng manunulat ang kanilang mga ninuno sa pananampalataya — mga taong nabuhay sa pananampalataya, na mga nagpasyang iwanan ang kanilang mga taglay o alok na kaginhawaan sa mundo.

Mga halimbawa sa Hebreo 11:

  • Abraham — iniwan ang Ur, hindi na bumalik (Gen. 12:1–4).
  • Moises — iniwan ang kayamanan ng Egipto at “inaring malaking kayamanan ang kadustaan ni Cristo,” (Heb. 11:24–26).
  • Iba pa — nagtitiis ng pag-uusig kaysa magkompromiso ang pagparoon sa bayan ng Dios (Heb. 11:35–38).

Noong unang siglo, malaki ang tukso na magkakompromiso para sa kaligtasan, sa kayamanan, o sa pagtanggap ng lipunan. Ganito rin naman ngayon. Ang nangyari noon sa kanila, ay nangyayari pa din naman sa atin sa ngayon.

3. MGA MAHAHALAGANG PUNTO SA PAKSANG TALATA

I. May Pagkakataon Sila na Bumalik — Ngunit Hindi Nila Ginawa (Heb. 11:15)

  • “Nagsiisip” (Griego: μνημονεύω, mnēmoneuō) — ang patuloy na pag-alaala o pagbulay-bulay.
  • Kung paulit-ulit nilang inisip ang pinagmulan, maaring bumalik sila. Delikado at hindi makabubuti sa ating kaluluwa ang pagnanasa sa dating buhay (Lukas 9:62; Bilang 11:5).

II. Ninais Nila ang Lalong Mabuting Bayan — Ang Sa Langit (Heb. 11:16)

  • “Ninanasa” (Griego: ὀρέγομαι, oregomai) — ang pag-abot o pagnanais nang lubos.
  • Filipos 3:8 — itinuring ni Pablo na “kalugihan” at “sukal” lamang ang lahat upang tamuhin si Cristo.
  • Mateo 4:9 — inalok ni Satanas si Jesus ng “lahat ng mga kaharian sa sanlibutan” ngunit tinanggihan Niya.
  • Apocalipsis 21:1–4 — dito dapat nakatuon ang ating pananampalataya gaya nila… ang bayan na walang luha, kamatayan, o dalamhati.

III. Hindi Ikinahiya ng Dios na Sila’y Tawaging Kanilang Dios (Heb. 11:16b)

  • Mateo 10:32 — kung sinoman ang kumilala kay Cristo sa harap ng tao, kikilalanin din ng Ama sa langit.
  • Tito 1:16 — kahihiyan ang mag-angkin ng pagkakilala sa Dios ngunit namumuhay naman na makasanlibutan.

IV. Ipinaghanda Niya Sila ng Isang Bayan (Heb. 11:16c)

  • Hebreo 12:22 — “ang Jerusalem sa kalangitan.”
  • Juan 14:2–3 — “Sa bahay ng aking Ama… ako'y paroroon upang ipaghanda ko kayo ng dakong kalalagyan… ay muling paririto ako, at kayo'y tatanggapin ko sa aking sarili; upang kung saan ako naroroon, kayo naman ay dumoon.  “

4. APLIKASYON SA ATING PAMUMUHAY

  1. Ingatan ang isipan — huwag magnasa sa “Egipto” ng nakaraan.
  2. Pahalagahan si Cristo ng higit sa lahat — Filipos 3:8.
  3. Tanggihan ang alok ni Satanas — Mateo 4:9–10.
  4. Mamuhay bilang manlalakbay — 1 Pedro 2:11.
  5. Magtulungan na palakasin ang isa’t isa — Hebreo 10:24–25.

5. PAGPAPABULAAN SA MALING AKALA

May ilan na nagsasabing maaari mong mahalin ang mundo at asahan pa rin ang langit. Ngunit mali ito:

  • Santiago 4:4 — “Ang pakikipagkaibigan sa sanglibutan ay pakikipagaway laban sa Dios.”
  • Mateo 6:24 — “Hindi kayo makapaglilingkod sa Dios at sa mga kayamanan.”

Mayroon ding nagtuturo na walang masamang epekto ang pagbabalik sa kasalanan matapos ang kaligtasan (OSAS). Ngunit malinaw ang babala ng Hebreo 10:38–39 — ang pagtalikod ay maaaring humantong sa kapahamakan, hindi sa kaligtasan.

6. KONKLUSYON

Ang mga tapat sa Hebreo 11 ay natukso ring bumalik, ngunit nagpursige. Tinanggihan nila ang alok ni Satanas gaya sa Mateo 4:9. Inari nilang walang halaga ang lahat kumpara sa “karunungan at pagkakilala kay Cristo Jesus na aking Panginoon” (Fil. 3:8).

Hindi ikinahiya ng Dios na tawagin silang Kanyang bayan — at inihanda Niya para sa kanila ang isang bayan.

Huwag bumalik sa nakaraan. Huwag tanggapin ang alok ng sanlibutan. Naisin ang lalong mabuting bayan. Ituon ang mata sa bayan na inihanda ng Dios — at magpatuloy sa pananampalataya hanggang makita mo ito.

“Sapagka’t wala tayong dito’y isang bayan na namamalagi, kundi hinahanap natin ang isa pang bayan na darating.” (Heb. 13:14)

Maaaring ibahagi, i-print, ipangaral, o i-repost ang mga artikulo dito kung hindi ito babaguhin, panananatilihin ang tema ng layunin, hindi ipagbibili o gagamitin para kumita, at may malinaw na link pabalik sa blog na ito.

#Sermon #Hebrews11 #BetterCountry #HeavenlyCity #FaithOverWorld #Philippians3 #Matthew4 #EnduranceInFaith #ChristianLiving #TagalogSermon

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