Not Ashamed to be Called Their God
A Sermon on Hebrews 11:16
Scripture
16But 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.
Sermon Description
How can one face not only present difficult circumstances but whatever future may come? When the world is filled with sorrow, and the future is filled with doubt, how should one live? In this sermon on Hebrews 11:16 titled “Not Ashamed to be Called Their God,’ Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones exhorts the believer to live with confidence. The early believers were in much trouble, yet they triumphed in this world, gloriously living and dying with faith. It wasn’t the power of their faith in and of itself, but rather the power of the one in whom faith rests. This great hope in uncertain days can only be applied to the believer, for only the believer can be accepted by God. He is not ashamed of all those who trust in Jesus. He is building a city for them that lasts. He has promised to dwell and walk with them. God has received them. The believer, then, leaves the City of Destruction and runs to that other country, the city with foundations. Listen to this sermon as Dr. Lloyd-Jones challenges the listener to ask: “Is this true of me? Is God my God?” This is the only way to face the present, whatever future may come, knowing that God is not ashamed of His people and is not ashamed of being called their God.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon text is Hebrews 11:16 - "Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city."
- This statement is not true of all people, only certain people who have a special relationship with God.
- What does this special relationship mean? It means:
- God dwells in and walks with these people. He is not a distant God but an intimate God.
- God takes a peculiar interest in these people. They are His special possession.
- God gives revelations of Himself to these people that He does not give to others.
- God gives promises and pledges to these people that He does not give to others. For example, "God is able to make all grace abound to you." (2 Corinthians 9:8)
- God will never leave these people. He says "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
- God receives these people and is always ready to listen to them.
- What does this relationship mean for these people?
- They can have great confidence in God.
- They know God is always guarding and watching over them.
- They have access to God at all times. They can go to Him in any circumstance.
- They know the power that is working on their behalf - the power of the Almighty God.
- How can we be certain that God has this relationship with us? Because God has prepared an eternal city for us as proof. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us.
- Of whom is this true? Those who:
- Submit themselves utterly to God and obey His Word
- See the truth about this world and are not satisfied with it. They are seeking a better, eternal country.
- Confess that they are strangers and pilgrims on the earth. They do not belong to this world.
- Have no desire to return to their old life of sin.
- Declare plainly through their words and lives that they are seeking the eternal country.
Other Sermons
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.