September 28, 2008

 

Hebrews: Jesus: Son of God

Hebrews 1:1-3

 

When graduating from Seminary I was encouraged, along with the rest of the preaching class, to go purchase a book that would give us all plenty of material to preach on.  Like all my fellow “would-be-preachers” we asked for the title of such a book.  My preaching professor said with a smile, “That book is the Bible.  Go read it, live it and preach God’s living Word to His people.”  How true my professor’s words have been through the past 22 years I have preached from God’s Word.   There is nothing better than to be reading God’s Word for myself and come to realize the leading of the Spirit to bring a message to you, His people.  So with that thought, I am encouraged to start this morning a series of messages from the book of Hebrews that have come from my own personal time in God’s Word.

 

Though we don’t know [beyond speculation] who wrote Hebrews this we know, the author intended it to be a word of “exhortation.”

 

Hebrews 13:22  Brothers, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written you only a short letter.

 

The idea of “exhortation” is one of a stirring appeal and that is what the book of Hebrews does as the author gives the exhortation to see Christ as “supreme”  … that is greatest in person, power, authority, and rank. 

 

In the opening scenes of the movie, “The Fellowship of the Ring” (Lord of the Rings series) these words are spoken.  “And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost.”  It’s a fitting line when it comes to the “supremacy of Christ”  for that which should not have been forgotten has been lost. 

 

We’ve forgotten and lost CHRIST SUPREME among denominational, emergent, reformed, liberal and conservative churches that are more about man’s preferences than Christ.

 

We’ve forgotten and lost CHRIST SUPREME among the dominant easy believe Christianity that coos and coddles sin with a pacifying Jesus, rather than Christ who confronts the sin He died for.

 

We’ve forgotten and lost CHRIST SUPREME when He is given little relevance to our body, mind and soul, as we walk through the day thinking “peace, peace” when there is no peace [Jer 6:14].

 

Has CHRIST SUPREME been forgotten and lost among you?

 

ü  What do you really think about God’s Son? (Col 3:11 … Christ is all, and is in all.)

ü  What is one word you would use to describe the glory of God’s Son for you? (Supreme: Col 1:18 … that in everything he might have the supremacy.)

ü  What’s the greatest impact the glory of God’s Son brings to your daily walk with Him? (Hope … a better hope that does not disappoint, Heb 7:19, Rom 5:5)

 

How you See, Seek & Speak about Jesus the Son of God will either inflate (make much) the supremacy of Christ or it will deflate (make less) of Christ being supreme.

 

It is the intentional intent of the writer of Hebrews to inflate and show the “immeasurable superiority” of Christ over all that had gone before Him

 

Hebrews 1:1-3  In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

 

The direct intent of the writer is to show the supremacy of Christ … and to exhort the believers to go on with Christ as supreme. 

 

“Seeing Christ as He is will keep us from heresy, for it will steel us against a scaled-down Christ which has captured so many lost hearts.  And it will cause us to love Him with a real love.”  - R. Kent Hughes, Hebrews Commentary

 

The intent of this series of messages … 13 of them from each chapter of Hebrews is for the express purpose of seeing Christ supreme so as to encourage us to keep running and to finish well this life with Christ.

 

The writer reminds us that God is a “speaking” God … He has spoken and He is speaking [Word].  In times prior to Christ God used the “prophets” as His mouth-pieces to speak to His people.  How, when and where God spoke is known as PROGRESSIVE REVELATION … from lesser light to greater light … incomplete to completion … from promise to fulfillment … in Christ. 

 

God used visions, dreams, types and symbols (not an exhaustive list) with variety of laws, commands, messages of encouragement and warning as well prophecies to speak to His people.  Though there is a vast variety the point is … “But it is all God speaking.”  [John MacArthur, Hebrews]

However, God was not through speaking … but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son. [Heb 1:2a]

 

Larry King, radio & television host of “Larry King Live” once said if he could interview God he would ask, “Do you really have a Son?” 

 

Matthew 17:5 “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

 

The writer of Hebrews shares the undeniable truth … God not only sent His only Son, but He has spoken to us through the Son.

 

 “God’s full, perfect revelation awaited the coming of His Son.” – John MacArthur

 

1.        SEE Christ the SON

 

ü  Heir … of all things … authority over all things the Father has [Jn 16:15] … execute judgment, raise & judge the dead [Jn 5:26-29] … in heaven & on earth [Mt 28:18] …  He has the last say over all.

ü  Creator … made the universe … acts sovereign over all creation.

ü  Sustainer … by His powerful Word …  spoke all into being and holds sway over all with His Word.

 

2.        SEEK Christ in SPLENDOR (Glory)

 

ü  Radiant Glory … “beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” [Jn 1:18] … “Manifestation of God” in the flesh.

ü  Representative  Glory … “exact representation” … Incarnation of God

 

John MacArthur speaks of man living in a “natural” box … and who is always attempting to chisel our way out into the supernatural [world religions].  The fallacy is, “man can’t get out” of his natural box on his own attempts.  God however knowing of man’s “futile” limits decided to enter our box … that is the “supernatural” took on the natural and climbed into our box.

 

Why?  To rule us?  No, to save us!

 

3.        SPEAK Christ as SAVIOR

 

ü  Provision for Sin … God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us [2 Cor 5:21]

ü  Purified from Sin … purification for sins

 

This is the Gospel message … Christ’s death, burial and resurrection for lost man to be saved.

 

If there could ever be a parallel passage to Hebrews 1:1-3 it would surely be Paul’s words recorded in Colossians.

 

Colossians 1:15-20  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

 

See Jesus God’s Son … Seek Jesus God’s Son … Speak Jesus God’s Son … not based on your own criteria, but upon the “spoken” Word of God.

 

If I might quote again from “The Fellowship of the Ring” … “Much that once was is lost, for now none live who remember it.”

 

Let such not be said of you and I who know Christ.  Let it not be said that none of us remember the splendor, glory and majesty of the supremacy of Christ.  Let us make known and not forget.

 

Amen!

September 21, 2008

Remember … and Don’t Forget

1 Corinthians 11:24-26

 

“One of the consequences of being a sinful, and therefore flawed, human being is forgetfulness.” [Mark Adam, “The LS is Remembering”, Redland BC]

 

I’ve never given thought to my loss of memory as being a symptom of man’s fallen state.  But it makes sense.  Like our bodies wearing out due to the corruption of sin, so goes the mind.  [See: 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 52-53]

 

We are creatures prone to forget.  And so we’ve come up with memory aids/tools to help us remember.  Tools like a “string tied” around the finger … “post-it-notes” stuck everywhere, as well as “electronic devices” all of which are intended to help us remember.   Notice we’ve advanced in technology, but not in loss of memory as we still need the gadgets to help us remember what we’re not suppose to forget.

 

God knew of man’s plight of memory loss …

 

Deuteronomy 8:11a  Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God …

 

Deuteronomy 8:18a   But remember the LORD your God …

 

Ecclesiastes 12:1  Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”–  [Youth … get to know God now in your youth.  Get to know Him as Paul would say, in the power of His resurrection.  Don’t buy into the mushy-feely experiences that base nothing on the Word of God.  If you want to know and remember your Creator … get into God’s Word to know it and live it.]]

 

God knowing our flawed forgetfulness … became the originator of memory aids to help His people remember.

 

ü Phylacteries [frontlets] … leather boxes worn on the head (mind) and left arm (heart) had scriptures (Exodus 13:1-10, 11-16; Deut 6:4-8, 11:13-21) as a reminder of their covenant relationship with God.

 

ü Tassels … blue & white cords or strings worn on the corner of the robes or prayer shawl [Numbers 15:37-41] for remembering all of God’s commands.

 

ü Memorial Stones … Joshua 4:3-7 … remember when God parted the waters of the Jordan to cross over into the Promised Land … These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.

ü Passover Meal … Exodus 12:7-14 … remembering God delivering Israel from Egyptian bondage … ‘So this day shall be to you a memorial;

 

Though we do not use such aids or tools, God nevertheless has given us as Christians a memory aid of His work in our lives by way of the Lord’s Supper.

 

1 Corinthians 11:24-26  and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.  [Luke 22:19  … do this in remembrance of me.]

 

This Supper is to jog our memories.  The language … “in remembrance of me” begs us the born-again to remember.

 

1.   Remember … and Don’t Forget … the Sin of Man

 

The language … for you … you drink it … speaks to the sin in all men … for all have sinned [Romans 3:23].  Through the sin of one man, Adam (original sin) all people are born sinners (Rom 5:12).  The truth is … we all have sinned are therefore sinners.

 

The sin of man should not be talked of as deficiencies, mistakes or challenges in man.  No, sin is the rebellion of unbelief against God and His Word.   And left to ourselves we will die in our sin (John 8:21,24) and be cast into an unfathomable hell of punishment and total separation from God.

 

Remember and don’t forget … the sin of man.

 

2.   Remember … and Don’t Forget … the Body & Blood of Christ

 

God wants us to remember the One He sent, who took away our sin … Jesus Christ. 

 

The language … took bread (v.23) … broke it … my body … my blood … speaks to Christ’s accomplished atonement.

 

I’ve read that there are some 290 references of the love of God (for man) in the New Testament, and there are more than 1,300 references to the atonement of man through the blood of Christ.  (Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations) The greatest expression of God’s love was Him giving His only Son for our sin.

 

1 John 4:10  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

 

As Christ was celebrating the Passover He took the bread and cup to show that He would become the sacrificial (once for all) lamb of the Passover … it would be His blood smeared on the framework of man’s heart who believes, and thus Passover the second death of hell. (Revelation 20:6,14)

 

1 Corinthians 5:7b Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

 

Remember … and don’t forget … Christ’s body and blood

 

3.   Remember … and Don’t Forget … the Lord’s Return

 

1 Corinthians 11:26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

 

The language Paul uses … whenever you (eat & drink this supper) … you proclaim … (present active indicative) speaks with the element of reality … concerning Christ.

 

ü Reality 1: You proclaim the reality of the person of Christ [not some abstract historical perspective.]

ü Reality 2: You proclaim the reality of Christ’s death for the sin of man.

ü Reality 3: You proclaim the reality of Christ’s return for the righteous.

 

Lest we forget … the One who came the first time to bring us righteousness is coming again to reign in righteousness.

 

Jesus speaks in the Gospel of John … “I will come again” (14:3) … and gives the eminent warning in the Gospel of Matthew (24:44) … So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

 

Well, it is true we all need a bit of help in remembering … and so we come to this table designed and ordained by God to be a fresh reminder of His Son who came into this world to live for us, die for us and return for us.  Remember … and don’t forget!

 

Amen!

September 14, 2008

“Clichés or Courage”

2 Timothy 4

 

It might be safe to say that for many of us this week has been one of high tides and low tides, presenting us with challenges and concerns, trials and troubles, as well as heartaches and headaches of some measure.

 

When life becomes waves of challenges, troubles and aches what are we to do?

 

For some a cliché will do.  You know …

 

ü  Winners never quit and quitters never win.

ü  When the going gets tough the tough get going.

ü  Hang in there baby or Just keep the faith!

 

The trouble with clichés is they are what they are … splats of trite or overused expressions that might spur us for a moment but have no lasting results in our lives.

 

More than clichés we need courage that is found IN and founded ON God’s Word.

 

Like that God commanded of Joshua … Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” [Joshua 1:9]

 

Consider the Apostle Paul who was … put in prison, beat, whipped, stoned, shipwrecked, went without sleep and food for days, in danger from various elements and left for dead … on more than one occasion. [2 Corinthians 11:23b-28]  And yet through it all Paul remained courageously true.  How, you might ask?  By way of courageous endurance, not found in himself but in His God, who was actively at work in His life.

 

2 Corinthians 4 … pay attention to words like … “do not lose heart” … “truth” … “power” … “inwardly” … “renewed” … “fix” [all from NIV] … for such terms speak of the godly courage that is to be ours in times that are conflicting and afflicting.

 

See (discern & understand) four word pictures.

 

ü Picture of PRESSURE … hard pressed on every side … inward distress [2 Cor 7:5: outward distress] … present

ü Picture of CONFUSION … perplexed … troubled about the future … can’t get out

ü Picture of PURSUIT … persecuted … feeling abandoned

ü Picture of PUSHED DOWN … struck down … punched & pushed around by bullying trials

 

Can anyone relate to what Paul speaks of … inward pressures, outward confusions, feeling abandoned (no one cares or is there), and pushed around to the point you want to scream or scram.  Yes, we can relate, don’t we.

 

“But” … do we identify and relate to the difference in Paul’s life?

 

2 Corinthians 4:7  But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

 

More than a cliché … Paul found courageous endurance in His God and Savior.  The KEY word in each phrase (word picture) is “BUT” as it expresses the contrary EXPECTED outcome … as well as the DIVINE ENABLEMENT.

 

ü Pressed … BUT not CRUSHED … not pressed or conformed

ü Perplexed … BUT not in DESPAIR … not a total loss

ü Persecuted … BUT not ABANDONED … not all alone (with you always!)

ü Struck Down … BUT not DESTROYED … not down and out (no 10 count)

 

Without God’s intervention these troubles would have broken Paul [Bible Knowledge Commentary]  The first phrase speaks to the “jars of clay” (earthiness) creatures we are and the second speaks to the “surpassing power” of God at work in him.

 

Two times in Paul wrote … we do not lose heart [4:1,16] … or “we do not give up.”  And the truth is we are often defeated (internal/external) by quitting too soon.

 

“How seldom we pray things through!  How often the church and the individual get right up to the verge of a great blessing in prayer and then just let go, get drowsy, and quit.”  [R.A. Torrey, “How to Pray” pg16]

 

Luke 18:1  Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. [aka … not lose heart]

 

ü Courage to RELASE the POWER OF GOD … v.7

 

Learn to see problems not only as real, but also a testing ground for God to show us His power … to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

 

James 1:2-3  Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

 

Don’t be tempted to turn the Word of God into a cliché … to say “Yes, but …”  Stand on it and watch God work through your problems.

 

2 Corinthians 12:9-10  But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 

Rather than run and give flight to our problems … let’s learn to pray courageous prayers to release the power of God.

 

 

 

ü Courage to RESPOND to Others Needs … v.15

 

Looking out for others needs in the midst of your own problems goes against our very nature.  We can become “self-centered” in our needs, wants, interests and concerns when going through trials and troubles.

 

2 Corinthians 4:15  All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

 

This is not “false piety” at work … but all the more “true priority” of living for others for the cause of Christ. 

 

Paul’s aim … as ours should be … was for the GRACE of God … His unearned goodness and kindness be extended to the “more and more people” that they might come to know Christ … get this … through his trials of suffering.

 

2 Corinthians 4:10-11  We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.

 

I think of the lives of Larry Johnson to his last breath talking and pointing other to Jesus … and a Jack Crowell who through this sickness unto death battled to make Christ known … and even after death gave away the Word of God so that the truth and glory might point to Christ.  [I’m building my own Hall of Faith Heroes … Hebrews 11]

 

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

 

Rather than recluse … let us recoil and respond with courage to live for others.

 

ü Courage to REGAIN a New Perspective … v.18

 

It is said, “Our eyes are focused on one of four places at all times: circumstances, others, the Lord or ourselves.”  – Rick Ezell

 

Courage in troubling times allows one to see something that others might miss … the eternal.

 

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

 

-     NP: Eternity is to be HEAVY on the believer’s mind … abundant & everlasting life.

-     NP: Troubles don’t LAST FOREVER … but God’ Work in and through us does.

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 

-     NP: Quit LOOKING at yourself and start LOOKING to God (The unseen factor of faith)

Regain a new perspective in troubled times by looking to God … and that is not a cliché but the truth.
 

Amen!

 

Idea for this sermon came from Rick Ezell’s message, “The Undeniable Mark of a Champion”