Hebrews Study – Lesson 9 – May-August 2010 – Seacoast Community Church

Hebrews Study – Lesson 9

As we continue on through this section, the second part of the book of Hebrews, the writer of the Hebrews has brought us literally into the Presence of God. We walk through a DOORWAY. He WELCOMES US HERE. Telling us that we have the right to come here because of what Christ, our Brother, has done for us,.. And he tells us to come to this place with CONFIDENCE and ASSURANCE, telling us that this is a GOOD INVESTMENT of our TIME and EFFORT, and will PAY BIG DIVIDENS. Heb 6:11-2 tells us that this is a place that should not be the FOCUS of a select few, but that it should be the GOAL of EVERY believer. In Rev. 1:5-6 it makes reference to all believers as a Kingdom of Priests. In IPeter 2:5 and 11we, as believers, are CALLED PRIESTS. Christ of course is our High Priest. But, as called to the priestly office we are suppose labor to mature so that we can minister to the world around us. We are often an intermediary between God and men, showing those around us the “way to God”, bringing them to Christ. Examples of this are clearly seen in intercessory prayer and sharing the Gospel. These are but two examples. God’s GOAL is for EVERYONE OF US to SUCCEED at this, and not just the pastor. KNOWING that we are not perfect we are often intimidated by this calling, but HE going before us has made us fit for God’s presence and His calling and will prepare us for His work. Heb. 7:25.

In Heb. 6:11 it goes on to say that we can INVEST our life, our time, our attention, our FOCUS, to this HOPE with FULL ASSURANCE that it will PAY the intended BENEFIT, UNDERSTANDING in actuality that the LIFESTYLE that the writer of the Hebrews is calling us to IS VERY PRACTICAL.. It is NOT the life of that of a Pharisee which attempted to follow the letter of the OT Law, but in reality did not perform their intended duty as a priest, a representative, of God. They ended up serving themselves in an attempt to satisfy the law…instead of showing the people THE WAY TO GOD. By their lifestyle they excluded those that they were supposed to be showing the way. The NEW COVENANT is a more PRACTICAL APPROACH to God, REQUIRING and acknowledging that we have a fallen nature and because of our fallen nature we have a way to God through the DOOR provided by Christ. It is a FALSE message to give that once we come to Christ then we are suppose to make ourselves good enough to keep the law. We DO NOT NEED TO ACCENTUATE our fallen nature, but this section of Hebrews will remind us of our CONTINUAL NEED of the SAVIOR and that HE provides HOPE and a remedy for our condition. Heb. 4:16 IT IS OUR HOPE and FULL ASSURANCE that DRIVES OUR FAITH toward establishing the Christian Life, not our ability to keep the Law. (We will never get past this point, realizing our need for the Savior. In reality, knowing our need for the Savior, is our destination. We are called to LIVE HERE!)

He goes on to say in 6:11(READ) that we should not be CASUAL about this. He uses an interesting word here. He uses the word DILIGENCE, signifying focus, raising the bar on this one concerning our priorities.

· Define DILIGNECE

He goes on to say in v. 12 that by COMING TO THIS PLACE and by FAITH and PATIENCE we …. Inherit PROMISES, God’s Promises, His Promises to us. He is telling us to follow the example of those who have already paid the price by exercising faith and patients and had received the promises God made to them. Now it is our turn! Will we let those around us down?

Are you encouraged by others who have succeeded at something that you want to do or to obtain? The writer of the Hebrews’ gives us our first example, Christ. He will go on to give us other examples. Others just like us who have done it. We can too!

So the writer of the Hebrews brings us to this place. He brings us to the throne room of God. He brings us HERE not just for a visit, but will REMIND us that we are to LABOR to LIVE HERE. And, by LIVING HERE we INVITE THE WORLD to come and live here also. One of the best examples of this kind of lifestyle was Abraham. He walked with God and yet, interacted with the world around him. Christ also lived here and the world was drawn to Him. It is a very practical way of living and yet remain connected with the world around us.

As the writer of the Hebrews continues to make his case for this way of life he is calling us to, He will remind us that Christ is BETTER THAN all other options. As a matter of fact, he will remind us that He is the ONLY option.

Chapter 7 will remind us that Christ functioning as a Priest like that of Melchizedek functioned with much GREATER POWER and AUTHORITY than did Aaron and his descendants. As we have seen the function of the priest following the OT law was weak (WHY?) in that MAN WAS UNABLE TO KEEP his end of the DEAL. The OT arrangement was still a COVENANT between God and man, but was weak due to man’s inability. This inability still exists today. If man was going to be reconciled to God at all God needed to make changes in the arrangement. By the way, this NEW WAY is in reality NOT A NEW WAY AT ALL. This has always been the way to God. Rom. 4:1-8 (READ)gives us a good example of this mentioning two significant OT figures, Abraham and David. This is why Cain’s sacrifice did not cut the grade.

The next 3 ½ chapters of this book, Ch. 7 through the 1^st ½ of chapter 10, will explain the meaning of the Law and will create a COMPLETE PICTIURE giving us UNDERSTANDING of what it all means, how the Law of the O.T. relates to the New Covenant. Chapter 7:1-10 reminds us this New Covenant came in a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WAY. It came the GOD WAY, using a figure, king Melchizedek, as an example that contained better symbolism and gave a more accurate description of the ARRANGEMENT. If Christ had tweaked the old way and came through Aaron it would have still contained a FLAWED ARRANGEMENT, still depending on man to fulfill part of the deal. Ch. 7 v. 13-4 makes the point that the NEW COVENANT had to be delivered a whole new way, coming through this out of the way tribe. READ 7:11-22

This gives rise to the necessity to give brief discussion to the danger of ritual in religion during any era or time. As we will see again and again throughout scripture, the Law was not wrong, but it was meant to be a LIVING INSTRUMENT to A RELATIONSJHIP with God. Many religions have rules and practices that in and of themselves are not wrong, but have people performing them that have NO REAL IDEA WHAT THEY MEAN, or what they are doing. Good religious habits and practices should enhance our relationship with a Personal God and not alienate us through mechanical observances.

Heb. 7:22 is a CENTER FOUNDATIONAL THEME AND PREMISE to this section of Hebrews and to our faith in general. Could it get any better than this? In Jesus we find the end of our Journey. In Him it is NOW COMPLETE. V. 24 MAKES IT PLAIN that there is NO END to how He can help us. But he gives one requirement, and that is that we COME.

v. 27 Reminds us of the weakness of the OT Law. In v. 28 He uses a term that is significant. The word OATH and God put together makes the WAY SURE. DO YOU BELIEVE IT? This covenant is established on PROMISES and OATHS with GOD. V. 8:6

Chapter 8:1a Now of the things which we have spoken, this is the SUM. READ 8:1-5 Aaron’s service was but a shadow of HEAVENLY THINGS/THE KINGDOM, whereas, Christ is the RIGHT NOW REALITY of those things that are. V. 7-9 reminds them again why the old covenant was weak and v. 10 -3 gives further dimensions to the New Covenant. This is a reference to Jer. 31:27-34 and similar to Rom. 8:1-4 Heb. 8:12 deals with the issue not adequately dealt with in the Law. The New Covenant is FAR SUPERIOR in that it REMOVES COMPLETELY the PROBLEM, the thing that we keep pushing down and don’t know what to do with. It is IMPORTANT to see how this whole book fits so nicely together. V. 12 relates back to one of our key verses, Heb. 4:16 and to one of our future verses 10:19.

This is the ANCHOR WE SAW AT THE END OF CH. 6 Again, it is the simple Gospel. What are you using as an ANCHOR for your life? Are you trusting in yourself to establish your Christian life? It is like attempting to keep the Law for your salvation after coming to Christ by GRACE. Like Hebrews, the book of Galatians deals with this very thing.

Chapter 9 will begin by comparing the so called “Shadow” of the OT tabernacle and its rituals with the “Realities” and the actual enactment of “the Real Thing”. The Shadow or shell was initially a tent which in later years became a more so called permanent structure. We know from history that the Temple which Solomon had built was not permanent either. It was destroyed by the Babylonians/King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C., and another temple was built around 516 BC. The last temple was presumed still standing when these Hebrew Christians had received this letter. As we know from History this last temple was destroyed in 70 AD. by the Romans under Titus. The Shadow was just that. It was representative of a “shell” or a “shadow” of what was to come…the “REAL THING”. Read Heb. 9:1-8 What was the “REALITY” of the “REAL THING”, THE REAL TEMPLE that HAS come!

When you look at the construction or the design of the Temple you will notice that it was designed in a particular way. The design was not man’s design. As we know, the design was given to Moses directly by God. We know this not only by the account given to us by Scripture, but also, BY THE TEMPLE’S VERY DESIGN. If man had come up with the design of the Temple by his own it would not have looked and functioned like this. (Put in picture of the Temple. See below) It would have been different. For one thing, it would have been a lot more elaborate, having many more bells and whistles. Notice the simple design of the Temple given to Moses. It’s design is extremely SIMPLE and BASIC. It is basic and is set up to function “only one way”.

Religion today as we see is often cluttered with way to much of “man’s” stuff mixed in, making it hard to see “God’s” intended purpose. The interesting thing is, when this happens God gets the blame for the confusion and lack of practical use when it is not His fault at all. The Pharisees were excellent examples of this. My I say that we are not that much better. We need to be careful not to add or subtract from the “simplicity” and “truth” of God’s Word. We do extreme harm to both those outside and inside the faith by “adding our spin” to what God is saying making it our version, and not necessarily God’s.

Another reason that we know that man did not come up with this design of the temple is that he would have changed the layout, or changed the order of the rooms. It is man’s habit to recreate the Temple to function on his terms. We do this on a daily basis. This was the problem, or the trap that these Hebrew Christians were falling into. And, It is the Habit that WE continually fall into. Because of this, we like them, HAVE NO JOY and DO NOT ENTER INTO HIS REST”.

The Temple essentially had two rooms. After entering into the Temple, the first room that you came to was the Holy Place. In it were the lamp stand and the table and the showbread. This room was also known as the first tabernacle or the sanctuary. Heb. 9:6 and Num 28:3 tells us that this was where the daily requirements of the law were preformed. The Second room in the Temple was called the Holiest of All or the “Holy of Holies”. This was the Chamber of God. If God came down to meet with man, this is where He met him. This room contained the “ark of the covenant” which contained the golden pot containing manna, Aaron’s rod that budded and the tablets containing the Ten Commandments. On the top of the Ark was what was called “the Mercy Seat”. This is where the blood sacrifice was spilled out from the perfect lamb sacrificed once a year by the High Priest only. And, on each end of this top were fashioned two gold figures called Cherubim. Each room had few articles and simple arrangements. Nothing else cluttered these rooms. Each room and the items contained in each room had a specific function and purpose. It was laid out in the Law. Hebrews chapter 9 tells us that this procedure was a shadow of the truth concerning our relationship with a Personal God.

Only two rooms. It should be easy. God had given instructions as to how this functioned. He gave us a cheat sheet, the answers to the test. He laid out the procedure. The entire book of Hebrews hinges on the meaning of these two rooms depicting two types of lifestyles. Two options, but only one right answer. Our relationship with God depends on getting it right. Hebrews 4:14-6 calls us to one of these two rooms. Which one? Hebrews 10:19-23 does the same. (READ these passages)

We took a look earlier in our study at the lives of two different individuals, Cain and Able, and the offerings they brought to God. These offerings represented their heart attitude toward God. Cain brought an offering which represented his own, man’s, efforts. Gen. 3:4-7. Able brought a Blood sacrifice. It is my belief that these two rooms are represented by these two lifestyles. At least, Hebrews chapter 7 through chapter 10+ makes it plain that the rituals of the Law CANNOT save man or please God, but “the Holiest Place”, making ATTOINMENT for man’s sins, does please or satisfy God. Salvation is NOT of works…this is made clear in Ephesians. But, the Book of Hebrews goes one step further, COMPLETING THE PICTURE…Our Salvation is not maintained by keeping the Law either.

But let’s go one step further, God is TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY PLEASED WHEN WE ARE IN HIS PRESENCE EVEN WITHOUT ANY WORKS AT ALL. This is a TOUGH PILL for us to SWOLLOW. We always want to be bringing something to God, when in reality what He really wants is for us to JUST come!!!, Usually with NOTHING, nothing at all. It appears that He enjoys our time together BETTER when we come to him EMPTY HANDED. Prior to our salvation, empty handed is THE ONLY way we can come.

The writer of the Hebrews is making a BIG point of this. He has written quite a volume basically saying the same thing, coming back to this same point. Appling the truth of this book does not come natural for us. It does not come easy, without a struggle,…LABOR. Mary and Martha had the same struggle. Today we have long debates and dissertations as to which one was right in their approach to God. Martha often wins out in our debates…but how did Christ see it? Luke 10:38-42 (READ)

This is not to say that God is not pleased with our works. He requires them, and we will receive rewards according to our works. But, all to often, the works we offer Him may be our invention, and not His. Cain’s works profited him nothing. As a matter of fact, he was JUDGED because of his works. Sobering thought. King Saul also made the mistake of offering his works to God. J. Vernon McGee made a good point in his study on the Book of Hebrews commenting on the first part of chapter 9. He said,

“’Accomplishing the service of God’ should be ‘accomplishing the worship of God.’ This was the ultimate goal of it all, that God’s people might worship Him. This is speaking of real worship, not just a church service where an order of service is followed. When real worship takes place it is a worship that draws us into the presence of Christ where we can adore Him.

“The word worship comes from the same Anglo-Saxon root word as worth. To worship is to give someone something of which they are worthy. The Lord Jesus Christ is worthy to receive our praise and our adoration. That is worship, and from that follows service. Real worship will always lead to service. In the midst of His temptation in the wilderness, the Lord Jesus answered Satan, ‘For it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.’ You will not have to beg and coax and goad people into doing something, if they are participating in real worship of Christ—because real worship leads to service. Many ministers spend a great deal of time urging people to do something—urging them to give, urging them to do visitation, urging them to teach, or urging them to sing. Real worship will lead to service. Such worship is possible only through Jesus Christ.”

“The ritual of the tabernacle never brought the people into the presence of God. The high priest alone went into the holy of holies.”

Two last points. First… This performing works to please God is much more prevalent than we might let on, even in evangelical Christian circles. I am no way minimizing James’ point that FAITH WITHOUT WORKS is dead. But, believing that somehow we can impress God or improve our standing with God by what and how much we do is vain. His requirement is WORSHIP and OBECIENCE. WE ARE COMPLETELY SECURE AND ACCEPTED BY GOD ONLY BECAUSE OF WHAT CHRIST DID FOR US. The high priest was required to only bring blood into the Holies of Holy to be applied to the MERCY seat for his sins and for the sins of the people. If the high priest had brought into this holiest place more than what was required he would have come out other than how he went in. He knew that he would have been struck down dead and pulled out of the Holies of Holies by the rope tied to his ankle. He knew this was serious business. Cain in bringing his own works in essence was rejecting Christ, Christ’s work. One of my daughters, in one of their Sunday School classes was told that the reason that Cain’s offering was rejected was that he brought an inferior offering, and this is why it was rejected. I believe that Cain brought his very best. Many bring their Best works to God instead of trusting completely in Christ’s work. This is true even after we have trusted in Christ for salvation. Cain could never have brought an offering good enough to pay his debt, no matter how good the offering. We need to stop trying to pay back God and fully receive His gift and start serving Him with JOY! Mary chose that which was right. We need to follow her example and begin worshiping Him. Worshiping Him with a thankful heart leads to service. He already PAID the price. Lk. 10:41-2

The second point comes in the form of a question:

If the OT Temple is a SHADOW then what and where is the REALITY of this shadow? Is it in HEAVEN, or is it somewhere on earth? Where is it? Where is the Temple today? IT IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK. Remember, the writer of the Hebrews tells us that the New Covenant is a vast improvement on the previous covenant. As a matter of fact, the New Covenant is now COMPLETE and cannot be improved on. It will NEVER need an upgrade. And, the Temple, the meeting place of God, the Holiest place is easy to get to. It is the heart of man. I Cor. 6:19-20 The Kingdom of God in REALITY is VERY near! Boldness in our FAITH and REST for our soul is found in meeting God here. Rom. 8:1

Hebrews Study – Lesson 8 – May-August 2010 – Seacoast Community Church

Hebrews Study – Lesson 8

As we continue our study we remember that in the first section of this book we were issued a CHALLENGE. Does anyone remember what that challenge was? Heb. 3:1 To consider Jesus, esteemed GREATER than those among men…coming to Him DIRECTLY with our cares, our needs and concerns.

As we come to the end of this first section of the book of Hebrews, we stand on a THRESHOLD. It is A LITERAL THRESHOLD. The writer of the Hebrews has brought us here. It is the threshold of a DOORWAY. And, we are being INVITED to COME IN. This first section ends with Heb.4:16. Heb. 3:1 tells us that we are CALLED. And, that this calling is a HEAVENLY CALLING. GOD is CALLING US. He is CALLING US OUT OF THE WORLD that we knew and into a NEW WORLD, and…a NEW WAY OF LIVING. It is like WALKING THROUGH A DOORWAY…into the PRESENCE OF GOD…still seeing the world and it’s things around us, but being called into the PRESENCE OF GOD, and BECAUSE WE SEE HIM we begin to live differently.

I remember one time that I had this seminar in Chicago. I remember going for a walk that evening, after the classes were over. I remember walking down the Miracle Mile in the downtown area close to the waterway that runs through Chicago…, and all the streets were very busy, and filled with people. I remember walking down a walkway by the waterway, just exploring the town, and I came upon a garden in the middle of the city. In that very busy city, with all its noise and activity, I walked into this garden that I think was built by Mr. Wrigley the chewing gum millionaire, and it was like entering through the wardrobe into Narnia. All of a sudden it was quiet, and peaceful, and it was like walking into another world. I hadn’t left the city, but I was, at that time, for some reason, overcome with this quiet place there in the city. It had a couple of benches, and I was compelled to sit down and stop for a moment and drink in the quiet, which was right in the midst of a BUSY WORLD. I could see the busy world all around, but where I was it was quiet. I remember, taking a moment, and at that time, thanking God for that place there in this busy city and thanking Him for the foresight of the person who put it there. I think that God is calling us to a place like this. A place that we can access at any time, …anywhere. In the midst of our BUSY world, the writer of the Hebrews is inviting us to walk through a doorway into the KINGDOM of GOD, Into the PRESENCE OF GOD.

Steven in the book of Acts knew of this place. So did David when Absalom was after him. Daniel knew of this place…it was in his room, where he prayed to God in a foreign, and I might say pagan land. Hebrews ch. 11 is full of examples of those who found their way into the presence of God. Heb. 6:12 tells us that (READ)…..through faith and patience INHERITED WHAT? THE PROMISES.

Let’s make it a little more PERSONAL. He is calling YOU. He has CALLED YOU to come. BY NAME. Heb. 3:1 tells us that it is a HEAVENLY CALLING. Whether you realize it or not… there is a calling to you. It is A CALLING on your life. And, it is PERSONAL. This is why we have no PEACE. Or in other words…REST. GOD has called us. AND, HE IS STILL CALLING YOU, calling you to come.

· Come where?

· My sheep hear MY VOICE…and they FOLLOW ME…you finish the verse…and I give unto them ETERNAL LIFE.

Last week we looked at some terms to consider that might help us to sharpen our FOCUS on our journey and destination. DEALING WITH THESE TERMS will help bring God, and His Kingdom, into FOCUS, making them more of a REALITY in your life. Some of those terms included words like “the world”, “the Kingdom”, “Heaven”, “earth or earthly”. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO WRITE THEM DOWN, make a note of them. RUMINATE/MEDITATE ON THEM. As we FOCUS ON these TERMS some of them will begin to naturally GROUP TOGETHER, terms that go kind of in the same bucket. BUT, AS we begin to group those words together that HELP US/you TO FOCUS ON OUR/your DESTINATION, we will BEGIN TO SEE that they are ALL LEADING US to the SAME PLACE, ONE PLACE. There is a PLACE where God is calling us to. It is OUTSIDE OF EGYPT, so to speak. THERE IS a DESTINATION. It is a JOURNEY to get there, but in reality, it is closer than you might think.

Chapter 4 ends in a place…a location…a destination. THERE IS A DOOR…a LITERAL DOOR that we are brought to…And… WE ARE ASKED TO COME IN. READ 4:14-6. It is a HOLY PLACE…A PLACE WHERE GOD DWELLS. This IS NOT JUST A SPIRITIAL EXERCISE. This lesson is very PRACTICAL, and has PRACTICAL APPLICATION to our life.

4:15 states that He UNDERSTANDS OUR FEELINGS. Yes, how we feel, and the pain we FEEL, IS IMPORTANT to Him. The end of V. 16 states that we come into this place to OBTAIN Mercy and Grace not just for forgiveness, but TO GET HELP in our time of need. So, this DESTINATION is VERY PRACTICAL. But…, WE MUST COME THE RIGHT WAY. The writer of the Hebrews says that there is really only ONE WAY to get there.

So, we come to this DOORway. (Give practical illustration at doorway. Go outside the doorway. Walk through doorway.) Will we come in? IF NOT, then, WHAT IS KEEPING US OUTSIDE? How can we get past these obstacles? God is wanting us to Dwell In this PLACE WITH HIM. But, it is important to mention that, this place goes with us AS WE TRAVEL through this life. THINK ON THESE THINGS…

The next 5+ chapters of our study will talk about this place and the ONE FOUND THERE. It will also show us the way in. The ONE FOUND THERE is the ONLY ONE that has the RIGHT to be there. The first 4 verses of chapter 5 talk about the Law and man’s failure to satisfy it, the priest being flawed himself. Galatians 3:10-2 says…READ. Even though man was given or showed a Law that was good, he found out that he could not SATISFY IT’S requirements by HIS OWN efforts. So to, we will see that we cannot enter by OUR efforts either. This is important. The only way of obtaining God’s REST is to approach God the right way, carrying Nothing.

We took a look at what was offered by two different Bible characters, Cain and Able.

· Does anyone remember what each offering was and God’s response to them? Gen. 4:1-7

· It is important to remember this example as we draw near to God. If our GOAL is to PLEASE HIM and find HIS REST how we get there makes all the difference.

· The writer of the Hebrews uses the example of Cain and Able himself as one of his examples in ch. 11:4 Able having obtained the blessing, even though it cost him his life.

Chapter 5:5-10 will begin to show us the way, and that this ONE IS THE ONLY ONE that could have provided the way. READ Heb. 5:5-10. Is it possible to have this Holy Place as part of your life, or in reality the Main FOCUS of your life? God says that it is. BUT, what does that mean? I think that really INITIALLY we do not know what that means. But, IF we follow God, making His Word our GUIDE BOOK, He can show us the way and what that means. AND, what that means is probably DIFFERENT from what we currently think that it is. THIS IS THE LABOR PART OF LABOR TO ENTER INTO HIS REST.

The end of chapter 5, v.11-4 tells us that these Hebrew Christians, as did the OT Israelites, had become DULL OF HEARING, v.11. (Are we in the same situation?) They had seen the POWER of God at work, but QUICKLY FORGOT what He did for them the next time they were faces with a NEED or CHALLENGE. They began to trust in their own devices instead. They were not acting on what they had received.

· This is the THIRD WARNING

· What is another word for this? Apathy. Blasé.

· How does this compare with us today?

V.12 tells us that these Jewish Christians apparently had good teaching and a good foundation at one time, but had let it slip. READ v.12. This relates back to an earlier part of our study in Heb. 2:1, letting things slip. V. 12 says that by the time they had received this letter that they should have been teachers (what about us), and, that they had not APPLIED what they had learned. This gives credence to the point about our need to PRACTICALLY APPLY what we learn and understand from God’s Word.

We all to often want to approach God with our HEAD, and after we see and understand some new TRUTH, we end it and say, “Ah…I got it.” And, it ends there…we go on to learn/understand the next truth. We quite often really do understand the truth that we just learned, BUT IN REALITY, this new truth has NO BENEFIT to us because we have not allowed God to APPLY it to our life. That’s want happened to these Christians. They were NOT ACTING ON what they knew.

REREAD. 5:11-4. V. 14 Has an interesting phrase in it. In the middle of this verse, the KJV uses the phrase, “by reason of use”. What do you think that that means, and, what is the result of it’s application? This relates back to Heb. 4:12.

Chapter 6:1 says (READ) just what we were discussing. It says that we are to LEAVE, go past, ON TO THE NEXT STEP, the principles of the doctrine of Christ, which is the APPLICATION OF THE TRUTH. The Principles of Christ are not evil or bad, but…they are BASIC. The mature Christian has gone PAST this point to APPLICATION OF THE TRUTH, having our senses EXERCISED, discerning both good and evil, 5:14. The end of 6:1 uses the term “Dead Works”.

· What do you think that means? It could mean works that have no benefit, OR, it could also mean the ABSENCE of the APPLICATION of the truth that they had learned.

· The test of I Cor. 3:12-5 (READ) could be applied here. And, has application to the first ½ of chapter 6.

Read 6:1-8. This looks very much like a picture of the church today. There are 2 types of lives depicted here. What are they?

· Fruitful/mature

· Unfruitful/immature

· It could possibly give reference to an example of an unbelievers lifestyle.

· The books of 1 and 2^nd Peter and 1 John give reference to knowing true believers by their fruit.

· A parallel passage is found in John 15:1-8 (may read v. 9-11 also.)

· Heb. 6:9 reminds them that “good works accompany true salvation”. (the latter part of this verse admits that he is speaking pretty harsh and pointed to them.)

· Reminding them in v. 12 that it takes “LABOR” , faith and patients worked out over time to INHERIT THE PROMISES.

· V. 13-5 God is the Highest and Most SURE GUARANTEE possible that it would be so. “CONSIDER IT DONE!” V.15 says that Abraham PATIENTLY ENDURED…RECIEVING the promise.

· Are we WILLING to TRUST GOD. God gave Abraham a DOUBLE backing to His Promise to him. He backed it up by two immutable things. Do you know what immutable means? It means CANNOT BE CHANGED. The First was by His PROMISE. The Second by an OATH. What made this Promise so SURE? READ Num. 23:19 and I Sam. 15:29. Either component would have been binding and good enough with God. But, in the realm of men an “oath” is greater than a promise.

· V. 19 This PROMISE holds in the presence of GOD, inside the veil. Because of its SURETY, it HOLDS as an ANCHOR in our souls. IT CAN BE TRUSTED in EVERY AREA of our life.

· V. 20 When someone else has already done it WE ARE ENCOURAGED that it will be the same for us! Christ went before us. He is already THERE. The PLAN WORKED. It was TESTED and found to be SURE and TRUE. He beckons us to come. He says, “This IS the way. “.

As we come to the end of Chapter 6 we come back to some TERMS. The first term has to do with our LIST OF DOCTRINAL STATEMENTS. The word IMMUTABLE needs to be added to those things we know to be true about God. What does that mean? God CANNOT lie or go back on a PROMISE. If we UNDERSTAND His Promises and do not TAKE THEM OUT OF CONTEXT we know that we can STAND on them….REMEMBERING, that God’s timing is NOT our timing. We need to be careful not to make GOD’S PROMISE OUR VERSION OF THAT PROMISE. We need to UNDERSTAND GOD’S TERMS so that we CAN ACT ON THEM. As a side note, this may be why Satan is allowed to presently continue to operate…operate until God’s promise is fulfilled.

The second group of terms deals with the terms that we posted a couple of weeks ago on the easel. . (Terms like LABOR… and… REST. ENGAGE. ENTANGLED. THE WORLD. THE KINGDOM. HEAVEN. EARTH or EARTHLY. Home. FAITH. PRIESTHOOD(of the BELIEVERS). UNBELIEF.) The original group of words placed up on the easel looked a lot like our lives…a hodgepodge of terms randomly floating around in our lives. However, God wants us to ORDER and PRIORITIZE these terms as they apply to our Christian life.

As we work, or LABOR, to CULTIVATE, these terms or concepts into our life, we will see that the FRUIT of God’s Spirit will begin to MANIFEST in our life, giving us a RENEWED CONFIDENCE in God and His PLAN for our life. The things that will not survive the test of I Cor. 3:12-5 will begin to slowly SHRINK, becoming less dominant. Watering and pulling weeds…watering and pulling weeds…makes for a PROFITABLE and HEALTHY garden in life. OUR LIVES ARE FULL OF CHOICES. THE MORE RIGHT/ETERNAL choices that we make each day the clearer God’s PURPOSE AND PLAN becomes and we BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE GOD’S TRUE REST in His will for our DAILY life.

This Sanctuary that we seek IS NOT OUT THERE SOMEWHERE! It is IN HERE…INSIDE YOUR HEART. That is why it is so REDEBLY ACCESSIBLE. We do not have to travel on some Mecca or pilgrimage to get to our destination. If we learn and understand the secret of GOD with us..although it isn’t a secret to God, we can have access to God’s REST and PEACE ANYWHERE, in ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, at ANY TIME. It became Abraham’s habit, and it became Daniel’s habit also. Any PLACE, any TIME. Being in the GOD ZONE.

It is IMPORTANT to mention to remember that when we find this ZONE, THAT IT IS A HOLY PLACE, and GOD IS AT WORK. But, OFTEN His work involves not only you, BUT OTHERS. BE SURE TO LOOK AROUND. A HOLY TIME IS OFTEN ABOUT THOSE AROUND YOU AND NOT ABOUT YOURSELF.

IT IS ALSO WORTH MENTIONING AGAIN, that FAITH IS THE VEHICAL BY WHICH WE TRAVEL WITH GOD. We will see this message repeated over and over again in this book. Many self help books begin with the power of believing, but do not give you any SUBSTANCE to believe in. BUT, our FAITH is in the SUBSTANCE of THE LIVING GOD.

(By the way our whole CHURCH FOCUS is called what? THE GREAT ADVENTURE. Pastor Steve has coined our travels as a church and individually as the GREAT ADVENTURE. Hebrews DOES THE SAME.)

WE ENTER IN BY FAITH

IT IS A HOLY PLACE

We talked/mentioned last week that FAITH is ESSENTIAL to UNDERSTANDING God and also ESSENTIAL in PLEASING Him. But, AS WE WILL SEE as we progress through this book, FAITH, AND ACTING ON THIS FAITH, undergirds ALL that we are and EVERYTHING that we do.

When was the last time that you showed up in God’s Presence without a plan?? We come into God’s Presence to learn the Plan, not to share with Him our plan.

Real encounters with God: The transfiguration, Abraham and God discussing Sodom and Gomorrah and Samuel in the temple.

Hebrews Study – Lesson 7 – May-August 2010 – Seacoast Community Church

Hebrews Study – Lesson 7

By way of review…because we haven’t been together in a while, in our last study we talked about the writer of the Hebrews offering us a challenge in Heb. 3:1. His challenge to consider JESUS HIMSELF as our SOURCE of REFUGE, our source of COMFORT and our source of strength. We all to often tend to resort to Techniques and things that we can see, like friends, jobs, resources, etc., instead of coming to Him DIRECTLY with our needs. In our last study we emphasized the PERSONAL aspect of our relationship with Christ.

We also talked about how we are in constant battle within ourselves and with the external world around us. Remembering that we were once a part of this WORLD’S SYSTEM, and it’s ways, and we are now being CALLED to WALK WITH GOD through this world, having a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with Him, toward a NEW DESTINATION.

In REALITY most of us have LEARNED to tolerate this world and have become somewhat comfortable in being here. However, the writer of the Hebrews IS TELLING US, as he was telling these 1^st century Christians, if we live this way WE WILL NEVER find REST, the REST that God talks about in His Word. He tells us in JN. 14:27 , ”Peace I give to you. My peace I give unto you…Not as the world gives, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled. Neither let it be afraid”. And in Mt. 11:29-30 He says, “Take MY YOKE upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find REST for your souls. For my yoke is EASY and my BURDEN is LIGHT.” This is what we are looking for. This IS what our heart desires. BUT,..THE WRITER OF THE HEBREWS WILL TELL US in Heb. 4:11 that this REST will not come to us without effort. He tells us that it will take LABOR to get there.

As we have progressed in our study we have some terms that have begun to surface that are VERY RELEVENT TO OUR JOURNEY. We want to take a look at some of these terms in just a moment, but first it might be a good idea to get a brief overview of where we are at in our journey.

In today’s lesson we will be finishing up the first section of this book and beginning the second section. In the Scolfield Reference Bible he divides the book of Hebrews in 3 sections ending with a conclusion. It follows similar to our original handout:

· The first section was: Christ as a Person Superior to All Other Persons (Introduction 1:1-3; section 1 1:4-4:16)

· Section II The Pre-eminence and Finality of the Priesthood of Christ (5:1-10:18) This section talks about His Credentials.

· And, Section 3, The Life of Faith (10:19-13:19) and examples of faith in action.

· Conclusion (13:20-25)

· (Show ORIGINAL chart)

Christ as a Person IS SUPERIOR to ALL others. We have seen some so called Great people walk the earth. Some of them have done some really great things. But, comparing them to the Life of Christ they just don’t measure up. If we were to look at the HUMANESS OF CHRIST there was NO ONE LIKE HIM!

This next section we will focus on His Credentials and Ability to function as OUR HIGH PRIEST, being SUPERIOR to the Old Testament system which contained the Law and was administered through Aaron and his family. Actually, we will see that Christ is the FULFILLMENT of the OT system. And, HE comes with FULL CERDENTIALS as the ONE, and ONLY having this validation. Bold statement.

BUT FIRST, by review as we have seen the book of Hebrews is full of doctrine and tenants of the Christian Faith. What is a Doctrine? (A spiritual truth) A doctrine is not only a spiritual truth, but one could classify good Christian doctrine as significant components of our faith and the Christian life…, finding its source from Scriptures. I have 2 new doctrines to add to our list:

· Faith is ESSENTIAL to UNDERSTAND GOD.

· Faith is ESSENTIAL to please God.

In our last couple of studies we have seen several terms and concepts surface that are significant. Terms like LABOR… and… REST. ENGAGE. ENTANGLED. THE WORLD. THE KINGDOM. HEAVEN. EARTH or EARTHLY. Home. FAITH. PRIESTHOOD(of the BELIEVERS). UNBELIEF. These are Significant terms that we need to understand and place into prospective in our lives. These terms are ESSENTIAL if we are going to ENTER INTO GOD’S REST that He has for us.

Where do they fit? What do they mean? How do I apply these terms to my life, allowing them to make a PRACTICAL difference in my life? How I live. Directing and heading me toward God’s rest. Pleasing God. (Entering into what could be termed as A HOLY PLACE) Do we have a CLEAR understanding of their meaning? Do we need to modify somewhat our definition of their meaning? HAVE WE RUMINATED (or meditated) OVER THEIR MEANING? Do we see these terms CLEARLY? Have we begun to APPLY THEM?

What is God’s REST? How is LABOR an important component of getting there? Am I ENTANGLED in this world? Or, am I trying to ENGAGE my world for the Kingdom with my gifts and talents? Do I know what my gifts and talents are? How can I engage my world with more fiancé, having a greater impact? Do I really understand the “World System”? It’s ways? It’s DECEPTIONS? How does GOD’S KINGDOM fit into this world? What does that REALLY mean? WHERE IS MY HOME and when will I SEE IT? Am I going toward that DESTINATION? AM I USING the SWORD OF HEB.4:12 to divide these things out in my life. What is FAITH and HOW DO I PROPERLY USE THIS IMPORTANT TOOL in my life?

· What do you think about these terms?

· What do they mean?

· How do they apply to my life?

We need to INTENTIONALLY order and put into practice these terms. The Old Testament Israelites were CARELESS and APATHETIC in dealing with these terms. They did not obtain God’s REST. To enter into God’s REST we MUST INTENTIONALLY APPLY THESE TERMS TO OUR LIFE, using 1 Cor. 3:11-5 (READ) as our MEASURING STICK. I Cor. 3:11-5 gives us a practical approach as to what we should be spending our time on. Also, we will continue to look and discuss the meaning of “the Priesthood of the Believers” as we continue through Hebrews. This is a VERY IMPORTANT TERM that CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE in how we live life here on planet earth. Some of these terms may be confusing at first, but should become clearer as we progress in our study.

As we continue LETS STOP for a moment and RUMENATE (meditate) on that VERY IMPORTANT verse found in chapter 4, Heb. 4:12. READ. THIS IS A VERSE THAT EVERYONE SHOULD MEMORIZE. We took a brief look at this verse during our last study. If you haven’t pondered over this verse in a while you need to take a few minutes and reacquaint yourself with this verse again. There is a lot in this one verse.

When we began our study we talked about how the LIVING GOD is behind the words on these pages (the Bible). Heb. 4:12 EXPLAINES how GOD USES HIS WORD to MAKE A DIFFERENCE in our life. The Word of God is POWERFUL. If we understand what GOD IS DOING we are more apt to LET GOD HAVE HIS WAY as we read the Scriptures. Some of the work that God needs to do in us is not always PRETTY and often times PAINFUL. Understanding this verse can help us to LET GOD HAVE HIS WAY, believing that HE knows what HE IS DIONG. As we talked about in the beginning, the writer of the Hebrews was writing to IMMATURE BELIEVERS and to move from IMMATURITY to MATURITY means DEALING with some “STUFF”. This stuff in our lives is often TENDER and can be PAINFUL. TRUSTING GOD in the process makes it easier. A. W. Tozer described it best in his book “The Pursuit of God”. He says that this “stuff” is intertwined with human flesh and its removal is often accompanied by difficult means. Because this “stuff” is so intertwined with our human flesh God’s dealing with these areas can be painful. Trusting God through the process is ESSENTIAL. Knowing God, and His PROMISES allows us to trust God in difficult times, waiting out His working in us.

As we continue through the end of chapter 4 into chapter 5 we will notice that the writer of the Hebrews will focus on ONE AREA OF LIFE. It is the MAIN OBSTICAL to our relationship with God. As we will see it was ADIQUATELY AND COMPLETELY dealt with on THE CROSS. As we look at how God deals with this SENSITIVE part of our relationship, we will see that HE HAS PAID FOR IT AND therefore, has taken it COMPLETELY OUT OF THE WAY.

However, with FREEDOM comes RESPONSIBILITY. (Please read the following passages) Heb. 4:10 says that we can’t offer our works here. Romans 8:5-8 comes into play here…the natural man cannot please God. Rom 3:9-12 make it clearer…in our own we have NOTHING to offer. We must be the RECEPIENTS… receiving HIS FORGIVENESS AND GRACE. We come in the BOLDNESS of understanding TOTAL AND COMPLETE FORGIVENESS…obtaining MERCY, and finding GRACE in our time of need. READ Heb. 4: 16 God’s arms are wide open in this matter. His hand is outstretched saying COME … but, we must come RECEIVIENG, not offering. This is TOTALLY against our nature. (SN. We can ONLY please God by our OBEDIENCE.)

One might think that this is a HUMBLING EXPERIENCE coming to God receiving from Him instead of giving or doing something for Him…and IT IS! But, more importantly it is a FREEING EXPERIENCE. In the process of RECEIVING God’s GRACE we are getting rid of the BURDON OF LIFE…OUR SIN. In the process of receiving God’s grace we find His REST. The REST we are looking for. The writer of the Hebrews will remind us that this REST IS THE BASIS OF ALL OF OUR LIFE. (Forgiveness can and should affect EVERYTHING.) And, it is the basis of OUR FREEDOM. A FREEDOM THAT THE WORLD WILLNOT AND CANNOT UNDERSTAND. Stop and think about this for a minute.

There is a excellent example of Heb. 4:16 played out in the lives of 2 Bible characters…Cain and Able. READ Heb. 11:4. Two offerings were brought to God in this example.

· What were they (the offerings)?

· What does it say about Abel’s sacrifice? What does it imply about Cain’s?

· READ Gen. 4:3-7

Our REST comes from understanding Abel’s offering. It looked forward to Christ’s WORK on the Cross. Heb. 4:9 There remaineth, therefore, a REST to the people of GOD… The writer of the Hebrews sums up chapter 3 and 4 with The PROMISED REST to every believer who trusts FULLY in Christ’s work on the CROSS .Heb. V. 10 says that in trusting in CHRIST’S WORK fully we cease from OUR OWN WORKS.(When you are there… you are DONE!!) IN DOING SO, we enter into a RELATIONSHIP. FOLLOWING His Voice…Believing Him. Doing things we would not normally do. In doing so, we ENTER INTO REST. We ENTER INTO HOLY PLACES. With GOD.

· What is the definition of Holy. (Set apart for God’s intended use.)

NOW AVERAGE routine daily activities become GOD’S TOOLS and ACTUALLY BECOME A “HOLY PLACE”. Following God in a regular day now becomes an ADVENTURE. Our life now becomes, as someone in our church has so aptly called this KIND OF LIFE, “THE GREAT ADVENTURE”. This kind of life although looking average is now FULL OF PURPOSE and MEANING.

To enter into God’s REST we must let God do his work. It’s painful at times. We saw last week that the Word of God knows our heart BETTER that we do, Heb. 4:12. Our heart can be deceptive. EVEN if it seems right to us. The Word of God has the Power to HELP us to SEE things clearly so that we can make the RIGHT decisions. (READ Rev. 1:16 and 2:12 verses related to Heb. 4:12) We enter into this area with God by FAITH…BELIEVING what He tells us, no, matter how we see it.

He is not asking us to believe if we want to. He is TELLING US that FAITH IS THE ONLY WAY we can UNDERSTAND WHO HE IS and THE ONLY WAY WE CAN GRASP the magnitude of what He has in store for our LIFE. If we approach God with a human mind WE WILL NEVERE UNDERSTAND HIM! YET, WITH FAITH WE CAN SEE HIM FULLY. WE CANNOT UNDERSTAAND HOW HE THINKS with OUR mind! His ways are FAR ABOVE ours. Yet, in some Mystical way, exercising FAITH according to Biblical principles, we UNDERSTAND GOD…we see His Wisdom…somehow His Reasoning makes sense. We will talk more about faith and look at examples of faith and how believers OBTAINED GOD’S PROMISES exercising this IMPORTANT TOOL. It is sufficient to remember and REMARK that many OT Israelites MISSED OUT IN THEIR LIFE by NOT BELIEVING GOD. WE MUST REMEMBER that the MAIN THRUST of this book deals with the WALK of FAITH. The first 2/3rds of this book deal with who God is and our RELATIONSHIP with Him. The last 1/3 of this book puts into practice what that relationship looks like in the life of the believer. Hebrews chapter 11 is not so much about the power of believing as it is about the power of a relationship with God. This is important. We often want the tool, faith, instead of its powersource…God.

Now we come to the DOOR that allows us to ENTER INTO THIS HOLY PLACE. Chapter 5 Begins a FOCUS/THEME…The Pre-eminence and Finality of the Priesthood of Christ 5:1 – 10:18. This section deals with ONE ISSUE in our RELATIONSHIP with God. Do you know what it is??

Chapter 5 has 3 sections:

· The office of the high priest…lower case

· Christ, a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek

· Appeal and warning

Chapter 5:1-4 begins with a brief look at the high priest office according to man. God had appointed this position to Aaron and his line and gave him specific duties and responsibilities. This high priest after the order of man identified with man in EVERY WAY. READ Heb. 5:1-4. He not only could relate to mans needs, but his weaknesses, having them himself. The line of Aaron performed the duties of the high priest that pointed to Christ, but HAD NO POWER to forgive man of his sins. It says in v.2 that the high priest himself was compassed about with infirmities, the same weaknesses of every man. And, because of this, v.3 says, by reason of this he ought, as for the people, so also for himself present an offering for his own sins. One might have logically thought, thinking as a man, that maybe by practice Aaron’s line over time could have gotten it right and made it good enough to appease or please God in this matter. This is the basic premise of modern day thinking. It says that if we keep working at this eventually we’ll get it right. Then this world will be PERFACT.

Aaron’s line performing the duties of the Law showed man of his need for a Savior, but did not satisfy the requirement. It pointed to THE ONE that would remove the obstacle that separated God and man by satisfying Gods payment/requirement. We will look at more of the priestly roles and duties and how Christ is Superior to them in more detail later in this book.

However, Christ came through the line of Judah and not through Aaron’s line…the Levitical line. The Levitical line and the Law proved that it did not have the power to save.

However, Christ came through the GOD LINE, after the order of Melchizedek, the Priest/King. It was the only line sufficient to pay the price and HEAL THE WOUND of man, and mankind. READ Heb. 5:5-10.

READ Heb. 11-14 Heb. 5:13 Being unskillful has its drawbacks. Many of our attacks and deceptions from this world and it’s spirit comes from being naïve and unskillful. V. 14 talks about our SENSES BEING EXERCISED to discern both good and evil. Being naïve and unskillful MAKES YOU VAUNERIBLE, LIKE WALKING DOWN A STREET IN THE BAD SIDE OF TOWN unaware of impending DANGER.

In verse 11 the writer of this book uses the term “DULL OF HEARING”. THIS IS THE 3^RD WARNING.

· What is he referring to?

· What does that mean?

· Where is this problem found?

· How does it affect our life??

· “Dull of Hearing” can often be found in many Bible rich environments. We can often hear so much good Bible teaching that it becomes “Just another class”. We MUST take Serious every admonition from God and His Word. Even if this truth comes from a familiar passage. Being smart with Bible knowledge can make us “apathetic” toward the prompting of God’s Spirit. These Jewish Christians may have known a lot, but were not necessarily following God.

Doctrinal Points:

· Faith is ESSENTIAL to UNDERSTAND GOD.

· Faith is ESSENTIAL to please God.

Hebrews Study – Lesson 6 – May-August 2010 – Seacoast Community Church

Hebrews Study – Lesson 6

Last week we were issued a challenge…Does anyone remember what it was…Heb. 3:1. The CHALLENGE in Heb. 3:1 was to FOLLOW the LORD Jesus the Apostle and High Priest of our faith/profession. We saw that the Children of Israel in the O. T. did not do this and got into trouble. We also saw that they not only got into trouble, but, more importantly, they missed out on God’s blessing for their life. They found NO REST. (How is our REST Quotient? Have we arrived? Have we given up?)

We looked at the plea from this author to DRAW NEAR to Jesus Himself, stating first that in Chapter 1:1-2(READ) that Jesus was/is the fulfillment of ALL prophesies that came before His arrival. Many references in the book of Hebrews will refer to Christ as being better than those things that we typically trust in or look to for our source of strength or encouragement. As we continue in this book, we will see that JESUS is very approachable. And, we do not need to be afraid to approach Him directly with ALL of our earthly concerns. He can not only identify with us in any state, situation or condition, but He can also PROVIDE answers and guidance while on our journey. Because He walked where we live, He is Patient and Compassionate in difficult situations. The Israelites in the O.T. were AFRAID of God. They stayed at a DISTANCE. Ex. Ch. 19-20. (If you have the time please READ) It is somewhat NATURAL FOR MAN TO STAY AT A DISTANCE from GOD.

· Why?

· Was man originally this way ?

· What happened?

I think that today we are also afraid of getting to close to God. Afraid of what He might think of us. The writer if the Hebrews will tell us differently. READ Jn. 3:17-8

However, as we will see, Jesus is not the Jesus portrayed by many. But as the writer of the Hebrews will show us, Jesus is a Friend like NO OTHER .He is not only VERY APPROACHABLE, but He IS THE FRIEND THAT YOU REALLYWANT. HE can dress your wounds…with COMPASSION …He can sober us up…He can SATISFY in a way that you will not want to give into temptation… He can support you and gird you up when you can’t go on, carrying you if need be. Like a close, close friend HIS DESIRE IS ONLY GOOD for you! Others have found this out. The writer of the Hebrews knew this. The writer of the Hebrews is going to show these Jewish believers, and US, that we CAN DRAW NEAR directly to Christ…AND BE SATISFIED. We do not need to be AFRAID.

There are many references in the Gospels that refer to Christ’s encounters with His own…They begin with “FEAR NOT”. Often these encounters occurred during Supernatural Events, Encounters with a Supernatural God that make us nervous. He held out His hand… beckoning us to come near. This same God is HOLDING OUT HIS HAND TO US…not in condemnation, but in FORGIVENESS of sin and healing. As we continue to progress through this book, the writer of the Hebrews is going to show us that Christ CAN be TRUSTED with the most intimate parts of our life and being. Heb. 2:12 says that He calls us Brethren. We will RECOGNISE Him as God yes and ALL that go with that, But, He is a FRIEND like NO OTHER. NEVER, NEVER leaving, nor forsaking. REPLACING your Fear and Pain with REST, PEACE, …FORGIVENESS and HOPE. It is A REST that we are not finding LIVING ACCORDING TO THIS WORLD, living life similar to the ISRAELITES IN EGYPT.

Heb. 4:1 (READ)says THAT WE SHOULD FEAR least we COME SHORT of ENTERING HIS REST. God had taken the Children of Israel out of the known World System, Egypt because they could not serve Him there. God had chosen Israel. However, the World WANTED THEM also. They were wrapped up in their daily affairs of Egypt. READ Ex 5:1-4 Notice the last part of V.4 It uses the word “burden”. Does this sound familiar?? It is used again in v. 5. They had been part of that world system. YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS ANNALEGY is SIGNIFICANT IN A MINUTE AND RELATES TO OUR PRESENT STATE IN OUR WORLD SYSTEM. Their world said, “If you cast in your lot with us we will take care of you. But at what cost.”The world system, then or now, was/is not God’s system. It is a system based on self achievement. We saw in Rom. Ch. 8:5-8 that the carnal mind is enmity against God and is not subject to the law of God, neither, indeed, can be. This World System does not serve God in any way…, and is Judged very severely as seen in the book of Revelation. Christ had redeemed these Hebrew Christians with a simple Gospel. Salvation by GRACE. He had REDEEMED THEM FROM THIS WORLD. It was LIFE CHANGING. It was God’s work. He had redeemed them from their current World System AND IT’S WAY OF LIFE.

Moses and other examples in Hebrews 11 figured this out. In doing so they were FREE. They were “in the world, but not of the world”. However, THESE HEBREW Christians were beginning to be once again entangled in a lifestyle of Law and Have to’s to please God. They were beginning to pick up and carry the BURDON that God had originally RELEASED them from. The BURDON was not only a spiritual BURDON, but also a LIFESTYLE BURDEN. In doing so, they began to lose their PEACE. Life became HEAVY. Jn 8:36 says “if the Son, therefore, make you FREE, you shall BE FREE INDEED.”

· What is this FREEDOM that He talks about?

· READ Ps. 46:10, then read the entire Psalm.

· How is their PEACE FOUND?

· It talks about peace in what context?

· Ps. 46:10 (READ) read by itself gives the impression of being out in the woods somewhere. But, it in actuality talks about KNOWING GOD in the context of GREAT TURMOIL.

· READ Jn. 14:27

This is the PEACE that we are looking for. This is the BATTLE that we fight! READ Jn 17:12-9 Finding and following God through this world that DOES NOT know God and is against Him. In a WORLD THAT CLAMMERS FOR OUR ATTENTION, GOD calls out to His children, (Jn. 10:27-29) saying, “My Sheep hear My Voice, and I KNOW THEM, and THEY FOLLOW ME. And, I give unto them eternal life; they shall NEVER parish, neither shall any man pluck them out of MY hand.” Our God is a Jealous God. He will not share US with ANYONE. Neither, will He allow us to worship any other part of His creation. The world wants us to marvel at its accomplishments. The writer of the Hebrews is going to say, Here is where you will find REST. Living in relationship with the Living God. Following His Voice. Traveling through this world, but LISTENING TO A DIFFERENT VOICE. He will also show us that GOD IS VERY APPROACHABEL…WE DO NOT NEED TO BE AFRAID!

Calling us out of this world does not separate us from this world. Actually our MISSION is to ENGAGE our world. ENGAGE it with our life while following God. We don’t need to be MISLEAD in thinking that following God means to be totally separated from the world around us. In Rev. 1:6 we are called a Kingdom of priests (READ).

· What is the function of a priest?

And, in 1 Pet. 2:9-15 it says that we are suppose to “Show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His MARVELOUS LIGHT.”.

As we continue through this study, we will see that living in relation with God will mean MAKING SOME CHANGES in our approach to this life and our lifestyle. Israel was not willing to make these changes. They wanted to go back to Egypt. Some of these changes will be DRASTIC.1 Peter 2:11 like Heb. 11:13 encourages us to LIVE AS PILGRIMS AND SOJOURNERS.

The book of Hebrews will give us a number of practical examples of those who understood God’s calling and transferred their trust from this world AND THE SPIRIT OF ITS WAYS and placed it FULLY on Him. We have already looked at the life of Moses, how he gave up the offer given him from this world for a life of following and walking with God. Hebrews ch. 11 is full of examples of people like this.

READ Hebrews 4:9-10 It tells us that God’s REST is avaliable, BUT WE MUST …DO WHAT? (Cease from our own works) It is work to battle the flesh with the Spirit. V. 12 shows us our WEAPON. (READ) The words in the bible are not just words on a page. Heb. 4:12 says that His Word is POWERFUL and LIVING and has a way of DIVIDING THINGS OUT so that He/we can DEAL WITH THEM. OFTEN we CANNOT SEE OUR WAY CLEAR enough to DEAL with the PROBLEM. It is frequent thatwe DO NOT EVEN REALIZE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. The Word of God is able to take ALL of the pieces and lay them out ON THE TABLE so that we can SEE it all MUCH CLEARER, DIVIDING even the soul and spirit. WE ARE EASILY DELUDED and deceived. Sometimes we say, “I have a feeling.” Or, “I just feel that this is right.”. The Word of God will either VALIDATE your perception, or it will show us the error in our thinking keeping us form harm.

v. 13 YOU MAY RUN, but you can’t HIDE. God sees all. READ Ps. 33:13-22. 2 Chr. 16:9. But, WE DO NOT NEED TO HIDE. Heb. 4:14-16 will tell us why. READ v. 14-6 V.14 Our High Priest has gone on before us! It tells us to Hold on to our Profession.

· What is our Profession? The simple Gospel. Heb. 2:1 (The first warning)

V.15 We do not have a high priest that cannot be touched with the FEELING of our infirmities. He felt the weakness that is in our bodies, but did not give in to temptation.

V. 16 Says that we should come BOLDLY, what does that mean? So that we may obtain MERCY. Do we NEED MURCY? You bet!

Hebrews 4:1 says that they did not enter in because of unbelief. God wanted to take them to a better place…a better life. But, they did not trust Him. They wanted to go back to what they had known, as bad as it was. At least they knew what the outcome would be…yea, right, miserable. They chose their outcome. We know what happened. The rest is history.

What about us? We MUST remember that to enter into God’s REST we must approach God His way, by faith, believing that He cares for us. Faith is the ONLY WAY TO UNDERSTAND GOD.

We had talked before that man’s thinking and ability to comprehend is finite. As smart as he is, he cannot fully comprehend God. God being infinite and we being finite means that the natural man is incapable of comprehending God, and therefore, incapable of comprehending His ways, I.e. His plans for our life. Faith is the tool that bridges the gap. FAITH opens the DOOR to God. FAITH allows us to SEE God. It allows us to UNDERSTAND Him. To COMPREHEND Him. Heb. 11:3 Through faith we see what God is thinking.

The natural man is incapable no matter how hard we try, to do this. FAITH IS THE ONLY WAY FOR MAN TO COMPREHEND THE VASTNESS OF GOD. God did not require faith just to play a game with us. FAITH is required because when we approach God it is practical. IT WORKS! BY FAITH we are able to Greatly BROADEN our ability to fully relate to God. WITHOUT FAITH we are LIMITED to man’s FINATE abilities…which is not much. It says in Heb. 4:2 that the O.T. Jews did not receive the BLESSING of entering into His REST. READ Heb. 4:1-9

This world wants to offer us so called answers. Some of them seem to work pretty well. However, God’s answers start with a QUESTION…DO YOU TRUST ME?

He is REACHING OUT HIS HAND TO US. He can BE TRUSTED with OUR LIFE. The writer of the Hebrews will tell us so. He took on a human body to fully know and identify with our plight. HOWEVER, THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO KNOW AND EXPERIENCE GOD’S FULL REST. Following God by FAITH. (READ Heb. 4:1-9)

We will also see that WE DO NOT HAVE TO DO IT ALONE. The things that He will ask of us will be difficult. We may at times have to stand ALONE, or be PERSECUTED for following Him. But, Noah did it…so did Daniel. These are our EXAMPLES. GOD IS FAITHFUL. WE CAN FOLLOW HIM OUT INTO THE WILDERNESS and WORSHIP HIM THERE. IT’S SCARY. But, Jesus as our example will show us how to do it. He is the PERFECT EXAMPLE.