Jesus is Greater than The Angels

JESUS IS GREATER THAN THE ANGELS

Introduction:  Randy Alcorn shares a true story in his article, “Spiritual Warfare, Demons, and Righteous Angels.” My family stayed with the Shel Arensen family in Kenya back in 1989. Shel grew up attending Rift Valley Academy in Kijabe, Kenya. During our visit, Shel told me a story I’ve heard since, about something that happened there in the 1950s. Shel’s family was living there at the time, and he pointed out to us where the events of that night unfolded.

            That particular night during the “Mau Mau rebellion,” the ruthless warriors of the Mau Mau tribe gathered to climb the hill up to the missionary school (RVA).To capture and kill the missionary children and teachers, and fulfill their vows by eating the brains of white men, who they considered their oppressors.

            Word got out about this plan, but it was too late to evacuate the school or to get outside protection. Desperate phone calls were made, and people around the world were called upon to pray for God’s intervention. The night went on, with teachers and children huddled at Rift Valley Academy praying and fully expecting to be attacked and likely killed, any moment.

            But nothing happened. The warriors never made it to the school, and no one was harmed.

No one knew the rest of the story until sometime later, when a Mau Mau warrior was in jail and on trial. At his trial, the leader of Mau Maus, who led that attack, was asked, “On this particular night, did you intend to kill the inhabitants [of the missionary school]?”

           

            “Yes,” he replied. “Why didn’t you?” His answer, “We were on our way to attack and kill them, but as we came closer, suddenly between the school and us, there were many men dressed in white, holding flaming swords.” He said he and his warriors were all terrified, and fled down the hill, never to return.” Sure, sometimes, God chooses not to answer our desperate prayers precisely as we wish. And yes, sometimes God’s children are hurt and even killed. But how many times has He answered when we haven’t realized He’s moved heaven and earth—and maybe a company of righteous angels—to do it? Had the human warriors not told what they saw, no one would have known what happened that night. How many amazing stories will we not hear until we are with Jesus? I do not doubt that the answer is “the vast majority of them.[1]

            We have been on a journey to discover better things from the book of Hebrews. Last week we learned how Jesus the Son radiates the glory of God, and in Him, we have everything we need. This morning we will focus on the Son again by looking at the contrast between Jesus and the Angels. We will try to answer some questions. Are angels real? What is their role in the life of a believer? Can we worship Angels? Who is greater, Jesus or the Angels?

            After establishing certain facts about how God communicates to the world, the author highlighted that the Son radiates the Glory of God. In Hebrews 1:3-4, he captured the completed work of purification of Sin, of the Son and His superior and exalted position at the right hand of the Father. Hebrews 1:3-4, “When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.”

            What do we see in these two verses? After completing the work of salvation now, I see Jesus in heaven, seated at the right hand of the majestic God. I also see the angels and the superior position of Jesus over them. What does it mean that Jesus sat at the right hand of God?

I. WHAT ABOUT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD?

            The hand was symbolic in the ancient world. It was believed that from it, one either bestowed grace or pronounced punishment. In literature, it personified a king or deity’s character and deeds. To be seated at the right hand of a ruler meant occupying a place of high honor. The position itself was considered an indicator of the power and authority of the one holding.   Someone who sat at the King’s right hand was, as in the modern English idiom, his “right-hand man.  Also, sitting at the right hand was a statement of fellowship and favor between the central figure and the individual so honored. In the Hebrew Bible, the right-hand represented God’s ultimate strength and provision for his people.

            Jesus Christ is depicted in the Bible as sitting at the right hand of God the Father for eternity. Psalm 110:1, “The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.” The Apostle Peter testifies, in Acts 2:32-33, we read, “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand.”

            Later, when Peter and the apostles were brought before the council because of their newfound faith in their risen savior, they boldly proclaimed whom they were accountable to, not to human authorities but to the one and only one who has all authority. Acts 5: 29-31,         “But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.”

            What gave Peter and the Apostles such courage amid their persecution and suffering? It was their perception of who and where Jesus was. We, too, must have that perception of Jesus. Unlike portrayed in the Catholic symbols of the Cross, Jesus is not a defeated and broken victim of Roman’s execution. He is the victoriously risen, ascended and enthroned King of the universe.

            When we picture Jesus that way, we can come out of our poor me; everybody hates me and victim mentality. When we see Jesus seated at the right hand of the Father, we can go through any hardship or difficulty because they will not have the last word on us, but Jesus does.     I believe that the picture of exalted Jesus gave the early martyrs courage and strength to endure persecution and even die for the sake of their Lord, master, and King. The same can help us in our times of trouble and persecution. Here is the testimony of the first martyr Stephen. 

            Acts 7:55-59, “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!” They rushed at him and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

            Here is the only place we see Jesus was standing at the right hand of God instead of sitting, I wonder why? Could it be that He was giving a standing ovation to the first martyr and all the future martyrs? We spent quite a bit of time at the right hand of God because we must understand whom we are called to represent: A risen Lord and a soon coming King!

II. JESUS IS GREATER THAN THE ANGELS (Vs4)

            Vs. 4, “This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.” The author makes a powerful assertion saying that Jesus the Son is far greater than the angels. What made Jesus greater than the angels?

            The author’s basis for his assertion was twofold: The works of Jesus and the testimony of God regarding his Son recorded in the ancient scriptures. The completed work of salvation and the enduring work of saving people puts Jesus far above anyone, including the angels.

III. WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT ANGELS?

            Why did the author make that distinction between Jesus and the angels? At the time of this writing, the Jews held angels in very high regard as the most elevated beings next to God. The sect of Judaism that had established a community at Qumran taught that the archangel Michael’s authority rivaled or surpassed that of the Messiah. The writer of Hebrews disclaims any such notion by asserting that Jesus is indeed greater than the angels.

            The word angels appear in this chapter six times, lending to its significance. Both the Hebrew and the Greek words that are translated into English as “angel” also mean “messenger.” The angels, therefore, are messengers from God carrying forth his messages to people.

            In the Bible there are several encounters of people with angels. Consider these scriptures. God placed two Cherubim with flaming swords guard the gates of Eden after Adam and Eve were banished (Gen. 3). Three angels tell Abraham that Sarah will have a child (Gen.18).

            God sends two angels to save Lot’s family from the destruction at Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19). It is an angel who saves Hagar and Ishmael in the desert (Gen. 21). Again, an angel tells Abraham to hold off sacrificing his child (Gen. 22). An angel appears to Moses out of the burning bush (Ex. 3). An angel announces to Samson's mother that she will have an exceptional child (Judges 13). This list is but a sampling of the angelic visitations in the OT.

            We all are familiar with the messages of the angels to Zachariah, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men around the narrative of Jesus’ birth. Who ministered to Jesus after his forty days of fasting and praying in the wilderness? Who strengthened Him during his moments of anguish in the garden of Gethsemane?

            Who rolled the stone away so that He could raise from the dead? Who told the disciples who were intently looking into heaven to get on with the work after His ascension? You know the answers they were all angels who obeyed God’s instructions and served His people.

            When you go home, please read through the section from Vs. 5-14, and you will see how the author cleverly used his understanding of the angels from the OT and proves to the Jews that Jesus was and is greater than the angels. The author explains in Hebrews 1:14, “Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care of people who will inherit salvation.”

            During this COVID-19 Pandemic, we won’t panic because God’s angels will protect His children. Take note of these words from Psalm 91:9-12, “If you make the Lord your refuge if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.” What assuring words!

            In closing, our only hope in this world is in Jesus the Son, who is the radiance of God’s glory. He holds everything by His powerful word. Jesus is greater than the angels. He only truly deserves to be worshipped, served, and trusted, and no one else, including the angels. Amen!

           

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[1]   https://www.epm.org/blog/2019/Jun/24/spiritual-warfare-demons-angels

Spiritual Warfare, Demons and Righteous Angels BY RANDY ALCORN JUNE 24, 2019         

The Son Is The Radiance of God's Glory

THE SON IS THE RADIANCE OF GOD’S GLORY

Introduction:  Let me share a story of a wealthy man and his son, who loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Viet Nam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

            About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door.  A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, “Sir, you don’t know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life.  He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart, and he died instantly. He often talked about you and your love for art.

            The young man held out his package. “I know this isn’t much. I’m not a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.” The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture.   “Oh, no, Sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It’s a gift. “The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home; he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

            The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. “We will start the bidding with this picture of the son.

            Who will bid for this picture?” There was silence. Then a voice in the back of the room shouted. “We want to see famous paintings. Skip this one.” But the auctioneer persisted. “Will someone bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?” Another voice shouted angrily. “We didn’t come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!” But still, the auctioneer continued.

            “The son!  The son! Who’ll take the son?” Finally, a frail voice came from the very back of the room.  It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. “I’ll give $10 for the painting.” Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. “We have $10, who will bid $20?” “Give it to him for $10. Let’s see the masters.” “$10 is the bid, won’t someone bid $20?”

            The crowd was becoming angry, and they didn’t want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections. The auctioneer pounded the gavel. “Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!” A man sitting on the second row shouted. “Now, let’s get on with the collection!” The auctioneer laid down his gavel. “I’m sorry, the auction is over.” “What about the paintings?” “I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything!”[1]

            It is so often like the crowd in the illustration we make wrong calculations and miss out on the very things that have eternal value. In our three-part series on “The Son,” today, we will look at how the Son radiates the glory of God, and in Him we have everything.

            God sent His Son, over 2,000 years ago, much the like the auctioneer His message today is, “The Son, the Son, who’ll take the Son?” Because you see, “Whoever Gets the Son Gets Everything.”  Let’s read our text together, Hebrews 1:2-4, 2. “And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son, he created the universe.

            3. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. 4. This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.” Let’s unpack the rich theology that is tucked in these two verses.

I. JESUS IS THE RADIANCE OF GOD’S GLORY

            Vs. 3, “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God (“the exact representation” NIV the exact imprint ESV), and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.”

            In this verse, the author highlights the divine nature of God’s Son. The Greek word used for “Radiance” here occurs only once in the N.T, referring to the person of Jesus Christ, meaning light or splendor emitted from a shining body. Jesus the Son radiates or shines forth God’s glory. As the brilliance of the sun is inseparable from the sun itself, so is Son’s radiance is inseparable from God as He himself is God. Consider these scriptures to a better understanding of this concept, Jesus being the Radiance of God’s glory. John 1: 4-5, “The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.

            The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” Vs. 14-18, “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the father’s one and only Son.

            Vs. 18, “No one has ever seen God. But the unique one, who is himself, God, is near to the father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.” If it were not for Jesus, we would not know who God is, his nature, and plans for humanity. The Son radiates the character and the glory of God. Only through the Son, may we come to know and see God and by no other means.

            This is how Jesus explained to Philip. John 14:8-10, Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the father and the father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my father, who lives in me, does his work through me.”

            Jesus claimed to be God by saying to Philip if you have seen me, you have seen God because the father and I are one. In the end, these claims got him into trouble with the Pharisees. John 10:31-33, “Once again the people picked up stones to kill him. Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction, I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?”

            They replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.” Many days later, Jesus was brought before the council and was wrongly convicted. The high priest said, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” Jesus replied, “you have said it.” Matthew 26:63-64

It was construed as blasphemy. Even today, many Jews and Muslims reject that claim saying that God could not have children. In Islamic countries, blasphemy carries the death penalty.

            I could go on with scripture after scripture, trying to prove to you that Jesus Christ, the Son, was the radiance of God’s glory. But if you determine not to believe in the end, you will be the biggest loser. But for all those who believe in the truth that Jesus the Son radiates God’s glory, you will stand to gain everything. God not only created everything in the world through and for the Son but also entrusted everything to the Son. What does this mean for us today?

    

II. WHOEVER GETS THE SON GETS EVERYTHING

            Vs. 2-3, “And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son, he created the universe…and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command.” In the ESV, it reads, “and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.”

            The author cleverly employed these two scriptures to affirm one popular Jewish belief and debunk another Greek mythological understanding of who holds the world together. The Jews of ancient times were used to sing how this beautiful world was made and sustained.        Psalm 33:6-7, “The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs.” In their minds, they were certain that God spoke and everything was created.

            According to Greek mythology, “Atlas one of the Titans held the world upon his shoulders. The writer of the Hebrews debunks this mythology by saying, it is the Son who upholds the universe by the word of his power. So, it is not Atlas, but Jesus Christ, the Son who holds and inherits everything in the universe together by His powerful words.

            You may be saying this is all great. But what this have to do with me during this COVID-19? I am laid off from work and struggling to manage financially. Can God help me find a Job? Can I trust Him with my future? I am tested positive with COVID, can Jesus the Son heal me?

            Can I entrust all my problems to Him today? The answer to all these and whatever questions you might have regarding your life’s concerns is Yes. You can and must trust and entrust all your problems to Jesus because He cares for you. The truth of this message is that “Everything is in the Son,” which means the provision, healing, guidance, forgiveness of sins, and the assurance of salvation. If you take hold of the Son, you will inherit all things in Him.

            In Proverbs 8, we read about the wisdom’s call. Wisdom in this chapter is no one else but Jesus Christ the Son. The Apostle Paul in I Cor 1:30 emphasizes the fact that Christ is our wisdom. Hear the wise words coming out of the mouth of Jesus, the Son

            Proverbs 8:33-36Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it. Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death.” Oh, what powerful and life-giving words?

            These words of the Son, many during His time on earth, did not understand and believe.  “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12. The Apostle Paul goes one step further and says in Romans 8:17, “And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ, we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.” We have covered a lot of facts today.

            In closing, Jesus the Son is the radiance of God’s glory. In Him, we inherit everything not only in this life but eternal life in the life to come. Therefore God, by the power of His Holy Spirit, is crying out and witnessing with our spirit saying, The Son, The Son! Whoever gets the Son will get everything. The Son himself is saying to us, “The one having the Son has life; the one not having the Son of God does not have life.” I John 5:12. My appeal to you is that if you heard God’s voice today, don’t delay, get the Son, and you will get all things in Him. Amen!

           

           

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[1] https://www.crossroad.to/Victory/stories/TheSon.html

Has God Spoken To Us? Part III: The Son

HAS GOD SPOKEN TO US?  PART III: THE SON

Introduction: The famous American author, Samuel Clemens, who is famously known as Mark Twain, attended a Sunday service. He met the preacher at the door afterward to shake his hand. And he told him that he had a book at home with every Word he had preached that morning.

            The minister assured him that his sermon that morning was an original. But Twain was adamant. The preacher asked to see the book. So, Twain sent it over the next day. When the preacher opened the package, he found a dictionary. And inside the cover, Twain had written, "Words, just words. "Some sermons and some lives are like that, just empty words.

            For the past two weeks, we have been focusing on a subject from Hebrews, "Has God spoken to Us? One Word from God is weightier and more convicting than all the human words put together. When God speaks once, we must pay attention to what he is saying, but when he speaks many times, and in many different ways, we must pay even more attention to His words.

            Hebrews 1:1-2, " Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And in these final days, he has spoken to us through his "Son." We learned that God speaks to us through his creation and prophets in many different ways. At times his voice is loud and clear and other times, maybe a gentle whisper or a deep sense in our hearts.

            This morning we will unpack another way God speaks to us in these last days, which is through His Son. Who is God's Son? Without any ambiguity, I want you to know I am talking about Jesus Christ God's own Son. I am not ashamed to say that I love Jesus, and I worship Him.     During this live-stream, I want to lift Jesus' name higher than any other earthly name. Jesus Christ is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.  There will come a day that every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Chris is Lord. Let us dig deeper to hear, listen, and understand and live by the life-giving words of Jesus: The Son.

            Here is what Max Lucado said of Jesus, "Defining Jesus," said Max Lucado, "would be a challenge to the best of writers, but John handles the task with a simple analogy. The Messiah, in a word, was 'the Word.' Be He a fiery verb or a tender adjective, He was, quite simply, a word." And I might add that He was "just the right Word!"

            People pay attention to the last words of famous people. The very last words of Buddha to his disciples were "Strive without ceasing." How different these are to the last words of Jesus, who said, "It is finished" (John 19:30)[1] All our striving to make sense of life must end in Jesus.

            Words matter and the right words truly matter, especially when they come from the Son, who himself was called the Word! Let me explain this concept of Jesus being the Word, and then we will look into some of the essential words and teachings that Jesus spoke during his lifetime.

I JESUS: THE WORD (John 1:1-5)

            "In the beginning, the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." John's Gospel highlights that Jesus has always existed with God, and He was God.         Jesus was the one who created this beautiful world, and He is the light of the world. No matter how hard the darkness (the evil one) tries to extinguish this light, it can never succeed. Let's see how Jesus was involved in creating the world. Genesis 1:3-10, we read words such as, "God said, let there be, and let," ten times. Each time Jesus the Word went forth in creating everything we see in our world. So, it is apt to say Jesus has made our world, sustaining and governing it by his powerful and life-giving Word.

            The Apostle Paul writing to the Colossian believers highlights the supremacy of Jesus, the Son over everything and everyone. Col 1:15-17, "Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.

            He made the things we can see and the things we can't see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. 17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together." If Christ has made everything, both the things that we see and the things we can't see, that begs the question that perhaps is on so many people's minds these days, did God create COVID-19?

            I am neither a scientist nor an expert to explain how COVID-19 came into existence. However, based on my understanding and reading of the Genesis' creation narrative when God created the vegetation, seed-bearing plants, and every living thing (including the viruses the tiny organisms) that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird, they were all good.

            Here is an expert's take on viruses in general from the Institution of Creation Research, "Perhaps God made viruses during the creation week as integral parts of plants and animals. If so, He certainly did not form them to cause disease. At the end of that week, He declared His works "very good." But like many other created features, their original purpose was warped because of "the bondage of corruption" brought about by humanity's sin.

            At some point after the Fall, the once-balanced cell-virus interactions would have begun to falter and fail."[2] Let's stop playing the blame game about the origins of the Corona Virus, and whoever is the reason for the current pandemic, the truth is that Jesus, the Son, has created all things, and He rules and reigns supremely and runs the affairs of the world by His Word.

II GOD SPOKE THROUGH HIS SON

             In our three-part series of Has God Spoken to Us, we come to the third way that God is communicating to us in these last days. Hebrews 1:2, "And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son." When did, "these last days" begin? They began over two thousand years ago when Jesus God's Son entered our world as an innocent baby.

            He grew up to be a man, and at age thirty, he began to preach God's Word to people. His first message was, "Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of heaven is near"(Matthew 4:14), and his final words at the cross were "it is finished" (John 19:30).

            Either few words or many unlike the Rabbis and religious teachers of that time, Jesus spoke with power, authority, and conviction. He spoke nothing but the truth, and above all, he claimed to be the truth. His words awoke all kinds of responses among his listeners. At times people were amazed by His gracious words until he said something that drove them to the edge, and they wanted to throw him down the hill. (John 4:22-30).

            Two of the first disciples to follow Jesus were Simon Peter and his brother Andrew. All Jesus said to them was, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people." Those words were so compelling, and they did not look for any salary or compensation package, left their nets at once and followed him. That was the power of Jesus' spoken words.

            During a crisis time, when many other disciples were turning away from Jesus, those who tasted the power of Jesus' life-giving words stood with Him. Jesus wanted to test their loyalty, so he asked them, "are you also going to leave"?  Listen to Simon peters astounding statement, "Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God." John 6:68-69.  The scripture tells us that taste and see that the Lod is good.  Once you taste God's words, you want to come back for more and more.

               Here is a snapshot of what Jesus' powerful words have accomplished. His words calmed the raging seas, cast out demons, healed the sick, and raised the dead. His words caused a revolution and put the skeptics in place. His words confounded the wise but comforted the broken-hearted. His words gave the assurance of salvation to all those who repented.

            One of Jesus' core teachings was about the Kingdom of God.  The Kingdom is mentioned over fifty times in the Gospels. As a matter of fact, Jesus said He was sent to preach the coming of the Kingdom (Luke 4:43). After he rose from the dead before He was taken up to heaven, He spoke for forty days with his disciples about the Kingdom.

            There is much more to be talked about Jesus' words and his powerful teachings. In closing, I want to summarize his teachings. In his very words, Jesus said, " 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."

            All his teachings could be summarized in what also called "The Golden Rule." We are to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves. You cannot love yourselves and others without loving God first. Who do you love the most during these shelter-in-place days? 

            How are you nurturing your soul these days? How would loving our neighbors look like in a time where we are afraid of our neighbors? In these last days, God is still speaking to us through His Son. But are we listening to Him? Today we looked at the words of The Son. Come back for more next week, where we will look at the divinity and humanity of The Son. Amen!

           

           

           

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[1] SOURCE: David Owen in "The Word." on www.sermoncentral.com. http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=55520

[2] https://www.icr.org/article/were-viruses-created-or-evolved/

HAS GOD SPOKEN TO US? PART II: THE PROPHETS

HAS GOD SPOKEN TO US?  PART II

THE PROPHETS

Introduction: I hope this past week, you were able to get into nature and enjoy God's beautiful handy work as I did. During one of my morning walks, I passed by a gentle brook; I paused to listen to what God would say to me. I felt God was saying to me, come to the stream of my refreshing word, and be refreshed. This morning let's drink from the brook of God's word.

            We began our journey into the Book of Hebrews, which can also be called the "Book of Better Things." This book contains rich theology. We are addressing this BIG question: Has God spoken to Us? If so, when, how, why, where, and through whom?  

            Last week I mentioned that based on scripture, there are eight distinct ways God speaks. We spent quite a bit of time discussing one mode of His communication, which is through nature. Today we will focus on another way how God communicates with His people. Throughout God's redemptive history, we see God using prophecy as a vehicle to get his message across to humanity, and He is still using that mode of communication.

            In recent times due to COVID-19, there has been a renewed interest in this subject of prophecy. Several theories are floating on the internet to connect the current incidents to ancient and recent prophecies. In 1973 David Wilkerson prophesied about upcoming worldwide calamities and disasters. They were audio-recorded and printed in a book titled, "The Vision."

            I listened to the audio version, and it is powerful.  I wanted to buy his book, and it is on high demand priced at $240, which tells me something about prophecies. People, unlike before, are paying attention to what God might be saying to us during these worldwide calamities. This morning we will try to understand God's unique way of communication: Prophecy. We hope to find answers to questions such as: Who is a prophet? Does God still speak to us through prophecies? How do we know who a true prophet of God and a fake prophet is? Let's get started.

            Let's define the word prophet. "The ordinary Hebrew word for prophet is Nabi, derived from a verb signifying "to bubble forth" like a fountain; hence the word means one who announces or pours forth the declarations of God. The English word prophet comes from the Greek word prophetes, which can mean "one who speaks forth" or "advocate.[1]

            A prophet is a person who speaks God's truth on behalf of God to others. Prophets are also called "seers" because of their spiritual insight or their ability to "see" the future. In a general way, we can say, prophets are the eyes and the mouth of God on the earth.

I. THE CALL & THE MISSION OF A PROPHET

            Prophets are often called and set apart at times from birth itself to speak for God. The prophets are like the eyes and the mouth of God. They receive particular messages of warning, impending judgment, instructions to repent, and a declaration of restoration. Prophets carry an enormous burden of God on their shoulders, like the prophet Jeremiah.

            Jeremiah argued with God. Jer 20: 9, "But if I say I'll never mention the Lord or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It's like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can't do it!" To be a prophet of God is a strenuous job, yet very rewarding.

            Some prophets were asked to do strange things to get the message across to God's people. For example, Ezekiel was asked to do some bizarre things. Ezekiel 4:1-15 Ezekiel was asked to lie on his left side for 390 days bearing the sins of Israel and 40 days on his right side bearing the sins of Judah. One day for each year of their sin.

            His food was rationed for those number of days, and God asked Ezekiel to prepare his meals using human waste when he resisted God made a concession and let him use cow manure instead. What strange ways? The call of a prophet comes with a hefty price to pay.

            The primary purpose of a prophet is to be the mouthpiece of God to bring estranged people back to God and to encourage them to walk in the ways of God. In accomplishing that purpose, God might ask a prophet to do several specific things, depending on the situation.

            For example, the prophet Jeremiah's mission was six-fold. Jeremiah 1:10, " Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant." The first two pairs of verbs are negative, stressing the fact that Jeremiah is to be primarily a prophet of doom. In contrast, the last pair is positive, indicating that he is also to be a prophet of the restoration.

II. PROPHETS ARE ORDINARY PEOPLE

             The Biblical prophets were no superheroes. They were ordinary people like you and me, yet they have done extraordinary things because they served and followed a supernatural God. Here are some characteristics and struggles they went through, which make them humans.

            Abraham was fearful, doubted, and lied. (Gen 12:12-13, 17:17-18) Moses struggled with stammering (Ex 4:10). Isaiah said: "I am unclean." (Isaiah 6:5-7) Jeremiah was regularly depressed, earning a title, "The weeping prophet." Jer 4:19-21, he also wrote Lamentations.

            Elijah was afraid, ran for his life, and sat under a broom tree, and wished that he might die. That happened after a significant victory of killing 450 prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18,19) Jonah had problems with disobedience, racial discrimination, and anger. (Jonah 4)

            Amos was a shepherd, earned his living from the flock and sycamore-fig groove (Amos 1:1; 7:14-15, yet God took hold of him and entrusted him with a harsh prophecy for Israel. It is not to say that God only uses ordinary, uneducated people to be his prophets. He also used highly educated, handsome, and people of the royal family, the likes of Daniel. OT Prophets were highly regarded, feared and some were ridiculed and even executed for their prophecies.

            God was concerned with the needs of the prophets and their families who served him faithfully. There was a time one prophet died, amassing a lot of debt. The creditors threatened to take the two sons of the widow as slaves. She comes weeping to Elisha with her sad story. Elisha multiplies the olive oil until she had enough money to clear the debts and more for her and her two sons to live on afterward. The call and the mission of a prophet comes from God himself.

III IS GOD STILL SPEAKING THROUGH PROPHETS?

            The author of Hebrews started the first chapter saying, "Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets." Is God still speaking to us through prophets, or was it something that happened in the ancient past? The answer is an emphatic Yes! God is still speaking through the ancient prophets, at least seventeen major and minor prophets who wrote books, and those books are included in the OT. When you read through the gospels, there are several prophetic words you will come across. The last book of the Bible called Revelation contains many prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled.

            Whichever way you look at it, you cannot escape the prophetic voice that rings through the pages of the ancient scriptures. Also, the prophetic ministry, one of the fivefold ministries mentioned in Ephesians 4:11, is a gift from Jesus to the body of Christ in our times. As one of the minor prophets, Joel long ago prophesied in the last days' God is pouring out His Spirit on all people. God's sons and daughters are prophesying. (Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:17-18)

            You may not be familiar with this type of prophetic ministry in our Church, but it doesn't mean it doesn't exist in the larger body of Christ. I am very used to the prophetic ministry when I was serving with Youth With  A Mission. I fully surrendered my life to Christ by reading a book titled, "Now and the Near Future Prophesied." If we care to pay attention to God, he is still speaking to us through His prophets. I encourage you to read the book of Revelation at home.

            In closing, I want us to leave with a warning from Jesus. One of the signs Jesus gave to look for the end times is the sign of false prophets. Matthew 24:11, "And many false prophets will arise and will mislead many." The problem of false prophets has always been there. In the OT, God warned his people against them. Jesus gives the same warning to us even today.

            How do we know who a true prophet of God and a fake prophet is? We need discernment from the Holy Spirit to discern the differences. It is for another time, but for now, I will give a couple of scriptures that would help us to know when we come across a false prophet.

            Deuteronomy 18:21-22 "But you may wonder, 'How will we know whether or not a prophecy is from the Lord?' If the prophet speaks in the Lord's name, but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the Lord did not give that message. That prophet has spoken without my authority and need not be feared."

            Matthew 7:15-17, "Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way, they act. Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit." We know true prophets by their fruit and fulfilled prophecies.

            During these COVID-19 days many are claiming to be prophets and have the word of the Lord. Many predictions are floating around on the Internet. My advice is don’t fall for every prophecy. Test the spirits and see if they are in alignment with God’s word. Firmly hold on to the truth of God’s word and above all ask the Lord to give you the gift of discernment. Amen!

           

           

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[1] https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/smiths-bible-dictionary/prophet.html