Thursday, January 30, 2014
Update
I am sorry about not posting a review yesterday. I am very ill with a respiratory problem. I will not be posting the sermon this week. I hope to post again starting next Wednesday.
Friday, January 24, 2014
Hebrews--(Pt. 4)
I have had quite a day. I'm glad I made it to the library to post the sermon. I had to fill out a stack of papers at a place where I am going to work part-time. Then I had to fill out a bunch of papers for the energy company. After all that was done, I had trouble getting paid from the main place where I do writing. Thankfully, that payment issue just got cleared up.
I would ask that you continue to pray for me. I have my writing work, and the part-time job that is going to start soon. However, with the long period of lacking solid employment, I am way behind on my financial matters. I am going to try to find a night job as well. I really need prayer so that I can get caught up on my house, I am in danger of not having it anymore, and then I don't know what I will do. Thank you to those who have prayed for me in the past.
In the last few weeks, I have asked you to pray for those in countries where there are few Christians. This week, please pray for the nation of Jordan. Jordan's Christian population stands at 3 to 5 percent. Pray for an outpouring of God's Word.
Last week in our continuing study of Jesus in the book of Hebrews we focused on how Jesus is superior to the angels. Jesus was not an angel. He was made a little lower than the angels in His humanity while on earth. However, Jesus has been highly exalted, and He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He has provided salvation for us, and we should not neglect so great a salvation.
Today, we will examine chapter three which declares that Jesus is greater than Moses. Hebrews 3:1-6 says, "Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Mosoes also was faithful in all His house. For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of hope firm to the end."
Moses was a faithful servant of the Lord. The Lord called Moses out of the wilderness to take His message of liberation to the court of Pharaoh. Moses led the people of Israel out of Egyptian bondage, and Moses went up on Mount Sinai and received the law from the hand of God. Evangelical Christians like myself believe that Moses was the author of the majority of the first five books of the Bible.
Moses, however, was only a servant. Jesus was not merely a servant, He was the builder of the house of service. In other words, Jesus was God. Jesus as the Second Person of the Holy Trinity was the servant Moses' master.
During His earthly ministry, Jesus demonstrated on several occasions his superiority to Moses. One of these times we looked at recently. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus was the new lawgiver who was superior to Moses. Moses had been given the law by God. Jesus changed some of the Old Testament laws in His Sermon on the Mount. The reason that Jesus was able to do this was that Jesus is God. He gave the law, and He has the authority to change it.
Jesus' superiority to Moses is also demonstrated in the miracles when the 4,000 and the 5,000 where fed. Moses called upon God to bring food to the people and manna came down from Heaven. The manna was not supplied by Moses, God gave the manna. On the other hand, Jesus blessed the bread and the fish and He performed the miracle of multiplication Himself. Jesus' own miracle working power fed the 5,000 and the 4,000.
Jesus also showed His superiority to Moses during the transfiguration. At this time, Jesus went with His favored disciples Peter, James and John up on a mountain. While they were there, Moses and Elijah appeared alongside of Jesus. Peter made the suggestion that three booths be built one for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah. However, the Father in Heaven said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him". All of the glory and praise was to be directed to the Son. His glory was not to be shared with Elijah or Moses.
Finally, John says in his Gospel that Jesus is the fullness of God's revelation. John 1:17 says, "And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."
Once again we see the glory and majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is great and greatly to be praised. Please, consider making Jesus the Lord of your life today if you have not surrendered yourself to Him.
Next week, we will continue our study in Hebrews looking at how Jesus provides a better rest. On Wednesday, I plan to post another book review. May God bless you. Amen.
I would ask that you continue to pray for me. I have my writing work, and the part-time job that is going to start soon. However, with the long period of lacking solid employment, I am way behind on my financial matters. I am going to try to find a night job as well. I really need prayer so that I can get caught up on my house, I am in danger of not having it anymore, and then I don't know what I will do. Thank you to those who have prayed for me in the past.
In the last few weeks, I have asked you to pray for those in countries where there are few Christians. This week, please pray for the nation of Jordan. Jordan's Christian population stands at 3 to 5 percent. Pray for an outpouring of God's Word.
Last week in our continuing study of Jesus in the book of Hebrews we focused on how Jesus is superior to the angels. Jesus was not an angel. He was made a little lower than the angels in His humanity while on earth. However, Jesus has been highly exalted, and He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He has provided salvation for us, and we should not neglect so great a salvation.
Today, we will examine chapter three which declares that Jesus is greater than Moses. Hebrews 3:1-6 says, "Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Mosoes also was faithful in all His house. For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of hope firm to the end."
Moses was a faithful servant of the Lord. The Lord called Moses out of the wilderness to take His message of liberation to the court of Pharaoh. Moses led the people of Israel out of Egyptian bondage, and Moses went up on Mount Sinai and received the law from the hand of God. Evangelical Christians like myself believe that Moses was the author of the majority of the first five books of the Bible.
Moses, however, was only a servant. Jesus was not merely a servant, He was the builder of the house of service. In other words, Jesus was God. Jesus as the Second Person of the Holy Trinity was the servant Moses' master.
During His earthly ministry, Jesus demonstrated on several occasions his superiority to Moses. One of these times we looked at recently. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus was the new lawgiver who was superior to Moses. Moses had been given the law by God. Jesus changed some of the Old Testament laws in His Sermon on the Mount. The reason that Jesus was able to do this was that Jesus is God. He gave the law, and He has the authority to change it.
Jesus' superiority to Moses is also demonstrated in the miracles when the 4,000 and the 5,000 where fed. Moses called upon God to bring food to the people and manna came down from Heaven. The manna was not supplied by Moses, God gave the manna. On the other hand, Jesus blessed the bread and the fish and He performed the miracle of multiplication Himself. Jesus' own miracle working power fed the 5,000 and the 4,000.
Jesus also showed His superiority to Moses during the transfiguration. At this time, Jesus went with His favored disciples Peter, James and John up on a mountain. While they were there, Moses and Elijah appeared alongside of Jesus. Peter made the suggestion that three booths be built one for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah. However, the Father in Heaven said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him". All of the glory and praise was to be directed to the Son. His glory was not to be shared with Elijah or Moses.
Finally, John says in his Gospel that Jesus is the fullness of God's revelation. John 1:17 says, "And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."
Once again we see the glory and majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is great and greatly to be praised. Please, consider making Jesus the Lord of your life today if you have not surrendered yourself to Him.
Next week, we will continue our study in Hebrews looking at how Jesus provides a better rest. On Wednesday, I plan to post another book review. May God bless you. Amen.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Book Review--The World According to Bob
I feel very lucky to be able to review the book I am reviewing this week. It has not even been published in the United States yet. For some reasons, five libraries in the United States had a copy from the UK publisher. I was fortunate to get the book through Inter Library Loan.
The book I am reviewing is called "The World According To Bob: The Further Adventures of One Man and His Street-Wise Cat" written by James Bowen. This book is the sequel to another book called "A Streetcat Named Bob". I reviewed that book here on the blog, and I thought it was great. I recommend that you read the first book before the second.
The new book finds James and his cat Bob still struggling to make it. James is still selling a paper called "The Big Issue", and he is in the process of getting totally off of all drugs including those helping him overcome his heroin addiction.
There are some very nice stories in this book. One of my favorites is the story when James falls asleep on the bus. They are about to miss their stop, but Bob knows what stop is theirs. Bob taps James with his paw until James wakes up and realizes what is happening. Bob saved the pair a long walk back home.
Other chapters in the book deal with James suffering from two periods of illness. First, he had a terrible case of flu. Later, James developed a serious blood clot in his leg. All the while, James was looked after by Bob who helped him heal. You will have to read and find out how Bob does this.
Much of the book deals with how an agent found James and Bob and asked James to write a book with the help of a professional writer. James didn't think that the book would be a big seller. He was stunned when over 200 people turned out at the bookstore for the first signing. Since then, James' first book has sold almost one million copies worldwide. This second book was a number one bestseller in the UK for many weeks.
I highly recommend "The World According to Bob". Like the first book, it clearly demonstrates how easy it is for someone to fall through the cracks in society and end up homeless. It shows the power that an animal can have to transform someone's life. I don't know what the beliefs of James Bowen are, but I think that God sent Bob to James so that these two could make it through life and help others along the way.
The book I am reviewing is called "The World According To Bob: The Further Adventures of One Man and His Street-Wise Cat" written by James Bowen. This book is the sequel to another book called "A Streetcat Named Bob". I reviewed that book here on the blog, and I thought it was great. I recommend that you read the first book before the second.
The new book finds James and his cat Bob still struggling to make it. James is still selling a paper called "The Big Issue", and he is in the process of getting totally off of all drugs including those helping him overcome his heroin addiction.
There are some very nice stories in this book. One of my favorites is the story when James falls asleep on the bus. They are about to miss their stop, but Bob knows what stop is theirs. Bob taps James with his paw until James wakes up and realizes what is happening. Bob saved the pair a long walk back home.
Other chapters in the book deal with James suffering from two periods of illness. First, he had a terrible case of flu. Later, James developed a serious blood clot in his leg. All the while, James was looked after by Bob who helped him heal. You will have to read and find out how Bob does this.
Much of the book deals with how an agent found James and Bob and asked James to write a book with the help of a professional writer. James didn't think that the book would be a big seller. He was stunned when over 200 people turned out at the bookstore for the first signing. Since then, James' first book has sold almost one million copies worldwide. This second book was a number one bestseller in the UK for many weeks.
I highly recommend "The World According to Bob". Like the first book, it clearly demonstrates how easy it is for someone to fall through the cracks in society and end up homeless. It shows the power that an animal can have to transform someone's life. I don't know what the beliefs of James Bowen are, but I think that God sent Bob to James so that these two could make it through life and help others along the way.
Friday, January 17, 2014
Weekend Sermon--Hebrews(pt. 3)
Welcome to today's edition of the Weekend Sermon. I am happy to be able to post this sermon today, and I thank God that you are able to join me.
I want to start today by giving thanks to the Lord for allowing me to finally be accepted for a job. After looking for a long time and having little success, I was accepted for a position. It is only part-time, but with my writing income, I will be in better financial shape eventually. There are still one or two steps to go through for the job, but I am assured that they are formalities. I want to thank all of you who prayed for me about this situation. I am going to try to find more writing work. I am also still searching for more ministry opportunities, so keep me in your continued prayers.
Last week, I asked people to pray for countries where there were few Christians. This week, I would like our prayer focus in this regard to be for the nation of Gambia in western Africa. Only ten percent of the population is Christian. Let us pray for a move of God in this land.
In our last sermon time, I talked about the divinity of Jesus as recorded in the book of Hebrews. Jesus is the heir of all things. When we see Jesus, we have seen the Father. Jesus created all things, and He sustains all things by the word of His power. Jesus was the once for all sacrifice for our sins. When Jesus completed the work of redemption, He sat down at the right hand of the Father. From His position at the Father's right hand, Jesus serves as our advocate and High Priest.
Today, we will focus on the humanity of Jesus. If you read my book review on Wednesday, you know that I recommended an excellent book on this subject. There is great confusion on the entire idea of how Jesus was both fully divine and fully human. The book of Hebrews addresses this in chapter 1:4 -- chapter 2. We will look at this extensive passage today.
In keeping with the theme in Hebrews of the superiority of Jesus, the writer of Hebrews says that Jesus is greater than the angels. This is very important, and it has great relevance to us today. There are some groups who claim that Jesus was an angel who came down from Heaven in the appearance of a man. Some equate Jesus with the archangel Michael. The book of Hebrews makes it clear that this idea is totally false. Jesus was not an angel. He is superior to the angels. The writer of Hebrews lists several passages of Scripture taken from the Old Testament declaring the superiority of the Son to the angelic beings. One of these is stated in Hebrews 1:13 that says, "But to which of the angels has He said: Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool." The answer is that God said this to no angels. He said it to Jesus.
The book of Hebrews does make it clear that Jesus was made a little lower than the angels for a time when He was on the earth. Hebrews 2:9 says, "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone."
This verse clearly puts to rest another heretical doctrine about the person of Jesus. Some claimed that Jesus was not human, He only appeared that way. They denied the humanity of Jesus while only claiming his divinity. Hebrews, I John and the Gospels clearly demonstrate that this idea is completely wrong.
Jesus was the God-Man. He was fully God and fully man. Jesus had to become a man in order to accomplish the work of redemption for us. Let me explain if I can. Jesus is called in Scripture the Second Adam. The first Adam was created and placed in the Garden of Eden. Adam failed the test that was given to him. Adam ate of the forbidden fruit and rebelled against God. As a result, all of the first Adam's descendents were born into sin apart from God and at enmity with God. Jesus is the Second Adam. He was born into this world, and He committed no sin. Jesus lived a holy, sinless life in perfect obedience to the Father in all things including death on the cross.
Jesus bore our sins in His body on the cross as the spotless Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world. He took our place and our punishment on Himself at Calvary. He then conquered over the consequences of sin which are death and hell when He rose from the dead to newness of life.
Those who put their faith and trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus, are placing themselves under the Second Adam. We are no longer identified with the first Adam who failed but with the Second Adam who is the firstborn of new creation.
While He was here on earth, Jesus suffered many of the things that we as humans suffer. Jesus knew what it was like to be a human being on this sin-filled planet. Because of this, Jesus is able to aid us in our sufferings. He is able to be the great High Priest who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities. We will study more about this when we look at the superiority of Christ's priesthood in a later message.
Because Jesus was faithful in carrying out the mission of redemption, Jesus has been highly exalted by the Father. The Apostle Paul tells us about this in the great section of Scripture found in Philippians 2:5-11 that says, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in Heaven and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
One day every one will worship Jesus Christ as King of King and Lord of Lords. May His name be praised. Jesus is greater than all. He is highly exalted. He is majestic, and His name is wonderful.
Now, here is the question. We see that Jesus is King and Lord. We see that He died and rose again to provide salvation. What will you do with that information. As the author of Hebrews says in 2:3, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation." Jesus is the Way. He is the only Way. Please, turn to Him. Receive His forgiveness and life today.
I know that it is hard to understand many of the ideas behind the divinity and the humanity of Jesus. If you would like to know more about this subject, I urge you to read the sections about Christology in Millard Erickson's Systematic Theology. This is a fine resource for all theological matters.
Next week, I will post a review on Wednesday. For the Weekend Sermon, we will see how Jesus is superior to Moses. May God bless you. Amen.
I want to start today by giving thanks to the Lord for allowing me to finally be accepted for a job. After looking for a long time and having little success, I was accepted for a position. It is only part-time, but with my writing income, I will be in better financial shape eventually. There are still one or two steps to go through for the job, but I am assured that they are formalities. I want to thank all of you who prayed for me about this situation. I am going to try to find more writing work. I am also still searching for more ministry opportunities, so keep me in your continued prayers.
Last week, I asked people to pray for countries where there were few Christians. This week, I would like our prayer focus in this regard to be for the nation of Gambia in western Africa. Only ten percent of the population is Christian. Let us pray for a move of God in this land.
In our last sermon time, I talked about the divinity of Jesus as recorded in the book of Hebrews. Jesus is the heir of all things. When we see Jesus, we have seen the Father. Jesus created all things, and He sustains all things by the word of His power. Jesus was the once for all sacrifice for our sins. When Jesus completed the work of redemption, He sat down at the right hand of the Father. From His position at the Father's right hand, Jesus serves as our advocate and High Priest.
Today, we will focus on the humanity of Jesus. If you read my book review on Wednesday, you know that I recommended an excellent book on this subject. There is great confusion on the entire idea of how Jesus was both fully divine and fully human. The book of Hebrews addresses this in chapter 1:4 -- chapter 2. We will look at this extensive passage today.
In keeping with the theme in Hebrews of the superiority of Jesus, the writer of Hebrews says that Jesus is greater than the angels. This is very important, and it has great relevance to us today. There are some groups who claim that Jesus was an angel who came down from Heaven in the appearance of a man. Some equate Jesus with the archangel Michael. The book of Hebrews makes it clear that this idea is totally false. Jesus was not an angel. He is superior to the angels. The writer of Hebrews lists several passages of Scripture taken from the Old Testament declaring the superiority of the Son to the angelic beings. One of these is stated in Hebrews 1:13 that says, "But to which of the angels has He said: Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool." The answer is that God said this to no angels. He said it to Jesus.
The book of Hebrews does make it clear that Jesus was made a little lower than the angels for a time when He was on the earth. Hebrews 2:9 says, "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone."
This verse clearly puts to rest another heretical doctrine about the person of Jesus. Some claimed that Jesus was not human, He only appeared that way. They denied the humanity of Jesus while only claiming his divinity. Hebrews, I John and the Gospels clearly demonstrate that this idea is completely wrong.
Jesus was the God-Man. He was fully God and fully man. Jesus had to become a man in order to accomplish the work of redemption for us. Let me explain if I can. Jesus is called in Scripture the Second Adam. The first Adam was created and placed in the Garden of Eden. Adam failed the test that was given to him. Adam ate of the forbidden fruit and rebelled against God. As a result, all of the first Adam's descendents were born into sin apart from God and at enmity with God. Jesus is the Second Adam. He was born into this world, and He committed no sin. Jesus lived a holy, sinless life in perfect obedience to the Father in all things including death on the cross.
Jesus bore our sins in His body on the cross as the spotless Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world. He took our place and our punishment on Himself at Calvary. He then conquered over the consequences of sin which are death and hell when He rose from the dead to newness of life.
Those who put their faith and trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus, are placing themselves under the Second Adam. We are no longer identified with the first Adam who failed but with the Second Adam who is the firstborn of new creation.
While He was here on earth, Jesus suffered many of the things that we as humans suffer. Jesus knew what it was like to be a human being on this sin-filled planet. Because of this, Jesus is able to aid us in our sufferings. He is able to be the great High Priest who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities. We will study more about this when we look at the superiority of Christ's priesthood in a later message.
Because Jesus was faithful in carrying out the mission of redemption, Jesus has been highly exalted by the Father. The Apostle Paul tells us about this in the great section of Scripture found in Philippians 2:5-11 that says, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in Heaven and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
One day every one will worship Jesus Christ as King of King and Lord of Lords. May His name be praised. Jesus is greater than all. He is highly exalted. He is majestic, and His name is wonderful.
Now, here is the question. We see that Jesus is King and Lord. We see that He died and rose again to provide salvation. What will you do with that information. As the author of Hebrews says in 2:3, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation." Jesus is the Way. He is the only Way. Please, turn to Him. Receive His forgiveness and life today.
I know that it is hard to understand many of the ideas behind the divinity and the humanity of Jesus. If you would like to know more about this subject, I urge you to read the sections about Christology in Millard Erickson's Systematic Theology. This is a fine resource for all theological matters.
Next week, I will post a review on Wednesday. For the Weekend Sermon, we will see how Jesus is superior to Moses. May God bless you. Amen.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Book Review--The Jesus We Missed
I usually do a review of at least one animal book on Wednesday, but I don't have one today. Instead, I am reviewing the book "The Jesus We Missed" by Patrick Henry Reardon. Rev. Reardon is an Antiochian Orthodox Priest who ministers in Chicago. This book is focused on discussing the humanity of Christ. Rev. Reardon certainly believes in the full divinity of Jesus. That will be clearly evident to anyone who reads the book. The purpose of this book is to explain that Jesus was fully human as well as being fully divine. The author explores instances in the life of Jesus that point to His real humanity.
This book would be worth reading just for the chapter that deals with the suffering of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. What a tremendous account of Jesus wanting to avoid death if possible, but still, Jesus fully yielded Himself to the will of the Father.
There is another part of the book that made me think about an incident in Jesus' ministry in a different way. While Jesus was on the way to Jairus' house, a woman touched the hem of Jesus' garment in order to be healed. Jesus felt power go out of Him for healing, and Jesus wanted to know who touched Him. The author's take on this is that Jesus was wanting the woman to come forward and be acknowledged as a person of worth before the crowd. She had suffered for so long that her self-worth was totally eroded. Jesus, in His great compassion, wanted to restore her sense of value and dignity.
I found this book to be very well done. I highly recommend this work, and I intend to read other books by this same author in the future.
This book would be worth reading just for the chapter that deals with the suffering of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. What a tremendous account of Jesus wanting to avoid death if possible, but still, Jesus fully yielded Himself to the will of the Father.
There is another part of the book that made me think about an incident in Jesus' ministry in a different way. While Jesus was on the way to Jairus' house, a woman touched the hem of Jesus' garment in order to be healed. Jesus felt power go out of Him for healing, and Jesus wanted to know who touched Him. The author's take on this is that Jesus was wanting the woman to come forward and be acknowledged as a person of worth before the crowd. She had suffered for so long that her self-worth was totally eroded. Jesus, in His great compassion, wanted to restore her sense of value and dignity.
I found this book to be very well done. I highly recommend this work, and I intend to read other books by this same author in the future.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Remembering an Important Day
I wasn't able to post about this yesterday, so I am a day late. Yesterday was the 29th anniversary of the day I first met my friend Toby. This was one of the most important days of my life. It seems like it was just yesterday. Toby was the friend that Jesus gave me, and I will always be grateful. Toby came into my life when I was very depressed. The Lord knew that we both needed each other, and He worked everything out so that we could be together. One day, I will see my friend again.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Weekend Sermon-- Hebrews(Pt. 2)
Welcome to another edition of the Weekend Sermon. It is very good to be with you once again to share a message from the Word of the Lord. I hope that everyone is well.
I have a couple of interviews next week for some possible job opportunities, so I am very thankful to the Lord for this. Please continue to pray that the Lord will supply my needs in the areas of health and finances. The cold weather we've been experiencing has really affected my asthma, but I am doing better. I need to find a job pretty soon, and I still need to sell my house. I am trying to remain optimistic. The job report that came out today was quite poor. Many are giving up looking for jobs. Pray for the unemployed.
I would also ask for your continued prayers for the crisis in Syria. Many people are fleeing from the war in that nation, and there is a great refugee problem. Pray for peace in this troubled area of the world.
Starting this week, I would like us to focus each week on praying for a different country of the world that the Word of the Lord might reach the people there. This week, let us pray for Japan. This nation has very few Christians. Also, this is one of the few nations in the world where the number of Evangelical Christians is actually declining. Pray for those who minister in Japan.
Last week, we began a series of messages on how the majesty and glory of Jesus is revealed in the book of Hebrews. I started out by giving a general overview of the book of Hebrews and the questions concerning the authorship of the book.
We began our study by examining the fact that God has revealed Himself to people throughout history. The Lord gave His message to the prophets, and the people turned their backs on God. Now, God has given the world His final message and His full and supreme revelation in Jesus. Jesus is the Word made flesh. Jesus is the message of love the Father has sent to the world. There is nowhere else we can go to for a message of hope and salvation.
By listening to the teaching of Jesus and examining the way He acted, we can determine the pattern that our lives should take. When we see the love Jesus expressed through His death and resurrection, we should be moved to respond to the love that the Lord has for us.
Today, we will look further into the whole idea of how Jesus is the supreme revelation of God. In Hebrews 1:2 it states that Jesus has been appointed heir of all things. This has to do with the Sonship of Jesus. As the Son of God, Jesus is heir to all that belong to the Father. In other words, everything that can be said of the Father can also be said of the Son. As the Father is divine, so is the Son.
Jesus explained this principle to His disciples as part of the Upper Room Discourse. In John 14:7, Jesus says, "If you had known me, you would have known my Father also". Philip does not understand what Jesus is trying to say, so Jesus says in verse 9 and following, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father... Believe in me that I am in the Father and the Father in me."
Hebrews 1:3 will make this point even more clearly. It states, "Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person." In other words, if a person really sees Jesus, they have seen the Father. Jesus and the Father are one.
What does this all mean? It means that Jesus is fully divine. Jesus was not a man who God adopted to be His Son. Jesus was not some man who fully developed a Christ Consciousness. Jesus was God come in human flesh.
All of the attributes that the Father has also belong to Jesus. Just as the Father in Heaven is perfect and holy in every way, so is Jesus the Son.
Now, here is what is so awe inspiring. Jesus is the supreme revelation, because He is the full and complete revelation to the world of God Himself. God is not speaking through someone or something else. God has fully revealed what He is like and how much He loves us in the person of Jesus. The entire message of God is revealed to us in Jesus. How can there be any greater revelation than this. In what better way could God reveal Himself than by coming and bringing the message Himself.
We have just come through the Christmas season. During that time, we talk about Emmanuel. This means God is with us. God became incarnate in the person of Jesus to fully reveal Himself to us. He also became the means of our redemption and justification. That is why Paul can say that God is both just and the justifier at the same time.
Jesus as the Second Person of the Trinity has also always existed. Jesus did not just come into being when He was born on Christmas. Hebrews 1:2 says that through Jesus, "He made the worlds". The Apostle Paul also writes about this in Colossians 1:15-17 that says, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in Heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist." Hebrews 1:3 says that Jesus, "Upholds all things by the word of His power."
This clearly demonstrates the ultimate and supreme revelation given through Jesus. It also clearly shows the fact that Jesus was not just a mere mortal. Jesus was the pre-existent, eternal God.
Finally, we see what it is that Jesus has accomplished on our behalf, and this will be a major theme throughout the remainder of our study in Hebrews. Jesus purged all of our sins. Jesus suffered and died for us. He bore our sins in His body on the cross. Jesus is the sacrifice for sins that satisfies both the demands of love and justice.
Jesus has completed the work of redemption. This is signified by the statement in Hebrews 1:3 that says, "He sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high." Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, because Jesus has completed everything that is necessary for our redemption. We cannot add anything of our own works to what Jesus has done.
Jesus is the supreme revelation of how to have a relationship with the Father. People are seeking how that they can have a relationship with God. They want to know how to be free from sin and guilt. Jesus has revealed the way. He is the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Jesus.
If you want to know how to have eternal life, look to Jesus. If you want to know how to live a holy life, look to Jesus. Follow Him and serve Him completely.
If you have never turned you life over to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, I urge you to do it today. Jesus wants to save you. He died and rose again in order that you might have new life in Him.
Those of you who are already followers of Jesus, I urge you to learn more about Him. Read what Jesus has said. Spend time with Him in meditation and prayer. Obey all those things that He has commanded His followers to do.
Next week, we will continue our study in Hebrews. On Wednesday, I will try to post a book review. May God bless. Amen.
I have a couple of interviews next week for some possible job opportunities, so I am very thankful to the Lord for this. Please continue to pray that the Lord will supply my needs in the areas of health and finances. The cold weather we've been experiencing has really affected my asthma, but I am doing better. I need to find a job pretty soon, and I still need to sell my house. I am trying to remain optimistic. The job report that came out today was quite poor. Many are giving up looking for jobs. Pray for the unemployed.
I would also ask for your continued prayers for the crisis in Syria. Many people are fleeing from the war in that nation, and there is a great refugee problem. Pray for peace in this troubled area of the world.
Starting this week, I would like us to focus each week on praying for a different country of the world that the Word of the Lord might reach the people there. This week, let us pray for Japan. This nation has very few Christians. Also, this is one of the few nations in the world where the number of Evangelical Christians is actually declining. Pray for those who minister in Japan.
Last week, we began a series of messages on how the majesty and glory of Jesus is revealed in the book of Hebrews. I started out by giving a general overview of the book of Hebrews and the questions concerning the authorship of the book.
We began our study by examining the fact that God has revealed Himself to people throughout history. The Lord gave His message to the prophets, and the people turned their backs on God. Now, God has given the world His final message and His full and supreme revelation in Jesus. Jesus is the Word made flesh. Jesus is the message of love the Father has sent to the world. There is nowhere else we can go to for a message of hope and salvation.
By listening to the teaching of Jesus and examining the way He acted, we can determine the pattern that our lives should take. When we see the love Jesus expressed through His death and resurrection, we should be moved to respond to the love that the Lord has for us.
Today, we will look further into the whole idea of how Jesus is the supreme revelation of God. In Hebrews 1:2 it states that Jesus has been appointed heir of all things. This has to do with the Sonship of Jesus. As the Son of God, Jesus is heir to all that belong to the Father. In other words, everything that can be said of the Father can also be said of the Son. As the Father is divine, so is the Son.
Jesus explained this principle to His disciples as part of the Upper Room Discourse. In John 14:7, Jesus says, "If you had known me, you would have known my Father also". Philip does not understand what Jesus is trying to say, so Jesus says in verse 9 and following, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father... Believe in me that I am in the Father and the Father in me."
Hebrews 1:3 will make this point even more clearly. It states, "Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person." In other words, if a person really sees Jesus, they have seen the Father. Jesus and the Father are one.
What does this all mean? It means that Jesus is fully divine. Jesus was not a man who God adopted to be His Son. Jesus was not some man who fully developed a Christ Consciousness. Jesus was God come in human flesh.
All of the attributes that the Father has also belong to Jesus. Just as the Father in Heaven is perfect and holy in every way, so is Jesus the Son.
Now, here is what is so awe inspiring. Jesus is the supreme revelation, because He is the full and complete revelation to the world of God Himself. God is not speaking through someone or something else. God has fully revealed what He is like and how much He loves us in the person of Jesus. The entire message of God is revealed to us in Jesus. How can there be any greater revelation than this. In what better way could God reveal Himself than by coming and bringing the message Himself.
We have just come through the Christmas season. During that time, we talk about Emmanuel. This means God is with us. God became incarnate in the person of Jesus to fully reveal Himself to us. He also became the means of our redemption and justification. That is why Paul can say that God is both just and the justifier at the same time.
Jesus as the Second Person of the Trinity has also always existed. Jesus did not just come into being when He was born on Christmas. Hebrews 1:2 says that through Jesus, "He made the worlds". The Apostle Paul also writes about this in Colossians 1:15-17 that says, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in Heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist." Hebrews 1:3 says that Jesus, "Upholds all things by the word of His power."
This clearly demonstrates the ultimate and supreme revelation given through Jesus. It also clearly shows the fact that Jesus was not just a mere mortal. Jesus was the pre-existent, eternal God.
Finally, we see what it is that Jesus has accomplished on our behalf, and this will be a major theme throughout the remainder of our study in Hebrews. Jesus purged all of our sins. Jesus suffered and died for us. He bore our sins in His body on the cross. Jesus is the sacrifice for sins that satisfies both the demands of love and justice.
Jesus has completed the work of redemption. This is signified by the statement in Hebrews 1:3 that says, "He sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high." Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, because Jesus has completed everything that is necessary for our redemption. We cannot add anything of our own works to what Jesus has done.
Jesus is the supreme revelation of how to have a relationship with the Father. People are seeking how that they can have a relationship with God. They want to know how to be free from sin and guilt. Jesus has revealed the way. He is the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Jesus.
If you want to know how to have eternal life, look to Jesus. If you want to know how to live a holy life, look to Jesus. Follow Him and serve Him completely.
If you have never turned you life over to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, I urge you to do it today. Jesus wants to save you. He died and rose again in order that you might have new life in Him.
Those of you who are already followers of Jesus, I urge you to learn more about Him. Read what Jesus has said. Spend time with Him in meditation and prayer. Obey all those things that He has commanded His followers to do.
Next week, we will continue our study in Hebrews. On Wednesday, I will try to post a book review. May God bless. Amen.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Book Reviews
Let's start the first book review post of 2014 with reviews of two books. The first book I've been reading is called "Joy In Our Weakness" by Marva Dawn. I found this to be an interesting book even though I do not really agree with the author's interpretive framework of the book of Revelation. Marva Dawn has a spiritualistic and symbolic approach to Revelation. I tend to see the book as having both a meaning for those to whom it was written, and a future fulfillment. Nonetheless, this book provides an interesting viewpoint on Revelation that is worth the reading. The author's overall point is that no matter how bad things get for us as individuals or how evil the world becomes, we are to remember that Jesus is Lord. Jesus has triumphed over the forces of evil through His death and resurrection.
The other book I want to talk about is called "Close Friends" written by Peter Jenkins. Peter Jenkins is the author of "A Walk Across America" which is a book that I believe I recommended in the past. In "Close Friends", Jenkins describes his relationship with many of the animals that he knew in his life. I enjoyed the chapters dealing with Peter's experience training a hawk. I have always enjoyed reading about Peter's relationship with his friend Cooper the half-malamute. Peter really loved that dog. I believe that he feels the same about Cooper that I do about Toby. The only person who has written a book though that I truly believe felt about their dog as I do about Toby is Martin Scot Kosins who wrote "Maya's First Rose". There are many other interesting stories in "Close Friends" about Peter's dogs and the animals on his ranch in Tennessee. I highly recommend this book.
The other book I want to talk about is called "Close Friends" written by Peter Jenkins. Peter Jenkins is the author of "A Walk Across America" which is a book that I believe I recommended in the past. In "Close Friends", Jenkins describes his relationship with many of the animals that he knew in his life. I enjoyed the chapters dealing with Peter's experience training a hawk. I have always enjoyed reading about Peter's relationship with his friend Cooper the half-malamute. Peter really loved that dog. I believe that he feels the same about Cooper that I do about Toby. The only person who has written a book though that I truly believe felt about their dog as I do about Toby is Martin Scot Kosins who wrote "Maya's First Rose". There are many other interesting stories in "Close Friends" about Peter's dogs and the animals on his ranch in Tennessee. I highly recommend this book.
Friday, January 3, 2014
Weekend Sermon--Hebrews
Welcome to the first edition of the Weekend Sermon in 2014. I am glad that you are reading this post today, and I hope that the first part of this new year finds you all well.
Last year was one of the toughest years in my life. I am certainly hoping for a much better year ahead. However the Lord leads, I know that I am in His hands.
Please continue to pray that the Lord will meet my needs. I am still trying to find a good job. I am very grateful for my writing work, but it's not getting me where I need to be. Please pray that in the next few days that I will find work that I am capable of doing. Also, please pray that the Lord will send me a buyer for my house. This is very important at this time.
In last week's message, I brought to your attention the situation in the island nation of the Maldives. I would like all of us to continue to pray for our fellow believers in Christ in this land. Also pray that the Gospel will reach many people in this country with very few Christians.
Last week, we finished the year with a look at the life of Stephen. Stephen was a great man of God who gave his life in service to Jesus. From Stephen, we need to learn to be there to help meet the physical needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ. We must be people who boldly and courageously stand for the faith and speak up for the name of Jesus.
Today, we begin a new series of messages. We will begin today looking into how the majesty of Jesus is represented in the book of Hebrews. I am not going to go through Hebrews chapter by chapter and verse by verse as I have done with some other books that we have studied. Instead, I am going to focus on the way in which Hebrews identifies Jesus as being superior to all that has gone before Him. As we shall see in the coming weeks, Jesus is the final and ultimate word of God. Jesus is superior to angels. He is superior to Moses. Jesus is the Great High Priest. Jesus provided the ultimate sacrifice for sins. Jesus is the mediator of a new and better covenant. Jesus is our ultimate example and Jesus is the Great Shepherd of the sheep.
Before we get into these things, let's take a look at the book of Hebrews itself. Hebrews is one of the least studied books in the New Testament. I am not really sure why this is. One minister that I heard recently said that he had never preached a message from the book of Hebrews and he doubted that he ever would. This makes no sense to me. Hebrews is a tremendous book filled with great theological insight. It is a difficult book to understand, but one's understanding of the book is greatly increased when one understands the sacrificial system as portrayed in the Old Testament.
There has been much speculation over the years as to who wrote the book of Hebrews. Many scholars believe that the Apostle Paul is the author. I don't think that this is the case for three reasons. First of all, in his other letters, Paul identifies himself as the author. No author is identified in Hebrews. Hebrews 2:3 seems to state that someone other than an Apostle wrote the book. Hebrews 2:3 states, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard him." The author seems to be saying that he was not one who actually heard Jesus. The Apostle Paul did communicate with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Finally, Paul was known as the apostle to the gentiles. Hebrews is definitely written for a Jewish audience.
So, who wrote Hebrews. No one knows. Barnabas, Apollos and Aquila and Priscilla have all been listed as potential authors. Whoever wrote it, the book is filled with good things about Jesus, and that is what really matters.
Hebrews begins is verse 1 by stating, "God, who at various time and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son." This is what I want to focus on today. Jesus is the superior and final revelation of the Father.
Throughout the course of human history, God has attempted to bring His message of love and salvation to people everywhere. One way that God speaks is through general revelation. This refers to the fact that people can look at the created order around them and realize that a powerful creator fashioned everything that is in existence.
God has also spoken to His people through the written word. God gave His people the Ten Commandments and the other laws in the Torah so that they might know how to please Him and follow Him in all that they would do.
God also proclaimed His message through the prophets. There were many great prophets in the course of the history of the people of Israel. These men and women boldly proclaimed the word given to them by the Lord in spite of the fact that they were often ridiculed, ignored and persecuted.
No matter how God tried to get His message out to the world, people just ignored Him. Even God's chosen people decided to abandon Him and worship foreign gods. But God did not give up on the human race. He made a final and supreme revelation of Himself to this world in the person of His dearly beloved Son the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus is God's final and supreme Word to us. The Bible says that Jesus is the Word who was made flesh and dwelled among us. He is the ultimate divine revelation.
When we see Jesus, we see the Father. Jesus fully reveals what the Father is like. Jesus through His life and ministry provides the full revelation of what God expects of us. This is why in the Sermon on the Mount, many of the old laws were changed. Jesus is the Word bringing the ultimate word of God.
Jesus is the ultimate and supreme revelation of the love that God the Father has for us. God loved us so much that He was willing to send His beloved Son to be the spotless lamb of God who would bear in His body the sins of the whole world on the cross of Calvary. In what greater way could the Father reveal His love for humanity?
Many people view the Bible as the Word of God. This is true to an extent. However, the true Word of God is Jesus. We should always look to Jesus first when we have a problem or when we need to know what to do. He is the full revelation. Always examine what Jesus said about something before looking at any other section of the Bible. Also, all of the Bible should be interpreted in the light of the life and ministry of Jesus. He is the entire interpretive framework of Scripture.
I would urge you to spend the vast majority of your time, especially if you are a new believer, studying the words of Jesus in the Gospels. Then study what the Bible says in reference to Jesus as we are doing by looking at Jesus in the book of Hebrews. Then, study other portions of the Bible.
There will not be any further revelation from the Father. Jesus is His final word. Jesus has accomplished the work of redemption.
It is now up to us to decide if we will listen to God's Word as revealed in Jesus. Will we accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. Will we come to Him in repentance and faith. If you have not done so, I hope you will turn to Jesus today.
Next week, we will look more closely at the divinity of Jesus and how Jesus reveals the Father. On Wednesday, I will try to post a book review. May God bless you. Amen.
Last year was one of the toughest years in my life. I am certainly hoping for a much better year ahead. However the Lord leads, I know that I am in His hands.
Please continue to pray that the Lord will meet my needs. I am still trying to find a good job. I am very grateful for my writing work, but it's not getting me where I need to be. Please pray that in the next few days that I will find work that I am capable of doing. Also, please pray that the Lord will send me a buyer for my house. This is very important at this time.
In last week's message, I brought to your attention the situation in the island nation of the Maldives. I would like all of us to continue to pray for our fellow believers in Christ in this land. Also pray that the Gospel will reach many people in this country with very few Christians.
Last week, we finished the year with a look at the life of Stephen. Stephen was a great man of God who gave his life in service to Jesus. From Stephen, we need to learn to be there to help meet the physical needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ. We must be people who boldly and courageously stand for the faith and speak up for the name of Jesus.
Today, we begin a new series of messages. We will begin today looking into how the majesty of Jesus is represented in the book of Hebrews. I am not going to go through Hebrews chapter by chapter and verse by verse as I have done with some other books that we have studied. Instead, I am going to focus on the way in which Hebrews identifies Jesus as being superior to all that has gone before Him. As we shall see in the coming weeks, Jesus is the final and ultimate word of God. Jesus is superior to angels. He is superior to Moses. Jesus is the Great High Priest. Jesus provided the ultimate sacrifice for sins. Jesus is the mediator of a new and better covenant. Jesus is our ultimate example and Jesus is the Great Shepherd of the sheep.
Before we get into these things, let's take a look at the book of Hebrews itself. Hebrews is one of the least studied books in the New Testament. I am not really sure why this is. One minister that I heard recently said that he had never preached a message from the book of Hebrews and he doubted that he ever would. This makes no sense to me. Hebrews is a tremendous book filled with great theological insight. It is a difficult book to understand, but one's understanding of the book is greatly increased when one understands the sacrificial system as portrayed in the Old Testament.
There has been much speculation over the years as to who wrote the book of Hebrews. Many scholars believe that the Apostle Paul is the author. I don't think that this is the case for three reasons. First of all, in his other letters, Paul identifies himself as the author. No author is identified in Hebrews. Hebrews 2:3 seems to state that someone other than an Apostle wrote the book. Hebrews 2:3 states, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard him." The author seems to be saying that he was not one who actually heard Jesus. The Apostle Paul did communicate with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Finally, Paul was known as the apostle to the gentiles. Hebrews is definitely written for a Jewish audience.
So, who wrote Hebrews. No one knows. Barnabas, Apollos and Aquila and Priscilla have all been listed as potential authors. Whoever wrote it, the book is filled with good things about Jesus, and that is what really matters.
Hebrews begins is verse 1 by stating, "God, who at various time and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son." This is what I want to focus on today. Jesus is the superior and final revelation of the Father.
Throughout the course of human history, God has attempted to bring His message of love and salvation to people everywhere. One way that God speaks is through general revelation. This refers to the fact that people can look at the created order around them and realize that a powerful creator fashioned everything that is in existence.
God has also spoken to His people through the written word. God gave His people the Ten Commandments and the other laws in the Torah so that they might know how to please Him and follow Him in all that they would do.
God also proclaimed His message through the prophets. There were many great prophets in the course of the history of the people of Israel. These men and women boldly proclaimed the word given to them by the Lord in spite of the fact that they were often ridiculed, ignored and persecuted.
No matter how God tried to get His message out to the world, people just ignored Him. Even God's chosen people decided to abandon Him and worship foreign gods. But God did not give up on the human race. He made a final and supreme revelation of Himself to this world in the person of His dearly beloved Son the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus is God's final and supreme Word to us. The Bible says that Jesus is the Word who was made flesh and dwelled among us. He is the ultimate divine revelation.
When we see Jesus, we see the Father. Jesus fully reveals what the Father is like. Jesus through His life and ministry provides the full revelation of what God expects of us. This is why in the Sermon on the Mount, many of the old laws were changed. Jesus is the Word bringing the ultimate word of God.
Jesus is the ultimate and supreme revelation of the love that God the Father has for us. God loved us so much that He was willing to send His beloved Son to be the spotless lamb of God who would bear in His body the sins of the whole world on the cross of Calvary. In what greater way could the Father reveal His love for humanity?
Many people view the Bible as the Word of God. This is true to an extent. However, the true Word of God is Jesus. We should always look to Jesus first when we have a problem or when we need to know what to do. He is the full revelation. Always examine what Jesus said about something before looking at any other section of the Bible. Also, all of the Bible should be interpreted in the light of the life and ministry of Jesus. He is the entire interpretive framework of Scripture.
I would urge you to spend the vast majority of your time, especially if you are a new believer, studying the words of Jesus in the Gospels. Then study what the Bible says in reference to Jesus as we are doing by looking at Jesus in the book of Hebrews. Then, study other portions of the Bible.
There will not be any further revelation from the Father. Jesus is His final word. Jesus has accomplished the work of redemption.
It is now up to us to decide if we will listen to God's Word as revealed in Jesus. Will we accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. Will we come to Him in repentance and faith. If you have not done so, I hope you will turn to Jesus today.
Next week, we will look more closely at the divinity of Jesus and how Jesus reveals the Father. On Wednesday, I will try to post a book review. May God bless you. Amen.
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