Intro:
- What is an Apostle? who were apostles? Was Jesus an Apostle?
- Review: Jesus superior to angels because of his name and humanity (Chap 1)
- Admonition: Pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away (2:1-4)
- Text: Hebrews 3
- We need to effectively keep our confidence firm until the end.
I. By Considering Jesus (1-6)
- What does it mean to consider something?
- Lk 12:24 - "Consider the Ravens, for they neither sow not reap & they have no storeroom or barn, & yet God
feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds ... seek first his kingdom..."
- To consider means to observe and learn from something.
- What can we learn by considering Jesus
- Passage begins with "therefore"
- Have to look to previous passage this is concluding
- Moses could not bring the people into God's rest (but Jesus can)
- Even though Moses could not get people into God's rest, Jesus can
- He was "perfected" or "completed" in suffering & exalted
- If we share in his suffering and humility, we will share in his glory
- JESUS WAS A FAITHFUL HIGH PREIST WHO MADE ATONEMENT
- We should be faithful even in suffering
- We are called "holy" brethren
- Set apart for God’s purpose (we don’t do it, God does)
- We are "partakers of a heavenly calling" (or partners)
- We are no longer of this world
- Jesus, The Apostle & High Priest of our confession
- Apostle means "one sent with authority", frequently meant "ambassador"
- Jesus is our High Preist - a mediator (faithful and merciful 2:17)
- He has the authority of Heaven, to forgive our sins and as Lord
- Jesus was superior to Moses, even though Moses was faithful
- While Moses faithful as a servant, Jesus was faithful as a son
- Jesus was the builder of the house (which is us)
- IF hold fast confidence (boldness) & boast of hope firm till end
- Word "Hope" in Bible has much more stronger meaning than today
- ILL: We had a 1974 LTD
- It was made of RTV, electical tape, and bread ties
- We wanted to go visit my parent 3 states away (12 hour drive)
- We said "I hope we will make it"
- That IS NOT the Hope that this passage is speaking of
- Confidence could be "boldness"
- Hope as a doubtful affirmation could hardly be something to boast of
- Jesus lived his life in confidence
- Didn’t worry about paying taxes, where next meal coming from
- Was obedient, knowing God would exalt him
- Jesus left heaven, and humbled himself and came here
- Are you willing to humble yourself and be obedient?
II. By listening to God’s voice (7-12, 15)
- God has always been speaking, the question is, are you listening?
- When I was in the Military
- Marched everywhere
- Could get confusing on the Parade Ground for parade
- Instructors all over the place barking out orders, and music is playing
- We learned to tune in to our instructors voice
- If you didn’t concentrate, you may snap to attention at the wrong voice
- God says he will take care of you, and calls you to follow his voice
- Satan wants you to doubt God’s voice, & start listening to those other voices
- Doubting leads to drifting (2:1) leads to disbelief
- Uses Israel as an example (they doubted God’s provisions)
- They were told not to gather too much manna (it spoiled if they kept some for next day)
- That’s us, wordly security.
- Speaking of security, this often refers to investments
- In investment, they say "not put eggs in one basket"
- God calls us to put our eggs into one basket, HIS.
- Yes hard times now, but trust, manna will be there, rest is waiting
- Consider the time you were converted & made your confession
- Some have made big changes in their life because of their confession
- Some are holding fast your confidence, some letting go, other never took hold
- Text says that God heard the cry of Israel and delivered them
- Psalmist wrote that he inclines his ear, or stoops to hear us
- God hears our cries, he sent Jesus
- Now it is your turn to listen to him, PUT YOUR EGGS INTO HIS BASKET
III. By Acting TODAY (12-19)
- "Today" is used three times in this passage (7, 13, 15) IT IS IMPORTANT
- What are we to do today:
- LISTEN to His Voice
- Take Heed (act on it)
- Lest there be in any of us an evil unbelieving heart in falling away
- Do not harden your hearts (8, 15)
- Each time you hear and don’t take heed, it grows a little harder, just like clay drying out
- Encourage one another day after day while it is called today
If you don’t, your brother’s heart can be hardened
- By the deceitfulness of sin
- Sin tricks us into not putting all our eggs in one basket
- Sin deceives us into gathering more manna than God says
- RESULT - No time for God, to much work to do, begin to drift away, become lost
- Notice language: "lest any one of you be hardened by the ..."
- God is not concerned about just the herd, but about each sheep
- God is concerned for the "least of these"
- Not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance (2 Pet 3:9)
- But whoever causes the least of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it is better for him that a
heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea (Mt 18:6)
- To the extent you did it to the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me (Mt 25:40)
- LUKE 15:4-7 - Leave 99 to find the ONE LOST SHEEP
- Never put off till tommorrow what you can and should do today
- Paul told, why wait, arise be baptize
- Today is the day of salvation
- James says our life a vapor, don’t know what tommorrow holds
- ENCOURAGE YOUR BRETHREN TODAY!!!
Concl:
- v.6 and v. 14 - We need to hold fast the boast of our confidence
- By considering Jesus
- By listening and taking heed to God’s voice
- By ACTING TODAY
- Do you still have that confidence, that boldness
- Sure Deoderant - have confidence the sure way, take off your coats America”
- Maybe some of us have not fully taken off the old man and put on the new man
- It will take confidence and boldness to take away whatever comprimises your faith
- Could be your job (or working too many hours)
- Could be an unGodly relationship with someone (wrong friends)
- Could be your car, your house
- v. 16 - Moses could not get God’s people into the promised land
- However, Jesus WILL take you there
- Now it’s a matter of trust
- Act today, do not harden your hearts as they did