Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. –Hebrews 4:16

Welcome to Wednesdays In The Word!

Let’s start with the review, this evening. We’ve been studying the book of Hebrews. Yes, the whole book. So, it may take us a bit to get through it. Over the years, I’ve discovered it is rich with relevant words for our modern times. People seem to always be excited to talk about angel sightings and the signs and wonders of God mentioned in Hebrews 2:4. God led me to attempt to side step the sensationalism about angels and the hype about God’s signs and wonders.

But I’ve also learned that we can’t put God into a neat little box that no one will be offended by the Gospel. In fact, will join me, I’m praying and raising my expectancy that according to Hebrews 2:4 the Jesus will show up by His Spirit in our little study with signs and wonders, miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost. So, here’s that review:

Last week, we covered (Hebrews 2:1-4 titled DRIFT 2.) 3 Majestic Reasons to Get To Know Heavenly Father More and More with Scripture Reference: Therefore, we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them drift away…How shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation… –Hebrews2:1-4.

I began with reminding us of the tragic losses most of us suffered in the beginning of that season and throughout. It prepared us in many ways to comfort those with the comfort God had shown us, right before the season was in full force. My son’s murder at the beginning of the year shook my world. Then the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash seem to shock the world-at-large.

Furthermore, the Pandemic and its losses changed the world and our perspective of everything changing…We then reiterated briefly the comfort God gave me for the people of God: The Heavenly Hedge & Biblical Angelology. The supporting points for last week were God’s Great Plan of Salvation, the Mercy Seat Transaction and Becoming God’s children through the spirit of adoption. According to Scripture, the Holy Spirit bears witness. Through Jesus, we are no longer strangers or aliens but we are the household of God, the family of God.

This week, we meet Jesus The Great High Priest and remember what that means for us.
In earlier weeks, I told the story of Priest Zacharias in the temple and his visit from the angel messenger Gabriel. Well that baby the angel foretold was born. He grew up and fulfilled his mission of preparing the way for the Christ. One day this man, John the Baptist was out on the banks of a river baptizing all that came to him out there.

One of his criticizers said, “So, you’re out here doing what you’re doing, are you the Christ?” His response, “No.” They went on to ask him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not Messiah or Elijah or one of the prophets. I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” –Matthew 3:11

The Founder of Salvation Father God is the founder of salvation. For he so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. -John 3:16

The Greater Measure Principle. John the Baptist walked in the greater measure principle. Whatever you have there’s always someone with more or better. David and Jonathan were friends. Johnathan recognized the greater measure when whatever you do I will support you. He knew David was anointed to slay the giant when all of them cowered, the whole army.

John the Baptist had offended some people in his day in high places. They had taken him to prison but he sent word to Jesus by a couple of his disciples and asked, “Are you the one or should we expect another?” Jesus sent word back to him and said tell John what you have been seeing, the lame walking and blind receiving their sight restored.”

His fruit told the story for him. In other words, John had momentary doubts rise up but he had already recognized the greater measure in Jesus. Earlier when the disciples had mentioned that more people are going over to follow and hear Jesus than are coming to us.

John’s response was, I must decrease that he may increase. What does that mean to us. As we grow in Christ, we recognize more and more that Jesus is the greater measure. Recognizing that Jesus has the answer, the solution, the wisdom and the power to back it up.

For those who are on the Christ discipleship path. To you I say recognizing the greater measure in Jesus means, we must pick up our cross daily and follow Him. We are not greater than our Master. –Luke 9:23

The Remaining Sabbath Rest. Father God has a remaining Sabbath rest for the people of God, according the book of Hebrews. To be transparent, God is still working on this in my life. God especially calls his Type A, high energy, get it done, make it happen, movers, shakers and you get the point, people to learn this principle. Otherwise, you become like Pastor Mike Hayes says, “You become a shooting star. That’s bright and glorious at the beginning parts.” Adding to that you end up fizzling out like a little fire cracker or a big burned out hole somewhere you crashed back to earth. My point is many of us aren’t even entering in this rest God has on reserve for his people. Not going into the whole teaching on this matter, the Hebrew writer put it like this, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” Meaning, we can only profit from it, when we mix it with faith.

The Labour To Enter: After receiving it today, we labour to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. According to Hebrews 3:7 The Holy Spirit says, “Today if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” Apostle James told us, faith without works(labour) is dead. Remember, I’m talking to myself with this one, too. So don’t tune me out yet. I’m saying it like this because sometimes its a daily exercise to use faith to enter into this Sabbath rest. No matter how its looking or even feeling, we choose to enter the Sabbath rest God has for his people and be at peace. There are two top things that take us out of that rest. Unbelief and complaining will stop us from entering that rest. Remember the Israelites even after seeing all the miracles, when the spies came back with their report, only two gave the good report. Through unbelief and continuing to complain, they chose wrong. So, choose to believe and no complaining. The Hebrew writer warns us with, Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. (speaking of the Israelites)

The Great High Priest: In the 14th verse of Hebrews 5, we receive our right to come before God’s throne of grace boldly. Jesus is reason for this. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the son of God, let us hold fast our profession, the Scripture encourages us. Since Jesus is God and man, he laid aside his God and was tempted at all points that we are, yet without sin. Meaning he is familiar with what we go through having a human nature. So that he could identify with us, he did not take on the nature of angels but instead he took on the same nature as the seed of Abraham. Pertaining to him being a high priest, he identifies with us being a merciful and faithful priest making reconciliations for us with God, for the remission of sins of the people.

My intention was to remind us of the founder of our salvation, the Greater Measure Principle, the Sabbath Rest reserved for God’s people, how to labor to enter in that rest, and reverence for our great High Priest Jesus. I pray you are encouraged to receive and reverence Jesus as the great high priest. Because of this fact, we can go boldly to God’s throne of grace for help in time of need.

Scripture Reference:

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.-Luke 9:23

Hebrews 2:5-18; 3:1-6; 3:7-19; 4:1-16

End of Blog

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