OUR HEAVENLY PRIEST

In Valladolid, Spain, where Christopher Columbus died in 1506, stands a monument commemorating the great discoverer. Perhaps the most interesting feature of the memorial is a statue of a lion destroying one of the Latin words that had been part of Spain's motto for centuries. Before Columbus made his voyages, the Spaniards thought they had reached the outer limits of earth. Thus their motto was "Ne Plus Ultra," which means "No More Beyond." The word being torn away by the lion is "ne" or "no," making it read "Plus Ultra." Columbus had proven that there was indeed "more beyond."

Hebrews 8 NKJV

Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

I. THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE PRIEST

300 Sermon Illustrations from Charles Spurgeon How Many Do You Count God for? (Joshua 1:5; Philippians 2:13)

How Many Do You Count God For?

Joshua 1:5; Philippians 2:13

Preaching Themes: Discouragement, Doubt, Encouragement, Faith, God: Power, God: Providence

I have heard of a certain captain who had led his troops into a very difficult position, and he knew that the next day he should want them all to be full of courage. So, disguising himself, at nightfall he went around their tents and listened to their conversations until he heard one of them say, “Our captain is a very great warrior, and has won many victories, but he has this time made a mistake; for see, there are so many thousands of the enemy, and he has only so many infantry, so many cavalry, and so many guns.” The soldier made out the account and was about to sum up the scanty total when the captain, unable to bear it any longer, threw aside the curtain of the tent and said, “And how many do you count me for, sir?”—as much as to say, “I have won so many battles that you ought to know that my skill can multiply battalions by handling them.”

And so the Lord hears his servants estimating how feeble they are, and how little they can do, and how few are their helpers; and I think I hear him rebukingly say, “But how many do you count your God for? Is he never to come into your estimate? You talk of providing, and forget the God of providence; you talk of working, but forget the God who works in you to will and to do according to his own good pleasure.

A. HE IS SEATED

v. 1

There were no seats in the tabernacle or the temple. Why? The priest work was never completed and therefore, they could not rest. However, Jesus is seated on the right hand of the father because his wrk is forever finished.

Hebrews 10:11 NKJV

And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

B. THE NEW COVENANT WILL BE WRITTEN IN THE HEART

v.10

The old covenant required a written law that must be enforced by men. Yet, Jesus will write his law in our hearts and has given the Holy Spirit to live within our hearts.

II. THE SERVICE OF THE PRIEST.

A. MEDIATOR OF THE NEW COVENANT

v.6

1 Timothy 2:5 NKJV

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

1 John 2:1–2 NKJV

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

B. MINISTER OF THE NEW COVENANT

v.2

1 John 5:14 NKJV

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

The old covenant demanded gifts. The new covenant offers freely.

III. THE SANCTUARY OF THE PRIEST.

In the O.T. There was the wilderness tabernacle, Solomons temple, and Herod’s temple. All of these were magnificent, but none compared to Solomons temple.

Jerusalem’s ancient temples have been described in various texts as veritable palaces of grandeur. The biblical account of Solomon’s temple would make it arguably the most impressive structure ever built—especially given that it was covered in 100,000 talents of gold (around $300 billion in today’s value).

However, the streets leading up to this temple were made of stone. The streets leading to the heavenly temple are made of the material that made Solomons so beautiful.

Yet, it is not the precious stones and metals that make our heavenly tabernacle so beautiful. Rather:

1 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Isaiah 65:17 NKJV

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.

IS GREATER BECAUSE:

A. OF WHO BUILT IT.

v.2

He is the creator of all things.

B. WHERE IT IS LOCATED.

v.4,5

It is located with Jesus.

If I ever reach heaven I expect to find three wonders there first, to meet some I had not thought to see there second, to miss some I had expected to see there and third, the greatest wonder of all, to find myself there. Quote by John Newton