Jesus is Close

The Greatest Gift Ever Given - Jesus

Jesus Is Close

THE LETTER TO REMEMBER - JESUS IS GREATER (Summary):

Last week I challenged all of us to read the entire book of Hebrews in one sitting……..and to do it twice (if you so dared).

If you recall I challenged us with the following:

In your first sitting just read it.

In your second reading, ask the Spirit to reveal to you everything about the Greatness of Jesus. Write down all the thoughts and observations Spirit highlights to you about how Great Jesus is?

If you chose to accept my challenge you could not get very far into Hebrews before the Holy Spirit highlighted aspects of Jesus’s Greatness. Right off the bat we see how Great Jesus is in Hebrews 1:1-4:

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. Hebrews 1:1-4:

God spoke to us by his Son

God appointed Jesus heir of all things

God made the universe through Jesus

Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory

Jesus is the exact representation of God’s being

Jesus sustains all things by his powerful word

Jesus provided purification for sins

Jesus, right now, is sitting down in heaven at the right hand of the Majesty

Jesus is superior to the angels

But that is just the beginning. Hebrews contains 301 verses. We just went through the first four verses.

Hebrews is packed full of reminders of how Great Jesus is.

If that was the beginning, for exercise purposes let’s bookend this. Let’s look at the very last few verses, Hebrews 13:20-21, to see how Great Jesus is.

20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20–21.

Jesus’s blood is the blood of the eternal covenant. There is no greater blood.

Jesus was raised from the dead!

Jesus is the great Shepherd of all the sheep.

Jesus is our Shepherd.

Jesus is YOUR Shepherd.

The God of peace equips us with everything good for doing his will, and all of that is done through Jesus.

You can hear the echo of John 15:5 (Our Fresh Fruit Series)

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

The presence of Jesus in us is the source of our equipping.

And this last point directs us to our conversation today.

Jesus is close………..Jesus works in us!

He who is soooooo Great………works in us.

He who is greater than everything and anything. He who has authority over all. He who is greater than the angels. He who, right now, is sitting at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven……Is Also……….. Very Close to us!

The author of Hebrews is reminding the believers back then, and the believers today, that Jesus is with us. He is CLOSE!

Hebrews is a teaching of encouragement and a reminder that Jesus is Greater. This reminder is intended to spur us onward. It is intended to remind us to keep running the race of our faith. To not fall away. To not lose hope. But to keep pressing on because there is a promise waiting for us. A promise of eternity with The Father, with The Son, and with The Spirit!

Guys hear me on this. I promise you. A day is coming in which all of your current struggles will only be a memory. A better day is coming. Keep walking forward in your faith!

STAND FOR THE READING OF THE WORD

(Many of you probably thought I forgot to have you stand for the reading of the word…….I did not forget).

Let’s look today to God’s WORD and be reminded how CLOSE JESUS IS!

6 But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him?” Heb 2:6.

This is the Word of the Lord!

Give three people next to you a high five and say “God is mindful of you!”

Testimony:

I was finalizing the message this week on Tuesday.

Part of my process is to print (yes print to paper) and read the message and make notes and then type in my edits.

I was at this exact moment in the reread (where we are at right now).

It hit me that I don’t have a teaching story or testimony for the message this week.

So at 2:15pm I paused and asked Spirit for some kind of story that is relevant.

At 2:17pm my phone rings and it is our new Associate Pastor Shawn Arington.

He shared a story with me of something he just did, immediate obedience to a very simple nudge (I am not sharing that story because it was just for him).

The very simple nudge was insignificant.

But then Shawn said a key phrase that fits this message: “You know it is the small nudges that really impact me. Of course I want to see people healed and I want to see cancer fall off of people. However, for some reason it is the little nudge that impacts me more.”

The little, seemingly insignificant nudges, can be deeply impactful because they make Hebrews 2:6 come alive. You realize that you matter!!!!!

When Father takes care of the minor details it speaks truth to your heart, “Father is mindful of me!”

Today we are going to focus on Hebrews Chapter 2.

Last week I pointed out that of all the writings of the New Testament, none is more saturated with references to the old Testament than Hebrews. As we dig into How Great Jesus is……but is also so close at the same time, let's start with a verse Hebrews references from the Old Testament.

3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? Psalms 8:3–4.

That question is an incredible question to ponder and meditate on?

Jesus is soooo great that He set in place the stars and the moons……..yet……

Who are we that He would care about us?

We are nothing in comparison to the universe

Who are we that He would be mindful of us?

As we ponder and meditate on that question, “Who are we that He would care about us?” Let’s look at some references in Chapter 2 that indicate a closeness of mindfulness:

“you are mindful of them”

“you care”

“You made them”

“you crowned them with glory and honor and put everything under their feet”

“Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while”

“Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.”

“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters”

“Here am I, and the children God has given me.”

“he too shared in their humanity”

“and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” (To free someone you have to unlock them and open the prison gate, that can’t be done from afar).

“he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.”

“he had to be made like them, fully human in every way,”

“Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

HOW CLOSE IS JESUS?

There are so many topics in Chapter 2 that we could discuss. I spent time praying and asking the Holy Spirit to guide me. What do you know that we need to hear and be reminded of our become aware of for the first time?

THE MAIN POINT TODAY:

JESUS IS NOT ASHAMED TO CALL YOU BROTHER & SISTER

JESUS IS NOT ASHAMED OF YOU

11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. Hebrews 2:11.

Some of you might be thinking:

Well he must not be that close because I have done X, Y & Z .

My own brothers and sisters (or other family) won't come near me. How could Jesus?

I am ashamed of myself for doing or not doing X, Y & Z .

Remember the enemy (Satan). He is the accuser. He stands and accuses you.

He is the one that wants you to feel the shame.

The truth is, by worldly and fleshly standards, anyone who is ashamed of another acts differently towards them.

It’s hard not to act differently towards someone when you are ashamed of them or offended by them.

Normally that shame is manifested with a:

A cold hello.

You don’t acknowledge them.

You see them in a store and you walk the other way.

You put your head down and pretend you didn’t see them.

You ignore them.

You don’t make eye contact.

You don’t involve them.

You isolate them.

You shun them.

You want them to feel the shame.

You put distance between them and you.

You are not close.

Our error is we project onto Jesus the things we feel and experience in this world.

Here is some good news to remember:

Jesus is not of this world.

Jesus created this world.

Jesus has all the AUTHORITY AND HE gets to deal with us however He wants.

So what does Hebrews say about that?

Hebrews has a single key word, “NOT”.

Jesus is “NOT” ashamed of YOU!!!

Jesus is “NOT” ashamed of YOU!!!

Jesus has chosen to stand with you.

The creator of the universe is so close to you that He stands with you!

No matter what you have done or not done, as long as you have put your faith in Jesus, Jesus is proud to stand with you before the great assembly and before the Glorious Father.

Jesus is so close to you, that he is mindful of you.

He knows everything you have done. (Even the hidden sins that no one knows about…….He knows).

He also knows everything you have not done. (The hidden nudges that are not obeyed).

There is nothing you can do to earn His choice to stand with you.

There is nothing you can do to make Him walk away from you.

Jesus doesn’t start to stand with us when we die and go to heaven. It starts to stand with us the moment we accept him as our Lord. It is happening right now.

17 “ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Acts 2:17.

The Spirit of Jesus is with us…….now!!!

8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalms 16:8.

If you have put your faith in Jesus He is standing with you right now. Today, on this earth He is standing with you.

His Spirit is with you.

He is not hidden.

He is near!

WHY DOES JESUS STAND WITH US NOW?

He is preparing us.

Think about what comes next.

Because of the magnificent work Jesus did on the cross………He allows you………….to stand………..with Him before the Father in heaven as his bride!

He brought His Spirit near to us because He is making us Holy. That process of being made Holy doesn’t start when we enter heaven. It starts the moment,

“you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead….”. (Romans 10:9)

The moment that confession is made The Holy Spirit starts His work in us of making us Holy.

The unashamed presence of Jesus with us.

Jesus could have done what He did on the cross, raised from the dead, and then kept His Spirit in heaven.

He could have told us to have faith in him, live life, and when it is all done then meet him in heaven and start eternity in his presence.

But he didn’t do that.

He chose to be with us.

He wants to be with us. He is unashamed of us.

Last week I said I sensed Spirit is bringing us to Hebrews for some refocusing. I pose a question:

Are you still in AWE of the fact that Jesus Is With You Right Now or has that reality worn dull to you?

Look back again on Psalms 8:4

4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?

He stands with us to teach us, to be with us, to prepare the bride for the wedding feast!

For those of you who are married or have been married, reflect back to your engagement period.

There was nothing you wanted more than to get married.

Your thoughts, and your passion (let’s be honest), were consumed with your bride or groom to be.

I remember when Jenn and I were engaged.

I drove to her parents house every weekend.

I wasn’t going to let a single weekend go by without my presence with her. I didn’t want another to sneak in grab her attention away from me (and they tried!!!!) One weekend I was gone and some dude I had never met before came over to her parents house and asked her to merry him. I am not kidding…….it happened.

I sought her out every moment I could.

We talked on the phone every weekday…….waiting until the weekend where we could see each other again.

When I was not with her she occupied my mind.

If that reality was true of you as well, waiting for your wedding day, then how much more is it of Jesus who is passionate to present you before the Father as his bride?

Jesus is unashamed of you and is consumed with you.

What is mankind that you are mindful of them? Mankind is the bride!!!!

Let me ask the same question again, but with this passionate example on your mind. Are you still in AWE of the fact that Jesus Is With You Right Now or has that reality worn dull to you?

WHAT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT DOING WITH US RIGHT NOW AS HE UNASHAMEDLY STANDS WITH US?

“He is making us to know that we are one thing and Christ is another. That is the most important lesson to learn, for there can be nothing constructive until we have learned that.” The School Of Christ By: Theodore Austin-Sparks

We are learning about Lordship.

We are being made Holy and are being focused unto Lordship.

“He saw the heavens open, and the Spirit of God descending upon Him.” What is the meaning of the anointing of the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit taking His place as absolute Lord. That means that all other lordships have been deposed and set aside; the lordship of our own lives; the lordship of our own minds, wills, desires; the lordship of others. The anointing can never be known, enjoyed, unless that has taken place.” The School Of Christ By: Theodore Austin-Sparks

(Worship Team Comes Up At This Time)

CLOSING

As we close I would like to focus on a few things. I’m going to ask everyone to bow their heads and close their eyes.

Those who have never put faith in Jesus. My question for you today is are you tired of standing alone. Do you need someone to stand with you? Do you need someone close to you who promises to never leave you nor forsake you? Jesus offers to stand with you for eternity. Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart. If you are ready to start a new life with Him I would ask that you just look up at me and raise your hand so I can see you.

Those who have distanced themselves from the fresh revelation that Jesus is close. The revelation that Jesus is Lord and he yields that place to no one. For whatever reason you have forgotten and found yourself living in such a manner that your faithfulness has waned. You find your self in a place in which you have not been growing spiritually, not because Father has separated himself from you, but because your heart has hardened for one reason or another. I would ask that you look up at me and raise your hand so I can see you.

Ask everyone and pray for both groups.

Have everyone pray out loud the acceptance of Jesus as Lord and savior.

“Jesus, I am a sinner in need of a savior. I believe that you are the son of God. I believe that you lived a perfect life. I believe that God raised you from the dead. Lord, Jesus I want to follow you. I renounce my old life. I want to live a new life saying yes to you and following you.”

Pray for a fresh revelation for the second group. That the Holy Spirit would accelerate their growth. That nudges would abound, immediate obedience would prevail, and a fiery hunger would be stoked to “be with Jesus”.

BENEDICTION / FINAL WORD:

If you did not complete your assignment from last week. Complete it this week.

Read the entire book of Hebrews in one sitting.

Then read it again. In your second reading ask the Spirit to reveal to you everything about the Greatness of Jesus. Write down all the thoughts and observations Spirit highlights to you about how Great Jesus is?

For those who are caught up in your assignments. (By the way I did do this homework with you this week as well……..so no excuses from anyone). This week, daily reread the thoughts and observations you wrote down. Daily, ask Spirit to cement the thoughts and observations into your heart and mind and to use them to refine you. I pray that your meditation on the scriptures of Hebrews would be part of your process of what Revelation 3:18 charged us to do last week.

18 “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire (REPEAT), so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear….”