He Is Better Than The Messenger
Hebrews: He is Better • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsFrom Hebrews 1:4-14 we see how Jesus is better than the angels, that Jesus is better than the messengers
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Introduction
Introduction
Tell of the events in acts
14:8-
Man in Lystra who was lame since birth
He healed him “Stand up on your feet”
The crowd saw it and responded by assuming they were human forms of their gods
Barnabas=zeus
Paul= Hermes (chief speaker)
Zeus’ priests showed up to offer a sacrifice to them
It’s this whole scene...
Which of the angels
vs. 14 When Paul and Barnabas heard about it...
they tore their clothes (mourned)
They ran to the crowd
vs 15 “Friends why are you doing this? We too are human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them.”
Transition to Hebrews---
Messengers oftentimes get mistaken...
I think when someone is a mess
As we continue our series on the book of Hebrews, that reflects our theme this year “HE IS BETTER”
When they have something difficult to say “they sometimes get shot”
As we continue our series on the book of Hebrews, that reflects our theme this year “HE IS BETTER”
You know the saying “don’t shoot the messenger”
But sometimes, when they have brought something good with them…like Paul and Barnabas in bringing the good news....
We will see throughout the book that there are things that are leading the believers of Jewish descent away from giving Jesus the proper glory He deserves.
They can elevate the messenger
Sometimes that comes directly from a weak view of Jesus, or temptation to reject Him outright...
This is not new in our day
But other times, like those who heard Paul and Barnabas did, it comes from elevating things they ought not to...
We started our series through the book of Hebrews last week:
We are applying the theme of Hebrews as our theme for this year...
He is better
But other times, like those who heard Paul and Barnabas did, it comes from elevating things they ought not to...
Personal thought
I wonder how often we inflate other things to the point where they begin to block the full glory of Christ.
Inflate our relationships…Do we love others to the point where it point them into the position where only God ought to be?
Inflate our relationships…Do we love others to the point where it point them into the position where only God ought to be?
Inflate our happiness as being the most important thing, the biggest thing in our lives?
Inflate ourselves…where we are the center of our universe
in so doing we remove Jesus from the position he ought to be in...
This morning I want us to be reminded....HE IS BETTER
And that He alone deserves the honor and glory
God will not share his position of Glory with another...
I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me,
Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
God’s jealousy tell us that he does not share his glory with others
Because He alone is worthy of it!
Preparation for text
- Last week we saw how the author of Hebrews addressed
They too elevated things they ought not to...
They too elevated things they ought not to...
Old Testament message and Creation
how we Jesus is better than the Old Testament message and Creation
Last week we addressed the Old Testament message and Creation
Turn with me to
Turn with me to
You can see what they have decided to inflate...
You can see what they have decided to inflate...
Angels...
Again, angels are a good thing…but He is better
Angels 101
Angels are a created being that are spirit and are engaged in the work of God
the original word that we translate to angel (angelos) angel literally means messenger
used as one who is sent by someone of higher authority
It can be used of God sending angelic beings
It can be used of Satan sending a tormentor
OR men sending someone like a spy or a messenger
But now we see a very specific way that they not only elevated the messengers or angels
Moving forward
Though this section is probably addressing a very specific kind of idolatry, a kind of angel worship,
but by so doing lowered the praise and worship Jesus deserved in the process
there is much for us to see & apply ourselves too
You see we sometimes think that worshipping other things isn’t hurting anything
as we follow the authors line of argument and use of the O.T. scripture (7 passages)
just an add on...
In that they were, like those from Lystra, decided to worship the one who brought the message rather the one who is the message.
He makes as series of arguments using the O.T. scriptures and we will see
But in reality when we do so we remove Jesus from the post He ought to be on...
vs. 4-5
His Relationship Is Better Than The Messenger
His Relationship Is Better Than The Messenger
He lays out 7 quotes from the OT to make his point that the message…that Jesus....Is better than the angels...
Angels in scripture are described as sons of god, and we too are given the opportunity to be a unique kind of child of God
"To use Luther’s very pregnant image, we preachers are God’s masks. He hides behind us to do his work, not because he wants to be hidden, but because otherwise his unfiltered glory would annihilate those who see it. God really doesn’t ask much of us; he calls for no heroic efforts in the pulpit. He needs nothing to commend him, no elaborate philosophical or cultural apologia to be believed. Above all, God doesn’t need to be sold. All he wants is a little crack to shine through."
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
But Jesus and Jesus is alone is THE son of God.
Jesus as the son of God declares his divinity and his intimacy
Intimacy with God that is.
And to i
There is a unique, eternal, relationship between God the Father and God the son
this is what we describe as the “trinity” when you also include “God the Spirit”
There is a co-eternal relationship between the unique persons of the trinity within the oneness of God
Think of this...
before Creation God was completely satisfied in the relationship of the trinity and out of that emerged creation…
Rather than in any other monotheistic religion…their concept of God depends on the creation to:
Love
Communicate
act toward
But God as a triune God can create completely out of His good desire with no need in himself
But the point here is the relationship He has with the father compared to the angel or messenger
And with this unique unity and intimacy we know that Jesus Christ, in his role as our advocate, our “lawyer” is effective because of their relationship
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
1 john 2:1-
you see we find security in our relationship with Christ because of His unique relationship with God
That’s why the messenger will not be able to forgive your sins
That’s why the messenger will not be able to forgive your sins
But they can tell you of the one who can
The messenger can pray for you as a co-traveler
But they cannot communicate for you as intimately as Jesus the son
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,
His intimacy with us, as man
His intimacy with the father, as son
offers security for you and I to approach him with confidence
leaving no Turn with me to
He lays out 7 quotes from the OT to make his point that the message…that Jesus....Is better than the angels...
Later in Hebrews we will read
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Who needs to be reminded today that you are allowed to approach the throne of grace with confidence…why?
Why not through saints
WHy not through angels
Why throug Jesus?
HE IS BETTER
Transition
Jesus is in a unique relationship compared to the angels…the messengers
And we also see....
His Position Is Greater Than The Messenger
His Position Is Greater Than The Messenger
His Position Is Greater Than The Messenger
His Position Is Greater Than The Messenger
worshipped- 6
Ruler- 7-9
Starter & Ender- 10-12
His Role Is Greater Than The Messenger
His Role Is Greater Than The Messenger
Sends them out
Tension in the Corinthians church
I’m with Paul, Apollos…etc.
What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
who really is doing it?
1 Cor 3:5-
The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
We do the work of Him! We are merely involved in it
The messengers may be involved in the process...
But God is teh creator
This reminds me of art
We use a funny word when we say we “made” a sculpture or a painting
Because aren’t we really just re-arranging it
So it is with the work of God
We are involved but we are just moving it around
We move around the good news
But Jesus died for us
I and the other leaders of the church are co-laborers together with you.
We cannot be
My prayer is that consistently God is the one that is seen
That God is constantly getting the glory
Announcement:
Noel, Obed, Paul, and I had been trying to prepare for Noel’s transition to Arizona looking toward new leaders in various places here at SNCC.
And in so doing we put them in a position of honor in our lives...
But we also know that they are but messengers....
That they are just servants of the true king...
Today we wanted to put forth 3 men to you in consideration in essential roles within the church
First, Chris Bernius…We would like to recommend as the treasurer.
Barbara Funaro has been serving as our treasurer all of last year and she has been doing an incredible job but she desires to hand the oversight of this ministry over to Chris who we trust will humbly lead this ministry under the direction of the one who is Better
Second, we would like to put forth John Funaro, as the deacon of Adult Education
He has been faithfully teaching and serving this church for some time now
And we want to recognize the position he is in and to see him involved in the future development of studies and programs for us to grow in our faith together
Lastly, Oji Pierre, as an elder
Joining Obed, Paul, and I on the leadership team
Is away with his wife right now
We humbly ask you to consider these men of God and the work they have done, are doing, and will do...
meet with them to ask questions
you can meet with us who are currently part of the current team if you have any questions
in 4 weeks we will have an official vote of confirmation of their call to serve here in this capacity.
Let us remember as we elevate those in our midst to positions of leadership we do not do so putting them or any of us in the position Jesus alone belongs because:
His relationship is better
His Position is better
His Role is better
Pray