God Speaks
Advent 2018 • Sermon • Submitted
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INTRO:
AG: EF HUTTON commercial
TS: This morning, we are looking at Hebrews one. Advent is about the arrival of Jesus. But Jesus, is far more than a baby. He was God in the flesh enter the world to seek and save the lost. God has always and will continue to speak.
RS: Today, we need to hear what GOD is saying, and we need to speak HIS message to those around us.
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”?
And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.”
But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands;
they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment,
like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”
And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?
Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
God Spoke in the past:
God Spoke in the past:
God has always had a voice in the world
He met with Adam and Eve before sin brought separation.
He bridged the gap in OT.
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
Hebrews 1:1
Through Prophets giving us the Word
Through Prophets giving us the Word
The Bible was being written by God through His prophets
Some prophesies were just oral
Some were recorded by God’s inspiration and we have today.
In Christmas Story:
Through Angels
Gabriel to Zacharias and Mary
Angels to Shepherds
Through the Star
God put a sign in the heavens
It attracted the attention of “wise men”
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,
saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Through the Shepherds
Through the Shepherds
They came and saw Jesus, then went out to tell others.
God Speaks through Jesus
God Speaks through Jesus
but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
When He came into the world, HE began speaking to us with flesh and blood.
When He came into the world, HE began speaking to us with flesh and blood.
Author of Hebrews contrasts Jesus and Angels.
Jesus Angels
Jesus
Angels
Creation:
J Created the world v. 2
Created the world v. 2
A Created Beings
Created Beings
Exact imprint of God’s nature v. 3 Worship the Son v6
Deity and Nature
Exact imprint of God’s nature v. 3
J Exact imprint of God’s nature
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Worship the Son 6
J Eternal
they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment,
Service
Service
J Purification for Sins v. 3
A Worship the Son v
And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
And this we will do if God permits.
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,
and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,
and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.
But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation.
For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.
And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end,
so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,
saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.”
And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.
For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation.
So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath,
so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,
where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Jesus spoke like other men
Made purification for sins v 3
Carries out God’s Will
Sits at Father’s right hand v. 3
Eternal v.11
Jesus spoke like other men
At least in the mechanics of speech
HOWEVER, His authority was far different!
and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority.
Of course it was! He was God. When He spoke, God was speaking
Of course it was! He was God. When He spoke, God was speaking
IF I teach what the Bible says, it has authority of a man, who is doing his best to be faithful to the Bible.
who is doing his best to be faithful to the Bible.
When Jesus taught, there was no chance of mistake!
His interpretation was 100% right every time!
IL: STAAR question a few years ago. There was a poem to analyze. The author got wind of it when it was released. It turns out the test makers who claimed to know the point of the poem got it all wrong. The author set them straight publically!
When Jesus taught, it was with the authority of the author
God Still Speaks Today
God Still Speaks Today
World
Heavens declare His glory
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
These couple of passages illustrate the point.
God, like a master artist, signed His art work..
The universe declares His glory!
Around the globe in culture after culture, you can see the human heart was made to worship.
Even today, when people think we have grown up and don’t need such “foolish” things still worship.
Have you ever seen a crowd react to a singer? actor? politician?
We worship!
Sadly, many are worshipping themselves or other flawed humans
As Paul said, we worship the creature rather than the creator.
Word
Word
knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.
For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
The Bible is God’s word!
Every word of Scripture is inspired, literally GOD-breathed
The authors were carried along by the Holy Spirit
When you open the Bible, rest assured that you are reading a letter from the Creator!
Witness of Saints
We are called and commissioned to share the good news of Jesus
Fishers of Men It
And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Ambassadors
Ambassadors
that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Our mission, our reason for being here is to be His ambassador.
God makes His appeal through us
An ambassador carries the message of their country
We carry God’s message (NOT our own!)
That is why our message must never change
That appeal: Be reconciled
Sin separates us from God
We are born sinners and will sin.
We continue to sin
That is why God reconciled us to Himself in Jesus
Now we make the appeal to others to be reconciled to God.
Notice what it is not
join the church
change their lifestyle
Quit doing things that we don’t like
(Those things come as God leads them to change and be conformed to His image.)
We must remember to not make it about changing outward behaviors
The message is one of salvation
Repent of sins in faith calling on His name
It is a cry of the helpless begging for HELP!
It is the plea of the hopeless seeking a future.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
This season, let our voices, be the voices of God. I can’t explain why GOD chooses to speak through us, but we have seen that He does. Let us never be silent. Open your mouths and proclaim the good news that a Savior has come and lives to save all who will call on His name.
