Untitled Sermon (23)

spoke in Jesus will dominate this book. The first two chapters will focus on the law that God gave through angels and how Jesus brings a better word than the one that came through angels. Chapter three will focus on one of the great OT prophets Moses and it will show how Jesus is better than Moses. Chapter 4 will compare the promises that were partially fulfilled in Joshua’s day with the promises that came to fullness through Jesus. The rest of the book time, the last times. Diversity, but what is constant is God. God is always speaking. It is God speaking through the prophets. If you look at the OT you find such a varierty of literature, stories, histories, poems, proverbs, apocalyptic visions. In all of it is God speaking. We may say that, in english, Shakespeare is the master of the play, Jane Austen of the Novel, Robert Frost of the poem, Ralph Ellison of the essay, but God is the master of every style of literature. He can communicate effectively, perfectly through them all. Finally, we has spoken, beyond mere words, he has given us the Word, His Son whose life, was the exact imprint of God’s nature. I could go on about this, but for now, let me say again that God is always speaking. He has been speaking since, the text says, long ago. He has an insatiable desire to be known. And he has an insatiable desire to be known fully. That is why he patiently made himself known through the prophets and finally through the Son. Let me put it to you this way, God wants you to know Him. He speaks in creation to tell you of his glory. He speaks in His Word to tell you his character and his promises. And he speaks through His Son to make you know his full salvation. Whatever we are going through, whatever God’s people have been going through, God is always there talking to them! A question for us then is are we listening?

Immanuel, I want to welcome you to this little occasional series, I am calling ‘ten minutes together’ (probably 15). In the coming weeks, and maybe months, it looks like we won’t be able to be together much. So I wanted to do something to be with you as much as I can, to help and disciple you as much as I am able, that is why I am producing these little videos called, ‘ten minutes together.’

In these occasional videos I hope to do three things. I hope to give you any updates on important events happening in the life of our Church. I hope to lead us in prayer through the trials we are going through. Finally, I want to lead us through a verse by verse study of hope that in these ten minutes together, you will be helped, encouraged, and discipled, and you will be spurred on to love, good deeds, and prayer. So let’s begin.

In these occasional videos I hope to do three things. I hope to give you any updates on important happenings in the life of our Church. I hope to lead us in prayer through the trials we are going through. Finally, I want to lead us through a verse by verse study of hope that in these ten minutes together, you will be helped, encouraged, and discipled, and you will be spurred on to love, good deeds, and prayer. So let’s begin.

First announcements.

First announcements.

I have good news and bad news. The good news is that Joshua and Alyssa Yuen have welcomed a new little one into the world. They have been given a baby boy, He Yuen. If anyone else has been given a child, please include that in the comments here on youtube so we can celebrate that together.

The bad news is that an Immanuel member, by the name Jordan Powelson has been positively and officially diagnosed with Covid-19 the illness that results from the Corona virus. Jordan is sick, but with a good hope of recovery. He is having trouble breathing so please pray for Him. Jordan is under a 15 day quarantine at home and I want to assure that all of those who may have been in contact with him have already been contacted. He was never in the Church building, but he would have been if we had had services this Sunday. So, praise God, he was not able to infect anyone else. In a minute, we will pray for Jordan. Please send him some good wishes and prayers in the comments.

Let’s pray right now. Lord, we come before you and we praise you as the God who made a perfect world. We humble ourselves because we are the sinners who ruined this world, and through Adam, plunged this world under your curse. Lord, we see this current virus as one more evidence of your curse and our sinfulness. Lord we know that you are not only a God of wrath and curses, but of mercy and grace. We pray you would have mercy on this sinful world, especially on the nation of China, Iran, and Italy where this virus has been so deadly. And we pray you would have mercy on America, Kentucky, Louisville, and on our brother Jordan Powelson. Lord heal him, and we pray you would stop the spread of this virus throughout our nations, especially as you lead men and women to repent and trust in Christ. Lord, we beg you to give our leaders, President Trump, Govenor Beshear, and Mayor Fisher wisdom. Lord, grant all of our medical professionals safety, skill, and stamina. Help help all of those who are staying home to fill their homes with your word and with love. We pray for those whose businesses are affected by this pandemic to prosper and to pray for your help. Finally, we pray that you would be glorified, especially by mass conversions all over the planet at this time.”

I have good news and bad news. The good news is that Joshua and Alyssa Yuen have welcomed a new little one into the world. They have been given a baby boy, He Yuen. If anyone else has been given a child, or has some major event in their life. please include that in the comments here on youtube so we can celebrate that together.

Now, let’s look at the book of Hebrews.

The bad news is that an Immanuel member, by the name Jordan Powelson has been positively and officially diagnosed with Covid-19 the illness that results from the Corona virus. Jordan is sick, he is having some trouble breathing, but he has a good hope of recovery. Jordan is under a 15 day quarantine at home and I want to assure that all of those who may have been in contact with him have already been contacted. He was never in the Church building, but he would have been if we had had services this Sunday. So, praise God, he was not able to infect anyone else. In a minute, we will pray for Jordan. Please send him some good verses and prayers in the comments.

The first verse and a half of the book of Hebrews introduces us to the whole book. Most of the letters of the NT start with a greeting, this one jumps right into theology, it jumps right into talking about God, and and what it says about God really does introduce us to the whole book. Listen to these words, “1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,. ().” Notice the contrasts in this verse and a half. God spoke to our fathers long ago. God spoke to us in these last days. God spoke to our Fathers at many times and in many ways, in these last days he has spoken in one way, by His Son. The time is contrasted, Long ago versus now in these last days. The people are contrasted, the Fathers versus us. The way God spoke is contrasted many times and many ways through prophets then, through the Son now. The writer to the Hebrews is contrasting the way God spoke to His people in the Old Testament (the first ¾ of the Bible, written before Jesus) with the way God speaks to His people under the New Testament (the last ¼ of the Bible written after the events of Jesus life, death, and resurrection). This contrast between the way God spoke before Jesus and the way he spoke in Jesus will dominate this book. The first two chapters will focus on the law that God gave through angels and how Jesus brings a better word than the one that came through angels. Chapter three will focus on one of the great OT prophets Moses and it will show how Jesus is better than Moses. Chapter 4 will compare the promises that were partially fulfilled in Joshua’s day with the promises that came to fullness through Jesus. The rest of the book will look at the Law, the Priesthood, and the Temple of the OT (these are some of the various ways God spoke) and it will show how Jesus is better than all these different revelations or words from God. The writer of Hebrews is going to spend 13 chapters unpacking this little verse, “1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,. ().” No wonder John Owen said, “The apostle has opened the spring from which all his successive arguments flow.” If you have ever found the book of Hebrews hard to understand, here is a key for you. At nearly point in the book the writer is comparing the many ways God spoke through the prophets with the full revelation he has brought into the world through Jesus Christ.

Let’s pray right now. Lord, we come before you and we praise you as the God who made a perfect world. We humble ourselves because we are the sinners who ruined this world, and through Adam, plunged this world under your curse. Lord, we see this current virus as one more evidence of your curse and our sinfulness. Lord we know that you are not only a God of wrath and curses, but of mercy and grace. We pray you would have mercy on this sinful world, especially on the nation of China, Iran, and Italy where this virus has been so deadly. And we pray you would have mercy on America, Kentucky, Louisville, and on our brother Jordan Powelson. Lord heal him, and we pray you would stop the spread of this virus throughout our nations, especially as you lead men and women to repent and trust in Christ. Lord, we beg you to give our leaders, President Trump, Govenor Beshear, and Mayor Fisher wisdom. Lord, grant all of our medical professionals safety, skill, and stamina. Help all of those who are staying home to fill their homes with your word and with love. We pray for those whose businesses are affected by this pandemic to prosper and to pray for your help. Finally, we pray that you would be glorified, especially by mass conversions all over the planet at this time”

God is always speaking to His people. The first thing we notice when we read this verse and a half is diversity, there are many times, many ways, and now a new way for new time, the last times. Diversity, but what is constant is God. God is always speaking. It is God speaking through the prophets. If you look at the OT you find such a varierty of literature, stories, histories, poems, proverbs, apocalyptic visions. In all of it is God speaking. We may say that, in english, Shakespeare is the master of the play, Jane Austen of the Novel, Robert Frost of the poem, Ralph Ellison of the essay, but God is the master of every style of literature. He can communicate effectively, perfectly through them all. Finally, we has spoken, beyond mere words, he has given us the Word, His Son whose life, was the exact imprint of God’s nature. I could go on about this, but for now, let me say again that God is always speaking. He has been speaking since, the text says, long ago. He has an insatiable desire to be known. And he has an insatiable desire to be known fully. That is why he patiently made himself known through the prophets and finally through the Son. Let me put it to you this way, God wants you to know Him. He speaks in creation to tell you of his glory. He speaks in His Word to tell you his character and his promises. And he speaks through His Son to make you know his full salvation. Whatever we are going through, whatever God’s people have been going through, God is always there talking to them! A question for us then is are we listening?

Now, let’s look at the book of Hebrews.

A lesson from one of the many words from long ago - I want to close this ‘ten minutes together‘ by reminding of one of the many themes that comes out through the prophets. It is a relevant theme today and it is simply this, God often speaks through plagues to call people to repentance. Moses told Pharoah, “If you refuse to let them go, behold, I will plague all your country” (). Plagues came from a refusal to repent. In the book of Joel God unleashes plagues of locusts and destroys the economy of his people and then says, “12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.”

The first verse and a half of the book of Hebrews introduces us to the whole book. Most of the letters of the NT start with a greeting, this one jumps right into theology, it jumps right into talking about God, and and what it says about God really does introduce us to the whole book. Listen to these words, “1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,. ().” These verses talk about the different ways God talks. Notice the contrasts in this verse and a half. God spoke to our fathers long ago. God spoke to us in these last days. God spoke to our Fathers at many times and in many ways, in these last days he has spoken in one way, by His Son. The time is contrasted, Long ago versus now in these last days. The people are contrasted, the Fathers versus us. The way God spoke is contrasted many times and many ways through prophets then, through the Son now. The writer to the Hebrews is contrasting the way God spoke to His people in the Old Testament (the first ¾ of the Bible, written before Jesus) with the way God speaks to His people under the New Testament (the last ¼ of the Bible written after the events of Jesus life, death, and resurrection). This contrast between the way God spoke before Jesus and the way he spoke in Jesus will dominate this book. In the book of Hebrews we will hear about the Law given by angels, the rest promised to Joshua, the priests given to Israel, and the Temple designed by God and we will see how Jesus fulfills all of these realities. He is the greater word, the greater rest, the greater priest, and the great temple of God. As you read through Hebrews you will notice that Jesus and His Word are compared to the different ways God spoke in the OT. “1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,. ().” No wonder John Owen said, “The apostle has opened the spring from which all his successive arguments flow.” If you have ever found the book of Hebrews hard to understand, here is a key for you. At nearly point in the book the writer is comparing the many ways God spoke through the prophets with the full revelation he has brought into the world through Jesus Christ.

God is always speaking to His people. The first thing we notice when we read this verse and a half is diversity, there are many times, many ways, and now a new way for new time, the last times. Diversity is what we notice, but what is constant (what is constant) is God. God is always speaking. It is God speaking through the prophets. It is God speaking through His Son. If you look at the OT you find such a varierty of literature, stories, histories, poems, proverbs, apocalyptic visions. In all of it is God speaking. We may say that, in english, Shakespeare is the master of the play, Jane Austen of the Novel, Robert Frost of the poem, Ralph Ellison of the essay, but God is the master of every style of literature. He can communicate effectively, perfectly through them all. Finally, we has spoken, beyond mere words, he has given us the Word, His Son whose life, was the exact imprint of God’s nature. I could go on about this, but for now, let me say again that God is always speaking. He has been speaking since, the text says, long ago. He has an insatiable desire to be known. And he has an patient desire to be known fully. That is why he consistently made himself known through the prophets and finally through the Son. Let me put it to you this way, God wants you to know Him. He speaks in creation to tell you of his glory. He speaks in His Word to tell you his character and his promises. And he speaks through His Son to make you know his full salvation. Whatever we are going through, whatever God’s people have ever been going through, God is always there talking to them! A question for us then is are we listening?

A lesson from one of the many words from long ago - I want to close this ‘ten minutes together‘ by reminding you of one of the many themes that comes out through the prophets. It is a relevant theme today and it is simply this, God often speaks through plagues to call people to repentance. In the many times, and many ways God spoke through the prophets he often used plagues to bring people to repentance. Moses told Pharoah, “If you refuse to let them go, behold, I will plague all your country” (). Plagues came from a refusal to repent. In the book of Joel God unleashes plagues of locusts and destroys the economy of his people and then says, “12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, (). In the book of Amos we read repeatedly, that in the face of plagues the people would not repent, “9 “I struck you with blight and mildew; your many gardens and your vineyards, your fig trees and your olive trees the locust devoured; yet you did not return to me,” declares the Lord. (). Throughout the Old Testament in many ways, and at many times God spoke to his people about how they ought to respond to plagues. They were called to repent. Now to believers, I am not saying if you spend some time repenting of your sin then you will not get sick. I am not saying that. I am saying that a plague (or in our case a pandemic) is an opportunity to remember that this world is under the wrath of God, WE need to remember that death is certain because of his wrath and curse, and our calling is to be holy and blameless on the last day. In the words of Hebrews there is a “holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” So as you see the death and destruction of this pandemic, turn afresh to the Son, to his death on the Cross, to his resurrection, to his promise of forgiveness, to his powerful Holy Spirit, and praise Him that though you are in a cursed world now, you will escape the wrath of God at the end of the world because of Jesus. And there is another good word for us in the midst of a pandemic. We should repent and call others to repent. If you are not a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ you should repent of your sins, your acts of rebellion against God. This is what Jesus said. One of his great messages was, “Repent and believe in the gospel” (). Now, I am not saying that since you are particularly bad you are going to get a virus if you do not repent. No, I am saying that since we are sinners, and you are a sinner, the reason viruses come into the world is because this world is cursed. You and I are sinners and you and I are under God’s curse that may take us out through corona, cancer, or a car accident. Are you ready for that? God’s prophets showed us that God brings plagues on sin. And in these last days he has shown us the escape for all wrath of God that plagues point to. Have you found that escape? If you were to get sick and die would you know how to escape the wrath of God that comes after death? It comes through Jesus, his death pays the full penalty for your sins and his resurrection from the dead is something you can participate in, if you believe in Him you will escape death and be raised with him to a new and eternal life. Would you consider doing that today that the threat of death is in the air?