2019-12-15 Hebrews 4: 14-16 Jesus Present

JESUS PRESENT (Heb 4:14-16) December 15, 2019 Read Heb 4:14-16 – How is it that Jesus has impacted our world far more than any other individual – a lowly Galilean carpenter?! Last week we looked at Jesus Past -- His divine birth, life, death and resurrection to implement God’s plan to redeem a lost and fallen race. I pray you are in on that! If so, that raises another question. Perhaps you heard of the man betrayed by a friend. He asked, “How could you do this to me? Who picked you out of the gutter? Bailed you out of jail? Gave you your first job? Set you on the right path?” The man replied, “You did, that’s true. But what have you done for me lately?” That’s our question today. If you are a Xn, Jesus has delivered you from the power of sin and set you on a right path. But what about now? What has He done for us lately? That’s our subject – Jesus Present. We can only hit the high points, but I pray they will encourage and strengthen us in our Xn walk as we see a few things Jesus is up to now. I. As Highest Authority Jesus told His disciples: Mt 18:18b: “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” He had that as God the Son. But now He has it as the Godman -- Jesus of Nazareth. That Jesus has all authority everywhere. It was given Him bc of His obedience even unto death: Phil 2: 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” This isn’t just the 2nd person of the Godhead being declared Yahweh! This is the God-man, Jesus, being declared Yahweh and eventually being acknowledge by the whole universe as such! Eph 1:20b: God the Father “raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21) far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come.” Thus at this moment, all power, everywhere, derives from Jesus Christ. Jesus Rules! So, what does this mean relative to the universe? A. He Sustains the Universe – One of the great unknows to physical science is the question of why the atoms, make up of tiny electrically charged particles, don’t just fly apart. Take oxygen, for example. Its nucleus is comprised of 8 protons (positively charged) and 8 neutrons (no charge). By 1 Coulomb’s law, particles with the same charge repel each other. Particles with opposite charges attract each other. That means the 8 protons in the nucleus should fly apart from each other. But some incredibly powerful force holds them together – a force science can’t explain, but names the “strong nuclear force.” Without this force active in every single atom in the universe, the whole thing would be blown to bits. Physicist Dr. H. B. Chestnut says, “This implies that all massive nuclei have no right to be alive at all. Indeed, they should never have been created, and, if created, they should have blown up instantly. Yet here they all are. . . . Some inflexible inhibition is holding them relentlessly together. The nature of the inhibition is also a secret.” Not to Jesus! He created the universe and the atoms prior to the incarnation, but now, as the incarnate Jesus, He holds it all together. Col 1:17: “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” How? Heb 1:3b: “he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” So, if you wonder why things don’t just fly apart, there’s why! Jesus holds your universe and life together! B. He Subjugates the Universe – But He doesn’t just hold it together; He subjugates it. With the mayhem around us, it sure doesn’t look like Jesus rules. But Heb 2:8b reminds us: “Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.” It may not appear that He rules; but He does. We just don’t see it yet. Because we can’t see the big picture. We’re like Sir Jas Thornhill painting the cupola of St. Paul’s, London. He stepped back on his scaffolding to get a better view of his work. But, out of nowhere a paint-filled brush from the ground flew into his painting. Sir James sprang forward in anger. But it turned out a helper, seeing how close he was to the edge of the scaffolding, feared if he yelled, Sir Jas would fall. He spoiled the painting to save the painter. That’s the big pix Jesus has on every event a in our world. One day we’ll see from His perspective that there were no false moves; no missteps; no failure in any way to bring glory to the Father. II. As Head of the Church A. He Constructs It – One of the great misnomers concerning the church is the idea that we are building it. So we apply human wisdom attempting to build a supernatural entity. It will not work, Beloved. We can have bells and whistle and great crowds, but we will not build His church. Why? Because He is the only one who can build it. He told His disciples, Mt 16:18b: “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against 2 it.” The gates of hell would have no problem prevailing against what you or I or any human might build. But it can never prevail against what He builds. It is human arrogance to think we are building the church. Those boasting of their mega church are building shrines to themselves, but they are not building The Church. The church is built when spiritually dead people are made alive – and only God can do that. Jesus builds the church, not us. Know who we are? II Cor 4:7: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” We’re just ordinary, everyday clay pots, but we have a treasure – the gospel. It’s not us that matter; it’s the gospel that matters. It’s not our grand schemes or human methods, but the message that counts. Thru it, Jesus builds His church. Mark 4: 26 And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.” The farmer plants, but God grows the seed. And when it comes to the kingdom, we plant; but Jesus brings the growth! When Luther’s friends were anxious about the Reformation: “Now, listen to this. I, for my part, am not very much troubled by our cause. God who is able to raise up the dead, is also able to uphold His cause. If we are not worthy instruments to accomplish his purpose, He will find others. This is God’s cause, not mine. I’m going to go home, kiss Katie, and go to sleep.” We’ve the wonderful privilege to be instruments, but Jesus builds the church. START HERE B. He Cleanses It – It’s wonderful that Jesus accepts us just as we are. We don’t have to clean up, in fact, we can’t clean up to come to Him. He takes us as we are – no sin too great, no imperfect too deep. But while He accepts us where we are – He doesn’t leave us there! If you genuinely come to Christ, change is coming. Eph 5:25-27: “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” We’re all part of the bride of Christ – and He will have nothing but perfection in His bride. And He does the perfecting. Phil 1:6: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” He takes us where we are, but then begins a lifetime of perfecting us. That’s a process He will not fail to complete. 3 How does He do it? “Having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.” He does it thru the Word – studied, learned, applied to every event of life. The better we know the Word, the better we interpret the events of life – both good and bad. The more immersed in the Word, the cleaner we become in thought and deed. We see even life’s hardest events make us more like Him. We see ourselves more clearly – the unsuspected sin, the substituting good for best, the excess baggage. He cleanses thru the Word applied to life’s tests. Puritan writer, Samuel Bolton, says: “The law sends us to the Gospel, that we might be justified [by faith alone]; and the Gospel sends us to the law again to inquire what is our duty [and privilege] in being justified.” C. He Controls It – He’s our Lord individually; He’s head of the church. It is not the pastor; it is not the pope; it is not the elders or the one with the most money. Jesus is the Head. Eph 1:22: “And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church.” So we must always be seeking His will, not our own. Just as the head tells your body parts what to do, so Jesus gives guidance and direction to His body. The better we obey, the more we reflect His glory and fulfill our purpose in life. In too many churches, you could take out any mention of Jesus and nothing would change. Worldly methods are being applied to worldly people and producing worldly results. The Head is ignored. John Stott served in the Anglican Church in England. He was instructed to address a letter to a bishop as “My Lord,” and the accepted conclusion was “I am your lordship’s obedient servant.” Christ is our Head. No pastor should refer to “my church”, “my congregation,” “my people.” We belong to Jesus; He’s in charge. III. As High Priest A. He Provides for Believers – Jn 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” There’s no spiritual fruit apart from Him. Did you ever see a branch that had fallen from a fruit tree? It may have fruit on it, but it will be rotten and useless. So it is with us. Fruit comes from abiding and obeying – living life with Him at the center. B. He Protects Believers – Satan “accuses [us] night and day before our God” (Rev 12:10b). That is a scary prospect. Our Adversary is seeking legal action against us. BUT I Jn 2:1: “My little children I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an 4 advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Satan brings a charge. “Dave lost his temper – again.” But I have an advocate. Jesus springs to my defense. “Yes, Father, He did it. But He’s mine. You gave him to me. He’s repented of His sins and received forgiveness bc I died for him. He’s free. The truth of Rom 8:33 applies: “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.” We have Jesus’ priceless protection – now! That even extends to physical protection. Jesus told His disciples shortly before His own death in Lu 21:16 “You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish.” How could He say that some would die, yet not a hair of their head would perish? He could say that because He had the big pix. Jas and John heard that. Jas soon had his head lopped off at Herod’s hands. John lived to ripe old age. It seems John got the better deal. Jas died; John lived. But get the big pix, Beloved. Before Jas’ head hit the ground, he was already in heaven in the presence of Jesus. He was “put to death”, yet “not a hair of his head perished.” Jesus’ protection means nothing can touch us that He doesn’t allow; it means nothing can ultimately cause us to perish. We are His – forever. Rom 8:38 “For I am sure that neither death nor life . . . nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” That’s not just good hands; that’s the best hands. C. He Prays for Believers – Rom 8:34: “Christ Jesus . . . indeed is interceding for us.” Interceding – making appeal – petitioning – for us! Heb 7:25: “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God thru him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” The risen Christ is praying – for you. He’s interceding to ward off the accusations of Satan as we’ve seen. And He’s interceding to ward off the attacks of Satan, to help us thru tests, to perfect us. The night before He died, Jesus gave a glimpse behind the scenes. He told Peter in Lu 22:31: “Simon, Simon, [Peter’s old name – like using your kid’s middle name] Simon, Simon, Satan demanded to have you that he might sift you like wheat.” “He’s asked to blow you up, Simon.” This is mindblowingly scary stuff, right? BUT! 32 “but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Was Jesus’ prayer answered? Oh yes. But that didn’t save Peter from the trial. He ran like a coward and denied Jesus 5 with curses later that evening. But – his faith did not ultimately fail. He repented, and he became a source of strength for his brothers. All bc Jesus prayed. Aren’t you glad He “always lives to make intercession” – for you?! Conc – Our entire destiny is in Jesus’ hands, even now. If He stopped His sustaining work for even a second, the universe fall apart, and our eternal salvation would out the window. What have you done for me lately? Kept me safe and secure in the arms of God. Jesus’ sustaining power, protection and prayer is our only security – but it is a blessed, unshakeable security for Heb 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Oscar Thompson while a student at Baylor pastored a church in Gonzales, TX, driving back late every Sunday night. One elderly widow told him, “I’m alone now; I’m going to pray for you each Sunday night until I know you’re back in the dorm.” One night he came upon a terrible wreck at Round Rock. He offered to help and didn’t get back to the dorm until 4:30. Next day the lady called: “Where were you last night?” He said, “What do you mean?” She said, “You kept me awake until 4:30 this morning praying for you.” That’s intercessory prayer. But great as that is, think what you have 24/7! Robt Murray M’Cheyne said, “If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet the distance makes no difference; He is praying for me.” How did he know that? Heb 7:25: “He always lives to make intercession for [those who draw near to God].” That’s what He done and is doing for you lately! Let’s pray. 6