Participants:
Series Code: SSP
Program Code: SSP220001S
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00:01 Hello, friends, I'm Jill Morikone,
00:02 and I just want to welcome you to a brand new quarter. 00:05 This is first quarter of 2022. 00:07 We are exploring the Book of Hebrews, 00:10 In These Last Days The Message of Hebrews. 00:13 I'm very excited to dive into the Word of God 00:16 and to study with you at home. 00:17 We want to remind you if you want your own copy 00:20 of the Sabbath School quarterly, 00:22 you can go to the following website 00:23 3abnsabbathschoolpanel.com 00:27 That website again is 3abnsabbathschoolpanel.com 00:30 You can download your own edition 00:32 and follow along with us. 00:34 Get ready for this edition of 3ABN Sabbath School Panel 00:37 lesson number one, 00:38 The Letter to the Hebrews and to Us. 01:12 We are so looking forward 01:14 to this study of the Book of Hebrews 01:16 and we're glad that you've joined us. 01:17 Glad that we can walk through this entire book 01:20 over the next 13 lessons. 01:23 With me on the panel are my brothers in Christ. 01:26 So grateful to introduce them to you, 01:28 but they don't need any introduction 01:29 because we're family and you're family too, 01:32 and we're so glad that you have tuned in. 01:35 To my left is Pastor James Rafferty. 01:36 So glad to have you here, Brother. 01:38 So good to be here. 01:39 So excited about the Book of Hebrews. 01:41 Great book. Amen. 01:42 To your left, my pastor, Pastor John Lomacang. 01:44 Glad to have you here, Pastor. 01:46 Yes, Hebrews and I have a long standing relationship 01:49 for more than 30 years. 01:50 So I'm loving it. 01:51 I'm looking forward to it. Amen. 01:53 To your left, Pastor Ryan Day. 01:56 Glad to have you here, Brother. Amen. 01:57 Always a blessing to be a part of the Sabbath School Panel. 01:59 Amen. 02:01 Last but not least, another pastor, 02:02 Pastor John Dinzey. 02:04 Privileged to have you here. 02:05 Oh, it's a blessing. 02:07 And I'm looking forward to this Hebrews. 02:09 It's a tremendous book to read. 02:11 It is, absolutely. 02:13 Before we go any further, 02:14 we want to go to the Lord in prayer. 02:15 And, Pastor James, would you pray for us? 02:17 Absolutely. Let's pray together. 02:18 Father in heaven, thank You so much 02:20 for this opportunity to study Your Word, 02:22 and especially the Book of Hebrews 02:23 written for our time for these last days. 02:27 Please guide and direct us and those who are viewing, 02:29 please send Your Spirit 02:31 to quicken our minds and our hearts to help us 02:33 to see Jesus in every page and every verse 02:36 and know what He means to us, 02:37 and He means to this world. 02:39 And we ask it in His name. 02:40 Amen. Amen. 02:42 Thank you so much. 02:43 Lesson number one, 02:44 The Letter to the Hebrews and to Us. 02:47 He walked in the church and his eyes were mesmerized 02:50 by the painting on the wall. 02:51 It was two meters high, three meters wide. 02:55 But it wasn't the painting so much, 02:57 it was the girl in the painting. 02:58 But it wasn't even the girl in the painting, 03:00 it was the girl's eyes in the painting. 03:03 And when he looked at her eyes, 03:05 in her pupils was a reflection 03:08 that the painter had painted into it, 03:11 a reflection of Jesus on the cross. 03:14 That's what we see 03:15 and what we're going to study this entire quarter. 03:18 The theme of Hebrews, the focus of Hebrews, 03:21 the message of Hebrews is Jesus. 03:24 In Hebrews we find Jesus as our sacrifice. 03:27 We find Jesus as the perfect Lamb of God. 03:31 We find Jesus as our deliverer from sin 03:33 and from self and from Satan. 03:36 We find Jesus as our High Priest, 03:38 as the Elder Brother, as our Mediator, 03:42 as one with the human race. 03:44 And most of all, we find Jesus 03:45 as seated at the right hand of the Father. 03:49 You know, in the margin of my Bible, 03:51 at the beginning of Hebrews, 03:53 I have written these three words, 03:55 Jesus is better. 03:58 To me, that's what the Book of Hebrews 04:00 is all about. 04:01 The New Covenant is better. 04:03 The temple in heaven is better 04:05 than the earthly sanctuary or tabernacle. 04:08 Jesus, as our High Priest, is better than the earthly, 04:12 changeable priesthood. 04:14 Jesus' sacrifice is better 04:16 because it was once and for all. 04:19 The key word in Hebrews is access. 04:22 Through Jesus, we have access to the Father, 04:24 we have access to grace, we have access to power, 04:27 we have access to the promises in the Word of God. 04:32 The lesson brought out something interesting 04:34 in the introduction to the whole quarter. 04:36 It talked about the three dimensions 04:38 of the story of redemption 04:40 that we're going to see in the person of Jesus. 04:43 First is the local personal dimension. 04:46 For those who are tired of the trials 04:48 and hardships of this life, 04:50 this Christian life. 04:52 In the Book of Hebrews, 04:53 we find Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith, 04:57 and He's someone who sympathizes 05:00 with what we are going through 05:01 because He suffered like we do. 05:03 We also see the corporate national dimension of Jesus. 05:08 For the people of God 05:09 who are traveling to the Promised Land, 05:12 Jesus is the new Joshua, and we follow His lead. 05:16 We also see the universal dimension 05:19 of Jesus in the Book of Hebrews. 05:22 For everyone, Jesus is the last Adam. 05:25 He's the Son of man 05:26 in whom God's purposes for humanity are fulfilled. 05:30 This lesson is written by Felix Cortez, 05:33 he's the Associate Professor of New Testament literature 05:36 at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, 05:39 at Andrews University, and he did a great job. 05:42 When I've been through studying this, 05:44 he really arranged it thematically, 05:46 and he did an incredible job. 05:48 So we're grateful for that. 05:50 This week, specifically, 05:51 as we look at the letter to Hebrews and to us, 05:53 we're going to cover the overview, 05:54 the theme of Hebrews, the audience, 05:56 who was Paul writing to? 05:59 What were they going through at that time? 06:02 And what's the application? 06:03 What can we learn today? 06:06 You know, Hebrews, 06:07 the Book of Hebrews is really a sermon. 06:09 You know, Hebrews 13:22 calls it what? 06:11 The word of exhortation, 06:15 and we see this expression used to identify the sermon 06:18 both in the synagogue and at places of worship. 06:21 Hebrews, you could say, 06:22 is one of the earliest complete Christian sermons that we have 06:26 written by the Apostle Paul. 06:29 Who's the audience that Hebrews was written to? 06:33 One, to believers 06:35 who had accepted Jesus as Messiah. 06:37 Two, to believers 06:38 who had been persecuted for their faith. 06:42 Three, believers whose faith was being undermined 06:46 by the contempt and hostility of the surrounding nations. 06:50 Four, believers who just are playing tired. 06:54 Five, believers who need exhortation and encouragement 06:59 to keep pressing on, 07:00 to fix their eyes upon Jesus, 07:03 to get ready for soon Jesus will come. 07:06 And I don't know about you, 07:07 but I think I could fall into one of those camps 07:10 at any given day. 07:11 So what does that mean? 07:13 This book is for you. 07:14 This book is for me. 07:15 Let's read our memory text. 07:17 We're in Hebrews 10:36, 07:19 then we'll jump into Sunday's lesson. 07:21 Hebrews 10:36, 07:24 "For you have need of endurance 07:27 after you have done the will of God, 07:29 you may receive the promise." 07:32 So let's jump back, on Sunday's lesson 07:35 we look at A Glorious Beginning. 07:36 Let's jump back to Hebrews Chapter 2, 07:40 we're going to read the first four verses, 07:41 Hebrews Chapter 2. 07:43 And we look at the audience specifically 07:45 that Paul is writing to. 07:46 Hebrews Chapter 2, we pick it up in verse 1. 07:49 "Therefore we must give the more earnest heed 07:53 to the things we have heard, 07:54 lest we drift away." 07:56 Jump down to verse 3. 07:58 "How shall we escape 07:59 if we neglect so great a salvation, 08:02 which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, 08:05 and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 08:09 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, 08:12 with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, 08:15 according to His own will?" 08:18 So I see right there three identifying characteristics 08:21 of the audience. 08:23 You know, when you speak, 08:24 you want to know who you're speaking to. 08:26 When you teach, 08:27 you want to know who your students are, 08:29 you want to know them, you want to understand them. 08:32 So who is Paul writing to? 08:34 Number one, I call them second generation Christians. 08:37 In other words, 08:39 they didn't hear the gospel from Jesus, 08:41 they heard the gospel from those who heard Jesus. 08:44 They are really second generation Christians. 08:48 Someone else was faithful to proclaim to them the gospel 08:51 that they had heard. 08:52 Someone was faithful to share Jesus, 08:54 to share the good news, to share the gospel. 08:57 That's how they became Christians. 08:59 Number two, we see that they had witnessed miracles, 09:02 they had seen those miracles, they had experienced salvation, 09:06 they saw the signs and wonders, they saw the miracles. 09:10 Number three, they had experienced 09:13 the gift of the Holy Spirit. 09:16 So clearly, they were converted. 09:18 They knew Jesus, not firsthand, 09:21 but from secondhand they had heard Him 09:22 and then they knew Him firsthand 09:24 from experiencing Him. 09:25 They knew those miracles, they had seen that, 09:28 they had witnessed that, 09:29 they had received the gift of the Holy Spirit. 09:32 You know, the early church to me it's fascinating. 09:35 I love to study the Book of Acts 09:36 and that early church experience 09:38 we have, of course, in Acts 1:8 what? 09:40 The promise of the Holy Spirit. 09:42 Right before Jesus ascended, 09:43 He says, "You will receive power 09:45 after the Holy Spirit has come upon you 09:48 and you're going to be witnesses 09:49 in Jerusalem and Judea 09:51 unto the uttermost parts of the earth." 09:52 And then we see, of course, in Acts 2, 09:54 the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 09:56 This is Peter's Pentecostal sermon, 09:59 3,000 people are baptized in a day, 10:02 and we see the exponential growth 10:04 of the early church. 10:06 Acts 2 says the Lord added to the church daily 10:10 such as those who were being saved. 10:12 Acts 5 says and believers 10:14 every day multiplied men and woman 10:17 added to the church. 10:18 Acts 6 says a great number of the priests 10:21 became obedient to the faith. 10:24 In Acts 4, we see that the disciples 10:26 who previously were unlearned, and unlettered 10:29 that they became bold to speak the gospel 10:33 to preach the gospel for Jesus. 10:35 In Acts 5, we see miracles performed so much that 10:38 the sick were dragged in the streets 10:40 so that even the shadow of Peter 10:42 passing by would bring healing to them. 10:45 Not Peter or the shadow, but the Lord Jesus, of course. 10:49 And we see the persecution after the stoning of Stephen 10:51 and the believers are scattered abroad. 10:54 And everywhere they went, they took the gospel. 10:57 So this epistle to Hebrews they, 11:00 the audience, they knew Jesus, 11:02 they had experienced Him, 11:03 they had seen signs and wonders and miracles, 11:06 they'd experienced the gift of the Holy Spirit. 11:08 Yet, in spite of all that, they were still in danger, 11:13 lest they drift away. 11:16 Hebrews 2:1, 11:17 "We must give the more earnest heed to the things 11:19 we have heard, lest we drift away." 11:22 Here's my takeaways 11:23 before I pass it over to Pastor James. 11:25 Takeaway number one, 11:27 knowing Jesus precedes anything. 11:31 Knowing Jesus precedes the signs and wonders. 11:33 We're not going to see any signs and wonders 11:35 unless we know Him first. 11:37 Knowing Jesus precedes miracles. 11:39 We don't see miracles unless we know Him first. 11:42 Knowing Jesus precedes the infilling 11:45 of the Holy Spirit. 11:46 John 17:3, "This is life eternal, 11:49 that they may know the only true God 11:52 and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." 11:54 The important thing is to know Jesus 11:58 before anything else. 12:00 Takeaway number two, 12:02 knowing Jesus is not a guarantee. 12:05 It's possible to know Him, to walk with Him, 12:09 to love Him, to follow Him, and to still fall away. 12:15 That's kind of scary. 12:16 When you think about that, 12:18 is it even possible to have known Him, 12:20 to walk with Him, 12:21 to experience Him and then to still fall away? 12:24 2 Peter 2:21, 12:27 "It would have been better for them 12:29 not to have personally known the way of righteousness 12:32 than to have known it, 12:33 and to turn their back 12:35 from the holy commandment handed on to them." 12:39 So knowing Jesus is not even a guarantee 12:41 because it is possible to fall away. 12:43 Takeaway number three, 12:44 focus on your own spiritual walk. 12:48 Many times we look at other people. 12:50 "Oh, how's Pastor Ryan doing today? 12:51 I wonder how his walk? 12:53 Pastor James, I wonder how his walk with Jesus is?" 12:56 We sometimes compare ourselves to other people. 13:00 Therefore, 1 Corinthians 10:12 says, 13:03 "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed, 13:06 lest he fall." 13:07 Instead of looking at others, 13:08 we are called only to look at Jesus. 13:11 And finally, takeaway number four. 13:14 Beware, lest you become complacent 13:17 in your own spiritual walk. 13:21 You know that word in Hebrews 2:1, 13:23 that word for drift in the Greek it says, 13:26 "Therefore we give the more earnest heed 13:28 to the things we have heard, 13:29 lest we drift away." 13:31 That word drift literally means to float, 13:34 to float alongside, drifting past a destination, 13:39 because you're pushed along by the current. 13:42 Greg and I went canoeing once, 13:43 and I was having a glorious time, 13:45 we went downstream, and he kept saying, 13:47 "Jilly, we need to turn around, we need to turn around." 13:49 And I said, "I'm having such a great time. 13:51 This isn't any work at all." 13:52 And he said, "We're going with the current." 13:54 Well, when we turned around, I was exhausted and I realized 13:57 how much work it is to go against the current. 14:00 It is so easy to become complacent, 14:02 to become apathetic, 14:04 to become spiritually lethargic in your walk with God. 14:09 Beware, lest you become complacent 14:11 in your walk with God. 14:13 Pastor James? 14:14 Amen. Thank you, Jill. 14:16 That was an excellent introduction 14:17 to the Book of Hebrews. 14:19 I have Monday's lesson. 14:20 My name is James Rafferty, 14:21 and the title of this week's lesson 14:23 or this day's lesson, 14:25 Monday's lesson is The Struggle, 14:27 The Struggle. 14:28 And basically it's talking about 14:29 how when believers confess their faith in Christ, 14:32 and they join the church, 14:33 they set a boundary marker that distinguished them 14:37 from the rest of society. 14:38 Unfortunately, this became a source of conflict, 14:42 because it implicitly passed a negative judgment 14:46 on their community and its values. 14:48 In other words, when these people, 14:51 these men and women became Christians, 14:53 there was a standard that they embraced 14:55 and that standard of Christianity 14:57 caused unbelievers to feel uncomfortable, 15:00 to feel condemned, 15:01 to feel like these people 15:04 that became Christians were better than them. 15:06 And because of that, there was a conflict 15:08 or what we call persecution that developed. 15:11 So Monday's lesson is talking about this, 15:13 it asks us to read Hebrews 10:32-34. 15:18 Hebrews 10:32-34. 15:21 So let's just take a look there in Hebrews 10:32-34. 15:27 It says, "But call to remembrance the former days, 15:29 in which, after you were illuminated, 15:32 you endured a great fight of afflictions." 15:35 Partly, " verse 33," 15:36 whilst you were made a gazing stock 15:38 both by reproaches and afflictions, 15:41 and partly, whilst you became companions of them 15:44 who were so used." 15:45 Verse 34, 15:47 "For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, 15:50 and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, 15:53 knowing in yourselves that you have in heaven 15:56 a better and an enduring substance." 15:59 So here we have a description 16:02 of what happened to God's people 16:03 as they accepted the gospel, 16:05 as they were illuminated 16:06 and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. 16:08 First of all, 16:09 they endured this great flight of affliction. 16:12 There was conflict that took place, 16:14 and then following that 16:15 they lost things that were earthly, 16:17 they lost material possessions. 16:20 And part of the reason for this 16:21 was because they started supporting the gospel, 16:23 they gave their whole heart and their whole being 16:25 to the proclamation of the gospel. 16:27 And God calls us to support that not just with our words, 16:30 but with our goods, 16:31 with the material possessions that we possess. 16:33 And, of course, we want to do that as Christians, 16:35 we longed to support the proclamation, 16:38 the teaching, the preaching of this good news, 16:41 that means so much to so many people. 16:43 But in that context, 16:45 when you start letting go of the things of this world, 16:47 and you start focusing on heavenly things, 16:49 and the things of this world become secondary, 16:51 other people around you don't understand that. 16:54 And it seems odd to them, it seems strange to them 16:57 that you would put less value in things 16:59 that they highly value. 17:00 Because most of the time, people in this world 17:02 highly value the possessions of this world. 17:06 They're looking at this world as the end all. 17:10 They're looking at retirement, 17:11 they're looking at the house by the lake 17:13 and the house in the city, 17:15 and they're looking at all the different things 17:16 that they can acquire, the toys, etc. 17:19 That can make life comfortable and make life pleasurable. 17:22 Well, the Christians let go of all of that stuff. 17:24 And they became a gazing star in the sense they were like, 17:26 "What kind of people are this are these? 17:28 What kind of people 17:29 are just going to let go of all this stuff 17:31 and focus on something that you can't even see? 17:33 Of course, Hebrews 11 talks about 17:35 faith is the substance of things not seen, 17:37 the evidence of things hoped for. 17:39 And so then in Hebrews 13:3, 17:41 Paul explains in a little bit more detail 17:44 what their experience is. 17:45 He says, verse 3 of Hebrews Chapter 13, 17:49 "Remember them that are in bonds 17:51 is bound with them, 17:52 and them which suffer adversity, 17:54 as being yourselves also in the body." 17:57 In other words, Paul is describing an experience 18:01 that the Christians had of unity 18:03 and a unified experience, 18:04 even though they weren't necessarily 18:06 in the place of others 18:07 that were being afflicted or persecuted, 18:09 they could see themselves 18:11 going through the same experience. 18:13 And let me just give you an example. 18:14 You may hold a value or truth 18:16 as a Christian living in a Western country 18:19 with freedom and liberty, 18:20 that is the same or similar to a value 18:23 that is held by a Christian living, 18:24 let's say, in a Muslim country, 18:26 or in an atheist country, or a communist country. 18:28 And you see those people being persecuted and afflicted 18:32 for the very same values that you hold. 18:34 And you realize the only reason 18:36 you're not being persecuted and afflicted 18:38 is because you live at a certain location 18:40 that is different from their location. 18:42 And so the Hebrews 18:43 were relating this to themselves, 18:44 they were saying, "You know, we live over here, 18:47 the others live over there. 18:48 But if we were in their situation 18:50 or circumstance, or if we were in Paul situation, 18:52 specifically, who traveled to different places, 18:55 and endured all of these afflictions, 18:56 we will be going through the same thing." 18:58 In fact, some people actually traveled with him. 19:00 And they experienced those things 19:02 and had a struggle a difficult time. 19:03 I'm thinking of John Mark, specifically, 19:05 he had a difficult time hanging with Paul 19:07 during those struggles, 19:09 because he realized that, 19:10 man, this is a lot tougher to live 19:12 than just to talk about. 19:14 And many times as Christians, that's our experience. 19:17 That's what we go through. 19:18 So the lesson goes on, though, 19:20 and gives us great encouragement. 19:21 It says you know, we are going through afflictions. 19:23 But in 2 Timothy Chapter 3, 19:26 for example, verses 11 and 12. 19:28 All those who live godly in Christ Jesus 19:30 are going to go through afflictions. 19:31 Now, what's interesting about these verses 19:34 in 2 Timothy is it doesn't say 19:36 that all those who suffer persecution 19:38 are living godly. 19:39 There are a lot of different reasons 19:40 why we can be suffering persecution, 19:42 it's not necessarily 19:43 because we're living godly lives in Jesus, 19:45 but when we do live godly lives in Jesus, 19:48 we will suffer persecution. 19:50 Another verse in 1 Peter Chapter 5 says 19:52 that the devil is really the source of our afflictions. 19:55 We don't really wrestle against flesh and blood, 19:57 and God wants us to recognize that in our struggle, 20:01 we need to look beyond the human. 20:03 We need to look to the principalities 20:04 and powers behind the scenes, 20:06 because our job as Christians is to really move beyond 20:10 that physical realm so that we can be a witness to people. 20:13 And perhaps, like Steven did, who said, 20:15 "Lay not the sin of their charge, 20:17 be a means to which God can 20:18 actually convict and convert people 20:20 who are persecuting us." 20:22 And then it goes on to say in 1 Corinthians 1:3-7, 20:25 that our afflictions are actually a means 20:28 by which God uses us to comfort others 20:31 that go through the same afflictions. 20:33 So Paul was a powerful comforter, 20:35 because he could talk about 20:37 the afflictions he went through, 20:38 and he could share them with others 20:39 in such a way to encourage and comfort them 20:41 in the struggles that they were going through. 20:43 And that's powerful for us, and we think about that. 20:45 Okay, I'm going through something terrible right now 20:47 but God is going to use this. 20:48 And he's going to be able to encourage others 20:50 that I'm going to meet 20:51 that are going through similar struggles. 20:53 And then it says in Philippians 3:10, 20:56 "That fellowship with Christ, 20:58 in His sufferings is how we get to know Christ." 21:01 There's a group of people in Matthew 7, 21:03 who are rebuked by Christ 21:05 because they profess to follow Him 21:06 but Jesus says, "I don't know you." 21:08 One of the reasons 21:09 why we fail to know Christ intimately 21:11 is because we refuse to be partakers with Him 21:15 in His sufferings. 21:16 This is really important in relationship to the struggle 21:19 that we go through as Christians. 21:20 Colossians 1:23-24 says 21:22 that we are to fill up 21:24 the measure of Christ's suffering. 21:26 Now, again, that doesn't sound very appealing to fill up 21:28 the measure of Christ suffering. 21:30 Oh, give me more of that suffering, 21:31 give me more of that suffering. 21:32 But the reason for that, 21:34 of course, is to have that fellowship with Him. 21:35 The reason for that is so that 21:37 we can comfort others with the same comfort 21:39 that were comforted in Jesus Christ. 21:41 And then it goes on here in Hebrews 2:10. 21:45 And let's just look at this verse, 21:46 because it's in the book, which we studied now. 21:48 Hebrews 2:10. 21:50 It says, "For it became him, for whom are all things, 21:54 and by whom are all things, 21:55 and bringing many sons to glory 21:57 to make the captain of their salvation perfect 21:59 through sufferings." 22:00 So sufferings actually perfect us. 22:03 They help us to grow in our character. 22:06 And then, of course, 1 Peter 4:13 says that 22:09 we should rejoice in sufferings with exceeded joy. 22:12 And that's another verse in our lesson. 22:14 We're going now to the next page, 22:16 where it talks a little bit about this joy 22:19 and how we can have this joy. 22:22 The lesson study brings out Hebrews 11:24-26. 22:27 Hebrews 11:24-26 describes something that is, 22:30 well, it's divine. 22:32 It's talking about Moses here in verse 24. 22:35 And it says, "By faith, when Moses came to years, 22:37 he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 22:39 choosing rather to suffer affliction 22:41 with the people of God than enjoy the pleasure of sin 22:44 for a season esteeming 22:46 the reproach of Christ greater riches 22:48 than the treasures in Egypt, 22:50 for he had respect 22:51 unto the recompense of the reward." 22:53 And I think about this and it's amazing to me. 22:56 I mean, to me, this is where we need 22:58 to take our minds and our hearts. 23:00 Moses was focused on the riches in heaven, 23:03 and not the riches of this earth. 23:04 And I imagine 23:05 if Moses had accepted the riches of this world, 23:08 he could have been a Pharaoh in Egypt, 23:10 he could have had all of the gold and silver 23:12 that he wanted. 23:13 But the question is, well, where would Moses be today 23:16 if he had refused the affliction of Christ 23:19 and accepted the riches of this world? 23:21 If he had accepted the pleasure of sin for a season 23:23 where would he be today? 23:25 And the answer is likely 23:26 he'd be in a museum somewhere, 23:28 and we'd be paying big bucks to go see Moses, 23:31 gold and silver in his tomb and check him out. 23:34 But the question, friends, is, where is Moses today? 23:37 And the answer to that question is found in the Book of Jude. 23:40 It basically tells us that Moses was resurrected, 23:43 that Michael came for Moses and took him to heaven. 23:45 Moses is in heaven. 23:47 He is at God's right hand, Psalm 16:11, says, 23:51 enjoying pleasure forevermore. 23:54 In other words, Moses endured the affliction, 23:58 the suffering with the people of God for a little while. 24:01 And during that little while 24:02 he resisted the pleasure of sin that was seasonal, 24:05 because he wanted the pleasure that endures forevermore. 24:08 And that is our hope. 24:10 That is our goal as Christians is that 24:12 we would get our mind on Jesus, 24:13 we would get our focus on heaven, 24:15 and we'd accept those pleasures that are forevermore 24:17 and reject the pleasure of sin for a season. 24:20 Amen. 24:21 Thank you so much, Pastor James. 24:23 We can look unto Jesus, 24:24 the author and finisher of our faith. 24:26 I love that. Thank you. 24:27 We're going to take a short break. 24:28 We'll be right back. 24:34 Ever wish you could watch 24:35 a 3ABN Sabbath School Panel again, 24:37 or share it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter? 24:41 Well, you can by visiting 3abnsabbathschoolpanel.com 24:46 A clean design makes it easy 24:48 to find the program you're looking for. 24:50 There are also links to the Adult Bible Study Guide 24:54 so you can follow along. 24:55 Sharing is easy. 24:57 Just click share and choose your favorite social media. 25:00 Share a link, save a life for eternity. 25:04 Welcome back to our study lesson number one, 25:06 The Letter to the Hebrews and to Us, 25:08 and we're going to kick it over to Pastor John Lomacang 25:10 with today's lesson. 25:12 What a title, Malaise. 25:14 How many times do you use the word malaise? 25:17 Not often. 25:18 Maybe a word some of you are hearing 25:19 for the very first time. 25:21 But that's the title of Tuesday's lesson. 25:23 It's talking about the discomfort, 25:25 the feeling that things don't go very well, 25:28 the feeling that something's wrong, 25:31 and that's often the experience of many Christians. 25:33 They say, "If I'm a Christian, 25:36 why is there a general discomfort 25:38 in my service of the Lord? 25:40 Why do things go wrong?" 25:42 Well, the writer of this lesson focuses on 25:45 the part of Christianity 25:46 that we don't often like to talk about, 25:48 because the gospel is often presented as prosperity. 25:52 If you give your life to Christ, 25:53 everything is going to go well. 25:55 Well, my interpretation and understanding of that is, 25:58 Christianity is synonymous to, picture this if you can, 26:03 football in America, 26:04 where they wear helmets and shoulder pads, 26:05 and they get on the field and they fight it out 26:07 to get a pigskin ball over one goal or the other. 26:10 When you become a Christian, 26:11 you're on one team or the other. 26:13 When you join the team of Christ, 26:15 you shouldn't think it's strange 26:16 that the other team 26:18 is determined to keep you from getting to your goal. 26:21 That's why the Apostle Paul says, 26:22 "I press toward the goal 26:23 for the prize of the upward call 26:25 of God in Christ Jesus." 26:26 The writer talks about the endurance 26:29 of the Christian in spite of malaise, 26:32 that feeling that 26:34 I'm in this for the wrong reason. 26:35 And the reason why this lesson to me is so vitally important 26:38 because many Christians give in 26:41 when they start experiencing malaise, 26:44 when things start falling apart, 26:46 when their lives begin to get chiseled, 26:48 and they faint along the way in the Christian race. 26:52 Well, I want to begin with Luke 23:31, 26:55 because when you look at 26:57 what the Christian goes through, 26:59 it's not any different than what Jesus went through. 27:02 If the Christian looks at him or herself, 27:04 as being above what Christ experienced, 27:07 or I'm not really, this is not fair. 27:11 So many Christians have said, "This is not fair." 27:14 And you find also in the Old Testament, 27:16 in the Book of Ecclesiastes 33:18, 27:19 the Israelites complained 27:20 how they didn't see God is fair. 27:23 But look at what the Bible says about Jesus. 27:25 He faced trials, He faced temptations, 27:27 He was ridiculed, 27:29 He was rejected and ultimately crucified. 27:32 But look what Dr. Luke says, 23:31, 27:36 "For if they do these things in the green wood, 27:40 what will be done in the dry?" 27:43 With a dry wood, so many of us are replete 27:46 of the things that the Lord would like, 27:49 or depleted, I should say, 27:51 of the things that the Lord would desire for us to have, 27:53 which is what? 27:55 Endurance, patience, astuteness, 27:57 a push beyond the pain of the Christian life. 28:01 Recently, I used the word that talked about 28:04 the inconvenience of divinity. 28:06 There is an inconvenience of divinity, 28:07 because we don't often know what God is doing, 28:09 and He doesn't tell us. 28:11 My ways are not your ways, 28:12 my thoughts are not your thoughts. 28:14 There's a difference in distance, 28:16 and in content between how we think 28:18 and how the Lord thinks. 28:20 And so the writer of this lesson 28:21 points out some of the challenges 28:24 that the early Christian church faced, 28:26 and why even though they may have lost their lives, 28:29 they didn't focus on a better walk with Christ, 28:31 they focused on a better resurrection. 28:34 That's something that's been also deleted from Christianity. 28:37 We don't talk about the resurrection, 28:38 dying and going directly to heaven. 28:40 Well there's a resurrection, 28:42 but only those who endure the malaise of Christianity, 28:45 the days when things are not going well, 28:47 when it seems like life is not worth it. 28:50 When even going to church 28:51 and worship seems to be void of something, 28:54 and Christian friends around you seem to abandon 28:56 and leave you forsaken. 28:58 That's the malaise moments. 28:59 But listen to the things that the Christians faced. 29:02 Let's go to the Book of Hebrews. 29:03 Here are some of the challenges 29:05 faced by the Christians that Paul talks about. 29:08 Hebrews 2:18. 29:11 Let's start with the first one. I'll read it. 29:13 "For in that He Himself has suffered, 29:17 being tempted, 29:18 He is able to aid those who are tempted." 29:22 One of the challenges of Christians is temptation. 29:24 Yeah. 29:26 Have any of you been tempted since you've been a Christian? 29:27 No way. 29:28 Don't reveal it because it might be on tape. 29:30 Somebody might say, "Ah, they face temptation." 29:33 Hey, don't think it's strange. 29:35 The Lord does not allow any temptation to come to us 29:39 that will crush us. 29:40 I've often said He measures every trial, 29:43 but He never measures His grace, 29:45 He never measures His mercy. 29:48 It is new every morning and His faithfulness is great. 29:52 So if you're being faced with temptation, 29:54 don't look at it as, 29:55 "Well, this should not be my experience." 29:58 Jesus was tempted in all points just as you are, 30:02 just as we were, just as we are being, 30:04 yet He was without sin. 30:06 So temptation is a part of the malaise 30:08 of the Christian life. 30:09 Here's another one, Hebrews 3:12-13. 30:14 "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you 30:18 an evil heart of unbelief 30:21 in departing from the living God, 30:23 but exhort one another daily, 30:25 while it is called today, 30:27 lest any of you be hardened 30:31 through the deceitfulness of sin." 30:33 Unbelief, I don't know, I've had people say, 30:35 "I don't know if I believe in the Lord any longer. 30:37 After all, I've been through, 30:39 I lost my mother, I lost my father, 30:41 I have a friend going through trials, 30:42 my baby died prematurely. 30:45 I don't know if I really believe in God. 30:46 If there's really a God, why is there so much suffering? 30:48 I don't really believe in a God." 30:50 What many people fail to realize 30:52 is we're living in enemy's territory. 30:54 We are on the battlefield. 30:56 This is where the battle is raging. 30:57 And the Bible says, 30:59 "The devil has come down having great wrath 31:00 because he knows he has a short time." 31:02 He's heating things up, 31:05 but one day the Lord is going to cool things down 31:07 permanently. 31:09 So if you are faced with the issue of unbelief, 31:11 because of the trials, 31:12 or the malaise you're going through, 31:14 the Bible says that, 31:16 "Be careful because this evil heart of unbelief 31:19 can rob you of the future blessings 31:21 that are just before you." 31:23 Look at the third thing, Hebrews 4:15, 31:26 a third aspect of malaise. 31:28 The Bible says, 31:30 "For we do not have a High Priest 31:32 who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, 31:34 but was in all points 31:35 tempted as we are yet without sin." 31:37 You ever feel weak? 31:39 Jesus knows what that's like. 31:41 Too weak to study your Bible, 31:43 too weak to go to church, too weak to even say, 31:48 "I want to be involved in witnessing 31:50 and sharing my faith." 31:51 One preacher I heard once say, 31:53 "Some people are not going to be lost 31:54 because the Bible is insufficient 31:56 to give them information. 31:57 But some people are just too lazy to be saved." 32:01 Weaknesses of Christianity. 32:03 We have to push beyond the feeling. 32:05 Christianity is not a religion of feeling. 32:08 Jesus didn't die because He felt like it. 32:11 He died because He love us. 32:13 And therefore, before the Lord comes, 32:16 He is going to allow the fabric of our connection to be tested, 32:20 whether it is weak, or whether it is strong. 32:22 That's why He says, "Examine yourself 32:24 to see whether you are in the faith." 32:26 So weakness is not unusual. 32:28 But turning to Jesus to find strength 32:30 is what I recommend that you do. 32:32 Here's another one, not coming to church. 32:34 A lot of people don't come to church, 32:35 and on the heels of COVID, 32:37 a lot of people don't want to come back to church. 32:39 But here's the danger of malaise. 32:41 Hebrews 10:25, 32:42 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, 32:46 as is the manner of some, but exhort one another, 32:51 and so much the more 32:52 as you see the day approaching." 32:54 When COVID hit many people said, 32:56 "Oh, I'm really being shaken." 32:58 But now that the couch has become 33:00 St. Mattress Cathedral, 33:01 they don't want to go to church any longer. 33:03 They feel they can be Christians 33:05 all by themselves. 33:06 And some people want to join the church 33:07 and be Christians all by themselves. 33:09 But the Bible says the closer 33:10 we get to the coming of the Lord, 33:12 do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together. 33:15 Get on that front line as the football team 33:17 and endure the hits together. 33:19 Because the devil if he knows 33:21 he can separate the sheep from the shepherd, 33:23 a sheep all by itself 33:25 is no match for a grievous wolf. 33:28 The other one is discouragement. 33:29 Hebrews 12:3, discouragement, 33:32 "For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners 33:36 against Himself, lest you 33:38 become weary and discouraged in your soul." 33:41 Is the malaise of your Christianity 33:43 bringing you to the point 33:44 where Christianity is grade to you now, 33:46 you feel discouraged, nothing's going right, 33:49 I just don't know the answers to the future, 33:50 I can't find light 33:52 in the darkness of my experience. 33:53 It's not unusual. 33:55 The early Christians went through discouragement, 33:57 but they endured. 33:59 That's why they endured not as what they have seen, 34:02 but they looked beyond the visible to the invisible, 34:04 as was said by Pastor James, "If you see it, 34:07 why do you still desire to have it?" 34:11 We are looking to the eternal world, 34:13 the invisible world, push past that discouragement, 34:17 and find encouragement in Christ. 34:19 The last two, weary and tired. 34:23 Hebrews 12:12, 34:24 "Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, 34:27 and the feeble knees." 34:28 Be the example to those who are going through weakness. 34:32 That's why when you find geese flying in formation, 34:35 there's a head geese. 34:36 He's the one parting the winds, and when he gets tired, 34:39 they switch places. 34:40 You may want to switch places with somebody in service 34:43 so that they can encourage you while you are weary and tired. 34:46 And the last one, easily led astray. 34:49 Hebrews 12:13, 34:51 "And make straight paths for your feet, 34:53 so that what is lame may not be dislocated, 34:56 but rather be healed." 34:58 Be careful, your example can lead someone astray. 35:02 That's why I end with the words of the Apostle Peter, 35:05 "Beloved, do not think 35:07 it's strange concerning the fiery trial, 35:09 which is to try you as though some strange thing happened." 35:13 Malaise, not unusual. 35:15 Christ, magnificent. 35:16 He is the answer for malaise. 35:19 Amen. Amen. 35:20 Praise the Lord. 35:22 Great foundation. 35:23 My name is Ryan Day, and I have Wednesday's lesson 35:26 which is entitled, Press Together. 35:29 And I love this because the Book of Hebrews, 35:31 Paul preaches and teaches and communicates 35:33 all throughout the book 35:35 how important it is for us to press together 35:37 the unity of the faith, 35:38 the unity of the brethren coming together 35:40 under the banner of Jesus, 35:42 under the banner of our High Priest. 35:44 And so it's interesting that as he is, 35:46 as the author is presenting this concept 35:48 of pressing together, 35:50 he uses the story of Elijah found in 1 Kings 19:5-18. 35:55 And we're not going to read all of that, 35:57 because it would take us the rest of this, 35:59 my time to read all of that, 36:00 because it's a rather large passage, 36:01 but we're familiar with the story, right? 36:03 Elijah has just killed all of these false prophets. 36:06 And now Jezebel is hot, she's heated, she's upset, 36:09 and she puts out the messages that within 24 hours, 36:12 I'm going to have your head, I'm going to kill you. 36:14 And so Elijah is now fleeing, 36:16 notice, and instead of going to the brethren, 36:18 straightens the brethren, he isolates himself. 36:20 He's running away, 36:22 thinking that he can save his life, 36:23 but he's fearful, he's anxious, he's in a state of despair, 36:28 and his mind is not in the right place. 36:30 And so he ends up going out, isolating himself away, 36:33 and he has a powerful encounter with God. 36:35 God sends a message at first and says, 36:37 you know, and provides food for him, 36:38 because he's been running and running 36:40 and running and running, 36:41 trying to get away and God provides for his needs 36:43 while he's out there. 36:44 God's trying to bring him back, 36:45 but he's still messed up in the head for a little while. 36:48 He's fearful for his life. 36:50 And he, in fact, he shares this with the Lord. 36:52 He says it multiple times. 36:53 He says, "These people have forsaken Your commandments, 36:55 they have forsaken the covenant. 36:56 And I'm the only one left." 36:58 He thinks I'm the only one. 37:00 I isolated by myself here. 37:02 And so there's some lessons that we can learn 37:04 that the author brings out 37:05 in this lesson entitled Press Together, 37:07 that we can also glean from the Book of Hebrews, 37:10 and for our time today as well. 37:13 The story of God's dealing with Elijah 37:15 after Carmel is fascinating 37:16 because it shows the tender care 37:18 and wisdom with which God ministers 37:20 to those who are under distress, 37:21 and who struggle to regain their faith. 37:24 Are you struggling in your faith? 37:26 Are you struggling to regain your faith in Christ Jesus? 37:28 Well, this is a message for you, 37:30 we have a message from God. 37:31 We can read the Book of Hebrews and find that, 37:33 like Elijah as God took care of Elijah's needs. 37:38 So God, the Bible promises, 37:39 is not just in the Book of Hebrews, 37:41 but throughout all the other texts 37:43 that God provides for our needs. 37:45 And not only should we understand and be faithful 37:48 in understanding the promises of God's Word, 37:50 where He promises us that He will provide for us, 37:52 but we also need to learn from that 37:54 and also provide for each other in time of need. 37:57 I'm going to start there in Matthew 6:31-33, 38:00 just as a principle. 38:01 Jesus says here, "Therefore do not worry saying, 38:04 'What shall we eat? 38:06 Or what shall we drink? 38:07 Or what shall we wear? 38:08 For after all these things the Gentiles seek 38:10 for your heavenly Father knows 38:12 what you need and knows you need all these things.'" 38:15 But He says this in verse 33, that famous verse, 38:17 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, 38:21 and all these things shall be added to you." 38:24 Does God provide for us? 38:25 Did God provided for His prophet in time of need 38:29 when he was in a time of despair, 38:31 when he was in a time of discouragement and fear? 38:33 Of course. 38:35 Philippians 4:19, I love this text, 38:37 "And my God shall supply all your need, 38:40 according to His riches and glory by Christ Jesus." 38:43 Jesus is there for us, our God is there for us, 38:46 but not only is God there for us, 38:49 but God expects us to be there for each other. 38:50 What's the title of this lesson? 38:52 Press together. 38:53 We need to be pressing together. 38:55 Instead of running away from our problems, 38:56 God is going to provide through these despairing times, 38:59 we should press together. 39:01 Hebrews 13:1-6. 39:03 Notice what the Bible says. 39:04 Hebrews 13:1-6, "Let brotherly love continue." 39:09 It says, "Do not forget to entertain strangers, 39:12 for by doing so or by doing some 39:14 have unwittingly entertained angels." 39:18 Remember the prisoners as if chained with them. 39:21 Those who are mistreated 39:22 since you yourselves are in the body also. 39:25 Marriage is honorable among all and the bed undefiled, 39:28 but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. 39:30 Let your conduct be without covetousness, 39:32 be content with such things as you have. 39:35 For He Himself has said, 39:37 'I will never leave you nor forsake you. 39:40 So we may boldly say: 'The Lord is my helper. 39:44 I will not fear. 39:45 What can men do to me?" 39:47 Our God is there with us and we should also understand 39:51 that He's there for His people pressing together, 39:54 together in unity of the faith. 39:56 Another lesson we can learn is we have to be prepared 39:58 as Elijah had to be prepared for a little bit rebuke 40:01 and instruction in time when we need it. 40:03 While he's out there in this cave, 40:05 trying to isolate himself and run away from his problems. 40:07 God says, "Elijah, why are you here? 40:10 Why are you here? What are you doing?" 40:12 And sometimes we have to receive 40:13 that rebuke as well. 40:14 Hebrews 2:1 gives us some insight here. 40:17 It says, "Therefore, we must give the more earnest heed 40:20 to the things we have heard, 40:21 lest we drift away." 40:24 Elijah was almost in a situation 40:26 in which he was drifting away steadily, 40:29 but surely he was fearing for his life, 40:30 but yet God brought him back. 40:32 God awakened him from that situation. 40:35 Hebrews 3:12-13. 40:39 It says, "Beware, brethren, 40:40 lest there be any of you an evil heart of unbelief, 40:44 in departing from the living God. 40:47 But exhort one another daily while it is called today, 40:50 lest any of you be hardened 40:52 through the deceitfulness of sin." 40:54 Pastor read this scripture earlier. 40:56 The deceitfulness of sin, the enemy wants to come in, 40:59 and he wants to isolate you from the flock. 41:02 He wants to segment and fragment God's church. 41:05 My friends, we have to band together, 41:06 we have to press together 41:08 as the message of Hebrews is teaching us here. 41:11 Hebrews Chapter 5, 41:12 we're not going to read all of this passage here. 41:14 But Hebrews, if you read Hebrews 5:19-14, 41:18 and also the first few verses of Hebrews 6:1-3, 41:22 we get this beautiful message. 41:23 I'm going to read verses, Hebrews 6:1-3. 41:27 It says, "Therefore lead the discussion 41:28 of the elementary principles of Christ, 41:30 let us go on to perfection 41:32 not laying again the foundation of repentance 41:34 from dead works and of faith toward God, 41:36 of the doctrine of baptism, 41:38 of the laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, 41:40 or of the eternal judgment, 41:42 and this we will do if God permits." 41:44 What this passage is basically teaching us 41:46 is that sometimes God has to bring correction, 41:49 sometimes we're not where we need to be. 41:51 And if you read Hebrews 5:9-14, it's highlighting the fact 41:55 that He's having to remind these people 41:57 that they're having to return back to the milk. 41:58 That He has to bring them back to the milk 42:00 'cause they're not ready for that solid food. 42:02 You might be wanting to go on to solid food, 42:04 but you're not ready for that. 42:05 And some of you have been on the milk so long, 42:07 He says, you need to get off that milk 42:09 and get on to a greater more in-depth experience in God. 42:12 Get on some meat of the Word because God wants to bring us 42:16 from these different levels, these different stage 42:18 of character development to another 42:20 so that we can grow and build in Christ together. 42:24 Last but not least, of course, we are never alone. 42:26 Elijah thought he was alone. 42:28 We are never alone. 42:30 God always has a people in the world. 42:33 What did He say to Elijah? 42:34 He said brother I got 7000 other men 42:37 who have not bowed the knee to Baal. 42:39 Because Elijah had said two or three times in that passage, 42:41 he said, "I'm alone. 42:42 I'm all by myself and they're trying to kill me." 42:44 "God said," Look, I got 7000 others just like you 42:46 who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 42:48 We should press together, 42:50 encourage one another and stir up love and good works 42:54 as we're going to read here in a moment. 42:55 I want to go to Hebrews Chapter 12. 42:57 This I love Hebrews 12:1-3, 43:00 beautiful message there again and reminding us 43:02 that we have our High Priest who is always with us. 43:05 It says there, "Therefore we also, 43:07 since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, 43:11 let us lay aside every weight and the sin 43:14 which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance." 43:19 He was running with endurance, 43:20 but he was running away from God, 43:21 we need to run with endurance to God, right? 43:24 "Let us run with endurance the race 43:26 that is set before us looking," notice, 43:28 here's the key, "looking unto Jesus, 43:30 the author and finisher of our faith, 43:33 who for the joy that was set before Him 43:35 endured the cross, 43:36 despising the shame 43:38 and to sit down at the right hand 43:39 of the throne of God. 43:41 For consider Him who endured such hostility 43:43 from sinners against Himself lest you 43:45 become weary and discouraged in your souls." 43:48 My friends, we need not become weary and discouraged. 43:51 That's why I love Hebrews 10:24-25. 43:55 Love this, it says, "And let us consider one another 43:59 in order to stir up love and good works, 44:02 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, 44:07 as is the manner of some, 44:08 but exhorting one another and so much the more 44:12 as you see the day approaching." 44:15 We are fast approaching the end of this world. 44:17 We don't need to be fragmented and segmented, 44:19 and separated and isolated. 44:20 You know, there was a story I heard of a brother 44:23 who had become bitter with the church. 44:25 He had fallen away and but decided, 44:27 you know, he'd become so focused on people 44:28 and all the politics and the different things 44:30 going on that he decided, 44:31 "You know what, I'm just going to live for God 44:33 alone in my home." 44:34 And so he decided he's going to have home, 44:36 he's going to have church at home by himself. 44:38 Well, week or two had passed, 44:39 finally the pastor decided to go give him a visit. 44:42 So the pastor went in it had been a cold winter, 44:44 and he knocked on the guy's door, 44:46 guy comes and opens the door. 44:47 He walks in, 44:49 of course, this is one of his church members. 44:50 He walks in. 44:52 He's the guy sitting by the fireplace 44:53 and they sit there for a few minutes, 44:54 no words were said. 44:56 The pastor gets up from his seat 44:57 after a few minutes of silence, 44:59 and he takes the tongs 45:00 from off the side of the fireplace 45:02 and he grabs one of the pieces of coal. 45:04 And he sets it out by itself on the edge there 45:07 on the hearth of the fireplace. 45:09 And he goes and sits back down in a seat, 45:11 and they both watched 45:13 as the moments passed by without a word spoken, 45:15 as that coal grew colder, 45:17 and colder and colder until it stopped burning. 45:20 But the other ones who are pressed together, 45:22 who were in, they were all bound together in that fire, 45:24 they were burning hot for one another. 45:27 And when we do some barbecue cooking, 45:28 we don't barbecue with one piece of coal, 45:30 we put it all out there and press it together. 45:32 My friends, we also are one in Christ, 45:36 God's church, we need to press together 45:38 and be with Jesus today, 45:40 looking unto Jesus, 45:41 the author and finisher of our faith. 45:43 Amen. Amen. 45:44 Amen. Praise the Lord. 45:46 Well, we now move to Thursday's portion of the lesson. 45:50 My name is John Dinzey 45:52 for those of you listening by radio. 45:53 And this portion of the lesson is entitled These Last Days. 45:59 And as you look at the Book of Hebrews, 46:00 you're going to notice some language that tell us 46:04 about the end of time that we're living in. 46:07 You will see phrases such as these last days, 46:10 in the end of the world, 46:13 as you see the day approaching, 46:14 yet a little while. 46:16 And these are the scriptures that are there to let us know 46:19 that the Book of Hebrews is a book for us 46:21 living in the last days. 46:24 Now when you look at the Book of Hebrews 46:26 and you see the phrase last days, 46:27 the Jews understood this 46:29 to mean that the Messiah had come 46:31 and He will begin the fulfillment 46:33 of the Messianic prophecies. 46:35 The Messiah has already come, the Jews are still waiting. 46:37 We know the Messiah has come. 46:39 We are further along in this history of this world. 46:43 There's great controversy between good and evil. 46:45 We are living in the final chapter 46:48 of this world's history. 46:49 We are living in the last days. 46:52 So we should be pressing together 46:53 as you have heard, 46:55 you're going to hear me repeat 46:56 some things that have already been said, 46:58 as far as scriptures are concerned. 47:00 Let's go to Hebrews 1:1-2 to look at the first one. 47:04 It says, "God who at sundry times..." 47:06 This is the King James Version. 47:08 I love how it reads. 47:09 "God who at sundry times, 47:11 and in divers manners spake in time past 47:15 unto the fathers by the prophets. 47:17 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, 47:23 whom he hath appointed heir of all things, 47:26 by whom also he made the worlds." 47:28 So in the last days, He has spoken to us by His Son. 47:33 The prophets have spoken, but when His Son comes, 47:37 it lets you know that the final phase 47:39 of this world's history has come. 47:42 Hebrews Chapter 9. 47:43 Let's look at the Hebrews Chapter 9 47:45 beginning in verse 26. 47:47 Notice how it says. 47:48 "Now once, at the end of the ages, 47:52 He has appeared to put away sin 47:54 by the sacrifice of Himself." 47:56 Jesus Christ has come. 47:59 Jesus Christ has lived a perfect life, 48:02 and He has offered Himself a sacrifice for you, 48:06 and for me. 48:08 He is now ministering in the heavenly sanctuary, 48:11 and you're going to see this brought out beautifully 48:14 in the Book of Hebrews. 48:15 I encourage you to continue watching 48:17 the 3ABN Sabbath School Panel, 48:19 and you're going to see insights from God's Word 48:21 that are going to encourage you and help you 48:24 as you live this Christian life. 48:26 Now, continuing in verse 27. 48:27 "And as it is appointed for men to die once, 48:31 but after this the judgment: 48:34 So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, 48:38 to those who eagerly wait for Him, 48:41 He will appear a second time apart from sin, 48:45 for salvation." 48:47 Praise the Lord. 48:48 Now do not be fazed 48:51 or led us stray here by the thought that 48:55 He says He will appear that He died once for many, 48:59 He died for all. 49:01 And it says here for those who eagerly wait for Him, 49:04 He will appear a second time. 49:06 Jesus Christ will come and every eye will see Him. 49:10 But for those waiting for Him, it will be a time of rejoicing. 49:14 Oh, this is our God, 49:15 we have waited for Him and He will save us. 49:18 Now when He comes, 49:20 He is going to take us with Him. 49:22 Let's go to Hebrews 10:25, you have heard this already, 49:26 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together." 49:29 Notice this phrase again, 49:31 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. 49:34 This is an exhortation 49:36 for those of us living in the last days 49:38 because every wind of doctrine is already blowing, 49:43 you know, is blowing and people are being led astray 49:47 by different things not only within the Christian church, 49:50 but from the world out there. 49:52 Different theories are coming out 49:54 and even people that are claiming 49:57 to be Jesus Christ. 49:58 And we have heard of people that have followed people 50:02 that claim to be Jesus Christ, 50:04 just in about a month ago, 50:05 there are at least three different individuals 50:08 that are out there claiming to be Jesus Christ. 50:10 Jesus Christ has not returned, but He will soon return, 50:14 and every eye will see Him. 50:16 And all these imposters, all these false Christs 50:19 will have to bow down at the King of kings 50:21 and Lord of lords, 50:23 and they are false Christs. 50:26 Hebrews 10:36-38, 50:29 "For you have need of endurance. 50:31 So after you have done the will of God, 50:34 you may receive the promise. 50:37 For yet a little while, 50:39 and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 50:43 Now the just shall live by faith. 50:46 But if anyone draws back, 50:47 my soul has no pleasure in him." 50:50 I encourage you to daily follow Jesus, 50:54 that as you follow Jesus, 50:56 you will grow in grace and in the knowledge 50:59 of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 51:01 Satan will do all he can to lead you astray. 51:06 And as a matter of fact, 51:07 he wants to do with you 51:09 what he wanted to do with Peter. 51:11 He wants to sift you as wheat, but hold on to Jesus. 51:14 That's right. And Jesus is praying for you. 51:16 He's ministering for you. 51:18 He's ministering for me, hold on to Jesus. 51:20 And we're going to take a look at that scripture 51:22 in now in Hebrews Chapter 12, 51:25 and onward, verse 25, let's begin there. 51:30 "See that you do not refuse Him who speaks, 51:33 for if they did not escape who refused Him 51:36 who spoke on earth, 51:38 much more shall we not escape if we turn away 51:41 from Him who speaks from heaven, 51:43 whose voice then shook the earth, 51:45 but now He has promised saying, 51:47 yet once more, I shake not only the earth, 51:50 but also heaven. 51:52 Now, this yet once more 51:54 indicates the removal of those things 51:57 that are being shaken, 51:58 as the things that are made that 52:01 the things which cannot be shaken may remain." 52:03 A shaking is taking place, 52:06 and those that are not holding on 52:08 to Christ will be shaken. 52:10 So hold on to Jesus. 52:12 Keep looking to Jesus, 52:14 the author and finisher of our faith. 52:16 Verse 28 says, "Therefore, 52:18 since we are receiving a kingdom, 52:21 which cannot be shaken, 52:23 let us have grace 52:25 by which we may serve God acceptably 52:27 with reverence and godly fear, 52:30 for our God is a consuming fire." 52:33 Be not let us astray. 52:34 Just as there was a physical shaking, 52:37 when the Lord appeared there on Sinai, 52:40 there's going to be a spiritual shaking 52:43 among this earth. 52:46 And you see that as Jesus Christ is coming, 52:49 Satan will intensify his efforts to deceive, 52:54 and there are going to be false miracles taking place. 52:57 And the Bible says that, if it were possible, 53:00 they would deceive the very elect. 53:02 So it is time to be studying God's Word. 53:05 It is time to be holding on to Jesus 53:08 because a mighty shaking is coming. 53:11 Hebrews 10:23, "Let us hold fast." 53:15 This hold fast indicates a, 53:18 you don't want to let go, 53:20 you should not let go of Jesus because if you do, 53:24 you are in great danger. 53:25 As a matter of fact, 53:27 we are not safe for a moment without Jesus. 53:29 So let us hold fast the confession of our hope, 53:32 the confession of our faith without wavering, 53:35 for He who promised is faithful. 53:38 Jesus Christ is faithful, and He will soon return. 53:42 Hebrews 12:1-2, 53:46 "Therefore we also since we are surrounded 53:50 by so great a cloud of witnesses, 53:53 let us lay aside every weight 53:56 and the sin which so easily ensnares us, 54:00 and let us run with endurance 54:02 the race that is set before us." 54:03 I'm going to stop there for a moment. 54:05 And notice how it says, "Let us lay aside every weight, 54:08 and the sin which so easily ensnares us." 54:10 By God's grace, we can lay aside every weight. 54:15 Those things that you love to do 54:18 that are evil that are going to destroy you, 54:21 if you don't let them go by the grace of God, 54:23 you can let them go. 54:25 And it appears that like everyone seems 54:27 to have a particular sin that easily ensnares them, 54:31 but by God's grace, we can let that go 54:34 and learn by the grace of Christ to hate that sin. 54:39 Looking unto Jesus, how? 54:41 Looking unto Jesus, it says in verse 2, 54:43 the author and finisher of our faith, 54:46 who for the joy that was set before Him 54:48 endured the cross, 54:49 despising the shame, 54:51 and has sat down at the right hand 54:53 of the throne of God. 54:54 How could Jesus face the cross with joy? 55:00 To me, the joy is the fact that you accept Him as your... 55:05 Accept Jesus as your personal Savior. 55:07 That was the joy that was set before Him. 55:09 And I encourage you to consider that 55:11 there's a joy set before you. 55:14 The hope of embracing Jesus and thanking Him 55:17 for the precious salvation 55:19 He has worked out for you. 55:20 The joy of seeing your loved ones, also, 55:25 experiencing salvation and having eternal life. 55:28 The joy of seeing the fulfillment 55:30 of all the promises 55:32 that God has made. 55:33 So, face the trials 55:35 and the difficulties of this world 55:37 looking unto Jesus, 55:39 because there's joy set before you, 55:41 endure by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ 55:44 until the end, 55:45 and you will have eternal life and happiness 55:48 that will never end. 55:50 Amen. 55:51 Thank you so much, Pastor Johnny, Pastor Ryan, 55:53 Pastor John and Pastor James, 55:55 incredible open to the Book of Hebrews. 55:58 I am very excited about the next 12 weeks, 56:02 encourage you to share them with us 56:03 as we journey through this incredible book. 56:05 I want to give each one of you a moment 56:07 to share a final thought. 56:08 Well, we know that every one of us 56:11 in on planet earth suffers. 56:14 And the question we want to ask ourselves is do 56:16 we want that suffering to be for Jesus? 56:18 To be for a cause 56:19 that is the more worthy than anything else 56:21 that we can embrace on planet earth? 56:25 And in my life personally, I've said yes. 56:27 I am going to let all the suffering 56:29 that I endure on this earth. 56:30 I'm going to let it be for Jesus, 56:32 and for a cause that is worthy 56:35 of anything and everything that we can endure. 56:37 Amen. That's right. 56:39 I don't want malaise, I want the opposite. 56:40 In Jesus, we can have calmness, cheerfulness, comfort, ease, 56:43 good health, happiness, health and joy. 56:47 If you're going through malaise, 56:48 I suggest, choose the next category, 56:51 and all of those blessings are found 56:53 only in the person of Christ. 56:55 Amen. Amen. 56:57 John 3:14 says, 57:00 "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, 57:02 so shall also the Son of Man be lifted up." 57:04 They had to look to the serpent. 57:07 We have to look to Jesus. 57:09 That message doesn't change here in Hebrews 12:2. 57:12 Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. 57:15 Amen. Amen. 57:16 I like to point you to Daniel 2:43-44, 57:20 there in Daniel Chapter 2, 57:22 you see the history of the kingdoms of the world. 57:23 And in verse 43 and 44, it says, 57:25 "And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, 57:28 they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: 57:30 but they shall not cleave one to another, 57:32 even as iron is not mixed with clay. 57:34 And in the days of these kings 57:36 shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, 57:37 which shall never be destroyed: 57:39 and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, 57:42 but it shall break in pieces 57:43 and consume all these other kingdoms, 57:44 and it shall stand for ever." 57:46 God's Kingdom will stand forever. 57:48 Amen. Are you so grateful for that? 57:50 You might be going through a struggle or malaise, 57:53 but I want to encourage you to press together. 57:55 Encourage you, we are in the last days 57:57 and Jesus is coming soon. 57:59 Please join us next week for lesson number two, 58:02 the title is The Message of Hebrews. |
Revised 2021-12-30