1/20/08 – God’s Right Hand Man
Moses was God’s chosen man. Chosen to lead his people out of slavery and into a promised land of milk and honey – yet an entire generation fell by the side of the path as they traveled through 40 years of wilderness – because they didn’t trust God’s right hand man. Sound familiar? It should. Jesus is God’s chosen tool to bring us out of the bondage of sin into the freedom of a new life – yet far too many turn from Jesus to look for another way – only to learn that all the other ways lead to box canyons and impassable gulches.
Dead Poet Society
There is in each one of us a need that is deep and powerful. It is stronger than the pangs of hunger. It is more demanding than the rule of law. It is so important to us that we will take incredible risks to satisfy its cravings. This deep and powerful need is quite simply the need to belong, to fit in, and feel like you are part of something that has meaning and value.
Throughout the history of human kind we see this played out. In every culture and in every time we see men and women band together in search for the satisfaction of this primal need. Monks form brotherhoods and build monasteries. Craftsmen form guilds and band together in solidarity. Unions form to protect their members and demand their rights. Soldiers are forged into bands of brothers. Veterans gather after work in their lodges to tell stories and remember their experiences together. Associations are formed for the betterment of the community like the Jaycees, Rotary, and Kiwanis. Lodges gather men and women together into secret societies – some religious – some benign – some not – like the Masons, Knights of Columbus, and the Sisters of Pythias.
If that’s not enough, in the college years we see women join sororities and build sisterhoods that last from the days of college until they gather at a funeral of one of their members. Fraternities are established for young men to live in and subscribe to – some identified with Greek letters – some with names like “Skull and Bones” and “Dead Poet Society”. In the dark city streets they are not called sororities or fraternities – they are called gangs – like the crips, the bloods and prius.
No matter what the association – the hunger is the same – the deep and primal need to belong.
Today we are going to study Hebrews 3 where we’ll learn about how the followers of Jesus are part of the greatest family. Here is where we belong. Here is where we fit in.
Holy Brothers…
Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.
Hebrews 3:1
Holy Brothers… This is written to believers and focuses on two facts.
The first is holiness: Holiness is not about being religious. Holiness does not come from what you do – and it doesn’t come from what you don’t do. Holiness comes from what you are – and that reflects in what you do and don’t do.
You can refuse to go to a drinking party and get smashed out of your mind – and it won’t make you holy. But if you are a part of God’s family and belong to Him – you won’t go to a drinking party and get smashed out of your mind.
Piety is a thin coat of paint over punky wood – it covers the rot and fools the viewer for only a little while. Holiness is solid all the way through and leaves the grain of the wood revealed in all of it’s natural beauty.
The author of Hebrews calls his readers “holy” to point out that they belong to God and that is something that works from the inside to the outside.
He also calls them “brothers.”
Brothers – family: I’ve been thinking about family a lot lately. I am a grandpa. I know it’s hard to believe. 10 years ago I wasn’t. 10 years ago I was just a dad with some girls I was raising. This summer I’m going from 7 to 9 grandchildren. That’s a 28.5% increase! It’s actually pretty neat.
I’ve talked to a lot of folks lately that have been raised in large families and one common thread I’ve been hearing is that growing up in big family was never boring – there was something always going on!
In the church of Jesus Christ we are “Holy Brothers!” The author says that we “share” in the heavenly calling. The meaning of this word is “partner.” All of us who have decided to follow Jesus; all of us who have confessed his name; all of us who have been baptized into his death burial and resurrection are part of the family business.
When I was a boy of 13 or 14 years I met a girl at church camp who’s last name was Kellogg. She told me that her uncle had started Kellogg’s and that she was the heir to the Kellogg fortune. I believed her. It wasn’t true but I bought it – hook, line, sinker, and bobber. Part of the reason I believed her was that I was 14, naïve, and easily deceived by pretty girls.
Now what she told me was not true but think for a moment how wonderful it would be if it were true! Wouldn’t it be really cool to have Tony the Tiger on your team!
Well, we are partners of the greatest family business in the universe and in all of the history of time. Our daddy owns the whole joint! But we have been lost – and now our big brother has come looking for us – to bring us home!
Jesus – Apostle and High Priest
Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.
Hebrews 3:1
In Hebrews 1 we learned that Jesus is not an angel – He is God
In Hebrews 2 we learned that we are not angels – Jesus became a Man
Today we look at the Hebrews 3 and learn more about why he came. Jesus came to be an apostle of God and the High Priest of human kind.
An apostle is a person who is sent to another with a message. Usually, when we hear the word apostle we think of the 12 apostles. The word apostle is not a title – it’s a description and the Bible speaks of many who were apostles. There is the Apostle Paul who was sent by Jesus to the Gentiles. In Romans 16 Paul speaks of Junias and Adronicus who were apostles of the church. And there are many others like Barnabas, Timothy, and Silvanus. All of these people were charged with bringing a message to others.
In the case of Jesus – he is both the messenger and the message! He is the apostle of God to us. But he is more. Jesus is also our mediator. Jesus is the great High Priest of human kind. He has come to give us the greatest gift – the gift of Rest.
In the next two weeks as we study the 4th and the beginning of the 5th chapter of Hebrews we’ll be looking at both this fabulous gift of rest and the incredible mediator who arranged it for us to receive it.
Today we look at the messenger – Jesus. The author helps us to understand the work of the apostle Jesus by Him with Moses. Let’s talk about Moses a little…
Moses – Apostle of God
2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.
Hebrews 3:2-4
Moses was a great man – who did great things for God. You’ve heard the story of Moses… but you may not have all the details. Here is a quick summary of some of the important events of his life… sort of…
VIDEO: Moses, Man of God
Ok, maybe that wasn’t the most accurate – but it covers the basics. You may remember that Moses spent the first 40 years of his life in Egypt as a favored son of the Pharaoh. Educated and privileged he played in the palaces and was educated in their schools. But as a Hebrew he was pained by their slavery and he killed an Egyptian who was beating one of his people.
He fled to the wild Sinai desert where he lived for the next 40 years tending sheep. From the time he was 40 until he was 80 years old Moses guided sheep and lived in tents.
Then when he was 80 years old God called him to ministry. Think about that for a minute. If you are thinking, “Here I am – 34 years old – and I still don’t know what God want me to do!” Listen God may well be preparing you for a special calling some day. Moses years as a prince and a shepherd all helped him become the leader God needed to get his people out of Egypt, through the desert, and into to the promised land.
Moses was the message of God – He was God’s apostle to the people. We should note here that Moses was not the High Priest. He wasn’t the mediator – Aaron stood in that role. Jesus stands in both roles. He is the apostle and the High Priest.
Moses was Faithful in all God’s House… but Jesus is the builder of the house
2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.
Hebrews 3:2-4
Moses was faithful.
He made errors. He was a flawed man. Read his story and you see a great leader that was burdened by leadership of God’s people. He grew weary and tired of the constant bickering and complaining. He got so angry at their disobedience that he smashed the first set of stone tablets of the law. He became so full of himself that he struck the rock in the wilderness and commanded water to come forth in a bold move that took credit for what God was doing. He was so insecure about his place of leadership that the veil he wore to cover the glory of God in his face long after the glory had faded and he no longer need the veil.
Moses was definitely an imperfect man – and yet he was faithful. He never quit. He never let go. He never grew so weary that he stopped following God. There is a lesson here… isn’t there.
Yet even as Moses was faithful in all God’s house – he was not the builder of the house. Moses just worked there. Jesus is different – Jesus owns the house!
Now, I am a lot like Moses, folks. I am very much a flawed man. I know that some of you may have a little trouble believing that… Just talk with my wife or my kids… or anyone that gets to know me. The more you get to know me the more cracks, flaws, and brokenness you will see.
And like Moses I want simply to be faithful to Jesus. It helps to remember that this church isn’t my church – It’s His church – he builds it – not me.
Several years ago I went to a conference in Phoenix Arizona and visited a church. It still blows my mind today. On the sign in the front yard of this great mega church were the word’s “Tommy Barnett’s Church of God.” Now, I’m sorry, Tommy – it’s not your church! It’s not your house! It’s God’s house. It’s God’s church.
We, all of us, are like Moses and we are so privileged to be in God’s house. We are called to be faithful in God’s house – but we must always remember that Jesus is the owner of that house!
Moses was a Faithful Servant… but Jesus was a faithful Son
5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house…
Hebrews 3:5-6a
Moses was faithful as a servant. Servants are simply that – servants. They aren’t owners. They aren’t heirs. They have no rights. Servants simply do what is required of them – and if they are good servants they go beyond what is required and do more.
But maybe it would help our understanding a little to know that the root of the word servant here is “Therapon”. The word servant translated from the greek 160 times in the NT. Only once is this word is used. It is a unique word that focuses on the nurture and care of others. Moses was
You know what physical therapist is and does – don’t you. A physical therapist ministers to people. They help them to regain the functions of their bodies. They facilitate healing and help people grow strong where they were once week.
Not everything a PT does is painless. In fact, there are times I think to be a good PT you make people work through the pain so they can regain their strength.
Well, Moses was a spiritual therapist. His work was to build up the people of God and help them to become strong. That is great description of my work as a minister of the gospel. My job is to be a spiritual therapist. At times my work is to comfort and at other times it is to challenge, confront, push, and motivate – in every situation to be God’s servant.
Moses and I have a lot in common. Moses and you have a lot in common – we’re all servants.
Jesus is not faithful to God as a servant – Jesus is faithful to God as a son! He does have all the rights and prerogatives of an owner – because he is an owner. He serves just as the servant does – but don’t let that confuse you – he serves faithfully not as a servant – but as a son.
There is a difference between a man hired into the mailroom of a company and the son of the owner who gets a job during his college years in the mail room. One may work his way up in leadership if he’s really good and very faithful – but the other will someday own the whole company – because his father is the owner.
Jesus’ House – A Home of Courage and Hope
…And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.
Hebrews 3:6b
We are Jesus’ house! The critical question is “What kind of house are we?” Are we a house of chaos, confusion, hopelessness, and despair – or are we a house of courage and hope.
The author of Hebrews urges us to hold on to our courage and the hope which we boast.
That word boast does not mean bragging. Don’t think of someone walking around with his chest stuck out saying. “I’m a Christian – back off!” When my daughter was a senior in the Beavercreek HS she had a shirt that said on the front “Kneel – A senior passes your way”. On the back of the shirt were the words, “Now you may rise.”
Some people think that this is what Christians are like – not so. The word “boast” here means to exult, to rejoice, or glory in something absolutely wonderful. When the Packers and Brett Favre beat up the Giants tonight I am going to jump around the living room in real exultation and joy. When we remember what we have through Jesus we’re filled with real joy – it’s not bragging – it’s pure exhilaration!
All of this stands in stark contrast with the house of Moses. Moses house was not a home of courage and hope. Moses house was a home of hard hearts and rebellious people.
Moses House – A Home of Hard Hearts and Rebellion
7 So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, 9 where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did.
Hebrews 3:7-8
Moses let about 2 million people out of Egypt. They were God’s people. They were the house in which Moses was faithful. They were a hard hearted and rebellious people.
Keith Green used to sing a song about the people of Israel in the desert.
So You Wanna Go Back To Egypt Lyrics
Artist(Band):Keith Green
So you wanna go back to Egypt, where it’s warm and secure.
Are you sorry you bought the one-way ticket when you thought you were sure?
You wanted to live in the Land of Promise, but now it’s getting so hard.
Are you sorry you’re out here in the desert, instead of your own backyard?
Eating leeks and onions by the Nile.
Ooh what breath, but dining out in style.
Ooh, my life’s on the skids.
Give me the pyramids.
Well there’s nothing to do but travel, and we sure travel a lot.
’Cause it’s hard to keep your feet from moving when the sand gets so hot.
And in the morning it’s manna hotcakes. We snack on manna all day.
And they sure had a winner last night for dinner, flaming manna soufflé.
Well we once complained for something new to munch.
The ground opened up and had some of us for lunch.
Ooh, such fire and smoke.
Can’t God even take a joke…Huh?….(NO!)
So you wanna go back to Egypt, where old friends wait for you.
You can throw a big party and tell the whole gang, that what they said was all
true.
And this Moses acts like a big-shot, who does he think he is.
It’s true that God works lots of miracles, but Moses thinks they’re all his.
Well I’m having so much trouble even now.
Why’d he get so mad about that cow, that golden cow.
Moses sits rather idle, he just sits around.
He just sits around and writes the Bible.
Oh, Moses, put down your pen.
What…Oh no, manna again?
Oh, manna waffles….
Manna burgers...
Manna bagels...
Fillet of manna...
Mannacoti...
Bamanna bread!
These are the people that Moses led – a hard hearted and rebellious people that wandered in the desert for 40 years because of their lack of courage and lack of hope.
The author of Hebrews wants only that we would not be like the people in Moses’ house so he offers up some clear guidance.
Do Not Harden Your Hearts
12 See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.
Hebrews 3:12
A hard hearted person is…Sinful, Unbelieving, person who chooses to turns away from the living God.
Romans 1:28 speaks of the depraved person who, although they know good, they deliberately turns away from God.
Do Not Harden Your Hearts
28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
Romans 1:28
The hardness of the heart is a decision. You choose to harden by purposefully walling your self up and away from God. While it may seem to be a smart way to go – to relieve the guilt and pain of a self centered life – it leads to death. When you choose to be hard towards someone – anyone – there is most certainly a death – the death of love first and ultimately the death of life.
Choose to soften your heart. This is a work of the Holy Spirit of God who works in you by your permission. He works through the word of God and through prayer and worship.
This is just one of the reasons that our time here is so important – worshiping God softens the heart.
Encourage one another – daily
13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
Hebrews 3:13
Let me ask you a quick question. Did the author of Hebrews counsel you to encourage your brothers and sisters in the Lord tomorrow? NO
That’s not rhetorical. Let me ask it again: Let me ask you a quick question. Did the author of Hebrews counsel you to encourage your brothers and sisters in the Lord tomorrow? NO
Did he say anything about making up a special program to be implemented next month? (Still not rhetorical!) NO
Did the author say anything about what you all did yesterday? NO
He said that you and I should encourage one another as daily as long as it is called – what people? TODAY.
What softens a heart more than anything else in the world is daily encouragement – not getting it! Giving it!!!!
I ask you simply who gained more from the Christmas Breakfast – the kid who filled his bowl with bacon – or the preacher who stood back and watched? Who was more encouraged the couple that drove through town and stopped for a meal only to be surprised by the free food and great Christmas music or the people serving the food and playing the songs? These are not tough questions people!
As long as it is called “Today” – look around and find someone to be encouraging to – so that NONE are hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
Hold firmly until the end your confidence in Jesus
14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.
Hebrews 3:14
Years ago I gave my Grandpa Grubbs a birthday card… Hang in there – cat on branch
Do you know what he did with that card – he framed it and hung it on the wall of his bedroom.
Just holding on… is a huge deal.
Holding on to your confidence in Jesus is what shares him with others more than anything else. Not our words, not our works – our consistent, day after day, holding on… This is the most powerful testimony of all.
Nothing destroys your witness more than quitting!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus…
Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.
Hebrews 3:1
You can sum up the whole message of the 3rd chapter in the first verse.
Fix your eyes upon Jesus and never, never, never, never… look away.
Let’s worship Him – right now.
