Sermon Brief
Date Written: June 1, 2006 revised May 22, 2008
Date last preached: May 25, 2008
Where Preached: OPBC (AM)
Sermon Details:
Series Title: Our Great Savior!
Sermon Title: When GOD speaks…you should listen!
Sermon Text: Hebrews 1:1-3 plus READ PASSAGES HERE
1 Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. 2 In these last days, He has spoken to us by [His] Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the universe. 3 He is the radiance of His glory, the exact expression of His nature, and He sustains all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high Heb 1:1-3 (HCSB)
Introduction:
As you may well know… there is NOT much on TV that is truly worth watching. It’s just one ‘reality’ show after another… and let me ask you a question… what does reality, have to do with all these reality shows anyway!
Who is going to live on a deserted island eating bugs and risking malaria for 6 months to collect $1,000,000? Or how likely is it that someone is going to knock on YOUR door and ‘clean sweep’ your house, by building you a new living room and a new deck?
However, I have found that there are some compelling things on TV… the commercials… I just love commercials (well… at least some of them) I remember one certain commercial that was on TV when I was a young man… it was really a series of commercials that revolved around the same theme…
Usually it centered on 2 or 3 people in a busy airport… or at lunch… or some other busy place where there were a lot of people… these people were usually speaking about investments… and eventually one of the people would say… “Well, my broker is E.F. Hutton… and E.F. Hutton says…”
At that time in the commercial all noise would stop… all conversation would stop, all actions would stop, all traffic would stop… and EVERYONE would turn in listening to hear what E.F. Hutton had to say… leading us to believe that EF Hutton was the leading voice investments… The commercial would end by saying, “When E.F. Hutton speaks…people listen…”
Needless to say, EF Hutton sales, skyrocketed because it brought across the message that EF Hutton was THE qualified authority in investing…
Well the author of Hebrews starts this letter with the same idea in mind… What he is basically saying here is, “When God speaks, people should listen!”
In the 1st 2 verses alone, he uses the word ‘spoke’ and ‘spoken’ in reference to God. He is emphasizing that God has spoken and that people should listen to what God has to say…
In fact what the writer of Hebrews is implying is that we should push aside ALL other voices in our lives and concentrate on what God is saying… so this morning I want us to take just a few moments to look and see HOW God speaks in His words…
1. God Speaks in a Progressive Manner (v.1-2):
1 Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. 2 In these last days, He has spoken to us by [His] Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the universe. God spoke to people in ancient times
“…Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways…”
• The emphasis in v.1 is on HOW God spoke in ancient times… and the writer tells us that it was many times and in various ways…
• The expression ‘many times’ depicts God’s progressive revelation of Himself thru the years. The Bible records God speaking to the patriarchs, to Moses, to the prophets, and to the apostles…
• But God also spoke in various ways as well… God spoke in dreams, visions, and thru miracles, He relayed His message through prophets and priests…
b. But God also is speaking to people in this present time… “…In these last days, He has spoken to us by [His] Son …”
• God spoke His ULTIMATE Word… when Jesus came to earth! The opening statement of this book presents the uniqueness and supremacy of Jesus Christ.
• It tells us that in times past God’s speaking was not complete, but NOW that Jesus has come… God’s word… God’s message… is NOW a completed message because of Jesus!
But not only does God speak in a progressive manner…we can also see that…
2. God Speaks in a Crucial Manner (2:1-4):
1 We must therefore pay even more attention to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away. 2 For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding, and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment, 3 how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was first spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. 4 At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions [of gifts] from the Holy Spirit according to His will Heb 2:1-4 (HCSB)
1. God’s Word is an important word, “…We must therefore pay even more attention to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away…”
• God’s eternal message is so important that it cannot be ignored… it cannot be dismissed… it cannot be forgotten!
• The writer of Hebrews is pleading for his readers to pay attention to God’s Word because it is SO important
• And likewise it is true with us as well… we cannot forsake God’s word and how important it is to our walk with Christ and our everyday lives!
• But not only is God’s word IMPORTANT but we can also see that…
a. God’s Word is a certain word, “…For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding, and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment, how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was first spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him…”
• When God spoke in ancient days by the angels, those words were CERTAIN and SURE! When God told the angels to announce the Good News… Good news is what was on the way! When the angels were told to bring a message of judgment… a message of judgment was going to be given…
• God’s word was certain… and surely if God’s word was certain thru the angels…we must realize that it is SURELY certain through His Son, Jesus Christ!
But not only does God speak in a progressive manner and a crucial manner…we can also see that…
3. God Speaks in an Entreating Manner (3:7-8, 12-13)
“…7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you hear His voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the desert…” Heb 3:7-8 (HCSB)
a. God compassionately speaks to the people about having hard hearts, “…Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion…”
• The Holy Spirit exhorts us in Ps 95 to NOT develop a hard heart. The psalmist reflects on the unhappy incidents that are recorded in Exodus 17:1-7 and Numbers 20.
• These are the passages that record how the Hebrews developed a negative spirit in the wilderness about their leader… about their diet… and about the way they were traveling…
• In English, the name given to the place of revolt was “Provocation.” God was deeply grieved over their attitude and because of this, the psalmist pled earnestly for the people NOT to develop a hard heart…
b. God compassionately speaks to the people about having unbelieving hearts, “Watch out, brothers, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that departs from the living God.” Heb 3:12
• God’s Word has does NOT have a ‘take it or leave it’ clause… God’s Word is NOT harsh… but entirely compassionate and completely confronting!
• God’s desires hearts who believe in Him… God earnestly appeals for our belief as Scripture tells us in Heb 3:13 “…But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception…”
• The fact of the matter is that sin is a very deceiving thing in the lives of humans! Sin prevents us from hearing God’s words, and from us fully submitting to and believing in God’s message of love, grace, mercy and forgiveness…that lead to salvation!
• For those of you here today who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, I am standing here this morning to share with you that Jesus is tenderly calling and warning us against non-belief and calling us into a life of open and fully submission to His message of love and forgiveness…
But not only does God speak in a progressive manner, in a crucial manner, and in an earnest manner…But finally tonight we can see that…
4. God Speaks in an Powerful Manner (4:12-16)
12 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as to divide soul, spirit, joints, and marrow; it is a judge of the ideas and thoughts of the heart. 13 No creature is hidden from Him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account. 14 Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to the confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time…” Heb 4:12-16 (HCSB)
a. God’s Word has the ability to show the inner life of a person…
• The Word of God is a penetrating thing… and the Bible likens it to a two-edged sword… “For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as to divide soul, spirit, joints, and marrow; it is a judge of the ideas and thoughts of the heart….”
• God’s Word has the power to effect the innermost part of the person… it makes us to see ourselves for WHO we are…
• It condemns and convicts us until we acknowledge the seriousness of our sin…but we can also find that…
b. God’s Word has the power to point us to Jesus Christ…
• God calls our attention to His Son “…Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to the confession…”
• As humans, we are convicted and condemned by His Holy Spirit BUT we are NOT left there…
• God gives us our great High Priest to whom we can turn to… and that is Jesus Christ!
• Jesus knows our problems and knows how He can help us…
• So, therefore, we can come to Jesus boldly and confidently to the Lord to find help… for mercy… for forgiveness… for deliverance…for SALVATION!
• The power of God’s Word brings people face to face with their sinfulness but introduces them to the Savior who can cleanse them of all unrighteousness…
Conclusion:
Today in our world, there are many ‘voices’ that distract us and vie for our attention, like television, the Internet, Movies, and Sporting events! These things require our attention and for our favor… these things cause us to slip and get distracted, these things make this it is a noisy and distracting world…
This morning you may be listening to yourself and you know that God is dealing with your heart, but the Enemy is whispering in your ear and is planting seeds of doubt and distraction in your ear. This morning you may not think this message is for you… but it is!
Today you have a great chance to put all the bad and terrible things that you have done against God behind you…
Today you have a tremendous opportunity to set those things at the foot of the Cross, confess them to Jesus and allow His grace mercy and salvation become a part of your life!
Today you can know forgiveness for your sin and you can be brought into the family of God! Today, God is calling you… today God is speaking to you through the message of your pastor… today God is speaking… He has spoken to you thru the songs, through this great fellowship… and now thru His Word!
God is speaking to you… I call on you to listen to Him this morning and come down to this altar and make things right with God! Come here and confess your sin… come here and seek His forgiveness… come here and receive His mercy!
I ask you to come this morning… come as Parker comes to lead us in our hymn of invitation! Won’t you stand as we begin to sing!
