Introduction:
1. Have You Ever Heard Of Living “The Fulfilled Life?” We Probably Have All Heard Of It – Since Just About Everyone Wants It! But What Makes Someone’s Life “Fulfilled”? It All Depends On Your Individual Goals & Desires In Life!
Who Do You Think Lives A “Fulfilled Life?” Sometimes We Think Of Those Who Have Great Fortunes, Or Leave Great Legacies As People Who Surely Must Have Experienced A Fulfilled Life! But As J. Oswald Sanders Once Pointed Out: “The round of pleasure or the amassing of wealth are [often] but vain attempts to escape from the persistent ache. The millionaire is usually a lonely man and the comedian is often more unhappy than his audience.” In His Book, “Facing Loneliness,” Sanders “Goes on to emphasize that being successful often fails to produce satisfaction. Then he refers to Henry Martyn, a distinguished scholar, as an example of what he is talking about. Martyn, a Cambridge University student, was honored at only 20 years of age for his achievements in mathematics. In fact, he was given the highest recognition possible in that field. And yet he felt an emptiness inside. He said that instead of finding fulfillment in his achievements, he had “only grasped a shadow.” After evaluating his life’s goals, Martyn sailed to India as a missionary at the age of 24. When he arrived, he prayed, “Lord, let me burn out for You!” In the next 7 years that preceded his death, he translated the New Testament into three difficult Eastern languages!” He Died At Age 31! (Our Daily Bread)
2. Perhaps You Are Living Your Life Like Henry Martyn – Maybe You Haven’t Achieved Much Recognition For Who You Are Or What You Have Done – But You Still Have That Great Emptiness Inside! Are You Looking For Fulfillment – Real Fulfillment In Your Life? As We Continue To Study The Book Of Hebrews, We Will Learn That The Old Testament Nation Of Israel Was Looking For Fulfillment As Well – But Failed! Read Hebrews 7:11-19! If You Are Looking For Fulfillment – Real Fulfillment In This Life – You Need To Understand A Few Things About “The Fulfilled Life”:
* The First Thing You Need To Understand Is:
I. The Right Meaning Of Fulfillment!
If You Were To Take A Survey To Find Out What People Would Need In Order For Them To Be “Fulfilled,” You Would Probably Get As Many Answers As There Are People! And, Sad To Say, The Vast Majority Of These Answers Will Be Wrong! In Order To Experience A Truly Fulfilled Life, You Need To Know What Real Fulfillment Is!
So What Is The Meaning Of Fulfillment In Life? In Hebrews 7:11, The Word Used For “Fulfillment” Is “Perfection!”
7:11 - “If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?”
This Verse Continues The Discussion About The Weakness Of The Old Testament Priesthood – And Points Out That If People Found Real “Fulfillment” Or “Perfection,” Why Would The Coming Messiah Have To Be A Different Kind Of Priest, Which Was Stated By David In Psalm 110:4?
Psalm 110:4 - “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec!”
The Point Of This Verse & This Section Is That The Old Testament System Could Not & Cannot Bring “Fulfillment” To People! But What Is The “Perfection” Or “Fulfillment” That This Verse Is Talking About? Remember The Purpose Of A Priest? “A Priest Is One Who Brings Men Near To God!” (Vos) This Is What “Perfection” Means!
Look At 7:19 - “For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh to God!”
This Is What “Fulfillment” Means! “Drawing Near To God!”
The Reason So Many People Do Not Find Fulfillment In Life Is Because They Don’t Understand What Real Fulfillment Is! And You Will Never, Ever Find “The Fulfilled Life” Unless You First Understand What Real Fulfillment Is!
Fulfillment Will Only Come When You “Draw Nigh To God!”
You Can Make All The Money In The World – You Can Gain The Greatest Power In The World – You Can Be The Most Famous Person In The World – And Never Find Real Fulfillment In This Life Or In The Next!
* You Must Also Understand:
II. The Need Of Fulfillment!
Some Of You Hear This And Think: “Here We Go Again! Only Those Who Don’t Have These Things Say That They Do Not Provide Fulfillment! I’m Going To Try It Myself & See!” I’m Afraid That If This Is What You Are Thinking, You Will Never Discover The Fulfillment & Satisfaction That Comes When You “Draw Nigh To God” – Because You Don’t Think & Don’t Believe That He Truly Satisfies! You Are Very Much Like Those In The Old Testament Who Relied Upon A System For Fulfillment!
7:12-15 - “For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest!”
Verse 11 Points Out That A Change Was “Needed!”
Verse 12 Adds By Saying A Change Was A “Necessity!”
But What Needed To Be Changed? Many In The Old Testament Relied Upon A System In Order To Be “Fulfilled!”
They Relied Upon Who They Were! They Were Jews! And They Had The Priesthood Given To Them By God!
They Relied Upon What They Did! They Had The Law! And They Had All The Ceremonies Given To Them By God!
Surely They Thought That They Were OK! But In Reality, Who They Were & What They Did Was Not Enough To “Draw Nigh To God!” And This Is Why Psalm 110:4 Was Written – To Show The Need For A Change – The Need For “Another” – A Better High Priest! (Vs. 15)
You & I Need To Rely Upon A Savior & Not Upon A System In Order To Be “Fulfilled!” In Vs. 13 - “For He Of Whom These Things Are Spoken” Refers To The Lord Jesus Christ!
Fulfillment Will Only Come When You “Draw Nigh To God” Through The Lord Jesus Christ!
You Need To Realize That Who You Are & What You Have Done Or Will Do Is Not Enough To Enter God’s Presence! “O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son, And give Him the glory, great things He has done!” (Fanny Crosby)
* You Must Further Understand:
III. The Method Of Fulfillment!
7:16 - “Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life!”
This Verse Provides The Difference Between Living A Fulfilled Life & One That Is Un-Fulfilled! Remember That The Meaning Of “Fulfillment” Is To “Draw Nigh To God!” Any Attempt At “The Fulfilled Life” That You & I Make Is Doomed To Failure! Because We Attempt It The Same Way The Old Testament Jews Attempted To Approach God: “After The Law Of A Carnal Commandment!” -- “Carnal” = “Fleshly!”
“By Flesh” - Human Effort!
“With Flesh” - Animal Sacrifices!
“For Flesh” - Sinful People!
However, True Fulfillment Is Possible Through Jesus Christ! Because He Is “Another Priest”: “After The Power Of An Endless Life!”
Each Of These Words Describes Our Lord & The Fulfillment He Offers To Those Who Believe & Follow Him!
“Endless” = Indestructible! He Possesses Infinite Power! He Provides Infinite Power! He Possesses Infinite Life! He Provides Infinite Life!
Fulfillment Will Only Come When You “Draw Nigh To God” Through The Lord Jesus Christ & Experience The Power Of An Endless Life!
* This Morning, You Must Learn:
IV. The Experience Of Fulfillment!
7:17-19 - “For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God!”
How Can You Experience Real Fulfillment, Once You Realize That It Is Missing In Your Life? It Is Not Through Who You Are & What You Have Done Or Will Do! This Is Illustrated In The Old Testament Priesthood & Ceremonial Law! If Anyone Could Have Drawn Near To God On Their Own, These Men – These Priests – Should Have Been Able To! But They Couldn’t! Because: “There Is . . . A Disannulling!” - Cancellation / Set Aside! Of “The Weakness And Unprofitableness!” “The Law Made Nothing Perfect!”
It Is Only Through Who Jesus Christ Is & What Jesus Christ Has Done! He Is Our Only Source & “Hope” For “Perfection” – “Fulfillment” – “Drawing Near To God!” After All, Jesus Christ Is So Great & Exceptional Because He Is Timeless, Boundless, And Infinite – Without Any Limitations Whatsoever!
This Is What We Need! Because We Are Creatures Of Time, Boundaries, And Finiteness – And Are Greatly Limited – Even Though Sometimes We Don’t Think That We Are!
Conclusion:
1. What Is “Fulfillment” For You? What Completes You? What Satisfies You? Is It Your Family? Your Career? Your Retirement? Your Goals? Your Education? Etc?
2. Fulfillment Will Only Come When You “Draw Nigh To God” Through The Lord Jesus Christ & Experience The Power Of HIS Endless Life!
James 4:8-10 - “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up!”
