Priesthood (3)

Now before we consider the priesthood of Christ in the book of Hebrews ,we want to consider the question  is there any need for a particular priesthood?, like they have in the Roman Catholic Church,and in the Russian and Greek Orthodox Churches. The answer is no, particular priesthood finished when the new covenant was established through Christ death ,His death caused sacrifice of  animals to cease. We will consider  sacrifice later. but that does mean that there is no priesthood, for the Bible teaches what is known as ,the priesthood of every believer. In 1 Peter 2 v  9 we read,'But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may  declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light'. This priesthood is not called  to offer animal sacrifices,but  sacrifices of praise to God, and acts of doing good, and helping those in need'. Hebrews 13 v 15. CP also Romans 12 v 1.If  we are a believers we are called to exercise our God given role as a priest of the living God?,  that means the whole of our lives ,should be a sacrifice to God.

                                                   Fill Thou my life, O Lord my God,

                                                   In every part with praise,

                                                   That my whole being may proclaim

                                                   Thy being and Thy ways.   

                                                   Not for the lip of praise alone,

                                                   Nor e'en the praising heart,

                                                   I ask, but for a life made up

                                                   Of praise in every part;

                                                       Words Horatius Bonar.

                                                   

Who is greater? ( 2 ) (Hebrews 3.)

Although we are highlighting Jesus in the book of Hebrews ,I would like to remind you, that Christ is in all the scriptures.Now I am just highlighting certain aspect of  Christ in Hebrews,so we move on to chap 3 ,and in this chap Moses the law giver is mentioned. He was a very significant person and in no way should undermine his important,but the writer needs to make clear that Christ is greater than Moses.it is important because the Jewish Christians were in danger of  forsaking Christ .Moses was a servant, 3 v5, but it was temporary,for it was within the old covenant,but Christ is the eternal Son of God  3 v6 .Not many people mention this ,Moses sinned, Numbers 20 v 12, Jesus was sinless. Heb 4 v 15. One writer says this ,' to forsake the way of Christ for the way of Moses is to go from the greater to the lesser. It is to abandon the permanent ,in favour of the temporary'. Christ is and was unique, He pre existed in eternity as God the Son, no one can compare with Him, greater than Moses and all the prophets,greater that the apostles, beware of any who teach otherwise.

Christ in the book of Hebrews. ( Hebrews 1 )

I am sure many of you have read the book of Hebrews,for those who don't  know  anything about it,it  is about Christ and what he has accomplished in relation to salvation ,.As the name suggests it was written mainly to Jewish Christians,but it has meaning for all Christians. There are many fine commentaries by Christian writers these will help you get to grips with this wonderful book, I feel that one of the sad things that is lacking in the Christian Church today is teaching  on what the actual books of the Bible are about.I believe the apostle Paul was the author of this book,others differ on this,in this case it should not give one to much concern as to whom the author was.It is God's word for God's people, it stresses that all things came into being by Christ,and that He is superior to angels, 1 v8 tells us that they are commanded to worship Him,why worship Jesus? 1 v 8 ,God speaking of the Son declares,'Your throne ,O God, will last for ever and ever'.v 9 follows on,'Therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions.' These scripture readings are from Psalm 45 v 6-7 .The Jewish readers would have to come to terms with this truth,I have mentioned before about William Barclay,who did not believe Christ was God. A visiting speaker at the church I attend used a prayer composed by William Barclay,it was fine what he wrote.As I was leaving  to go home, I mentioned how I appreciated his message, but I also mentioned the prayer by WB , and his denial of deity of Christ, and that was heretical,he didn't appear pleased with what I said, but sadly it was true,and that is very serious.We will continue on next time looking at the book of Hebrews.

Abide with me. ( Romans 8 v 28 - 39 )

Every year at the final of the FA cup , before the game, a hymn is sung, it is called Abide with me, it was written by a Victorian  clergyman called Henry F. Lyte, he died a few months after completing it. It was set to music by William Monk, he had recently experienced the death of  his child. It goes without saying that it is a very meaningful hymn,it is a hymn that expresses the wonderful abiding presence of God,that makes all the difference in life and in death.Let us just go through this hymn,making a few comments.

                                                 Abide with me fast falls the eventide,

                                                 The darkness deepens, Lord, with me abide,

                                                 When other helpers fail and comforts flee,

                                                 Help  of the helpless, O abide with me.

           No matter how dark things are, the Lord who is the light the world can lighten our darkness . 

                                                 Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day 

                                                 Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;

                                                 Change and decay in all around I see;

                                                 O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

            Life is very brief, in Christ , we have the promise of eternal glories ,that will never pass away

                                                 I need Thy presence every passing hour

                                                What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?

                                                 Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?

                                                 Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.

           Christs abiding presence, makes all the difference, He will guide us and strengthen us.

                                                 I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless;

                                                 I'll have no weight and tears no bitterness;

                                                 Where is death's sting?where , grave, thy victory?

                                                 I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

          With Christ fear can be vanquished,the sorrowing can be comforted, and death is conquered.

                                                  Reveal Thyself before my closing eyes

                                                  Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;

                                                   Heaven's morning breaks and earth's vain shadows flee;

                                                    In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

           With Christ our Saviour ,nothing can separate us,from God's love, and God's heaven.

                                                 

What matters ? ( 2 Timothy 4 v 18 )

 I do not know who wrote the following,' What matters to God is not so much how we act , but  why we act,not  so much what we actually do, but what we wish in our hearts of hearts to do,Aquinas put it like this,' Man sees the deed, but God sees the intention'.  It is said that man's chief  end is to glorify God, as the scripture tells us, in 1 Corinthians 10 v31,that whatever we do,we should do it , to the glory of God.  

                                                  Do you think I make a pretty good soldier?

                                                  Do you think I make a pretty good soldier?

                                                  Do you think I make a pretty good soldier?

                                                  Rise shine give God the glory,

                                                  Rise shine give God the glory,

                                                  Rise shine give God the glory,

                                                  We're soldiers of the cross.

                                                      Words Dionne Warwick

The greatest sacrifice ever made was on a cross,it brought the greatest glory to God,  and the greatest blessing to mankind.                                                                                                                                               

I learnt something. ( Proverbs 4 v 1 - 4 )

I needed to fix something and it meant drilling  into metal,which I have never done before, I have drilled into wood and brick, but never metal.Fortunately I have a friend who told me what to do, you start  by drilling with a small drill bit,then use a larger drill bit, I did that, and it worked.I had a problem ,and thanks be to God,I learned something new,and the problem was solved.There is an important lesson in this and its this,learning does not stop when you leave school. The very nature of life involves learning,many people fail their driving test, so they give up , no they should go back to the drawing board,and learn how they can pass next time. Failure is not a reason to give up, its an opportunity to learn, and improve. and move forward. As we look at our failure we need to pray to God to help us , when David brought the ark of covenant to Jerusalem 2 Samuel 6, he failed to act in accordance,with Gods instruction as how it should be moved  CP Numbers 4 v 5-15. He didn't make the same mistake twice, unfortunately many of us do not learn from our mistakes.with dire consequences. I remember years ago,a fellow worker advised me as to how to do a certain thing, but when he went away I just continued to do it my way. God wants us to be teachable, in relation to so many things, that we may be more useable by him. Not keep making the same mistakes in our walk with Him, and that we may stop doing things our way ,but His way

                                                 Lord help me to be teachable

                                                                  Amen

Don't give up. ( Hebrews 12 v 1 - 2 )

 I remember when I was at Bible college,we had three children, we had no income,but we trusted God to meet our needs, things were difficult, difficult for my lovely wife. Most people might have known how difficult it was, and one day the principal, spoke to me,he said he understood if we had to give up.Most people would have understood if we did give up,but we didn't ,we pressed on,and I finished the course.Not only that, my wife then attended a Baptist college for further year,we didn't give up. I knew a missionary called Freddy Orr, when he and his wife went to Brazil for the first time,on their way to their destination,she died, he also contacted the illness and  was advised to go home, for he might not survive. The fact is he didn't give up,and for the rest of his life he served God in Brazil. What caused us not to give up?,for ourselves, and I am sure for Freddy, there was belief that God had called us, and he would look after us, which he did.I will say this ,I cannot  answer for what others should do, nor will I judge them.I  am 77 now, and as I look back,I praise God for His faithfulness, I suppose it fits in, with the truth of the perseverance of  the saints,that of not giving up.As a Christian things may  be difficult for you, don't give up,press on,like our dear Saviour, who in spite of  everything he had to face,and all he would have to suffer,he didn't give up.