1 00:00:14,099 --> 00:00:17,359 Welcome to the Lansdale Life Church podcast. 2 00:00:18,379 --> 00:00:24,100 If you're seeking a closer relationship with Jesus Christ, this podcast is for you. 3 00:00:24,679 --> 00:00:27,019 Thank you for joining us today. 4 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:40,679 So let's turn to Hebrews. We're starting a new book. What do you think? 5 00:00:42,219 --> 00:00:49,579 You know, I've been praying and praying. It's so hard to choose, you know. You ask for the Lord for direction and insight and 6 00:00:51,450 --> 00:00:56,109 wisdom on which book would be best and most ideal for our congregation. 7 00:00:57,570 --> 00:01:04,250 But, you know, it's hard to choose from like a buffet of amazing word. Amen. 8 00:01:04,810 --> 00:01:14,049 I mean, it's all good. Just open up your Bible anywhere. It's all scrumptious and delicious and nutritious and wonderful for our lives. Amen. 9 00:01:14,849 --> 00:01:22,930 But we're going to dig into Hebrews this week and beyond. And we're just introducing it today. 10 00:01:23,989 --> 00:01:32,430 And Hebrews is just a real special, special book in so many ways. They all are. 11 00:01:33,090 --> 00:01:41,269 But today's message, you know, choosing a title that wraps around such complex and amazing scripture is also a challenge sometimes. 12 00:01:41,269 --> 00:01:48,769 But we've called this one Jesus Christ is the name above every other name. Jesus. 13 00:01:49,349 --> 00:01:53,750 You know, Jesus, not just Jesus, we were singing to Jesus, but we know who we mean. 14 00:01:54,230 --> 00:02:00,530 But it's Jesus Christ, you know, because in Jesus's day, there was a lot of Jesus's. 15 00:02:00,709 --> 00:02:05,370 Right. Because that's the Greek version of Joshua and so many families named their kids. 16 00:02:05,370 --> 00:02:11,830 Joshua. Right. But this is Jesus Christos. Right. The anointed one. 17 00:02:11,949 --> 00:02:19,330 He's just not any Joshua in Greek. He is the anointed one. That's what Christ means. Right. 18 00:02:19,750 --> 00:02:26,550 And we are what? Christians named after Christ himself. 19 00:02:27,310 --> 00:02:33,669 So Jesus Christ is everything. This message is going to be all about Jesus Christ because he is everything. 20 00:02:33,669 --> 00:02:38,069 He is the name above every other name for so many reasons. 21 00:02:38,189 --> 00:02:42,349 We're going to kind of pinpoint through this just three specific ones, 22 00:02:42,349 --> 00:02:45,669 because this is what we're going to see in verses one to four. 23 00:02:45,770 --> 00:02:52,430 We're only looking at four verses today and in Hebrews, and it's just a magnificent book. 24 00:02:52,629 --> 00:02:57,729 So let's pray and ask the spirit of God to use his word. 25 00:02:58,009 --> 00:03:02,789 Father God, we ask you to fall upon us now and bring clarity and direction. 26 00:03:02,789 --> 00:03:10,430 Lord, help us apply this magnificent piece of scripture to our own lives in Jesus name. Amen. 27 00:03:11,610 --> 00:03:17,870 You know, before we dive right in, as we start a book, I like to preface with some information, 28 00:03:18,270 --> 00:03:24,310 you know, hopefully it's not too dry, but it's poignant for us to grasp what Hebrews is. 29 00:03:25,009 --> 00:03:31,250 I mean, Hebrews is so special really, because there's no other book that really delineates 30 00:03:31,250 --> 00:03:40,110 and connects Christ to all the old priestly duties in the history of Israel. 31 00:03:40,430 --> 00:03:47,030 All the tabernacle activities, the sacrifices, the significance of the high priests, 32 00:03:47,090 --> 00:03:51,430 all of that is most clear in Hebrews. 33 00:03:51,469 --> 00:03:55,909 So without Hebrews, I think there would be a lot of things that would be missing in a sense. 34 00:03:57,409 --> 00:04:05,169 16 times, Hebrews mentions the high priest connecting Christ to the high priest. 35 00:04:05,430 --> 00:04:10,870 So Hebrews is a magnificent scripture, and in it references the first five books, 36 00:04:11,090 --> 00:04:14,729 the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, right? 37 00:04:15,289 --> 00:04:20,730 So we went through, believe it or not, we've already gone through the last couple of years 38 00:04:20,730 --> 00:04:25,110 through Genesis on Wednesday nights, Exodus, right? 39 00:04:25,509 --> 00:04:27,870 Leviticus just got through that, as Jesse mentioned. 40 00:04:28,550 --> 00:04:31,470 And now numbers, we just started, I love numbers. 41 00:04:31,870 --> 00:04:36,110 So I just want to really encourage you, come out for these brilliant teachings. 42 00:04:36,209 --> 00:04:40,550 These teachings, when you are so well thought out and prepared, 43 00:04:41,490 --> 00:04:44,149 I'm just, I'm like, gleaning, gleaning, gleaning, gleaning. 44 00:04:44,329 --> 00:04:48,250 It's just, it's amazing how much information and application. 45 00:04:48,250 --> 00:04:52,990 And then after, we have lots of questions, we ask one another 46 00:04:52,990 --> 00:04:56,449 and kind of qubits over what we just learned. 47 00:04:56,790 --> 00:04:58,029 So it's a great time. 48 00:04:58,389 --> 00:05:03,009 So Hebrews actually references those five books of the Bible. 49 00:05:03,230 --> 00:05:04,589 Next is Deuteronomy, right? 50 00:05:05,069 --> 00:05:09,449 And so because it's all the old law, and we as Gentiles are saying, 51 00:05:09,629 --> 00:05:12,389 why do we have to learn this? 52 00:05:13,389 --> 00:05:15,410 Because it all points to Jesus. 53 00:05:16,210 --> 00:05:20,149 And so much so that he made it a point to speak to the two 54 00:05:20,149 --> 00:05:23,170 on the way to Emmaus, to speak to the disciples 55 00:05:23,170 --> 00:05:27,029 after he appeared to all of them, and 500 others all at one time 56 00:05:27,029 --> 00:05:30,029 to say, you know, all those things matter, 57 00:05:30,569 --> 00:05:34,970 because they're all a symbol of me, right? 58 00:05:35,310 --> 00:05:38,370 Christ is the substance, but those are all symbols 59 00:05:38,370 --> 00:05:41,509 or signs of who he really is. 60 00:05:41,509 --> 00:05:46,189 So only in Hebrews we can capture a lot of these things, you know? 61 00:05:46,529 --> 00:05:50,069 So Hebrews is just a magnificent book of the Bible. 62 00:05:51,490 --> 00:05:54,750 And, you know, as we dive into Hebrews, 63 00:05:54,769 --> 00:05:57,629 you'll notice something that there's no author mentioned, 64 00:05:57,769 --> 00:05:59,370 which is unusual, right? 65 00:05:59,970 --> 00:06:04,389 In fact, we can't say for certain who wrote Hebrews. 66 00:06:05,529 --> 00:06:08,089 Most believe it was Paul, okay? 67 00:06:08,089 --> 00:06:12,170 Because the Apostle Paul certainly knew Jewish traditions, 68 00:06:12,430 --> 00:06:14,370 rituals, and laws, right? 69 00:06:14,790 --> 00:06:18,050 He was a Pharisee among Pharisees, he calls himself, right? 70 00:06:18,730 --> 00:06:22,230 But the style is just not like him, okay? 71 00:06:22,670 --> 00:06:24,889 And also the Greek that was used 72 00:06:24,889 --> 00:06:28,870 and his manner of speech, his way of communicating, 73 00:06:29,310 --> 00:06:31,769 is so not Paul. 74 00:06:32,490 --> 00:06:34,990 So then Psalm said, well, it was Paul, 75 00:06:34,990 --> 00:06:37,730 but he wrote in Hebrew, 76 00:06:38,050 --> 00:06:40,610 but then Luke translated it in Greek. 77 00:06:41,449 --> 00:06:45,250 So it's kind of a combination of Luke and Paul, okay? 78 00:06:45,490 --> 00:06:46,430 That's possible. 79 00:06:46,790 --> 00:06:49,449 There's even been people that have said it was Barnabas. 80 00:06:49,569 --> 00:06:51,689 That was an early on suggestion, 81 00:06:52,069 --> 00:06:52,949 the son of encouragement, 82 00:06:52,949 --> 00:06:55,310 because it's actually referenced in here, 83 00:06:55,490 --> 00:06:57,370 son of encouragement in Hebrews. 84 00:06:57,410 --> 00:07:00,269 So some thought it was possibly Barnabas. 85 00:07:01,889 --> 00:07:03,829 Apollos, you know, you remember seeing him, 86 00:07:03,829 --> 00:07:07,769 he was that one who wooded what Paul ceded, you know? 87 00:07:08,189 --> 00:07:12,970 And so he was well versed in high Greek language. 88 00:07:13,209 --> 00:07:15,889 And this is a very sophisticated book, right? 89 00:07:16,350 --> 00:07:18,490 And compared to other things that were written. 90 00:07:18,790 --> 00:07:21,769 So it's written in a way that we can't really be sure, 91 00:07:21,810 --> 00:07:22,709 but we know one thing, 92 00:07:23,069 --> 00:07:26,269 it's inspired by the Holy Spirit. 93 00:07:26,730 --> 00:07:26,850 Amen. 94 00:07:27,930 --> 00:07:31,430 The date that it was written somewhere between 95 00:07:32,230 --> 00:07:35,970 mid 60s to before 70 AD. 96 00:07:36,589 --> 00:07:38,709 And the reason why they can kind of narrow that down 97 00:07:38,709 --> 00:07:40,529 is because up to this point, 98 00:07:40,529 --> 00:07:43,769 there wasn't severe physical punishment 99 00:07:43,769 --> 00:07:47,370 and persecution to the early church, right? 100 00:07:47,850 --> 00:07:50,550 And that happened around 64 AD 101 00:07:50,550 --> 00:07:53,889 when the emperor Nero was really capturing the Christians 102 00:07:53,889 --> 00:07:56,990 and he really started this, especially in Rome. 103 00:07:57,629 --> 00:07:58,870 And this book, by the way, 104 00:07:58,870 --> 00:08:01,410 was probably written to people in Rome, 105 00:08:01,850 --> 00:08:03,370 the Jewish believers. 106 00:08:04,230 --> 00:08:06,170 But as we learned in Romans, 107 00:08:06,670 --> 00:08:08,250 where there was Jewish believers, 108 00:08:08,509 --> 00:08:10,069 there were Gentile believers 109 00:08:10,069 --> 00:08:13,730 because they all joined together in a congregation, right? 110 00:08:14,069 --> 00:08:17,470 So this was teaching the Hebrews, the Jews, 111 00:08:17,910 --> 00:08:20,410 this is why your heritage is important. 112 00:08:20,910 --> 00:08:22,589 And it was teaching the Gentiles 113 00:08:23,269 --> 00:08:26,750 when you hear the things that the Jews went through 114 00:08:26,750 --> 00:08:30,189 and what they learned on the road in their walk with God, 115 00:08:30,350 --> 00:08:32,090 this is why it's important to them. 116 00:08:32,509 --> 00:08:35,250 But also it's important to you to know these things 117 00:08:35,250 --> 00:08:37,710 because it all points to Jesus. 118 00:08:39,170 --> 00:08:41,129 So when I'm thinking, all right, 119 00:08:41,169 --> 00:08:43,049 we don't know the author, okay? 120 00:08:43,149 --> 00:08:44,649 Does that trouble you 121 00:08:44,649 --> 00:08:47,970 that we're reading this book of the Bible, right? 122 00:08:48,429 --> 00:08:50,509 Because we don't know the physical author. 123 00:08:51,250 --> 00:08:52,750 And as I was thinking about that, 124 00:08:52,750 --> 00:08:54,970 I thought let's just take a minute or two 125 00:08:54,970 --> 00:08:56,529 to discuss canon, 126 00:08:56,909 --> 00:09:00,450 something I really don't get into these heavy duty mechanics. 127 00:09:01,049 --> 00:09:02,250 But this is an opportunity 128 00:09:02,250 --> 00:09:03,830 because we're about to study a book 129 00:09:03,830 --> 00:09:06,970 that we can't be for certain who wrote it, 130 00:09:07,029 --> 00:09:10,730 except we know the Holy Spirit has inspired it, right? 131 00:09:11,830 --> 00:09:12,669 And by the way, 132 00:09:13,710 --> 00:09:15,049 well, let's get to that in a second. 133 00:09:15,250 --> 00:09:19,230 So first of all, let's talk about the Old Testament canon, okay? 134 00:09:19,690 --> 00:09:23,549 This is how they determine the Old Testament canon. 135 00:09:23,549 --> 00:09:26,429 Now, the word canon, by the way, 136 00:09:27,009 --> 00:09:30,690 what that means in Greek and even Latin, 137 00:09:30,870 --> 00:09:32,269 like a measuring rod, 138 00:09:32,769 --> 00:09:35,090 it's a way of measuring, okay? 139 00:09:35,470 --> 00:09:38,769 And it's probably taken from where there was this thing 140 00:09:38,769 --> 00:09:40,470 called a canon, it was in the wetlands, 141 00:09:40,809 --> 00:09:42,250 and it was, they were like, 142 00:09:42,509 --> 00:09:43,710 probably pronouncing it wrong, 143 00:09:43,750 --> 00:09:44,870 but they were reeds, 144 00:09:44,990 --> 00:09:47,049 like sticks that grew up in wetlands. 145 00:09:47,590 --> 00:09:48,870 And they would cut them down, 146 00:09:48,909 --> 00:09:49,809 they're kind of sturdy, 147 00:09:50,029 --> 00:09:52,029 and they would make them like yard sticks. 148 00:09:52,029 --> 00:09:54,269 Do you remember yard sticks back in the day? 149 00:09:54,309 --> 00:09:56,490 My mom used to be a samurai with that thing. 150 00:09:56,929 --> 00:09:58,610 Man, when she chased me through the house, 151 00:09:58,929 --> 00:10:00,370 I heard that door open, 152 00:10:00,429 --> 00:10:03,289 and the samurai come out with that yard stick, 153 00:10:03,330 --> 00:10:05,009 and I knew I better be running fast. 154 00:10:05,370 --> 00:10:06,629 I'm just saying, all right, 155 00:10:06,649 --> 00:10:08,769 sorry, I'm still trauma by that, PTSD. 156 00:10:09,649 --> 00:10:13,149 But anyway, it was like a way to measure things, right? 157 00:10:13,230 --> 00:10:14,750 That was the canon, okay? 158 00:10:15,230 --> 00:10:17,690 And so this is where they get the word canon. 159 00:10:18,190 --> 00:10:19,710 It's a measuring rod. 160 00:10:19,710 --> 00:10:22,710 But really, the canon, we need to realize, 161 00:10:22,830 --> 00:10:26,090 it's not man deciding what God wrote. 162 00:10:26,490 --> 00:10:31,889 It's man discerning and agreeing with God what he wrote. 163 00:10:32,529 --> 00:10:34,309 And to get to that, 164 00:10:34,429 --> 00:10:36,529 they went through a filtering system, 165 00:10:36,710 --> 00:10:38,210 really, of tons of prayer, 166 00:10:38,889 --> 00:10:43,350 and tons of wisdom, knowledge, and inspiration, right? 167 00:10:43,769 --> 00:10:45,990 And so the Hebrew canon 168 00:10:45,990 --> 00:10:49,570 was written between like 150 to 50 BC, 169 00:10:49,629 --> 00:10:51,529 before Jesus even came. 170 00:10:52,230 --> 00:10:57,090 And yet Jesus honored and agreed with the Hebrew canon 171 00:10:57,090 --> 00:10:59,370 because he repeated it often. 172 00:11:00,009 --> 00:11:01,110 And he said, you know, 173 00:11:01,129 --> 00:11:03,909 all the things you believe are God's word. 174 00:11:04,509 --> 00:11:07,029 And he's basically saying, and I agree too, right? 175 00:11:07,169 --> 00:11:09,830 So he's saying, I agree with the Hebrew canon. 176 00:11:10,330 --> 00:11:13,690 And so this was written before he even walked on the earth 177 00:11:13,690 --> 00:11:15,389 as Jesus Christ. 178 00:11:15,990 --> 00:11:17,809 And so the way they would determine this 179 00:11:17,809 --> 00:11:21,610 is the reputation of each book's human author, okay? 180 00:11:22,809 --> 00:11:23,750 And they knew that. 181 00:11:23,830 --> 00:11:27,529 They knew that Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible. 182 00:11:27,690 --> 00:11:28,230 Well, wait a minute. 183 00:11:28,370 --> 00:11:29,730 That happened before him. 184 00:11:29,870 --> 00:11:33,250 Well, God gave him a lot of information up on that mountain 185 00:11:33,250 --> 00:11:35,429 and beyond the mountain, right? 186 00:11:35,830 --> 00:11:36,149 Mount Sinai. 187 00:11:36,409 --> 00:11:41,049 So he basically told Moses what to write in these books. 188 00:11:41,830 --> 00:11:44,730 The doctrines and statements within the given manuscript 189 00:11:44,730 --> 00:11:47,529 should align with clear teachings 190 00:11:48,170 --> 00:11:50,590 of established biblical writing. 191 00:11:50,809 --> 00:11:52,970 So in other words, you shouldn't suddenly learn something 192 00:11:52,970 --> 00:11:54,370 you've never heard before. 193 00:11:54,830 --> 00:11:57,750 And it doesn't seem like God's character. 194 00:11:58,149 --> 00:11:58,690 Do you know what I mean? 195 00:11:59,190 --> 00:12:02,210 You know, God is the same yesterday, today, and always, right? 196 00:12:02,669 --> 00:12:06,669 He makes himself very clear and he's an orderly God. 197 00:12:07,169 --> 00:12:09,490 So you aren't suddenly surprised like, wait, 198 00:12:09,789 --> 00:12:10,909 God likes that. 199 00:12:11,250 --> 00:12:12,529 How could he like that? 200 00:12:12,529 --> 00:12:15,730 No, you know in your spirit what he likes, right? 201 00:12:16,090 --> 00:12:17,669 Because his spirit lives in you. 202 00:12:17,889 --> 00:12:22,190 So this is how they would determine Old Testament scriptures. 203 00:12:22,950 --> 00:12:25,649 There would be no historical inaccuracies 204 00:12:25,649 --> 00:12:29,289 and or flawed prophetic utterances 205 00:12:29,809 --> 00:12:33,070 that would cast the shadow of doubt on a manuscript. 206 00:12:34,070 --> 00:12:35,029 So it's interesting. 207 00:12:36,169 --> 00:12:41,129 As opposed to scripture seeming at odds with history, 208 00:12:41,689 --> 00:12:44,769 historians go to scripture to figure out history. 209 00:12:45,129 --> 00:12:46,789 This is how accurate things are. 210 00:12:47,230 --> 00:12:48,610 Quite often historians will say, 211 00:12:48,669 --> 00:12:49,429 I don't understand how, 212 00:12:49,690 --> 00:12:52,049 and they go to the Bible and find the answers, right? 213 00:12:52,330 --> 00:12:53,370 Even if they're not believers, 214 00:12:54,210 --> 00:12:58,090 because they view the Bible as a historical record. 215 00:12:58,669 --> 00:13:04,690 So if suddenly the Old Testament was at odds with human history, 216 00:13:05,169 --> 00:13:06,590 then something would be wrong. 217 00:13:06,929 --> 00:13:09,649 So believe me, the rabbis and the Old Testament, 218 00:13:09,649 --> 00:13:11,269 they sorted through these things and say, 219 00:13:11,289 --> 00:13:11,970 what is this? 220 00:13:12,850 --> 00:13:13,830 This is false. 221 00:13:14,789 --> 00:13:15,409 And then finally, 222 00:13:15,570 --> 00:13:19,309 a book's widespread acceptance or rejection 223 00:13:19,309 --> 00:13:21,450 by respected scholars. 224 00:13:22,029 --> 00:13:24,990 Again, these scriptures were rewritten 225 00:13:24,990 --> 00:13:26,809 and rewritten and rewritten. 226 00:13:27,190 --> 00:13:29,309 You know, apologetics, that's a great thing to learn. 227 00:13:29,669 --> 00:13:31,389 My brain just doesn't hold on to it. 228 00:13:31,490 --> 00:13:32,210 It just doesn't. 229 00:13:32,710 --> 00:13:37,049 But when you learn the thousands of rewrites 230 00:13:37,049 --> 00:13:39,049 of scripture through human history, 231 00:13:39,049 --> 00:13:40,470 it's mind-boggling. 232 00:13:40,970 --> 00:13:43,389 Like we believe that Napoleon was a real person. 233 00:13:43,730 --> 00:13:47,649 Well, then you better believe that the scriptures are real 234 00:13:47,649 --> 00:13:51,090 because they were rewritten thousands and thousands of times. 235 00:13:51,590 --> 00:13:53,950 Alexander the Great, we take that as gospel. 236 00:13:54,409 --> 00:13:55,330 Well, if you believe that, 237 00:13:55,470 --> 00:13:57,350 you better believe every book of the Bible 238 00:13:57,350 --> 00:14:01,230 because there's multiplications of a thousand times 239 00:14:01,230 --> 00:14:05,330 the amount of documented rewrites of scripture 240 00:14:05,330 --> 00:14:07,549 over and above any other history. 241 00:14:07,549 --> 00:14:09,690 So we can trust the Old Testament. 242 00:14:10,149 --> 00:14:13,250 But also what's cool is that you can almost rewrite 243 00:14:13,250 --> 00:14:15,769 the Old Testament in the New Testament. 244 00:14:16,509 --> 00:14:19,830 You can see the repeat of Old Testament scriptures. 245 00:14:20,389 --> 00:14:25,409 32 out of 39 books of the Bible are referenced 246 00:14:25,409 --> 00:14:28,309 or quoted in the New Testament. 247 00:14:28,429 --> 00:14:28,970 Isn't that amazing? 248 00:14:29,350 --> 00:14:33,289 Like you can almost build the Old Testament 249 00:14:33,289 --> 00:14:34,610 with the New Testament. 250 00:14:34,610 --> 00:14:37,070 It's so widely repeated. 251 00:14:37,649 --> 00:14:39,929 And I think even in those other seven, 252 00:14:40,590 --> 00:14:43,490 I guarantee it, they are referenced 253 00:14:43,490 --> 00:14:46,230 but in a very subtle or innuendo way 254 00:14:46,230 --> 00:14:48,490 that you can't be certain, you know? 255 00:14:48,590 --> 00:14:52,250 You can't be absolute, like even Ecclesiastes 256 00:14:52,250 --> 00:14:54,990 and some other books that are on that bottom list 257 00:14:54,990 --> 00:14:57,509 of things that aren't referenced. 258 00:14:57,610 --> 00:14:58,789 I'm sorry, Song of Solomon. 259 00:14:59,330 --> 00:15:01,009 They are actually referenced 260 00:15:01,009 --> 00:15:04,370 but in a subtle and principled way 261 00:15:04,370 --> 00:15:05,509 rather than a quote. 262 00:15:06,190 --> 00:15:08,529 So anyway, the Old Testament is real, amen. 263 00:15:09,169 --> 00:15:12,269 But let's just touch on the New Testament briefly, okay? 264 00:15:12,789 --> 00:15:14,850 Because the New Testament, we can see 265 00:15:14,850 --> 00:15:17,789 there's three big principles that they've determined. 266 00:15:17,970 --> 00:15:19,169 No, this is solid. 267 00:15:19,470 --> 00:15:23,009 The canon, the New Testament canon is solid. 268 00:15:23,250 --> 00:15:24,909 I mean, if they can determine 269 00:15:24,909 --> 00:15:27,629 the Old Testament is accurate, okay? 270 00:15:28,269 --> 00:15:30,909 How much more the New Testament 271 00:15:30,909 --> 00:15:34,610 written thousands of years later and so on 272 00:15:34,610 --> 00:15:36,870 and it's fresh, it's new, 273 00:15:37,210 --> 00:15:40,210 and it's been written in the last days, right? 274 00:15:40,370 --> 00:15:41,570 Because we've been in the last days 275 00:15:41,570 --> 00:15:43,389 since Christ ascended to heaven, right? 276 00:15:43,909 --> 00:15:45,470 And so here are some of the principles. 277 00:15:45,809 --> 00:15:50,470 First of all, you have apostolic authority 278 00:15:51,050 --> 00:15:53,490 for a book to be included in the canon. 279 00:15:53,649 --> 00:15:56,169 It had to be linked to an apostle 280 00:15:56,730 --> 00:15:59,629 or to someone who had seen the risen Christ 281 00:16:00,410 --> 00:16:02,909 and had heard his teaching in person. 282 00:16:04,149 --> 00:16:07,429 Now, how can you say that about Hebrews, okay? 283 00:16:07,850 --> 00:16:09,990 Because we don't know who the guy is. 284 00:16:10,450 --> 00:16:14,289 Well, we know one thing that in Hebrews 2.3, 285 00:16:14,629 --> 00:16:17,769 the author says those of us 286 00:16:18,330 --> 00:16:22,570 who have heard from those who walked with Jesus, okay? 287 00:16:22,570 --> 00:16:26,789 So he was saying, I'm like a friend of these people, Peter, 288 00:16:27,009 --> 00:16:28,889 whether it was Peter, whether it was, 289 00:16:29,009 --> 00:16:31,610 whether it was, well, James was probably deceased by now, 290 00:16:31,730 --> 00:16:33,190 the James of James and John, 291 00:16:33,549 --> 00:16:37,629 but John, the half-brother of Jesus, James and Jude, 292 00:16:38,090 --> 00:16:39,970 like he knew these guys, right? 293 00:16:40,129 --> 00:16:43,649 And so he was writing because he had a connection with them. 294 00:16:44,049 --> 00:16:45,769 And then even at the end of Hebrews record, 295 00:16:45,889 --> 00:16:47,009 I go there, but he also says, 296 00:16:47,490 --> 00:16:49,929 and listen, you know, when I get to you finally, 297 00:16:50,350 --> 00:16:52,049 you know, I'm longing for that 298 00:16:52,049 --> 00:16:54,470 and perhaps Timothy will get there sooner. 299 00:16:54,710 --> 00:16:56,610 So that's another kind of hint of maybe Paul, 300 00:16:57,090 --> 00:17:00,049 but we could see they knew him, they knew the author, right? 301 00:17:00,470 --> 00:17:05,210 So these people recognized and honored this writing, 302 00:17:05,410 --> 00:17:06,289 so so can we. 303 00:17:06,730 --> 00:17:09,029 And the next thing after apostolic 304 00:17:10,230 --> 00:17:12,829 is the Orthodox doctrine. 305 00:17:13,509 --> 00:17:15,650 And that's basically saying the same thing 306 00:17:15,650 --> 00:17:16,710 as we said in Old Testament, 307 00:17:16,910 --> 00:17:19,369 you won't learn something that is opposite 308 00:17:19,369 --> 00:17:22,529 or contrary to the rest of scriptures, right? 309 00:17:22,970 --> 00:17:26,289 Because it's doctrinal, it makes sense, it flows. 310 00:17:26,869 --> 00:17:29,109 Again, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, 311 00:17:29,269 --> 00:17:31,309 and always he doesn't change. 312 00:17:31,589 --> 00:17:34,849 We know what his will is for humanity, right? 313 00:17:35,230 --> 00:17:37,210 So we won't suddenly learn something 314 00:17:37,210 --> 00:17:39,650 that is opposite of that and just, you know, 315 00:17:39,950 --> 00:17:43,009 wow, maybe we should rethink these things, you know? 316 00:17:43,269 --> 00:17:45,849 Maybe he does like that or dislike. 317 00:17:46,230 --> 00:17:47,349 No, we already know. 318 00:17:47,670 --> 00:17:48,529 So throughout scriptures, 319 00:17:48,529 --> 00:17:50,869 I remember, I don't know if you saw that debate 320 00:17:50,869 --> 00:17:54,430 with Wes Huff and Billy Carson. 321 00:17:54,829 --> 00:17:56,630 It's something you can just Google on your own, 322 00:17:57,069 --> 00:18:01,130 but Wes Huff just chewed him up with evidence. 323 00:18:02,289 --> 00:18:05,710 And of all the books that Billy Carson claims 324 00:18:06,529 --> 00:18:07,529 might have been scripture, 325 00:18:07,829 --> 00:18:11,230 which doubted Christ's identity and deity, right? 326 00:18:12,049 --> 00:18:16,650 Wes Huff just cuts it down like ruins him, right? 327 00:18:16,950 --> 00:18:18,190 I don't know if he still has a career. 328 00:18:18,190 --> 00:18:19,089 He shouldn't, right? 329 00:18:19,410 --> 00:18:21,670 Because he's a blasphemer, you know? 330 00:18:21,849 --> 00:18:23,710 But so there's so many proof 331 00:18:23,710 --> 00:18:26,589 because these scriptures are accurate 332 00:18:26,589 --> 00:18:28,829 and they're the same, okay? 333 00:18:28,869 --> 00:18:30,329 They connect with all other teachers. 334 00:18:30,609 --> 00:18:33,750 And then finally, and then we'll move right into Hebrews, 335 00:18:33,769 --> 00:18:36,309 but broad-based acceptance. 336 00:18:37,130 --> 00:18:40,150 These books were rewritten and rewritten, 337 00:18:40,170 --> 00:18:42,109 and they're also saying, yes, you know, 338 00:18:43,049 --> 00:18:44,849 they would be brought to churches 339 00:18:44,849 --> 00:18:46,869 and you wouldn't just read it yourself. 340 00:18:46,869 --> 00:18:49,329 They probably had one copy in the beginning, right? 341 00:18:50,009 --> 00:18:52,690 But it would be read in front of everyone, 342 00:18:52,970 --> 00:18:55,009 and probably everyone, just like you guys are right now, 343 00:18:55,190 --> 00:18:57,769 writing notes down quickly and fervently. 344 00:18:58,009 --> 00:18:58,450 I'm just kidding. 345 00:18:59,410 --> 00:19:01,250 But writing notes because you're like, 346 00:19:01,309 --> 00:19:03,349 I don't want, this is the only one. 347 00:19:04,230 --> 00:19:05,950 I can't lose this. 348 00:19:06,029 --> 00:19:07,690 I have to document it. 349 00:19:08,029 --> 00:19:10,109 You know, I love the story of Augusta. 350 00:19:10,390 --> 00:19:11,250 I don't know if she's still in here, 351 00:19:11,329 --> 00:19:14,089 but she used to go to villages. 352 00:19:14,349 --> 00:19:16,390 There would be very few Bibles in China 353 00:19:16,390 --> 00:19:18,750 during the early church, underground church. 354 00:19:19,509 --> 00:19:20,750 And if you had a Bible, 355 00:19:21,329 --> 00:19:22,890 I don't know if you've ever seen those old videos 356 00:19:22,890 --> 00:19:25,009 of Chinese opening their Bibles, 357 00:19:25,609 --> 00:19:27,869 and they would just fall down on their knees, 358 00:19:28,390 --> 00:19:30,490 bawling, kissing their Bibles. 359 00:19:30,930 --> 00:19:35,430 Like, so like, this has the answer to life. 360 00:19:35,549 --> 00:19:36,509 Like, this is everything. 361 00:19:36,769 --> 00:19:38,289 Like, I don't need anything else. 362 00:19:38,450 --> 00:19:39,089 This is it. 363 00:19:39,490 --> 00:19:41,750 Because I can know God through this Bible. 364 00:19:41,789 --> 00:19:46,049 That's how intense they were about their Bibles, right? 365 00:19:46,390 --> 00:19:48,289 And so Augusta and her friend 366 00:19:48,289 --> 00:19:52,089 would actually start rewriting books of the Bible 367 00:19:52,790 --> 00:19:55,089 and smuggle them into other villages. 368 00:19:55,930 --> 00:20:01,650 And under the awareness of authorities, 369 00:20:01,809 --> 00:20:05,089 because they'd probably be locked up or even worse, right? 370 00:20:05,210 --> 00:20:06,829 And of course, the books would be burned. 371 00:20:07,150 --> 00:20:09,170 And that's probably happening again, unfortunately. 372 00:20:09,549 --> 00:20:12,009 But so it's very precious, right? 373 00:20:12,130 --> 00:20:12,950 The Word of God. 374 00:20:12,950 --> 00:20:16,690 And so this would have broad base acceptance. 375 00:20:17,109 --> 00:20:17,970 Like, yes, we do. 376 00:20:18,589 --> 00:20:21,990 We don't, eh, gospel of Barnabas, not so much. 377 00:20:22,490 --> 00:20:24,029 Gospel of this one, that one, Thomas. 378 00:20:24,710 --> 00:20:28,009 It never had, it never gripped the early church 379 00:20:28,009 --> 00:20:31,329 to accept it as true scripture, right? 380 00:20:31,789 --> 00:20:32,329 So, all right. 381 00:20:32,450 --> 00:20:33,509 So you're ready to dive in. 382 00:20:33,589 --> 00:20:35,990 But I just thought it was good to go through that exercise. 383 00:20:36,609 --> 00:20:37,710 Because I know personally, 384 00:20:37,829 --> 00:20:40,809 I don't do that too often with you guys. 385 00:20:41,009 --> 00:20:42,410 I mean, I love this stuff. 386 00:20:42,410 --> 00:20:46,170 And researching it, but it can be sometimes 387 00:20:46,170 --> 00:20:48,829 kind of dry to talk through. 388 00:20:49,029 --> 00:20:49,930 So you've done very well. 389 00:20:50,109 --> 00:20:51,970 All your eyes are still open, I think. 390 00:20:52,809 --> 00:20:55,069 Jim, Jim, that's the one I got to worry about over there. 391 00:20:55,210 --> 00:20:55,470 No, okay. 392 00:20:57,390 --> 00:20:58,430 Just kidding, brother. 393 00:21:00,450 --> 00:21:00,970 All right. 394 00:21:01,250 --> 00:21:04,330 So let's dive into Hebrews. 395 00:21:05,309 --> 00:21:07,490 And we'll be stopping just a couple of times. 396 00:21:08,609 --> 00:21:08,950 All right. 397 00:21:08,950 --> 00:21:15,089 So verse one, God, who at various times 398 00:21:15,910 --> 00:21:21,549 and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers 399 00:21:22,150 --> 00:21:31,829 by the prophets has in these last days spoken to us by his son. 400 00:21:32,230 --> 00:21:34,069 So let's just stop there for a second. 401 00:21:34,950 --> 00:21:37,410 Did you notice something that this book starts 402 00:21:37,410 --> 00:21:40,410 with the word Theos, God. 403 00:21:41,049 --> 00:21:44,730 You know, it's the only book of the Bible that starts with God. 404 00:21:45,190 --> 00:21:48,490 Now, there's two books in the Bible that reference God. 405 00:21:48,670 --> 00:21:52,690 You know, Genesis 1.1, of course, in the beginning was God. 406 00:21:52,910 --> 00:21:56,650 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 407 00:21:57,390 --> 00:22:00,069 And John 1.1, in the beginning was the word, 408 00:22:00,170 --> 00:22:03,329 and the word was with God, and the word was God. 409 00:22:03,509 --> 00:22:05,630 So God has mentioned those first two verses. 410 00:22:06,270 --> 00:22:10,369 But to start a book off saying, God, I mean, 411 00:22:10,450 --> 00:22:12,710 he is the beginning of all things, right? 412 00:22:13,029 --> 00:22:15,970 So that should perk our attention up about this book, 413 00:22:16,170 --> 00:22:21,390 because all of the focus is Jesus Christ, who is God, you know? 414 00:22:21,789 --> 00:22:26,190 So and then he says that who at various times 415 00:22:26,190 --> 00:22:32,009 and various ways spoke in time past to the fathers 416 00:22:32,009 --> 00:22:33,170 by the prophets. 417 00:22:33,970 --> 00:22:37,210 Think about this various times and various ways. 418 00:22:37,609 --> 00:22:42,210 You know, God has always assigned his spokespeople, hasn't he? 419 00:22:42,509 --> 00:22:45,430 You remember, even way back with Enoch, okay? 420 00:22:45,809 --> 00:22:49,529 Enoch was a man of God, and he was preaching 421 00:22:49,529 --> 00:22:53,170 to his generation who was fallen. 422 00:22:53,329 --> 00:22:56,789 You've read Genesis 6 and before that, 423 00:22:57,349 --> 00:23:00,369 where humanity was getting so evil and wicked, 424 00:23:00,369 --> 00:23:03,650 they were contaminated by demons and fallen angels 425 00:23:03,650 --> 00:23:04,609 and all those things. 426 00:23:05,269 --> 00:23:08,750 And so it was just, God could see this generation 427 00:23:08,750 --> 00:23:11,390 is gonna lead into another wicked generation. 428 00:23:11,670 --> 00:23:13,789 It's, I'm never gonna be able to turn this around. 429 00:23:13,990 --> 00:23:14,829 Well, he could do all things, 430 00:23:14,970 --> 00:23:19,529 but he determined that we need to hit the reset button. 431 00:23:20,210 --> 00:23:21,789 So he used special people. 432 00:23:22,089 --> 00:23:24,509 Enoch was the first preaching, preaching, 433 00:23:24,650 --> 00:23:26,609 and then the Lord took him up and he was no more. 434 00:23:27,109 --> 00:23:28,309 And then Noah, right? 435 00:23:28,309 --> 00:23:31,670 Noah was a just man, so he gave him instructions. 436 00:23:32,049 --> 00:23:34,690 I gotta save humanity through you and this boat, right? 437 00:23:35,450 --> 00:23:36,910 And so it was him. 438 00:23:37,349 --> 00:23:40,009 And then after him, of course, he spoke to Abraham. 439 00:23:40,690 --> 00:23:43,410 He spoke to Isaac, Jacob, and so on. 440 00:23:43,490 --> 00:23:47,309 Every generation had people that he would speak to 441 00:23:47,309 --> 00:23:49,410 until there was vacuums of time. 442 00:23:49,849 --> 00:23:52,269 Sometimes several generations, you know, 443 00:23:52,529 --> 00:23:56,230 when Israel was in Egypt and then finally, you know, 444 00:23:56,230 --> 00:23:59,269 Moses, after 80 years of floundering, 445 00:23:59,650 --> 00:24:01,450 he chose him from a burning bush. 446 00:24:01,630 --> 00:24:03,670 Like, you're my spokesman now. 447 00:24:04,109 --> 00:24:05,769 Go back and get my people. 448 00:24:06,109 --> 00:24:07,869 There's always been those people 449 00:24:07,869 --> 00:24:11,329 that he has chosen, various generations. 450 00:24:11,549 --> 00:24:13,529 And, you know, he's doing the same thing today. 451 00:24:14,089 --> 00:24:17,390 In fact, you know, when Paul went through Athens, 452 00:24:17,529 --> 00:24:20,210 he said, the Lord keeps sending messages 453 00:24:20,210 --> 00:24:22,210 from one generation to the next 454 00:24:22,210 --> 00:24:26,769 so that everyone will come to him and receive him, right? 455 00:24:27,009 --> 00:24:31,670 So he's still sending spokespeople, you know that? 456 00:24:32,150 --> 00:24:34,829 And then various ways, and I was thinking various ways. 457 00:24:34,990 --> 00:24:39,130 The word is polytropos, and it's like poly meaning many, 458 00:24:39,529 --> 00:24:42,750 like polysaturates, we got a lot of fat in that, right? 459 00:24:43,410 --> 00:24:45,509 Poly means much or variety. 460 00:24:46,230 --> 00:24:48,710 So various ways he reached people, 461 00:24:48,710 --> 00:24:50,970 just think about some of the ways 462 00:24:50,970 --> 00:24:52,950 that he would reach people. 463 00:24:53,650 --> 00:24:57,029 Remember, he used Balaam, who was like a basically a warlock 464 00:24:57,029 --> 00:25:01,069 or a man Weka, who was a divination guy 465 00:25:01,069 --> 00:25:06,589 who prayed to pagan demons, basically, 466 00:25:06,950 --> 00:25:11,490 and the Lord chose him to pray blessings 467 00:25:11,490 --> 00:25:15,269 over Israel right before Barak 468 00:25:15,269 --> 00:25:16,910 so that he would see him and say, 469 00:25:16,910 --> 00:25:18,069 you know, what are you doing? 470 00:25:18,170 --> 00:25:20,690 I told you to curse them not to bless them. 471 00:25:21,109 --> 00:25:23,329 And not only Balaam, but his donkey. 472 00:25:23,829 --> 00:25:24,849 That's a funny story. 473 00:25:25,089 --> 00:25:26,089 Won't get into that today. 474 00:25:26,269 --> 00:25:29,309 But, you know, speaking through a donkey, 475 00:25:29,710 --> 00:25:32,329 God can speak through anyone, can he? 476 00:25:32,849 --> 00:25:34,750 Or Jonah, Jonah, it's like, 477 00:25:35,470 --> 00:25:37,829 you want me to go where and to do what? 478 00:25:38,390 --> 00:25:39,829 I hate those people. 479 00:25:40,190 --> 00:25:41,109 They hate us. 480 00:25:41,829 --> 00:25:43,009 Nineveh was the Assyrians. 481 00:25:43,150 --> 00:25:44,549 They want to wipe us out. 482 00:25:44,549 --> 00:25:47,589 They torture their wicked, wicked people. 483 00:25:48,069 --> 00:25:49,329 I'm going the other way. 484 00:25:49,470 --> 00:25:50,369 No, you're not. 485 00:25:50,769 --> 00:25:52,230 And you know, the story with Jonah 486 00:25:52,230 --> 00:25:54,410 gets vomited up on the beach. 487 00:25:54,589 --> 00:25:55,410 And guess where he goes? 488 00:25:55,549 --> 00:25:56,529 He goes to Nineveh. 489 00:25:57,089 --> 00:25:58,390 But not willingly. 490 00:25:58,890 --> 00:26:01,569 He'll even use an unwilling vessel, right? 491 00:26:01,950 --> 00:26:04,430 He did this throughout all these years. 492 00:26:04,769 --> 00:26:04,789 Amen. 493 00:26:05,329 --> 00:26:07,069 Ezekiel chapter three, you learn about 494 00:26:07,069 --> 00:26:09,569 how when those angel creatures come to him 495 00:26:09,569 --> 00:26:10,970 and God's speaking to him. 496 00:26:11,049 --> 00:26:11,910 And he's like, yeah, 497 00:26:11,910 --> 00:26:14,529 I want you to give them this message. 498 00:26:14,829 --> 00:26:15,250 And guess what? 499 00:26:15,369 --> 00:26:16,569 They're not going to receive it. 500 00:26:17,009 --> 00:26:18,130 Imagine getting that instruction. 501 00:26:18,470 --> 00:26:20,410 Well, then why am I going? 502 00:26:20,950 --> 00:26:22,210 All right, can we just cut this out? 503 00:26:22,569 --> 00:26:23,890 I don't want to be persecuted. 504 00:26:24,549 --> 00:26:26,150 You know, if they're not going to receive it, 505 00:26:26,509 --> 00:26:27,190 why go? 506 00:26:27,430 --> 00:26:29,589 Well, they need a chance to receive. 507 00:26:29,750 --> 00:26:32,569 They need an opportunity to receive it, right? 508 00:26:33,009 --> 00:26:33,930 And do you remember what happened? 509 00:26:34,150 --> 00:26:35,490 Ezekiel's like, oh, no. 510 00:26:35,589 --> 00:26:37,170 And the Lord just said, you're going. 511 00:26:37,690 --> 00:26:40,609 Picks him up in the bitterness of his spirit. 512 00:26:40,609 --> 00:26:42,329 He's going and he's hearing the wings 513 00:26:42,329 --> 00:26:45,650 and the chariot wheels of these celestial beings. 514 00:26:45,829 --> 00:26:48,309 And he's like, and in the bitterness of his spirit, 515 00:26:48,450 --> 00:26:50,769 he's being carried to where he has to go. 516 00:26:51,150 --> 00:26:53,210 Has God ever carried you somewhere 517 00:26:53,210 --> 00:26:54,470 that you didn't want to go? 518 00:26:54,710 --> 00:26:56,069 Like, God, I don't want to go there. 519 00:26:56,650 --> 00:26:58,069 I don't want that person looks scary. 520 00:26:58,190 --> 00:26:59,150 I don't want to talk to them. 521 00:26:59,630 --> 00:27:01,069 I don't want to, but you know what? 522 00:27:01,450 --> 00:27:05,170 He chooses various times, various ways. 523 00:27:05,309 --> 00:27:06,630 He's still choosing us. 524 00:27:06,930 --> 00:27:07,309 You know that? 525 00:27:07,950 --> 00:27:09,750 You know, he spoke through Jesus Christ, 526 00:27:09,750 --> 00:27:11,769 but who is he speaking through now? 527 00:27:13,369 --> 00:27:14,630 Through us, right? 528 00:27:15,029 --> 00:27:17,450 We are the messengers, right? 529 00:27:18,049 --> 00:27:21,690 We carry the same message that Christ carried, right? 530 00:27:23,029 --> 00:27:26,589 So Jesus, the Lord spoke through him. 531 00:27:26,730 --> 00:27:26,910 Why? 532 00:27:27,069 --> 00:27:30,630 Because Jesus is the word of God. 533 00:27:30,869 --> 00:27:31,809 I mean, he is. 534 00:27:31,950 --> 00:27:35,069 He is the substance of the word of God. 535 00:27:35,190 --> 00:27:37,869 I love how John makes this crystal clear. 536 00:27:37,869 --> 00:27:40,369 In John 1.14, 537 00:27:41,710 --> 00:27:45,910 and the word became flesh and dwelt among us, 538 00:27:46,490 --> 00:27:48,490 and we beheld his glory, 539 00:27:49,230 --> 00:27:52,769 the glory as of the only begotten of the Father 540 00:27:52,769 --> 00:27:55,289 full of grace and truth. 541 00:27:56,049 --> 00:27:56,710 We beheld it. 542 00:27:56,829 --> 00:27:58,009 I mean, think about this. 543 00:27:58,250 --> 00:27:59,829 The Lord has always been the word, 544 00:27:59,950 --> 00:28:03,289 but he became what he spoke into existence. 545 00:28:03,470 --> 00:28:05,470 He became like one of us. 546 00:28:05,470 --> 00:28:07,869 John goes on when he was writing the letters, 547 00:28:07,990 --> 00:28:09,190 probably years later, 548 00:28:10,750 --> 00:28:13,789 in remembering the days with Jesus 549 00:28:13,789 --> 00:28:16,349 walking on the earth with the Messiah, 550 00:28:16,569 --> 00:28:18,130 the Savior of all mankind. 551 00:28:18,950 --> 00:28:22,750 And he said in 1 John 1.1, 552 00:28:23,869 --> 00:28:24,329 he said, 553 00:28:24,630 --> 00:28:26,029 that which was from the beginning 554 00:28:26,029 --> 00:28:27,490 which we have heard, 555 00:28:28,190 --> 00:28:29,349 which we have seen 556 00:28:29,349 --> 00:28:30,809 with our eyes, 557 00:28:31,089 --> 00:28:32,650 which we have looked upon, 558 00:28:33,370 --> 00:28:35,730 and our hands have handled 559 00:28:35,730 --> 00:28:37,809 concerning the word of life. 560 00:28:38,190 --> 00:28:42,309 Like, they tangibly felt, saw, smelt. 561 00:28:43,130 --> 00:28:47,549 You know, they spent time with Jesus, 562 00:28:47,970 --> 00:28:50,869 and yet he is the word of God. 563 00:28:51,150 --> 00:28:52,529 I love how we see that picture 564 00:28:52,529 --> 00:28:55,210 even in Revelation 19.13, 565 00:28:55,609 --> 00:28:56,930 when John's up there 566 00:28:57,610 --> 00:28:59,210 and he sees him. 567 00:28:59,210 --> 00:29:02,630 He was clothed with robe dipped 568 00:29:02,630 --> 00:29:05,450 or sprinkled in probably his own blood, right? 569 00:29:05,769 --> 00:29:09,230 And his name called the word of God. 570 00:29:09,769 --> 00:29:11,309 He is the word of God. 571 00:29:11,690 --> 00:29:14,809 You know, he was the word of God, right? 572 00:29:15,150 --> 00:29:17,230 Before he became Jesus Christ. 573 00:29:17,549 --> 00:29:20,829 And yet in God's, he's outside of time. 574 00:29:20,970 --> 00:29:22,789 So he's always been everything, right? 575 00:29:23,230 --> 00:29:25,750 But from humanity's perspective, 576 00:29:25,750 --> 00:29:29,309 he was already the word of God, right? 577 00:29:29,650 --> 00:29:31,490 He's always been the word of God, right? 578 00:29:31,589 --> 00:29:33,410 In the beginning was the word, right? 579 00:29:33,869 --> 00:29:36,529 But he became a man in the flesh, Jesus, 580 00:29:37,009 --> 00:29:40,809 who is also the Christ, the anointed one, right? 581 00:29:41,130 --> 00:29:43,609 So Jesus is the word of God. 582 00:29:43,650 --> 00:29:46,730 I just think that is so amazing to remember. 583 00:29:47,390 --> 00:29:48,890 And he came through him. 584 00:29:49,190 --> 00:29:50,609 I just think about this though. 585 00:29:50,809 --> 00:29:51,549 What about us? 586 00:29:51,829 --> 00:29:55,069 We have to tie us into this a little bit, right? 587 00:29:55,069 --> 00:29:56,509 It's all about Jesus, 588 00:29:57,309 --> 00:30:01,950 but it's also all that Jesus in you, in me, right? 589 00:30:02,329 --> 00:30:05,390 Because Jesus, doesn't he still wanna keep speaking 590 00:30:05,390 --> 00:30:08,250 to this generation and the next generation 591 00:30:08,250 --> 00:30:10,210 and the next generation? 592 00:30:10,609 --> 00:30:12,170 He spoke through his prophets. 593 00:30:12,490 --> 00:30:15,849 Now he speaks through Christ, through us. 594 00:30:16,509 --> 00:30:18,369 You know, prophecy is something 595 00:30:18,369 --> 00:30:22,109 that we all have been empowered to do. 596 00:30:22,410 --> 00:30:23,130 Do you believe that? 597 00:30:23,690 --> 00:30:26,470 Like you have the word of God, right? 598 00:30:26,809 --> 00:30:29,009 So that means you can foretell, 599 00:30:29,250 --> 00:30:31,130 forth tell anything. 600 00:30:31,490 --> 00:30:33,410 Foretell is telling the future. 601 00:30:34,269 --> 00:30:35,769 Sometimes we do that, you know, 602 00:30:36,089 --> 00:30:37,470 accidental even sometimes, right? 603 00:30:37,930 --> 00:30:39,450 But forth telling is saying, 604 00:30:39,950 --> 00:30:43,210 yeah, if you keep doing that, that's gonna happen. 605 00:30:43,450 --> 00:30:44,349 Let me just tell you, 606 00:30:44,569 --> 00:30:45,789 according to God's word, 607 00:30:46,329 --> 00:30:48,109 it's not leading in a good place. 608 00:30:48,950 --> 00:30:49,910 According to God's word, 609 00:30:49,910 --> 00:30:51,130 if you do this, 610 00:30:51,869 --> 00:30:55,450 it will lead somewhere good and strong. 611 00:30:55,650 --> 00:30:58,289 It's like God's word is very predictable. 612 00:30:58,609 --> 00:30:59,970 If we take him at his word, 613 00:31:00,329 --> 00:31:03,410 we can more or less forth tell 614 00:31:03,410 --> 00:31:05,250 what can or should happen. 615 00:31:05,710 --> 00:31:08,009 Now, you know, things happen in life. 616 00:31:08,390 --> 00:31:10,329 It might not be the way we thought or whatever, 617 00:31:10,670 --> 00:31:13,089 but we know God will always be glorified 618 00:31:13,089 --> 00:31:14,329 in all of it, right? 619 00:31:14,990 --> 00:31:17,990 Because, you know, God causes all things 620 00:31:18,549 --> 00:31:20,250 to work for the good for those 621 00:31:20,250 --> 00:31:23,849 who love him and are called according to his purpose. 622 00:31:24,490 --> 00:31:28,309 So he will lead it in the right direction 623 00:31:28,309 --> 00:31:30,029 because that's where he's bringing us. 624 00:31:30,329 --> 00:31:32,349 I heard Tony Hart spoke yesterday. 625 00:31:32,549 --> 00:31:35,250 He did an amazing job at the men's breakfast. 626 00:31:35,450 --> 00:31:36,650 Any of you guys were there. 627 00:31:37,950 --> 00:31:40,390 Maybe we'll start recording these things 628 00:31:40,390 --> 00:31:42,529 because man, it was a great, great message. 629 00:31:43,230 --> 00:31:45,329 But he gave this example of, 630 00:31:45,490 --> 00:31:46,450 you know, we make choices 631 00:31:46,450 --> 00:31:47,970 and we make decisions 632 00:31:47,970 --> 00:31:52,910 and yet God knows what he's going to do, right? 633 00:31:53,049 --> 00:31:54,269 He knows where he's leading us 634 00:31:54,269 --> 00:31:57,150 and he compared it to walking a dog, okay? 635 00:31:57,390 --> 00:32:01,789 So I know this might insult some of us, 636 00:32:01,789 --> 00:32:04,109 but I don't mind being compared to a dog, okay? 637 00:32:04,529 --> 00:32:06,869 So picture yourself the dog, right? 638 00:32:07,150 --> 00:32:08,950 God's the dog owner 639 00:32:08,950 --> 00:32:10,970 and he brings you out for a walk 640 00:32:10,970 --> 00:32:12,029 around the block, right? 641 00:32:12,029 --> 00:32:13,430 So he takes you out 642 00:32:13,430 --> 00:32:17,789 and as he's walking the dog, okay, 643 00:32:17,869 --> 00:32:19,049 the dog might go here 644 00:32:19,049 --> 00:32:21,130 and do his business on one fire hydrant 645 00:32:21,130 --> 00:32:23,009 and then he might walk a little further 646 00:32:23,009 --> 00:32:24,950 and he might do this on a stop sign 647 00:32:24,950 --> 00:32:26,710 and then he might walk around there 648 00:32:26,710 --> 00:32:29,609 and he might sniff a whole lot of somebody else's doo-doo. 649 00:32:30,009 --> 00:32:31,609 Maybe he might do a little doo-doo 650 00:32:31,609 --> 00:32:33,089 and then he might walk around, yeah. 651 00:32:33,549 --> 00:32:35,789 But all along, the owner knows 652 00:32:35,789 --> 00:32:37,569 we're going to walk around this block 653 00:32:38,029 --> 00:32:40,069 and we're going to walk around down that street 654 00:32:40,069 --> 00:32:41,509 and then we're going to turn around 655 00:32:41,509 --> 00:32:44,130 and we're going to end up at the same front door, okay? 656 00:32:44,470 --> 00:32:46,930 So this dog thinks he's making all these decisions, 657 00:32:47,130 --> 00:32:47,750 but guess what? 658 00:32:48,289 --> 00:32:49,609 We're going around the block, 659 00:32:50,309 --> 00:32:52,869 do your thing, do all this freedom you have, 660 00:32:52,950 --> 00:32:53,470 but guess what? 661 00:32:53,930 --> 00:32:55,430 We're bringing you back, you know? 662 00:32:55,730 --> 00:32:58,150 And I like that image, you know? 663 00:32:58,230 --> 00:32:59,349 It has a whole lot of holes 664 00:32:59,349 --> 00:33:01,450 and what about our self-will and all that stuff, 665 00:33:01,569 --> 00:33:05,730 but I like the image of me being led by God. 666 00:33:05,950 --> 00:33:07,670 Like, I can't mess it up. 667 00:33:07,769 --> 00:33:09,910 I can maybe stall some things, 668 00:33:09,910 --> 00:33:12,230 never live out some of the things 669 00:33:12,230 --> 00:33:15,349 he created me beforehand to do. 670 00:33:15,630 --> 00:33:18,269 Maybe, you know, we're going to miss out on some things, I think. 671 00:33:18,410 --> 00:33:19,390 You know, we hear his work with ship, 672 00:33:19,410 --> 00:33:21,250 creating Christ Jesus for good works, 673 00:33:21,450 --> 00:33:24,309 which God prepared in advance for us to walk in. 674 00:33:24,730 --> 00:33:26,490 Well, what about the ones we never walk in? 675 00:33:27,250 --> 00:33:30,130 You know, there might be things that we regret not doing, 676 00:33:30,430 --> 00:33:31,509 but when we get to heaven, 677 00:33:31,509 --> 00:33:33,029 I think that'll all be washed away 678 00:33:33,029 --> 00:33:34,750 with the fact we're there, right? 679 00:33:35,289 --> 00:33:38,809 But anyway, I like that idea of him leading us, 680 00:33:38,809 --> 00:33:40,650 but so prophecy, you know, 681 00:33:40,910 --> 00:33:43,349 he calls us to be his spokesman. 682 00:33:43,990 --> 00:33:45,170 So for the brevity of time, 683 00:33:45,190 --> 00:33:47,349 we're going to read on, but anyway. 684 00:33:49,089 --> 00:33:51,430 So verse two still. 685 00:33:52,490 --> 00:33:54,710 Whom he has appointed heir of all things 686 00:33:54,710 --> 00:33:57,289 through whom also he made the worlds, 687 00:33:58,210 --> 00:34:00,509 who being the brightness of his glory 688 00:34:00,509 --> 00:34:03,490 and the express image of his person 689 00:34:04,329 --> 00:34:06,430 and upholding all things 690 00:34:06,430 --> 00:34:09,909 by the word of his power. 691 00:34:10,369 --> 00:34:11,190 I love that. 692 00:34:11,670 --> 00:34:14,769 The Rhema of his dunamis, right? 693 00:34:15,389 --> 00:34:21,309 You know, the word in Greek for word, okay, 694 00:34:21,510 --> 00:34:23,090 is logos, right? 695 00:34:23,849 --> 00:34:25,449 And Rhema, right? 696 00:34:26,010 --> 00:34:29,070 And Rhema is the spoken, 697 00:34:29,530 --> 00:34:31,550 but the logos or logos, 698 00:34:32,230 --> 00:34:34,630 it's not only the spoken, 699 00:34:34,630 --> 00:34:36,449 but the idea behind it, 700 00:34:36,530 --> 00:34:38,510 the reasoning, the thoughts, 701 00:34:38,929 --> 00:34:41,670 the ideas behind it. 702 00:34:42,210 --> 00:34:44,150 And, you know, the Lord was already 703 00:34:44,150 --> 00:34:45,469 the idea of God 704 00:34:45,469 --> 00:34:47,050 before he actually was spoken 705 00:34:47,050 --> 00:34:48,429 into existence, right? 706 00:34:48,929 --> 00:34:50,590 And before he even created all things, 707 00:34:50,690 --> 00:34:51,510 he already knew it. 708 00:34:51,889 --> 00:34:54,349 He already had the blueprints in his mind, right? 709 00:34:55,010 --> 00:34:58,889 And so the Lord holds it all together 710 00:34:59,530 --> 00:35:01,170 by his word. 711 00:35:01,510 --> 00:35:02,230 Isn't that amazing? 712 00:35:02,230 --> 00:35:05,190 Like, you know, he sustains all of it. 713 00:35:05,510 --> 00:35:06,429 You know, the word pharaoh 714 00:35:07,230 --> 00:35:09,150 means like he carries it. 715 00:35:09,449 --> 00:35:11,869 So the Lord, he's the word of God, 716 00:35:12,030 --> 00:35:14,210 but he actually holds everything 717 00:35:14,849 --> 00:35:17,630 in its place until he's done, 718 00:35:17,989 --> 00:35:19,090 until the end of the ages, 719 00:35:19,269 --> 00:35:21,170 you know, the end of the heavens 720 00:35:21,170 --> 00:35:21,829 and the earth, 721 00:35:21,949 --> 00:35:23,289 and it will have a great meltdown 722 00:35:23,289 --> 00:35:24,329 we read in Peter. 723 00:35:25,050 --> 00:35:27,110 And so the Lord is literally 724 00:35:28,009 --> 00:35:30,730 holding it by his word. 725 00:35:30,969 --> 00:35:31,469 Isn't that amazing? 726 00:35:31,469 --> 00:35:32,429 Now, you stay there. 727 00:35:32,889 --> 00:35:33,909 All right, I'll be back. 728 00:35:34,369 --> 00:35:35,650 You know, imagine like Jake, 729 00:35:35,789 --> 00:35:38,630 when he talks to his hunting dog, Gunner, 730 00:35:39,190 --> 00:35:41,090 he says, he puts food down 731 00:35:41,090 --> 00:35:41,989 in front of him, you know, 732 00:35:42,110 --> 00:35:43,349 a training thing puts down food. 733 00:35:43,630 --> 00:35:45,889 He says, no, or whatever he says, 734 00:35:46,070 --> 00:35:47,550 stay or heal or something. 735 00:35:48,190 --> 00:35:49,989 And he just he walks away. 736 00:35:50,130 --> 00:35:51,070 He just does some things 737 00:35:51,070 --> 00:35:52,030 and the poor dog's like, 738 00:35:52,969 --> 00:35:54,050 no, he doesn't do that. 739 00:35:54,929 --> 00:35:55,710 Come on. 740 00:35:56,230 --> 00:35:56,690 And then finally, 741 00:35:56,750 --> 00:35:57,750 Jake will say something else. 742 00:35:57,909 --> 00:35:58,510 Like, go ahead. 743 00:35:58,510 --> 00:36:00,610 You know, but like, 744 00:36:00,989 --> 00:36:01,989 just that power. 745 00:36:02,190 --> 00:36:04,469 Well, Christ has the power 746 00:36:04,469 --> 00:36:07,449 over everything by his word. 747 00:36:07,730 --> 00:36:10,510 His word sustains it all. 748 00:36:10,710 --> 00:36:12,670 I mean, that's magnificence, isn't it? 749 00:36:13,030 --> 00:36:13,929 And we read that again 750 00:36:13,929 --> 00:36:15,690 in Colossians 117. 751 00:36:17,710 --> 00:36:19,530 And he is before all things 752 00:36:19,530 --> 00:36:22,969 and in him all things hold together. 753 00:36:23,090 --> 00:36:23,969 I think that's ESV, 754 00:36:24,550 --> 00:36:26,510 but he holds it all together. 755 00:36:26,510 --> 00:36:28,730 It's all contained by him. 756 00:36:29,269 --> 00:36:30,550 So this is who Jesus is. 757 00:36:30,949 --> 00:36:32,829 He holds it all together. 758 00:36:33,570 --> 00:36:35,329 You know, I just love this idea that 759 00:36:36,449 --> 00:36:38,130 he sustains all things. 760 00:36:38,530 --> 00:36:39,889 He created all things. 761 00:36:40,110 --> 00:36:42,429 He is the very word that created it. 762 00:36:42,710 --> 00:36:43,869 You know, I was trying to think 763 00:36:43,869 --> 00:36:46,230 of a comparison with this 764 00:36:46,230 --> 00:36:49,949 of wanting to know the one 765 00:36:49,949 --> 00:36:51,969 who is the author of everything. 766 00:36:52,449 --> 00:36:53,090 And all I could think 767 00:36:53,090 --> 00:36:53,929 of a couple of things, 768 00:36:54,010 --> 00:36:54,869 but one, I remember 769 00:36:54,869 --> 00:36:55,989 when I was going 770 00:36:55,989 --> 00:36:58,230 for my department of banking license 771 00:36:58,230 --> 00:36:59,010 in New Jersey 772 00:36:59,010 --> 00:37:00,409 and they're pretty tough, right? 773 00:37:01,289 --> 00:37:02,530 And I'm like, oh, you know, 774 00:37:02,789 --> 00:37:04,250 this is so much material. 775 00:37:04,489 --> 00:37:05,329 What do I need to learn? 776 00:37:05,469 --> 00:37:06,309 What don't I, you know, 777 00:37:06,650 --> 00:37:07,869 what's going to be on the test? 778 00:37:08,610 --> 00:37:10,849 And so I was like, 779 00:37:10,849 --> 00:37:12,969 having perpetual brain fog 780 00:37:12,969 --> 00:37:14,070 looking at all this stuff. 781 00:37:14,190 --> 00:37:14,429 And I'm like, 782 00:37:14,730 --> 00:37:16,789 so I heard about crash courses, right? 783 00:37:17,150 --> 00:37:18,050 And I'm like, that's what I need. 784 00:37:18,130 --> 00:37:19,230 I need a crash course, 785 00:37:19,550 --> 00:37:20,590 but will it really work? 786 00:37:20,690 --> 00:37:21,289 And then I learned 787 00:37:21,289 --> 00:37:24,489 about a crash course by Bob. 788 00:37:25,690 --> 00:37:27,909 Jaworski and he was this attorney 789 00:37:27,909 --> 00:37:29,130 that used to be 790 00:37:29,130 --> 00:37:32,409 the deputy of general attorney, 791 00:37:32,510 --> 00:37:33,869 of New Jersey. 792 00:37:34,409 --> 00:37:36,630 And he was one of the drafters 793 00:37:37,269 --> 00:37:39,230 of the banking regulations. 794 00:37:39,969 --> 00:37:40,630 So I'm like, 795 00:37:40,750 --> 00:37:42,070 I want to learn from him. 796 00:37:42,570 --> 00:37:42,789 Okay. 797 00:37:43,110 --> 00:37:44,429 He made the laws. 798 00:37:44,650 --> 00:37:45,989 He made the regulations. 799 00:37:46,530 --> 00:37:48,670 Like, maybe he'll tell me 800 00:37:48,670 --> 00:37:49,730 how to pass the test. 801 00:37:49,989 --> 00:37:50,269 I don't know. 802 00:37:50,409 --> 00:37:50,769 Maybe not. 803 00:37:51,110 --> 00:37:52,389 But at least I'll learn 804 00:37:52,389 --> 00:37:54,269 from the author, right? 805 00:37:54,269 --> 00:37:55,650 Learn from the one 806 00:37:55,650 --> 00:37:57,789 who actually came up with the ideas 807 00:37:57,789 --> 00:37:59,130 and drafted it. 808 00:37:59,210 --> 00:38:00,110 I'm telling you, 809 00:38:00,110 --> 00:38:02,610 it was great. 810 00:38:02,929 --> 00:38:03,449 Put it that way. 811 00:38:03,610 --> 00:38:05,309 I went, I learned from this guy 812 00:38:05,309 --> 00:38:07,630 and he even like gave you some hints. 813 00:38:07,869 --> 00:38:07,889 Yeah. 814 00:38:07,949 --> 00:38:09,429 Don't worry too much about this. 815 00:38:09,949 --> 00:38:10,909 Worry about that. 816 00:38:11,510 --> 00:38:12,929 You know, this is kind of this that 817 00:38:12,929 --> 00:38:15,309 and his instruction was brilliant. 818 00:38:15,449 --> 00:38:17,090 And I followed all of it. 819 00:38:17,190 --> 00:38:17,670 And guess what? 820 00:38:17,789 --> 00:38:20,150 I did tremendous on this banking test, right? 821 00:38:20,489 --> 00:38:22,610 Because I learned from the best. 822 00:38:22,610 --> 00:38:25,909 I learned from the author, right? 823 00:38:26,329 --> 00:38:27,489 And that's Jesus Christ. 824 00:38:27,849 --> 00:38:29,829 He's the author and finisher. 825 00:38:30,210 --> 00:38:31,650 He is before all things. 826 00:38:32,050 --> 00:38:33,610 He drafted everything. 827 00:38:33,929 --> 00:38:35,730 He's not only what you see. 828 00:38:35,909 --> 00:38:38,750 He's the idea behind what you see. 829 00:38:38,949 --> 00:38:40,969 He's the logos and he's the Rhema. 830 00:38:41,630 --> 00:38:43,110 He's everything, right? 831 00:38:43,650 --> 00:38:44,929 Everything he contains. 832 00:38:45,429 --> 00:38:47,530 So we, this is our Jesus Christ. 833 00:38:47,730 --> 00:38:50,489 The name above every other name. 834 00:38:50,489 --> 00:38:53,050 The name that we call upon to be saved. 835 00:38:53,429 --> 00:38:57,210 The name that we pray to the Father in Jesus name. 836 00:38:57,389 --> 00:38:58,590 You know, Jesus said, 837 00:38:58,670 --> 00:39:00,550 look, don't ask me for anything anymore. 838 00:39:01,250 --> 00:39:04,329 Ask the Father, but in my name. 839 00:39:04,809 --> 00:39:08,210 Like you're passing through me to get to the Father. 840 00:39:08,650 --> 00:39:09,769 Like when you pray to the Father, 841 00:39:09,909 --> 00:39:12,909 you say in Jesus name, may this be. 842 00:39:13,809 --> 00:39:16,869 And because you're praying in the Word of God, 843 00:39:17,070 --> 00:39:18,570 Jesus Christ, guess what? 844 00:39:18,570 --> 00:39:21,449 He's hearing you and he's responding 845 00:39:21,449 --> 00:39:24,010 to your petitions and your requests, right? 846 00:39:24,409 --> 00:39:26,449 Because we pray in Jesus's name. 847 00:39:26,869 --> 00:39:27,710 You know, like we were saying, 848 00:39:28,230 --> 00:39:30,210 shout Jesus to everything. 849 00:39:30,389 --> 00:39:31,710 The mountains, the valleys. 850 00:39:31,869 --> 00:39:34,489 You just shout Jesus to all of it. 851 00:39:34,550 --> 00:39:35,369 Because guess what? 852 00:39:35,809 --> 00:39:38,329 He is the answer to everything 853 00:39:38,329 --> 00:39:41,449 because he holds it all together. 854 00:39:43,250 --> 00:39:44,409 And so let's finish up. 855 00:39:45,110 --> 00:39:46,030 And then we're going to have communion. 856 00:39:46,990 --> 00:39:50,789 When he had by himself purged our sins, 857 00:39:51,090 --> 00:39:55,289 sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high, 858 00:39:55,610 --> 00:39:59,750 having become so much better than the angels. 859 00:39:59,769 --> 00:40:01,670 We're going to talk about angels next week. 860 00:40:02,309 --> 00:40:05,110 As he has by inheritance obtained 861 00:40:05,110 --> 00:40:08,909 a more excellent name than they. 862 00:40:09,670 --> 00:40:11,809 So there's no one like Jesus Christ. 863 00:40:12,110 --> 00:40:15,289 You know, there's apparently in the early church 864 00:40:15,289 --> 00:40:18,889 and even in the rabbinical past, 865 00:40:19,150 --> 00:40:20,789 there was a lot of mysticism, 866 00:40:20,849 --> 00:40:22,230 a lot of things with angels. 867 00:40:22,429 --> 00:40:24,010 We'll talk about that next week. 868 00:40:24,570 --> 00:40:26,949 But this author and the Holy Spirit 869 00:40:26,949 --> 00:40:30,170 is telling every reader that, 870 00:40:30,309 --> 00:40:34,289 no, no, no, Jesus has preeminence over everything. 871 00:40:34,909 --> 00:40:38,650 Every celestial being, every created being, 872 00:40:39,170 --> 00:40:42,489 all of it, Jesus Christ made it all. 873 00:40:42,489 --> 00:40:45,349 So as the worship team comes forward, 874 00:40:45,909 --> 00:40:48,170 we're going to prepare now for communion. 875 00:40:49,210 --> 00:40:50,789 And Dan's going to come forward. 876 00:40:50,889 --> 00:40:54,349 He's going to lead us in our communion today. 877 00:40:58,210 --> 00:41:01,150 Thanks for joining us at Lansdale Life Church 878 00:41:01,150 --> 00:41:03,650 as we praise God and discuss His word. 879 00:41:04,369 --> 00:41:07,409 Don't forget to join us for Worship Live Sunday mornings 880 00:41:07,409 --> 00:41:09,829 at 10 a.m. Eastern on YouTube. 881 00:41:09,829 --> 00:41:12,949 Be blessed and have a great day!