May 1, 2005
Scripture:
Hebrews 13:15, Psalm 22:22b – may we offer a sacrifice of praise to Him.
Can we just read the last 4 verses in the book of Luke; Luke 24:50-53,and he [Jesus] led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. A simple thought came before me. The first time singing is mentioned in the Bible is in Exodus 15; the children of Israel had just been redeemed, saved from the Egyptians as they passed through the Red Sea. This is somewhat like us, as the Lord’s people, standing on the resurrection side of the cross. We are, as a result of His work, a praising people. The Red sea is a type of death. It’s antitype is the Lord going into the waters of death, and rising from His tomb. His people are here, worshipping and praising. The disciples probably didn’t enter into as much as we did this morning, but still we see how the resurrection leads to worship in the assembly, as we think of our portion with Him. This morning, we have felt a foretaste of our eternal portion.
EG Hymn 139 – “What can wash away my sin?” Prayer Numbers 21:1-9 John 3:14 V. 4, the way – They were discouraged in the way God was leading them. V. 5, loatheth – Meaning dislike, they didn’t like the manna that God had provided for them. When Adam sinned, all humanity got bitten by sin, just like the children of Israel got bitten by the serpents. Isaiah 24:22 Galatians 5:22,23 Romans 8:6 Mankind has been bitten by a sin nature, and now produces sins, the fruit of the sin nature. If we have a new nature, we are producing the fruit of the spirit. However, it is possible to live carnally-minded, even though we have a new nature.
Hebrews 3: 1-4 • Hebrews brings the Lord before us in His humanity and His divinity. • V. 2, Who was faithful (Darby, Who is) – In all Jesus did on the earth, He was faithful to God. But it didn’t stop there, He still is faithful. • God appointed Jesus as our Apostle and High Priest; Jesus is faithful to Him that appointed Him. This is an example to us. Wouldn’t it be something if we got to heaven and God said, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant,”! • Here, the Lord’s faithfulness is compared with Moses’ faithfulness. • House – here, house is speaking of the house of Israel, Jacob’s household, his ancestors and descendants. But it is also speaking about God’s house. If I look up God’s house in a dictionary, it will say it is a church. But in scripture, it doesn’t say that. At Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came down and indwelt the believers, they were united into one body. Christ got a body, and God got a house. Moses was faithful all through the wilderness. • Faithfulness is costly, but it is profitable. EG hymn 180 – “Standing by a purpose true,” Prayer