July 24, 2005
Scripture:
Scripture:
First Thessalonians 5; we were singing about the path of the Lord as He went to the cross. Our brother read in Psalm 16; he showed us that the sequel to the path of death is the path of resurrection. If we take those precious thoughts and apply them to what was sung, we find another sequel. Not only did the Lord die and rise again, but God sees us as in Him, having died and risen with Christ. “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 9). Now verse 10 is what I had in mind; “Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.” That little verse holds so much. It’s not our desire, but His idea. “Death and judgement are behind us, grace and glory are before.” Wondrous is this truth! May we live in the joy of it.
EG Hymn 366 – We are little children, very young indeed, Prayer Hebrews 4:16 • We all need help at times. Our Father is always there to help us, no matter the time or the problem. • 2 Chronicles 14:1 & 2 – Asa’s reign over Judah began and for 10 years there was peace because he obeyed God. • Vv. 8 & 9 – There was going to be a battle against Ethiopia. Asa gathered 300,000 men from Judah and 280,000 from Benjamin; a total of 580,000 men. But Zerah, the Ethiopian, had 1,000,000 men, plus 300 chariots. • Vv. 10–12 – Asa knew where to turn. He prayed to God for help. V. 12 says that God, not Asa, smote the Ethiopians. • Psalm 121:1 & 2 • Asa had a big problem, and God helped him. Will God help us in small problems? One time Mr. Burgess was delivering a large door, 8 x 7½ feet, to a customer as a favour. It was in a part of Toronto that had narrow streets and where the houses were up from the road; you needed to go up stairs to get to the houses. When he arrived, he found the street was lined with cars; there was almost nowhere to park. He decided to stop looking for the house and just find a place to park. He found a parking spot in front of house 132; he was going to 130, so he was pretty much where he needed to be. As he waited for the customer to come out, he asked the Lord to help them move the door safely. The man came out, and was surprised to see him alone. The man only had a friend with him, so the 3 of them would have to do it alone. The man went back to get his friend and a dolly, so Mr. Burgess continued to ask the Lord for help. After they got it off the truck and onto the dolly, it was apparent that the 3 of them would not be able to get it up the stairs they now faced. Then the man’s elderly neighbour came out and walked by. Then he turned around and asked, “Do you need some help there?” They certainly did, but he didn’t seem to be the right man to help. He went on, “I have two young guys who just finished tearing down a shed for me; they could probably help you.” With the help of the two other men, they were able to get the door up the steps and around to the back of the man’s house. The Lord is able and willing to help us, even in small things.
Hebrews: 5:1–14 • This chapter starts with some things about high Priest and ends with the peril of dull hearing. • V. 1: “taken from among men” – these are priests that were taken from the Aaronic order. In the book of Numbers, Moses numbered the people of Israel, and then gave them all jobs. Each tribe had a job. God sometimes looked at the Israelites in their tribes. But He also looked at them by their jobs; instead of seeing 12 tribes, God saw 3 jobs. 1) The Priests—these people worked in the sanctuary. They were the closest to God. The High Priest was among them. 2) The Levites—these people did any service related to the tabernacle. 3) The Warriors—these people were the men 30 years old and upward; they did any fighting necessary. There were few priests; there were more Levites; there were piles of warriors. This is a picture of how God sees us today. There are usually the fewest people who will offer sacrifices of praise, etc. There are a few more people who will work for the Lord. But if there needs to be a battle, many people are willing to fight. Here in Hebrews, it is the High Priest’s job that is being highlighted as a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. Aaron didn’t take his job as High Priest, God chose him. Korah was judged because he despised God’s choice. By the consequence, we can see the seriousness of the High Priest’s job. • Korah tried to get up to the level of the High Priest, and God wasn’t happy. People ordaining people today are not doing right. All Christians have the privilege of being priests, and no one person should do the job of a priest in front of a congregation for the congregation. No minister should think that he can do more than a “regular Christian” can. “And hath made us [all] kings and priests [or ‘a kingdom of priests’] unto God” (Revelation 1:6). Paul didn’t like the idea of man-ordained ministers; in Galatians 1:1 he says, “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.)” • Aaron was taken from men and went through the Consecration of the Priest before becoming the High Priest. This was a responsibility in the Jewish system. Today people try to copy that system of having one man between God and the congregation. God made that for their day and it was good, but in Hebrews, we’ll see that it’s not for today. EG Hymn 246 – Jesus who lives above the sky Prayer