Maintain the course of Faith! Series, Hebrews 1:1-9
Everyone has struggles. If you say you don’t have any struggles at all, you better check your pulse. There are just too many things that fight to possess our souls. And this is no different with those believers who lived in the 1st century. The early Jewish Christians have had many struggles, too. They wanted to go back to their rites and rituals to escape persecution. The author laboured to encourage the Jewish Christians to maintain the course of their faith. He shared several important thoughts from which we can derive some practical lessons from.
1. Jesus is the Final Word of God.
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” Hebrews 1:1-2
· In the Old Testament, God revealed himself, His purposes, and plans through the prophets.
· Prophets received dreams, visions, and still voices from God. God also revealed his nature through miracles and predictions.
· But when Jesus came into the world, the promised of a Son was fulfilled, the invisible God became visible, and the God who was silent for about 400 years spoke again.
Lesson: Admire the heroes of faith, but don’t adore them.
2. Jesus enjoys the highest place with God.
“8 But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” Hebrews 1:8-9.
· God declared the deity of Jesus.
· God crowned Jesus as eternal King.
· God praised Jesus for His righteousness and battle against wickedness.
“2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Hebrews 1:2-3, NKJV.
Jesus is:
· First in rank, first in all things,
· the Creator of time and ages,
· the brightness of God,
· the exact character of God,
· the preserver of the universe and your life,
· the purifier of human souls,
· the co-equal of God.
Lesson: Don’t be afraid to call upon the name of Jesus and don’t use His name in vain. Put him in the highest pedestal and give Him your highest regard.
3. Jesus desires to sit on our throne.
“4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Hebrews 1:4, NKJV.
· Jesus is superior to the angels.
· Sits before the angels and worshipped by the angels.
· Heaven has a throne as wells as every heart as a throne.
· Heaven is guarded by angels, while the human heart is guarded by philosophies, reasons, logics, worldviews, self-awareness, and experiences.
Lesson: Vacate your throne and let Jesus sit there. If He lives in you, you will live for Him. It’s a life for life exchange.