Lesson #3 - Hebrews Chapter 3 - The Apostle of our Confession

We have been called to consider Jesus the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. Considering His preeminence corrects our perceptions of life; correct perceptions allow us to walk in faith in our High Priest.

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Hebrews Chapter 3 The Apostle of Our Confession

Hebrews 3:1  Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,

“Therefore” because of the truths we found in Hebrews 1 and 2 the truths of Hebrews 3 are possible.  Jesus is the exalted One, Jesus is the High Priest we can see today!  The Holy Spirit identified us as the “holy brethren” and “partakers of the heavenly calling”.  We must see ourselves after heavens view.  From the awareness of who we are in Christ we must consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. Jesus is indeed our Apostle!  He is the One sent to us and declare the goodness of the Father.  Jesus is indeed our High Priest ever working our behalf!  Jesus is watching our confession!  It is the confession that the whole kingdom of God is built upon!  Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God!  Consider Jesus!

1 Peter 2:25  For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

What a beautiful truth, Jesus is the Shepherd and Overseer of our soul.  This is the terms of the covenant being unveiled by the precious word of God.  Consider Jesus!

2 Thessalonians 3:3  But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

Here another truth about Jesus’ faithfulness is unveiled!  Jesus will establish us and guard us from the evil one!  Consider Jesus!

Jude 1:24  Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

Jesus is able to keep us from stumbling and present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.  This is not only a revelation of how our Apostle and High Priest takes care of us, it also shows how He does it with exceeding joy.  It is the pleasure of Jesus to work on our behalf!  Yes, consider Jesus!

Hebrews 3:1  Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,  2  who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house.  3  For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house.  4  For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God.  5  And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward,

The good news only builds!  Jesus Christ is faithful in His house!  Moses was and is worthy of honor because he was faithful over his house as a servant!  However Jesus is the one who built the house and He is worthy of greater honor.  Moses  as a servant was a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward.  What was spoken afterwards is Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Moses as a servant was a pattern and shadow of what was to come! 

Hebrews 3:6  but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

Jesus Christ is faithful as a Son over His house.  Notice Moses was faithful as a servant, Jesus is faithful as a Son over His own house!  We are members of that house if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.  What are we holding fast to?  Our consideration is of Jesus as the Apostle and High Priest of our confession! 

Colossians 1:20  and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.  21  And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled  22  in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight;  23  if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul , became a minister. 

How Jesus present us holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight is almost to good to be true.  However, it is absolutely true!  We can not ignore the if presented in this truth!  … if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast.  Your confession of faith in Jesus is the most valuable possession you have! 

1 John 5:4  For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith.  5  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

The object of your faith needs to ever be in Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Yes, indeed consider the Apostle and High Priest of your confession!  Not faith in your faith but faith in your Apostle and High Priest!  One Man’s obedience makes many righteous!

Ephesians 2:19  Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

It time for the believer to arise and know who they are.  Fellow citizens in heaven with the saints.  Members of the household of God.  The members of the house have rights and privileges visitors and strangers will never know.  

John 8:35  "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.  36  "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Consider Jesus' words.  A slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.  Do you believe in the strength and goodness of this word?  If Jesus makes you free you are free indeed!

Hebrews 3:7  Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you will hear His voice,  8  Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness,  9  Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years.  10  Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, 'They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.‘  11  So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.'“

(Psalm 95:7-11)

Hearing the voice of Jesus is the most important thing we can do!  The children of Israel did not want to hear His voice and they never entered into His rest.

Psalms 103:7  He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel .

Moses knew God’s ways the children of Israel only knew of His acts.  The difference is Moses heard His voice and children of Israel begged not to hear His voice because of their fear.

John 10:27  "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  28  "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

What a glorious truth; we the sheep know His voice and we follow Him!  Jesus our Apostle and High Priest of our confession gives us eternal life.  Jesus said “they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.  Consider Christ Jesus!

Hebrews 3:12  Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;  13  but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.  14  For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,

The warning is real and repeated over and over hold fast our confession and confidence in Jesus Christ to the end.  Exhort one another to keep on believing!

Matthew 24:13  "But he who endures to the end shall be saved.  14  "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Preeminence

Jesus' own words “he who endures to the end shall be saved!  The gospel of the good news that Jesus is the Apostle and High Priest of our confession needs preached!

Hebrews 3:15  while it is said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.“  16  For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt , led by Moses?  17  Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness?  18  And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey?  19  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Those that came out of Egypt and were promised the land flowing with milk and honey never entered in because of their unbelief.  The word of truth must be mixed with faith to bring fruit bearing results.

John 3:35  "The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.  36  "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

What you believe about Jesus determines your destiny both in this life and in the life to come.  Faith in the Apostle and High Priest of our confession yields the desired results.  We can partake of the promises here and now with our eyes and hearts upon eternity.

Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

This covenant of grace and truth is operated by faith.  The just shall live by faith.  May you ever consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.  He will keep us if we will but keep the object of our faith ever in Him.  We are more than conquerors!

Lesson 2 - Hebrews chapter 2

The terms of the new covenant are revealed in the book of Hebrews. Chapter 2 theme is "We see Jesus"

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Hebrews 2

We See Jesus!

Hebrews 2:1  Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.  2  For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward,  3  how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,  4  God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

What is it that we must give the more earnest heed to?  The therefore points to the exalted Christ.  We must hear Him!  Hebrews is a building block book.  Truths are carefully laid and built upon.  If you miss the foundational truths you are open for error of doctrine.  We must give earnest heed to this great salvation that first began to be spoken by the Lord.  God the Father bore witness to Jesus' ministry with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit!  The law came through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  We must heed the Son!

Acts 10:36  "The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ; He is Lord of all;  37  "that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:  38  "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. … 43  "To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins."

Jesus Christ is Lord of all!  The good news is found in Jesus Christ alone.  It is JESUS CHRIST that the prophets and the law witness to!  Whoever believes in Jesus will receive remission of sins!  This is the message we must give more earnest heed to!

Hebrews 2:5  For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels.  6  But one testified in a certain place, saying: "What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him?  7  You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands.  8  You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. (Psalm 8:4-6)

The Holy Spirit is quoting from Psalm 8:4-6 here in this passage.  Jesus was set over the works of God’s hands.  All things are in subjection under his feet.  God left nothing that is not put under Jesus; however we do not yet see all things put under him. 

Matthew 28:18  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

Jesus is the One who holds all authority in heaven and on earth!

Colossians 1:18  And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.  19  For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,  20  and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

Jesus has preeminence!  If you have a list 1 through 10 Jesus preeminence is not number 1.  Jesus is the center.  Number 1 how does Jesus want me to do this?  Number 2, how does Jesus what me to do this.  When Jesus becomes the center of all our decision making we will walk in the victory He has provided.

Hebrews 2:9  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

Verse 8 ended with we do not see all thing under His feet.  Verse 9 begins with “BUT WE SEE JESUS’ Turn your eyes upon Jesus.  There may be some issues and circumstances that  appear not under our feet.  You are given a choice!  Do we look at our circumstances and complain and murmur or do we look upon the face of Jesus and praise Him that all things are under His feet?  Looking upon Jesus is the lifestyle of faith God has called us to live out!  By the grace of God Jesus has tasted death for everyone.

Acts 4:10  "let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.  11  "This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.‘  12  "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

Peter denied Jesus three times.  Jesus prayed for Peter that his faith would fail not.  Here in Acts 4 Peter is declaring Jesus to the very ones who nailed Jesus to the cross.  Peter declared Jesus to be the chief corner stone which was rejected by the Jews as a whole.  However, there is salvation in no other.  Jesus alone is Healer and Savior and there is no other name!

Hebrews 2:10  For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.  11  For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,

Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, was make perfect through sufferings.  The suffering appeased the Father to such a degree that it brought us sanctification!  His pain was our gain to such a degree Jesus is not ashamed to call us brethren.  Chew on that and give heed to it!

Ephesians 5:30  For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.  31  "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.“  32  This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

The believers are flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone.  It is true to such a degree we have been made one with Him.  He is our husbandman we are His bride.  Put it in your mouth “I am one with Jesus”.  It is the heart of Jesus; get in agreement with Him.

1 Corinthians 12:12  For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.  13  For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body; whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

There is but one body of Christ.  John the beloved declared whosoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God.  A few verses later John declared whoever believes in the Son of God is born of God.  This is the gospel we must give more earnest heed to!  The Holy Spirit convicts unbelievers of sin; the Holy Spirit convicts believers of righteousness, and the Holy Spirit convinces all that the devil has been judged already!

Hebrews 2:12  saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.“

The curtains of heaven are open!  Jesus will declare the Father to us!  In that day Jesus will sing the praises to the Father.  This is one song service I don’t want to miss.

Psalm 22:22  I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.

Here is an awesome truth the prophetic confirming the prophetic.  Just as we have seen Jesus fulfill the prophetic of many old testament passages this is one that is still to come.

Hebrews 2:13  And again: "I will put My trust in Him." And again: "Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.“

What a day it will be when Jesus presents us to the Father by name!

Matthew 10:32  "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.  33  "But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Isaiah 8:18  Here am I and the children whom the LORD has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel From the LORD of hosts, Who dwells in Mount Zion .

Give earnest heed to the truth that one day Jesus will confess you before the Father!  We are in such a strong awesome covenant with Almighty God!

Hebrews 2:14  Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

Through Jesus Christ’s death the power of the devil has been destroyed! …more earnest heed!

Revelation 1:18  "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

Jesus is alive forever more!  Jesus now has the keys to hell and death!

Colossians 2:15  Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Jesus has all authority and power.  He disarmed the enemy, all principalities and powers have been made a public spectacle, by the triumph of Jesus!  Your victory is already one turn your eyes upon Jesus!  Give the more earnest heed to the gospel; quit trusting in the circumstances that surround you!

1 John 3:8  He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 4:4  You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Jesus destroyed the works of the devil; Jesus lives in you!  You have overcome the enemy because greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world.  Give the more earnest heed!

Hebrews 2:15  and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.  16  For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.  17  Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  18  For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Give the more earnest heed!  Jesus destroyed the work of the devil to set you free from every bondage that sin gives birth to!  He robed Himself in flesh to become like us!  Jesus was obedient even to the death of the cross.  Thereby he has become our merciful and faithful High Priest; He is eternally our propitiation!  The Gospel is that Jesus died for our sins!  When we repent and surrender to Him we become His children!  Jesus is the one who comes to our aid, yes even in our greatest failures and weaknesses! 

Lesson 1 - Hebrews chapter 1

Hebrews brings us a great understanding of how to live in the new covenant. Hebrews exalts Jesus as the Son of God in chapter 1. Following is one revelation after another about Jesus and how He makes us partakers in the covenant of grace and truth.

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Hebrews chapter 1: JESUS EXALTED

Hebrews 1:1  God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the

fathers by the prophets,  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;

Hebrews is written to the Jewish believer;  Hebrews exalts Jesus.  The Father has chosen to speak to us through His Son Jesus Christ.  Jesus' words are Spirit and life!

Luke 9:28  Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.  29  As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.  30  And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah,  31  who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.  32  But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him.  33  Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"; not knowing what he said.  34  While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud.  35  And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!"

Peter, John, and James were witnesses to this miraculous event.  Moses and Elijah appeared speaking with Jesus about Him going to the cross.  Peter got all excited and was ready to build a temple for each Moses, Elijah, and Jesus!  The Father quickly intervened with a cloud of glory and spoke.  “This is My beloved Son, Hear Him!”  

Deuteronomy 18:15  "The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear,

Moses testified that Jesus was coming and it was imperative to hear Him!

John 1:16  And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.  17  For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Moses prophesied of the day when Jesus would come!  John the beloved penned we now receive exclusively through the grace and truth found in Jesus Christ.

Luke 16:16  "The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.

Jesus' own words show God’s division in time!  The law and the prophets were until John the Baptist.  There was a changing of the guard, if you will!  Jesus came with the kingdom of God !  There is one exclusive way into the kingdom it is through Jesus and there is no other way!  Hear the voice of Jesus!  John the Baptist was the greatest prophet; yet the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist.

Galatians 4:4  But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,  5  to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  6  And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!“  7  Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Romans 8:15  For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father.“  16  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,  17  and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Jesus came and not only made us heirs but joint heirs with Him!  Jesus indeed is the high exalted one!  Oh that we would grasp the greatness of God and understand the benefits of hearing the Son.  Jesus' words are Spirit and they are life!

Hebrews 1:3  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, 4  having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Jesus is the brightness of the Father's glory; He is the expressed image of the Father.  Jesus upholds all things by the word of His power!  If you are going to give an ear to hear, would you not chose to give ear to the most powerful word you can find.  That would be the words of Jesus!  Hear Him!  Walk in the greatness of the revelation of His Word!  After Jesus Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high!  Jesus exalted better than the angels, has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they!  Jesus is the chosen One and there is no other One!

John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2  He was in the beginning with God.  3  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  4  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

What a revelation of Jesus!  Without a revelation of Jesus there is no salvation!  In Jesus alone is life and that life is the light of men!

Colossians 1:15  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  16  For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.  17  And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 

Does this passage parallel with Hebrews 1?  Yes, indeed Jesus is the image of the invisible God!  All things were created through Him and for Him.  Take it personal, you were created through Him and For Him!  Say it, “ I was created through Jesus and for Jesus!”  In Him all things consist!  He is Lord of all!   

John 1:29  The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Jesus, by Himself, purged us from our sins!  He fulfilled the truth that John the Baptist prophesied The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  Jesus did it!

Philippians 2:9  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,  10  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,  11  and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The Father exalted Jesus’ name above every name!  The name of JESUS is precious, holy, sacred, hollowed, blessed, sanctified, and consecrated;  there is no other name for salvation, healing, provision, and wholeness!  That is why the enemy is always busy trying to reduce Jesus' name to a curse word!  However, saints of God can hold the name of Jesus high!  Just to breathe the name of Jesus can turn everything around!

Hebrews 1:5  For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You"? And again: "I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son"?

Psalm 2:7  "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.

Jesus is the fulfillment of prophesy over and over again!  Jesus is the only begotten of the Father!  The Father Himself exalted the Son and His name giving Him preeminence above all! 

1 Chronicles 17:12  "He shall build Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.  13  "I will be his Father, and he shall be My son; and I will not take My mercy away from him, as I took it from him who was before you.

Again prophetic fulfillment found Jesus Christ alone!

Hebrews 1:6  But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him."

Luke 2:10  Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  11  "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  12  "And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.“  13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:  14  "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!“  15  So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."

Hebrews 1:6 show the command of the Father for the angels of God to worship Him.  It show that Jesus is God!  At Christ birth we find the angels of God exalting Him!

Hebrews 1:7  And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire."

Psalm 104:4  Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.

There is a heavenly host kept in reserve for the time of the kingdom of God .  The Father has put angels on assignment for the furtherance of the kingdom of God !

Hebrews 1:8  But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions."

Psalm 45:6  Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.  7  You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.

Hebrews once again showing Jesus fulfillment of the prophetic.  Do not miss the kingdom of God is a scepter of righteousness.  Not man’s devising of righteousness, or the righteousness of the law but the righteousness found exclusively in Jesus Christ our Lord!  The character of Jesus is a complete reflection of God’s character loving righteousness and hating wickedness.  Jesus has been anointed with the oil of gladness!  The kingdom of God is righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost!

Hebrews 1:10  And: "You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 11  They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment;  12  Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail."

Psalm 102:25  Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.  26  They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed.  27  But You are the same, And Your years will have no end.

So many have fallen to worship creation instead of the Creator!  Yet the Father has made it clear the enduring and the eternal is found exclusively in Jesus; all else will perish!

Hebrews 1:13  But to which of the angels has He ever said: "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"?

Psalm 110:1  The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."

Prophetic fulfillment is so great here in Hebrews chapter 1.  This also introduces the theme found in chapter 2, WE SEE JESUS!

1 Corinthians 15:24  Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.  25  For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.  26  The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.

Jesus is reigning and we are joint heir with Him.  This is the hour of living by faith in Jesus Christ!  There is the blessed hope that the last enemy destroyed is death.  Those who have faith in Christ will make an exchange the mortal for immortality!

Hebrews 1:14  Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

Psalm 34:7  The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. 

Psalm 91:11  For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. 12  In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

Hebrews 12:22  But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem , to an innumerable company of angels, 

Hebrews 13:2  Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.

God indeed has put His angels on assignment for those who will inherit salvation.  We have not been  called to worship the angels or even been told to command the angels.  However, we have been given the insight that God commands the angels on our behalf!

The Fruit of the Spirit - 9 Self-Control or Temperance

The fruit of the Spirit is ... temperance. God has made the deposit in us; we have all that we need to live a life of victory. If any man be in Christ...

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Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

The fruit of the Spirit is self-control or temperance.  This is not self, self-control.  It is the fruit of the Spirit; it is living  under the Spirit’s control.

Galatians 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

The heart beat of Galatians is learning to live in the liberty that Christ provided; the command is do not be entangled again…  Walking in the Spirit is a privilege available to every true believer; your liberty is on the inside of you already.  Remember, Christ in me the hope of glory. 

Galatians 5:16  I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  17  For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.  18  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  19  Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,  20  idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,  21  envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  23  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.  24  And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

For 9 weeks we have looked at walking in the Spirit or walking in the flesh.  It is of the utmost importance for every believer to understand if you are Christ’s you have crucified the flesh with its passions and  desires.  Romans 6:11 tells the believer to reckon themselves dead to sin and alive unto God.  Like Jesus died to sin once and is now alive unto God, we need to acknowledge what Jesus Christ has done in us!  Some struggle with sin because their tradition has taught the they are a sinner.  If any man be in Christ he is a new creation… live in the truth.

SELF-CONTROL OR KJV TEMPERANCE

G1466. egkrateia, eng-krat'-i-ah; from G1468; self-control (espec. continence):--temperance.

I like the word continence and temperance; under the control of the Spirit.

Acts 24:24  And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.  25  Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you."

Felix was an ungodly man who lived with no self control.  His wife Drusilla came through adultery and she left her husband to marry Felix.  Although govern of the land Felix had a fragile political wire to walk.  He was appointed by Rome but many factions were under his authority; because his wife was Jewish he had done many favors for the Jewish people.  When Paul was preaching self-control it was at his own peril.  Clearly the apostle Paul preached faith in Jesus Christ is the way to righteousness and self-control.  Christ in you is the way to yield to the fruit of the Spirit temperance.

2 Peter 1:3  as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,  4  by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.  5  But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,  6  to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,  7  to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 

The fruit of the Spirit is not something we have to find or try to develop in ourself or by our own strength.  God’s divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness; it comes through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.  God’s heart beat is for every believer to walk in His exceedingly great and precious promises; God’s desire is for every believer to be partakers of the divine nature.  Your salvation has brought you the escape from the corruption that is in the world.

Notice verse 5 giving all diligence!  Walk in the Spirit requires diligence; it will not happen by accident or by osmosis.  God has put all that is necessary in you; but you must add or nurture that which is within you.  God calls us to nurture our faith, our virtue, our knowledge, our temperance, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.  These are characteristics of the Spirit that are in us; we are called to add, nurture, stir up what God has deposited into us. Speak in agreement with God’s word that it is in you.

2 Peter 1:8  For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  9  For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.  10  Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;  11  for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

If you lay hold of it and make it yours to an abounding measure, you will not be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The word is blunt, he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness.  This one has put out of mind the things that Jesus Christ has done for them.    Verse 10 and 11 brings us a guarantee.  If we will be even more diligent to make our call and election sure we will never stumble. Awesome!  An abundant entrance will be supplied to you into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  Yes the fruit of the Spirit is self-control.

Ephesians 4:22  that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,  23  and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,  24  and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Put off, be renewed, and put on!  Put off the old man and recognize yourself dead indeed to sin.  be renewed in the spirit of your mind.   Believe what God has said about you!  Put on the new man.  Every believer has been made a new creation in Christ Jesus.  According to God, this new creation was made in true righteousness and holiness.  The characteristics of the Spirit are in you because that is how God made you when you were born again.  Put on the new man and live.

Galatians 2:20  "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

This passage is a reflection of every one who has truly been born again.

Colossians 1:26  the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.  27  To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.  28  Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

The mystery from the beginning of the ages is the will of the Father for every believer,  “Christ in you, the hope of Glory”.  The presenting of every man perfect in Christ Jesus requires surrendering to the teaching and wisdom of God found exclusively in grace.

John 15:1  "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  2  "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  3  "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.  4  "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  5  "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  6  "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.  7  "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  8  "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.  9  "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.

The victory is found in the abiding!  Abide in the vine, abide in His word, abide in His love and you will be fruitful and your desires will be fulfilled by God Himself.  Hear the call of God come and walk in the Spirit; you will bear all the fruit of the Spirit.  Victory is yours believer!!

The Fruit of the Spirit - - 8 Gentleness - Meekness

Gentleness or meekness is one of the secret weapons of the kingdom of God. If we will yield to meekness we can win the offended, wounded, and ones ensnared by the enemy.

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Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

The fruit of the Spirit is gentleness- meekness.

Galatians 5:16  I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  17  For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.  18  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  19  Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,  20  idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,  21  envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  23  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.  24  And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Those who belong to Christ have already crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  One who has not done this has not been born again.  1 John 4:15 makes it clear!  Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.  Because of this abiding every believer will bear the fruit of the Spirit; it is not the work of man or an upgrade of the flesh.  These are the characteristics of the Spirit and they will flow through all who live in the Spirit.  When one is walking in intimacy with God the fruit of the Spirit will be the overflow of the relationship.

GENTLENESS OR KJV MEEKNESS:

G4236. praiotes, prah-ot'-ace; from G4235; gentleness; by impl. humility:--meekness.

Galatians 6:1  Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

Gentleness or meekness is a secret weapon of the kingdom of God.  Yielding to meekness has the power to restore the broken and those who have fallen.  A spirit of meekness has the power to win over the offended, and to warm the cold heart of the fallen.  Walking in humility can breakdown the walls built up by the weary, broken, and wounded hearts.

Ephesians 4:1  I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,  2  with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,  3  endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Walking worthy of the calling requires us to walk with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.  Truth spoken in pride can do as much damage as the evil that caused the offense; truth spoken with meekness can remove poison from the wound and allow healing and restoration to flow.

2 Timothy 2:24  And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,  25  in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,  26  and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Correction spoken gently and in humility can break the snare of the enemy over the weak.  Meekness lived out can bring those in opposition into repentance.  Gentleness or meekness is the fruit of the Spirit.

1 Timothy 6:6  Now godliness with contentment is great gain.  7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  8  And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.  9  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.  10  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.  11  But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

Godliness with contentment is great gain.  Walking in the Spirit in an intentional action on the believers part.  We flee the evil and the foolishness and then we make pursuit of righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.  The believer is called to pursue being lead by the Spirit.

Titus 3:1  Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,  2  to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.

The destiny of God will be fulfilled as we pursue walking in the Spirit.  Yes, walking in meekness will bring glory to God before men.

Romans 6:22  But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

Because we belong to God we have our fruit to holiness.  Notice holiness in not the root, it is the fruit of walking as a child of God.

James 3:17  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 

We are called to walk in wisdom from above; notice how the wisdom from above has the same characteristics as the fruit of the Spirit.  Pure is the wisdom from above!  It is always peaceable and gentle.  God has put this stuff in us!  Willing to yield, perhaps even when we are right.  Yield with meekness and humility; it not the way of the flesh.  However we are newly created beings and we have all that we need to be full of mercy and good fruits.

Matthew 11:28  "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29  "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  30  "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

The ultimate gentle one is Jesus!  He has opened the door and declared come to me you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.  Jesus' intent is for us to walk in rest.  Then He strengthens the invitation learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart.  There is a rest that come by coming to Him; there is the greater rest by coming yoking up with Him.  Humbling ourselves to learn at His feet.  That is where we find rest for our souls.  The fruit of the spirit is meekness!