...by Brother Stephen Kong, in Richmond, Virginia, on
Monday night, April the 10th, 1972.
...to sweep
over my soul, sweet spirit, sweep over
my soul.
My rest is complete, as I sit at
His feet, sweet spirit, sweep over my soul.
We are very thankful to the Lord that
we may be together again this evening.
During the past two sessions, we were fellowshipping
together something from the Book of Hebrews.
The Book of Hebrews has a very urgent
and definite message for us today.
We are living in a time of great
shaking.
I look at the paper just a few
hours ago, and there was an earthquake in
Iran.
But you know, we are living in the
days of great shaking.
Not just these physical shakings, earthquakes.
But we find that as the day of
the return of our Lord is imminent, God
will shake and allow things to shake.
All that can be shaken away.
So that the kingdom that cannot be shaken
may be introduced.
So in Christianity today, in our Christian life,
you find there is great shaking.
Until there is nothing left but what is
real.
There is nothing left but what is of
God's.
So we mentioned before that Christianity is not
things.
Christianity is Christ.
It is not just a collection of things.
Even things that come from God.
Even things that come from God will be
tested, will be shaken.
Until we find that Christ is all things
to us.
Not things, but Christ.
He has to be all things to us.
He is not only our Savior, He is
our salvation.
He is not only our justifier, He is
our justification.
He is not only our sanctifier, He is
our sanctification.
He is not only our Redeemer, He is
our redemption.
He not only gives us, shows us the
way, He is the way.
He not only teaches us the truth, He
is the truth.
He not only gives us life, He is
the life.
He will not only resurrect us, He is
the resurrection.
He is not only the Lord who heals,
He is the healing.
You will find that more and more, God
is going to shake all things in order
that Christ may bring these things to us.
Christianity is not of things, Christianity is a
person.
A living person, our Lord Jesus Christ.
So the message of Hebrews is the finality
of Christ.
Christ is the final, the final word.
The final form, if I may say very
reverently, the final form of all spiritual things.
Until we experience Christ as all things, we
have not entered into the reality of all
things.
So this is what we fellowshiped during last
night.
And this morning we mentioned there is a
key word in the book of Hebrews.
That key word is the word better.
Christ is better.
He is far better than anything that Judaism
can offer.
He is better than the angels.
He is better than Moses.
He is better than Aaron.
He is a better sacrifice.
He enters into a better tabernacle.
And so on and so forth.
The superiority of Christ over all things.
And God exhausts us to leave the good
to enter into the better.
Not to be contented with the good.
We say this morning it is not the
bad, it is the good.
With us our problem is not a matter
of choosing between the good and the bad.
That will be easy because that will be
in the realm of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil.
But our problem is to choose between the
better and the good.
And that is in the realm.
Now tonight we would like to fellowship on
another point.
And that is the availability.
Christ is not only the final of all
things.
He is not only superior over all things.
But he is available to us.
If he is the final.
And if he is superior.
And yet if he is beyond our reach.
However superior he may be.
Or final he may be.
We will not be able to be in
the good of him.
But thank God our Christ is very available.
In what respects?
The write of Hebrews tells us that Christ
is available to us in three respects.
Let us read that portion in Hebrews.
Hebrews chapter 10.
We will read from verse 19.
So verse 25.
Hebrews chapter 10 verse 19.
Having therefore brethren boldness for entering into the
holy of holies by the blood of Jesus.
The new and living way which he has
dedicated for us through the veil.
That is his flesh.
And having a great priest over the house
of God.
Let us approach with a true heart in
full assurance of faith.
Sprinkle as to our hearts from a wicked
conscience.
And wash as to our body with pure
water.
Let us hold fast the confession of the
hope unwavering.
For he is faithful who has promised.
And let us consider one another for provoking
to love and good works.
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.
As the custom is with some.
But encouraging one another.
And by so much the more.
As we see the day drawing near.
Here you will find our Christ.
Who is the final and who is superior.
He is available to us.
In three different ways.
In three different aspects.
Number one.
The blood of Christ Jesus.
Is ever available to us.
Number two.
He has dedicated to us a new and
living way.
Through the veil which is his flesh.
And that way is available to us.
Number three.
He is our great priest.
Over the house of God.
And as great priest he ever liveth.
Making intercession for us.
In other words he is always available to
us.
As our great priest.
Now in these three respects.
You will find how available is Christ.
First.
The blood of the Lord Jesus.
In Hebrews chapter 9.
Verse 12.
It says nor by blood of goats and
cows.
But by his own blood.
Has entered in once for all in the
holy of holies.
Having found an eternal redemption.
Verse 24.
For the Christ is not entered into holy
places made with hand.
Figures of the truth.
But into heaven itself.
Now to appear before the face of God
for us.
Verse 26.
The second part.
But now once in the consummation of the
ages.
He has been manifested for the putting away
of sin.
By his sacrifice.
Chapter 10 verse 14.
For by one offering.
He has perfected in perpetuity.
The sanctified.
You know when the Jewish.
People under.
The old.
Economy.
They had to offer sacrifices.
Day after day.
Year after year.
Every day.
Lots of.
Sheep.
Cattle.
Were offered on the altar.
And their blood.
Was shed.
And once a year.
The high priest.
He will present the blood of a bullock.
And the blood of a goat.
Behind the veil.
Before the mercy seat.
Once a year the high priest.
Will bring the blood.
Of the goat and of the bullock.
He will go behind the veil.
And sprinkle the blood.
Before the mercy seat.
To atone for the sins.
Of Israel.
But he was allowed to remain there only
just for a little while.
He had to beat his retreat.
And he had to wait until the next
year.
On the day of atonement.
To enter in.
Again.
But all the blood.
That had been shed.
Day by day year by year.
And especially once a year.
Being brought behind the veil.
To make atonement.
In actuality.
They only reminded.
The people of Israel of sin.
They did not really take away their sin.
Because if their sins were taken away.
Then there would be no need to offer
again.
But they had to do it once a
year.
They had to do it all the time.
It was rather a reminding of their sins.
Rather than a putting away of their sins.
But now Christ.
When Christ came.
He offered himself.
By the eternal spirit.
Spotless to God.
As the one sacrifice.
He brought his own blood.
Into the holy of holies.
Not made by hand.
In other words.
He brought his own blood.
To the very heaven.
To the very face of God.
Once and for all.
For eternal redemption.
There was no need for him to offer
himself.
Again and again.
He just offered himself once.
And the work was done.
The eternal redemption was accomplished.
His blood was brought into heaven.
To the very presence of God the Father.
And the blood at the presence of God.
Speaks for us forever.
It is being perpetuated.
Perfected.
The sanctified.
Brothers and sisters.
The blood of the Lord Jesus.
Is most precious and available.
Before we knew the Lord.
When we were burdened with sins.
When our conscience was troubled.
When we were seeking for forgiveness of our
sins.
What did we do?
We came to the Lord Jesus.
We accepted.
His shed blood.
We confessed that we had sinned.
We needed to die.
But Christ.
The Lamb of God.
He had died for us.
He shed his blood for the remission of
our sins.
And because we believed in him.
We accepted his shed blood.
Thank God.
Our sins were forgiven.
Not only our crime before God the Father.
Was over.
Remember no more.
But our wicked conscience came into peace.
Through the blood of our Lord Jesus.
And how we do thank God for the
availability of the blood of Christ.
Even though he died two thousand years ago.
Someone asked the question.
How can the blood of the Lord Jesus.
That was shed two thousand years ago.
To cleanse me who sinned today.
Well the reason is.
His blood is available.
In the presence of God the Father.
And whenever we confess our sins.
His blood will speak for us.
His blood speaks better than the blood of
Abel.
The blood of Abel accuses.
But the blood of Jesus forgives.
So brothers and sisters we do thank.
God for the availability.
Of the blood of Jesus Christ.
Anyone can come to.
Make himself avail.
Of that precious blood.
But.
After we believe in the Lord Jesus.
Do you think we have done with.
The blood of our Lord Jesus.
Do you think because once.
We have been cleansed by the blood of
the Lord Jesus.
Therefore we have no need of his blood
again.
We need the blood of the Lord Jesus.
All the time.
And his blood is available forever.
You know the more you get closer to
God.
The more you will sense the need.
Of the precious blood.
You will never come to a day.
When you have gone beyond the need.
Of the blood of the Lord Jesus.
Now if you think you have gone.
Beyond the need of the precious blood.
Something is very very wrong with you.
If we walk in the light.
As God is in the light.
We have fellowship one with another.
And the blood of Jesus Christ God's son.
Cleanses us from all our sins.
After we believe in the Lord Jesus.
After we are redeemed by the precious blood.
Do you think that we have no need
of his blood anymore?
No.
If we walk in darkness.
We may think.
We don't need his blood.
We are perfect.
But if we walk in the light.
And that light is increasing.
The more you walk in the light.
The more light of life.
You have.
The more you will be discovered.
By that light.
Of all the deficiencies.
Of all the faults.
Of all the shortcomings.
Of all the coming short.
Of the glory of God.
Of all the missing the points.
Of all the sins.
Uncleanness that is in you.
And how you need the blood of Jesus
Christ.
To cleanse you from all this.
That you may go on with the Lord.
That you may be able to maintain.
Or to remain in the presence of God.
The blood of the Lord Jesus.
Has not only brought us to the presence
of God.
The blood of the Lord Jesus.
Enable us to be maintained.
Daily in the presence of God.
The blood of the Lord Jesus.
Not only gives us the faith.
To be saved.
The blood of the Lord Jesus.
Gave us the faith to live.
Our daily life.
Brothers and sisters.
If we confess our sins.
He is faithful and righteous.
To forgive us our sins.
And to cleanse us from all our iniquities.
Whenever we discover.
There is something in us.
That is not suitable to God.
That is contradictory to God.
That is sinful.
Unclean.
We do not need.
To remain.
Far away.
We can come.
Confess our sins.
And you'll find the blood of the Lord
Jesus.
Is always available.
To wash.
To clean.
And to enable us.
To be maintained.
In living fellowship.
With God.
Now this is.
Very precious.
And important.
I do hope.
Especially with young Christians.
You can see this.
You do not need to stay away.
Because.
You'll find something wrong.
In you.
You know we tend to stay away.
If we feel there is something wrong.
Away from God.
But God's will is.
The blood of Jesus Christ.
Is available.
You don't need to stay away.
You just need to come.
And confess your sins.
And His blood is like a fountain.
That is always flowing.
And when you put yourself under that fountain.
You are cleansed.
So your fellowship with God.
May not be interrupted.
And you may grow.
In spiritual life.
So here you'll find the writer of the
Hebrew said.
By the blood of Jesus.
Let us approach.
With a true heart.
In full assurance of faith.
Sprinkle as to our hearts.
From a wicked conscience.
And wash as to our body.
With pure water.
Because the blood.
Is available.
Therefore let us approach.
With a true heart.
In full assurance of faith.
Brothers and sisters.
You know.
Our conscience.
Has very much to do.
With our faith.
You remember Paul.
Says to Timothy.
Fighting the good warfare.
How?
Maintaining.
A good conscience.
And faith.
If you lose.
Your good conscience.
Then you make a shipwreck.
Of your faith.
So you see.
Our conscience and faith.
Are closely linked together.
When you have a good conscience.
You have faith before God.
But when your conscience.
Is evil.
Then.
Your faith is shipwrecked.
In other words.
Faith will leak out.
Of.
A wicked conscience.
Oh when you have a.
Wicked conscience.
You do not dare to.
Approach the throne of grace.
Do you?
When you pray.
You hesitate.
When you are asking.
You try to work up.
A faith in God.
No it leaks out.
It leaks out.
It does not work.
When we approach God.
We have to approach God with a true
heart.
With a conscience cleansed by the precious blood.
And only.
When your conscience is being cleansed.
Then you have faith.
To live before God.
So you see how important.
Is the blood of the Lord Jesus.
Without the blood.
We cannot live the life of faith.
A Christian life.
Is a life of faith.
We do not live by sight.
We live by faith.
But how can you live by faith?
The blood.
The blood cleanses your conscience.
So that you may.
Approach God with a true heart.
In full assurance of faith.
Therefore.
The blood.
Is so precious to us.
And it is ever available to us.
Brothers and sisters.
Be cleansed.
Continuously.
In the blood of the Lord Jesus.
That we may have.
A full assurance.
Of faith.
And you know.
This is chapter 11.
Of the book of Hebrews.
In chapter 11 of the book of Hebrews.
We have a whole list.
Of those people.
Who by faith.
Have obtained.
A good testimony.
From God.
Some say it is an arena.
Of faith.
Not the hall of fame.
The hall of faith.
And here you will find.
A whole number of people.
By faith.
They had obtained a good testimony.
From God.
God testifies for them.
That they have lived.
A life of faith.
Now what is faith?
In Hebrews chapter 11 verse 1.
Faith in my version.
Which is.
Not good English.
But.
It is very close to the original.
Word.
Now faith.
Listen carefully.
Now faith.
Is.
The substantiating.
Of things hopeful.
Faith is the substantiating.
Of things.
Hopeful.
Now what does it mean?
Here on the wall.
Is a picture.
That picture we call it a substance.
It is here.
Now we enter into this room.
How do we know.
There is this picture there.
How can we.
Enjoy this picture.
How can this picture.
Be real to us.
To our sense.
By our eyes.
Our eyes substantiate.
The picture.
So that.
It is not only an objective.
Thing hanging on the wall.
It becomes a subjective.
Experience to us.
We enjoy the picture.
So our eye.
Is the substantiating.
Of.
The picture.
Now brothers and sisters.
Spiritual things are unseen.
To our naked eyes.
Or to put it another way.
Even if you can see.
Spiritual things with your naked eyes.
They cease to be spiritual.
You don't get the real thing.
When Christ was on earth.
Many people saw him.
Even touch him.
But they did not know him.
They did not know him.
In one sense.
God is invisible.
Is invisible.
And yet.
The unseen one.
Is to be substantiating.
By faith.
And if you have faith.
You see the unseen.
You know.
That's faith.
That's the reason why.
Faith is so important.
Without faith.
You cannot see God.
Without faith you cannot see Christ.
Without faith.
All you can see is the world.
And because.
All you see is the world.
So no wonder you go after the world.
That's all you can see.
And can enjoy.
But if you have faith.
You see the unseen God.
And you will be.
Attracted by him.
And you will rise up.
And follow him.
So our Christian life.
Is a life of faith.
We do not walk by sight.
By the things that.
Can be seen.
This is the way the worldly people live.
But we live by faith.
We are substantiating all the time.
The invisible.
We are substantiating all the time.
Christ.
We are substantiating him.
And because we are substantiating him.
We are seeing him.
Therefore we are able to live.
Very differently.
From the people.
We have a better substance.
A better substance.
The blood.
Not only cleanses us.
The blood sanctifies us.
Maybe you have never thought of that.
One day I was in a car.
And one sister.
Put this question to me.
He said what does it mean.
In Hebrews.
Chapter 10.
It says.
And esteem the blood of the covenant.
Whereby he has been sanctified.
He said does the blood sanctify.
The blood not only justifies.
But the blood sanctifies.
Now how does the blood sanctifies.
The blood.
Sets us apart.
That we may live.
A life of faith.
And by faith.
We are able to live.
A higher life.
A life.
That is in the will.
So you'll find at the foundation.
Of a life of faith.
Is the blood.
And the blood strengthens our faith.
That we may live.
A life.
Look at Abel.
You know at the time.
Of Abel and Cain.
The sons.
Of Adam and Eve.
At that time.
People did not eat meat.
Today to be a vegetarian.
Is special.
But during those days.
They were all vegetarians.
In the garden of Eden.
They ate the fruits of the tree.
After they were driven out of the garden.
They ate vegetables.
Out of the field.
And Cain was a farmer.
He worked on the field.
For his living.
But in another sense.
He lived for himself.
Now Abel was a shepherd.
Now if people did not eat meat.
Why should he be a shepherd?
He would be starved to death.
But he was a shepherd.
Is it not because.
He knew.
That after man's sin.
He needed.
And the sheep.
Were to be offered to God.
As a sacrifice.
In other words.
He lived for God.
Not for himself.
And here you will find Abel.
By faith.
He saw what his brother did not see.
He thought what his brother did not think.
And he got.
A testimony from God.
God pointed to his sacrifice.
And said.
This is a better sacrifice.
Even he died.
Yet he speaks.
Enoch.
Walk with God.
But when before he was 65.
He did not walk with God.
Before he was 65.
He lived as the rest of the people.
During those days.
But at 65.
He got a son.
And something happened.
A revelation came to him.
And his son's name was Methuselah.
And we know.
The name Methuselah means.
When he died.
Something will happen.
A strange name isn't it?
But if you count his years.
969 years.
You will find.
At the year he died.
The flood came.
So evidently.
When Methuselah got this son.
He was given a revelation.
God showed him.
That he was going to judge the world.
And that stirred his heart up.
To walk with God.
For 300 years.
And God took him.
Without going through death.
Death by faith.
Brothers and sisters.
What are we waiting for?
Are we waiting for death?
No.
We are waiting for rapture.
We are not waiting for death.
If the Lord should carry us.
We may die.
Yes.
But our expectation is.
That we may be raptured.
Without going through death.
And that is faith.
That is the life of faith.
Even though we are on earth.
We live in heaven.
Heaven.
And that will be a very different life.
And of course.
As you go through the list.
Hebrew chapter 11.
One by one.
You will find it by faith.
Noah inherited the righteousness.
Which is from God.
Abraham by faith.
Inherited promises of God.
And abiding city.
Moses by faith.
Received a better reward.
He despised the riches of Egypt.
He would rather have the reproaches of Christ.
Why?
Because he saw the invisible one.
And by faith.
Those kings and judges.
They won great victories.
And by faith.
Some women.
Even though they did not receive.
Deliverance.
Yet they received better resurrection.
But the Lord said.
Even though by faith.
They have received good testimony.
They will not be complete without us.
Without us.
In other words.
The list.
In Hebrews 11.
Is not finished yet.
God is adding to that list.
And there is a place for you.
In the hall of faith.
If you are not in the hall of
fame or baseball.
It's alright.
If you are in this hall of faith.
How much more better.
To be in this hall.
Than in that hall.
So brothers and sisters.
Here you will find the availability.
Of the blood of the Lord Jesus.
And by his blood.
Cleanses our conscience.
That we may live a life.
That is.
Number two.
Not only the blood of the Lord Jesus
is available.
There is another thing.
Available for us.
Our Lord Jesus.
Has opened a new.
And living way.
Dedicated for us.
Through the veil.
Even his flesh.
Now of course there is a picture there.
You remember.
When Christ was crucified.
Outside of Jerusalem.
At Calvary.
When he died.
The instant he died.
He said it is finished.
And he gave up his spirit.
To the Father.
At the very moment.
When he passed away.
Outside of Jerusalem.
At Golgotha.
Something happened.
Inside Jerusalem.
In the temple.
The veil that separated.
The holiest of all.
From the holy place.
Was rang from top to bottom.
You know there was a very heavy thick
veil.
Hanging.
Between the holiest of all.
And the holy place.
In other words.
Because there was a veil there.
People could not approach God.
God was behind the veil.
The way to.
The holiest of holy.
Was not yet open.
In other words.
The way to the presence of God.
Was not yet open.
There was a heavy veil.
Separated.
The holiest of all.
From the holy place.
And this veil was so heavy.
So thick.
Nobody could tear it to pieces.
It requires.
Four horses.
If you want to break it.
To do that job.
But here you find.
When Christ died on the cross.
The veil was rang.
Not from bottom to top.
From top to bottom.
Now who rang it?
God rang it.
Sometimes we only see the human side.
Of the cross.
That is to say.
The Roman soldiers nailed him to the cross.
The Jewish council.
Sentenced him to death.
But in Isaiah 53.
It was God.
Who crushed him.
It was God who rang the veil.
Into two.
And that veil.
Represents the flesh.
Of our Lord.
The word became flesh.
And tabernacled.
Among us.
Full of grace.
The flesh of our Lord Jesus.
Is something.
That he takes upon himself.
When he comes to this world.
Because we.
Are flesh and blood.
By nature.
Therefore he took upon himself.
The flesh.
In order to be identified.
With us.
Why this.
Does he want to be identified with us?
He wants to be identified.
With us.
That when he died.
He may not only die for us.
But.
He may bring us.
With him.
When the flesh of our Lord Jesus.
Was crucified.
Paul said.
Our old man.
Was crucified.
Let's see the picture.
You know this veil was very beautiful.
It was woven.
With gold thread.
Blue thread.
Scarlet thread.
Beautiful.
And then on the veil there were cherubim.
Cherubim.
Embroidered all over the veil.
Cherubim.
You know the cherubim.
It's a mystery in the bible.
I don't think we'll go into this.
This evening.
But you'll find the cherubim.
The figures of the cherubim.
Were embroidered all over the veil.
When the veil was rent.
What happened to the cherubim?
They were rent too.
So.
In one sense you'll find.
When Christ died on the cross.
The whole creation.
As represented by the cherubim.
Was rent into two.
That's the reason why.
When Christ died.
The whole creation.
The old man.
On the basis of what he has done
for us.
On the cross.
We have to take up our cross.
The Lord said.
If anyone wants to be my disciple.
Let him deny himself.
Take up his cross.
All that are of Christ.
Have crucified their flesh.
With it's lust.
Brothers and sisters.
We have not only the blood.
Which gave us strength to live.
But we have.
The way of the cross.
By which.
We must walk.
And.
By which.
We can arrive.
At our goal.
The cross.
We must bear our cross.
And follow the Lord.
This is Hebrews chapter 12.
You see in Hebrews chapter 12.
There is a cross.
There is a way.
The Lord Jesus.
Has gone on and opened that way for
us.
It is said.
For the joy that is set before him.
He endured the cross.
He has opened a new and living way
for us.
And now.
This cross is open to all of us.
And we must walk.
There is.
This way of the cross is available.
To us.
It is dedicated.
Can a Christian.
Follow the Lord.
By not.
Bearing the cross.
You cannot.
Because the new and living way.
Is the cross.
You do not need to go out.
And find your crosses.
You do not need to.
Manufacture crosses.
Which we do.
If you set your heart upon the Lord.
To follow him.
The Holy Spirit.
God will arrange.
When you are bearing the cross.
At the moment.
It is not pleasant.
But ultimately.
We will be made.
Partakers.
We will partake.
Of his holiness.
So the writer of the Hebrew said.
When you are bearing.
The cross.
When the cross comes to your way.
Do not faint.
Do not be discouraged.
Why?
It is the Father.
For a purpose.
The flesh of our Lord Jesus.
Which is.
Holy flesh.
You remember.
When Christ was born.
The angel said.
The holy thing.
The flesh that our Lord Jesus.
Took upon himself.
Is the holy flesh.
It is flesh.
It is subject to temptations.
He is tempted to all things.
But without sin.
Now even that.
Holy flesh.
Has to be crucified on the cross.
How much more.
Our sinful flesh.
Needs to be.
Delivered.
Probably we do not quite like the word
chastening.
It doesn't sound very well.
Very good you know.
Actually the word in Greek.
Means.
Child training.
Why does our Heavenly Father discipline us?
Because he treats us as his sons.
He is training us.
That we may grow up.
Even Christ the son.
Has to suffer.
And through suffering.
Learn obedience.
That he might be the author.
Of our eternal salvation.
So here you will find.
The way of the cross.
Is open for us.
It is available.
That we may walk there.
How do we walk?
By the strength.
Of his cross.
We are able.
To take up our cross.
So I think it is Andrew Murray who
says.
His cross.
Bears us.
That we may bear our cross.
And you know the cross.
Gives us hope.
We may think that if it is a
cross.
Well that's the end.
You know.
When you are bearing the cross.
Or where you are being crossed.
Or where you are in the experience going
through.
The experience of the cross.
You are feeling it.
Now this is the end.
Now I am finished.
And that's true.
That's true.
That's why you get discouraged.
You faint.
But still the bible says.
The cross is our hope.
Is our hope.
So in Hebrews chapter 10.
That's what you see.
The new and living way.
The way which he has dedicated for us
through the veil.
That is his flesh.
Then verse 23.
Let us hold fast.
The confession of the hope.
Unwavering.
For he is faithful.
The cross gives us hope.
The hope.
Of being sons.
Grown up sons.
That's hope.
And then finally.
The third thing.
That is available to us.
In Christ.
He has not only shed his blood for
us.
That we may have faith to live.
He has not only dedicated a new and
living way for us.
The way of the cross.
That we may have hope.
But he himself.
Becomes over the house.
Oh that is very very precious.
You know.
When you read the book of Hebrews.
Sometimes you find a word.
That you don't like very much.
But you have a little word there.
Which may disturb you as you read the
book of Hebrews.
It is the word if.
You don't quite like the word if.
You think that with God.
Everything should be settled.
Finished.
There should be no if.
That's true.
With God there is no if.
With God everything is finished.
It's perfect.
It's completed.
It's done.
But the book of Hebrews deals especially with
our experience on earth.
And anything that has to do with experience
on earth.
You cannot help but find the word if
there.
You see.
The if does not apply to the truth
of God.
The if does not apply to the finished
work of Christ.
No.
There is no if there.
The if only applies to our condition.
That's all.
Because our condition may change.
You know.
And that is the reason why the word
if comes up.
Pops up.
Are we the house of God?
According to the book of Hebrews we are
the house of God.
We who believe in the Lord Jesus.
We constitute, we form the house of God.
And yet in the book of Hebrews you'll
find an if after that.
That's disturbing isn't it?
We are the house of God?
Thank God for that.
We are the house of God.
Now you read chapter 3 of Hebrews verse
6.
But Christ as son over his house.
Whose house are we?
Thank God for that.
If indeed we hold fast the boldness and
the boast of hope firm to the end.
Does that disturb you?
We are whose house are we?
If yes you are the house of God.
Now.
But suppose you do not hold fast the
boldness and the boast of hope firm to
the end.
John chapter 15 I am the vine, you
are the branch.
If you abide in me, I abide in
you.
And you bear.
When you come to this matter of experience
the word if is there.
And that's our problem.
I do believe in the Lord Jesus.
I do but I don't know whether I
can continue to the end.
I am not sure.
And none can be sure of it.
So far as we are concerned.
Then where is the security of the things?
Thank God.
I have a high priest.
And this high priest liveth forever making intercession
for me.
And he is able to save me to
the very end.
That's the secret.
Brothers and sisters we know our Christ our
Lord Jesus as our Savior.
But when you think of the Lord Jesus
as your Savior you tend to think to
the past.
You tend to think to the past.
But when you know Christ Jesus not only
as your Savior but he is your high
priest today.
Then you are in the good of his
priestly ministry.
I remember many years ago in a certain
place.
One day the elders of the church examining
those candidates for baptism.
And you know those candidates were very frightened
when they were called to be examined of
their faith.
And an elderly sister was called in.
And one of the elders asked that elderly
sister, say sister what is Christ doing today
in heaven?
This sister thought for a while.
Oh she said yes.
Christ is standing in heaven looking down at
me and trying to find fault with me.
Is this what Christ is doing today?
No.
The Bible said after he has finished the
work of redemption he ascended up to heaven.
He sat down at the right hand of
the Father.
Doing nothing?
No.
Making intercession for us.
Last night we mentioned how the priesthood of
our Lord Jesus is a better priesthood.
He is better, I mean this morning, he
is better than Aaron.
Because he is made a high priest after
the order of Melchizedek.
Not after the order of Aaron.
The order of Aaron makes man as priest.
But the order of Melchizedek makes the son
as the priest.
The order of Aaron has weakness in itself.
Why?
Because these priests need to offer sacrifices for
themselves as well as for the people.
But Christ does not need to offer sacrifice
for himself.
He just offers himself for us.
The order of Aaron changes ever so often.
Why?
Because they are subject to death.
One high priest may serve for 30 years
and he dies.
And then another high priest has to come
to take his place.
It is interrupted all the time.
But Christ as high priest is after the
order of Melchizedek that is after indestructible indissoluble
life.
The order of Aaron is only a priesthood.
But the order of Melchizedek is a kingly
priesthood.
Oh brothers and sisters, I do not have
time this evening, but this order of Melchizedek
is wonderful.
And here I will just say this.
We have a high priest.
Christ is not dead.
He died once.
But he lives and lives forever.
And what does he live for today?
He is our high priest.
He is the minister of the true sanctuary.
You know in the earthly sanctuary we change
our ministers ever so often.
But we have a minister who never changes.
Our minister is Christ.
Christ is a minister of the true sanctuary,
that is of the church.
He is the mediator of the better covenant.
And here you'll find our Christ ever living.
He sympathizes with us.
He knows all our problems.
He knows all our troubles.
He knows all our weaknesses.
He knows all our temptations.
He not only knows, but He is praying
for us, interceding for us before the Father.
Sometimes we do not know how to pray,
but He prays for us.
And the Father hears Him.
And brothers and sisters, more than that, He
is the minister of the true tabernacle.
In other words, He is the minister of
the church.
He ministers His life to us by His
Spirit.
And He is the mediator of the better
covenant.
That is to say, He sees to it
that we are in the good of the
new covenant.
All the time you'll find our Christ Jesus
is ministering to us with that priestly ministry.
And it is not because of Christ as
my high priest, I am sure, I am
not able to hold fast the confession of
hope to the very end.
In spite of all my waverings and weaknesses
and infirmities, oh, I do thank God He
ever lives, my Christ, making intercession for me.
And He is well able to save me
to the uttermost.
He is always available.
There is not a moment that He is
not available to you as your high priest.
Oh, often in our Christian life, when we
are puzzled, when we have problems, when we
have weakness, we try to turn here and
there, and nobody is there.
But you forget, there is our high priest
always available for you.
And if you lean upon Him, if you
trust yourself to Him, as Paul said, I
know whom I believe, and I am fully
persuaded that He is able to keep that
which I have committed to Him until that
day.
Brothers and sisters, you will be established firm
to the very end.
In reality, you will be the house of
God.
How much we need Christ as our high
priest.
How much we need to know that Christ
today is living.
He is not dead.
He is living.
And He lives to help us, to bring
us into the fullness of the purpose.
And you know, His high priesthood is always
connected with love.
Priestly ministry is a ministry of love, because
the priest always deals with the weak.
The fallen, the feeble, the unclean.
It's a ministry of love.
Because He loves us, He ministers His own
life to us day by day, day by
day, that we may continue on.
And because we are being loved, therefore we
are called to love one another.
And this is Hebrews.
You see, in Hebrews chapter 13 it begins
with let brotherly love.
It is actually in continuation of Hebrews 10
verse 24-25.
And let us consider one another for provoking
to love and good works, not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together as the custom is
with some, but encouraging one another and by
so much the more as you see the
day drawing near.
Be in love.
Ministered by Christ in love.
How can we help but love one another?
Let brotherly love.
What is brotherly love?
Brotherly love simply means we love because we
are brothers.
There is no other reason for us to
love.
For us to love those who are loving.
For us to love those who are of
our same kinship and temperament.
It's easy.
But for us to love simply because we
are brothers that has to come from God.
Let brotherly love abide.
Be not forgetful of hospitality, for by it
some have unawares entertained angels.
Love is hospitable.
Love always opens its heart to those who
are in need.
Remember prisoners as bound with them those that
are evil treated as being yourselves also in
the body.
Love is sympathetic.
Love joins you too, your brothers and sisters.
Let marriage be held every way in honour
and the bed be undefiled.
For fornicators and adulterers will God judge.
Love is honourable.
Love is respectful.
Honourable.
Let your conversations be without love of money.
Satisfied with your present circumstance.
For he has said I will not leave
you nor will I forsake you.
Love is always satisfied.
Satisfied with whatever God so that taking courage
we may say the Lord is my helper
and I will not be afraid.
What will men do unto me?
Love.
And you can go on and on through
the chapters.
Love is worshiping.
Love is submissive.
And all these things.
So here you'll find it is because Christ
is our High Priest.
Therefore we are called.
And finally, the prayer of the rite of
Hebrews, I think can serve as our conclusion.
Chapter 13, verse 10.
But the God of peace who brought again
from among the dead our Lord Jesus, the
great shepherd of the sheep, in the power
of the blood of the eternal covenant, perfect
you in every good work to the doing
of his will.
Doing in you what is pleasing before him
through Jesus Christ.
To him be glory for the ages of
ages.
Amen.
Let us pray.
Our Heavenly Father, we pray that the message
in the book of Hebrews may be heard.
We pray that we may be delivered from
things and be occupied only with thy Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ.
We pray that we may not be in
possession of dead things but we may have
a living Christ.
We pray that we may for the better
forsake that which hinders us into the better.
We pray that through the availability of thy
blood we may always approach thee with a
true heart in full assurance of faith.
Because thou has opened a new and living
way for us Lord, that we may walk
in it.
Knowing that thy cross has given us hope
to be matured as sons.
And Lord, teach us how to look to
thee as our high priest day by day
that we may know to live a life
of love on this earth.
O Lord, may thou work in us that
we may work the will of God.
For our hearts, our eyes are set upon
thee.
We desire to look away from all things
and fix our eyes upon thee.
Because thou art the author and the finisher
of our faith.
To thee we give our thanks in the
name of our Lord Jesus.
Amen.
It is here.
Because of this God will measure us with
this criteria.
With this standard.
You remember Revelation chapters 2 and 3.
The Son of Man is judging, measuring these
seven children.
But what is he looking for?
In some of these churches they have many
good things.
Things that come from God.
For instance in the church in Ephesus, God
said I know.
I know your labor.
I know your work.
I know your endurance.
I know your patience.
I know you can test the false apostles
and prove them false.
I know you do not keep the doctrines
of Nicoletans.
I know you have this, you have that,
you have this thing, you have that thing.
But the Lord said I'm against you.
Why?
Because I do not find myself in you.
You have lost your first life.
You may have many things.
But if the Lord cannot find himself in
these things.
Or if the Lord is not in these
things.
If the Lord is not in these things.
They will be shaken.
The Lord said unless you repent, I will
remove the canopy.
In other words remove the testimony.
In the church in Laodicea.
Oh they are very proud of themselves.
We are rich.
We lack in nothing.
As a matter of fact they are.
They are very rich in doctrine.
Very rich in teaching.
Very rich.
This and that.
But the Lord said I do not find
myself in these things.
If you do not repent I will burn
you out.
What do the Lord What does the Lord
see in the church in Philadelphia?
Even though they have a little power.
The Lord sees the two brothers and sisters
we are approaching the very end of the
verse.
God is shaking everything.
Shaking.
Because the kingdom that cannot be shaken He
will measure us test us with one criteria.
And that is is it or is it
things will pass.
So my burden today is as I meet
many believers one thing pierces my heart.
I have met many believers in many places
but I discover most often and
because of this great shaking will come.
I have already seen some shaking unless we
see it is then our faith will even
be purified and strengthened.
Our hope will even be lifted and our
love so it is very important that we
see in God's mind our
Heavenly Father we do not know how to
but we just know that
we may see.
We pray that we may not stop short
with many things in our hands.
Things that come from you.
Neither of thou all things.
O Lord we pray that more and more
we may be occupied that when thy kingdom
shall come we may find found ourselves in
that kingdom.
Do not spare us lest we be defeated.
In the name of our Lord Jesus.