Hebrews 1:1-4
This week I had the privilege of attending Meghan’s
commissioning service conducted by the IMB – our
Southern Baptist International Missionary sending
agency.
Over 100 people were being sent out to the ends of
the earth to preach the gospel to the lost.
In one of the buildings there is a wall with the names
of those who have been martyred for the faith.
There was also a letter from a missionary to her
pastors and church family.
In the letter she described the missionary heart:
Care more than some think is wise
Risk more than some think is safe
Dream more than some think is practical
Expect more than some think is possible
She also wrote that she was called not to comfort or
success but to obedience.
The leader of the 7 week training described this class
of missionaries as so kind, so humble and so
generous that it reminded him of the first church in
Acts.
At the end of the service the worship team, made up
entirely by missionaries, sang the song How Great is
our God. The first verse was sung in English, the
second verse was sung in an African language, the
third verse was sung in an Asian language, the fourth
verse was sung in Spanish, and the final verse all the
languages were singing together at the same time.
It was both beautiful and powerful.
Today we are going to take a break from our study of
David. We are going to look at some of the powerful
ways God speaks.
Hebrews 1:1-4
Verse 1 says at many times and many ways God
spoke to our fathers by the prophets.
God Spoke by the Prophets
A prophet is someone chosen by God to convey His
message to the people.
Consider a few of the ways God spoke to the prophets
He chose:
God spoke:
To Moses with thunder & lightning & through a
burning bush
To Elijah with a still small voice
To Ezekiel by visions
To Daniel through dreams
God also instructed his prophets to deliver His
message to the people in many different ways.
Amos gave direct oracles from God
Malachi used questions and answers
Ezekiel performed bizarre symbolic acts
Haggai preached sermons
God is extremely creative in the ways He
communicates to and through His prophets.
Sermon in a sentence:
God speaks to and through those He has called,
who trust Him and follow Him in faith.
Verse 2 tells us that in these last days God has
spoken to us through His Son.
God Spoke by His Son
Luke 24:18-27
Jesus travelled along the road with these two men
who had no idea who He was. He engaged them in
conversation and allowed them to tell Him what had
happened over the last three days.
Jesus Rebuked them for not believing the prophets
“O foolish ones, slow of heart to believe all that the
prophets have spoken!”
Jesus Reminded them that Jesus had to suffer to
fulfill God’s plan of redemption.
“Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer
these things and enter into his glory?”
Jesus Retold them the words of the prophets about
Himself
“He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the
things concerning himself.”
Now, let’s return to Hebrews 1, verses 3 &4.
Broadly stated, these verses describe Jesus’ position
as the second member of the Trinity and His work as
the savior of man.
Relating to His position He is described as
Heir of all things
Creator of the world
Radiance and glory of God
Exact imprint of His nature
Superior to angels
Colossians 1:15-22 uses much of the same
language as our passage in Hebrews 1.
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of
all creation. For by him all things were created, in
heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether
thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all
things were created through him and for him. And he
is before all things, and in him all things hold
together. And he is the head of the body, the church.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that
in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all
the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through
him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on
earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his
cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in
mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his
body of flesh by his death, in order to present you
holy and blameless and above reproach before him,”
Related to Jesus’ work the Hebrews Scripture says
He purified the sins of man
Creator of the world – I know, I mentioned it twice,
but it’s who he is and what He has done.
Seated at the right hand of God – sounds like position,
but it’s more about the work being completed by His
obedience to the Father.
As we faithfully study the Scripture, we see that God
continues to speak through believers who are filled
with the Holy Spirit.
God Speaks through Believers who are
Empowered by the Holy Spirit
Remember our sermon in a sentence.
God speaks to and through those He has called,
who trust Him and follow Him in faith.
Acts 6:5,8
This proposal pleased the whole company. So they
chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit,
and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and
Nicolaus, a convert from Antioch.
Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing
great wonders and signs among the people.
Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit and God used
him to share the good news.
Acts 7:2-8
Stephen was ready to give a defense for the hope that
is in him with gentleness and respect.
He gave the counsel and the high priest a Bible
lesson.
He began by speaking of Abraham.
He mentions
Abraham’s Calling by God – God called Abraham to
follow him by faith to a land he didn’t know.
Abraham’s Covenant with God around the inheritance
for his descendants. Even though Abraham would not
own the land, his descendants would.
Abraham’s Circumcision directed by God. God taught
Abraham to follow His instructions to institute this
process.
Acts 7:9-14
Here we see Stephen talking about Joseph.
Joseph’s Favor showcased – even when others only
wanted harm to come to him. God showed him favor
Joseph’s Famine Survival – God gave him a great idea
to keep back 20% of the harvest during the time of
surplus which allowed people to survive the famine
Joseph’s Family Saved – Pharaoh allowed Joseph to
bring his entire family to Egypt and gave them land to
live on.
APPLICATION
God’s plan for the spreading of the Gospel is through
mankind.
Even though He is fully capable of revealing Himself
to the entire world without our help.
He WANTS us to be obedient to Him and to take the
message to the entire world.
The first thing we must do is;
Abide in the Word
Read it, meditate on it, memorize it.
Let it change you. Let it speak to you.
Ask God to help you hunger and thirst after His word.
Then we can;
Spread the Word
Listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
Ask Him to give you an opportunity to share the
gospel with someone this week.
Ask Him to give you the words to help lead someone
to new life in Christ.