The Voice From Heaven—Far More Than a Voice of Words
Hebrews 12:25-29
Remember: Vs 19—the voice of words. Exodus 19:9 ""Behold I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may HEAR when I speak with you." Vs 19 They said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die. So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was." God spoke from the darkness on the mountain, and the earth shook!
Remember: Hebrews 3:7-12 The evil heart of unbelief. The consequences? Vs 16-19 #1 They couldn't enter the promised land. #2 They died in the wilderness! They did not escape!
Remember to whom Hebrews was written: Professed Jewish believers, fresh from the religion of the -Judaizers, They were very familiar with the Sinai story. II Cor. 3:7-9 The Voice of Words that they heard in the Law was glorious, but can't hold a candle to the Word they have now heard!
A. Refuse not Him Who speaks from Heaven. 12:25
1. Hebrews 1:1-2 "God who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son."
a. Do you see the contrast? Instead of describing a trembling mountain and a trembling people, the rest of Hebrews goes into great detail describing this new Voice. This Voice is not a voice of words coming from the midst of a cloud, but this Voice is the voice of a Human being, This Human is "the brightness of God's glory (no clouds), and the expressed (exact) image of God's Person. Colossians 1:15, 19; 2:9 Instead of standing far off, we are to come boldly because of this Word. Heb. 14:14-16; 10:19-20
b. John 1:1-3, 14-18 This Word is the declaration of the Invisible God. This Word is the full Truth of God and about God. And note again vs 14, "And We beheld His Glory, the Glory of the only Begotten of the Father! No Clouds! Just the radiant revelation of the fullness of God!
c. I John 1:1-2 "That which was from the beginning, Which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, AND OUR HANDS HAVE HANDLED, (and we did not die!) concerning the Word of Life—the Life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness and declare to you that Eternal Life which was with the Father and was manifested to us." Contrast Exodus 19:12 "You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, "Take heed to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. Whosoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death." Consider the invitation of this Word. Matthew 11:28, "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Will you refuse this Voice of God? Will you treat this Word lightly? God has done everything to speak His Love to you (John 3:16), all He asks you to do is "believe on Him Whom He has sent." (John 6:29)
B. This Word is the shaking of all things! 12:26-27
1. He once shook the earth—the mountain trembled! Ex 19:18
2. Haggai 2:6 (1-9) The "Temple" prophecy! The rebuilt temple after the captivity was like a stable compared to the glory of Solomon's temple!
a. Vs 4-5 Even though it is a plain temple, here are two marvelous assurances: # 1"I am with you.", My Spirit remains among you. #2 God remembers His Covenant! Now notice God's exhortation—"Do Not Fear".
b. It's as though the prophecy shifts gears in vs 6. In a little while, there will be a shaking of heaven and earth, and what will be the result of this shaking? Vs 7 and I will shake the nations and they shall come to The Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory, says the Lord of Hosts." Vs 9 "The glory of this latter (plain) temple shall be greater thatn the former says the Lord of Hosts, and in this place I will give peace, says the Lord of Hosts!". Remember Mt. 11:28! This points to the coming of Jesus Christ, who is the Desire of the Nations.
1) The fulfillment: Acts 2:1-39, 7:44-50, 10:1-11:18, 15:1-29, esp. 16-17! The Gentiles becoming one with the believing Jews!
2) Paul's dissertation: Ephesians 2:11-22 esp. 19-22 "In Whom you also are being built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit." This is the glorious Temple that exceeds the glory of Solomon's temple. On the outside it appears plain. (II Cor. 4:7), but inside, this temple, built out of living stones from every nation, is the dwelling place of God in the Spirit!!!!!!!!!
C. "Since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken." Vs 28
1. Colossians 1:12-13 Notice, "not will receive", but "are receiving". This Kingdom is an expanding present reality! Carefully read Psalms 110. It expands in size as, #1-God adds to the church (Acts 2:47), #2—As the lively Stones grow in the grace and knowledge and rule of the King of the Kingdom, Who is the Son of the Father's Love, the Word which He has so plainly and approachably spoken!!!!! The Kingdom of Christ has come, is now coming, and will come!
D. "For our God is a Consuming Fire" Vs 29
1. He is not a fire to warm our hands. He is a consuming fire to burn out all our impurities and make us a fit dwelling place for His Abiding Place! And that is His Spirit's work through His Word (Heb 4:11-13), and His chastening work (12:3-11).
2. Our place in this ongoing temple process? We are to be continually coming to and believing in the King of this Kingdom, the Ruler of this Temple. (John 6:35, 51-58) We are to participate in the continual feast (vs 23 general assembly=festive gathering)! And the feast is on Jesus!!! Pay close attention to John chapter 6!!!
Hebrews 12:25-29
Remember: Vs 19—the voice of words. Exodus 19:9 ""Behold I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may HEAR when I speak with you." Vs 19 They said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die. So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was." God spoke from the darkness on the mountain, and the earth shook!
Remember: Hebrews 3:7-12 The evil heart of unbelief. The consequences? Vs 16-19 #1 They couldn't enter the promised land. #2 They died in the wilderness! They did not escape!
Remember to whom Hebrews was written: Professed Jewish believers, fresh from the religion of the -Judaizers, They were very familiar with the Sinai story. II Cor. 3:7-9 The Voice of Words that they heard in the Law was glorious, but can't hold a candle to the Word they have now heard!
A. Refuse not Him Who speaks from Heaven. 12:25
1. Hebrews 1:1-2 "God who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son."
a. Do you see the contrast? Instead of describing a trembling mountain and a trembling people, the rest of Hebrews goes into great detail describing this new Voice. This Voice is not a voice of words coming from the midst of a cloud, but this Voice is the voice of a Human being, This Human is "the brightness of God's glory (no clouds), and the expressed (exact) image of God's Person. Colossians 1:15, 19; 2:9 Instead of standing far off, we are to come boldly because of this Word. Heb. 14:14-16; 10:19-20
b. John 1:1-3, 14-18 This Word is the declaration of the Invisible God. This Word is the full Truth of God and about God. And note again vs 14, "And We beheld His Glory, the Glory of the only Begotten of the Father! No Clouds! Just the radiant revelation of the fullness of God!
c. I John 1:1-2 "That which was from the beginning, Which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, AND OUR HANDS HAVE HANDLED, (and we did not die!) concerning the Word of Life—the Life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness and declare to you that Eternal Life which was with the Father and was manifested to us." Contrast Exodus 19:12 "You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, "Take heed to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. Whosoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death." Consider the invitation of this Word. Matthew 11:28, "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Will you refuse this Voice of God? Will you treat this Word lightly? God has done everything to speak His Love to you (John 3:16), all He asks you to do is "believe on Him Whom He has sent." (John 6:29)
B. This Word is the shaking of all things! 12:26-27
1. He once shook the earth—the mountain trembled! Ex 19:18
2. Haggai 2:6 (1-9) The "Temple" prophecy! The rebuilt temple after the captivity was like a stable compared to the glory of Solomon's temple!
a. Vs 4-5 Even though it is a plain temple, here are two marvelous assurances: # 1"I am with you.", My Spirit remains among you. #2 God remembers His Covenant! Now notice God's exhortation—"Do Not Fear".
b. It's as though the prophecy shifts gears in vs 6. In a little while, there will be a shaking of heaven and earth, and what will be the result of this shaking? Vs 7 and I will shake the nations and they shall come to The Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory, says the Lord of Hosts." Vs 9 "The glory of this latter (plain) temple shall be greater thatn the former says the Lord of Hosts, and in this place I will give peace, says the Lord of Hosts!". Remember Mt. 11:28! This points to the coming of Jesus Christ, who is the Desire of the Nations.
1) The fulfillment: Acts 2:1-39, 7:44-50, 10:1-11:18, 15:1-29, esp. 16-17! The Gentiles becoming one with the believing Jews!
2) Paul's dissertation: Ephesians 2:11-22 esp. 19-22 "In Whom you also are being built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit." This is the glorious Temple that exceeds the glory of Solomon's temple. On the outside it appears plain. (II Cor. 4:7), but inside, this temple, built out of living stones from every nation, is the dwelling place of God in the Spirit!!!!!!!!!
C. "Since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken." Vs 28
1. Colossians 1:12-13 Notice, "not will receive", but "are receiving". This Kingdom is an expanding present reality! Carefully read Psalms 110. It expands in size as, #1-God adds to the church (Acts 2:47), #2—As the lively Stones grow in the grace and knowledge and rule of the King of the Kingdom, Who is the Son of the Father's Love, the Word which He has so plainly and approachably spoken!!!!! The Kingdom of Christ has come, is now coming, and will come!
D. "For our God is a Consuming Fire" Vs 29
1. He is not a fire to warm our hands. He is a consuming fire to burn out all our impurities and make us a fit dwelling place for His Abiding Place! And that is His Spirit's work through His Word (Heb 4:11-13), and His chastening work (12:3-11).
2. Our place in this ongoing temple process? We are to be continually coming to and believing in the King of this Kingdom, the Ruler of this Temple. (John 6:35, 51-58) We are to participate in the continual feast (vs 23 general assembly=festive gathering)! And the feast is on Jesus!!! Pay close attention to John chapter 6!!!