Jesus is the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of all time) – Part 3
November 22, 2020 / Jesus ChurchGive Online: Tithes & Offerings
THE G.O.A.T. – Part 3
Welcome To Jesus Church… Here and Online
If you’re new… in a series about Jesus
- And you’ll find out very quickly that every sermon is about Jesus
- B/C He is everything we need
- This series is about Jesus being the Greatest of all Time
- In the Bible… the book of Hebrews focuses in on this argument
- Takes different things that elevate themselves above Jesus
- Proves to us why Jesus is hands down the greatest
- Last week we talked about… Really Jesus is greater than you are
- Meaning that if ur “go to” is trust & rely on yourself
- You are saying you are greater than Jesus
- For who you trust in is who you see as the greatest
This week turn with me to Hebrews 4… pick up in verse 14
Heb 4:14-16
Heb 5:1-11
Heb 5:12-14
So that’s our scripture for today – PRAY
Story – Have u ever been accused of being immature
Like when you are somewhere… can’t stop laughing
- It’s like you are super embarrassed
- But there’s nothing you can do about it
- And trying to stop laughing becomes funniest thing ever
- Years back I was a youth pastor in Colorado Springs
- I also started a business… and we had to build out our space
- One of the last things we had to do was paint
- Had a friends dad who said he would paint for us
- They had to paint the ceiling black
- I also started a business… and we had to build out our space
- We were excited to see what it looked like…
- Decided to go into this enclosed box of a retail space
- That was full of paint fumes… fire resistant paint as well
We also had talked to an outside sales guy about joining our team
- Thought he would be super impressed with our location
- Invited him to come see the building that night with us
- I got there first… business partner got there 10 minutes later
- About 15 minutes after that this prospective sales guy comes
- What I didn’t realize was how many paint fumes I was breathing in
- Just to lay this down… I have never been high in my life
- I’ve never even gotten a buzz from a cigarette
- That night I kill more brain cells than a kid sniffing rubber cement
- And I was uncontrollably laughing
- Like ugly laughing… cry laughing… roll on the ground laughing
With good reason we never heard back from the outside sales guy
- But I’m sure he thought I was most immature person on the planet
- And honestly I don’t blame him… it was that bad!
- I was acting like a 12 year old that just TP’d teachers house
- And all we can say in those times is… wow that’s mature
- UR acting like a real adult there – Aren’t ya
Maturity interesting subject… Especially in the Church
Because the way we define who/what is mature
- Sometimes it gets a bit silly… we measure maturity based on…
- How many ministries u take part in/Bible verses memorized
- Who lifts there hands highest in worship/Nicest clothes
- In fact u might think I’m immature for having holey jeans
- And I think they’re just more Godly
- Best one: Maturity set by how many verses highlighted in ur Bible
- If you’re new to the whole church thing
- Get a Bible and highlight it
- Even if you don’t read it… and use colors
- It will impress anyone you sit next to
- Most prevalent mark of Xian maturity: Gotta be Bible Knowledge
- Those who can repeat 66 books of Bible… to a jingle even
- Those who know the 12 tribes/12 disciples/10 commandments
TAG: Human nature to define maturity: Behavior/Discipline/Exterior
But how God defines maturity different than us
Hebrews 5 gives an allegory to explain spiritual maturity vs immaturity
- If you’ve been in church very long… you’ve heard the term “MILK”
- Milk = Immaturity
- Sold food (meat) = Maturity
- And I want to talk on this passage b/c its somewhat misunderstood
But before we get there: Lets refresh again on framework & context
- Remember: Letter written to Jews who…
- Used to relate to God based on 10 rules
- Now they’ve accepted Jesus – putting their faith totally in Him
- But having hard time staying there
- B/C they want to be good enough on their own
- And we have to keep this context continually in our understanding
- B/C this book is for us… applies to us
- But originally it was written to people… in their situation
- Struggling with this idea of grace/freedom
- Remembering this: Because it helps us understand
- The point and what God is saying to them & us
Heb. 4:14-15
Which just means… ya we have best guy in our corner
- Jesus is: God/All Powerful/All Knowing/Supreme
- But Jesus also is: Not distant/Actively involved/Empathetic
- For He is fully God and fully Man
- Jesus (God) put on skin and bone
- He can 100% feel our pain
- He knows what you are going through
- He understand the challenges of your humanity
- If you are having a hard time/difficult time/down day
- Jesus knows what you are going through
- He’s been there
TAG: “Therefore” – most quoted prayer verse in the Bible
Heb 4:16
If you have God in your corner… him being fully God/Man means…
- He’s fully in control of the world & Fully engaged in ur everyday life
- So lets go to Him…
- Lets tell him what we’re going thru
- Word Picture for Heb 4:16: kids… running into the kitchen
- Son – Walks in & announces what he needs “Mom, I’m hungry”
- He doesn’t think about it
- He doesn’t wonder if we’re busy
- He doesn’t ask if it’s a good time
- He just tells us his need (like it or not)
- I need to eat – Please feed me… *mimic*
- Some of you – That’s my husband
- Son – Walks in & announces what he needs “Mom, I’m hungry”
- But that’s what its saying to do with Jesus
- Just tell him your needs
- Don’t think about it… just do it!
- He understands/cares/sympathizes… and HE IS ABLE
TAG: Going on to Ch 5 tells why priests are effective – relates to Jesus
Heb 5:1-2
This is one reason why God had to become man
- So He could have compassion/sympathize with u
- You can have all the knowledge in the World
- Some things you don’t get – Unless experienced
- So God came to experience
- Mortality… Frailty… human emotions… temptation
- Makes sense because he fully God/Man
- As Man – Jesus can understand your pain
- As God – Jesus can deal with your pain
Tag: Message is clear – GO TO HIM
Heb 5:8-9
2 things could really mess u up here
1. Learn how to obey – was Jesus disobedient
2. Being perfected – was Jesus not perfect before
- Learning obedience
- Original language: He fulfilled every step ordained by the Father
- Being perfected
- Word means: Completed
Put these two things together
- He completed every task the Father gave Him
- Therefore he is the Author of Eternal Salvation
- Remember what Jesus said on cross…
- It is FINISHED (Could have said “It is Perfect”)
- And what he finished is available to all who believe
Now lets jump into these last 3 verses
Heb. 5:12
I wanna focus on the words: Principles and Oracles
- Def of Oracles – Verbal communication
- You need verbal communication of God (scriptures)
- Jews learned scripture verbally
- They would memorize and say it to each other
- You need verbal communication of God (scriptures)
- Def of Principles: Element (Elementary)
- The ABC’s or 1,2,3’s… it’s actually talking of 10 commandments
With this context… what is the writer saying milk is?
- He’s saying: You’re going back to relying on 10 commandments
- And you aren’t relying on Jesus
- So we have to teach u the simple gospel again
- B/C you’ve become a baby longing for milk
- Many of us think its the exact opposite
- The Gospel is what you start out with as a baby Christian…
- But as u mature – You need more to move on to deeper things
- And that is definitely NOT what is being said here
Heb. 5:13
Wow… unskilled in righteousness (that’s not good)
- What is righteousness (Right standing with God)
- How do we receive righteousness
- It has to be gifted… granted… given to us
- How is it granted
- By simply believing/trusting
- And those who long for milk
- They don’t understand righteousness
- How do we receive righteousness
Righteousness is what weans you off milk
- It’s the simplicity of Righteousness makes you mature
- But many think it’s the opposite
- Grace, faith, righteousness are the milk
- Those are the things for new Christians
- But to become a grown up believer
- We have to get past this basic things
- Get on to behavior modification
- And all the more complicated stuff
- We have to get past this basic things
- And b/c of that – You don’t understand righteousness
- And you have become a babe
- But many think it’s the opposite
Heb. 5:14
Lets go to Galatians – talks about idea more
Gal. 4:1-3
So what were these teachings of the world
- If you follow all these rules or the “Law”
- God will approve of you
- AND you can create your own righteousness
- Proof in next verse – Elements replaced by “Law”
Gal. 4:8-9
- It’s saying: Now that you have been a mature son or daughter
- Now that you understand Righteousness/Grace/Trust in Jesus
- Why are you wanting to go back to the law
- That which makes u unskilled in righteousness
- Now that you understand Righteousness/Grace/Trust in Jesus
Gal. 4:21
- Under – Idea of wanting to be under a tutor
- Need to point out what already said ch. 3 about tutor
Gal. 3:24-25
If the law is a tutor: Sole purpose is to point out that we need Jesus
- And no one except Jesus could perfectly fulfill the law
- Law proves that we need Jesus
- But once Jesus had come
- We no longer need a Tutor
- Lots of Christians want to hold hands with the teacher & tutor
- Like wanting to hold hands with ur Mom & Wife
- Let go of mom
- Hold your wife’s hand
- Like wanting to hold hands with ur Mom & Wife
- This is where the Hebrews were at
- Wanting to feel good in self righteousness
- Wanting to have security in Jesus righteousness
- But all it does is cause: Legalism/confusion/lead back 2 sin
TAG: So back to Gal. 4:21…
Gal. 4:21-23
Story of Abraham: God promises Abraham many descendants
- Problem: Abraham’s wife has no children
- So Abraham takes things into his own hands to help God out
- Gets wife’s servant Hagar pregnant (Ishmael)
- Gods not ok this – Wanted Abraham to trust Him
- God had a plan – Abraham tried to do it on him own
- His wife gets pregnant at 90 years old (Isaac)
- So 2 babies: 1 came thru flesh (on own) – 1 thru promise (God)
Gal. 4:24
- So this represent two different ways to relate to God
- Hagar/Ishamel represents trying to do things on ur own
- Sarah/Isaac represents letting God fulfill His own promises
Gal. 4:28-30
- Now the woman saying this is Abraham’s wife Sarah
- This story in Genesis 21
- Paints picture of what Hebrews says about milk
[A little further down rabbit hole]
Talking about a feast thrown after Isaac was weaned off mom’s milk
Gen. 21:8-10
Lets bring it back to the Allegory in Hebrews
- Maturity = Solid food / Immaturity = Milk
- And on the day Isaac stops drinking milk
- Ishmael starts to mock Isaac because of it
- On that day Sarah speaks as a mom… inspired by God
- Cast out that which represents the law
- B/C it has no place w/ that which represents grace
- Saying: There is no inheritance by works of your hands
- And only inheritance by His work in your heart
If you are longing for maturity – To grow in faith
- It will ONLY happen when u stop relying on yourself
- And when you start trusting in God
- Until then you will remain a child
- If that is hard for you… if it scares you
- Just make the decision like Sarah… to cast it out
Cast out your fear – Works come from fear
1 Jn 4:18
That’s maturity… not relying on ur works/deeds/righteousness
- But having Faith in Jesus Christ
- We have to make a decision to change our mind…
- On what makes you acceptable
1 Cor. 2:2 (Look at what Paul says)
- This guy built up works his whole life
- Memorized the Bible… He kept all of the laws
- He says I know none of that matters now
- Compared to Jesus
- Memorized the Bible… He kept all of the laws
- Jesus said over and over
- Unless u become like a child: never enter kingdom
Col. 2:8-9
- Reason we always end up at Jesus (Jesus Church)
- Because in Jesus dwells the fullness of the Godhead
- If you are looking for the Father – Jesus
- If you are looking for the Spirit – Jesus
- Because in Jesus dwells the fullness of the Godhead
Col. 2:10
We are complete in Jesus!
- Any teaching that says you need more than Jesus
- Is not from God and not in the Bible
- He is enough…
- He is the key to your GROWTH/MATURITY
- Individually and as a community
- Is not from God and not in the Bible
- All we need is Jesus… b/c He is who completes us
- Heb. 5 – But solid food belongs to those who are of full age
- Full age literally means complete
- And you can’t make yourself complete
- But if u trust the complete one – you’ll become complete
[Pray] – Prayer team up – Worship team up