Good morning. We continue in
the book of Hebrews if you'd like to join me in chapter 3.
I would call this morning's study part 2. This chapter 3 is a warning. A warning to God's people. And that's exactly how we started
off this morning in verse 12. Look with me if you would at
Hebrews chapter 3 verse 12. What does our Lord say to you
and I? Again, not to the world, to his
people. Take heed, brethren. Brethren. Brothers and sisters
in Christ, those who are partakers, as we will see in a moment, partakers
of the divine revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Take heed. What? What do I need to take
heed of? Well, I'm saved in Christ. Can't I just go about and live
my life any way I want? No. Take heed, he says. Folks, I'm talking to me. You
may not need to hear these words, but I need to hear these words.
These are words that John Reeves needs to hear. John, take heed.
You do need to be concerned. You are weak in the faith. Take heed, lest there be any
of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing and forsaking from
the living God. What a warning! This writer has
given us, and I agree with most. I believe it's Paul that's writing
this epistle to the Hebrews. What a warning he gives us. This
warning is written to you and I. It's founded upon the Old
Testament example that we read about last week, where the folks
of Israel who perished in the wilderness because of unbelief.
It's sent to us as a caution lest that we follow the same
path and we miss the rest of Christ, the rest that is given
to us in Christ. Now, we're not talking about
falling away from Christ, for Christ will lose none, folks.
He's God. He clearly says, I will never
leave you nor forsake you. And he's speaking to you and
I. But oh, how often you and I forget that. There was a brother
who came to me quite some time back. He said, John, I know all
the truths. I know all the truths. I know
that God will always be there, and you'll always love his people.
But I just don't hear him. I don't hear him in my life right
now. I feel like he's far away from me. Have you ever felt that
way? I have. Absolutely. There's times I sit over here
in this office and go, Lord, where are you? Where are you today? I need you
now. I've got to get up in 30 minutes
and stand before your people and speak. Lord, where are you?
You know how scary that is? Yes, you do. You do, because
you know it too. Lord, where are you? When I need
you the most, when my heart is angry at something, or when my eyes see something
and draws the lust of the flesh to it. Where are you, Lord? Folks, God's people will never
fall away. But we can make that road that
we're on pretty rough at times. We can make that road pretty
rough at times. I love to use Jonah as our example
of that. The Lord is not the author of
wickedness. That's in our own hearts. That's
something we carry around in this flesh, wickedness. And we're
going to fight that battle with that wickedness till the day
the Lord takes us out of this world. But Jonah, in his wickedness,
ran from the Lord. And the Lord allowed that to
happen so that he would learn. But what was the result of that?
Was it not the storms of the sea that came up against the
ship? And when everybody said, who
has caused this storm? Who has caused this terror, this
evil upon us? Jonah said, it was me. I ran
from the Lord. I did it. They cast him over
the edge, and what happened? He was swallowed up by a fish. Can you imagine? And I've shared
this with you, and I bring you back to this once again. Could
you imagine what that must have been like? It says in the scriptures
that the seaweed was wrapped about his neck. The waves were
splashing over his head, covering him. And this is all inside the
fish. What terror! We talk about, oh,
I just want to leave this world and sleep. I just want to go
to sleep someday and wake up in God's hands. Isn't that a
wonderful thought? Isn't that a wonderful thought?
Do you know how rare that is for people to do that? It seems like everybody has got
to go through something, a pain or whatever, something wrapped
around their neck or some kind of loneliness or whatever you
can think of. Even my mom had to go through
something. She went through something as
she passed from this world on to the next. Very rarely do we
get to go off in peace. We can make this road that we're
on very, very rough. Unbelief. renders the word unprofitable
to us. I want you to mark your spot
there in Hebrews and turn over to 1 John chapter 5. This is
what our Lord is taking you and I to task through the rider.
He's taking us through the task of take heed, beware, be cautious. How often we read in scripture
where the Lord tells us to stand fast. He's telling us, take heed
brethren. Take heed that we do not fall.
Let me just read it to make sure I'm saying it. Take heed, brethren,
lest there be any of you an evil heart of unbelief. And unbelief
in us makes his word unprofitable. Look at verses 10 through 13
of John chapter 5. He that believeth on the Son
of God hath the witness in himself that he that believeth not God
hath made him a liar. because he believeth not the
record that God gave his son." Have you ever doubted God's word? That's what that brother was
doing when he talked to me. He was doubting God's word based
on his feelings. Folks, it's easy to do. In this
flesh, it is so easy for us to fall into that. In fact, you could say we can't
help it. We can't help it. Our flesh is weak. Our minds
are weak. And this is why we lean on the
arms of Christ. We lean on the understanding
that God has given us of himself. that all things we're going through
are for our good, including that weakness, including that time
of unbelief. Verse 11, this, and this is the
record that God has given to us eternal life, and this life
is in his son. He that hath not the son hath
life. He that hath the son hath life, and he that hath not the
son of God hath not life. These things Or have I written
unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, and that
ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe
on the name of the Son of God? You know, I have to reiterate
every time we talk about belief. I have to reiterate. Belief does
not save you. The Lord Jesus in his blood is
the salvation of his people. But you cannot know God without
believing who he is, what he's done, and where he is right now.
We are saved by grace. And Jesus Christ and him crucified
is that grace. But it is through faith. It is
through believing. I can't stress that enough. It
is through believing. What would get us through these
times of trouble that we go through in this flesh if we just believe?
If we just believe. Lord, I believe, help thou my
unbelief. What a great cry unto God that
is for each and every one of us. Unbelief shuts us out from the
mercies of Christ. Back in our text in Hebrews 3.
In Mark chapter 16, you don't need to turn there, I'll read
it for you. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved,
but he that believeth not shall be damned. Unbelief closes the
door of prayer as we read in Hebrews 11. Turn over there if
you would for just a moment to Hebrews 11 and look at verse
6 with me. It says, but without faith it
is impossible to please him. For he that cometh to God must
believe that he is. and that he is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek him. And that's speaking of prayer.
Diligently speak him. Those who diligently come before
the Lord, whether it be for, I'm distressed about whatever
it is in the world, or those who come to God, the Lord help
me. I believe, but help thou my unbelief. In James, you don't need to turn
there. 1 verse 6, it says, but let him ask in faith, Nothing
wavering, for he that wavereth is like a wave with the sea driven
in the wind and tossed. That's because of unbelief. Back in our text in Hebrews chapter
3, look at verse 13 with me. But exhort one another daily. Notice what it takes for us to,
notice what the Lord gives us here. He says in verse 12, take
ye brethren. And then in verse 3, but exhort
one another. While it is called today, for
lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Encourage
one another, exhort each other, instruct and teach one another
while the time of life lasts and while the grace of God is
available. How can we do this? How can we
do this? By worshiping and praying and
praising God together. Does not our Lord tell us, do
not forsake the assembling of the saints? Coming together. We can sit over
here afterwards. We've got 30 minutes. We can
sit together out here on the porch like we do on some Sunday
afternoons, on a Sunday afternoon, sitting in the chairs, talking,
having a cup of coffee before we say our goodbyes and go our
own ways. And we can exhort each other.
Man, I don't know. You know, I just don't know,
Brother Mike. I'm struggling. I'm struggling
with this. I've got this thing I'm struggling with. You know
what, John? I've struggled in that, too. You know what, Brother
Mike? I've struggled in that, too. There used to be a group of ladies
here that would get together and go and do things together
on a Saturday afternoon. And it wasn't some time where
you would go and just spend the whole afternoon talking about
Scripture, but it was time for you to spend together. Just the
ladies spending together some time and talking about what's
going on in their lives. Oh, you know, I've had those
same feelings. I've had those same feelings.
Becky, Shirley, Cheryl, I've had those same feelings. This
is how I dealt with them. I looked up this scripture and
it helped me a lot. Or, I know, I just put that aside
because those thoughts are disturbing to me and I put those aside and
I just turn to the Lord because, or like my mom would say to me,
you got a problem, you put it in your hands like this and you
put it at the feet of Jesus. You just, you take it to the
feet of Jesus. Do you see what I'm talking about
exhorting one another? Are you with me in Hebrews 10?
I almost forgot to go there, didn't I? In Hebrews chapter 10, verse
24, we read these words. Let us consider one another to
provoke unto love and to good works. Good works. Some people want
to take that and say, let me provoke you to go down and work
at the kitchen and serve the poor. That's not what it's talking
about. I'm not saying that's not good
works. I'm saying that's not what the
scripture is talking about. Good works are the works that
Christ does in us. What does Christ do in us? In
the spirit of God comes and he turns us to the Lord Jesus Christ. There's no better work than that,
folks. There's no better work than that,
to encourage each other to look to Christ. Let us hold fast the
profession of our faith without wavering for he is faithful that
promised. Not forsaking the assembling
of ourselves together as the manner of some is but exhorting
one another and so much the more as you see the day approaching.
How can we, how can we Encourage one another and exhort one another
by teaching and preaching and studying the scriptures look
over at 1st Peter chapter 2 1st Peter chapter 2 we read verses
1 & 2 Wherefore laying aside all malice and all guile, and
hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn
babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow
thereby." That's the good work. That's the encouragement in good
work. As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word.
Look with me at another one, if you would. 2 Timothy. 2nd
Timothy chapter 3 beginning at verse 14, but continue thou in
the things which thou has learned and has been assured This is
how we can encourage each other folks This is how we can get
together sitting on the patio over here after church or sitting
over here having coffee before the next service This is how
we can encourage each other By continuing now in the things
which thou hast learned, and hast been assured of knowing
of whom thou hast learned them, and that from a child thou hast
known the Holy Scriptures, and are able to make thee wise unto
salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by the
inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instructions in righteousness that the man
of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. We can help each other. We can
encourage each other. We can exhort each other by talking
together about divine things and less about foolish things.
by warning each other when we see signs of indifference, signs
of worldliness. Back in our text, in verse 14,
we read, for we are made partakers. Here's that word again, partakers,
partners, partakers of Christ. If we hold the beginning of our
confidence steadfast unto the end, We only participate in the
blessings and the benefits of Christ by a genuine, preserving
faith. No man is in Christ by a temporary
faith or by a false faith or a second-hand faith. There are
examples throughout the New Testament of that faith, of faith that
was not saving faith, and I'll just give you the list. Actually, you know, I think I
will take a look at one. Turn over to Acts chapter 8.
Beginning at verse 18, we read these words. And when Simon saw
that through laying on the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given,
he offered them money. Now, this is false faith. We're
talking about turning away from false faith, not participating
with those who have a false faith. Simon offered money. As he saw
the apostles laying hands, and for the Holy Ghost he offered
them up money. Verse 19, saying, Give me also
this power, on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy
Ghost. And Peter said unto him, Thy
money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift
of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part
nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is not right in the sight
of God. So we see an example right there
of a false faith. And you can read more about that
if you'd like in John 2, verses 23 through 25, or John 6, verse
26, or even over in verse 13. You can look over there, because
we're already there. In Acts, look at verse 13 of Acts. Acts
chapter 8, verse 13. Then Simon himself believed also. And when he was baptized, he
continued with Philip and wandered, beholding the miracles of the
signs." So he believed, it says in scripture, but he had a false
belief. And then we should have actually
read that first before we did the 18. But you get the point
there. Faith that saves, true faith, is God-given faith. It's genuine, and it continues
growing in strength and in confidence as we read in Colossians chapter
1. Turn over to Colossians chapter
1. Colossians 1, beginning at verse 21. And you that were sometimes
alienated in enemies in your own mind by wicked works, yet
now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death
to present you holy and unblameable and unapprovable in his sight.
in the body of his flesh through death to present you whole if
you continue, it says in verse 23, in the faith grounded and
settled and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel which
ye have heard and which is preached to every creature which is under
heaven. Wherefore I, Paul, am a minister."
So we see that God-given faith will keep us until the end. Now back in our text again, in
Hebrews chapter 3, we read a repetition, a repetitious statement. that we also read back in Hebrews
3, 7, but I want to read it again if you would. While it is said,
today if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts as the
provocation. Now the next three verses that
we read here at the end of this chapter, and we'll cover this
quickly, the next three verses are three questions leading up
to the 19th verse. And these verses explain why
they were shut out of the land of the promise and stand as a
severe warning to you and I. Verse 16, for some, when they
had heard, did provoke, howbeit not all that came out of Egypt
by Moses. Who were they that heard and
yet were rebellious and provoked the Lord? Who were they? Was
it not all those who came out of Egypt and led by Moses? Was
not all? of those who came out of Egypt,
held out of the land of Israel. Only those who were under the
age of 20 were allowed to go into Israel. Those who were born
in the wilderness. Verse 17, but with whom was he
grieved for 40 years? Was it not with them that had
sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? And to whom
swear he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them
that believe not? With whom was the Lord irritated
or provoked by? Who was he grieved by for 40
years? Was it not those who had sinned by their murmuring and
rebelling, whose carcasses had fell in the wilderness? To whom
did God swear that he should not enter into his rest, but
to those who listened to his word and believed not? There
were only two, Joshua and Caleb. Folks, what a solemn warning
God has given you and I, his people. He's saying, take
heed. examine ourselves, are we in
the faith? What a solemn morning for you
and I who are favored with a clear revelation of His grace in Christ,
because that's what it's all about. We're going to look a
little bit more at that as we look into our next service. In
Hebrews 19, we read these words, so we see that they could not
enter in because of unbelief. We see the summary of the whole
matter. They were not able to enter into His rest because of
unbelief. They were not willing to believe
God. They were not willing to trust God. They were not willing
to rely on Him and on Him alone. So unbelief shut them out. Look
over at Hebrews 2. verses 1 through 3. Therefore
we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have
heard. How easy is it for you to go
about your own way in this world and forget about God? Is it not easy? I know it is
for me. I know it is when I walk out
those doors and go over next door I can tune my mind into
TV and forget about anything about God for another three days.
We ought to give the more earnest heed. to the things which we
have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For
if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression
and disobedience received a just recompense of reward, 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 unto us by
them that heard him? You and I could and would be
in that very camp that our Lord is warning us about. Do we not
know one that was among us once before? One who preached the truths of
God from this very pulpit. Who seems to have no desire at
all for the Lord now. Could that not be by God's grace
you and I as well? Look over with me at 1 Peter
chapter 1 and I'll close with these words. I want to give you
some words of encouragement. And no better way for me to give
you encouragement than reading through God's word where we read
this. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ
to the strangers, to God's people, scattered throughout Pontus,
Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to
the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification
of the Spirit unto the obedience and the sprinkling of the blood
of Jesus Christ. Grace unto you and peace be multiplied. Verse three, blessed be the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his
abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To an inheritance
incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved
in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith
unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. Take heed, but remember this. When we're holding on to that
anchor, It's God, it's God's anchor who's
holding on to us and keeping us from floating around in the
waves of the sea. He is the one who's keeping us,
not us keeping ourselves. Amen.