And I'm gonna go ahead and get
started, so if you would turn with me to Hebrews 2, Hebrews
2. Hebrews 2. Hebrews 2, and I'm gonna read
just one verse for right now, and that is verse 18. For in that he himself hath suffered
being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted. Most of us have, you know, that
one person that seems to be able to help us, you know, in this
life. You know, when we're sick or
we're feeling down or something like that. That one person that
just knows how to help us. Others may try if we're down
or we're sick. but they just can't seem to do
it like that one person. But look at verse six real quick,
verse six. But one in a certain place testified,
saying, what is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son
of man that thou visitest him? And we read this in Psalm 8 and
3 where we read, when I consider thy heavens, the work of thy
fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained, what
is man that thou art mindful of him and the son of man that
thou visitest him? We read here of one who did think
of man. One here that did what was needed
so that man might have or find grace and mercy. because he did
it all. We read this passage and here
is one who first of all is able. There's no question about it.
He can help those that he does this for. This he does for all
those whom he intends to do this for. He does do this. This is
going to happen. He's able to succor them that
are tempted. And that is to aid, relieve,
or help. That's what the word succor means.
He can help in a way that no one else can. No matter who you
are. It doesn't matter what your likes
and dislikes are. It doesn't matter what your mannerisms
are. It doesn't matter how bad or
how good you are. He can help you with either.
If you are one of these, he does this for you. So let's go into
some things, some questions, if you will, as it concerns this
verse today and try to answer them through scripture. Who is
it that suck wars? Why is it that he suck wars?
How is it that he suck wars? And who is it that he suck wars? So who is it that suck wars? First of all, it is the he that's
spoken here in our text, or our chapter, but go back to verse
nine, and we'll see who this is. Verse nine, but we see Jesus,
who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering
of death, crowned with glory and honor that he, by the grace
of God, should taste death for every man. Jesus. That is who it is that succors
some to himself. But this is important, and I
wished I had the words to really explain what this is saying.
But this is Jesus, the man. This man came down. He already
is, but he came, came, it says. What else do we read in Scripture
in Isaiah 9, 6? We read, for unto us a child
is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon
his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor,
the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
This Jesus was born into the world in like manner as we were. He is the son of God, but he
was a child that was born. In fact, it says this son is
the mighty God. Scripture says he was made of
a woman and made under the law. He is no longer a child, but
he is still every bit flesh and bones and blood, even now today. But listen to what it says here
in Hebrews 10, in verse 10. For it became him for whom are
all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons
unto glory to make the captain of their salvation perfect through
sufferings. It just strikes me here at the
beginning of this verse where it says, for it became him. In just a couple of verses, so
I can try to help explain this, because the words just don't
hardly come to me to explain this, but let me read a couple
of verses as it concerns us. So Romans 16, one or two, it
says this, I commend you unto Phoebe, our sister, which is
a servant of the church, which is at Sincrea, that ye receive
her in the Lord as becometh saints. Then Philippians we read, only
let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ. But in our verse it says, for
it became him. In other words, this is who he
is. For he was suitable, for it became
him in bringing many sons unto glory. this one to whom all things
are for him and all things are by him to make the leader and
author of salvation perfect or complete through sufferings.
That's what it says. Verse 11, for both he that sanctified
and they who are sanctified are all of one for which cause he
is not ashamed to call them brethren. He is the one that sanctified
some. And we are some of the some that have been sanctified.
And this says we are one. That is one with Him based on
what He has said and what He has done. He has suffered just
as we have suffered. Just think about it. This is
the God who never sleeps and never gets tired. But he knew
what it was like to be hungry, to feel dirty, meaning his hands
and feet needed washing from his travels. This one is who
it says never sleeps. Psalm 121, 4, we read, behold,
he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. Yet
we read of this man in another place, you know, where they went
in a ship to go to the other side. They were all on a ship,
Christ and his disciples. But while the others who were
on the ship with him, and they're probably running around frantic
and stuff, because they thought they were gonna perish in this
storm, because a storm came up, but we read in Matthew 8, 23
and 24, and when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed
him. And behold, there arose a great
tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with
the waves. But he was asleep. Jesus Christ
knew what it was like to be tired. This same one who was asleep
is the same one who rebuked the winds and the seas. He made the
storm a calm, as Joe pointed out in his message a couple weeks
ago, I think it was. He became a man, but why is it
that he will succor them mentioned here? The quickest answer that
I can give to this is because he wanted to. But in line with
our text, what can we say from scripture as to why he would
do this? Verse 11 again. Verse 11 again. For both he that sanctifieth
and they who are sanctified are all of one, for which cause he
is not ashamed to call them brethren. This man. who is just like you
and I, and I mean flesh and bones and blood running through his
veins, but also God above. It says he is not ashamed to
call us brethren. He did this because he has brethren
of his own choosing. He came down for a specific purpose,
and that is to redeem a people for his name. He did this, and
think about this. He did this the way that it is
described here and that we read later in Hebrews, so that he
could be touched with the filling of our infirmities. He knows
what it's like to be flesh and blood because he is flesh and
blood, not was, but is. He did this on purpose because
he loves us. He loved us so much that he came
down and was made like unto his brethren. to suffer and to ultimately
die. It says here that he did this,
he wanted to do this, that he might be a merciful and faithful
high priest in things that pertaineth to God, verse 17. Wherefore in
all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren,
that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things
pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. So why is it that he will succor
them? Because they are his brethren, based on his declaration of it.
He made them so and they are all one with him, those that
are sanctified. If you're trying to sanctify
yourself, then you are not one with him. I mean, if that's your
sole purpose, your sole hope is that you will be sanctified
before God by your own works, then you're not one with him,
you're not one of his brethren. Those spoken of here have been
sanctified by the sanctifier, who not was, but he is a man,
a Jewish man, as Walters pointed out before, that's seated at
the right hand of the majesty on high. He succors them because
he loves them, and they are his brethren, because he made them
so by his actions. So how is it that he succors
them? First of all, let's look at our
verse again, verse 18. For in that he himself hath suffered
being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted. This is part of that completion
spoken of earlier. He himself has suffered being
tempted, that is, tried, and that in his flesh. He knows what
it feels like to be flesh and bones and blood running through
his veins, even to this day. But then we read, he is able. So first, how does the Lord of
glory suck our son? He first came down, was made
like unto his brethren, and just as his brethren suffered, he
did being tested. He suffered being tested. It
actually says, it behooved him. It obliged him to be made like
unto his brethren. This is what it says next, that
he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining
to God. And I know I'm just repeating
what scripture says, and I'm repeating myself, but I mean
to do that. But this he done was to make
reconciliation for the sins of the people. Think of this, this
is God Almighty, creator of all things that has done this. So
he is able. But how he did this is by coming
down and becoming a man, the God in heaven above who just
is. And the one that has done whatsoever
he has pleased came down and he suffered on purpose. Because
of that, it says he is able. So how he does it is because
he is able to do it, because it pleased him to be made like
unto his brethren. He was, he did, and he does. So who is it specifically that
he succors? Easy enough, we've already heard
it a few times. Those who are tempted. Those
who are tried. They who are his brethren. Those
who are tried in the furnace of affliction. So much so that
they labor and are heavy laden. Those who are weary from their
works. They are tried of themselves.
We're not talking about low self-esteem in and of itself, although it
does include that. But specifically, specifically,
these are those who have low self-esteem as it concerns the
God of heaven and themselves. These are those who have been
brought to see they are guilty for God's holy justice, his holy
court. These are they who find no hope
in and of themselves. These are they that in his good
time and any time he is pleased, he says unto them, come unto
me. This suckering, this wooing,
as I don't remember who said it, Walter or Earl first, but
this wooing, wooing one unto himself. I can
only think of one analogy, and it's not that it is a great analogy,
it's just all that comes to my mind, but this wooing or suckering,
I want to point this out, this suckering is not a con job, it's
not a manipulation. Our Lord manifest His love toward
us in His sufferings and in hanging on that tree and dying in our
stead. We're not talking about a con job here. He, that is Christ,
is the author and finisher of faith. So it is a real wooing. It's genuine. It is merciful
and it is faithful, this wooing by him. But there's something
that maybe helps trying to show what I mean by this. I mean,
me and Paula will, you know, we'll watch these police shows
all the time, you know. And the police are called to
a place. And you might have this person
that's in this building, or in this house, or whatever. And
they went through some kind of traumatic event. Someone's done
something to them, or whatever. They witnessed something. And
the police, when they first come in there, they announce who they
are. We're the police. Police. And when they're coming
in with their guns drawn, usually, because they don't know what's
in there either. But then they see this person, and they go
in. This person's scared, of course.
They've been traumatic. So they announce themselves police,
but then they say, we're here to help. We're going to help
you. We're the police. We're not going to hurt you.
We're here to help. But it is him who puts us in these trials. And these trials have the result
of hope, but not just hope, a good hope, not a wish, a good hope. We get in these trials and we
all too often, at least this is true of me, but we all too
often begin to look at ourselves. That is the wrong place to look.
In our text, in the chapter that we have here, it says, but we
see Jesus. This is a good place to look
and behold, and it's a good place to keep your eyes fixed on. Remember,
we did not and do not sanctify ourselves and we cannot help
ourselves. But he is able. He arrests us
and we become guilty before him, before God. But he is able and
he does this to his brethren. He pulls them close in to himself. And then he says, look at me,
I'm able to help you. This is what we're talking about
here when our Lord succors us. Because he has suffered and been
tried like we have, he is all wise and he knows the right way
to do things. But he has also suffered like
us and so he knows the feeling of our infirmities. He is able
to mercifully and to faithfully to come to us in this way and
he does come to his brethren in this way. He identifies himself,
see Jesus. He lets us know he is there to
help. He lovingly draws us to himself
saying, come unto me and I will give you rest. He lets us know,
stop your working, I've already done it. Rest in me, see Jesus. How does he do this specifically
though? By his spirit and through his
gospel. The first thing is to see him.
And in seeing him, and that is being arrested, and when that
is done, you see who he is. It causes fear. But he is always
merciful and faithful to relieve or to help those fears. Turn
with me to Revelations 1 for a minute. I know you all know
this, but Revelations 1. I'm going to begin in verse 12,
Revelations 1. And this is John speaking, so,
And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being
turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks. And in the midst of the seven
candlesticks, one likened to the Son of Man, clothed with
a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden
girdle. His head and his hairs were white
like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were as a flame
of fire. And his feet likened to fine
brass, as if they burned in a furnace, and his voice as the sound of
many waters. And he had in his right hand
seven stars, and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword,
and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid
his right hand upon me saying unto me, fear not, I am the first
and the last. I am everything. He is able and he does calm our
fears because he shows us what he has done. And he can do this
because it pleased him to come and take on himself the likeness
of sinful flesh. The likeness, not sinful flesh,
but the likeness of it. And I'm thankful to God for this.
This world and this flesh cause us troubles, but I'm thankful
he is merciful and faithful. You can count on him for his
help. So what is the conclusion to all of this? God, in the face
of Jesus Christ, is merciful and faithful in all things. He
manifested all of this by coming down and being made like unto
his brethren. He suffered being tried in this
flesh, in this flesh and bones and blood, just as those of us
do, yet without sin. He was pleased to do this. This
is exactly what God wanted to do. Become flesh. He is creator of all things,
and this is how he purposed it to happen. He could have done
anything he wanted, but he was mindful of man. He was able to
do this because of what he did. He knows what you go through
because he's been there. Because he has been there, he
is able to succor his brethren, bringing them close to himself.
This he does graciously. Yes, we are forced. We are grown
by God, and he does this lovingly, graciously, mercifully, and faithfully. He manifests this love that he
has for his people in dying on that tree, being a man. So he
has suffered all the way into death, being made what we are,
and that is sin. But he has causes us to draw
nigh unto him by telling us who he is and what he's done through
the gospel. He sends someone to us with those sweet words. All those who labor and are heavy
laden, he draws nigh to his brethren and pull them in close to him. And he says, come unto me and
ye shall find rest for your souls. I want to be suckered by him
still. I still need to be suckered by him because I'm in need of
help all the time. Psalm 46, one through three,
we read, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help
in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though
the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into
the midst of the sea. Though the waters thereof roar
and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.
Selah. Have you been suckled? Listen,
the older I get, folks, the worse I seem to get. This flesh seems
to get stronger and stronger, and me in a new man is weaker
and weaker, that's what it seems. I'm certainly getting physically
weaker, for sure. But he is our strength, and he
takes us here that he might succor us to himself over and over again. If he did not, and he just let
me go, I would turn from him. Hebrews 11, 13 and 34 we read,
who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained
promises, stopped the mouth of the blind, and it's talking about
all these people who had faith, quenched the balance of fire,
escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong,
waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
How does this happen? Out of weakness being made strong. Because we see Jesus when we
have no other place to go. He is our strength and our help.
Do you have a need? Do you have a help? Do you need
help? He is able to succor them that
are tempted. Look to Him for any help you
might need. If He's all you have, you have
enough. Because He is able, amen. Dear little God, we're so unfaithful at times,
dear Lord, but we thank you that you're faithful. We know we can look to you for
anything, dear Lord, for our help. And we thank you for that. Dear Lord, cause us to continually
see you, dear Lord. Be with all those that are out
there, dear Lord, and may you comfort them with a sense of
your presence in all these things we ask in Christ's name, amen.