The Sermon Christ - Excellent Way by David McGee
Dec 01, 2013
Christ - Excellent Way (34:50)
Referenced Scriptures: Hebrews 1
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Hebrews 1
1) God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,
2) has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds.
3) His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself made purification for our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
4) having become so much better than the angels, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they have.
5) For to which of the angels did he say at any time, "You are my Son, Today have I become your father?" and again, "I will be to him a Father, And he will be to me a Son?"
6) When he again brings in the firstborn into the world he says, "Let all the angels of God worship him."
7) Of the angels he says, "Who makes his angels winds, And his servants a flame a fire."
8) but of the Son he says, "Your throne, God, is forever and ever; The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
9) You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; Therefore God, your God, has anointed you With the oil of gladness above your fellows."
10) And, "You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the works of your hands.
11) They will perish, but you continue. They all will grow old like a garment does.
12) As a mantle you will roll them up. And they will be changed. But you are the same. Your years will not fail."
13) But of which of the angels has he said at any time, "Sit at my right hand, Until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet?"
14) Aren‘t they all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
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Okay turning your Bibles to Hebrews, chapter one Hebrews chapter one and today beginning at event we don't follow the church calendar is such an art in our denomination, but advanced is the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas and and and I and is observed as a season of prayer and fasting. So it is more than just an advent calendar that we have for the kids that we open up and get a promise that every day of the every day of December until Christmas. But as the day a period of time that we celebrate in observance of Christ's coming, and it is a while I think of it enough in our society that it is something that is one that is overlooked a lot because of the commercialism and the celebration of Christmas that you've got to know by certain things and have a certain amount of money you spent in order to have a wonderful Christmas, but that's not the just, that's not the importance of Christmas Newport as of Christmas is that Christ is common. We celebrate his birth and the incarnation God with us. And you know I'm not knocking a lot of presents are a few presents, it's the idea of what we celebrated for now with you if you are, whatever six four five on whenever you start remembering Jackson, our grandson wanted to know if Santa Claus was go to rap is his presence again in Charlie Brown, which was present, Christmas paper in a host like and he was three. Last year when he opened his presents. Anything you think Santa Claus is going to wrap my presence and Charlie Brown Christmas paper in our flight who gave if we bought Charlie Brown Christmas papers, but it's the also the things that people remember the things that we celebrate an end. That's what's so important about Christmas and about the holidays is that you forget the presence, but you never forget the atmosphere. You never forget the family you never forget the traditions that you establish as families and friends and so it is. We prepare we want to make sure we prepare our hearts. We want to prepare the interaction of individuals preparing ourselves there. There are a family of two that come just on Christmas Eve that never have come to our church. Any other time, but they they told me a number of times, you know, going to your church on Christmas Eve is just just sets the mood for Christmas for our family and the others only when they've never been to church on a Sunday morning, but there's a couple of families the time on Christmas Eve. They don't allow that they have another church that they attend any other time, but they come here on Christmas Eve because it is something so very special to them, and it's critically has become for them. A family tradition, and so as we put in place. These family traditions, we are establishing them and where establishing them as something that is very as tradition, but also a something that really makes the Christmas season that makes the holiday that we celebrate as Christmas, the birth of Christ, so very important and so as we look at adventure as we look at the beginning of this Christmas season. We I. I thought of Hebrews chapter one, now say what what is I have to do with the birth of Christ. While the book of Hebrews was written to Jewish believers and written about seventy A.D. and the Jewish believers were having a very difficult time in their faith. They have here to have a faith it was established the Jewish faith, was established by various profits and sellers established by God himself, and they have this faith that there have been and in Judaism was a divine design. It was thereby the NL by God 's written by the finger of God, the ten Commandments. We had the prophets how they describe God, the God of promise and how that God had established promises throughout the Old Testament, and he revealed the way of forgiveness through the sacrifices, and through the sacrificial system in the way of the other Temple and the altars and not in the ceremonial Washington and all the sacrifices and things like that but then we have, how that Christ came and how that he fulfilled the law and the sacrifices and how the people build all of these things and how that Christ conquered sin, all sin by his sacrificial death, and so we find then how that God through Christ. Remove the barriers to God that Jesus Christ came and removed all barriers that stood between God and man, sometimes ever feel like you can alone in this thing sometimes were alone in our faith that it seems like I pray and God doesn't hear me as if there is a barrier while those barriers that we imagine exists do not exist because Christ has removed them. So whenever we come to Communion whenever we come to one thing I had a feeling like our very others walls there between us and God. We can come back to alarm the basics of our faith, which is our forgiveness that comes through Jesus Christ, and probably focus on that forgiveness, and if we we confess our sins, he forgets us at all barriers between us are broken so the barriers between God and man are completely demolished destroyed of letter rate it because of the death of Christ upon the cross, and so the Messiah was a different was a very difficult concept, then, for the Jewish believers, the Jewish Christians who had left the Judaism, and had come to believe in Jesus Christ and here we have the people of the Jewish faith of being that would be connected to the Old Testament and rejecting Jesus, they were creating a lot of trials and a lot of problems for the then converts to Christ, Christianity that were Jews. So there was this conflict going on in the writer to the Hebrews is telling them the Jewish Christians that you have accepted the better way. Christ is the more excellent way and that God through Jesus Christ has come to be with us and as we read the first chapter of Hebrews we find home that this is the beginning of Advent the beginning of how that they were to understand how that Jesus Christ is come to be part of their life so long ago, verse one. The Hebrews, chapter one one and all at different times in various ways God 's voice came to our ancestors through the Hebrew prophets, so at various times and in different ways God spoke, we have how that Moses, Moses came is called by God no, this first children of Israel out of captivity of Egypt, and how many received the law, the ten Commandments. And you know he is the author of the first five books of the Bible and we have how God spoke through Moses, and then we have now. God spoke through Isaiah and the different profits virgin shall conceive and bear a child. We read that in the book of Isaiah and and how that Jacob in his dreams and you all these things come together and how that God spoke in various times in different ways through the prophets in verse two but in these last days now. Sometimes people have read that from our perspective, they were these are the last days while primarily focuses on is now seventy A.D. when this. This is being written at seventy years sense of approximately seven years since the birth and death of right and resurrection of Jesus. And so, in these last days, in these last seventy years in this country lost through his son. Meeting Jesus, but the water that has been given dominion over all things, and through and through whom all worlds where May, so here it is contra Larson, who is he writing to these writing to Jewish Christians and is telling him in these last days, in these last seventy years by Jesus. All things who he was very creation. Jesus was there at creation. Just then, the baby in a manger is God become flash and so here it is from the very beginning, the writer to the Hebrews is telling them the same God who was there at the very beginning. We read from Moses in the beginning God created the heavens and the Europe and Europe was without form and void, so in the very beginning, the same God who was there at that time, the same God okay Thomas in Jesus Christ and by him all things were created, and the coming of Christ is more than this babe in a manger. It is God becomes man, Emanuel God with us. And in verse three. This is the one the imprint imprinted with God image shimmering with his glory sustains all that existed the power of his word. God became flash and dwelt among us, the imprint of God 's image. Jesus says if you have seen me, you seen the father and there are the believers in Jesus, who are Jewish, and they know all of the rituals and the traditions of Judaism, and now the writer here is dying, then here is the image of God among us and who Google sustained through him all things exist exist by what, by the power of his word. So when God spoke the world into existence, saying Jesus same God who was there described by Moses is the same God, Jesus, who came to be with us, and by the power of his word. Everything exists. Think back to the miracles then back at how the Jesus which is easier for me to say, your sins be forgiven or rise up and walk the power of his word, which is easier for me to say an end. Either people weren't hectic con and conflict with Christ while they then would they couldn't come to answer, which is easiest to say, your sins are for rise up and walk. Which of them is easier while here the writer to the Hebrews. This time, Dan. Everything exists and continues to exist by the power of his work. The power of his work. He speaks and what happens, everything changes the world speaks and the constancy. He prays over five loaves and two fishes what happens. They feed five thousand men plus women and children. This word has a way of describing and multiplying and making things work. So as we take the word of God and of our client to our lives we find that there's things to change. Do this in remembrance of being as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you remember what happens what took place on the on Calvary and at the cross. You remember what took place at the tomb, the resurrection, you remember what took place at Pentecost. You remember what takes place whenever we confess our sins, we are forgiven you remember what will take place that you will spend eternity with me in heaven truly is required. All of these things come together and and and and it starts to them will read the next verse. He was seated at the right hand of God. Once he himself had made the offering and purified us from our sins. So Jesus after the sacrifice on the cross after his resurrection and ascension to heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the father, and he is purified us from our sins that we are forgiven that there is a disgrace and the establishment of God 's amazing grace God 's amazing power within our lives, first floor this son of God is elevated as far about the heavenly messengers as holy name is elevated above their that this son of God is elevated. The name of Jesus is greater than the names and titles of Angels. The name of Jesus. The gators made a song thirty years ago, Jesus, there's just something about that name now master save your at the name of Jesus. Things change at the end of our prayers. In Jesus name we pray, what are we doing that just the cliché that would put the end of a prayer or is it is a request that we are held Jesus start off our prayers with the name the name of Jesus is higher and greater than any title given to man or given to Angels in a power greater than man. The name of Jesus is higher than any of those powers. Any power that is name that is greater than human. Any spiritual power. Jesus is a name greater than all the bells and so at the name of Jesus. Revelation the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, every tongue confess Christ as Lord of the name of Jesus, everything changes. Jesus is the nature of God. He is the nature of man, incarnation, God became flesh and dwelt among us that this was a very important part for the Hebrews to understand because most images of angels. Most the time they thought that angels were they are superior beings to humans but they endeavored there were parts of aspects of the culture at that time that believe that some you can get the Jesus unless you go through an angel that were theologies about angels that put them in places that were ministering to us and ministering to do humans, and that without angels, we can get to heaven while that was this writer to the Hebrews is telling them there is only one name is greater than any name of an angel, or whatever, because angels literally means messengers and they are individuals who are messengers sent from God to man. What we have in the Christmas story. We have an angel Gabriel coming to marry Mary, you're going to have a child and will. How can these things. Beyond that I don't know a man. I'm not been married. How can I have a child of the Holy Spirit is going to come up like the Angels a messenger whatever Jesus is resurrected from the dead. Where are the Angels where that there in the true what they say. Why do you look for the living among the dead, they make these declarations and at the name of Jesus. He is greater than any created thing, Jesus, the name of Jesus is greater than any created thing, and that they may reckon that the Angels recognize their place and they are going to file down before the sovereign Lord, and so as some of the early then teachings or doctrines taught that God could only be approached through Angels, some of Jesus 's death, the highest angel of God. But Jesus is not the highest angel of God. Jesus is God incarnate is God become flesh and dwelt among us, that the son of God is elevated as far above the heavenly messengers as his holy name is elevated above, there's that that the name of Jesus is above every other name. Whenever we find people in a crisis. What are they saying, Jesus, it's kind of awkward sometimes we're walking into a store and this guy heard behind me he was going, Jesus Jesus Jesus, but he was not thinking of the same Jesus, I ask that it was not repainting the name of Jesus I was. I was kind of shocked that because I've never heard someone just walked into a star and then start cursing with the name of Jesus repeating the name three or four times and then, of course, adding of the name of Jesus Christ through his declaration and he wasn't praying of course it was person and and I just took me by surprise that he would mention the name of Jesus. Three or four times and then use it followed up with some type of curse and it's something how that people will take the name of Christ and use it in a profane way. What if we use one of one of the use some other name. What is David, David, David, David was loving on how the David, what does it mean when people take the name of Jesus and the use of inveighing why is it that the name of Jesus is taken in vain for cursing and swearing things like that but if they use some other name. Because it doesn't have power and when you are derogatory and you when you are degrading the power of God, you will attach the name of God to something derogatory and so whatever you are trying to tear away from that which is sacred. You take that which is sacred and attached to that which is not sacred. That's why cursing his luck. That's why cursing is not for Christian because we are not attaching something sacred to something that is derogatory. We're attaching that which is sacred to our prayer in Jesus name. That's our prayer is so here is the name that is greater than all lanes in the universe, greater and more powerful than anything created it is the name of God, eternal Creator of heaven and earth. His name is Jesus. He is Emmanuel, while he is God with us. And so whenever we pray, we are attaching that which is all-powerful at whose name and had whose word all things hold together. Everything holds together by the word of God, and by his promise. So when we pray we are asking gobbler wanted to see God work through our prayers. That's why we in Jesus name we pray, and this do in remembrance of Jesus of the work that he has accomplished on the cross and his resurrection for no heavenly messenger verse five for no heavenly messenger have ever heard God address them with these words of the Psalm, and that's what follows you are my son, today I have become your father. In Jewish families. The first born son would hold the highest privileges and responsibilities. So the Julie's reader would understand Jesus was superior to any created being. By reading these words whenever the Joyce family are Jewish or individual would read this word, he would find that his Jesus is the highest authority in highest Friendly's on the father, and then or hear him promise this, it says I will be new. I will be to you a father you will be to me a son, Jesus. Jesus shall be the foundation and the fountain of every gracious relationship. The father and man would have Jesus is the file to all which things flow and he is the foundation upon which we stand that everything that comes from the father comes through Christ to us now, when the sun when the sun, the firstborn of God, Mary, you're going to bring forth a child, you're not going to be in the normal sense with a man, but the Holy Spirit is going to come upon you, and the firstborn son, and what are you going to do with the God of the universe, you're going to lay him in a manger in a piece of stone that has been cut out of the wall where we feed cattle. That's where the son of God, the greatest Emmanuel, God with us. The Angels. No one else has this distinct place or privilege. Now, when the sun, the firstborn of God was brought into the world, God 's let all my heavenly messengers worship him all of the Angels worship Jesus, all being supernatural command angels worship him, and what glory to God, and they all came together. The shepherds on the on the hillside and yell, Jimbo, the Bethlehem. And there you will find the bay to find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And there with the multitude therefore the angel with a multitude of angels decluttering glory to God in the highest he's worshiped by all the angels of heaven have come together to celebrate the birth concerning them. God said I make my heavenly message. Messages like the wind, the Angels that people want to worship there are messengers like the wind. They are Cialis and they are my servants like a flame. They are like these messengers are our solace and they are light and the Angels of heavenly adopt. They laid out the heavens glory to God in the highest and the shepherds were just in amazement. Doctor declaration of all of these angels in the book of Hebrews is telling them this is what happened is this, like, without saying in declaring what we read in the Gospel of Luke. And as we read about the birth of Christ. It doesn't speak of it exactly, but it speaks of it figuratively about the Angels and their people in their place birthdate, but to the sun. He said, but to the sun. He said this is Jewish audience. The sun. He said God. Your throne is eternal. You'll rule your kingdom with the scepter of justice. Jesus has the scepter. The scepter of righteousness, did you know in in the ancient time, McCain would hold the scepter in the sector and he had all authority and power and should he desire to step down from his authority, he would get the scepter to another. When Joseph was ruler was second-in-command in Egypt. What if ever, do he took off his ring and put his ring upon Joseph's finger that he had to seal of the authority and when she says he will have the scepter of righteousness that he has the scepter that that he has all authority is given in Jesus name. So whenever we pray the scepter of righteousness. The scepter and what you say here you have you logged what is right and you hate what is evil. So here is the scepter of righteousness that despises that which is evil. You walk what is right. Whenever we pray in Jesus name we are declaring that which is right before God. We would never pray for God to hurt someone. We would never pray for God to do harm to someone. We pray for God to work in people 's lives. We pray that God would would work in us and do a good work. I ceiling work of restoration and easy. God despises what is evil. He loves that which is right. That is why God, your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness admitted you about your companions, Thanksgiving last week 's sermon get thanks every day always in all things. Why, because we give thanks because we see God in everything, while helping you see God in everything, can we see God in the crucifixion. Yes, as we look back on it. Yes, God was there but didn't Marion and and the disciples, the one Jesus is hanging on the cross after they see God in everything. All of their hopes or dreams or despair. But God is there in our life, we give thanks because we believe that God is there GE's Osseo is unnamed writer that all lanes. He is above all authority. All power and in Jesus name we believe that God is at work. Even when we can't see him. So we give thanks to the holy one, the effects why because we see we want to see God in the difficulties in God 's commandment in the beginning you, Lord, lay the foundation of the year, Jesus was there. The originator he was the one who could have began who could have been role of the earth, and he turned that over to man a set disguise above with his own hands with the stars and places. It's the biggest fundamental place. But while the wild, they will someday pass away, you remain forever you know the stars, sky, your dog will wear out like a garment. We see in the next verse is how he folds them up and puts them away, and in earth pass away everything that we look at everything that we know what we walked on, we use someday it will be gone. The sun the moon, the stars of the sky, the earth, everything don't be gone. Gone will create a new heaven and new earth in El Dorado, Nagano verse says that will someday pass away verse eleven, but they wear out like old clothes. Your wares out like an old clothes. I can hold> verse. While you will roll them up to roll them up your blog. You're going to roll the world up like a garment and change them into something new, but you will never change your years will never come to an end your years, the name of Jesus and his kingdom will never come to an end. Do this in remembrance of me remember what I've done what I've accomplished what I am doing in the writer to the Hebrews as I look at this more excellent way. Look at this name, and this person who is above every name, verse thirteen the God ever say to an angel to his heavenly messengers said here at my right hand in the seat of honor and I'll put your enemies under your feet ever said that to an angel, but to Christ. It is their first fourteen no, of course not. The heavenly messengers are only spirits and servants sent out to minister to those who will certainly inherit salvation. They angels are sent out as messengers we see them, and we think of them in the Christmas story. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you, you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with them, the Angels multitude of heavenly hosts, glory to God hi, and on earth peace and goodwill toward men. The angels are messengers. The Angels are declaring the message of God, but the name of Jesus, the one they are declaring Emmanuel, God with us is the same Jesus we pray to whose who has the scepter of righteousness. He is the King of Kings, he is the Lord of Lords. He carries the scepter of righteousness. All of that which is wiped in good and holy and lovely. He carries that in every time we pray we are invoking that power in that prayer and that authority that holds all things together is there in our name. The name we use Jesus and what it represents the scepter of righteousness. So as we enter advanced the Christmas season. This holy season, a season of prayer season of fasting is the name of Jesus, who makes everything different makes everything right. Amen. Less than selling. So when we say Jesus we are now all one has to remember all that is implied with that all that is part of this. He holds everything together whenever we pray when difficult times. What are we asking for Jesus hold this together make this helped me help me help this work make this work. Father, we thank you that you heard our prayers and, as we read the Scriptures, as we see what you are saying to us, especially about Jesus. The importance of that name the greatness of that name, God, we thank you that we have a name that is above every name, we have a name that is holds all things together. It is the name that we put in. We place deliberately at the beginning and the ending of our prayers that God, it is your name and your word that holds all of this together, we thank you for your piece, we thank you for your forgiveness. We thank you for your grace and your mercy that come into our life, we asked these things in the name of in the name of in the name of who holds all things together and then God blessedOkay turning your Bibles to Hebrews, chapter one Hebrews chapter one and today beginning at event we don't follow the church calendar is such an art in our denomination, but advanced is the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas and and and I and is observed as a season of prayer and fasting. So it is more than just an advent calendar that we have for the kids that we open up and get a promise that every day of the every day of December until Christmas. But as the day a period of time that we celebrate in observance of Christ's coming, and it is a while I think of it enough in our society that it is something that is one that is overlooked a lot because of the commercialism and the celebration of Christmas that you've got to know by certain things and have a certain amount of money you spent in order to have a wonderful Christmas, but that's not the just, that's not the importance of Christmas Newport as of Christmas is that Christ is common. We celebrate his birth and the incarnation God with us. And you know I'm not knocking a lot of presents are a few presents, it's the idea of what we celebrated for now with you if you are, whatever six four five on whenever you start remembering Jackson, our grandson wanted to know if Santa Claus was go to rap is his presence again in Charlie Brown, which was present, Christmas paper in a host like and he was three. Last year when he opened his presents. Anything you think Santa Claus is going to wrap my presence and Charlie Brown Christmas paper in our flight who gave if we bought Charlie Brown Christmas papers, but it's the also the things that people remember the things that we celebrate an end. That's what's so important about Christmas and about the holidays is that you forget the presence, but you never forget the atmosphere. You never forget the family you never forget the traditions that you establish as families and friends and so it is. We prepare we want to make sure we prepare our hearts. We want to prepare the interaction of individuals preparing ourselves there. There are a family of two that come just on Christmas Eve that never have come to our church. Any other time, but they they told me a number of times, you know, going to your church on Christmas Eve is just just sets the mood for Christmas for our family and the others only when they've never been to church on a Sunday morning, but there's a couple of families the time on Christmas Eve. They don't allow that they have another church that they attend any other time, but they come here on Christmas Eve because it is something so very special to them, and it's critically has become for them. A family tradition, and so as we put in place. These family traditions, we are establishing them and where establishing them as something that is very as tradition, but also a something that really makes the Christmas season that makes the holiday that we celebrate as Christmas, the birth of Christ, so very important and so as we look at adventure as we look at the beginning of this Christmas season. We I. I thought of Hebrews chapter one, now say what what is I have to do with the birth of Christ. While the book of Hebrews was written to Jewish believers and written about seventy A.D. and the Jewish believers were having a very difficult time in their faith. They have here to have a faith it was established the Jewish faith, was established by various profits and sellers established by God himself, and they have this faith that there have been and in Judaism was a divine design. It was thereby the NL by God 's written by the finger of God, the ten Commandments. We had the prophets how they describe God, the God of promise and how that God had established promises throughout the Old Testament, and he revealed the way of forgiveness through the sacrifices, and through the sacrificial system in the way of the other Temple and the altars and not in the ceremonial Washington and all the sacrifices and things like that but then we have, how that Christ came and how that he fulfilled the law and the sacrifices and how the people build all of these things and how that Christ conquered sin, all sin by his sacrificial death, and so we find then how that God through Christ. Remove the barriers to God that Jesus Christ came and removed all barriers that stood between God and man, sometimes ever feel like you can alone in this thing sometimes were alone in our faith that it seems like I pray and God doesn't hear me as if there is a barrier while those barriers that we imagine exists do not exist because Christ has removed them. So whenever we come to Communion whenever we come to one thing I had a feeling like our very others walls there between us and God. We can come back to alarm the basics of our faith, which is our forgiveness that comes through Jesus Christ, and probably focus on that forgiveness, and if we we confess our sins, he forgets us at all barriers between us are broken so the barriers between God and man are completely demolished destroyed of letter rate it because of the death of Christ upon the cross, and so the Messiah was a different was a very difficult concept, then, for the Jewish believers, the Jewish Christians who had left the Judaism, and had come to believe in Jesus Christ and here we have the people of the Jewish faith of being that would be connected to the Old Testament and rejecting Jesus, they were creating a lot of trials and a lot of problems for the then converts to Christ, Christianity that were Jews. So there was this conflict going on in the writer to the Hebrews is telling them the Jewish Christians that you have accepted the better way. Christ is the more excellent way and that God through Jesus Christ has come to be with us and as we read the first chapter of Hebrews we find home that this is the beginning of Advent the beginning of how that they were to understand how that Jesus Christ is come to be part of their life so long ago, verse one. The Hebrews, chapter one one and all at different times in various ways God 's voice came to our ancestors through the Hebrew prophets, so at various times and in different ways God spoke, we have how that Moses, Moses came is called by God no, this first children of Israel out of captivity of Egypt, and how many received the law, the ten Commandments. And you know he is the author of the first five books of the Bible and we have how God spoke through Moses, and then we have now. God spoke through Isaiah and the different profits virgin shall conceive and bear a child. We read that in the book of Isaiah and and how that Jacob in his dreams and you all these things come together and how that God spoke in various times in different ways through the prophets in verse two but in these last days now. Sometimes people have read that from our perspective, they were these are the last days while primarily focuses on is now seventy A.D. when this. This is being written at seventy years sense of approximately seven years since the birth and death of right and resurrection of Jesus. And so, in these last days, in these last seventy years in this country lost through his son. Meeting Jesus, but the water that has been given dominion over all things, and through and through whom all worlds where May, so here it is contra Larson, who is he writing to these writing to Jewish Christians and is telling him in these last days, in these last seventy years by Jesus. All things who he was very creation. Jesus was there at creation. Just then, the baby in a manger is God become flash and so here it is from the very beginning, the writer to the Hebrews is telling them the same God who was there at the very beginning. We read from Moses in the beginning God created the heavens and the Europe and Europe was without form and void, so in the very beginning, the same God who was there at that time, the same God okay Thomas in Jesus Christ and by him all things were created, and the coming of Christ is more than this babe in a manger. It is God becomes man, Emanuel God with us. And in verse three. This is the one the imprint imprinted with God image shimmering with his glory sustains all that existed the power of his word. God became flash and dwelt among us, the imprint of God 's image. Jesus says if you have seen me, you seen the father and there are the believers in Jesus, who are Jewish, and they know all of the rituals and the traditions of Judaism, and now the writer here is dying, then here is the image of God among us and who Google sustained through him all things exist exist by what, by the power of his word. So when God spoke the world into existence, saying Jesus same God who was there described by Moses is the same God, Jesus, who came to be with us, and by the power of his word. Everything exists. Think back to the miracles then back at how the Jesus which is easier for me to say, your sins be forgiven or rise up and walk the power of his word, which is easier for me to say an end. Either people weren't hectic con and conflict with Christ while they then would they couldn't come to answer, which is easiest to say, your sins are for rise up and walk. Which of them is easier while here the writer to the Hebrews. This time, Dan. Everything exists and continues to exist by the power of his work. The power of his work. He speaks and what happens, everything changes the world speaks and the constancy. He prays over five loaves and two fishes what happens. They feed five thousand men plus women and children. This word has a way of describing and multiplying and making things work. So as we take the word of God and of our client to our lives we find that there's things to change. Do this in remembrance of being as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you remember what happens what took place on the on Calvary and at the cross. You remember what took place at the tomb, the resurrection, you remember what took place at Pentecost. You remember what takes place whenever we confess our sins, we are forgiven you remember what will take place that you will spend eternity with me in heaven truly is required. All of these things come together and and and and it starts to them will read the next verse. He was seated at the right hand of God. Once he himself had made the offering and purified us from our sins. So Jesus after the sacrifice on the cross after his resurrection and ascension to heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the father, and he is purified us from our sins that we are forgiven that there is a disgrace and the establishment of God 's amazing grace God 's amazing power within our lives, first floor this son of God is elevated as far about the heavenly messengers as holy name is elevated above their that this son of God is elevated. The name of Jesus is greater than the names and titles of Angels. The name of Jesus. The gators made a song thirty years ago, Jesus, there's just something about that name now master save your at the name of Jesus. Things change at the end of our prayers. In Jesus name we pray, what are we doing that just the cliché that would put the end of a prayer or is it is a request that we are held Jesus start off our prayers with the name the name of Jesus is higher and greater than any title given to man or given to Angels in a power greater than man. The name of Jesus is higher than any of those powers. Any power that is name that is greater than human. Any spiritual power. Jesus is a name greater than all the bells and so at the name of Jesus. Revelation the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, every tongue confess Christ as Lord of the name of Jesus, everything changes. Jesus is the nature of God. He is the nature of man, incarnation, God became flesh and dwelt among us that this was a very important part for the Hebrews to understand because most images of angels. Most the time they thought that angels were they are superior beings to humans but they endeavored there were parts of aspects of the culture at that time that believe that some you can get the Jesus unless you go through an angel that were theologies about angels that put them in places that were ministering to us and ministering to do humans, and that without angels, we can get to heaven while that was this writer to the Hebrews is telling them there is only one name is greater than any name of an angel, or whatever, because angels literally means messengers and they are individuals who are messengers sent from God to man. What we have in the Christmas story. We have an angel Gabriel coming to marry Mary, you're going to have a child and will. How can these things. Beyond that I don't know a man. I'm not been married. How can I have a child of the Holy Spirit is going to come up like the Angels a messenger whatever Jesus is resurrected from the dead. Where are the Angels where that there in the true what they say. Why do you look for the living among the dead, they make these declarations and at the name of Jesus. He is greater than any created thing, Jesus, the name of Jesus is greater than any created thing, and that they may reckon that the Angels recognize their place and they are going to file down before the sovereign Lord, and so as some of the early then teachings or doctrines taught that God could only be approached through Angels, some of Jesus 's death, the highest angel of God. But Jesus is not the highest angel of God. Jesus is God incarnate is God become flesh and dwelt among us, that the son of God is elevated as far above the heavenly messengers as his holy name is elevated above, there's that that the name of Jesus is above every other name. Whenever we find people in a crisis. What are they saying, Jesus, it's kind of awkward sometimes we're walking into a store and this guy heard behind me he was going, Jesus Jesus Jesus, but he was not thinking of the same Jesus, I ask that it was not repainting the name of Jesus I was. I was kind of shocked that because I've never heard someone just walked into a star and then start cursing with the name of Jesus repeating the name three or four times and then, of course, adding of the name of Jesus Christ through his declaration and he wasn't praying of course it was person and and I just took me by surprise that he would mention the name of Jesus. Three or four times and then use it followed up with some type of curse and it's something how that people will take the name of Christ and use it in a profane way. What if we use one of one of the use some other name. What is David, David, David, David was loving on how the David, what does it mean when people take the name of Jesus and the use of inveighing why is it that the name of Jesus is taken in vain for cursing and swearing things like that but if they use some other name. Because it doesn't have power and when you are derogatory and you when you are degrading the power of God, you will attach the name of God to something derogatory and so whatever you are trying to tear away from that which is sacred. You take that which is sacred and attached to that which is not sacred. That's why cursing his luck. That's why cursing is not for Christian because we are not attaching something sacred to something that is derogatory. We're attaching that which is sacred to our prayer in Jesus name. That's our prayer is so here is the name that is greater than all lanes in the universe, greater and more powerful than anything created it is the name of God, eternal Creator of heaven and earth. His name is Jesus. He is Emmanuel, while he is God with us. And so whenever we pray, we are attaching that which is all-powerful at whose name and had whose word all things hold together. Everything holds together by the word of God, and by his promise. So when we pray we are asking gobbler wanted to see God work through our prayers. That's why we in Jesus name we pray, and this do in remembrance of Jesus of the work that he has accomplished on the cross and his resurrection for no heavenly messenger verse five for no heavenly messenger have ever heard God address them with these words of the Psalm, and that's what follows you are my son, today I have become your father. In Jewish families. The first born son would hold the highest privileges and responsibilities. So the Julie's reader would understand Jesus was superior to any created being. By reading these words whenever the Joyce family are Jewish or individual would read this word, he would find that his Jesus is the highest authority in highest Friendly's on the father, and then or hear him promise this, it says I will be new. I will be to you a father you will be to me a son, Jesus. Jesus shall be the foundation and the fountain of every gracious relationship. The father and man would have Jesus is the file to all which things flow and he is the foundation upon which we stand that everything that comes from the father comes through Christ to us now, when the sun when the sun, the firstborn of God, Mary, you're going to bring forth a child, you're not going to be in the normal sense with a man, but the Holy Spirit is going to come upon you, and the firstborn son, and what are you going to do with the God of the universe, you're going to lay him in a manger in a piece of stone that has been cut out of the wall where we feed cattle. That's where the son of God, the greatest Emmanuel, God with us. The Angels. No one else has this distinct place or privilege. Now, when the sun, the firstborn of God was brought into the world, God 's let all my heavenly messengers worship him all of the Angels worship Jesus, all being supernatural command angels worship him, and what glory to God, and they all came together. The shepherds on the on the hillside and yell, Jimbo, the Bethlehem. And there you will find the bay to find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And there with the multitude therefore the angel with a multitude of angels decluttering glory to God in the highest he's worshiped by all the angels of heaven have come together to celebrate the birth concerning them. God said I make my heavenly message. Messages like the wind, the Angels that people want to worship there are messengers like the wind. They are Cialis and they are my servants like a flame. They are like these messengers are our solace and they are light and the Angels of heavenly adopt. They laid out the heavens glory to God in the highest and the shepherds were just in amazement. Doctor declaration of all of these angels in the book of Hebrews is telling them this is what happened is this, like, without saying in declaring what we read in the Gospel of Luke. And as we read about the birth of Christ. It doesn't speak of it exactly, but it speaks of it figuratively about the Angels and their people in their place birthdate, but to the sun. He said, but to the sun. He said this is Jewish audience. The sun. He said God. Your throne is eternal. You'll rule your kingdom with the scepter of justice. Jesus has the scepter. The scepter of righteousness, did you know in in the ancient time, McCain would hold the scepter in the sector and he had all authority and power and should he desire to step down from his authority, he would get the scepter to another. When Joseph was ruler was second-in-command in Egypt. What if ever, do he took off his ring and put his ring upon Joseph's finger that he had to seal of the authority and when she says he will have the scepter of righteousness that he has the scepter that that he has all authority is given in Jesus name. So whenever we pray the scepter of righteousness. The scepter and what you say here you have you logged what is right and you hate what is evil. So here is the scepter of righteousness that despises that which is evil. You walk what is right. Whenever we pray in Jesus name we are declaring that which is right before God. We would never pray for God to hurt someone. We would never pray for God to do harm to someone. We pray for God to work in people 's lives. We pray that God would would work in us and do a good work. I ceiling work of restoration and easy. God despises what is evil. He loves that which is right. That is why God, your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness admitted you about your companions, Thanksgiving last week 's sermon get thanks every day always in all things. Why, because we give thanks because we see God in everything, while helping you see God in everything, can we see God in the crucifixion. Yes, as we look back on it. Yes, God was there but didn't Marion and and the disciples, the one Jesus is hanging on the cross after they see God in everything. All of their hopes or dreams or despair. But God is there in our life, we give thanks because we believe that God is there GE's Osseo is unnamed writer that all lanes. He is above all authority. All power and in Jesus name we believe that God is at work. Even when we can't see him. So we give thanks to the holy one, the effects why because we see we want to see God in the difficulties in God 's commandment in the beginning you, Lord, lay the foundation of the year, Jesus was there. The originator he was the one who could have began who could have been role of the earth, and he turned that over to man a set disguise above with his own hands with the stars and places. It's the biggest fundamental place. But while the wild, they will someday pass away, you remain forever you know the stars, sky, your dog will wear out like a garment. We see in the next verse is how he folds them up and puts them away, and in earth pass away everything that we look at everything that we know what we walked on, we use someday it will be gone. The sun the moon, the stars of the sky, the earth, everything don't be gone. Gone will create a new heaven and new earth in El Dorado, Nagano verse says that will someday pass away verse eleven, but they wear out like old clothes. Your wares out like an old clothes. I can hold> verse. While you will roll them up to roll them up your blog. You're going to roll the world up like a garment and change them into something new, but you will never change your years will never come to an end your years, the name of Jesus and his kingdom will never come to an end. Do this in remembrance of me remember what I've done what I've accomplished what I am doing in the writer to the Hebrews as I look at this more excellent way. Look at this name, and this person who is above every name, verse thirteen the God ever say to an angel to his heavenly messengers said here at my right hand in the seat of honor and I'll put your enemies under your feet ever said that to an angel, but to Christ. It is their first fourteen no, of course not. The heavenly messengers are only spirits and servants sent out to minister to those who will certainly inherit salvation. They angels are sent out as messengers we see them, and we think of them in the Christmas story. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you, you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with them, the Angels multitude of heavenly hosts, glory to God hi, and on earth peace and goodwill toward men. The angels are messengers. The Angels are declaring the message of God, but the name of Jesus, the one they are declaring Emmanuel, God with us is the same Jesus we pray to whose who has the scepter of righteousness. He is the King of Kings, he is the Lord of Lords. He carries the scepter of righteousness. All of that which is wiped in good and holy and lovely. He carries that in every time we pray we are invoking that power in that prayer and that authority that holds all things together is there in our name. The name we use Jesus and what it represents the scepter of righteousness. So as we enter advanced the Christmas season. This holy season, a season of prayer season of fasting is the name of Jesus, who makes everything different makes everything right. Amen. Less than selling. So when we say Jesus we are now all one has to remember all that is implied with that all that is part of this. He holds everything together whenever we pray when difficult times. What are we asking for Jesus hold this together make this helped me help me help this work make this work. Father, we thank you that you heard our prayers and, as we read the Scriptures, as we see what you are saying to us, especially about Jesus. The importance of that name the greatness of that name, God, we thank you that we have a name that is above every name, we have a name that is holds all things together. It is the name that we put in. We place deliberately at the beginning and the ending of our prayers that God, it is your name and your word that holds all of this together, we thank you for your piece, we thank you for your forgiveness. We thank you for your grace and your mercy that come into our life, we asked these things in the name of in the name of in the name of who holds all things together and then God blessed