Luke 4. Early on in Jesus’ ministry he was in his hometown synagogue at Nazareth. He read the portion in Isaiah that describes the coming of the Messiah, that he be a healer; he will set captives free; he will preach the gospel to the poor, etc. It says that the people “wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.” A beautiful setting, the people loved to hear his words, and had a sort of eager expectation about this man. But then something changed the mood…

Jesus then said, “You will surely say unto me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself.” Then he basically began to tell his hometown people that they were not going to receive his ministry, and that in fact, this was not anything new, for a “prophet is not without honor, save among his own country, and among his own kin.” He reminded them that when Elijah was the prophet in the land that he was not sent to any widows in Israel (although there were many widows in Israel), but rather to the widow of Zarephath – a gentile (1 Kings 17). And also, when Elisha was prophet in the land, the only leper he was commissioned to heal was Naaman the Syrian – another gentile (even though there were many lepers in Israel). And here is the big moment I want to focus on…

At this moment it says, “And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.” (Luke 4:28-29) Apparently Jesus touched on a very sensitive nerve here. The question I have is – Are you able to endure seeing or watching other people be blessed? Do you rejoice for them and add fuel to their rejoicing? Or is it the opposite for you – Does it make you angry and furious? Does it make you want to take their little stinking trophy and smash it on the ground? Does it make you want to pour ice cold water all of their joy-fire? 

These Nazarenes were like Jonah – they could not endure even the sound of hearing that God would overlook the needs of a Jew and minister to Gentiles. It was so evil in their ears that without any trial at all they in total agreement wanted to throw Jesus off of the cliff of their city! 

Why do you get so angry when you see other people blessed? It may be seeing a fellow employee get a promotion – deserved or undeserved, it really doesn’t matter. It may be seeing another Christian be gifted a new car or something that you have wanted. You may be a Pastor or Christian leader and you are upset that other people’s ministries are growing and that special things are happening there. You may be a woman who is upset that some other woman has be blessed with many children or a successful husband, and they have many nice things in their life, but not you. Children get upset with their siblings when they get the bigger piece of the pie. Whatever the situation – what is the condition of your heart? 

The Pharisees had Jesus killed because they were jealous, envious of his success. Saul sought David every single day because he could not handle David’s success and fame. 

If you have a problem seeing other people blessed, your real problem is with God. God is the ultimate source of every good gift, and if you are not happy with God giving out those gifts to others, you are being selfish and simply angry with God. You have concluded that God is unrighteous for giving gifts to them as opposed to you. “Doesn’t God know that I deserve those gifts and not them???” Have you forgotten what you actually deserve? The only thing you deserve is Hell, and anything less than that is mercy, and anything more is grace. So, what about your neighbor – do they deserve any good thing they receive? No, it is the same with them – anything less than Hell is mercy, anything more is grace. That puts God as the one responsible, ultimately, for the distribution of every good gift. 

We are supposed to “rejoice with them that rejoice.” (1 Cor. 12) True love does not seek its own (1 Cor. 13). Philippians 2:4 “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Be glad when you see others promoted, blessed, healed, congratulated, etc. 

The selfishness and greed of the Nazarenes of Jesus’ day did not procure more blessing, but rather repelled God’s blessing away from them. You are much more likely to attract favor if you rejoice at the favor given to others. Amen.     

What are the bare minimum, absolutely necessary resources needed in order for us to have the most successful ministry possible? Another way to put it would be – Are there certain things (I’m mainly thinking tangible resources) we need in order to have a successful ministry? For example: do we need a church building? Like, is it definitely a requirement in order to be fully successful? If so, would you say that it has to be a particular kind of building, with specific features in a specific location? How about money – is money crucial? If so, how much money? How about personnel – talented and skilled personnel? How about advertising and marketing campaigns? Is it possible to max out your impact in the world without advertising? What about books or printed materials? What about cutting edge technology – live steam, audio and video? What about acceptance into certain groups or networks?

If you were to sit down and make a list (which I encourage you to do so. Actually, maybe stop reading right here, make the list and then come back) of what you feel are all the absolutely necessary resources you would need as a baseline for being completely and fully successful, what would be on the list? 

My belief is that there is only ONE THING that should be on that list. It is not a building – unique or common; it’s not comfy chairs, bright stage lights or cool neon backdrop lights; it’s not money – massive amounts or pennies; it’s not gifted and skilled people at your bidding; it’s not a great band or awesome choir; it’s not instruments; it’s not talented administrators; it’s not a carefully planned out marketing campaign; it’s not facebook ads; it’s not sound equipment, recordings, screens, or a seamless, professional website. 

The one and only thing that is needed is this…a body. A human body.

Hebrews 10:5-7 “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.”

We have to look no further than the example of the Lord Jesus Christ – the One who successfully accomplished all of the will of God…When Jesus came into the world what did He have? Nothing but a naked body. Did he fulfill the will of God as a baby and as a young child?

When Jesus entered into his public ministry, what did he have that made Him so successful? Did He gain possession of the great Temple in order to defeat the Pharisees? Did He amass a great army with the best weapons to defeat Pilate and the Romans? Did He have the coolest scrolls to teach from? Did he need a strong horse to ride on to accomplish his preaching itinerary? Did he need a centralized system of synagogues?

When Jesus performed the work of Redemption at the Cross, what did He need? Nothing but His body. He did the work on the Cross with absolutely nothing – He was even stripped of all His clothes. He didn’t need buildings, money, a paycheck, chairs, lights, recommendations, the right friends, music, advertisements, good weather, etc. All He needed to reconcile Mankind back to God was his flesh and blood, human body. 

What did He need in order to rise from the dead? His Body. He didn’t need lively music to rouse Him. He didn’t need great crowds to cheer Him on; only the power of God.

What did He need to ascend to the heavens and to sit down on the right hand of the Majesty on High? Only His Body. 

Now, is not all of this an example for us today, who desire to partner with Jesus in winning the world to Christ? If all Jesus needed was a body, if it was sufficient to shake the world and rattle the foundations of Hell itself, why would we think that we need all of these other things? The question to ponder is, “Are you relying too much on these earthly things in order to get the heavenly work accomplished that your Father has called you to?” “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3) 

Now, Jesus won the world – conquering sin, death and Hell – with his body. Of course, it was not any ordinary, common body, but rather a body consecrated, devoted to the will of God. He did not rely on a tall, striking body like Saul, or an unusually strong body such as Samoson. “…He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.” (Isaiah 53:2) His life was powerful because the pure, dynamic, holy, power of God was flowing without measure through his physical “tabernacle.” But still, the point is, that all that was necessary on the physical, earthly level, was a human body. If this was good enough for Jesus, why would we lean on other, earthly, things for success?

Christian brother – Is your body yielded to God’s control? Is your mind surrendered to the Word of God? Is your will broken and surrendered to the Father’s will? Is your church ministry relying on the “seen things” in order to reach your area? Have you concluded that there is some kind of ministry that you cannot accomplish until you are able to acquire ___________ (fill in the blank). The level of success you are going to have for God is the level of surrender you have towards God. Period. Spiritual work is created by God alone, and He has chosen to do that work through His people – a body hast thou prepared me. 

Ephesians 1:22-23 “And [He, Jesus] hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”

Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church (His body, the people) by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

Physical resources do not produce spiritual generation or spiritual growth.    

What is the work of the Church? It is to call dead men out of their slumber and raise them to spiritual life; to fan the flames of the Holy Spirit in God’s children, that they would revive again and again, burning with holiness, zeal and passionate love for God and man. What can we purchase that will accomplish these things? Nothing. The work of God is spiritual. The resources needed must all come from Heaven.

You don’t need a building. You don’t need funding. You don’t need anything that can be purchased or given by man. You need your body – body, soul and spirit, to be filled with the Holy Spirit. There is no telling what you may accomplish in this world if you are truly yielded to Him, depending on Him completely, and not your own understanding and resources. If you are truly God’s son, no other person in the world has an advantage over you. You have full access to God. Love Him. Trust Him. Obey Him, and watch the power of God poured out through your life.   

I intentionally waited until the end of this to clarify that there is absolutely nothing at all wrong with the utilization of any kind of resource to do the will of God (provided that it is not sinful). Jesus utilized clay, donkeys, boats, buildings, houses, food, trees, etc. So it may absolutely be God’s perfect will for you to have a building, funds, personnel, vehicles, equipment, etc. The temptation (and it’s such a subtle yet powerful temptation) is to rely on those things instead of the power of God! 

I think a key observation in the life of Jesus is that all of the things He used were transitory, or gifts. They were not things that He actually bought and possessed, but were rather received by Him at the time and moment they needed to be used. He didn’t own them, control them and regularly rely upon them. He walked, moment by moment, by the Word of His Father. The power came through His Words and through His Hands – parts of His body. May our words, our hands, and our actions become more like His! 

May we search our own hearts, as well as the heart of our ministries, and see if there is anything we are relying upon to get the job done apart from the raw, unadulterated, pure power of the Word of God and the Spirit of God. 

God is looking for a Man – a surrendered man, with the Bible in his hand and the text burned in his heart; not comparing himself to any man other than Jesus; and not trying to be like any other man other than Jesus. Let’s watch this man turn the world right side up for the glory of God!   

“You never have to advertise a fire. Everyone comes running when there’s a fire. Likewise, if your church is on fire, you will not have to advertise it. The community will already know it.” – Leonard Ravenhill

NOTES

Hebrews

Better than the Angels

*All of the quotes are from the OT – which the Hebrews would accept as divine

*All of the quotes here were accepted by the Jews as speaking about the Messiah, in the first century.

The Jews saw the Law as having been not only given by prophets, but attended by angels as well. This is a step up from mere prophets. Yet Jesus is still higher rank than the angels.

Galatians 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Deu 33:2 And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them. 

Act 7:53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. 

Psalm 68:17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.

⁴ Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?

So much better – refers to exalted rank/position; or to personal character as well

1 Peter 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

Name: names represent character/authority. The name of God has more power than any other name; it requires more of us than any other name; is carries more authority than any other name.

Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 

Psalm 2:7 thou art my Son…

How much more exalted in a Son that a Servant?

*in a business setting. We should obey the biddings of the employees, but if the Son comes, there is no question about whether to go against him or not.

How does God speak of his Son in the OT? Does the OT talk about the Son of God?

It may seem that the Trinity is only brought up in the NT, but the idea is “hidden” in the old and “manifested” in the new.

Pro 30:4 what is his name, what is his sons name?

This day have I begotten thee

Acts 13:33 this is directly applied to the resurrection of Jesus.

Pre-eminence – first begotten

Resurrection – first begotten from the dead

And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

2 Samuel 7:14 Solomon

⁶ And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

First begotten – first-born; preeminent one

First-born refers to his rank, not that he was a created being.

Some Jews even used the term first-born in reference to God himself.

Psa 89:27 Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. 

Who would receive worship from angels other than God himself?

Deu 32:43 Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people. 

Psa 97:7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods. 

⁷ And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

Psalm 104:4

The psalm describes God’s majesty, and the mighty ways that he controls nature. He makes his angels or messengers like wind and fire, they are quick and powerful to do his will.

Ministers – the angels have the humble rank of being a mere minister/servant, and not a son.

Spirits/flame of fire – the angels are of the highest power and zeal, but still no comparison compared to the Son. If the angels are the ministers of God, the Son is their commander.

⁸ But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. ⁹ Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Psalm 45  –  This psalm describes the Messiah as the Mighty King, easily triumphant over his enemies. He is beautiful and majestic. His battle is the cause of truth and righteousness, with meekness. His bride is said to worship him in this psalm.

*The angels are wonderful servants of God, but the Son is in actual possession of the Throne itself. He controls and governs the affairs of the universe and every being in it.

O God – specific, clear, direct reference to the Son being God himself.

Thy throne is for ever and ever – his ruler ship is eternal, only God’s can be

¹⁰ And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

Psalm 102:25-27

This psalm is speaking directly about Yahweh, God. There is no direct reference to the Son. Yet here it is applied to the Son, indicating that there is absolutely no difference in the mind of the writer here that the Son is indeed of the exact same nature and substance as God.

Laid the foundation of the earth – Creator

Thou remainest, thy years shall not fail – Eternality

Thou shalt fold them up – Consummator of all things 

¹³ But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

Psalm 110 the LORD said unto my Lord. (a psalm of David)

God never said this to an angel, but he did to the Son.

Messiah is the son of David. Why then does David call his descendant Lord? It is because the Son was actually before David and greater than David. Amen

¹⁴ Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Ministering spirits – attendants. The Son is their Lord, the angels their servants.

The comparison is being drawn again that the Son is exalted far higher than the angels.

Whatever the angels have given and done to people in the past, no matter how great, the Son gives more, has done more, and requires more.

*One sign of a religion or doctrine to not follow is if their ultimate claim for truth came through the agency of an angel to mankind. Faith in Christ places dependence upon not the word of an angel, though dependable, but in the Son of God himself in human flesh.

*Angels are not to be seen as the authority, but rather attendants to bring people to Jesus (the salvation that we have now!)

The first in an expository teaching/preaching series through the book of Hebrews!

Scrumptious Hair, Little Face

Charming Smile, “Finding” Grace.  

Strong Arms, Muscle Body 

Expert Finder, Organizing Hobby 

Middlest One, Lots of Fun 

Great to Tickle, Crack-up Giggle

Hard Worker, Often Servant

Great Helper, Very Observant 

Thorough Organizer, Detail Master

Adventurous Spirit, Story Broadcaster 

People-Pleaser, Tender Heart

Adorable Voice, Pretty Smart 

Unique Name, Loves Big Shoes 

Early Morning Alarm-Clock Snooze

Becoming a Lady, Turned Eleven  

Beloved Daughter, Gift From Heaven