Hebrews

[0:00] Depending upon the help of God, I take your attention this morning to the epistle of Paul to the Hebrews.

[0:16] Hebrews chapter 3, reading verse 1. Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.

[0:44] The third chapter of Hebrews, verse 1. Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.

[1:03] As we look upon our text, we can see in our text, as it were, the Lord Jesus Christ.

[1:20] Truly the apostle and the high priest. And again, as we look within these verse, we find there's a people whom the apostle has spoken of as brethren.

[1:46] It speaks also of an heavenly calling. Everything is in our text this morning.

[1:59] For our poor sinner, one chosen from all eternity by God, should be called a brethren and an holy brethren.

[2:15] And every one has or will receive an heavenly call. And when one has received the heavenly call, calling, had the heart changed, they will want to consider, as the word is in our text, consider the apostle.

[2:43] In other words, consider Christ Jesus. So, friends, can I say humbly, that in our text, there's everything that a poor sinner needs.

[3:00] Because the righteousness is in Christ. The blood is in Jesus Christ to cleanse.

[3:11] And the Spirit is one with the Father and the Son to bring his church through the wilderness. And teach them and teach them and read them and cleanse them and at last to receive them in that place where he dwelleth.

[3:35] And I do feel my need to open this up a little this morning may be given. As you know, these words were written by Paul, the apostle.

[3:52] Not just from his own memory or his own pathway that he has walked and knew, but by the leading and teaching in dating of the third person in the Trinity.

[4:12] The Holy Spirit guided this dear man into these things that he experienced them.

[4:23] And he was now able to speak of them, to write of them, to this people which we speak of as Hebrews. We'll look at this man for a few minutes.

[4:41] We have been reading again of his writings in the Ephesians, as you know. And how he tells us there the pathway and the things he had experienced.

[4:57] See if we can have a little dope painting together with our own experience. You see, as the apostle was writing to these Ephesians, he says, You have be quickened.

[5:10] Who were dead in trespasses and sins. I hope each of us present here this morning have been quickened by the Holy Spirit.

[5:25] You have be quickened. Who were dead in trespasses and in sins. We could gather even from the words of our text that he was looking upon such people.

[5:41] For he says, holy brethren. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air.

[5:55] Well, friends, if we trace line by line through this chapter we have read this morning, I believe, I do sincerely hope, that we should be able to say, Yes, I've known that.

[6:10] I've experienced that. That's been wrought into my poor heart. I know in the times past how the Lord has led me about and so forth and granted me a teaching, such as to believe as we have led at this time.

[6:31] By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God. Returning to our text. Wherefore, holy brethren, partake us.

[6:47] So Paul, the apostle, could see such fruit in those whom he was writing to, speaking to, that they have passed from death unto life.

[7:01] Partake us, he says, of heavenly calling. This is essential. Essential of the salvation.

[7:13] It's this, as you know, putting it in, should I say, may I use the words we often do, a nutshell. It's by the new birth.

[7:28] Partake us of the heavenly calling. Not an earthly call. The Lord does call his dear people to earthly calls at times.

[7:39] But here the apostle is speaking of an heavenly calling. And he could see in them that they had received the heavenly calling.

[7:53] Because he calls them the holy brethren. Let's just dwell here for a moment on this call. Have you been called?

[8:07] You say, well, I've never heard the voice of God. I've never felt he has ever spoken to me. Friends, we don't always hear his voice.

[8:23] but the effect of that voice. It's a constraining power from heaven upon our spirit, upon our soul.

[8:40] God constrains us to walk in God's ways and by that experience we've received an heavenly calling.

[8:54] He must be born again. Oh, but the many times that you have read it, thought about it, and no doubt you've prayed over it many times, some of you, and have said in prayer to your God, have I, have I received an heavenly calling?

[9:16] Have I, am I born of God? Is there something in my heart, in this earthly heaven echo of mine that is holy?

[9:30] Something that the Lord has implanted. You're ready to say, well, I know there's something in my heart that the Lord has implanted because it's sin, and God cannot look upon sin with any degree of allowance.

[9:50] You know very well God hasn't put that there. Friends, it's in your heart, it's in mine as you know. Every babe that is born into this world, they're still adding that carnal nature.

[10:08] I've said it ties every time when a babe is born into this world, it has sin to sin, sin to sin. It does.

[10:22] Every one born in sin and shaped in iniquity and have come forth from the womb in a very, very sad condition. sin to sin to enter into heaven, there must be a change, as you know.

[10:41] And perhaps some of you are inquiring, perhaps some of you are knocking at a door of mercy day by day. Lord, have I had the change?

[10:54] Is there a favor toward me? Have I been quickened? Have I received a call, which is an heavenly call? And this heavenly call, dear friends, would take such effect upon our hearts, that we shall turn away from some of our sins, and some of these things that are grieving in the sight of God, and brought to grieve in your own mind and heart.

[11:27] Heavenly calling, as one of the miracles performed by the Trinity to a poor, undone, undeserving sinner, a call from heaven.

[11:43] Heavenly, and friends, every one, may I say, with all reverence, and in love, and to honor God, everyone who receives this heavenly calling, are monuments, or will be monuments of his grace, and each will be brought to that blessed fountain, open for sin and uncleanness, and eventually taken into glory.

[12:15] Not one of these poor sinners who receive an heavenly calling can possibly be lost. Impossible for such to enter into hell.

[12:32] Can we believe it? Oh, can I hear some poor soul say, the news is too great? Surely it's not for me. Well, let's get a little lower.

[12:45] I do desire to pick up those feeling to be out of the way. Feeling to be one of these little ones, wondering if you've got anything in your heart at all that will it is of God.

[13:01] Heavenly calling. Why, these poor sinners, they are brought to know that they are sinners. They are brought to feel it. They are brought to mourn over it, as God cast them away.

[13:15] Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted with the God's shelves. Heavenly calling, drawn out as it were, made to be separate from the world and the things of the world.

[13:40] And in their heart, with this heavenly calling, there's something that causes them to turn their highest heavenward, and have a longing desire in their breast.

[13:54] For Christ, for his mercy, for his love, compassion, blood. Yes, this heavenly calling will bring us closer to God.

[14:11] We still have to turn our steps from the world and the fingers of it. That is in some measure. And may I say this, often it's a little here and a little there.

[14:26] We never hear of one being cut down as sore on the way to Damascus. But there's an inward calling, and the work often is very gradual, but it comes to the same end, at least at the same place.

[14:48] It comes from the Holy Spirit. All heavenly callings come from heaven, and rest upon those whom Jesus Christ died for on Calvary's cross.

[15:06] take us of the heavenly calling. I believe perhaps there's some here this morning and you're deeply concerned about it.

[15:22] What are you looking for then? Do you say another token? You're looking for a token, it may be, because you never received one.

[15:34] And yet in your heart there's deep concern in the matters of eternity. Well, you will have these concerns when you have received an heavenly calling, not before.

[15:48] The world and worldling are in the world and satisfied with the pleasures of the world, the pleasures of sin, but there's a little light shining within now after the heavenly calling, and poor sinners are brought to cry unto God.

[16:09] Heavenly calling, you sung a hymn this morning, the new man and the whole by no means can agree, the one in sin is bold, the other from sin the other free, the principles of grace and sin, a constant warfare must maintain.

[16:34] We sung that hymn only a few evenings ago, somewhere where us try to speak from a word like this, tend to walk together unless they be agreed.

[16:53] And this hymn was sung, a new man and behold, by no means category, and how true. Now when one has received this heavenly calling, the heavenly calling will cause a poor sinner to turn his face from the world and the things of it and walk in the paths of righteousness at least desire to do so.

[17:20] And pray that he might. Heavenly calling. And where is this poor sir brought to?

[17:30] When he received an heavenly calling was such as a knowledge of himself as I've hinted, a knowledge of his heart, cold nature, sin within, and it will lead him to a place, the only place, where he knows he can find relief.

[17:51] And that is in the latter part of their decks to this Jesus Christ, the sinner's friend. Heavenly calling.

[18:06] And this will bring a poor soul to pray. To pray. And his prayer would be possibly far different than what he prayed before.

[18:18] Oh, how many in the various so-called places of worship, even today, will be saying and asking God to have mercy upon the wretched sinners and so on.

[18:32] But, friends, they know not their sin. They utter the words and they are satisfied. Yes, everything is well and I'll go to heaven. But these people receive the heavenly calling.

[18:45] Can I take it quite like that? These are the people that bow at his feet. These are the people that go about often in secret. These are the people who close the enter into their closet and shut the door about them and cry unto God.

[19:02] These are the people that bow earnestly pleading for help and mercy. This is a poor sinner that can walk with the publican. God be merciful to me a sinner.

[19:16] This poor man cried and the Lord heard him and delivered him out of all his troubles. This is the poor soul in the text received the heavenly calling convinced of sin and long for mercy.

[19:34] Wherefore holy brethren partakers of the heavenly calling can't move away for a moment or two from this word heavenly calling.

[19:47] If we had time and one had the ability could speak of a number as you know in the Old Testament and the New Testament and I trust those who we've known and know to the true have received an heavenly calling and as I said you are praying to the God show me a token Lord for good a token of thy special love show me that I am born of God and that my treasure is above heavenly calling oh friends there's no way to heaven but through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ yes heavenly calling praying souls longing souls as the parteth after the water brooks so parteth my soul after thee those dear ones that we read of at times

[20:52] Ruth and Naomi who's cleaning in the fields of Boaz and so on this is the pathway of these people who have received an heavenly calling turn their back upon the world and seeking those things that will stand for eternity that lay with weight upon their heart upon their conscience longing for tokens of his love heavenly oh I like that word heavenly call and each one of these will eventually receive an heavenly calling into that heavenly place where Christ is well look at this viewpoint for a moment wherefore holy brethren now the apostle knew very well that there was nothing in him by nature that was holy but he could look upon these

[21:59] Hebrews those and he could see something in them that was of grace holiness and therefore he could call them a brethren wherefore holy brethren no no no no no no no no mercy dear friends to behave to look upon those that we know and love shall I say and be able to speak of them as brethren the apostle here he could say holy why because he could see the holy seed from heaven had been dropped into their heart and the fruits that they manifested in body in their soul testified that they got something there that was of a holy holy nature he could look on them as we have read in the epistle of

[22:59] Ephesians this morning you were the quickened who were dead in trespasses and sin now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were found off are made nigh by the blood of Christ for he is our peace who hath made both one and hath broken down the middle wall a partition between us having abolished in his flesh the enmity even the law commandments contained in ordinances for to make of himself of twain one new man Jesus Christ and as you will remember reading this morning concluded like this ye are no more strangers this is what the apostle could say to these Hebrews who you are no more strangers you receive the heavenly calling this fruit manifest this is a holy nature therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners who was it there so or the apostle could write such as this because he walked through it something he's handled and tasted and felt and known of the work of grace the heavenly calling on the way

[24:27] I believed to Damascus and there the poor man was struck down he heard a voice from heaven so so why persecute hast thou me it is hard for thee to kick against the bricks and he received in that journey to Damascus a heavenly calling therefore ye are no more strangers you are not foreigners you have a holy brethren says the apostle and it's according to her text holy brethren what a mercy it is dear friends to be able to speak of friends who gather together in the house of prayer you could look upon them you could say they're brethren and they're holy because the Lord is still with them and quickened them into life therefore holy brethren partakers of the heavenly calling brethren can I pass this word by for a moment or two brethren it's good difference to be able to look upon their friends especially as we worship together from time to time and speak of them as brethren it's much better than complaining about them speaking evil of them perhaps say they should they do this and they do not they do things that they should not and so on oh friends if we only look within our own hearts that'll stop our mouth speaking against others that where there is this feed so holiness in the heart

[26:43] I believe it makes the heart tender it'll make it sincere this poor sinner will be able to in any way despise others or object to the holiness or the word of God holy brethren holy brethren partakers of the heavenly calling and just a few thoughts this morning respecting this next word and that is consider consider a text I know speaks consider the apostle and high priest Jesus

[27:44] Christ but well might we consider various experiences that we pass through whether it is of the Lord or whether it's only of the creature you know there's such a thing sort of to say that we have to say well that's the Lord as the Lord's will that's the Lord's voice and I have heard and he's told me to go this way or that way but often my friends it's one's own thoughts and desires how easily we might be left to ourselves of the Lord's what makes me think of this because I have heard several of late they've moved here and there and said it was the Lord's they've heard the voice of

[28:47] God it's always in the same direction and the same thing as what they wanted themselves the old nature now is it the Lord I haven't found it such you know I haven't certain things I've had desired and yet and I felt I could walk in it yet the Lord has overthrown it and I've proved it's not of the Lord it's only of the creature oh well we might consider when we shall I say move perhaps to another situation or move to another sanctuary maybe how sad it is that these days we're finding those leaving one place that they profess to love and joined into another pathway and think it's the Lord's will I failed at the end wherefore then only brethren partakers of the heavenly calling consider when we desire a thing that is those who receive the heavenly calling and I trust we know something of it we desire to commit those things into the ends of

[30:06] God consider it in one's whole mind and heart by prayer to know what the Lord's will is concerning it consider it we are not to take notice what even some shall I say dear and dear to us say it's the Lord's will Lord's will I fear perhaps I'm wrong in saying it but I fear today there's some entering into our causes into our churches going through baptism who have been not directed by the Lord I'm not hinting dear friends upon any who have passed that way of late far from it but there are those and we find them very soon back in the world and the things of it oh how so well might we consider them these things and walking in the house of

[31:20] God to walk in his commandments to follow him you say well what is it to follow the Lord fall helplessly in his hands say Lord no will but thine guide me guide my steps if I'm to go into this path then give me an inward persuasion constrain me to do it if it's thy will give me a word this is the way walk ye in it and so on I believe I had that word a word given me when I joined the church when over fifty years ago where there was a baptizing service at our chapel and this word at the close of the service came

[32:24] I believe in God because the effect it laid upon my spirit and what was it what was it go thou and do likewise no thought to speak in us this morning I trust there may be a purpose in it I know not but consider you may be sitting still where the Lord has told you to rise you may be casting these things aside when the Lord is really exercising your heart to do his will and his commandments to follow him in his statutes and his commands consider don't drop the matter I know I've spoken of this once or twice in my poor ministry of a dear man who used to worship at

[33:26] Tentity and when I visited him on his deathbed just over 90 he was and he told me well he was grieved to feel that he had not walked in that path of the commandments of God he said when I was in my twenties there was an exercise there was a concern but he said I pushed it off pushed it off now he said I have come to my deathbed and I have not obeyed the Lord's will I have not obeyed what he has spoken or how he has exercised the phrase is solemnly to come on the deathbed with guilt guilty conscience a guilty conscience to know that you have not done command of God consider that consider I know there's many that do cast at one side

[34:29] I'm not saying I cannot say it is essential under salvation but it is obedience to the will of God the dying thief as you know he never passed that way and there's many who have not but this is no excuse also long ago I was at a certain cause with different causes only a very few there and I mentioned this to one of the friends oh she said we haven't been exercised Lord hasn't laid it upon my mind so we haven't troubled about it no church but that's coming down and down and last time I went there's only two there God's favour will not rest upon such why I should say that I know not consider then ourselves our standings in the sight of

[35:39] God consider to do his will there's a constraining power I believe in this for one to follow the Lord there's a constraining power you know the disciples in the storm and we read previously that the Lord constrained constrained his disciples to go over the sea constrained them there's a constraining power without a voice without hearing the voice of God maybe won't hear this morning I know not there's something going on strange in your heart constraining you and yet you do not hear his voice you may turn to the word hoping you will find something turn the pages over through the scripture but no nothing there's a constraining and that constraining power comes from heaven as it does or consider it

[36:48] God does not always speak he's often silent but there's a constraining power known in the heart and one must feel he's constrained to go in that direction or constrained to put Christ on in hope and profession and at times when you have your heart touched a little you have to say come all ye that fear God and I will declare what he has done for my soul consider and if we might just mention this consider the apostle because it is this Jesus Christ you desire to honor do you not to love him to speak well of him and speak of what the Lord hath done for you in the things of grace consider this apostle he's laid it down in his word are we not to listen are we not to obey the voice of

[38:02] God consider them how we stand in the sight of God whether we've done his commandments whether it first will wherefore holy brethren it is these holy brethren these are the people who are partakers of the heavenly calling will consider the men of the world the people of the world they do not consider anything what's in the scriptures do they but they consider the word of God at times their God their saviour so wherefore wherefore holy brethren partakers you say are you making this excuse well there's no holiness in me ah be careful not by you not by us by nature far from it nothing whatever but the holiness is of

[39:10] God what about his righteousness think for a moment faith you've got in your heart is it a sinful faith no it's a holy faith the Lord has given you it's in the heart righteousness is it a sinful righteousness is it the righteousness of your own it's the righteousness of Christ that's holy pure you won't find it in the heart of the world but in these people as the apostle speaks of in our text they possess that holy faith that holy righteousness there's a seed within the soul that is holy and from that seed it will be growing fruit and that fruit is acceptable unto God it is so consider how we stand whether we ought to take a step forward or whether we ought to be still follow on to know the

[40:29] Lord follow on to know him and God will bless such why I should speak I don't know there may be a reason but God will bless such those who desire to honour him he will give him a blessing he will you will never regret it consider then steps you are taking ere the Lord is leading you what persuade what secret touch he's given you you go to him you ask the Lord Lord is it a fee or is it always a creature is it by thy grace and according to thy love and according to thy will that I am in this position or in this exercise of soul not knowing what to do the

[41:34] Lord will clear the matter up he will yes you say well I haven't received the forgiveness of sin the time of love will come when thou shall clearly see not only that he said his but thou shall say for me your thoughts may be well what can I say I'm such a poor Bible sinner tend to get lower than the can you get lower than a poor sinner has cry out this remember me Lord have mercy upon me Lord I must read well friends I must leave it by strength cease to be failing me wherefore holy brethren partake us of the heavenly calling oh may the Lord assure us that we are numbered among this these heavenly people brethren

[42:39] I thought sometimes reading this word sometimes in the house of God if the apostle Paul was here would he look upon me as being the holy brethren or amongst the holy brethren the one has received the heavenly calling I look back over my life there seemed to be nothing but sin sin sin from the beginning to the end but friends it was a spark just a spark of heavenly dew in one's soul that poor sinner is numbered among this brethren the holy brethren that Paul speaks of it Amen Amen