A BETTER WORD pt 3
Just Stay Calm
Hebrews 12:24 NKJV ”to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.”
JUST STAY CALM
The theme of the whole book of Hebrews is BETTER, not just chapter 12.
- REMEMBER the majority of Christian’s in the early church were Jews, they were expecting Jesus to return soon and His “apparent” delay and the extreme persecution against them was causing them to wonder if they had made a wise choice to become Christian’s and were now in danger of going back to Judaism… This book is written encouraging them to STAND FAST, STAY CALM AMD TRUST THE LORD!
- THE book reaches its climax in chapter 12 and starts with this declaration;
Hebrews 12:1-3 NKJV Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.“
- Lets us not grow weary and discouraged in serving the Lord, but rather JUST STAY CALM, TRUST THE LORD and let the Lord work His Purpose through your LIFE!
Hebrews 12:22-23 NKJV ”But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,“
He contrasts the old covenant law given at Mt.Sinai and the New Covenant represented by Mt.Zion Mt.Sinai represented fear and separation because of judgement. Mt.Zion represents deep connection and relationship with God through Love, Grace & Faith which produces Victory and Life Blessings (BETTER)
Hebrews 12:24 NKJV ”to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.”
Hebrews 12:25-29 NKJV “See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.“
- THE blood of Jesus SPEAKS, it’s plural, representing a present continuing text that doesn’t end until He returns in Revelation at the end of the age.
Revelation 1:5 NKJV ”and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,“
Revelation 5:9 NKJV “And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,”
Revelation 12:10-11 NKJV “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
- IF the blood speaks and we activate our faith through believing and then speaking we need to be speaking (applying) the blood to our lives.
Exodus 14:12-14 NLT ”Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’” But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”“
- We are not going back and we are not looking back We are going forward and taking hold of the “better things” he has in stall for us!
JUST STAY CALM-the Lord is fighting for you!
- We are stepping by into been fully committed Christ followers-discipleship
Every believer a leader, every leader a disciple-maker
Stop seeing yourself as someone who attends this church…
Someone who serves in the coffee bar
Someone who works at Spar
- No No No, you are a disciple of Jesus who works at or serves at….
Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV ”And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.“
- Where does this authority rest, it’s with you, in Chris, through His BLOOD!
Mark 16:15-18 NKJV ”And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”“
- WHAT does this mean, in essence you are on mission for God and His Kingdom You are a Soul-Winner an ambassador for Christ
(Ambassadors are like there president but in a foreign country, everything is taken care off) II
Corinthians 5:19-21 NKJV ”that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.“
- SO as a disciple you represent Jesus here on earth, you are an ambassador of the Kingdom of God here on this earth, which is not your dwelling place, you are a pilgrim on a mission!
Matthew 12:46-50 ESV ”While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Because of this you are protected and covered by the one who commissioned you to be here and now in this moment for “such a time a this”
SAY: JUST STAY CALM
This means that His blood provides the grace and mercy we need not just be freed from the wrath of God but also from the consequences of our sins and to walk and live as HIS OWN SPECIAL PEOPLE!
Five Confessions of the blood of Jesus at the CROSS:-
- BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, I AM REDEEMED FROM THE POWER OF THE ENEMY
Redeemed – bought back, removed from the market place, loose from slavery
Ephesians 1:7 (NKJV) In Him we have redemption through His blood… The enemy no longer has any right or authority over your life, not even over things that belong to you.
CONFESSION: By the blood of Jesus, I am redeemed from the power of the enemy. I have been rescued from the dominion of darkness and brought into the kingdom of Jesus, the Son of God.
- BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, ALL MY SINS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN
Forgiveness – to grant relief from paying a debt
Ephesians 1:7 (NKJV) In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses.
We can relate freely and fully to God, now that sin and debt have been removed out of the way.” CONFESSION: By the blood of Jesus, all my sins have been forgiven.
- THE BLOOD OF JESUS CLEANSES ME NOW AND CONTINUALLY FROM ALL MY SIN
Cleanses – rid of impurities as if washing clean
1 John 1:7 (NKJV) …but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
The blood of Jesus carries out a constant process of purification and sanctification in us to stop the stain of sin from touching our hearts.
For this confession to be effective, we need to live according to the Word and in fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
CONFESSION: Because I walk in the light and have fellowship with other Christians, the blood of Jesus cleanses me now and continually from all sin.
- BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, I AM JUSTIFIED AND GOD SEES ME AS THOUGH I HAVE NEVER SINNED.
Justification – an act of God by which he establishes persons as righteous – in right and true relationship to himself.
Romans 5:8-9 (NKJV) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.”
We are free from accusation, guilt and condemnation. The blood of Jesus makes us righteous before God, so that we can live our lives with a clear conscience.
CONFESSION: By the blood of Jesus, I have been justified and God sees me as though I had never sinned.
- BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, I AM SANCTIFIED SET APART FOR GOD’S PURPOSE
Sanctify – to set apart for a specific GODLY purpose, and relates to being made holy
Hebrews 13:12 (NKJV) Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
Our lives completely belong to God and we are set apart to do the work of the ministry. CONFESSION: By the blood of Jesus, I am sanctified and set apart for God’s holy purpose.
APPLICATION for the week, your WEEKLY CHALLENGE; Memorise the 5 confessions of the Blood of Jesus:
- By the blood of Jesus I am redeemed from all the power of the enemy.
- By the blood of Jesus I am forgiven from all my sins.
- By the blood of Jesus I am cleansed now and continually from all my sin.
- By the blood of Jesus I am justified and God sees me as though I have never sinned.
- By the Blood of Jesus I am sanctified and set apart for God‘s holy purpose.
