OceanSide church of Christ

 Previous Return to Hebrews Next 

A DIVINE SUPPORT SYSTEM (2)

Hebrews 4:13-14a

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.  There are two truths about the Christian’s rest that we must constantly keep in mind.

1.    It takes labor for us to enter therein (Heb. 4:11).

2.    It is possible for the child of God to come short of that rest (Heb. 4:1).

 

B.   If we were attempting to get into that rest all by ourselves, the task might seem impossible.  We, however, do not have to “go it alone.”  God has given what I refer to as “A Divine Support System” (Heb. 4:12-16).

1.    The Sword of the Spirit (Heb. 4:12)

2.    The Sight of His Eyes (Heb. 4:13)

3.    The Son as our High Priest (Heb. 4;14-16)

 

I.         THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT (Heb. 4:12)

 

II.       THE SEEING EYES OF GOD (Heb. 4:13)

 

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight:  but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

 

A.  The quality of God that is set forth is God’s omnipresence.

 

1.    Job 34:21

 

For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

 

2.    Psalm 33:13-14

 

The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.  From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

 

3.    Proverbs 15:8

 

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

 

B.   Three points are made by the writer of Hebrews:

1.    Nothing hidden:  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight…

2.    Total exposure:  …but all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him

a.    Naked

1)     Strong (1131):  nude

2)    Thayer:  unclad, naked, that is, laid bare

b.    Opened

1)     Strong (5136):  to lay bear

2)    Thayer:  to lay bear, uncover, expose, made manifest to all

3.    Man’s accountability:  with whom we have to do

 

C.  This aspect of God’s nature has two sides in its application to man.

1.    Negative:

a.    If we are engaged in evil, God sees.

b.    If I am not living up to my responsibilities, God sees.

2.    Positive:

a.    God is always present with me.

b.    He sees my victories.

c.    He sees my battles.

d.   He sees my discouragements.

e.    He sees me stumble.

 

D.  The fact that we will one day have to deal with God should keep us trying to be faithful to Him all things.

 

III.      THE SON, OUR HIGH PRIEST (Heb. 4:14-16)

 

A.  If anything keeps us from our rest, it will be sin in our lives.

 

B.   God has made provision for this sin through a high priest, Jesus Christ.  In this section, we learn three things:

1.    The Priest (Heb. 4:14)

 

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 

 

a.    The Possession:  We have

b.    The Position:  a great high priest

c.    The Place:  passed into the heavens

d.   The Person:  Jesus the Son of God

e.    The Plea:  Let us hold fast our profession