Our High Priest Forever (Part A)

Compassion is from the Latin to suffer with some to enter into this trouble with some times that the danger is you want to say something profound to somebody was suffering.

I don't want to hear anything profound about suffering I want relief. And so the temptation is to say something when we should just be quiet and sit in their presence and sort of just allow the company between us to to sue as much as it can. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville.

Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Hebrews.

Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching. Now here's Pastor Rick with a brand-new study called our high priest forever in Hebrews chapter 5. Have your Bibles. Please open to Hebrews chapter 5 verse one Hebrews chapter 5 for every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in all things training to God that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins, and have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray since he himself is also subject to weakness. Because of this he is required. As for the people, so also for himself to offer sacrifices force in no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God.

Just as Aaron was so also Christ did not glorify himself to become high priest, but it was he who said to him you are my son, today I begotten you. As he also says in another place. You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek when the days of his flesh when he had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to him who is able to save him from death was heard because of his godly fear, though he was a son, yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered. Having been perfected, he became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him called by God as high priest according to the order of Melchizedek, of whom we have much to say and hard to explain.

Since you have become dull of hearing, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God, you have come to need milk and not solid food for everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness. He is a babe solid food belongs to those who are full of age. That is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil as we are here this morning. Think of how many people on the earth are missing out on God's word missing out on the things that we have just read been so many other things that other pastors and pulpits are reading this morning to their congregations.

Likewise, may we not ever lose our sense of burden for lost souls where we turn right to the first verse we reread for every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sin well before Christ. The high priest in Israel amongst the Hebrews.

He was the leader the spiritual leader of the nation among men, but he was chosen by God where it says again verse one for every high priest taken from among men. God harvested his spiritual leaders from the flock of the Levites and then the children of Aaron, according to the Jewish law within the church. He still harvesters spiritual leaders from the flock among men among sinners, that would be the pastors continues is appointed for men and all things pertaining to God at appointed means these ordained ordination is something that men do not do, but men recognize has been done. God is the one that sets aside, the ones that will be his leaders in the flock and the flock recognizes it. There are certainly features that would disqualify a man from being ordained man that had criminal criminal qualities. For example, that there are other things of the immorality of course would be a indication that God has not called a person to enter the pulpit, you know, you would think that that would be common sense, but unfortunately it is not many, many unscrupulous individuals have sought and gained the position of pastor over the centuries, but the righteous are able to discern their able to pick him out and say this man is not preaching the word of God. He certainly is or is not listening to God and living word. So this is serious stuff were kind of passing over it because we covered it so often what Scripture does warn against self appointed leadership.

It was not to be the case in Israel. It was not the case with the son of God, Jesus Christ course amongst the Godhead. It was already foreordained from the foundations of the world.

The writer is telling his audience that God is everything in control. He knows exactly what he is doing is precise in this and when he singled out one whom we know is Jesus the Messiah. Something that was it something for the people to submit to and not resist the of total authority and again they were in this position. These Hebrews of drifting away from the faith of forfeiting salvation in Christ offers because they wanted to go back to Judaism believes they were flirting with the idea and he is as you when we stood and read the word moments ago we got to the end. Where is that there's this abrupt rebuke that he launches on them and will get to that momentarily.

So this priestly authority from God. Now there are examples and scriptures of those who have overstepped gone beyond the boundaries set by the Lord when it comes to ministry. They have taken it upon themselves to take what God is appointed to others and again direct redirecting to themselves.

The first one would be Cora. Cora was a Levite was quite irritated God.

It singled out Moses and Aaron to be the spiritual leaders of the nation and in so doing, he lost his life, God struck him dead. Not only him all those who sided with him. He was not alone. The ground opened up and swallowed them up salt King Saul Israel's first King consummate self impressed selfish homicidal individual that he was.

He attempted to invade the priesthood. Also not willing to wait for Samuel, the man of God, and in so doing doing. Saul lost his kingdom.

God told him through the sample through Samuel the prophet. As Samuel was walking away, irritated by Saul. Saul grabs his garment the tears and the prophet turns and says God will rip the kingdom from you also. And that is what happened. Of course, David was his replacement. We all should have a fear of being replaced were all disposable, expendable, but to be replaced by God. I'm not talking when we served out Timon or something is happened to the health issues or something that is redirected our energies. I mean, is a rebuke. We should all have that fear. I don't want to fail in my ministry so that God would have to raise up someone to fill my spot that would be shameful. So these lessons are beneficial or not something to panic in the face of the ark lessons to embrace. Then there was King use Ohio. He was a good king compared to so many of the others because it was exceptional, but it went to his head and he decided that he too would overrun the priesthood and lose his life. He didn't lose his kingdom but he lost his health. God smote him with leprosy on the spot so we have this message from Scripture saying know your boundaries. Self appointed leadership is not leadership. Leaders have to learn to be led and it should not really go to their head because they should be so preoccupied with other business they won't have time to let it go to their head too busy trying to stay a step ahead of themselves. He mentions here that these leaders are appointed in matters pertaining to God, not self-help, not pampering, not harboring sin, not reducing or withholding would God has said through his word is to deal with things pertaining to God, and that would be the ones that God loves and who would that be that would be sinners. Sinners are we sinners are damaged or defective. God is made a way to embrace us nonetheless.

But there is a system involved. There are other things that must be taken care of to get here.

He continues in verse one that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. The priest was to represent sinners which he was one of two God and it is a high and holy position to have was a roll made in heaven to address and on earth and so verse two, we can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray since he himself is also subject to weakness. Well he knows firsthand what it's like when someone says listen I struggle with this thing will look the priest could say what I've got mine to I understand that doesn't make it acceptable permissible but it certainly does shave off the arrogance and self-righteousness that would interfere with making a strong making each other strong your robots you you give man enough time will will create artificial life to to be in our pulpits and people like it all. He was so gentle and kind in combat is a fraud is fake is not official unit from a center not from something that came out of a box and so this is serious business. Now it's also a little tricky because some folks have a way of dictating to other folks, how they need to be compassionate and that's really not not for us to do. Everybody handles things different, but that compassion compassion is from the Latin to suffer with some to enter into their struggle with them sometimes that the danger is you want to say something profound to somebody was suffering.

I don't want to hear anything profound when I'm suffering I want relief. And so the temptation is to say something when we should just be quiet and sit in their presence and sort of just allow the company between us to to sooth as much as it can.

Job, Job and his friends showed up. The best thing they did was sit before him silent for seven days then they blew it they open their mouths and they began to attack Job as you muster really be messed up before God to suffer like this.

We've been looking at you envisage what is wrong with you that's not how you handle it. That's not compassion, and so he saying he the priest, the leaders, the spiritual leaders are to be compassionate now. Often times you know the flight does not know how much the pastor is praying for them is taking their name in the situation before the Lord. They want on the show but flowers and chocolates. I guess and and if he doesn't do that it is and follow the script. He doesn't care all that don't don't fall for that fall for that at all. Well he can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray will. Ignorance is not an asset when it comes to things about God and that's what is pertaining to things about God. There are many people that claim that I love the Lord, but this thing completely ignorant about what God wants from them and really don't seem to be too interested in finding out. Perhaps they are afraid that they're going to have to sacrifice something to the cross speaks of sacrifice is not should be not not be something foreign to us, but there are those that are ignorant now, there are those that are ignorant and indecent indignant at the same time that should never be but it is a in the church and amongst Christians. They don't know what they're talking about.

That doesn't stop them from talking about what they don't know and being quite nasty in the process within their those that are ignorant this individual. Don't know when they're not. They don't have the this foul attitude that they're willing to be pliable in the presence of God's word, they will submit to the authority of Scripture. So it's up to each individual to figure out how they going to handle this when he says there are those that are going astray. They know better and more ignorance can lead you astray to don't want to rule that out. But then there's another group that this is going astray. They're not ignorant their willful Peter was warned by Christ that there would be a lot of work in working with his people. So he says in John's Gospel, feed my lambs tend my sheep feed my sheep.

Keep a watch on them. Work with them make him strong. Don't starve them, don't abandon them. The words feed and 10. They are critical to the words of Christ.

Paul put it this way, all Scripture is breathed by God and is profitable for doctrine, that is right thinking. For reproof, that is, the correction of wrong thinking for the instruction in righteousness, that is how to not get in trouble to stay out of trouble, for correction, for those who have gone into trouble, for reproof while I forgot that one that is going up to the one that you know is wrong in saying hey, this got to be dealt with. It will not be excused when will willing to work with you but you got to fix it and then he goes on to say that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped who wants to not be ready wants to not have the right gear within just be negligent.

While this was happening to these these Christians they been Christians a long time. I should add that we want to come to that if I ever get off the second verse will will come to it, he says, since he himself also is also subject to weakness, everyone, everyone who is a sinner has reason to be gentle, one who is us who with another one who is a sinner and that is where he is going with that.

That is to have compassion.

Since he to has this weakness of the flesh, all sin. Verse three. Because of this, is required. As for the people, so also for himself to offer sacrifices for sins for the writer is this bringing everything interview in front of his audience.

He is saying were sinners that we have spiritual leaders to deal with this sin for the leaders in ourselves never trivialize that.

It's amazing as much attention as Scripture gives to dealing with sin.

How many churches give energy into ignoring it.

Thank God. Thank you Lord that that is not nearly.

I don't how many there are, but I know there are many that do the right thing, but I also know there's an ever increasing number of churches and people who call themselves Christians that just don't want to hear. Don't want to deal with it. That's contrary to Scripture and is what were going through to expose us to as much of the Scripture as we can be exposed to so again. Verse three.

Because of this he is required. As for the people, so also for himself. He is not above sin to offer sacrifices for sins no approach to God without dealing with sin if you if you are in sin and you just did not even want to deal with it not going to bring it up to God.

Do you expect even listening. That has to be dealt with. I'm not saying it is going to be defeated, but I am saying it has to be different dealt with in this life.

Whatever you struggle with in the way of sin is a good possibility take you will go with you all the way to your grave but you will be fighting it every step of the way in your heart in your spirit, and that's what separates the saints from the Yanks verse four and no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God. Just as Aaron was, was the honor of dealing with the sin on behalf of the people. No man takes this honor of being the high priest or a spiritual leader as the case may be. Today on themselves.

This is a God appointed position verse five so also Christ did not glorify himself to become high priest, but it was he who said to him you are my son, today I have begotten you will Ahrens appointment. I priest was by God, so is Christ the son of God subjects himself to this system than we better do it to.

Which is part of the message we have this pattern where he says, today I have begotten you is quoting Psalm two was the second time is quoted this verse in Hebrews 1 also called Psalm to verse seven. Now it does have to do the only begotten son means the will of the deity become taking on humanity son of God being born of a virgin and walking amongst us, and in going through this life with us, it asked this Psalm to verse seven has that meaning in it, but it goes further than that. It goes all the way to the resurrection. We know that because in the book of acts the apostles apply it that way next 13 verse 33 and 34 is raised up Jesus as it is also written in the second Psalm you are my son, today I begotten you and that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, Jesus will not suffer and die again will get the lot of that at the end of Hebrews, which is contrary to to some that behave as though it's not in the Scripture. Well anyway that's verse five that Christ subject is submitted to the processes of the Godhead verse six and he who says he also says another place. You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek on now is heating up nice quoting Psalm 110 and you know Jesus. There were three well for witnesses to Christ being the Messiah. There was John the Baptist there was the Scripture, the Old Testament Scripture mean that the he fulfilled the prophecies pointing to him as the son of David and entering in this ministry. There were the miracles that he did accompanied by the teachings, his teachings and then finally there was the father. This is my beloved son hear him and so that all of this Christianity that we embrace is is mapped out for us by God. We haven't stumbled into it. It is not something that we are chiseling to perfection. It is something that is handed to us through God's word and so he's quoting the Old Testament pointing the Jews back to their authority which they would you think submit to you would think they would say all that's right. This is in Scripture, we obey Scripture.

You pointed it out and there is no way to refute what you said going to stop this nonsense trying to go back to Judaism for blended with Christianity somehow make Christianity better. We going to abandon that we going to build up in the faith. Or maybe they did come to that conclusion. The writer doesn't know at what point they will or will not what he is not going to take any chances. And so he is going to slaughter any thoughts against Christ throughout this this Hebrew letter/species.

He says you are a priest forever. That cannot be said about any other certainly not in the Levitical line ads that I've been speaking some of you who are very familiar with the word you're up on that when I say Levitical. You know what I'm talking about when I mentioned the ironic line, you know the line of error that could be priest in the priesthood. Others of you may say I don't have it, but you get you get enough of it. And another thing you may get out of it is you may have to study some more. Paul said to Timothy.

Be diligent study to show yourself approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth of Timothy was a pastor but those words are for all Christians not just for the pastor well you are a priest forever. Again, a distinction that is forever significant it's it's it's singles out Christ.

It makes him exclusive superior to everyone else and no one is a priest forever except Christ it and we wear part of a royal priesthood. We serve a priest was a king Jesus Christ about our priesthood and when we leave this world, but he represents us forever. Now he mentions this order of Melchizedek.

This is the first well let me go do it this way, the priesthood gets its first mention in the Scripture not on the Levitical line. The outline of Aaron and his descendents. According to the Mosaic law. What Melchizedek magenta is the first one that is associated with the priesthood directly so as priest. This order of Melchizedek moon you've been listening to cross reference radio the daily radio ministry of pastor Rick asked Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia. As we mentioned at the beginning of today's broadcast. Today's teaching is available free of charge at our website. Simply log on to cross reference radio.com that's cross reference radio.com would also like to encourage you to subscribe to the cross reference radio podcast subscribing ensures that you stay current with all the latest teachings from pastor Rick, you can subscribe cross reference radio.com or simply search for cross reference radio your favorite podcast to the next time as Pastor Rick continues teaching through the book of Hebrews right here on cross reference radio