Warnings from Hebrews to this generation:
REFUSAL TO LISTEN
(incline/ give earnest heed/pay close attention, etc) and TAKE HOLD OF JESUS CHRIST (part 1)
We are looking at the letter to the Hebrew Christians. In this letter we have several warnings that were directed to them that should also be heeded by everyone who call himself Christian or religious, be it Muslim, Hindu, Jew, Buddhist, Primitive – ancestor worship, African traditional religion, Spirituality, ZCC, Rastafarian, New Age, Wicca, Atheism, Native American, Chinese traditional, etc, etc! Everyone should take heed of this first warning!
“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. :2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him…” Heb 2:1-3
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed…” (Heb 1:1-2)
“So see to it that you do not reject Him or refuse to listen to and heed Him Who is speaking [to you now]…” REFUSE NOT HIM THAT SPEAKS… (Hebr 12:25)
We are looking at the letter to the Hebrew Christians. In this letter we have several warnings that were directed to them that should also be heeded by everyone that call himself Christian.
What we need to understand is that these warnings were given to Christians (mostly converts from the Jewish religion). They were not merely given to a people who did not know the Lord, they were given to a people who have come to know Christ. They were given to believers and not so much unbelievers. If you call yourself Christian then you need to take heed of these warnings that is coming to everyone of us. Do not excuse yourself with some manmade doctrine that nothing bad can come to you or that it is impossible that you may miss the grace of God.
Listen, these warnings are real and even though it goes against what many belief, it is God’s wake up call to thousands to begin to consider the serious admonitions that comes to all who profess faith in God and who believes the gospel.
The first warning from Hebrews is a serious issue!
REFUSAL to closely observe and regard Jesus CHRIST AND TAKE HEED OF HIS WORDS AND LIFE is a serious matter, you will lose your soul in Hell under the wrath of the Living God, doesn’t matter if you call yourself Christian, Muslim, Hindu or atheist!
The first warning is just this Christian:
Do not JUST TAKE IT CASUAL and be CARELESS IN your LIFE and with the things you especially hear!
“Therefore WE OUGHT TO GIVE THE MORE EARNEST HEED TO THE THINGS WHICH WE HAVE HEARD, lest at any time we should let them slip. :2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape…”
”In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed…” (Heb 1:1-2)
”So see to it that you do not reject Him or refuse to listen to and heed Him Who is speaking [to you now]…”
REFUSE NOT HIM (Jesus Christ) THAT SPEAKS… (Hebr 12:25)!
Now this goes beyond merely the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, this includes His whole Person and WORK. Do not stop listening at any time! This is a serious warning!
For your own souls welfare, do not refuse Him or give little importance to His Life, work and words!
Now, there is a great danger here. Most people will tell you, “but we do listen!” – this is not what is address here. It is not merely refusal to listen, but refusal to pay particular attention and to INCLINE the ear, it has the meaning to APPLY the heart to what it have received through the facility of the ear! It is not merely to receive some words, but TO LISTEN = IMPLY THAT THE HEART IS APPLIED TO WHAT IT RECEIVED. Are you listening? To listen here means more than hearing some sermon, or agreeing with what is being said, but to listen is to take care to make sure that the things you’ve heard is applied in your heart, to listen is to ATTEND to what has been said or heard, it is to APPLY oneself to the things you hear! It is to carry it alongside you all the way and give great consideration to it! It should be your greatest importance! We easily become accustomed to merely listen to sermons and messages, yet, what we hear does not affect or impact our lives or walk! It is what I call dead formalism! This is not today’s Christian heritage! People go up to churches, conferences, home cells, etc, etc, yet what they hear and listen to leave them basicly the same! It does not affect anything! This is more serious than what many believe! It is almost as it should be for many! But be warned!
“Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.” Isaiah 55:3 (Italics mine)
“I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end…”. Psalm 119:112 (italics mine)
“Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.” Psalm 78:1
“My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.”Proverbs 4:20 (italics mine)
There is the danger of many who do not INCLINE their hearts to the things they have heard nor to the things Christ has taught. They have never attended intently to His words. Even though thousands listen to sermons, watch videos, etc, the fact that it does not impact the church is because even though many listen to the words, few incline their hearts – few REALLY listen! FEW REALLY TAKE HOLD OF HIM OR HOLD FAST TO HIS WORDS AND TEACHING.
There is a refusal to make what you have heard (or read) more than mere words and to apply it to the heart and life!
That is why what most Christians and people have heard will in fact not help them (while it should have) on the great Judgment bar of God, but it will condemn them because few really LISTEN!
There is more here. Another tragic is also true: the very words of Christ has been separated from today’s gospel that is preached. Very little or none of what Christ has said and taught are hold fast by this generation. The fact is that if Christ’s Word is not heeded and completely build upon (Matt 7:23-25) then that is prove that you do not have God or Christ even though you may claim to be super religious, saved, children of God, Christian, etc ….! ((2John 9)
The proof is if you abide DAILY in His Word and live CONSTANTLY by His Words and build your whole life EACH LIVING BREATH on His Words and doctrine!
The prophets had spoken, God has spoken through the prophets in various ways,
but He has spoken to us in these LAST days THROUGH HIS SON =
Please understand this:
Everything God ever wanted to say –
everything He said –
Jesus Christ is God’s Final WORD to mankind!
What Jesus Christ taught, did, said, EVERYTHING IS AN ACCUMULATION OF WHAT GOD DID SAY, WAS SAYING, EVER WANTED TO SAY! Amen!
Some hold to some text here or there in New or Old Testament, but what Christ has said is the ULTIMATE and FINALITY of what God ever was saying and ever wanted to communicate!
In the Words of Jesus Christ, even the very Life of Christ (remember He was the Word made flesh – He spoke constant through His life!), EVERYTHING which Jesus Christ spoken, did and work, God spoke through to ALL humanity for ALL time and eternity! We have the FULL embodiment of every Word of Christ and UPON this Word, Person and Work SHOULD BE BUILDED UPON.
So, here’s the thing, I don’t care what people are saying, I don’t care what Calvin has taught, or Arminius, or whatever person. Some are so into Calvinism or things Calvin, Spurgeon, or someone has taught and said that they have lost all perspective of the teachings and Words of Jesus Christ! Please understand this: It doesn’t matter in the end who have said what, all that will be important is if you have take heed of what Jesus Christ have done, have said and taught and if it is absolute and supreme for you!
“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” 2Jn 1:9-11
Now Hebrews warns that we should GIVE THE MORE EARNEST HEED to the things we have heard LEST AT ANY TIME we shall drift away from it or that we shall let them “SLIP”! That makes it really intense! To really listen is to take hold of what you hear and to HOLD IT FAST every waking moment and make sure it work out in your life!
The possibility is the danger, it is possible to have heard so many things over so many years and to let the very things you have heard (and read) become inactive and passive and even missing and misplaced in your life, rendering it inoperative!
This is, that the possibility that you may lose something that MAY have guard and kept you is real and possible – just here is the awesome danger and warning to you!
Please take some time to make sure that what you have heard or read have entered your heart, take hold of every word, by faith don’t go on as if to listen was the goal, but through faith begin to apply and implement what you have heard and read! The Wise build their house on the Rock because they listen and do!
God Bless
Brother Christiaan
PDF