How God Speaks

Temple Baptist Church - 9-12-2018

Hebrews 1:1-2

Introduction:

A.  As we begin the Book of Hebrews, we need to remember that the key word is “Better.”

B.  Paul instructs the “strangers scattered” that they no longer needed the old economy of revelation that they grew up under.  Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was better than anything the Old Testament had to offer.  Jesus Christ is better than the Prophets!

C.  I want to break down these two verses to show when and how that God spoke in times past and how God speaks in the present.

1.  In times past, God spoke at “Sundry Times.” 

a.  When we think of the Old Testament, we think of God constantly talking with His people but that was not so.  The Old Testament saints lived in long expanses of time where God was silent. 

b.  God never intended to tell man every move to make or how to handle all that came his way.  God expected man to walk and make his decisions along the lines of revealed Scripture. 

c.  The word “Sundry” means at various times but also carries the meaning of “many times.”  God spoke when it was necessary.  There are no unnecessary words in our Bible.  It contains every word that God wanted us to have and every word necessary for us to live by.

Matthew 4:3-4  And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.  (4)  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone,but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.  (If we are to live by every word, then we must have every world.)

d.  In the beginning of time and at the end of time, God will always speak to man.  The First and Last Mentions of any subject will always be consistent.  The Voice of God walked with Adam and Eve every day and Jesus Christ, the Word of God, will walk with us throughout eternity.

Genesis 3:8  And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

Psalms 119:89  For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

e.  Men like Abraham heard God speak, but—if we coulted the times in the Bible—there would probably be less than 20 recorded.  Abraham lived 175 years.  Therefore, there had to be many long periods of time when God was silent.  I will only use that one example for times sake.

f.  Between the Books of Malachi and Matthew, there was a period of “400 Silent Years.”

2.  In times past, God spoke in “Divers Manners.”  Different ways.

a.  Theophanies or Christophanies.  God manifesting Himself in human form.  The Angel of the Lord is referenced 68 times in the Old Testament.

b.  Anthropomorphisms – a three-dollar word for a representation of God in an inanimate form.  The Burning Bush and the Rock of Horeb are the most obvious examples.

c.  “The finger of God” on Mount Saini and on the plaster of the wall in Daniel 5:5.

d.  “A still small voice” when speaking to Elijah.  (1 Kings 19:12)

e.  Prophets – 2 Peter 1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

f.  These were all instruments that God used to convey His Word to His people.  The Word was His!

3.  “By His Son” in these last days.  The last days began with the birth of Christ.  Notice with me that this is the last time that God speaks to mankind.  Through His Son, Jesus Christ.

a.  “He came unto His own!”  The Nation of Israel. 

1)  Jesus Christ, the perfect, fullness of the godhead bodily.  Almighty Jehovah God Himself, robed in flesh, walked among His people. 

2)  As He walked this earth, the people heard the perfect Word of God.  Jesus Christ, THE Word, spoke when He walked this earth.  Gracious words, authoritative words, powerful words.  Never a man spake like this Man! 

3)  We have His words recorded throughout the Gospels and, after His glorious Resurrection, and several times in the Book of Acts

4)  “And His own received Him not.”  Nationally, Israel rejected Christ and His Word.

b.  “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.”  The believers.

1)  The believers who never sat under the physical teaching of Jesus Christ.  To a people who had never personally seen Him.  This is us!

2)  God speaks to us through His Word!  The Bible that you hold in your hands is all that God has to say to you!  He no longer speaks through visions, tongues, dreams, etc. as these things are extra-biblical revelations.  You can say that God told you anything that you want to say.  Foolish people follow this crowd.

3)  As the early believers had the perfect Word of God incarnate, Jesus Christ, we have the perfect Word inscribed.  If you do not believe that, YOU DO NOT BELIEVE THE BIBLE!

4)  The inspired Word of God – verbally and plenary.  2 Timothy 3:16-17  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  (17)  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.  (If we do not have it, there is no sound doctrine, no authoritative reproof, no instruction in righteousness, and no throughly furnishing of God’s men.)

5)  The perfectly preserved Word of God – living and abiding.1 Peter 1:23-25  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.  (24)  For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:  (25)  But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.  (If we do not have it, then we have not been born again because God said that we have to have it to be saved.)

6)  The infallible, inerrant, every Word of God King James Bible. Matthew 4:3-4  And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.  (4)  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.  (If we do not have every word, then our Lord made a terrible mistake when He answered the devil.  We must have very word, not some of the words or most of the words, ALL OF THE WORDS!  The liberal Bible scholar says that Jesus Christ was wrong.  I believe God.)

7)  A more sure word of prophecy is what our Bible is until the day of Christ.  2 Peter 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

Conclusion:  God begins the Hebrew Epistle assuring the “strangers scattered” alone with us who are “alive and remain” that what God gave to us is what God speaks to us and what we rely upon to guide and grow us until He comes.