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Honor the Builder, Not the House (Hebrews 3:1-6) *Verses in NKJV*
– “For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God.”
– Do you know what the tallest building in the world is? (Ask them what else they know about it.)
– The tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
– 2,717 ft tall, twice as tall as the Empire State building.
– 163 floors, 58 elevators with a top speed of 33 ft per second, or 22 mph.
– Originally named Burj Dubai (Dubai Tower), but they ran short on money, Sheikh Khalifa, the ruler of the United Arab Emirates, stepped in with the rest of the money (Total of 1.5B).
– Who was the architect? An American named Adrian D. Smith. (Have you heard of him??)
– The most important fact: It took 22 million man-hours over 6 years, to complete.
– (From an article) “Critical reception to Burj Khalifa has been generally positive, and the building has received many awards. However, there were numerous complaints concerning migrant workers from South Asia who were the primary building labor force. These centered on low wages and the practice of confiscating passports until duties were complete. Several suicides were reported.”
– This building was named after the “money man”, but was built by the blood of unnamed men.
– This building is really just metal, concrete, and glass. Without the Builder, the building doesn’t exist.
– The building is just a visible representation of the skill and care of the one who created it.
– Jesus is the builder of our house. By His blood we have a hope to rejoice in, and a firm rock to stand on.
– Hebrews 3:1-6, Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, 2 who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. 3 For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. 5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, 6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.
Point #1: Consider Christ!
– Hebrews 3:1-2, Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, 2 who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His (Jesus’s) house.
– The author is speaking directly to believers, new converts, not to non-believers although they were certainly listening. This is import because your growth and knowledge doesn’t end at conversion, it is only beginning.
– Consider Christ, using the filter of our knowledge of his authority and superiority, and reflecting on the fact that he is our confessed Savior. Not just AN example to consider, THE example.
– “Jesus who was faithful to Him who appointed him…” Jesus came, in the flesh, to do the work of the Father.
– John 6:38, For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
– Hebrews 5:7-10, who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,”
– Hebrews 12:2-3, 2 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. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
– Phil. 2:8-9, 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
– No one on earth or in heaven deserves our careful thought, contemplation, meditation, attention, or reflection, more than Jesus.
– Jesus came in the flesh to do the work of the Father. Likewise, Moses also did a work for God.
– Moses is a champion and a hero in the faith. He led God’s people out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and to the edge of the Promised Land.
– Numbers 12:7-8a, Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face,
– Moses saved God’s people from death, slavery, and the arms of their enemies in Egypt, one time.
– But Jesus saved us spiritually from death and slavery for all time, everlasting. A far greater task, and more comprehensive than Moses. For-ever, not just “for now”.
Point #2: Honor the Builder, not the building.
– Hebrews 3:3-4, For this One (Jesus) has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God.
– Many Jews of the 1st century regarded Moses as the greatest person in History, even above the angels. The author wanted them and us to understand that Jesus deserves far more glory and praise.
– We often focus on the creation and disregard the creator.
– Example: Thom DeVita, tattoo artist. 1960, before internet and social media, still illegal in New York, this was art you had to earn. Extremely influential to the future of tattooing.
– Bearded hipsters are copying his work and don’t even know it. They come into his art gallery, ignore the old man, and take smart phone pictures of his work and post it on Instagram!
– God has created all things! We admire his work, post it on IG, but ignore His majesty.
– Colossians 1:16, For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
– Romans 1:20, For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
– Moses was created by God. He is not the house, he is only part of it. The house is The Church.
– God built the house, the global church, His people. Jesus is the Son, the Lord over the house.
– The amazing Moses was only a servant in God’s house, as you and I are, (or should be). And “a servant is not greater than his master.” …and YOU are no Moses!
– The Burj Khalifa has 12 huge machines moving along tracks that are attached to the outside the building. 36 window washers board these machines to clean the 24,000 reflective windows.
– You may “wash windows” on the Burj Khalifa but that doesn’t mean you get credit for building it.
– Eph 2:8-10, For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
– You may serve in the House of the Lord, but don’t expect that it will bring YOU glory and praise.
– As a servant, you should only boast in the Lord and His goodness, and not about yourself.
Point #3: Brethren, through these troubled times, hold fast!
– Hebrews 3:5-6, And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, 6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope, firm to the end.
– Hold fast! Stand firm! Be confident, rejoice, have hope, because Jesus Christ is your Lord!
– Stay faithful, firm in the foundation of your Christian beliefs, even in this crazy world that has planted itself in shifting sands.
– We, The Global Church, Faith and Victory, you and me, are the house of the Lord! Rejoice!
– Hebrews 2:10-11, For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
– Are you being sanctified? Are you being refined and sharpened by God’s word and His presence?
– 1 Peter 3:15,But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you…
– For you to “give a defense”, you have to understand it yourself. Do YOU know where your hope comes from?
– How firm is your foundation in the Word, and prayer, and understanding of the Savior?
– How can you stand firm or give a defense if you don’t have a firm foundation to stand on?
– Matthew 7:24-27, (Jesus said) “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
– Even the tallest building in the world can not stand if it is built on a foundation of sand.
– Psalms 62:6, He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.
– Can you say that today?
– Moses had the testimony of being a faithful servant of the Lord. When your story is written, what will your testimony be?
*Alter Call*
– prayer –
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