Have You Considered Jesus?, Part 1

Thank you, choir. If you have your Bible turn, meet Hebrews chapter 3. Hebrews chapter 3. And we ask and answer the question: have you considered Jesus? And also, we're going to answer another question. Having spent over 20 weeks looking at Hebrews 1 and 2, the question I always receive is: why is it it takes you so long? To get through a passage of scripture, why is it we just can't take chunks of it at a time and get through it? Why do you camp out on a verse? Worse yet, why do you camp out on a word?

Why do you do that? Well, today I'm going to answer that question for you. We spent nine years in Luke's Gospel, and people were in our church, and they moved away, and then they came back because they moved back five years later. We were still in Luke when they came back. And they said, You're still in Luke's gospel after all these years. And we were only halfway through. So there is the question: why is it it takes you so long? I'm going to answer that question for you today. And it comes in the question.

that encompasses the title of the sermon. Have you cons Jesus? Because the answer probably is not. And I'll explain that to you. Hebrews 3: to 6. Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus. The apostle and high priest of our confession. He was faithful to him who appointed him as Moses also was in all his house. For he has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.

Now Moses was faithful in all his house as a servant. For a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later. But Christ was faithful as a son. Over his house, whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end. Have you considered Jesus? The text begins with the word, therefore.

Which takes you back to chapter 2 and chapter 1. And chapter 1 was all about the identity of the Messiah. Chapter 2 was about the ministry of the Messiah. And chapter 2, verses 1 to 4, in between that was about the responsibility we have toward the Messiah and his message. That we can't afford to drift away from such a great salvation. It's an invitation that the writer gives us. There, based on the fact that Christ in the previous chapter is our substitute, he is Our sanctifier, he is our satisf, he is everything we need to have.

Based on that, have you cons Jesus. Therefore, based on who he is, based on what he has done, have you considered Jes? In chapter one, he was greater than the prophets and greater than the angels. Also, in chapter two. He extends that and says that Jesus the Messiah is greater than the angels. Now he's going to say he's greater than Moses. And if you're Jewish, you hate verses 1 to 6. Because there's nobody in Judaism greater than Moses. He's the man. Moses is Israel's greatest leader. And so, for the writer of Hebrews who's Jewish to write to a Jewish audience to say that Jesus is greater than Moses is really off.

But he will show you how he's greater than Moses. In chapter 4, he'll show you he's greater than Joshua. Then, as you go on in chapter, he'll show you how he's greater than Aaron's priestly ministry. And then in chapters 10 and 11, he is greater than all the Old Testament sacrifices. That's why the key word in Hebrews is what? Better. He's better than everything. She used over and over again all throughout the book of Hebrews. He's better than Moses. He's better, great than. The Old Testament sacrifices.

Why? Because the reality has come. The rituals are empty because the real has arrived. And because he's here, he is supreme, he is sufficient. And the book of Hebrews is about the supremacy and the sufficiency of Jesus Christ our L. So the writer says in chapter 3, there, based on the identity and the minist of the Messiah, have you considered? Jesus. He says, Therefore, holy brethren, only time that phrase is used. In the New Testament. Okay? So you know he's writing to Christians. If he's writing to the Jewish audience at large, he would just say brethren because he's Jewish and they're Jewish brethren.

But he's writing now, particularly to holy brethren. He's writing to people who love the Lord. People that the Lord God Himself is not afraid or ashamed to call them brothers, as we saw in our last message in Hebrews chapter 2. They are holy brethren. They are sanctified brethren. They are set apart brethren. They are set apart from the world unto God. They are set apart from the world's family, Satan's family, unto God and His. Family again, that we talked about last week. But he reiterates that by saying, Therefore, holy brethren.

Remember now, in the book of Hebrews, he writes to two groups of people: those who are believers and those who are unbelievers. Those who are intimately committed to the Christ, those are the holy brethren, and then the unholy brethren or the unbelieving brothers, okay, because they're Jewish. Are the ones who are inspirationally curious or intellectually convinced about the Messiah, but have never committed their lives to the Messiah, and that's why there are warning passages all throughout the book of Hebrews.

And we will point that out to you as we go through the book so you know exactly who it is he's referring to, who it is he is addressing at that particular moment in the text. It would be like any preacher. He preaches Sunday morning. But in the audience, there are people who are believers and there are people who are unbelievers. Not everybody in the room is a believer. You say, well, wait a minute, they're at church. Just because you go to church doesn't mean you're a believer, right? You believe in something, but you might not believe in Jesus.

So, you just can't take for granted that because you're here, you're saved. So, the preacher will preach to the congregation and he will exhort the believers and he will call the unbelievers to repentance because they need to understand the importance of saving. Grace. That's what the writer of Hebrews does. But on this particular occasion, in verses 1 to 6, he's talking to holy. Brethren. So he's telling the Christian to consider Jesus. Why would he do that? Wouldn't we have already considered him?

Maybe not. Maybe so. But the writer tells us what it is we are to consider and why we are to consider. Jesus. He says, Therefore, holy brethren, next phrase, very important, part. of a heavenly calling. What a beautiful statement. We are partners. We are fellowshipped together because we have been called By heaven, there's a heavenly call. As you recall over in Second Timothy chapter one.

It's Paul who says these words in verse number nine: that God saved us and called us with a holy calling. So the writer of Hebrews calls it a heavenly calling, and Paul in 2 Timothy 1 calls it a holy calling. And then Paul would also say in the book of Philippians that he presses on toward the high call of Christ in, or high call of heaven in Christ Jesus. So, not only is it a heavenly call, it's a holy call, it is a high call. Emphasizing the fact that we are partakers of something very unique, very Prestigious because it's a call from God.

You see, sometimes we forget that without the call of God, no one would ever be saved. You say, well, wait a minute. The Bible says, whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

That's true. But only those who call upon Him have already been called by Him. Very important to understand that. I'll explain that to you in a moment. The Bible says, Ephesians 4:1, that we are to walk worthy of that calling, right?

It's a heavenly call, it's a holy call, it's a high call, but we are to walk worthy of that calling. In other words, we are to live a life on earth that's equal to our life in heaven. In other words, we are to live a life where practice and position are one in the same. That's why Paul exhorts us to walk worthy of our calling. The Bible also says in 1 Corinthians 1. 9 that God is faithful, having called us into the fellowship of his Son. What has God called us to? He has called us to him. And in calling us to him, he has called us into the fellowship of his son.

Because he's called us to be partakers of a fellowship, of a partnership with the body of Christ. He calls us into his family. He doesn't call you to a building. He calls you to a family, a family that is concerned about your own soul. The Bible says of 1 Thessalonians 5:2, he who has called you is faithful who will accomplish it.

Faithful is he who called you, who also will do it. To what? Well, Paul says in Romans chapter 8: those whom he called he sanctified, and those whom he sanctified, he justified, and those whom he justified, he Glorified. In other words, faithful is He who calls you into the fellowship of His Son is going to make sure that you will be ultimately glorified in glory. So important to understand that. So he says, therefore, based on the identity and the ministry of Christ. Holy brethren, you who are partakers of a heavenly call.

Heavenly call. Let me talk to you about the call for a second. Can I do that? Because I think this is very important. And that's this. So many times. We forget the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 1.

2, brethren, consider your calling. For the most part, we don't even think about our call. But we should. Because the call of God upon your life is absolutely essential. So, mark this down. This is really, really thought-provoking. Number one is this: the call of God, the heavenly call, the holy call, the high call, commences with God.

It comm with God. John :, you did not choose me, but I chose you. You didn't choose me. I chose you. I called you with a high and holy call. The call, the heavenly high and holy call, commences with God. Number two, that call comes through the gospel.

That's the only way it comes. It comes through the gospel. Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by a word concerning the Christ, right? The Bible says over in 1 Peter chapter 1, these words: 1 Peter chapter 1, verse number 23: You have been born again, not of a seed which is perishable, but imperishable, that is, through the living.

And enduring word of God. That's how you're born again. For all flesh is like grass and all its glory, like the flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower falls off, but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word which was preached to you. And then James says this in James chapter 1, verse number 18, these words: In the exercise of his will, he brought us forth by the word of truth. How do you know you've been called with a high and holy, heavenly call? Well, number one, it commences with God.

Number two, it truly comes through the gospel. That's the only way. Nobody was ever saved by a song. Okay? Nobody was ever saved by a movie. You're saved through the preaching and teaching of the Word of God. Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by a word concerning the Christ. I know we get all emotional about songs and movies, but they don't save anybody. Oh, by the way, miracles don't save anybody either. None of the miracles of Jesus ever saved anybody. They were the credentials that he had to prove his Messiahship.

But they never saved anybody. It was the preaching and teaching of the Word of God. That's why he says, I must preach the kingdom of God. For I was sent forth for this purpose. So the call, the heavenly call, the high call, the holy call. comm with God, comes through the gospel, and number three, is con by grace.

It's conceived by grace. The book of Ephesians. Ephesians chapter, or Galatians chapter 1, verse number 6 says this: I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting him who called you by the grace. Of Christ. So the call comes through the gospel but is conceived by grace. And then it says over in the book of Ephesians chapter 1, verse number 6, these words. It says in verse number five, He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace.

Which he freely bestowed on us in the bel. So the high and heavenly and holy call of God comes, commences with God. Comes through the gospel, is conceived by grace, and number four is clar. By good works. Did you know that? The call of God. Someone says, I've been called by God. The answer is, show me. Because it's clarified by good works. How do you know that? Because the Bible says so.

You say, where does it say that? Book of Titus. Chapter 2, verse 11. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men. Instructing us. So if the call is conceived by grace, that grace now is instructing us. To deny ungodliness and worldly desires, and to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from. Every lawless deed and to purify for himself a people for his own possession zealous for good deeds.

See that? There you have it. If it commences with God, comes through the gospel, conceived by grace, it is clarified by good works. How do you know you've been called with a heavenly, high, and holy calling? Your life demonstrates it because you deny ungodliness, you deny worldly pleasures so that you might live sensibly, you might live r. Righteously in this present age because you have a zealousness about your life to live according to the word of God. That makes sense. Thank you. At least one person thinks it makes sense.

It does make sense. It makes perfect sense. But the call of God, that high and holy call. Compels us to be grateful. It compels us to be grateful. Paul says in 1 Timothy chapter 1, verse number 12, I believe it is, these words. I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me because he considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor, yet I was shown mercy. Mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was more than abundant with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.

It is a trustworthy statement. Deserving full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. The call, the high and holy call of God, compels us to be grateful. See, there's a lot of people who think they've been called by God, but they haven't been because their call has not been clarified by their lifestyle. Nor are they compelled. To be grateful. To really truly thank God for all that He's done. By the way, one more: the high and holy and heavenly call.

Commissions us to go into all the world and preach the gospel. The high and holy, heavenly call of God commissions us to go into all the world and preach the gospel. Christ said in John 20, 2, as the Father has sent me, so send I you. We 'll talk more about that in a minute. So the write of Hebrews says, Therefore, holy brethren, part of a heavenly calling, that calling, that call. Is ab essential. And that calling is something every one of us should be grateful for. He says these words: Holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling.

Oh, by the way, Peter says, make certain, 2 Peter 1:10, make certain about his calling and choosing you. Make certain. Make certain you've been called by God. And I'd be rem my responsibility to ask you: are you certain you've been called by God? with a heavenly high and holy call? Because if what I just told you, those I think it's six points, I'm not sure how many it was, but if those six principles are not evident, you must ask yourself Am I truly a part of God's glorious kingdom? Have I been called by Him?

Have I responded to the call? If not, you need to do that today. So he says these words. Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, cons Jesus. Now here's my answer to your question about why it takes so long to get through a passage. It's biblical. Did you know that? It's biblical and scriptural for me to camp out on a word. To camp out on a phrase, to camp out on a verse, to camp out on a paragraph. It's biblical to do that. If you want to consider Jesus, cons Jesus cata no est.

It's a compound word that means, first of all, mind with the preposition down. Mind down. In other words, with your mind, think. And then to think down or think de about something. So, have you thought deeply about Jesus? Have you plumbed the depths? Of Jesus. Most of us think superficially about Jesus. Most of us are very shallow in our thinking about Jesus. Most of us only think about Jesus on Sunday. Some on Sunday and Monday because you come twice. But most people don't think deeply about Jesus.

This word used five times in the New Testament. It's used another time in the book of Hebrews, which is quite eye-opening. If you've got your Bible, turn to Hebrews chapter 10. Hebrews chapter 10. Which we will be at sometime before Jesus comes, unless he comes as today. Hebrews 10, verse number 10. I'm sorry, Hebrews 10, verse number 19. Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus by a new and living way, which he inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, his flesh, and since we have a great high priest over the house.

Of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our blood or our body, excuse me, washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us, what's the next word? There you go. There you have it. Consider. Let us think deeply. Let us plumb the depths. Let us dig as far as we can to do what? To stimulate, motivate. One another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

In other words, he says, listen, if you, listen carefully now, get this, don't miss it. He says, listen, if you want to think deeply, if you want to plumb the depths on how to stimulate one another loving good deeds, you can't miss. The assembling of yourselves together. You can't miss coming together. You have to be together to do that. And one of the reasons we don't think deep enough about motivating others to love and good deeds, to giving them a momentum to carry on, is because we don't have time enough to come to church every Sunday.

We don't have time to assemble together. We have other things that are more important, so we can't even begin to think deeply about one another. Oh, by the way, by the way, that's exactly why we don't consider Jesus. You see, if you don't consider Jesus, you're not going to consider anybody else. Because it stems from your understanding of the Christ and who He is and what He's done. See? So important. So, the right of Hebrews says to holy brethren, those who are partakers of a divine nature, those who are partakers of a heavenly calling.

To really plumb the depths about Jesus. You can't do that in a Serm. You can't do that just briefly skimming the surface of a text. You can't do that covering multiple verses every Sunday. You can't do that. So, what do we do? We'll take you through a word and we'll take that word and just go right down to as far as we can to help you understand it and using other verses to help you. And that just takes time. If you just want to skim the text, then Christ Community Church is not for you. If you don't want to spend time plumbing the depths of Christ, Christ Community Church is not for you.

There are a lot of churches you can go to, tell you lots of stories. Humor you, make you laugh, make you feel good about your sin, but we don't do that. Because we want you to know Christ. We want you to see Jesus. We will stop at nothing to make sure you fully understand the Christ because He's all that matters. Nothing else matters. But Jesus, writer of Hebrews, knows that. He knows that. So he's not telling the unbeliever to consider Jesus, he's telling the believer to consider Jesus. He's telling the believer to think deeply about the Christ, the Messiah, the Holy One of Israel, to understand who he is and what he's done.

You are the partakers of the heavenly call. Isn 't it interesting if you're with us on a Wednesday night? That Samuel told Israel in 1 Samuel chapter 12. We just Was done preaching the sermon that indicted Israel for their wickedness in the midst of a thunderstorm that was coming down upon the nation of Israel because he called for a thunderstorm to come. And it wasn't just a normal thunderstorm. It was an abnormal, it was a supernatural thunderstorm because everybody was afraid they were going to die.

They feared for their lives. They begged Samuel to pray for them because they were so afraid they were going to die. That's just not a normal thing. I've been in thunderstorms. I used to go out and play in thunderstorms. Because the water used to run down the street. This wasn't a normal thunderstorm. They feared for their lives. So, while all this was happening around them, Samuel keeps preaching. Keeps telling them what they got to do. Everybody's drenched. He closed out a sermon by saying this: cons.

What great things he has done for you. Because Israel didn't do that. They didn't. Isn't it interesting that the Apostle Paul, I guess the thing that sets him apart from everybody else? The thing that impresses me most about this man is that he's sitting in a mamart prison in a room. He 's about to die. Okay? He tells Timothy, Come to me before winter. And when you come, bring the books and the parchments. Why? You're going to die. Death is imminent. Because in the very last moments of his life, Paul lived what he said, Oh, that I may know him in the power of his resurrection, the fellowship of his sufferings.

Even at the end of his life, having written 13 epistles. He realized he had not attained that goal. I needed to know him. I don't know him enough. Paul, dude, you're going to die and you're going to see him. And you're going to know all there is to know about him. Just die. No. He doesn't want to just die. For he was the one who said, for me to live as Christ, to die is gain, right? He didn't want to just die. He wanted to die plumbing the depths of his Messiah. So the books are the Old Testament scrolls that Timothy would bring.

The parchments were the opportunity for him to write. May I say more if God inspires me to write more, I'll write more, but I just bring the books, Timothy. That just astounds me. He's an old man, but he wants to know more. How about you? Have you cons Jesus. So the question comes: what do we consider? Well, let's see what the Bible says.

It says therefore, heavenly brethren, holy brethren, excuse me, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus The apostle. Okay? We'll stop right there. The apostle. The sent one. Consider the ultimate ambassador, the ultimate apostle, the ultimate messenger, the ultimate sent one. Because an apostle is a sent one, right This phrase used 1 times in the New Testament to refer to Jesus Christ as the Apostle. Eighteen times in John's Gospel, he is referenced as the sent one. The sent one. Remember, the Messiah was named the Arach, the coming one.

Psalm 118. Quoted by John the Baptist when he asked the question: Are you the coming one? Are you the sent one? Because if you are, and I'm in prison, I got a problem with you being the sent one because you've come to release the prisoner from his captivity, and I'm in captivity, and I'm the forerunner of the Messiah. This is not how it's supposed to go. But that's exactly the way it was supposed to go. Are you the coming one? Are you the one that's been sent from above? Very important. And so the first thing you consider is his prest mission.

His prestigious mission because he was sent, listen carefully. Submissive to his father for the salvation of lost souls. He was sent in submission to it. How many times did he say in John's Gospel, I've come down, I've been sent to do the will of my Father in heaven. Remember in Luke's Gospel, Luke chapter 4, you should, we're there nine years. But Luke's Gospel, the fourth chapter, when he comes to the assembly of the Of the synagogue in Nazareth. He quotes Isaiah 61, verse number 1, which is a messianic verse of scripture that talks about the Messiah.

He says, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because this was the reading for the day. They asked him to read, and it happened to be in Isaiah 6 Isaiah's writings. He says, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me. to proclaim release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord. He closed the book, gave it back to the attendants, sat down, all the eyes were upon him, and he began to say to them, Today, this Scripture Has been fulfilled in your he.

In other words, I am the sent one. The right of Hebrews says, Have you considered? The Apostle Christ Jesus. Have you considered the one that was sent from above? I wonder if you've considered him. Like I said, the question is: have you considered Jesus? And my answer is probably not. Why? Because we haven't considered his prestigious mission as the apostle. When was the last time you considered the sent one? You considered Christ as the ultimate messenger, the ultimate apostle. Let me show you what that means.

This apostle, okay. Was sent in person. He was sent in person. The Lord God of Israel did not scream from heaven about salvation. The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. God, in the fullness of time, sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order that he might redeem those who were under the law, right? Galatians chapter 4, verse number 4. He was sent in person. He did not write a letter. He did not send an email, a text, because he didn't have that opportunity. Although he could have created it way back then, he was sent in person.

He came unto his own. His own didn't receive him, but he came unto his own. He was sent in person. He was number two sent in purity, in holiness, in righteousness.

He was sent in purity. Luke chapter 1. Luke chapter 1. And the angel said to Mary, Do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son. You shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give. Him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end. And Mary said, Angel. How can this be? I'm a virgin. And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, and for that reason, the Holy Child.

The holy child shall be called the Son of God. He is the sinless, un, spotless child. There is no sin. He could not sin. He is God in the flesh. He's perfect man. Because he's perfect God. He was sent in purity. That's why when he unzipped his flesh on the Mount of Transfiguration, in the glorious light of his presence would shine forth. Without him in fleshed, man would be blinded by what he saw because no one can look upon God and live. And when he unzipped his flesh, and the glory of the Lord would shine all around Peter, James, and John, Moses, and Elijah, who were there.

The Bible tells us that he dwells in unapproachable light because of the beauty and splendor of his purity. Over in Isaiah 48, verse number 17, quoted by Peter in Acts chapter 3, verse number 14, it says, Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One, the Separate One, the Perfect One of Israel. And when Peter would quote that in Acts 3, verse number 14, he tells the Jewish people that Jesus is. Your Messiah, your Messiah is the Holy One, the Redeemer of Israel. And he quotes Isaiah 47, verse number 18, to prove to them the messianic credentials of the Messiah.

He was sent in person. He was sent in purity. Have you considered Jesus? The apostle? Who was sent, how he was sent, when he was sent, for what purpose he was sent. He was sent in person, he was sent in purity, he was sent in p. He was sent in power. Back to Luke's gospel, Luke chapter 1, when the angel said, The power of the Most High will overshadow you. How will you conceive without knowing a man? The power of the Most High. Will overshadow you. It was the virgin birth. It was the seed of the woman.

It was a supernatural birth. And everything that he did was supernatural. And that's why, in Luke's Gospel, in Luke chapter 4, when he quotes Isaiah 61, verse number 1. He says, This is the Messiah. These are the credentials of the Messiah to release the prisoner, to mend the broken hearts, to do the things that no one else can do. And I'm here today to do that because he came, was sent in p. Sent in person, sent in purity, sent in power, sent with purpose. Sent with purpose, Luke 19:10. The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which is lost.

Right? Many are called, few are chosen, but the Son of Man came not. To be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many. He was sent in purpose. He was sent. To be a satisfaction, a propitiation as a sacrifice for your sins and mine. He came with a purpose. And he came to fulfill that purpose because he was absolutely submissive to his Father in heaven. Sent in person, in purity, in power, with purpose by promise. He was sent by promise. Way back in Genesis 3, verse number 15, that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent's head.

And remember, never in the history of man has a woman ever had a seed. Except Mary. And the seed of the woman, that Messiah, would crush the serpent's head. And all throughout the Old Testament, Was the prophecy centered around the promise of the coming Messiah? He was sent in promise. That's why 2 Corinthians 1:20 says that all the promises of God are yes, in who? In Jesus. All the promises of God are yes in Jesus because He is that sent one that was promised. He was sent by promise. He was sent to people.

He was sent to people The Bible tells us in Luke 2, verse number 10, that the birth of the Messiah was good news for all people. Good news of great joy for all people because he was sent to people. People like you and me, people who are separated from God, He is, as Simeon said, the light of revelation, not just to the Jews, but to the Gentiles. Right? He was sent to people, people who were separated from him, that he might redeem them. That he might rec them to his Father in heaven through his redemption.

In order that they might experience the full restoration of their lives, that they might be pure and holy before God. He was sent to people in person, in purity, in power, with purpose by promise, two people. For peace. He was sent for peace. Paul says, having been justified by faith. We have peace with God. There is no peace without the Prince of Peace. So let me ask you a question.

Have you considered Jesus the Apostle? The sent one, the one sent in person, the one sent in purity, in power, for purpose, sent to people. For peace. Have you considered him? For most of us, our lives are so busy. We live in the 21st century. And everything we want fast. We want it oh so fast. We order things on Amazon because we have a membership with Amazon Prime because we can get it the next day. No time to wait five days. We expedite our shipping and everything nowadays. We go to the ATM and get cash immediately.

We even have our checks automatically deposited so I don't have to receive it to take it to the bank to deposit it. We want everything done so f that we expect to know Jesus that fast. It doesn't work that way. Now, if you're going to think deeply about Jesus, you've got to spend time with Jesus. You've got to spend time in His Word, look at everything he said.

Each phrase, each word, all inspired by God, the inerrant, infallible, inspired word of God needs to be stud deep. If we truly are going to consider Jesus, we considered him briefly as the apostle. Next week we'll consider him as the priest, looking at not just his pre mission. But will also look and understand his priestly ministry. Let's pray together. Father, we thank you for today, the opportunity to be in your word. Even having preached it and studied it, presented it, there's still more to To even uncover.

Because, in all reality, Lord, there's just so much in the scriptures that we need to understand. Lord, we live in a society that's very fast-paced. We just don't like to wait for anything. And that's affected us negatively when it comes to our spending time in quiet with Jesus Christ alone, learning about you. Our prayer, Father, is that for the holy brethren who are partakers of this heavenly calling, that truly we would consider Jesus, think deeply about you. Not just pass over some verses, briefly scan a book, but may we learn about Christ, the great salvation captain of our souls.

Pray in Jesus' name. Amen.