BIG IDEA: The privileges and duties of those who have Christ as their Great Priest.
I. IF CHRIST IS YOUR GREAT PRIEST, DRAW NEAR TO GOD WITH FULL ASSURANCE (v. 22)
II. IF CHRIST IS YOUR GREAT PRIEST, HOLD FAST YOUR CONFESSION BECAUSE GOD IS FAITHFUL (v. 23)
III. IF CHRIST IS YOUR GREAT PRIEST, LABOR FOR THE EDIFICATION OF OTHER SAINTS (v. 24)
IV. IF CHRIST IS YOUR GREAT PRIEST, ASSEMBLE WITH THE SAINTS SO THAT YOU MAY DRAW NEAR, HOLD FAST, AND STIR UP (v. 25)
QUESTION 1. Does this mean only the Lord’s Day gathering?
A. No, not only the public worship gathering on the Lord’s Day, but, in addition, any lawful meeting of the church as directed by the elders; such as for fellowship (small groups), prayer, or church discipline (1 Cor. 5:4-5).
QUESTION 2. Why do some neglect the assemblies of the saints?
A1. Fear of suffering.
A2. Spiritual sloth.
A3. Unbelief working gradually towards the forsaking of all profession.
A4. Some neglect the Lord’s Day public worship because they do not love God as they should. These may even like small groups because they love friends but do not want to be a friend of God.
A5. Some neglect intentional times of fellowship, such as small groups, because they do not love the saints as they should. These may even like public worship because they love God but they do not want to be known by others or know them.
QUESTION 3. How does my participation in public worship serve to encourage fellow saints?
A1. By your very presence, reminding other believers they are not alone but have many brothers and sisters who love them and care for them, and also love the Lord.
A2. By the fellowship you have with others and conversation before and after the ordinances of public worship.
A3. By your participation in hearing the Word, giving a hearty amen to all that is done by God’s Word, praying, and taking of the Lord’s Supper which is all done in communion with one another.
A4. By your singing of Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, which you address both to God and to one another (Ephesians 5).
Specifically speaking of public worship on the Lord’s Day, this is nothing but a continuation of what the God’s people in all ages have done! They have assembled themselves together to worship the Lord by His ordinances. This its truth is proved and improved in various ways:
I) The Church under the Old Covenant assembled with the saints for public worship weekly on the Sabbath (Leviticus 23:3).
II) The Church under the Old Covenant also assembled with the saints for public worship regularly according to the festivals (Numbers 28-29).
III) Christ in His incarnation assembled with the saints weekly for public worship in the synagogues (Luke 4:16).
IV) The early Church under the New Covenant assembled with the saints for public worship (Acts 2:1-4; Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 11 and 14).
(I) Christ launched the New Covenant church on the day of Pentecost and from an assembly of saints which was even on a Sunday, 50 days after the resurrection of Christ, 10 days after His ascension (Acts 2:1-4).
(II) The early church devoted themselves to public worship (Acts 2:42).
(III) Later churches in the book of Acts also devoted themselves to public worship (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11, 1 Corinthians 14, 1 Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10).
V) The Lord forbids His saints from neglecting to meet together (Hebrews 10:25).
VI) Missions exists because worship does not (Psalm 67:4-5).
VII) Public worship in the assembly of the saints is the most heavenlike thing in the world (Revelation 5:6-14).
THE PRIVILEGE AND DUTY OF PUBLIC WORSHIP: Hebrews 10:22-25
Hebrews 10:22-25
March 7, 2022 • Brett Baggett • Hebrews 10:22–25
THE LORD WILL BE SANCTIFIED: Leviticus 10:1-3
January 24, 2022 • Brett Baggett • Leviticus 10:1–3
DOCTRINE: If the LORD’s people will not sanctify and glorify Him when they draw near, He will sanctify and glorify Himself upon them. I. WORSHIP OF THE LORD MUST BE OFFERED UP TO HIM ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF THE LORD (v. 1) II. THE GLORY OF THE LORD IS MORE PRECIOUS TO HIM THAN THE LIVES OF MEN (v. 2) Consider Korah’s rebellion in Numbers 16, Uzzah who touched the Ark in 2 Samuel 7, Annanias and Sapphira who lied to the Holy Spirit in Acts 5, and Herod who did not give glory to God in Acts 13. I) The glory of the Lord must be more precious to you than the opinions of men (Galatians 1:10). II) The glory of the Lord must be more precious to you than your own glory (Jeremiah 45:5). III. THE PEOPLE OF THE LORD MUST SANCTIFY HIS NAME IN WORSHIP, OR HE WILL SANCTIFY HIS NAME UPON THEM (v. 3) I) The LORD’s people must draw near to Him by faith in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7:25, 11:6). II) Drawing near to God through faith in Christ, the church then must preach, sing, pray, baptize, feast, give, fellowship, practice discipline, and equip all according to the Word. (I) The Church must preach (and hear) the Word (2 Timothy 4:2, Acts 20:27, James 1:21). (II) The Church must must sing the Word (Ephesians 5:19-20). (III) The Church must pray the Word (Matthew 6:9-13, Psalms, examples of prayers by faithful saints recorded in scripture). (IV) The Church must baptize according to the Word (Acts 8:12). (V) The Church must feast according to the Word (1 Corinthians 11:26). (VI) The Church must give according to the Word (Philippians 4:18, 1 Corinthians 16:2). (VII) The Church must fellowship around the Word (Acts 2:42). (VIII) The Church must practice church discipline according to the Word (Matthew 18:15-18). (IX) The Church must equip the saints with the Word (Ephesians 4:11-12).
CORRUPTED WORSHIP: Exodus 32:1-6
January 31, 2022 • Brett Baggett • Exodus 32:1–6
DOCTRINE: Idolatrous people and weak men will result in corrupt worship. I. THE ISRAELITES WERE QUICK TO FORGET THE LORD AND HIS SALVATION (v. 1) II. AARON WAS WILLING TO GIVE THE PEOPLE THEIR DESIRED IDOLS IN ORDER TO KEEP THEM HAPPY (vv. 2-4a) III. THE PEOPLE LIED ABOUT THEIR IDOL AND ATTRIBUTED TO IT THE WORKS OF THE LORD (v. 4b) IV. AARON BUILT UPON THEIR LIE AND SOUGHT TO SYNC UP WORSHIP OF THIS IDOL WITH WORSHIP OF THE LORD (vv. 5-6a) V. THE GROSSLY IDOLATROUS PEOPLE AND PRIEST CONTINUED ON UNAWARE OF THEIR IMPENDING DOOM (v. 6b) APPLICATION 1 Corinthians 10:11 “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.” I) Because the Lord’s people are quick to forget their God and His salvation, you must stir them up by way of reminder (2 Peter 1:13). 2 Peter 1:13 “I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder…” II) You must never sacrifice even an ounce of truth on the altar of peace (Galatians 1:10). Galatians 1:10 “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” III) If you are not careful, the ways of the world will slide into the worship of the Church (2 Corinthians 6:14). 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 “14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?” IV) God has put safeguards for purity of worship in His Scriptures and you must adhere to them (Exodus 20:4). Exodus 20:4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” V) It does not matter who you say you are worshiping, if you are offering will-worship it is a substitution for God’s pure worship (Psalm 106:20). Psalm 106:20 “They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass.” VI) If the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s chosen, does not stand in the breach for you, God’s wrath will not be turned away (1 John 2:1-2). 1 John 2:1-2 “If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins…” VII) Though you have a Mediator in Christ Jesus, that does not mean you will be spared from discipline if you do not repent (Proverbs 3:11-12). Proverbs 3:11-12 “11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, 12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” VIII) Will-worshippers are likely continuing on unaware of their impending doom or discipline—therefore you should pray and labor, within your sphere of influence, to speak the truth of God to those offering false-worship (Hebrews 12:28-29). Hebrews 12:28-29 “Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”
OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE: Hebrews 12:28-29
February 14, 2022 • Brett Baggett • Hebrews 12:28–29
DOCTRINE: God’s saints, having in Christ received a kingdom that cannot be shaken, are given the privilege of worshipping Him; and they must do so acceptably, reverently, and awfully, free from idolatry, because God is our jealous God (Hebrews 12:28-29). I. WE WHO ARE IN CHRIST HAVE GREAT REASONS TO BE GRATEFUL TO GOD (Hebrews 12:28a) I) The Kingdom of Christ shall not be shaken because the King cannot be moved (Psalm 2:6-8; Psalm 21:7). II) The Subjects of the Kingdom shall not be shaken because their King cannot be moved (Psalm 46:4-7). II. BECAUSE OF CHRIST, BELIEVERS HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE OF OFFERING ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP TO GOD (Hebrews 12:28b) Consider the privilege you have been given in Christ, being chosen by God to worship Him (Deuteronomy 7:6-8; 1 Peter 2:9). Think of the privilege of private worship, family worship, and public worship; even that all of life can be lived as worship. I) You and I must worship God acceptably (Hebrews 12:28b) II) You and I must worship God reverently (Hebrews 12:28c) III) You and I must worship God awefully (Hebrews 12:28d) III. WE IN CHRIST MUST OFFER UP THIS ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP TO GOD, FREE FROM IDOLATRY, BECAUSE HE IS OUR JEALOUS GOD (v. 29) CONCLUSION Are you grateful for receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken? Are you humbled and overjoyed by being given the privilege, by Christ’s blood, of worshipping God acceptably? Do you aim to worship Him acceptably in private, in your home, in the assembly of the saints? Do you worship the Lord with shamefacedness? Do you worship the Lord in awe? Do you treasure the fact the He is YOUR GOD, and tremble when considering offering Him acceptable worship?