Jesus > Everything, Week 4, Developing a Soft Heart, Hebrews 3:1-19
Book of Hebrews, Week 4
How to Develop a Soft Heart
Hebrews 3:1-19
1. THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT JESUS (3:1-6,16-19)
A. Belong to God? then Fix your Thoughts on Jesus
“Who belong to God and are partners with those called to heaven, think carefully about this Jesus…” (3:1)
1. Partners in our Heavenly Call, Think Carefully!
2. Jesus is God’s Apostle and Priest
B. Jesus > Moses
1. Don’t Focus on Moses, But He was Cool!
a. Moses was Faithfully
“…Moses served faithfully when he was entrusted with God’s entire house. “(3:2)
b. Moses Worked Hard Serving the Lord
“Moses was certainly faithful in God’s house…” (3:5)
2. But Jesus Deserves the Glory (3:2,6)
“Jesus deserves far more glory than Moses, just as a person who builds a house deserves more praise than the house itself. For every house has a builder…” (3:3-4,6)
a. Moses Served in God’s House
b. Jesus is in Care of the Whole House.
- Jesus owns the house of God, He rules the house of God, and He provides for the house of God.
C. Jesus > Our Pride
1. Who was it?
“And who was it who rebelled against God, even though they heard his voice? Wasn’t it the people Moses…” (3:16-19)
2. The People of Moses Needed to be H
a. They sinned, made God angry, and rebelled against Him.
b. They never took their eyes of themselves to focus on Jesus
1I. THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT YOUR HEART (3:7-15)
A. Israel Hardened their Hearts (3:7-11)
“That is why the Holy Spirit says, “Today when you hear his voice
don’t harden your hearts as Israel did…” (3:7-11)
1. They Tested God when they were in the Wilderness
2. Even with Miracles they Tried God’s Patience
B. Harden Not Your Heart!!!! (3:12-15)
6 Ways to Develop a Soft Heart
1. Pay Close Attention to Your Life
“Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. “ (3:12)
a. Evaluate and Be Evaluated, Listen to God.
b. Seek Holiness. Keep your Input in a Holy Place!
2. Ask Another Friend for Help
“You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. (3:13)
a. Be Humble, Listen to Someone Close.
b. When do we need Help? E !
3. Don’t Give Up
14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.
a. Faithful, “to hold fast, keep secure, keep firm possession of”
b. Hold on to the End, and Share in all that Christ has for You!
4. Don’t Forget – “Remember what it says…” (3:15a)
“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” James 1:22-25
5. Listen to the Spirit
“Today when you hear his voice…” (3:15b)
“So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.” Hebrews 2:1
6. Engage in your Faith
“…don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.” (3:15c)
“They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me wholeheartedly.” Jeremiah 24:7
(Wholeheartedly – With your Whole Heart!!)