The Attributes Of God (Hebrews 1:9-14)

You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." He also says, "In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end." To which of the angels did God ever say, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet"? Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
(Hebrews 1:9-14)


God- Loves Righteousness
Maybe this is one of the most understated attributes of God yet it is the first one we come across in today's passage. God loves righteousness and absolutely hates sin. The bible really spells it out here. Look at the verse:

You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;

Now you may think there is nothing unusual about that. But to me it is so strange that it spells it out. And yet the bible so often leaves us with no excuse. Back up with me here and we'll have a look into it again! In my opinion (and I think you will agree) to say that God loves righteousness automatically means that he will absolutely hate wickedness. Righteousness is defined surely by the hatred of all that is wrong and evil. You can't love righteousness and be alright about wickedness, it isn't possible and certainly not with God!

Keep with me here, so why have they mentioned it? Well two reasons I think:
1) So noone can twist scripture on this issue. We all know how the bible has been twisted by many people and cults over the years. By stating the obvious here people will find it hard to corrupt.
2) It shows how important the issue is. So important that it is stated when you would expect it just to be accepted with no issue at all. It is there in black and white. If you remember anything about God remember this: God loves righteousness and hates wickedness!

Stay with me, this is going to be no use to you as a piece of theology until you open yourself up to embrace the truth. Excuse the expression, but the thought of sinning should put the fear of God into you. I apologise because that is absolutely what it will do! We know how much God hates sin and yet we still will-fully sin? I question mine and your salvation if this is the case. Don't let that shock you too much, but we are told to test ourselves. Have we repented and believed? My prayer is that today's study will open your eyes and mine to the horror of sin and the truth of Gods love of righteousness.

God - Creator
It really annoys me when people use prayers in prayer meetings to teach everyone theology. You get the old "In the beginning Lord you made the heaven and the earth and made male and female, birds and animals, cars....." and so on, but it is interesting that the psalmist talks about God in such a way in his words here. I am not condoning a theology lesson instead of a prayer every prayer meeting. But in our own time with God it is good to think and talk about what he has done especially creation.

But why is creation so important! I will let you go and spend time talking with Answers in Genesis and other organisations of the same ilk to let you know that truth! But let me encourage you to take yourself a crash course on creationist apologetics. Probably only because they have a really cool name.


God- Eternal
Let us never forget finally the eternal nature and aspect of God and it is from here that I will draw today's final conclusion. Each of you and myself here need to take on some responsibility for our own personal walk with God! And therefore I challenge you to take God at his word and make sure you take these applications and actually apply them to yourself personally.

God is Eternal, he was and is and always will be. He is also righteous. What does all this add up too if you're a Christian? Simple!

You can place your trust in every situation in the Lord Jesus Christ

My friend never let it be said of us that we messed up our lives because we didn't trust God. Yet so often the fear and laziness, apathy and carelessness and everything else we see in our own lives as well as in the Christian Church worldwide is because we do not take the truths and applications we KNOW and live them with all we've got. This is a hard one, but by the grace of God pray that we will trust him!

May God be with you and me as we press on in grace!

Jesus- Saturated in Scripture (Hebrews 1:5-8)

For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father"? Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"? And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." In speaking of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire." But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.

This is a hard passage, in fact all the passages we have dealt with so far have been. Hebrews is indeed rich in deep theology and it takes a level of skill to pitch it at the right level. Pray that God will open our eyes. Due to the difficulty here I have deliberately kept this one short for you. Let us notice 3 things.

Jesus is rooted in OT
Ok, let’s theorise around secular Christian theology for a minute (and yes I did just invent that term to sound a little bit clever.) To many people who don't know their bibles but think they do they might say Jesus is New Testament and the Old Testament is all about Israel. Well today's passage rubbishes (sure I invented that word too) those ideas. The Old Testament is saturated with Christ. From here to the end of the chapter he uses no less than 8 Old Testament quotes about Jesus. That is not just one or two. If you'll allow me the honour, let us jump back into yesterday.

You are my son
This is an amazing statement. No one ever thought that the messiah could be the Son of God and yet a man at the same time. And yet the clues were always there in the bible. In fact 3 of the verses used major on this subject. Now I can imagine what you're thinking. Why does he make such a big deal of all of this? Jesus being quoted in scripture and Jesus being God's son. Well in my opinion its a two fold thing.
1) Jesus is in Scripture- It is absolutely vital for salvation that Jesus is in scripture.
2) Jesus is God's son- It is absolutely vital for Salvation that Jesus is God.
HANG ON A MINUTE. Let us back up a few steps here and take this in. The reason the author is pointing out these issues

True Worship
I don't know if you find it the same but when the bible speaks of Worship the language used is so hard to relate. Is worship what we do every Sunday or is it rocking out to Delirious? Well, truth be told I think it is probably neither entirely. You see think less in the terms of the words here and more in terms of the attitude in worship. It is a full life commitment thing.

What we have here is some very difficult and challenging verse and I think in truth I will be happy when I am through with them in some ways as they are taxing my brain. Yet Hebrews does that, so I shall leave you with one application, food for thought anyway.

1) If your Jesus is rooted in OT and shown out in New Testement then surely he is saturated in scripture. If you want to know your God. Then know your bible!

Let me leave that with you! And may it challenge us both!

Jesus- The Greatest Subject (Hebrews 1:3-4)

The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
(Hebrews 1:3-4)

There is a “talking bit” in the middle of the Casting Crowns song “The Word Is Alive” where the speaker say of the bible “Jesus is it’s great subject!” I guess when you’re stuck in the middle of Leviticus or in the case of me and Abi in the middle of numbers you soon fail to appreciate that statement. Yet today as we come to the next study in our series on Hebrews, we find the author is absolutely enthralled by the subject of the Lord Jesus. Today we’ll be looking at a number of the attributes and things accredited to the Lord.


Like Father Like Son
V3 tells us that the Lord Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation. The doctrine of the trinity is a difficult one and one that even while having preached on it recently I am convinced holds riches far deeper than anywhere my level of understanding took me. But here is its practical implications. The man who came to save me from my sins needs to have real power doesn’t he? After all my sin is so great. Well, try this one out for size. He is God. The exact representation shining the radiance of the glory of God is human form. Don’t forget the key word there either. “Exact!” Jesus is no mere substitute. He is the real deal my friends, and he is our God.

Sustainer
We are told in this passage that all things are sustained by Christ. If this does one thing it absolutely and comprehensively emphasises his power. If you were rocking on the bridge of uncertainty about whether your hero, the Lord Jesus Christ, has the power to save then this is the big hitter for you. He sustains everything. And that includes you! Friend, learn to rest in the arms of the Lord Jesus in a very practical way. Prayerfully do business with almighty God and then let go off all you have and seek to live for him. It reminds me of a jungle gym I used to go to play on when I was younger. We were high up and there was a gap full of loose rope in the floor. It was scary but the minutes I let myself lie down on the rope and felt it take my weight I knew right then that while I felt entirely helpless in and off my self at this height, the rope was holding me. Jesus will, can and is holding me.

But there is another practical realisation to all this which is breathtaking (if you excuse the pun.) Every single breath we take today is given to us by the Lord Jesus. Imagine there was a button that if someone pressed it you would die instantly and you were powerless to stop it. In a way that is the truth. Who would you want with their finger on the button? The Lord Jesus may not have been my choice at first but he sure is now. It still amazes me that he allowed me to live even though I rejected him entirely for 9 years of my life. Right now I know that unless he comes again one day the metaphorical button will be pressed as Jesus welcomes me home as his child. Such a thought thrills my soul.

Christian, are you involved in a local Church? If not then let me encourage you that you really should be! If you are, does your little fellowship worry you (if indeed it is little.) Sadly for many of us who are lovingly involved in our Churches we live in the constant worry that today’s small and insignificant Church will be snuffed out and become extinct in no time at all. Friends if you feel like that then today is a good day for you as we study this truth. Think with me on this one, if Jesus is the sustainer of all, then he sustains the Church, and if Jesus sustains the Church then we aint going nowhere my friend! As an ex BBC director general said “The Church of Christ will stand at the gave of the BBC” until the Lord comes again the Church will stand as a living testament to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Forgiver
Won’t spend too long on this because if I get started you will be here ALL night, just let us not forget that “he had provided purification for sins.” There is a key word here. Underline it, highlight it, jump in circles around the room singing it if you want, but the key word here is purification. Yes guys, that is right. Our sins our forgiven. We have been purified. Now I don’t know about you but if I was writing down a list of attributes to describe myself then pure would most certainly not be one of them. But here is the most amazing thing about the gospel! In Christ we find true purity and beauty. What a wonderful wonderful saviour!

Greater than the angels
So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
Today sadly many people worship angels. Let this final section of today’s verse blows a million holes in that idea. Why worship something lower than the highest. And who is the highest? Jesus Christ! Normally if anyone uses that name on its on they are taking the Lord’s name in vain sadly but today we are answering a question. Jesus is the greatest, Jesus is the highest, Jesus is the Righteous and Holy one. My friends, let us today remember that Jesus is the Greatest Subject of all!

Apply
So as we come to consider the greatest subject of all, the subject of the Lord Jesus, let us spend a few minutes to reply today. I am much shorter on time today sadly. Today being such a huge subject. It’s maybe a good job though because if I had lots of time today to study and think on this subject it might just drive me insane for everything I open up in my minds eye here shows more mysteries and beauties in this Saviour of mine.
1) Jesus sustains everything. Every breath we take is by his grace alone. So what are we waiting for? Why fear? What can man do to me? Let us wake up before its too late and radically live a life that is saturated by the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we have friends who don’t know we’re believers, let us make sure they do soon enough! Why? Why not guys! He gives us every breath- Don’t waste a single one of them!
2) The Church is more of a power that you will ever realise. It is how God has decided society should work. So if I can put on Jason Ramsey’s favourite stuck record, you need to be at all the meeting you can possibly make. Spending time with God’s people and in God’s word is the best way to spend a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday evening. Also if your Church has a Sunday prayer meeting, do your utmost to get there! I confess to you right now that I am a poor example as I may not make the bible study on Wednesday night here in Dewsbury due to work commitments, but I do long to be there. Let us all long to be there.

Worship is not just a song it’s a lifestyle. Let us stop living for us and live all out, sold out, for the one and only, holy, awesome mighty God!

Have a great day!

Jason

How to hear God (Hebrews 1:1-2)

How to hear God (Hebrews 1:1-2)

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
(Hebrews 1:1-2)

How does God speak to you? I am sure you have heard at least someone say “If God opened up the sky and spoke down to earth in a big booming voice I would believe he exists.” I have had people use that argument and I hope it’ll encourage you that it always leaves me speechless. How anybody could so uncategorically miss the point boggles the mind! The truth is God has not chosen to speak in that way and as “God” he has absolutely every right to chose how he communicates with us. The thinking person who has some regard for himself and know’s his own sin will seek out the God of the bible to see whether what he says is true, finding out how he communicates with the people of earth.

The truth is this is the most important issue facing mankind today. In the days of global warming, the war on terror and an international credit crisis, all fall into insignificance when thought of in the light of eternity. There are so many religions out there claiming to be the answer to the problem that we know deep down we have. But only one of them can be right, as all claim to be mutually exclusive.

How Does God Speak?
What does the bibles say on this issue? Well, it says many things showing us why we are without excuse when it comes to faith in God such as creation, conscience and the bible itself. But today we’ll deal with the passage at hand and see what God has to say about his own communication methods.

The passage says that the current way of communication is not the same as it always has been. In the past God spoke through prophets. Men like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and others. These men stand out for me in the bible partly because of how exciting it is to hear prophesy and watch it be fulfilled and partly because they had the hardest lives. Let the prophets be an example to you, Christian, that you cannot expect an easy life when you become a believer. The health, wealth and happiness delusion in today’s church has a huge weakness. It gets blown apart by the bible from cover to cover. If you learn one lesson today let it be this: Don’t accept what the tele-evangelist says alone, or don’t accept what I say on this blog alone. Go into the scripture and search them to see if we are right.

But today we don’t have prophets any more in the same sense as we had them in the past. We do need a bit of a reunderstanding of what counts as prophesy and if God brings it along our path in way of our study then we shall deal with it then. But notice what the passage says:

but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son (1:2)

The message through the prophets went on for many years yet it came to an end with the most amazing, earth shattering display of God’s message to mankind. In Jesus we don’t only have God himself speaking to us his words from his own mouth. But we have his life lead living in the ways of godliness.

Today many so called Churches want to tell us that Jesus was just a good example and they are partially right. He is a good example. The problem we have is the word “Just!” Oh my friend there is nothing about the Godman Jesus that requires the word “just” to be placed before his attributes. In Jesus we have the perfect example lived out, absolutely, but don’t miss the point here my friends. We’re in serious danger of finding the tin or missing the biscuit on this one. It’s really not worth knowing the biscuit tin is where you find biscuits if you never take hold of one of them.

The Biscuit
Well here is the biscuit. Jesus Christ was and is the son of God. In this historical event (the life of Jesus) we see the old constricting legislation that Israel had followed for many years fulfilled and a new and more gloriously direct salvation route shown.

Think with me here (I am trying to convey my enthusiasm for this over the internet, it is not easy. Imagine me jumping around and waving my arms in a frenzy as you’ll get the idea. It’s hard to type while waving my arms.) The Lord is teaching me this here too at the same time and I am under pressure to communicate this accurately enough. So listen!

All we need to know from God or about God is found and wrapped up in the Lord Jesus Christ. Christian, which Jesus do you follow? Because the one in the bible is a lot different to how many churches and Christians view Jesus today.

Look back at the verse finally to see that Jesus was “appointed heir of all things, and through whom he (God) made the universe.” To those who say Jesus was just some mere man, that he was only a prophet, that he wasn’t God, that he wasn’t real, that he was a rebellious revolutionary, that he was a good example alone, that he was a good moral leader, that he was a bit of a crack pot, then this verse is the sucker punch to all religions and cults outside of the truth, the way and the life. Friends tremble before almighty God! Because this Jesus who we mock in our lack of worship, is God indeed, creator of the universe and heir of all things.

Apply
So here we are, time to look at the practical implications of all we’ve learnt today. As we start our studies in this book of Hebrews, let me make you a promise that you can hold me too for the rest of my life. I am no longer willing to play the game of faith. I will take this book (the bible) seriously and long to learn what it demands. And yet there is such a need for application of the word of God to our lives. Let us make prayerful, serious applications and seek together to apply these to our lives.

1) Don’t listen to me! We have grown up in a personality based culture where we listen to charismatic characters not what they say. Tony Blair was elected partly at least because of a fresh look that he brought to politics. Today exciting tele evangelists are making many false statements and being believed because they look good. Stop listening to me and start listening to God. Make sure everything that you hear is wrapped up in the bible and not in personality. If I say something wrong I want to know.
2) Learn to Love the Lord. On Branch FM we ran a drama series that challenged me a lot. The challenge was, do we know about God without loving him. I confess to being a complete geek! I love theology and the study of God. But I was made to have a relationship with him, I think sometimes I stunt that relationship by seeking to be too analytical with the word.
3) What is God telling you through his word? It has been said we should live by this rule: God Said It- I believe it- I do it! I believe that is wrong. God said it, I do it, whether I believe it or not is out of the question. A right view of the triune God brings a proper respect for the word.
4) What do you think of Jesus? Do not tolerate his name being used in a wrong way. He is your precious saviour and you love him from the bottom of your entire being.

Let all that is within me burst forth in praise of almighty God for his son, the Lord Jesus Christ is my perfect Redeemer!

Any comments, questions, stories or encouragements, please e-mail me jesus.saves99@gmail.com

Yours in Christ

Jason

Marathon Training Diary- Belfast Update

Can I say sorry to all those reading this on http://www.jasonramsey.blogspot.com/ I am afraid I have failed to update it as often as I have the other one. If you don't see one for a while please feel free to check out http://www.branchfm.co.uk/ and click on my ugly mug, there is a link there to my marathon training diary of Branch FM.

Northern Ireland Report (24th-28th March)
Sorry I've not updated things in a while for you but I had an amazing time over in Norn Iron as I am sure you have heard me say on air already. I really did enjoy myself and right now I am feeling a little home sick. But anyway while I was doing some resting I also got a bit of running in. One was really successful, the other was quite the opposite I am afraid. I did a 7 mile run one day during the week which I was very pleased with. Barely broke into a sweat. But on my return I tried to do a full marathon run and after about 6 miles my foot gave way and I decided not to run on so as to inspect the damage. Good job I did in a way as the heavens opened.

I have known for a little while now that my major problems are not going to be fitness in the end, it'll be physical capability! My musckes going tight or cramping is more liekly to halt me than sheer exhaustion. So I am going to run on Monday night and try the full marathon distance again except this time I am going to do a flatter route, its about doing the distance more than doing the hills and I don't want injury to damage me 5 weeks before the race.

Keep praying!

Marathon Training Diary- Feb 27th 2008

Feb 27th (Wednesday)
Yesterday I got out for the first time this week, did a few miles to stretch the old legs and did some stretching as well to help me loosen up. A very easy week is ahead of me this week which is really good. The most I will do this week is 10 or 11 miles which will merely stretch my legs and let me get some more miles under my belt. I have been really pleased with how well the shoes have performed under the circumstances recently. I am really getting used to them. Please keep praying that I will be motivated and keep making the distance, especially as work gets busy again, many thanks!

Marathon Training Diary- Feb 22nd 2008

Feb 22nd (Friday)
This week has hardly been the most active in my life. I have ran only the once (being last night, Thursday) and then I only did 4 miles but I think it was probably wise considering the fact that I had been ill most of the week. Especially in the early part of the week. I felt ok though and it was good to get out and about and exercise myself a little. What is to come this week then? Well, its complicated. I may well run tonight though probably only 4 miles or so again, and then on Saturday when Abi goes home I am going to attempt to run 15 miles to really push myself. I didn't do a report on my 14 miler last week did I? Oops! That went well really. I was impressed with how my body coped. It will be interesting to see how it copes this week. Will my inactivity be counted as rest or as laziness? We shall see. Of course you all know my inactivity is due entirely to Abi and nothing more!

Marathon Training Diary- Feb 14th 2008

Feb 14th (Thursday)
The past couple of days have been tough but at the same time most useful and helpful. I did 4 miles on Tuesday which was hard work (as I ran a lot of it up a hill) and then yesterday we did 7 miles which was not incredibly difficult. Was ok! Today I will either do 4 miles or do the big 14 miles! I canny decide at the moment. haha!

A Very Special Valentines Day

I bought Abi a dozen red roses for valentines day online and arranged for them to be delivered today for Abi. Typical sort of bloke present really wasn't it. Not in truth costing a great deal of effort on my part. This morning (as every morning) I rang Abi around 7. She didn't answer. Infact she didn't answer for a whole hour and then at 8 she text with me "Jason, phone fell off bed I'm late for college don't ring, love you!" I was gutted! Poor girl slept in, I wish my phone had've woken her she'll miss out on EMA now and everything. Around 8.20 (around the time she gets off the bus for college) she rang me saying "Cat says she's outside the front door to Branch FM but can't get through to you. Your phone must be dropping in and out of signal. Can you go down and see her please. I left the studio, went downstairs and there was Abi stood outside my front door. :) Apparently they had the day off so she thought she'd come surprise me and got up at 5am just to do so :D

1 Year 1 Month (and counting)

Hey Guys

Yesterday (I know I am a day late) myself and Abi celebrated our 1 year 1 month anniversary type thingy thing! I remember a year ago when we had only been going out for a month! We had already been on our second "date" as such when we went to see Switchfoot in Bradford with a couple of friends. I was staring down the idea of A Levels and Abi was heading towards her GCSE's.

Do I look back on the early months with great memories? Yes! Do I hark back to them? No! I actually Really prefer being where we are now. We live in a society of perfectionists who want to go back to some past time and do that bit right. Noone ever seems to want to actually get on board for the journey! Staying on for the long run and counting the past as great experience, that tends to be the way I look at things anyway!

So yeah celebrate with us. Strange thought really! What are we celebrating? Well possibly that Abi has survived another month with me. May God Bless you all!