Hebrews Series on the New Covenant

By Apostle Aje Pelser

Scripture:

Hebrews 3:7- Hebrews 4:13 How to enter God’s rest.

See also Jesus’ Words:

Matthew 11:28 -30

“One needs diligence to enter the Divine rest of the New Covenant.”

·         Hear His Voice

·         Don’t harden your hearts (through the deceitfulness of sin)

·         Deal with rebellion – know it is as witchcraft; 1 Sam 15:23

·         Know His ways

·         Turn your heart to God

·         Remove unbelief in your heart

·         Replace it with faith – it comes by hearing and hearing the preached Word by the Sent ones of God.

·         Exhort one another daily.

1c1) of the Holy Spirit destined to take the place of Christ with the apostles (after his ascension to the Father), to lead them to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth, and give them divine strength needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom

·         Become partakers of Christ

·         Hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end

·         End of rebellion meant death in the wilderness

·         End of submission means life in the promised land – see also blessings and curses at the end of Deuteronomy

·         Obedience is the key to enter the rest –Philippians 2 – humble yourself by obeying God

·         Unbelief versus faith - decide to believe God's Word and in so doing experience His rest for your soul.

·         Know His promise to you is rest

·         The glory of the New Covenant ministry is to give His People rest

·         Gospel preached only profits you if you mix it with faith in your heart – the concrete mixer

·         Those who believe enter that rest

·         Work is finished by Jesus on the cross

·         Follow God’s example who rested on the 7^th Day

·         Some must enter His rest – because of obedience

·         Others did not enter – because of disobedience

·         Enter His rest TODAY – meditate on this word

David understood this rest. Joshua spoke about it

·         There remains a rest for the People of God

·         Entering Rest means ceasing from works as God did from His. “Do your best… and God will do the rest.”

·         Be diligent to enter the Rest lest we fall by the same example of disobedience. Remember that the hand of the diligent will rule – rule and reign with Christ! (Heb 4:11)  Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.

Here is the Greek meaning of the word "diligent"

·         Let the Word be sharp in our lives – cut away and discern hindrances to that rest

·         Jesus learnt obedience by the things which He suffered – let us embrace our bit of suffering and learn obedience through it so that we can enter His Divine Rest of Faith!

Hebrews Series: The Glory of the New Covenant

Topic 3:  Christ as a Son over His own house

By Apostle Aje Pelser, February 2009 

Scripture: Heb 3:1  Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, Heb 3:2  who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. Heb 3:3  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. Heb 3:4  For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. Heb 3:5  And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, Heb 3:6  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. 

Here we see some characteristics of Sons in the New Covenant:

As the Holy Spirit fashions the character of Christ in us, individually and collectively as we have fellowship in a church together, so we become “holy as God is Holy”. See also the ”Sanctification Process.”

Jesus is the cornerstone of the Church, the Chief Apostle, the Sent Son from God! We confess that He is Lord, we confess our sins to Him and He is first in rank and authority. He is also able and just to forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Another plus for Sons of God in the New Covenant is the Fruits of the Spirit which include faithfulness. Where we once lacked the ability to remain faithful through temptation and trials, we now have the help of the Holy Spirit in the matter!

The key to understanding success of the faith heroes in the Bible is to realize that they were just normal human beings with a supernatural source. Elijah is described as a man with “like passions” in James’ Epistle. If you place men of faith on a pedestal for yourself, you will never do the “greater works” that Jesus speaks about.

We are His workmanship created for goo works in Christ.

Understanding that we are under authority in His house, gives us delegated authority in our own homes. We only have authority as church leaders because we are under Hs authority, the Word of God being the final authority in the judgment of any matter. Observing the life of Christ and reading the New Covenant letters between church leaders and churches we begin to see how to become good stewards of His House represented through the Church in our local area. But every believer I given a piece o the kingdom to govern. Knowing you are part of His House releases you to have a house of your own, under submission to Him!

Do not lose your confidence which has great reward.

Hebrews Series Topic 2: The Sanctification Process

Studies based in Hebrews with cross references. By Apostle Aje Pelser 

Scripture:Heb 2:10  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.

Heb 2:11  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, Heb 2:12  saying: "I WILL DECLARE YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN; IN THE MIDST OF THE ASSEMBLY I WILL SING PRAISE TO YOU." Heb 2:13  And again: "I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM." And again: "HERE AM I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME." Heb 2:14  Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, Heb 2:15  and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Heb 2:16  For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Heb 2:17  Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. Heb 2:18  For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.  Thought: “He was made like us so that we could be made like Him…” “Jesus can’t just call us His brothers. There is a sanctification process that makes us one with Him. As we submit to that sanctification by His Word continually, we start to really experience the brotherhood.” 

There are steps in this process of sanctification that every believer can apply to become an eternal part of the Brotherhood in Christ, for all to be one with Him.  

1. Understand that Jesus is the reason for sanctification. The Church is the Bride of Christ, Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, Eph 5:26  that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, Eph 5:27  that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 
2. Use Jesus’ Blood: God’s detergent for sanctification. The Oxford Dictionary for “detergent” means a cleansing substance. Latin “Tergeo” means to “wipe”. The handwriting of requirements against us according to Old Testament Law and punishment for sin, has been wiped away. Col 2:14  having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross  
3. Allow Jesus to bring you into His glory. The thief on the cross made his petition:Luk 23:42  Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." Luk 23:43  And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."Jud 1:24  Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,  
4. Have fellowship in His Suffering. If the Captain of our salvation was made perfect through suffering, we also have to suffer certain things. See suffering for Christ as part of the process versus I being  gate-crasher to you “party” .Heb 2:18  For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.Heb 5:8  though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered 5:9  And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,Heb 13:12  Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.     

Isn’t it great that Jesus is not ashamed to call us His brothers? Become one with Him today, allow the process to being, or continue!