HEAVENLY CALLING

Sunday Morning:  June 10, 2001

Read: Hebrews 3:1-6

Text: Hebrews 3:1  "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;”

MANY CALLED

Matthew 22:14  "For many are called, but few are chosen."

HOLY CALLING

2 Timothy 1:9  "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,"

CALLED TO HIS KINGDOM AND GLORY

1 Thessalonians 2:12  "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory."

HEAVENLY BLESSINGS

Ephesians 1:3  "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:"

SEATED IN THE HEAVENLIES

Ephesians 2:6  "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:"

WARFARE IN THE HEAVENLIES

Ephesians 6:12-13  “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [heavenly] places. 13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

HEAVENLY KINGDOM

2 Timothy 4:18  "And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

HEAVENLY GIFT

Hebrews 6:4  "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,"

SEEK THESE BLESSINGS FIRST

Matthew 6:33  "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

WHEREFORE

Hebrews 3:1  "Wherefore [conjunction, connecting chapter 3 to chapter 2], holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;”

LIMITED THE POWER OF SATAN

Hebrews 2:14-18  "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy [may make idle, cumber, bring to nought] him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

NO LONGER NEED TO BE AFRAID

15. And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

OF THE SEED OF ABRAHAM

16. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

PROMISED INHERITANCE

Romans 4:13  "For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith."

MIGHT BE SURE

Romans 4:16  "Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,"

MADE RECONCILIATION POSSIBLE

17. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

MORE CHANCES

Romans 5:16  "And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification."

HE WILL HELP

18. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted."

HOLY, BRETHREN, PARTAKERS

Hebrews 3:1  "Wherefore, holy [vocative plural] brethren [vocative plural], partakers [vocative plural] of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

SHOULD BE HOLY

Ephesians 1:4  "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:"

BRETHREN

Hebrews 2:11  "For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,"

NOT ASHAMED OF THE LORD

Luke 9:26  "For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels."

STUDY THE WORD OF GOD

2 Timothy 2:15  "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

SEEKING A HEAVENLY CITY

Hebrews 11:16  "But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city."

ABIDING IN HIM

1 John 2:28  "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming."

PARTAKERS

Luke 5:7  "And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink."

CONSIDER CHRIST JESUS

Hebrews 3:1  "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider [discover, perceive, active imperative] the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;” Imperative only here and in Luke 12:

ENCOURAGEMENT

Luke 12:24  "Consider [active imperative] the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?”

Luke 12:27-28  “Consider [active imperative] the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?"

CONSIDER JESUS

Hebrews 12:2-3  "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3. For consider [analyze] him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds [souls]."

THE HEAVENLY CALLING

Hebrews 3:1  "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;”

CALLED TO HIS KINGDOM

1 Thessalonians 2:12  "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory."

OBTAIN THE GLORY

2 Thessalonians 2:14  "Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."

IT IS A HOPE

Ephesians 1:18  "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,"

CALLED TO A PRIZE

Philippians 3:14  "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."         Luke 14:10

CALLED TO AGELASTING LIFE

1 Timothy 6:12  "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses."

GIVE DILIGENCE

2 Peter 1:10  "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:"

WITH HIM IN THE HEAVENLIES

Revelation 17:14  "These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful."

WALK WORTHY

Ephesians 4:1  "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation [calling] wherewith ye are called,"