Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

Three questions The key questions are: What has He spoken? How has He spoken? Are you listening?

Question #1: What has He spoken? The answer to question #1 will involve the rest of the book of Hebrews.

Question #2: How has He spoken? The answer to question #2 will be our message today.

Question #3: Are you listening? The answer to question #3 will involve the rest of your life.

The trail The discussion of God speaking to us begins at the beginning of the book and wraps up at the end.

Are you listening? Heb. 1:1-2 Heb. 4:12-13 Heb. 2:1-4 Heb. 5:11-14 Heb. 3:15 Heb. 11:3, 7, 8, 11, 13 Heb. 4:2 Heb. 12:25

Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

Hebrews 1:1-2 God has spoken to us today through Jesus

Hebrews 2:1-2 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward,

Hebrews 2:3-4  how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

We better listen because: Hebrews 2:1-4 We better listen because: Jesus is greater than angels and The consequences of not listening are greater than before and God has spoken through the Apostles

Hebrews 3:15 while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

Hebrews 3:15 Don’t make the same mistake of hardening your heart in response to God’s Word

Hebrews 4:2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

Hebrews 4:2 Not believing it’s true makes it ineffective in your life

Luke 10:38-40 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”

Luke 10:41-42  And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”  

Key question: Am I a teachable person?

Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4:12-13 God’s Word is able to show you needed areas of growth

Hebrews 5:11-12 of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

Hebrews 5:13-14 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Hebrews 5:11-14 If we don’t use it, we lose it

Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Hebrews 11:11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

When we act on what we believe, it brings eternal reward Hebrews 11:3, 7, 8, 11, 13 When we act on what we believe, it brings eternal reward

Hebrews 12:25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 

Hebrews 12:26-27 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:28-29 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.  For our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews 12:25-29 This is very much like 2:1-4 and bring us full-circle We will not get away with knowing, but ignoring Listening and responding brings eternal reward!

So, how do we listen? Determine to not listen too closely to other “voices”…including your own.

So, how do we listen? Peter is a great example of the danger of thinking “It makes sense to me”. Mk. 8:31-33

Mark 8:31-33 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And He was stating the matter plainly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”

So, how do we listen? The person who relies on themselves, however good their intentions, needs to ask themselves about their pride and their view of God’s Word.

2 Tim. 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Scripture is God-breathed in that the final product is what He wanted. 2 Tim. 3:16-17 Scripture is God-breathed in that the final product is what He wanted.

It accomplishes four things in our lives: 2 Tim. 3:16-17 It accomplishes four things in our lives: Teaches us Reproves us for what is wrong Corrects us to get our lives right Trains us in righteousness

2 Tim. 3:16-17 The potential result is that when we seek to serve others, the Scriptures give us what we need.

2 Tim. 3:16-17 The person who relies on themselves, however good their intentions, needs to ask themselves about their pride and their view of God’s Word.

Honest Questions Would I live my life differently, would I use my time differently, if I believed that: God’s Word can be personal and life-changing? God’s Word can be future-changing? I must be in God’s Word and have God’s Word in me to listen properly?

Listening involves at least two things: Taking it in Being teachable and Using what you know

The book of Hebrews presents to believers the greatest offer made to Christians.