SMC
August 2, 2026
  • This Is Our God
  • Before The Throne Of God Above
  • Jesus Thank You
  • Introduction
    Squirrel in the leaves when hunting
    Deceitfulness of sin leading to unbelief
    CONNECTION
    Hebrews 3:12 ESV
    Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
    TAKE HOME
    We need the encouragement and warning of one another so we don’t fall for the deceitfulness of Sin.
    Warning: Take care you don’t fall away
    Task: Encourage and warn one another
    Antagonist: Deceitfulness of sin leading to unbelief
    Fuel: Not knowing the ways of God
    Scripture Introduction
    Christians contemplating leaving the faith after suffering persecution.
    Yahweh has revealed Himself through the Old Testament prophets, yet they offer only a partial glimpse of God’s revelation. The complete revelation of Yahweh is found in Jesus.
    Jesus is the heir of all things, the creator of the universe, the radiance of God’s glory, the exact imprint of His nature, the sustainer of all creation, our deliverer, exalted above all, and superior to angels.
    Jesus surpasses the angels in every way—by virtue of His divine power, His supreme authority over all creation, and His redemptive work as the Savior of humanity.
    Pay closer attention to Jesus and the authors of Scripture, the authenticating work of wonders, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, so you stay anchored to the truth.

    More Glory than Moses 3:1-6

    Deer verses the squirrel
    Hebrews 3:3 ESV
    For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.
    Glory: Glory (architect); honor; praise
    Builder is superior to building
    Jesus is likened to the builder
    Hebrews 3:4 ESV
    (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.)
    Which includes Moses
    Moses was the highest regarded prophet.
    Revered for high position of receiving the law.
    Hebrews 3:5–6 ESV
    Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
    House = believers
    Confidence: state of boldness; confidence & courage
    Hope: Assurance; expectation (not a desire)
    These two gets us through persecution and hardships.
    Hebrews 3:5–6 ESV
    Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
    Faithful: dependable, inspiring trust/faith
    Deuteronomy 18:15 ““The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—”
    Hebrews 3:5–6 ESV
    Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
    Moses a servant vs. Jesus a son
    Heir
    Believers
    Policy at work: coworker’s opinion vs. the owner’s directions
    *APPLICATION
    Moses had an important position as a servant of God, but Jesus is superior because he is the Son.
    *CURRENT APPLICATION
    Best practices have an important position as a servants of God, but Jesus is superior because he is the Son.
    Deceitfulness of sin- Idolatry (praise, deliverance, or covet)
    *REFLECTION
    What we choose to praise and share with others reveals where our true confidence and hope lie. Are we praising Jesus, or are we focusing on something else?
    *IMPLEMENTATION
    Consider what you currently praise in light of God’s revelation.
    Encourage or warn others when you notice them praising something other than Jesus as necessary for life to the fullest.
    If it doesn’t line up
    Sounds good, but has flaws when lived out to the fullest
    Is good, but not necessary
    If it does line up
    Highlight the biblical principle and illustrate it by explaining the best practices that demonstrate how or why it applies.

    Warning 3:7-4:2

    Hebrews 3:7–8 ESV
    Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness,
    “unbelieving heart” leading you to fall away” Heb 3:12
    To take the Promise Land, some would die in battle.
    Today, in persecution, some may loose their lives.
    Don’t loose faith. It is better to die in the will of God than live outside of it.
    The Issue
    Hebrews 3:10 ESV
    Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’
    Fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. Heb 3:9
    Therefore, “They shall not enter my rest” Heb 3:11
    Fall away from the Living God Heb 3:12
    The Preventative
    Hebrews 3:12 ESV
    Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
    Keep oneself awake; to be on guard
    Issue: When we don’t know the ways of God it can result in an unbelieving heart, leading to falling away.
    This is serious!
    Hebrews 3:13 ESV
    But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
    Exhort: To warn; encourage; remind
    So, be on guard for yourself and for one another.
    It starts with not knowing God’s ways (rather than falling away or unbelief)
    The Promise
    Hebrews 3:14 ESV
    For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.
    Received every spiritual blessing Eph 1
    Seated with Christ in the heavenly realm Eph 2
    New creation Eph 2
    Saved by grace Eph 1 & 2
    Hebrews 4:2 ESV
    For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.
    The promise of entering God’s rest and deliverance from Egyptian bondage did not result in blessing for them because they did not trust it. They responded wrong. The promise became judgment with disobedience.
    Those who listened- Joshua and Caleb
    *APPLICATION
    Encourage and remind one another of God's ways, so that we keep our focus on Him rather than on our circumstances.
    We need the encouragement and warning of one another so we don’t fall for the deceitfulness of Sin

    More Rest than Joshua 4:3-13

    Christians use to have better health because of less stress. (Psalm 23:1)

    We Have Entered

    Hebrews 4:3 ESV
    For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’ ” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.
    Ongoing faith that walks out initial belief.

    Likened to the Sabbath

    Hebrews 4:3 ESV
    For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’ ” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.

    Shadow

    Hebrews 4:9–10 ESV
    So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
    Promise land was only a shadow
    Sabbath was only a shadow
    Colossians 2:16–17 “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.”
    Rest: An absence of tension and worry. No longer seeking to acquire or retain the favor of God.
    Important elements of rest
    Yahweh’s presence
    Rest from enemies
    Inheritance
    They shall not enter my rest Heb 4:5
    Today, if you hear his voice Heb 4:7 (day spoken of later on)
    There remains a Sabbath rest Heb 4:8
    Hebrews 4:7 ESV
    again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”
    Current generation being offered the promise anew
    The second generation under Joshua entered the Promise Land, but Psalm 95, which came afterward, spoke of another day of rest to come.
    Hebrews 4:12 ESV
    For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
    Applies to current situation
    Will not remain neutral. It will accomplish its task. Bringing blessing or judgment.
    Hebrews 4:12 ESV
    For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
    Unlike a physical sword that only cuts flesh
    Soul: Being alive | Spirit: Personality
    Joints: Place of action | Marrow: Inmost part
    Thoughts | Intentions: Content of mental processing
    Surface verse Desire
    Chaff verse Wheat
    *APPLICATION
    The promised rest of God was not fulfilled when Joshua brought the Israelites into the promised land; it is fulfilled in Jesus, where we can truly rest from tension and worry, no longer seeking to acquire or retain God's favor.
    Encourage and remind one another of this truth when a Christian expresses a need to acquire or retain God’s favor.
    *IMPLEMENTATION
    Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
    My achievements are not by my efforts.
    My achievements are accomplished by Jesus.
    My dependence is on Jesus working through me.
    Our rest comes from stepping back from dependence on our abilities and trusting in God's promise to work through our efforts in ministry, worship, service, and daily life.
    *CURRENT APPLICATION
    Rest is achieved in our union with Jesus and not in relaxation, clearing the mind, avoidance of problems, or a change in circumstances.
    Deceitfulness of sin- Idolatry (deliverance, praise, or covet)
    Summary
    We need the encouragement and warning of one another so we don’t fall for the deceitfulness of Sin.
    Best practices have an important position as a servants of God, but Jesus is superior because he is the Son.
    Warning: Take care you don’t fall away
    Encourage and remind one another of God's ways, so that we keep our focus on Him rather than on our circumstances.
    Task: Encourage and warn one another
    Antagonist: Deceitfulness of sin leading to unbelief
    Fuel: Not knowing the ways of God
    We can truly rest from tension and worry, no longer seeking to acquire or retain God's favor.
    *End

      • Hebreos 4:3–13RVR60

      • Hebrews 4:11RVR60

      • Hebrews 4:3RVR60

      • Hebrews 4:7RVR60

      • Hebrews 4:9–10RVR60

      • Hebrews 4:12RVR60

      • Hebrews 4:12RVR60

      • Hebrews 4:12RVR60

      • Hebrews 4:13RVR60

  • Take My Life And Let It Be
SMC
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