The American Wisdom Series 
Presents pamphlet #2606
Hebrews chapter 6It is no wonder that the spurious messiah, Satan, will be so popular and deceive the whole world including the majority of Christianity when he comes claiming to be the real Messiah.
How long have you been a Christian?
That means quite frankly that after so long a time when you could be a teacher and of great service to the family of God you are yet an unprofitable servant, a spiritual baby who still needs to be taken care of yourself and thus one who also cannot discern between that which is holy (Jesus) and that which is profane (Satan) (Heb. 5:14)!
It is no wonder that the spurious messiah will be so popular and deceive the whole world including the majority of Christianity when he comes claiming to be the real Messiah.
Note: This address is to those who are capable of "labor" and does not necessarily refer to those who are disabled and handicapped who have their special place in His service.
So what are you going to do about it?
Has Paul been speaking to you when he refers to those who are still on "milk" and have not matured in His Word.
If so, you do NOT need to be "re-saved" as Paul is going to explain to us.
Simply purify your heart, as in do not harden your heart, i.e. open up your mind and make To Day the day you turn to Him, to His Word, and begin to hear His Voice.
James 4:8 "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to
you.
Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts,
ye double minded."
To be "double minded" is to be
like a weed shaken in the wind, tossed to and fro.
Do not be like that!
Mature in His Word and grow up tall and straight like a cedar of Lebanon whose roots, by the way, are as deep as the tree is tall.
In fact, if you mature in His word you will be able to spot many crafty men and women in pulpits who claim to represent Christ, just as Christ said there would be in these last days in Mat. 24:4-5.)
Simply open your mouth and take the little book and begin to eat it (that means read it and study it) as per His instructions!
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ,let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Paul makes it quite clear that a Christian must move beyond the basic doctrines of Christianity which he likens to milk, the food of new born babes in Christ.
It is interesting to note that even though these are basic doctrines of Christianity there is still a great deal of confusion and misunderstanding regarding them. This again is because of the widespread lack of maturity in His Word, even among the pastors and ministers most of whom teach the traditions of men which are contrary to the Word of God. To wit, some teach the nonsense that bodies will come out of the grave when Christ returns, or that you must be physically baptized like this or that, or they use "fear" of an everlasting burning Dante's Inferno to hold people captive in their churches which have become Beth-avens (houses of emptiness or vanity) instead of Beth-els (House of God). Have they never read 1 Cor. 15 where Paul explains the two bodies, the earthly and the spiritual? Have they never read Eccl. 12:7 which also tells us what happens to a person when the flesh "kicks the bucket"? Have they never read 1 Thes. 4:13-18 where Paul explains where our loved ones who have passed away are, even with Jesus Christ, and when He returns He shall bring them with Him? Have they never looked up what the word "perish" means? It means GONE, finis, up in smoke![2] Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
You hear a lot preachers and pastors speak about Jesus Christ in the churches of our land and you hear them say Lord, Lord... but the point is in most cases you just do not hear His Voice, His words taught! Please understand that I am not saying that to be judgmental. It is just that the consequences produced by the latter day famine is that there are many people who shall stumble and fall (faint) when Satan comes to earth claiming to be the Messiah.Amos 8:11
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: [12] And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. [13] In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.
The way it works is that you must first permit for God to permit.You draw near unto Him and He will draw near unto you. In other words, IF you are willing, To Day, to come to Him and seek Him through His Word and not harden your heart, then He is willing to open to your eyes and grant you understanding that you might "see". You "see", He is the ONLY ONE who can open your eyes and ears and (except for His elect) the choice is yours because we know for sure that it is His will that we all grow in grace and in the knowledge of His Word. 2 Peter 3:18 "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."[3] And this will we do, if God permit.
Again, Paul's point is that a Christian cannot grow and mature in His understanding and become strong if he or she is lazy and "dull of hearing". One's diet in His Word must consist of more than just milk, so wean yourself from the bottle and begin to eat and digest some solid food, i.e. our daily bread! Then you shall grow and become strong** in the Lord.
**The name Ezek-i-el in Hebrew means "God is (my) strength". Here is how a servant matures and becomes strong in the Lord:
The "roll" is the complete Word of God, i.e. written within and without (Ezek. 2:10). Jesus Christ, the Word of God, is our strength! Yes, "Your BIBLE"Ezekiel 3:1-4
Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.
Simply open your mouth and take the little book and begin to eat it as per His instructions! Our brother John did in Rev. 10:9-10![2] So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.
[3] And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.
Eat the roll and digest it, meaning absorb it all into your very being until it becomes what you are made of. You see, if you dwell in Him, He will dwell in you.
One cannot mature to the level of teacher Paul was talking in the last chapter unless he or she has eaten and digested His Word. So move past the basic principles and begin To Day to "go on to perfection (completeness in Him)".[4] And He said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.
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,[5] And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
(Unfortunately because of the famine, few Christians are even familiar with the wondrous "world that then was (Gen. 1:2, 2 Pet. 3:6)" that God destroyed following Satan's rebellion.)
[6] If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame.
And for one to teach or claim that he or she needs to be "re-saved" is an offense and akin to blasphemy for that one brings shame unto Christ.
How so?
Well, the reason it brings shame and makes a mockery of Jesus Christ when you say that one needs to be "re-saved" is because you are implying He did not do a very good job the first time, i.e. that He was not able to save you the first time!
The fact is you cannot renew salvation... but you can repent and return unto Him and begin to listen to His Voice and mature in His Word.
That you can do... To Day!
You see, the onus is upon you once you have become a Christian, else perhaps Christ wasn't the one who saved you in the first place.
Nevertheless, if you claim to be a Christian, a servant of Jesus Christ, quit sitting around on your pew and get to work and be productive to the point that you can begin taking care of babies instead of being one!
And what a wonderful and rewarding labor it is indeed!
Paul now draws upon an analogy of nature for us that we might see in graphic format what he has just explained regarding our labor in His Word.
[7] For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
"Dressed" means "tilled" as in worked the ground.
You see, His doctrine, His truth, is that latter day rain which falls upon the earthen man in these last days.
Deut. 32:2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:
God has made it all possible though salvation, giving us the foundation and the spirit, like the earth (foundation) and the rain from heaven (spirit).
All we have to do is work the ground, to till it, to dress it and keep it and we will surely reap the bountiful blessings from God.
However, if we remain "dull of hearing", lazy and ignorant of His Word, and leave the ground uncared for, then the thorns and thistles shall have their way.
Here is Strong's definition of "dress":
dress = G1090 ãåùñãÝù georgeo gheh-ore-gheh'-o
From G1092; to till (the soil):—dress.G1092 ãåùñãüò georgos gheh-ore-gos'
From G1093 and the base of G2041; a land worker, that is, farmer:— husbandman.
GEORGE (m) "farmer" from Greek georgos "earthworker",
which was derived from the elements
ge "earth"
and ergon "work".
So make your commitment to do some ploughing in the word of God, and do it To Day, by George!
Let us now learn a spiritual lesson from the beginning.
Do you remember what Adam was supposed to do in the garden?
Genesis 2:15 "And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it."
dress = H5647ãá—òÈ€abad aw-bad'
A primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.:— X be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, + husbandman, keep, labour (-ing man), bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve (-ing, self), (be, become) servant (-s), do (use) service, till (-er), transgress [from margin], (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper.keep = H8104 øîÇLÜ shamar shaw-mar'
A primitive root; properly to hedge about (as with thorns), that is, guard; generally to protect, attendto, etc.:—beware, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep (-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch (-man).
Genesis 3:18 "Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field."
Again, our Father has made it all
possible but we must do our part otherwise there are going to be a bunch
of thorns and thistles grow up
whereas there could have been a
beautiful bountiful crop!
Thorns and thistles are worthless!
Again, that's what you get when you become "dull of hearing" and do not labor in the field leaving it uncultivated and uncared for... thorns and briars! Need we be reminded once again what to be "dull" means?Hebrews 6:8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
Paul's analogy is even likened to the tares of Mat. 13 which are simply good for nothing and thus shall be burned and consumed in the lake of fire. However, it is not "fear" by which the servants of God are driven to serve and obey Him, but rather by their love for Him in knowing and understanding what He has done and purposed for us, His children. We are also driven by our love for our brothers and sisters.dull = noôthros no-thros' Strong's #G3576
From a derivative of G3541; sluggish, that is, (literally) lazy, or (figuratively) stupid:—dull, slothful.
What is it that is to accompany salvation?[9] But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
We work and labor in bringing forth fruit for the kingdom and family of God.
We all have different gifts of the spirit and none of us is perfect, no not one.
Some are even handicapped which is a special ministry allowing others to be inspired by seeing such strong faith in those less fortunate (as man sees it) in the flesh.
Nevertheless, we should all try our best to do those things which please Him and cast aside the traditions of men which provoke Him to anger... remember (Heb. 3:16)?
And you know what?
Though you may not win any popularity contests among men, God will not forget your work and labour of love.
Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
However, it is extremely important to notice that the majority of the works of those churches, in fact five out of seven churches, were not found favorable in His sight and thus He gave them STRONG WARNING to repent of their ways!
That leaves only two churches whose works He did find good and acceptable and the reason for that is made clear in Rev. 3:8.
In other words, they know His Word and they tell it like it is including who the kenites are, and they speak His words after the manner of "Thus saith the Lord" to their brothers and sisters, just like Ezekiel was instructed to do.
Read Hebrews 6:10 again and notice that the work and labour of love is shown toward His name, which again means toward the authority of His name which is His Word. In other words, they study and obey the Word of God, Jesus Christ, and therefore it is them to which salvation belongs... remember?
The conclusion of the matter is simply this:Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Don't just sit in your pew and listen to the doctrines of salvation and baptism and words spoken about Jesus Christ.
Do not harden your heart and stubbornly hold on to the traditions of men
If someone, even someone you know has integrity, makes you a promise, you have only that person's word that he will carry out that promise, right? However, what if that person was so sincere in his purpose to fulfill his promise to you that he goes before a higher authority, such as a justice of the peace or a judge in a court of law, and swears an oath under penalty of law thereby making the surety of his promise subject to the enforcement by the court? You would certainly feel much more confident in believing that he was going to fulfill his promise to you, now knowing it is even backed by a higher authority, wouldn't you? Just keep that thought in mind as we proceed through this study.
Paul admonished us to move beyond the basic principles of Christianity and begin to do some work and dig deeper into our Father's Word. In fact, he drew the analogy to that of a farmer, by George, and said that if you want to receive God's bountiful blessings then you need to do some labor and work the ground as it soaks in the rain from heaven. Else if the ground is left uncared for, the briars and thorns will have their way and soon possess the garden. Then in verse 10 of Hebrews chapter 6 he told us that God is "not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." In other words, He has promised to bless you if you will trust and rely on Him and keep His Word. Paul continues:
Paul's desire is that we all become workmen right up to the very end, laboring with diligence and earnestness with full assurance of hope, which means being entirely confident of the hope of His blessings and promises. How does one obtain that full assurance and confidence in Him? Stick to God's Word and do some ploughing! Soak up the rain and prayerfully study and follow the examples of those who have gone before us who exercised their faith and trust in Him, whose witness our Father has recorded for our benefit (1 Cor. 10:11).Hebrews 6:11
And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
The whole point is, do not be led astray from the truth of His Word. Do not harden your heart and stubbornly hold on to the traditions of men. Begin also, To Day, to wean yourself from a milk-only diet in order that you may grow and mature in His Word. Otherwise you will end up not having what it takes to endure unto the end for your lamp will go out in the hour of darkness because you were an unwise virgin and did not fill it with the oil of His Spirit from His Word (Mat. 25:1-13).
Here are the words of Jesus Christ declaring it to be so.
Either Christ was telling us the truth concerning false prophets in these last days or He Himself is found to be a false prophet. If the former is correct, which it is! then let us use some common sense and think for a moment and realize that the probability is extremely high that any given preacher or minister is a false prophet, which simply means he or she prophesies (teaches) church traditions instead of God's Word chapter by chapter and line by line. One should then ask the question, "How is it that they are so able to get away with teaching that stuff?" It is because milk bottle Christians, who although they may love going to church and singing songs of praise and worship, do not intelligently check out what their leaders teach to see if it aligns with their Father's Word. That in itself shows a lack of respect for His name and His authority, i.e. His Word! Have they not read that it is their responsibility to try the spirits (doctrines) to see if they are of God, i.e. to see if they are contained in His Word before they believe them? 1 John 4:1 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."Matthew 24:11-14
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
[12] And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Did you grasp how it is Christ manifests Himself to you? Judas, not Iscariot, wasn't quite clear so he asked for clarification.John 14:15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.[21] He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
You better well know the answer to this question.[22] Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
[23] Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Whose words, whose voice, are you listening to? If you never check out what you are being taught then you'll never know... until it is too late! So get with the program and begin to show Him you love Him by becoming strong, strengthened through the meat of His Word.[24] He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
If you do not have faith and patience and stay working the field tending the garden, you aren't going to make it! Let's put forth some effort and do a little digging and take a look at the Greek word translated "endure":Mat. 24:13
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
I guess that shoots a hole in the old "Left Behind" theory Satan has milk bottle Christians believing, doesn't it? Teaching God's Word straight on as it is written does not always make one very popular with the majority, but the fact is that the any-moment Rapture theory that makes the false promise to "dull" Christians that they are going to "fly away" when things get tough is notG5278 ›ðïìÝíù hupomenoô hoop-om-en'-o
From G5259 and G3306; to stayunder (behind), that is, remain; figuratively to undergo, that is, bear (trials), havefortitude, persevere:—abide, endure, (take) patient (-ly), suffer, tarry behind.
To endure requires faith and patience and due diligence. We have a choice to either remain "dull" (lazy and stupid) and listen to the many preachers who promise us "blue sky" and a ride in the Rapturemobile when Satan, the false-christ shows up, or to listen to Jesus Christ who says it is those who "stay behind" and work and labor in the field and endure unto the end who shall be saved.[14] And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Isn't it interesting that so many Christian churches often teach exactly the opposite of what the Word of God says?
For example, most Christians have been told that the first one taken in the field in Mat. 24:40 is taken by Jesus Christ in the rapture of the church. However, a little tilling and digging (even just reading Mat. 24 in context) will reveal that the subject of the entire chapter is the deception of Satan and the events leading up to the return of Jesus Christ. You see, the first one taken in the field is taken and seduced by antichrist, the false messiah.
The other one is "left behind" laboring and working in the field, enduring until the end.
The choice is yours so stay with us and listen carefully to Paul's admonition.Matthew 24:40
Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
The word "slothful" in Greek is exactly the same word translated "dull" in Heb. 5:11 which by now you know full well means "lazy and stupid". Paul is talking real plain here when he says with love and sincerity, "Do not be lazy and stupid" when it comes to studying and understanding your Father's Word. Move beyond the basic principles like salvation and baptism and get ploughing in the word. Stay focused and study to show yourself approved, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15), and learn to follow the examples of the patriarchs who through their faith and longsuffering became inheritors of the promises. He now gives us a great example to learn from:Hebrews 6:12
That ye be not slothful, but followers [imitators] of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Understand the importance of what this verse says in that God not only (1) made a promise to Abraham, but (2) He took an oath and sware by Himself, for there is no higher authority in all the universe, that He would carry out that promise! By this we can be certain that His promises are sure and cannot and will not ever fail! Here is an example of one's faith and patience in awaiting the fulfillment of God's promise, even the one He made to Abraham:[13] For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, He sware by Himself,
Paul is quoting God's promise to Abraham from Gen. 22:17.[14] Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
Remember Abraham, whose name means "Father of a multitude (of nations)", was willing to sacrifice the promised "seed", Isaac, his only begotten son (through Sarah), even after he had to wait all that time, even until he was 100 years old, to receive that promise.Genesis 22:16-18
And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
[17] That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
Abraham never doubted God's promise of Isaac, though he thought perhaps it could come about another way, and he faithfully obeyed God when He asked him to sacrifice his precious son who finally came after so long a time, just as God said he would![18] And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
And so, by relying on the promise and through his longsuffering, Abraham showed his faith and belief in God. Again, Abraham had to wait until he was 100 years old and Sarah until she was 90 before the promise of Isaac came. But he never gave up on that promise because he knew God SWARE TO IT that it would be so. Think about this carefully as Paul continues his explanation:[15] And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
Men make oaths to some authority that is greater than themselves, like to God Almighty with their hand on the Bible, to confirm that what they say is "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God!" That oath puts an end to the doubt of their veracity else it becomes the grounds for recompense against their perjury.[16] For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
Our Father wants there to be NO DOUBT in your mind that His Word is true and that you can count on every single promise He has ever made to you to be fulfilled EXACTLY as He said He would. And you know what? If you will study His Word you will "see" that His track record is impeccable among those who have gone before us!
You are an heir of all His promises... if you trust and rely on Him and tend the garden. And when you do some digging you will discover His truth will eliminate all doubts and fears and you will come to believe the hope of His promises through concrete evidence which becomes the solid foundation of your faith which Paul will later explain in chapter 11! Titus 1:2 "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began." Oh yes! You can even document His promise before this earth age began because His plan of eternal salvation, including His promise to send the Redeemer, is all written in the stars of heaven, in the uncorrupted Zodiac! (see appendix 12 in the Companion Bible.)[17] Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability [unchangeability] of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
The two immutable, totally unchangeable, things are His promise and His oath that He WILL carry them out. You see, what Paul is saying is that Almighty God, your Father and mine, has MADE HIS PROMISES and He is now UNDER OATH to carry them out. And since it is impossible for God to perjure Himself, we can totally rely on His Word. (Later in this great Book of Hebrews Paul is going to recap the faith of the many witnesses to God's immutable promises to His children. That is how our faith is increased, by seeing the surety of His Word come to pass... for it always has and it always will.)[18] That by two immutable [unchangeable] things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope [the promises] set before us:
[19] Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
Jesus Christ is the High Priest for ever after the order of the King of the Just, Melchisedec, and in chapter 7 we will learn just who this Melchisedec was. How exciting the Word of God truly is![20] Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits;
to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, you accomplish both.
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