Through the Bible with Les Feldick
LESSON 3 * PART 3 * BOOK 52
Hebrews 12:18 – 13:25
We’ve got several people here today. In fact, we’ve got a couple here from Oregon. I really should mention that. That’s probably as far as anybody has ever come. We’ve had a lot from Indiana, Minnesota and Ohio; but Oregon, that’s fabulous. We appreciate that. Now let’s get back to where we left off in Hebrews chapter 12 and we are presently in verse 26. Remember we were talking about how that, if God Who spoke while dealing with Israel on earth was something to be feared, how much more we should respect that Voice that speaks from heaven. And of course, for the most part, for us today in this Age of Grace, that comes through the epistles of the Apostle Paul, to whom God revealed all of these doctrines that are for us today. Now that doesn’t mean the rest of scripture isn’t appropriate or that it’s not valid. All Scripture, even Paul himself writes, “All Scripture is profitable for reproof in instruction, in inspiration and so forth.” But for those of us living in this Age of Grace, Romans through Philemon becomes our paramount place of instruction. Alright now in verse 26:
Hebrews 12:26-27
“Whose voice then shook the earth: (well God was dealing from Mt. Sinai) but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.” Now, in my own mind (being the farmer that I am), I couldn’t help but think of shaking and sifting grain. And whenever you sort grain with the sieve, the chaff and the junk falls through and the good remains. Well, I think you’ve got the same analogy here – that God’s just going to shake things and that which is superfluous and is unimportant will disappear and only that which counts will remain.
Now of course, we think Paul is probably making reference here, inspired by the Holy Spirit, to what Peter writes more in detail in his little epistle of II Peter chapter 3. Now you might want to turn over to that passage, and we’ll start with verse 10 – and of course, this is way out into the future, but nevertheless, it’s coming when God is going to judge this planet.
II Peter 3:10-12
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements (that is all the things that make up the planet)shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11. Seeing then that all these things (that is the things of this earth) shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness. 12. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” But don’t give up – don’t despair, because that’s not the end. Let’s look at the next verse:
II Peter 3:13
“Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” Which of course is looking all the way past the 1,000 year Kingdom Age, which you and I as believers are going to be part of, and into eternity. So now if you’ll come back to Hebrews 12 once again we know that God is going to deal harshly with this planet someday. And the day will even come, I feel, that it will be totally melted down and destroyed and made over for the eternal earth that’s still coming. But be that as it may, now verse 28:
Hebrews 12:28
“Wherefore…” Seeing that the Creator God can do whatever He wants to do, and yet we are under His protective care –
Hebrews 12:28
“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, (cannot be destroyed) let us have grace, (oh, that favorite term of the Apostle Paul) whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:” Now, you remember for us as believers, we don’t shake in our boots in the presence of God. Quite the opposite. We are instructed to come boldly into His presence because He has already removed everything that stood between Himself and us. That’s been done through the finished work of the cross. And we are now made at one with Him. We are, as we saw in an earlier program, joint heirs with Christ. Never forget that. And so we don’t have to serve Him, shaking in our boots with fear – but it is a reverential fear knowing that He is still the God of all creation. And then verse 29, as we’ve already seen from Peter.
Hebrews 12:29
“For our god is a consuming fire.” He’s going to destroy this earth with fire one day and prepare everything for the eternal. Alright, now we will go into chapter 13 and hopefully, be able to wind up this study in the next half hour after this. He says in verse 1:
Hebrews 13:1-2
“Let brotherly love continue. (that is between the believers) 2. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: (one of the earmarks of Christianity is hospitality) for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Now, I think there’s two ways you can look at this. We know that back in Biblical history, angels were entertained by mortal man. The first time was Abraham in Genesis 18. And he saw three men coming down the path and he hasted out to meet them, having no idea who they were. They were just wayfaring strangers, so far as Abraham was concerned. He set the table, killed the fatted calf and come to find out, who were his three visitors? One was the Lord Himself and the other two were angels. So he actually entertained angels unawares. And I think Lot probably did, not realizing who was escorting him out of Sodom.
Well, I don’t think that the Scripture teaches that if we’re hospitable, that we’re actually going to have angelic creatures visiting our abode – but I think Iris and I can testify to the fact that you know when people stop in from all parts of the country (total strangers, and they sit down at the table with us and when they leave), it’s like having had angels in our attendance. It’s been a joyful experience and I think that’s what the Apostle Paul is talking about here. Don’t close your door to strangers. Be hospitable, because you might be experiencing an angelic experience, even though it won’t be in the winged variety. It will just simply be fellow believers. Alright, so “some have entertained angels unawares.” Now then, verse 3, and this was especially appropriate in Paul’s day and, of course, in some areas of the world now – and will also be appropriate in the Tribulation period, when he says:
Hebrews 13:3a
“Remember them that are in bonds,…” Or those who are in prison. Because back in Paul’s day, the authorities didn’t provide the food, not even the swill that the BC character gets. They got nothing unless their friends and relatives brought them food. And so Paul says don’t forget those folks who are in prison for their faith. And I’m sure it’s probably that way in some areas of the world even today. And I know it will be in the Tribulation. Now, you say, how do you know that? Well, I always have to do everything with Scripture, don’t I? Come back with me to Matthew 25. Here in Matthew 25, we have the survivors of the Tribulation and remember, they are brought to Jerusalem, supernaturally, of course. We know this is after the Tribulation because the King has just established the Kingdom and He’s ready to get the ball rolling to re-populate the planet. And we know from Isaiah 24 that there will be some survivors after the horrors of the Tribulation. Alright, here they come, supernaturally brought, and let’s begin with verse 31.
Matthew 25:31-32a
“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: (in other words, as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And as King, on His throne there in Jerusalem) 32. And before him shall be gathered all nations:…” These survivors of the Tribulation from all the nations. Now there won’t be all that many. Just a few, and so he brings them all to Jerusalem – and since there will be saved and lost amongst the survivors, the first thing he does is separate them. He puts the saved on one side and they’re likened to the sheep, the lost go to his left and they are likened to a shepherd dividing his goats. But all I want you to see is that they are going to be visiting people in prison during the Tribulation and nourishing them with their gifts of food when he says in verse 34:
Matthew 25:34-36
“Then shall the King (Christ) say unto them on his right hand, (the believers) Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom (they can go into this thousand-year reign with Him) prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (now, here it comes) 35. For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat, I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink, I was a stranger and ye took me in: 36. Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” Now of course, we know that the ones he’s talking about were the 144,000 Tribulation witnesses that God will seal – that no doubt suffered the privations listed here. But when these people became believers as a result of hearing those 144,000 Jews’ message, they risked their own neck in order to visit them in prison. Well, so much for that. That was just what I call sometimes in Oklahoma, “free for nothing.” Now back to Hebrews.
Hebrews 13:3
“Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.” “So remember those who are in bonds,” Paul says: if they need food, take it to them. And “as bound with them; and those who suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body” That’s why I’m sure that Paul wrote this. Only Paul speaks of the Body of Christ in Scripture. And so this is what he’s telling these believers, that if they step on in and experience Paul’s salvation offer of faith in our Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection, then they become members of the Body of Christ. This is just one of the few times in Hebrews that he says something that is intrinsically Paul. Now, Paul shifts gears, as I’ve said so often.
Hebrews 13:4
“Marriage is honourable in all, the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” Well that falls right in line with what he says in Galatians 5, that those who live by the flesh are adulterers and fornicators and so forth, and they will have no part in the kingdom of heaven. Alright now, verse 5:
Hebrews 13:5
“Let your conversation (the word here is manner of living. Let your manner of living) be without covetousness; (in other words, we’re not to live by keeping up with the Joneses.) and be content with such things as ye have; for he hath said I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
We’ve got to take this with a grain of salt. Paul does not say, “Just throw your worries to the wind and don’t worry about where your next day’s bread comes from.” He doesn’t say that. In Timothy he admonishes the parents to take care of their families. “Lay up for the children,” so that children don’t have to take care of the parents. And so always remember that you have to look at more than one portion. When he says here, “Just be content with what you have,” and he says, “I’ll never leave you or forsake you,” that doesn’t mean that you can just carelessly say, “I don’t have to worry about tomorrow, God will take care of me.” That’s not the name of the game in this Age of Grace. We are to work, Paul says, if you don’t want to work, you don’t eat! That’s plain and simple. But on the other hand, we have the promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Now verse 6. When we enter into this kind of a relationship with the Lord, constantly meeting our needs, then we can speak boldly,
Hebrews 13:6
“So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Now let’s take a verse again out of Romans. Go back to Romans chapter 8, and you’ll see this is in the same vein.
Romans 8:31-32
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, (and Hebrews just told us that He will never leave us nor forsake us.) who can be against us? 32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” See, that’s the promise. That’s what we have – that God will see to our every need. Then verse 33:
Romans 8:33-34
“Who shall lay any thing to the charge (or who can accuse) of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, (which is where? In the heavenlies!! See, we come right back full circle every time. All of these things fit.) who also maketh intercession for us.” Well, now I just like to do that to show that Scripture fits; it dovetails from one end to the other. Alright, back to Hebrews again, chapter 13, and verse 7. Now of course, this was especially applicable to these Jews who were under the priesthood first, and then came under the authority of the Twelve, especially back there in the early Acts. So this is especially appropriate to this kind of Jew.
Hebrews 13:7
“Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.” (or their manner of living.) Now if you want to bring that on in to the local church, I won’t object to that. But since he is still talking to the Hebrews, I prefer to think he’s still talking to the leadership of the Jerusalem church in particular, and to some of the other Jewish congregations, which of course, these people were a part of. Now verse 8:
Hebrews 13:8
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” In other words, He never changes, He’s immutable. You know if people have an argument with me, they don’t like the fact that I separate Paul from Peter and the Church from Israel. And they’ve now picked it up in the word dispensational. I didn’t use the word for the first several years, but now they know I’m dispensational. And that makes a few people up tight. And this is my main obstacle when somebody opposes me. Their first argument is, “Well, he’s dispensational.”Well, of course I am. I make no apology for it.
But without using the word, you can do this as well as I can, you just go back to these people that just almost detest dispensational teaching, which is rightly dividing the Word of Truth, and say, “Now look. Do you mean to tell me that when Adam and Eve came out of the Garden of Eden after the fall, everything was the same as it was before?” “No.” “Well, you agree that everything changed?” “Yeah.” “Alright, let’s go a little further. When Noah and the families came off the ark, are you going to stand there and tell me that nothing had changed? Everything is the same? Is it? No!” Everything is different. Now they can kill food and have meat. They now have to institute capital punishment. They now have a whole change in weather. Everything is different. But what has remained the same? God. God doesn’t change. He’s immutable. He’s the same, yesterday, today and forever. But He changes the modus operandi of mankind.
In other words, when Adam and Eve were in the garden, they didn’t have to worry about dealing with sin. It hadn’t been committed yet. They didn’t have to worry about death. They hadn’t faced it yet. But as soon as they came out of the garden, now God has to make provision for what? For their sin problem. And how does He do that? He introduces the blood sacrifice. And He gives them clothing to wear. Well the same way after the flood. Now God makes provision for a whole new economy that they knew nothing of. Well, what is that?It’s a change in dispensation. It’s a change in administration.
Now you come up through history. Here comes Abraham – and any student of Scripture has to admit that now, all of a sudden, you’ve got things totally different. What is it? You’ve got the appearance of a whole new race and nation of people through which God is going to send the Word of God, through which the Redeemer would come. That’s never been heard of before. And oh, I could just go on and on. You come out of the Old Testament and into the New, and Israel is under the Law, Temple worship, and they’re under the sacrifices.
Now here we come; and here comes the Apostle Paul going to the Gentile world now, after the work of the cross, and he says, “You’re no longer under the Law!” You’re going to tell me nothing has changed? Everything has changed. We’re no longer under the Law. We don’t have to go to the Temple. We don’t have to have a priesthood. We’re under Grace. Well you see, that’s all dispensationalism so far as I’m concerned. It’s just simply breaking the Scriptures down to realize that God’s immutable, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. He never changes! But He changes His dealings with mankind, according to the circumstances that have come about on the planet. And so now we are in what we call the dispensation of the Grace of God. It’s never been this way before. Mankind never had full access to the Father like we have.
Unheard of! Because the Jew had to approach Him through sacrifice and priesthood and so forth. And so that’s all dispensational means. You will hear somebody throw that word out at you, and say, “Don’t listen to Les Feldick, He’s dispensational.” And listen, it’s happening. Don’t think I don’t know that. It doesn’t bother me a bit, because see, I can just blow them out of the water with what I’ve just said. How can you tell me that things have never changed when I know everybody realizes it has. And every change is just a change in administration. And so don’t let that disturb you when someone says, “Oh don’t listen to that fellow, He’s dispensational.” To me it’s almost laughable.
But alright, the part that got me started here is that even though all these changes have come upon the human race, God never changed. He’s the same, yesterday, today and forever.Now then verse 9. The people who think I am teaching strange doctrines are the ones to whom I’ll have to say, “Hey, wait a minute. Let’s put the shoe on the other foot.” I’ll come back and say, “Don’t you follow strange doctrines, cause that’s what the Scripture says.” “Rightly divide the Word of God.”
Hebrews 13:9a
“Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines….” Hey, I don’t surf the Internet. I don’t know what’s out there, but I hear it from every direction. Do you realize that you can pick and choose everything from soup to nuts in the realm of spiritual things off the Internet – let alone in the book stores? And what’s it doing? It’s confusing the issue. People don’t know what to believe. I wrote one fellow a while back after he had written a couple of questions and I said, “Look, you people are getting pied pipered.” Oh, he wrote back, “What do you mean by that?” Evidently he didn’t go to the same school as a kid that I did. You all remember the story of the pied piper don’t you? Well, he played the flute and I guess it was the rat (Iris finally decided), it was the rat that said, “Follow him into the river.” That’s exactly what the human race is doing today. You got pied pipers piping the tune and people are just following them to their doom. And the Scripture is so plain, “Don’t be led away with every strange doctrine,” but get rooted in the Word of God.
Hebrews 13:9
“Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. (teachings. That’s the other word for doctrine) For it is a good thing that the heart be established with (not Law but with what?) grace; (the freedom, the liberty, see.) not with meats, (or foods) which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.” What’s Paul saying? Hey when you’re under Grace, you’re not under a set of rules and regulations of how to approach God with this particular sacrifice or how to be in the Temple at this particular day and hour and so forth. We’re set free from all that. We now have free access into the throne room, any moment of any day. And I point out to people every once in awhile that back there in the Book of Acts, the disciples went up to the Temple to pray about the 9th hour. Why? Because for them it was a stipulated hour of prayer under the Law.