Back in the 1950s Donald Grey Barnhouse traveled the country
preaching in many pulpits and behind scores of podiums. He was one of the best expositors of
God’s Word that this nation has ever known. He tells the story of the time he was studying in a hotel in
Canton, Ohio where the porter knew him well. Barnhouse had stayed there so
frequently that every time he’d come to stay, the porter would ask him faith
questions – questions that would aid him in his growth in Christ.
On one occasion the porter asked, “Dr. Barnhouse, how reliable are the promises of God?” To which Barnhouse instantly said, “How
much money do you have in your pocket?” The man reached into his pocket and
found that he had $1.19. It was a Tuesday; he would not be paid until Friday,
and he had to live and support his family until then on tips, slender at best.
Barnhouse placed a fifty-cent piece in his hand saying, “I
give you this half dollar. It’s yours. Now how much do you have?” The man
answered, “$1.69.” Quickly Barnhouse took the
coin out of the man’s hand and put it back I his pocket, asking, “Now how much
do you have?” Suddenly the man fell into the trap of faithlessness and
answered, “$1.19.” Barnhouse said, “Are you calling me a liar?” “No, no,” said
the man, “I would never be so presumptions to say such a thing!” Barnhouse said, “Didn’t I tell you it was yours?” “Yes,” said the man. “Then
how much money do you have?” The man smiled and said, “I have $1.69, but fifty
cents of it is in your pocket.” It was out of Barnhouse’s pocket and into
his as soon as he walked out of the room. But he had far more than an extra
fifty cents, He had a perfect visual of the certainty of God’s promises.
We hear a lot these days about the promises of God. I got a phone call not long ago from a Grove leader wanting to know if I had a
book that contained all the promises of God besides the Bible. I said, “No, but
I can get you one.” Within seconds I had located scores of “Promise” books on
the internet. I think the one I got him was a couple hundred pages long.
But let me ask you a question – what’s the greatest promise
that God ever gave you? You may be surprised by the obvious answer.
This Sunday we continue our series “Full Disclosure – A Study of Hebrews.” Remember the main issue here
– “If God loves us so much, why is life so hard?” And in every section of this
sermon the preacher of Hebrews gives these poor, suffering, alienated
Christians an answer. Talk about relevance! Talk about application! Every
answer he gives them is a full view of the multifaceted brilliance of Jesus. He
is our Final Word, He is our Brother, our Builder, our Rest, and our Counselor.
But He’s more than that. Surely we look to Hebrews 6:13-20 to find another
great feature of Jesus – our Promise.
In preparation for Sunday, you may wish to consider the
following:
- Read Hebrews 10:32-35
- What insight does this passage give us into the sufferings those Jewish Christians are experiencing?
- How is it that many call Hebrews 6:13-20 the complete ground of a Christian’s assurance of hope?
- Why does the preacher return his attention to Abraham? (He hasn’t mentioned him for 4 chapters.)
- How does God’s exposure in Genesis 15 and 22 inform our understanding of this text?
- What does God mean in Genesis 22 when He says,“By myself I have sworn…”? (22:16)
- What two proofs does God give Abraham that His promise is absolute and irrevocable?
- What does the preacher mean when he speaks of verse 17, God’s “unchangeable character”?
- What two metaphors or symbols does the preacher use for Jesus in verses 19 and 20?
- How is Jesus God’s ultimate promise to you?
See you Sunday!
