1.  His Name is Superior to their name! Verse 4

2.  His nature is Superior to their nature! Verses 5, 10-12
     A.  Jesus is Creator!
     B.  Jesus is Eternal!
     C.  Jesus is Sovereign!
     D.  Jesus is Immutable!

3.  His Honor is Superior to their honor! Verse 6

4.  His Kingship is Superior to their service! Verses 7-9, 13
     A.  Reigns eternally: Verses 7-8
     B.  Rules with justice: Power accompanies the dispensation if righteousness (symbolized by the scepter)
     C.  Rejoices over his companions: due to the anointing associated with loving righteousness and hating wickedness

So what about angels?

• Angels do not have the place/names of honor!Verse 4
  
• Angels are not God’s sons or daughters! Verse 5
  
• Angels worship Jesus, not to be worshiped! Verse 6
  
• Angels are God’s spiritual, obedient servants! Verse 7, 14
  
• Angels are created and sent to serve the saved! Verse 14
  
• Angels are not what human beings become in heaven!

SO THEN?

• Angels are not the focus of our devotion or attention!
• Rather they are a real means of God’s help in our life!
• Jesus must always be the focus of our worship for He is our only way of success!
  
• Worship Jesus above everything!
  
• Accept His help however it is sent!
  

1.      God spoke in the past: Verse 1

• To the Fathers: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob: Israel, God’s covenant people. Special revelation to His covenant people. Different from General revelation through nature or philosophy.
  
• Through: Prophets in many portions and ways
  
• Prophetic utterances of God: "one who speaks forth or openly", "a proclaimer of a divine message," denoted among the Greeks an interpreter of the oracles of the gods. 
  

• One who speaks for God to foretell events or forth tell God’s divine will.
  

2.     God speaks now: Verse 2a

• Now (these last days):
  

             a)  Period of time which is the final group of days.
             b)  This period began with the earthly ministry of Jesus and will continue until the return of Christ.

• To us who are His people of a new covenant.
  
• Through His Son, Jesus:
  

"If men cannot learn about God from the Son, no amount of prophetic voices or actions would convince them." (Guthrie)

3.      Jesus says it ALL: Verse 2b-4

• Appointed Heir of ALL things
  
• ALL of the universe was made through him
  
• ALL of God’s glory radiates in him
  
• ALL of God’s being/essence is represented in him
  
• ALL material and spiritual world is sustained by his word
  
• ALL our sins have been purified
  
• ALL honor of position belongs to him
  
• ALL other beings are subjected to his superior name           
  

Conclusion:

1. God spoke in the past: Verse 1
   
2. God speaks now: Verse 2a
   
3. Jesus says it ALL: Verse 2b-4
   

So What?

• Subject yourself to Jesus! Make him 1st in your life.
  
• Remove any rival for his place of supremacy in your life.
  
• Reject the idea that there are other paths or ways to God.
  
• Listen to Jesus words to direct your life.
  

1.   Take the simple steps first! Verses 13-16
      a.   Repent of sins and believe in Jesus!
      b.   Be Baptized!
      c.   God will affirm your life of faith!

2.   Know who you are in Jesus! Verse 17
      a.   You are son/daughter!
      b.   You are loved!
      c.   You are pleasing to God! (Obedient Family Relationship)

3.   Know your enemy! Verse 1
      a.   God has a purpose in allowing your testing!
      b.   The “devil” is an accuser by nature!

4.  Your identity is the key to your victory! Verses 4, 6
      a.   Test #1 - God’s child depends upon God’s spiritual provision in His Word!
      b.   Test #2 - God’s child doesn’t dare demand a miraculous experience in order to test God!
      c.   Test #3 - God’s child declines the worship of material wealth to serve and worship God!

5.   Use the Bible, it is vital to your survival!
      a.   The devil knows it & will try to use it against you!
      b.   You can know it well enough to survive the test!
      c.   Memorize it!

6.   Hunger, Experiences, and Money/material possessions are common areas of weakness!
      a.   Be guarded in these areas.
      b.   Use them as God intends and allows.

7.   Service and Worship of God will build our strength.

8.   Accept God’s help to get out of your trial!

• 1 Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
  

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,” Ecc. 3:1-2

1.  Renew Now!
          a.  Today is your only sure time! Ecc 3:1-2
          b.  Today there is time for your salvation! 2 Cor 6:2
          c.  Today you have less time than ever before! Rom 13:11 

If not now, then when?

2.  Renew with Reason! Joshua 24:14-15
          a.  Know who you know! FEAR the LORD
          b.  Serve whom you know! SERVE Him with all faithfulness
          c.  Remove your reasons for stumbling! Throw away what is false!

If not God, then who?

3.  Renew and Remember!
          a.  You are not alone in your renewal! Joshua 24:22
          b.  You are accountable for your commitment! Joshua 24:27
          c.  You are to signify your commitment with Baptism! Mark 1:9-13
          d. Commitment brings Conflict! Mark 1:12

If not this, then what/how?

Conclusion

• Renew Now!
  
• Renew with Reason! Jos 24:14-15
  
• Renew and Remember!
  

A.  Matthew 2:1

        1.  God incarnate
        2.  Some wise men noticed his presence 
                  i.  Proverbs 2:6 - For the Lord grants WISDOM!  From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

B.  Matthew 2:2
        1.  They saw the star rising and knew that Jesus was born KING!
        2.  They came prepared to worship

C.  Matthew 3:3-8
        1.  The presence of God calls for a response:  something that is done as a reaction to something else.
                  i.  King Herod , disturbed
                 ii.  And all of Jerusalem

D.  Matthew 2:9
        1.  God guided them by a star!
                  i.  They saw the star in verse 2 and went to Jerusalem for human advise, to no avail
                 ii.  They once again sought God and He led them by the star. 

E.      Matthew 2:10
        1.  When they arrived under the star they were filled with joy  
                  i.  Matthew 2:11 - On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and 
                      worshiped him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Conclusion

• God’s presence 
  
• John 14:15-17 - If you love me, obey my commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate, who will never leave you.  He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.  The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him .But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.