WORKS OF THINE HANDS
Friday – June 23, 2017
Greetings and welcome back to The Three Minute Word Bible Study taken from the Book of Hebrews. Hebrews is such a wonderful Book as is the whole Word of God. God is so good. It is Friday so I am reminding us all to pray for the Church, ourselves, and those around us. We must be about the Master’s business, Kingdom of God business to show His goodness in the earth. If we lift Him up, all men (persons) will be drawn to Him. People desperately need to see the ministry of Jesus through us.
I will now review our primary text and then launch into the meat of our topic.
Hebrews 1:10-12 (KJV)
10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
Before we leave the tenth verse I want us to review a passage from the eight Psalm which speaks about “the works of thy hands”. I think we will find this illuminating, instructive, and motivating.
Psalm 8:4-6 (KJV)
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
The writer of Hebrews led of the Spirit of God focuses on a certain aspect of this Psalm in the next chapter however we will look at it as it relates not only to Jesus but to us as well.
Hebrews 2:6-8 (KJV)
6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
Notice the phrases “What is man” and “the son of man” occurs in both passages of Scripture. This Psalm and its quote by the writer of Hebrews is referring to mankind and to Jesus although the writer of Hebrews focuses in on “the son of man” which is Jesus. We will explore both since it is vital that we know what is expected of us, and what we are equipped to do in the Kingdom of God. You may be interested to know that in the four gospels the term “son of man” occurs eighty times and the term “son of God” occurs twenty-eight times, both referencing Jesus. Jesus made Himself like us on entry into the earth (Philippians 2). He is our prime example. We can learn much from many other people in Scripture both positive and negative but our lives should mirror that of Jesus. Some of us will have a ministry that is the focus of our lives and defines our lives however most of us will have a life that looks a lot like everyone else except it is marked by the works of Jesus and the greater works. This will draw the kings (leaders and others) of the earth to us, to our light (Isaiah 60:3).
Let’s get our focus back to Psalm eight as we finish out this week.
Psalm 8:4-6 (KJV)
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
The word ‘man’ in verse four is referring to mankind in general however the phrase ‘son of man’ is a Messianic reference, i.e. a reference to Jesus the Messiah. The Psalmist is asking Jehovah, why He spends any time thinking about and visiting mankind in general and Jesus in particular after He made Himself as a man. This speaker observed that mankind and the son of man (Jesus) were a little lower than the angels. The word ‘angels’ here is Elohim which is the pleural name for God. When I speak about Jesus being like other men I want to make a very important differentiation. When the Word left Heaven for Mary’s womb He divested Himself of all that made Him God. However, His spirit (soul) was the same as it had been for eternity past, alive. Mankind upon the earth after Adam’s sin had dead souls as they do to this day until Jesus is accepted as Savior and Lord. At the moment we make Jesus Lord and Savior we are quickened (made alive) by the Holy Spirit (Grace).
So, back to the Psalm, mankind and Jesus (in the earth) were the same, a little lower than Elohim. I need to qualify the prior statement. A born again filled with the Holy Spirit person has the same capacity and is like Jesus after His baptism of the Holy Spirit in the river Jordan. A born-again person who has not received (a choice) the baptism in the Holy Spirit do not have the capacity of Jesus although I believe they are on their way to Heaven. He and we are crowned with glory and honor which is copious splendor and favored of God.
Notice Psalm 8:6 very carefully. He and we have dominion over the works of his hands. We have already determined that ‘his hands’ is the Holy Spirit and most likely includes the holy angels. Jesus directed the activities of the Holy Spirit and angels in His earthly ministry and so are we to do the same. Our earthly ministry is not to be self-led and willy nilly but as led of God. Psalm 8:6 ends with the fact, the reality, independent of what our physical senses tell us, that God (Jehovah) has put all under Jesus feet and thus under our feet. When will we see this Truth, come to this Truth, and operate in this Truth? I want to make one observation from Biblical Numerology that is fascinating. The Psalms are the nineteen book of the Old Testament and as you will recall nineteen is the number of faith and all must be done by faith, whatever is not of faith is sin. We will receive these Truths and do the works of Jesus and the greater works by faith. This is the eighth Psalm and eight is the number of new beginnings. When we are born again and baptized (separate experiences) in the Holy Spirit we have a new and very wonderful new beginning with unlimited potential. Six is the number of man, it is the responsibility to receive this new beginning and operate in the fulness of God upon the earth for the glory of our Heavenly Father and Savior. O what a deal!!
Until our next publication, I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
CONTACT E-MAIL: pastordavidwood@gmail.com
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