Man is More Honourable than Angels

Let us turn to Hebrews chapter 1. In this chapter, the author wants to highlight how honourable the sonship of God is. That is why in chapter 2, it is written:

Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. (Hebrews 2:1)

That is to say, how honourable is the status we have today as children of God. If people do not know how honourable their status is, and often take angels as a standard, it is actually quite confusing.

One of our sisters recently read a sharing written by a very famous person. After reading it, she was very confused. What was he talking about? He was quoting from the Book of Jude:

Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 1:9)

What did he say as a result? That the archangel, when contending with the devil for the body of Moses, did not even dare to offend the devil. So who are we? Can we cast out demons? So I was thinking, in our belief system today, is the archangel bigger, or is man bigger? Is the devil bigger, or is man bigger?

The author of Hebrews also faced such a situation at that time. He also knew that the Jews respected angels very much. The Jews have had the concept of angels since ancient times: they felt that angels were honourable, while humans were not. Moreover, their concept was very strong, but they were confused. Therefore, the author of Hebrews tried to correct this concept.

Some of us are fascinated by the study of angels, and some are fascinated by the study of demons. We really need to readjust our concepts. What is our position? Are we more honourable, or are angels more honourable? Therefore, the author of Hebrews wrote this book under such circumstances.

I once heard some theologians say that the author of Hebrews was probably Paul. I have reason to suspect that the author of this book is Paul, because the theological concepts he wrote are almost in the same vein as the theological concepts reflected in Paul's epistles. So why didn't he write Paul's name? Because Paul was writing to the Jews, and the Jews hated Paul to the bone at that time. If the Jews saw that it was written by Paul, then they would dismiss it.

The Jewish habit of worshipping angels has a long history, but I think Paul really wanted to bless his fellow Jews at that time, so he wrote Hebrews, trying to highlight one thing, that is, our Lord Jesus became flesh and came into the world in the likeness of man. He became flesh to embody one thing - man is very honourable.

We have a Unified Relationship with the Lord Jesus

Starting from Chapter 1 of Hebrews, the author embodies his argument to solve the Jewish obsession with angel worship, which says:

God, who at various times and in diverse manners spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. (Hebrews 1:1-4)

We must know for sure that man is more honourable than angels, so we must value the status of children of God today. Some people say: Oh, this refers to Jesus. In fact, it does not refer to Jesus, but to Jesus and his brothers, his companions.

We carefully look at this matter, from the overall perspective of other books of the Bible, I do not want everyone to read the Bible and only see the trees, but not the forest. Why do I say this? God sent His firstborn Son into the world to bring many sons into God. Our Lord Jesus came into this world and washed away our sins with His blood, so that we could become the heirs of salvation, and we became the companions of the Lord Jesus.

Today we must know that we and Jesus are not a separate relationship, but a unified relationship. I often hear people say: some people steal God's glory. Can everyone start to have a unified concept? They turned this concept into: what is Jesus' is Jesus', and what is mine is mine. In fact, what is Jesus' is ours, and what is ours is also Jesus'. That is to say, God's glory is also our glory, and our glory is also God's glory. Today we must all have a unified concept.

Our Jesus Christ became flesh and came into the world to enter into a complete unity of man and God in love, which is the foundation of our faith. We are made in the image of God, so what are angels made in the image of? God did not say. We know very well that man is made in the image of God. We inherently have the glorious image of God. Through the salvation received through Jesus Christ, we can restore the glorious image of God in us.

The archangel cannot rebuke the devil, but we have the glorious image of God in us, so we can imitate our Lord Jesus Christ and take up the authority that we should have had, that is, we can represent God on earth and exercise God's authority on earth. What an honourable status this is. Therefore, we know that Jacob, the ancestor of Israel, valued the status given by God, so God made him our example, so that we know that our God is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

Today we know how honourable is the status of the Son of God. What Paul preached was the gospel that enables us to have the status of the Son of God, which solves a very critical issue, which talks about the duties of God's children and angels. Originally, when the author was writing these things, he found that the Jews liked to highly exalt angels. But Paul said:

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14)

This clearly defines the position. We who hear this must know: our position is very important. What is our relationship with Jesus Christ? Our relationship with Jesus Christ is a unified relationship. God has a great plan to make His people completely unified in the spirit. If we are completely unified with God, the Spirit of God will rest. In the last chapter of Isaiah:

Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? (Isaiah 66:1)

Our God is looking for a place of rest. So what is the place of God's rest? The place where God rests is the place where those who are humble and repentant and tremble at God's word reside.

For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist,” says the Lord. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word. (Isaiah 66:2)

Today we must know that God wants to build a temple, which is a temple composed of people who tremble at God's word. This is the new Jerusalem. This sentence of God is written in the Bible again and again.

And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:22-23)

God's wonderful plan is His church. Some people say that Jesus talked about the kingdom of heaven many times, but only talked about the church twice. However, in the New Testament, the revelation that Paul received from God is indeed about the church, because the church is the body of Jesus Christ.

to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places (Ephesians 3:10)

to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:21)

That is to say, the church will become the temple of God. The church is built according to the word of God, and it is definitely not the way we see the church today. We must all begin to understand God's plan, and we must all be the sons of God, full of the measure of Jesus Christ.

For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son”? But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire.” But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.” (Hebrews 1:5-9)

That is to say, in God there is a plan to build a glorious church, which is the temple of God. With the temple of God, we can completely enter into unity, and the Spirit of God will rest. It is because of us, because we tremble at the word of God, and we build the church strictly according to the word of God, instead of according to our own ideas, so we become children of God in Jesus Christ.

If we all become children of God and then unite perfectly in Jesus Christ, this is the temple of God. The salvation that God wants to accomplish is actually not individual salvation, but a holistic salvation. God wants to build a glorious church, and in the church, we must love one another. Our brothers and sisters must clearly understand what the position of angels is? They are only ministering spirits.

The devil Satan is created by God and is also a servant spirit. This is one of the most important components of our faith. No matter what the angels and demons are like, we must obtain the status of a son, which is crucial. If we obtain the status of a son, angels and demons are only servant spirits.

People should not belittle themselves. I have seen some books that say: even the archangel does not dare to rebuke the devil, how can we be qualified to rebuke the devil? The problem arises, didn't Jesus come into this world to rebuke the devil to withdraw? Jesus became flesh and had the appearance of a man. He represented man in exercising the authority that man originally had. God has given this authority to us, so we should not underestimate the status of our sons.

Because we are sons of God, we have obtained the authority that God has given us. Once this relationship is established, we will value the salvation that God has given us. Some people regard this salvation as going to heaven after death, but they are confused when they are alive, which is really deadly.

Jesus Christ has already inherited all things through him. We are the body of Jesus Christ, so don't we also inherit all things? If God created all the worlds through Jesus Christ, then after creating all the worlds, all things come from Him. He is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being.

We are the body of Jesus Christ, and also the radiance of God's glory, and the exact representation of His being. Some people may be confused by what I am saying, but it is clear, because God created all things to manifest His glory. We were originally vessels used to manifest God's glory, and God often upholds all things by the word of His power. We must also have the authority given to us by God and put all things under our feet.

Demons and Angels are merely Servants, Ministering to those who will Inherit Salvation

Jesus Christ washes away the sins of man, and we, together with Jesus Christ, inherit this noble name, far exceeding the angels. Our relationship with Jesus Christ is one of unity, not separation. Nothing can separate us from God's love. If God anointed Jesus with the oil of gladness, more than His companions, then today, God also anoints us with oil.

We who receive salvation must obtain Mingding Destiny, restore the glorious image of God in our bodies, and become a blessing to all nations and peoples on earth. Therefore, you must be above all nations. Heaven and earth will pass away, but our Lord Jesus will endure forever, and a new heaven and a new earth will be created for us. We, together with Jesus Christ, enter into eternity through Mingding Destiny, making the enemy our footstool. We will reign with Jesus Christ and then fulfill God's good will in us to manifest God's glory.

It is crucial whether we can clearly know within ourselves that we have this glorious Mingding Destiny. If we do not know, we will often be confused and perplexed. When we read about the four living creatures and angels, we think they are really extraordinary. What we do not know is that we are actually more powerful because we originally possessed the glorious image of God, and we have the authority of God in our hands.

To be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:10-14)

God wants to manifest His glory through us. This is the Mingding Destiny that God has determined in us, choosing us in Jesus according to His will, so that we may obtain the name of sons, so that the glory of God's grace may be praised. We shall be in a state of unity together in Jesus Christ.

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. (Ephesians 1:17-21)

This is not talking about Jesus Christ, but about the church. We are determined to build God's glorious church, to become the body of Jesus Christ, to become a holy, unified, and glorious church, so that we can trample all things under our feet, so that God's name may be praised, and we will see what power the church has. Some people will say, It doesn't seem like that's what I see. This church is like this, and that church is like that. If people do not tremble because of God's words, they will not strictly build the church, and people will often talk nonsense according to their own ideas.

When we see someone die of cancer, but he is a good person, we will say some very strange things, thinking that this cancer is a blessing in disguise. We Christians often have some people talking nonsense to give the cancer patient some comfort, but the Bible does not say this. Today, we must tremble because of God's words. I encourage everyone to think carefully about God's words and read the Bible carefully.

I have never heard Jesus and the Apostle Paul criticize Jacob. Many pastors only preach about Jacob cheating people, and in the end, he was cheated. But they do not talk about God standing on the ladder and declaring blessings to Jacob. If God did not like this, God should have said, Jacob, why did you cheat people? Today I will discipline you. But God did not say this, but instead blessed Jacob.

Today, many people do not tremble because of God's words, but talk nonsense according to their own ideas. I am afraid when I hear those people talking nonsense.

We Must All Tremble Because of God's Word

It is really strange to say that we cannot rebuke demons at will. Did Jesus rebuke demons wrongly? Jesus often rebuked demons. Is Jesus not our example? If you really tremble because of God's word, wouldn't you also rebuke demons like Jesus? How corrupt are demons? We are to teach these people God's word, and when their hearts turn back, we are to release them from the bondage of demons. Demons must be cast out for people to truly be free.

We must truly tremble because of God's word and not just see the trees but not the forest. We are to inherit the authority that God gave to Jesus Christ together with Jesus Christ. Are we not casting out demons in the name of Jesus and rebuking demons to go away in the name of Jesus? How did it become that we should not rebuke demons at will? Are we not speaking in new tongues in the name of Jesus Christ and laying hands on the sick in the name of Jesus Christ, and the sick are healed? We are a group of people who cast out demons. Demons are just targets for us to practice the authority in our hands. Demons are also sent to serve those who will inherit salvation. We are to trample all things under our feet. This is the Mingding Destiny that God has determined in us.

We have the glorious radiance of God on us. Let us not look down on ourselves anymore. Today, we are all people who have received the name of God's children. In any situation, we must hold on tightly to the name of God's Son, just like the Apostle Paul, just like Jacob in those days. Although we often encounter many problems and troubles, we still hold on tightly to the identity of God's Son and must live out the nobility of the name of God's Son. We must know how noble we are in Jesus Christ.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but God will endure forever. We say together with Jesus Christ, Our years have no end. We are to sit at the right hand of God together with Jesus Christ, making the devil and the enemy our footstool. We are to bruise the head of the devil. Even if the devil wounds our heel, it does not matter. We must know that this is our Mingding Destiny and position. We are determined to set the captives free and the oppressed free!

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it with signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to his will. It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking Hebrews 2:1.

We must know what we are doing. No one and nothing can deprive us of the Mingding Destiny we have received from God. This is a glorious and noble crown. We begin to run towards this noble crown, following the path that Jesus Christ walked, and continue to run forward, even if it costs us our lives! We are to enter into eternity together with Jesus Christ. This is the nobility of the name of God's Son. Amen! May God bless everyone!