Today’s selected reading is found in the New Testament epistle which was written unto the Hebrews. More specifically, today’s passage is found in the first six chapters of this New Testament book. GOD! THE ONLY BOOK IN THE BIBLE THAT BEGINS WITH “GOD.” THE OLD TESTAMENT BOOK OF GENESIS BEGINS WITH THE WORDS “IN THE BEGINNING GOD.” THE BOOK OF GENESIS BEGINS WITH THE WORDS “IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED.” THE BOOK OF GENESIS BEGINS WITH THE WORDS “IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH.” THE OLD TESTAMENT BOOK OF GENESIS BEGINS WITH THE TIME FRAME OF THE “IN THE BEGINNING.” THE OLD TESTAMENT BEGINS WITH THE PERSON—“GOD.” THE OLD TESTAMENT BEGINS WITH THE ACT, THE ACTION AND ACTIVITY OF GOD—“CREATED.” THE BOOK OF GENESIS BEGINS WITH THE SCOPE OF THE CREATION OF GOD—“THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH.” “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the water. And god said…” (Genesis 1:1-3). THE NEW TESTAMENT EPISTLE WRITTEN UNTO THE HEBREWS BEGINS WITH GOD AND DIRECTLY LINKS THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS WITH THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE NEW TESTAMENT GOSPEL OF JOHN. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (john 1:1-5). THE NEW TESTAMENT EPISTLE WRITTEN UNTO THE HEBREWS BEGINS WITH GOD—AND NOT ONLY BEGINS WITH GOD, BUT BEGINS WITH GOD SPEAKING! IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THE EPISTLE WRITTEN UNTO THE HEBREWS YOU MUST UNDERSTAND IT AS A NARRATIVE OF GOD SPEAKING! THE NEW TESTAMENT EPISTLE WRITTEN UNTO THE HEBREWS BEGINS WITH GOD, BEGINS WITH GOD SPEAKING, AND BEGINS WITH GOD SPEAKING THROUGH THE PROPHETS, AND THEN BY HIS SON! IN TIMES PAST GOD SPOKE UNTO THE FATHERS BY THE PROPHETS, BUT IN THE LAST DAYS GOD HAS SPOKEN AND SPEAKS THROUGH HIS SON:

            “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by 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 on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:1-3).

            IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS WE FIND GOD CREATING, AND WE FIND GOD SPEAKING! IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN WE FIND THE WORD BECOMING FLESH AND DWELLING AMONG US! IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS WE FIND GOD SPEAKING, AND IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN WE NOT ONLY FIND GOD SPEAKING, BUT WE FIND THE INCARNATE WORD OF GOD—THE VERY VOICE OF GOD TAKING ON BODILY FORM! IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS THE WORD OF GOD CREATED FORM WITHIN AND IN THE MIDST OF THAT WICH WAS WITHOUT FORM AND THAT WHICH WAS VOID, WHILE IN TE GOSPEL OF JOHN WE FIND THE WORD HAVING A FORM, HAVING A SHAPE, AND HAVING A BEING! THERE IS A CLEAR AND PRESENT CONTRAST BETWEEN THE WORD OF GOD BEING SPOKEN AND PRODUCING FORM WITIN THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH AND JESUS BEING THE WORD OF GOD IN THE FLESH AND HAVING A PHYSICAL FORM HIMSELF! THE EPISTLE WRITTEN UNTO THE HEBREWS IS THE ONLY BOOK IN THE ENTIRE BIBLE THAT BEGINS WITH THE NAME “GOD”—AND NOT ONLY BEGINS WITH GOD, BUT ALSO BEGINS WITH GOD SPEAKING! THE EPISTLE WRITTEN UNTO THE HEBREWS BEGINS WITH GOD SPEAKING IN TIMES PAST THROUGH THE PROPHETS, HOWEVER, IT TRANSITIONS UNTO THE LAST DAYS AND GOD SPEAKING THROUGH HIS BELOVED SON! THE EPISTLE WRITTEN UNTO THE HEBREWS BEGINS WITH GOD, AND BEGINS WITH GOD SPEAKING, AND THEN TRANSITIONS TO AN EMPHATIC STATEMENT AND DECLARATION CONCERNING CHRIST! THE EPISTLE WRITTEN UNTO THE HEBREWS IS FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES A TREATISE ON OUR RESPONSE TO CHRIST—AND NOT ONLY TO CHRIST, BUT WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE FOR US!

            GOD, HAS SPOKEN BY AND THROUGH HIS SON! TAKE A LOOK AT THE SON! LOOK UPON THE SON! BEHOLD THE SON! HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD SPEAK AND BEHOLD THE SON! HEAR GOD SPEAK AND BEHOLD THE SON! When you come to the epistle written unto the Hebrews you will come to perhaps one of the most powerful epistles found within the New Testament. As I sit here this morning thinking about and considering the epistle written unto the Hebrews and the language that is found and contained within it I can’t help but be absolutely gripped and captivated with the fact that this epistle is the only book in the entire Scripture that begins the way it does. If you begin reading with and from the first and opening verse of this epistle you will notice that it begins with the word—and not merely the word, but also the name—“God.” Pause for a moment and think about just how absolutely incredible and tremendous this is, and how absolutely and utterly astonishing and remarkable it is. If you consider each of the other sixty-five books in the canon of Scripture you will find that there is not a single book that begins with the word and name of God. The epistle which was written unto the Hebrews is one that is completely and utterly fascinating for it is an epistle that centers upon the responsibility of the saints of God and disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ—and not only the responsibility of the saints of God and the disciples of Christ, but also that responsibility in light of the tremendous work Jesus the Christ had done while He moved and walked among us in the midst of the earth. What makes the epistle written unto the Hebrews so incredibly moving is when you think about and consider the awesome and powerful reality that not only does this epistle focus on that which Jesus the Christ did within and in the earth, but it also transitions to the right hand of the Father in heaven and that which the Lord Jesus Christ did after rising from the grave on the third day and ascending unto the right hand of the Father forty days. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this, for it helps us truly understand the words and language that is found within and throughout this epistle.

            As I sit here today thinking about and considering the words which are found within this epistle I can’t help but be absolutely and utterly captivated with the fact that the epistle begins with the word and name “God,” and then immediately transitions to God speaking. It’s quite interesting to read the words which are found in the first two verses of the opening chapter of this epistle, for they begin with the name and title of God, and then wonderfully and powerfully transition to an emphatic statement—not only of God speaking in times past and in divers manners, but also of God speaking in these Last Days. Within the first and opening verses of the first chapter of this epistle we are brought face to face with the fact that God has indeed and has in fact spoken in times past—and it was in times past when God spoke unto the fathers by and through His servants the prophets. Even Jesus Himself would acknowledge this within the parables He spoke concerning the kingdom and the king who would send his servants unto men, and how those servants were spitefully entreated and shamed. Within and during the public life and ministry of Jesus the Christ you will find Jesus referring to God the Father speaking through and speaking unto the fathers of Israel by and through the prophets, and even the prophet Jeremiah spoke unto the southern kingdom of Judah and the city of Jerusalem by declaring how the Lord God sent prophets rising up early who would speak unto them and proclaim the word of the Lord. It would be in times past the Lord would speak unto the fathers of Israel by and through His prophets, however, in these Last Days the Father chose to speak unto His people completely and entirely differently. It would be in these Last Days the Father would not speak unto His people the same way He had in times past, for the eternal Father would now speak unto His people by and through His Son.

            The reality and through about the eternal Father speaking in the last days by and through His eternal and only begotten Son is actually quite interesting when you take the time to think about it, for you almost get the powerful sense that there was this transition that took place between how the living God had spoken in times past and how the living God had spoken and was speaking unto us in these Last Days. Perhaps one of the most astounding truths surrounding the words which are found in the opening verses of the epistle written unto the Hebrews is that while the epistle begins and opens up with the name and title of God, and while it begins and opens up with the author writing how God had in times past and in divers manners spoken unto the fathers by and through the prophets, the Father had spoken in the last days by and through His Son. What’s more, is that the author of the epistle written unto the Hebrews gets even more personal with the words they use, for the author would go on to write how God has spoken in these Last Days unto us. Please don’t miss the significance and importance of these words, for if you turn and direct your attention back to the ninth chapter of the Old Testament prophetic book of Isaiah you will find and encounter similar language that was used concerning the manifestation of the eternal Son who would be born within the earth. If you turn and direct your attention back to the words which are found in the ninth chapter of this Old Testament epistle you will be brought face to face with the absolutely wonderful and powerful truth that when speaking of this Son who would be born within the earth, the prophet would indeed make it personal, and would indeed make it even more intimate concerning those to whom he was writing and speaking. If you begin reading with and from the sixth verse of the ninth chapter of the prophetic book of Isaiah you will find the prophet emphatically declaring and proclaiming that it would be unto “us” a child is born, and it would be unto “us” a son would be given. Pause for a moment and consider how incredibly powerful and how incredibly personal and intimate that truly is, for the prophet Isaiah—when prophesying concerning the coming and giving of the Son—would use the word “us” twice within the same sentence and twice within the same breath.

            The more I think about and the more I consider this the more I am brought face to face with the truly awesome and wonderful reality that it would be through the prophet Isaiah we find that it would be unto us the Son would be giving, and it would be unto us a child would be born. This is truly intriguing and captivating when you think about it, for when you come to the opening chapter of the epistle written unto the Hebrews you will find the author emphatically declaring and proclaiming that in these last days the Father would speak by and through His Son—and not only speak by and through His Son, but would also speak by and through His Son unto us. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of just how absolutely wonderful and powerful this truly is when you take the time to think about and consider it, for not only does the author reveal how the Father had spoken unto us by and through the Son, but that the Father had indeed spoken unto us—thus the author would make it personal for and unto us. What’s more, is that we must needs recognize and understand that at the very heart of the manifestation of Jesus the Christ being manifested within the earth was the voice of God speaking unto us. If and as you read and study the words found within the four gospel narratives you will find that at the very heart and foundation of it was the voice of the Father speaking unto us by and through His Son. It would be at the Jordan River the voice of the Father would speak out of and from heaven and would declare that this One who had emerged from the waters of the Jordan River was indeed His beloved Son in whom He was well pleased. What’s more, is that it would be atop the mountain in the company of Peter, James and John Jesus would be transfigured before them and would appear speaking with Moses and Elijah. It would be while atop and while upon that mountain the voice of the Father would once more speak from heaven and declare that this was His beloved Son in whom He was well pleased—and not only declare that this was His beloved Son in whom He was well pleased, but the voice of God would also instruct them to hear and listen to Him.

            There is something truly wonderful and powerful when thinking about and considering the words which are found within the opening verses of the first chapter of the epistle which was written unto the Hebrews, for at the very heart and soul of that which the author was writing and speaking unto their audience was the voice of God speaking unto us in the midst of the earth. At the very heart and foundation of that which the author of the epistle written unto the Hebrews wrote was the very fact that God had spoken in times past, and had spoken in times past by and through His prophets, but has in these last days spoken unto us by and through His Son. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of just how absolutely incredible this truly is, for when you take the time to truly think about it you will be brought face to face with the fact that from times past all the way up through and during these last days—not only has it been about the Father speaking, but we must also note and acknowledge that God has spoken, and God is still speaking. GOD HAS SPOKEN, GOD IS STILL SPEAKING! As you read the words which are found within the opening verses of these chapters you will uncover and come face to face with the incredibly powerful truth that God has indeed spoken, and that God is still—and has in these last days—speaking unto us. God began speaking in times past by and through His servants the prophets, and yet in these Last Days God has spoken unto us by and through His eternal and only begotten Son. Although there would indeed be a period of four hundred years before the final prophetic voice of God would prophesy unto the children of Israel and when John the Baptist would emerge out of the wilderness and would preach concerning the kingdom of heaven, we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of the fact that God has spoken in times past, and God is speaking within and during these Last Days. It would be in times past God has spoken by and through His servants the prophets, and it would be within these last days the eternal God would speak by and through His eternal Son. Oh how absolutely astonishing and remarkable it is to think about and consider the fact that the eternal and living God would never stop speaking—this despite the fact there would be a period of four hundred years when the voice of God would not be heard, and there would be no word of the Lord.

            Oh I cannot help but be absolutely gripped and captivated with and the awesome truth surrounding the statements that God has spoken, and God continued to speak. What’s more, is that not only has God spoken in times past unto the fathers, and not only did God speak by and through His Son, but God has also continued to speak—and not only continue to speak, but speak by and through His eternal and only begotten Son. It is truly something completely and utterly fascinating when reading and considering the words which are found within the opening verses of the first chapter of the epistle written unto the Hebrews, for with these words we are brought face to face with the absolutely incredible and tremendous reality and truth that God has spoken in times past, and God is still speaking in these last days. What’s more, is that you get the strong and powerful sense that God never stopped speaking. Despite the fact that there would be four-hundred years of silence the voice of God would be heard once more—and not only would the voice of God be heard once more, but the word of God would once more be found within and in the midst of the earth. In times past the eternal God would speak by and through His servants the prophets, however, in the last days the Father would speak by and through His Son. In all reality this is what is so incredibly unique and powerful when you read the words found in the opening chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John, for what you find and read within that opening chapter is how the Word which was in the beginning, the word which was in the beginning with God, and the Word which in the beginning with God would become flesh and dwell among us. How absolutely astonishing and incredible it is to think about and consider the awesome and powerful reality that the Word which in the beginning was with God, and the Word which in the beginning was God would indeed take on human flesh, and would dwell among us.

            If there is one thing I so absolutely love about the words which are found in the opening chapter of the gospel narrative written by the apostle John, as well as the words which are found in the opening chapter of the epistle written unto the Hebrews, it’s how the Word was made flesh, and how the Word dwelt among us. It would be that Word which would become flesh and dwell among us that would be the very embodiment of the voice of the eternal Father speaking unto us in these Last Days. We must needs pay close and careful attention to this reality, for it helps truly understand and recognize that in times past God spoke unto the fathers by and through His servants the prophets, but has in these Last Days spoken unto by and through His Son. In other words, there would be an entirely new revelation of the voice of God speaking unto us in these Last Days. It’s not enough to merely think about and consider the fact that God has spoken in these Last Days, and that God is speaking in these Last Days, for we must also recognize and understand that in these Last Days God has spoken to us in an entirely new and different way. God would in times past speak in divers manners and at different times by and through His servants the prophets, however, in these Last Days God would speak unto us in an entirely different way. God would indeed in these Last Days speak unto us by and through His Son, and would no longer speak by and through prophets. Oh this isn’t to say that prophets have altogether and entirely ceased, nor even that the gift of prophecy was no longer in operation in the earth, for in the twelfth chapter of the first epistle written unto the Corinthian saints the apostle Paul would write concerning one of the gifts of the Spirit being prophecy. What’s more, is that in the fourth chapter of the epistle written unto the saints which were at Ephesus you will find the apostle Paul writing how God has given some prophets within and unto the church that they might help with the ministry of the body of Christ. The apostle Paul made it entirely and altogether clear that not only was prophecy a gift that was present among the saints of God within the church, but also that the Lord had indeed given prophets who would faithfully proclaim the word of the Lord. What’s more, is that it would be in the church at Antioch where there would be prophets when the Holy Spirit would speak and call for the separation of Saul and Barnabas for the work whereunto He had called them.

            I sit here today thinking about and considering the awesome and powerful truth that surrounds the words found in the opening verses of the epistle written unto the Hebrews and I am brought face to face with the fact that God had in fact in divers manners and at different times spoke by and through His servants the prophets, however, the Father has spoken—and the Father continues to speak—in these Last Days by and through His Son. Oh we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of just how absolutely astonishing and remarkable this is, for in times past the voice of God would be heard by and through the prophets, and it would come at different times within and throughout the days of the fathers. It would be in times past when the voice of the eternal God would speak by and through His servants the prophets, however, it would be at sundry times, and it would be in divers manners. In other words—when the eternal God would speak unto the fathers He would do so at different times within and throughout their history. There would be times when there would be a single and lonely prophetic voice that would speak unto the fathers, while there would be other times when there would be multiple prophets who would speak unto the fathers, for the Lord would raise them up at the same time to proclaim the word of the Lord unto and among them. In times past the eternal God would speak by and through His servants the prophets, however, in these Last Days the eternal God would speak unto us by and through His Son. In other words—not only would there be an entirely new revelation in these Last Days, but the eternal God and Father would speak in an entirely new and different way. What’s more, is that as you read the words which are found within this passage of Scripture you will notice the author did not and would not write how God would speak in the last days by and through apostles, by and through prophets, by and through evangelists, and by and through pastors and teachers.

            CAN YOU HEAR THE VOICE OF THE SON SPEAKING IN THESE LAST DAYS? CAN YOU HEAR THE VOICE OF THE SON SPEAKING WITHIN AND THROUGH THE VOICES YOU ARE LISTENING TO? WHAT’S MORE, IS CAN YOU TRULY AND INDEED HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD SPEAKING BY AND THROUGH THE SON? WITHIN THE OPENING VERSES OF THE FIRST CHAPTER WRITTEN UNTO THE HEBREWS YOU WILL ENCOUNTER AND COME FACE TO FACE WITH THE TREMENDOUS TRUTH THAT GOD HAS SPOKEN—AND NOT ONLY HAS GOD SPOKEN, BUT GOD HAS SPOKEN BY AND THROUGH HIS SON! It would be when and as the author of this epistle would speak unto the Hebrews that they would declare how God would in these Last Days speak unto us by and through His Son. We must needs pay close and careful attention to this, for although there would indeed be prophets, apostles, evangelists, pastors and teachers—at the very heart of the voice of God speaking unto us in these Last Days is the voice of the Son. It’s truly something when reading the words which are found in this passage of Scripture to encounter and come face to face with the awesome truth that the author did not write that in these Last Days God the Father has spoken unto us by and through apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. It would be true that in times past the eternal God would speak unto the fathers by and through the prophets in divers manners and at sundry times, and you would think that in these last days the eternal God would continue speaking unto men the same way. The truth of the matter is that in these Last Days the eternal God has spoken unto us by and through His eternal Son, and it would be the Word made flesh and would dwell among us that would be the ultimate revelation of the eternal and living God. Oh we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of just how absolutely wonderful and remarkable this is, for while there would indeed be apostles, and while there would be prophets, and while there would be evangelists, and while there would be pastors and teachers—at the very heart of God speaking in these Last Days is the voice of His eternal and only begotten Son. We must needs recognize and pay close and careful attention to this, for not only must we think and consider how in these Last Days the voice of the Father has spoken unto us by and through His Son, but also the voice of the Son must be heard—and not only be heard, but also be at the very heart and center of that which any apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher would seek to speak and proclaim before, unto and among us.

            Perhaps one of the single greatest questions we must needs ask ourselves when reading the words which are found within this opening passage of Scripture is whether or not at the very heart of that which “apostles,” that which “prophets,” that which “evangelists,” and that which “pastors” and “teachers” are speaking and proclaiming is the voice of the eternal and only begotten Son. Tell me dear brother, tell me dear sister—can you indeed and can you in fact hear the voice of the eternal and only begotten Son within those voices which are speaking unto and among us. When you listen to the sermon, the message or teaching week in and week out on Sunday morning, and/or when you hear and listen to the word, teaching or message you listen to during the week—can you hear the voice of the eternal and only begotten Son speaking unto you? Oh how we answer this question can indeed and can in fact determine whether or not the voice(s) that are speaking to us are truly sent, ordained and appointed by the living God. We know that when the Holy Spirit came He would teach and remind of all things concerning Christ, and concerning that which Jesus had spoken while walking upon the earth, and we must needs recognize and understand this, for it brings us face to face with the awesome and tremendous fact that it would be in these last days the eternal God would speak unto us by and through His eternal Son. This is truly something we must needs recognize and understand, for it brings us face to face with perhaps one of the greatest challenges we must needs ask ourselves when we consider the voices which have spoken and which are speaking unto us in this generation. We know that God has in these Last Days spoken unto us by and through His Son, and it is with this in mind we must truly ask ourselves whether or not we hear the voice of the Son speaking unto us through and within the voices which are speaking in this generation. Oh that we would truly recognize and understand that at the very heart of that which is spoken unto and among us in these Last Days is the voice of the eternal Son, for it is the eternal Son who should be heard within any sermons, any messages and any teachings which are being proclaimed before, unto and among us within this generation.

            CAN YOU HEAR THE VOICE OF THE SON WITHIN THE SERMON(S) YOU ARE LISTENING TO? CAN YOU HEAR THE VOICE OF THE SON WITHIN THE TEACHING(S) YOU ARE LISTENING TO? CAN YOU HEAR THE VOICE OF THE SON WITHIN THE MESSAGE(S) YOU ARE LISTENING TO? We know when reading the words which are found in this passage of Scripture that God has in these Last Days spoken unto us by and through His Son, and it is absolutely necessary that we understand and recognize this, for at the very heart of that which has been spoken, and at the very heart of that which is being spoken unto us in these Last Days is whether or not the voice of the Son can indeed and can in fact be heard. There is something truly remarkable and captivating when reading the words which are found in these verses, for when we think about much of what is being preached and much of what is being proclaimed unto and among us in these Last Days, we must needs ask ourselves whether or not the voice of the Son is speaking unto us. We know from the words which Jesus spoke unto His disciples that when the Spirit of truth comes He will guide us into all truth, and will remind and teach us of all things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. We know that in these Last Days the eternal God has indeed spoken unto us by and through the eternal and only begotten Son. We must needs recognize and understand this, for at the very heart of anything that is being spoken unto us in these Last Days is the very heart and mind of the eternal God. With this being said, it is the eternal God who has spoken and is speaking unto us by and through His eternal Son. It’s incredibly interesting to think and consider the fact that in these Last Days the eternal God has indeed spoken unto us by and through His eternal and only begotten Son—not apostles, not prophets, not evangelists, not pastors and not teachers. Oh this isn’t to say that God cannot speak by and through such individuals within and among us, however, when writing this epistle unto the Hebrews the author didn’t state that God has spoken, nor that God is speaking unto us in these Last Days by and through apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. The author of the epistle written unto the Hebrews wrote that God had spoken unto us in these Last Days by and through the eternal and only begotten Son, and we must pay close and careful attention to this undeniable and unmistakable reality.

            Oh dear reader—as you read the words which are found within this writing you must needs ask yourself whether or not in these Last Days the voice you are hearing is truly and indeed the voice of the Son. Put aside the title, the role and the function of apostle, the role of prophet, the role of evangelist, and the role of pastor and teacher. When you think about and consider that which you are hearing within these Last Days—can you truly, and can you indeed say that the voice you are hearing is the voice of the eternal and only begotten Son of the Father? The author of the epistle written unto the Hebrews emphatically declared that in these Last Days God has spoken unto us by and through His eternal Son, and we must needs not lose sight of this reality. When we think about and consider the voices which are present among us in these last days, and when we think about the plethora of voices which are speaking within these last days—the single greatest thing we must needs ask when hearing and listening to them is whether or not the voice of the eternal Son can indeed and can in fact be heard within and through the words they are speaking. The author of the epistle written unto the Hebrews spoke and declared how God in these Last Days has spoken unto us by and through His eternal and only begotten Son, which highlights and underscores that the single greatest voice which must needs be heard in these Last Days is not the voice of men—is not the voices of prophets, apostles, evangelists, pastors and teachers—but is the voice of the eternal and only begotten Son of the eternal God. Perhaps the greatest question we must needs ask ourselves when considering the voices which are speaking within these Last Days is whether or not at the very heart and center of their words and message is the voice of the eternal and only begotten Son. Tell me dear brother, tell me dear sister—when you sit and listen to the words and message(s) which are being preached and proclaimed within these Last Days, is the voice of the eternal and only begotten Son of the Father at the very heart and center of that message? What’s more, is can you indeed and can you in fact hear the voice of the Son within the words you are being presented with in these Last Days as you hear and listen to the words which are being preached and proclaimed unto and among you? Is the very voice of the eternal and only begotten Son of the Father truly at the heart and center of that which you are hearing and that which are being presented with in these Last Days?

            We know that God has indeed spoken unto us in these Last Days by and through His eternal and only begotten Son, which means that at the very heart of anything, and at the very heart of everything that has been spoken, and at the very heart of everything that is being spoken must needs be the voice of the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God. We know that the Word did indeed become flesh and that the Word did indeed dwell among us, and what we must needs ask ourselves is whether or not the voice of the Son is the voice that is being heard in these Last Days. Oh dear reader—can you truly discern the voice of the eternal and only begotten Son of the Father speaking unto you in these Last Days? What’s more, is—can you indeed discern the voice of the eternal and only begotten Son speaking unto you by and through those who are preaching and proclaiming sermons, messages and teachings unto you in these Last Days? Which voice is greater, and which voices are greater in these Last Days—the voices of those who are preaching unto and among us in these Last Days, or the voice of the eternal and only begotten Son? In all reality, I am absolutely and completely convinced that perhaps the single greatest need we have when hearing and listening to much of what is being preached and proclaimed unto and among us within these Last Days is whether or not the voice of the eternal and only begotten Son can indeed and can in fact be discerned within their voices and within their messages. When you think about the words, the sermons, the messages and the teachings which are being presented unto you in these Last Days—can you indeed and can you in fact hear and discern the voice of the eternal and only begotten Son of the Father speaking unto you? Oh I would dare say that if you cannot discern the voice of the eternal and only begotten Son of the Father speaking unto you when you hear and listen to sermons, messages and teachings being presented unto you in these Last Days, I would dare say that you need to seriously consider whether or not you should continue listening to the words, the teaching and messages of those whom you are listening to. At the very heart and at the very center of any word, any message, and any teaching within these Last Days must needs be the voice of the eternal and only begotten Son of the living and eternal God.

            I am sitting here today thinking about and considering just how absolutely necessary and critical this dynamic and this reality truly is, and I am brought face to face with the truth that we have great need for discernment within our hearts and our spirits to recognize and understand whether or not the voice of the Son is not only at the heart and center of what is being preached unto us, but also whether or not it is the eternal Son who is speaking unto us, or whether it is man who is speaking unto us. Pause for a moment and think about and those whom you have been sitting under, and truly ask yourself if as you have sat and listened to the words and message which they have preached—have you been hearing directly from the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God. As often and as many times as you have sat and listened to words, sermons, messages and teachings within these Last Days—has the eternal and only begotten Son been the One who has been speaking unto you, or has the one who has been speaking unto you been man? How we answer this question can and will bring us face to face with one of the greatest needs within and among us in these Last Days, for at the very heart of what we have been listening to, and at the very heart of what we are presently listening to must needs be the voice of the eternal and only begotten Son. The author of the epistle written unto the Hebrews did not state that in these Last Days the eternal God has spoken unto us by and through pastors, by and through teachers, by and through evangelists, by and through apostles, nor even by and through prophets. When speaking unto and concerning the living and eternal God speaking unto us in these Last Days the author of the epistle written unto the Hebrews declared that God has spoken unto us by and through His eternal and only begotten Son. Oh we must recognize and pay close attention to this, for we have great need to ask ourselves whether or not we can discern the voice of the only begotten Son speaking unto us as we sit, hear and listen to those who are preaching—even if they are preaching directly from the word of God. Oh dear brother, oh dear sister—if you cannot hear and discern the voice of the eternal and only begotten Son speaking unto you within and in the midst of those sermons and messages you have been listening to, then I would strongly suggest that you might have great need to deliver yourself out from under that voice.

            I am absolutely and completely convinced that one of the greatest dangers present among us within these Last Days is that even though God has indeed spoken, and is in fact speaking unto us by and through His eternal and only begotten Son, we must needs ask ourselves whether or not it is the voice of the eternal and only begotten Son that is and has been speaking unto us. I don’t care how “anointed” or “charismatic” or how “good and pleasant” that preacher and minister is who might be, and who you have been listening to. If you cannot discern the voice of the only begotten Son within the voice(s) you are listening to—particularly and especially within these Last Days—then I would strongly suggest that the voice you are listening to is one which you must needs deliver and remove yourself from. We have a great need within these Last Days to be those who can not only discern the voice of the eternal and only begotten Son of the Father, but also those who diligently strive to hear and listen to and for that voice. Oh I can’t help but be reminded of the words which our Lord Jesus spoke unto the religious leaders of and during His generation concerning His voice—and not only concerning His voice, but also concerning His sheep. If and as you read the words which are found in the tenth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John you will encounter and come face to face with the awesome and incredible truth that not only does Jesus as the good Shepherd speak, but also His sheep know, recognize and can discern His voice. You cannot read the words which are found in the tenth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John and not come face to face with and encounter the awesome and incredible need that not only must the sheep know the voice of the Shepherd, but because the sheep know the voice of the Shepherd they must not listen to, nor follow the voice of false shepherds and hirelings. There is a great need in these Last Days for the sheep to not only discern the voice of the Shepherd, but also to ensure that they do not follow the voice of another—a false and misleading voice, which is none other than the voice of a hireling and one who is not the shepherd. Consider if you will the following words which are found in the tenth chapter of the gospel narrative written by the apostle John concerning the life and ministry of Jesus the Christ:

            “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them” (John 10:1-6).

            “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am knowin of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father” (John 10:7-18).

            At the very heart of the words which are found within these passages of Scripture is—yes, Jesus as the good Shepherd, but even more importantly the sheep knowing the voice of the shepherd. What’s more, is that not only do we find within this passage the sheep knowing the voice of the shepherd, but we also find the sheep not following the voice of others—those who are strangers, those who are thieves, those who are robbers, and those who are hirelings. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of the words which are found within this passage of Scripture, for they bring us face to face with perhaps one of the greatest needs we have in these Last Days—namely, that we must not only know the voice of the Shepherd, but we must also discern the voice of the Shepherd within and in the midst of the voices which are all around us. Perhaps one of the reasons many cannot discern the presence of the voice of the Shepherd, and the voice of the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God is because they do not know its sound. I am absolutely and completely convinced that one of the greatest dangers facing countless men and women among us within these days and within this generation is not only that there are men and women who are unable to discern the voice of the Son in the midst of the voices which are before, present and all around us, but who also don’t know the voice of the Son to begin with. The author of the epistle written unto the Hebrews emphatically declared that God has indeed and has in fact spoken unto us in these Last Days by and through His Son, and we must recognize and pay close attention to this, for it serves as a great challenge among us within this generation. The author of the epistle written unto the Hebrews made the bold statement that God in times past spoke by and through His servants the prophets in divers manners and at sundry times, however, the author would go on to write and declare how God has spoken unto us in these Last Days by and through His Son.

            The more I think about and the more I consider the words which are found within the tenth chapter of the gospel narrative written by the apostle John, and the more I think about the words which are found in the opening chapter of the epistle written unto the Hebrews, the more I am brought face to face with the absolutely tremendous truth that the author did not declare that God has spoken us in these Last Days by and through apostles, through prophets, through evangelists, through pastors and through teachers. Please note that I am in no way, shape or form stating and declaring that there is no room, nor is there any place for the work and ministry of pastors, apostles, prophets, teachers and evangelists. I am in no way speaking and declaring that there is no need for such ministries and such individuals within and among the body of Christ. I would be incredibly naïve and incredibly deceived to state that there is no need for such ministries and such ministers among us within the body of Christ. The apostle Paul—according to, by and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit—wrote how prophecy was indeed a gift of the Spirit, as well as how the Lord had given unto the body prophets, as well as other roles and functions of ministry for the edifying, maturing, and growth of the body of Christ. We must needs recognize and understand that there is indeed a place for these roles and these offices within the body of Christ, however—even with that being said—we must needs recognize and understand that at the very heart of those voices which are present within this generation is the voice of the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God. There is a great need within our hearts, within our minds, and within our spirits to truly recognize and discern the voice of the only begotten Son of the Father in these Last Days, for at the very heart of anything that has been spoken, and at the very heart of anything that is being spoken must needs be the voice of the eternal and only begotten Son. I am absolutely and completely convinced that if the voice of the Son, and if the voice of the Shepherd is not and cannot be discerned within the voice(s) and message(s) you are listening to then you have great need to deliver yourself out from under that voice and ministry. What’s more, is I would even dare say that if the voice of the Shepherd and the voice of the Son cannot be heard and cannot be discerned when hearing and listening to ministers within these Last Days then the voice(s) which you are listening to might be nothing more than a thief, a robber, and even a hireling.

            I sit here today thinking about and considering just how absolutely awesome and powerful this reality truly is, and I am brought face to face with the tremendous truth that God has indeed spoken, and God is indeed speaking in these Last Days by and through His only begotten Son, and we have great need to discern and recognize the sound of that voice—and not only the sound of that voice, but also when that voice is speaking to us. If we leave a church service, or if we finish listening to a message, a teaching, a sermon, or a word, and we cannot without reservation declare that we have heard the voice of the eternal and only begotten Son of the Father speaking unto us, then we must needs ask ourselves if what we have heard was truly a word from the Lord. If you finish listening to a sermon, teaching and/or message and you cannot emphatically and wholeheartedly declare that you have heard the voice of the Son, and that you were able to discern the voice of the Son speaking unto you, then I would strongly suggest that what you heard and what you listened to was nothing more than words spoken by mere men—and not only words which were spoken by mere men, but also words which were spoken by those who might very well be thieves, robbers and hirelings. Oh in these Last Days—perhaps more than at any other times—there is a great need for men and women to know the voice of the Son, and to be able to properly discern the voice of the Son, for there are countless voices which are present before and all around us which are vying and scrambling for our attention and our affection. I am absolutely and completely convinced that this is why Jesus—when speaking unto His disciples as He delivered His Olivet discourse—warned and cautioned against those who would rise up claiming to be Christ in the Last Days. Consider if you will the following words which are found in the twenty-fourth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew:

            “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:4-14).

            “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers: believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together” (Matthew 24:23-27).

            I can’t help but be absolutely captivated with the words which are found within the twenty-fourth chapter of the gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew—particularly and especially considering everything that has been written thus far within this writing—for within these Last Days there is a great need within and among us to not only know the voice of the Shepherd and the voice of the Son, but to also be able to discern when that voice is present, and when that voice which we are hearing is nothing more than the voice of a hireling and the voice of one who is a thief and a robber. The author of the epistle written unto the Hebrews makes it very clear that God has in these Last Days spoken unto us by His eternal and only begotten Son—and not only this, but the author then goes on to present and paint a powerful picture of the eternal Son. You cannot read the words which are found within these chapters and not encounter and come face to face with the tremendous truth that the living and eternal God has indeed and has in fact spoken unto us—and not only has spoken unto us, but has spoken unto us by and through His Son. It is not enough to merely read these words and consider how the Father has spoken unto us by and through the Son and not also recognize and understand the powerful portrait of Christ which the author of this epistle written unto the Hebrews actually presented before and unto us. The author of the epistle written unto the Hebrews did in fact state and declare that the living and eternal God has spoken unto us by and through the eternal and only begotten Son, and has indeed spoken unto us in these Last Days, and also goes on to paint a powerful portrait concerning the Son. You cannot read the words which are found within this epistle and not find withing and throughout the first and second chapters a powerful portrait of the eternal Son. With this in mind, I invite you to consider the words which are found within these chapters concerning the eternal and only begotten Son:

            “…hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by 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 on the right hand of the Majesty on high: being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: they shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; 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. But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation” (Hebrews 1:2-14).

            “For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. 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? 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. Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all ins ubjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifeth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him, And again, Behold I an the children which God hath given me. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted” (Hebrews 2:5-18).

            As I bring this writing to a close I find it absolutely necessary that we recognize and pay close attention to the words which are found concerning the eternal and only begotten Son, for this epistle begins and opens up with the title and name of God—and not only with the title and name of God, but also with the emphatic declaration that God had in divers manners and at sundry times in times past spoken unto the fathers by the prophets. In these last days, however, the living and eternal God has spoken unto us by and through His eternal and only begotten Son. We must understand and acknowledge this within our hearts and minds, for immediately after this the author of the epistle calls and draws our attention to a wonderful and powerful portrait of the Lord Jesus Christ, and concerning the eternal and only begotten Son of the Father. This is something which is absolutely critical and crucial—particularly and especially when you consider the awesome truth that we must needs recognize that God has spoken in the Last Days, and God is speaking in the Last Days by and through His eternal and only begotten Son. God has indeed and has in fact spoken unto us by and through His eternal Son in these Last Days, and we have great need to not only know the eternal Son, but we must also needs recognize and discern His voice. We have great responsibility—not only to the voice of the eternal Son, but also to the portrait and image of the Son which was presented before us within this passage of Scripture and epistle. The single greatest thing we can do within this life here on the earth during these last days is to not only know and recognize the voice of the only begotten Son, and not only discern the voice of the only begotten Son in the midst of those voices, those ministries, those teachings, those messages, those sermons, those books, those podcasts, and all that is presented before us in the midst of these Last Days, but also respond correctly and properly to the voice and portrait of the eternal and only begotten Son of the living and eternal God. In fact, I leave you with the instructions which are found in the opening six chapters of this epistle as a challenge—not only concerning how you are responding and what you are doing with the portrait of Christ, but also the voice of Christ:

            “Thereefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by the angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great  salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?” (Hebrews 2:1-4).

            “But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear His face, harden not hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: when your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)” (Hebrews 3:6-11).

            “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end” (Hebrews 3:12-14).

            “Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached id not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world” (Hebrews 4:1-3).

            “ Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:11-13).

            “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16).

            “Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:11-14).

            “Therefore leaving the princes of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. For it is impossible  for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: but that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned” (Hebrews 6:1-8).

“But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and to minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: that we be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Hebrews 6:9-12).