In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of the ministry being focused on bringing glory to the Lord Jesus. The speaker explains that while the ministry involves work and instruction in the things of the Lord, it is also a time for encouragement and spiritual growth. The sermon then delves into the book of Hebrews, highlighting the idea of believers being companions of Christ and holding fast to their faith. The speaker also discusses the overarching purpose of God throughout the Bible, emphasizing that God works in relation to his Son and his purpose will ultimately be realized.

Before we proceed to our special line of meditation, may I just say a word about the nature of this ministry? Of course, the one that stands over everything. But, as to the method of the ministry, it is a time, especially for instruction in the things of the Lord. That means that there is something that we have to up and work in the word of God, for exaltation, encouragement in the spirit. Having said that, let us come to the letter to the Hebrews, chapter 3, verse 1. Therefore, pray brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling. Verse 14, we are becoming partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence there unto the end. Now, in accordance with what I said just now, about working, we are going to work for a minute or two with one word. In the two verses, in this translation, it is the word partakers of a heavenly calling, partakers with Christ. That one Greek word is translated into a number of other words in our New Testament. As here, it is partakers. And in two other places in this letter to the Hebrews, it is so translated. Chapter 6 and verse 4, I'm not going to read all these verses, or we should do nothing else all morning. In Luke's gospel, the same word is translated. In the first chapter of Hebrews, again, and verse 9, it is translated fellow. God has anointed thee about thy fellow. It is the same word, about thy partakers, thy partners, about thy fellow. And in other forms, the word of God, in Hebrews 2.14, it is, again, in Hebrews 7.13, it is pertain unto. You will see that in every case, it refers to, I have looked very carefully into this. Its true and deepest meaning is not given us, it ought to be translated companions. Holy brethren, companions of a heavenly calling. We are becoming companions of Christ. So putting these two verses together, we are going in these days to be companions of Christ and the heavenly calling. Companions of Christ and companions of the heavenly calling. The idea of companions runs right through. Behind everything that is official in relationship to the Lord, there is always a person. Remember Abraham. Abraham was a great servant of the Lord. And he served the Lord very faithfully. The deepest thing about Abraham was that he was God's foe God. And that carries with it this idea of Moses was a great servant of the Lord. The Lord often spoke, but we know that there was something deeper in it than that. There was a very intimate, in reality Moses was saying many things about David. But the greatest thing he ever said was, that is the meaning of a companion. The love of Jesus came onto this earth. He chose his disciples and apostles on the basis of, call them disciples. Those who had got to enter the school of Christ. Call them apostles. Those who were to be sent forth by the deepest thing in their relationship to the Lord. Towards the end of their time he said, Ye are they which have continued with me in life and companionship with me. Ecclesiastical institutions. That's very cold. That is very formal. That is very distant. But when the Lord speaks about his church, he always speaks with his own blood. Christ loved the church and gave himself. It is called to be his deepest relationship with him. Just to be his companion in life, in work. Having said a word about the, let's go on in a second. The Bible is a book of one purpose. That one purpose lies behind all its stages and all its phases. That one purpose lies behind creation. It lies behind divine foreknowledge. It lies behind election. It lies behind all the movements. It lies behind all the figures. It lies behind the three main sections of the Old Testament. Followed by the section on kingship. And then followed by the section of the prophets. Those three sections comprise the Old Testament. It lies behind everything in the Old Testament. In the Bible, God is revealed as a God ever moving in his sovereignty. What is this one purpose in and through all? It is centered in all things. God alone in you. The all things is a very comprehensive term. But all is comprehended by God's Son. As we are going to dwell very much in, take note of this very chapter at the beginning of this letter. The first great statement is concerning all God's past ways and methods. In time past in this way and in that way. He gathers all of that up together. All of God's ways in the Old Testament. And then to emphasize that, this letter goes on through the first two chapters to bring the group together. You know the one level thing said about God's Son in the first chapter. Here is the one who is above all others. Who comprehends all else in the thought of God. So God's interest in his Son is brought before us right at the beginning. And the declaration is that God's purpose is all centered in his Son. Their Son is now known unto men. And the point here is this. Having introduced and having magnified the Son, the Holy Spirit through the writer goes on in this way. And there ought to be no break in chapters here. Why for? For this reason. Because of this. Because of God's purpose concerning his Son. Because of the infinite greatness of the Son. Greater than all others. For that reason, holy brethren, you are called into companionship. Companionship with God's Son. And companionship in the heavenly calling of God. Now we come to our... There are two principles related to what we have just pointed out. God works ever and always and only in relation to his purpose. The statement of the Apostle Paul. That he works all things after the Council. And that will is centered in his Son. He therefore works ever, always, and only in relation to his Son. The Bible contains almost uncountable. What a great mass of things there are. Things which God created as things. And then what a lot of persons there are that God laid his hand upon. How many are the different ways that God went to create. The ways of God are very many. The means that he employed. The Bible is just full of these things. Then we have God's blessings. God is very often found blessing people and blessing people. On the other hand, there are the judgments of God. Here are God's judgments. And the Bible contains... But when we have said always... And of course we can never... This book is always... But when we have said always... Not one of these things, persons, means used, blessings, or judgments, or anything else, is a thing in itself. If God is the God of creation. If God chooses men. If God uses things. If God blesses or God judges. He always does so with one object. He created all things for his Son. That is a definite Bible statement. He took hold of these persons with his Son in view. So in Abraham and through Abraham we see God's Son. If God blessed, right in line... If you want the blessing of the Lord, get alongside... Be wholly committed to the Lord Jesus. You will never see that in the Bible. It is in him that the... If the Bible has much to say about divine... It is because things then were contrary to his impression. God always keeps his... That object is his Son. God wastes nothing. He is not just interested in little things. The little things become very big things with God when they are related to him. Are you a very little person? Very unimportant? If you are. See this is true about any, any faithful school. And some of us in our school days, we didn't want to... Because we wanted to be happy with that. My recollection of... They did not have me. The only thing that they had in view... And everything that they thought of really... Sometimes they would be very pleasant to me. What they really did like was... No, I don't like that. He is looking at us... How does that... How much of my son is there? But no, this is a principle in God's purpose. That leads us to... While God is the God of purpose... Ever moving... In relation to... Going on no matter what happens. Going on... Working on... And no man can... He is going to reach his end. That is why he has given us... That before we reach the end... He has told us what is coming. His purpose is going to be realized. Nevertheless... He always... Retains... He never lets man... What is that? Love of God. Because his purpose in his son... Is to be realized... The great corporate man. He will not give glory just... So we come back to our... Holy brethren... Companions of our... We are made companions of Christ... If we have owned the Father. Paul says that the church is the full... Hence there is a response... And there is no book in the Bible... Which emphasizes in that connection... Indeed, it is going to be... If God takes power... It may be individuals... Or it may be a company of people... Or like the men whom God... Took up in the Bible... If God takes up a vessel... In relation to his purpose... And that vessel... Does not respond... To God's will... God will pass by that vessel... And find... He will call in others... This is... In the greatest instance... What we have regarded... To be the vessel through which... Israel was called... They refused the Son... And therefore they refused... God's prophecy... Therefore... Shall the kingdom of heaven... Be taken from you... We thought the proof... Is the very meaning... Of this letter to the Hebrews... No one can... Say of Israel... Companion of God... Prayer of God... What a lot of knife this throws... Judas was one of the twelve... Called to be a companion... Israel was called... To be the companion... About God going on... With his purpose... So this explains... This wonderful letter... To the Hebrews... The letter of the place... And... It says for... The wonder... Of being called... And then... It makes it... A terrible thing it is... For those who are called... To be companions... It says... How shall we escape... If we need take... Some grace out of it... I never understand... That phrase... Is there anything... Great... When you think of... That is indeed... A very great... It is the... First warning we have... The New Testament... Is built around that... Christ is first seen... Choosing... His companions... And then he is seen... Are they true companions... Associated with him for... You can have plenty... If they can get all the... Another day... When you can give them... Enough... And everything... That is against them... You can only offer them... A place... So he sifted them... He tested them... And if you have... An extra... An extra lot... Of suffering... In your relationship... With Christ... And this thing... Which we all find... The most... That is... He is seeking... Further relation... On the basis... Oneness in life... Oneness in power... Oneness... In... Experience... Oneness... In death... Burial... And... Oneness in his anointing... With him... In his heavenly glory... With this importance... We must... Realize... That Jesus... Is repeating himself... In a spiritual way... In this dispensation... When Luke... Wrote the book of the Acts... He began to do... And Luke's implication is... And now he's going on... Doing it... Teaching... He is doing the same work... Then it was... By illustration... In a temporal way... Now it is the meaning of those things... The meaning of those things... The meaning that was in the things... Is now in... Is he open physically... Blinded... He is now open... This same Jesus... Is going on... With the same work... In meaning... Now... With you... And with me... He is repeating... His earthly life... He is more on the line... Of meaning... Why do we say that? Well... When we were children... We used to sing... And I think... When we've grown up... We often feel the same... We used to sing... I think... When I weep... When I weep... When Jesus was here... Among men... And then it finishes... I... Do you... Feel you would like... To have lived with... Let me tell you... You have got something... Far... The same Jesus... Is with... But no one... Of much more... One... Because... His dealings with us... Are spiritual... But there is something... Very much more... It is that... Heaven... That which is... Eternal... Wherefore... Holy brethren... Companions... There are many companions... All that is... Loaded by weight...