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Hebrews 11

3/30/2013

Hebrews 11:5-6 “It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying – he disappeared, because God took him. For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.”

Look at the last part of these verses which say, “…He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.” Sincerely seeking does not mean you go to church or serve or even give, it means you are so excited for what He did by sending His only Son you can’t learn enough. You understand that no matter what happens you have the best gift ever given (eternal life). You live out your life because you have faith in what God has promised and He has promised us eternal life in heaven through Jesus Christ.

Chapter 11 verse 1 says, “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” When we sincerely seek Him we will find what we need to live and it won’t make a difference what happens to us because we have joy in what’s to come. We must remember that our promise is eternal life with God in heaven and anything else is just bonus in this life. Verse 13 says this about all the faith stories in chapter 11, “All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth.” We are foreigners here and we are here to shine the light of Jesus and let people see the difference between religious and love.

Religion binds us to needing something in return for what we do. Love is already having all we need and just sincerely seeking how to use it in the best way possible so God gets the glory. We must remember that when we focus on our free gift we die to self but when we cash in our free gift we can change from who we were to righteous children of God. Faith is not just blind hope, “True bible faith is confident obedience to God’s Word despite circumstances and consequences.” Warren Wiersbe. When we sincerely seek Him our heart grows and when our heart grows our mind changes and our focus becomes on what we are taking in. Open up God’s word and ask for understanding and sincerely trust in all that He is showing you. Amen

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Hebrews 9

3/26/2013

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Hebrews 9:27-28 “And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for Him.”

I see an image of excitement and joy when I think of eagerly waiting for Him. To me it means I have been asking and seeking wisdom and I’ve been knocking to see the door open for me to experience the qualities of heaven on earth. Look at what Galatians chapter 5 verse 5 says, “But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us.” Are we living by the Spirit or are we living in the flesh? The Spirit will lead us to choose right living because that is all He knows and when we surrender our fleshly ways and dive into the truth (which will set us free) we continue to learn to live like Christ.

1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 7 says, “Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We are fully loaded to live righteously and choose life, are we going to cash that free check of Jesus Christ and deposit it in our heart are we eagerly wait to be home with the Father? As we open our hearts and learn we can know confidently the truth that Jesus Christ has shown us. His selfless way to live and that God has given us the strength by putting the Spirit in us to guide us. Hebrews chapter 10 verse 23 says, “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.”

We know because of Jesus Christ there is salvation for all who accept Him (the free gift) and have faith to believe who He is and that we are new creations set apart to love. Look at Hebrews chapter 10 verses 20-22, “By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” We can’t live in our past or worry about what we did, we need only to open our heart to the grace of God and realize we are made clean. Then when we eagerly await His return we focus on learning and living for Him not for ourselves. Amen

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Hebrews 4

3/21/2013

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Hebrews 4:1-3 “God’s promise of entering His rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. For this good news- that God has prepared this rest- has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God. For only we who believe can enter His rest. As for the others, God said, ‘In my anger I took an oath: They will never enter my place of rest, even though this rest has been ready since He made the world.”

As I read this two things jumped out to me: First, the word believe. After looking it up in an outline of biblical usage I found words that fit with it. These words or phrases are; commit unto, commit to, trust, be put in trust with. All these things lead to us actively buying in and changing how we live because of our belief. Look at what Paul shares in 2 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 13, “But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.” Does our belief lead us to commit to Jesus and learn and grow to be just like Him? Or does it make us comfortable and complacent as we do the bare minimum but our heart really doesn’t change?

Look at John chapter 2 verses 20-25 which say, “What! They exclaimed. ‘It has taken forty-six years to rebuild this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days? But when Jesus said ‘this temple,’ He meant His own body. After He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered He had said this, and they believed both the scriptures and what Jesus had said. Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem and the Passover celebration, many began to trust in Him. But Jesus didn’t trust them, because He knew human nature. No one needed to tell Him what mankind was really like.” Our believing means nothing without commitment; trust and faith because everything in our lives won’t be miracles there are going to be disasters. Are we going to act the same way toward God during the disasters as we do during the miracles?

Warren Wiersbe states this, “However, throughout the book, John makes it clear that it takes more than believing in miracles for a person to be saved. Seeing the signs and believing in them would be a great beginning, in fact, even the disciples started that way and had to grow in their faith.” We can make this incredible and active by surrendering our lives and seeking to know all we can about Jesus and continuing to work on living like Him.

Secondly, the statement; “…but it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God.” When I think of listening I think of comprehending what is being said and that takes me learning more if needed. We can’t just let it go in one ear and out the other, that is when we believe but don’t show the trust and faith we need to surrender our will for God’s. Look at Hebrews chapter 4 verse 11, “So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.” As we continue to grow and focus on Jesus we get stronger because the Holy Spirit in us becomes louder ad we desire to do only what the Spirit tells us. As we read what it says in Hebrews chapter 4 verses 12-13 let it cut our hearts and settle in. “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and morrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes, and He is the one to whom we are accountable.”

Let’s believe and listen to what God is showing us and take the steps needed to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Amen

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Hebrews 3

3/14/2013

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Hebrews 3:6-11 “But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s house. And we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ. That is why the Holy Spirit says, ‘Today when you hear His voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested me in the wilderness. There your ancestors tested and tried my patience, even though they saw my miracles for forty years. So I was angry with them, and I said, their hearts always turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them. So in my anger I took an oath: They will never enter my place of rest.”

The author is writing this to the Hebrew believers stressing to them the importance of doing more than believing. When Moses led Israel out of Egypt they rejoiced and believed in their minds but every time it got tough they turned away and doubted. We have been given a Savior that has bridged the gap to heaven and when we say we believe our hearts must change to believe that no matter what happens in our lives. Look at what it says in verse 12, “Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.”

It’s not what we say that is important because we can say we believe in God when our lives are good, but do we show that we believe when things go bad? God’s warnings are never to be taken lightly, we should seek more wisdom when we have questions and turn to God’s word for the answers. The Holy Spirit will always help us transform when we let Him. Our growth is and will be a daily relationship where we talk to God and read what He has given us.

If we are not willing to have this relationship then we will not be sure to look to Jesus in our times of need. We cannot test and try God patience with our actions, He loves us no matter what but He does want us to love Him back by believing and obeying His Son Jesus. Verse 14 says, “For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.” I love the challenge statements that God shows us in His word. If we are faithful to the end, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. Doesn’t that make you want to dive in more and learn?

When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior we are saying we love Him, when we die to self and work hard to grow and live like Him we are showing our love and trust by changing the way we think and live. We must keep our focus on Jesus and remember we can’t harden our hearts every time we are tested in this world. Amen

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Hebrews 2

3/7/2013

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Hebrews 2:1-2 “So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished.”

We are people that know the truth and we can’t just think that going to church and listening to someone else is good enough to guide us. God wants us all to learn and then be a part of the family by living out our faith like Jesus did. The gathering is very important so we can listen carefully to the truth, but then we have to actually live that truth out by studying it and knowing it so it pierces our hearts so we change.

I loved this quote from Lee Roberson who said, “If we don’t stir up people, move people, we have failed. If you can preach Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night, and no one is stirred to go out and do what God says, you haven’t done much.” This is why it is so important to go to church and listen to the truth and then open God’s word and live that truth out. Look what knowing Jesus does and how He embraces us and changes us. In Hebrews chapter 2 verse 11 it says, “So now Jesus and the ones He makes holy have the same Father. That is why He is not ashamed to call them His brothers and sisters.” When we open our hearts and let the Spirit grow our relationship makes us know Christ and when we know Christ He makes us Holy.

This change in us is what keeps us from sinning and being a slave to our own desires. We cannot assume that we will grow without our choice to make Jesus our focus and our Lord. Look how Warren Wiersbe puts it in his commentary. “More spiritual problems are caused by neglect then perhaps by any other failure on our part. We neglect God’s word, prayer, worship with God’s people and other opportunities for spiritual growth, and as a result, we start to drift. The anchor does not move; we do.” We get comfortable and we neglect our relationship and we feel we can get through on our own strength. Paul says in 1 Corinthians chapter 9 verses 24-27, “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing; I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.”

Paul realizes the importance of discipline and devotion and we must realize that as well as we go to church and then continue our growth by studying God’s word daily and being with people seeking the same. We are called to disciple and that process is never ending as we live our lives to grow and help people to know Jesus.

Really look at what George Whitfield says, “A true faith in Jesus Christ will not suffer us to be idle. No, it is an active, lively, restless principle; it fills the heart, so that it cannot be easy till it is doing something for Jesus Christ.” Amen

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Titus 1

3/3/2013

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Titus 1:15-16 “Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted. Such people claim they know God, but they deny Him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing any good.”

Reading this really made me think how important it is for me to believe and then seek wisdom from the Lord. Our minds are going to be set on this world, it is what they have been set on our entire lives but when we accept Jesus and understand what He has done we become new in Him and the Spirit in us is what helps us change. Verses 11 and 12 say, “For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God…” It’s a mind change that leads to a heart transformation. Verse 13 is an extension of verse 12 which goes on to say, “While we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.”

Think about this statement from Warren Wiersbe, “Salvation is not only a change in position (set free from the slavery of sin), but it is also a change in attitude, appetite, ambition, and action. The same grace that redeems us also reforms our lives and makes us godly.” We are new creations and filled by the Spirit who alters the way we think and helps guide us to say no to ourselves and the way we used to think and He will motivate us to do what is right. The Spirit in us is fed by prayer and studying God’s word. When we accept Jesus and seek wisdom we get wisdom but when we believe in Jesus and don’t embrace the changes in our heart we stay stuck in the crud we have always known and done. This is not what God desires from us and what our walk with Jesus should look like.

We should understand what Jesus did and how He has set us free from our sin and has given is another way of thinking. Verse 14 says, “He gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.” There is so much to our free gift, when we don’t take it lightly and say I know Jesus I am free to do anything I want. We were sinners but we are new creations in Christ. Our minds are renewed and we are no longer slaves to our sin. In Titus chapter 3 verses 4-5 Paul says it perfectly. “But – when God our Savior revealed His kindness and love, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.” Let’s open our hearts and minds and let the Spirit of God lead us to desire a relationship with Jesus and stop us from living out what we desire or think of.

Look at what Psalm 51 verse 12 says, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.” We need to fill that Spirit in us and continue to learn and grow so our mind changes and our hearts grow to do what is right and pleasing to God. Amen

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2 Timothy 2:8-13

3/1/2013

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2 Timothy 2:8-13 “Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with Him, we also live with Him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with Him. If we deny Him, He will deny us. If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is.”

We must remember that we are only trying to please Jesus as we learn to live like He did. (When we finally say we want to open’s God’s word and have it pierce our hearts we can start obeying Him for the reason of others to see what our Christianity looks like.) Paul says, “…I am willing to endure anything…” Is that how we feel? We can’t live thinking everything will be comfortable and nothing will be challenging for us to grow. We are here to remember that Jesus died for us and was raised on the 3rd day. (This is why we can have joy in all situations)

In John chapter 14:19-21 it says, “Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you will also live. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

Paul shared these next statements from 2 Timothy verses 12-13 and says they are trustworthy:

a.      First: “If we die with Him, we will also live with Him.”

1.      We need to remember that this world will entice us to want what we want but Jesus wants us to do what the Fathers wants.

Look at Romans chapter 6 verse 8 which says, “And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with Him.” (We need to enjoy the fact that we are united with our Lord Jesus Christ.)

b.      Second: “If we endure hardship, we will reign with Him.”

1.      We know satan will be lurking ready to devour. (When we say no to the things of this world and don’t let them sway us we know we will reign because Christ has given us victory.)

Look at Revelations 3:21 which says, “Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on His throne.” verse 22 goes on to say “any one with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches.”

We must show our strength through Christ as we live because the world is watching to see if we are going to be different or the same as the world.

c.      Thirdly: “If we deny Him, He will deny us.” (We can come up with any excuse in the world but we have free will and God will honor it if we choose to deny Him and choose the world.)

1.      We don’t have to earn our way to heaven or do good works but we do have to believe and accept what Jesus did and die to self and live to honor God.

In Mark 8:38 it says, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when He returns in the glory of His Father with the Holy angels.”

(When we deny Him we are saying no and the more we say no the harder it is for us to endure hardships and die with Him.)

d.     Finally: The thing that makes God God and why we should love Him with all our hearts. “If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is.”

1.      Nothing we can do can separate us from His love, He is love. As long as we are alive He will continue to put things in our path to choose Him and know His Son and whatever we do He will love us. (The reality of this is His love doesn’t mean that we spend eternity with Him. That is done in Jesus Christ our Lord.)

*One commentary put it this way, “Even when believers fail the Savior, He remains loyal. For Christ to abandon us would be contrary to his faithful nature.” (He never moves away from us we move away from Him.)

Look at what Hebrews 10:23-29 which says, “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near. Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume His enemies. For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us.”

*We must surrender and remember that we can do this because of what Jesus did for everyone. The more we learn and seek the more we will understand. We all need to open God’s word and make it a priority to study and make a difference in our community because of who we are in Christ. Amen

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Hebrews 11

Hebrews 9

Hebrews 4

Hebrews 3

Hebrews 2

Titus 1

2 Timothy 2:8-13

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