A superior sacrifice (Hebrews 10)

Hebrews 10

The law was only a shadow of things to come.

After He says above, You did not want or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law), He then says, See, I have come to do Your will. He takes away the first to establish the second. By this will of God, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all.
Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins. But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. He is now waiting until His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are sanctified. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. For after He says:
This is the covenant I will make with them
after those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws on their hearts
and write them on their minds,
He adds:
I will never again remember
their sins and their lawless acts.
Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

We are then reminded that through the blood of Jesus, we can enter boldly the Father’s sanctuary.

We are urged to draw near to our Father in full confidence.

We are encouraged to promote love amongst one another, to spur one another in serving our Lord and to encourage one another.

We are then warned against deliberate sin.

Christ-Followers this is who we are.

For yet in a very little while,
the Coming One will come and not delay.
But My righteous one will live by faith;
and if he draws back,
I have no pleasure in him.
But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and obtain life.

A superior covenant (Hebrews 8&9)

Hi there.

To those of you joining us today in our journey through this book, we are doing this to remind ourselves why we should never loose faith but always be confident in our God. How confident are you in your faith? is the question that started this quest.

Hebrews 8

Our Lord sits at the right hand of the Father,

Our Lord is of a superior ministry.

Our Lord is the mediator of the superior covenant.

In this superior covenant our Father’s laws and ways are in our minds, they are written in our hearts.

Fellow Christ-Followers we need to know and live the Word.

In this superior covenant each and every person takes ownership and is responsible to get to know the Father personally.

In this superior covenant the Father remembers no ones sins.

How then can we say I am not confident because I did this and that?

Hebrews 9

We are reminded in detail of the tabernacle and how the priests had to perform their ministry.

Our Lord the Messiah has instituted a perfect tabernacle, not man made, and by His pure blood we are cleansed from earning salvation.

In our Lord we have been freed to serve the living God.

Our Lord is the mediator of the new covenant.

Our Lord shedding His blood guarantees us forgiveness of our sins.

And just as it is appointed for people to die once — and after this, judgment — so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.

A superior priesthood (Hebrews 7)

Hi there, to those of you joining us today in our journey through this book, we are doing this to remind ourselves why we should never lose faith but always be confident in our God. How confident are you in your faith is the question that started this quest.

Hebrews 7

We are reminded of the greatness of our Lord.

He is compared to Melchizedek who was a great priest. Our Lord from chapter 5 of this book has been likened to Melchizedek and even called to be a priest in the order of Melchizedek. In Genesis chapter 14 Abram after he had rescued Lot is met by the priest and blessed by this priest; who was a great and revered priest.

As we read we learn that our Lord instituted a superior priesthood. A priesthood he holds permanently. 

A priesthood that guarantees a better covenant, for us.

Remember this book was written to Christ-Followers who still believed they needed to follow the law. 

How do we apply what we have read in this chapter to us?

Just like them we also never again need to earn our salvation. 

Our Lord is the ultimate sacrifice.

He died once and for all, all sins, all imperfections, all mistakes, all was dealt with once and for all.

Inheritance for the mature (Hebrews 6)

In the previous chapter we are called and urged to maturity, in this one maturity and its benefits are described.

Hebrews 6 : 1 - 12

What are the characteristics of a mature Christ-Follower.

They do not believe in their own works, they dont believe they earn the Father's love.
Their faith and trust is in the Father alone.
They are partakers with the Messiah carrying the gospel.
They are confident in the death and resurrection of their Lord, and look forward to eternity.
They know that only the Father is the eternal judge and trust Him.

It seems these Christ-Followers did not stop serving one another in the name of the Father but relied on the law that is they started to believe they could earn their salvation.

We are then warned about regressing from true knowledge and belief. It is difficult to come back when we have strayed. We are also reminded that our Father looks at us graciously even when we err  and desires us back with Him. 
At the end of this portion we are urged to come back in our beliefs and stop looking in and imitating but to become mature believers for only the mature inherit the promises.

Called to maturity (Hebrews 5)

Hebrews 5 : 1 - 14

Paul continues to describe our Lord as our High-Priest appointed by the Father.

Our Lord learnt obedience in suffering, we also i believe learn obedience through choosing the Father and His ways in our lives.
Following our Lord means dying to self just as He did in obedience to the Father.
Remember when He cried but said not my will but your will Father, that is our example and champion.

Dying to self is one of the most difficult aspects of our journey. This is a daily occurrence for sin is always self serving. 
When we disobey or choose not to believe what we have heard the Father calls us immature.
We do not want to be immature Christ-Followers who never grow up. We are all encouraged to seek or pursue maturity in our faith.

Rest (Hebrews 4)

Hebrews 4 : 1 - 13

We enter the promised rest by obedience, we hear His voice and obey.
When we are at rest with our Father, we no longer rely in our own works but rest and trust in the Father.
We enter rest by faith.
When we learn and know His Word we enter rest.
The Word is important for through learning and chewing on it we continually refresh and renew our hearts and mind. The truth is always before us, to direct and guide us in our journey as Christ-Followers.

Hebrews 4 : 14 -16

Paul introduces our Lord Jesus the Son of God as the High-Priest, Remember Paul is writing to Christ-Followers who had started trusting the law, their own works for their salvation. They understood the function of the high-priest as they had all their been bringing sacrifices to the man appointed by God to go and represent them. 
Our Lord was appointed by the Father as well and He is able to represent us better than any high-priest for He is the ultimate sacrifice, He is the spotless lamb of all beyond His sacrifice there is no need for another sacrifice.

In our Lord we have a high-priest who not only knows but understands every test and temptation and sympathizes with us in our need. How can we then run away from Him when we fail or stumble. 

Do not be deceived (Hebrews 3)

Hi, Not having faith in our salvation but in the law is unbelief do not be deceived. Most of us come to the knowledge of our Lord via someone else's testimony of who God is, there has to come a time where our trust is not in what a person says but what the Lord says. This can only happen when the Word is our source for our salvation. When we also have come to hear His voice and respond to it in faith.

Hebrews 3 : 1 - 6

Our Lord is our Apostle and High Priest. 
Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s household, as a testimony to what would be said in the future. But Christ was faithful as a Son over His household. And we are that household if we hold on to the courage and the confidence of our hope.

Our Lord was faithful to the Father and in Him we have gained the right to be confident in our faith.

Hebrews 3 : 7 - 19

In this portion of scripture we are reminded of the consequences of rebellion. We are reminded of the Israelites and their rebellion, and how that rebellious generation ended up wondering in the desert for 40 years and never saw the promise and the Father refused to let them enter into His rest.

So I swore in My anger,
“They will not enter My rest.”

We the children of the new covenant how can we liken this experience to ours. Remember Hebrews is written to Christ-Followers who were saved but depended on the law. The Father considers unbelief as evil and being deceived by sin. 

We also  do not rest in the Lord if we have unbelief. 
It would be stressful to always be checking every moment of every hour how our actions might get us out of salvation, or that the Lord might not listen to us because of what we did or did not do. Can you imagine the state of anxiety we will always be in whenever we want to spend time, talk, or trust the Lord about and for anything. For we essentially believe what we do earns us the right to a relationship with God no matter what we say or sing in church on Sunday. 

But if we believe we know we are brothers and sisters of our Lord, we know we are companions and partakers with the Messiah.

I dont recall ever hearing the word companion used to describe us but i like it. If we are companions then we should have the same confidence and trust in the Father as our Lord did.
Oh but Sipokazi Jesus was God and i am just me. Then consider who wrote the books we have been journeying through, he was just a man just like you and me but he heard and believed. 
But Sipokazi he was chosen by the Father. Re-read 1 and 2 Peter for we also have been chosen by God therefore we also can believe the Lord and when we believe we too just like our Lord and Paul will do many and mighty works for our Father.

Remember the gospel (Hebrews 2)

Hi, I chose this title because in this chapter we are reminded of the sacrifice of our Lord and what we gained in that act.

Hebrews 2 : 1 - 9

We are reminded to always take heed of the truth we first heard when we became followers of Christ. We are warned to never to neglect so  great a salvation and drift away. 
Our Lord sacrificed and humbled Himself to lower than the angels for our salvation. Truly what is man that you are so mindful of, what are we Father that you hold us so important that you would sacrifice in such a manner.

For in subjecting everything to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. As it is, we do not yet see everything subjected to him. But we do see Jesus — made lower than the angels for a short time so that by God’s grace He might taste death for everyone — crowned with glory and honor because of His suffering in death.

Remember we started this study to remind ourselves why we should never loose confidence in our Father or loose faith or trust in our Father. Brothers and sisters we can never earn our salvation nor can we believe that in doing things only then will our Father find pleasure in us. 

Hebrews 2 : 10 - 18

Our Lord in His death brought us (many sons) to glory. In His sacrifice, in Him and through Him we exist. For our Lord we exist, and through our Lord we are reconciled to the Father. In our Lord we have one Father, His Father, how then can we doubt who we are to our Father or how our Father relates to us. Remember our Lord reconciled us to the Father and when we studied the book to the Ephesians we learnt that, that was the Father's plan to bring us back to Himself through our Lord.

For the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying:
I will proclaim Your name to My brothers;
I will sing hymns to You in the congregation.

Again, I will trust in Him. And again, Here I am with the children God gave Me.

Our Lord shared in all we go through on this earth, He did that so that we may gain freedom from all, truly how can we go back to what we were and neglect so great a salvation. Our journey as children of the Father is about understanding and transforming through His Word. 

We need to really engage and digest His Word for we should be without a doubt.

Higher than angels (Hebrews 1)

Our Father has from long ago communicated with us through prophets at different times and in many different ways. In our time He has communicated with us Christ-Followers through our Lord. 

Our Lord is the radiance of the Father's glory.
In our Lord we see the exact nature of the Father. 
Our Lord sustains all things by the powerful word.
Our Lord has purged us of all sin, purified us of all sin.
After He did all that he sat at the right hand of the Father declaring and revealing that He is higher than the angels He was no messenger but the Son of God.

This portion reveals our Lord as the Son of God. We are doing this study to grow in faith in our Lord and God. It is fitting that we start with whom it is we believe in. We learnt as we journeyed through the gospel by Mark who our Lord is and the authority He has over all and we are reminded again.
Being a Christ-Follower our faith is not in our selves, it is not in angels, nor is it in messengers, leaders or teachers but our faith in Christ alone.

Remember when the Father declared this is my beloved in whom I am well pleased. Listen as the Father brags about His Son.

The Son Exalted Above Angels
For to which of the angels did He ever say:
“You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You”? And again:
“I will be to Him a Father,
And He shall be to Me a Son”?
But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says:
“Let all the angels of God worship Him.”
And of the angels He says:
“Who makes His angels spirits
And His ministers a flame of fire.”
But to the Son He says:
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
And:
“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
They will perish, but You remain;
And they will all grow old like a garment;
Like a cloak You will fold them up,
And they will be changed.
But You are the same,
And Your years will not fail.”
But to which of the angels has He ever said:
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?

A Better Way to Live

Faith is the better way to live.

6 weeks ago as a family we started a discipleship study in our life-groups. One of the first questions we were asked "how confident are you in faith?" How confident are you in our God? Most people in our group said they were not and this is because of how much they fail, things they do not do, laziness etc etc.

I did not like this for we are the gospel-carriers and if we don't trust how can we reach others. We belong to Him, our Father has done so much to prove Himself worthy of our trust and faith. Faith is trusting, if we fail to trust Him then what do we believe. What part of His Word don't we believe. 

I thought we would journey and learn about faith in the Word. Hebrews 11 is the first chapter that came to mind but we don't do standalone Bible verses so we are going to journey through the book to the Hebrews.

Hebrews was written to Jewish Christ-Followers to wean them of their dependence in the law. In our context we could say in this study we hope to be weaned of the law as well for if we only believe when we are doing good works. Are we in a way earning the right to believe in our Lord or be confident in our Lord. As the Jewish believers of the time were being taught to depend and rely on Christ alone. 

It is by grace that we have been saved none can boast and it is by that grace that we can live by faith.

Equipped and Ready (Ephesians 6)

Over the weekend we had a time of retreat for the ladies in our church and were taught deeper about grace, and what we are now equipped to do because of grace.

Ephesians 6 : 1 - 9

Children and parents are reminded to respect one another. Children are asked to obey their parents and the parents reminded not to provoke the children but to bring them up in the way of the Lord.

Employees and employers are also reminded to treat one another with integrity. Employees are reminded to work as unto the Lord and employers are reminded to treat employees fairly.

Ephesians 6 : 10 - 23

As Christ- Followers our strength is in our God. We have been provided with an amour, an amour that enables us to stand against the enemy's wiles. The Father has provided all we need to live for His Kingdom and His Kingdom. Ours is to know and take up what we have been given. As Christ-Followers we can not be passive but we are to be active and even aggressive.

Stand confidently with the belt of truth around your waist.
Put on the breast-plate of righteousness.
Shod your feet with the gospel of peace.
Take the shield of faith to quench the enemy's darts.
Put on the helmet of salvation.
Take the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.

Be vigilant, watchful and pray always.

In love,light,and wisdom(Ephesians 5)

Our Lord showed us the way and Ephesians 5 could be titled "live as our Lord did".

Ephesians 5 : 1 - 7

We are commanded to walk in love just as our Lord did.
We are then reminded of what we should never be associated with, for our Lord did not associate Himself with these things.
Fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talking, coarse jesting. None of these things can be partakers in our Father's Kingdom. In fact these bring His wrath upon those who partake.

Ephesians 5 : 8 - 14

We are urged to walk in the light we have received from our Lord. As the Father's children we too are now children of light and is our responsibility to know what our Father's will is. To know what is acceptable in the Kingdom family. We can no longer be associated with darkness but ours is to expose and shame that darkness for the light of our God in us exposes all.

Ephesians 5 : 15 - 21

We are reminded to walk in wisdom, to deal wisely as we journey. The will of our Lord is revealed to us in our Lord and we are urged to know and understand it. 
We are reminded not to delight our selves in spirits and get drunk but to delight our selves in the Spirit of God. We are encouraged to invite and partake of His presence so much that we are intoxicated with Him. 

Love one another has been the theme in every book we have journeyed through together. Actively encourage one another. Write poems, psalms and sing hymns to one another. The joy of our Lord is our strength seek that joyful and thoughts together and individually. 
Sing and make melodies in gratitude to the Father.

Ephesians 5 : 22 - 33

Marriage is revealed to us a picture of our relationship with our Lord. Husbands and wives are urged to submit one to the other as we submit together to the Lord. Wives are reminded that the husband has been given the role of head to the family and urged to submit. Husbands are urged to love their wives as our Lord loves the church and gave himself for the church.