"So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness," (Hebrews 3:7,8 NIV)
In
Hebrews, new converts--followers of Christ--are reminded about what had
happened with the Children of Israel during their wilderness journey
while Moses was leading them to the promised land.
Just
as the people hardened their hearts against Moses when he did as God
instructed and stopped listening to him, people are still hardening
their hearts against Holy Spirit when He speaks because He gives
instructions that are contrary to fleshly dictates. Holy Spirit will
only say what God says and when people don't agree--they get angry and
rebellious--like spoiled children who cannot get their way and they do stupid things (murder comes to mind).
Is
that what we are today? Spoiled children trying to get our way, even
though we know that God is right and He only has our best interests at
heart. Children who have never been taught discipline throw tantrums to get their way with parents.
Most try and the tantrums have to be nipped in the bud, rather than
used to manipulate. When my children threw tantrums as toddlers, I did,
too. I rolled in the floor, screaming and pounding on the floor and they
ended up looking at me like I was crazy.
The tantrums ended because
they could not have their way. When tantrums are not stopped, those same
children become undisciplined adults and think their rebellious natures
will get them what they want. They think--like the child thought!
I can imagine God looking at us in the same way, shaking His head
because we think our little tantrums and acts of rebellion are going to
make Him change His mind. But we forget one thing--"I the Lord your God, change not." We can be as rebellious as we want to be and we'll end up getting the same results as those who went before us--tragedy.
In
this era of people testing God to see if they can manipulate Him into
giving in to their tantrums, the rest of us--who truly believe and
understand God's nature, must hold onto our faith in Him and know--this
is just a test! Rebellious people do what they want to do, but
the final outcome will be as it was before--disaster and then people
will want to blame God for what happens to them, simply because they
would not obey.
When you hear the voice of Holy Spirit speaking to you about righteousness and obedience--don't harden your hearts--listen and obtain the best life God has in store for you!
Showing posts with label Hebrews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hebrews. Show all posts
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Friday, March 14, 2014
No Way of Escape!
"For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the
knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for
sins,but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will
consume the adversaries" (Hebrews 10:26,27 ESV).
Under the law--animal sacrifices were made to atone for sin--the shedding of blood on an altar had to be made for the people--once a year.
Under grace--the blood sacrifice of The Lamb of God to atone for the sin of mankind--has been made on the cross--once for all times for all who receive the sacrifice on the altars of their heart.
If we understand the sacrifice made, the blood shed on the cross, the love of God for us in willingly taking on the likeness of flesh so we might be saved from ourselves, we would not deliberately sin--do all or any of those things that God says is sin. For if we deliberately sin--there won't be another sacrifice made--only the assurance of a fearful fate of judgment by God.
If we have a relationship with God, we want to please Him and only do those things that are right in His sight, receiving His love and loving Him and others in return.
If we have a relationship with religion--rules and rituals created by man to control others in order to pacify men and justify doing anything they want to do (changing what God has said), we will not inherit the right to enter into heaven, but leave ourselves open to the judgment of Christ--with no escape.
If we have never acknowledged, or accepted the sacrifice Jesus made for us, we will be still be judged if God's truth has been revealed to us and we simply refused to accept it.
There is only one way to achieve entrance into heaven and to shore up our eternal resting place--accept God's Word--The Truth of the sacrifice made--and choose to live according to God's directions and instructions--and not by the dictates of our flesh. If we choose to ignore God and all whom He has used to warn and teach us, we have no escape from our deeds, but certain judgment awaits us, for the wages (the payment) for sin is death.
Under the law--animal sacrifices were made to atone for sin--the shedding of blood on an altar had to be made for the people--once a year.
Under grace--the blood sacrifice of The Lamb of God to atone for the sin of mankind--has been made on the cross--once for all times for all who receive the sacrifice on the altars of their heart.
If we understand the sacrifice made, the blood shed on the cross, the love of God for us in willingly taking on the likeness of flesh so we might be saved from ourselves, we would not deliberately sin--do all or any of those things that God says is sin. For if we deliberately sin--there won't be another sacrifice made--only the assurance of a fearful fate of judgment by God.
If we have a relationship with God, we want to please Him and only do those things that are right in His sight, receiving His love and loving Him and others in return.
If we have a relationship with religion--rules and rituals created by man to control others in order to pacify men and justify doing anything they want to do (changing what God has said), we will not inherit the right to enter into heaven, but leave ourselves open to the judgment of Christ--with no escape.
If we have never acknowledged, or accepted the sacrifice Jesus made for us, we will be still be judged if God's truth has been revealed to us and we simply refused to accept it.
There is only one way to achieve entrance into heaven and to shore up our eternal resting place--accept God's Word--The Truth of the sacrifice made--and choose to live according to God's directions and instructions--and not by the dictates of our flesh. If we choose to ignore God and all whom He has used to warn and teach us, we have no escape from our deeds, but certain judgment awaits us, for the wages (the payment) for sin is death.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Trust His Mercy!
“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more" (Hebrews 8:12 NKJV).
Within the reflection and overview of the history of a people whom God chose, we see the explanation provided as to Who Jesus is, Where He is, and Why He came, again.
He is our high priest--ordained, appointed and established by God for all times.
He is sitting at the right hand of His Father, ready to advocate on our behalf--alleviating the need for mortal man to intercede for us.
He came because the people chose not to follow the mandates of the old covenant (The Law as given to Moses), to establish a new covenant--writing upon our hearts--what He wants us to know and do. It is because the people were not diligent in keeping The Law--making sacrifices for the atonement of sin (They made a business of it--selling the elements to be used for the sacrifices created a problem for the very poor; they had no means of atoning for sins since they couldn't afford to pay for the elements.) With the new covenant, we can boldly approach the throne of grace for ourselves--whether we are rich or poor--and know with confidence that He hears us and forgives us and then "remembers our sins no more" as long as we do not repeat them. He cannot forgive sin for which we consistently do because by our very actions--we have not repented.
When we have repented (turned away from all things that are not like God) and live a life that pleases God, He does not remind of us of our sins to provoke us to guilt--He forgives and then forgets about them--wiping the slate clean.
Man is not so. We love to keep throwing the past at a person--attempting to make them feel guilty because of a lack of understanding. Once God forgives us--what "we did" (past tense) is nobody's business and they have no right to keep fishing in our ponds when our sins are in the sea of forgetfulness. Now, we have to trust in His mercy--to forgive ourselves--and not allow the enemy to keep bringing our past before us. We did what we did; we repented, God forgave us and that is the end of the matter.
Don't allow others to condemn you for the things God has forgiven. Let it go and trust in His mercy to guide you in forward movement, not past mistakes.
Within the reflection and overview of the history of a people whom God chose, we see the explanation provided as to Who Jesus is, Where He is, and Why He came, again.
He is our high priest--ordained, appointed and established by God for all times.
He is sitting at the right hand of His Father, ready to advocate on our behalf--alleviating the need for mortal man to intercede for us.
He came because the people chose not to follow the mandates of the old covenant (The Law as given to Moses), to establish a new covenant--writing upon our hearts--what He wants us to know and do. It is because the people were not diligent in keeping The Law--making sacrifices for the atonement of sin (They made a business of it--selling the elements to be used for the sacrifices created a problem for the very poor; they had no means of atoning for sins since they couldn't afford to pay for the elements.) With the new covenant, we can boldly approach the throne of grace for ourselves--whether we are rich or poor--and know with confidence that He hears us and forgives us and then "remembers our sins no more" as long as we do not repeat them. He cannot forgive sin for which we consistently do because by our very actions--we have not repented.
When we have repented (turned away from all things that are not like God) and live a life that pleases God, He does not remind of us of our sins to provoke us to guilt--He forgives and then forgets about them--wiping the slate clean.
Man is not so. We love to keep throwing the past at a person--attempting to make them feel guilty because of a lack of understanding. Once God forgives us--what "we did" (past tense) is nobody's business and they have no right to keep fishing in our ponds when our sins are in the sea of forgetfulness. Now, we have to trust in His mercy--to forgive ourselves--and not allow the enemy to keep bringing our past before us. We did what we did; we repented, God forgave us and that is the end of the matter.
Don't allow others to condemn you for the things God has forgiven. Let it go and trust in His mercy to guide you in forward movement, not past mistakes.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Faith To Please Him!
"But without faith, it is impossible to please Him;
for he who comes to God (in prayer), must believe that He is (God), and
that He rewards those who diligently (consistently, determined) seek
Him" (Hebrews 11:6 paraphrased).
How absolutely simple this scripture appears to be! But wait! What is faith? "Faith is having the audacity to believe what has not been seen has been received, knowing (having confidence) it will occur." The Bible tells us in Mark that Jesus told His disciples (followers) that when we pray, don't doubt; we must believe we have already received that which we prayed for and then we will have it. In other words, we have to know that whatever it is we have been praying for is on the way, and all we have to do is act like we already have it. NO DOUBTING! If we don't doubt, we don't need to ask again.
Tough concept to believe? All right, let me state another way. Would we waste our time praying for those things we already have? I think not. Do we thank God for answering our prayers? I sincerely hope so. I teach--having faith when we pray means we only ask one time, and then we keep thanking God for the manifestation of the answered prayer until we see it. This approach aligns with The Word (Mark 11:23,24).
Though this line of thinking may be controversial for some to accept, I am living proof that it works and as long as it works in my life, I will continue to stand firm on The Word, without doubting, totally confident that my prayers will be answered, whenever I pray and for whatever I pray. Hallelujah! That's faith! And we know, that God responds to our faith, not our emotions!
Where is your faith--in God or man?
Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank You for answering our prayers, addressing every need, using anyone and any vehicle You desire and knowing when we please You, You will give us the desires of our hearts. We give You praise for You are the only One worthy of it. Amen!
How absolutely simple this scripture appears to be! But wait! What is faith? "Faith is having the audacity to believe what has not been seen has been received, knowing (having confidence) it will occur." The Bible tells us in Mark that Jesus told His disciples (followers) that when we pray, don't doubt; we must believe we have already received that which we prayed for and then we will have it. In other words, we have to know that whatever it is we have been praying for is on the way, and all we have to do is act like we already have it. NO DOUBTING! If we don't doubt, we don't need to ask again.
Tough concept to believe? All right, let me state another way. Would we waste our time praying for those things we already have? I think not. Do we thank God for answering our prayers? I sincerely hope so. I teach--having faith when we pray means we only ask one time, and then we keep thanking God for the manifestation of the answered prayer until we see it. This approach aligns with The Word (Mark 11:23,24).
Though this line of thinking may be controversial for some to accept, I am living proof that it works and as long as it works in my life, I will continue to stand firm on The Word, without doubting, totally confident that my prayers will be answered, whenever I pray and for whatever I pray. Hallelujah! That's faith! And we know, that God responds to our faith, not our emotions!
Where is your faith--in God or man?
Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank You for answering our prayers, addressing every need, using anyone and any vehicle You desire and knowing when we please You, You will give us the desires of our hearts. We give You praise for You are the only One worthy of it. Amen!
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