Hebrews 4 ~ Sympathize with our weaknesses

Hebrews  Chapter 4, part of ⁴⁶  Papyrus 46. Exactly as shown


"Hebrews 1.7–2.3
Owned by University of Michigan, Library at Ann Arbor
Size 15 x 22.9 cm
Palaeographic Description
The ink is dark brown and has faded little. There has been little rubbing of the surface, so that almost every letter is still legible. The writing is of the book hand and the letters are carefully formed and well spaced. There are many slight spaces left in the text, often where they serve admirably for punctuation.

Acquisition purchased in 1930/1931
Language Greek
Genre literary
Author St. Paul
Type of Text/Title of Work Epistles of Paul"  - As stated in the Library of the University of Michigan.

⁴⁶ Papyrus 46 is 300 Chapters of the New Testament - Found Intact and exactly as shown.


Hebrews - The Fourth Chapter. Papyrus 46 is 300 Chapters of the New Testament - Found Intact and exactly as shown. The dating debate is between the first Century and 175 A.D. One source of debate is ⁴⁶ uses an extensive and well-developed system of nomina sacra (saying this is 2nd century) however since the exact provenance of the nomina sacra system itself is not well-established. Therefore we can safely say, the 300 intact chapters date between the first and the second century A.D.

Hebrews 4

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

“As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest,’”

although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 5 And again in this passage he said,

“They shall not enter my rest.”

6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Jesus Your Name is Power
Sits on Heavens Mercy Seat

Jesus is our Joshua, Yeshua. Jesus, Son of God, our Savior, our Hero tells us we can fully rest in Him.
In confidence, we approach Jesus.

Why would Paul be interested in Hebrews? This explains to us the depths of Paul's love to the people he explains Jesus Christ as Savior to.

Romans 9
I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers,a my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

How would we be cut off from His rest?
One would be not to seek Father God. To rest on our own merits and not worship Father God on the Sabbath. One of the "- God" billboards (lovingly unidentified other than God!) says like Father God says, "Bring the Children to my House on Sunday."

We need to be filled on the Sabbath. We understand physical hunger with growling stomachs.

Galatians 5 tells us Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

This is part of God's freedom and why we set out to Worship God every Sunday.

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

We are set free from the Law and in Jesus we still need to be fed with Worship. Every Sabbath.

The Point of Hebrew's 4.

What will God's Worship tell us? What His Promises encompass!

Jesus as God - fills the Heavens!!!  He has seen all of His Vast Creation.
To be kind hearted. Not hard hearted.
The Sabbath was made for man - to Rest in Jesus.

Believe in your Salvation in Jesus.
For we who have believed enter His rest, as He has said. 
Eternity has begun for us adopted by the Grace of Jesus.

Obedient to the Word of God, living and active.
God fully knows and understands our thoughts.
Expect Grace from Jesus at our weaknesses, as sympathy. This would be why Father God ran to His Child as we could not aspire to be God.

God told us He is available at midnight, when others are asleep in their beds. He comes to us when we are seeking Him earnestly.

And because of this transparency and relationship - we know only Jesus is without sin.

Let us, with confidence, draw near to the Throne of Grace, where our Father sits.

We can with expectation of Jesus' Promises, receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.


Father God,
We Believe in the Lord Jesus, and we know we are saved-- Continue Your Mercy to our household and our loved ones.

We believe fully, Jesus is Lord. We believe in our hearts that You, Father God, raised up Your Son Jesus from the dead. We believe Your Promise of Salvation has arrived.

As we believe, so this will be done for us, according to Your Word. Yes Lord, we believe You are able.

We fully want Your Plan and Path, forgive us when we stray, please in the Name of Jesus. We will not fear, only believe. All things are possible in Jesus.

In the Name of Jesus the Lord, blessed are we who believe there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken from the Lord. We in knowing Jesus, ask the blessings for our Loved Ones, our neighbors, coworkers, Church Family and our Nation. In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Hebrews 3 ~ For every house is built by someone, but the Builder of All Things is God

Hebrews 3.3-13 

Title of Work Epistles of Paul
⁴⁶ Papyrus 46 is 300 Chapters of the New Testament - Found Intact and exactly as shown. Owned by the University of Michigan

Hebrews 3

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house. 

3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. Firm to the end.

7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
on the day of testing in the wilderness,

where your fathers put me to the test
and saw my works for forty years.

Therefore I was provoked with that generation,
and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;
they have not known my ways.’

As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest.’”

12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 

13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said,

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

~When we are studying Scripture we are... looking for God's heavenly calling to us.
~We want to be in Father God's path and in His plan and giving Jesus the Love He has given us.
~We want our path to affirm the gifts and talents He gave us.
~We ask blessings and protection. We ask the ones we love to be blessed.

As we walk day by day with Jesus, we never see Him grabbing His Crown or His Holiness and radiating that to impress the people who would go out of their comfortable every day to follow Jesus.


Jesus begins this interest by telling us the example of Jesus going all over in unusual places - is our example. Jesus is going to be the one to confess to. To be honest and tell Jesus when we could do better or not do that at all. When we sin.

From time to time - Jesus is going to put an action, kind words, help, a change of direction or Something We Know God is Putting Upon us To Do. You hear His Voice. In understanding, in sight, in remembrance, in fragrance, in prayer, in reading God's Word.

We should believe Jesus.
We know the nature of Jesus and then we know the nature of Father God.
Do not be in unbelief

The House where Jesus is Honored

You always think I'm somewhere on a mountain top

But never think behind bars

You'd be amazed the places that I'd go to be with you

Danny Gokey - More Than You Think I Am.
Lyrics about Jesus.

 
We cannot reach godly people other than the ways Jesus has.
Jesus Works. Today. Jesus reaches people by sitting with them. In their worst hour - Jesus did not say what they did was fine - just that He saw in them a hope and a future. God believes He sees the ability to Rise up. God sees Heaven as their Home.

How will we emotionally and spiritually move people to understand, God really loves them?
We have to do this LIKE JESUS!!!
How can we say God does Love them?
When we look at effective ways to reach people - we find that they do what Jesus has done.

The best evangelism I ever heard was a man who knew his friends loved him and his father died. He cried, he had loved his father but he really doubted his dad had loved Jesus at all. He was not lied to. The man who was telling him about Jesus didn't say "I'm sure everything is fine." He said Jesus loves your dad more than you do. I can't answer what is with your dad, I didn't know your dad. "I want you to Know Jesus and Go to Heaven with me. I want to be sure."  This is REAL Jesus work. Jesus was with the son in grief. Jesus was not spreading parkay margarine savey-save. This is a man who was crying in grief. Jesus sat with this man in grief and gave this man - Jesus.

The effect of Jesus on this grief? This man rose up to lead others to know the God of Love.

What if you are called to the House of Bitterness and Grief?

What if you are called to be with the bitter and in trouble loved ones?
How will you bring them to understand Father God loves them?
What will we say to the ones we love who are bitter and in unbelief?

Will we say, oh well, and shrug our shoulders.
Look at the example of others. Not really very effective.


The Word of God is so very vast.
If you look at the end of Psalm 137 or Psalm 139. We do not quote it often. Why would that be in the Book of God?
There are some really not politically correct things in the Bible. WHY?

God would make us understand that our Vivid and Emotional Responses to Real Life - are understandable to Father God who creates the Universe. These people did not hush but trusted Father God with the depths of their cries.

We need to go where our loved ones are to tell them, show them - God understands completely - not that we forgive them for things like bitterness - but to say Jesus Sat With the Woman at the Well. Jesus Sat with the Woman in Adultery. Jesus goes places we will need to go - for our loved ones.

God works with bitterness.
We can read the words of bitterness in the Bible and explain they found Hope.
Bitterness doesn't work as well with those who don't see even Biblical people have bitterness and need to know this still can become a place of Hope.

How Comfortable Can We Be?

This is not the 1950s A.D.We have more brokenness. We have less belief in the Salvation of God covering others. We cannot shun people with brokenness to find more peace for ourselves. In times of decreasing morality - we don't just pat people on the heads and move on with our judgements. We need solutions for the ones we love. What we will say to them about Father God.

We can't say to the grieving - surely God was saving the man who didn't love Jesus.

We can't say to the bitter - you are no fun. No salvation for you.

This is more like 70 A.D. People wonder what the Living God says to them.

The God of Book of Acts.
Every day. Prayers to gather.
Every day a meal that brings people together.
Every day a joy for Jesus. Looking for what WE can bring to Father God.


70 A.D.
You have a job. You learn how to bless people with God's love.
Get around in the hospitals.
Go to pray with your neighbor.

What if God is calling you to the House of Unbelief?

I have cried horizontal tears to hear my loved one denied God is Love. Jesus is God.

The truth is we need to listen to what the people say who don't love Father God. Because maybe what they are describing is not the real God. These conversations need to occur. Jesus has something to say about how far we will go to listen. We have to understand we are for God - FIRST. We cannot love someone more than God. Then we have placed an idol destined to and will fall in the first place of our Heart.

God upholds the universe in His Word.

We are told the cosmos will absorb us in death. We are like Mufasa and Simba - the stars of the sky - we become part of the energy of the Universe. It does no harm to put in a teachable moment. God calls these stars by name.

Psalm 147:4
He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.

John 1
The Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

We can tell the ones we love - yes there is a brightness in you. A light of God.

Matthew 5:14 In Jesus.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

God equips all of us with gifts and talents. Tell your loved one what makes them chosen, special, precious in the eyes of their Father God. Reveal what God has placed in them.

John 8:32
And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.



Father God, when Jesus met Mary Magdalene, He said,"My Father and Your's." Help me today to tell people that You Are - OUR Father God and Our Jesus. Let us tell each other what Father God sees in us to Delight as a Father. Help us to tell others our righteousness comes from believing You, Father God. I give great thanks for the conversations I had today with People right there on the Path, with people in Journey on the Path and are in humility, with People hoping to get going on the Path again or for the first time.

Bless and equip us to draw our Loved Ones to You. Help us to be effective when we "Walk Across the Room" for You. Bless this Nation to discover their ability to proclaim God is Love. Help us believe in giving Love to one another, Spiritual Vitamin C. We ask in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Hebrews 2 ~ We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

"Hebrews 1.7–2.3
Owned by University of Michigan, Library at Ann Arbor
Size 15 x 22.9 cm
Palaeographic Description
The ink is dark brown and has faded little. There has been little rubbing of the surface, so that almost every letter is still legible. The writing is of the book hand and the letters are carefully formed and well spaced. There are many slight spaces left in the text, often where they serve admirably for punctuation.

Acquisition purchased in 1930/1931
Language Greek
Genre literary
Author St. Paul
Type of Text/Title of Work Epistles of Paul"  - As stated in the Library of the University of Michigan.

⁴⁶ Papyrus 46 is 300 Chapters of the New Testament - Found Intact and exactly as shown.

Hebrews 2

 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified:

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them,
a son of man that you care for him?

You made them a little lower than the angels;
you crowned them with glory and honor
and put everything under their feet.”

In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.12 He says,

“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
in the assembly I will sing your praises.”

13 And again,
“I will put my trust in him.”

And again he says,
“Here am I, and the children God has given me.”

14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.

17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

A man who leaves all his life behind him, worships God for Jesus making us the Family of God.

Rejoicing God has left Heaven to create for us - Salvation.

Jesus went to the cross and made sure John was adopted in - and taking care of His Mother.

Jesus rises up in Victory and tells Mary Magdalene - "My Father and your's!"

1 Chronicles 29:11
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.


Father God, we give You great thanks for Your Salvation. Bless us we ask and our loved ones. Bless this Nation to live in You. In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Hebrews 1 ~ Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son

Hebrews - The First Chapter. Papyrus 46 is 300 Chapters of the New Testament - Found Intact and exactly as shown. The dating debate is between the first Century and 175 A.D. One source of debate is ⁴⁶ uses an extensive and well-developed system of nomina sacra (saying this is 2nd century) however since the exact provenance of the nomina sacra system itself is not well-established. Therefore we can safely say, the 300 intact chapters date between the first and the second century A.D.

Hebrews 1

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,

“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”?

Or again,

“I will be to him a father,
and he shall be to me a son”?

6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God's angels worship him.”

7 Of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds,
and his ministers 
a flame of fire.”

8 But of the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.

You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”

10 And,

“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,
and the heavens are the work of your hands;

they will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment,

like a robe you will roll them up,
like a garment they will be changed.
But you are the same,
and your years will have no end.”

13 And to which of the angels has he ever said,

“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?

14 Are they not all ministering spirits
 sent out to serve 
for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

 Angel reported by the people in the room with Chelsea Banton. Chelsea was made well. Immediately.

This debate of who wrote Hebrews leans to revisionist history.  It's not love - it's verbiage.  This is a 2,000 year "new knowledge" I'd want to lean away from false knowledge of this debate. I've had two of these debates swirl around me recently.  Why are we so hip to debunk this intact Chapter as not of Paul? What about The Holy Spirit?  

 
It's exactly as if in the A.D. year of 4015 the theologians make the newspaper headlines proclaiming, "in wisdom", Ronald Reagan killed JFK.

Jesus displays Father God with His Loving Words - God runs to us. That is the important part of God's Word! Let us lean to God  in understanding!!! Not to our own current debate. God wants to save you and me - not have debates of facts now debated.


 When I grew up, this was undoubtedly leaning to Paul being the author. The last and final chapter of Hebrews has the author with Timothy and speaks of the Love the writer has for his flock, which speaks to all that Paul wrote of.

What is the problem? When we debunk the Word of God - we are debunking something far older and far wiser than man who draws breathe. John 1 tells us Jesus is the Word of God manifest. God tells us our opinions will fall away, yet the Word of God will remain.

We bring to question the testimony of Truth. This is after all the generation who applauded the false grave of Jesus' wife.

In Revisionist History - this debunks the Resurrection. Will we question the abilities of the Council of Nicaea? Will we debunk the lives the apostles gave? Will we debunk Bishop Papias of Hierapolis who interviewed the Disciple John on Patmos. John saying that the other Gospels were accurate and well done. Will we debunk the histories of A,D, early 1st century to 140 by Polycarp? The Disciple of John The Disciple.

Will we debunk Eusebius - the first bishop of Caesarea? Eusebius records seeing with his own eyes (not yet Emperor) Constantine traveling with the army to Nazareth to torture to death the living issue of Jesus' brothers who refused to betray Jesus as God's Son? This is the Emperor who, when he became Emperor, proclaimed Christianity to be the Way, Truth and Life under Jesus as God's Son. These events effected Constantine. These events shape our world today.




God tells us He does not Lie.
In this century alone - we have discovered the census of Luke Chapter 2 is real.
In this century alone - we have discovered Herod slaughtered children in Bethlehem.
In this century alone - we have discovered Pontius Pilate did historically exist.
In this century alone - we have discovered the Ipuwer Papyrus does tell of the Exodus and was discovered at the base of the pyramids and is in the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, Netherlands.
In this century alone - we have discovered a clay pot in the hometown of Goliath telling of his fight with King David.
In this century alone - 2nd Generation Professor Eilat Mazar read the Bible to discover where the location of King David's Palace would be and discovered - David's Palace - complete with the biblical description of Jeremiah's scribe and his bulla discovered in the correct place.

Until this generation - Pilate was considered to be a myth and King David as well.


Ok, this remarkable and astonishingly beautiful Chapter is considered to be so beautiful - it is not Paul's style of writing and sounds more like Luke. However, in law today - there is a truth understood to be "Moose Head truth." The telling of the truth creates such logic, that the hearing of this - with the verbal emphasis on truth - that the Truth is revealing. A moment where TRUTH is comprehended too clearly to be pushed aside. Called this because it was as if the moose head on the wall had spoken. Clearly the Scriptures tell us the Holy Spirit inspires Scripture, not academics who arrive 2,000 years later. The Holy Spirit says iron sharpens iron. The moose head truth is some days we are more inspired and work harder.

Bishop Papias of Hierapolis was a man who knew that an audience of millenniums would want to know what the disciples and presbyters had to say about WITNESSING Jesus. So he recorded his conversations with John. The disciples were VERY INTERESTED in the testimony of each other. This week I spoke to a man in his 20s about how to discover his voice in writing. In human nature, if we read something astonishing like Luke's Gospel and the 1st Chapter of John - we will strive to present a higher quality of writing. We cannot say Paul was uninspired.

In the 26 times Timothy is mentioned - this is in conjunction with Timothy's travels as Timothy was sent with or by Paul on an errand of ministry, directed by his father in ministry - Paul.

Was Paul concerned with the authorship of the New Testament? Yes.

2 Timothy 3
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

14 times Romans discusses Son of God.
1 Corinthians discusses Angels 4 times, Paul's other Books discuss angels 10 times.







God tells us in the Old Testament the Children of Israel will have a time period where they do not believe the Exodus records the truth. The New Testament tells us revisionist histories happen as well. What can the people from the pews say? We must say we are not impressed with 20th and 21st century studies about the authorship of the Bible. Too many histories support the Scriptures. The author is the Holy Spirit.

Titus 3:9
But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 







It is worthless to debunk the Bible as being too old or inaccurate to matter. To ascribe current authorship quotes for 2 millenniums of God's Word? Let's lean to GOD BEING AUTHENTIC. 



Without Doubt ~
Almost 2 millenniums ago, the 300 chapters of the New Testament were carried carefully. Within 16 years of the Resurrection of Jesus - the leaders - the Caesars of the Roman Empires - were killing people to kill the Scripture. This would continue off and on for 400 years. The Nicene Council was made up of men who risked their lives to know Jesus Christ as God. The Book of Hebrews was held in high regard as the Word of God. We should not do less. And we should not banter about The Book of Hebrews as a catch phrase for wisdom of 21st century scholars.


What is higher, is to say, like Jesus:

John 5:17
But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”


Jesus told us about Scripture and debate:
Matthew 22:29
know the Scriptures
the power of God



 




Father God, all Your Scripture reveals mankind to be short of Your Glory. As we go through life - let us be like Isaiah, "Send me!" Knowing Your righteousness must prevail. And faith in You, is our Salvation. We ask for Your Blessings and for the blessing of those we love. In Jesus the Lord. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

2 Kings 17:1-18 ~ None was left but the tribe of Judah only.

2 Kings 17:1-18

In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah began to reign in Samaria over Israel, and he reigned nine years. 2 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, yet not as the kings of Israel who were before him. 3 Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria. And Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute. 4 But the king of Assyria found treachery in Hoshea, for he had sent messengers to So, king of Egypt, and offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. 

Therefore the king of Assyria shut him up and bound him in prison. 5 Then the king of Assyria invaded all the land and came to Samaria, and for three years he besieged it.

6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria, and he carried the Israelites away to Assyria and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.


7 And this occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods 8 and walked in the customs of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel, and in the customs that the kings of Israel had practiced. 

9 And the people of Israel did secretly against the Lord their God things that were not right. 

They built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city. 10 They set up for themselves pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree, 11 and there they made offerings on all the high places, as the nations did whom the Lord carried away before them. 

And they did wicked things, provoking the Lord to anger, 12 and they served idols, of which the Lord had said to them, “You shall not do this.” 13 Yet the Lord warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the Law that I commanded your fathers, and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets.”

14 But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, 
who did not believe in the Lord their God. 

15 They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them. 

16 And they abandoned all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made for themselves metal images of two calves; and they made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal. 1

7 And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings and used divination and omens and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. 18 Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight. 

None was left but the tribe of Judah only.




How will we condense this Scripture passage into a Psalm - the way David did so many times?


Psalm 40:4
Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!



The people of Samaria had sins. The people of Israel were sacrificing children for their infant blood to make prosperity and security. None of this was apparent. They did away with their faith - like we read about people 2,000 years later tell us the honest people inspired by the Holy Spirit did not write Scripture.(This makes it easier to say Scripture is not the Word of God.)

Where will we put our trust as times and seasons change?

Thanks to God, we can put our faith in Jesus Christ. His promises are faithful. Not in Isaiah, who had 2 kings utterly ignore him. Not in Hezekiah who stripped gold off the Temple doors to pay to Assyria before suddenly becoming braver in Father God Almighty.

Today, we know utterly and completely all have fallen and are sinful. We do not see people wandering around with right hands and eyes removed. Instead we have to say we rely upon Jesus and trust Jesus to be our righteousness. In Jesus, we will not forsake what we can do and will not claim cheap grace.

Instead when we are Noah and have collapsed in alcohol, we will cry out to Jesus as Lord and pray for strength. We will not shrug and give up on our children's futures like Hezekiah did, and we will ask Jesus for His steadfast Love and mercy and diligently ask Him. We will pray not to succumb like David in temptation and ask Jesus the Lord to offer us His shelter. We will pray to expect the goodness of Father God like Abraham spoke up and sought the mercy of God. We will ask in prayer like David did when told God had answered and have a sneaking suspicion of God's Grace with His compassion.

David knew like Job. Like Paul, Like Peter. Like John. God's mercy is without fail in Jesus. We will not hope to cause Father God pain.

Instead seeking to give the one gift Father God did not give us first - gratitude. Gratitude for Jesus, without compare. And in His Vast Love we will find our strength rise up like Hezekiah and Isaiah to find strength in times of need.

Psalm 84:12
LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.

Psalm 118:8
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans.

Psalm 138:6
Though the LORD is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar.


When we come to the time for decisions, the best choice is to Trust the Lord God. God's nature does not change.


Numbers 23
19"God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? 20 "Behold, I have received a command to bless; When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it.



Hebrews 6
Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.

18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things
in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.

19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.


Genesis 28:15
I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.


The question is never that we are good enough. The answer is God's grace is unearned. The answer eternal is The Name of Jesus - the fulfilling of God - is what has become our righteousness. And we should never hope to forget or be ungrateful for the Extreme Mercy of God Father Almighty, who has given Himself - for us.

Father God, please cover me with Your Name and Your Righteousness. We ask for blessings and give thanks for Your Healing Word.  Please cover the one's I love. Cover this nation in Jesus Christ. We will continue to be saved. We believe You, Father God. Thank You in Jesus! Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Proverbs 1 ~ my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths

Dr Eilat Mazar, is a third-generation Israeli archaeologist, specializing in Jerusalem and Phoenician archeology. A senior fellow at the Shalem Center, she has worked on the Temple Mount excavations and recent Solomon era artifacts. In addition to heading the Shalem Center's Institute of Archaeology, she is affiliated with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Mazar's Bible-inspired approach to archaeology.
According to Mazar herself,
"I work with the Bible in one hand and the tools of excavation in the other, and I try to consider everything."


Proverbs 1

1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

2 To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the youth—
5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
6 to understand a proverb and a saying,
the words of the wise and their riddles.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.


8 Hear, my son, your father's instruction,
and forsake not your mother's teaching,
9 for they are a graceful garland for your head
and pendants for your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you,
do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;
let us ambush the innocent without reason;
12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
13 we shall find all precious goods,
we shall fill our houses with plunder;
14 throw in your lot among us;
we will all have one purse”—
15 my son, do not walk in the way with them;
hold back your foot from their paths,
16 for their feet run to evil,
and they make haste to shed blood.
17 For in vain is a net spread
in the sight of any bird,
18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood;
they set an ambush for their own lives.
19 Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain;
it takes away the life of its possessors.


20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
23 If you turn at my reproof,
behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;
I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I have called and you refused to listen,
have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
25 because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when terror strikes you,
27 when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.

28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
30 would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof,
31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
and have their fill of their own devices.
32 For the simple are killed by their turning away,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;

33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

Psalm 11

In the Lord I take refuge;
how can you say to my soul,
“Flee like a bird to your mountain,
2 for behold, the wicked bend the bow;
they have fitted their arrow to the string
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
3 if the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”

4 The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord's throne is in heaven;
his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
5 The Lord tests the righteous,
but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
6 Let him rain coals on the wicked;
fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
7 For the Lord is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold his face.

Proverbs 25:2 says,
“It is God’s privilege to conceal things” . God is a God of revelation. He reveals himself through nature, circumstances, and Scripture."

Rick Warren has an interesting comment to make on our choices:

The Bible says God doesn’t just reveal; God also conceals. And sometimes God intentionally hides his face from us. Why? So we’ll learn to trust him instead of our feelings and to live by faith rather than our feelings.



Father God, may those who love you be secure. Let peace come into our homes and lives. Let our families and companions pray for Peace and Seek Good. In the name of Jesus, help our Nation, Nations who want peace and Your beloved Israel. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves  †