2 Corinthians 4 ~ not destroyed

2 Corinthians 4

We are afflicted in every way,
but not crushed;
perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down,
but not destroyed;

Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,”
we also believe,
and so we also speak,
knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus
will raise us also with Jesus
and bring us with you into his presence.



Afflicted? In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other

Anger Grief Fear

James 1:20
The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

God knows a lot of two year old adults. Consider conversation to God, in Honesty. Complain.

Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Look forward to God using this to help others. And healing. Many people love to rush to judgment and tell you - this is insurmountable. I have witnessed people permanently give up and stay home. I've done that. It is a mistake. However, with a broken ankle, it's difficult to run. The second year of grief, is frequently more difficult - the burden of saying - 'I should be better now.'

Proverbs 16:9 Time
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

Fear

Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

A right hand does what mostly - most of our work.

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

What was Jesus charged with as God's hand?

Matthew 3
"He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

The day of adversity and the day of blessing. Not just Jesus meek. Son of GOD.

God is not the reformed God of the Old Testament. He was as compassionate in the Old Testament. He spoke to Elijah in ...

1 Kings 19:11-13
And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

What do we expect from God?

Are we this generation?

14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars

What doest thou here, Elijah?  
We do not play with God.


Psalm 26
7 proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,
and telling all your wondrous deeds.

If you could sit down to talk to God and have Him answer you, what would you discuss? You would have to have HIM stoop to your level. Like a Giant from Gulliver's Travels. Like Aaron splashing blood in His Holy of Holies. And in the midst of your front porch swing talk - you would hopefully realize - HE is God. Perhaps on one moonlit night, HE would explain That Nothing Is Impossible To HIM and even let you place your hand upon HIS.

If you were a two year old, you would still prattle on about yourself. And secretly tell Him that you could do a better job being God. But every now and then realize - how much God takes upon Himself every day. In the day of horrid adversity. Understanding all of the hearts, souls, no secrets are hidden.

And be in awe of who GOD is. I Am. Can you imagine ? Having to tell Moses this fundamental aspect of God.

God is so intent on providing - HE has to assure Moses of His name.

God is so Giving. He has to send Jesus to explain Himself. In His Story. If you have seen the Son, you have seen the Father.

Maybe we should quit preaching - Take Your Anger to God.

And start contemplating that Life is so complex. No house is built by throwing materials in the air.

We should quit believing the media what Life affords us in our choices - what we should "Really" Do with our lives.

If you were to really go into our homes. Would we be pleasing to God? Do we really believe that the Holy Spirit dwells in our Temple? And how far do we go and dare ask HIM to bear?

Take your anger to God?
Is HE our waiter or butler?
If your life is on the line -

Would you say to God -

I'm a good plant in Your garden - What did you leave behind?
What have you done for me lately - What have you truly given?
Why didn't You give me more - Were we faithful Stewarts?
Oh - that didn't count, did it? - What was your example to others? We all matter to others. God says we are all part of Him.
But they did it too. (Would God say "Really?")
I didn't know - God would say we did.

Mostly we have humdrum lives. And we want the attention of God! Youhoo! Yahweh!

How to start the conversation?

Hello God - You are Pretty Big up there. Want to um sit here?
Yeah. Let me dust that part off.
Hi! Yep. That's right it's me...

Haven't talked in a while with Real bad ole me. Why would you want to.
God would wrap you in His Wing.
Because God does a Lot of listening. He has to explain to Moses. I Am.
God shares something in common with us. HE thinks Life is good.
And very difficult.

Please come here God. Abba. Daddy.
You are holy. I'm not. Real not.
Is Your will for me good? Are You mad at me?
I'm not super thrilled with me, but I try to be.
And I fake that.

Surely You are mad at me.
Except God says - I call not the righteous, but Sinners.
Jesus sat with Matthew and Matthew invited all manners of people. God defended the partying.
God reads the thoughts of all of us. And wants to save the World.
(Usually at that point there is no subtitle that says, "But, not you."

God - You know me - no secrets are hid. All hearts open. What we are is a ol body wrapping a soul.

Your Will on earth as in Heaven -
You sure You are around here God? You are so quiet.
God is present in the lonely places - Jesus went there, regularly.

If you put a seed in the ground - do we watch for that?

Surely you don't expect the Lord to do everything for you. Do you? You gotta earn His presence. And then you gotta recognize HIM. And then you have to act on His Word. Almost like - people. Because God says He patterned people on Him. God has feelings. Lots of them.

Give us the DAY. Haven't we all heard - put your hand to the plow and don't look back? We have today. God says if we say - with important earnestness - "I'm Sorry." HE is going with not scarlet, but white. Because God is Not People. His Ways are HIS.

Give us the Day. What we looked for with a till or a magnifying glass - to check to see - Did He call? Where - what did I see? Then apply the work Jesus (almost ) always asked for in healing - do some work yourself. Give back. Like a child of a real - Parent.

God gives us problems to solve. Adversity. He wants you to come Home. But before you take the fun, fun, fun t-bird - Grow Up. Want more blessings? Don't we all enjoy our children when they whine? Gratitude -  is - a factor.

Forgive me the uh - sins. Yep. God wants you to say - Your Rules Apply. And then He wants you to fess up by saying to Him - why - you did that. Because He wants to talk about what caused the problem. That could take a while and lead to some real - healing.

And some anger - except - what does HE owe you? Now another round of conversation - God wants that too - God gives us desires in our heart - why - He is growing us into His self-aware, Life Abundant, use your unique talents and be more - fulfilled  - people. Because - HE is Your Father.

He puts a conversation in your heart to HIM - because you are answering His call to your Life.

Now. We explain how we feel about being sinned against - briefly. That is His Child too. And pray blessings on that person to. Real blessings. (I personally pray some people to be Very Blessed. Supremely Blessed on a variety of levels - in another state. And I live in Texas- so um - We ALL have work to do!)

Lead me not in to temptation - tell Him what you should ought not to choose to do. And say Help! And. Please!

Deliver me from evil. In myself. In others, in paths of no Light.

For we want GOD to succeed in HIS Kingdom, His Power and His Might. Because HE is For US! And HE alone is GOOD!

In the strongest name of Jesus, we pray. And now we do like the disciple Paul said and "Look to see how it will go with me." In expectation and deliberation and in examination of the day. Given! To us. In Jesus. Who really was a pretty wonderful Man. And wants to talk with you. And do the work of going to Church - to hear preaching - because - God not only died for you - but for His Church. Jesus survived death to do this - we might be able to put a little effort in it. Even if we sit in the back. To cry. To get out faster. Or just to be humble. All those reasons would appeal to Him.

Bring the Kids to My House, HE says. Because we need to be nourished. This is HIS House and His table is like His will - this is for us. But we have to do the work of claiming that - over the hassle - the stupidity - we call boredom - the lie of low self-esteem - and keep doing that because it's really hard to walk on a broken ankle when our feelings are tender and our souls raw.

Encourage one another. HE does.

Please vindicate me, O Father God.
Mostly I have walked with integrity.
Help me to trust in Your mercy when I have failed to trust.

Lord, prove me again. Try me.
Test my heart and my mind.
I want Your steadfast love and to walk in Your faithfulness.

I sit with all manner of people, as You did.
I am sometimes hypocritical. Help straighten my path to You.
I so not want to be placed with the wicked forever.

Bare with me, Jesus Christ the Lord, wash my hands and heart and
call me to redemption.

Help me to go around your altar, O Lord Father God.
I will proclaim of Your mercy in thanksgiving, breaking
silence into my relief and joy. Telling of your Wondrous
Deeds.

Help me to not be overwhelmed and bored - stupidly -
in Your House, Father God.
Help me to love the place where Your Glory dwells.
I do not want to be swept with sinners and the bloodthirsty.
I do not want to be known as one with evil devices.
And right hands fulled with bribes.

I want to say again - I walk in integrity.
Redeem me, Jesus.

Be gracious to me.

My foot will stand on level ground;
in the great assembly I will bless the Lord.

For I join with You, hoping with YOU, for Your good intentions to me.
In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Bear Hunt - ZIBRAH Song

<><

Psalm 130 ~ 2 O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

Psalm 130

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
2 O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.

5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.

7 O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
8 And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.


The Scriptures are unique. Thought to be Sunday School lessons of saccharine - instead we find real people. Real flaws. Mess. Trauma.

Genesis - God oddly enough puts horns on His altar. The point being, in times of trouble, hang on, God is something real to hold on to. This is one of the first stories in the Bible.

Abraham suffers infertility.

Isaac suffers twin sons who fight endlessly.

Jacob suffers heart-sick love and too many women and children fighting.

The Bible sees - alcoholism, incest, prostitution, the loss of family, jealousy, Christians who argue. Those who long for love and feel forsaken.

Through out Scripture we see families having generational gaps. The Scriptures see longing to be united in good circumstance, in Heaven, with all walls removed - the Spirit open.

Ephesians 2:14
For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall

Ephesians 2:17
He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

Corinthians 1:3-7
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

The Scriptures said what we expect from God - we will receive. If we expect Him to be remote and unknowable - that is what we find. If we draw near and seek - He will draw near. He promises when we reach to Him, He is there for us.

God has an open hands policy.

An open ear policy to prayer. In the name of His Son. Jesus.

Romans 10:13
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

God wants to save - the whole world.

1 John 4:9
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

You have to be God to aim that High. Blessed be the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen. Our all in all.

<><

Mark 10:18 ~ "No one is good--except God alone."

Mark 10:18
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone."

God has Mercy and God has Reason. ALL THE TIME.

And that Covers That. All the time.

<><

Isaiah 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8 ~ Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father

Gibon Springs, redirected by Hezekiah, these are his tunnels for water.

It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Gihon spring and channeled the water down to the west side of the City of David. He succeeded in everything he undertook. 2 Chronicles 32:30

Faith is not a wish to believe or a will to believe something contrary to reason. Faith is not living as if something were true. Faith is the acceptance of a truth based on the authority of God's revelation, as in Scripture.

- Fulton J. Sheen

The purpose of life is to grow up. To develop our core, our soul, into something we can hope would be pleasing to our Father God. The destination is Home - His eternal Kingdom. At hand now. Faith is unseen. He says so. God did not whisk the Children of Israel into the Promised Land. Of course this was possible for Him. He expected the Children of Israel to grow up. God wants us to pray, be grateful, give Him our hearts, and do some heavy lifting. Not handing Him the broom to clean up our unrepentant messes. Or treating Him as our waiter. Instead as our Hero, our Savior. Choosing Life, just as He sees it - as Good. Knowing to be the good Samaritan. Going the extra mile, because He does this for us. The destination is Home. His Home.

Jesus desires holy. And gives healing. Asking each time something from the recipient - His beloved. 

• Mark 5:24-29  The woman healed from bleeding - reached out - in faith.

• Matthew 9: 1-8, Mark 2:1-12, and Luke 5:17-26 - The paralyzed man - had friends to help do an action. Today we pray for people and offer to help them. Jesus told the healed man to pull his weight and rise. Knowing Jesus, we can say, He would want to see the man give back. Let the healed man give back. Creating a cycle of love, care, a meaningful life. Worth living... Rise.

²³ Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?

• Luke 17:11-13 10 Lepers were healed. Told not to sit and collect their own naval lint. Move on. Seek holiness, not stay in self-pity.

14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.

One was wise and sought out Jesus. Better than mere busyness. Jesus told him to do work too. The man seeking Jesus was affirmed on His path... Rise.

19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

• Matthew 9:27-31

Jesus heals two blind men. And gives them the task of discretion. A Light under a basket? Our God is about relationship, not glam. A life knowing the miracle was personal.

30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.”

• Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10. The Centurion's servant is healed in Capernaum. Capernaum, the beautiful city by the sea - where He said He had not seen such faith in all of Israel. Jesus was so impressed by the foreigner's understanding of the power in the Word of God, the Centurion was not asked for any further action. However, Jesus chose this place as His dwelling.

“I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.

The Old Testament is still the Word of God, unity is found in God. Aaron's sons are more safe in the New Testament. ~ Alleluia. Good News! God's favor rests on those who seek His Good Will - usually.

Isaiah 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8

Isaiah 38:1-6
1 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: Set your house in order, for you shall die, you shall not recover.” 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, 3 and said, “Please, O Lord, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

4 Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah: 5 “Go and say to Hezekiah, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. 6 I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and will defend this city.

Isaiah 38:21-22
21 Now Isaiah had said, “Let them take a cake of figs and apply it to the boil, that he may recover.” 22 Hezekiah also had said, “What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the Lord?”

Isaiah 38:7-8
7 “This shall be the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do this thing that he has promised: 8 Behold, I will make the shadow cast by the declining sun on the dial of Ahaz turn back ten steps.” So the sun turned back on the dial the ten steps by which it had declined.




Father God, Be with us in the days ahead and Today. Getting out of our routine - to find the gratitude You give us making the day sufficient. Expecting You to show up, seeing where You are working all things together for our good, in Faith. When we don't, letting eyes of faith be Your's.

Blessing upon the people who reach far into themselves to share. Speaking up, when opening themselves is difficult. May the God of all Heaven, all Heavenly Host, bless those who speak up even when their voice squeaks. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Using what they've got to broaden, deepen, and soothe the faith and the lives of those God gives them to touch. Let Hearts be untroubled. Let Joys be multiplied. Let families live in peace. With God we shall do valiantly. We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Give thanks to Him; bless His name!

The Old Testament and the New Testament are Your story in Oneness. Jesus, His sacrifice - His death - His Victory over death. We commit to You the upbuilding of the ones we love and pray for. Jesus is Your Son, Our Lord God and we praise You for Your redemptive Power. And Your Love.

May the our God fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may abound in hope.

In the Highest name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

<><

Numbers 29 ~ also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the sin offering of atonement, and the regular burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

Numbers 29

“On the first day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work. It is a day for you to blow the trumpets, 2 and you shall offer a burnt offering, for a pleasing aroma to the Lord: one bull from the herd, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish; 3 also their grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah[a] for the bull, two tenths for the ram, 4 and one tenth for each of the seven lambs; 5 with one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you; 6 besides the burnt offering of the new moon, and its grain offering, and the regular burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offering, according to the rule for them, for a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord.

7 “On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation and afflict yourselves. You shall do no work, 8 but you shall offer a burnt offering to the Lord, a pleasing aroma: one bull from the herd, one ram, seven male lambs a year old: see that they are without blemish. 9 And their grain offering shall be of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah for the bull, two tenths for the one ram, 10 a tenth for each of the seven lambs: 11 also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the sin offering of atonement, and the regular burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

12 “On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work, and you shall keep a feast to the Lord seven days. 13 And you shall offer a burnt offering, a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord, thirteen bulls from the herd, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old; they shall be without blemish; 14 and their grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah for each of the thirteen bulls, two tenths for each of the two rams, 15 and a tenth for each of the fourteen lambs; 16 also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering and its drink offering.

17 “On the second day twelve bulls from the herd, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish, 18 with the grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, in the prescribed quantities; 19 also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

20 “On the third day eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish, 21 with the grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, in the prescribed quantities; 22 also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering and its grain offering and its drink offering.

23 “On the fourth day ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish, 24 with the grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, in the prescribed quantities; 25 also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering and its drink offering.

26 “On the fifth day nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish, 27 with the grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, in the prescribed quantities; 28 also one male goat for a sin offering; besides the regular burnt offering and its grain offering and its drink offering.

29 “On the sixth day eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish, 30 with the grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, in the prescribed quantities; 31 also one male goat for a sin offering; besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offerings.

32 “On the seventh day seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish, 33 with the grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, in the prescribed quantities; 34 also one male goat for a sin offering; besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.

35 “On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly. You shall not do any ordinary work, 36 but you shall offer a burnt offering, a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish, 37 and the grain offering and the drink offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs, in the prescribed quantities; 38 also one male goat for a sin offering; besides the regular burnt offering and its grain offering and its drink offering.

39 “These you shall offer to the Lord at your appointed feasts, in addition to your vow offerings and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your grain offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.”

40 So Moses told the people of Israel everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses

Hebrews 9 ~ According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper (why Jesus became our Savior)

We have been told so many times, because of the 3 centuries of persecution - coining the word traitor - men were tortured to death to give up Scripture to be destroyed. And we have things like the Ryland Papyrus - not only the words assuring us this was written before the sacrifices (70 A D the natural death of Jesus in the destruction of Jerusalem) but the carbon dating.

We all would like to be the eyes who have beheld the wonders of the Bible. In the Arch of Titus we see the carved mosaics of the Temple Tools (minus the Ark which Jeremiah hid on Mt. Nebo in Macabees). This is the closest thing we have to a photo of the Second Temple during the time of Jesus Christ.


Hebrews 9


9 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. 2 For a tent^[tabernacle] was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, 4 having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. 5 Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

6 These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 7 but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. 8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing 9 (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.


11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.


The last time we looked at the ninth chapter of Hebrews, it was a detailed look at the whole chapter.

Hebrews 9:26 ~ He has put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself - once and for all

We begin at the top (the Heavens and worship), a God Plan and move to the most holy objects. Judeo-Christians today and at the time Hebrews was written - have something in common - we all would like nothing more than to find Benjamin Netanyahu was right in asking the Vatican - does the Vatican hold one of the Temple Tools from the First Temple. (And it is not going to be the Ark because Maccabees tells us Jeremiah hid the Ark at Mount Nebo and the Arch of Titus does not record the Ark being recovered.)

During the first Exodus, The LORD, The Almighty invited Aaron into the Holy of Holies for the first time when his sons died imperfectly and selfishly offering sacrifices. God invited Aaron in to sprinkle blood around for the first time. Why? To say we can come into God's home and we will never be as Holy as He is. And yet He gives us the invitation to be in relationship with Him.


The Table you see here is the Bread of the Presence

There is an interesting story about the Ark written in one of the ancient Talmuds. The Talmud is not the Word of God - it is the Sanhedrin Council and their musings of God. Going back to the time when it wasn't even called the Sanhedrin Council. That the Ark Cherubim moved to face each other when times were good and moved away from each other when Israel fell from His grace. Yet we miss the point and it is a good point - God told David He did not dwell in a Temple - but the Ark is a Mercy Seat. Meaning God is so comfortable and at home in His Temple that He has a seat there. It tells us about God.

Then the next paragraph is about the day to day dealing of the Priests who get so comfortable in the Temple - like John the Baptist's father Zechariah - when the Angel Gabriel appeared, in Luke 1, Zechariah decides to question Gabriel rather than grab hold of the horns of the altar for mercy. Now. Doesn't the second paragraph bring home an analogy to us. We all get so caught up in the life we see and hear - we forget to be in awe of what God brings us.

Which brings us to the 3rd paragraph. Jesus Christ Unblemished as our LORD and Savior. We get to turning on the television at night and reading liberal far out things forgetting the absolute Holiness of GOD. Would you turn on that program if you Know Jesus is sitting with you?

Which brings you to the fourth paragraph. If you believe Jesus died for you - a sinner - you believe in the New Covenant. Which means you believe the Holy Spirit of God dwells in you.

And the fifth paragraph.

1 Corinthians 6:20
For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Sixth paragraph

1 Timothy 1:15
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

Rejoice, Rejoice. The Scriptures use this word over 200 hundred times.


Isaiah 55:3
Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.


Hebrews 6:18-20
so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.


Today, Lord Jesus, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In our lives. In our families. In our Churches. In our workplaces. In our cities. In the Nation. Bless us as we begin the season of Lent. So very somber. Good Friday is coming. But we are the Easter People. And because of You we are redeemed.  Amen.

<><

Hebrews 12 ~ the perfecter of our faith

Hebrews 12

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely,

and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking to Jesus,
the founder and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame,
and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.


There will be days.
Edward and I were so very grateful for the message of Hope.

Dear Father God,
This is the day that You have created! We choose to rejoice and be glad in it. Let not hearts be troubled. There may be challenges, but we, as Your Bride, choose to believe that You are always working in our life for our benefit.

For You know the plans You have for us, You declare, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give us a future and a hope.

Help us not to have a bad attitude, to take our heart, our earnest prayers from that heart and place them with You, Father God, who cares so much for us.

In the name of Jesus.
Amen.

<><