God Equips with good for doing his will

Scripture: Hebrews 13:20-21  20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,  21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
 
Observation: The God of peace, equips us with everything good for doing his will.  God works in us what is pleasing to Him.  This is done through Jesus Christ, his blood and resurrection.  God’s work is pleasing to him.  This does not sound like a painful process.

Application:   I need to recognize that equipping comes from the God of peace.  As I work on Small Group Leader and member equipping, recognize the peaceful process.  There are times that the process looks painful from an outsider.  Remember that God’s will is not to harm me, but to prosper me.  What do we worry, have fear where God is leading us.  I need to give God the glory in all things.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Lord Almighty, forgive me for my doubt, my grumbling, my lack of faith.  Help me to see all things you want me to see.  Help me to embrace the changes that you bring to my life.  Equip me lord with everything good for doing your will.  Lord may your work in me be pleasing to you.  Thank you Lord, for Jesus and his sacrifice.

Perseverance in Faith

Scripture: Hebrews 10: 19-27 19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,  25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

Observation:  Three main themes jump out at me.  In verse 19-22, we are told because of the blood of Jesus, we are to change the way we are to act.  Jesus brings new life and we have full assurance from God, we are cleaned.  Verses 23-25 tell us that we need to do this together “Let us”.  Verses 26-27 are convicting.  If we keep on sinning after we know we are not suppose to we are fearful of God’s judgment, worried about the consuming fire.

Application:  As I continually acknowledge Jesus’ sacrifice for me, I need to reach out to others, meet regularly and be unmovable in my conviction towards small group, weekend service, First Place group, and sharing You with others.  I need to be honest about the sins I continue to return to.  I need more sleep, I need to fill out my tracker, I need to work on my spiritual disciplines, and I need to increase my time with God.  I need to strive for balance, spiritual, physical, mental and emotional. 

Prayer:  Lord your patience with me is undeserving.  Help me to see where you want me to change, where you want me to continue, where you want me to stop.  Help me Lord. Show me, teach me, and reveal to me your purpose and direction for my life.  Thank you Lord for the ability to enter your Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus.  Help me to remember that it is only through your grace that I am drawn to You.  Thank you for washing away my sins.  I look forward to the work you have for me.  Help me to focus on you and not the work.

Responding to God's voice

S. Hebrews 3:7-9,15  7 So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, 9 where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did.  15 As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”

O.  This message is repeated twice in Hebrews 3 that if you hear God’s voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.    

A.  We need to learn from our past.  Learn to not harden our hearts when we hear God’s voice.  Too many times, I have heard God’s voice and been resistant to the message.  It is often something I need to stop doing or change.  I might be intimidated, scared, or selfish.   Many times God continues to send the message.  He does not give up on me.  I want to be obedient.  I want to show my love to God by being obedient when I hear his voice.

P. Lord, forgive me for the many times I hear and do not obey.  Lord you are my Creator, my Father, my Savior.  Lord help me to hear with clarity.  Lord help me to have faith that the plans you have for me are to prosper me and not to harm me.  Thank you Lord.  Your love for me is indescribable.  Your faithfulness is everlasting.  Your patience for me is undeserved.  Lord I am blessed by your unconditional love for me.

Paying Attention to God helps us with our temptations

Scripture. Hebrews 2:1, 18  1 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Observation. In this chapter of Hebrews, there is much to observe.  In verse 1, we are cautioned to pay careful attention so that we do not drift away. It is so easy to get distracted and not drift away.  Satan is always trying to distract me from my time with the Lord.  Distraction is a temptation.     In the last verse of this chapter, we are reminded that Jesus suffered when he was tempted, so he is able to help me who will be tempted.  When I am distracted from God, my relationship suffers.  Jesus was tempted and was without sin.  Jesus is able to help me with my temptations.

Application.  When I am being tempted, I sense the conviction of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spriit helps me to be aware of the temptation. The temptation is so strong at times; I do feel as if I am suffering.  I want what I cannot have.  I need to lean in on Jesus during these times.  Focus on HIM.  Then I can stand up under the temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Prayer.  Thank you Lord.  You always provide insight to temptation.  The world is full of temptation.  I need you more than I will ever know.  Your faithfulness and love for me is more than I can comprehend.  Lord I know from your word, that no temptation will seize me that is not common to man.  I know that you are faithful and will not let me be tempted beyond what I can bear.  Lord help me to see the way out that you provide.  Help me to remember and know that through you, I can stand up under the temptation. My strength truly is in you Lord.   Amen.

Action Steps Required

Scripture. 1 Timothy 6:11 – 12 11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Observation.  Action steps are required.  Paul is telling Timothy he needs to flee, pursue, fight, take hold of the eternal life we are called.   Action is required.  Staying, sitting, doing nothing is not an option.

Application.  When God called me, when I professed faith in Him, I need to run from sin, I need to seek God and all the spiritual gifts, and I need to fight against little faith.  Satan will always be there to tell me I cannot.  I need to fight against doubt.  When we all stood up for Christ, when we said he is our Lord and we will follow him, we need to move forward, grab on to the promises of our Lord.  We need to take action.  We need to Just Do it.  Daily time with God. Spend time with other Christians in fellowship. Go outside my comfort zone and fight against the world for my Lord.

P. Lord, help me.  Help me to hear you, know what actions you want from me.  Give me confidence to go outside my comfort zone. Increase my faith.  I want your will in my life.

Advancing God's work by faith

Scripture. 1 Timothy 1:3-4  3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain persons not to teach false doctrines any longer 4  or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith.

Observation.  In order to advance God’s work, we have to have faith.  We need to make sure that people do not teach false doctrine or devote themselves to traditions/myths/handed down by genealogies that are not honoring to God.

Application. I need to help people see the lies of the world.  Satan tries to manipulate and cloud us with the worldly view.  I need to stop conforming to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind.  Then I will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, his good pleasing and perfect will.  (Romans 12:2)

Prayer.  Lord help me to be renewed in my mind by your word.  Help me to know the truth to be able to test and approve your will.  To be able to advance your work by faith.To be able to speak out in truth for you.  Lord help me to hear you, sense you, and give me the confidence to step out in faith obeying you.

I am the bread of life

I struggle with bread and other types of grains.  When I am out of control, I am likely eating bread, crackers, chips, pizza, pasta, cookies something to do with a grain.    

Today as I studied John 6, verse 47-51 resonated with me.  Very truly I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life.48 I am the bread of life.49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died.50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which people may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (TNIV)

These verses show that Jesus is the bread. The Israelites ate manna (bread) and still died.  Jesus is the living bread, sent from our Heavenly Father.  Jesus gave his life so that he could be our eternal bread.  

Something is wrong when I am stuffing myself with worldly breads.  Jesus is what I hunger.  When I am filling myself with earthly food in an unhealthy way, I am avoiding Jesus.  I am not allowing God to fill me.  I am missing-out on the living bread that came down from heaven. 

Lord, help me not to hunger for the bread of the world. Lord, help me to hunger for only you.  Help me to focus on you.   Help me to seek you.  Lord you are my true satisfier.  Thank you for giving us Jesus, our bread of life.