"A Promise Remains"

"Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear (literally, 'be terrified') lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it  

(Hebrews 4:1, NKJV & ESV)."

Many have, "failed to reach it," i.e., "desert, abandon, forsake."  Yet, there always has been and always will be, "a promise remains," or, "still stands."  No matter the depth of the struggle, the promises of God have mocked Satan and his demon forces who have tried to discourage and defeat the Follower of Jesus Christ down through the ages.  Jesus, "in His cross," and Most Precious Blood, destroyed all our sin, opened the gates to Glory, and brought us into fellowship in the Godhead, "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us."  

Whether you or I avail ourselves of the promises, still------- "a promise remains."  This is not a dispassionate statement, nor is it a, "Well, if you don't avail yourself of the promises, God doesn't care."  Of course He cares.  But the "caring" does not change, "a promise remains."  Even when we think we are not "worthy" of the promises, even when I am immersed in self pity and may forget the promises------"a promise remains."  The reason is that Jesus Christ remains, "the same yesterday, today, and forever, literally, through 'a series of ages, stretching to infinity.'"

Don't ever doubt this, my friend.  Any proud among us will be offended that anyone would dare think they might have any battles with, "a promise."  Yet those of us who realize just how weak and inadequate we are in this world, rejoice that, "a promise remains." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, the richness of Your Words never cease to amaze me, comfort me, empower me.  Thank You.  Amen.

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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

Where Are You Headed Today?

"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 before us may be greatly encouraged.  We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.  It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf." (Hebrews 6:18-20a, NIV)

The NIV may not be the "best" translation, but many times it "speaks" in our "language," as most of us speak today.  "We have this hope....It enters the inner sanctuary...," or, "....This hope...enters...."  A "hope" which stays outside the, "inner sanctuary," is a lost hope, a hope which knows no fulfillment, a hope which fades into oblivion.  Jesus Christ is, "this hope," which, "we have...."  He entered the, "inner sanctuary behind the curtain...."  No one else could do this.  As the Holy Spirit will state later in the epistle, "Such a high priest truly meets our need-- one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens."  

Sometimes there is great flippancy with which people speak of "entering in."  There is no entering in, no matter the wow factor of worship, personal charisma, or superstar status of those leading; if Jesus Christ is not central, preeminent, His Name consciously at the forefront of worship, no one is "going" anywhere.  Our, "Great High Priest," entered the, "Holiest of All."  No one may/can enter outside of Jesus; Father will simply not permit it.  Indeed, my "access" to anything of the Godhead, the Kingdom of Heaven/God, saving grace, the, "Book of Life," and the "many mansions," is in Jesus Christ only, solely, exclusively, "No one comes to the Father," literally, "if not through Me."  As a friend of mine once said, "It's amazing how much light the Bible sheds on all these commentaries."

Father, in Jesus' Name, and only, "through Me," Jesus, the richness of Your Words just keep expanding in my heart.  Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

"Trained Themselves"

"But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."  (Hebrews 5:14, NIV)

Our text may be "parenthetical" to the chapter, but nonetheless significant.  First, "....solid food is for the mature...."  Not to sound simplistic, but the only, "solid food," is the "God-Breathed" Word.  All else is milk and cookies. 

Second, the Greek word for, "trained," is the word from which we get the English word, gymnasium.  It means, "to train with one's full effort, presumes full discipline, necessary to be in top 'working condition;' conveys acquiring proficiency through practice."  Too few in today's Church, "have trained themselves."  They would rather just attend "training classes," sort of like taking diet pills.

Third, the object here is to take the, "solid food," and, "train[] themselves," for something------- "to distinguish good from evil."  This is the call of Scripture since the Fall.  This is what Jesus Christ, "finished...in His Cross."  He, "distinguished good (Himself) from evil (Satan)."  Now my life is to reflect the same, in heart, soul, and body.  As I go through the Bible, it seems to me that what breaks Father's Heart, a chief sin of man, is my going, "after other gods."  Now I may not have a wooden idol in the corner of our living room.  But what's in the corner of my heart?

Hebrews declares Jesus Christ as our, "Great High Priest."  He cleansed us from sin, "in His Blood."  As, "Great High Priest," Jesus "brings" us before the Throne.  And my life here, now, is to be an example of a cleansed Follower of Jesus.

Father, in Jesus' Name, may my life be an example to all of, "distinguish good from evil."  Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

Do You Need Rest? You Came to the Right Place/Person

For only we who believe can enter His rest.  As for the others, God said, "In my anger I took an oath:" 'They will never enter my place of rest,' even though this rest has been ready since He made the world. (Hebrews 4:3, NLT)

The word, "rest," appears at least 10 times in Hebrews 3 & 4.  It seems to mean, "reposing, dwelling, a habitation.'  It is from a root word which means, "cause to rest."  Later in verse 11, the Holy Spirit commands us, "Let us therefore be diligent ('make hast, be eager, zealous,' be quick to) enter into that rest."  This, my friend, is for the good of you and me.  

The issue in our text is, Who does the "causing?"  I simply cannot "cause [myself] to rest;" it is not within the isolated self to find rest of any kind, let alone, "His Rest."  Man has searched and labored to enter some sort of rest since he was barred from the Garden, but, alas, it has illuded him always.  Perhaps the most destructive powers of rest is the past, the things which, try as one may, he just cannot change.  Forgiveness is not the issue; it's what that past reaped.  But "labor" as one might, there is nothing you nor I can do to change that.  And so, in the midst of that un-resting struggle, comes the beautiful, albeit not fully understood by any, admonition of our Father, "be diligent," or, "make haste, be eager and zealous," be quick to, "enter into that rest."  Why not?  As this world accelerates faster and faster to its own destruction, this is the greatest "state of being" in this life, to be in Jesus Christ, the Rest of God.  Some refer to this, "rest," as, peace.  But whatever the "definition," the Bible teaches us that we should not be as concerned with the definition, theology or teach-ability, as the "position" of rest in Jesus Christ.
    
Hebrews 4:9 tells us, "There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God...."(NIV).  Yet in this chapter, we are told that people, "come short of," this Glorious Rest, "because of their disobedience."  As you know, the Greek words for faith and obedience are from similar root words.  One definition which I discovered this morning is, "the believing that leads to/proceeds from God's inbirthing of faith."  If there is no "inbirthing," their is no birth.  I can work, struggle, strive, pray, fast, be as spiritual as I think possible, yet it is all for naught without the "inbirthing" work of Jesus Christ.  Everything and the only "thing" which gives me anything life-sustaining is the "inbirthing" of the Blessed Trinity in Jesus Christ=Rest.

So, this Monday, after the worst Steeler game in recent memory, this Monday, faced with new pressures, obstacles, health issues, financial struggles, rejections, unhealed memories, or whatevers, Jesus Christ, Himself the, "Sabbath Rest of" of our Father, is here, there, for all, for all time.

Father, in Jesus' Name, continually a, Thank You for Your Sabbath Rest, Jesus.  Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2