"Just Think How Great He Was"

"Just think how great He was (when He appeared to Abraham)....Such a high priest truly meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens....He sacrificed for their sins once for all when He offered Himself." (Hebrews 7:26, 27b-NIV)

My purpose in this Hebrews study is not to do some "in depth" study of the book.  There are a number of good works which do that.  These are "devotional" thoughts.
 
"Just think how great He Was."  What our text then says of Jesus is the objective Father has for you and me, all humanity.  If I had a dime for every time I have heard leaders say in meetings, "He is here to meet your need," I would be a very rich man.  But have you ever heard that the "need" Father purposes to "meet" in your life is to be, "holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners..."?  Yet this "need" is exactly what Jesus accomplished for you and me at the Cross.  In His Precious Blood, Jesus made us, "holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners."  Man lost this in the Garden.  He can have it again in the Cross of Jesus Christ. 

Father's purpose is to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ.  Man's great need is not finances, great marriages, doing great things.  Our great need is to be conformed to and in Jesus Christ, "One who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess that I don't know what my needs are.  Thank You for telling me.  Amen.
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Now Watching Abbas' Speech at UN
New Articles at: www.apf327.blogspot.com

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

Hebrews 7 Part I

"Without father or mother, without genealogy without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever." (Hebrews 7:3, NIV)

We have come to a passage which is unique to the New Testament.  Here the Holy Spirit explains the fulfillment of the foreshadowed, "Great High Priest," Jesus the Christ.  Melchizedek's appearing to Abraham was a pre-incarnation appearing of Jesus Christ.  We read in the chapter that:

1. He, "was king of Salem," or, "king of peace"

2. He "was...priest of God Most High"

3. Abraham, "gave him a tenth of everything"

4. He was, "King of righteousness"

5. He was, "without father of mother"

6. He was, "without genealogy"

7. He was, "without beginning of days"

8. He was, "without...end of life"

9. He appeared to Abraham, "resembling the Son of God"

10.He, "remains a priest forever"

Consider closely, my friend, and you will see that such statements can be said of no other but God, the Son.  This is Jesus appearing to Abraham.  You remember what Jesus once said to the Jews, "Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing My day; he saw it and was glad."  Here it was, Jesus, giving Abraham a glimpse of Himself and what was still to be revealed of Him to all humanity.  

At this moment, Jesus Christ is High "Priesting," interceding, praying for you right there, whether amidst chaos, pain, sorrow, uncertainty, or worship, bliss, victories, whatever.  Jesus is, "Priest of God Most High," for you, for me------- for eternity.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I'm having so much fun just sharing Your Words with my friend here.  Holy Spirit, Help us to reach others with such "fun."  Amen.

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* Keep praying for the United States of America to be on the right side of the Land dispute in Israel.  Also, visit my Facebook "shorties."

* News, Commentary:    www.apf327.blogspot.com

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

"It Is Impossible For God To Lie"

"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....It is impossible for God to lie." (From Hebrews 6:17, 18-NIV)

"The father of lies," told Eve that God lies.  The state school system in the US, from kindergarten to doctoral programs in the universities, continues this age old lie.
To the present world system, the Book of Hebrews is perhaps the biggest lie of all.

Consider: Hebrews is telling us of God's purpose for the Universe from eternity.
This revelation unfolds in chapter one with the exaltation of the Word of God, Jesus Christ, introduced as Father's Son, angels commanded to, "worship Him," Father saying to Son Jesus, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever," declaring Him King of the Kingdom, Who, "in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands"--------- horror of horrors to the humanists. 

Chapter two tells us that, contrary to religions of the world, God is not aloof, some distant god who has to be  "called down."  Rather, because you and I are, "of flesh and blood, He (Jesus) Himself (voluntarily) likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy...the devil," yes, "the father of lies."  

Chapter three tells us, in light of this, to, "Consider Jesus," or, "Fix your thoughts on Jesus," Who Is, "the Apostle and High Priest of our profession."  

Chapter four declares, "a Sabbath-rest for the people of God," which, "remains," regardless of what the foolish, "wisdom of this world," and life's sorrows and struggles may "say" to us.  The wise, Believers in Jesus Christ, "enter that rest." 

Chapter five speaks more of Jesus as our High Priest, "after the order of Melchizedek," more of which is said in later chapters.

Our text from chapter six tells us that, contrary to what children and you and I are constantly bombarded with, we can trust absolutely all of the preceding, because it is absolutely, "IMPOSSIBLE for God to lie...."  And because there is no possibility, "for God to lie," we may now, "have strong ('mighty, powerful') consolation (same Greek word translated, "Comforter," in John 14)" that is, those of us, "who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I receive all You have just said to me.  Amen.
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I invite you to pray the prayer which I sent to you yesterday on behalf of the events this week at the United Nations meetings.  Also, new articles and video at:
www.apf327.blogspot.com  

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

Terrifying Thought, But Not Without Hope

"For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the power of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.  For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned." (Hebrews 6:4-8, NASB)

There are some passages in the Bible which might tempt one to just pass over quickly, not think about it, or worse, ignore it.  Our text could be one of them, perhaps one of the most "terrifying" passages in all of Scripture. 

Those of us who are surrendering our life to Jesus Christ, at some point joined the Church of the Ages, "of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit."  We are those who, "have tasted the good word of God," even Jesus, Who, "is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God," and Whose Words are indeed, "the good word of God."  We have tasted of Jesus Christ Who reigns over, "the powers of the age to come...."  There are Scriptures which tell of some of these, "powers," but the key here is that we have, "tasted," of them, and having, "tasted," and been so very blessed by Who Jesus Christ Is and what He has done and continues to do for us, there comes a frightening warning: If we fall, "away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance." 

We may take some comfort from the later phrase, "close to being cursed..," and this could be a "ray" of hope that all need not be lost.  The word, "impossible," however, implies a weakness, an impotence in "finding" one's way back.  Once on the course of falling away, something is set in motion which produces a weakness, which could be likened to the attempt to "swim up stream" against an overwhelming current.

You and I have been, "ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful for whose sake it is also tilled...;" therefore, do not allow, "....the cares and anxieties of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word...."  Sell all you have and buy that field!

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for Your, "good word."  May it bring, "forth vegetation useful for those whose sake it is also tilled...."  Amen.
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Keeping Eyes on This Week's UN Proceedings:   www.apf327.blogspot.com ;

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

"To the Throne of Grace...That We May...Find Grace to Help"

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

We have read in Hebrews of, "His rest."  Isaiah 11:12 (NIV) says, "In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious."  His "his resting place...glorious," is, "the throne of grace." 

Now the word, "place," is a time/space word which is necessary for you and me to have even a little understanding of, "the throne of grace," or, of what the Holy Spirit will later speak of as, "the true Tabernacle, which the Lord pitched and not man," in which is "the Most Holy Place."  

Whatever the complete definition or "concept," there is a "place" where no one, angel nor human, could or can abide or even just be.  It is this glorious, "Throne of Grace," referred to by the psalmist as, "the secret place of the Most High," where you and I, solely because of and in the Blood of Jesus, may, "abide under the Shadow of the Almighty."  It is "there" and "there" alone that you and I can, "....say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my fortress, My God in Whom I trust.'" 

 

"The throne of grace," is, "His resting place."  You and I are daily, continually, 24/7 invited to live "there," in God Our Father, His "Word became Flesh," Jesus, the Holy Spirit.  

"Come Away My Beloved."   

Father, in Jesus' Name, Your, "resting place," is now, "glorious," to me.  Amen.

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Read of Presidential candidate who is will to take on the "Islamaphobia" accusation, as well as the latest update on the Arabs bid to take over the Land of Israel:

www.apf327.blogspot.com

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