Tag Archives: Hebrews 14:14-16

Eyes On Jesus??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #100

23 Friday Jun 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, A heart of faith, Abiding In Jesus, Blessed by God, Encouragement, Faith, Faithful, Faithful Father--heavenly and earthly, Faithful Follower, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness, Father's Way!

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Eyes On Jesus???        A Word from THE WORD!!! #100

 

Life happens–trials come and go–difficulties distract us–people annoy us–demands are hovering over our head–dishes to wash–grass to mow–wheeling, dealing, and feelings, all weigh on us seemingly continually–so what do we do?  God’s Word always gives me the answer; and while I don’t always want to hear it and obey; The Word of God IS all I need. For believe me, my friends, JESUS IS The Word of God!  He is the living Word, and the breath of the written Word, and it never fails, if I will but heed its love, wisdom, and provision.

So, let’s receive a bit of advice from God’s Word this morning…..

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin

which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run with patience

the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author and finisher

of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down at the right hand

of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:1-2

This amazing passage gives us great advise about God’s work in our lives, but it’s built on chapter 11, which we often call the hall of “faith”, and while people seem to focus on the first 2/3 of the chapter with Abraham (a rich man), Moses (a powerful man), we often overlook the last part of the book, which reveals the hard truth that real faith often suffers for standing true.  It’s not the ‘name and claim it’ mentality, it’s very far from the ‘prosperity’ teaching of many, but God calls us, you and me, to a life of faith in Jesus, NOT our circumstances; for it is God to whom we will give an account, and the standard will be HIS WORD not the world’s/man’s words or ideas!

“For the word of God

is quick,

and powerful,

and sharper than any twoedged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder

of soul and spirit,

and of the joints and marrow,

and is a discerner

of the thoughts

and intents of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature

that is not manifest in his sight:

but all things are

naked

and opened unto the eyes of him

with whom we have to do.”  Hebrews 4:12-13

When our faith is in God not our circumstances we can stand fast in trials, tests, and difficulties as well as times of visible blessings. So, for our consideration today, let’s look at the “other” part of Hebrews 11, those who endured grievous trials–the “others” of faith; for our sufferings aren’t just God’s working “IN” us but it is also HIS provision for those affected by our faithfulness to what we say we believe, and “in whom” our faith is placed–JESUS!

“And others

had trial of cruel mockings

and scourgings,

yea, moreover

of bonds

and imprisonment:

37 They were stoned,

they were sawn asunder,

were tempted,

were slain with the sword:

they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins;

being destitute,

afflicted,

tormented;

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:)

they wandered in deserts,

and in mountains,

and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And these all,

having obtained a good report through faith,

received not the promise:

40 God having provided some better thing

for us,

that they without us

should not be made perfect.”  Hebrews 11:36-40

No matter which path God leads me/us on, I pray that I/we will be as faithful as they were?  That’s the meaning of chapter 12:1-2; we are to remember the faithfulness of others, not a stadium of people cheering us on, but a “great …cloud of witnesses” who have found GOD faithful, no matter their circumstances.  Where is your faith standing?  Is it in the Redeemer of your soul, or your circumstances!  Do you welcome the accolades, but reject the suffering?  Yes, we can stand on the promises of God, but God never promised us a life of ease, rather Jesus warned us that if we are following Him and His will there will be trials and opposition!  WILL–not–MAYBE!

“These things I command you,

that ye love one another.

18 If the world hate you,

ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world,

the world would love his own:

but because ye are not of the world,

but I have chosen you out of the world,

therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you,

The servant is not greater than his lord.

If they have persecuted me,

they will also persecute you;

if they have kept my saying,

they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things will they do unto you

for my name’s sake,

because they know not him that sent me.”   John 15:17-21

Our power, praise, provision, and hope is in The One who died for us and redeems us unto HIMSELF!  I belong to Jesus, so my past is forgiven, my present is secure in HIM, and my future is with THE ONE who is coming soon–‘that where HE is we will be”, blessings beyond measure and more than we can “think or imagine”!  All because of JESUS’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for ME–for YOU!  Looking unto Jesus!  If you know HIM, follow Him closely, if you don’t, call upon HIM today, He will deliver YOU!

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest,

that is passed into the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God,

let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted

like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:14-16

I pray that this will lift you up today, for we all have down days–but we have the victorious, glorious, King of the universe who loves us, so run to Jesus!

“Jesus Christ

the same yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”  Hebrews 13:8

As Jesus said so long ago:

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man

hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.

21 To him that overcometh

will I grant to sit with me

in my throne,

even as I also overcame,

and am set down with my Father

in his throne.”  Revelation 3:20-21

Amen and Amen!!!

PS–This was for me today as much as for you!  Prayers for your day and the coming week, may God bless you as you pursue HIM!

Joshua Fit’, How About You??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 19 No. 01

23 Monday May 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, All Sufficient God!, Choices And Consequences, Choose You This Day!, Choose you this day?, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Commitment Or Convenience, Confidence, Confidence or Presumption?, Conformed to HIS image

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 19 No. 01   Joshua Fit’, How About You???

There’s an old Gospel song, “Joshua Fit’de Battle”, one of my favorites (an old Negro Spiritual of unknown authorship—yet a song of heartfelt trust in ONE who IS in charge, no matter what the circumstances look like) and while it’s usually a fun song, it has a great word of encouragement for me today, and I hope I can share that encouragement with you.

Joshua fought a battle that was out of the ordinary, as the new leader of the people of Israel, who had wandered for 40 years for their disobedience to God, and their lack of faith in HIS promises, Joshua had a great task ahead.  Yet, God gave Him what seemed like some most bizarre instructions.

“Now Jericho was straitly shut up

because of the children of Israel:

none went out,

and none came in.

2 And the LORD said unto Joshua,

See, I have given into thine hand Jericho,

and the king thereof,

and the mighty men of valour.

3 And ye shall compass the city,

all ye men of war,

and go round about the city once.

Thus shalt thou do six days.

4 And seven priests shall bear before the ark

seven trumpets of rams’ horns:

and the seventh day

ye shall compass the city seven times,

and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.

5 And it shall come to pass,

that when they make a long blast

with the ram’s horn,

and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet,

all the people shall shout

with a great shout;

and the wall of the city shall fall down flat,

and the people shall ascend up

every man straight before him.”  Joshua 6:1-5

While these instructions were strange, they were specific and designed to encourage Joshua and the people he was trying to lead.  While I won’t focus much on the battle, I do want to spend some time today examining how we face not only the battles before us, but also the directions that God gives us.

I know how difficult it can be to trust God and obey in the midst of out-of-control circumstances.  I remember when my daughter was murdered some 2½ years ago, it was on a Thursday and I usually try to write and post on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and I told my husband, “I don’t think I can write and/or post tomorrow!”  And he wisely and simply told me to do what was right for me.  Well, during the night God would awaken me with a scripture and I’d put a note on my phone, and roll over and go back to sleep, then He’d do it again, multiple times during the night, and I knew what HE wanted me to do.  Yet, when I got up on that Friday morning, I told The Lord, “I can’t do this today!”, and God spoke to my heart, as clearly as if I had heard an audible voice, “YOU have hope, others do NOT! They need to know about your hope!”  And with that, I went into my den and wrote the things that He had given me in the night; while I always try to be listening to what God would have me say/write, I can guarantee you that the message that came together that morning was straight from my Father, sending His Balm of Gilead to my soul, and to all who would receive it.

My battle was much different from Joshua’s, but the decision to trust and obey was the same.  How about you?  What battle are you facing, are you trying to ‘Fit ‘de Battle’ alone, or your own way, instead of God’s.  It’s your choice, but God is still God—and you can trust to HIS care, or not.

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest,

that is passed into the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God,

let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched with the feeling

of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted like as we are,

yet without sin.   

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:14-16

No matter your battle, no matter your circumstances, no matter your frustrations, fear, grief or sorrow—we have a “throne of grace” to which we can run, boldly run (not in arrogance or presumption, but in bold confidence in HIM who sits on that throne—God The Father, and Jesus Christ The Son of God who has boldly paid the price for our sin, and given us access into that throne room!) into the arms of the ONE who gave HIS life that we could have not only “life”, but “abundant life” IN HIM!

We can stand in Jesus, with complete confidence, just as Joshua did even at the end of his life—still knowing that God was all he needed, and that he would serve HIM boldly and faithfully—and he called all the people to recognize that it was their choice as to whom they would trust and serve.

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD,

choose you this day

whom ye will serve;

whether the gods which your fathers served

that were on the other side of the flood,

or the gods of the Amorites,

in whose land ye dwell:

but as for me and my house,

we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

Joshua didn’t force the people to choose God, and I can’t force anyone to believe in Jesus, but without HIM no person will enter heaven’s gates—we must be “born again”!  Jesus’ own words say it best.  Won’t you come to the One who died for YOU?

“Jesus answered and said unto him,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him,

How can a man be born when he is old?

can he enter the second time

into his mother’s womb,

and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily,

I say unto thee, Except a man be born

of water

and of the Spirit,

he cannot enter

into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh

is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit

is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,

Ye must be born again.”  John 3:3-7

And when you belong to Jesus, you always have someone who can fight your battles, and lift you up when you are down!

“And he said, Hearken ye,

all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem,

and thou king Jehoshaphat,

Thus saith the LORD unto you,

Be not afraid nor dismayed

by reason of this great multitude.

for the battle is not yours,

but God’s.”  2 Chronicles 20:15

I’ll share Jesus in the valley—I’ll share HIM on the mountain top—I’ll share HIM, by God’s grace and faithful provision, in all I do and say.  Jesus wants to care for YOU!  Won’t you repent of your sin and receive the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice that JESUS made for YOU.  Then you can have what I have, and all who are HIS!  Your “fighting” days can be over!

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you

in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him;

for he careth for you.”  1 Peter 5:7

It’s your choice but choose wisely—there is a test!!!  Don’t fall for the lies of the enemy of your soul.  (Satan is a thief and a liar!). Even if your heart is breaking—remember, Jesus IS the heart healer!  Believe me, HE heals mine every day!

“The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come

that they might have life,

and that they might have it      

more abundantly.”  John 10:10

Amen and Amen!!!