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Psalms
143:1-12 A Psalm of
David. Hear my
prayer, O LORD, Give ear to my supplications! In Your faithfulness answer me, And in Your righteousness. Do not
enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no one living is
righteous. For the enemy has persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the
ground; He has made me dwell in darkness, Like those who have long been dead.
Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; My heart within me is distressed.
I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of
Your hands. I spread out my hands to You; My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah Answer me speedily, O
LORD; My spirit fails! Do not hide Your face from me, Lest I be like those who
go down into the pit. Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For
in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift
up my soul to You. Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies; In You I take shelter.
Teach me to do Your will, For You are
my God; Your Spirit is good.
Lead me in the land of uprightness. Revive me, O LORD, for Your name's sake!
For Your righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble. In Your mercy cut
off my enemies, And destroy all those who afflict my soul; For I am Your servant.
Father God guide us as we travel through this life here
on earth. Send you’re Spirit to us each day to watch over us and guide us down
the right fork in the road that leads us to your Heavenly Kingdom. In Jesus
name we pray, Amen! The Psalm above fits
perfectly with this week’s lesson.
Book of Hebrews 10:32-39
NKJV
Paul
concludes this chapter by addressing the Hebrew believers to hang on to their
faith in Jesus
Christ and what He did for them on the Cross. He tells them and us to endure in our faith till the end to receive the reward of Heaven for eternity. What a reward this will be and is worth whatever we must endure here on earth to obtain this reward. What type of things do we have to endure you ask? This lesson tells us so let’s get started.
Christ and what He did for them on the Cross. He tells them and us to endure in our faith till the end to receive the reward of Heaven for eternity. What a reward this will be and is worth whatever we must endure here on earth to obtain this reward. What type of things do we have to endure you ask? This lesson tells us so let’s get started.
32 But
recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a
great struggle with sufferings:
But
recall the former days; Former
days is referring to the time period before a person is Born Again. When they
lived a life of serving themselves and living for worldly things, thinking they
are living a good life. Doing things like gossiping, using God’s name in vainly
in everyday language as a way of expressing themselves, cursing and telling
course jokes, stealing things like time at work (being nonproductive), praying
to statues, practicing rituals of religion, etc. The list is quite extensive
and is listed in the Bible in several places like; Leviticus
19:16; 2 Samuel 19:27; Psalm 15:3, Psalm
50:20, Psalm 101:5, Psalm 140:11; Proverbs
6:19, Proverbs 10:18; Proverbs 18:8, Proverbs
25:23, Proverbs 26:20; Jeremiah 6:28, Jeremiah
9:4; Romans 1:29-30; Ephesians
4:17-32; Colossians 3:5-11; 1
Timothy 3:11, 1 Timothy 5:13;
2 Titus 3:3; Titus 2:3, Titus 3:2;
James 4:11; 1
Peter 2:1; 2 Peter 2:10-11; Jude 1:8-10; Revelation
12:10 Galatians
5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions,
jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy,
murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand,
just as I also told you in time
past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
In
which after you were illuminated; This
phrase is referring to a person experiencing the change of having a new birth
in Jesus Christ, when they are Born Again. It is an experience that a person
will never forget. All of a sudden joy enters ones soul and you feel complete
for the first time in your life and then you will experience peacefulness. A
peacefulness that is comforting, warm, and fuzzy. It is a peacefulness of knowing
that you have been accepted into God’s family; you are now one of His children;
that one day Heaven will be your home. It is the Comforter that has taken up
residence within your heart that produces these new feeling. John 14:16 And I will pray the
Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for
ever; John 14:26 But the Comforter, which
is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will
send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 15:26 But when the Comforter is
come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he
shall testify of me: John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell
you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away,
the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto
you. This doesn’t mean everything will be rosy here
on earth for the remainder of your life, but it is an inner peace that comes
over you. In fact, the battle has just begun, because all of a sudden you now
know the truth, there really is a Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and now you
really want to please God. This angers the devil because he has lost you and
now you will become a target of him to win you back, as the next phrase tells
us. Up until the time a person is saved, old Satan doesn’t mess with you
because you are living according to pleasing your flesh with the things of the
world, which is presently his world.
You
endured a great struggle with sufferings; What type of struggle will individuals have? The
struggles will vary from person to person, like the things listed in the quoted
verses above in Galatians. They will struggle with their friends because all of
a sudden what was fun to do before won’t be fun to do now because they
recognize it goes against God’s will. In fact they may not want to hang out
with their friends because of the language they use and/or how they act toward
other people. They will experience suffering due to persecution, because they
want their friends and family to experience the new love they found for Jesus
by being Born Again, but will be rejected instead. Jesus states in His Word
that He will cause division in family and friends because of following Him. Luke 12:51-53 Do you suppose that I came to give peace
on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 52 For from now on five in one house will be divided: three
against two, and two against three.
53 Father will
be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and
daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and
daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law." John 7:43 So there was a division among the people because of Him. Luke 1:8; John 9:16;
John 10:19
It is truly amazing the
people that say they know the Bible, but yet, still can’t recognize the change
in someone they love, and want the same thing for themselves. No, they just go
on living the way they have for decades and express they think they are right
with God, not knowing for sure. They are just like the Israelites in believing
in themselves for salvation.
33 partly
while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly
while you became companions of those who were so treated;
Let’s rephrase this verse;
Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes
you helped others who were suffering the same things.
Partly
while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations; This phrase is in reference to public
ridicule. There are times when people have such a zeal for Jesus after they are
saved, they will go out in the public and displays crosses, signs, preach on
corners, etc. and as a result of such actions they will be made fun of.
Normally they will be ridiculed by self proclaiming Christians just like the
Pharisees and Scribes of Jesus time, but in reality they are only practicing a
religion. These people cannot see the forest for the trees.
And
partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; People are ridiculed also because of
who they may associate with after they are Born Again or because they are
helping a new Born Again individual that is being persecuted because of his new
found faith. As mentioned above, after a person is saved 9 out of 10 times they
will be looking for Born Again Saints to fellowship with. Because of this
change, they will be made fun of and called names like; holy rollers, Bible
thumpers, Jesus freaks, thou holy ones, etc.
34 for you
had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your
goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves
in heaven.
For
you had compassion on me in my chains; Paul is making reference to the time he was in prison in
Rome, as it is recorded in Acts Chapter 28. Paul was hated by the Jewish leaders
because of his preaching and starting of many churches. He was considered an
enemy/traitor of the Jewish leaders, therefore anyone helping Paul or
ministering to his needs while he was in prison also suffered great
tribulations from the leaders. The Jewish leaders didn’t just want to remove
him from society, but to do away with him, in hopes that this Christianity
movement would die.
This type of mentality
also exists today. Many times a minister of a denomination may come to disagree
with the doctrine of a religion because they have learned the truth and start
preaching against the doctrine to reveal this truth. When this happens and the
person is very persistent, the leaders not only seek to remove one of their
own, but try to destroy that individual so the members of the congregation do
not leave. These leaders just like the Pharisees truly believe they are doing
God’s work and will go to extremes to save their beliefs, sometimes committing murder
in Paul’s case.
And
joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods; This is referring to the people that
were ministering to Paul’s needs because they were not only ridiculed, but also
suffered theft of their goods and destruction of their property. Even though
they went through this type of persecution, they did it with a joyful spirit
because of the peace and joy within their hearts.
Knowing
that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven; This is why the people ministering to
Paul were joyful because they had the assurance of a Heavenly reward some day.
They had experience the change, that being Born Again gives one. Their eyes had
been open and their heart knew the truth. The possessions of the world no
longer were important.
35 Therefore
do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
Therefore
do not cast away your confidence; Simply
stating to stand firm in faith in Jesus and what He did for you on the Cross at
Cavalry. If one casts away this confidence then they will cast away the reward
of Heaven.
Which
has great reward; Faith
in Jesus and the Cross is what provides a great reward, HEAVEN! Nothing on
earth can satisfy the inner desire for joy and peace.
36 For you
have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may
receive the promise:
For
you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God; What this phrase is saying is that we
need to have patience or endurance to continue doing the will of God. Paul is
telling his listeners to keep doing what they have been doing and don’t get
discouraged. Stay faithful to Jesus and put on the armor of God each day. Don’t
get lazy and give the Devil the opportunity to tempt you.
You
may receive the promise; Refers
to our reward that we will receive one day. We are to love the Lord enough, and
to have enough faith in Him, to know that He will provide for us, will take
care of us, and will always do for us what we need. As a believer we are to
trust in the Lord, understanding “that He is a rewarder of them that diligently
seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). We must never forget that this Promise from God is a
Promise He has made, and God keeps His Promises!
37 "FOR
YET A LITTLE WHILE, AND HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME AND WILL NOT TARRY.
This verse comes from Habakkuk
2:3. What this verse
is telling us is to be patient and wait for the Lord. The definition of tarry
here means to linger in expectation; wait; stay in or at a place. So what Paul
is telling his Hebrew listeners and us, is to stay faithful and wait on the
Lord. Continue doing the will of God until the appointed time for the Rapture
of the Church to come about. Whatever the reward God has for us will be
stupendous compared to any type of earthly reward.
38 NOW THE
JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; BUT IF ANYONE DRAWS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN
HIM."
This verse is from Habakkuk
2:4.
NOW
THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; The
just, who are the just? They are children of God, Born Again Saints. They are
just because when they came to know the truth of the Gospel, admitted they were
sinners in God’s eyes, ask for forgiveness for living the way they were, God
forgave them and at that moment they were justified through the blood of Jesus.
From that point on they live by faith in Jesus by fully understanding why Jesus
died on the Cross for them.
BUT
IF ANYONE DRAWS BACK; This
phrase proclaims the fact that a believer can backslide in their faith by
transferring their Faith from Christ and the Cross to other things.
MY
SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM; This
phrase tells us that God is grieved over the conduct of any person that would
turn their back and place their faith in anything other than Jesus and His
death and resurrection. After all God sent His Son, and His Son was will to
come and die on the Cross for us, as the perfect sacrifice.
39 But we
are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the
saving of the soul.
Paul is giving his Hebrew
listener a pep talk with this statement, like a coach gives his team a pep talk
at half time. He is telling us to remain faithful, endure the trials and temptations
this life throws at us. Don’t be drawn back into their previous lifestyle which
is a lifestyle of perdition, eternal Hell.
The
Bible gives us a clear choice between two life directions. Because life often
forks off in two directions, you must take the higher road, even though it
looks more difficult and treacherous. That road gets steep and rocky in places.
The climb takes a toll on your energy. It gets lonely. Not many on it, but more
than you imagined, and some because of your example. It gets slippery; the
devil blows ice on the narrow passages. Despite its dangers, the higher road is
bound for the peak, and you'll make it; God has a lifeline around you. When you
are tempted to falter in your faith or to turn back from following Christ, keep
focused on what he has done for you and what he offers in the future Romans
8:12-25; Galatians
3:10-13. Then keep
climbing.
Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created
that are in heaven and that are on earth,
visible and invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
All
things were created through Him and for Him.
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God,
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you,
unless one is born again, he
cannot see the kingdom of God."
Bill
Wiesbrock https://www.facebook.com/bill.wiesbrock?ref=tn_tnmn
The
Lighthouse Full Gospel Church
Sinners Prayer;
Pray this, and if you believe it with your heart, Jesus will save you!
“Lord
Jesus I know I am a sinner. I confess my
sins to you; I am sorry for my sins; I repent (Meaning, desiring to turn from a
sinful lifestyle.) of all my sins, and I am asking for your forgiveness of all
of my sins. I believe that only you can
forgive sin. I commit my life to you and
ask you to come into my heart, direct, and take charge of my life. I believe that you died to set me free from
my sinful lifestyle and you rose from the dead to give me eternal life, and right
now you are seated at the Right Hand of God Almighty. I believe you are the Son
of God; the only Way, the only Truth, the only Life, and my Savior.” I believe this and have faith you will make a
new person out of me, by sending the Holy Spirit to dwell in my heart and lead
me in a new life. In Jesus name I pray Amen.”
(John 3:16,17; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1
John 5:11-14; 1:6-10) (Sin: Rom.
1:22-32; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:3-7)
