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Psalms
130:1-8 A Song of Ascents. Out
of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears
be attentive To the voice of my supplications. If You, LORD, should mark
iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there
is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared. I wait for the LORD, my
soul waits, And in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning— Yes, more than those who watch for
the morning. O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption. And He shall
redeem Israel From all his iniquities.
Father God, strengthen us so that we may
have faith in what your Son Jesus did on the Cross for us. Help our unbelief turn
to belief for the reward of eternal life. May they find peace and comfort in your
Word. In Jesus name
we pray, Amen!
Book of Hebrews 3:12-19 NKJV
Last
week’s lesson was more about Jesus and who He was. He was an apostle while here
on earth; He became our High Priest when He rose from the dead and was seat at
the right hand of God; He is more worthy than Moses; He was faithful to God
right onto death; He built a house through the Cross (the church), but just
like the days of Moses, the Apostles, and current times, Jew and Gentile don’t believe.
We
left off with Paul trying to convince his listeners to believe who Jesus was
and was using Moses and the Israelites as a comparison to his current time and
reveal the hard heart his brethren had toward God, which also holds true for
today. This lesson is a continuation of HARD HEARTS.
12 Beware,
brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing
from the living God;
Beware,
brethren; Beware is
defined as; to restrain or guard one's self from: anything that may be
dangerous, detrimental, or inappropriate; to take care and avoid anything that
will cause harm whether physical, mental, or spiritual.
Paul is giving a warning
to his brethren and us today, to beware of what happened to the Israelites
wandering in the wilderness. They lost faith in God that they would be
delivered to the Promise Land. As a result in their departing faith in God,
they did not see the Promise Land.
This is so very true today
that you also are traveling through a wilderness, the barren wilderness of this
world. You are exposed to trials and temptations. You meet with many a deadly
and mighty foe. You have hearts prone to apostasy and sin. You are seeking a
land of promise, a land of rest. You are surrounded by the wonders of Almighty
power, and by the proofs of creation, yet don’t believe and trust in God.
Disobedience and rebellion in you will also exclude you from heaven as their
rebellion did them from the Promised Land. We are just as guilty of unbelief as
the Israelites thousands of years ago, all due to the inherited sin nature. Their
great sin was unbelief, be on your guard lest you manifest the same.
Beware, beware, beware;
Paul is calling us to attention to wake us up out of our slumber before it is
too late. Why do people resist accepting Jesus and cling to religion? If the
Israelites didn’t make it to the Promise Land because they clung to their
beliefs, how will you make it to the Promise Land (Heaven) clinging to your
beliefs of religion and doctrine? Don’t
be self righteous like the Israelites and fail to accept Jesus as your Saviour.
Accept Him today and deny your trust in religion to save you, and place trust
in Jesus!
Lest
there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living
God;
An evil heart of unbelief
separates us from God. The root of their (Israelites) evil was “a want of
confidence in God”, and this is what is meant here by a heart of unbelief. The
great difficulty on earth everywhere is a “want of confidence in God”
Mankind often feel that it
is a matter of little consequence whether they have faith or not, provided
their conduct is right, and therefore, they do not see or admit the propriety
of what is said about the consequences of unbelief in the Scriptures. But what
do they say about a want of confidence between a husband and wife? Are there no
evils in that? What husband can sleep with quietness on his pillow, if he has
no confidence in the virtue of his wife? What child can have peace who has no
confidence in a parent? How can there be prosperity in a community where there
is no confidence in a bank, or an insurance office, or where one merchant has
no confidence in another; where a neighbor has no confidence in his neighbor;
where the sick have no confidence in a physician, and where in general all
confidence is broken up between man and man? If we have no confidence in God,
then we have no faith in God.
13 but
exhort one another daily, while it is called "TODAY," lest any of you
be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
But
exhort one another daily;
Exhort defined here means, to encourage, to embolden, to cheer, to advise one
another. The primary sense seems to be to excite or to give strength, spirit,
or courage. Hebrews
10:25 not forsaking the assembling of
ourselves together, as is the
manner of some, but exhorting one
another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
As Christians we are to exhort
fellow Christians on a daily basis. We all need encouragement in dealing with
daily lives whether it be things of life or spirituality, but this verse is
speaking of spirituality, Godly matters. How do we do this daily you ask, in
many ways such as: 1.) Friends in the church should exhort and counsel one
another; should admonish each other of their faults; and should aid one another
in the divine life; 2.) Parents are placed under the watch and care of their
children. A pastor cannot see the members of his flock in private; 3.) Sunday
School teachers may aid much in this duty. They are to be assistants to parents
and to pastors. They have an opportunity of knowing the youth better than the
pastor can. They are to exhort them to a holy life; 4.) The aged should exhort
the young. Every aged Christian can do much for the promotion of Jesus. His
experience is valuable to the church; 5.) Church members should exhort one
another. They belong to the same communion. They sit down at the same supper of
the Lord. They express their assent to the same articles of faith. They are
regarded by the community as united. Each member sustains a portion of the
honor and the responsibility of the whole; and each member should feel that he
has a right, and that it is his duty to admonish a brother if he goes astray.
This all sounds grand, but
the truth is that we fail miserably at this as Christians. Why is that? It is
because of our fallen human nature (sin nature). As an exhorter we fear of
hurting someone’s feelings, we rationalize it is none of our business, we don’t
want to get involved, etc. As a recipient of exhortation, we as human beings
for the most part, do not accept criticism. Our pride and arrogance gets in the
way and we decide what is best for our life and not what someone says even
though God’s Words tells us how we are to live. Have you exhorted anyone based
on the Bible? Do you accept criticism?
While
it is called “TODAY”; The
idea is, that the exhortation is not to be intermitted. It is to be our daily
business to admonish and exhort one another. Christians are liable every day of
going astray, every day they need aid in the divine life, and they who are
fellow-heirs with them, should be ever ready to counsel and advise them.
Lest
any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin; A hardened heart is as useless as a
hardened lump of clay or dried up glue. Nothing can restore it and make it
useful. The writer of Psalm 95 warns against hardening our hearts as
Israel did in the wilderness by continuing to resist God's will (Exodus
17:2-7; Numbers Chapters 13, 14, 20).
The people were so convinced that God couldn't deliver them that they simply
lost their faith in him. People with hardened hearts are so stubbornly set in
their ways that they cannot turn to God. This does not happen suddenly or all
at once; it is the result of a series of choices to disregard God's will. Those
who resist God long enough, will be toss aside like dried up glue, useless and
worthless.
14 For we
have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence
steadfast to the end,
For
we have become partakers of Christ; This
phrase is referring to anyone that is Born Again. Anyone that has forsaken
their sinful lifestyle of believing in religion, the things of the world, or
self-righteousness for salvation, and as a result of their unbelief and being
deceived, given their heart to Jesus to come into their life to rule and reign.
If
we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end; This phrase here states that if we
don’t hold on to our new found love and life within Jesus, to the end of our
life, we can lose our place in Heaven.
Some religions proclaim
that salvation cannot be lost, but this statement says otherwise. Some people
think they can say a prayer and then they are saved. There is no change in the
person’s life because the prayer came from their mind and not from their
repentant heart. They continue living life as usual, thus unsaved. This also
holds true for religions that practice Confirmation. I view Confirmation the
same as when a child reaches the age of accountability. Whether a child or an
adult that goes through Confirmation, if they don’t understand the works of the
Cross at Calvary, it is merely a ritual and nothing is done for a person spiritually.
So if we truly have Jesus in our lives
we have to abide in Him so He will abide in us.
15 while it
is said: "TODAY, IF YOU WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS
IN THE REBELLION."
So if you hear His voice
today as the Israelites heard His voice (which they actually did on occasion.),
take notice and don’t rebel. Melt that hard shell of self-righteousness
surrounding your heart, for today is the day of salvation, tomorrow may be too
late.
16 For who,
having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it
not all who came out of Egypt, led
by Moses?
For
who, having heard, rebelled;
As we know it was the adult generation of the Israelite’s that came out of
Egypt that provoked God despite all the great miracles they had seen, along with
hearing God’s voice.
Indeed,
was it not all who came out of
Egypt, led by Moses? Joshua and Caleb were the exception to
the last phrase. They believed and had faith in God to deliver them. Numbers 13:30-32 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and
said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to
overcome it." 31 But the men who had gone up with him said,
"We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we." 32 And they
gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out,
saying, "The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its
inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great
stature. We allow our
human nature to control us instead of allowing God to control us, therefore we
fall victim to fear of the unknown instead of trusting in Jesus. Those that had
gone out and spied on the surrounding villages allowed fear to grip them.
Those that came out of
Egypt under the leadership of Moses, started out right with God, but did not continue
right. They went astray and lost their salvation due to not believing God would
deliver them. They committed the sin of apostasy, which is a departure from
Truth.
17 Now with
whom was He angry forty years? Was it
not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness?
Now
with whom was He angry forty years;
The Israelites failed to enter the Promised Land because they did not believe
in God's protection even though they heard Him and saw the miracles. They did
not believe that God would help them through all the many hardships they were
facing, they kept doubting that God would take care of them. So God sent them
into the wilderness to wander for 40 years. This was an unhappy alternative to
the wonderful gift He had planned for them.
Was it not with those who
sinned; The
Israelites sinned in various ways; by rebellion, murmuring, unbelief. As God
was angry with them for their sins, we have the same reason to expect that he
will be angry with us if we sin, therefore we should be on our guard against
that unbelief, which lead us to depart from him.
Whose
corpses fell in the wilderness;
How many people died in the wilderness? Somewhere around 2 million from the ages
of 20 and up that actually walked out of Egypt. People have a hard time
believing that God would send people to Hell. The fact is that God doesn’t send
anyone to Hell it is the person that sends themselves there through their beliefs
and actions.
18 And to
whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not
obey?
And
to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest; This oath spoken of is the one God
stated in verse 11 of last week’s lesson. We are taught by the Bible not to
swear or make oaths, yet God does in the OT in the form of an oath to confirm
His promises. We aren’t to swear or make an oath because of our fallen nature
we are unable to keep it perfectly. Only God can keep an oath perfectly. James 5:12 But above
all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other
oath. But let your "Yes" be "Yes," and your "No,"
"No," lest you fall into judgment. (Matthew 5:34–37)
Two Hebrew terms are
translated “oath” and “swear” in the English versions of the Bible. They are
“alah” and “saba.” Of the two, “alah” is used less often. As a verb, it means,
“to make a solemn oath” and is found in six Passages (Judges
17:2; I Samuel 14:24; I Kings 8:31; II Chronicles 6:22; Hosea 4:2; 10:4). The Hebrew noun of this word
indicates a solemn promise, or sworn testimony given in court. It is often used
to indicate the certainty of disaster should God’s people not keep their
Covenant obligations. In this context, “alah” is often translated “cursed,” and
is found quite often in the Old Testament.
The Hebrew “saba” is found
184 times in the Old Testament, and it means, “to swear,” and is usually used with
the meaning “to bind oneself with an oath.” This strong word means to give
one’s sacred, unbreakable promise as testimony that one will faithfully keep
one’s word to do or not do a certain thing.
But
to those who did not obey; The
Israelites that continued in their lack of faith, would not enter into His rest
or “be saved.” Their sin was unbelief, meaning a lack of Faith in the Word of
God.
19 So we see
that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
This lesson points to the
unbelief of what the Bible, God’s Word teaches. What the majority of people
believed in Paul’s time and present time are religion, customs, ritualistic
ceremonies, heritage, feasts or holy days, basically things devised by man,
self-righteousness, etc. to get them to Heaven. Don’t let these things stand in
your way of salvation, eternal life. Deny them and place your faith in what
Jesus did on the Cross.
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)
