This is the inspiration section of Hebrews. Some call it the “Hall of Faith.” These Old Testament believers didn’t have the clear picture of redemption that we have in the completed Scriptures. They saw it by faith from afar off, believing in God’s promise of a Messiah. They obeyed what God told them to do, even when they didn’t fully understand. For them, and for us, the requirement for pleasing God was believing Him. For ...without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (11:6)
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THE EVIDENCE OF FAITH
Read Hebrews 11-12
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen...By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:1, 3 NKJV
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Lord, reading about these heroes of the faith, we are put to shame. Help us to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1b-2 NKJV
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These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth....But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13, 16 NKJV
Read Hebrews 11-12
I AM WHO I AM
Read Exodus 2:11–3:15
"One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Glancing this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand." Exodus 2:11–12 NIV
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When Moses was young, God had already given him a heart to deliver his people–but his youthful, impulsive actions forced him to flee to the desert, where he lived as a shepherd for forty years. Finally, God's time had come to use the spark ignited in Moses' heart so long ago.
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Out of a burning bush, God said, "I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." Moses' response was, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" (3:10–11) When Moses was young, it was all about who he was, the son of a princess, but now God says, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'" (3:14)
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How prone we are to act impulsively in our own strength, with disappointing results. But our failures don’t necessarily prove that the desired end was wrong. It may just indicate that we need to wait patiently for the Lord’s perfect timing.
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Lord, when I am impatient to know what is ahead, help me to be willing to wait for your guidance and timing. Renew my strength and confidence as I wait upon you.
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But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 NKJV
Before I got married I was asked by someone close to me the question, “Why do I want to get married?” I replied and said, “Well, I just feel that it’s time and my fiancé and I are ready to tie the knot.” Looking back, I spoke out of what I knew at that time and the lack of theological understanding for having a better response to an important decision in life. I believe my heart was right during this time but my reaction was out of deficiency and not knowing what God had planned for my life. Marriage is so valuable for the single guy because it builds character, brings maturity, and ministry in the home is established. I recall this scripture found in Genesis 2:24 that says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (ESV). It is the will of God that each man gets a job, marries his helpmate, have kids, and knows his theology. These basic fundamental truths are biblical stepping stones that a man goes through to live out ministry in his life that starts in the home. God has not only established marriage to reflect His glory but has ordained marriage to bring many blessings and fulfillment within a family. God says to follow after wisdom and be diligent and faithful when pursuing marriage that both parties will be confident for a life long commitment. Since holy matrimony is God-ordained, it should be held with high regards for a life that would please God and bring Him glory and give us joy. As a man that has learned and is still learning in married life, I can now answer that question that was asked and say that “It is God’s will for me to marry the love of my life because it’s part of the man’s duty to get married and follow the Lord’s plan.” Knowing this is God’s way of confirming to me that I am where God wants me to be and it shows what married life has taught me.
PROPHESY FULLFILLED
Flight to Egypt
Read Matthew 2:1-15
Read Matthew 2:1-15
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” Matthew 2:13 NKJV
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Centuries before this, God instructed the family of Jacob (Israel) to settle in Egypt because of a great famine in the land. Now the family of Messiah, descendants of Jacob are forced to flee to Egypt once again. This time just until the death of Herod, but still a significant event in the light of prophesy.
What was to both generations a time of sorrow and testing was actually the moving of the providence of God in bringing about the salvation that is so freely offered to us today. Jesus, the Son of God, was also a descendant of Jacob through his mother Mary, and the fulfillment of a promise made to Jacob. God's perfect plan was being worked out in spite of the acts of wicked sinful men.
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Lord, help us to trust you and your plan for our lives, in spite of the circumstances we face. You are the God of history and You have our future in Your hands. Help us to never forget that as we look with dismay at threatening world events shaping up around us.
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When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” Matthew 2:14-15 NKJV
RACHAEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN
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Read Matthew 2:1-23; Genesis 35:9-19; Jeremiah 31:15
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When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under– Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: Matthew 2:16–17 NIV
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More than 1400 years before Christ was born, the patriarch Jacob buried his beloved wife, Rachel. We read, "So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). Over her tomb Jacob set up a pillar, and to this day that pillar marks Rachel's tomb." (Genesis 35:19–20) The prophet Jeremiah predicted a future day when children would be slaughtered near Rachel's grave. (Jeremiah 31:15) This was fulfilled when Herod killed all of the male babies under two, trying to destroy the Jewish Messiah.
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We live in a day where it could be said "A voice was heard in America of weeping and mourning for children, because they are no more." The travesty of millions of babies aborted over the past thirty plus years must grieve your heart, Lord. Don't let us become apathetic to the cries of unborn babies, or the grief caused to women in our day.
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"A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." Matthew 2:18 NIV
It might not be in the holiday spirit, but we want to know anyway: What's the best present you received this year?
I got the book 'A World Full Of Gods:The strange triumph of Christianity', by Keith Hopkins on Christmas day as a belated 'sinterklaas' present. This book was recommended to me by my teacher of ancient religions (Zoroastrianism, Gnosticism, Greek Mysteries etc) who said this book has the best hypothesis of what 'Gnosticism' was. Still, it's really more of a history of Christianity which takes into account the society of the times: Romans and Jews in Egypt, Syria and Ephesus.
WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM
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THE WISE MEN AND HEROD
Read Matthew 2:1–12 & Micah 5:2
When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: Matthew 2:4–5 NIV
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Long before Jesus was born, the prophets had predicted His coming. The priests and rabbis knew that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem – a prophesy they explained to Herod and the Kings from the East. We know that even the common people were taught this prophesy, since later–when Jesus started His ministry–the people said, "How can the Christ come from Galilee? Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David's family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?" (John 7:41b-42)
They must not have realized that He was born in Bethlehem during the census. The Jews of Jesus time really had no excuse for not recognizing their Messiah. Had they truly been looking for Him, they would have known who He was–just as the Wise Men and even Herod did.
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Lord, I praise You for the reliability of Your Word. Help me to be willing to share the message of Your coming with my children, their friends and all who might be seeking for truth. As the Christmas cards say, "Wise men still seek Him."
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"Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." Matthew 2:2 NIV
REVEALER OF HEARTS
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SIMEON
Read Luke 2:21-40
Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined… to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too." Luke 2:34–35 NIV
SIMEON
Read Luke 2:21-40
Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined… to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too." Luke 2:34–35 NIV
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Holding the newborn baby in his arms, Simeon spoke words from God: Mary's life would be filled with both joy and sorrow. Her baby would be at the center of controversy. Her Son would be the revealer of hearts – even her own. She would have to learn to step back, be silent, and continue to ponder things in her heart. Shepherds could praise Him, Pharisees would curse Him and children would adore Him – but Mary could only quietly pray for Him. He was her son, but he was also her Savior. God's plan would proceed as she stood by and watched.
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Lord, I know You have a plan for each of our children. Mary had some very human sons and daughters in addition to her perfect Son, Jesus. Would they ever accept Him as Messiah? No doubt, Mary prayed that her other children would accept Him as their personal Savior. It wasn't until after the resurrection that they truly believed – but in God's perfect time – Mary's prayers were answered.
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And Joseph and His (Jesus’) mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Luke 2:33 NKJV I have been writing a series of posts about Bible verses I wrote on our cement floor, before our new home's floors were covered with carpet or vinyl.
Here's today's verse, found on the furnace room floor:
A man died and went to heaven. Jesus offered to show him around. They entered a large warehouse and saw shelves full of gifts with peoples' names on them. The man saw several wrapped gifts for him, too. So he asked our Lord about it.
"I saw some gifts with my name on it. Why didn't you ever give me those gifts on earth?"
Jesus replied, "You never asked for those."
God has many wonderful gifts to give us, not the least of which is the gift of faith. But we need to do something to receive it, to fan it into flame.
It's right there inside us, all along, we just need to fan it into flame.
What are you waiting for?
"I saw some gifts with my name on it. Why didn't you ever give me those gifts on earth?"
Jesus replied, "You never asked for those."
God has many wonderful gifts to give us, not the least of which is the gift of faith. But we need to do something to receive it, to fan it into flame.
It's right there inside us, all along, we just need to fan it into flame.
What are you waiting for?
Recommended by: a bunch of people. Plus I'd read other books by Bell.
Purchased from: A Borders going-out-of-business sale, at 80% off. Woot.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Synopsis: "Is sex a picture of heaven?" Bell wonders. It's all about God and sex and heaven, he says: "...they're connected. And they can't be separated. Where the one is you will always find the other." It's the story of God becoming human, of humans mirroring God and love made manifest in the chaos of our humanity. Sex God is about relationships revealed in a way that elevates the human condition and offers hope to those whose relationships are wounded. In Bell's spare, somewhat oblique style, he addresses lust, respect, denial, risk, acceptance and more. He does a fine job using the Bible and real life to show that our physical relationships are really about spiritual relationships. This book joyfully ties, and then tightens, the knot between God and humankind.
My Review: I feel like I should have read this a long time ago. I've had it for a while and I read it in less than twenty-four hours. It was a wonderful picture of what God has set out marriage and sex to be. Bell really delves into how the spiritual and the physical come together and how our relationships here are a picture of God's relationship with us. It's fascinating, really. Bell's style takes a little getting used to -- it's sparse and really uses the white space on a page. This book, though, was probably the least-difficult to handle visually (compared to his other books). I wish I had it with me so I could quote from it a bit. Anyway, I highly recommend this book, especially to high schoolers and people who work with them. I could have used some of this information back in my youth-leading days.
