Heb. 5:1-10

Jesus our King and High Priest forever! - Psalm 110

2:00 PM

 

Friday March 10th

Jesus our King and High Priest forever!


I love how the old and new testament come together. When I first began reading the bible I did not see that but, as I have grown in my reading I can clearly see that Jesus is in it and it points to Him. 

We have so much uncertainty in this world and I am thankful for a God who does not change His mind.  The world is always changing their minds.  He is firm, steady and His promises and Words are true and proven.   Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Proverbs 30:5

Jesus is the eternal mediator between God and man and the final authority as reigning king, soon to return and establish His physical kingdom in the same city where Melchizedek was from, Jerusalem. 

High Priest-mediator between God and man.  The first high priest mentioned in the bible is Melchizedek.  He was before the Levitical priests were anointed.  We do not know his beginning or end…there is no record of his mother or father.  Yet Abraham knew that he was the high priest and honored him by tithing ten percent to him.  The high priests made atonement for the people once a year.  Jesus’ atonement for our sins was done once, because it was His shed blood that takes away our sins.  He was born like us so that He experienced everything that we go through.  He gave totally of Himself, completing the atonement of our sins.  He now sits at the right hand of God vs. 1. 

Like Melchizedek, Jesus is ordained as a priest apart from the Law given on Mount Sinai (Hebrews 5:6). Like the Levitical priests, Jesus offered a sacrifice to satisfy the Law of God when He offered Himself for our sins (Hebrews 7:26-27). Unlike the Levitical priests, who had to continually offer sacrifices, Jesus only had to offer His sacrifice once, gaining eternal redemption for all who come to God through Him (Hebrews 9:12). One other important point about Jesus’ priesthood—every priest is appointed from among men.  Jesus, though God from eternity, became a man in order to suffer death and serve as our High Priest (Hebrews 2:9). As a man, He was subject to all the weaknesses and temptations that we are, so that He could personally relate to us in our struggles (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus is greater than any other priest, so He is called our “Great High Priest” in Hebrews 4:14, and that gives us the boldness to come “unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 KJV). [Got questions]



King- A sovereign; a prince; a ruler

Jesus is truly our ultimate authority! 

In one of Daniel’s dreams he was shown the coming of Jesus. "I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him.  And to Him was given dominion, Glory and  a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him.  His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed." Daniel 7:13-14

Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth-Matthew 28:18. His name is above every name-Phil. 2:9-11. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords Rev. 19:16. His kingdom will last forever-Is. 9:6  His enemies will be made His footstool-Ps. 110:1 He is a merciful and faithful high priest-Heb.217-18 He sympathizes with our weaknesses-Heb. 4:14-16

Have you surrendered your life to Christ? Is He your ultimate authority? Do you come boldly and confidently before His throne of grace? Are you eagerly waiting for His return?

Lord You are our High Priest forever.  You took upon Yourself all of our sins, griefs and sorrows.  You experienced life on this earth as we experience it.  We can run to You for help because You totally understand what we are going through.  Through You we find forgiveness, strength, mercy and grace.  We can boldly come before Your throne of grace to receive mercy and grace for help in time of our need.  Your are faithful!  You do not change Your mind and Your promises are true.  There is no one like You the God of Israel who rides on the heavens to help us and on the clouds in Your majesty, underneath us are Your everlasting arms,  You drive out the enemy saying destroy him.  Amen!


Lyn

 

 

 

Challenge for 2022

My Determined Purpose is to Know Him - Hebrews 4:15

9:00 AM


 Does it comfort you to know that the Creator and Lord of the universe knows you personally? Every detail about you- your interests, your fears, failures, what upsets you and what brings you joy. He knows everything about you. But just how well do you know Him?

I decided to search out Scriptures that speak on just how well He knows and loves us this week and I pray these truths will bless you as much as they have me. 

He know you:

  • “The Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought” (1 Chronicles 28:9). 
  • He regards you as “the apple of his eye” (Zechariah 2:8).
  •  He can “empathize with our weaknesses” (Hebrews 4:15). “When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,” King David wrote, “You knew my path” (Psalm 142:3). 
  • “He knows the way that I take,” declared Job (Job 23:10). 
He delights in you: 

  • “The Lord delights in you” (Isaiah 62:4). 
  • “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine” (Isaiah 43:1). 
  • “I have written your name on the palms of my hands” (Isaiah 49:16).
  • “The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy” (Psalm 147:11). 
  • “The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. (Zephaniah 3:17)
He has adopted you and calls you His:

  • So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him, ‘Abba, Father’”. (Romans 8:15) 
  • God sought you. He searched you out. Before you knew you needed adopting, He’d already filed the papers.  
  • For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.(Romans 8:29) 
  • God sent Him [Christ] to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as His very own children. ( Galatians 4:5)  
  • You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. — (Galatians 3:26)
  • The moment we accept His offer we go from orphans to heirs:  You are His heirs… (Galatians 3:29)   
  • Heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:17)
He Guides you:

  • “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand” (Psalm 37:23–24).
Protects you:
  • “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me.” (Psalm 138:7)
  • “He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.” (Psalms 145:19)
  • “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10)
Loves you: 
  • Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. (John 15:13)
O Beloved, I could go on and on. I've merely shared a teaspoon out of the ocean, sort of speak, of all the Bible has to say about our Savior's love and care for each of us. With the internet available to us these days it's easy to simply look up verses that speak of all His attributes and I hope you'll share more that are precious to you. 

I'd like to close with this quote from A. W. Tozer,  for I believe he said it best concerning Hebrews 4:15 ‘a high priest – able to sympathize’: 
 “Many men can be touched by the sorrow of another, but they are not touched with the sorrow.  It is one thing to see pain but another thing to be touched with the feeling of it.  Our pain, our depression, our trembling, our sensitiveness – Jesus was touched with these though he did not fall into sin that so often comes of them.  We must treasure this view of our Lord’s sympathy, for it may be a great support in the hour of agony and weakness.”

Jesus is our Great High Priest who knows all about us; who is able to sympathize with all we are going through and is forever before the Father interceding  on our behalf.

 Blessings, 

Sue

Challenge for 2022

Approaching His Throne of Grace

9:00 AM

Girl with basket is a painting by Johann Georg Meyer von Bremen 

This was how I used to picture myself approaching God's throne. As a daughter weighted down by the cares of this world, ready to leave them at my Father's feet. Only if I'm honest, I didn't always leave them all there. Often I'd pick much of them back up and continue on my way once more. 

It must have broke my Father's heart for Him to see me pick them all back up and keep going just like I was. Didn't I trust Him? Or better yet, why didn't I trust Him with everything?

I believe the reason I continued to carry the weight of my worries is because I truly didn't know Who God was at that time! And if there are others like myself out there that find themselves anxiously worrying unnecessarily, who pray and immediately pick up their basket of burdens just as soon as they have prayed, I want us to pause for a bit this morning as we get set to study prayer during this month and focus on Who we are approaching. 


 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Not only is Jesus our Savior and Lord, Jesus is God's anointed High Priest, through whom we have been made fit to approach the awesome throne of God Most High. This means Christ's high priestly role is an eternal and continuous one.

He is our perfect Priest, who through His own sacrifice, has once and for all atoned for all our sins forever and ever. We've been sealed by His Holy Spirit which can't be rendered void. And our access to a Holy, Omnipotent, God has been sealed as well. 

Our Lord Jesus is the ultimate and final Word of God. He is the incarnate Word, who took upon Himself human flesh (John 1). And as our great, High Priest, He is forever interceding day and night for His Church. Jesus is the only Mediator between man and God. 

Imagine for a moment that Jesus, our Savior, not only died to pay for our sins and make a way for us to be with Him one day in paradise, but He is now interceding for us constantly before God! We need to remember this each time we seek to approach God's mercy seat. 

Beloved, Jesus is our righteous, Kinsman-Redeemer, who has become our Mediator. He was given the name that is above every name. He cannot fail! And all of us who have trusted in His death, burial, and resurrection, for the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life, have been called to "hold fast our confession." (v.14) 

We are commanded to stand firm in our faith that:

  • Jesus is the Son of God, 
  • Jesus is our great High Priest,
  • Jesus has put away our sin forever by His death on the cross
  • Jesus' resurrection gives us the assurance of eternal life 
  • Jesus ascended into heaven so that one day we too will be with Him in heaven. 
  • Jesus is forever interceding on our behalf until we all make it home.

When we put it this way... Wow! No wonder we are exhorted by the writer of the book of Hebrews to hold fast to our confession! 

To take God at His word and boldly approach His throne of grace in order to leave our baskets of burdens there at His feet; trusting the One Who is able to make all grace abound to us! 

He waits to hear from you!

I pray this month's study on prayer will not only increase our faith, but our prayer life as well! Will you pray with me...

Father of my Lord Jesus Christ I come. With a grateful and repentant heart I come to my Rock, my Lord and my Redeemer who has made this all possible for me at this moment. 

I know that You shall listen to my prayer for mercy as I cry out to you for help, as I lay my basket of burdens before you and lift up my hands towards your holy sanctuary. Lord, please give Your people strength ...

I want to praise You, Lord, for You have heard my cry for mercy. You alone are my strength and shield.; The One i will place my trust You with all my heart. You are my help, and my heart is filled with joy! Thank You, Lord Jesus for making a way for me. My heart is full to bursting with thanksgiving for simply loving me. Amen.


Blessings! 

sue

 



Becky Austin

Time To Grow Up {Hebrews 5}

4:07 AM



In Hebrews 5 we are given a description of a priest.  Under the Old Testament, the priests came from the line of Aaron and met the following criteria:
1. They were human.
2 They were chosen by God.
3. They represented the people to God.
“For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.” (v1)

 The OT priests were not perfect and therefore they also had to offer sacrifices to God for their own sins.  Because they were sinners, they were expected to have compassion and empathy for other sinners.  We also, as sinners should have compassion and extend love to other sinners.
“He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people.” (v2-3)

God designates who will be a priest, a mediator on behalf of man.  God appointed Aaron and God appointed Christ.  But notice that Jesus did not come from the line of Aaron, but instead was referred to as being of the order of Melchizedek.  Melchizedek is a priest mentioned in Genesis 14 and Psalm 110.  Chapters 6 and 7 will give us more particulars about why Melchizedek's priesthood was superior to Aaron's.  The important focus of this chapter is that the priesthood of Jesus was an eternal one. Jesus, unlike the OT priests was not a sinner in need of offering sacrifices.  Instead, he offered himself, perfect and unblemished as the eternally accepted sacrifice to atone for all sin.  No longer would the priesthood of Aaron be needed.  Jesus became the perfect representation of man to God  once and for all.  
“And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.” (v 9-10)

The author closes this chapter expressing frustration because he does not see the Hebrew people growing in their spiritual understanding.  In kindergarten you learn your ABCs and then in 1st or 2nd grade you use the letter sounds to understand simple words like "cat" and " ball". You then progress to making sentences, then paragraphs, then essays, term papers, etc.  God wants us to study His Word and to gain over time a more mature understanding of spiritual principles.  He doesn't want us to stay spiritual babies. In fact, He wants us all to eventually be able to teach the knowledge He gives us to others.
“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (12-14)

May I encourage you to keep studying God's Word with us so that you can grow alongside of us and we can learn from each other. Next year we will be going on a journey through the whole Bible in a year.  We want to reach as many women as possible who are seeking to learn about God and grow more spiritually mature. Help us get the word out and pray for this ministry to be used for God's glory and purposes. 

Hebrews

A Greater Message {Hebrews 2}

12:00 AM





Before Jesus, angels delivered messages from God and participated in the giving of the Law. (Deuteronomy 33:2-3; Acts 7:53; Galatians 3:19). To the Jewish people, these messages were highly esteemed, regarded as authority, and “proved unalterable.” (v. 2) In Hebrews chapter 2, we’re told that if the angels messages were considered great, how much greater is the message of Jesus! A greater message, “first spoken through the Lord, confirmed to us by those who heard. God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.” (vs. 3-4) A greater message of salvation, and a greater message that we must anchor ourselves firmly to. Because if we aren’t careful, we risk getting caught in the current of worldly living, and drifting away from the Lord.








In order to offer us the gift of eternal life, Christ willingly left His glorious throne in heaven and became human. He did this because He loves us so much; He wants to save us. And to save us, He had to become one of us. As God’s Son, Jesus is heir to everything. (Heb.1:2) Yet in Psalm 8:4-5, we’re told that God has put all things in subjection under man’s feet. So in a perfect display of humility and obedience, Jesus became a man, fulfilling scripture and for a little while becoming, “lower than the angels.” (vs. 9); and who is now, “because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.” (vs. 9) The consequence of sin is death. But Christ in His beautiful love, became our substitute paying the sin debt we owe and giving His sinless life for our sin filled ones.

And even more wonderful, this awesome Savior of ours calls us family! He isn’t ashamed to claim us as His brothers and sisters, “For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father.” (vs. 11) Because of His sanctification, we are joined to Him forever. And like us, His family, He became flesh and blood, “that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.” (vs. 14) Jesus conquered death with His work on the Cross, crushing Satan’s hold. Because of His victory, no longer do we need to fear death. Thanks to Him, we know it is merely a stepping stone to glory. 

Verse 17 tells us that Jesus had to be made, “like His brethren in all things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest.” He became human in every way so that could relate to us in all areas of our lives. He knows our feelings of love, pain, joy, suffering, and sadness. There is nothing we can face that He Himself didn’t face. He is always there waiting to minister to us, help us, and love us through the ups and downs of life. “For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.” (vs. 16) No matter the circumstance, Jesus understands. And it’s because He understands, that He is our perfect advocate, and who is at the right hand of God, interceding on our behalf. (Rom. 8:34) He was made flesh to suffer and die for us. There isn’t a greater delegate we could have, nor a greater message we can receive than the message of Jesus and of His love and grace.