8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, 9 for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; 12 like Sheol let us swallow … Continue reading
This week has been a convicting one. I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have … Continue reading
I know I’m supposed to be content.. and I’m going to get a good ‘talking-to’ after writing this.. but I just want what Jesse McMillan has. You can read about what he is going through at his wife, Ashley’s, blog here. Jesse recently found out he has a massive tumor on his brain. I’m not … Continue reading
ESV scripture Re-written in my words 17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. You must no longer be futile in your mind like you were towards God, like the gentiles are now. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life … Continue reading
Ephesians 3 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— Because of this, Paul, in prison for you 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, You have heard of my work, through God’s grace, for you 3 how the mystery was made … Continue reading
One in Christ 11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God … Continue reading
Ephesians 2 English Standard Version (ESV) By Grace Through Faith 2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of … Continue reading
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful[a] in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Spiritual Blessings in Christ 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with … Continue reading
For a long time I thought that the ‘fear of death’ was the fear of physical death. While it is partially that, I believe that the author of Hebrews was also talking about dying to self in order to live for God. Hebrews 2:14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook … Continue reading
8 That same day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came into the presence of the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her. 2 The king took off his signet ring, which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther … Continue reading
5 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, in front of the king’s quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace. 2 And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the … Continue reading
After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. 2 All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel … Continue reading
The 3 books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther, which cover about 100 years (538 -432B.C.), form the closing section of Old Testament history. They tell the story of the Jew’s return from Babylon, of the rebuilding of the temple and Jerusalem, and of the reestablishment of the Jewish national life in their homeland. The last … Continue reading
As we come to the close of Hebrews I wanted to do a recap of the entire book to give us a better understanding of these final words. We have learned that Jesus is superior to the angels and the prophets – God announced his superiority. Because of his superiority we need to pay attention … Continue reading
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set … Continue reading
Hebrews chapter 11 has been labeled by some theologians as ‘the Great Hall of Faith’. Truly it is a reminder of so many great and wonderful things that the Lord has done in and through people in the past, and why today we can be positive in our confession. The last verse from chapter 10 … Continue reading
To this point in Hebrews we have seen that the sacrificial system of the Law was meant to point the worshipers in the direction of Christ. It was instituted to create an awareness that sins were something that had to be dealt with because God is holy and just. We’ve seen that Christ is our … Continue reading
Chapter 8 showed us that Jesus is our high priest. Now we move into understanding the sanctuary that He entered as priest, and the difference between the old covenant and new covenant priesthoods. Verses 1-5 give us a brief description of the tabernacle as erected by Moses, in which Aaron was the first priest. The … Continue reading
Chapter 7 showed us extensively the difference between the different priesthoods that have been instituted and approved by God. We learned that Jesus follows after the same pattern of Melchizedek in the way that He is not of the line of Levi, but never the less, God swore on oath that Jesus was indeed a … Continue reading
Chapter 6 spoke about the surety of God’s promise He gave about Christ; “you are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek”. God swore on oath to it by 2 unchangeable things: Himself, and His Name. Now the writer helps us understand a bit more about this man Melchizedek who resembles Christ. For this Melchizedek, … Continue reading
