He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Hebrews 1

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. Hebrews 1:3-4

This morning, I start a study of Hebrews, and in the text today - Hebrews 1:1-14, the author (unknown) describes Jesus and compares Him to Old Testament prophets and angels.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?:  The Father speaks to us through the Son, who is "heir of all things, and through whom also he created the world" (vv1-2).  "He is [also] the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power" (v3).  Jesus purifies of sins (v3), sits at the right hand of God (v3), and is superior to angels (vv4-7). Jesus' throne is permanent (v8), upright (v8), and He loves righteousness and hates wickedness (v9).  The Father is pleased with the Son (v9). Although the heavens and earth will go away, Jesus' and His throne are eternal and will never change (vv11-12). Nothing - no angel or other being - compares to Jesus (vv13-14).   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: God reveals Himself and speaks to us - how incredible!  Our lives are in His hands - v3. 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid seeing anyone but Jesus as God - nothing compares.  Claim the promise that we share in the inheritance of Christ (see also Romans 8:17 and Ephesians 1:18). Follow the example of the angels who were "sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation" (v14).  See Jesus as superior to any other being - He is God and King of Kings.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  You and Your Kingdom are eternal and I can rest on Your Promises because You are also faithful.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

 John 12:44-50

For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.” John 12:49-50

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 12:44-50, where Jesus cries out (apparently from hiding - see v36 - as the text does not share how circumstances have changed), that people should believe because He has authority, a message, and a mission given to Him from the Father.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Jesus was sent by God the Father and He reflects the Father - vv44-45.  Earlier text in John shares how Jesus and the Father are One - see John 10:30.  Jesus is the Light of the World, giving Light to those who live in sin/darkness - v46 (see also John 9:5).  Jesus once again shares how His mission is not to judge but to save (v47) - see also John 3:17.  While Jesus' mission as the Incarnate Son of God is to save, He does share that on the last day, when Jesus returns after ascending to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God, that His Words will judge (and by implication eternally condemn) those who do not receive His Words and believe in Him. Jesus ends the text for today in vv49-50 by sharing that God the Father has given Him authority and a commandment - "what to say and what to speak." The commandment given to Jesus is eternal life - see also Matthew 24:35, Mark 13:31, Luke 21:33, and John 1:1-2 where the text shares that Jesus' words will not pass away (eternal), how Jesus and the Word existed in the beginning with the Father, and how the Word was Jesus and the Father. 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid rejecting Jesus' words.  Claim the promise that if you believe Jesus' words and believe in Him, you will be saved and have victory over sin and death as it is already won.  Love God as the most important commandment.  

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who saves!  I am not deserving of how You save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”....‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’

Revelation 6-7

“Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”....‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ Revelation 7:3...16-17

Session #5 of  David Platt - Revelation: The Hope of Glory (requires login which I have though my church) focuses on Revelation 6-7, as the intensity of the last days unfolds for both unbelievers who are damned and believers who are saved.  Broadly speaking, Platt indicates that we must approach this book with proper humility; there are a variety of interpretations and disagreements over Revelation, but this should never drive us towards division or despair.  We can all agree, regardless of our interpretation, that God always wins!

Key Reminders:

• Concerning the church...in essentials, we must have unity (we believe these central truths...)
• In non-essentials, such as with practical views on alcohol, schooling, interpretations of other aspects of Bible that remain mystery such as Revelation, we can have freedoms - avoid division 

 Regarding Revelation

• The arrangement of the book seems cyclical, not chronological (not meant to be read as day-to-day sequence of events); think cycles and spirals
• Visions gradually build towards climactic consummation
• Timing involves the last days - only point where something definitive is available - beginning of last days started when Jesus rose from the grave as His kingdom has come and continues to unfold (in between first and second coming)
• Theme is gospel of Jesus Christ; all visions given to us to primarily to encourage, exhort and compel us to believe and hold fast; rise up and be faithful and to patiently endure

Four Gospel Truths

• God is ultimately sovereign over evil; all permissions and power given (or allowed) under authority of God; Satan can do nothing apart from divine permission; suffering is always used to fulfill divine purposes
• Men and women are morally responsible for evil; men and women are decidedly sinful and dangerously self-destructive; sinfulness of man comes full circle; men and women deserve death
• God will judge men and women who turn from Him and live for this world; scope of His judgement will be cosmic; breadth of His judgement will be universal (and terrifying!) (6:12-17); duration of His judgement will be eternal
• God will save men and women who trust in Him and live for another world (chapter 7); Christians are secure on earth in the midst of tribulation; God plans the persecution of His people; God promises protection for His people; God has you sealed for eternity! God empowers perseverance for His people; Christians will stand in Heaven at the end of tribulation; They will shout God's victory; They will soak in God's glory; they will be satisfied by God's goodness and soothed by God's mercy (7:14-17)

 Practical Takeaways

• Non Christians should repent of sin with urgency and believe; Christians should stop toying with sin today!
• Proclaim the gospel with urgency!
• Humbly cry out for God's justice amidst persecution! 
• Confidently cry out for God's mercy amidst suffering!
• Build your life and family on that which lasts forever!
• Spend and sacrifice your resources on that which brings eternal reward!
• Remember that this world is not our home!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, who has saved a placed for myself and all believers in Heaven...for eternity!  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am not deserving of such blessings.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Lord, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them? They are like a breath; their days are like a fleeting shadow.

Psalm 144

Lord, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them?  They are like a breath; their days are like a fleeting shadow. v3-4

The creator of the universe, who holds all things together (Colossians 1:16-18), does not need humans.  Yet He loves us, and does more than think of us; He died for our sins and saves us from the sting of sin and death.  And He protects, provides, guides, etc. We must focus on how we exist BECAUSE of and FOR Him.  We must also think about how we must focus on the eternal - that He is eternal, and we live for riches in Heaven, not here on earth.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:19-20

We must live with the end in mind.  See also post here. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who provides, protects, teaches, loves, etc.  All of this for people like me who are undeserving!  Thank You Jesus...for all that You do and all that You are.  I know You always with me.  Thank You.  Please forgive me for my stress and worry.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo. Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.

Psalm 136

Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever. v26

In our worship we should be - as best as possible - mindful of all of the ways that God is great and how His love endures.  I say as best as possible because I don't think we can fully grasp the depth and breadth of God's love for us - He is THAT great. This should prompt us to live a life as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) to God and to be grateful for who He is and what He does and will always continue to do for us.

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God full of love and compassion for me and all of Your children...and Your love endures forever!  Thank You!  I am not worth such love...I am harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Your name, Lord, endures forever, your renown, Lord, through all generations.

Psalm 135

Your name, Lord, endures forever, your renown, Lord, through all generations.v13

That the Lord endures forever provides great comfort to me because I know that He will be with me always and that He is faithful.  He is my rock.  When all of the world crumbles around me, and sometimes it has and will feel this way, God will hold me up and I will not be shaken - see also Habakkuk 3, Psalm 37, Psalm 125, and Hebrews 12. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are!  You were there at the beginning and You will be there at the end of times.  You created all things, are in all things, and hold all things together.  You are full of love and compassion for me even though I am not deserving.  Thank You Jesus.  But I need Your forgiveness - for my worry.  Please forgive me and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.

Psalm 125

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore. v1-2

We know that the Lord is permanent and eternal (Psalm 102, Matthew 24, 2 Corinthians 4, Lamentations 5, Psalm 117, Hebrews 13).  As we strive to become more like Him (Romans 12:2), we should expect that we will not shaken, and our confidence rests in Him alone, based on a confidence that even when our earthly body goes away, we will be with Jesus forever.  

This is yet another great promise - and God keeps His promises (Luke 1:37).

BTW....Jerusalem is indeed surrounded by mountains: Mount Scopus (northeast),  Mount Herzl (west), Mount of Olives (east), Judean Mountains.

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God and I know You are with me where ever I go...even in my sin.  Thank You Jesus that You love me so much - I am not worth such love.  I worry and I am easily distracted and worn out...I don't endure as You desire me to.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me endure!  Help me grow in my faith and trust in You.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You love me.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.