❄️🌨️Encourage☃️

 We should be lifting each other up and cheering each other on, not trying to outshine one another. The sky would be awfully dark with just one star.

Hebrews 13:2 (KJV) Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

We don’t always know who we are helping or who is talking with us, it could be an angel unawares. On a day not long after I had given my heart to the Lord. I was coming home from a community college I was attending. There on the side of the road was a man tumbling for a ride. I was not in the habit of picking up people but for whatever reason I stopped and picked him up. I asked him where he was headed and he said Lithonia. Now that's where I was living at the time. I said great that’s where I’m going. For whatever reason I took him to his mobile home where he was living. Now here is where it get strange. As we pulled into a dirt driveway on a big farm we went by a big barn and then to a big field where his mobile home sat. He asked me if I would like to come in?  So I did and we sat inside his mobile home, where we talked. Now I had no clue where in the world I was at and neither did anyone else. As we talked I told him about the Lord. He told me about his son that had a drinking problem and asked me if I would call him? To which I said yes I would be glad too. I left and as I drove back up the dirt driveway the motor in my car just stopped running. I looked at my gas gauge and it pointed to about ⅛. Yeah, I know that is less than a quarter and yes I needed gas but that was plenty to get me to a gas station. I went back to the mobile home and this man came and got some gas out of the barn and put it in my car. I turned the key and to my amazement it started right up. I did call the number that the man gave me for his son but I got a recording telling me that the number was no longer in service. I decided to go back and tell that man what had happened hoping he had given me the wrong number. I could not find that place at all. It had just been a few days and I had not forgotten the way back but there was no dirt road, no farm, no barn, nothing. Thinking back over all that I believe I had entertained and angel unaware. Oh you may say that’s not so you just forgot how to get back to his home. I would say yes you are right except that I was not in a strange place I knew where I was and I knew how to get back to that farm. My car that ran out of gas was not out of gas. Am I crazy or did I entertain an angel unawares? So be ye kind one to another for you never know who that stranger may be. 

Matthew 25:35 (KJV) For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:     

Matthew 25:36 (KJV)  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.                                                        Matthew 25:37 (KJV)  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 

Matthew 25:38 (KJV)  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 

Matthew 25:39 (KJV)  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?                              

Matthew 25:40 (KJV)  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

😍Continue🤗

The greatest legacy one can pass on to one's children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one's life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.

~Billy Graham~

Hebrews Chapter 13 

As we come to the last chapter of Hebrews I look forward to that which is before. We have seen Christ love for all without doubt. We have seen those who hated Jesus but we have learn much about faith in Christ as our Savior. We have learned we have an enemy who wants us destroyed, wants to see us fail. But let us never forget that Christ wants us to be more than conquerors. Romans 8:37 (KJV) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. As  John Walsh would say “let’s get to it.”

Hebrews 13:1 (KJV) Let brotherly love continue.  We are to love one another. That’s hard to do when some hate you or want what you have. We don’t live in a world of loving people. So how do we function in a world that doesn’t know much about being loved. It was easy for me to see God’s love as my Heavenly Father. The reason was I had had a father that loved me as a son, but that is not the case in all families. The dad that speaks to his children with harsh words like the young boy who lived up the street from me. His father abused him with awful words, his dad was unfaithful to his mom to which I saw first hand later in life. Yes it would be hard for him to understand that our Heavenly Father was different. The dad that abused his daughter yes I could understand that she too would have a hard time understanding that our Heavenly Father loves her way more. This brotherly love can be tricky in this world. I think we as God’s people should be kind. By being kind we might win those who have had a hard time because of an earthly father that has miss treated them. Ephesians 4:32 (KJV) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Being kind might just be the solution to those who are unloveable. I don’t know what type of childhood others have had that may or may not have brought them to the place they are. I need to be kind and let brotherly love continue. Just remember that God has forgiven me and you after all the awful words we said about Him, using His name in vain. Oh that’s only a small part of all we did wrongful towards our Heavenly Father. The next verse will teach us why we should let brotherly love continue. 

🥺For Which Reason🤗

 I know everything happens for a reason. But something’s I wish I knew what that reason was.

Hebrews 12:28 (KJV) Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

There’s that word again “Wherefore” This chapter started off with this word “Wherefore”

Hebrews 12:1 (KJV) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Wherefore look back at those who were before you. Then about half way through chapter 12 we read again about “Wherefore”

Hebrews 12:12 (KJV) Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

This time it’s about not getting weary. Remember what the word “Wherefore” means “For which reason” So we look back to see for what reason.

Opposition: There’s going to be opposition in our lives. We are given an example of Jesus who faced great opposition. Hebrews 12:3 (KJV) For consider him{Jesus}that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Don't become tired and don’t give up because of the opposition that comes your way. Ok so you messed up, you know what you are not alone we all mess up. We mess up on our jobs, we mess up with those we love. Remember when we were children? Did we not all mess up, get caught? What were the results? Some type of punishment; did that punishment remove us from the family? Were we kicked out on the streets? No! The punishment was for our benefit. I have said many times I am glad for the punishmen I received. Noticed I didn’t say I enjoyed them but was glad for them. Why? Because without them I would have never learned; remove the consequences for my wrong actions and the wrong actions become part of my life. So our Heavenly Father does the same He 

Hebrews 12:6 (KJV) For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Not only is punishment a part of being in a family it also is a part of family position.

Hebrews 12:7 (KJV) If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? If I wasn’t disciplined then I might not have been part of the family. Now as I stated earlier as this chapter comes to a close we see that word “Wherefore” again  Hebrews 12:28 (KJV) Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved. There it is the kingdom that can’t be shaken. How did we get that kingdom that could not be shaken? Grace God’s Riches at Christ Expensive and all you and I did was receive. Yep, recipients of God’s goodness to mankind. When we understand that we will more than gladly server our Heavenly Father.

🐝 Shaken 🍯

The greatest use of a life is to spend it on something that will outlast it.

Hebrews 12:27 (KJV) And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

This word, that is all you and I have, is God's Word.

John 1:1 (KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 (KJV) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

In a bee colony when you pull a frame of honey out you don’t want the bees but you do want the honey. So you shake the frame downward with a small jolt and the bees will fall off. You are then able to remove the frame of honey. As I read this verse I have to ask myself what do I have in my life that can’t be shaken? Can my marriage be shaken? I would have to say yes to that. Oh it will not be shaken by a divorce. But one day it will be shaken by our enemy, death. That enemy will take this life away and that day is coming for us all. But what do you and I have that can’t be shaken? I can’t answer for all only myself. So what do I have that can’t be shaken? My Faith in God. My Faith in God’s Word. Death is a fearful enemy. Listen to what my close friend said. He told me that the doctor said he was going to die. Then he said but the good part is it’s not today the doctor said I have about a year; that’s good news he said. Not long ago he told me that death had become his friend. I said oh my how could that be? He said because before I get to heaven I must lose to the enemy death. Know why he could say that? Because he has something that can’t be shaken. What’s that? God’s promises he has in his heart.  

Luke 1:1 (KJV) Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

Luke 1:2 (KJV) Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

How much of His Word do you and I have hidden in our heart? 

Then there was this other lady who was crying out for help as she spoke loudly. You could hear her clearly as she said “I don’t want to die.” Here are two stories of two different people. One looks at death as a friend because he had something that death could not shake. A woman who was begging for help that would never come. All she had was shaken and no hope in sight and death was on its way. The Apostle Paul said examine yourselves.

2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV) Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Examine yourselves, Prove you own selves, Know your own selves. For what reason? That Jesus Christ is in you. You and I need that which cannot be shaken. Luke 21:33 (KJV) Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

🌬️The Voice🦻🏻

Never put passion before principle even if you win you lose. 

Hebrews 12:26 (KJV) Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

Two words jumped out at me when I read that verse. First, the word “voice” Sound or audible noise uttered by the mouth.

Second word “shake” move irregularly

Whose voice did what? Shook the earth! When was this and whose voice was that powerful. Let us go back to the book of Exodus where we read in Exodus 19:9 (KJV) And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.

Exodus 19:17 (KJV) And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.

Exodus 19:18 (KJV) And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

Here we read where God by His Voice shook a mountain. The shaking of that mountain was so visible and noticeable and then they heard the voice of God. Wow what a day that must have been. I have heard people say if God would just speak to me audibly I would have no problem believing. You think so? If you were to keep reading you will read yes the people were fearful of what they heard. The question is how long did their fear last? There was a man I know who almost died because of his drinking. He said “I’m done drinking and that scared me.” How long did that fear last? A short 2 weeks! Well the same happens here. It wasn’t long before those people who heard God and witness the shaking of the mountain decide to make their on god and worship it. It would be no different today if you or I heard God speak. Never forget the enemy who wants to destroy you and I. People see angels or so they say. They hear others say you are fine, God will take you to heaven when the time comes. Be careful about feelings, what you see and what others tell you. Remember what faith is  Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Seeing is not believing but evidence enables the mind to see truth. Look past what you see and look for the evidence. Now hearing, well do you not understand the older ones get the less they are able to hear? That’s why people wear hearing aids. Well if God spoke you may not hear what He said. Well I need something that is not going to be shaken don’t you? Like a strong foundation.  

Luke 6:48 (KJV) He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

A strong foundation like the Word of God which anyone can read.

Luke 21:33 (KJV) Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

The winds will blow hard in our life that you can rest assured. The problems will come and they will shake your life. We will lose many things from a pocket knife or purse which will be much easier to overcome than many other losts. I lost my dad, my hero, my advisor, the one I listen to, the one I looked up to. On that day, after talking with him by phone, the enemy of death came and took him, I was 37. But there have been many things and people I have suffered lost in my life. But I do have the promises of my Heaven Father; First that He would never leave me. 

Hebrews 13:5 (KJV) Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Not only will He never leave me He also said that He would never lose me. John 10:28 (KJV) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Don’t give in to this worlds draw, don’t let the sounds and sights get you so consumed that you let go what you know is right.

Hebrews 10:23 (KJV) Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Yes I’m holding on to my profession of faith because I have seen the evidence and this world has nothing to compare. If today I had all this world could offer it would be nothing to what is a head. I'm not selling out, I'm holding on to what I know. Mark 8:36 (KJV) For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

 Read the Book!

Hebrews 10:7 (KJV) Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

Hid the Book

Psalms 119:11 (KJV) Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Know the Book

Matthew 7:15 (KJV) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Matthew 7:16 (KJV) Ye shall know them by their fruits. 

💣Escape🧨

 Scripture is God's Truth to mankind in every generation, and it never grows old . . . it's timeless!

Hebrews 12:25 (KJV) See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

Who is this we are not to refuse? Verse 24 tells us. Hebrews 12:24 (KJV) And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Rewind back to the book of Genesis when we read of the first sacrifice. Abel brings forth a blood sacrifice Genesis 4:4 (KJV) And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but here in Hebrews we read of Jesus and His sacrifice which is better. 

Hebrews 12:25 (KJV) See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: To refuse not means “decline to accept what is offered ” missed opportunity. I can look back over my life and see missed opportunities and I’m sure you can too. Something was offered to me and I said NO or declined to accept what was offered at the time. Here we read about the blood of Jesus Christ and about escaping. This reminds me of

Hebrews 2:3 (KJV) How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; How will we escape if we neglect so great salvation? We won’t. Picture yourself in a burning building. You are on the fifth floor and all of a sudden a lift with a fireman waves for you to come. But you instead run out the door into the hallway and then are overtaken by the smoke and are consumed by the fire. You had an opportunity and refused it. There is no escaping. Those offers I had I refused and they are gone forever. Live this life and refuse Christ the gift of eternal life and just like those opportunities of the past will result in the failures of the present. Listen to what John 3:16 tells us “For God so loved the world,“ question:  who is in the world? We are the human race.

What does love do? It Gives!  “that he gave his only begotten Son,” God gave you and I a Gift; His son Jesus Christ. “that whosoever” Who are the whosoevers? We who are in the world. So the one qualification to receive this Gift of everlasting life is to be in the world. Not one word about being good or better or what you have done or didn’t do, just be in the world and here is an opportunity that we should not let slip by. “believeth in him” that word believe - When we believe upon the authority of another, we always put confidence in their accuracy. We believe God loves us beyond who we are or what we have done. I can never be too dirty for God; He loves we who are in the world. All we who are in the world have to do is “believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” That’s simple, don't miss this great opportunity.

🚫Nothing Here To Compare📝

 

As long as there are people to inhabit the world, there will always be a dire need for truth and direction for living.

Hebrews 12:22 (KJV) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

The last post was about the law. The law has no mercy, you break, you pay, no exceptions. But here we read about coming into a heavenly Jerusalem with innumerable angels. Remember Verse one  Hebrews 12:1 (KJV) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Wherefore seeing we; who are the we? Would you say it was those who had placed their trust in the saving works of Christ Jesus? Why would I say that? Because if you keep reading in that verse you will see the word “sin.” I don’t know of any others that sin. The angels don’t, the dead don’t but you and I do. Keep reading and you will see “Jesus” Hebrews 12:2 (KJV) 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Our Sin, Paid in full!

Before you and I could come we must know where we aren’t coming from; verse 18 tells us “For ye are not come ” Now I can see why to run this race that is before me with patience looking unto Jesus. Because I know that my sin debt is paid and I’m more than grateful for what Jesus has done for me. Yes, I’m going to run and while I run and endure that which is before me.

I know that one day, and I know not when I will enter into the City of the living God. I hope I have made myself plain. The other day I sat at a funeral of a man that I knew, a good man and a man of great faith. While I listened to his two sons preach his funeral with great boldness. I sat there in my seat thinking about where he was  and wanting to go myself. You see I’m nearing the end of my journey or race. I know in whom I have placed my trust; Jesus. As I look ahead to a place that I have read about and talked about and told others about and soon I’ll be there myself. Here’s what is strange: I know little about the place I’m going. But what I do know I got from my travel guide, my bible. First, it's a place like I have never seen before. My travel guide tells me in 

1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV) But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, Oh my eyes have never seen anything like it. 

Second there will be sounds in the City of God that I have never heard “nor ear heard,”

Third there will be things that have never entered my heart “neither have entered into the heart of man,”

Fourth “the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” Oh my, great things that only God can prepare. It’s much more than our little tin cup  minds can comprehend. Too many rejoice about streets of gold, walls of jasper, gates of pearls. Oh my that’s weak thinking, there is much much more that we know nothing about. Jesus told His disciples in John chapter 14 that He was going to prepare a place for them. What kind of place? Jesus didn’t say, Jesus just said a place. Now before that Jesus did say that there were many mansions. Jesus said that those mansions were already there and that He was going to prepare a place for them. So where Jesus is, they would be there too. If you think you know what heaven is like; think again, you don’t.