Overwhelming Guilt 🎭

Hebrews 3:8 (KJV) Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: Today if you will hear God’s Voice?

 “Harden not your hearts” then this word, I really didn’t know the meaning of “provocation” so I looked it up.

Provocation “Any thing that excites anger; the cause of resentment.” Then “temptation” and “wilderness”  Is this another word picture? I believe it is. When we read this how do we perceive what we read? If we have no understanding of the wilderness we have no idea what is being taught here. What is the wilderness? God answers the prayer of His Children and delivers them from bondage in Egypt. Opens the Red Sea and destroys their enemy by burying them all as the water rushed over them. Now they are free from bondage as they see and know it's the Work of God. In Exodus 15 they sing praises unto God and rejoice over the great victory. They began to travel but 3 days later they found themselves without water. They came to Marah but the water there was bitter and undrinkable. They began to complain not waiting to see what God will do. It only took 3 days to forget what God had done at the Red Sea. If only they could see what’s ahead on their pathway. But no, all they could see was the present and forgot what God had already done. Did God bring them this far to let them die of thirst? I said all this to bring out this word “provocation” bitter water brought anger and resentment. At the first sign of trouble they get angry and their hearts begin to get hard. Complaining is the first sign of a heart getting hard. If God wants me away from drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling you name it. Then why do these temptations keep coming my way?  Great question. I and neither can you keep temptations away. Just because you quit doesn’t mean the enemy has. The enemy's job is to destroy the opponent and they do that by finding their weakness. Once the weakness is found they work on improving their destruction of the opponent by their weakness. Steve Curington said it well when he said “before you done it you thunk it.” The temptation comes but you don’t let it go, you keep thinking about it until you do it. A temptation is nothing more than a desire driving by, that you won’t let pass. What would you think of a person running in front of a bus trying to out run it? Very soon they would be run over by the bus? That is a picture of temptation. Just keep thinking about it and it will take you over. The fall will be disastrous and the guilt will be overwhelming. 

Tomorrow Will Be Fine 😳

I have read about Moses as the faithful servant of God. Not only a servant but a servant with a testimony that stood out. Then this verse  

Hebrews 3:7 (KJV) Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Today! Then there’s that two letter word “if” if what? “ye will hear his voice” sounds reasonable as well as urgent. Urgent in that it’s not tomorrow nor next week but “To day” When I read that word “To day” the Lord brought this to my mind of the day when there were frogs everywhere in the land of Egypt.  Exodus 8:3 (KJV) And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughs:

Exodus 843 (KJV) And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants. 

Do you see the dilemma? Frogs abundantly in the house, in the bedroom, in the bed, in the servants house. If that’s not bad enough, frogs are upon the people. Go into the kitchen, open the oven, you got it, frogs in there too. Everywhere you look frogs, and more frogs. Let me ask you a question. If someone were to ask you when you want the frogs removed what would you say? More than likely you would say now or if possible yesterday. We aren’t talking about 2 toads in the front yard oh no they are everywhere. Read this  

Exodus 8:9 (KJV) And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only? The answer is very surprising to me? What do you think?? Exodus 8:10 (KJV) And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God. TOMORROW!!!! That my friend I just don’t understand. But wait a minute when I read that and put it into todays light I see the same thing.  I have seen those holding on to the bench in front of them in a Church service fighting while God is wanting to save them and they just will not let God save them. Why is that? They just want to spend one more night with the frogs. Alcohol or drug abuse has wrecked their life and although they hate it and want to be free they are just willing to spend one more night with its sorrows. It’s too bad that some never get rid of the frogs. Do you hear God’s Voice?

The Stake, The Wood, The Fire

Hebrews 3:5 (KJV) And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

I wouldn’t say everyone knows the name Moses, but those who do know it, know it from the scriptures. Now ask yourself a question: will anyone even know who you were in 3000 plus years? I would say NO! What about what you nor I did as a servant of God? No not that either. Matter a fact I think in less than 3000 years God will have already established a New Earth. 

Isaiah 65:17 (KJV) For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.  But what about this man Moses? We read that he “was faithful in all his house, as a servant”  If you don’t read or know anything else about Moses we can know he was a faithful servant. Being a faithful servant he had something “a testimony” now that’s important. What is a “TESTIMONY?” Webster says 

“A solemn declaration or affirmation made for the purpose of establishing or proving some fact. Witness; evidence; In Scripture, the two tables of the law.” Do I have a good Testimony as a servant of God?  Is that what others see? How important is our testimony? Read this and see. 

Revelation 12:11 (KJV) And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.  That makes one stop and think. When the fight starts better have a Testimony and better be one like Moses had.

Polycarp was a Christian bishop of Smyrna. 

He was put on trial in Smyrna for his faith in Christ and given the opportunity to deny his faith. This is what he did. He rejected the proposal that was given to him and instead the brave old man said: "For 86 years I have served him, and he has done me no wrong; how then can I blaspheme my King who saved me?"  The pile was set on fire, and flames surrounded Polycarp’s body without touching or harming the body. Furious pagans saw that the fire failed to consume his body, so they commanded an executioner to pierce the body of Polycarp with a dagger, and so it was finally done. Legend says that blood poured from his chest so profusely that it put out the fire. Polycarp’s testimony still rings out today. What is mine and your testimony saying to others? Is what we have real? What if today we were jailed and asked to deny Christ what would be our response? If the stake, the wood and the fire  were in view what would we do?

Strange Person 🧌

Hebrews 3:1 (KJV) Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers    the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Wherefore,(Why, for what reason)

holy brethren, partakers (One who has or takes a part, share or portion in common with others) the heavenly calling, consider (To fix the mind on, with a view to a careful examination)

 the (This adjective is used as a definitive, that is, before nouns which are specific or understood) (The) Apostle and (The) High Priest of our   (Pertaining or belonging to us) profession, Christ Jesus;

Here’s the reason brethren, you that have taken part with others in the heavenly calling, fix your mind on and view carefully the Apostle, the High Priest Jesus Christ.

Wow, bless the Name of Jesus, we are not by ourselves in this heavenly calling. Jesus came into this world, to call all that would put their trust in Him as their savior. We read that over and over. 

John 3:16 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. That whosoever (anyone, any person) yes you too..

Luke 19:10 (KJV) For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Oh yes He is looking for you lost in this world on this day at this time. He may come to you by way of another person, who may at first seem odd to you. Asking questions like where do you go to church? If you were to die today do you know where you will go or spend eternity? You know strange questions that you don’t really have an answer to. Oh I know you’ll say something. Maybe like I go to such and such church. To which that person may ask, "Who is the pastor there now?” to which you have no clue. Spend, eternity where??? Can anyone really know that, you might think. Sure you can, that strange person says   1 John 5:13 (KJV) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Just one qualification. “believe on the name of the Son of God” You might leave that strange person, seeming strange to others also! Why?  

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,  I know you don’t want to miss Heaven by something as simple as putting your trust in Jesus Christ the Apostle and the High Priest. How would you feel if some strange looking person came to you and gave you these numbers 8-27-34-4-19-powerball 10 and said play these and win the lotto that is worth 1.5 billion dollars. Let's say you wrote him off as some kind of idiot. Only to wake up the next morning to find that the winning numbers were just what he gave you. How would you feel the rest of your life? Well, miss Jesus and you will feel much worse all through eternity. Think about that! Oh by the way, on January 13, 2016 those were the winning numbers for 1.5 billion. So if that strange looking person had come to you and said “play these numbers 8-27-34-4-19-powerball 10 and you’ll win 1.5 billion. Now if a strange looking person comes to you and says to you except Jesus and you do you’ll get way more than 1.5 billion. 

 

Little Lower 😥

Hebrews 2:6 (KJV) But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Hebrews 2:7 (KJV) Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

Hebrews 2:88 (KJV) Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. 

A certain place and a certain person like David.  Psalms 8 we are told without doubt who this is.

Psalms 8:4 (KJV) What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him

Psalms 8:5 (KJV)  For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

Psalms 8:6 (KJV) Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

Hebrews chapter 2 we are told without doubt who the Son of Man is.

Psalms 8 we are told without doubt who this is.

Hebrews 2:9 (KJV) But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

First we see Jesus then we are told about Jesus “who was made a little lower than the angels” then we are told why “for the suffering of death” then the reason “crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”

Did He taste death? Beaten to the point of not being able to carry the cross to the place of crucifixion. Then on top of all that people spitting on Him. He tasted death so we would not have too. He tasted death so He could give us life. But for the child of God    1 Corinthians 15:56 (KJV) The sting of death is sin;  A sting hurts; yes it does but it doesn’t last. So death will more than likely hurt, but it won’t last. Romans 6:23 (KJV) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

It’s Only a Taste😋 You’ll Want The Cake🍰

Hebrews 2:5 (KJV) For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.

As I began to read this verse something jumped out at me. The little phrase “the world to come” so I just out of curiosity looked to see how many times that phrase was mentioned. To my discovery only 5 times in my Bible..

Matthew 12:32 (KJV) And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

In this world and then we read of “the world to come.” Which tells me this ain’t all there is. But there’s more Mark 10:30 (KJV) But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. We all will die in this world but there’s another world where there is eternal life. To clarify this eternal life to what it is we read this. 

Luke 18:30 (KJV) Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. There is “the world to come” and as we read it, it will not be under angel control. 

Hebrews 2:5 (KJV) For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. Why? Because now in this world we fight a fallen angel, satan.  

Isaiah 14:12 (KJV) How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

Ephesians 2:2 (KJV) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: You may think “the power of the air” A power you can not see, touch or feel but it’s real. Really! You may think. Do you expect me to believe that there is a power of the air? Well, that’s totally up to you but everyday you and I use the powers in the air and give it no thought, ever heard of radio waves, bluetooth? Remove radio waves from the air and watch what happens. Have you seen radio waves?

Now the last time we read “the power of the air” is very interesting Hebrews 6:5 (KJV) And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,  Like radio waves we can’t see, there is a world to come that we can’t see. But we can taste! Taste? Oh yes. I remember as a young boy when my mother would bake a cake. She had this mixing bowl where she put all the ingredients for the cake. Then she would mix it all together and pour it all into cake pans and place them in the oven to bake. But there was always some left over in the mixing bowl and she would let me and my brothers clean the bowl. Boy, that batter was good for sure. But it was only a taste of what was to come. When you and I read and study the Word of God we can get a taste of what’s to come. May I say one more time this world ain’t it, there’s more to come. Once you get a taste you’ll want the cake. 

How Shall We ⁉️😨

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;

The question is asked “How shall we escape” Escape is an interesting word  “To flee from and avoid ” In 1963 there was a movie “The  Great Escape” as these P.O.W.”s plan this great escape they use diversions and distractions to cover up their plan. They work feverishly on their plan and their target date.  When all is said and done 50 men are dead, a few are caught and 3 escape. But that will not be the case here for we read How Shall We, how shall you, Escape? May I say that without the Salvation offered through and by Jesus Christ there is no escape; “if we neglect so great salvation” the Gospel which reveals the great escape is great, and has in it great things, great mysteries, and exceeding great and precious promises.  “which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord” Spoken words mean nothing unless there is confirmation. What is confirmation?  “establishing or making more certain or firm” seeing is much better than hearing. Many may hear of how Jesus came and died for the sins of the world and go on about their business. But then there are others that hear the same and their lives are totally changed. That's confirmation of what they heard, it changed their lives, making salvation certain. Confirmation, making more certain. Do you have salvation? If you do then you have confirmation. 

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

Anything new? Anything different in your life? Is your talk different? Or do the same old words come from your lips? Is your thinking different? Or do you still entertain the same old thoughts? Is your traveling any different? Or are you still going to the same old places? Is there any confirmation? If you were asked where would you spend eternity? What would be your response? Do you have confirmation! 

Don’t Miss The Bus 🚍

 Hebrews 2:2 (KJV) For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

Remember what verse 1 said. Remember the things we have heard lest we let them slip. He is one reason we don’t let them slip “every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;” Every transgression? If it is Every Transgression I must without doubt know what Transgression means. Webster says “The act of passing over or beyond any law or rule of moral duty; the violation of a law or known principle of rectitude; breach of command. Fault; offense; crime.” Then we read the little word “AND” which means that there is more than Every TRANSGRESSION. Oh my! Every DISOBEDIENCE too? Looks as if we can’t get away with anything. We talk about cameras everywhere watching, well God is watching and seeing every TRANSGRESSION and DISOBEDIENCE then we read what we will receive for doing so. “received a just recompence of reward;” It will be JUST! Oh no that means I’ll be getting what I deserve. I can’t say I didn’t do it for the record will be very clear, I did. I can’t say it’s not my fault because it will be my fault. Every violation, every act of disobedience will be properly punished. Oh my, how shall we escape? Is it possible?  

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;

We can escape such judgment if we don’t neglect so great SALVATION. Which was first spoken by the Lord and then confirmed by them that heard Him. There’s that word “HEARD” again. We must pay attention because there is no escape if we don’t hear, for “HEARD” is the past tense. Don’t let it slip by, don’t miss the opportunity given, don’t miss the bus for the consequences are too great so don’t let them slip by.

Refuse The Gift 🎁

Hebrews 2:1 (KJV) Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

That phrase “the things which we have heard” caught my attention. I asked myself what have I heard? My dad always would say to me “son hindsight is always 20/20.” He was the first I ever heard say that. Now I’m sure he wasn’t the first to ever say that, I’m sure he heard it from someone else. Most likely my granddaddy. I’m not that naive or as one dad said to a group who was telling how well their children were doing and about their great accomplishments. He finally spoke up and told them all that his grandson had invented the egg. Anyways my dad and yours too told me wonderful things that had I listened to would have made this Life much better. I listened but I didn't. Here we read that we should give “more earnest”  (to obtain; having a longing desire)  What did you hear when you read Hebrews chapter one? What did you hear when you went to Church? What did you hear when that man or woman told you about Jesus? What did you hear on the radio when someone spoke in a short ad time about Jesus? Did you pursue what you heard? Did you want to obtain? Did you desire to have your sins forgiven? Not only are we to “more earnest heed to the things which we have heard” But we are also told of the consequences if we don’t “lest at any time we should let them slip” Have you ever heard the little saying “Oh that must have slipped my mind?”  It means  “to be forgotten, especially of an obligation.” Be careful that you don’t let the most important thing in this life slip by  and be forgotten, your sins have been paid for. Let that slip and the price tag will be way more than you want to pay.  

Romans 6:23 (KJV) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Refuse the Gift Pay the Price. 

So Much Better 🧮📱

 Hebrews 1:4 (KJV) Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

I love the way my Bible paints a picture of understanding for the reader.  We are told that Jesus “Being made so much better than the angels” 

So much better than the angels? I got interested in that so much better! We hear much about angels today, but here we read that Jesus is so much better. If Jesus is so much better, then maybe His name would be mentioned more than angels. I looked to see, you tell me. The name Angels is mentioned 81 times in the New Testament. Then I looked at the name Jesus alone, what I mean by that is I didn’t look for the name Jesus Christ nor Lord Jesus just the name Jesus singular. Here’s what I found: The Name Jesus is mentioned 983 times; I would say that is much more. Why is that? Simple 

Acts 4:12 (KJV) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 

There it is again “salvation” that’s the first matter that must be settled, for if there is no “salvation” then there is no Heaven and if there is no Heaven then there’s no God and if no God we have nothing but this life only. The Bible is a phony that tells of a person that lived a good life but His dying on a cross was not for our sins but only a historial written exposure of the awfulness of mankind. A history lesson on how heartless mankind can be. Over the last 50 years the evil heart of mankind has slowly exposed itself. Man’s sinful acts have enlarged themselves. The corruptness of everyday talk by both men and women is awful. Just listening as people talk they use 4 letter words as if it is an honor and an art to see how many 4 letter words one could get into a sentence. If somehow you missed hearing those 4 letter words in the conversations of the day. Then you heard them on your radio, if you somehow missed hearing them there you heard them on your TV. Listening to or watching the news is like watching a western movie. There is killing in every state and every town on a daily basis. Mankind is on the track for collapse of destruction destroying their own selves. Jails and prisons are full, drug use is at an all time usage rate and alcohol is destroying life after life. The answer is and has always been JESUS!

He is so much better. As I round the bend and the end of this life is not far away. There’s not much of this life’s treasure I’m interested in. I have come to the conclusion that if I can’t wear it or eat it I don’t need it. I find myself thinking about the other side and what it will be like, not if I have Salvation that’s settled. But what it will be like when I depart because being with Jesus is so much better.