Sitting 🦆

 Hebrews 10:25 (KJV) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Here we read of another clever trick from the enemy.  Remember who the enemy is.

Matthew 13:25 (KJV) But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

Matthew 13:39 (KJV) The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

In combat you learn the tricks of the enemy. By doing so you learn to stay alive. The Bible teaches us who the enemy is, we are plainly told the enemy is the devil. Oh, I know many don’t believe that the devil really exist or the Bible is God’s Word. If that’s you then you have walked into one of the devil's,  the enemies traps. Remember, traps are set and they are not that noticeable so that the prey will walk right in. The mouse trap that is set with p-nut butter draws the mouse with his kin scent of smell to it. He places his head into the trap to get a bite of p-nut butter only to get his neck broken. The enemy’s job is to disorientate, disorganize, separate, kill and destroy. We as God’s people are warned not to forsake the assembly of ourselves together. Oh you may say I don’t need to go to where God’s people assemble, God and I have our own thing going on. Really! I think you might have just fallen into one of the enemies traps. Remember to avoid the enemy you must learn the enemy and watch out for their traps. Don’t go to where God’s people assemble and look what you miss; for it’s a place where you can be given strength, where your spirit can be uplifted and encouraged. Miss that and you have robbed yourself of those three great blessings that would help you tremendously.  Then we read to do it more when we see the day approaching. Could that be the approaching of the Lord's return? If so then look around, know your surroundings less the enemy comes upon you unaware. Another lesson in fighting the enemy: know your surroundings. Matthew 24:37 (KJV) But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Learn what were the practices of that generation in which Noah lived. If you do then you may not be surprised of what’s going on in our day, it is easy to see, if you know what to look for. One day the Lord is going to come. Maybe morning, it may be noon, or it may be night, it just depends on what part of the world you are living in. Just like the days of Noah they knew not. 

Matthew 24:39 (KJV) And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Know as much about your enemy the devil as possible. Know as much about your surrounding as you can, the world we live in. Learn from those who have been in country you’ll never know it all. If you fail to associate with those who go to the house of God then you become a sitting duck. 

Documents 📃

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

They are no more than documents. Probably just like the ones you have. Oh they aren’t laying out on a coffee table for all to see like magazines. I’m talking about documents like maybe the deed to your home, or maybe the property you have in another location. Maybe even your marriage certificate. I’m not sure but I am sure they are in a secure place. Now what is interesting about it is we are not running to look at those documents all the time. We don’t think they aren’t there, we don’t think we don’t have them, or someone stole them or we have lost or misplaced them. We know where they are and what they say. We are confident that if someone were to come up to us and try to convince us we don’t have those documents we would just laugh and say just because you don’t see them doesn’t mean I don’t have them. I know I have them and what those documents say is the truth. Is this not what’s being said in verse 22? “Let us hold fast the profession” an act of openly declaring or publicly claiming a belief. Ok back in the past did you or did you not make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ? Now what happened afterwards is of much importance. Was that profession real or just words spoken with no meaning? Meaningful words have fruit. I don’t just tell my wife I love her; those are just words. Words must have action behind them before they will ever have meaning before them. Have you made a profession of Jesus Christ as your savior? Now that was done by faith in Jesus Christ. But the proof comes afterwards.  

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.

New! What happened New, after your Profession of faith? You might say well for awhile I….. No, I’m talking about lasting change. There is a bridge crossing the Ohio River from Kentucky into Indiana that needed painting. It was painted a beautiful blue color and looked great. But in a very short time the beauty of that blue became a dull chalky blue and then it began to flake and before long it was back looking just as bad or maybe even worse than before. What this verse is saying is we can hold fast to our profession of faith and we can do so without wavering. Why is that? For the one (Jesus Christ) that promised is faithful.  Titus 1:2 (KJV) In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; We can trust Him. Hang on you’ll see. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; Don’t let others turn your heart. Solomon did  1 Kings 11:4 (KJV) For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. Being wise will never take the place of having the Lord in your heart “as was the heart of David his father.” Wise hearts can be turned, Godly hearts can’t.

Boldness With Honesty 🎭

 Hebrews 10:19 (KJV) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

In Christ Jesus we now have boldness to step behind the curtain, so to speak. We can now go into the throne room of God and pray for ourselves as we ask for forgiveness of our sin. I only know of the Old Testament ways of forgiveness by what I read in my Bible. But this new and living way I have experienced for myself. Hebrews 10:20 (KJV) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; I can go where those of days long ago couldn’t, only the High Priest could go. Today I can step behind that veil when I come before the Lord. When I say “My Father which art in Heaven” I am now speaking personally with my Heavenly Father. I can ask for HELP, Why can I do that? Because “the LORD is the strength of my life” I can ask for LIGHT because “The LORD is my light and my salvation” In my time of trouble “he shall hide me in his pavilion” Troubles come in this life with our health, with those we love, our minds are bombarded daily with problems we can’t solve. The Doctor says, the dentist says, the Banker says, the Teacher says, the Boss says. There’s Trouble in the Day, there’s Trouble in the Night, trouble in front of you and trouble behind you. There’s trouble that you can prepare for and there’s trouble you can’t prepare for. Job said it like this Job 14:1 (KJV) Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. Trouble is coming and you and I are going to need help and we will find help in our Lord. No better time than to come boldly “boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,” Lord I come before you this day, I need Your help this day as I face this trouble, I don’t understand why, neither do I know why I have to face it but I’m so glad You said that You are my light my help in time of trouble. Give me direction. Oh how I need Thee every hour I need Thee, I will trust Thee even when I don’t understand, knowing I’m Your child I will not fear; Oh Lord I do fear please help me. Coming boldly means coming honestly, for the Lord knows how we feel. I love the honesty of this man 

Mark 9:24 (KJV) And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. Come boldly yes but come honestly.

The good😎 The bad🤬 The ugly👺

Hebrews 10:12 (KJV) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 

“But this man” Remember who this man was? Back in verse 10 we are told who he is; Jesus Christ. So Jesus Christ after he had offered Himself for our sins for ever sat down on the right hand of God.  Not only is it written for us in This Book; the Bible, God also placed within our heart His Spirit. God is serious about our redemption.

Hebrews 10:15 (KJV) Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

Here is what the Apostle Paul said

Ephesians 1:14 (KJV) Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Paul said the Holy Ghost who is our witness is the earnest of our inheritance. What does that mean? Maybe you and your wife are looking to buy a house. After a long while you both find one that will meet your needs. So you put down what is called earnest money which means you really mean business: in other words you are Serious you have placed your money where your mouth is.  That’s what Jesus did. He not only had the redemption of our soul written in a book, The Bible. He also placed within our heart His Spirit. 

John 14:16 (KJV) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

John 14:17 (KJV) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Remember that His Spirit, the Holy Spirit only comes to sinners who realize they are sinners and ask for forgiveness (repents). At that point they are given the Spirit of God which He gives as an earnest of our Salvation. Therefore we can know without doubt we are His children.  

1 John 5:11 (KJV) And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1 John 5:12 (KJV) He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

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.  The Bible is an amazing book. As we read about men like Moses, Abraham, Jacob, King David and many more. Remember when we are reading about these men we are not reading biographies we are only reading about small portions of their lives the good the bad and the ugly. The good and the bad and the ugly are put there for our learning.

1 Corinthians 10:6 (KJV) Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Moses disobeyed God, Abraham lied, Jacob cheated, David had an adulterous affair which led to murder. But in all they did, God used them greatly just as God will use each of us, for we are no different.  Sinners just as they were with attitudes just like they had. Oh how great is our God that He works at changing us and then using us to do great things for Him.

The Shadow of Good Things 👤

 Hebrews 10:12 (KJV) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 

Let us look at this verse closely. Let’s answer this question: who was “this man” Verse one gave us a shadow of who this man was. Then we read that this shadow would come into this world in a body. But also there would be a book written of Him. We are 10 verses deep into chapter 10 when we read His Name and doubt of who He is vanishes away. Who is this SHADOW? The BODY? Who was the one the BOOK was written about? Who was this man who had offered Himself as the one sacrifice for SINS? All speculations and doubt are taking way as we read His Name.  Hebrews 10:10 (KJV) By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Now we know as the shadow of Jesus Christ works His way through the Old Testament. As seen in the sacrifice for the sins of the people by the High Priest once every year. But now in Jesus Christ the shadow is clearly seen, man’s sin debt is paid in full.

John 1:29 (KJV) The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Just remember you and I are in the World!

Not When I Was Drinking 🥃

 Hebrews 10:11 (KJV) And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

Daily standing offering the same which can NEVER take away sins. As I read that my mind flashed back to when I was in the military. If you remember from my past writings you will recall how I wrote that I was brought up in a good home with loving parents. I was blessed to have that, for many have no understanding of such. I wasn’t brought up in a real church going home although we did go most Sundays but I never really heard much about Jesus Christ coming to save sinners. Now before you get the wrong idea I’m sure they did but I wasn’t listening. But either way I did get something and I did understand something about praying. The last thing I would do at night back when I was in the military was to pray, unless I had been drinking, on those nights I didn’t think God wanted to hear from me. I wrote that because when I read the words “daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins” 

I thought of my praying, back long ago when I was in a land and place I just didn’t want to be. Not sure my praying did much good. My praying didn’t change my vocabulary nor did it ever change what I was drinking and I’m not too sure I even thought about the Lord any other time. I’m sure God wasn’t pleased with how loosely I used His Name on a daily basis. So what is the answer to our SIN problem? Hebrews 10:9 (KJV) Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. Jesus Christ comes to do God’s will, pay the sin debt for the whole world. Is that not exciting? Why do I write that? Here is why  John 3:16 (KJV) For God so loved the world, I’m in the world and so are you, God loves us. How much does God love us? that he gave his only begotten Son, one can give without love but one who loves gives. Love is not only giving but it’s giving not expecting anything in return. that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. God gives because He loves you and I. But you and I don’t have to believe that nor love God back. God will continue to love, why?

1 John 4:16 (KJV) And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

1 John 4:19 (KJV) We love him, because he first loved us. God doesn’t ask for your love in return. He loves you. Once I understood that it changed the way I love my wife. I love her and I express my love for her not expecting anything in return. Don’t you love your children? Even when they are unlovable. Even when they disappoint you. Even when they hurt you by what they said or did. Does not your heart excite you when they do good? When you see them doing what you taught them? Yes we as parents love our children. You know what? So does our God and He has given to us more than we could ever desire. Don’t you just love Him?

It’s Over There On That Table 📖

Hebrews 10:5 (KJV) Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: Why? For what reason did Jesus come into the world? Jesus came in a body because burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin God was not pleased.  

Hebrews 10:6 (KJV) In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Well what are we to do? What should we expect? How will we know?  

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.  A book? What does this book talk about? Do you think that this book could be the Bible? I think so and here’s why I say that; (the book it is written of me) The Old Testament is filled with shadows of Jesus Christ. When we come into the New Testament and began to read about Jesus Christ, He steps out onto the pages and we read of Him in a body. That is what our Bible is all about, God’s love for mankind, His creation. Jesus Christ coming into this world to redeem mankind from Adam’s sinful act which in return made us sinners; we had no choice. Here’s why  Genesis 1:11 (KJV) And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. That’s simple enough, plant green beans and you don’t have to wonder what is going to grow. Plant corn you get corn, so it is, every seed yielding fruit after his kind. When Adam and Eve had their children they were born after they had sinned against God. Therefore they were born not only as humans but sinners; they had no choice. Then we read of Cain killing his brother Abel. Why? Because of the sin problem. The same reason we do what we do knowing it is wrong, sin. But there’s a Book called the Bible and it’s written on our behalf. The reason we have so many problems in our lives is that we may not be taking the time to read and understand our Bibles. How much better would this world be if we had love one for another? But that’s not going to happen. How do I know that? Because we can’t even have love within our own families. Why is that? Sin! What an opportunity we have, Adam and Eve sinned and that was not our fault. God agreed, then God fixed the problem by sending His son Jesus Christ to pay the sin debt. This gives you and I a door out. But how can we know? There is a book, an instruction book if you will. All we have to do is follow the instructions. Now how simple can that be? Then said Jesus  

John 10:9 (KJV) I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. It’s all in the book; yes the one over there on that table.

Speeding 🚔🛻

Hebrews 10:4 (KJV) For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

It is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats can take away our sins. We don’t have to believe nor put trust in the Bible, many don’t. We can say, even believe, that the Bible is a good book written by good men for a good purpose. The Bible can help people be kind and good one to another and that’s great but it’s just a book.Just as some don’t really believe that the speed limit signs really mean what they say. Red lights don’t really mean stop for them and neither do stop signs. Until they are pulled over by the police. Then the law is enforced and the penalty is enforced. The fine is set and you who didn’t believe now have to pay the fine because you have broken the law. That is the same way the Bible is. First it tells you the law but you ignore it like one would ignore a speed limit sign. All your life you ignore the Bible and what’s written within the covers, never read it, never try to understand it. Then one day life stopped as we know it. Then just like the speeding ticket you can’t undo what has been done. Then God’s law you have broken needs payment and you come up short. Romans 6:23 (KJV) For the wages of sin is death; Wages? Death? for what? Sin, that you were too busy to take the time to find out if the Bible was really true and right. So you breezed through life believing wrong, listening to others and their ideas. That is what the thief beside Jesus did. He was paying the penalty for what he had done. He was right beside Jesus Christ who was paying for this thief’s sin debt. But he listened to others. Here’s what those others were saying at the foot of the cross. Luke 23:35 (KJV) And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. They were watching, they were making sarcastic remarks and they also were saying prove who you say you are. Now read what the thief had to say. 

Luke 23:39 (KJV) And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. He agreed with others, he let others influence him and because of that he missed the gift that was right beside him.

Romans 6:23 (KJV) but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Oh my what an opportunity missed. Just remember once a speeding ticket is issued it must be paid. Make sure you are not speeding through life and miss Jesus the gift of God.

Perfect 💎🤩

 Perfect is what we want. If a can of beans is bent then they have to be sold for less than the original price. If a box of cereal has a crushed corner we pick up the box next to it. Perfect marriages, perfect children, perfect lives is it too much to ask for? We might deny it but in reality we do those things above. How do I know? Just the other day I was picking up some coffee and I noticed the right corner of the package had a small defect. Now that didn’t hurt anything, the package wasn’t torn just bent in. Know what I did? I picked the one next to it. In this life we will never be perfect. God has given me a great life, it’s not perfect by no means. I have been married to the only woman I have ever known for 54 years; no that is not a typo and as good as our marriage is it’s not perfect.  In chapter 10 of Hebrews and the first verse we read this.

Hebrews 10:1 (KJV) For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. The word shadow jumped out at me “shadow” Merrian Webster says this “the dark figure cast upon a surface by a body intercepting the rays from a source of light”

You need some kind of light source to generate a shadow. This can be the sun, a lamp or a flashlight. To cast a shadow you need an object that can block light rays. The closer an object is to the light source, the larger the shadow it casts. As we have written of the Tabernacle in the book of Exodus which points to Jesus Christ. The more we know the bigger the shadow of Jesus Christ. The less light of the Scriptures we have the smaller the shadow. But even with a big shadow it is not the object that is being reflected, only a shadow. The sacrifices will never give perfection; they only pointed to the Perfect Lamb of God Jesus Christ. The light of the Scripture will cast the shadow and the more scripture you know the bigger the light you have. 

                                  

John 1:29 (KJV) The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Something to Think About 🤔

Hebrews 9:19 (KJV) For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

As I read this verse the phase “the book” caught my attention. The, a definite article which is referring to a definite book. Now what book is being referred to here? In the New Testament this phrase is mentioned 27 times in 25 verses. We read about “the book” first in  Matthew 1:1 (KJV) The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. As we look further we read of “The Book of Moses” Mark 12:26  “the book of the words of Esaias” Luke 3:4 “the book of Psalms”  Luke 20:42 “the book of the prophets” Acts 7:4 It's not hard to tell that “the book” is the Bible for that’s where you read of Moses, Isaiah, Psalms and the prophets. But then we read of, another book “The Book of Life”. That's interesting. Could it be that our names were written in the Book of Life at our birth? That may be true  2 Peter 3:9 (KJV) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. God has made a way for all to go to heaven, it’s a gift. If God doesn’t want any to go to hell and it’s God's will that none should perish then to me this makes perfect sense after I read this Exodus 32:32 (KJV) Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. What is Moses asking? What book? I say he is saying blot my name out of the Book of Life. Wow, that's a powerful love for others. God didn’t blot Moses name from the book and God’s not going to do that to you or me either; unless you reject the gift of salvation Jesus Christ. Now that’s something to think about.  

Your Appointment Will Be On 🗓️

Hebrews 9:27 (KJV) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

APPOINTED “Fixed; set; established; decreed; ordained; constituted; allotted.“ When a new firm takes over a business they may appoint new people to existing positions and the ones in those positions will step down. In November we will elect a President and if the one we have isn’t reelected  then we may see different people appointed. I had a friend whose name was Gene Cotton and at 21 he died of natural causes. In other words that was his appointed time. We all have a day, that’s our appointed time to leave this world. I always said it would be nice to know that day. But unless an accident happens or some unknown health problem I think we will know fairly close to that date. 

As I write, I have a close friend that the doctors give him a year to live. That may be true but God does appoint a day for us all and it’s not a guess, God is accurate every time and you and I will not live a minute longer nor a minute less than God’s appointed time. One day you will tie your shoes for the last time because later that day someone else will untie your shoes for the last time. As the song says”Watch ye therefore you know not the day When the Lord shall call your soul away” Be Careful out there you hear. You are in a battle zone, don't let the enemy slip up on you and take your soul away. My good friend Melba Rowden who served our Lord everyday finally got to her appointed day 2/10/24. She had to leave, it was her appointed time. We all have one just be ready, look for Him.  Hebrews 9:28 (KJV) So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.