Equipping the Believers (Heb. 13:20-21)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 08-13-03

 

                                                                                                           

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Equipping the believers

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Hebrews 13:20-21

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “20 Now may the God of peace (who brought again our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant) 21 make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. ‘  (MKJV)  “And now, may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, equip you with all you need for doing His will.  May He produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, all that is pleasing to Him.  Jesus is the great Shepherd of the sheep by an everlasting covenant, signed with His blood.  To Him be glory forever and ever.  Amen.”  (NLT)

            First I want to focus in on the word for equip, which is translated perfect in many versions.  Strong’s says this of this word:  “1) to render, i.e. to fit, sound, complete

1a) to mend (what has been broken or rent), to repair

1a1) to complete

1b) to fit out, equip, put in order, arrange, adjust

1b1) to fit or frame for one's self, prepare

1c) ethically: to strengthen, perfect, complete, make one what he ought to be”

As seen in 1b, the word can be translated equip, so the question is how does the Lord equip his children for good works?  For the answer to this question I wish to quote Dr. Warren Wiersbe from his book on Hebrews, “Be Confident.”  “How does He equip us?  By tracing this word katartidzo in the New Testament, we can discover the tools that God uses to mature and equip His children.  He uses the Word of God (2Tim. 3:16,17) and prayer (1Thes. 3:10) in the fellowship of the local church (Eph. 4:11-12).  He also uses individual believers to equip us and mend us(Gal.6:1).  Finally, He uses suffering to perfect His children (1Peter 5:10), and this relates to what we learned from Hebrews’ chapter 12 about chastening.”

2Tim. 3:16,17 “16  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17  that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

1Thes. 3:10  “10  as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?”

Eph. 4:11,12  “11  And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12  for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;”

Gal 6:1  “1 ¶ Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted.”

1Peter 5:10  “10 ¶ And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”

            In verse twenty the Lord Jesus is referred to as our “Great Shepherd of the sheep,” and I would like to say a little something about this title.  There have been books written about Jesus Christ as the Shepherd or Great Shepherd, and this title is written about Him many places in the Bible.  Because sheep need a shepherd to care for them, the believers of Jesus Christ are often referred to as sheep in the Bible.  Sheep need constant care, and that care cannot be given better than by our Great Shepherd.  Psalm 23, and John 10:11 are some of the more famous verses about Christ as our Shepherd.  Isaiah 63:11 has this to say about this subject:  “11  Then His people remembered the days of old, of Moses. Where is He who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of His flock? Where is He who put His Holy Spirit in the midst of them.”

            In conclusion to this great benediction I wish again to quote from Dr. Wiersbe’s book:  “What a difference it would make if we would turn Hebrews 13:20,21 into a personal prayer each day.  ‘Lord, make me perfect in every good work to do Thy will. Work in me that which is well-pleasing in Thy sight.  Do it through Jesus Christ and may He receive glory.’”

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I think that this prayer quoted above is appropriate for this section.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I wish to pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will equip me to do His will this and every day He gives me breath to breathe.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 121:1-7

 

1.      I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From whence shall my help come?

2.      My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

3.      He will not allow your foot to slip, He who keeps you will not slumber.

4.      Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

5.      The Lord is your keeper, The Lord is your shade on your right hand.

6.      The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night.

7.      The Lord will protect you from all evil, He will keep your soul.