Pray For Us (Heb. 13:18-19

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 08-11-03

 

                                                                                                           

 

My Worship Time                 Focus:  Pray for us

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                        Reference:  Hebrews 13:18-19

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.  19 And I urge you all the more to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.”  (NASB) 

            I want to write about the author of this letter, humanly speaking, for the Holy Spirit authors all of the Scripture.  Many people believe that the human author to this letter is Paul, and one of the reasons is the mention of Timothy in this letter, another reason is the benediction of grace.  I would say that it is not an issue that is worth being concerned about, for if God would have wanted us to know who it was that wrote this letter He would have made that known to us.

            The writer asks for prayer in these verses, and prayer is one of the most important things that believers can do for each other.  He says that he wants to see them again and this is one of the things they can be praying about for him.  He says that he has a clear conscience which is one of the things that he has been writing about earlier in this letter.  He also says that he wants to conduct himself in an honorable way and asks for prayer concerning that.

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I like the issue of having a clear conscience, for there are far to many times when I do not have a clear conscience.  It seems that there are far to many times when I am to legalistic, and do not enjoy the grace of God in my life like I believe He desires me to do. 

            I am trying to be more involved in prayer in my life, and praying with other believers, especially men.  I know that prayer is something that will change issues and peoples lives, and so I want to have prayer as a bigger part of my life.

 

The Word of God was convicting to my heart as I read it today, and it was also refreshing.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to trust the Lord to give Sandy and me a good day, as He has been so good to us in giving us thirty years of marriage.  He has taken to unbelievers who got married thirty years ago today, and saved them for His glory and our good.  He has given us two wonderful children, and taken us through many trials and troubles for His glory and our good.  As I look back at the faithfulness of God in these last thirty years I have great confidence that He who started a good work in us will continue to be faithful to us until the trumpet sounds and we will go to meet our Lord in the air, and be with Him forever more.

 

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.

 

 

Sacrifices We Offer To the Lord (Heb. 13:15-16)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8-08-03

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Sacrifices we offer to God

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                              Reference:  Hebrews 13:15-16

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.  16 And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”  (NASB)  “With Jesus’ help, let us continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by proclaiming the glory of his name.  Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to God.”  (NLT)

            Dr. Wiersbe entitled this section “Sharing in spiritual worship.”  The spiritual worship that is contained in these two verses is the sacrifice of praise to God, and also the sacrifice of sharing and doing good.  These are two spiritual sacrifices, along with offering our bodies as living sacrifices, that the believer can now offer to God under the New Covenant.  The readers of this original letter were thinking of going back into Judaism because of the persecution that they were under from the unbelieving Jews.  The writer is encouraging them to not give up on their new faith even though persecution has come, and he advises them to help others through this by sacrifices of helps and to also praise the Lord for one day they would be in the new city that the Lord will provide for them.

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  The NT sacrifices of the believers are spiritual sacrifices, meaning they can only be given by the power of the Holy Spirit.  By allowing the Spirit to have control of my life and being sensitive to his leading I can offer these sacrifices to God and He will be pleased with them.  If I try and do it on my own then I am trying to help God, and God never needs any help, only my obedience.

 

The Word of God has been refreshing, challenging, and convicting to me as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To listen to the Spirit of the Lord as He speaks to me through His Word, and in my heart, that I might obey Him in all that He wants me to do.

 

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 my foot to slip; He who watches you will not slumber.

4.      Behold, He who watches 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. 

 

 

Looking for a New City (Heb. 13:14)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 08-07-03

 

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Looking for a new city

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Hebrews 13:14

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “14 For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.”  (NASB)  “For this is not our home; we are looking forward to our city in heaven, which is yet to come.”  (NLT)

            This verse contrasts what is in verse thirteen, for in that verse we are seen as going outside the camp, or city of Jerusalem, in order to bear disgrace likened unto that of Christ, for we are not of this world, but as this verse says we are looking forward to the city which is in heaven whose designer and builder is God.  There is quite a contrast in these verses indeed.

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  One of the things that the Lord is teaching me as I go through this storm over our investments is that this is not my home, for I am only passing through.  This place where I live is the “proving grounds” for the new place which is talked about in this verse, and that is heaven, or the new Jerusalem.  I cannot afford to hang on to the things of this earth that will all someday pass away.  The Lord has made me a steward of some things that are on this earth, but he wants me to above all place my total trust in Him, and not the things that He has given me to be a steward over.  There are times in this life on earth where I will have to bear the disgrace that Christ bore, but as this verse says this earth is only temporary.

 

The Word of God did indeed present some challenges to me, yet as the same time was refreshing to my heart.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  As this date that has been set up by Andrew Lech to pay the money back to all of us approaches those who has sought out lawyers to plead their case for them my be putting all of us into a longer time frame to receive our funds back.  As all of this goes on I have to continue to trust the Lord for His timing and for His will, and also for His matchless grace to handle what he has for me to go through.

 

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.

 

Make a Stand for Jesus (Heb. 13:12-13)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 08-06-03

 

                                                                                                                       

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Make a stand for Jesus

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Hebrews 13:12,13

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.  13 Hence, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.”  (NASB)  “So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates in order to make his people holy by shedding his own blood.  So let us go out to him outside the camp and bear the disgrace he bore.”  (NLT)

These two verses continue to give an allegory that the writer is telling his readers.  Jesus was crucified outside the city in order that he may sanctify those who would believe through His blood.  The word sanctify is translated into different English words from the Greek word.  Strongs give these definitions for the word: 

“AV-sanctify 26, hallow 2, be holy 1; 29

1) to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow

2) to separate from profane things and dedicate to God

2a) consecrate things to God

2b) dedicate people to God

3) to purify

3a) to cleanse externally

3b) to purify by expiation: free from the guilt of sin

3c) to purify internally by renewing of the soul”

Jesus Christ has done these things for the believer, He has made us holy, and He has set apart these now “holy people” for service.

            Now because He has done these things for the believers we are to separate ourselves from the things of the world, (the old camp) and we must bear the disgrace that He bore for us.  We must stand up for Jesus Christ in our daily lives as we sere Him each day.  Paul put it this way in two of his letters he wrote:  “Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

2 Timothy 1:12  For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”  These two verses give wonderful insight into how believers should live their lives for the glory of the Lord.

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I would say that these verses that are quoted from Paul’s writings are good advice on how to live my life each and everyday that the Lord lends me breath.  I am not to be ashamed of what the Lord has done for me and must be willing to tell others of this wonderful work of grace as the Lord gives me opportunity.

 

The Word of God was very challenging to my heart as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  Not to be ashamed of the Gospel, nor of the Lord of the Gospel.

 

 

 

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 my foot to slip; He who keeps me 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christ Died Outside of Jerusalem (Heb. 13:11)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 08-05-03

 

                                                                                                           

 

My Worship Time                  Focus: Christ died outside Jerusalem

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Hebrews 13:11

 

1.  Message of the verse:  “11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp.”  (NASB)  “Under the system of Jewish laws, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, but the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp.”  (NLT)

            This verse speaks of the Day of Atonement, where the High Priest would go into the Most Holy Place and would put the blood of an animal onto the top of the Ark of the Covenant for the sins of the nation of Israel, and then the body of the animal would be burned outside the walls of Jerusalem.  Jesus Christ was crucified outside the walls of Jerusalem for the sins of all, so the Day of Atonement was a show of what would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  The readers of this letter wanted to go back into this Jewish types and symbols of Christ in order to avoid persecution from the unbelieving Jews, and the writer is telling them to get out of this old and on with the new in spite of the possible persecution that could come upon them.

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I can learn for this verse that I am not to take the easy way out of the things in life, rather I am to, by faith, do as the Lord has shown me in His Word, and as I am taught from my Church, and do as I learn from the devotions I do each day. 

 

The Word of God has brought challenges to my heart today as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to trust the Lord to keep me true to His Word and to Him in spite of circumstances or consequences. 

 

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 you 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.

 

Greeting Leaders and Other Believers from Heb. 13:24

SPIRITUAL DIARY  FOR 08-02-03

 

                                                                                                                       

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Greeting of the leaders

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Hebrews 13:24

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “24 Greet all of your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.”  (NASB)  “Give greetings to all your leaders and to the other believers there.  The Christians from Italy send you their greetings.”  (NLT) 

            The writer of Hebrews is telling all of his readers that they are to greet their Christian leaders and each of the other believers in their local church.  To greet someone it is probably true that you are on good speaking terms with that person and that you are not holding any grudges against them.  This is and important part of the Christian life, that is to be on good speaking terms with all believers.  It is not necessary to be in complete agreement with all believers about every subject, but it is important to have unity with them.

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I would have to say that it is difficult to be in good standing with every believer that you know at all times, and it is impossible without the Holy Spirit working in the lives of all believers.  I as a believer must be willing to submit to the Spirit of God and to others in order to have a good relationship with them.

 

The Word of God proved to be challenging to my heart, and convicting too as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  First I would like to thank the Lord for the good reports that are coming in about the investments that have been up in the air for the last four months.  It seems that the Lord is working these things out so that we will get the return of our funds, along with many others who have been invested with Andrew Lech.  I have been trying to let the Lord handle this storm that He has seen fit to send my way, and I want to continue to do this even now.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 121:1-6

 

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.

 

Submit to Your Spiritual Leaders from Heb. 13:17

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 08-01-03

 

                                                                                                           

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Submit to your spiritual leaders

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Hebrews 13:17

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “17 Yield to those taking the lead of you, and submit, for they watch for your souls, giving an account, that they may do this with joy, and not with groaning; for this would be no profit to you.”  (Greens LLIT)  “Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say.  Their work is to watch over your souls, and they know they are accountable to God.  Give them reason to do things joyfully and not with sorrow.  That would certainly not be for your benefit.”  (NLT)

            The reason for jumping to verse seventeen is because I am following the outline in Dr. Wiersbe’s book on Hebrews; “Be Confident.”  This verse and also verse twenty-four tie in with the his sub-title, “Submitting to spiritual leadership.”   A believer in Jesus Christ is to submit to the leadership that is over him.  Now I must say that the leadership must not be a dictator, or someone who is not following the principles for a leader that is outlined in the Scriptures, especially the ones in the Pastoral letters.  The pastor is appointed by the Lord to do His work of leading and guiding the flock that the Lord gives him to lead.  The believer’s responsibility is to follow that leadership, and yield to the leaders in matters of life.  The leader is responsible to watching over your soul, and he must give an account to the Lord Himself one day.  The Pastor wants to be able to given an account with joy for all those who are in his flock.  He does not want to have to give a bad report, for if he has to do that it will not be for the benefit of the one who is in question.

            In closing remarks on this verse I would like to say that the Pastor who is called by the Lord has a very big responsibility to the Lord for all who are under his care, and a Pastor’s job is of the highest calling and not to be taken lightly at all.

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Again, as in yesterday’s verse, I am glade to be studying about this subject in light of the up coming vote for our senior Pastor.  I know that I am responsible to the Lord for how I vote on this important issue, and I do not take lightly the importance of it.  After having conversation with Bruce on this issue I have come to the conclusion that I am to vote by asking the Lord what will be the very best for Grace Baptist Church?  I have given a great deal of thought on this subject and have prayed about it at some length also, and I would ask the Lord to continue to give me peace about my decision and that His perfect will be done for His Church that I attend. 

            I want to also say that after studying these verses and others like them I have come to the conclusion that I need to support my pastor that the Lord give us more, and I do have a great deal more respect for this high office.  Again Lord, I would pray that Your perfect will be done in the choosing of our new senior pastor.

 

The Word of God was refreshing to my heart, and it also gave conviction, and challenged my heart as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to take the Lord at His Word, who is the Head of the Church, that He will provide, in His perfect will, the Pastor that He wants for our church.

 

 

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 121:1-6

 

1.      I will lift 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.