Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. (2 Peter 2)
Hebrews 3
Read Hebrews 3:1
Fix your thoughts… does that remind you of something else?
Philippians 4:8 is one of them,
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Another is Ephesians 6:17-18
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Was it that you are called holy brothers and sisters that struck you as new? Oh my friend, that’s Scriptural too.
Ephesians 1:4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight, in love.
Jesus, the true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy One that we can hear with the Helmet of Salvation, if we’re using it. It’s a focus thing. It’s a listening thing, it requires fixing our thoughts on Jesus.
Read Hebrews 3:2-4
Faithful, yes, Jesus was and is faithful. John 6:37-40, can assure you of that, though all of Scripture reveals His faithfulness. Here’s how the AMP words it.
“All that My Father gives Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, never reject anyone who follows Me]. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but that I [give new life and] raise it up at the last day. For this is My Father’s will and purpose, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him [as Savior] will have eternal life, and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day.”
One place you can find proof of verse 4 is John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Read Hebrews 3:5-6
Oh yes, this is other places too. These words should bring you much comfort and assurance that your faith is indeed precious to God. This is most of Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:17-23, in the AMP.
[I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son]. And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people), and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength which He produced in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion [whether angelic or human], and [far above] every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and world but also in the one to come. And He put all things [in every realm] in subjection under Christ’s feet, and appointed Him as [supreme and authoritative] head over all things in the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills and completes all things in all [believers].
Might I at this point encourage you to pray Scripture. This prayer is powerful and can really assure you of His Lordship over you. Though it is easier to pray in another version without all those explaining brackets. But oh do I ever love those.
Do you see how Jesus is greater than Moses? Did our writer here make that case well enough to understand it? Be sure you are convinced to ‘hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory’ because the warning is coming next.
Read Hebrews 3:7-9
Warning Against Unbelief
Today, “if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts,” listen.
Read Hebrews 3:10–11
Jesus in Matthew 11:28 said this:
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation].”
Here’s a quick preview of what is coming next week.
Hebrews 4:1
Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still remains and is freely offered today, let us fear, in case any one of you may seem to come short of reaching it or think he has come too late.
Read Hebrews 3:12–15
See to it… It’s a choice. You must focus your mind. If you feel like you have a sinful or unbelieving heart, dear one, pray. Pray, pray, pray that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will come into your heart and enlighten it with His Presence. That He will rescue and save you from all the unrighteousness you feel and exchange it for His perfect righteousness.
Encourage one another daily so that none of you maybe be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
In Romans 1:10-11, Paul says: “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” Yes, you can encourage someone by sharing your faith.
Write out verses 14-15.
Read Hebrews 3:16–19
2 Peter 1:5-8
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Your faith is precious. Make sure you hold onto ‘our original conviction firmly to the very end.’ Yes, it requires focus, intentionality, encouragement, and trust, but oh will it ever be worth it. 1 Corinthians 2:9 says: as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him. Which references Isaiah 64:4 that says Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
I hope you feel encouraged. I do. But then, I’ve spent this past week building up and confirming my faith. I encourage you to do so as well. With all the faith I want to share, thanks for coming to study and I’ll be back with Hebrews 4 next Tuesday and maybe something else before then.