And He came to Capernaum: and being in the house He asked them,
“What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?”
But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. And He sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them,
“If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.”
And He took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when He had taken him in His arms, He said unto them,
“Whosoever shall receive one of such children in My name, receiveth Me: and whosoever shall receive Me, receiveth not Me, but him that sent Me.”
Mark 9:33-37
Scripture
From The Heart
And Jesus said, “Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.”
Matthew 15:16-20
Where does evil come from? There is only one correct answer to that question, and that answer is from the hearts of mankind. It started with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, but the one who led them into evil was the serpent which yielded itself to the fallen angel known as Lucifer; he had rebelled against God. He hated and still does, the people of this world.
We are all born spiritually dead, in sin, and separated from our God; who is our Creator. Notice that Jesus that it was not what enters the mouth that defiles a man (and He means man or woman), but what comes from the heart. Jesus gives us a list of things that come from the heart – evil thoughts, murders, adultery, fornication (all kinds of sexual sin), thefts, false witness, and blasphemies. Many, and maybe all these sins are approved of by a majority of people. God through His Son tells us they come from an evil heart.
Since we are all born into the wickedness of this world we would all stand before God guilty of sin, condemned (damned) to eternal torment. But Jesus, the Son of Man, the Son of God came into the world to save all who believe in Him. Believing in Him He gives you a changed; a new heart; and new mind with different thinking.
We are nearing the day in the year that remember the coming of the Savior of the world. The Baby Jesus. Every body loves a baby and the story of the baby in a manger. Let us not forget though why this Baby came. He came to die and pay their/our sin debt, by becoming sin for us. He died on that old rugged cross in a shameful way – stripped naked, after being beaten with a mean and horrendous whip with glass, and metal pieces in the ends of the whip, which tore His flesh away from His body. He was dead on that cross, they took Him down, and laid Him in a borrowed tomb, and three days later He walked out alive forever more.
Christian we do not believe in a dead Savior, but in the living Lord Jesus Christ. Yes we believe He died for us, but He did not stay dead. He arose showing us that He is the Victor over sin and evil.
Will you come to Him today?
What Jesus Says About Marriage and Divorce
And He answered and said unto them,
“What did Moses command you?”
And they said, “Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.” And Jesus answered and said unto them,
“For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
And in the house His disciples asked Him again of the same matter. And He saith unto them,
“Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
Mark 10:3-12
Wicked Farmers
This is a story Jesus told to convict the religious leadership of time, of their hypocrisy, and tell them also, that they were going to kill Him.
“Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: and when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
“When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?”
They say unto him, “He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.”
Matthew 21:33-41
These people soon realized that Jesus was talking about them and their wicked hearts, and that He knew they, and their fathers had hated the prophets, and they hated him too. Jesus knew what they were about to do to Him; and that is hang Him on a cross.
When Jesus Said, “It Is Finished”
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, “It is finished:” and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.
The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath day, (for that Sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they brake not His legs: but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “A bone of him shall not be broken.” And again another Scripture saith, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”
John 19:30-37
The words of Jesus which He spoke from the cross are about seven. The one in verse thirty is about the last words Jesus spoke. It was probably next to last with His, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:46), being His final words from the cross.
What was it that Jesus was saying “It is finished” about?
- He had finished the work the Father had given Him to do;
- He was diligent in doing the will of God in the fulfilling of prophecy;
- He lived the life God the Father desired His Son to live;
- He finished fulfilling the prophecies of Scripture concerning the sacrifices, and offerings, and of the tabernacle in the wilderness; and
- The work of the priesthood was completed, in that since Jesus was raised up from the grave He has an everlasting Priesthood.
I am fairly certain that this list is not exhausted.
When Jesus said , “It is finished”, He was telling us the sin debt was paid in full. Those who come to Him will never perish.
Your Sin Will Be Found Out
It has been said, “What I do personally does not hurt anyone else.” Usually being someone who is being confronted about their sin. In the writings of Moses it is said, “Be sure your sins will find you out” (Numbers 32:23). In the story we read today a soldier of Israel, and all Israel found I that that kind of thinking was stinking, and wrong.
In the book of Joshua we read of the children of Israel’s victory over Jericho, because of the LORD’S doing it. Then they are so confident to go against a smaller city named Ai, and the Israelites find themselves soundly defeated. Why? Because of one man’s sin. Joshua gathers the tribes together; by the LORD’S instruction; for the purpose of finding the guilty party, and it comes down to one man…
So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken: and he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken: and he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. And Joshua said unto Achan, “My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.” And Achan answered Joshua, and said, ”
“Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: when I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.”
JSo Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it. And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD. And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor. And Joshua said, “Why hast thou troubled us? The LORD shall trouble thee this day.” And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.
Joshua 7:16-26
Because of Achan’s hidden sin (it was hidden from Joshua and the others, not from God) caused the whole army of Israel to lose a battle and had at least thirty six men lose their lives. Make a note in your heart and mind what his sin did to his family too; because they were stoned to death as well. Why was the family of Achan struck down too? Most likely because of their complicity to the sin. They had harbored the dark secret as well.
There is plenty of evidence in Scripture; like David’s sin with Bathsheba and what that did to his family, and the nation of Israel. There are things that happen in the lives of people today show us also that your sin does not hurt just you, but others as well. The phrase, “What happens in Vegas; stays in Vegas” is just not true.
Since God knows our every thought, and deeds we have done, we need to be sure that we repent of our sin; make a turn around; turn to faith of Jesus Christ the One who became sin for us and paid our sin debt by being put to death on a cruel, rugged cross in our place. He was buried, and He rose again. Yield to Him today and let Him into your life, and you will receive eternal life.
A Psalm of Moses
For a little less than a month now I have been reading through the Bible. This time I am reading the Christian Standard Bible, and it is the DAY BY DAY Chronological Bible published by Holman Bible Publishers, For my reading today, and every day, I have been reading three days reading at a time. That is so I can get through the Book before the end of 2025.
I am sharing this with you to let you know why I am sharing the following Psalm from the book of Psalms. It is because it is most likely the chronological position it should be in the reading of the Book of Numbers 6 through 13; and there was Psalm 90; then I read Numbers 14 through 16; and there was Psalm 95, Psalm 90 is called a Song of Moses; and Psalm 95 is not, but many believe it to have been by Moses as well. I will have no other commentary on Psalm 90 for this post.
Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.
Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, “Return, ye children of men.” For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. For we are consumed by Thine anger, and by Thy wrath are we troubled.
Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance. For all our days are passed away in Thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of Thine anger? Even according to Thy fear, so is Thy wrath.
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent Thee concerning Thy servants. O satisfy us early with Thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad according to the days wherein Thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants, and Thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it.Psalm 90:1-17
Looking Back
The words, “Looking Back” sounds like two or three or four old farmers who are church goers talking about the past. It is a good thing to remember the past except for when God has said, “Do not look back.” That was the case with Lot, his wife, and his daughters.
And he said unto him, “See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; and He overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
Genesis 19:21-26
In verse 17 of Genesis 19 the messenger of the Lord had told Lot, “Escape for your life. Look not behind you.” Is not looking behind and looking back the same thing? It seems so to me. But who am I? What do I know? I do know this, and that is that Jesus said, “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32).
Now Lot’s wife is now an example of how we are not to be. We are to obey the Lord in all things. We cannot expect the blessings of the Lord in disobedience.
Why did Lot’s wife look behind her? It could have been the “friends she had left behind, and the city was being destroyed along with all her friends. It could also have been she was leaving some married daughters, and their husbands behind. Whatever the reason it was not a good enough reason for disobedience. It would probably be called loving the world more than God.
Looking back is not good for a farmer plowing a field, if he wants a straight row. Jesus also tells us, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62), When it comes to life, sin and death, and the judgment of God is would do us good to hear God, obey Him, and do His bidding.
The Christian life should be looking forward; forward to souls being saved, sanctified, and secure in their faith. Also we should be looking forward to the return of Jesus Christ keeping ourselves ready for His appearing (1 John 3:1-3).
Lot’s wife became in her death what she had never been in her life. What is that? Salt.
A Storm In Life
We all face storms in our lives. Actual storms in weather patterns and in day to day life and living. God’s people, followers of Jesus Christ, are not immune to any of these storms either.
One of the storms of my life has been, since September 22, 2023 I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and it is not a pleasant thing to deal with. God is so good. He has given me a family: my wife, our sons and daughters and their spouses have been so helpful in helping in so many ways. This is the storm I am dealing with, as it seems sometimes to be getting worse. I still mow our yard. I can still drive, but I do not know how much longer I should. I am not scaring my wife yet. Well that is enough about that.
When Paul was on a ship headed to Rome, he had warned them of danger if they left Crete at that time scheduled. When they had been in the storm for fourteen days, here are the apostle’s words,
But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, “Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, ‘Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.’ Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.
Acts 27:21-26
The Lord had sent an angel to Paul, and told him to “Fear not”, there would be no loss of life, they would be grounded, the ship being destroyed, and that the Lord had given him all those who were on the ship with him, including the ship master, the soldiers guarding him and the other prisoners.
Storms are sometimes very frightening. It is always comforting and encouraging to know that God has these things in His Almighty hands. Even when that storm is your feet feeling like they are slipping, and they are not. Even when you balance is gone awry. When you are falling down more than you ever did. Even when it feels as though you are losing your strength, and you have no energy to go on. Have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not be afraid. “Fear not,” said the angel of the Lord to Paul; and to you and me.
Christ Jesus died so that we might be forgiven all our sins. He was buried in a borrowed tomb. He rose up out of that tomb, and came out alive forever more. Through Him we too are alive forever more. Believe Him, and be saved.
Preaching Jesus To The Scriptural Illiterate
Paul the apostle to the Gentiles is in Athens, Greece at the time of this message. He is standing and walking through an area where there were many altars to the gods that they worshiped there. When the people asked him what this new doctrine (teaching) he shared Jesus with them without the Scriptures, and spoke to them through the altar they had to “The Unknown God.”
“Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised him from the dead.” And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, “We will hear thee again of this matter.”
So Paul departed from among them. Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Acts 17:29-34
Paul’s sermon begins at verse 22, and continues through verse 31; a very short, yet powerful testimony of the good news of Jesus Christ. He uses their worship to the Unknown God, to point to the name of the One true God, whose Son Jesus Christ showing that through Him only will come judgment on the whole world. This was a different culture, and they were not knowing of the Jewish and Christian God, but they heard of it from Paul.
God calls for all people to repent of their sins. The time of God’s overlooking sins of the Gentiles is over. He tells then that God has given assurance to all that He has raised His Son from the dead. When Paul mentioned the resurrection of the dead we are told that some mocked, and others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” There were also some who believed and went with him when he departed.
Maybe we a Christians need use the knowledge God has given us about Himself, and of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the times we live in, to point people to Jesus. We must know the Scriptures. We must know Jesus most of all. There is no room for Biblical or Scriptural ignorance, or illiteracy.
Many of us are ignorant of a lot of things, some of which we do not need to be knowledgeable of. The Bible is one we need to be knowledgeable of. You will never know the Scriptures if you never read it, and you cannot know God and His Son Jesus except through the word of God; the Scriptures.
Captives Hear the LORD’S Word
Captives may hear the good news of God’s word, but will they believe and do the will of God? That is the question for myself as well as you the reader. The following is a promise from GOD, of their return to Him, and they to their land of promise as well.
Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
“Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, ‘Get you far from the LORD: unto us is this land given in possession.’ Therefore say, ‘Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.’ Therefore say, ‘Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.’ And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: that they may walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be My people, and I will be their God. But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads,” saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 11:14-21
Note that the LORD says, “I will be to them a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.”
The LORD God is our shelter, our comfort, our strength; a very present help in our time of need; no matter what situation we are in in life.
There is only hope for salvation and eternal life through Jesus Christ who died on the cross, was buried, and He rose again. He is returning soon. Be ready by calling on His name.
His Banner Is Love
He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.
Song of Solomon 2:4-5
The Song of Solomon is a love story of a man, probably of Solomon and a Shulamite young lady. It can be and is a illustrated story of the nature of God’s love for His bride which was Israel, and of Jesus Christ love for the Church.
One day the Bride of Christ (the Church) will go to God’s banqueting table in the glory of Heaven, and will feast at that great banqueting house. That is for all those who have received His gift of love given, and proven by the death of Christ on the cross, His burial, and His resurrection (Romans 1:4).
The greatest love of all is God’s love for those who receive the free gift of grace in Jesus Christ. His banner is love.
It Is Not A Vain Thing
And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea the son of Nun. And Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel: and he said unto them, “Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.”
Deuteronomy 32:44-47
For some the reading, and study of the Scriptures (our Holy Bible) is a worthless, senseless waste of time. Some may feel; even though they profess to be a Christian; that they do not need to read and study God’s word. That seems kind of odd to me since the Bible is the largest selling book in the world.
What has this got to do with what Moses has written, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, with the Christian of today?
First of all we need to know that Moses gave these words shortly before his death. Even though he had led the people of Israel for forty years through the wilderness, with great signs and wonders; he was not allowed to enter the land of Promise, because of his actions at the waters from the rock of Meribah (Deuteronomy 32:51).
Secondly, Moses knew the people needed the words of the LORD in order to be faithful. They needed to know, and be reminded of the blessings of obedience, and the curses of disobedience.
So does the Christian need to know the word of God. So it is never a waste of time. It is never a vain thing. It is never a useless, worthless or empty thing to read, study, and know the word of God.
How will we, how can we stand before others, and tell others what makes a difference in our lives when they ask, if we do not know His word? How can we stand in a court of people, kings, and nations to defend our faith, and stand in the face of persecution? If we do not know the Lord’s words. Jesus said, “And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you” Matthew 10:18-20. How does that happen without the presence of the word of God being already in our hearts, and coming to our minds – the Holy Spirit, of course, in what we have already put within.
So never feel like the reading and study of the Bible, Old and New Testaments, are a waste of your time. It is a necessity for life, faith, and increasing your fruitfulness.
We will hide His word in our hearts that we might not sin against God (Psalm 119:11).
If you want to know the One true God, there is only one way, and that is through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Will you call on His name today?
We Have Sinned
Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed. And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, “We have sinned against Thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim.” And the LORD said unto the children of Israel,
“Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to Me, and I delivered you out of their hand. Yet ye have forsaken Me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.”
And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, “We have sinned: do Thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto Thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.” And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and His soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.
Judges 10:9-17
You Do Well To Take Heed
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the Excellent Glory, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2 Peter 1:16-21
…Jesus, made an High Priest forever…
For when God made promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He sware by Himself, saying,
“Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.”
And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an High Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 6:13-20
These Things Were Done To Fulfill The Scriptures
The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath day, (for that Sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they brake not His legs: but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “A bone of Him shall not be broken.” And again another Scripture saith, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”
John 19:31-37
Search the Scriptures
But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given Me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father hath sent Me. And the Father Himself, which hath sent Me, hath borne witness of Me. Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape. And ye have not His word abiding in you: for whom He hath sent, Him ye believe not. Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me. And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life. I receive not honour from men.
John 5:36-40
Sharing from 2012
Do Not Be Afraid
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” So that we may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
Hebrews 13:5-6
By His Own Blood He Entered The Most Holy Place
But Christ being come an High Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause He is the Mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
Hebrews 9:11-15
The Anchor Of The Soul
For when God made promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He sware by Himself, saying,
“Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.”
And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an High Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 6:13-20
…That they may be sound in the faith…
…For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, “The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.” This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth…
Titus 1:10-14
A Ready Offering
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.
2 Timothy 4:6-8
Partakers of the Benefit
Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
1 Timothy 6:1-5
The Fire and Hammer 