Habakkuk 2

Then the Lord replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay."

Sunday, December 25, 2022

Encourage One Another

Video Talk

 

Hebrews 10:19-25 ESV

 

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

 

Under the Old Covenant, before Jesus died on that cross, the people of God had to obey all sorts of liturgical, sacrificial, ceremonial, and dietary laws and restrictions. They had human priests who served as intermediaries between them and God, and the high priest went into the holy of holies once a year to sacrifice to God for his sins and for the sins of God’s people. And only he could go into the presence of Almighty God behind the curtain.

 

But when Jesus Christ died on that cross for our sins, that curtain was torn in two, representing that, via Jesus’ death on that cross, he opened the way for all who believe in him with God-given faith to enter into God’s holy presence. So we don’t have to go through human priests, for we are now God’s holy priesthood, and now we offer to God spiritual sacrifices of our lives surrendered to Christ to do his will and to no longer walk in sin.

 

And so the confession of our hope which we are to hold fast to without wavering is not based on some superficial profession of faith in Jesus Christ which we have been told guarantees us heaven when we die. If we are to hold fast to the hope we have in Christ, it is that Jesus died on that cross to deliver us out of our slavery (addiction) to sin so that we would now be slaves of God and of his righteousness, and no longer living as slaves to sin.

 

And then the way we are to stir one another up to love and good works, and to encourage (exhort, urge) one another daily, not neglecting the gathering of ourselves together, has to do with us exhorting one another to live holy and godly lives in obedience to our Lord and to warn against continuing in deliberate and habitual sin. For the Scriptures are clear. If we walk according to the Spirit in obedience to our Lord, in holiness and in righteousness, we have eternal life with God. But if we continue in deliberate and habitual sin, we will not inherit the kingdom of God. So, please take this to heart.

 

[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU2ZcgkUZxo

Caution: This link may contain ads beyond my control

 

Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer

 

Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897

Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897

 

Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,

This is my constant longing and prayer;

Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,

Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

 

Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,

Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,

Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,

Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

 

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,

Holy and harmless, patient and brave;

Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,

Willing to suffer others to save.

 

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,

Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;

Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,

Fit me for life and Heaven above.

 

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,

Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrYhiK2nQBg

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