Tabatha

Since these Jewish Christians ; because of their witness to the Messiah, no longer worshiped with other Jews, they should consider praise and acts of service their sacrifice-- ones they could offer anywhere , anytime .This must have reminded them of the prophet Hosea's words, " Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips." ( Hosea 14:2, )A sacrifice on the cross and telling others about it. Acts of kindness and sharing are particularly pleasing to God even when they go unoticed by others. ( Hebrews 11: 5-6 ) talks about Enoch and how he pleased God with his faith. Also verse 6 says without faith it is impossible to please God. This verse includes two results of Christ's death; and resurrection, God works in us to make us the kind of people that would please Him, and He equips us to do the kind of work that would please Him. God wants to change us from within and then use us to help others. ( 2 Corinthians 5: 9 ) While eternal life is a free gift given on the basis of God's grace to each of us we will still be judged by Christ. This judgement will reward us for how we have lived. God's precious gift of salvation does not free us from the requirements for faithful obedience. All Christians must give account for how they have lived, Living according to God's will, being obedient to what the word tells us. Let our lives represent Christ to glorify Him and the father. We were created for His Glory.

Real love for others produce tangible actions : (1) Kindness to strangers ( 13:2 ) ( 2 ) empathy for those who are in prison and those who are mistreated. ( 13:3 ) ( 3 ) respect for your marriage vows; and contentment with what you have. Make sure that your love runs deep enough to affect your hospitality; empathy , fidelity, and contentment Some people say they cannot be hospitable because their homes are not large enough or nice enough. But even if I have no more than a table and two chairs in a rented room, there are people who would be grateful to spend time in my home. Are there visitors to my church with whom I could share a meal? Do I know single people who would enjoy an evening of conversation? Is there any way my home could meet the needs of traveling missionaries? Hospitality simply means making other people feel comfortable and at home, I was asking myself these questions after reading the scriptures and I can say yes to all of them. I have done these things, but have become slack in them because of my health. We are to have empathy for those in jails and prisons, also the families of those in these places. Jesus said that His true followers would represent Him as they visit those in prison. ( Matthew 25:26 ). My Strong point in these areas are enjoying cooking food for the sick people, calling seniors, e-mailing cards to encourage people who are going through difficults times, praying for people and ministering to them over the phone. Having a bible study in the local jail. My weak area is not liking to attend social events at the church. I don't like to be around a large crowd. I perfer small gatherings. When I attend a large function I freeze up and don't like to be envolved in idle chit chat. If it is about Jesus or the bible I have no problems.

The readers were familiar with the ceremonial cleansing ritual that prepared them for worship, and they knew that they had to be Holy or in order to enter the temple. Sin always blocks our vision of God; so if we want to see God, we must renounce sin and obey Him ( see Psalm 24: 3,4 ) Holiness is coupled with living in peace. A right relationship with God leads to right relationships with fellow believers. Esau's story shows us that mistakes and sins sometimes have lasting consequences ( Genesis 25:29-34, 27,38 ) Even repentance and forgiveness do not always eliminate sin's consequences. How often do we make decisions based on what we want now, rather than on what we need in the long run. Paul emphasizes God's action in making believers new people. The three aspects of God's work are all part of our salvation: our sins were washed away, we were set apart for special use ( "sanctified " ) and we are pronounced not guilty ( "justified " ) for our sins In a per missive society it is easy for Christians to overlook or tolerate some immoral behaviors (greed , drunkenness, etc. ) while remaining outraged at ( homosexuality, thievery ) We must not participate in sin or condone it in any way, nor may we be selective about what we condemn or excuse. Staying away from more "acceptable" forms of sin is difficult, but it is no harder for us than it was for the Corinthians. God expects His followers in any age to have high standers. To become Holy and live a Holy life we must follow in Christ's footsteps and really set our heart to live a pure and Holy life. It may not be easy but In Rev. it says we are to be overcomers. The Bible is our instructions in how to accomplish it.

God does punish at times, Through out the old testament there were times of punishment. But here in Hebrews the writer is refering to discpline . The persecutions and hardships we face are a form of punishment that we should view them as God's way of training us to be sons and daughters. It is like when we spank a child when that child has been naughty or disibedient, it is to teach them that the thing they have done is not acceptable. Children must learn at an early age that the discipline is to teach them to grow in honesty and strong character. We must let them know we do it in love. Just as Pastor Ralph has put in the lesson that this particular passage does not indicate that God punishes us for our sins, there are many passages in the bible that indicate that God does punish--- sometimes by bringing the consequences of our actions. sometimes by bringing dificult circumstances. Unless God reveals something to us specifically, we can't say with certainty: This circumstance is God's punishment. It may well be caused by nothing you've done But something God is using to train and purify you. Never forget that His displine and training are out of love, not anger. God is not only a disciplining parent but also a demanding coach who pushes us to our limits and requires our lives to be disciplined. Although we may not feel strong enough to push on to victory, we will be able to accomplish it as we follow Christ and draw on His strength. Then we can use our growing strength to help those around us who are weak and struggling.

( Quote ) REVERENCE. Two nouns express this attitude. " Reverence" ( eulabeia ) is "a cautious taking hold and careful and respectful handling: hence piety of a devout and circumspect character, " This is joined with another word, "Awe" ( NIV, NRSV ) or " Godly fear " ( KJV< deos ) , " fear, awe "... " apprehension of danger, " as in a forest. ( Exxodus 20: 20 ) Throughout the bible we find this phrase, " Do not be afraid <" God wasn't trying to scare the people. He was allowing His mighty power so the Israelites would know He was the true God and would therefore obey Him. If they would do this , He would make His power available to them. God wants us to follow Him out of love rather than fear. To over come fear, we must think more about His love. " Perfect love cast out all fear ( 1 John 4: 18 ) Fear of God becomes unhealthy when we lose respect for God and don't accept Him as the creator of all things. When we think of Him as the " Man upstairs " or the big guy in the sky" Or use His name in vain. " ( 1 John 4: 18 ) If ever we are afraid of the future, eternity, or God's judgement, we can remind ourselves of God's love. We know that He loves us perfectly ( Romans 8: 39, 39 ) We can resolve our fears first by focusing on His immeasurable love for us, and then by allowing Him to love others through us. His love will quiet your fears and give you confidence. God's love is the source of all human love, and it spreads like fire, in loving His children, God kindles a flame in the hearts, in turn, they love others, who are warmed by God's love through them.

Who loves his child more--the father who allows the child to do what will harm him, or the one who corrects, trains, and even punishes the child to help him learn what is right? It's never pleasant to be corrected and disciplined by God, but His discipline is a sign of His deep love for us. When God corrects you, see it as proof of His love and ask Him what H is trying to teach you. We may respond to discipline in several ways: ( 1) we can accept it with resignation: (2 ) we can accept it with self-pity, thinking we really don't deserve it: ( 3 ) we can be angry and resentful toward God: or ( 4 ) we can accept it gtatefully, as the appropriate response we owe a loving Father. I remember as a child my Father raised 6 of 7 kids. He was very strict, sometimes to the point of being cruel. I hated him growing up, we had no mother. I look back on those times and am now thankful for His strictness because it has built charactar in my life and knowing what is right and wrong. Since I have forgiven him and been grateful for those time. I was not an easy child to deal with, Stubborn and rebellous was my biggest problem. Always wanting it my way. When I became a christian those were the first things God began to deal with in my life. It was not easy giving in to doing things God's way. But am now thankful He loves me so much He is not going to leave me the way I am. It gets easier as I submitt to His chastening. Oh yes, it hurts at times, but it is all worth it knowing what lies ahead and the rewards that are laid up in store for when I meet Him face to face as His Bride.

The Christian life involves hard work. It requires us to give up whatever endangers our relationship with God. Satan will use our weaknesses against us to wear us down. (James 4: 7) WE must resist the enemy and he will flee. Use the word against him in our warfare. To run the race patiently and to struggle against sin with the power of the Holy Spirit. To overcome the battle we must keep our eyes on Jesus We will grow weary if we lose our focus by looking away from Jesus to stare at the circumstances surrounding us. We must rise above the things that come at us. We should be running to Christ, not people, not churches, not ourselves. Yes, the warfare can become wearysome, but by centering in on Jesus, He will strengthen us in order to be overcomers and perserve. ( Eph. 6:13b ) When done all, stand in the might of the Lord. When we face the spiritual warfare and feel like giving up. It is easy to lose sight of the big picture. But we're not alone, there is help. Many have already made it through life, enduring far more difficult circumstances than we have experienced. Suffering is the training ground for Christian maturity. It develops our patience and makes our final victory sweet. Just as Christ did not give up , neither should we. Read in Matthew ( 4 : 11 Mark 1 : 12,13, Luke 4: 1- 13 . It will bring great encouragement to know how Jesus resisted the enemy. ( 1 Timothy 6: 12 ) Fight the good fight of the faith . Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (13) In the sight of God. who gives life to everything. and of Christ Jesus.

The " great cloud of witnesses' is composed of the people described in chapter 11.Their faithfulness is a constant encouragement to us. We do not struggle alone. and we are not the first to struggle with the problems we face. Others have run the race an won, and their witness stirs us to run and win also. What an inspiring heritage we have. Using the analogy of running a race, we must never take our eyes off the goal. ( Phil. 3:14 ) I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Knowing Christ with the single-mindedness of an athlete in training. We must lay aside everything harmful and forsake anything that may distract us from keeping our eyes on Jesus ,winning the prize which is in heaven with Christ. An Author is one who begins something so others may enter into, He is "One who takes the lead in anything and thus affords an example, a predecessor in a matter" ( Thayer 77 ) Christ is also the pioneer who stands before us to blaze the trail before us as the perfect example The perfect Son of God became the victorious Pioneer of our Faith accomplished His mission. He defeated death and satan himself. Jesus was born for the cross as the death dealing blow to satan in the strategy to rescue sinners. He is the pioneer of our faith victorious and compassionate. He lived by faith because He looked beyond His current struggle to the goal, the end, the joy of completion, when He would sit down at His Father's right hand....... Mission accomplished. "Finisher' means, " Perfection or completeness, " or "one who brings any enterprise to its full and perfect consummation" Jesus is the Beginning ( John 1: 1-5 ) and the end ( Rev. 5:1-12 ) of salvation. ( 14:12 ) And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. AMEN

The powerful motivating factor behind the actions taken by the people mentioned in these verses I believe is they saw the miracles performed by God against the Egyptians through Moses. This faith was based on God proving Himself to the people over and over.They believed His promises were being fulfilled through Moses being the leader they had waited for At the Red Sea the Israelites faith was secure in Knowing God had brought them this far He was not going to let anything happen to them. Once more His promises were true in that only God could part the red sea. The Egyptian army moved in fear and revenge. They were being led by self not the God of the Israelites. By Faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. I believe she knew Israel's God and maybe had heard of God's faithfulness to Joshua.

Moses chose to be mistreated rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a shorter time, He saw Christ as of a greater value than all the worldly treasures of Egypt, Because he was looking ahead to a greater reward. He persevered because he saw Him who is invisible. It took faith for Moses to give up his place in the palace, but he could do it because he saw the fleeting nature of wealth and prestige which is not lasting. Moses saw the eternal rewards far out weighed the temporary. This vision of the Invisible God created a faith in Him where He knew with courage and boldness he could and would lead his people out of their misery. He believed and trusted God. The vision God has given me in my walk with Him is Submit in obedience to Him in all my ways. When Sometimes I fail, as long as I come before God in honest heart felt repentence, He will forgive me. Each time I do this and listen to His voice my faith increases and grows and I can patiently wait for His soon coming return. This kind of faith over the years has built a more trusting relationship with my God. It is easy to be deceived by the temporary benefits of wealth, popularity, status, and achievement, and to be blind to the long-range benefits of God's kingdom. Faith helps us look beyond the worlds value system to see the eternal values of God's kingdom.

( John 17: 14, 17 ) The world hates Christians because Christians' values differ from the world's. Because Christ's followers don't cooperate with the world by joining in their sinful way of life. They are living accusations against the world's immorality. The world follows satan's agenda and satan is the enemy of Jesus and His people. A follower of Christ becomes sanctified ( set apart for sacred use, cleansed and made holy ( Hebrews 4: 12 ) He or she has already accepted forgiveness through Christ's sacrificial death ( Hebrews 7 : 26-27 ) Daily application of God's word has a purifying effect on our minds and hearts. scripture points out sin. We should never become attached to the materialistic things of this world as they can become god's to us and draw us away from our relationship with Christ. ( Hebrews 17: 18 ) Jesus didn't ask God to take believers out of the world, but instead to use them in the world. We are called to be salt and light ( Matthew 5: 13-16 ) and we are to do the work that God sent us to do.

Abraham had such a personal relationship with God that when God required him to do something he obeyed with out question. He knew what ever it would be was for good because God had already given him promises of greater things to come. His faith-journey makes me want that kind of relationship, especially in the difficult times when all looks bleak. The final City which God has prepared for us to see is the New Jerusalem that it talks about in ( Rev.21: 2-3 ) The New Jerusalem is where God lives among His people. Instead of our going up to meet Him, He comes down to be with us, just as God became Man in Jesus Christ and lived among us ( John 1: 14 ) Wherever God Reigns, there is peace, security, and love . ( 11: 16 ) These people of faith died without receiving all that God had promised, but they never lost hope in their vision of Heaven, ( " A better country -- A heavenly one " ) Many Christians become frustrated and defeated because their needs , wants, expectations, and demands are not immediately met when they believe in Christ. They become impatient and want to give up and quit. We must always take courage from these heroes of faith who lived and died without seeing the fruit of their faith on earth and yet continued to believe in that better country. They knew they were only passing through, they were only aliens and strangers on this earth,

God called the universe into existence out of nothing; He declared that it was to be, and it was. Our faith is in the God who created the entire universe by His word. God's word has awesome power. When He speaks, do you listen and respond? How can you better prepare yourself to respond to God's word. I can respond to God's word in repentence of any sins and turn fron what ever is keeping me from being obedient to His word. I can spend more time in His awesome presence to know Him more intimately.

Abraham's life was filled with faith, At God's command he left home and went to another land-- obeying without question. He believed the covenant that God made with him. The depth of Abraham's confidence in God was that he was willing to sacrifice his own son in obedience. The power and existence of such a God provided the lamb and fire. So Abraham did not have to sacrifice Isaac. The power and existence of God gave them both a child when they were to old to bear children. When Sarah doubted that she could become pregnant in her old age. When we doubt God's power we are denying He is capable of doing what He promises. and His existence. ( Quote ) What is faith? An assumption that God promises are to be believed because God is considered faithful, " worthy of belief or trust, trustworthy, faithful, dependable, inspiring trust or faith. Ultimately our faith rises and falls on what we think of God. Do we believe He is trustworthy? Do we believe He rewards seekers, or is indiferent to their quest? Upon these things hinge our faith. With this quote to me Faith is believing there is a God who cares about our every need. So much so He sent His Son to save the world. He will do what He says. His covenant, His promise His word is unchangable. Whether I see the answers or not I believe and trust in Him for the answers and results because if God says it in His word it will be done as we are obedient to Him

The basis for Noahs Faith. ( GEN. 6:9 ) To say that Noah was righteous and blameless does not mean that he never sinned ( the bible records one of his sins in ( gen. 9: 20 ) Rather it means that he wholeheartedly loved and obeyed God. For a lifetime he walked step by step in faith as a living example to his generation. Noah experienced rejection because he was different from his neighbors. God commanded him to build a huge boat in the middle of dry land, and although God's command seemed foolish Noah obeyed . Noah's obedience made him appear strange to his neighbors. Noah had a HOLY FEAR. ( REVERANCE and respect OF GOD ) The Judeo-Christian faith made them stand out as different because they would not deny the Christ they believed in, They believed deep in their heart that Christ was sure and certain.They believed in a secure beginning and ending point. The beginning point of faith is believing in God's character---He is who He says He is The end point is believing in God's promises-- He will do what He says. When we believe that God will fulfill His promises even though we don't see those promises materializing yet. We demonstrate true faith. The Judo- Christian had this kind of faith that was why they stood out different, They knew there was something better than life as it was on this earth, even during all the persucation. Their faith and beliving in Christ, they held fast to the truth, and their faith Faith grows by daily reading the word, praying, spending time in the presence of God, trusting Him to guide you, believing in Christ as your Redeemer and that He died on the cross for you. Believing He loves you know matter what. Faith in when you pass from this life there is a better one with Christ. This is not our home, We are just passing through. Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. ( NIV. ) The basis of my faith is the Word, telling me Christ died, rose, went to heaven, Now is seated on the right hand of the Father. He shed His blood for me, forgave me of my sins and is coming back for me someday to rule and reign with Him. Faith, Hope, and trust.

Believing that God exists is only the begining; even the demons believe that much ( James 2:19-20 ) God will not settle for mere acknowledgement of His existence. H e wants a personal dynamic relationship with us that will transform our life. Those who seek God with all their heart and soul will find that they are rewarded with His intimate presence. God assures us that all who honestly seek Him--- who act in faith on the knowledge of God that they possess--will be rewarded. and be dilgent in the serch of the truth in the word. ( Hebrews 11:6 ) With out Faith it is imposible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exist and that He rewards thos who earnestly seek Him.

Not only is Jesus the exact representation of God., but he is God Himself -- the very Old Testament times He is eternal; He worked with the father in creating the world( John 1:3 ) He is the full revelation of God . You can have no clearer view of God than by looking at Christ. Jesus Christ is the complete expression of God in a human body, The power that brought the universe into being and that keeps it operationg is the very power that removes our sins. No sin is to big for the Ruler of the universe to handle. He can and will forgive us when we come to Him through His Son. That Jesus sat down means that the work was complete. Christ's sacrifice was final Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. To me faith is knowing that I know what the bible says is truth and it gets deep in my Spirit when things all around look like everything is falling apart. I look toward the word and remember who created the universe is my deliverer. I then know there is Hope in Him that all is well and I trust in the one who died for the very thing that seems hopeless. So I know everything is going to be O.K. That is faith believing and trusting in the God who created me is not going to desert me no matter what .

Thank you Darrell for your testamony, It brought tears to my eyes. God Bless you back in your need.

Dear pastor Ralph: Thank you so very much for these rich studies. They bring out necessary truths that we need to hear and understand. The questions are excellant in that we need to search the word as well as throughly read your notes for better understanding of the meaning of what the writer is pointing out. I have been learning new revelations of the word that I had not seen before. This I appreciate and am grateful for the wisdom of your gifting as a teacher. Also the answers and views of other students are exciting to read. Thank you again. In His Service Christine ( Aka Tabatha )

When people deliberately reject Christ's offer of salvation , they reject God's most precious gift. They ignore the leading of the Holy Spirit., the one who communicates to us God's saving love. This warning was given to Jewish Christians who were tempted to reject Christ for Judaism, but it applies to anyone who rejects Christ for anothr religion or, having understood Christ's atoning work. Deliberately turning away from and keep on sinning. This sin is attributing to the devil what is the work of the Holy Spirit . It reveals a heart attitude of unbelief and unrepentance. Deliberate ongoing rejection of the work of the Holy Spirit is blasphemy because it is rejecting God Himself. This is talking about deliberate apostasy. The point is that there is no other acceptable sacrifice for sin than the death of Christ on the cross. if someone deliberately rejects the sacrifice of Christ after clearly understanding the gospel teaching about it, then there is no way for that person to be saved, because God has not provided any other name under heaven by which we can be saved. Any one who would dare trample the Son of God under foot and has insulted the Spirit of Grace is indeed flagrant apostasy. This is no way a garden- variety of sin.

Hebrews encourages believers to persevere in their Christian faith and conduct when facing persecution and pressure. We don't usually think of suffering as good for us, but it can build our character and our patience . During times of great stress , we may feel God's presence more clearly and find help from Christians we never thought would care. Knowing that Jesus is with us in our suffering and that He will return one day to put an end to all pain helps us grow in our faith. We must show endurance that our faith is real. Faith means resting in what Christ has done for us in the past, It also means trusting Him for what He will do for us in the present and in the futurre . ( 1 Peter 1: 6-7 ) talks about how all believers face trials when they let their light shine into the darkness. We must persevere in faith during these trials of the refining process that burns away impurities and prepares us to meet Christ . Trials teach us patience and help us to grow to be the kind of people God wants. Struggles, and persecutions refine and strengthen our faith, making us useful to God. This process stretches us and the flesh does not like to be stretched. It also brings changes in us, and our flesh doesn't always like changes, it likes that comfort zone. But Praise God He loves us to much to leave us where we are and He carries us through to the next level of our walk with Him in Faith. Christian fellowship in Perserverance is important because in prevents having an unbelieving heart. grow cold, and that leaves us open for the enemy to come in and deceive us, Stay in fellowship with other believers , talk daily about your mutual faith, and your needs. Have them pray with you. What can we do to encourage other christians in this sometimes difficult journey? We can be sensitive to their feelings, their needs, maybe their aloneness. Reach out to them, ask them if you can pray for them, maybe just a hug, maybe a phone call. I believe we must open our eyes and look at other christians, I mean really look! Let the Holy Spirit show you their heart. Don't just greet them and go on stop and really listen to what they are not saying.

The Prime motive for meeting together with other Christians is to prevent having an unbelieving heart . Stay in fellowship with other believers. Talk daily about your mutual faith, be aware of the deceitfulness of sin. ( it attracts and destroys ) and encourage each other with love and concern. We may worship together. To neglect Christian meetings is to give up the encouragement and help of other Christians.WE gather together to share our faith and to strengthen one another in the Lord. As we get closer to the " Day" when Christ will return, we will face many spiritual struggles, and even times of persucution. Anti-Christian forces will grow in strength. Difficulties should never be excuses for missing church services. Rather, as difficulties arise, we should make an even greater effort to be faithful in attendance. So often People don't attend church based on whether it meets their own needs. That attitude is selfish and contrary to the direct command of scripture. We should be attending to worship God and encourage our Christian brothers and sisters. When we abandon regular Christian fellowship we hurt ourselves. Even more we deprive others of the gifts and ministries God has given to us on their behalf in a sacred trust. Many Christians stop attending churches also because of hurts and offenses. They have been betrayed through prayer groups or gossip. Mostly babies or immuture christians that are not grounded in the word, or have a good relationship with the Lord. Unforgiveness, critical, judgemental, bitter spirit has growen in them, they don't trust people. Also they have lost their faith in God. By helping these individuals we must pray for them and try to reach out in love and forgiveness. We are not to reject them and push them aside. Listen to their hurts and pour Jesus Love into them. Try and see these ones through the eyes of Jesus. We don't know what kind of background they had before coming to church or what kind of home life they may have. "Go after that one and leave the 99."