8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.-Philippians 4:8 There are a lot of voices that want to speak into our lives. Often when hope enters the conversation, a mul...

It is a significant theme in the word of God for the people of God to have hope. It might catch you off-guard a bit, but one of the greatest detriments to God's people has been when they lose hope. Think of Israel just after they have experienced the Exodus out of Egypt. At first they were celebrating. Once they realized they had no food, they lost hope and yearned to return. But the Lord provided...

This same word has been used a few times over at this point. Be diligent. It is a clear lesson for the believer that our walk in the faith is certainly not a passive endeavor. There is an active element that drives us to move forward. It is noteworthy the things that the author of Hebrews tells the reader to put their diligence in. In this case, the writer encourages diligence in continuation.When...

As a preacher and a teacher, one of the critical elements of what I do is to know my audience. Some preachers and teachers take this to speak a very generalized message to a large group of people. Others make specific mention of things across the spectrum. That is what the author of Hebrews is doing here. Many of the Messianic Jews are departing from the faith to rejoin the synagogue. But others o...

The last few verses of chapter 6 have been pretty bleak. The warning has been clear. Do not fall away. The depth of the warning is not lost as the author of Hebrews shifts gears into encouragement. While all of those things are true, there is a better testimony among the recipients.The writer of Hebrews acknowledges the weight that he speaks with, yet he highlights that there are works that accomp...

9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the e...

Pray that the Lord would give you the eyes to see where He is leading you. He made it clear to Israel that He was taking them to the Promised Land. They even saw all that it held. Know that the Lord is faithful to carry you through what He has instructed. Draw near in faith. Ask Him for a clear vision for your life.......

62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”-Luke 9:62 This concept of drawing back to the old is something frequently condemned in Scripture.When the Israelites were in the wilderness, just after the amazing exodus, crossing the Red Sea, and seeing the Lord show up in amazing ways, they started complaining and wishing to go ...

I was sobbing... hysterically. Both of my parents enter into the room and find that I am being tormented by my older brother who has me pinned down. He lurches up the moment my parents step in. As they see that the situation was nowhere near the severity my crying had made it out to be, they gave an instruction to each of us. To me, I was told to stop crying. My brother was told not to touch me. T...

There is a clear warning undergirding the text here that is very clear to us. Most of us interpret it in such a way as to understand that we don't want to draw back. Even in having the clarity that we may concerning what the text is talking about, there is and should be a great fear in departing from the living God. Imagine the great insult in the Lord giving His Son to set His people free, and af...

As we examine this particular Scripture, it is important that we properly examine the context. For a passage such as this, there is a very broad scope that we need to consider, and this is where many can get lost on their attempt to exegete the passage. Most other Scriptures can be looked at in a more immediate context. This one requires a deeper study.Let's begin with considering the audience. Th...

What we have this week is one of the most complicated sections in Scripture to properly exegete. A surface level reading of the text will leave many believers trembling at the idea that they have gone too far and cannot be renewed to repentance. Otherwise, they worry about friends or family members who have walked away. Typically, these believers would hold fast to Scriptures like that of the prod...

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.7 For the earth which drinks in the rain tha...

Pray that the Lord would highlight where and what He wants you to grow in. Understand that He is invested in your sanctification and wants to see your growth. He is not opposed to you on this journey. He is for you. Hold open everything in your life and ask for His direction.......

12 Not that I have already attained,  or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Chr...