Podcasts about in hebrews

In Hebrews 10:19-25 we are encouraged to keep running our race of faith by drawing near to God, by holding fast to our confession of hope, by stirring up one another to love and good works, and by continuing to gather as God's church, all because of the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus and the never-ending faithfulness of God to his promises.

Henry Ogbuchi - June 15, 2025 - OUR FATHER, MY FATHER-ABBA FATHER The Father and His Beloved Son–Unity (Mathew 3:17,17:4-5 & John 12:28 )  Abraham – The Foundation of Generational Leadership (Genesis 18:19; Hebrews 11:8-10).  Eli – The Consequences of Passive Fatherhood (1 Samuel 2:12–17; 3:13) A Father Must Affirm His Child's Identity and Worth. Matthew 3:17 – God publicly affirms Jesus during His baptism, declaring Him as His beloved Son.  Children need clear verbal affirmation from their fathers — not just correction or instruction.  This builds emotional strength and reinforces their sense of identity and belonging A Father Must Express Love and Delight Consistently. Matthew 17:5 – God repeats His affirmation of Jesus, expressing deep love and pleasure in Him.  Fathers should take intentional moments to say “I love you” and express pride — not only in achievements, but in the child's being and character.  This nurtures confidence, stability, and openness in the relationship A Father Must Endorse and Support His Child's Purpose. John 12:28 – As Jesus approaches His mission of sacrifice, the Father affirms: “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”  Like God did for Jesus, a father's role is to help their child see the value and impact of their life's mission.  This includes encouragement, prayer, and guidance — even when you don't fully understand their path. Abraham-Foundation of Generational Leadership Genesis 18:17-19 & Hebrew 11:8-10 A Father must Lead his Family with Faith and Righteous Instruction  In Genesis, Abraham is praised for being a father who actively instructs his household in God's ways.  In Hebrews, Abraham is marked as a model of faithdriven obedience. As a father, You must be intentional in guiding your family toward God's truth, not leaving their moral and spiritual formation to chance. ELI- The Consequences of Passive Fatherhood 1 Samuel 2:12–17; 3:13 Fathers should not Tolerate Sin in their Children , But Discipline with Godly Responsibility  A godly father takes responsibility for correction and discipline. Children must see both kindness and accountability in their father's leadership. Fathers Are Called to:.  Lead in faith,  Love with grace,  Discipline with justice, and  Protect with courage. When fathers reflect on these traits : They mirror the very heart of our Heavenly Father. (ABBA FATHER).

Surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us . . . run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. — Hebrews 12:1-2 Each year, our church community holds a solemn celebration. We set up tables at the front of the church and place unlit candles on them. Church members come forward with photos of loved ones who have died. One by one, people approach the microphone, announce the name of a loved one, and light a candle. Sometimes they also share a story. We've lit candles for grandmothers who died of natural causes, young men killed on the streets, babies lost to miscarriage, and loved ones taken by overdoses. Each name carries a story; each candle represents a life that touched ours. God's family includes not only we who are living right now but also the many who came before us and who have gone on to eternity. They live on in the stories we tell, and it's important to stop and remember them. In Hebrews 11 we find many examples of people who make up the “great cloud of witnesses” who have gone before us. All of these examples encourage us to walk in faith. We all do well to pause and remember: Who came before you? Who inspired you? Who are the people for whom you are grateful, knowing that God sent them to be part of your faith journey? Take a moment to name them and to thank God for each one. Father, we thank you for all who have gone before us, paving the way with faith and sacrifice. May their legacy inspire us to walk humbly and serve others, reflecting your love and grace. Amen.

In Hebrews 10:32-34, the author encourages believers to recall their past endurance through suffering and persecution, reminding them of their confidence in God's promises. This reflection strengthens their resolve to persevere in faith, trusting in the eternal reward that awaits them.

In Hebrews 11, the so-called "faith hall of fame" includes heroic figures like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, the judges, the prophets and the people of God. These people were exemplary in their dependence upon Yahweh. And yet, Jesus claims in Luke 7:1-10 that there's another person whose faith might be greater than them all. And of all people, it's a Roman centurian. Wait...what?"I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." - JesusWhat was so remarkable to Jesus about the faith of this man? What can his faith show us about our own?

In Hebrews 1:4-7, we see the clear distinction between Jesus and the angels—while angels are servants, Jesus is the Son, exalted above all. God commands the angels to worship Him, emphasizing His divine authority and supremacy. This passage reminds us that Jesus is greater than anything in creation, and our worship belongs to Him alone.

Joshua 20 speaks of the cities of refuge where the person who had accidentally killed another person is provided asylum until guilt, or innocence is determined. The process of determining innocence, or guilt, is outlined in verses 4-6. Verses 7-8 name the six cities of refuge, three on the western side of Jordan in Canaan and three east of Jordan. The three Western cities are Kedesh, Shechem and Hebron. The three cities to the east are Bezer, Ramoth and Golan. Although not officially a city of refuge Jerusalem was another. Verse 9 restates the purpose of these cities. In the days of Solomon when he gave charge to Shimei we find Solomon treating Jerusalem as a city when Solomon told Shimei that leaving that city would mean Shimei's life would be forfeited. Joshua 21 describes the 48 cities of the Levites who were distributed throughout the land to provide access for every Israelite to the teaching of God. The cities are named and their locations given. These cities were surrounded by fields to assist in the support of the Levites.. Verses 43-45 tell us that these cities were established after the Word of the LORD had been fulfilled, after Israel possessed the Promised Land and God's people had entered their rest. This rest is symbolic of the kingdom rest when all will truly have rest from the effects of sin. The writer to the Hebrews speaks of this in Hebrews 4 verses 9-11. Read slowly, pause and ponder. Picking up our train of thought from yesterday: why did God allow Isaiah these visions of hope such as those in chapters 2, 6, 25-27, 40 etc? We are told the reason in 1 Peter 1 verses 7-12 read carefully and contemplate. The prophet is given a glimpse of the peace and faithfulness that will be evident when Messiah's kingdom comes. Chapters 26-27 speak of redemption and the singing of the song of redemption in the land of Judah when Christ's kingdom is established in the land. Chapter 26 speaks of the song and of those who will sing it from experience and with understanding. The song is told to us in verses 1-19. The place of the singing of the song is Jerusalem. In the history of this city, whose name means “vision of peace”, 27 major wars have been waged. Note from the song's beginning the focus is on salvation and peace. Verse 1 says that the strength of the city's defence – its walls and bulwarks – were in trusting of Yahweh Elohim of Israel. Verse 2 explains the requirements of a citizen who can dwell there – righteousness and truth – Psalms 15 and 24 elaborate. The result of trusting in the LORD will be perfect peace: Hebrew Shalom Shalom – peace peace ie absolute peace. For Israel's Omnipotent Sovereign is, verse 4, “the Rock of Ages” – the source of immovable and eternal security. Verses 5-6 tell us God's mighty acts at both the international and personal level. In verses 7-9 tell of the prophet's own yearnings for this time. Verses 10-11 tell of the anguish of the righteous for the contempt the wicked have for the Almighty. Verse 12 confesses Isaiah's confidence that the righteous will not act in that way. Verses 13-19 contrast the fate of the ignorant and wicked with that of the understanding and faithful. The wicked will perish the righteous will be preserved. The wicked will sleep perpetually – Jeremiah 51:39, 57; but the righteous will be raised from the dead and live forever- Isaiah 26:19: clearly teaching resurrection. Verses 20-23 are a call for the righteous to hide while the LORD protects them until the time of judgment passes. Isaiah 27 describes Israel's redemption from all oppression and the Almighty's hand being upon her foes to punish them for their evils. The enemies of Israel are poetically portrayed as a crocodile in verse 1. In verses 2-5 the Jewish nation is described as Yahweh's vineyard. The same metaphor is used by the Lord Jesus Christ in several parables. Verses 6-11 speak of the attitude of restored Israel following God's disciplining of them. Verse 12-13 describe the nation of Israel's deliverance from the two great superpowers of that time: Egypt and Assyria. In Hebrews 10 the writer continues the theme of Christ's “better” offerings. Verses 1-18 show that by a single offering, effective for all time, our Lord brought to end all sacrifices under the law of Moses. The writer reminded the readers that the law was but a shadow, whose sacrifices (v4) could never take away sin. So verses 5-7 quote Psalm 40, which says that, the will of the Son of God was to do what the Father desired ( the Hebrew of verse 8 can be translated in one of two ways, “I will to do Thy will”, or alternatively, “I desire to do Thy desire” – see Matthew 26:39). The writer has quoted from the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) which differs slightly from the Hebrew text. The Hebrew of Psalm 40 says that Messiah is the knob that allows the scroll to be unravelled (see Revelation 5:1-8). The Greek LXX translation, on the other hand implies that, if you try to remove Christ from the Old Testament you have no book (Bible). This message was crucial to the writer's readers who were being threatened by the circumstances in which the believers in Jerusalem found themselves. Therefore through the doing of God's will by our Lord Jesus Christ, they, as well as we have been cleansed once for all time. Whereas the priests under the law stood, Christ our High Priest sits at His Father's right hand. Christ Jesus is awaiting the time when he will be sent to establish his kingdom on earth, as Psalm 110 prophesied. Jeremiah 31 likewise indicated the same message. Verses 19-39 teach us that with a confident hope we can approach our Heavenly Father. All this has only been made possible because of our Lord Jesus Christ's perfect life, offering and resurrection. Those watchwords of resolution are again used, “Let us …”. The word “faith” (AV is the Greek “elpis”, or “hope”). Again v24, “Let us” assemble together as often as we are able to encourage one another in the confident expectation of our Master's return. Verses 26-31 tell us that failure to do this may lead to continuing in sin, which is equivalent to a total rejection of what was achieved in the offering of himself by our Lord Jesus Christ. These verses are about deliberate public renunciation of the truth associated with the rejection of assembling with the brothers and sisters of Christ. Verses 32-39 is a reminder to the readers of what sufferings they had endured when they had become believers in Christ. That suffering had provided them with a “better” and abiding hope. Not in any way a vain hope if they now continued to endure with patience. For the Scripture had said, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one will live by faith, and if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him” (verses 37-38 ESV quoting from Habakkuk 2 verses 4-5). The concluding verses take us back to Hebrews 1. The writer to the Hebrews constantly affirms that the Hebrew believers would not shrink away from the hope that they had embraced in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our generation, more than ever before, struggles to have any long term hope and vision of the future! The way ahead looks increasingly uncertain making the warning of Jesus about attitudes in the last days more and more evident, “Watch yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap … stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things …” [Luke 21 v.34-36]All 3 of our readings today contain lessons that are in some way relevant. Joshua (ch. 18) reprimands 7 of the 12 tribes for making no progress in settling in the land, “How long will you put off going in to take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?” [v.3] How many are baptised (in a sense crossing the Jordan) but then make no real progress?The LORD gives Isaiah (ch. 24) an awesome word picture of his ultimate dismay, anger and actions toward a world that “lies defiled under its inhabitants' so that “a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt” [v.5,6] This creates a time when “all joy has grown dark” [v.11] and “its transgression lies heavy upon it, and it falls, and will not rise again.”[v.20]And so “on that day the LORD will punish the host of heaven”[v.21], that is, all who have enjoyed prominence and did what the people wanted, leading them astray, morally and in every other way. All will be “ashamed, for the LORD of hosts reigns on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and his glory will be before his elders” [v.23] This time is beyond our imagining! How wonderful to be an elder!In Hebrews “the unchangeable character of his (God's) purpose” [6 v.17] is emphasized and Paul's “desire (that) each one of you … show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish …” [v.11] like the 7 tribes Joshua reprimanded; but instead have “full assurance.”.Let us more than ever desire to read and meditate on God's word to help us fully develop that “assurance” – only there will we find “strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us” [v.18]Hebrews ch. 7 stresses that Jesus is our High Priest and “he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” [v.25] We all need the “intercession” of Jesus to help us to “hold fast” and increase our clear vision through constantly reading in the divine

What is faith? Faith is overcoming the praise of man. In Hebrews eleven, we see that by faith Moses he refused to be called the son of pharaoh, choose the to suffer with the people of God, and esteemed the reproach of Christ greater than the riches of Egypt! In Jesus' day, there were rulers who believed on Him but would not confess Him because the loved the praise of men! The praise of men is a snare that must be conquered in order to walk in faith. If you got saved watching the broadcast today, need prayer, would like to connect with us, or you would like to give into this ministry please visit here:https://www.gospeltabernaclechurch.com/connect/

Joshua 3 Joshua 3:3 – See Exodus 25:10, 22; 26:34. In Hebrews 9:2-5, 9 the previous tabernacle is compared with the greater tabernacle…

In Hebrews 3, the author reminds us that Jesus is greater than Moses, worthy of even greater honor as the Son over God's house. We're urged to guard our hearts against unbelief and to hold firmly to our confidence in Christ until the end. CONNECT: Text “BRBELONG” to 651-419-4409 DONATE: bethelsrock.org/give LEARN MORE: bethelsrock.org NEW SERMONS | EVERY SUNDAY

God's Word is alive—and it speaks straight to our hearts. In Hebrews 4–5, we encounter the truth that both convicts and comforts. Learn how the Word and Jesus, our High Priest, meet us in every struggle.

In Hebrews 6:12 we read that "faith and patience inherit the promises”—or in other words, trusting in God means waiting. In this message Jake Chambers, pastor of Local Church, looks to the story of Abram and Sarah in Genesis 16 to unpack the messy and frequently painful fallout of taking matters into our own hands when we feel God isn't coming through for us—but also God's incredible patience with us even when we're impatient with him.

The second half of Hebrews 5 challenges us to move past infancy and continue our spiritual growth. In Hebrews 6 we'll study strong warnings that describe what happens to people who abandon their faith and reject God.

What does it mean to live as a child of God? In Hebrews 3 we're told that Jesus lived as a son while Moses lived as a servant, how can follow the lead of Jesus and live into our true identity as sons and daughters? Pastor Chris teaches on the nature of sonship and the importance of living out our standing in God.

In Hebrews 1, the author declares that Jesus is God's ultimate revelation, far greater than the prophets and angels. He is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being, reigning with all authority and power. CONNECT: Text “BRBELONG” to 651-419-4409 DONATE: bethelsrock.org/give LEARN MORE: bethelsrock.org NEW SERMONS | EVERY SUNDAY

In Hebrews 2, we're warned not to drift away from the truth we've heard, but to hold firmly to the salvation offered through Christ. The chapter highlights how Jesus became fully human to suffer, save, and help us, making Him the perfect Savior and High Priest. CONNECT: Text “BRBELONG” to 651-419-4409 DONATE: bethelsrock.org/give LEARN MORE: bethelsrock.org NEW SERMONS | EVERY SUNDAY

In Hebrews 8, God says: “I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts… I will be their God, and they will be My people.” This is not a temporary deal—it's a forever covenant. Forever house. Forever presence. Sealed by the Spirit, promised by the Father, and bought by the Son, you're not guessing if you belong. You're not earning your place. You're already home. Hear the Spirit's voice reminding you: You are sealed. You are included. You are empowered. You are family. You don't need to chase a feeling—you've been sealed with a Person. This is your moment to respond to His vow.

In this sermon, we explored the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16 and how it powerfully foreshadows what Christ would ultimately accomplish through His perfect sacrifice. While the high priest entered the Holy of Holies once a year to offer sacrifices for the people's sins, this ritual was only a temporary covering and had to be repeated year after year. In Hebrews 10, we studied Jesus emerging as the hero in God's story of redemption, offering His own blood as the ultimate sacrifice, one that secures eternal redemption for all who believe. Unlike the sacrifices of animals, Jesus' sacrifice was once for all, fully sufficient to cleanse you from sin and remove your guilt forever. There was no need for it to be repeated. When He declared, "It is finished," He proclaimed that His sacrifice would be the final and complete atonement for our sins. Because of this, we are invited to confidently enter into God's presence every day.

What is the most important thing in your life? Is it your family, kids, job, money, control? In Hebrews chapter 3 we see that Jesus is greater than Moses and all other standards that we might build our lives upon.Watch the message at: https://www.abundant.church/sermons

In Hebrews 10, believers are encouraged and exhorted to continue on in three specific things: drawing near to God, holding fast to hope, and stirring up the church. But how many of us lack confidence in doing these things? I want us to look to the cross and the words found in Hebrews 10, and to be moved in doing these things. Let us carry on this commission today! ORDER MY BOOK HERE: https://a.co/d/0vE5Cji CHECK OUT MY FREE RESOURCES: https://kirbykelly.myflodesk.com/kirbykelly Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In Hebrews 4 we see the desired plan of the Lord for us to enter His REST.  We will dig into what that means and how to diligently pursue it.  Then, as we transition to Hebrews 5, we discover WHO we are resting in and how Jesus is Superior to all others.

In Hebrews 11, the “hall of faith” passage, describes the quiet bravery and bold obedience of Moses's mother, Jochebed. She had no armies, no wealth, no platform—but she had the love of a mother and a trust in God that refused to bend the knee to fear. Because of her, the story of redemption for God’s people kept moving forward. In this sermon, we learn about radical parenting from her faithful example.

In Hebrews 11, the “hall of faith” passage, describes the quiet bravery and bold obedience of Moses's mother, Jochebed. She had no armies, no wealth, no platform—but she had the love of a mother and a trust in God that refused to bend the knee to fear. Because of her, the story of redemption for God’s people kept moving forward. In this sermon, we learn about radical parenting from her faithful example.

In Hebrews 11:32-40 we are given examples of God given faith in the suffering and salvation of the Old Testament believers.

In Hebrews 12, St. Paul talks about running a race sounded by a cloud of witnesses with Christ as our model. Father Fessio beautifully explains this metaphor by pointing out details that only the Greek words reveal.

Peek-A-Boo #Nightlight #RTTBROS  Veiled but Present: Finding God in Seasons of SilenceScripture teaches us that our journey with God includes both moments of clear communion and seasons where His presence seems hidden. Like infants who must learn that objects continue to exist even when out of sight, we too develop spiritual maturity by trusting in God's unchanging nature even when He feels distant.The Lesson of Object PermanenceJust as a child gradually discovers that a parent hiding behind their hands during "peek-a-boo" hasn't vanished, believers must cultivate the spiritual understanding that God remains constant regardless of our ability to perceive Him. In Hebrews 13:5, the Lord promises, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." This divine commitment transcends our fluctuating emotions or circumstances.The Silent TeacherConsider Job, who cried out, "Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!" (Job 23:3). Throughout his trials, God's apparent absence wasn't abandonment but rather a profound teaching moment. Like a teacher who remains silent during an examination, God's temporary withdrawal often serves to strengthen our faith and reveal our true character. Finding Peace in His PermanenceIsaiah 45:15 acknowledges this divine pattern: "Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour." Even in His concealment, God remains our Saviour, working purposefully through seasons of silence. These times invite us to develop a deeper, more mature faith—one that rests not on feelings or immediate answers but on the bedrock truth of God's unchanging character.When we cannot see God's face, we must remember that He hasn't disappeared—He is cultivating in us the spiritual maturity to trust His permanent presence even when it feels veiled. Like the Psalmist, we can declare, "When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek" (Psalm 27:8).In your own seasons of divine silence, remember that God is not absent—He is teaching you the profound spiritual lesson of His permanence, preparing you for deeper relationship and greater purpose.Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

In Hebrews it says there remains a rest for the people of God. Have you entered it? Listen and be encouraged!

April 6th, 2025 | Jesus is...Sufficient | Hebrews 10:1-18In this week's episode, Pastor Todd Kaunitz continues the series by exploring Hebrews 10:1-18, where we learn the profound truth that Jesus is Sufficient. Pastor Todd walks us through the rich contrasts between the Old Testament sacrificial system and the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus. In Hebrews 10, we discover that while the Old Testament sacrifices were a shadow pointing to something greater, Jesus is the substance—completely sufficient to forgive, transform, and secure us eternally.Pastor Todd highlights how Jesus' death and resurrection were not just historical events but the full and final solution to the problem of sin. Through Christ, we are fully forgiven, inwardly transformed, and eternally secure in God's grace. In this episode, you'll be encouraged to rest in the sufficiency of Jesus and understand how His sacrifice is more than enough to give us peace with God, transform our hearts, and ensure our salvation.Tune in to be reminded that, because of Jesus, we have everything we need—His love, power, wisdom, mercy, righteousness, grace, and goodness. Jesus is sufficient in every way, and His finished work is all we need for salvation, rest, and worship.Do you know JESUS? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbgilmer.org/do-you-know-jesus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Need PRAYER? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbgilmer.org/pray⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support through GIVING: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbbctx.org/giving⁠

Sweat was pouring off Peter as he moved to protect Jesus. As Roman soldiers held the one who had been labeled a heretic, Peter drew a sword and cut off a soldier's ear. And he was stunned when Jesus told him to put the sword away. You see, Jesus knew infinitely more than Peter or anyone else. He knew the end from the beginning, and He knew He had an agenda to see through to the end. Peter couldn't see that, and impulsively He moved to change the facts on the ground.And that's so typical of us as humans. The authentic Christian wants to do something to fix things or change the world. The theologian Francis Schaeffer wrote a whole book titled How Should We Then Live on the role of a Christian in the modern world. And there are arguments over whether America is still a Christian nation, or whether postmodernism has won the day.But what does the Bible say about being a witness in the world? Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Notice it doesn't say engage. We're in fact told not to become like the world in all its anti-God stuff. Yet we also know one of the last things Jesus said to His disciples before He ascended into heaven was that we should go into all the world and make disciples. The Apostle Paul made an interesting observation in 1 Corinthians 9. He said that he was free from conformity to the world. It had nothing he coveted. But that he chose to be a servant to all, so that his example might win some to Christ. In Hebrews 13, we're told to practice hospitality. And this echoes many Old Testament passages, too. The idea is a believer is to be an example of what life with God looks like in hopes it will draw unbelievers. And this must be done with sincerity, though. Especially in our jaded modern culture. First Corinthians 10 tells us whatever we do, do it for the glory of God alone.To sum up, the Bible tells us to absolutely live in this world and be appealing to people. But to do all this while holding onto our convictions. Balancing being a Gospel witness, while also being seen as personable, is the approach for our modern world. Let's pray.Father God, you've given us direction for all that we do. Help us to continually have a burden for the lost and to always remember we're to be salt and light for a hurting world. It's in Jesus' name we pray, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

What if your older brother came to bring you home instead of staying behind in judgment? In Hebrews 4 and 5, we see Jesus as our Great High Priest—one who knows us completely, sympathizes with our weakness, and never stops …

John 1:37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Two of John the Baptist's disciples heard him testify that Jesus is the Lamb of God. They clearly understood what John was saying. This is the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God. On hearing John's witness regarding Jesus, they followed Jesus. They trusted John, and God used him to draw these two men to His Son. This encourages us of what God can do with our witness regarding Jesus. All who are believers in Jesus Christ know who He is and have believed God's testimony regarding Him. We who live to love with Jesus become forerunners for Him in our generation. Like John the Baptist, we have our experiences with Jesus to share with others. We also can expect the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of those who hear our witness just as He did in these two disciples. This encourages us to be bold and to share what we have seen and experienced with Jesus. Those who follow us, who know us personally, may then follow Jesus. The writer of Hebrews described a similar experience of the power of God accompanying the testimony of believers like John. In Hebrews 2:3-4 we read, “After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.” We may rely on the power of God to draw people to follow Jesus as we love with Him whoever He puts in our paths. There will be some who hear us speak of Jesus, who will also follow Him, just like these two disciples mentioned in this verse. God is still using the testimony of His followers to build His church. May God use us today to draw people to follow Jesus as we love them with the love of Christ. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

You have a Bible? Read it! Has any other book ever been described like the Bible? In Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)...

What kind of relationship does God want with you—servant or son? In Hebrews 3, we see that Jesus is greater than Moses because He is not just a faithful servant, but the Son who invites us into God's family. Just …

When I was a child, I remember the sense of security I had while Ronald Reagan served as our president. I also remember his farewell address to our nation and the great sense of loss that I felt knowing that he would no longer be serving as our nations president. John Winthrop preached in 1630 upon arriving in Massachusetts; in his sermon Winthrop declared his fellow pilgrims: For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. He also said of their future in Massachusetts: Beloved there is now set before us life and good, Death and evil, in that we are commanded this day to love the Lord our God, and to love one another, to walk in his ways and to keep his Commandments and his Ordinance and his laws, and the articles of our Covenant with him, that we may live and be multiplied, and that the Lord our God may bless us in the land we go to possess. John Winthrops sermon had a profound impact upon President Reagan for he placed that line about Winthrops hope and expectation that one day that land he and the pilgrims discovered, ...will be as a city upon a hill. I still remember President Reagans farewell address to our nation; I was in eighth grade at Neshaminy Junior High when I heard it. Reagans address is just over 20 minutes long, and although we do not have the time to listen to it, I would like to share with you his concluding remarks that I believe have affected our nation more than some of you may realize: I've spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don't know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That's how I saw it, and see it still. And how stands the city on this winter night?More prosperous, more secure, and happier than it was eight years ago.But more than that: After 200 years, two centuries, she still stands strong and true on the granite ridge, and her glow has held steady no matter what storm. And she's still a beacon, still a magnet for all who must have freedom, for all the pilgrims from all the lost places who are hurtling through the darkness, toward home. We've done our part. And as I walk off into the city streets, a final word to the men and women of the Reagan revolution, the men and women across America who for eight years did the work that brought Americaback. My friends: We did it. We weren't just marking time. We made a difference. We made the city stronger, we made the city freer, and we left her in good hands.All in all, not bad, not bad at all. There is a phrase introduced to our nation from another campaign that I was going to use for the title of this sermon... a phrase I have heard many Christians say or embrace that I have chosen not to use. I know that when some use the phrase, it has been and continues to be used out of a hope and desire for Americas good. However, I have instead chosen the phrase: America is a shining city on hill used by a president I still admire and respect. Jesus is Eternally the Same (vv. 7-9) What I dislike about a sermon series like Christians Say the Darndest Things is that today you will receive an exposition on Hebrews 13:7-14 without the benefit of seeing the wounder of chapters 1:1-13:6. We are skipping right to the end without gazing at the Christ who is, the heir of all things, through whom God also made the world. Right out of the gate in the book of Hebrews, we discover a Jesus who is, the radiance of the glory of God and the exact representation of His nature. In Hebrews we discover a Jesus who, upholds all things by the word of His power. The Jesus of Hebrews 13:8 is the same Jesus who, When he had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb. 1:1-3). Because Jesus is, the radiance of the glory of God and the exact representation of His nature (1:3), He is the Ancient of Days (Dan. 7:9). Jesus is the great I AM (John 8:48-59) because He is equal with the Father as the eternal Son (John 5:15-23). Jesus is He who was and is the Light of mankind because He is the Word who was in the beginning with God through Whom All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being (John 1:1-4). This same Jesus became flesh through the miraculous conception in Marys womb while still a virgin, He was born and lived among mankind yet without sin, and He lived for the purpose of dying for sinners like you and me on a cross. This same Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb, and on the third day... He defeated sin and death by rising from the grave. For this reason, this same Jesus is highly exalted and upon Him is, the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:8-11). Jesus is the same yesterday in that when God the Father spoke creation into existence, it was Jesus the Son who completed it: for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:15-16). The reason why the earth remains in orbit and every atom and molecule remains in place is because the One who is also the same today is responsible for holding, all things together (Col. 1:17). Jesus is the same yesterday in that He was the One before Whom Abraham bowed (see Gen. 18:1-22). Jesus is the same yesterday in that He is the One who wrestled with Jacob (see Gen. 32:22-33). Jesus is the same yesterday in that He appeared before Joshua as the captain of the Lords army, and it was before Him that Joshua removed his sandals and worshiped (Josh. 5:13-15). Jesus is the same yesterday in that He was the One who was seen by King Nebuchadnezzar in the furnace as He kept Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from perishing in blazing fire of the furnace (see Dan. 3:8-30). Jesus is the same yesterday. Listen, the same Jesus who provided Peter, John, and James the miraculous catch of fish that compelled Peter to fall to his knees and respond: Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man (Luke 5:8), is still the same today! The same Jesus cured lepers, made the lame walk, the blind see, and the dead rise... is still the same today! The same Jesus who died for sinners and rose from the grave is still the same today! The same Jesus who commanded us to make disciples (Matt. 18:19-20) and promised, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judah, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth (Acts 1:8), is still the same today! And listen, the same Jesus who promised that He would come back in the same way that He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9), is the same Jesus yesterday, today, and forever! The point is that if you get Jesus wrong, or if you miss Him, or if you choose any person, thing, or ideology over Him... you will get everything else wrong! The message of Hebrews is that Jesus is a treasure that no other treasure can compare. This is why we are told in verse 8 to, Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their way of life, imitate their faith. Those who truly spoke the word of God to you are those who did not get Jesus wrong! Jesus is the same yesterday. Everything in this World is Consistently Unsatisfactory (vv. 10-11) Because Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever... His life, death, and resurrection provide for us a more permanent solution to our sin problem. What this means is that Jesus cross is a better altar unlike ones used under the Old Covenant. The carcasses of the animals slaughtered on the Day of Atonement during Passover were taken out of the city to be burned; if they were thrown into a pile with the city and burned, they would have defiled the city. Not so with Jesus, for while living, he was led outside of the city to become a curse for us on the cross we deserved (Gal. 3:10-14), and by dying for our sins outside the gate, His blood is what makes us holy. What is the point? Here is the point: There is no person, there is no religion outside of Christianity, and there is no government that can do (if you are not a Christian) or has done (if you are a Christian) what Jesus alone can do. Paul Washer put it this way in his sermon preached to pastors some time ago answering the question as to how Jesus death on a cross for a few hours on a tree to save a multitude of men from an eternity in hell: Because that one Man is worth more of them put together. You take mountains and mole hills, crickets and clouds. You take everything. Every planet, every star, every form of beauty. Everything that sings, everything that brings delight, and you put it all onthe scale, and you put Christ on the other side and HE outweighs them all, HE outweighs them ALL! Brethren, this is the one we chase after![1] Compared to Christ, everything in this world is not only temporary but unsatisfactory. Jesus is the living water, and all the promises of this world together cannot compare. They are all broken and cannot deliver what they promise to deliver! The Old Covenant only provided a temporary solution to the sin problem of the Hebrew people; the work of the priests required them to remain standing for the need of a sin covering was ongoing. This is why just three chapters prior, we are reminded in Hebrews 10:1 of the following: For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the form of those things itself, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually every year, make those who approach perfect. Then in Hebrews 10:11-13, we are told of the only one qualified to address our sin problem: Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet. (Heb. 10:1113) So, why is it that we are chasing after the shiny things of this world that cannot deliver what only Jesus is able to provide? Christian, if you have the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, why are you looking for something different? Why would you long for anything else when you have He who is the Bright Morning Star (Rev. 22:16)? Jesus is the same today. If You Have Jesus, You are Waiting for Something Greater (vv. 12-14) These next verses serve as the crescendo of the entire epistle, and they begin with the word Therefore and if the author of Hebrews was texting you Hebrews 13:7-14, you would see THEREFORE in all caps because it is a very big THEREFORE! In other words, in light of all that has been said from the very first sentence of this epistle to verse 11, Jesus also suffered outside the gate, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood (v. 12). What was accomplished on His cross for our sins outside the gate on Golgothas hill has done infinitely more than anything else you have chased after thinking that person, or thing, or ideology would bring you purpose, peace of mind, or pleasure. They cannot give you what only God is able to deliver! Dear Christian, Jesus sanctified you by dying for you, his corpse was in that tomb for three days, and the proof that Jesus sanctified you is in the fact that He marched out of that tomb three days later! Who or what can give you what Jesus has provided? If you are a Christian, Ephesians 1:7-8 is about you: In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. What Jesus provided on the altar of the cross is only available for those who receive it, and those who receive it will never be the same because of Him. The evidence that you have received what Jesus has made available to you is a desire to follow Him. To any and all who wish to know Him, must follow Him, for Jesus said: If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what good will it do a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for his soul (Matt. 16:2426)? What we read in Hebrews 13:13 is no different: So then... So what? In light of the fact that Jesus is, the same yesterday and today, and forever (v. 7), and what has been provided on the altar of His cross for our sins (v. 10)... let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach (v. 13). The only reason anyone would do that is if they understood Jesus to be infinitely more precious and valuable than any person, any thing, any ideology, any city, or nation of this world. We chase after Jesus because in Him is life is and because He is life, He alone is the Light of mankind (John 1:4). We chase after Jesus because He is, the Light of the world and the one who chases after Him, will not walk in the darkness but will have the Light of life (John 8:12). Because we chase after Him and not the shiny trinkets of this world, He said of His Church: You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.... Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven (Matt. 5:14, 16). If you are a Christian, you are the light of the world because you have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God! He is the Alpha and Omega and He is the first and the last (Rev. 1:8, 17). It is before Him that the nations will stand in judgment and a day is coming when it will be from Him that earth and heaven will recoil in response to His holy and majestic presence! If you are a Christian, you belong to Him and because you belong to Him, you have no reason to fear Him who the tribes of the earth will mourn when He comes again (see Matt. 24:30). This may shock some of you and it may offend others of you, but you really need to hear this: America is not a shinning city on a hill! Here is what the Bible says about America and the nations that surround her: Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales (Isa. 40:15). Because we follow Jesus, we chase after another shinning city, we chase after His city... a city, which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God (Heb. 11:10). Because Jesus is the same yesterday and today, and forever, we live as foreigners, aliens, and strangers even in the United States of America. America cannot be our shinning city on a hill because we are promised something infinitely greater: For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking a city which is to come (Heb. 13:14). Here is what Revelation 21:23-27 says about the city we really belong to: And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lambs book of life. If America is a shinning city on a hill, it is nothing more than a tiny piece of glitter in comparison to the city we really belong to, and what makes the city we are seeking, that is to come, infinitely more beautiful is the Jesus who outweighs them all. He is the same yesterday and today, and forever! [1] Shepherds Conference 2016 | General Session 9 - Paul Washer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkqVZm9-7jc)

Welcome to this special episode of the China Compass Podcast, #21 in this “Prison Pulpit” series! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (PrayforChina.us). To learn more about our various ministry endeavors and to get any of the missionary biographies I’ve helped to publish, please visit www.PrayGiveGo.us! My little book Unbeaten tells the story of my arrest, interrogation, and deportation from China in 2018. One of the appendices, Remember My Chains, is a message I’ve given all over the world about praying for the persecuted church. You can get both the book and the accompanying sermon, at www.Unbeaten.vip, or read the latter for free on my China Call Substack: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/remember-my-chains Once again, we are turning to the late Richard Wurmbrand to speak to us on behalf of those of the persecuted church who are currently being imprisoned and tortured for Christ. For those who don't know who Richard Wurmband is, here's a brief intro: Lutheran minister in Romania. 14 years in prison, 3 in solitary confinement. After “escaping”, published ”Tortured for Christ" Helped start Voice of the Martyrs (however…) Michael Wurmbrand’s VOM “Open Letter”: https://www.billionbibles.com/michael-wurmbrand-vom.html Michael Wurmbrand’s ministry (free books!): https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/ Sermons in Solitary Confinement Most likely published in the early 1970s, just a few years after he fled Communist Romania… Read the book for yourself: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/pdfs/ssc-english.pdf Today's excerpt comes from: A Christian Prisoner Encounters Gabriel Also, today we looked at a short, unpublished Bible meditation by the late Reverend Richard Wurmbrand, edited by his son Michael: In Chinese Prisons You Need Permission To Cough In Red China's prisons, our brethren and sisters in faith have to sit motionless, leaning toward the wall, from five in the morning until nine o'clock at night, day after day, month after month, for years. Every day is for them like an enemy decided to torture them to death. They are not allowed to speak to the other inmates of the cell. They are forbidden to cough, to laugh, or to weep. If a prisoner has to cough, he must say to the warden who continually spies on him "Bau-gau," which means "Please give me permission." It is "Bau-gau" for spitting, for scratching oneself, for killing vermin. (Not exactly: to baogao is tomake a report or confess) If all at once or someone in the cell goes mad and begins to sing, the rest have to sit motionless, while their fellow-prisoner is silenced through beatings. And how could they help him? They have chains on their hands and feet. In Hebrews 13:3 it is written, "Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them." Try to sit six hours like this, motionless, on the floor (in prison, it is on the cold concrete), to see how your brethren fare! They endure not only this physical suffering and food which has the taste of sawdust. They suffer from doubts, too. "Why did my Heavenly Father allow me to come here?" Our brethren bear all this for Christ's sake. Please check out Richard Wurmband’s longer book of prison stories, In God's Underground: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/pdfs/IGU-english.pdf If you enjoy this podcast, follow or subscribe on Spotify or Apple or right here on PubTV. You can also email any questions or comments to contact @ PrayforChina dot us. And don’t forget to check out everything we are involved in at PrayGiveGo.us. Hebrews 13:3!

What does it look like to step out in faith, even when the path is unclear? In Hebrews 11:8-10, Dr. John reflects on Abraham's journey—leaving everything behind to trust God's promises. Abraham's story challenges us to live boldly, trusting that God's faithfulness will guide us. How can we embrace this kind of faith in our own lives?Defining Faith: How should someone approach God? Do they offer a scorecard of their successes or an inventory of their better qualities? The Bible is clear. We come to God by faith, and we live our lives with God through faith. Since faith is central, we should understand what it is and how it works. In this series Dr. John teaches through Hebrews 11, a chapter on faith. Listen, not for stories of faith in the past, but as a guide for your life today.

Welcome to this special episode of the China Compass Podcast, #21 in this “Prison Pulpit” series! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (PrayforChina.us). To learn more about our various ministry endeavors and to get any of the missionary biographies I’ve helped to publish, please visit www.PrayGiveGo.us! My little book Unbeaten tells the story of my arrest, interrogation, and deportation from China in 2018. One of the appendices, Remember My Chains, is a message I’ve given all over the world about praying for the persecuted church. You can get both the book and the accompanying sermon, at www.Unbeaten.vip, or read the latter for free on my China Call Substack: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/remember-my-chains Once again, we are turning to the late Richard Wurmbrand to speak to us on behalf of those of the persecuted church who are currently being imprisoned and tortured for Christ. For those who don't know who Richard Wurmband is, here's a brief intro: Lutheran minister in Romania. 14 years in prison, 3 in solitary confinement. After “escaping”, published ”Tortured for Christ" Helped start Voice of the Martyrs (however…) Michael Wurmbrand’s VOM “Open Letter”: https://www.billionbibles.com/michael-wurmbrand-vom.html Michael Wurmbrand’s ministry (free books!): https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/ Sermons in Solitary Confinement Most likely published in the early 1970s, just a few years after he fled Communist Romania… Read the book for yourself: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/pdfs/ssc-english.pdf Today's excerpt comes from: A Christian Prisoner Encounters Gabriel Also, today we looked at a short, unpublished Bible meditation by the late Reverend Richard Wurmbrand, edited by his son Michael: In Chinese Prisons You Need Permission To Cough In Red China's prisons, our brethren and sisters in faith have to sit motionless, leaning toward the wall, from five in the morning until nine o'clock at night, day after day, month after month, for years. Every day is for them like an enemy decided to torture them to death. They are not allowed to speak to the other inmates of the cell. They are forbidden to cough, to laugh, or to weep. If a prisoner has to cough, he must say to the warden who continually spies on him "Bau-gau," which means "Please give me permission." It is "Bau-gau" for spitting, for scratching oneself, for killing vermin. (Not exactly: to baogao is tomake a report or confess) If all at once or someone in the cell goes mad and begins to sing, the rest have to sit motionless, while their fellow-prisoner is silenced through beatings. And how could they help him? They have chains on their hands and feet. In Hebrews 13:3 it is written, "Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them." Try to sit six hours like this, motionless, on the floor (in prison, it is on the cold concrete), to see how your brethren fare! They endure not only this physical suffering and food which has the taste of sawdust. They suffer from doubts, too. "Why did my Heavenly Father allow me to come here?" Our brethren bear all this for Christ's sake. Please check out Richard Wurmband’s longer book of prison stories, In God's Underground: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/pdfs/IGU-english.pdf If you enjoy this podcast, follow or subscribe on Spotify or Apple or right here on PubTV. You can also email any questions or comments to contact @ PrayforChina dot us. And don’t forget to check out everything we are involved in at PrayGiveGo.us. Hebrews 13:3!

You are being prepared. Your preparation time is for the multitude to come into the Kingdom. In order to be prepared, personal growth is a must. In Hebrews 4 we are told to mix faith to what we hear. The Israelites did not mix faith with what they hear and therefore they did not enter in. Your faith converts that word to power in your life. Therefore, you're thinking is critical to your living right. When you think right you live right. www.cathycoppola.org www.houseofglorychurch.org

In Hebrews 7 we discuss what the Gospel really means. Do you believe that Jesus died for sinners, or do you think people need to clean up their act before they can come to Him?

Return of the Man-Child   (audio) David Eells – 3/5/25  Saints, today I'm going to talk to you about the Genealogy of Christ Jesus.  The Bible says, That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun (Ecc.1:9). We quite often look at the Scriptures, even in the natural, as something that's a revelation of the distant future, but we need to study the Gospels to give ourselves a revelation of soon-coming things that are now almost upon us. Years ago, I shared with you how everything that has happened in the Gospels and the Book of Acts is coming again now, except the cast of characters has been multiplied many times over, meaning that they will be corporate bodies of people all over the world walking in the steps of earlier individuals. The Lord also spoke to me years ago that the Gospels represented the first 3½ years of the Tribulation period and that the Book of Acts represented the second 3½ years of the Tribulation period.  There's a doctrine out there which teaches that Jesus ministered for only one year because they do not see that the Feasts that Jesus kept did not all happen in the same year in the Scriptures. But one very good proof is in Bible Chronology by Ivan Panin. It basically proves the correct chronology through numeric patterns. Panin's book is one of the only chronologies out there that actually uses Bible dates that can be found by cross-referencing other Bible dates. The only other book I know of was from Martin Anstey, who wrote Romance of Bible Chronology back in 1913. Both authors' chronology comes only from Bible dates. There is also a way to verify those dates with Numerics, the numeric pattern.   So here's what I've found concerning Jesus' ministry: Year one of His ministry was in AD 27, year two in AD 28, year three AD 29, and the Cross, resurrection, ascension, and Pentecost all happened in AD 30. That is cross-referenced with numeric Bible chronology. I personally already believed what they're saying because of what the Lord told me, but I think there are things we can point out and see through the Gospels that will show us that the 3½-year ministry of Jesus is just like the one we're about to enter now, only with a new reformation leadership which the Bible calls the “Man-child.”  I want to start in Matthew and share a picture of what happens through the rest of the Gospels. Some people think Matthew 1 is the dullest part of the whole Gospel because it has all those “begat”s and “begat”s. I'm not going to recite all of those, but I would like to point out a few things. First, where it speaks of The book of the generation of Jesus Christ (Mat.1:1), according to Numerics, it says simply, “The generation of Jesus Christ,” or “The genealogy of Jesus Christ.” Either way, it's the same word. The interesting thing is that the word “generation” here is the Greek word genesis, so it can be read as “The genesis of Jesus Christ.” The Book of Genesis is about the creation of Adam and the natural creation and yet here we're starting another “Genesis” of what the Bible calls “the last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45), Jesus Christ. This is not a natural creation, but the spiritual creation of the “born-again” man, Jesus Christ being the Adam of this new race of people who are created to be sons of God.   People have perplexing questions about the genealogy in Matthew 1 and one of them is, “Why does it seem to be the genealogy of Joseph?” For instance, it says, and Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ (Mat.1:16). So we follow the genealogy from Abraham to Joseph here, and that Jesus was of virgin birth. Mary was with child of the Holy Spirit (Mat.1:18). In fact, Joseph really had nothing physically to do with bringing Jesus forth. Joseph was not the father of His flesh. Mary was the mother of His flesh, but the Bible tells us that it is the seed of the woman that was going to bring forth the Son who would crush the serpent's head (Genesis 3:15).   God used the DNA from Mary to create the body of Jesus, His fleshly part. He was the Son of God and Son of Man. The Son of God came in a body that He called the Son of Man. Of course, That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (Joh.3:6). That means your natural creation has been born of your fleshly parents, but your spiritual creation came from God. It's like when God breathed into the first Adam the “breath” (or ruach, which is the Hebrew word for “spirit”), the “breath of life” (Genesis 2:7). That spiritual man in you came from God, but the carnal man was passed on by your parents.  So why mention Joseph in this passage? We just want to know of whom Jesus was born. I think that's a really interesting question and it goes right to the root of why this is the genesis of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Genesis also means “birth,” “beginning,” “origin” and so forth. Jesus is the beginning and He is the end (Revelation 1:8). He is the beginning of the new creation man and He is the end; all things would be summed up in Him (Ephesians 1:10). The point here is, Joseph did have something to do with raising Jesus; he had everything to do with the spiritual man and nothing to do with the carnal man.   Joseph was ordained of God to represent Him in raising Jesus in the image of God. You say, “That doesn't make sense. He's the Son of God.” But the Bible says, And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men (Luk.2:52). Joseph could contribute none of his physical self in bringing forth Jesus, but he contributed both words and actions into Jesus' life in order to train Him up and bring Him into the image of God that He was ordained to be. In Hebrews, it appears to be Jesus speaking when He says, a body didst thou prepare for me (Heb.10:5). The Son of God in Heaven came down to inhabit a body that was brought forth through Mary, but the lineage written is of Joseph.   It even says that in (Mat.1:16) And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. It didn't give Joseph any credit for the birth of Jesus; Jesus was of virgin birth. But Joseph had something to do with bringing forth this genesis, this new generation of man, because what he was sowing into the life of Jesus were words, actions, an example, and other such things. Even though Jesus was the only begotten Son of God, meaning “born” Son of God, and even though He was filled with the Holy Spirit while still in the womb, He still had to be raised up into the fullness of that image.  The seed that Joseph sowed in Jesus' life is the most important seed in bringing forth the spiritual man. In the carnal man, it is a physical seed that brings forth the physical life. But the spiritual man, which lives in all of us who have been born from above, is born by the seed of the Word of God that has been sown in us. We're told; It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life (Joh.6:63). So Jesus was doing the exact same thing that was done to Him: He was sowing in the disciples the Spirit and the life of God through the Word of God that He was speaking.   We are also told, That is, it is not the children of the flesh that are children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for a seed (Rom.9:8). The “children of the promise” is the promise that was spoken to them that put faith in their heart to receive the gift of God to be what they were not before. It's God working in us to will and to do of His good pleasure (Ephesians 1:5,11). Mary was not, as some people say, the “mother” of God. She was the mother of Jesus' flesh. What was sown in Jesus Christ was sent from God the Father; the Father sent His only begotten Son (John 3:16). It had nothing to do with, and was even in spite of, Mary. She even had to receive salvation and was also filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:14; 2:4). But she was required and necessary to be the mother of the flesh that Jesus would come to live and walk in as the Son of God. And yet, this whole genealogy in Matthew is all about bringing forth the spiritual man and not the carnal man, or it would have been Mary's genealogy written in Matthew.   It's not the physical that's so important. Any flesh out there can manifest bearing the fruit of the Son of God if the seed is sown in it. The Lord God is showing us by this example that the important thing is what is spoken into someone's life. This is how we pass on our seed in the Kingdom through the Word of God.  In the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-23), Jesus sowed the seed and the seed was the Word of God, and He brought forth in people's hearts the fruit 30-, 60- and 100- fold. Jesus was what He was, in spite of His human heritage. According to Romans 8, He had to overcome His human heritage. He was one that hath been in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin (Heb.4:15). (Rom.1:3) Concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, (4) who was declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness … Therefore, That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (Joh.3:6). That which came from Mary was the seed of David because she was in the lineage of David and God took her DNA to do that. But that which was born of God out of heaven was the Spirit of God, according to what Jesus said.  In the Scriptures, it's very plain that in the spiritual man, which is the Son of God (or the sons of God, as we are), our lineage is not according to genealogy at all. Jesus was the only begotten Son of God, in Whom we all live (Acts 17:28) and we manifest our sonship through Him. Scripture portrays Melchizedek as a theophany, very much in the same way Jesus is a Theophany or, in other words, “God in flesh.” Jesus is said to be a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek (Heb.6:20). Both Melchizedek and Jesus were without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God (Heb.7:3). It says “without father, without mother” because we're talking about the Son of God. The son of man has an earthly father, earthly mother, earthly genealogy, but the Son of God does not have any such thing. The Son of God is eternal. He is the Word which came down out of heaven (John 1:14), which we eat like the Israelites ate the manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16:4).  When we read this Word, we absorb it into ourselves. We spiritually eat that Word of God, which is eternal, and that recreates in us the Son of God, which has no end. There's no genealogy to the Son of God in you. (Col.1:27) … Christ in you, the hope of glory. There's no beginning of days nor end of life because He is eternal. That Word is simply recreating in you the manifestation of God. This is what the Bible refers to where it says, For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing (“manifestation”) of the sons of God (Rom.8:19). So we see that there is no earthly, or physical genealogy to a son of God. This genealogy in Matthew is a genealogy of people concluding with Joseph, who had no physical connection, but was only sowing a seed in the life of Jesus to raise Him up from a child. And we're also being raised up in the same way.  Reading now in (Mat.1:17) So all the generations from Abraham unto David are fourteen generations; and from David unto the carrying away to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon unto the Christ fourteen generations. It's very interesting that it's so neatly divided. I remember many years ago, as we read this in a Bible study in my home, somebody said, “I've counted these and there's not 14 generations there. There are 14, 14, and then 13.” So we all started counting and then we recounted it again and we said, “Hey, you're right! There's 14, 14 and then 13.” We had to be careful not to double-count the name twice between the paragraphs, where there is a paragraph break.  There's not 14 generations in the last paragraph, yet God says there were 14 generations! At the time, the answer came to me that this is not referring to Christ Himself, but that the “fourteen generations” were speaking about Jesus' offspring, meaning the body of Christ. Then it would be correct. That would make Christ the 41st generation and the people of God the 42nd generation; I still believe this explanation today. I received a word of knowledge at that time, and I believe that God was speaking to me, that in the phrase, “unto the Christ,” the word “Christ” is actually used of the saints. And, if we're “in Christ,” we are part of the 42nd generation, even though the fullness of that is coming forth in the days that we're in right now.  2 Corinthians is a good proof that the 42nd generation is speaking of Jesus' offspring. (2Co.1:21) Now he that establisheth us with you in (Greek: “into”) Christ, and anointed us, is God. Here we have the word “Christ,” which in Greek is Christos, and we have the verb “anointed,” which in Greek is the verb chrio and means the same thing. Those who are established “into Christ” are one body and “anointed,” which is the verb chrio. So when He says, “unto the Christ” in Matthew, it could very well be, this anointed body; that is the offspring of Jesus. Remember, Jesus was the progenitor of this body. He sowed the seed, which is the Word of God, that went into the hearts of men.  In the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13, the word “seed” is the Greek word sperma. The Sower sowed the sperma to bring forth fruit 30-, 60- and 100-fold. So “unto the Christ” could very well be the “anointed” because He is saying that we are those anointed. The word “anointed,” or chrio, is the very same word Jesus spoke when He read from Isaiah. (Luk.4:18) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because He anointed me … So Jesus is the Chrio and His body is the Chrio. He left an individual body in order to come back in a corporate body so He could do to the whole world what He did in the Middle East. That was the whole point, a glorious work of God.   Notice that “He establisheth us into Christ.” We are the anointed because we are in Him. It's Christ in you and you in Christ, as He said in (Joh.17:21) … That they may all be one; even as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us … This is what everyone wants to call a “mystery,” but the more of Christ we get in us, the more we are the anointed. We need to be receiving what He received when He was anointed; we need to be receiving the power of the Holy Spirit. He manifestly became the Christ because He was anointed with the Holy Spirit.   And then we also see of Christ, this additional proof in (Eph.1:10) Unto a dispensation of the fulness of the times, to sum up all things (There is no numeric pattern to include the word “things” here.) in Christ the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth; in him, [I say,] (11) in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will. He wanted to sum up all people in Christ, in the anointed, in Christos, and we are that “all people.”   Galatians 3 tells us that there is just one generation after Jesus, the 42nd generation. (Gal.3:16) Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. There is only one seed of Christ. If we abide in Him, then we are now His corporate body on the earth and Paul tells us this a little further down. (Gal.3:28) There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one [man] in Christ Jesus. (29) And if ye are Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed (The “seed” is singular, just one.), heirs according to promise.   So, we become heirs according to the promise that enters our hearts. It works in us the faith to receive all the benefits of the Kingdom and to walk as Christ walked. This is an amazing thing that God is doing. The only way that we can be a part of this 42nd generation, is to receive the Word of God, which is the very seed that makes us a member of the body of Christ. That's why Joseph is listed there in Matthew 1 because Joseph could pass on to Jesus the wisdom that a child would not have.   (Luk.2:52) And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. It says, But ye are an elect race (Greek: genos, “chosen generation”) (1Pe.2:9). We are a chosen generation. There is just one generation from the time of Jesus on. We have all received the same seed, the Word of God, and allow it to bear fruit. We all come into the same body and we have been chosen to be a part of that body in the earth to do the works of God.  There is more interesting revelation found in (Psa.102:12) But thou, O Lord, wilt abide for ever; And thy memorial [name] unto all generations. So all of the generations of God's people become one generation, the 42nd generation. (13) Thou wilt arise, and have mercy upon Zion … God is going to bring His children out of bondage in Babylon back to Zion in these days. (Psa.102:13) Thou wilt arise, and have mercy upon Zion; For it is time to have pity upon her, Yea, the set time is come. The time is in our day when God is going to have pity on Zion, to raise her up again.   He will raise up Zion, whose land has been desolate because God's people were taken into Babylonish captivity. Now they're going to return by His grace to their Promised Land. (Psa.102:14) For thy servants take pleasure in her stones … “Her stones” are a symbol of separation from the world. Zion, the Tower of the Flock, separated the people from the world. It represents holiness; and being on the mountain of God; it represents overcoming the world and drawing close to His Presence, which is on top of the mountain.  (Psa.102:14) For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, And have pity upon her dust. (15) So the nations shall fear the name of the Lord, And all the kings of the earth thy glory. Before this is over, that's exactly what's going to happen: the nations will fear the name of the Lord because He is once again going to show His sovereignty and His judgments in the earth, just as He did in the time of Moses. Egypt was a type of the nations. (Psa.102:16) For the Lord hath built up Zion (who is the Bride, according to Revelation 21:2); He hath appeared in his glory. The Lord is coming in His people. It is a body made up of Himself, His Word and His life.   (Psa.102:17) He hath regarded the prayer of the destitute, And hath not despised their prayer. This indicates to me that in these days many are going to draw close to the Lord because of destitution and tribulation in the world and a wilderness experience.  (Psa.102:18) This shall be written for the generation to come … Notice that it is one generation, the 42nd generation, in whom Jesus lives (Col.1:27). (Psa.102:18) This shall be written for the generation to come; And a people which shall be created shall praise the Lord. That's the 42nd generation, one generation, the generation of the Lord. Remember what was said back in Matthew: it is “the generation of Jesus Christ.” That's what the whole genealogy was about, “the genesis (same word) of Jesus Christ.”  (Psa.102:19) For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; From heaven did the Lord behold the earth; (20) To hear the sighing of the prisoner … This is referring to God's people being in bondage. He is coming once again to deliver His people out of bondage to the carnal man in Egypt. The Israelite, the spiritual man, was in bondage to the carnal man, the Egyptian. The Lord was coming down to set them free, which He is about to do again. All those are types and shadows of what is going to happen during the Tribulation period. Even the judgments that Moses poured out are the ones that the Man-child will pour out on Egypt, the world. (Psa.102:20) … To loose those that are appointed to death; (21) That men may declare the name of the Lord in Zion (Zion was the refuge of God's people.), And his praise in Jerusalem; (22) When the peoples are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord. Praise God!  The same thing is spoken of in (Isa.53:8) By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who among them (The words “among them” was not in the original manuscript.) considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due? (Isa.53:9) And they made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Praise the Lord! This is the generation of the Lord, which is the generation or genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1.  We can see that genealogy in another Psalm, too. (Psa.22:30) A seed shall serve him; It shall be told of the Lord unto the [next] generation. However, the word “next” was not in the original. Also, the word used there for “told” can be translated as “counted,” so the verse may be read, “counted unto the Lord unto a generation.” Some of you may have a footnote that reads, “or, ‘counted unto the Lord for His generations.'” The word “generations” is singular. The translators are using their own reasoning there and I believe that what it correctly reads is, “It shall be counted unto the Lord for a generation.” This is the 42nd generation, the one referred to in Matthew, which is what the Lord came to do.   The Lord Jesus came for this generation of people from His day until ours. The real cream of the crop is coming in our day. He has saved the best wine for last (Joh.2:1-10). He refers to this generation in the next verse. (Psa.22:31) They shall come and shall declare his righteousness Unto a people that shall be born, that He hath done it. He has done it! It is finished! He has overcome the world (John 16:33). He has brought forth His children, as we just read in Isaiah 53. The Bible says, He shall see [his] seed (Isa.53:10) and again, the word “seed” is singular. Jesus gave His life in order to see this seed and said, Greater [works] than these shall he (that's you) do; because I go unto the Father (Joh.14:12).  We read This is the generation of them that seek after him (Psa.24:6). That's an awful lot of people, between the time of Jesus first raising up disciples and our day. So who is this “generation”? If you go back and read Psalm 24, you get an idea. (Psa.24:1) The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein. (2) For he hath founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the floods. (3) Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? (That is Mt. Zion.) And who shall stand in his holy place? (4) He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; Who hath not lifted up his soul unto falsehood, And hath not sworn deceitfully.   (5) He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. (6) This is the generation of them that seek after him, That seek thy face, [even] Jacob. Oh, praise the Lord! This generation that God has spoken about so often, this chosen generation, is the 42nd generation of 14 + 14 + 14. And this 42nd generation is made up of the eternal, spiritual man. The carnal man is not the offspring of Jesus Christ; he is the offspring of Adam, the first Adam. The last Adam is the Father of the spiritual, born-again creation man, the sons of God.  This body each of us has is a temporary thing and all of its desires and lusts are temporary; they're all going to pass away. We have a new body and a born-again soul that's been born again from the Word of God and we have a new spirit. All this is the 42nd generation, which the whole Gospel is for and about. We're looking toward the crowning of this generation in the coming days. It's an awesome work that God is about to do!  Now let's continue on in Matthew because here's another spiritual passage that concerns what God is about to do: (Mat.1:18) Now the birth (The word “birth” is the same Greek word meaning the genesis or “generation.”) of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Notice that when we speak of abortion, we refer to the child as a fetus. It says, “she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.” It is not a fetus; it is a child. Abortion kills a child and this is a child of the Holy Spirit. Spiritually-speaking, Mary represents the people of God in whom the Holy Spirit has sown a seed that is bringing forth the fruit of Jesus Christ. It was said to Mary, And blessed [is] she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord (Luk.1:45). What was spoken unto her from the Lord was that she was to bring forth the fruit of Jesus Christ.  And each one of us has also been called to be a Mary because Jesus said, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? (Mat.12:48). (50) For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother. Everyone who does the Will of the Father is a part of this corporate body of Mary, which is bringing forth the fruit of Jesus Christ. He sowed the seed into the womb of the hearts of men in the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13 and He brought forth the fruit of Christ 30-, 60- and 100-fold. So we see that this is also a prophecy of things to come. We are all called to bring forth the fruit of Jesus Christ. Everyone who does that is a part of the 42nd generation. The natural Jesus was the 41st generation and we are the 42nd generation. This is how God chose to bring forth His sons, in the only begotten Son of God, one Body.  (Mat.1:19) And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. (20) But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. By the way, the word “conceived” here is the word “begotten” in Greek, gennao, and is an offshoot of the word genesis, or “born.” Notice it says that it is “born in her.” It is a child born in her at the time of conception. The Chinese count a person's birth years from the time of conception, not the time of birth, and the Bible is saying the same thing here. “That which is born in her is of the Holy Spirit.” What the Spirit is bringing forth in us is the fruit of Jesus Christ. Glory be to God!  (Mat.1:21) And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins. It's interesting that it says that He is going to save His people from their sins. If we were chosen from the foundation of the world, we're going to be a part of this 42nd generation, in that we have received the seed of the Kingdom, which is the Word of God, and brought forth the fruit. Not everybody who is loosely called a “Christian” can say that. He is only talking about those who are “in Mary.” (Mat.12:50) For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my … mother. The Lord is referring only to those who do His Will. The others, who are in rebellion and call themselves “Christians,” are not a part of this whole scenario.   It was the same in Jesus' day when He came unto his own, and they that were his own received him not (Joh.1:11). In fact, He said to some of them, Ye are of [your] father the devil (Mat.8:44). (39) They answered and said unto him, Our father is Abraham. (41) … We have one Father, [even] God. (42) Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me … And the Bible says if we loved Him, we would keep His commandments (John 14:15). Those who are “in Mary” do the Will of the Father because they have true faith and true faith brings forth true ability from God to walk in His Will. God gives us the gift of working in us to will and to do of His good pleasure (Ephesians 1:11) when we have this gift of faith and we exercise it. (Mat.1:21) … It is he that shall save his people from their sins. Hallelujah! (22) Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, (23) Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Immanuel; which is, being interpreted, God with us. This is the whole plan of God, that He is “with us.”   Notice that He was born unto a virgin. Is it still true today? The only way that Jesus Christ can be born in us is if we don't receive the seed of man, but we receive the seed of God, which is the Word of God. You know, a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump (1Co.5:6). You don't have to add much to the Word of God to make it not be the Word of God anymore. You just need to add a little bit of man's theology and it's not the Word of God. Jesus said, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees (Mat.16:6). Why? Because what they were sowing was the seed of their father, whom Jesus said was the devil. There's only one thing that will bring forth Jesus Christ in His people, which would make them a member of this body of the 42nd generation, and it's the Word of God.   I suggest to the multitudes of people listening, who are wasting a lot of time in religion and not bearing the fruit of Jesus Christ nor walking in His steps and manifesting His power and His fruit, that they stay home and read the Bible until you get it into you enough that you can recognize true and undefiled religion. It is the Word of God that we must humble ourselves to and that brings us into the 42nd generation and the body of she who is the virgin.   We are members of Mary's body who will bring forth the fruit of Jesus Christ, if we are virgins. The Bible says of the 144,000 group in Revelation 14:4 (which is 144), These are they that were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These [are] they that follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were purchased from among men [to be] the firstfruits unto God and unto the Lamb (Rev.14:4). They are virgins because they refuse to receive the seed of men, which is “the leaven of the Pharisees.”   And Jesus said, beware of … the leaven of Herod (Mar.8:15) because a person can also receive the “leaven” of worldly governments, which is patriotism to worldly governments as a form of worship of worldly governments. We have a new one-world order and it's the body of Christ. We have one King over our one-world order and that's Christ Himself. He is the head. We are the body and we do not have our own will; He is our Will. He gives us His Will; in fact, that's how the Son sets us free. It's because He gives us a will that cannot be thwarted. Jesus' Will cannot be thwarted. You cannot be frustrated if you have His Will. Frustration comes when you have your will and God's Will in the same body, at war with one another. Freedom is having God work in us to will and to do of His good pleasure (Ephesians 1:11), so that we can walk after the Lamb of God whithersoever He goes and not be defiled with “women” (Revelation 14:4).  “Women” refers to religious sects, which are typed in the Scriptures as women. Virgins receive only the Word of God and will bring forth the pure fruit of Jesus Christ, just like this lineage that we looked at in Matthew. Jesus was the Son of David because He was of the lineage of David all the way down through Mary. The body He dwelt in was the Son of David, but the Son of God came through the Holy Spirit, Who is the only One Who can sow the nature and life of Jesus. A person who is inhabited by the Holy Spirit can also speak the Word of God, which brings forth the life of Christ in this body in which we dwell.  All of this genealogy was physical, but it also was a parable. Most parables were physical and Jesus spoke parables about planting corn, etc. They were physically true, but they had a spiritual revelation. A spiritual revelation is that the Gospels, the sharing of the Good News, was to bring forth the genealogy of Jesus Christ in His 42nd generation, and they would be born to a body spiritually called “Mary” because “He that doeth the Will of My Father is My mother.” Praise be to God!   In Matthew 1 and 2, five dreams gave direction, warning, protection, prophecy, and instruction. They were given to Mary, Joseph, the wise men, and to the fruit, Jesus. Today, the same thing is happening; many in this time are having dreams, visions and revelations, because we are at the same corresponding point in history. There is a period of time right here, which starts with the anointing of Jesus for His 3½-year ministry. What we're studying right now is the introduction to the beginning of the ministry of Jesus, which started when He was 30 years old.   We're leading up to the time of the anointing of the Man-child, Jesus, the One Who, according to Hosea 6:1-3, is coming as the latter rain on “the morning” of “the third day,” which is where we are right now, and He is coming in His people! He's coming in His first-fruits to begin the process of manifesting the sons of God in these latter days. It's an awesome revelation that the Lord has hidden in this literal revelation of the life of Christ. (Ecc.1:9) That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. The Gospels are giving us a revelation of the time just before the beginning of the 3½-year Tribulation. 

In Hebrews 3:13, the author says, “But exhort one another daily, while it is called to day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Sin has a way of creeping into our hearts, slowly hardening us to the truth and pulling us away from God. But Scripture calls us to encourage one another daily, fighting against sin's deceptive grip.

Hosts: Forest Antemesaris and Hiram Kemp  |  Released Monday, February 10, 2025 Few biblical figures are as enigmatic as Melchizedek. Only mentioned in a handful of verses in Genesis, Psalms, and Hebrews, Melchizedek’s role in the scheme of redemption is larger than one might expect. In Hebrews 7:1-10, the book of Hebrews reminds its readers that Jesus’ […]

Hosts: Forest Antemesaris and Hiram Kemp  |  Released Monday, February 10, 2025 Few biblical figures are as enigmatic as Melchizedek. Only mentioned in a handful of verses in Genesis, Psalms, and Hebrews, Melchizedek’s role in the scheme of redemption is larger than one might expect. In Hebrews 7:1-10, the book of Hebrews reminds its readers that Jesus’ […]

Question: Psalm 40:6 reads, “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.” Why did David say this verse when a good chunk of Leviticus made rules on sacrifice?Response: First of all, because he was inspired by the Lord to write this down. Secondly, he's referencing 1 Samuel 15:22, where Samuel was inspired to say, “Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”Further, he is speaking prophetically of the Lord Jesus. Verse 7 of Psalm 40 reads, “Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me.”Hebrews 10:5 explains further, “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me….”Simply put, David wrote this verse because he was inspired by the Lord to do so and it speaks emphatically of the end of the Levitical sacrifices. In Hebrews 10:9, God inspired the writer to say, “Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.”

In Hebrews 2, God's word assures us that in Christ there is forgiveness of sins.

Hebrews was written to people who have been shaken by life. Difficulties and sufferings have shaken them to the core.  The writer is trying to help them find ways to face the brutal realities of life, to stand solid when everything around them is falling apart. In Hebrews 12, we have the climax. The writer pulls together all of the threads and says, “In an unstable world, here is how you can live an unshakeable life.” This passage depicts 1) the shakable life, 2) the unshakeable life, and 3) how to receive that unshakeable life. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on April 17, 2005. Series: Christ: Our Treasury (The Book of Hebrews). Scripture: Hebrews 12:18-29. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

Sweat was pouring off Peter as he moved to protect Jesus. As Roman soldiers held the one who had been labeled a heretic, Peter drew a sword and cut off a soldier's ear. And he was stunned when Jesus told him to put the sword away. You see Jesus knew infinitely more than Peter, or anyone else. He knew the end from the beginning, and He knew He had an agenda to see through to the end, and Peter couldn't see that. And impulsively He moved to change the facts on the ground.And that's so typical of us as humans. The authentic Christian wants to do something to fix things or change the world. The theologian Francis Schaeffer wrote a whole book titled “How Should We Then Live” on the role of a Christian in the modern world. And there are arguments over whether America is still a Christian nation, or whether postmodernism has won the day.But what does the Bible say about being a witness in the world? Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Notice it doesn't say engage. We're in fact told not to become like the world in all its anti-God stuff. Yet we also know one of the last things Jesus said to His disciples before He ascended into heaven was that we should go into all the world and make disciples. The Apostle Paul made an interesting observation in 1 Corinthians 9. He said that he was free from conformity to the world—it had nothing he coveted—but that he chose to be a servant to all, so that his example might win some to Christ.In Hebrews 13, we're told to practice hospitality. And this echoes many Old Testament passages, too. The idea is a believer is to be an example of what life with God looks like in hopes it will draw unbelievers. And this must be done with sincerity though, especially in our jaded modern culture. First Corinthians 10 tells us whatever we do, do it for the glory of God alone.To sum up, the Bible tells us to absolutely live in this world and be appealing to people, but to do all this while holding onto our convictions. Balancing being a gospel witness, while also being seen as personable, is the approach for our modern world. Let's pray.Father God, you've given us direction for all that we do. Help us to continually have a burden for the lost and to always remember we're to be salt and light for a hurting world. It's in Jesus' name we pray, amen.Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

The book of Hebrews is written to people who are so beaten down with troubles that they're ready to give up.  The writer is trying to give the readers what they need to handle the brutal realities of life in this world. In Hebrews 11, he gives us something that helps us handle anything.  If you have it, you can handle absolutely anything life throws at you: 1) what is it? and 2) how do we get it? This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on March 27, 2005. Series: Christ: Our Treasury (The Book of Hebrews). Scripture: Hebrews 11:32-40. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

If God is so committed to our joy and our glory, if he loves us so much, why is our life so hard?  That's what the book of Hebrews is about and the answer, in a nutshell, is life is a journey. It's a journey from weariness into rest. It's a journey from alienation into the presence of God. It's a journey from isolation into the city of God. And the only way you're going to get home is by fixing your eyes on Jesus. The whole idea of Hebrews is you don't get home through bursts, through sprints, but in a sustained, long-term way.  In Hebrews 1 and 2, we learn what Jesus has to do with this question: 1) what he brings, 2) why he brings it; and 3) how it can change our lives. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on February 6, 2005. Series: Christ: Our Treasury (The Book of Hebrews). Scripture: Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:1-4. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.