- araratchurch
- Aug 11, 2023
- 3 min read
“For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:”
Hebrews 10:36 NKJV
My father did something he later recounted to illustrate the need for persistent endurance in order to see the results God has promised.
A new church building was being built and he was helping the many congregants who were gathering stones and clearing out the area where an altar was to be built. In this process, a very large stone was encountered that spurned all attempts at breaking it up (as it was, it was too heavy to move without special equipment).
My father sent a man to his house to retrieve a 16 pound sledgehammer. He then set into methodically pounding across the large stone in the same place, over and over and over again, with it finally succumbing and splitting in two!
You see, this wasn’t my father’s first rodeo; he learned from his own father that doing what he did would result in the immovable object becoming two (or more) very movable objects. He set into hitting the stone, knowing that this method would work; and, he persisted until it did.
Now, what does this have to do with staying the course in order to receive our promise?
Before answering that, let’s look at an odd encounter our Lord had with a Canaanite woman.
Once, as the Lord was leaving Canaan, a woman from the area (a gentile) approached Him, asking that He deliver her daughter of a demon. This was His response:
“But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”
Matthew 15:24-28 NKJV
Now, we might think that it was her persistence that got the Lord’s attention. But He said it was her faith!
You see, Jesus knew that her persistence was revealing the faith she had in Who He was. Indeed, at the beginning of the story (not represented here) she called out to Him as “Son of David.”
The significance of her calling Him, “Son of David,” was that that name was used in referencing the Messiah! She knew He had the goods and she wasn’t about to go away until she got what she came for.
Now, nobody will trust a process they really don’t believe will get the results promised.
In referencing Enoch, Hebrews 11 offers a concise definition of what faith is:
“By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Hebrews 11:5-6 NKJV
Believing that “God is,” in this context, means believing that God is Who He said He is and that He will do what He said He would do.
Faith is not a concept; it is a conviction. Faith requires believing that God is all-powerful and gives to those who trust Him, everything promised.
Back to the woman who wouldn’t give up on Jesus helping her daughter: She believed He was the Messiah and would bring deliverance for her daughter if she wouldn’t relent.
This woman didn’t “force” the Lord to answer her, her faith brought that to pass. And, the evidence of her faith was her persistence.
In our opening scripture we see the writer of Hebrews making the point that to receive the promise, we have to endure. But understand, endurance will not be present unless we truly believe that God is Who He says He is and will do what He says He will do!
Friend, if you are finding it difficult to stick with the process in which the Lord has placed you, go before Him and ask Him to increase your faith. Because, when true faith is present, quitting is no longer an option.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Aug 11, 2023
- 2 min read
“I love the Lord, because He has heard My voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live. The pains of death surrounded me, And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!” Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. Return to your rest, O my soul, For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.”
Psalms 116:1-7 NKJV
Today we step aside from this week‘s topic to bring a word the Lord wants you to hear.
There is so much distress in the world, so much trouble, that many of God’s people have fallen from their place of rest in Him.
In this passage of scripture we find Jesus giving an invitation to enter into rest in Him:
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.””
Matthew 11:29-30 NKJV
Yet, many will not find rest because they refuse to walk in obedience to the Lord. One of my father’s favorite scriptures describes such a case:
“Thus says the Lord: “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”
Jeremiah 6:16 NKJV
You see, “old paths” are those walked in obedience to God. Trying to do things our own way—even when well intentioned—will not lead us into God’s rest.
In our opening scripture we see the psalmist expressing his gratitude to the Lord for hearing his urgent cry. He then instructs his soul saying, “Return to your rest, O my soul, For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.”
Step aside from your inner turmoil today and accept Jesus’ invitation into His way of being and doing. Return to your rest in Him. You WILL find rest for your soul!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Aug 9, 2023
- 4 min read
“Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12 AMP
Many recipes take for granted that the one attempting to follow the recipe has a basic understanding of certain culinary principles. However, that “basic understanding” is not always a given.
Several years ago I came across a recipe for one of the many “impossible crust” recipes. Unfortunately, the writer of the recipe had left a typo which I am sure probably caused great angst for some unexperienced cooks.
You see, the recipe said, “Blend the ingredients for 15 minutes.” Now, I “instinctively” knew that should have read, “Blend the ingredients for 15 seconds.” I still chuckle thinking of someone who doesn’t know better, standing at their blender for 15 minutes, watching it probably overflow, if it doesn’t burn out first.
Recently, while making chocolate ganache, that whole scenario came back to me. As I began to stir the ingredients for the ganache, I remembered the first time I attempted to make it and how I thought that what I was doing was somehow off. You see, what I was stirring looked like it would never be the dark, thick, wonderful, chocolate confection I was after. But thankfully, the writer of this recipe, had remarked that it would look like it wasn’t going to work, but to just stick with it. I did and it did.
Whereas I hope what has been said might one day help you in your culinary pursuits, you’ve probably already gleaned that we aren’t just talking about recipes.
Hebrews 11 has been called “the hall of fame of faith”; and, so it is. But, to fully appreciate how it is being used by the writer of Hebrews, we must discover the context of its placement. To do that, let us look at the scriptures just before Hebrews 11 (remember, chapter designations were not part of the original communication):
“Do not, therefore, fling away your [fearless] confidence, for it has a glorious and great reward. For you have need of patient endurance [to bear up under difficult circumstances without compromising], so that when you have carried out the will of God, you may receive and enjoy to the full what is promised. For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay. But My righteous one [the one justified by faith] shall live by faith [respecting man’s relationship to God and trusting Him]; And if he draws back [shrinking in fear], My soul has no delight in him. But our way is not that of those who shrink back to destruction, but [we are] of those who believe [relying on God through faith in Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and by this confident faith preserve the soul.” Hebrews 10:35-39 AMP
In the above verses we see the writer of Hebrews exhorting Hebrew Christians to stay the course of faith.
You see, the Hebrew Christians were going through great persecution and trials because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Here, the writer is basically saying what the aforementioned ganache recipe writer said in instructing to keep stirring even though it looks like a mess. That is, trust the process. And, for our purposes, trust God’s process! Hebrews 11 is encouragement to do just that: endure through faith to share in the reward of the faithful who have gone before us.
Now, turning to the scriptures just after Hebrews 11, we find direction as to HOW to keep the faith and to stay the course:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work]. Just consider and meditate on Him who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself [consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3 AMP
Yes, Jesus is the perfect example of Someone Who was in it, to win it. And, in order to do what He did, we must cast off whatever would hinder our forward progress by staying focused on Him, no matter what may come!
In our opening scripture we see encouragement from James concerning the need for endurance in order to receive the prize. In this case, the prize is the “crown of life.” And, my friend, that crown of life is the ultimate prize for all who will be in it (the walk of faith), to win it!
We’ll talk more about this tomorrow.
Peace to you. Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him! #ThePropheticWord