seventh question

Posted on September 27, 2023 by Jefferson Vann

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seventh question

Psalm 107:17-22 (JDV)

Psalm 107:17 Fools humble themselves by means of their rebellious road and by their violations.
Psalm 107:18 Their throat hated every food and they arrived at the gates of death.
Psalm 107:19 They cried out to Yahveh in their distress. From their miseries He delivered them.
Psalm 107:20 He sent His word, healed them, and rescued them from their pits.
Psalm 107:21 They praise Yahveh for his covenant faithfulness and His miracles for the children of Adam
Psalm 107:22 and they slaughter thanksgiving sacrifices and publish his works with a joyful shout.

seventh question

If you don’t feel like praising God, as this seventh question: Have you ever felt like you were at the gates of death, and God came through and rescued you. Then, praise Him!

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sixth question

Posted on September 26, 2023 by Jefferson Vann

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sixth question

Psalm 107:10-16 (JDV)

Psalm 107:10 They had sat in death’s dark shadow, prisoners of misery and of iron,
Psalm 107:11 because they were obstinate against what God said and rejected the counsel of the Highest.
Psalm 107:12 He humbled their heart with trouble. They stumbled, and there was no helper.
Psalm 107:13 Then they cried to Yahveh in their distress. He delivered them from their miseries.
Psalm 107:14 He brought them out from the dark place, and death’s dark shadow, And their shackles he tore off.
Psalm 107:15 They should praise Yahveh for his covenant faithfulness and his miracles for the children of Adam
Psalm 107:16 because he has broken bronze gates, and cut through iron bars.

sixth question

The sixth question to ask yourself if you don’t feel like praising God is suggested by today’s text. Have you ever found yourself in a dark place because you obstinately rejected God’s counsel? Remember how bad you felt, and how free you felt after God rescued you from that dark place? Our God is available to forgive and restore. Praise him for that!

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fifth question

Posted on September 25, 2023 by Jefferson Vann

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fifth question

Psalm 107:4-9 (JDV)

Psalm 107:4 They went astray in an open country, in a desert road. They did not find a city to live in.
Psalm 107:5 They were hungry — also — thirsty. Their throats within them felt weak,
Psalm 107:6 and they called to Yahveh for help in their distress, he rescued them from their misery,
Psalm 107:7 and he let them walk on the right road, to go to a city to live in.
Psalm 107:8 They should praise Yahveh for his covenant faithfulness, and his miracles for the children of Adam
Psalm 107:9 because He has satisfied a dried-out throat and has well-filled a hungry throat.

fifth question

Yesterday, we looked at four questions to ask yourself if you don’t feel like praising God. Today’s text suggests a fifth question: Have you ever been lost, and then asked God for help? He came through, right? Praise him!

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praise checklist

Posted on September 24, 2023 by Jefferson Vann

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praise checklist

Psalm 107:1-3 (JDV)

Psalm 107:1 Praise Yahveh because he is good — because his covenant faithfulness is permanent.
Psalm 107:2 The redeemed of Yahveh should say that – those he redeemed from the hand of an enemy.
Psalm 107:3 Also, he has gathered them from the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north, and from the sea.

Perhaps you feel depressed today, and you cannot think of anything to praise the LORD for. Here is a checklist.

Is God good?
Is God faithful to his covenant?
Has God redeemed you from the enemy?
Has God gathered you to himself along with many others from many lands?

If you answered yes to those questions, you have reasons to praise Him.

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strive to be significant

Posted on September 23, 2023 by Jefferson Vann

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strive to be significant

Hebrews 13:22-25 (JDV)

Hebrews 13:22 Brothers and sisters, I urge you to receive this message of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly.
Hebrews 13:23 Be aware that our brother Timothy has been released. If he comes soon enough, he will be with me when I see you.
Hebrews 13:24 Greet all your leaders and all the devotees. Those who are from Italy send you greetings.
Hebrews 13:25 Favor be with you all.

strive to be significant

Petersen points out that Timothy “was the only contemporary “hero of faith’ mentioned after all the great heroes had been paraded past the reader in chapter 11.” (42). We don’t know why he was imprisoned, but it is no surprise. He had been discipled by the best and followed in their footsteps. It did not give him an easy life, but it made him a significant person.

We should each strive to be significant like Timothy was.

Stobbe, Leslie H et al. Leader’s Guide for the Group Study of the Discipling of Timothy. Victor Books 1980.

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the permanent covenant

Posted on September 22, 2023 by Jefferson Vann

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the permanent covenant

Hebrews 13:20-21 (JDV)

Hebrews 13:20 Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus – the great Shepherd of the sheep – through the blood of the permanent covenant,
Hebrews 13:21 equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory permanently. Amen.

the permanent covenant

The permanent covenant is the one that Jesus purchased by his blood on Calvary’s cross. This same covenant that removes the barrier between us and the Father can also equip us with everything good to accomplish his will. It will not be replaced with another covenant.

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obey and pray

Posted on September 21, 2023 by Jefferson Vann

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obey and pray

Hebrews 13:17-19 (JDV)

Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your throats as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
Hebrews 13:18 Pray for us, for we are convinced that we have a clear conscience, wanting to conduct ourselves honorably in everything.
Hebrews 13:19 And I urge you all the more to pray that I may be restored to you very soon.

obey and pray

The author gives two parting instructions to his readers. He challenges them to obey their leaders, so that their service may be with joy and not grief. He also asks for prayer that he may be restored to tghem, so that he could continue sereving in joy.

LORD, help us to make it possible for our leaders to serve you (and us) joyfully.

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new covenant sacrifices

Posted on September 20, 2023 by Jefferson Vann

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new covenant sacrifices

Hebrews 13:15-16 (JDV)

Hebrews 13:15 Therefore, through him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.
Hebrews 13:16 Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, because God is pleased with such sacrifices.

new covenant sacrifices

Do you want to perform sacrifices under the new covenant? Here you go. First, praise the God whose name you confess. Second, show love to others by doing as much good as you can. Third, bless others with the blessing you have been blessed with. God is pleased when we sacrifice in those ways.

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a city to come

Posted on September 19, 2023 by Jefferson Vann

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a city to come

Hebrews 13:12-14 (JDV)

Hebrews 13:12 Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the gate, so that he might make the people sacred by his own blood.
Hebrews 13:13 Let us then go to him outside the camp, bearing his disgrace.
Hebrews 13:14 You see, we do not have a city here that stays; instead, we seek the one to come.

a city to come

The message is NOT that we have a city waiting for us when we die. Like our Saviour, our destiny is coming back to us. John saw the city in a vision, descending out of the sky from God (Revelation 21:10). We have a destiny that is not purchased by our death, but is purchased by Christ’s death. That destiny is eternal life in a restored universe. It is a gift of God’s grace, so you can count on it. There is a city to come.

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permanent atonement

Posted on September 18, 2023 by Jefferson Vann

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permanent atonement

Hebrews 13:8-11 (JDV)

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and permanently.
Hebrews 13:9 Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; because it is good for the heart to be established by favor and not by food regulations, since those who observe them have not benefited.
Hebrews 13:10 We have an altar from which those who worship at the tabernacle do not have a right to eat.
Hebrews 13:11 You see, the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the most sacred place by the high priest as a failure offering are burned outside the camp.

permanent atonement

The Hebrew Christians would be tempted to go back to the old cultural norms of Judaism. So this apostle tells them that the relationship they have with God through Jesus is so much better than what they could obtain through the old ways. He offers a true and lasting benefit. His atonement is permanent.

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