365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 211

My bible study group finished up on the book of Hebrews last evening. I have gained so much more insight into what faith really is. In Be Confident by Warren W Wiersbe he writes the biblical definition of faith: True biblical faith is confident obedience to God’s Word in spite of circumstances and consequences. Our group discussed the man who did the tight rope walk un-tethered across the Grand Canyon yesterday. He was in constant prayer the whole time across. We don’t know if God called him to do this or if this was his idea and he prayed to God for what he needed but it does demonstrate the kind of confidence true biblical faith is made of. In spite of the circumstances and consequences, would we do as God ask us? Would you walk into a den of lions or a wall of fire? Would you pack up your family and go wherever God tells you? Would you keep strong in faith in the aftermath of losing your home to a fire? Call on Jesus to help you strengthen and keep your faith no matter the circumstances life throws at you or the consequences you will have to endure.

Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 197

My bible study is working on the book of Hebrews. We met last evening to discuss chapters 9 and 10. In one of the study books we are going by called Be Confident by Warren W Wiersbe, he talks about sin being man’s greatest problem. He goes on to say, “by nature, man is a sinner, and by choice, he proves that his nature is sinful.” He finalizes all this with a quote from sources unknown, “We are not sinners because we sin. We sin because we are sinners.” This one little line gets to the heart of the reason why many have a difficult path to real spiritual relationship with God. In my study on temperaments, there are temperaments that because of their needs or lack of needs do not think they need God or think they are too unworthy and unlovable. Shinning the light on sin is thwarted by our own weaknesses within our temperament but Jesus can be that light. Jesus can show each of us that we are sinners no matter how many good things we do or no matter if we have never committed a “big” sin. Sin is sin and we are all by nature sinners but we will try to cover it up, hide it away, disregard it. Our weaknesses are being played on by Satan. He will play upon those weaknesses to keep us from the light of Jesus and a real spirit-to-spirit relationship with God. Accepting ourselves as sinners is the great hurdle we have to jump over on our path to God. This hurdle cannot be done alone. Each of us play a part, plant a seed, say a word that can encourage and motivate another to seek God and get over that sin hurdle. Share your story, live your life as an example of Christ’s love, be all you can be for the Lord.

Hebrews 10:12-14 But when this priest (Jesus) had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.