"For we who have believed do enter that rest ..."
Hebrews 4:3
This is Part 8 of a study in the Book of Hebrews. This lesson is on Kingdom Training/Kingdom Advancement.
School Days
When we were in elementary school and had to learn the multiplication tables, our teachers taught us over and over the same information. Repetition is good for learning. In the same manner, repetition is also good for learning spiritual matters.
"Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts?
“For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little." Isaiah 28:9-10
In the Kingdom, the spiritual realm, a disciple does not get promoted to second grade until he knows and is doing what has been taught in first grade. If you are dealing with the same obstacles year after year and they are blocking your growth, set some time aside with the Lord to see if there is an area you need to improve on. Jesus is always leading us to make progress. John 15:1-9
Many times the reason for not being led to triumph in Christ can be located in:
· An un-renewed mind
· A loose tongue
· An empty heart
Remember: no Word, no fruit!
Go to the Medicine Cabinet page for further help.
Kingdom Operations on Earth:
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith.” 1 John 5:4
God has given The Church power that exceeds anything on this earth. But, thank God, there are rules to tapping into that power. Jesus functioned under His Father’s ways to perform miracles, signs and wonders for the multitudes.
“The more authority desired, the more obedience required.”
“Then Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.’” John 5:19
It’s an Open Book Test!
Let’s have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the Prayer with Purpose team today. Review some of the high points that our Teacher has been imparting to us in these lessons from the Book of Hebrews. I believe this subject is vital to our growth as The Glorious Church.
1. “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years.
“Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, 'They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways. So I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest.'"
“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today,' lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
“For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.” Hebrews 3:7-14
Beware Brethren…
When the Holy Spirit says “BEWARE” we had better stay on alert to stand guard over our hearts, dear Saints! We are exhorted to remember what happened to the children of Israel when they left Egypt: They did not receive the blessing God intended for them because their hearts became hardened by sin. They listened to faith-less leaders instead of trusting what God said.
Death in the desert was not God’s will.
Just as faith and obedience were a requirement for the children of Israel to possess the land of Canaan, so is faith and obedience a requirement for God’s children who have already been delivered from the power of darkness and conveyed into the Kingdom of His love. See Colossians 1:13.
God forbid that we would use the precious gift of grace and liberty as an excuse to go back to the ways of the world.
“For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.
“For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb:
"A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire." 2 Peter 2:20-22
The Master put it this way:
"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always…” Luke 21:34
2. “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house.” Hebrews 3:1-2
As holy brethren who are one with Christ and each other, it is to our great advantage to be fully aware of who we are in Christ, what has already been given to us, and, more importantly, to know who is the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.
3. JESUS: The Faithful Sent One
Jesus, the Anointed Word, became flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:14
4. JESUS: The High Priest
Jesus, merciful and faithful High Priest to God, became a man of the seed of Abraham.
5. JESUS: Head of The Church
Many Christians have little knowledge of what Jesus’ present day ministry is. That’s because we have been taught and have learned to focus only on His earthly ministry. This is of course the very foundation of who we are and what we are all about. But it’s time now to build on that foundation and increase in maturity as sons of God. Romans 8:14
Jesus is the Administrator of The Church, directing all the many diversities of ministries and manifestations of His Spirit. You, as His Minister, have an assignment to help bring God’s will to manifest in our cities and nation. As His Ambassador you are supplied with unlimited resources from Heaven to accomplish that work. You are connected to His magnificent Body to bear much fruit and do the greater works! Praise God!
The Church can only advance higher according to what Jesus reveals and what The Church actually believes and acts on. We are to ask for the spirit of wisdom and revelation.
It would be beneficial to all of us to pray the Epistle Prayer in Ephesians 1:17-23 every day.
6. JESUS: Present Day Ministry
The Work of the Holy Spirit and The Word: The Glorious Church!
Jesus told His disciples it was to their advantage if He left.
Really?
How could that be?
“Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you].
“But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].” John 16:7 & 13 AMP
“But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.”
“Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all…”
“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.”
“There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.”
“And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.”
God is with us Saints! We are a chosen generation called out to harvest the world!
Read 1 Corinthians Chapter 12.
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13
_______________________________________________________________________________
LIFE APPLICATION
We have had a strong warning from our High Priest today. Let us take heed.
We have also had revelation and direction concerning where we are headed as Our First Love sanctifies and cleanses His Church for presentation to Himself. Ephesians 5:25-27
Knowing these things, how does this affect your life? How does this affect your prayer ministry? Selah
_______________________________________________________________________________
PRAYING FOR: The Church The Lost Elected Leaders
School Days
When we were in elementary school and had to learn the multiplication tables, our teachers taught us over and over the same information. Repetition is good for learning. In the same manner, repetition is also good for learning spiritual matters.
"Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts?
“For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little." Isaiah 28:9-10
In the Kingdom, the spiritual realm, a disciple does not get promoted to second grade until he knows and is doing what has been taught in first grade. If you are dealing with the same obstacles year after year and they are blocking your growth, set some time aside with the Lord to see if there is an area you need to improve on. Jesus is always leading us to make progress. John 15:1-9
Many times the reason for not being led to triumph in Christ can be located in:
· An un-renewed mind
· A loose tongue
· An empty heart
Remember: no Word, no fruit!
Go to the Medicine Cabinet page for further help.
Kingdom Operations on Earth:
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith.” 1 John 5:4
God has given The Church power that exceeds anything on this earth. But, thank God, there are rules to tapping into that power. Jesus functioned under His Father’s ways to perform miracles, signs and wonders for the multitudes.
“The more authority desired, the more obedience required.”
“Then Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.’” John 5:19
It’s an Open Book Test!
Let’s have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the Prayer with Purpose team today. Review some of the high points that our Teacher has been imparting to us in these lessons from the Book of Hebrews. I believe this subject is vital to our growth as The Glorious Church.
1. “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years.
“Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, 'They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways. So I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest.'"
“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today,' lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
“For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.” Hebrews 3:7-14
Beware Brethren…
When the Holy Spirit says “BEWARE” we had better stay on alert to stand guard over our hearts, dear Saints! We are exhorted to remember what happened to the children of Israel when they left Egypt: They did not receive the blessing God intended for them because their hearts became hardened by sin. They listened to faith-less leaders instead of trusting what God said.
Death in the desert was not God’s will.
Just as faith and obedience were a requirement for the children of Israel to possess the land of Canaan, so is faith and obedience a requirement for God’s children who have already been delivered from the power of darkness and conveyed into the Kingdom of His love. See Colossians 1:13.
God forbid that we would use the precious gift of grace and liberty as an excuse to go back to the ways of the world.
“For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.
“For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb:
"A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire." 2 Peter 2:20-22
The Master put it this way:
"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always…” Luke 21:34
2. “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house.” Hebrews 3:1-2
As holy brethren who are one with Christ and each other, it is to our great advantage to be fully aware of who we are in Christ, what has already been given to us, and, more importantly, to know who is the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.
3. JESUS: The Faithful Sent One
Jesus, the Anointed Word, became flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:14
4. JESUS: The High Priest
Jesus, merciful and faithful High Priest to God, became a man of the seed of Abraham.
- He was called by God to His office as High Priest.
- He is not a descendant of Aaron but of the tribe of Judah.
- He is not of the order of Aaron but of the order of Melchizedek, a priest forever.
- Jesus had no sin.
- He offered His own Blood once for all.
- His priesthood is eternal because He lives forever.
- He performs His ministry, not in the earthly model as was given to Moses, but in the Heavenly sanctuary itself.
- He is seated at the right hand of God.
- His one-time offering for sin sanctifies His people.
5. JESUS: Head of The Church
Many Christians have little knowledge of what Jesus’ present day ministry is. That’s because we have been taught and have learned to focus only on His earthly ministry. This is of course the very foundation of who we are and what we are all about. But it’s time now to build on that foundation and increase in maturity as sons of God. Romans 8:14
Jesus is the Administrator of The Church, directing all the many diversities of ministries and manifestations of His Spirit. You, as His Minister, have an assignment to help bring God’s will to manifest in our cities and nation. As His Ambassador you are supplied with unlimited resources from Heaven to accomplish that work. You are connected to His magnificent Body to bear much fruit and do the greater works! Praise God!
The Church can only advance higher according to what Jesus reveals and what The Church actually believes and acts on. We are to ask for the spirit of wisdom and revelation.
It would be beneficial to all of us to pray the Epistle Prayer in Ephesians 1:17-23 every day.
6. JESUS: Present Day Ministry
The Work of the Holy Spirit and The Word: The Glorious Church!
Jesus told His disciples it was to their advantage if He left.
Really?
How could that be?
“Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you].
“But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].” John 16:7 & 13 AMP
“But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.”
“Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all…”
“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.”
“There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.”
“And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.”
God is with us Saints! We are a chosen generation called out to harvest the world!
Read 1 Corinthians Chapter 12.
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13
_______________________________________________________________________________
LIFE APPLICATION
We have had a strong warning from our High Priest today. Let us take heed.
We have also had revelation and direction concerning where we are headed as Our First Love sanctifies and cleanses His Church for presentation to Himself. Ephesians 5:25-27
Knowing these things, how does this affect your life? How does this affect your prayer ministry? Selah
_______________________________________________________________________________
PRAYING FOR: The Church The Lost Elected Leaders