Morning Message: Heroes of Faith

Bobservations' Column
Titled - "Heroes of Faith"
Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz

We finish up the 11th chapter of Hebrews today. We left off in the middle of the story of Moses, at verse 27. As the leader of the Jews that God chose to bring them out of Egypt, Moses continues in faith. He kept the Passover. And the Passover itself was done by faith, because that is what the Lord told Moses to tell the people that they should do to save their firstborn.

Except that it was directed by God, what could a lamb’s blood possibly do when splashed on the doorposts and lintel over the doors of Jewish homes? But here is a question for us today: Does the Holy Spirit see the Blood of the Lamb on our doorposts and lintel of our lives? If we give our hearts to the worship of God’s Son, then the sacrifice of Christ Jesus is at work in us.

This is the Faith that God looks for in us. He sees the evidence of our faith by our actions of faith that He sees in us. It is His perfecting work in us! Following Jesus’ manner of living, He will take note of us being a new creature in Christ, His Son. Submitting ourselves to Jesus’ commands is what makes our invisible faith have substance, and that substance is meant to grow and perfect us ‘til the day of the Lord. The Apostle Paul wrote of this promise in Philippians 1: 6 – “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

He begins it; He performs it; He completes that good work. His work on the cross is sufficient for our salvation, and that of the whole world! Faith is His gift to us! It is invisible to the natural man, but to Jesus, it has substance. It is Spiritually discerned, and He knows our hearts.

The writer continues in his journey through the heroes of faith: Moses and Joshua, and then continues but in reverse chronological order. Through faith they subdued kingdoms, endured hardships and persecutions of many kinds: from mockery to death, and received the promises made to their fathers.

Their combined experiences show us the way to receiving the same promises of salvation, deliverance, and eternal life.

“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” - John 6:63

Bobservations' Column:  Audio Version

Sunday Morning Message:

Hebrews 11:27-40 - "Heroes of Faith"

Summary/Additional Commentary & Definitions:

Hebrews 11 is a powerful chapter in the Bible that showcases the incredible faith of our spiritual ancestors. It’s a reminder of the importance of trusting in God and His promises, even when we can’t see the outcome.

Through this chapter, we see examples of ordinary people who accomplished extraordinary things through their unwavering faith. From Abraham to Moses, and from Rahab to David, these heroes of the faith demonstrate what’s possible when we fully surrender to God’s will.

Remember, the book of Hebrews was written to Jews who had professed faith in Christ but were experiencing persecution that could be avoided if they would simply go back to the Old Testament system of law and sacrifice. In the first century, this may have been the result of direct Jewish persecution, but it may also have been the result of Roman persecution.

The writer of Hebrews warns that there is no going back, now that Christ has come. Relationship with God has always been by God’s grace through faith, and has ultimately always relied on Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection (Romans 4:1–16; Ephesians 2:1–10). The Old Covenant pointed to Christ, and He is the fulfillment of it. A proper understanding of the Old Testament will not draw anyone back to Judaism and the temple and the law and the sacrifices. Rather, it will push one forward to faith in Christ.

The testimony of those in the Hall of faith should encourage all of us to press on, even in the face of persecution. God is faithful and always has been.

Sunday Morning Audio Message:

Key Words and Definitions with Reference:

Reproach of Christ (11:26) - Moses considering the suffering and disgrace he faced for God and his people as a greater treasure than the riches of Egypt. Moses suffered reproach for the sake of Christ in the sense that he identified with Messiah's people in their suffering (v.25).

Seeing Him (11:27) - Moses' faith was such that he responded to God's commands as though God were standing visibly before him.  This was the basis for his faithfulness to God, and it should be every believer's example for faithfulness.

Passover (11:28) - Passover (Pesach in Hebrew) is a Jewish festival celebrating the exodus from Egypt and the Israelites’ freedom from slavery to the Egyptians. See Exodus 12.

Red Sea (11:29) - See Exodus 14, 15. When the Israelites reached the shores of the red sea they feared for their lives until hearing Moses's pronouncement of God's protection (Exodus 14:13).  God's word is powerful, and His people went forward in faith.

Jericho (11:30) - See Joshua 6.  Simple obedience to God's instruction in faith. They didn't have to pick up a weapon; God toppled the walls of Jericho.

Rahab (11:31) - See Joshua 2:1-24; 6:22-25; Matthew 1:5; James 2:25. Rahab is considered a hero of faith for her act of believing in God, hiding Israelite spies in Jericho, and disobeying her own king, which saved her and her family.

David (11:32) - See 2 Samuel 23:1-3; Mark 12:36. David is considered a "hero of faith" because of his life of faith in God, even though he was flawed and made mistakes. Key aspects of his story include his faith as a young shepherd who defeated Goliath, his repentance and renewal after sinning, and his identity as a man after God's own heart who wrote many psalms. David is the only king mentioned in this verse.  All others are judges or prophets.

Samuel and the Prophets (11:32) - Samuel was the last of the judges and the first of the prophets (cf. 1 Samuel 7:15; Acts 3:24; 13:20).  He is considered a hero of the faith for his obedience to God, acting as a priest, prophet, and the last judge of Israel who anointed the first two kings, Saul and David. His story highlights the importance of listening to God's voice and being willing to respond with obedience, even from a young age. His faithfulness is also evident in his service to the people and his role as an intercessor on their behalf.

Subdued Kingdoms (11:33) - Speaking of Joshua, the Judges, David and others.

Worked Righteousness (11:33) - Righteous kings like David, Solomon, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Hezekiah and Josiah.

Obtained Promises (11:33) - Abraham, Moses, David and Solomon. 

Stopped the Mouths of Lions (11:33) - Samson, David and Daniel.

Quenched the Violence of Fire (11:34) - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. See Daniel 3:19-30.

Escaped . . . the Sword (11:34) - See David (1 Samuel 18:4, 11; 19:9, 10).  Elijah (1 Kings 19:1-3, 10), and Elisha (2 Kings 6:15-19). 

Weakness (11:34) - Ehud (Judges 3:12-30), Jael (Judges 4:17-24), Gideon (Judges 6:15, 16; 7:1-25), Samson (Judges 16:21-30), and Hezekiah (Isaiah 38:1-6).

Women Received their Dead (11:35) - Widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:22), Woman of Shunem (2 Kings 4:24).

Tortured (11:35) - Beaten to death while strapped to some sort of rack.

Others (11:36) - Joseph (Genesis 39:20), Miciah (1 Kings 22:27), Elisha (2 Kings 2:23), Hanani (2 Chronicles 16:10, Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:1-6; 37:15), and others.

Stoned (11:37) - The prophet Zechariah was killed in this fashion.

Sawn Asunder (11:37) - Sawn in two. This was the method Manasseh used to execute Isaiah.

Slain with the Sword (11:37) - Urijah the prophet died in this fashion (Jeremiah 26:23; cf. 1 Kings 19:10).  However, the expression here may refer to the mass execution of God's people; several such incidents occurred during the time of the Maccabees in the 400 years between the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Some Better Thing (11:39-40) - They had faith in the ultimate fulfillment of the eternal promises in the covenant (v. 13).  The faith of Old Testament saints looked forward to the promised salvation, whereas the faith of those after Christ looks back to the fulfillment of the promise.  both groups are characterized by genuine faith and are saved by Christ's atoning work on the cross (Ephesians 2:8, 9).

Morning Message: The Substance of Hope

Bobservations' Column

Titled - "The Substance of Hope"

Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz

Man’s promises are filled with comfort and convenience, and often come with stipulations. All we have to do is remind ourselves of the New Year’s Resolutions that we promise to ourselves. When those resolutions become inconvenient or uncomfortable, or even just “too hard” to keep, the promises we make to ourselves are usually the first to be set aside. We make them with all good intentions, but a practical examination of those promises, regarding personal goals should be taken into consideration prior to making them. Reality will frequently come back to haunt us.

God’s promises are different, they are based in agape’, that love that comes from God without stipulations, or expectations of reciprocation. His love is based in a pure love that has our best interests in heart. That is the difference. Our promises to ourselves are self-centered, for our own benefit. His are also for us, but they are other-oriented, not self-indulgent for His own glory. And even more, He has a track record of keeping his promises. If you have been a Christian for a while, my words need no further explanation. If you are a new Christian, or a non-Christian, you may want to examine the words more closely to gain an understanding.

Chapter 11 of Hebrews is casually known as the Faith Chapter of the Bible. Our faith is in God, not man; our faith is in His promises, not mankind’s. It has a scriptural premise, found in Psalm 118: 8 & 9. “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.” These are two very practical verses. We have seen the results of misplaced trust on our election days. Mankind’s words can bring a hidden agenda, and we see that some people believe the lies spoken from campaign podiums.

This is not about partisan politics, it is about misplaced trust, without looking at track records. Or perhaps, deliberately overlooking track records. Mankind is fickle; God is steadfast in all His doings. God is also forgiving, just, and fair. He already knows our shortcomings, yet He blesses His own.

“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” - Exodus 20: 16

(“Who is my neighbor?" - Ref. Luke 10; 36 & 37)

Bobservations' Column:  Audio Version

Sunday Morning Message:

Hebrews 11:1-25 - "The Substance of Hope"

Summary/Additional Commentary & Definitions:

This morning, we will begin our exposition of Hebrews, chapter 11. It is one of those most loved portions of Scripture. It has various names. The most famous of them are, “The Faith Chapter" and “The Hall of Faith.” It is an entire chapter of the Bible devoted to the topic of faith. Faith is mentioned 26 times in chapter 11. It will be the recurring theme in this chapter again and again and again and again.

In many ways, Hebrews 11 is a treatise upon faith. But more than merely defining what faith is and talking about the characteristics of faith from an abstract perspective, primarily, this chapter is going to show us what faith looks like. The writer highlights for us the faith of a dozen individuals, whose lives are recorded for us in the Old Testament. He puts them on display and shows how through their faith they received the approval of God.

When God calls us to come to Him, He doesn’t call us first to love Him. He doesn’t call us first to obey Him. He doesn’t call us first to serve Him. He calls us first to believe in Him.

Our eternal destiny is based upon our faith (or lack of faith). “Whoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have everlasting life” (John 3:16). It is by believing in Jesus Christ, the Son of God that you have life in His name (John 20:31). Jesus said, “He who believes in Him is not judged; He who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). Our future destiny is dependent upon our faith.

But faith isn’t a mere one-time act. Faith is something that we continually ought to manifest in our lives every day.

Sunday Morning Audio Message:

Key Words and Definitions with Reference:

Key terms and definitions in Hebrews 11:

• Faith (pistis): The foundational concept of the chapter, defined as a confident belief in things hoped for and a strong conviction about things not seen.
• Assurance / Substance (hupostasis): The Greek word hupostasis is central to the definition of faith. This is from the same Greek word translated "express image" in 1:3 and "confidence" in 3:14.  The faith described here involves the most solid possible conviction, the God-given present assurance of a future reality.  "Assurance," "Confidence," or "Substance," signifying a tangible reality for things hoped for.
• Conviction / Evidence (elenchos): This term means "conviction," "proof," or "evidence," highlighting the certainty and factual basis of faith in things that are not visible.
• Hope (elpis): The act of hoping for or expecting future fulfillment of God's promises.
• Understanding (noeo): The ability to comprehend truths by faith, such as understanding that the universe was created by God's word, even though this is not something that can be physically seen.
  

Evidence of Things Not Seen (11:1) - True faith is not based on empirical evidence but on divine assurance, and is a gift of God.

Elders (11:2) - Meaning "men of old."  In this context, the term refers to all saints, both men and women, under the older covenant, a select few of whom are described in verses 4-40.

Obtained a Good Report (11:2) - God bears witness on the behalf of these saints that they lived by faith and divine approval is granted to them.

Through Faith (11:3) - Each example of faith in verses 3-31 is formally introduced with this specific phrase.  True saving faith works in obedience to God.

We (11:3) - Referring to the writer and all other true believers, present and past.

Worlds (11:3) - The physical universe itself as well as its operation and administration.

Were Framed (11:3) - equipped so that something might be made ready to fulfill its purpose.

Word of God (11:3) - God's divine utterance.

Abel . . . More Excellent (11:4) - Genesis 4:1-15. Though not specifically revealed, it is implied in 12:24.  Both brothers knew what God required.  Abel obeyed and Cain did not.  Abel acted in faith, Cain in unbelief.

By Which . . . It (11:4) - Abel's faith, not his offering.  Through that faith, he left testimony to all succeeding generations that a person comes to God by faith to receive righteousness.

Righteous (11:4) - Abel was accounted as righteous by God because of his faith, evidenced in obedience.

Enoch . . . Impossible to Please (11:5, 6) - Genesis 5:24. Enoch please God because he had faith.  Without such, it is not possible for anyone to "walk with God" or "please Him."

Noah . . . Things Not Seen (11:7) - Genesis 5:28-9:29. The world had not seen anything resembling the great flood, not even rain, yet Noah spent 120 years fulfilling God's command to build the massive ark (Genesis 6:13-22).

Fear (Godly) (11:7) - Treating God's Word with great respect and awe.

Condemned (11:7) - Noah warned the people of his time about God's impending judgment, preaching righteousness.

Abraham . . . A Place . . . Inheritance (11:8) - Genesis 11:27- 25:11. The land of Canaan.  He went out by faith.

Promise (11:9) - By faith Abraham went to the promised land, though he did not possess the land.  Possession of the land would be fulfilled many generations beyond his lifetime.

Sarah (11:11) - Genesis 11:27-23:2. At ninety, Sarah was long past child-bearing age and had never been able to conceive.  God enabled her to do so because of her faith in His promise (Genesis 21:1-3).

As Good as Dead (11:12) - Abraham at 99 years of age, was well beyond the age to father children apart from divine intervention.

Stars . . . Sand (11:12) - (hyperbole) The vastness of the population that would come from Abraham's loins.

These All (11:13) - The patriarchs only (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob).

Strangers and Pilgrims (11:13-16) - Their faith was patient and endured great hardships because they believed God. 

Their God (11:16) - God referred to Himself as "the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" (Exodus 3:6; Genesis 28:13).  People identified with God and He with them.

Only Begotten (11:17, 18) - Isaac was not the only son of Abraham; there was also Ishmael through Hagar (Genesis 16:1-16).  Isaac was the only son born according to God's promise and was the only heir of that promise. 

Even From the Dead (11:19) - Abraham come to the conclusion that God would fulfill all His promise even if it required raising Isaac from the dead (Genesis 22:5).

Isaac (11:20) - Genesis 27:1-28:5.  

Jacob (11:21) - Genesis 47:28-49:33. Both of Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, received a blessing from Jacob. 

Joseph (11:22) - Genesis 37:1-50:26. By faith believed God would fulfill His promise to deliver the nation of Israel from Egyptian bondage.  Even at death, having never returned to Canaan during his life, Joseph continued to believe in God's promise.  He demonstrated this by making his brothers promise to take his bones back to Canaan for burial.

Moses . . . Beautiful Child (11:23-29) - Exodus 1-15.  He was divinely favored.  Moses refused the fame he could have had in Egypt and suffered reproach because he identified with God's people in their suffering.  He courageously served God and led Israel out of Egypt.

Morning Message: Cut Off No More

Bobservations' Column

Titled - "Cut Off No More"

Written by:  Pastor Bob Lawrenz

In Hebrews chapters 5, 6, and 7, we read of Melchizedek the High Priest, and the King of Salem; of the order of priests that had the duty of entering the Holy of Holies once each year. We are told in Chapter 5 that Jesus was of that order of High Priests. In Chapter 6, we are told that Jesus is our “fore runner,” Who goes before us in that Priesthood.

We are further told in Hebrews 10: 20 today, that Jesus entered into the veil of the Holiest by a new and living way! He became the living veil across the Holy of Holies. In the Old Testament, the veil blocked the way for all but the High Priests, and at the Crucifixion, it was torn specifically from top to bottom. (Not bottom to top, but from the top to the bottom. [Mt. 27: 51, Mk. 15: 38, Lk. 23: 45].)

This “new and living way” was by Christ Himself. During His Passion and Death, the first thing done was to place a Crown of Thorns on His head, The soldiers then plucked out His beard, The soldiers scourged Him with 39 lashings across His back, nailed His hands and then His feet to the cross… Top to Bottom, His body was pierced, torn, and Crucified, shedding His blood from top to bottom.

This is the application of our opening verse today; Christ’s broken body being the veil through which the Holy of Holies is made accessible to US! Though He knew no sin, He was made sin for us, to pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world… Because He loves us.

And if that were not enough, He makes us Kings and Priests for His Heavenly Kingdom (Revelation 1:6, 5:10, and 20:6) and for those that are/were raised from the dead in the first resurrection, they shall be Priests, and we shall reign with Him during His Millennial Reign of 1,000 years (Revelation 1:6, 5:10, and 20:6). This is love, so amazing! As the Word says, “We love Him, because He first loved us !” (1 John 4:19)

“…And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth." - Revelation 1:5, 6

Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

Bobservations' Column:  Audio Version

Sunday Morning Message:

Hebrews 10:20-39 - "Cut Off No More"

Summary/Additional Commentary & Definitions:

For nine and a half chapters now, the author of Hebrews has been giving has painted a clear picture of Jesus, who He is and what He has done for us.  This should encourage us to hold fast in our faith.  The author wants us to be strong in our faith and not turn back under life’s difficulties. This is what the author establishes for us in Hebrews 10:19. “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God…” This introduction is a reminder of all the pictures and proofs that the author has given us so far. We can now come into the presence of God. We can now enter where others were unable to enter.

Essentially, the impossible has occurred. We have confidence to enter into God’s presence. The only reason we are able to enter with confidence is because of the blood of Jesus. His sacrifice puts us near the Father in a way that the first covenant could not. We are able to pass through the curtain that not even the priests could pass through. We have a new and living way to approach the Father. Now as we approach the Father, we do not find an impenetrable curtain standing between God and us. Rather, we find Jesus as our High Priest, and we are able to enter the curtain through him.

As you read through the first seven verses or so of this week's passage, please take note of the writers serious, but encouraging words or even commands.  “Let us . . .”  We are called to an earnest faith.  We are to be serious about truth, about obedience and spiritual disciplines, and to take the local church seriously as well.

Hebrews 10:19-39 is a passage that exhorts believers to live with confidence and endurance, based on Jesus's sacrifice, while also warning against deliberately rejecting his salvation. It begins by explaining that through Jesus, believers have a "new and living way" to enter God's presence and should draw near with a sincere heart, holding fast to their hope. It then encourages them to spur one another toward love and good works and to not forsake meeting together, especially as the end approaches. The passage concludes with a strong warning about the severe punishment for those who willfully sin and reject Christ after having received the knowledge of the truth.

Sunday Morning Audio Message:

Key Words and Definitions with Reference:

New (10:20) - In Greek, this word originally meant "newly slain," but was understood as "recent" when the epistle was written. The way is new because the covenant is new, through Jesus Christ.  It is not a way provided by the Levitical system.

Living Way (10:20) - Though it is the path of eternal life, it was not opened by Christ's sinless life; it required His death. The Hebrews were invited to embark on this way which is characterized by the eternal life of the Son of God who loved them and gave Himself for them (cf. John 14:6; Galatians 2:20). The Christian faith was known as "the Way" among the Jews of Jerusalem (Acts 9:2) as well as among the Gentiles (Acts 19:23). Those receiving this epistle understood quite clearly that the writer was inviting them to become Christians - to join those who had been persecuted for their faith. True believers in their midst were even then suffering persecution, and those who had not committed themselves to the Way were asked to become targets of the same persecution.

Let Us Draw Near (10:22) - Through the New Covenant established by Jesus' sacrifice, believers can now come into God's presence with sincerity and confidence, free from the guilt of their past sins.  This is the heart of the invitation to those in the assembly who had not come to Christ. This verse describes the prerequisites for entering the presence of God:  sincerity, security, salvation, and sanctification.

True Heart (10:22) - The Greek term behind true carries the ideas of being sincere, genuine, and without ulterior motive.  The one thing these particular Hebrews lacked was genuine commitment to Christ.

Full Assurance of Faith (10:22) - Utter confidence in the promises of God.

Hearts Sprinkled (10:22) - The imagery in this verse is taken from the sacrificial ceremonies of the Old Covenant, where blood was sprinkled as a sign of cleansing, and the priests were continually washing themselves and the sacred vessels in basins of clear water.  The "washing with pure water" does not refer to Christian baptism, but to the Holy Spirit's purifying one's life by means of the Word of God (cf. Ephesians 5:25, 26; Titus 3:5).  This is purely a New Covenant picture.

Hold Fast (10:23) - A metaphor seen in many verses of the Bible is the term hold fast or holding fast, meaning “be diligent,” “cling to,” or “take a firm grasp of.”

Profession of Our Faith (10:23) - A steadfast commitment to Jesus that is demonstrated through both words and actions. This involves holding fast to the confession of hope without wavering, believing in Jesus' sacrifice, and living in a way that is faithful to God. A true profession is not just a verbal statement but is also evidenced by a changed life and a commitment to good works and community.

Without Wavering (10:23) - Not following any inclination that leads back to the Old Covenant. 

Consider (10:24) - The same verb is used about Jesus in 3:1. The invitation must be responded to individually, but the response also has a corporate side.  They are members of a community of Hebrews whose initial attraction to Christ is in danger of eroding.  They have been considering a return to the Levitical system of Judaism to avoid the persecution.  Mutual encouragement to make full commitment is crucial.

Provoke (10:24) - Meaning to stir up - stimulating or inciting someone to do something.

Love and Good Works (10:24) - An example of mutual effort in the midst of persecution was to be found at Corinth (2 Corinthians 8:1-7).

Not Forsaking the Assembling (10:25) - Collective and corporate worship is a vital part of spiritual life.  The warning here is against apostasy in an eschatological context (2 Thessalonians 2:1).  The reference is to the approaching "day" (the Second Coming of Christ). 

Exhorting (10:25) - Exhortation takes the form of encouragement, comfort, warning, or strengthening.  There is an eschatological urgency to the exhortation which requires an increased activity as the coming of Christ approaches.

Sin Willfully (10:26) - Deliberate willful intention that is habitual. The sin is rejecting Christ deliberately.  

Knowledge (10:26) - The language here denotes a specific knowledge, not general spiritual knowledge.  A knowledge that is flawed in application, a lack of faith.

No More (10:26) - The apostate is beyond salvation because he has rejected the only sacrifice that can cleanse him from sin and bring him into God's presence.  To turn away from that sacrifice leaves him with no saving alternative. 

Fearful Looking (10:27) - A fearful expectation of judgment. The judgment is certain to happen, so it gives rise to fear.

Adversaries (10:27) - Actual opposition against God and toward the program of God in salvation.

Blood of the Covenant (10:29) - Christ's death ratified the New Covenant.

Cast Not Away (10:35) - Because of persecution, they were tempted to run away from their outward identification with Christ and Christians and to apostatize. 

Reward (10:35) - They are closer than ever to the eternal reward.  It is not time to turn back.

Done the Will of God (10:36) - To trust Christ fully by living daily in the will of the Father.

Just Shall Live By Faith (10:38) - The opposite of apostasy is faith.  This is a preview of the subsequent chapter.  It is faith which pleases God.  The person who draws back from the knowledge of the gospel and faith will prove his apostasy.

Draw Back to Perdition (10:39) - The writer expresses confidence that believing readers ("we") will not be counted among "those" who fall away to destruction.  Apostates will draw back from Christ, but there are some who are near to believing who can be pulled "out of the fire" (cf. Jude 23).  Perdition is commonly used in the New Testament of the everlasting punishment or judgment of unbelievers.