"And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us." (I John 3:24)
Within the church community, we often hear Hebrews 11 preached. But to these, as the scripture states, "having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." (Hebrews 11:39-40)
This is not to suggest that these people -- both men and women were not mighty in their time but rather that we in the New Testament side should be even more courageous. Again, from Hebrews 11:
"For the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth." (Hebrews 11:32-38)
Thus, there is so much more that we in the New Testament, who have the promised Seed dwelling within should be overcoming. It is for this reason that I believe the next chapter -- Hebrews 12 -- is so much needed for the children of God in this current generation. We need to understand that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith and that for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-3)
What was the joy? That the Lord God would receive unto Himself a family. And in so doing He was willing to endure such contradiction of sinners against Himself. This is why God was manifest in the flesh -- so that we might find abundant life and peace in Him. Indeed, He is the Author and Finisher of our faith, for those who desire in their heart to abide in His goodness and grace.
His Name in this current dispensation of grace -- JESUS -- for He shall save His people from their sins. He has provided the means for us to abide in Him and He in us. Repent and be water baptized in the precious holy Name of the Lord Jesus the Christ, and receive His gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:36-41)
Why is this important? Because we need to be clothed in His righteousness.
"... that we might be partakers of His holiness ... [yielding] the peaceable fruit of righteousness ... Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God." (Hebrews 12:10-15)
The Old Testament was intended to show us the great a cloud of witnesses compassed about so that we on the New Testament side would lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us],and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.
"For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which [voice] they that heard intreated that the Word should not be spoken to them any more: (for they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: and so terrible was the sight, [that] Moses said, "I exceedingly fear and quake") but ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that] of Abel.
See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused Him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven: whose voice then shook the earth: but now He hath promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven."
And this Word, "Yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:18-29)
The Old Testament was intended to show us the great a cloud of witnesses compassed about so that we on the New Testament side would lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us],and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.
"For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which [voice] they that heard intreated that the Word should not be spoken to them any more: (for they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: and so terrible was the sight, [that] Moses said, "I exceedingly fear and quake") but ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that] of Abel.
See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused Him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven: whose voice then shook the earth: but now He hath promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven."
And this Word, "Yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:18-29)
Stand in the offering plate.
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