Dead Men Still Speak!

Monday, July 2, 2012: Hebrews 11:4 (NKJV)         What does Abel’s sacrifice speak of?

By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, though which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

What does Abel’s sacrifice speak of? An innocent animal atoned for Abel’s sins. God accepted his sacrifice.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012: Hebrews 11:7 (NKJV)        What does Noah ‘speak’ by?

By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of righteousness which is according to faith.

What does Noah ‘speak’ by? Noah built an ark by believing God’s word..

Wednesday, July 4, 2012: Hebrews 11:8 (NKJV)  What faith does Abraham ‘speak’ by?

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

What faith does Abraham ‘speak’ by? Abraham left home believing God’s word about a distant land.

Thursday, July 5, 2012: Hebrews 11:17-19 (NKJV)          What about Abraham’s sacrifice?

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him an a figurative sense.

What about Abraham’s sacrifice? Abraham’s faith reasoned that God would raise Isaac up from the dead!

Friday, July 6, 2012: Hebrews 11:24-26 (NKJV)   What faith does Moses ‘speak’ by?

By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

What faith does Moses ‘speak’ by? Moses looked to God rather than riches.

Who is God to us?

Monday, June 25, 2012: Ephesians 1:2 (NKJV)     Who is God to us?

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

Who is God to us? If you believe in Christ, God is your heavenly Father.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012: Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV)     Who is God to Christ?

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ

Who is God to Christ? God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who came to earth to do the Father’s will.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012: Ephesians 1:17 (NKJV)         Who is the God of Christ?

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

Who is the God of Christ? When Christ said, “Why have You forsaken Me?” it was a cry to His God, the Father of glory.

Thursday, June 28, 2012: Ephesians 3:14 (NKJV)            Who do we bow to?

Grace to you and peace from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ

Who do we bow to? We bow to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Friday, June 29, 2012: Ephesians 1:5 (NKJV)        Why is God our Father?

Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will

Why is God our Father? God has adopted us as sons through the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross.

Our Position In Heavenly Places

Monday, June 18, 2012: Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)            Is our battle against persons?

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Is our battle against persons? Our battle is against princes and powers of the spirit world, not against persons. People are our mission field, no matter how unlikable.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012: Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV)            Why are we in a battle?

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ

Why are we in a battle? God has blessed those born again of the Spirit with all spiritual blessings in heaven. This, incomprehensibly, is in the present tense, not future!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012: Ephesians 1:20-21a            What power works in us?

(The power) which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion

What power works in us? God’s power that raised Christ works in us while on earth.

Thursday, June 21, 2012: Ephesians 2:6 (NKJV)            What does this power accomplish?

and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus

What does this power accomplish? Our spiritual being is seated in heaven together with Jesus Christ! We, as the Church, are His body.

Friday, June 22, 2012: Ephesians 3:10 (NKJV)            What is God’s intent?

to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places

What is God’s intent? The Church, which we are part of, is God’s multifaceted wisdom put on display before Princes and powers in heaven! No wonder we are under attack.

Mediator

Mon. 6/11/12: Galatians 3:19 – 20 (NKJV)                   What purpose does the law serve?

What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.

What purpose does the law serve? The purpose of the law was to show that all are sinners. This was accomplished by Moses who was a mediator between God and men till the ‘Seed’ of promise would come.

Tue. 6/12/12: 1 Timothy 2:5 – 6 (NKJV)                   Who is the mediator between God and men?

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time

Who is the mediator between God and men? The man Christ Jesus is the mediator: He gave Himself to die as a ransom for our sins.

Wed. 6/13/12: Hebrews 8:6 (NKJV)                           What is the better covenant?

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

What is the better covenant? The better covenant is that of faith which erases our sin, not atones (or covers it up temporarily). Christ is the Mediator of the New Covenant.

Thu. 6/14/12: Hebrews 9:14 – 15 (NKJV)                   What is the effect of the spotless sacrifice?

how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

What is the effect of the spotless sacrifice? Christ becomes the mediator of the New Covenant which promises eternal inheritance.

Fri. 6/15/12: Hebrews 12:22 – 24 (NKJV)                   What have we now come to?

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

What have we now come to? We have come to the Assembly of the Church, to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant, who gave Himself a spotless sacrifice, not a lamb like Abel did.

Safe, Then Lost?

Mon. 6/3/12: Hebrews 6:4 (NKJV)            What does partakers mean?

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,

What does partakers mean? This Greek word, μέτοχος, metochos, means being separate partners, but together as in business. Another Greek word, κοινωνία, koinōnia means being part off. This is used is an intimate way. The use of the former denotes knowledge of our sins and working with the Holy Spirit. The latter Greek word indicates forgiven sins and an indwelling Holy Spirit.

Tue. 6/4/12: Hebrews 6:5 (NKJV)            What does tasted mean?

… and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,

What does tasted mean? Wine tasters simply use mouth and tongue to taste, not drink wine. This connotes the analogy: tasted but not indwelt.

Wed. 6/5/12: Hebrews 6:6 (NKJV)            What does renew repentance mean?

… if they fall away, (it is impossible) to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

What does renew repentance mean? Repentance is the turning point at which a soul recognizes the need for a Savior outside self. If the Savior is rejected, His crucifixion is calculated to be worthless by that soul. Renewal to repentance is no longer an option.

Thu. 6/6/12: Hebrews 6:9 (NKJV)             What things accompany salvation?

But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.

What things accompany salvation? Fellowship with Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The passage above is Not to believers but those who come to the brink and then back away.

Fri. 6/7/12: Hebrews 6:11 – 12 (NKJV)            What is full assurance of hope?

And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

What is full assurance of hope? The hope of the resurrection, not as ‘I hope to rise again,’ but as a confident certainty.