Our youth led praise and worship this morning and our youth pastor shared the message. The sermon, Resolution, continued in Hebrews 10.
The author was writing to believers who were experiencing persecution. The letter/book is to encourage their faith and trust and remind them how God moved (acted) in past as comparison to current troubles.
The author had two goals:
1. To elevate Jesus as superior to anyone or anything else, worthy of all worship and devotion.
2. To challenge people to recognize God's movement in our lives.
What do you do when life doesn't work as you are used to or as you expect?
Often common sense kicks in and tells us to go back to how things used to be; to try what worked before.
What we need to do is move forward. We have to trust God's plan. He wants a future for each of us. Faith kicks in during uncertain times. He might work in new ways or through new people but we can always trust Him.
We need to have a “What could be” mindset. We need to have a relationship that allows us to hear and recognize His voice.
And we need to persevere.
Hebrews 10:20 tells us that Jesus opened a new way. We must be careful that we don't box God in. Be reminded that ‘The Lord is in this place’. That place where you don't see Him. He is in the middle of what you are going through.
God is still moving. Hebrews 10:23. Don't doubt God now; look for a new thing.
Stop looking for God to move the way He did in the past. Trust God the way He is moving today.
This is the song that our youth pastor referred to.
Verses for today:Hebrews 10:19-23
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
I thank God that He is always faithful to be where I am.