Jesus—A Fitting High Priest

Jesus came to earth to fulfill the will of His Father and to accomplish all of the prophecies concerning Him that had been made in the Bible. He has satisfied every one of those goals perfectly and completely, praise the Lord! Thanks to Jesus, all believers are blessed beyond measure.

He, the very one who descended, is also the one who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things. (Eph 4:10 NET)

Jesus ascended into Heaven after the resurrection, and was seated at the right hand of the Father God. Jesus has dominion, power and authority over all things; and He is the head of the church.

. . . which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. ²²And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, ²³which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Eph 1:20-23 NKJV)

The point of the book of Hebrews is that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, has not just come to fit into the earthly system of priestly ministry as the best and final human priest, but He has come to fulfill and put an end to that system. He came to orient all of our attention on His ministering on our behalf in heaven. Hallelujah!

The Old Testament tabernacle and priests and sacrifices were shadows. They were indications of the truth that was yet to come. Now the reality has come to pass, and the shadows pass away.

For this next verse, we’ll look at two different versions of it:

Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. (Heb 7:26 NIV)

It’s appropriate for us to have this kind of high priest: holy, innocent, incorrupt, separate from sinners, and raised high above the heavens. (Heb 7:26 CEB)

As a High Priest, Jesus meets all of our needs and fulfills all of His spiritual and supernatural roles throughout eternity. We serve a living, powerful, and loving God.

Can Anything Separate Us from God’s Love?

Here’s something positive to focus upon and to meditate upon. God’s love for us is stronger than any force that would try to interrupt it or stop it. His love for us is eternal, unfailing and sacrificial.

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:38-39 NKJV)

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. (Eph 5:2 NKJV, underscoring added)

“I made your name known to them, and will continue to make it known, so that the love you have for me may be in them and I myself may be in them.” (John 17:26 ISV)

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. (1 Cor 13:8 NKJV)

Most human beings desire and need to feel loved. It is a normal and healthy need that I believe our creator God instilled in us. And since God is love (1 Joh 4:8), He is the perfect One to fulfill the need that we have for love.

From the Bible verses I’ve included above, you can see a small sample of what God has to share with us in His Word about His wonderful love. The best way to learn about His love and the enduring nature of it is to read and to meditate upon His Word. His Word is not only His promises to us but His Word is also His will for us!

God has created each one of us to be in a loving and lasting relationship with Him. Turn to Him when you need comfort and reassurance. Pray to Him when you need human arms to hold you, help you and to comfort you. He will send you some friends or relatives who will be able and willing to meet your need for love. Glory to God!

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Servants of Christ

When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, a number of things occurred in our lives. Here are just three things that took place:

We became children of the Living God. (Rom 8:16; 1 Joh 3:1-2)
We became bondservants of Jesus Christ. (Eph 6:6; 1 Pet 2:15-16)
We passed from darkness to light. (Col 1:13)

The Scriptures show a number of apostles and disciples who identify themselves as “bondservants” of Christ. Every believer should identify with this claim.

Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God . . . (Rom 1:11 NKJV)

For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. (1 Cor 7:22 ESV)

. . . not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart . . . (Eph 6:6 ESV)

A bondservant is a person who willingly becomes a slave to another person. The Mosaic Law allowed an indentured servant to become a bondservant voluntarily: “If the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’ then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life” (Exodus 21:5-6). Source: GotQuestions.org.

You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. (1 Cor 7:23 ESV) The Bible warns us NOT to become bondservants of human beings.

But we do need to settle it in our hearts that we are servants of Jesus Christ and of the Kingdom of God. We need to be submitted to God’s will and plan for each one of our lives. It’s important to remember that the Lord can see the end from the beginning. He knows every possible outcome of our own, human decisions; but if we allow Him to direct our paths, we will fulfill His will for each and every believer.

Set aside some time to spend in meditation and prayer about this important concept. Determine what yielding to the Holy Spirit will mean for your life. God bless you.

God Will Turn Us into a Blessing

Let’s see where the Bible addresses this topic of turning believers into a blessing.

And it shall come to pass that just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you shall be a blessing. Do not fear, let your hands be strong. (Zec 8:13)

Though their present state was humble, God wanted Israel to trust in His promise of blessing. He also wanted them to allow His promise to inspire them to diligently and robustly serve the Kingdom of God. In the above passage, believers are instructed to have no fear and to be strong. Notice that the Lord says that AFTER He saves His people, THEN we will be a blessing to other people.

In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land, whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.” (Isa 19:24-25)

As we read above, the Word says that God’s people shall be a blessing in the heart of the earth. The truth in this Scripture is based upon the fact that the Gospel of salvation was birthed in Israel through the birth of Jesus Christ; and through Israel and the gospel of salvation, all mankind would be blessed to learn of God’s love, forgiveness, and mercy.

‘Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you.’ (Hag 2:19)

In Haggai, the Lord declares that His blessings shall be upon His people. We may safely put our trust in God’s promise to bless us, though we see no observable indication of its realization. For our God cannot lie (Tit 1:2), and His Word is unfailing—it is always fulfilled. (Ezek 12:28; 1 Thes 5:24)

We’re called and designed by God to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in the earth, and in doing so, fulfill our destiny to be a blessing on this earth. Glory to God!

Wisdom to Speak

God has promised over and over in the Bible, that when we need to know what to say and how to give an answer for our faith, the Spirit of the Lord shall give us wise words to speak. We need to trust Him to fulfill this promise, and we must place our faith in the Lord in the moment when we are tested.

And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. (Mk 13:11 ESV)

The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue. (2 Sam 23:2)

Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; ¹⁵for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. (Lk 21:14-15, emphasis added)

But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak . . . (Mt 10:19, underlining added)

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (Jam 1:5)

When we lack wisdom, the Bible instructs us to ask God for it, and reminds us that He will answer our prayer without criticism but with abundant generosity. Hallelujah!

We need to settle it in our hearts—ahead of time—that God will supply us with wisdom in the midst of any challenging ordeal. Simply ask Him to give you the words to speak. And the wisdom that God gives to us will not be able to be opposed. (Lk 21:15) Glory to God!

God Brings to Nothing Things That Are

God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (1 Cor 1:28-29 ESV)

God has chosen the people that are despised—objects of contempt—to “bring to nothing” things that are!

In Bible days, God used Gentiles, after they became followers of Jesus Christ, to annihilate the works of the enemy through the working of miracles. Whatever believers do in serving the Lord does not give them grounds to boast, but rather, it reminds us that we are servants and vessels in the hands of our King.

He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry, and sets others in their place. (Job 34:24 NKJV) In our modern day terms, the Lord breaks powerful, rich, and influential people by exposing the truth about them in very public ways. With others who are on the same paths of greed and dominance, He sets them in their place and wakes them up to God’s power when they see their friends endure public exposure and humiliation.

The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down,
and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. (Isa 2:11 NKJV) No human being is entitled to be haughty. The Lord alone deserves praise, honor, and exaltation.

Then the angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses—all dead. (Isa 37:36 NKJV) This is a shocking but real example of God bringing to nothing things, and people, that exist in order to fulfill His own plans.

You shall seek them and not find them—those who contended with you. Those who war against you shall be as nothing, as a nonexistent thing. (Isa 41:12 NKJV, emphasis added) The Lord is the divine judge of all, and He is the only One who decides when a human being has had all of the chances that He has allotted to them.

Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him. (Ps 32:10 NKJV)

Glory to God! Those who are in a close and obedient relationship with Jesus as their Savior and Lord are surrounded by mercy, protection and the blood of the Lamb! In humility and thanksgiving, with fear and trembling, it is our honor to serve the living God.

Preach on the Housetops

Good day! As a believer in Jesus Christ, what is your calling or assignment in life? Well, I’m sure it’s multi-faceted.

You’re called by God to be a loving and faithful spouse (if married); you’re called to be a loving and responsible parent (if you have kids); you’re to be a good steward of all that God has given to you; you’re to bring glory to God by being a good, diligent worker; AND you’re called to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As you can see, we all have multiple responsibilities to fulfill in life. Not the least of these responsibilities, as a servant of Christ, is to share the Good News of the Kingdom of God with everyone as we have opportunity. We need to stir up our resolve from time to time to actually fulfill this crucial responsibility.

Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. (Mt 10:27) When the Holy Spirit teaches us something through the Scriptures, He would like us to meditate upon it and pray over it; and then share it with others. In other words, “broadcast” it to the neighborhood.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Mt 28:18-20)

We are given the assignment to preach and to make disciples of all nations! Of course, the Lord will honor our support of our church ministry both in working as a volunteer and in our financial giving. The Lord also considers us as taking part in preaching the gospel when we financially support ministers, evangelists, and missionaries who travel throughout the world sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It’s also a good idea to set a goal of some sort—known only to ourselves and God—of how many people we would like to share a testimony with in a given period of time (i.e., a month or a year).

Any testimony that we share with someone gives them a glimpse of the love and faithfulness of God to us. Our testimony also demonstrates that we have a strong, personal relationship with Jesus, our Savior; so it is clearly a powerful tool to use.

We’re called to preach on the housetops! Be blessed!

Humility & Glory

The Lord has destined each one of us for great things, among which is the joy of serving the Lord and being in relationship with Him. But sometimes, we struggle with our self-image; and we all need to know how to deal with this issue victoriously.

Just remember this: Thinking less of yourself is not humility! Thinking of yourself less frequently is humility. Believe in who God made you to be. Be imitators of God like the beloved children that you ARE! (Eph 5:1)

God has put His own glory within each one of us! (Isa 60:19-21; Rom 8:18; Col 1:27; 2 Cor 3:18; 1 Pet 5:10) He wants to display His glory through us, so that we may bring Him glory, honor, and praise. However, we must yield to Him in order to allow Him to fulfill His good plans for us. If we will cooperate with the Lord, and obey His Word, we’ll be changed into a brand new person. Which makes sense, because God makes all things new. (Rev 21:5)

The Lord wants us to be fully alive—not to be a cheap imitation of someone else. God created each one of us to live as a unique and irreplaceable individual in His family.

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Tim 1:6-7)

Stir up your gifts, and learn to enjoy the fact that God has created you as a matchless and dazzling individual! Don’t be fearful because fear has bondage and torment attached to it. (Rom 8:15) Reject those things outright. They do not come from God. God has made you FREE indeed! (Joh 8:36) God has blessed you and poured out His supernatural favor upon you.

You have God’s permission and encouragement to soar and to far surpass your former self for Jesus’ glory! All glory to God most high!

Really? Nothing?

For with God nothing will be impossible. (Lk 1:37)

This Bible verse above says that NOTHING is impossible with God! Does the Lord really mean this? Let’s look at where else this idea is shared in the Word.

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Mt 19:26)

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” (Mk 10:27)

But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” (Lk 18:27)

Now these three verses assert the same idea from a positive mindset rather than a negative one. These verses declare that with God ALL things are possible. How do we, as believers, respond to these assertions?

What looks or feels impossible to you right now? What situation in life or what need are you facing? Why not stand upon these passages of Scripture and ask God to fulfill His Word in your life today?

Trust Him, and stand in faith on His Word with a firm expectation in your heart of His miraculous answer.

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