Month: November 2024

Great Shepherd Helps His Sheep

Hebrews closes with an appeal for
a persevering Faith that relies on
the promises of God regardless
of the circumstances. Writing to
an audience whose actions were
being shaped by pressure from
the world rather than promises
from God, the author urges the
kind of Faith-inspired walk that
characterised so many OT saints.
Being so convinced of God’s
Faithfulness, they ordered their
lives according to His Word.
Follow their commendable example
and walk by Faith; and not by sight.

Lord, we’ll Hold On to Your Word:
Be content for He Himself has said:
I’ll Never Leave You nor forsake you.
So we may boldly say: The Lord
is my helper; I will not fear. What
can man do to me? (Heb 13:5-6)
(For) Jesus Christ is The Same
yesterday, today and forever (v8).
May the God of peace,
who through the blood of the
eternal covenant brought back
from the dead our Lord Jesus,
that Great Shepherd of the Sheep,
equip you with everything good
for doing His will, and may He
work in us what is pleasing to Him
through Jesus Christ, to whom
be glory forever and ever. (V20-21).

Lord, thank You for the promise
that You will be Always With
us in times of great trouble.
Thank You that You are my God
and my Saviour; and that You
love me and I’m precious to You.
Grateful Lord for Your presence,
protection and shalom peace.
You are the one true God and
the only One who saves. Amen.

Lord Jesus, thanks that You never
change, which give me confidence.
Your immutability means so much
for I can trust that Your words
and character are as trustworthy
now as when You were on earth.
So, I can trust Your promises;
and I can rely firmly on the fact
that You are always compassionate;
that You will never give up on me &
that You’ll always be with me. Amen

Lord Jesus and Great Shepherd
of the Sheep, prepare me for
what You are preparing for me.
Strengthen and equip me with every
good thing so that I can do Your will.
Open my heart to the working of Yr Spirit so that my life will Honour You.
Produce in me, through the power
of Christ all that is pleasing to You
so that I’ll be Complete in You. Amen

Christ the Finisher of Our Faith

Hebrews closes with an appeal for
a persevering Faith that relies on
the promises of God regardless
of the circumstances. Writing to
an audience whose actions were
being shaped by pressure from
the world rather than promises
from God, the author urges the
kind of Faith-inspired walk that
characterised so many OT saints.
Being so convinced of God’s
Faithfulness, they ordered their
lives according to His Word. Follow
their commendable example and
walk by Faith; and not by sight!

Lord, help us Endure the Race:
Since we are surrounded by
so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight and
the sin which so easily ensnares us,
and let us run with endurance
the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith, who for
the joy that was set before Him
endured the cross… and has sat
down at the right hand of the
throne of God. For consider Him
who endured such hostility…
lest you become weary and
discouraged (Hebrews 12:1-3).

Lord, I purpose to run the race
by keeping my eyes on You who
initiates and perfects our faith.
Jesus, it is so easy to forget
that our life is all about You.
Our purpose is to follow You,
and longing to hear Your voice.
Let our spiritual ears open up and
our hearts soften towards God.
And may You live fully, deeply,
boldly in our total being. Amen.

Father, I want to keep my eyes
on Jesus, my Saviour & Master.
Grant me grace to consciously
turn my eyes away from problems
and the things of this world.
Help me focus on the one whom
my faith depends fr start to finish.
Open my ears to Your voice and
Soften my heart towards You and
to live closely with You. Amen.

Lord, thank You for the promise
in Isa 26:3-4: You will keep in
perfect peace those whose minds
are steadfast, because they trust
in You. Trust in the Lord… for the
Lord himself is the Rock eternal.
Lord, You promise peace to those
who trust in You and set their
minds on You – the solid and
dependable one. You are worthy
of our full trust for You’re the rock.
So Lord, we purpose to constantly
turn our eyes upon Jesus. Amen.

God Rewards Robust Faith

Hebrews closes with an appeal
for a persevering Faith that
relies on the promises of God.
Writing to an audience whose
actions were being shaped by
pressure from the world, the author
urges the kind of Faith-inspired walk
that characterised many OT saints.
Being so convinced of God’s
Faithfulness, they ordered their
lives according to His Word.
Follow their commendable example
and Walk By Faith; and not by sight!

Lord, we trust You Will Reward:
Faith is the substance of things
hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen. (Hebrews 11:1). But
without faith it is impossible to
please Him, for he who comes to
God must Believe that He is, and
that He is a Rewarder of those
who diligently Seek Him (v6).
By faith Moses refused to
be called the son of Pharaoh’s
daughter, choosing rather
to suffer affliction…. than to enjoy
the passing pleasures of sin… for
he looked to the Reward (v24-26).

Lord, we need confidence in
what we hope for and assurance
about what we do not see yet;
for Satan will cast doubt and fear.
Teach me to obey even when I can’t
sense the desire to do what’s right.
Give me new desire as well as
new power to live as I should.
Wean me from excuse that I’m too
weak; for You’re my strength. Amen.

Lord, give me faith to trust You even
when the way is dark & uncertain.
Empower and strengthen me
to believe that You are who You
say You are in the Scriptures.
And that You will respond and
Reward those who Seek You.
For I purpose to Live By Faith in
Christ Jesus who truly loved me
and gave His life for me. Amen.

Lord, You promise glory to those
who suffer for their faithfulness.
Give me Lord the courage to stand
for Your cause; and Protect me
from wrong and shallow thinking.
Whilst I don’t want to suffer; but I
also don’t want to miss Your Reward,
blessing or the chance to bring
You honour and glory. Amen.

God Renews Our Mind to Faith

The writer of Hebrews highlighted
the superiority of Christ by pointing
out the heart of the human problem
is the problem of the human heart.
The old covenant was inadequate
for it was unable to deal with sin.
But God’s new covenant written in
Christ’s own blood which He shed
on the cross – makes full provision
for the forgiveness of sins.

Lord, You’ll Renew Our Mind to Faith:
This is the covenant I will make
with them… I Will Put my laws in
their hearts, and I Will Write them
on their minds. Then…their sins…
I’ll remember no more(Heb10:16-17)
Let us Go Into the Presence of God
with sincere hearts fully trusting
Him. Let us hold fast the confession
of our hope without wavering, for
He who promised is faithful. And let
us consider one another to Stir Up
Love and good works (v22-24).
Do not throw away this confident
trust in the Lord. Remember
the great reward it brings you!
Patient endurance is what
you need now, so that you will
continue to do God’s will. Then
you will receive all that He has
promised. For in a little while,
the Coming One will come. Now
the just shall live by faith (v35-38).

Father God, Thank You for Your
new covenant which is not only
gracious but also encouraging.
Guide me according to the truth
and instructions that You have
Written on my Heart and Mind.
Even as I purpose to obey Your
Word, grant me the grace to be
willing to do Your will each day.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Father, empower me to hold tightly
to hope in You without wavering.
Grant me breakthrough so that
I can testify of Your greatness and
encourage others towards faith.
Give me creative ideas to spur
others to love and good works.
Show me who I can encourage
to discipleship, devotion & prayer;
and I give You all the glory. Amen.

Lord Jesus, all through the ages,
Christians have been looking
forward to Your Second Coming.
Thank You Lord for helping me to
press on; and I purpose to endure
by faith, holding out to do God’s
will and claiming the promises.
With Your help Lord, I pupose
to run the race with endurance;
so that I’ll be Complete in U. Amen

God Grants Access & Inheritance

The writer of Hebrews highlighted
the superiority of Christ by pointing
out the heart of the human problem
is the problem of the human heart.
The old covenant was inadequate
because it was unable to deal
permanently with sin. But God’s
new covenant written in Christ’s
own blood which He shed on
the cross – makes full provision
for the forgiveness of sins.

Lord, You Enable Ready Excess:
Only the high priest goes into
the Most Holy Place, and only
once a year & always with blood,
which he offers to God to cover
his own sins & the sins the people
have committed in ignorance. By
these regulations the Holy Spirit
revealed that the Most Holy Place
was not open to the people(H9:7-8)
Under the old system, the blood of
goats and bulls cleanses people’s
bodies from ceremonial impurity.
Think how much more the blood
of Christ will purify our consciences
from sinful deeds so that we can
worship the living God. For Christ
offered Himself to God as a Perfect
Sacrifice for our sins (v13-14).
And for this reason He is the
Mediator of the new covenant,
by means of death… that those
who are called may receive the
promise of eternal Inheritance (v15).

Lord Jesus, I thank You for being
the perfect sacrifice for the sins
the whole world including mine.
When Your blood was presented
on the mercy seat and You
offered up Your Spirit, the veil
of the temple was forever rent.
Thank You Lord for providing us
Ready Access into the presence
of God the Father. Amen.

Lord, thank You that the promise
related to Jesus’ blood represents
purity, hope, freedom & fulfilment.
Because Christ gave His life and
blood, we are cleansed of all sin,
made righteous in God’s eyes and
set free from sin’s power over us.
Because of Christ’s sacrifice & our
belief in Him, we’re spiritually free
& headed to heaven where we’ll be with Him & loved ones forever.Amen

Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You
for all that You have done for us.
Thanks for the book of Hebrews
that shows You are superior
over everyone and everything.
Thanks we can access directly
to You for help in our challenges.
Tks that You pave better covenant,
that You give spiritual freedom and
that You grant eternal inheritance.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

God Gives Assuring Covenant

The writer of Hebrews highlighted
the superiority of Christ by pointing
out the heart of the human problem
is the problem of the human heart.
The old covenant was inadequate
for it’s unable to deal permanently
with sin. But God’s new covenant
written in Christ’s blood makes full
provision for the forgiveness of sins.

Lord, we receive Better Covenant:
He is the one who mediated for us
a far Better Covenant with God,
based on better promises (Heb 8:6)
This is the new covenant I will make
…on that day, says the Lord: I will
put my laws in their minds so they
will understand them, and I will
Write Them on their hearts so they
will  obey them. I will be their God,
and they will be my people (v10).
For all Shall Know Me, from the
least to the greatest… For I will be
merciful to their unrighteousness,
and their sins and lawless deeds
I will remember no more (v11-12).

Lord, I embrace Your revelation
in scripture; and let me experience
what’s said in Your written words.
I claim every benefit of the Better
Covenant. I want to know clearly
Your will and to be Your people.
You treasure my company; and so
keep our two-way communication
through reading Your Word and
prayer refreshing each day. Amen.

Father God, thank You for lifting me
to intimacy with You through Jesus.
Thank You for the freedom and
rest to realise that through the
New Covenant in Christ Jesus
I am enabled to obey Your words.
Empower me to cling to You O Lord
and Write Your Words in my heart.
Open my eyes to see Your great
work in those who believe. Amen.

Father God, You promise I Can
Know You – not just theoretically,
but through the experience of
a genuine relationship with You.
I really want to have a deeper
relationship with You O Lord.
And my prayer is that You would
become more and more real to me
even as I turn my thoughts and heart
towards You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Great High Priest Grants Grace

God spoke in times past through
the prophets, but He has reserved
the declaration of His glory for
His Son. In order to bring salvation,
the Sin of God willingly became
a little lower than the angels. And
by His suffering and death, He made
it possible to lift mankind above
the angels into the family of God.
Because of His perfect humanity,
Jesus is uniquely qualified to serve
as High Priest; and He will bring
His people into eternal rest.

Lord, You Grant Grace & Mercy:
Let us… be diligent to enter that
rest, lest anyone fall… For the word
of God is living and powerful…
piercing even to the soul and spirit
and is a discerner of the thoughts
and intent of the heart (Heb 4:11-12)
Seeing then that we have a Great
High Priest… Jesus the Son of God,
let us hold fast our confession.
For we do not have a High Priest
who cannot sympathise with our
weakness, but was in all pts tempted
as we are, yet without sin (v14-15).
Let us therefore Come Boldly
to the throne of Grace, that we
may Obtain Mercy and Find Grace
to help in time of need (Heb 4:16).

Lord, don’t just teach me Your truth,
breathe Your Words & fill me with it.
Let it shape me Lord in every way
so that I can hear Your voice in it.
Lord, I invite You to sharply divide
my own thoughts from Yours and
distinguish Your voice within me.
And let Your Words burn powerfully
in my mind to sharpen discernment
as well as to mould my heart. Amen.

Lord Jesus, thank You that You
understand my weaknesses,
for You have been tempted in
every way and yet did not sin.
Because You understand my
struggles, I know I can come
to You and receive mercy. And
Help me Lord approach You with
confidence, knowing You will help
me in my time of need. Amen.

Lord, praise You for being our
Great High Priest & understanding
our challenges and weaknesses.
Thank You for pouring out Your
life on the cross, for rising again
and reigning with the Father.
Your throne is a place of grace
for Your people, where we can
receive Your mercy and help
whenever we most need it. Amen.

Adoring God thru Thanks & Praise

The purpose of the epistle to
the Hebrews is to present the
sufficiency & superiority of Christ.
God spoke in times past through
the prophets, but He has reserved
declaration of His glory for His Son.
By His death & resurrectiob, Jesus
lifts mankind into the family of God.
Because of His perfect humanity,
Jesus is uniquely qualified to serve
as High Priest for sinful mankind;
and bring His people to eternal rest.

On Monday, we learn from Heb 1/2
that God Reveals His Truths.
On Tuesday, we learn from Heb 3
that God Desires us Be Courageous.
On Wednesday, we learn from Heb 4
that Christ Grants Grace & Mercy.
On Thursday, we learn from Heb 5
that God Desires Growth & Maturity.
On Friday, we learn from Heb 6
that God Keeps His Promises.
On Sat, we learn from Heb 7 that Christ Always Intercedes for us.

Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face. Help us O God
be Christ’s disciples who Adore You:
For You are worthy of our Praise
as Father God Reveals His Truths
and Desires Growth and Maturity.
For You are worthy of our Thanks
as God Desires us be Courageous
as You Always Keep Your Promises.
For Christ Grants Grace & Mercy
and You Always Intercede for us.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Christ Is Always Interceding For Us

God spoke in times past through
the prophets, but He has reserved
the declaration of His glory for
His Son. By His death, Jesus lifts
mankind into the family of God.
Because of His perfect humanity,
Jesus is uniquely qualified to serve
as High Priest for sinful mankind.
Moses was a servant in God’s
household, but Christ is the
divine Son over God’s household.
And Christ will bring His people into
the eternal resting place of heaven.

Lord, You Will Intercede For Us:
The Lord has sworn and will not
relent; You are a priest forever…
by so much more Jesus has
become a surety of a better
covenant (Hebrews 7:21-22).
There were many priests under
the old system, for death prevented
them from remaining in office.
But because Jesus lives forever,
He has a permanent priesthood.
Therefore He is able to save
completely those who come
to God through Him, because
He always lives to intercede
for them (Heb 7:23-25).
For this He did once for all
when He offered up Himself…
(And) the Son… has been
perfected forever (v27-28).

Lord, praise You for being
not just our Saviour, but also
our great High Priest, our
representative and our surety.
Thank You Lord for Your constant
care for us; and always praying
for me before the throne of God.
And I ask You for grace to make
my life conform to Your will. Amen

Lord Jesus, thank You that
in Your earthly life, You are the
example, showing us how to live.
In Your death, You are the perfect
sacrifice, satisfying for all our sins.
In Your resurrection & ascension,
You are our conqueror and king.
And Lord in Your intercession,
You are our eternal High Priest
always praying for us and You
can save completely. Amen.

Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You
for all that You have done for us.
Thanks for the book of Hebrews
that shows Your completeness.
Thanks we can access directly
to You for help in our challenges.
Grant us confidence as you have
promised to remember our labour,
to be our steadfast anchor; and
to always Intercede For Us. Amen.

God Keeps His Promises; Inspiring          hymn: Standing on the Promises 

Russell Carter of Baltimore attended
the Methodist Holiness movt which
had profound impact on his life and
was ordained into ministry in 1887.
Carter held a number of teaching
posts at the Pennsylvania Military
Academy including professor of
chemistry, civil engineering & math.
Carter also compiled a hymnal for
the Christian and Missionary Alliance
Church, a collection that contained
68 of his tunes and 52 of his texts.
“Standing on the Promises” was
composed in 1886 while Carter was
teaching at the military academy.
His military experience was reflected
in the martial style of the hymn.

Lord, we’ll Stand on Your Promises:
For God is not unfair. He will not
forget how hard you have worked
for Him and how you have shown
your love to Him by caring for
other Christians (Heb 6:10).
We desire that each 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(11-12)
God also bound Himself with an
oath, so that those who received
the promise could be perfectly sure
He would never change His mind…
These two things are unchangeable
(as) it’s impossible for God to lie.
Therefore, we who have fled to Him
for refuge can take new courage,
for we can hold on to His promise
with confidence (Heb 6:17-18).

Lord, sometimes we struggle with
living in a world where good is
ignored or even disadvantaged.
Help us to keep our eyes on You
and on the truth of Your Word.
You are righteous in all You do;
and grateful for the promise
that You will never forget all
that we do for Your kingdom.
Grant us grace as we purpose
to continue to do good. Amen.

Lord, ministry can be tough, like
a grind with endless repetition of
routines. We wish someone will
notice how hard we are working.
Thankfully this is not really so.
For You God see what we do,
will reward the sacrifices made;
and greatly approve when we
further the kingdom of Christ.
And God has promised that He will
never forget. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Lord, thank you for the hymn:
Standing on the Promises,
which remind us Your promises
stand forever and cannot fail.
By the living Word of God, we’ll
prevail, and by the Spirit’s sword,
we will overcome. And resting
in our Saviour as our all in all,
standing on the promises of God.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Standing on the promises of Christ
my King, Through eternal ages
let His praises ring, Glory in the
highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God…
Standing, standing, Standing on
the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing, I’m
standing on the promises of God…
Standing on the promises that
can’t fail, When the howling storms
of doubt and fear assail, By the
living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God