JESUS CAME TO END RELIGION
THIS WEEK YOU ARE GETTING TO THE MAIN POINT OF HEBREWS
A BETTER COVENANT
WE COULD NOT KEEP THE LAW
SO HE WILL PUT HIS LAW IN OUR HEARTS
WE HAVE THIS NOW, AND YET NOT YET
WE HAVE HIS SPIRIT
BUT STILL A BENT FOR SINNING
BUT ONE DAY HE WILL MAKE US COMPLETELY HIS
THIS PROMISE IN HEBREWS IS ALSO THROUGHOUT THE PROPHETS
THIS IS NOT RELIGION
THIS IS RELATIONSHIP
For many years, I have been in a secular summer book club my sister Bonnie started. Last month I had lunch with a woman who seems to be seeking, because she often asks me questions, and has mentioned getting together. And so I invited her to lunch to listen, to see what was keeping her from a personal relationship with Christ.
Early in our conversation she told me, “I don’t like religion. It causes wars and division.”
“Yes, I said, it does.”
She looked surprised. So I went on to say (with a lot of help from this week’s sermon from Keller), “Jesus didn’t like religion either. He came to end it.”
“What?”
“Yes — religion has to do with rituals and rules to get yourself right with God — but in Christianity, Christ paid the price for our sin to make us right with God. Every other religion has people going through steps or pillars to make themselves clean. But Jesus, when He paid the price on the cross, makes us clean — if we receive it.”
“And that’s not religion?”
“When the Bible uses the word religion, God speaks against it. He said he was weary of religious feasts and sacrifices where peoples’ hearts were not right with Him. The only time the word religion is used in the New Testament is in speaking of other religions, or sarcastically, as when James thundered at the people who were “religious” but showed by their lives that they didn’t love God. Jesus came to end religion. He wants a relationship with us.”
“So you aren’t religious?”
“I know, that the women in the book club see me like that. They may think I feel “holier” than them. But I don’t. I sin every day. My hope though is not in religion but in Jesus. I come to Him regularly for forgiveness, for trying to be my own god. In my deepest of hearts, I want Him to be my God — but I honestly fail every day. I’m not better than anyone — I’m a sinner, but I’m also forgiven and loved.”
“I don’t like all this talk about sin. I don’t like churches that beat you over the head about sin.”
“Could I tell you my story?”
She nodded, though I knew she was wary. I remembered how I felt cornered by my sister so long ago, yet how also, her words broke through. So I shared my testimony with her and then told her: “Though I would not have thought of myself as a ‘sinner,’ and had justified my behavior intellectually, deep within my heart I felt guilty. I had a silent cancer the way Steve did — and it was slowly killing me. It wasn’t until I acknowledged my need and put my trust in Christ that He took that guilt away and I felt SO MUCH LIGHTER. Then I knew, that though I had denied it, sin was weighing me down and ruining my life.”
“And now your life is good?”
“Life is hard. But now I know I am forgiven and loved and I do have an intimate relationship with Jesus — and I sense His presence every day. It’s not a religion — it’s a relationship. When I hurt Jesus by sinning, it hurts our relationship in the same way as when I hurt a friend. But He is ready to forgive me and He is always faithful to do that. I need Him so much. Life is really hard. It’s been that way for you — your divorce, your cancer, your daughter’s heartache…Jesus said this world was full of trouble. But He is longing for you to know Him personally — to have, not a new religion, but an intimate relationship with Him.”
She was silent. She took some books I brought and said we could get together again to talk about them. And so, I pray!
This week Hebrews shows us that Christ came to offer a better way than religion.
WE NO LONGER NEED AN EARTHLY PRIEST TO INTERCEDE FOR US
Priest interceding at the ark of the covenant
We have something better.
Jesus is the final priest who intercedes
who was without sin
and will never die.
We can go right to Him.
We can go right to Jesus -- anytime, anyplace.
WE NO LONGER HAVE TO MAKE SACRIFICES OVER AND OVER AGAIN
ZUBARAN "LAMB OF GOD" MADRID
WE HAVE SOMETHING BETTER.
WHEN JESUS CAME, JOHN THE BAPTIST SAID
BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD
WHO TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD
WHEN JESUS SACRIFICED HIMSELF
HE SAID, “IT IS FINISHED.”
NO MORE SACRIFICES.
IT IS DONE.
WE ARE FORGIVEN.
WE MUST BEAT THAT INTO OUR HEARTS.
FOR WE HAVE AN ENEMY WHO TELLS US IT IS NOT FINISHED.
HE BLAMES AND SHAMES AND CAUSES DOUBT.
BUT IT IS FINISHED!
ON EARTH, AN ADVOCATE PLEADS YOUR CASE IN COURT
EXPLAINING YOUR BEHAVIOR
HOPING FOR MERCY
BUT WE HAVE A BETTER ADVOCATE
WHO DOESN’T PLEAD FOR MERCY
BUT FOR JUSTICE
FOR THE DEBT HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID
SUNDAY/MONDAY
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
2. What will you tell your soul the next time the enemy comes to accuse you?
Monday-Wednesday Bible Study
3. Read Hebrews 7:18-25 and see if you can explain why Jesus was better than:
A. The law in making us right with God
B. The priests who interceded for us but who sinned and died
Read Hebrews 8:8-13
4. How is the New Covenant (Christ rescuing us and putting a new law in our hearts) better than the Old Covenant (our keeping the law)?
5. Read slowly and out loud Hebrews 8:10-12. This is a direct quote from Jeremiah 31, so I want you to turn there now. This is a beautiful chapter where Jeremiah is prophesying about the New Covenant that the Messiah will bring. I want these words to seep deep into your soul and bring health to you. Read the following passages and choose one that quickens you. Stop. Meditate. Pray it back putting your name into it. Let me show you with the first — but then you find one and make it yours. This passage has promise after promise about what the New Covenant will bring.
Their life will be like a well-watered garden. Jeremiah 31:12
A. Jeremiah 31:3 You have loved me, Dee, with an everlasting love, therefore you have continued your faithfulness to me.
I am so unfaithful, but You are faithful. You love me — and not just for a time, but always and forever. I rest in that.
B. Jeremiah 31:12-13
C. Jeremiah 31:25
D. Jeremiah 31:31-34
6. Why is the new covenant so much better? Because it relies on Christ instead of ourselves! Idols cannot be removed — only replaced. If you haven’t seen it yet, I think you’ll be inspired by the testimonies in Video 7 of Idol Lies on my website. If you have time, watch and comment. http://www.deebrestin.com/idol-lies/
7. Hebrews 8:9-10 is the core of Hebrews — you may notice that Hebrews 8:1 tells us the author is getting to the main point. This promise of a new law in our hearts is the now and the not yet. We do now have His Spirit within us if we are His. Yet we still fail Him. Turn back to Hosea 2:16-23 and describe the glorious day that is coming and express what this means to you.
Thursday-Friday Keller Sermons (2nd is optional but so good!)
This is in the series you bought and it is called The Advocate or you can purchase it individually here:
The second, which is optional (but so good) is called The God You Can Know and is the next in the series or can be purchased
individually.
There is also a free sermon which covers many of the same points as the optional sermon above (The God We Can Know) and you can find it here: Link
8. What are your notes?
Saturday
9. What is your take-a-way and why?
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
Oh, I read Dee’s encounter with her book club friend about three times..so so so good! God moved in Dee to her friend’s deep place in her heart-when Dee mentioned how she rationalized and intellectualized her sin but deep inside felt guilty, I can so relate because that is how I felt before I knew the Lord. I can’t wait to hear Keller’s sermon!
Loved how Dee exclaimed the truth that Jesus said, “It is finished!” No more sacrifices-we are covered in His righteous robes. Jesus is our advocate who doesn’t plead for mercy but justice for the debt has been paid!
I learned quickly after coming to know Him that satan comes in and accuses and twists who God really is. he turns God into a religious pharisee who will point his finger and shame us when we sin, and he will hiss, “it isn’t really finished, you failed. God doesn’t love you anymore.”
2. What will you tell your soul the next time the enemy comes to accuse you?
An older woman who discipled me as a young believer told me-justification means “Just as if I never sinned.”..Atonement means “at one-ment.” to help me remember quickly. Jesus said it is finished-I am justified, my debt paid. He is my identity-I am His and because of His sacrifice when God sees me He sees Jesus. No one can snatch me out of God’s hand, including satan.
Like!
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
“WE NO LONGER NEED AN EARTHLY PRIEST TO INTERCEDE FOR US…We can go right to Him.”
I’ve probably shared this here before (apologize if so!), but this brought back a memory from when I was about 7 years old. I was raised in a strongly committed Catholic family and attended Catholic school. Part of our weekly schedule at school was to go to the priest for confession. I remember clearly one day, 1st or 2nd grade, telling the priest that I didn’t need to come to him to tell him my sins or requests, and have him pray for forgiveness for me…I could go directly to Jesus myself, as I had been doing. I remember it was a very “matter of fact” thing to me–I was not meaning to be defiant, I was just confused as to why anyone thought any differently.
2. What will you tell your soul the next time the enemy comes to accuse you?
I like what Dee wrote a few weeks ago–I didn’t do anything to earn my salvation–so I cannot do anything to lose it. It was never based on my performance or lack of…it is only based on Who He Is and what He has done, and it is finished!
1.What stands out to you from above & why?
Wishing I could write like Rebecca, but I know I sure can learn from her. Thanks.
We should not have to beat that into our hearts. “If God be for us, who can be against us?”
2. What will you tell your soul the next time the enemy comes to accuse you?
When my mind wanders with lifes worries, temptations, and idols, I have been saying this verse, “Get behind me Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.” That way I can focus on what is true and correct and live in the moment.
VJ — welcome! So glad to have you here!
Welcome VJKitt! “Get behind me Satan!” is a good one to remember–daily!
VJ, I have always said that too! It is found in verse Matthew 16:23. Welcome! So glad you are here!
Welcome VJ! So glad you are with us. :)
I am so glad that I don’t have to be saved by being good and religious. My relationship with Jesus is what counts. Oh, and I love your story about talking with the woman from the book club.
So good to see your face Diane…continuing to pray for you all
All morning I have continued to feel impacted by the dialogue of Dee and the woman from Bonnie’s book club. One,it is SO helpful to hear a “real life example” of sharing truth. But I was also struck again by Dee’s mixture of truth-telling and gentleness, that comes from her sharing her own struggles. True humility like Dee’s is so attractive. I am always drawn to those who reflect this godly humility-like Dee, my pastor, my husband,many of you, and others. It is not a self-deprecating list of failures, it’s honest sharing of their own sin and what God has done. That is a prayer for me, to grow more and more in true humility with how I share. Thankful for this example.
Elizabeth
That is so well put, it is very attractive and so encouraging when someone else shows their own errors when they witness…Dee’s willingness to admit her struggles is one of the things that first got me hooked on her devotions!
I love this about Dee too; her humility. She seems to have the right words at the right time. I wish I could be that good! So, I rely on lots of smiles instead of words. I used to tell Sarah, my daughter, people could see God in her eyes. She has beautiful, big, blue eyes. People used to stop me when I would push Sarah in her stroller and rave about her eyes. I think we all have gifts to use and sometimes I put my foot in my mouth! Smiles are good.
This struck such a chord with me. We live in a culture of getting and earning that we forget to relax in the assurance that Jesus has already paid the price and that we should be working from a spot of thankfulness, privilege and joy. Yet, it is hard for those who do not feel that freely given awesome gift of forgiveness as that simple. Keeping the enemy at bay requires scripture in our hearts and minds, prayer from our lips and faithfulness and truth in our actions.
What stood out for me is that Jesus wants a relationship. That he is real. That he sits at the right hand of the father in heaven. That he died for my/our sins that we might have freedom. That it is about grace and mercy. That we have hope b/c of Christ. That we are never alone and that the annointing breaks the yoke. Instead of hiding my sins and my shame I run to Christ. Sometimes b/c of my past I carried the sins of others but God has shown me (throught the book of Romans) that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus and I do not have to be afraid b/c He did not give me a spirit of fear but of adoption whereby I cry Abba Father.
I have been through a divorce and so many heartaches. Without God I would not have made it through.
My childhood was a living hell. I left home when I was 15 years old. I surrended my life to Jesus when I was 23 years old I was living in a violent marriage and had no knowledge of healthy relationships. Father God has been teaching me since that time.
I was crying out to my father who was dead but my heavenly father answered instead. My conversion was radical and so exciting. My father was a kind gentle man whom I loved. It was my mother and my grandfather that made my life and my sister’s life a living hell. Yes I have forgiven them. God even redeemed my relationship with my mother. It was not perfect but in the end I did believe that she tried her best and that she loved me. With my salvation Christ Jesus broke generalation(sp) bondages.
I still have a difficult time trusting people but God is teaching me.
He taught me through my children.
I raised my three dtrs. with God’s help. My oldest is a Reverend who works with women on the downtown eastside in Vancouver (worst zipcode in North America) she would appreciate your prayers
My middle daughter is a nurse. She has travelled extensively and has been on many mission trips.
My youngest daughter is graduating from UBC with her Social Work degree. She already has her degree from Concordia in Women Studies. I am torn over her decisions but I still love her
I want to show her the same compassion that Christ shows me. I know that she was saved and water baptized but she feels so strongly about women issues and she went through a church split. She is so wary of churches and organized religion as I am.
Christians can be so cruel to one another but God is good. We have freedom in knowing him and trusting him. I run to him warts and all esp. when I am angry and feeling lost and alone. It is so difficult to trust but I have had no trouble trusting God.
The book of Hebrews and reading this daily blog along with books that Andrew Farley wrote and that I am reading are showing me where I was hurt and why I need to keep on trusting and obeying God. I guess simply put God gives me freedom and love. I need him and I cannot live w/o Him. I eagerly await the return of Christ. It is like He is showing me who I am and I do not need to hate myself b/c Christ Jesus does not hate me. He loves me and he died for me. I cannot always grasp that but I can accept the truth of it. Belive the truth of what christ did for me and for others that call upon His name. W/o His forgiveness I do not know where I would be.
I do request prayer for finding the right church. I have not attended church in 7 years. I have tried some churches but no friendships and sense of belonging. 100 Huntley St has been my on line church for about 2 years now and God is moving in my life similar to when I was first saved. It all started with that song by Brian Doerkson “Level Ground”
When u grow up in an abused home (sexual, emotional, verbal and physical) u learn to hate yourself and always think u are bad. That u can do nothing right and u lose hope. The Holy Spirit who is my counsellor and comforter showed me that in my childhood I was in despair and lived in dread and doubted everything and everybody.
I am simply learning to trust again and hold Jesus’s hand and realize He died for my sin. When He died on the cross He said it is finished. I believe that. He also showed me that he was a man well acquainted with sorrow and he bore my punishment and by his stripes I am healed. I believe that and I know that it is a working out process that takes a lifetime.
I know longer have to carry the cross of shame or self hatred. It is finished.
Thank u for your blog!
In Christ
Mellany
Mellany, I want to thank you for sharing your beautiful testimony with us. You surely have been through much and we are very glad you are here. I will pray for you to find a church and for your daughter who is a Reverend.
Hi Kim–I’ve missed my little tulip friend ;)
Thank you, you make my heart happy, dear Elizabeth!
Thank u
I believe Jesus led me to this on line bible study b/c I am unable to leave my home at this time.
I do try.
I know that God has a plan for my life.
I will trust him in that.
Mellany
Welcome, Mellany! Thanks for sharing your story with us. Blessings to you in looking for a church.
Thank u
Mellany — oh so much you have overcome. I do so pray for you to discover the church God longs for you to make your home. It sounds like your daughters are wanting to make a difference in this world — and that is wonderful.
Thank u Dee
Today I read in John where Jesus washes the feet of his disciples and I started to weep b/c Jesus washed the feet of Judas who would betray him and he showed his human side by telling John the Beloved who would betray. I am quite sure that they did not understand until the resurrection(sp) but even in this story Jesus showed me he understands what it is like to have been betrayed. Who is like my God and whom will I compare Him to.
Mellany
Thank you for your openness Mellany!
Thank you for sharing this, Mellany. I hope you find a wonderful church home. My brother lives in North Vancouver, and attends church there.
Thank u Dianne
Oh Mellany–such pain and loss I cannot imagine. I love what you said here, “I am simply learning to trust again and hold Jesus’s hand and realize He died for my sin.” So thankful to have you here with us.
This is so true b/c for the last 5 or 6 years I hid in shame.
Satan so likes things hidden.
Christ Jesus exposes them to the light and we are healed.
I am allowing Jesus to heal me.
Dear Mellany, you brought tears to my eyes as I read your testamony. I’ve already prayed for you and your daughters and for you to find the right church. I can identify with you on a few things, as I was raped as a child (maybe around 5 yrs old) by a neighbor teenager, I’ve been through phyical and verbal abuse in my first marriage and left for another women, in my 2nd marriage, brought up my 3 kids alone, untill this marriage and I haven’t been to a church for many years. I am blessed to have a good husband and father, for my special daughter, but he is not a christian. He is a good moral man, but I haven’t been happy in this marriage either, for almost 23 years. I know most of you will be shocked to hear that, as I have always covered for him. But after reading your testamony, Mellany, I completely broke down. I also eagerly await Christ’s return, but now I’m worried about my 2 older kid’s salvation. My life has been kinda hard, but I know God is sharpening me for a purpose. I’m in pain everyday from my back and knees and I take care of my daughter 24/7. I roll around the kitchen trying to cook and clean up and etc. and my arms ache from reaching up, so I am not doing so well getting meals like I use to. My husband was verbaly crule to me today for not fixing meals like I should and I’ve been in tears alot today. I know I don’t do as much as I use to do and it seems as if I am lazy to him probly. I’m very depressed and I feel sorry for myself sometimes, because I never get to do things other retired women in their 60′s get to do, like go shopping, out to eat, read a book, watch the news, go for a walk, take a nap or take a relaxing bath. My special daughter is in the same room as I am all the time and she has the TV and the computor and don’t like me to take a nap. I read when I can, but my only real peace is when she is sleeping. I am a light sleeper so I can wake as soon as she starts siezuring, when our bed starts shaking. My husband is in the livingroom and watches whatever he wants and naps off and on all day long, reads the paper and goes wherever and whenever he wants. He doesn’t understand me at all. My best friend, of over 30 years has moved away and it does hurt, but it is also kinda a relief, as I’ve been her personal councelor…listening to her all these years, with her not knowing my deepest feelings. I’ve lost 2 dear friends over the years and many in my family, but not a signifigant family member, like a husband or child. So I figure that’s my next heartache, as I’ve endured almost everything else. If I seem bitter, it’s because I am! This is the real me, everyone. You here, are my only outlets I have and I have decieved you by seeming to be a sweet and loving person, but my love for Jesus is so deep and for all of you too. I don’t get out of the house much, so you are my real sisters and you don’t realize how much you mean to me. I don’t get to listen to anyone preach on the radio or TV, so this is my only outreach. I don’t have a way to listen to Tim Keller, except by CD’s and I have not been able to afford the series that you are speeking of now. I have my disabiliy each month, but it isn’t much and he wants an account of everything I spend. I tend to go alittle crazy with online shopping, but that is the only way of getting things Kendra and I need, like undergarments and things. He criticizes me being on the computor so much. I can’t walk very far without sitting down every little bit. It about killed me to go see Dee speak, as I had to walk quite abit, but oh it was so worth it. You don’t realize what you mean to me, Dee. You have always been there for me, since my 2nd husband left me with my three little kids. And Steve, was there for me also, even tho he didn’t even know it. You both were my shining examples of what it is to be like Jesus…humble and giving and loving. I’ve been blessed more than most of you, as I have know Dee and Steve since the 80′s. I feel so quilty as I didn’t know Steve was so bad, before he died. I wasn’t working at the clinic then and was doing daycare, so I could be home with my special daughter and I was kinda in my own little world then, where as at the clinic I was “in the know”. But I was so shocked to hear he died and I was not there for Dee. I did go to the funeral, but most the town was there and then before I knew it. Dee had moved away. I am so sorry, Dee; I could of at least been there to sit with you and cry with you. You have always been there for me, but I have never been there for you. I wrote you one week after I married my husband now, almost 23 years ago and said that I knew I had made another mistake and you wrote back with a verse on a card and said you’d pray for us. Your card is in my bible still. I pretented everyting was better, after all these years, whenever I talked to you. I never had a college education and could never afford to take care of myself, beside’s my kids too, so I’ve always had to depend on a man to take care of us. Deep down, tho, I have always hated men, from the time I was raped and couldn’t even tell my mom, because she always told me boys and sex were dirty. My dad wasn’t close to me either, because he had my three older brother’s to entertain all the time, while I had to always help my mom with chores at home. I never told anybody about the rape untill I got married at 17 years old, to get away from home. But I can’t blame the husband’s either, as I was never a good wife, when it came to sex. I hated it and never could enjoy it. Now, I just want so bad for someone to be able to take care of my special needs daughter and the assurance that my other kids are saved, so I can go to be with my Saviour, one day. I’m tired of life and if it wasn’t for Jesus, I wouldn’t have a reason for getting up each day. He died for my sins and has paid the price for me and “it is finished”…Praise God. Now that I’ve laid out all my dirty laundry here, do I have the nerve to hit that submit button? If your reading this, I guess I did.
Dear Joyce. How precious you are to The Lord. Holy Spirit I pray that You will come to Joyce right now with healing in Your wings. Overshadow her pain with Your love. Help her to know that in Christ there is no condemnation, only the joy of a paid debt.
I am glad you hit that button Joyce and glad that I happened to see this. I love you and am praying for you.
Thank you, Anne…I love you too.
Joyce, you are dear and this really breaks my heart. I am so glad you shared so that we can support you and pray for you. You are so loved here Joyce. Oh God, we cry out to you for Joyce and we ask for your rescue of her in this situation. We ask that you would move in such a way as to release her from some of this stress and abuse but if you have different plans help Joyce to continue trusting you in the middle of her pain-be her comfort and her solace. We ask you would bring her other brothers and sisters who would surround her with support physically and help her somehow. In Your name we pray..
Oh Rebecca, How you comfort, in the middle of your own pain. Maybe not physical, but in other ways. I pray for you and your family too…thank you so much. You are so loved.
Oh dear Joyce — your life has been so incredibly hard and yet from it flows the sweetest water. I love and respect you so. Please don’t feel badly about the time with Steve — your plate was so very full. I love you dearly and always will.
I don’t know if you know how much you minister on this blog from your very shut in situation. We thank God for you here.
Thank you so much, Dee. I feel released from that quilt now, of not sitting shiva with you…8 years ago. You and Steve were (and are) so loved here, I’m sure I would of had to wait many days, in line, to even get a hug from you then. I’m so thankful, you had so many loving you and wanting to comfort you.
I thank God for you, Dee and all the work you put into each and every lesson for us, here. I know I don’t participate like I should, but I read and pray for everyone. And I learn so much! This blog has been such a blessing to me and it’s all because of you. I love you!
Joyce you have been such an encouragement to me over the last 2 years. I love you insight and your heart for your daughter and the way you have overcome with Jesus at your side! I do believe you are your own worst critic my dear friend! Im so sorry for your pain, I wish I could take it away! Thank you for being honest so that we all know how to pray. wish i was close so i could pop in with some sweet tea or take you on a walk in a park (with lots of benches:-)
I pray for healing of your heart and body and the relationship with your husband!!! I wish you could get an alarm for kendra’s bed so you could SLEEP! sleep dep caused depression and pain to be much worse!!!
Dear Jesus, please bring healing to Joyce today, help her to see past todays pain, thank you for heaven and the promice of rest! But lord I pray for rest HERE on earth, I pray for healing of her heart from the rape, I pray for HOPE in her life and for peace to flow. give her wisdom to know how best to deal with each one of the issues she has shared and show her that she is not “stuck” here but that you can heal all situations. help her Lord to see things from a diffent perspective and to go after healing and not to accept the way things are. thank you Jesus for loving Joyce, please wrap her in that love today in a way she has never felt before. bring her help dear Jesus, bring her yourself with skin on as well. amen
Cyndi, do they make seizure alarms? If not, someone ought to invent them! I know stress and not enough sleep causes depression, and weight gain. I am living proof! I sure would love to visit with you and have sweet tea, buy would have to just sit and not walk probly! (Not enough benches!)
I am seeking physical help and not giving up, too. You are so sweet..love you too! (Thank you for your prayer)
oh sweet, sweet Joyce. How I wish I could give you a hug right now. I ache hearing of all your pan, but am amazed at how your tender, open heart reflects Him. I am so thankful for you Joyce. Each week I learn from you–the way you read others concerns so carefully, you pray continually. Instead of growing bitter and resentful from your pain, you allow Him to use you to pour out grace to others. I will be praying especially for you today, Joyce, that you would feel His comfort over you. Much love to you Joyce~
Thank you Elizabeth, but you are the one that has helped me learn to give my pain back to Jesus, because of what he done for us and that he understands pain, more than anybody. I pray for your pain, that you live with daily, too. Thank you:)
Joyce,
I am glad you had the courage to press the submit button and share your pain with us. You have indeed been walking through very deep waters for most of your life. I feel, like Cyndi, that I wish I could take away your pain, or at least some of it. I feel you are also in desperate need for Jesus, (again as Cyndi says) to come to you with “skin on”. Caring for Kendra with your knees and back in so much pain, and doing it 24 hours a day, would drain anyone completely dry. I pray that you can seek and find help, for others to come alongside of you and help in practical ways. You give all of yourself away to helping others, yet you need to be ministered to, too.
You are an encouragement to all of us here, and have such a gift of praying for others. Now we have the privilege of praying for you, Joyce. You are loved and accepted here just as you are.
Joyce
Your testimony brought tears to my eyes. I will certainly pray for you and your daughter. The Lord is and will continue to use you whether you know it or not, your insight is appreciated and accepted here. I will lift you up to the throne daily.
I loved your honesty, “this is the real me” it’s very easy to only present to the world what we want them to see and even easier to do that in the online world. I am a mess in my own ways too, Joyce, but I do believe the insight our own issues and “mess” bring can help others! : ) we love you and appreciate your presence here!
Thank you so much, Sarah…love and prayers to you too:)
Susan, you are so dear, especially when you are hurting so much too…emotionaly. We all have our cross to bear, don’t we? But with Jesus, he takes the weight of it from us. Without Jesus, what would we do? Thank you for your prayers. Love you and Elizabeth and all my sister’s here…just listening or here each day:)
Dear sweet Joyce, I weep for the pain in your life and pray that God would heal these deep wounds. Pray that he would lift your head and encourage you. So thankful that you shared here and felt safe – that is the first step to healing. Dee speaks rightly when she says from it flows the sweetest water. Now that we know your situation we can pray and cry out to God on your behalf and we will, dear sister! God is a God of miracles and one is coming your way. Love and hugs to you. I will be calling you.
Dear Kim, Thank you for contacting me…aren’t we blessed to be together here in one town?! I wish we could all be together for one big party! It was so wonderful to be with you, when Dee was in Nebraska..even for a little while. We have to get together soon. Thank you for your prayers…Love you.
Hello,
I listen to Christian music alot and worship and dance or just go outside.
I know that u have limitations but sometimes I just sing in the spirit or speak in tongues or read the scriptures and claim them
I will be doing that today.
Scripture is so powerful! and true b/c it is not about us or our feelings or even our prayers but it is about who we are praying to and who we are putting are trust in.
There is a song ( i am not sure who sings it) but a line goes like this
I fall down I get up. Maybe u can google it and listen to it.
Sometimes we fall down or are pushed down but one day we will get up by ourselves or with Jesus’s help but we will get up.
I am sorry that abuse happened to you.
Yes I know about rape, about violence and about Satan who wants to kill us but now I know about Jesus who died for my sins.
Who loves me, who is coming back again.
I think I am going to read in the Psalms today.
Thank u for sharing
In Christ
Mellany
Mellany, I’ve been praying for you too. Scripture and prayer are more powerful than we could ever believe. I’m so thankful for Jesus, who died for our sins too, and his precious grace he gave us. Love and prayers to you.
Precious Joyce, your testimony makes me cry, not just because you have such a hard life, but for myself. God has blessed me with so much – a loving husband, a healthy family, wonderful friends – and now that my daughter is suffering I am arguing with God that I don’t deserve this pain. I have never had so much deep emotional pain in my life, but it is nothing compared to what you deal with.
I don’t know why God has allowed you (and others on this blog) to have so much pain, but this I know and agree with you totally, “I’m tired of life and if it wasn’t for Jesus, I wouldn’t have a reason for getting up each day. He died for my sins and has paid the price for me and “it is finished”…Praise God.”
We are walking through this wilderness of life together and he has given us each other to hold each others hands and refocus each other to look to the Lord. Hold on to Him, my internet friend.
Dear Diane, You said it all here…” We are walking through this wilderness of life together and he has given us each other to hold each others hands and refocus each other to look to the Lord”. Your so right!
I felt embarrassed today for sharing, but now I’m thankful it all come out, as it shows how much we all have our problems and how much we truly need each other. I have been praying for you and Krista and all your family. Thank you for your prayers. Love you both!
Joyce, don’t feel badly about the hurt and anger you feel inside.
Being truthful and honest with yourself is the beginning of healing. You have been a great testimony in the past and now. God is using you in many ways!
He loves you more than you will ever comprehend.
I understand the issue with men and sex, and I have accepted the fact I will never marry. But Jesus will not forsake you as I’m sure you are aware.
Don’t feel bad about not going onto college. When and if its the Lord’s will, He will provide the means for you to go back school if its your desire.
I only have a high school education and struggle with dyslexia, but God has given me the ability to work around it.
I know how this can make someone feel inferior. I have a father who is a highly educated man, graduated from Northwestern. But didn’t encourage his daughters to go onto to college but instead thought they should marry and bear children.
He is the Healer and Restorer of our broken hearts!
I know He will make a way for you to get through this as I am sure He is nearer to you than you realize.
Love you Joyce and will always be grateful for your friendship!
Thank you, Laura. I guess it was “old school” that women should stay home and have babies and not bother with college. I have no desire to go to college now..I just meant that if I had of, I might have been able to support myself and my kids, instead of getting married again.
I pray God is using us all to help one another. You are blessed to be able to work around your dyslexia..it is of God, I’m sure! Love and prayers to you.
Dear dear Joyce, I am so glad you hit the submit button, and you are right — we all have plenty of dirty laundry! (In addition, i have piles of clothes to wash)
I appreciate your encouragement and love so much — and you show your love and encouragement through SO MUCH pain. I can’t even imagine how tired you must be. I was reading posts here about 3:00 this morning and prayed for you throughout the night. During the last few weeks, I’ve had an increasing burden for parents with adult children with special needs. Recently I asked a colleague if she wanted to start working with me to improve services in this area. I will continue think of and pray for you and Kendra as we work.
Yes, there are seizure alarms; I don’t know if Kendra has insurance that might cover it. Medical equipment is SO expensive. I’ve also heard of seizure dogs. Can anyone give you a break so that you can get some sleep?
As Laura Marie said, don’t beat yourself up about not going to college. I work with someone from another country. She says, “American Higher Education is broken,” and she is right. There are some good things about a college education, but I’m not so sure that it is always worth it.
Thank you so much for all you contribute here and to everyone around you. You have a wonderful gift of helping people feel safe (written by someone who doesn’t trust too easily). I love you!
Oh Renee! My mystery sister!! I’m still waiting for a picture of you here! Thank you so much for praying for me, at 3:00 in the morning! I am getting to bed earlier now..between midnight and 2am!
I love your increasing burden to help parents with adult children with special needs…that shows what a kind and loving person you are:) Recently, my husband and Kendra and I were eating out at a restaurant and a lady kept looking at us, which we are used to, because of Kendra, but she got up and said she was sorry she was staring, but she had to come and tell us how proud she is that we taking care of our own grown, special needs child, instead of placing her in a home somewhere, like most do. But it all depends on the special adult child I think, because I know several that love the group homes and going to work everyday and I think that is wonderful. But Kendra does not like working and being away from mom, at all. I wish she did actually, so we could slowly wean her away from us, as we get older…but God has a plan for her!
I will check into a seizure alarm, as Kendra has three insurance’s! I would love to have a seizure dog and she could get one, but my husband says one dog is enough :(we have a little doggie)
Thank you so much for your prayers, Renee…hope your feeling better…love you!
Dear Mellany,
Thank you for sharing so deeply with us. I can see the fingerprints of your tender relationship with your heavenly Father sprinkled all throughout your testimony. I am glad that He has and continues to bring healing to you.
Thank u susan for your kind comments
any good in me comes from Jesus and Jesus alone.
One time an elder in my church said that when we get to heaven we will all throw our crowns at His feet.
He was a good man. He hugged me when things were bad and I had to come back to the church.
In the 80′s esp. in small nothern towns in Canada they did not know about domestic violence. Many churches still do not. Leslie Vernick has an excellent website on domestic violence.
When the girls and I moved to a small southern town we experienced a move of God for about two years that I still think about.
Of course then the church split b/c the people wanted to be God’s spirit.
Like most people I have hurt people and I have been hurt but I long for a church, and bible study and testimony on a sunday night and even teaching sunday school again. I loved teaching the 3-4 years old.
Have u heard of this song.
There is a place of commanded blessing where brethern in unity dwell.
A place where annointing oil is flowing and we live as one
Bind us together Lord; bind us together Lord;Bind us together with Love
There is only one God; there is only one King and that is why we sing
Bind us together Lord;Bind us together in Love.
I want that Church but (tongue in cheek here)
I would show up and it wouldn’t be perfect anymore.
This is a joke.
In christ
Mellany
Hi Mellany. Church fights are hard to go through and trust most definitely is impacted. I can entirely relate having experienced a nasty church struggle about 3-4 years ago. In hindsight it is so clear to me how the evil one orchestrated it; many fell prey to temptations of pride, fear, and control. I read a devotional recently that reminded me of Satan’s oft chosen method…divide and conquer. I will pray that your trust in faith communities is re-established and you find a church home where you feel like you belong. My heart aches for the struggles that have come your way in life…you have shown yourself an overcomer.
Oh Mellany, thanks so much for sharing your story. Your post is so helpful because the struggle can be so much more difficult with a background of abuse-really even believing God really does love unconditionally, but to see you clinging to Him and speaking truth to your soul that it is finished is so encouraging.
I agree that finding the church God desires for you to be in can be difficult, so I will pray for you. Thanks again for sharing.
Thank u for praying for me.
Wisdom in which direction God wants me to go is what I need the most.
I need people as I cannot go it alone anymore.
In Christ
Mellany
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
- the pic with the rings and verses from Hosea: That is SOOO encouraging.
- conversation with the book club woman — and that you acknowledged that life is hard. The “wilderness” part of last week’s sermon stood out to me; so the acknowledgment that life still is hard stood out now. But I didn’t focus only on that!
- that a relationship with Jesus is so much better than religion and is complete
Question I’m not sure what this means:
“BUT WE HAVE A BETTER ADVOCATE
WHO DOESN’T PLEAD FOR MERCY
BUT FOR JUSTICE
FOR THE DEBT HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID
What I’m not quite getting: Since the debt has been paid, why is he pleading for justice? (Sorry, the wires aren’t connecting)
2. What will you tell your soul the next time the enemy comes to accuse you?
Good timing for this question. I still am cleaning piles/corners (yesterday) from caregiving days. And I feel SO GUILTY that I didn’t do more. Sometimes that guilt is completely irrational (because I couldn’t have done more — and I can challenge those thoughts), but there were times when I wasn’t patient — and I end up in despair that I wasn’t better/nicer/perfect. I will tell myself that “It is finished. Jesus paid it all.”
Beating myself up is arrogant because it implies that what He did was not enough. It also minimizes that by his grace, the end of the relationship on earth was sweeter than I ever could have hoped or planned. During the last year or two, it’s been so evident that God has been working in my life. Yet, during the past few weeks, I’ve felt SO guilty (and have been more vulnerable to that because of illness). Yep, VERY good timing for this study!!
Justice because the debt has been paid. If someone has paid for a crime (as Jesus has for ours) it would be unjust for us to also pay. Does that uncross the wires or not? :-)
Yes…. wires uncrossed now :-) THANK YOU!
I can see how those few words above would have been confusing. I love your honesty for I know many had the same confusion but did not express it.
When I read those words, it struck me that it’s as if Jesus is pleading with the Father to “bring it on, bring on the justice – bring it down on My head, not on theirs!”
I never thought of it that way.
Jesus protecting us.
That gives me comfort today.
Thank u
I loved that line too and was struck that mercy is not needed for the price was paid in full – oh the blessed thought!
We sang this song last Sunday at church, but as I have been studying this text tonight, it keeps coming to mind, hope some of you will be encouraged by it as I am: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuJ7-s3gN4k&feature=related
1. Arise, my soul, arise,
shake off your guilty fears;
The bleeding sacrifice,
in my behalf appears;
Before the throne my Surety stands,
Before the throne my Surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.
Chorus: Arise (arise), arise (arise), arise
Arise, my soul, arise.
Arise (arise), arise (arise), arise
Arise, my soul, arise.
Shake off your guilty fears and rise
2. He ever lives above,
for me to intercede;
His all redeeming love,
His precious blood, to plead;
His blood atoned for every race,
His blood atoned for every race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.
3. Five bleeding wounds He bears;
received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers;
they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die!”
4. The Father hears Him pray,
His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away
the presence of His Son;
The Spirit answers to the blood,
The Spirit answers to the blood
And tells me I am born of God.
5. My God is reconciled;
His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child;
I can no longer fear
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And “Father, Abba, Father,” cry.
I love this hymn Elizabeth..I especially love verse 5.
Thank u for sharing.
I listened to the hymn
When I was first saved before I knew about the baptism of the Holy Spirit
A group of women prayed for me.
There singing drew me.
Music in my life has brought much healing.
I love to write.
Of course I write poetry and worship at home.
I love the hymns. I find such comfort in them.
For one whole year Christ Jesus would wake me up with a hymn.
Sometimes I have terrible nightmares but Jesus is always there with me.
I wake up and now I can say scripture or sing a part of a hymn.
I am now collecting quite a list of Christian music
I find it so soothing.
In Christ
Mellany
Such beautiful, comforting words in this hymn, Elizabeth. Thank you for this.
I have never participated in a blog before. Very neat. I was driven to this website by listening to a past program from Midday connection on Idol Lies. I am excited to order that book. It is definitly striking a cord and an answer to a prayer in my heart for the Lord to show me idols I did not even know I had in my life. So thank you!
I work in a very secular setting and I know I have people thinking I am “religious” and have had people come out and use that term. I certainly do not want to be giving any impression of a holier than thou attitude and pray I do not, however with that being said I have a tendency to seperate myself somewhat in that setting. I came from knowing of Jesus to “KNOWING HIM” 16 yrs ago. I am praying for those conversations to come up with those I encounter as it is an uncomfortable feeling to have someone hold that impression of me being “religious” It is a huge deception I believe the enemy gives to people and I have to say one I get caught up in to try to be perfect when only Jesus is perfect so that may sound contraditory to what I said above. I guess I have to be more intentional and not seperating myself in order to have those conversations take place. I have seen 2 affairs happen right before my eyes in my office and I struggle with that. The same God who forgave my sins can forgive theirs as well. I am so grateful Jesus saw me in the sin I was in and the sins I committed and loved me anyway, I want to be extending that to others. I think sometimes my actions can be contrary to that however. Lord help me.
The next time the enemy comes to accuse me and believe me living in an unequally yoked and very difficult marriage he comes often I want to be able to see him for who he is “a liar and an accuser”, and to be able to only see Gods truth. To ask for forgiveness for when I mess up, and I do, and then to know I have the victory and to walk in it, instead of joining the enemy in beating myself down as I so often can do :)
Liz–welcome! Love reading your thoughts here–so rich and honest. Hope you’ll stay! This was my first Bible study blog as well, but you will find it is a unique group of godly women. I am certain you will be blessed by it.
Welcome, Liz! I too found my way here a couple of years ago after hearing Dee on the radio. I look forward to getting to know you better on the blog!
Welcome Liz, great to have you.
Welcome Liz — so good to have you here and see how you are already speaking truth to your soul.
Liz, this is my first time participating in a online study as well; I was also prompted in participating in the study by Dee’s mention of it on Midday Connection. Great study, great gals…welcome.
So glad you here, Liz…your wisdom blesses me and can identify with being unequally yoked. Praying for you, sweet sister.
Welcome, Liz. I can relate to the secular setting. Glad you’ve joined us.
Arise, my soul–I’m forgiven, I’m free because of Jesus. Praise Him!
Dee’s story of meeting with this reading group friend is so powerful–she shares with grace and love and truth! Relationship vs. religion! (Having become a Christian in a very legalistic church, I’ve had to run to the Father over and over to be freed from legalism, in order to focus on relationship. Being vs. doing!)
I wonder what God is doing in her heart! I’ll be eager to hear the next installment!
I’m having difficulty keeping up, but the Spirit keeps drawing me near!
Georgia-glad to see you again, and that the Spirit keeps drawing you near–and thankful with you that you have found freedom in Christ!
Georgia,
So good about legalism-oh how that can steal our rest and our joy-take our eyes off of Him and onto us. It is wonderful to hear you kept running to Him and that God has freed you from it!
Glad God keeps drawing you back here. :-)
Thank you, Georgia. Glad to see you whenever!
Georgia, I’m so glad your here, whenever you can be…your a blessing!
3. Read Hebrews 7:18-25 and see if you can explain why Jesus was better than:
A. The law in making us right with God
God is Holy and can’t stand in the presence of sin. The Law couldn’t make us perfect so we couldn’t draw near to God, but Jesus is perfect so we can draw near to God via His death and resurrection.
B. The priests who interceded for us but who sinned and died
The priests were finite, sinful and human-subject to death like us and they couldn’t save completely. Jesus is God, a priest who is perfect, Holy, and infinite. He saves completely and intercedes forever for those who come to God through Him.
4. How is the New Covenant (Christ rescuing us and putting a new law in our hearts) better than the Old Covenant (our keeping the law)?
The New Covenant completely saves us-it is finished-Jesus reversed the chasm between God and man that was broke in the Garden after Adam and Eve sinned. Jesus did the work of completely restoring us to God. The Old Covenant requires us to keep the law but we can’t perfectly so therefore it could never do the work of completely restoring us to Him.
I have a very hard time “getting” Hebrews. Im trying but it just seems so wordy and odd that I just can not understand most of it. as I was reading this weeks passages I realized why. This book was writen to the Jews. It was writen to people who LIVED under the law all thier lives and now their world has been shaken upside down (or right side up) with all this “Jesus was the final sacrifice” stuff…they just couldnt get it so Paul (is that who wrote hebrews?) is telling them in their own language about Jesus. that explains why it just does not make a lot of sence ot me, I NEVER thought like a jewish person so most of the stuff in this book is kinda like “duh” to me because I have never lived under the Jewish law, never had a priest, never sacrificed a lamb, never had my life threatened because of my faith. and I dont remember a time in my life that I didnt know Jesus as my personal saviour, that happened before I have much memory.
because I never lived under the old covenent I guess I will never fully appriciate the new one. Its like if you have always been rich you never really appriciate that fact that your rich, its just the way it always was. Im very very very grateful for Jesus and His new covenent and the relationship it gives me with Jesus, really I am, but Im just not sure I can fully grasp how much MORE wonderful it is then the old because I never had to live under the old.
Hebrews is probably the hardest book, other than Revelation, in the New Testament. And I’m not going there, Lord willing, for a long time! :-) Always love your fresh approach.
I am discovering gems, but it is true it is challenging. Stick with us, dear gal!
we’re not gonna study Revelation next, huh ?? ;)
Chris S–I’m thinking you should be back from your trip now and just wanted you to know you are missed here! :)
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
The first statement, “Jesus came to end religion” jumped out at me. Personally, I hate it when someone talks to me about “my religion”, or thinks of me as “religious”. I don’t even like the word. There are so many discussions today in Christian circles about religion – different denominations, etc…that often the heart of the gospel gets lost in all the talking.
I also like the account of Dee’s lunch with the woman from the book club. I like how Dee said she took her to lunch in order to LISTEN….not itching to do all the talking. This models for me how to be more sensitive in these kinds of conversations and to listen more.
I also like how Dee remembered how she felt when her sister was witnessing to her – how she felt cornered and didn’t like it. This made her sensitive to what this lady was feeling. I think this is a trap I can easily fall into – to forget what I was like before Jesus and it diminishes my compassion for someone who doesn’t know Him; forgetting makes me impatient.
2. What will you tell your soul the next time the enemy comes to accuse you?
The enemy came to accuse me over the weekend. Driving home from my son’s soccer game, my husband and I were talking in the car, and I mentioned that my friend Linda and some other ladies from her church were thinking of meeting together to do some kind of Bible study. The conversation suddenly turned angry as he expressed his anger…”Bible study! Why don’t you work more? Why should all the pressure be on me? I don’t want to work until I’m 65…you’ve got a pretty good gig, you don’t have to work….”
I work one 8 hour shift a week, but sometimes skip a week but this isn’t the first time this resentment has surfaced. I quit working full-time when my first child was born, just working 3-4 days a month as a nurse. I’ve been made to feel like a free-loader, I get to ‘play’ all day, I don’t know what it’s like to be in the ‘real world’.
This left me looking back at the last 21 years of mostly being a stay at home mom and wondering if my life has been a waste, if I’ve just been selfishly serving myself when I thought I was taking care of my kids. I am confused, because when I was growing up my mom stayed home with us and my dad worked 60-80 hours a week and he was proud to provide for his family and he never made my mom feel like she was a sponge living off of him. But that’s how I feel my husband sees me. I feel like when my daughter (she’s 12) gets older I will work more and pay-off my ‘debt’ I seem to owe him. Once I pay him back, at this point, I feel like I don’t want to be married to him anymore. He made me feel so ashamed, and my default mode kicked in and now I feel like God must feel the same way about me. When he talks to me like that I feel myself ‘curling up’ inside like when you’re a child and you’re being scolded and now I just want to avoid him as much as possible. I called staffing last night to see if they needed help on nightshift but they didn’t. I know that if I work more it will equal being accepted and approved of. Maybe. The problem is is that my confidence is being undermined and now I don’t even feel competent at work, I feel slow and not as smart as the other nurses with all the changes in the technology – we use the computers so much now and it’s hard for me to learn all the new stuff because I’m not there full-time using it a lot.
At church yesterday one of the pastors talked in my ABF class about grudges – about holding grudges against someone and if someone has one against you. It was all I could do to not sit there and cry. Then he preached the sermon on Hebrews 4 and kept exhorting us to approach the throne of grace boldly, confidently, not thinking that God is tired of hearing from you or will turn you away. I tried to pray last night but was just so worn out I went to sleep. But I know what the pastor was preaching about was the truth I needed to hear.
Thank you for sharing your heart. The dilemma of work/home rings true with me. I spent all the years of raising my kids torn between work and home. I would work part-time then stay home then work…it was a never ending tension. I too felt guilty when staying home full time as the unspoken attitude was that it was an easier job than going to “work.” Yet there were needs of my kids that required a full time parent. We had kids living with us for 42 years as the youngest is mentally challenged and just went to supervised living last year. Now our 14 year old grandson is living with us…so for some of us it never ends…God has called us to be caregivers. The biggest lesson I have learned is: it isn’t so much about the long term choices rather it is about living each day in God’s grace and love…going before His Throne…leaning on Him in all moments of my day.
Susan, this pains me to hear of this conversation with your husband. Oh my, so much heartache.
Lord Jesus, please reach down and comfort our dear sister and help her feel loved and cherished. May she feel your sweet presence today and know how loved she is by you and all of us here. Speak truth to her of her great value – so valuable that you gave your all for her. We pray that your holy Spirit would open Susan’s husbands eyes and ears to the truth and we plead for his salvation. Give a godly wisdom to Susan concerning these issues.
Be comforted, sister for you are very dear to us and we are blessed to pray for you.
Oh, Susan. Your pain tears at my heart. Amen to Kim’s prayer for you. Cling to Jesus, dear sister.
I know that as a single parent I was always feeling guilty about working. Getting caregivers etc. I can honestly say spending time with your children is the most important. Your husband should see that but doesn’t. Maybe ask him why he feels that paid work is more important than unpaid work. I don’t think that u should feel guilty or be made to feel guilty. To be a mother is indeed a high calling. May God’s grace and joy surrond you at all times.
Lord, I lift up my precious sister Susan to you. It breaks my heart to hear her so wounded, and I know it breaks Yours even more than I can imagine. Oh Father, please come and hold her close. Erase those lies of the enemy. Bless her for her faithfulness to her family–her selfless, unconditional love. Lord she has suffered SUCH storms. I think of the storms brewing in the east–nothing compared to the emotional storms Susan has endured. Still she remains, calling to You. Let her sense Your presence Lord, Your peace covering her as a shield. Strengthen her and comfort her with Your Truth–she is so dearly loved. In Your Name I pray~
I so agree with Elizabeth’s prayer for our dear Susan, dear Lord.
Susan,
You are staying heavy on my heart–I am so so sorry. I just hate the pain you have to be in. I am praying for you sweet friend. Wish I could be there and just sit with you. You are such a treasure Susan, please hear His truth about you combat those lies. I look at how you have lived and the circumstances…and I just hear Him say “Well done, good and faithful servant!…Come and share your master’s happiness!” (matt 25:21)
Dear Susan, God NEVER tires of hearing from you…He loves you more than you can comprehend. Sit on His lap and let Him comfort you. Close your ears (heart and mind) to the taunts of Satan in whatever form; he is the father of lies…don’t let him knock you down. I’m sure that you are a wonderful, compassionate, empathic, skilled nurse with a manner that others are envious of. You’ll get the technology changes…you are an intelligent woman; don’t be too hard on yourself. You have given your children a tremendous gift in caring for them; do not feel guilty about the work you have done as a stay-at-home mother…you have provided a priceless gift. Take good care…my prayers are with you.
Susan, I have been praying and will continue-Oh how i hate that you are having to go through this and you have been hurting for so long now. Lord I agree with everyone’s prayer here for Susan..Oh God we ask for you to come now and comfort her. Love you Susan.
Susan, I feel your pain and want to cry with you. Women don’t get the appreciation they deserve, trying to raise the kids and working. You are so loved here and I’m praying for you. I’m glad you and Mellany and I aired our dirty laundry here, because these ladies are used to dirty laundry! I love you, Susan
I love you too, Joyce, and I am praying for you. You are indeed our “Barnabas” here – an encourager even though you have so much of your own pain!
Susan,
Seeing your post makes me feel bad. I have been a working mother and so wish I could turn back the time, and had the good sense to stay at home with my children. You should be proud of the job you are now doing. May God bless you.
Thank you, VJKitt. I think for some reason, moms shoulder a lot of guilt about our mothering. I sure made many mistakes with my kids. In a way, we never stop being moms even when they are all grown up, so we still have opportunities to love and be there for them!
Susan-
I really can relate. I have a long story that I won’t dive into, but my husband did work more and earn a lot more than me for years at the beginning of our relationship. I used to think then that when I finished school I would be able to make more and therefore feel more respected…like an equal. I ended up in a hellish job..filled with guilt because I had less time with my kids then ever before. I made a lot of money and my husband lost his job so I went on to support our family of 5 for 5 years…and the official mark of approval that I was looking for never really came. I am not working currently because I lost my job so the tables have turned yet again…however,,,attitudes and expectations just don’t always change as quickly as circumstances. Idk, I have begun to believe that insensitive comments by my husband or an expectant/unappreciative attitude isn’t so much about me as it is about him. I love him, very much and I feel blessed to have him, but I think The Lord has used my husbands shortcomings to help me see that the only one who can fulfill me, satisfy me and accept me for all that I am is Him! That doesn’t mean I don’t feel hurt and angry at times…because believe me I do! Just like you do!
The other thing I must add is that you shouldn’t feel guilty for staying home. Guilt is of the devil…and I worked for a long time as the sole provider, while still fulfilling “mom” duties and guilt was there too…no matter what you do the devil will make you question your choices! Keep on keeping on! : ) and I will pray for you.
Thank you, Sarah! This is so good, “The Lord has used my husbands shortcomings to help me see that the only one who can fulfill me, satisfy me and accept me for all that I am is Him!”
SUNDAY/MONDAY
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
The story of the nonbeliever to whom Dee shared her testimony is encouraging. I never know how to explain Jesus to these sorts of people without being overwhelming to them. I don’t want to run them off, but it is difficult to know the words to express how Jesus is our savior and without Him we have no chance at life everlasting. It’s not about rituals and man made ideas, it’s about my Lord and me.
2. What will you tell your soul the next time the enemy comes to accuse you?
Ha! I laugh in the face of danger! My God has helped men defeat great armies! Who are YOU to attack ME who has JESUS on my side? Ha!
Laura, I’ve been praying for you and Sarah…hope tings are better. love you, too
1. What stands out to me is the way Dee put herself out there…I try to not appear religious but I do have some friends who I think have that opinion no matter what, I want to use Dee’s technique and I can’t wait to hear the sermon.
2. I have said for the Devil to get behind me, but I love thinking about Jesus saying “It is finished!” I ,Ike the idea of reminding myself that the price is already been paid too.
Sarah, I always say, “Satan, get ye behind me”, also! (from Matthew 16)
We had a wonderful vacation, my hubby and I – lots of good deep conversation. Glad to be back with you.
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
I appreciate seeing how we look to those outside the kingdom. I have been a believer and surrounded by believers so much of my life that I sometimes wonder how they think and feel and how I can reach them. I also love how Dee explained to her friend so clearly about her own poverty of soul and how she wasn’t better but loved by God and in relationship with Him – precious! I am praying the Lord would draw near to this woman and give her a desire to know the Lord like Dee. Keep us posted, Dee.
2. What will you tell your soul the next time the enemy comes to accuse you?
That I am loved cherished by the King and I have His every benefit at my disposal.
You were missed. Welcome home– and so glad about good deep conversation with your hubby.
Thank you, Dee/ How are you healing?
I am healing well. Thank you.
Hey sweet Kim-missed you.. :-) Just wanted to pop in and say hi since I can’t get on much during the day or evening lately-glad you posted.
Thank you so much Rebecca.
I am glad also that you are back, Kim!
Thank you for your warm words, Susan.
2. What will you tell your soul the next time the enemy comes to accuse you?
That there is nothing I can do or should do to pay for my sin. The debt has been paid. I am to humbly yet boldly come to him and admit my sin, turn from it and accept that the payment is out of my control. I’m not the one who decides what the payment is and what I should do to convince God (or myself) that I’m sincere and the enemy certainly isn’t the one to do it, so there is no reason to listen to or believe him.
Terrific.
3. Read Hebrews 7:18-25 and see if you can explain why Jesus was better than:
A. The law in making us right with God
Because Jesus had an oath with God. A direct line.
B. The priests who interceded for us but who sinned and died
Because they were just like us. Jesus lives forever.
Laura – dancer, any update on how your mom is doing?
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
How people are turned off by “religion” but receptive to “a relationship with Jesus.” Case in point…Dee’s clarification that religion is rituals and rules…living trying to earn one’s way into heaven, and Christianity is knowing our need for Jesus, knowing that we could NEVER pay the price for our sin that Jesus paid in full. The gal had no interest in “religion” but was receptive to learning more about a relationship with Jesus.
Religion, rituals, rules = pharisee
2. What will you tell your soul the next time the enemy comes to accuse you?
Jesus is my Lord and Savior and in whom I trust…Jesus paid my debt in full.
3. Read Hebrews 7:18-25 and see if you can explain why Jesus was better than:
A. The law in making us right with God
The law was so impersonal I often feel for the people who had to sacrifice to come into covenant. Jesus was such a personal covenant and so much better way.
B. The priests who interceded for us but who sinned and died.
I can appreciate all the priests did when I read all they had to go through to go into the Holy of Holies but they were men with feet of clay. Jesus was the new unchangeable priest able to save from the uttermost and who better to intercede for us than He?
I wonder if when they sacrificed they felt clean or close to God or anything like we feel when we come to Him?
4. How is the New Covenant (Christ rescuing us and putting a new law in our hearts) better than the Old Covenant (our keeping the law)?
Because we don’t have to keep the law to be in covenant with Him, we are free to obey out of love and passion for Christ and all He did to save us! He has put a new law in my heart by giving me a new heart and His sacrifice makes me want to give Him all of my heart. It takes the work out of it. I don’t have to do anything nor can I do anything. He did all that was needed.
Praise God, he did, Kim!
I wanted to welcome VJKitt…I missed you. Love having you, here!
Hello Dee, and friends, another Canadian here who is finally jumping into the Bible Study. I’ve been following along ever since I watched, you, Dee on 100 Huntley Street interview about Idol Lies. I immediately ordered the book and read it in a few hours. Then turned to the internet and found this wonderful site. I’ve been reading a chapter or part of one of Hebrews in bed before sleep due to this study. And also re-reading Idol Lies at the same time.
I’m a retired nurse with bad back pain that is slowly making me bitter and angry, feeling like my quality of life is going downhill fast. But this study is helping me look past the pain and seek God’s purpose even for this. Thank you all for sharing,sincerely Phyllis. p.s. maybe next week I’ll answer some of the Bible study questions.
Phyllis, we are so glad to have you here! I am also a nurse, can understand the wear and tear it puts on your body, I’m so sorry for your back pain and I will pray for you for healing and comfort.
So glad to have you here Phyllis. You’ll find prayer support here too.
Oh Phyllis, so sorry for your pain. But I am thankful the Lord has brought you here.I appreciate your honest heart and am so glad you’ve decided to “jump in”!
Dear Phyllis, it is so hard to not get angry and bitter, because when we retire, we want to do so many things, that we could never do before. I’m praying for you, now and will continue doing so. Thank you for years of giving of yourself. I always admire nurse’s, as I could never have been one! Love you, sister in Christ.
Sisters — website may be in and out today because of servers down in the NE.
Praying for our NE sisters!
Dee, I am still without power here in NH; it is discouraging. That means no water as well (that us thr hardest part). I always thank God for the man who invented the hot water heater when these events occur!
My husbands family is also suffering in NJ, however everyone is alive. They are telling my sister-in-law there, it might be 15 days before they get power. The storm hit right in the town (barrier island) where my mother-in-law lives. Luckily she evacuated on Sunday. Houses were loosened and were floating down the main highway on the island. Fires occurred and couldn’t be put out. I hope everyone listened and left before it hit. The “jersey shore” that everyone knows is gone. The pier at seaside heights was destroyed, which is about a mile from my husbands family’s house. it was built in about 1878 (I think), at least late 1800′s originally. A house was floating down the bay and hit a bridge. Crazy stuff!
Praying Laura, for your in-laws
Dee, I couldn’t get on all morning so I figured the server must be in the NE..Oh Yes, PRAYING for our sisters there!
I don’t know if it was down, here in NE as I wasn’t on today! Maybe Kim knows.
Thank you all for “listening” to me and for your prayers and encouragement. I felt a little embarrassed airing that,and knowing that it’s nothing compared to the suffering and hardships some of you endure, like Joyce and Mellany and what you are going through with you daughter’s situation, Diane.
I did come to the Lord this morning and talked about the whole thing with HIm. I called upon the truths I find in Hebrews that we are learning, and from Keller’s sermons. I think some of what my husband said to me was truth, but it was truth without mercy, and it left me feeling stripped bare, uncovered, and nowhere to turn. So this morning I went before Him and the eyes of Him who will judge me, and I know He sees everything about me, and honestly, I had to confess pride, and a spirit of entitlement and not being more grateful and thankful for what I have, for taking things for granted. My husband has a grudge against me, but as my pastor said on Sunday, it is still my move. And I can also be a grudge-holder and be unforgiving of him. But thank the Lord He doesn’t uncover me and leave me naked, He has given me a Great High Priest who identifies with me in my weakness and sin yet was without sin. So I came to HIm this morning to ask for mercy and grace. Oh how I need His mercy and grace.
My husband left me feeling like the woman in last week’s picture of Gomer, looking down and ashamed,without the protective covering. But I know that is not the truth. Jesus sees me in my wretchedness and extends His cover over me. His banner over me is love. I also finished listening to last week’s sermon and the last part helped give me more truth. Jesus separates the sinner from the sin. I need to cling to His approval and know that He doesn’t forgive me and love me if I somehow earn it. I may never “jump high enough” to earn my husband’s approval, but I have to cling to Jesus’ approval and love for me.
I also am going to go back and listen to something I caught the end of on the radio yesterday on Focus on the Family – it was Julie Slattery talking with June Hunt about forgiveness. I still don’t have the right to hold onto unforgiveness. I “stonewall”, as Dee describes in her book Idol Lies. Please pray for me to learn to forgive and to let Jesus take over my life in this area.
SUSAN — SO GLAD YOU ARE SPEAKING THE TRUTH TO YOUR SOUL.
Oh Susan, Thank you for both of your posts. I’m so sorry for the pain you experience at home, and I am so thankful for YOU. I agree with Dee– so glad you are speaking truth to your soul. You are such a model of perseverance. I’m praying God will continue to comfort and strengthen you. I prayed for you during the wee hours of the morning (when I’m usually conked out!), and you’ve been on my heart today. I’m praying that your husband will get a glimpse of you as God sees you. You do reflect His Glory. Love you!
Susan, don’t be sorry, cause I’ll feel sorry again too! I love your heart and your forgiving soul. May I learn from you! Love and prayers coming your way:)
3 A. The law in making us right with God
Jesus will be our intercessor forever. We can go straight to the throne.
B. The priests who interceded for us but who sinned and died.
Their flesh was weak, like ours, so they sinned also. There is no longer a need for daily sacrifices for their own sins and ours. IT IS FINISHED !!!
4. How is the New Covenant better than the Old Covenant?
God is with us, in our hearts and minds. We must tap into that great resourse, and not only listen, but obey. He is with us every step of the way.
Love that IT IS FINISHED!!!
Love this, VJ…”God is with us, in our hearts and minds. We must tap into that great resourse, and not only listen, but obey. He is with us every step of the way”.
So glad you are here.
3. Read Hebrews 7:18-25 and see if you can explain why Jesus was better than:
A. The law in making us right with God
Jesus is better than the law b/c he was completely sinless although he was a man and God. The law pointed out/their sins and ours if we are not saved. The ten commandments we were not able to keep and they pointed a way to live or at least try to live up to. Surrending our lives to Christ and resting in Him and trusting in Him is better than trying to keep the law b/c we are incapable of doing so.
The Jewish people knew that each year they had to kill a lamb that was perfect according to the law. The priest laid their hands on the lamb and they confessed their sins and then the lamb was killed. Each year they would have known that their sins required a blood sacrifice. Christ Jesus died for all of us. Christ Jesus – God – would die for me is humbling and I am so greatful. Jesus died according to the law. He did not make himself greater than the law but in His death He triumped over the law and His enemies. In doing so He gave me my freedom from my sin nature and I am grateful. My sins and your sins required His death so that we can be with the Father. Again there is no name in heaven or on earth that is greater than the name of Jesus. Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.
God requires our hearts, our minds, our bodies. Some Jews in the N.T. just like some Christians now adays know how to preform, how to hide, how to look righteous w/o being righteous. They offer up sacrifices to God but their hearts are far from Him. They make noises like they are perfect but they are not perfect in him. Christ Jesus had the most scathing comments for the self-righteous, for the leaders who were making it impossible for the people but such compassion for the hurting, the lost, the damaged, the cripple, the blind, the demon posessed etc. Remember He said that if u have seen me u have seen the father. I find that stmt. very sobering b/c if u reject Jesus u reject the father.
Have u ever watched when someone first is saved. The joy, the freedom, the questions, the hope, the tears. Then sometimes slowly we make them into Christians similar to what the Jews were trying to do when Jesus walked the earth.
U sit like this, u dress like this, u talk like this, u believe like this, etc. We try to become the Holy Spirit instead of just welcoming people in and accepting them and loving them.
I find it curious that sinners all ran to Jesus. Yet with Churches or Christians in general no one runs to them. Do we offer the words of life? I know that I try but sometimes I fail miserably but then I remember God’s grace and mercy and I get up again.
Surrender my will, my desires and ask that God’s will be done in my life.
Churches and even sometimes me/us, sit empty, offering no hope, just the impossible picture of what we are supposed to be w/o offering the words of Jesus and perfect freedom. Sometimes we offer perfect judgement like the Jews of old we have perfected the art of being self-righteous but our hearts are far from Jesus.
We are supposed to have the words of life like Jesus. We are Jesus’s ambassadors here on earth. He said we would do greater things than him. Yet have we?
I know that I have not. I long to. To be part of something greater than me. I know the times when I have been brave enough to attend Church and invite people home the one’s I felt most comfortable with were the one’s that spoke of Jesus.
I long to speak of Jesus. Not programs – how this program, song, worship leader, pastor etc – is going to make a difference. I get very nervous when I hear leadership in churches extoling the virtues of their church. Esp. how loving they are. If they are loving they would not need to say so. The evidence would be the people flocking to the church. The evidence would be self-evident for all to see.
In the N.T. when people lifted up the name of Jesus many people were saved, healed and delivered. Now we think we have to dress a certain way, look a certain way, exclude certain people, judge certain people but do we really need to? Aren’t we just commanded to love one another, pray with one another, bear one another’s burdens, share our wealth with one another. That makes everything so much simpler. Sin is just sin and we are all sinners saved by the blood of the Lamb.
The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Jesus, Yeshua, Lord of Lords, Son of Man, the Bright Morning Star, the Lion of Judah, Adonai, Prince of Peace, Jehovah-Jireh, El-Shaddai, King of Kings, Lily of the Valley,
Jesus was a Jew, a Jewish Messiah, He came to His own but they forsook Him. Some believed mostly the apostles but then others esp after his death. Even his brothers believed. I find it remarkable how much Jesus fulfilled the law. Not one i nor one dot was changed. He fulfilled the law and became Lord of Life forever.
The quandry in modern day Christianity is the fact we do not understand the fact that Jesus was a Jew.
Even when He was dying as the eldest son He was taking care of His mother Mary. To John He said behold your mother. To His mother behold your son.
Even when He was dying the Centurion believed.
Everything about Jesus I find remarkable and everyday I am learning more.
I hunger for that and I marvel at my King.
B. The priests who interceded for us but who sinned and died
Jesus is our High Priest. Interceding before the throne room of grace. Our eternal advocate. We need no other. We are not under the law but under grace.
Read Hebrews 8:8-13
4. How is the New Covenant (Christ rescuing us and putting a new law in our hearts) better than the Old Covenant (our keeping the law)?
B/c we know longer have to strive to keep the law. To try to do. Christ Jesus did it all and as we surrender to Him on a daily basis, read his word, etc. Christ changes us. We do not need to strive to please or to change, Christ Jesus changes us as we surrender daily. He gets all the glory, not us. I marvel in His goodness and mercy. I will boast in the name of the Lord!
So many good thoughts Mellany, “I long to speak of Jesus. Not programs – how this program, song, worship leader, pastor etc – is going to make a difference”
-so glad you are here
Praise God! I can tell Christ has changed you, through much surrendering daily, Mellany…Bless you!
3. Read Hebrews 7:18-25 and see if you can explain why Jesus was better than:
A. The law in making us right with God-
The law gave us the model to follow, but had no power. It could not make us perfect, it could not change hearts. The Law was the shadow, Christ the realization. Only Christ, having all power, is able to give us a new identity, a new standing before God—and therefore allowing us to be in relationship with God, adopted as His children.
B. The priests who interceded for us but who sinned and died
The priests were able to understand our weaknesses, and intercede-but only as a finite and sinful man. Christ, also understands our weaknesses and empathizes with us, but He intercedes for us as the Eternal Son of God, without sin, without beginning or end.
Read Hebrews 8:8-13
4. How is the New Covenant (Christ rescuing us and putting a new law in our hearts) better than the Old Covenant (our keeping the law)?
We can’t keep the law! Under the law, we were under performance, religion. Always wondering—have I done enough? Did I mess us too much this last time…there is no security, always shaky ground. But Christ, the SOLID rock—new foundation, unchanging. He has made us perfect. Our standing depends on Him and not us. No more doubt or questioning—He took care of all of it—for good.
5…this Jeremiah passage is just incredible–stopping to rest in that now
Praise God, Elizabeth! I’m loving, reading this Jeremiah passage too!
Just couldn’t help but post this as I’m looking at Jeremiah 31:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-tXgsBq418
Indelible Grace “O Love that Will Not Let Me Go”
Halfway through this beautiful song, you shared, says..”The joy that seeketh me through pain”. His joy does seek me through the pain, each day. Thank you, Elizabeth
I have loved that line — ministered so to me in high tide grief.
sweet Joyce–so thankful it ministered to you. I had hesitated to take up too much space with lyrics–but want you to have them:
1. O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
2. O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
3. O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
4. O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.
Thanks, Elizabeth! I love this hymn.
traditional version for us old-timers :) http://youtu.be/ZiZ9xXoZ1Mk
This is beautiful too, Renee
Thank you Elizabeth!
The words of this song, especially the verse about joy seeking me through pain reminds me of a “pearl” that God gave me in the midst of a very tense time last week with Krista’s situation. God sent me a rainbow briefly out of the kitchen window. One of the extended family saw it and said that she had heard that something bad always happens when you see a rainbow, but I KNEW that it was God’s way of saying that he loves us and is with us even when things look really bad. He makes beauty out of ashes.
O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
This verse is so timely. Thanks for posting the words, Elizabeth. I had not had the time to listen to the song and did not think of this verse.
oh Diane–I LOVE your “pearl”, that touched my heart. I am continuing prayers for you all–I’m sure it is a long road ahead, but I am thankful your eyes are seeing His love for you amidst this storm.
3. Read Hebrews 7:18-25 and see if you can explain why Jesus was better than:
A. The law in making us right with God
Jesus is better than the law in making us right because…
the law has no ability to make anything perfect…Jesus covers me; when God looks at me, He sees Jesus’ perfection rather than my sin.
B. The priests who interceded for us but who sinned and died
Jesus is better than the priests who interceded for us but who sinned and died because…
Jesus’ priesthood is a solemn oath from God, an intermingling of truth and mercy…Jesus’ priesthood will not end, it will go on forever.
4. How is the New Covenant (Christ rescuing us and putting a new law in our hearts) better than the Old Covenant (our keeping the law)?
The old covenant required us to follow the law, unfortunately we were (and are) unable to stay within the boundaries of the law; we are all guilty of sinful disobedience. If our redemption depended upon our efforts, we are all headed for hell’s fires. The new covenant puts our dependence upon Jesus…He is the only one who lived free of sin despite all worldly temptations. He gave His life for my redemption. Rather than “having” to be obedient, I “want” to be obedient.
Love this… “If our redemption depended upon our efforts, we are all headed for hell’s fires”. Thank you Jesus!
I want to be obdient too, Nanci
3. Read Hebrews 7:18-25 and see if you can explain why Jesus was better than:
A. The law in making us right with God
Well, my answer without reading the Hebrews passage is that the law can’t make us right with God because we can’t keep it.
Ok, I read the passage: I hope those verses are just saying that the law is weak and useless in making us right with God. If the law is “weak and useless” altogether, that’s weird (I could even spout off some words from Luther where he talked about the purpose of the law)
B. The priests who interceded for us but who sinned and died
Jesus is better than the priests because He didn’t sin and He is alive. “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” It’s comforting to know that He always lives to make intercession for us.
Read Hebrews 8:8-13
4. How is the New Covenant (Christ rescuing us and putting a new law in our hearts) better than the Old Covenant (our keeping the law)?
Hmmm… it IS inside of us rather than written on stone. We will know Jesus firsthand and be forgiven by Him rather than going through priests (who die).
I looked at “The Message” because I was feeling clueless on this passage.
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
After those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws into their minds,
And I will write them on their hearts.
And I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”
SOOOO, does this mean that WE are the house of Israel????????????
Sincerely,
Clueless in the Midwest
I’ll join you in being clueless in the midwest!! Thank you for looking in “The Message”..these verses sound beautiful in it.
Glad your not up so late tonight!
Okay Clueless — first of all, what are you doing answering (1st response) without reading the passage. :-)
(You so often give me glee.)
The law is powerless to make us obey, but true and righteous altogether. If you read Idol Lies, I gave the example of my father’s commandment not to ride my bike down steep Ridge Hill. Good law. But powerless to keep me from doing it.
We are grafted in to the House of Israel, to the body of Christ, to the vine. Not all would agree, but I believe that is the clear teaching of Scripture.
Also, Renee — look at Romans 9:25-26 and see the fulfillment of Hosea’s prophecy — the people who were not His people (Gentiles) are His people.
Thanks, Dee! I was feeling incredibly lazy when I answered the first part of the question! I’d never even thought of answering a question without looking up the passage; since it was so odd for me, I wrote a play by play report! Maybe I’m learning shortcuts from my students. It’s probably not too fair to blame them because I think I discovered or created every shortcut in the book as a student!!
I was thinking about being “being grafted in” when I asked the question because I was wondering if that was the same as being part of the “household.” The tree (grafting) and the household analogies weren’t transferring in my brain. Then, I started thinking about adoption and that clicked with the household image (duh!).
Still need to look up the Hosea passage. I PROMISE that I will :) Just got home from work and have some catching up to do here.
Read Hebrews 8:8-13
4. How is the New Covenant (Christ rescuing us and putting a new law in our hearts) better than the Old Covenant (our keeping the law)?
We love Him and are not trying to just follow the rules. We think of Him, of His suffering for us, and we agonize over His pain. We are connected with the new covenant. The old covenant is just a guideline that doesn’t have “heart.”
5. Read the following passages and choose one that quickens you. Stop. Meditate. Pray it back putting your name into it. Let me show you with the first — but then you find one and make it yours.
D. Jeremiah 31:31-34
You failed Rebecca though I love you like a Husband loves His wife, but I have made a new covenant and I have put my instructions deep within you and have written them on your heart. I am your God Rebecca and you are mine. I have and will forgive your wickedness and remember your sins no more.
I HAD TO ADD VERSE 35-37 and insert my name:
It is the Lord who provides the sun to light the day and the moon and stars to light the night, and who stirs the sea into roaring waves. His name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and this is what he says: “I am as likely to reject Rebecca as I am to abolish the laws of nature! ”This is what the Lord says: “Just as the heavens cannot be measured and the foundations of the earth cannot be explored, so I will not consider casting you away Rebecca for the evil you have done. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
I have a retreat near Baltimore this weekend and they seem inclined to go ahead. We may be fine. Would you pray that the retreat committee — and it seems to be primarily the coordinator, would hear from the Lord? And that if I am to go, He would give me His peace and confidence to do so? My tech gal would have to travel from New York and I don’t want her taking any chances — so that He would guide her too, and provide a back-up if we need one. Please just pray that we know.
Dear Father, we come before You and praise You that You hold all things in Your mighty hands. We ask that You would give wisdom to all those making decisions regarding this retreat. We ask that You would lead them completely. Give them discernment Lord. We also lift up Dee’s tech gal from NY and pray Your protection over her, grant her Your discernment. We lay all of this at Your feet–we ask that You would take it, guide all the details, and be honored in all decisions. Please put Your hedge of protection over all involved.
And again Father we lift up all those in the East affected by this great storm. Help us know how to be Your hands and feet in ministering to them. I pray hearts will be drawn to You, the Father of the one UNSHAKEABLE kingdom. In Your Name we pray~
Thank you dear Elizabeth. I so appreciated that you simply prayed…
Yes Elizabeth, Thanks so much for praying..Lord I agree with Elizabeth and acknowledge with her that you are in control-Oh God we thank you that you do hold all things in your hands yet often in our frailty it is easy to turn to our control idol. Help us to refrain from turning from you and rest in you. Thank you that you take all circumstances and redeem them. You are our great redeemer full of love full of Grace and mercy. Regardless of which way you want us to go with this we will trust you and rest. Give the event coordinator wisdom and peace and great counsel from her pastor and others who are helping her with this retreat so that she can hear you. In your sweet name we pray, amen..
Yes Dear Jesus, Amen…Thank you, Elizabeth and Rebecca
Dee, Praying that all of you will know… and that you and your tech person will have His peace and confidence to act on how He is leading you. I respect that you do not (or did not seem to at the time you posted) have confidence about going. Airline schedules seem so messed up now that even if travel is fine in Baltimore, getting there might be challenging (and even impossible for your tech person to travel from NY by Friday).
Please keep us posted.
Ok… I’m editing this and adding more because I’m feeling bossy. Dee, I’m concerned not only about travel hassles, but travel hassles in conjunction with the fact that you just had surgery. Do you feel up to the combination of potentially challenging travel with the surgery recovery combo? Certainly neither the surgery nor the storm were anticipated when you committed to speaking — I guess I’m particularly concerned about the implications of recent surgery.
6. Why is the new covenant so much better? Because it relies on Christ instead of ourselves! Idols cannot be removed — only replaced. If you haven’t seen it yet, I think you’ll be inspired by the testimonies in Video 7 of Idol Lies on my website. If you have time, watch and comment. http://www.deebrestin.com/idol-lies/
Loved this. I could watch Karla Faye’s testimony a million times and always come away in awe of Him. I could tell Jesus replaced her idols when she said, I tell people if they go to church for the wrong reasons let God deal with that-control. Also after she gave her life to Him she knew she had to tell the truth about her crimes and she was more in fear of not doing so before God than she was fearing the consequences of telling the truth-comfort and control. I love how she said she wanted the peace and joy she saw in other believers in that church service because that is similar to my experience before I knew Christ-and when she said she didn’t ‘feel’ forgiven, more so she felt His love wrap around her like a cocoon and it was like he ripped the evil out of her by the roots.
I love Linda Strom’s testimony of how she and her husband gave up their comfort in life to minister in prisons and how she saw that God worked through Karla Faye Tucker to teach her. So good and a great example of replacing idols with Jesus.
Yes — I love Linda’s testimony in the Idol Lies video.
I love the picture of the priest interceding at the arc of covenant. It is such a sweet picture of our prayers being the incense that is every before our God. That pleasing aroma. And how Christ our High Priest stands before the Father ever interceding on our behalf. It is just such a good picture of that. He spurns my heart so much at His goodness and how all things point to Christ in the Bible.
Oh and Dee how are you doing, feeling, healing?
2. What will you tell your soul the next time the enemy comes to accuse you? I like what Martin Luther said, what of it?! I have a high priest who stands in my place and that is all that matters. He has traded places with me! I paraphrased the second half.
Monday-Wednesday Bible Study
3. Read Hebrews 7:18-25 and see if you can explain why Jesus was better than:
A. The law in making us right with God – The law never made anything perfect, Jesus did this once and for all.
B. The priests who interceded for us but who sinned and died – They died their priesthood could not last, Jesus priesthood lasts forever.
Read Hebrews 8:8-13
4. How is the New Covenant (Christ rescuing us and putting a new law in our hearts) better than the Old Covenant (our keeping the law)? Because we cannot keep it. He credits us with that righteousness through His keeping of the law. He gave it and put it in our hearts. The other brings death.
B. Jeremiah 31:12-13 This meant much to me! They will come home and sing songs of joy on the heights of Jerusalem.
Angela will be radiant because of the Lord’s good gifts—
the abundant crops of grain, new wine, and olive oil,
and the healthy flocks and herds.
Her life will be like a watered garden,
and all her sorrows will be gone.
13 Angela will dance for joy,
and all will join in the celebration.
I will turn her mourning into joy.
I will comfort her and exchange her sorrow for rejoicing.
Lord, thank you though there is deep sorrow here with sickness and everything bad here now there is a day you will bring me home and all that is bad will be bad no longer. You will bring joy of the deepest and greatest kind and oh the celebration! Thank you Lord.
Love how you put your name in Angela — yes, yes, yes.
I really am feeling much better — thank you!
Praying too about the retreat that you all would have wisdom peace and confidence in what is right and how to proceed. that all parties would be in unity and agreement. That the Holy Spirit will quicken you specifically and that a great harvest comes however it goes.
Thank you so very much Angela. I am going — have some anxiety, but am giving it to Him. The retreat committee has a peace I should come. Also would love prayers for Karen who driving from New York to do the tech. Thank you, Angela.
Praying for you and Karen and all involved, Dee; Please be careful.
5 D. Jeremiah 31:31-34
My daughter you will know me firsthand and I’ll wipe the slate clean for you. I’ll forget you ever sinned! ~Almighty God.
6. Why is the new covenant so much better? Because it relies on Christ instead of ourselves! Idols cannot be removed — only replaced. If you haven’t seen it yet, I think you’ll be inspired by the testimonies in Video 7 of Idol Lies on my website. If you have time, watch and comment. http://www.deebrestin.com/idol-lies/
The new covenant is so much better because I will never live up to my end of the bargain.
I enjoyed hearing Karla Faye talk. If you haven’t watched her entire story you may do so on Netflix. It is very good and so inspiring. Karla stuns me when she speaks of not regretting the murders until God’s love came to her. It gives some insight to the darkness of sin.
Isn’t that so striking with Karla!
Turn back to Hosea 2:16-23 and describe the glorious day that is coming and express what this means to you.
This verse is describing the unique covenant relationship we have in Christ and how it is very much like a marriage.
Right now here on earth we call Him “Master” (vs 16) because are commanded to obey Him. Yet in that day when we cross over to meet Him he will be as a “Husband” and our ties will be eternal.
The only marriage in Heaven will be the marrige of us (believers) to Christ.
It will be the only marriage I will ever know, but the best! (lol)
I guess you can call this God’s marriage plans!
It surely is! An a great marriage.
I had a chance to listen to the first sermon today so I thought I’d go ahead with my very sketchy notes ;)
“The Advocate” Tim Keller
Jesus is my advocate. What does that mean?
1.Why do we need an advocate?
Jesus intercedes for us. This doesn’t just mean something priests do—it also means to legally appear as the representative of someone who is on trial, in a court setting.
When we consider what we really look like—we think of what we hope we look like, but we’re afraid we don’t. We do this physically, and also with our inward persona-morally, and spiritually. We can’t not care about this—none of us can live with just our own evaluation of ourselves. We live our entire life trying to prove ourselves.
Whether one admits with the mind or not, the heart knows there is a god. All my efforts to get approval prove that ultimately I am looking for validation from God.
We cannot be our own advocate. Hebrews tells us we don’t have to be. Jesus is the Advocate we need.
2.How is Jesus the advocate?
Jesus lives forever. He has a permanent priesthood. He can save completely those who come through Him.
What do I look like in court? I look like my advocate. His representation will make or break me. He is my substitute. *This is what it means to be a Christian: Jesus is not just my example; He is my Advocate, my substitute! Many believe they are Christians because of what they do and they understand he died for them—but they don’t get that He is our Advocate. He stood before the only court that counts, as my Advocate.
Jesus does not go before the Father every day and plead with God on our behalf. If we think that way, we assume there is some point where God will say ‘enough’. Jesus isn’t asking for mercy. He is asking for justice. I LOVE THIS POINT! He sacrificed for our sins once for all. He is enough. God demands justice. We ARE guilty. But Jesus made the payment-in full. It would be unjust to get two payments for the same debt. God’s justice demands acceptance of us throughout all eternity, based on Christ’s sacrifice!!! How can we think we need to prove ourselves?
Every day I do this—I try my best to be a good mom, wife, friend. But if I confess my sins, He is faithful and just to forgive my sins. **Jesus has changed things forever, so that now the very righteousness, the Law of God, demands God’s acceptance of me. All because of Him. It’s an infallible case for grace.
Jesus as our High Priests means my sin is dealt with, I am pardoned—but more. When the Father looks at me, He sees beauty. Keller says ‘has that sunk in?’, and I think, not really. Salvation is NOT just the pardon of sin; it means that in Him, I have it all. I am beautiful. I don’t want to miss the part that He is my righteousness.
Lloyd Jones says ‘are you ready to say you’re a Christian?’—if we say we don’t feel good enough—it is a denial of faith. The answer is that HE is good enough, and I am in Him. If I rely on my own performance—life is an unhappy roller coaster.
3. What difference will it make if we receive him as Advocate?
1) New identity-God looks at me and sees beauty.
2) Abolition of guilt- He is my worthiness, not just my pardon
3) Deeply undermines discouragement-doesn’t abolish the brokenness in my life on earth, but it does lessen the weightiness of my deepest discouragement.
4) Suffuses life with playfulness-it’s not about thinking less of myself, but thinking of myself less.
5) Courage-Stephen saw the majesty on high and Jesus standing at the right hand, as his Advocate. Stephen didn’t care anymore what the earthly court was doing—in the only court that matters He had an Advocate.
Good — not sketchy ;) — notes Elizabeth. I’ll get to the sermon EVENTUALLY. I’m particularly intrigued by “2) Abolition of guilt- He is my worthiness, not just my pardon” WOW — that is amazing!!!
Thank you for GOOD notes
Amen!
Beautifully written notes, Elizabeth. This line is stunning: It would be unjust to get two payments for the same debt.
Also, when I read this line, “The answer is that HE is good enough, and I am in Him” I pictured something in my spirit that was beautiful and that I have never thought of. I saw Jesus standing with a white robe and inside him was me – kinda in His chest or heart. I have pictured me with Him inside my heart all of my life but today I saw Him with me inside Him and I understand afresh what it is to be in him – safe! I feel overwhelmed by His presence and safety and those who know me knows I have searched most of my life for this eternal safeness!
I could not add anything to these notes so I will listen to the other sermon and comment.:)
oh Kim, this so blessed me. I LOVE the image you painted here, that truly comforts me today–to imagine us truly IN Him, IN His heart–there is something deeper in that illustration–thank you for sharing that.
I think what impacted me most in the sermon was that we know God is just. And His Law required payment that matched the crime. Only Jesus on the Cross could ever be enough, and He did it. So as a just Judge, God must forgive the entire debt, once and for all. It’s not mercy—it is the righteous response according to His Law. I’m just really taken in by this thought—the court room setting analogy really hit it home for me. The logical consequence-ness of it. We are cleared of all penalty, and the case can never be sent for “re-trial”!
But beyond even that thought, is the realization that I am no longer myself before God. I am Beauty. It REALLY is just unfathomable. Amazing Grace.
I am LOVING this Jeremiah passage so much. I know it’s not one of the ones you gave us, Dee, I hope it’s OK, but God really spoke to me with verse 9- “With weeping they shall come, and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back,
I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble…” (ESV)
Father, You bring me to repentance and draw me back to You. In You only I will find all that I need. The path in my life so often feels so unstable, so rocky. But You take my hand and lead me safely, showing me the way to go. You will not lead me astray. You will not allow me to stumble. Thank You.
I like that Jeremiah passage, need to ponder it… And I imagine that it is okay with Dee if you read Scripture passages she hasn’t assigned :-)
:-)
Oh Elizabeth, I love your prayer so much…”Father, You bring me to repentance and draw me back to You. In You only I will find all that I need. The path in my life so often feels so unstable, so rocky. But You take my hand and lead me safely, showing me the way to go. You will not lead me astray. You will not allow me to stumble. Thank You”.
Thank you, Lord!
4. How is the New Covenant (Christ rescuing us and putting a new law in our hearts) better than the Old Covenant (our keeping the law)?
It really is a different covenant (hadn’t thought of it that way before)
old — God took them by the hands
new — God wrote law on their minds and hearts
old — God found fault with the people, turned away from them because people didn’t remain faithful
new — “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
old — they reminded their neighbors to ‘Know the Lord,’
new — no need for the reminder because “they will all know me”
I don’t completely understand “they will all know me.” Does this refer to the future New Heavens/New Earth — or the Church (as in true Church/body of Christ). Obviously, it doesn’t mean that all of Israel follows Him now or that everyone on earth does. But it could mean that those who know Him do know Him (and that we don’t have to “be saved” 75 times or whenever we feel guilty!)
Another question!: (v. 8 “The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.”) If we are part of the household of Israel, who are the people of Judah?
Thinking about Israel and Judah … and those grafted in to the household of Israel. I’m often troubled that the plight of believers in Palestine seems ignored by the American “church” because we are supposed to support Israel “no matter what.” And these passages make me even more troubled. What I’m reading in Hebrews about the old and new covenants is making me wonder if some of the inferences about “Christian” political views related to the Middle East might be based on misinterpretation of Scripture??
Wish I could articulate this better; it’s more of a gut-level hunch, rather than understanding the Bible, at this point. I’m bipartisan :) and wonder how much people in both major U.S. parties read the Bible through the lens of their politics rather than view politics from a Biblical perspective.
I know what you are saying. I think of the passages in the New Testament that say a true Israelite is one who has faith in Christ. I am confused on Israel too, but feel we should be supportive of them — and there certainly are true Israelites there. But I’m with you in confusion.
Hello Dee
David Mainse (100 Huntley St) has a son-in-law who is Palestinian. He is a devout Christian who has a website. ” A light for all Nations”. When u have time and u can google it, u will find it to be so informative.
Also a book written by John Ankerberg and Jimmy DeYoung(Day of Discovery) is so informative, Israel Under Fire.
They are American writers and so informative and it is a good short read. When the nation of Israel was reformed it was the sound of prophecy being fulfilled.
I like what Anne Graham Lotz has to say. She was even born in the year Israel was born.
Anyhow, thank u for this blog Dee. I have ordered your book. I was praying for the Eastcoast and also for your retreat
I would like to go on a retreat
I have not done so for years.
Will u have one in Canada next year?
In christ
Mellany
Jer 31:3 I have drawn you, Renee, with UNFAILING kindness.
Very powerful, because I respond well to kindness, even VERY fickle kindness (from people who often are not very nice!). Therefore, “unfailing” kindness blows me away. He loves me so much that HE drew ME to himself.
also liked v 25 — and saw it in action today
Still haven’t caught up for Wednesday, but just read question 7: “This promise of a new law in our hearts is the now and the not yet.” This answers one of my questions :)
And Joyce, I just might add my pic if I can figure out how, but I probably won’t leave it up long before switching it to flowers from my back yard!
That’s okay, Renee! Each one of you, are like a flower in my flower garden anyway:)
:-)
7. Turn back to Hosea 2:16-23 and describe the glorious day that is coming and express what this means to you.
Right now I struggle because I hate that I fail every day, but I do and I want and look forward to perfect intimacy with Him.
-I will call him my husband. There will be no sin in the way, our intimacy will be perfect-in full! I often try to imagine this- the glimpses I experience of His presence now- a beautiful taste of what is to come, but oh what is to come is incomprehensible! I remember when Dee said it will be like life on this Earth was a one night stay in a bad hotel. :)
-My idols will be removed! I love how God says it-”I will remove the names of baals from her lips. No longer will they be invoked.” I could be wrong but see the removal of control, comfort and approval in v.19 and 20-and will fully rest in His love, compassion and faithfulness. no more battles with the flesh I will be completely and perfectly resting. To think that I had nothing to do with meriting this-He did it on the cross-He took on my hell, he was completely cut off from resting in God so He could have me in the now and perfect in the future. This fills me with gratitude and so compels me to daily persevere in turning from Idols, and the sin that entangles me-putting off myself, and putting on His Word. SO, I must remember the Gospel daily.
I love that passage too. Removing the names…
Sisters — I do need your prayers. I am going to Maryland. The retreat committee has a peace I should come. I have butterflies but it is so hard for me to break a commitment. Please pray for my safety, for Karen (my tech person driving from New York with her family) to be safe and my daughter Sally who is driving up to be safe. I think those are my butterflies. I need your prayers. Thanks so much. I leave early in the morning.
Will cover you with prayers of safety as well as you to be used in a mighty way!
Praying Dee, for you, Karen and her family and for Sally, and for anyone else traveling to be there…for traveling mercies and for blessings to be poured out at the retreat.
Woo hoo! Downloaded the Android app from Google Play. Thanks, Dee. That little app is packed full of value. Will be so convenient to watch videos.
Praying for your travel and speaking, Dee!
Renee, Thanks to you, I just did too! I didn’t know there were two apps available-one with her bible studies you can buy and the one for Idol Lies. The one for Idol Lies is listed as: “Dee Brestin, Subsplash Consultants.” That is what mine said via my Android. It is free! This will be great to be able to show the women I know what the book is about. :)
Oh, wow… I didn’t know about the Bible Studies one. I searched for her name and the Idol Lies one was on the top — didn’t look beyond that. The Bible Studies one will be VERY convenient. Thanks, Rebecca!
Gals, could I download this onto my Ipad? I am so not techie!
yes Kim–go to dee’s home page, and on the lower right side you’ll see it–in green. :)
And I have to credit Renee with my finally getting an ipad….a long while back she gave a great description of them, really helped me “get it”–thanks renee!
I am just now seeing this. Thanks!
8. What are your notes?
Can I just say “WOW”?? :-) I will shorten my notes and highlight what stood out to me:
We have such freedom from the chains of ourself, from the chains of our idols, from the chains of guilt. He is my advocate and He lives right now to advocate for me-it is finished-he doesn’t plead for mercy before God, but for justice because He died for my sins once and for all. They can’t be paid for twice. Real justice demands a verdict, and the verdict is in-Jesus is the payment for my sins period-I am forgiven and justified before God..He can’t go back and pay again-paying two times would be unjust. When God sees me He sees absolute beauty.
So, where do I stand before God regardless of when I sin here on Earth? As beautiful, righteous, worthy because Jesus paid the price. He is my advocate, my wisdom, my righteousness, my sanctification. I am totally accepted and loved beyond measure so I don’t need the love and acceptance of others to feel justified or proven in this life.
Abolition of Guilt-I loved how Keller said it is easy to walk around internally saying-wow I messed up but then say well I had a good month-but that is me being my advocate-won’t work..rather when those thoughts come I pull out a verse and say-I know my sins-God knows none. It gives you a new identity-abolishes guilt.
If I suffered a loss-it only undermines it-doesn’t remove it, so I can say-”IF Jesus is my worthiness, my glory; my righteousness changes that so I can handle the loss.”-Loved this.
I really liked the playfulness part: “Playfulness: if you are a moral person if someone criticizes you you are devastated or furious when someone critics you. If you are a real Christian when someone criticizes you you say, you don’t know the half of it-I am a whole lot worse than you think. If you ask a moral person if they are a Christian they get offended, but if you ask a real Christian they will say-what a joke, me a Christian I don’t understand why It is true, but it is true-God’s great joke.
Superior pride or inferiority and shyness or self conscience. Christianity gets rid of both. You are such a horrible sinner how can you be prideful, you are so loved how can you be shy-it should infuse your life with humor, why should you take yourself so seriously. It makes you think of yourself less.”
Finally, Jesus lives to intercede to do this-this is his life to do this with us.
Great notes too, Rebecca. I like this especially: “Playfulness: if you are a moral person if someone criticizes you you are devastated or furious when someone critics you. If you are a real Christian when someone criticizes you you say, you don’t know the half of it-I am a whole lot worse than you think.” This is exactly how I felt when I had to earn my salvation every day. I was in a constant state of guilt never living up! This was modeled by Dee when she went to lunch with the lady. She wasn’t afraid to say she sins daily.
Yes Kim, and I was able to share this with my dad today about me sinning daily,etc… God totally used all of this!! (look at my post below to get the update on my dad!) :-) :-) Love you..
Okay great
Praying Dee – for you, Karen, and Sally all making your way to the retreat.
Oh Lord, please oversee all the details of each woman’s travels to the retreat, and please provide them with Your protection. I also pray that the hearts of many will be ministered to at this retreat, especially in the wake of the disaster of this recent storm. Please give Dee wisdom, and quicken her in her spirit, and give her peace instead of butterflies and unease. I also pray for her physical health and strength, having had recent surgery – please give her Your supernatural strength and energy, yet give her some time for rest this weekend, too. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
3. Read Hebrews 7:18-25 and see if you can explain why Jesus was better than:
A. The law in making us right with God
This says that the law or the former regulation was weak and useless because the law made nothing perfect. Because I cannot keep the law, it offers me no hope of getting closer to a holy God. The law cannot change my sinful nature, either. But Jesus is a better hope. Through Him, I can be brought near to God, and I have the hope that I can change, from the inside out. It’s not behavior modification, it’s transformation.
B. The priests who interceded for us but who sinned and died
The human priests were flawed and they couldn’t live to make intercession for us forever because they eventually died. But God swore on oath that Jesus would be a priest forever. Jesus lives forever, and His priesthood is permanent. He intercedes for us without end.
Read Hebrews 8:8-13
4. How is the New Covenant (Christ rescuing us and putting a new law in our hearts)better than the Old Covenant (our keeping the law)?
The Old Covenant was given when the Israelites came out of Egypt. It was the Law, and they were to obey and keep it. But they couldn’t. The same is true of us today. We can’t keep the Law. But when Jesus comes to live on the inside of us when we receive Him at salvation, it’s like our cells are infused with new DNA – reprogrammed. The law that used to be external to us now becomes internalized – it is in our hearts. It’s no longer a force exterior to us exerting pressure on us to obey, but now it’s a a supernatural power on the inside of us that changes our nature and gives us the desire to obey.
7. Hebrews 8:9-10 is the core of Hebrews — you may notice that Hebrews 8:1 tells us the author is getting to the main point. This promise of a new law in our hearts is the now and the not yet. We do now have His Spirit within us if we are His. Yet we still fail Him. Turn back to Hosea 2:16-23 and describe the glorious day that is coming and express what this means to you.
I like this from The Message Bible, “At that time this is God’s Message still— you’ll address me, ‘Dear husband!’
It means that we will meet face to face, embrace and we will never be apart and idols will never again separate me from His presence.
This lesson has meant so much to me as I am trying to get eternal security down deep in my heart so that I can share from my heart why I believe it and the joy that flows from it. Jesus truly came to end religion and He is ripping religiosity from the very core of my being and for that I am a new person.
SUSAN, and everyone else who is praying..I was able to share the Gospel with my dad on the phone on the way home from the store after work today. I can’t stay online long as I need to go pick up the boys from school, but wanted to ask you to pray..What is so COOL is that God opened up the door to explain that Jesus came to end religion. :-) :-) My dad said, “I don’t think God is going to send anyone to hell who is decent and has been good at least 80% of their life time.” I listened to two keller sermons at work-listened to each one two or three times..One was on “arguing with Jesus”.. and it fit in well with this weeks study..and God used it as I shared the Gospel with my dad More later..I have to go..Pray sisters! Love you and thanks so much!
Rebecca,
Praying now for you and your dad! I see how God is enlarging your heart and growing you in your knowledge and faith, and you preparing yourself by listening to Keller’s sermons so you can share with your dad. You will share with him out of the overflow of your own heart. I am praying that God will keep this door of communication open between you and your dad, that God will prepare his heart to listen and accept the truth that you share!
Oh Susan, thanks so much for being so faithful to pray..One of the things that I clearly remember and am forever thankful for is that my brother had a circle of friends praying for me before I came to know Jesus.
I sure am humbled and thankful God uses stumbling bumbling people like me-what a privilege! It is the moving of His spirit to open my dad’s heart. :-) I was reminded (ENCOURAGED BEFORE SATAN COULD HISS LIES) while listening to Keller at work that God gives us the desire for Him first, then we believe. How He woos us and draws us to him and gives us that panting thirst to know Him. Then God assured me while listening to my dad that my dad doesn’t want Him quite yet, he wants what God can give him-heaven or hell, and he is hung up on works righteousness. So I focused on relationship not heaven and hell, and focused on Jesus coming to end Religion-works righteousness. I didn’t need to ask my dad many questions for he was telling me where he was coming from-and God was whispering to me. I can’t really explain it-but I have never felt so free sharing the Gospel and have never felt so much love for my dad at the same time-for I too have been in his shoes and really am still nothing without Christ, yet beautiful because I am clothed in His righteousness..And so too my dad is nothing without Christ but can be His and be beautiful.
Okay, so now I will say again..God’s hand is strongly on Dee Brestin for without this blog, without the past two or three years of studying His word, fellowshipping with my sisters here-all of us being mentored by Dee and the Lord-I might not have been able to say I am free. I was so bound before I came here by my idols, by not pounding the Gospel in, by forgetting my real identity, yet now because of Dee’s mentoring and you ladies and all these Keller Sermons-God is profoundly moving in my life-and there is so much more to learn. I want like Karla Faye Tucker to say daily that God is pulling those roots up from the inside. I look forward to saying when I am in the word, ‘wow I didn’t see that before!’ truly less and less of me and more of Him.
Thank you for your witness, Rebecca.
Praying Rebecca!
Checking in to tell you that Karen (tech gal from New York) and I made it to retreat — Sal driving up this morning. Thank you for praying — and love your prayers for retreat. Sally is going to sing a solo at end…
Thank you all — will be reading your take-a-ways and comments later
Praying, Dee, that you will have an especially great God-anointed retreat.
Thankful you and Karen arrived safely – praying for Sally’s safety and for her singing!
Wonderful that Sally is singing a solo..is there any way it will be taped? Would love to hear it!
Praying..
Thanks for the update. God’s continued blessings to you all.
Praying for everyone’s safe return, Dee
I just finished listening to the sermon “The Advocate”. It is wonderful that Jesus stands as my advocate and His payment for my sins makes me seen by the Father only through Him. Jesus is an absolutely dazzlingly beautiful high priest and so I am a beauty in the Father’s eyes. I can be fully confident because I stand completely worthy in Him.
Diane,
So good..I took this away too and it helped me battle this approval idol at work-it is so easy to worry as you hear ladies talking bad about one another, that they will talk bad about me too-I know they will but honestly God has me in a place where I am confident of my standing before Him so I don’t care now-I really don’t. He also helps me at the same time have compassion for them for I too am sinful and no better than they are-I am justified before God and that is the only difference-I am His and He did that -I didn’t. SO..when I see them I see me and how frail I am too..I even chuckle inside sometimes at how we can be thinking we are superior and know it alls compared to almighty God-oh I stumble in this area too. ;) So really the drama that happens in the kitchen doesn’t steal my joy in Him-Isn’t He good?! Oh and especially that I can listen to Keller sermons as I work before and after the lunch lines. So sweet! :)
Rebecca, you inspire me!… “So really the drama that happens in the kitchen doesn’t steal my joy in Him-Isn’t He good?! Oh and especially that I can listen to Keller sermons as I work before and after the lunch lines. So sweet!” What a blessing you can listen at work!
Sorry–I’ve been praying-Dee for you and the retreat, so thankful you are there safe. Rebecca–I pray too for your Dad and am so encouraged by all He is doing.
My youngest got the stomach bug Wednesday night, and is now at the urgent care–they said strep and an ear infection! So thankful for doctors and that we are blessed to live in a country with care, and medicine, and open on Saturdays!
Julie, Chris–still thinking of you and hope you are well
Elizabeth…praying for your little one!
6. If you have time, watch and comment. http://www.deebrestin.com/idol-lies/
There was a peace that was evident in Karla…here she is on death row, awaiting the carrying out of her sentence, yet she is clearly at peace–a peace that defies human comprehension; a peace given by God.
I am always struck by the ways and means God uses to draw His people closer. In Karla’s mind, she was only going to the worship service for the benefit of socializing with no intention of true worship. Yet the Lord had other plans…He blessed Karla with a sense/awareness of His presence upon her entry to the worship area and continued to draw her ever closer to Himself through the prison ministry folks and His word.
Karla gives witness to the transforming power of God and His incomprehensible grace.
7. Turn back to Hosea 2:16-23 and describe the glorious day that is coming and express what this means to you.
The glorious day coming is when our relationship with God is truly one of mutual love, commitment, and respect symbolized by the marital union (“mutual” meaning that WE will finally love,are committed to, and respect God as we should). The world will be one of peace and love, free of fear.
8. What are your notes?
(I get SO much out of these Keller sermons; I again have pages of notes… I haven’t gotten to listen to the second sermon yet; these are notes from “The Advocate”)
~The image in our mind of what we look like (spiritually, character-wise) is what we HOPE we look like to other people, yet we are fearful that we don’t. It is impossible not to care about this…we can’t live satisfied with our own verdicts of self; we need pronouncements/verdicts from outside.
~No one can avoid turning their life into one big trial. Life is unavoidable a trial…efforts to get verdicts from others is actually a desire to get a word (verdict) from God. Whether one admists with their mind or not that there is a God, their heart knows.
~There will be an ultimate court where we will appear; we CAN’T argue for our self, if we do we will be bound to lose. Jesus is the advocate I will need at my ultimate trial.
~In court, I look like my advocate; my advocate appears in court on my behalf. An advocate’s success (or failure) is imputed to the client.
~To be a christian means…to be “in” Christ; union with Christ; Christ is my substitute/advocate/intercessor. Jesus is the ultimate advocate in the only court where it counts.
~Jesus doesn’t beg for my mercy from the Father…there is no manipulation or spin in Jesus’ advocacy for me. Jesus demands justice; Jesus sacrificed Himself for my sin debt and to get two payments for the same debt would be unjust. Therefore because of Jesus’ sacrifice on my behalf, God’s divine justice and righteousness demands my acceptance throughout eternity.
~The Father worked things out within the Godhead so my sin has been dealt with. Jesus’ sacrifice goes beyond forgiveness and pardon; when the Father looks at me, He sees an absolute beauty (i.e., Jesus in me; I in Jesus).
~The difference in my life because Jesus is my advocate:
An entirely new identity; a deeply secure identity in Christ.
Complete abolition of my guilt.
Discouragement and disappointment are undermined.
Playfulness and humor in knowing that I alone am completely unworthy, yet in Jesus completely worthy.
Courage
Hi Sisters –
So encouraged by your good notes — like Nanci’s above.
Great to hear about Rebecca’s dad, and peace in the kitchen.
Praying for Elizabeth’s youngest.
I didn’t know I had a Bible studies App Renee — where is it? :-)
Thank you so for your prayers for our travel to the retreat. It all went so well. The retreat went well — it was small and we had a huge financial loss, but I know there will be eternal rewards. It was so sweet to have Sally come — and no, no video of her singing — though you can see her singing a little at the end of video 6 on Idol Lies at her dad’s funeral…I’m spending a few days and election night with her before I return to Wisconsin.
Love to each of you
Dee, that was me who thought you had an app for bible studies-turns out I was mistaken. In “Google play” on my Android when I search your name it does list your books under ‘books’ but under ‘Apps’ it only lists the app for Idol lies. :) The great thing is that I can buy your books via my Android on “Googly Play”. :) I didn’t know that.
Rebecca,
I thought you may have been referring to the books when I couldn’t find the app either. But it was good to see the study guides in google play :)
5. This is the passage in Jeremiah 31 that really stood out to me: verses 18-20:
Restore me, and I will return, because You are the Lord my God.
After I strayed, I repented; after I came to understand, I beat my breast.
I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.
Is not Ephraim My dear son, the child in whom I delight?
Though I often speak against him, I still remember him.
Therefore My heart yearns for him, I have great compassion for him,
declares the Lord.
This speaks assurance to me when I feel like I’ve gone and messed up yet again. I can pray these words, “Oh Lord, restore me and I will return to You, because You are the Lord my God.” I know God is talking about Ephraim (Israel) here, yet how I long to hear these words of reassurance, too, “Susan, you are my dear daughter, the child in whom I delight. My heart yearns for you, I have great compassion for you, Susan.”
I would appreciate it if all of you would pray for my husband and I later today as we talk with Krista about her future. A lot is at stake – marriage, children. We need the Lord’s direction and we need the Lord to help Krista to think clearly about what she should do. Help us to we “wise as serpents and harmless as doves”. And “if anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of God …” Jesus, be our Advocate.
Oh Diane,
I can feel the weight of this through your words. I will be praying for you and Krista and your husband today. Yes, Lord Jesus, please be their Advocate today.
Father, we come before you and ask for blessing over Diane, and her husband as they talk with Krista today. Lord, please give them discernment for their words, the timing, and the direction You are leading them. Please prepare Krista’s heart for the discussion, that she would only see the love her parents have for her and that she would trust their wisdom. Lord I pray this would be a turning point for healing in her life and lead them to a “door of Hope”–that You would bring about beauty from brokenness in all of this. Strengthen Diane, please Lord, and comfort her with Your wings. In Your Name~
Oh Diane, I am and will be praying that He will be your Advocate and Wonderful Counselor and that each of you will be hearing Him. Love to you.
6. Comments on Idol Lies Video 7
The whole video is just amazing. From the first woman’s testimony, she said she has changed to keeping short accounts with God. Dee’s teaching that empty souls can’t keep evil out – we need to fill-up that space with God. Also this, “my sin demands from me a sacrifice”. The ending is very powerful when Dee says that when we cling to our idols, wwe experience the lesser life.
Karla and Linda’s testimonies are so powerful, you feel so drawn to them both. It is so hard to imagine Karla any different than what she was at the end of her life. Her words are so encouraging, she was so amazed and impacted by the fact that no matter what she had done, God loved her. It changed her.
7. Hebrews 8:9-10 is the core of Hebrews – you may notice that Hebrews 8:1 tells us the author is getting to the main point. This promise of a new law in our hearts is the now and the not yet. We do now have His Spirit in us if we are His. Yet we still fail Him. Turn back to Hosea 2:16-23 and describe the glorious day that is coming and express what this means to you.
This is a glorious promise of a glorious wedding, the day when I will say to the Lord, “You are my Husband”. He Himself will remove the names of my ‘other lovers’ from my lips. I will love Him with a heart that is undivided. Verses 19-20 to me are like the Lord speaking His wedding vows, that He will betroth me to Himself in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion, in faithfulness, and it is all forever. His vows really cover it all. I can hardly imagine what it will feel like to be so completely known, yet loved and cherished.
Sorry, was out of town and got behind (again) :(