Bible Study - Heart of Worship (6) - The Gathering for Worship - Hebrews 10:19-25; 13:12-15 - February 23, 2025

 

Bible Study – Heart of Worship (6) – The Gathering for Worship – Hebrews 10:19-25; 13:12-15 – February 23, 2025

Worshiping alongside others encourages us in our faith.

Our focus scripture is Hebrews 10:19-25; 13:12-15.

What is your most rememberable worship service?

For me it was Christian Business Men’s Committee (CBMC) gatherings, listening to fellow Chrisitan businessmen speak and teach GOD’S Word.

Let’s explore!!!

First, who wrote the book of Hebrews? Some say the Apostle Paul, others say Luke, Priscillia but the bottom line is we really do not know.

But what we do know is that the dynamics of worship changed after the passion of JESUS. Worship went from obeying the law and living under the Law, to living under GOD’S Grace through faith in JESUS.

People, in general, sought to be in right relationship with GOD. Jewish worship made a dramatic shift. There was no longer a need to shed the blood of animals or make various offerings. Faith in JESUS and HIS shed blood paid for all sin but a person must acknowledge and accept such a magnificent Gift.

Since the passion of JESUS, Spirit-born Christians, as recorded in 1 Peter 2:5 - ⁵ you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood^[a] to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ

Being a Spirit-born believer is vital to GOD’S redemptive plan. At the Instant you ask JESUS to forgive you for all of your sins and for JESUS to come into your heart, the power of GOD has already begun to work in you. GOD calls all to repentance and it is up to each person whether or not he/she accepts GOD’S Call.

What is the “unpardonable sin?” Bottomline, if you worry that you might have committed the “unpardonable sin.” GOOD NEWS, you have not because you would not care, if you have. That is the sad part. Your heart has grown callous and no longer hears the voice of GOD.

GOD has a plan for your life, and HE called you to serve HIM as HE directs you through the indwelling Holy Spirit. But you have to be Spirit-born before being redeemed from Hell by the shed blood of JESUS, through faith in JESUS.

What happens when a person is born again?

Did you ever think of being a Priest? A Priest has many vital functions in the Kingdom of GOD.

1.    1 Peter 2:5

you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

2.    1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

All who are Spirit-born are called to serve and GOD equips them.

Let’s read Hebrews 4:14-16 and 10:19-22: ¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to: confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.

Bottom line JESUS, no matter what sin we have committed or been tempted to commit, we have a Savior WHO says to us, “I KNOW,” “I was tempted in every way, but I overcame that temptation and so can you with MY strength. If you committed that sin, confess it because MY shed blood redeems you for its consequence.

When a person is “born-again” through faith in JESUS, what does that mean?

Hebrews 10:19-22:

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus— ²⁰ he has inaugurated^[e] for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)— ²¹ and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. 

The passion of JESUS changed the dynamics of worship. There was a major change from living under the law to living under GOD’S Grace through faith in JESUS.

Before the passion of JESUS, we read in Hebrews 9:22: ²² According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

JESUS gave HIS sinless life to redeem all who place their faith in HIM.

Since the crucifixion, death, bodily resurrection of JESUS, JESUS walked upon earth for 40 days. Then HIS resurrected body ascended into Heaven to take HIS seat at the righthand of HIS FATHER. To me this is GOD’S way of revealing to all who are born of GOD’S Spirit the assurance of their bodily resurrection and ascension into Heaven at the rapture of all Christians when JESUS returns to earth to gather all who are born of the Holy Spirit.

GOD established GOD’S grace for all who place their faith in JESUS. GOD gives the Holy Spirit to all who ask JESUS to forgive him/her for his/her sins and for JESUS to come into his/her life.

The ascension of JESUS is an example that the Spirit-born human will bodily ascend into Heaven at the rapture of the true church when JESUS returns to earth to establish HIS reign upon earth.

What takes place when any person places his/her faith in the passion of JESUS? First, he/she is born again in his/her human spirit by the Holy Spirit, which takes places quicker than the twinkle of the eye.

After a person has been born again in his/her Spirit, that is only the beginning of his/her Spiritual journey.

The Spirit-born person has been redeemed by the shed blood of JESUS. That person is a new person, born again but remains upon earth, who is called by GOD to serve in GOD’S kingdom. As such, GOD equips that person with Spirituals Gifts to minister upon earth. Why?

We read 1 Peter 2:9: ⁹ But you are a chosen race,^[I][j] a royal priesthood,^[k] a holy nation,^[l] a people for his possession,^[m] so that you may proclaim the praises^[n][o] of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

GOD’S redemptive plan went beyond salvation, but to ordain all who are born of the Holy Spirit to be priests.

Revelation 1:6: ⁶ and made us a kingdom,^[a] priests^[b] to his God and Father—to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Satan does not want Spirit-born Christians to know or think they are priests in GOD’S redemptive plan. All Spirit born people are called to minister as directed by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 4:14-16: ¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.

JESUS is not only a Spirit-born persons’ High Priest but their Brother through the miracle of Spiritual birth into GOD’S Family.

In Ephesians 4:11-12:

¹¹ And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip the saints (ALL WHO ARE SPIRIT BORN – That is you if you have asked JESUS to forgive you for your sins and asked HIM to come into your life, you are a Saint.) and for the work of ministry, to build up the body of WHO Christ, ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. ¹⁴ Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ.

Let’s read Hebrews 10:23-25:

²³ Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.

Why would a Spirit-born person waver? Simply, the earth is a battlefield. Satan still walks upon earth to deceive and discourage even the Saints. So, stay focused upon who you are in JESUS because JESUS has defeated Satan. 1 John 4 - ⁴ You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the one who is in you (JESUS) is greater than the one who (Satan) is in the world.

JESUS has won the victory!

What does that mean? Satan does not want any Spirit-born person to believe that. So, what does a Spirit-born person do?

Claim the victory as written in 1 John 4:4.

Let’s read Hebrews 13:12-15:

¹² Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the gate, so that he might sanctify^[e] the people by his own blood. ¹³ Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing his disgrace. ¹⁴ For we do not have an enduring city here; instead, we seek the one to come. ¹⁵ Therefore, through him (JESUS) let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. 

GOD does not leave those who are Spirit-born helpless. GOD equips those who are Spirit-born with Spiritual Gifts. Some of these Gifts are given in 1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts:^[a] brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be unaware. ² You know that when you were pagans, you used to be enticed and led astray by mute idols. ³ Therefore I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

⁴ Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are different ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person. ⁷ A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good: ⁸ to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, ⁹ to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of tongues,^[b] to another, interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.

Pay special attention to verse 11 – “As HE WILLS.”

There are many more Spiritual Gifts that GOD gives us when needed.

In Galatians 3: ²⁷ For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ. ²⁸ There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male, and female, since you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.

As a Spirit-born person, you are equipped to minister upon earth until GOD calls you home to be with HIM, JESUS, and all other Saints.

What does the Apostle Paul reveal to those who are Spirit-born in 1 Corinthians 2: ⁹ But as it is written,

What no eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no human heart has conceived—
God has prepared these things for those who love him.^[c]

How did the Apostle Paul know this?

2 Corinthians 12:2 I know a man in Christ who was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know; God knows.

It is believed that this man was the Apostle Paul.

I have a friend who was in an automobile accident and was taken to the hospital and later pronounced dead and his body was delivered to the basement of the hospital to be picked up by the funeral home. A nurse happened by his body and saw his eyelid move and she began resuscitation, and he was brought back to life.

He told me that there were no human words for him to describe what he saw in Heaven.

Yes. There is life after death. If you care to read of the experience I had while alive and driving down I-85, check the actsclass.blogspot.com upper lefthand corner is a search. Put in Mrs. Green.

Blessings!!!