Phil reminded us that God's desire is for us to endure with him despite the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual stumbling blocks that are put in our way.
[Apologies for the background noise. Due to technical issues this morning, this recording was done in a different way to normal. ]
A "POWERFUL" PRAYER FOR BLESSING - Hebrews 13 v 20-21
Intro
•Meditating on these 2 verses for some time
•The writer of Hebrews final words / prayer of blessing for the reader
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/heb.13.20-21.ESV
Topics in these 2 verses
1.The God of Peace
2.Jesus is…
a.Our Good Shepherd
b.Our Chief Shepherd
c.Our Great Shepherd
1.The Blood Covenant Endures Forever!
2.Salvation based on the covenant
3.“Make you fully complete,” or “fully fitted”
4.The Goodness of God to works in us
5.Real Holiness
6.The Glory of the Son
The area that God has been speaking to me about from these 2 verses is about being equipped or Fully Fitted or Complete
Commentators put it this way
“Equipped by God for a Superior Life In Christ”
God works in us, so we can work it out
for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:13
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:36
There are many areas of equipping we could look at
•Ministry Gifting
•Spiritual Gifts
•Fruits of the Spirit
•Resources - Money, time, opportunity
Photo: Equipped for a day at Beach !!! -
•Speaks of Pleasure, Fun,
Although you can look at this picture in another way
•Carrying so much stuff of our own for our own comfort or pleasure, if God was to try and give us something we could not possibly be able to pick it up.
Spurgeon - “We ought to request earnestly that we may be qualified, adapted, and suited to be used of God for the performance of His will.”
one area God spoke to me about and Probably not what you thought we needed to be equipped with and I certainly didn’t
1.Endurance - (Side 2)
Lamentations 3 is entitled - The Faithfulness of God
When you start reading you don’t immediately get that
It starts with a lot of negative complaining, grumbling, self pity,
so I say, “My endurance has perished; so has my hope from the Lord.”
Lamentations 3:18
Jeremiah knew what is was to lose hope and the feeling he could not carry on, A great prophet appoint to speak to the nations yet was found in this place of despair and defeat
For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
Hebrews 10:36
being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;
Colossians 1:11
and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
Romans 5:4