CRCF\u201d\u201d8\/30\/09<\/p>\n
The Key to Faithfulness
\nHebrews 4:14-16<\/p>\n
Introduction– cheapest essay writing service<\/a> Pakistan: Eight Believers Killed What challenges your faithfulness to God today?<\/p>\n Probably nothing like what our family members in Pakistan face. Maybe it\u201d\u2122s a struggle with greed\/covetousness. Maybe it\u201d\u2122s a struggle with despair because you\u201d\u2122ve lost your job. Maybe it\u201d\u2122s the pain of broken family relationships that now seem irreparable. Maybe it\u201d\u2122s an enslavement to a particular sin that regularly takes you down.<\/p>\n As we look at Hebrews 4:12-16 this morning we\u201d\u2122ll find the key to faithfulness to our Savior.<\/p>\n Hebrews 4:12-16 (NLT): \u201cFor the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thought and desires. It exposes us for what we really are. Nothing in all creation can hide from him. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes. This is the God to whom we must explain all that we have done. That is why we have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to him and never stop trusting him. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.\u201d<\/p>\n God will help us live faithfully when we ask Him.<\/p>\n I want us to see 3 truths about asking God for help to live faithfully:<\/p>\n 1.\tYou and I should ask God for help to live faithfully every day. (12-14)<\/p>\n a)\tGod sees us just as we are.<\/p>\n Hebrews 4:12-13a–\u201cFor the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thought and desires. It exposes us for what we really are. Nothing in all creation can hide from him. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes.\u201d (NLT)<\/p>\n b)\tWe will have to answer to God for all that we have done.<\/p>\n Hebrews 4:13b\u201d\u201d\u201cThis is the God to whom we must explain all that we have done.\u201d (NLT)<\/p>\n BUT,<\/p>\n c)\tJesus is our Everlasting Defense Attorney!<\/p>\n Hebrews 4:14\u201d\u201d\u201cThat is why we have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to him and never stop trusting him.\u201d (NLT)<\/p>\n 1 John 2:1 (NLT)\u201d\u201d\u201cBut if you do sin, there is someone to plead for you before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who pleases God completely.\u201d<\/p>\n Hebrews 7:24-25 (NLT)\u201d\u201d\u201cBut Jesus remains a priest forever; his priesthood will never end. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save everyone who comes to God through him. He lives forever to plead with God on their behalf.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me\u201d (Robert Murray McCheyne, Swindoll, 455).<\/p>\n Hebrews 4:14, The Message\u201d\u201d\u201cNow that we know what we have\u201d\u201dJesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God\u201d\u201dlet\u201d\u2122s not let it slip through our fingers.\u201d<\/p>\n You and I should ask God for help to live faithfully every day.<\/p>\n 2.\tYou and I can ask God for help, knowing that Jesus understands where we are. (15)<\/p>\n Hebrews 4:15–\u201cThis High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin.\u201d (NLT)<\/p>\n Hebrews 2:17-18 (NLT)\u201d\u201d\u201cTherefore, it was necessary for Jesus to be in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. He then could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and temptation, he is able to help us when we are being tempted.\u201d<\/p>\n On Aug. 16, Pastor John Quadros was attacked and harassed by Hindu extremists while Hebrews 4:15, The Message\u201d\u201d\u201cWe don\u201d\u2122t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He\u201d\u2122s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all\u201d\u201dall but the sin.\u201d<\/p>\n You and I can ask God for help, knowing that Jesus understands where we are.<\/p>\n 3.\tYou and I can ask God for help boldly and expectantly because of Jesus. (16)<\/p>\n Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)\u201d\u201d\u201cSo let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.\u201d<\/p>\n Hebrews 10:19-23 (NLT)\u201d\u201d\u201cAnd so, dear friends, we can boldly enter heaven\u201d\u2122s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. This is the new, life-giving way that Christ has opened up for us through the curtain, by means of his death for us. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God\u201d\u2122s people, let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him. For our evil consciences have been sprinkled with Christ\u201d\u2122s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.\u201d<\/p>\n Hebrews 4:16 (Contemporary English Version): \u201cSo whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA young man sat on a park bench, bawling. A little boy saw him and said, \u201d\u02dcSir, what\u201d\u2122s wrong? Sir, what\u201d\u2122s wrong?\u201d\u2122 The man told him the story about his brother who was in prison. His brother was on death row and would be executed in the next few days. The man desperately wanted to see Abraham Lincoln, the president of the United States, and ask for a pardon, but of course regular people can\u201d\u2122t just walk into the president\u201d\u2122s office. The man was hopeless. After hearing the man\u201d\u2122s story, the little boy said, \u201d\u02dcSir, would you come with me?\u201d\u2122 He took the man by the hand, walked him into the presidential office through the guards, past the secretary, and nobody mumbled a word. The man couldn\u201d\u2122t believe it. He couldn\u201d\u2122t have gotten in to see the president if he had tried and this little boy was walking him straight past everyone into the president\u201d\u2122s office. President Lincoln stood up as the young man entered with the boy. He looked at the boy and said, \u201d\u02dcHow can I help you, son?\u201d\u2122 You see, the reason the man could get into Abraham Lincoln\u201d\u2122s office is because he had run into the son of Abraham Lincoln, and the son could walk past all of the opposition\u201d (Tony Evans, 235-236).<\/p>\n Hebrews 4:16 (Amplified Bible): \u201cLet us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God\u201d\u2122s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].\u201d<\/p>\n You and I can ask God for help boldly and expectantly because of Jesus.<\/p>\n Conclusion\u201d\u201d Nigeria: Pastors Beheaded Celebration of the Lord\u201d\u2122s Supper<\/p>\n As we come to the Lord\u201d\u2122s Table this morning, we come to celebrate Christ, who is intercedes for us right now and gives us the certain hope of help from God to live faithfully when we ask. As you come, ask God to help you with whatever threatens your faithfulness to Him this morning.<\/p>\n But we also celebrate our unity with the persecuted church\u201d\u201dthey\u201d\u2122re simply folks like us, they\u201d\u2122re OUR brothers and sisters, our family, and we\u201d\u2122ll spend eternity with them in the presence of Jesus.<\/p>\n Hebrews 13:3\u201d\u201d\u201cDon\u201d\u2122t forget about those in prison. Suffer with them as though you were there yourself. Share the sorrow of those being mistreated, as though you feel their pain in your own bodies.\u201d (NLT)<\/p>\n As we pray before coming to the table this morning, I want to ask you to do something a little different. We saw a picture last night of some persecuted believers who made this gesture while they prayed (one hand lifted, another on their throat)\u201d\u201dsymbolizing their desire to live faithfully, even if they die for their faith. Let\u201d\u2122s join with them in that prayerful desire as we pray.<\/p>\n Prayer<\/p>\n Hebrews 10:19-23 (NLT)\u201d\u201d\u201cAnd so, dear friends, we can boldly enter heaven\u201d\u2122s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. This is the new, life-giving way that Christ has opened up for us through the curtain, by means of his death for us. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God\u201d\u2122s people, let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him. For our evil consciences have been sprinkled with Christ\u201d\u2122s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.\u201d<\/p>\n Come to the Table!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" CRCF\u201d\u201d8\/30\/09 The Key to Faithfulness Hebrews 4:14-16 Introduction– cheapest essay writing service Pakistan: Eight Believers Killed On Aug. 1, a mob of angry Muslim extremists attacked Christians in Gojra district, Punjab province, killing at least eight believers, including a seven-year-old … Continue reading
\nOn Aug. 1, a mob of angry Muslim extremists attacked Christians in Gojra district, Punjab province, killing at least eight believers, including a seven-year-old child, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. Dozens of homes and a church building were looted and burned. Reports indicate the violence resulted from rumors Christians had desecrated pages from the Quran several days earlier at a wedding in a nearby village. This was the second attack because of such a rumor. On July 30, Muslim extremists attacked Christians, burning more than 50 homes
\nand animals in Korian village, Faisalabad. In both attacks, Muslim leaders encouraged the violence, using mosque loudspeakers to call on the faithful to defend Islam. According to witnesses, the attackers used a fuel that is particularly difficult to extinguish to set the fires.
\nGovernment officials have condemned the attacks with unusual severity and have criticized security forces for their slow response. They said there is no truth to the allegations of blasphemy and promised to rebuild the homes destroyed and financially assist those who have lost family members in the violence. Recent reports estimate over 200 had been arrested for their involvement in the
\nviolence.
\nThe Voice of the Martyrs is providing assistance to believers affected by these attacks. VOM actively supports persecuted believers in Pakistan by distributing Action Packs, Bibles, and the books Triumphant Church and He Lived Among Us. Pray for the families of deceased believers, those who lost their homes and the pastor and members of the church. Ask God to provide for and encourage them. Pray that false accusations by Muslims will draw believers closer to the Lord and for their faithfulness to draw non believers into faith with Christ.<\/p>\n
\nvisiting a home to pray for a sick believer. The pastor was accused of forcible conversion, questioned and told to inform officials of any future prayer activities. The extremists threatened to attack him if they heard of further prayer meetings. Pray that increased persecution in India will result in increased boldness among Christians. Ask God to work in the hearts and lives of Hindu extremists so that they will turn to Him. Pray believers will remain faithful and courageous.\u201d
\n(VOM Online Prayer Update for Aug. 28)<\/p>\n
\nGod will help us live faithfully when we ask Him!<\/p>\n
\nOn July 26, 12 Christians were killed, including three pastors, in northern Nigeria after members of the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram launched attacks on police and government bases, according to contacts at VOM Canada. The violence, which began in Bauchi state, spread to Borno, Kano and Yobe states. Churches were set ablaze and several people were abducted, including Christians. Many believers were threatened with death if they refused to convert to Islam. According to media reports, assailants behead three pastors: Pastors Sabo Yukubu, Sylvester Akpan and Pastor George Orji. The assailants were
\nreportedly acting on the instruction of the extremist group’s leader, Mohammed Yusuf. Yusuf was later killed by authorities. The militants attempted to force the pastors to convert to Islam, but they refused to abandon their faith. They were then beheaded by guards who shouted “Allah Akbar” and fired several gunshots into the air in celebration. These recent reports of persecution in Northern Nigeria reflect the trials believers endure. The Voice of the Martyrs actively supports persecuted believers in many ways through the Families of Martyrs fund, resources for widows to start businesses and a free education at Stephen Centre. Pray God will comfort the families of those killed in these attacks. Pray the peace of Christ will rule the hearts and minds of Nigerian Christians in the face of ongoing threats and danger.<\/p>\n