#trustHimtoday- Teresa

Hebrews 11:23-31 (NLT)

23 “It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command.

24 It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. 27 It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. 28 It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.

29 It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned.

30 It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down.

31 It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.”

 David gave thanks…in the midst of accusatory statements, he was confident that the ONE who fought his past battles was ready to act on his behalf. Father, give us courage to take up 5 stones and put to death cowardly accusations that loom larger than life but offer no threat! -Teresa #poorandneedycryout

Psalm 109: 20-31 (NLT)

20 “May those curses become the Lord’s punishment

    for my accusers who speak evil of me.

21 But deal well with me, O Sovereign Lord,

    for the sake of your own reputation!

Rescue me

    because you are so faithful and good.

22 For I am poor and needy,

    and my heart is full of pain.

23 I am fading like a shadow at dusk;

    I am brushed off like a locust.

24 My knees are weak from fasting,

    and I am skin and bones.

25 I am a joke to people everywhere;

    when they see me, they shake their heads in scorn.

26 Help me, O Lord my God!

    Save me because of your unfailing love.

27 Let them see that this is your doing,

    that you yourself have done it, Lord.

28 Then let them curse me if they like,

    but you will bless me!

When they attack me, they will be disgraced!

    But I, your servant, will go right on rejoicing!

29 May my accusers be clothed with disgrace;

    may their humiliation cover them like a cloak.

30 But I will give repeated thanks to the Lord,

    praising him to everyone.

31 For he stands beside the needy,

    ready to save them from those who condemn them.”

 The trinity makes an appearance in this passage communicating the good things that Christ Jesus our Lord provides.  The Son of God speaks to the Father and the Holy Spirit testifies in agreement. This is a display of unity bringing authority to the New Covenant prophesied in Jeremiah 31: 31-34. How beautiful the light is when we step out of the shadows!-Teresa #Jesusisthelightoftheworld

Hebrews 10:1-17 (NLT)
10 “The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. 2 If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.

3 But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. 4 For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 That is why, when Christ[a] came into the world, he said to God,

“You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings.

    But you have given me a body to offer.

6 You were not pleased with burnt offerings

    or other offerings for sin.

7 Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God—

    as is written about me in the Scriptures.’”[b]

8 First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). 9 Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. 10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.

11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. 12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 13 There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. 14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.

15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says,
16 “This is the new covenant I will make
    with my people on that day,[c] says the Lord:

I will put my laws in their hearts,

    and I will write them on their minds.”[d]

17 Then he says,

“I will never again remember
    their sins and lawless deeds.”[e]

  
As much as we need clouds and rain, we also need comfort that there’s a silver lining provided by the light (although temporarily hidden). After sin is dealt with, Jesus Christ our Lord brings salvation to those who wait for Him. We only die once….and then we face our judgement. God is just, God is righteous so never underestimate how satisfied the Father is with His Son’s provision for us. Never underestimate how much love the Father gave us at Calvary! #trustHimtoday- Teresa

Hebrews 9: 24-27 (NLT)

24 “For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. 25 And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. 26 If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age[g] to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.

27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, 28 so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.”

  How was the law changed because of the change of priesthood from Levi to Melchizedek? The Levitical priests held authority based on their lineage but Christ holds authority based on His power over death- from the lineage of Melchizedek!  The law held power in showing us what is right and wrong by leading us to God whereas the cross holds greater power in actually changing our hearts from wrong to right through faith in Christ. -Teresa #dancingwithHim

Hebrews 7: 11-17 (NLT)
11 “So if the priesthood of Levi, on which the law was based, could have achieved the perfection God intended, why did God need to establish a different priesthood, with a priest in the order of Melchizedek instead of the order of Levi and Aaron?[b]

12 And if the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed to permit it. 13 For the priest we are talking about belongs to a different tribe, whose members have never served at the altar as priests. 14 What I mean is, our Lord came from the tribe of Judah, and Moses never mentioned priests coming from that tribe.

15 This change has been made very clear since a different priest, who is like Melchizedek, has appeared. 16 Jesus became a priest, not by meeting the physical requirement of belonging to the tribe of Levi, but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed. 17 And the psalmist pointed this out when he prophesied,

“You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”[c]

 Although Ezekiel saw the glory of God depart from Israel, he also received a promise of hope for those who were forced to leave their country. Even in exile, God’s sanctuary was around them like a tangible cloud of God’s glory and protection. Are you in a place of testing (like Joseph whose character was tested prior to being given a high position). Remember that His sanctuary is a reprieve from the storm. – Teresa #dancewithHim

Ezekiel 11: 16,17 (NLT)

16 “Therefore, tell the exiles, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I have scattered you in the countries of the world, I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile. 17 I, the Sovereign Lord, will gather you back from the nations where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel once again.”

 What is it that separates us from the “rest” that God gives? It’s as though a fence keeps us apart from this gift. The fence of our pride tempts us into thinking that somehow we are able to work our way into His place of provision. It prevents us from trusting His way….it tells us at least we are better than…or more capable than…or more creative than….. There are all sorts of ways that mankind works out their heirarchy before God AND there is only ONE WAY to enter His rest! #JesusChristasLord #trustHisgoodnews

Hebrews 4: 6-16 (NLT)

“So God’s rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God. 7 So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted:

“Today when you hear his voice,

    don’t harden your hearts.”[e]

8 Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come. 9 So there is a special rest[f] still waiting for the people of God. 10 For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. 11 So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 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 most.”

  Psalm 104:1-6 ( NLT)

” Let all that I am praise the Lord.

O Lord my God, how great you are!

    You are robed with honor and majesty.

2 You are dressed in a robe of light.

You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;

3 you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds.

You make the clouds your chariot;

    you ride upon the wings of the wind.

4 The winds are your messengers;

    flames of fire are your servants.[a]

5 You placed the world on its foundation

    so it would never be moved.

6 You clothed the earth with floods of water,

    water that covered even the mountains.”

 Yesterday, the morning sky over our house reflected the sun and its brilliance. Preaching from the Word of God requires preparation, patience and perseverance, reflecting God’s heart to the world. It may not always make people laugh, draw a crowd or provide entertainment but it will always bless those who truly hear it and apply the truth to their lives.- Teresa

2 Timothy 4:1-4 (NLT)

“I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: 2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.”

 
While preparing my sermon for the women’s clothes closet (UGM), this realization struck me. We can oftentimes interpret truth about our circumstances through the lens of our experience. Ethan the Ezrahite wrote a song about the catastrophic experience of Israel bring invaded by a foreign country (Psalm 89). What amazed me was that he had such a healthy relationship with God. Not only did he recite all the reasons we can trust God’s loyal love but he felt comfortable enough with God to give him the true feelings of his heart. He asked God point blank….what about your loyal love that was firmly established? The last verse goes back to praise. Ethan used the lens of scripture to define his view of the current circumstances- not the lens of this bad experience. Even in the darkness of circumstances, His loyal love is firmly established!!- Teresa