Born of the Spirit

6 June 2012

Opening Prayer/Worship

Hymn: Spirit divine, attend our prayers

Theme: Be filled with the Holy Spirit

Topic: Born of the Spirit

Reading: John 3:1-17

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.²He came to Jesus^* by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’³Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’^*4Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’⁵Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.⁶What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.^*7Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You^* must be born from above.”^*8The wind^* blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’⁹Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’¹⁰Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? ¹¹ ‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you^* do not receive our testimony.¹²If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?¹³No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.^*14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,¹⁵that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.^{* 16} ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. ¹⁷ ‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Introduction

One of the major highlights of Nicodemus’ visit to Christ at night is the popular statement of the Lord Jesus: you must be born again. Just like Nicodemus, most people, myself included, had at some point misunderstood what Jesus was saying. The misconception varies very widely, from Nicodemus who asked how an individual can re-enter the mother’s womb to be born a second time, to some who think being born again is about doing the ‘right things’. To be born of the Spirit is to be transformed from the love of self to the love of God and other people. It is spiritual transformation that becomes evident in the life of the believer. Jesus Christ is God incarnate. His mission was to experience our pains, sufferings and death with the ultimate goal of saving us from sin, sickness, satanic attacks and the fear of death. He came, died and rose again; paying the price for our sins and reconnecting us with God our Maker. To live a victorious Christian life, we all need Christ, and this is only possible through accepting Him as our personal Lord and Savior. Then the Holy Spirit will fill us, and transform us into being like Christ. We become born again, not because of what we have done but because of what God has done for us in Christ.

Questions/Discussion

1. What experience can you liken to being born of the Spirit?

John 3:3-15, 14:15-20

Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’^*4Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’⁵Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.⁶What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.^*7Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You^* must be born from above.”^*8The wind^* blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’⁹Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’¹⁰Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? ¹¹ ‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you^* do not receive our testimony.¹²If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?¹³No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.^*14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,¹⁵that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.^*

14:15-20

‘If you love me, you will keep^* my commandments.¹⁶And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,^* to be with you for ever.¹⁷This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in^* you. ¹⁸ ‘I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.¹⁹In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.²⁰On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

2. How many times can someone be born again?

Romans 8:5-17

⁵For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit^* set their minds on the things of the Spirit.^*6To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit^* is life and peace.⁷For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it cannot,⁸and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. ⁹ But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit,^* since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.¹⁰But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit^* is life because of righteousness.¹¹If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ^* from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through^* his Spirit that dwells in you. ¹² So then, brothers and sisters,^* we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—¹³for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.¹⁴For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.¹⁵For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba!^* Father!’¹⁶it is that very Spirit bearing witness^* with our spirit that we are children of God,¹⁷and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

2 Corinthians 1:18-22

As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been ‘Yes and No.’¹⁹For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not ‘Yes and No’; but in him it is always ‘Yes.’²⁰For in him every one of God’s promises is a ‘Yes.’ For this reason it is through him that we say the ‘Amen’, to the glory of God.²¹But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us,²²by putting his seal on us and giving us his Spirit in our hearts as a first instalment.

3. What are the practical implications of being born again?

1 Corinthians 2:9-16

⁹But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him’—¹⁰these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.¹¹For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God.¹²Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God.¹³And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.^{* 14} Those who are unspiritual^* do not receive the gifts of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are discerned spiritually.¹⁵Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else’s scrutiny. ¹⁶ ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 1:2-10

We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly³remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.⁴For we know, brothers and sisters^* beloved by God, that he has chosen you,⁵because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of people we proved to be among you for your sake.⁶And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit,⁷so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.⁸For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place where your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it.⁹For the people of those regions^* report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God,¹⁰and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.

Intercession/Worship

Conclusion

The ‘born again’ experience comes from God through belief in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ, let us live as God’s chosen; called out from darkness into the marvelous light of Christ.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for the indwelling and cleansing power of Your Holy Spirit. Fill us everyday with Your Spirit for Your purpose here on earth. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Pentecost

30 May 2012

Opening Prayer/Worship

Song:     Fill my cup Lord; I lift it up, Lord

                Come and quench this thirsting of my soul

                Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more

                Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!          

Theme: Be filled with the Holy Spirit

Topic: The Pentecost

Reading: Acts 2:1-13

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. ²And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. ⁴All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. ⁵ Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. ⁶And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. ⁷Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? ⁹Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, ¹¹Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ ¹²All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ ¹³But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’

Introduction

In the next several weeks, we will turn our attention to the study of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is to me the most misunderstood of the Trinity. Although I do not know exactly why this is the case, He is usually associated with certain characteristics that are incorrect. For example, when I was younger, I used to think that He only operates through holy, righteous and perfect individuals. But now I know this is not true. The Holy Spirit will fill and use anybody that has accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his/her personal Lord and Savior. This is one of the several misconceptions we may have concerning the Holy Spirit. In this series on the Holy Spirit which we will begin with the topic ‘The Pentecost’, it is my prayer that He will reveal Himself to us in a fresh and powerful way. When we know and understand who He is and how He works in and through us, we will allow Him to fill us to overflowing.

Questions/Discussion

1. How will you describe the Holy Spirit?

Joel 2:28-29

^{28 *}Then afterwards
   I will pour out my spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
   your old men shall dream dreams,
   and your young men shall see visions. ²⁹ Even on the male and female slaves,
   in those days, I will pour out my spirit.

John 7:37-39, 14:25-26

7:37 On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, ³⁸and let the one who believes in me drink. As^* the scripture has said, “Out of the believer’s heart^* shall flow rivers of living water.” ’ ³⁹Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit,^* because Jesus was not yet glorified.

14:25 ‘I have said these things to you while I am still with you. ²⁶But the Advocate,^* the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.

2. Why did Christ say it is better for Him to go away so that the Holy Spirit will come?

John 16:5-16

But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, “Where are you going?” ⁶But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. ⁷Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate^* will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. ⁸And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about^* sin and righteousness and judgement: ⁹about sin, because they do not believe in me; ¹⁰about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; ¹¹about judgement, because the ruler of this world has been condemned. ¹² ‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. ¹⁴He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. ¹⁶ ‘A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me.’

3. What are some of the misconceptions we may have about the Pentecost and the Holy Spirit?

Acts 2:6-13, 10:34-38, 44-48

And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. ⁷Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? ⁹Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, ¹¹Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ ¹²All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ ¹³But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’

10:34 Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, ³⁵but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. ³⁶You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. ³⁷That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: ³⁸how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. ⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. ⁴⁵The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, ⁴⁶for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, ⁴⁷‘Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’ ⁴⁸So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11, 14:1-5

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. ⁸To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, ⁹to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, ¹⁰to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. ¹⁴ Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy. ²For those who speak in a tongue do not speak to other people but to God; for nobody understands them, since they are speaking mysteries in the Spirit. ³On the other hand, those who prophesy speak to other people for their building up and encouragement and consolation. ⁴Those who speak in a tongue build up themselves, but those who prophesy build up the church. ⁵Now I would like all of you to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. One who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

Intercession/Worship

Conclusion

It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can live the Christian life. May we continually yield ourselves to His indwelling and guidance.  

Closing Prayer

We thank You Lord for the outpouring of Your Holy Spirit on all flesh. Fill us up with Him and use us for Your work here on earth to Your own praise and glory through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Trust in the Lord

23 May 2012

Opening Prayer/Worship

HYMN: Trust and Obey

Theme: Connecting with God

Topic: Trust in the Lord

Reading: 1 John 5:9-13

⁹If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son.¹⁰Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God^* have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son.¹¹And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.¹²Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. ¹³ I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Introduction

In the past 12 studies, we have been discussing topics based on the theme ‘Connecting with God’. In these preceding topics, we discussed how we get connected to God and the benefits thereof, several benefits of connecting with God and things that can distract us from being connected with Him. In this concluding study, we will focus on how we should trust God even as we get connected with Him. To connect with God is not a one-time event but a continuous process as long as we live. Every day we are presented with fresh opportunities to connect with God. One factor that makes this process smooth and fulfilling is trust. To trust is to place one’s confidence in someone/something. Our ultimate means of trusting God is through the expression of our faith in the power of Christ to save. When we put our trust in the Lord, we find it easier to obey Him, to connect with Him and consequently, experience the abundant life that can only be found in Christ. Trust cements our relationship with God through Christ.

Questions/Discussion

1. What does it mean to trust in the Lord?

Psalm 1:1-3

¹ Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;
² but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law they meditate day and night.
³ They are like trees planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.

Psalm 20:7

Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses,
but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God.

Psalm 22:4-5

⁴ In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them.
⁵ To you they cried, and were saved; in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.

Psalm 37:3-7

³ Trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.
⁴ Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
⁶ He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday.

⁷ Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices.

Psalm 56:3-4

³ when I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
⁴ In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I am not afraid; what can flesh do to me?

Psalm 62:5-10

⁵ For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.
⁶ He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
⁷ On God rests my deliverance and my honour; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.

⁸ Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
⁹ Those of low estate are but a breath, those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.
¹⁰ Put no confidence in extortion, and set no vain hopes on robbery;
if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

Proverbs 3:5-7

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

1 John 5:9-10

⁹If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son.¹⁰Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God^* have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son.

2. How do we put our trust in the Lord and what are the benefits?

Exodus 14:10-14

As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites looked back, and there were the Egyptians advancing on them. In great fear the Israelites cried out to the Lord.¹¹They said to Moses, ‘Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt?¹²Is this not the very thing we told you in Egypt, “Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians”? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.’¹³But Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again.¹⁴The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.’

Psalm 9:9-10

⁹ The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
¹⁰ And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

John 3:18

¹⁸Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Romans 3:21-28

But now, irrespective of law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets,²²the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ^* for all who believe. For there is no distinction,²³since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;²⁴they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,²⁵whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement^* by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; ²⁶it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus. ^*27 Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith.²⁸For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.

Colossians 1:22-23

he has now reconciled^* in his fleshly body^* through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him—²³provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel.

3. What are some of the consequences of not trusting in the Lord?

Numbers 14:1-4, 20-24, 26-35

Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night.²And all the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron; the whole congregation said to them, ‘Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!³Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become booty; would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?’⁴So they said to one another, ‘Let us choose a captain, and go back to Egypt.’ ²⁰ Then the Lord said, ‘I do forgive, just as you have asked;²¹nevertheless—as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord—²²none of the people who have seen my glory and the signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have tested me these ten times and have not obeyed my voice,²³shall see the land that I swore to give to their ancestors; none of those who despised me shall see it.²⁴But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me wholeheartedly, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. ²⁶ And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying:²⁷How long shall this wicked congregation complain against me? I have heard the complaints of the Israelites, which they complain against me.²⁸Say to them, ‘As I live’, says the Lord, ‘I will do to you the very things I heard you say:²⁹your dead bodies shall fall in this very wilderness; and of all your number, included in the census, from twenty years old and upwards, who have complained against me,³⁰not one of you shall come into the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.³¹But your little ones, who you said would become booty, I will bring in, and they shall know the land that you have despised.³²But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness.³³And your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness for forty years, and shall suffer for your faithlessness, until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness.³⁴According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for every day a year, you shall bear your iniquity, forty years, and you shall know my displeasure.’³⁵I the Lord have spoken; surely I will do thus to all this wicked congregation gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall come to a full end, and there they shall die.

Hebrews 3:12-19

Take care, brothers and sisters,^* that none of you may have an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.¹³But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today’, so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.¹⁴For we have become partners of Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end.¹⁵As it is said,
‘Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.’
¹⁶Now who were they who heard and yet were rebellious? Was it not all those who left Egypt under the leadership of Moses?¹⁷But with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?¹⁸And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, if not to those who were disobedient?¹⁹So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

Hebrews 4:1-3

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest is still open, let us take care that none of you should seem to have failed to reach it.²For indeed the good news came to us just as to them; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.^*3For we who have believed enter that rest, just as God^* has said,
‘As in my anger I swore,
“They shall not enter my rest” ’,
though his works were finished at the foundation of the world.

Intercession/Worship

Conclusion

Let us learn daily through the power of the Holy Spirit to put our trust in the Lord that we may remain connected with Him.  

Closing Prayer

Father, You have called us to trust and obey You; grant us your Holy Spirit to help us put our trust in You. Give us a heart that will thirst and yield to Your love and call upon our lives daily through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.