EPISODE 633 – THE 5 BETTER NOTS 10 (Gleanings From the Book of Hebrews)

The knowledge and understanding of God are built precept upon precept.

“God conceals the revelation of His word in the hiding place of His glory. But the honor of kings is revealed by how they thoroughly search out the deeper meaning of all that God says.” Proverbs 25:2 (TPT)

As we have been made kings and priests unto our God, we must take delight in the honor of thoroughly searching out the deeper meaning of all that God says.

I have been sharing on the FIVE (5) BETTER NOTS. So far I have shared three (3) of the five:

1. DON’T DISREGARD THE WORD OF GOD TO YOU.

2. DON’T DOUBT GOD’S WORD.

3. DON’T DESPISE THE WORD OF GOD

Today we delve more into this discussion by looking at the fourth BETTER NOT:

4. DON’T DRAW AWAY OR DEPART FROM THE WORD.

To draw back from the Word is to act out of fear. It is to take the position of a coward.

This warning is crucial to your enjoyment of the Lord. It’s interesting how the author of Hebrews addressed both the warning and its consequence in the same sentence.

Take another look at the opening verse:

“but my righteous one will live by faith, and my whole being won’t be pleased with anyone who shrinks back.” Hebrews 10:38 (CEB)

Let’s read it from the Living Bible:

“And those whose faith has made them good in God’s sight must live by faith, trusting him in everything. Otherwise, if they shrink back, God will have no pleasure in them.”

What made you righteous or brought you into the fellowship of God is faith in God through Christ Jesus.

The danger of departing from the Word of Christ is to choose to live by your self-efforts and not by faith.

Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. To be precise the Word of Christ.

As I previously pointed out, God’s final message to mankind is Christ Jesus (Hebrews 1:1-2).

This means the fullness of faith germinates in your heart through the revelation of Jesus. The revelation of Jesus produces boldness in your heart. You are made righteous by faith in Christ Jesus, through the glorious message of Christ. This righteousness gives you the boldness to stand in the presence of God without any guilt.

It is by the righteousness of Christ in you through faith, that makes God to be pleased with you. God is not pleased with you because of your own works. God is pleased with you because of your faith in Christ.

To trust your self-effort at any time is to refuse to act in faith.

Do you know what the scriptures say about not living by faith in Christ Jesus?

“And without faith living within us it would be impossible to please God…” Hebrews 11:6 (TPT).

As at the time the book of Hebrews was written, many believers were staggering in their faith because of the opposition to the gospel by the practitioners of Judaism.

Before this verse, the author of Hebrews admonished the readers saying:

“Don’t you remember those days right after the Light shined in your hearts? You endured a great marathon season of suffering hardships, yet you stood your ground. And at times you were publicly and shamefully mistreated, being persecuted for your faith; then at other times you stood side by side with those who preach the message of hope. You sympathized with those in prison and when all your belongings were confiscated you accepted that violation with joy; convinced that you possess a treasure growing in heaven that could never be taken from you. So don’t lose your bold, courageous faith, for you are destined for a great reward! You need the strength of endurance to reveal the poetry of God’s will and then you receive the promise in full. For soon and very soon, “The One who is appearing will come without delay!” And he also says,
“My righteous ones will live from my faith. But if fear holds them back, my soul is not content with them!” But we are certainly not those who are held back by fear and perish; we are among those who have faith and experience true life!” Hebrews 10:32-39 (TPT).

Oh, glory to God!

Though there is a warning to not draw back, we have this sure confidence that as we have received the Lord, we shall not draw back. We are among those who have faith. You will later see in chapter 11 of Hebrews the reference to those who had faith.

And you will even see that their faith was not just in an empty promise. Their faith was with the revelation of Jesus in their heart.

See the example of Moses:

“It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be treated as the grandson of the king, but chose to share ill-treatment with God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin.  He thought that it was better to suffer for the promised Christ than to own all the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking forward to the great reward that God would give him” Hebrews 11:24-26 (TLB)

Beloved no matter the accusation or mockery, have this conviction in your heart that you have found the greatest treasure of faith. Your faith is not built on dead hope. 

Your faith is in Christ Jesus who is the reality of God.

Refuse to draw back!

Refuse to be discouraged.

Don’t turn away from this precious revelation of Jesus.

Hallelujah!