Hebrews 1:1-3 ~ 1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; KJV
God spoke in a variety of ways in the Old Testament to His people, as the writer describes ". . . divers manners. . ." . He spoke to Moses by a burning bush (Exodus 3). He spoke to Elijah by a still, small voice (1 Kings 19). He spoke to Isaiah by a heavenly vision in Isaiah 6. He spoke to Hosea by his family crisis (Hosea 1:2) and He spoke to Amos by a basket of fruit Amos 8:1. Verse 1of Hebrews reveals that God spoke to the prophets, however in verse 2 it all changed. It was all about His Son and speaking through and by Him. As I studied this morning and saw the many ways in which God speaks I was amazed - but then HE IS GOD and He is amazing! The Word of God from Genesis to Revelation is all about God's great power to use in any way He saw fit and He used various ways to reach His creation/people. However, when Jesus made His appearance, things changed!
God's great power is revealed in the creation of all things we know and are and how we got here! Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning GOD. . ." Everything is made by and through Him. His power is magnificent and amazing. His ability to speak to His prophets via "many and various ways" shows us that HE wants to communicate with us. And still, it is not complete; there is nothing in the Old Testament which can stand complete in and of itself. It is all intended as preparation for the SON.
When we come to the New Testament, all these many voices from the Old Testament merge into one voice, the voice of the Son of God. Remember the scene in the book of The Revelation where John says he saw the Lamb and he heard a voice like the voice of many waters? That voice -- the voice of the Son! The first voice, described in Revelation 1:10-11 is heard (and written in red). Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. Then John turns to see who or what is speaking and sees what is described as Jesus. The words spoken by Jesus (verses 1:17-20) continue to be printed in red. Revelation 4:1 "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter."
That is what is expressed in these first verses of Hebrews. The Old Testament, in its incompleteness, is almost as though God spoke in syllables and phrases to us -- wonderful phrases, but never quite connected, never quite complete. But in the New Testament, these syllables and phrases become one expressive dialog with the Son of God.
Why all of this grandeur, power? He makes us know that though He is GOD, He wants to communicate with us. But sin kept us separated and still does, that is why His Son came down to us. And unless we accept His Son and His shed blood on the cross, we are lost and separated from God forever. Jesus was God's "shining light" and redemption for men. He would be our spokesperson from now and to eternity. He was God's image, and mediator between death and life. Having this knowledge and knowing God's love for us, it is hard not to give in to the calling of the Holy Spirit to salvation.
I am thankful beyond thankful that God loved us enough to send His precious Son to die for us! We are truly blessed. How about YOU? Do you call Jesus your Saviour? I sure pray so! If you haven't done that, let me know and I'll be glad to show you from the Word of God how to be saved!
HE CARES!
Do You Know HIM?
Lord, help us to be wise, studied up, aware, and faithful to You. Amen.
- Judy Lewis - health problems, hospitalized!
- David Harrison - cancer surgery started at 10am this morning.... UPDATE - CAME THROUGH SURGERY WELL, WILL HAVE TEST RESULTS IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS
- Please pray for our daughter Lita in her health journey with Guillain-Barré syndrome. Click on the link to learn more about this awful disease. Guillain-Barre syndrome - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
- Mary Nutter, cancer treatments and hospitalization.
- Carl Odell - Knee surgery 1/27 at 9am. SURGERY WENT WELL, PLEASE PRAY FOR FULL HEALING
- Levi - teen burned 1st & 2nd degree burns on his hands, when his derby mower caught fire.
- Dickie and Debbie Reynolds - Dickie's pacemaker replacement and full recovery.
- Reggie Parker - very sick, emergency surgery, kidneys failing, needs a special touch from heaven through the prayers of saints like you! His father is the pastor of Victory Baptist Church in Elizabeth City, NC. Please pray for this young man!
- Robbie Colt ~ needs double lung replacement after total damage of lungs by covid, also pray in the loss of his father to covid, and his stepmother.
- Walter - serious health
- Dr. Melvin Aiken - heart pacemaker surgery is complete and he is going home soon.
- Pam Shumate - health (our niece)
- Brenda Milam - wisdom and health (Tom's sister)
- The Henshaw's health - praise the Lord their home sold, but at the end of February they will be moving out of state. Pray for them through these great changes.
- Edie Smith - health (my sister)
- PJ - heart surgery, PRAY he can come off of the breathing machine, complications of blood clots in the brain and in his legs.
- John Odom - aneurisms.
- Louise Odom - cancer treatments.
- Imogene Walston - back injury and major mouth surgery on the 25th, went really well. Pray for a speedy recovery.
- Connie - injured back, continued healing.
- Pastor Greg - blood pressure issues.
- Miss Shirley-health - doing some better and able to help in the print shop some in the last couple of weeks.
- Pray for Richard Rosenmeier family - Passed 1/8/23 Lord, please help and bless the family and friends.
- David Wiles - Cancer
- Pastor Bernard Antonis ~ HEALTH, PRAISE THE LORD for answered prayers - Pray for Mrs. Carolyn as his caregiver and a healing touch on her body.
- These families have lost loved ones to death in the last few months: John Isler, Larry Goodman, Frank Sparks, Lucinda Lane, Randy Rolle, Ruth Kemp, Bill Alley, Keith Cook, Cathy Harrison, Rachel Vance, Gail Tipton, Bob DeSalvio, Gail Tipton, Davis and Tichnell Family, Tudino family, Fuentes Family, DeSalvio Family, Thompson Family, The Toler Family in the homegoing of Donnie, Lucinda Lane Family (my beautiful sister-in-love), Keith Cook Family (our nephew and Tom's sister Florences' son), The Leo Family, The Echeverria Vallejos family in the homegoing of Patricia's father, The Baker Family
- Shannon - health problems, grieving in loss of father.
- DJ needs a special touch from heaven. (Shannon's son and she has asked us to pray for DJ - God Knows!)
- Carolyn-health
- Pray for our need for a home here in Florida - We know You have the supply Lord already, help us to be patient. We moved Saturday the 14th, once again, to a precious saint's home for a couple of Months... at least till May when we will "move again." We are glad to be a help to Sister Cora and feel by May she will have her strength and healing by then.
- Pray for Stan Skriloff - cancer and treatments and pray for his caregiver wife Caren!
- Pray for Connie, complete healing of her back.
- Pray for Sister Cora and her hip healing from a fall and surgery. Miss Cora HAS PASSED her occupational therapy and is now working on physical therapy. She is excited that God will give her the opportunity to walk outside soon. Praise the Lord! Keep her in your prayers please. We are thankful for this wonderful home for a few months stay till the Lord moves us on.
- Pray for the Printing Ministry and all that goes on with it. BIG issue with our puncher . . . please pray we can resolve that Monday - Pray our paper supply will continue - we are still not able to purchase COVER STOCK, but we praise the Lord for our previous pastor's wisdom in buying several truckloads of this precious product. Only God knew what we would be facing today with shortages, and we have the "widows' mite" we are working from. Pray that Tom and I can work the bugs out of some of our equipment!
- Pray for the Mission Team coming in June that we will be able to finish all the work they will do for the few days they are with us.
- Pray for me and Tom; our health, out strength, and our service.
- Robyn-Health
- Carol and Richard-Health
- Cathy-Health
- Dicky and Debbie Reynolds - health
- 2-month-old great-nephew Evan. Evan is home from the hospital and doing well.
- Marsha-Health and ankle pain
- Sharon J. Her mom Kathryn's health.
- Pastor Johnny J-health and recovery from surgery - recovering well from surgery thank you for your prayers.
- Carol and Richard-Health
- Cathy-Health
- Arlene-Health
- Ruth-Health
- Brian-Health
- Lucinda Lane Family - pray for my brother Joe. This is a hard transition for anyone, but his health is poor as well.
- Paul Tipton - pray for Bro. Paul who is back on the field in Nicaragua without his helper and bride.
- Penny - special unspoken - pray for her husband Mike - health.
- Bro. Wayne-health - He turned 91 on December 24th, and is still working, but mighty slow :)
- David Harrison-cancer diagnosis and treatment
- Billy Ward - health and continued healing, Sonja his bride and caregiver.
- Benjamin - surgery went well, pray for his recovery which may be long.
- Elaine - continued good health and strength.
- Linwood - health
- Pray diligently for all those that carry the title "Caregiver"!
- Sandra Parsons - her call yesterday to encourage the servants at FBC Publications & Printing. 90-year-old pastors' wife, now living alone at her church after her husband's homegoing. Saved 72 years loves the LORD God more today than ever. A real blessing and encouragement.
- Mary Nutter - Cancer
- Kimberly LaSage - health and John Peters and family.
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