Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 19, 2024

“In hope against hope he believed” – “For in hope we have been saved”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings 18:41-46.

“Now Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink;  for there is the sound of the roar of a heavy shower.”  So Ahab went up to eat and drink.  But Elijah went up to the top of Carmel;  and he crouched down on the earth and put his face between his knees.  He said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.”  So he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.”  And he said, “Go back” seven times.  It came about at the seventh time, that he said, “Behold, a cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.”  And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the heavy shower does not stop you.’”  In a little while the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy shower.  And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel.  Then the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins and outran Ahab to Jezreel.”  1 Kings 18:41-46. 

————-

Elijah had that “hope against hope” type faith which Abraham had.  Let us read about that “hope against hope” faith that Abraham had.

“In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.”  Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb;  yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.”  Romans 4:18-21. 

First, like Abraham, Elijah fixed his hope on the promise of God.  “Now it happened after many days that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the face of the earth.”  1 Kings 18:1.

So, that hope in the promise of God is the first hope of “hope against hope”.

What was against hope?

For Abraham, the “against hope” was “he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb”.

For Elijah, the “against hope” was a sunny day without any clouds.  For most people, that is a good day.  For Elijah and the rest of Israel who were experiencing a severe famine and who desperately needed rain, it was just another bad day, and it was “against hope”. 

So, what did Elijah do in response to this “against hope”?

“…  But Elijah went up to the top of Carmel;  and he crouched down on the earth and put his face between his knees.”  Verse 45.

Elijah regained hope as he turned his eyes away from the sunny and cloudless sky and most likely closed his eyes and prayed and meditated on the promise of God that it would rain.

But, “against hope” followed the hope. We can infer that even though Elijah was crouched down with his face between his knees and could not see anything to discourage him, he noticed that he did not feel any rain and he did not hear any rain.  

So, what did Elijah do in response to this “against hope”?

“He said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.”  So he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.”  And he said, “Go back” seven times.  It came about at the seventh time, that he said, “Behold, a cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.”  Verses 43-44.  And, Elijah had hope again!

The righteous live by faith.  This is a summary of our life!  By the grace of God, we have that “hope against hope” faith that our fathers according to the faith had.  

“For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope;  for who hopes for what he already sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”  Romans 8:24-25.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 18, 2024

“You, O LORD, are God, and … You have turned their heart back again.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings 18:30-40.

“Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.”  So all the people came near to him.  And he repaired the altar of the LORD which had been torn down.  Elijah took twelve stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”  So with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD, and he made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two measures of seed.  Then he arranged the wood and cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood.  And he said, “Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.”  And he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time.  And he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time.  The water flowed around the altar and he also filled the trench with water.

At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word.  Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.”  Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.  When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces;  and they said, “The LORD, He is God;  the LORD, He is God.”  Then Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal;  do not let one of them escape.”  So they seized them;  and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.”  1 Kings 18:30-40.

——————    

What a stunning miracle!  

In sharp contrast to the actions of the prophets of Baal (see 1 Kings 18:26-29), Elijah, the prophet of the LORD, did not try morning to evening to get the LORD to answer by fire;  Elijah only tried once, at the the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. 

Elijah did not rant nor rave but only humbly and quietly requested it.

Elijah made it much more difficult for his sacrifice to be lit with fire by drenching the offering and the whole site with water. 

And, if all of that was not enough, Elijah requested that the LORD do an additional miracle of turning the hearts of Israel back to him!  “Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.”  Verse 37.

We do not have a need for our sacrifice to be lit by fire, but we have a desperate need for our hearts to be turned back to the LORD.  And, we read that “When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces;  and they said, “The LORD, He is God;  the LORD, He is God.”  Verse 39. 

So, there is hope that the LORD can turn our hearts back to the LORD!

In sharp contrast to other doctrine which is satisfied with just requesting man to use own his wisdom and his own will to turn back to the LORD, Reformed Doctrine believes and teaches that the LORD is able by His sovereign power to turn hearts back to Himself and chooses to do so for all of His elect.  

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof.

Article 11.  But when God accomplishes his good pleasure in the elect, or works in them true conversion, he not only causes the gospel to be externally preached to them, and powerfully illumines their minds by his Holy Spirit, that they may rightly understand and discern the things of the Spirit of God;  but by the efficacy of the same regenerating Spirit, pervades the inmost recesses of the man;  he opens the closed, and softens the hardened heart, and circumcises that which was uncircumcised, infuses new qualities into the will, which though heretofore dead, he quickens;  from being evil, disobedient and refractory, he renders it good, obedient, and pliable;  actuates and strengthens it, that like a good tree, it may bring forth the fruits of good actions.

Article 12.  And this is the regeneration so highly celebrated in Scripture, and denominated a new creation:  a resurrection from the dead, a making alive, which God works in us without our aid.  But this is in no wise effected merely by the external preaching of the gospel, by moral suasion, or such a mode of operation, that after God has performed his part, it still remains in the power of man to be regenerated or not, to be converted, or to continue unconverted;  but it is evidently a supernatural work, most powerful, and at the same time most delightful, astonishing, mysterious, and ineffable;  not inferior in efficacy to creation, or the resurrection from the dead, as the Scripture inspired by the author of this work declares;  so that all in whose heart God works in this marvelous manner, are certainly, infallibly, and effectually regenerated, and do actually believe.  – Whereupon the will thus renewed, is not only actuated and influenced by God, but in consequence of this influence, becomes itself active.  Wherefore also, man is himself rightly said to believe and repent, by virtue of that grace received.”

Article 14.  Faith is therefore to be considered as the gift of God, not on account of its being offered by God to man, to be accepted or rejected at his pleasure;  but because it is in reality conferred, breathed, and infused into him;  or even because God bestows the power or ability to believe, and then expects that man should by the exercise of his own free will, consent to the terms of that salvation, and actually believe in Christ;  but because he who works in man both to will and to do, and indeed all things in all, produces both the will to believe, and the act of believing also.

“A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening;  and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.”  Acts 16:14. 

“The next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of the Lord.  But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming.  Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first;  since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.  For so the Lord has commanded us,

‘I HAVE PLACED YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES,
THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.’”

When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord;  and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”  Acts 13:44-48. 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love  He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”  Ephesians 1:3-6.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 17, 2024

“For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings 18:20-29.

“So Ahab sent a message among all the sons of Israel and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel.  Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions?  If the LORD is God, follow Him;  but if Baal, follow him.”  But the people did not answer him a word.  Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men.  Now let them give us two oxen;  and let them choose one ox for themselves and cut it up, and place it on the wood, but put no fire under it;  and I will prepare the other ox and lay it on the wood, and I will not put a fire under it.  Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, He is God.”  And all the people said, “That is a good idea.”

So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one ox for yourselves and prepare it first for you are many, and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.”  Then they took the ox which was given them and they prepared it and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon saying, “O Baal, answer us.”  But there was no voice and no one answered.  And they leaped about the altar which they made.  It came about at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god;  either he is occupied or gone aside, or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened.”  So they cried with a loud voice and cut themselves according to their custom with swords and lances until the blood gushed out on them.  When midday was past, they raved until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice;  but there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention.”   1 Kings 18:20-29.

————–  

We live in a day and age where so many accept it as truth that everyone’s god is equal to everyone else’s god.  The only virtue is to have some claim of spirituality, whatever that means.  

Elijah stands out as an example of one who would say to us today:  “NO!  Everyone’s god is NOT equal to everyone else’s god!“

“Elijah came near to all the people and said,  “How long will you hesitate between two opinions?  If the LORD is God, follow Him;  but if Baal, follow him.”  …”  Verse 21.

“9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.” Isaiah 46:9-11.

“But our God is in the heavens;
He does whatever He pleases.” Psalm 115:3.

“The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.” Psalm 103:19.

But, as for other gods, no matter how much one worships another god or even raves, “… there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention.” Verse 29.

“So watch yourselves, that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a graven image in the form of anything against which the LORD your God has commanded you.  For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

“When you become the father of children and children’s children and have remained long in the land, and act corruptly, and make an idol in the form of anything, and do that which is evil in the sight of the LORD your God so as to provoke Him to anger, I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you will surely perish quickly from the land where you are going over the Jordan to possess it.  You shall not live long on it, but will be utterly destroyed.  The LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD drives you.  There you will serve gods, the work of man’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell.”  Deuteronomy 4:23-28.

But, there is hope!

“But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.  When you are in distress and all these things have come upon you, in the latter days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice.  For the LORD your God is a compassionate God;  He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.”  Deuteronomy 4:29-31. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 15, 2024

“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” – “forget none of His benefits”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings 18:1-16.

“Now it happened after many days that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the face of the earth.”  So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab.  Now the famine was severe in Samaria.  Ahab called Obadiah who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly;  for when Jezebel destroyed the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water.)  Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the valleys;  perhaps we will find grass and keep the horses and mules alive, and not have to kill some of the cattle.”  So they divided the land between them to survey it;  Ahab went one way by himself and Obadiah went another way by himself.

Now as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him, and he recognized him and fell on his face and said, “Is this you, Elijah my master?”  He said to him, “It is I.  Go, say to your master, ‘Behold, Elijah is here.’”  He said, “What sin have I committed, that you are giving your servant into the hand of Ahab to put me to death?  As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent to search for you;  and when they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made the kingdom or nation swear that they could not find you.  And now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your master, “Behold, Elijah is here.”’  It will come about when I leave you that the Spirit of the LORD will carry you where I do not know;  so when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have feared the LORD from my youth.  Has it not been told to my master what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD, that I hid a hundred prophets of the LORD by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water?  And now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your master, “Behold, Elijah is here”’;  he will then kill me.”  Elijah said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.”  So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him;  and Ahab went to meet Elijah.”  1 Kings 18:1-16.

—————

We can see the fear of Obadiah when he was told by Elijah to tell his master, Ahab, that he (Elijah) was here.  

Elijah himself felt fear at times.  “Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE.”  Romans 11:3.

We may feel fear at times.

But, there is hope!

There was hope for Obadiah.  Ahab did not kill Obadiah.  Obadiah could remember that although he hid prophets of the LORD from Jezebel, Ahab’s wife, Ahab still made Obadiah over his household and worked with him.  Verses 3 and 5-6.  Obadiah got to meet Elijah and probably witnessed or at least heard about Elijah’s miraculous victory over Ahab’s prophets on Mount Carmel in the following Scripture.  See 1 Kings 18:20-40.

There was hope for Elijah.  “But what is the divine response to him?  “I HAVE KEPT FOR MYSELF SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.”  In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.”  Romans 11:4-5.

And, there is hope for us today.  “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”  2 Timothy 1:7.

Consider the following from the Heidelberg Catechism.  

Q. 1.  What is thy only comfort in life and death?

A.  That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ;  who, with His precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil;  and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head;  yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto Him.

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”  Romans 8:11.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called;  and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who is against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”  Romans 8:28-32.

“Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.” Psalm 103:1-5.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 14, 2024

“you have seen Me, and yet do not believe.” – “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings 17:17-24.

“Now it came about after these things that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became sick;  and his sickness was so severe that there was no breath left in him.  So she said to Elijah, “What do I have to do with you, O man of God?  You have come to me to bring my iniquity to remembrance and to put my son to death!”  He said to her, “Give me your son.”  Then he took him from her bosom and carried him up to the upper room where he was living, and laid him on his own bed.  He called to the LORD and said, “O LORD my God, have You also brought calamity to the widow with whom I am staying, by causing her son to die?”  Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and called to the LORD and said, “O LORD my God, I pray You, let this child’s life return to him.”  The LORD heard the voice of Elijah, and the life of the child returned to him and he revived.  Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house and gave him to his mother;  and Elijah said, “See, your son is alive.”  Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.”  1 Kings 17:17-24.

——————-

Did the woman see that her son was alive and come to faith and believe through her own wisdom and will?  Or, could the LORD have chosen to do two miracles in this story, namely resurrect the child and resurrect her heart causing her to believe? 

Today’s concluding statement by the woman in bold italic font leads us to meditate on whether we come to faith and believe because of what we see through our own wisdom and will or whether we come to faith and believe because the LORD chooses us and works faith into us by His own sovereign action.  

Although we will spend most of our time in this devotion on other Scriptures to answer this question, we can consider that there is supporting Scripture in the prior Scripture to lead us to believe that the LORD chose to do two miracles in this story, namely resurrect the child and resurrect her heart causing her to believe.  

We remember that the LORD did a prior miracle for the woman.  “So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days.  The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke through Elijah.”  1 Kings 17:15-16.

Why did the woman not make such a statement of faith then?  It was only after this second miracle that she said:  “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.”  Emphasis added.

Let us consider that there were many of Jesus’ disciples who were with Jesus and not only saw many miracles but also hear many of Jesus’ words but who did not come to faith and believe.

“Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement;  who can listen to it?”  But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble?  What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?  It is the Spirit who gives life;  the flesh profits nothing;  the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.  But there are some of you who do not believe.”  For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him.  And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”

As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.”  John 6:60-66.

Consider also the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof.  

Article 14.  Faith is therefore to be considered as the gift of God, not on account of its being offered by God to man, to be accepted or rejected at his pleasure;  but because it is in reality conferred, breathed, and infused into him;  or even because God bestows the power or ability to believe, and then expects that man should by the exercise of his own free will, consent to the terms of that salvation, and actually believe in Christ;  but because he who works in man both to will and to do, and indeed all things in all, produces both the will to believe, and the act of believing also.

Consider also the following concluding Scriptures.

“So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You?  What work do You perform?  Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness;  as it is written, ‘HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.’”  Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.  For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.”  Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life;  he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.  But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe.  All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.”  John 6:30-37. 

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.”  John 6:44. 

“Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  John 6:28-29.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 13, 2024

“THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” – “faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings 17:1-16.

“Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”  The word of the LORD came to him, saying,  “Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.  It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.”  So he went and did according to the word of the LORD, for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.  The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he would drink from the brook.  It happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.

Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there;  behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”  So he arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks;  and he called to her and said, “Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink.”  As she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.”  But she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar;  and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.”  Then Elijah said to her, “Do not fear;  go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son.  For thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth.’”  So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days.  The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke through Elijah.”  1 Kings 17:1-16.

——————-  

The LORD delivered Elijah from a drought through a miraculous provision of ravens at Cherith brook.  However, the brook dried up.  Then, the LORD delivered Elijah through the miraculous provision of the bowl of flour that was not exhausted and the jar of oil that did not become empty.

Here are five major lessons that we can learn from today’s Scripture.  First, the LORD instructs us and guides us in the way we should go.  Second, just because the LORD helps us through one trial does not mean that there will be no more trials.  Third, the LORD does not always deliver us in the same way, and more generally, the LORD sometimes delivers us through humble and unexpected means.  Fourth, the LORD delivers us out of all of our troubles.  Fifth, the righteous live by faith.

“8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you.
10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him.
11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.” Psalm 32:8-11.

“17 The righteous cry, and the LORD hears
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:17-19.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28. 

We don’t have to like troubles and afflictions, but we can trust the LORD to somehow deliver us.  We can also trust the LORD to work out the troubles and afflictions for our good.  Troubles and afflictions teach us and lead us to live by faith. 

The righteous live by faith as shown by the following Scriptures.  

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand;  and we exult in hope of the glory of God.  And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character;  and proven character, hope;  and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”  Romans 5:1-5.

“Behold, as for the proud one,
His soul is not right within him;
But the righteous will live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith;  as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”  Romans 1:16-17.

“For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse;  for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.”  Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident;  for, “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”  However, the Law is not of faith;  on the contrary, “HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.”  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”  Galatians 3:10-14.

“Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.  For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE,
HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.
BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH;
AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.

But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”  Hebrews 10:35-39.

But, there is hope!

The hope is not that we can somehow muster sufficient faith through our own wisdom and will.

The hope is that we will receive that faith that comes as a gift of God.  

Thus, in summary, the righteous live by faith that comes to us a gift of God.

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby.

“Article 8.  For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation:  that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father;  that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death;  should purge them from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed before or after believing;  and having faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at last bring them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever.”

Consider also the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof.  

Article 14.  Faith is therefore to be considered as the gift of God, not on account of its being offered by God to man, to be accepted or rejected at his pleasure;  but because it is in reality conferred, breathed, and infused into him;  or even because God bestows the power or ability to believe, and then expects that man should by the exercise of his own free will, consent to the terms of that salvation, and actually believe in Christ;  but because he who works in man both to will and to do, and indeed all things in all, produces both the will to believe, and the act of believing also.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith;  and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9. 

“For who regards you as superior?  What do you have that you did not receive?  And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”  1 Corinthians 4:7.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”  Ephesians 1:3. 

“Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:  Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;  seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”  2 Peter 1:1-3. 

“For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,”  Philippians 1:29.

“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;  but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.  But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”  1 Corinthians 1:26-31.

“But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”  2 Thessalonians 2:13. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 12, 2024

“But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, … You, however, continue in the things …”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings 16:15-34.  Here is a link to this Scripture – 1 Kings 16 NASB1995 – – Bible Gateway

I quote only the following Scriptures.

“In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days at Tirzah.  Now the people were camped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.  The people who were camped heard it said, “Zimri has conspired and has also struck down the king.”  Therefore all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp.  Then Omri and all Israel with him went up from Gibbethon and besieged Tirzah.  When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the king’s house and burned the king’s house over him with fire, and died, because of his sins which he sinned, doing evil in the sight of the LORD, walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, making Israel sin.  …  

Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts:  half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king;  the other half followed Omri.  But the people who followed Omri prevailed over the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath.  And Tibni died and Omri became king.  …    

Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, and acted more wickedly than all who were before him.  For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat and in his sins which he made Israel sin, provoking the LORD God of Israel with their idols.  …  

Now Ahab the son of Omri became king over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years.  Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all who were before him.

It came about, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went to serve Baal and worshiped him.  So he erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal which he built in Samaria.  Ahab also made the Asherah.  Thus Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.  In his days Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho;  he laid its foundations with the loss of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates with the loss of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which He spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.”  1 Kings 16:15-19 and 21-22 and 25-26 and 29-34.  

—————         

“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.  For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power;  Avoid such men as these.  For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith.  But they will not make further progress;  for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also.

Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra;  what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!  Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.  But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;  so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy chapter 3.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 11, 2024

“Is not My word like fire?” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings 16:1-14.

“Now the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, “Inasmuch as I exalted you from the dust and made you leader over My people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have made My people Israel sin, provoking Me to anger with their sins,  behold, I will consume Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.  Anyone of Baasha who dies in the city the dogs will eat, and anyone of his who dies in the field the birds of the heavens will eat.”

Now the rest of the acts of Baasha and what he did and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

And Baasha slept with his fathers and was buried in Tirzah, and Elah his son became king in his place.  Moreover, the word of the LORD through the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani also came against Baasha and his household, both because of all the evil which he did in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and because he struck it.

In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha became king over Israel at Tirzah, and reigned two years.  His servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against him.  Now he was at Tirzah drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household at Tirzah.  Then Zimri went in and struck him and put him to death in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and became king in his place.  It came about when he became king, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he killed all the household of Baasha;  he did not leave a single male, neither of his relatives nor of his friends.

Thus Zimri destroyed all the household of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which He spoke against Baasha through Jehu the prophet, for all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah his son, which they sinned and which they made Israel sin, provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their idols.  Now the rest of the acts of Elah and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?”  1 Kings 16:1-14.

—————-

“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11.

“10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.” Isaiah 46:10-11.

“But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.  You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;  so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:13-17.

“Is not My word like fire?” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?”  Jeremiah 23:29.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 10, 2024

“The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings 15:25-34.

“Now Nadab the son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years.  He did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father and in his sin which he made Israel sin.  Then Baasha the son of Ahijah of the house of Issachar conspired against him, and Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, while Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon.

So Baasha killed him in the third year of Asa king of Judah and reigned in his place.  It came about as soon as he was king, he struck down all the household of Jeroboam.  He did not leave to Jeroboam any persons alive, until he had destroyed them, according to the word of the LORD, which He spoke by His servant Ahijah the Shilonite, and because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, because of his provocation with which he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger.

Now the rest of the acts of Nadab and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah became king over all Israel at Tirzah, and reigned twenty-four years.  He did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin which he made Israel sin.”  1 Kings 15:25-34.  

—————-   

“The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.” Psalm 103:19.

“The LORD has made everything for its own purpose,
Even the wicked for the day of evil.” Proverbs 16:4.

Even though Baasha did evil in the sight of the LORD as stated in verse 34, the LORD ruled and governed Baasha to strike down the all of the household of Jeroboam “according to the word of the LORD”.  Verse 29.

Consider the following from the Belgic Confession.

“Article 13:  Of Divine Providence.

We believe that the same God, after he had created all things, did not forsake them, or give them up to fortune or chance, but that he rules and governs them according to his holy will, so that nothing happens in this world without his appointment:  nevertheless, God neither is the author of, nor can be charged with, the sins which are committed.  For his power and goodness are so great and incomprehensible, that he orders and executes his work in the most excellent and just manner, even then, when devils and wicked men act unjustly.  And, as to what he doth surpassing human understanding, we will not curiously inquire into, farther than our capacity will admit of;  but with the greatest humility and reverence adore the righteous judgments of God, which are hid from us, contenting ourselves that we are disciples of Christ, to learn only those things which he has revealed to us in his Word, without transgressing these limits.  This doctrine affords us unspeakable consolation, since we are taught thereby that nothing can befall us by chance, but by the direction of our most gracious and heavenly Father;  who watches over us with a paternal care, keeping all creatures so under his power, that not a hair of our head (for they are all numbered), nor a sparrow, can fall to the ground, without the will of our Father, in whom we do entirely trust;  being persuaded, that he so restrains the devil and all our enemies, that without his will and permission, they cannot hurt us.  And therefore we reject that damnable error of the Epicureans, who say that God regards nothing, but leaves all things to chance.”

“9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.” Isaiah 46:9-11.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 8, 2024

“He may incline our hearts to Himself … Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the LORD our God”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings 15:8-22.  Here is a link to this Scripture – 1 Kings 15 NASB1995 – – Bible Gateway

I quote only the following verses.  

“And Abijam slept with his fathers and they buried him in the city of David;  and Asa his son became king in his place.

So in the twentieth year of Jeroboam the king of Israel, Asa began to reign as king of Judah.  He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem;  and his mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.  Asa did what was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father.  He also put away the male cult prostitutes from the land and removed all the idols which his fathers had made.  He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother, because she had made a horrid image as an Asherah;  and Asa cut down her horrid image and burned it at the brook Kidron.  But the high places were not taken away;  nevertheless the heart of Asa was wholly devoted to the LORD all his days.  He brought into the house of the LORD the dedicated things of his father and his own dedicated things:  silver and gold and utensils.”  1 Kings 15:8-15.  

————-   

The fact that “the heart of Asa was wholly devoted to the LORD all his days” reminds us of the following Benediction upon the people of Israel by Solomon and the promises that were for them and for us in Christ.

“Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised;  not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant.  May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; may He not leave us or forsake us, that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances, which He commanded our fathers.  And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day requires, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no one else.  Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.”  1 Kings 8:56-61.

But, there is hope!

There is hope even in the foregoing Benediction by Solomon “that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances, which He commanded our fathers.”  1 Kings 8:58.

And, there is also hope in other Scriptures.

“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;  and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”  Ezekiel 36:26-27.

“FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL
AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:
I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS,
AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS.
AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,
AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
“AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN,
AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, ‘KNOW THE LORD,’
FOR ALL WILL KNOW ME,
FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.
“FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES,
AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.” Hebrews 8:10-12.

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof.

Article 11. But when God accomplishes his good pleasure in the elect, or works in them true conversion, he not only causes the gospel to be externally preached to them, and powerfully illumines their minds by his Holy Spirit, that they may rightly understand and discern the things of the Spirit of God; but by the efficacy of the same regenerating Spirit, pervades the inmost recesses of the man; he opens the closed, and softens the hardened heart, and circumcises that which was uncircumcised, infuses new qualities into the will, which though heretofore dead, he quickens; from being evil, disobedient and refractory, he renders it good, obedient, and pliable; actuates and strengthens it, that like a good tree, it may bring forth the fruits of good actions.

Article 12. And this is the regeneration so highly celebrated in Scripture, and denominated a new creation: a resurrection from the dead, a making alive, which God works in us without our aid. But this is in no wise effected merely by the external preaching of the gospel, by moral suasion, or such a mode of operation, that after God has performed his part, it still remains in the power of man to be regenerated or not, to be converted, or to continue unconverted; but it is evidently a supernatural work, most powerful, and at the same time most delightful, astonishing, mysterious, and ineffable; not inferior in efficacy to creation, or the resurrection from the dead, …

Consider the following from the Heidelberg Catechism.

Q. 1. What is thy only comfort in life and death?

A. That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ; who, with His precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto Him.

“For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,

“THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM
AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,”

He then says,

“AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS
I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.”

Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.” Hebrews 10:14-18.

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