Hebrews 10:19-22

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

From Background Notes [BN] for March 2nd & 3rd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The book of Hebrews is a long, continuous sermon — a homily — written by an unknown preacher and delivered in letter form to Christian congregations who are familiar with the Old Testament.

Revelation 1:9-10

I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet

From Background Notes [BN] for March 2nd & 3rd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

He still does this work among us, and with all who come into the hearing of his voice. At first he may speak from behind, as yet unknown to the listener, nonetheless present in his Word.

Revelation 2:2-4

I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.

From Background Notes [BN] for March 2nd & 3rd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Though the turbulent decades of John’s time shook the churches to their foundations, the worshipping community discovered the presence and power of the risen Jesus.

Acts 2:1-2

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

From Background Notes [BN] for March 2nd & 3rd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

And so when Acts 2 tells the story of the New Pentecost, it’s really re-enacting the old one with fresh fire and city heat.

Ecclesiastes 5:13-15

I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners, or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit. Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands.

Ecclesiastes 5:7

Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.

Ecclesiastes 4:5

Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves.

 

Ecclesiastes 3:17

I said to myself, “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.”

Ecclesiastes 3:12

I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.

1 John 4:10

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

John 13:34-35

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

1 Corinthians 13:6-7 NIV

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 NIV

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

1 Corinthians 1:26-27

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

From Background Notes [BN] for February 9^th & 10^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Can we not imagine Gideon in Paul’s thoughts when he wrote the words, “Think of what you were when you were called”? Or more correctly, “Think of what you thought about yourself when you were called”!

Judges 6:12

When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”

From Background Notes [BN] for February 9^th & 10^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Sneaking around the winepress, threshing his wheat, Gideon probably looked and felt like anything but a “mighty warrior,” yet God’s messenger speaks the Word to him as if it were already true.

Judges 6:8b-10

“This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians. And I delivered you from the hand of all your oppressors; I drove them out before you and gave you their land. I said to you, ‘I am the LORD your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.”

From Background Notes [BN] for February 9^th & 10^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Fading into darkness, Israel is in need of light from the Word of God, and that is why the prophet is sent. What the prophet tells Israel takes the form of a covenant lawsuit:

1 Kings 22:51-52

Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, because he followed the ways of his father and mother and of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin.

From Background Notes [BN] for February 9^th & 10^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Scholars have long noted the pattern of events in the book in terms of several cycles with distinct phases:

Psalm 13:1

How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?

From Background Notes [BN] for February 9^th & 10^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Israel acknowledges that when God fades from their view, it is not because of any failure in Him, but as a result of their turning “to other gods.”

Matthew 20:26b-27 KJV

...whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

From Background Notes [BN] for February 2nd & 3rd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

We become servants, but we remain slaves. It is our true being, our true nature, as new-born children of the Father. And, unlike slaves of pagan masters, we gladly choose to be what we are.