Hebrews 9:13–14
13 "For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

Still comparing the many sacrifices of the priests to the one sacrifice of Christ we see here an important distinction.  All of those various Old Testament sacrifices were meant to cleanse the flesh.  That is to say, they were rituals that only managed to wash the outside.  But Christ's sacrifice cleanses the conscience.  Christ's sacrifice doesn't just make you look better in the mirror, it causes you to feel better in your heart.  Pray that our entire congregation would enjoy the peace of forgiveness.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Charlie & Fronye Morris
• Tommie McCormick-Davis

Hebrews 9:11–12
11 "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption."

We saw that old day of atonement occur year after year after year.  In short, it never was a permanent fix.  They had to keep doing it.  "But when Christ appeared as a high priest" He stood before God with an acceptable sacrifice and He did what no priest had ever done before.  He "obtained eternal redemption".  He negotiated our pardon for all eternity!  He ransomed us from our sin forever!  He purchased forgiveness that never expires!  Meditate on the words "eternal redemption" and thank Jesus for securing it for you!

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• George & Evelyn Matthewson
• Woody & Linda McArthur

Hebrews 9:11–12
11 "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption."

Year after year we saw priests fail at the day of atonement.  We discovered part of the problem was that they never actually appeared before God; they only entered a man-made tent.  Jesus fixed that problem.  But we also see that no priest ever actually brought an acceptable payment for sin either.  They only ever brought "the blood of goats and calves".  But not Jesus!  When He went into the actual presence of God, He went "through His own blood".  He took a truly righteous offering.  He took the lifeblood of a truly holy sacrifice.  Only Jesus actually stood before God with a truly acceptable offering.  Thank Him today for sacrificing Himself for you.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Lee & Alice Kidd
• Zek & Lindsay Mosley (Peter)

Hebrews 9:11–12
11 "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption."

We are reading of the day when Christ attempted to perfectly fulfill the day of atonement.  No priest had ever succeeded at it.  Every year those priests set up the same tent and entered it in hopes of permanently satisfying God's wrath.  They never succeeded, in part because the never actually approached God.  But when Jesus performed the day of atonement, "He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle...He entered the [real] holy place."  Jesus didn't pitch a tent and perform a symbolic ritual, Jesus went straight to the very presence of God.  For the first time we had a priest stand before God on our behalf!  Praise Jesus for this ministry!

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Michael & Amber Kermick (Emma, Jacob)
• Gary & Elaine Key

Hebrews 9:11–12
11 "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption."

Year after year we saw the same old day of atonement and it never worked.  "But when Christ appeared" He came "as a high priest".  Christ came to this earth in many roles, but none were more significant than His role as a priest.  He came to accomplish what no priest had ever accomplished, "eternal redemption".  Praise Jesus for endeavoring to fulfill such a great and seemingly impossible need.  He came to fulfill a job that no man had ever succeeded at.  He is truly unique!

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Ruby Karr
• Keith Karr
• David Karr
• Louise Hoffman

Hebrews 9:11–12
11 "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption."

Everything about the old covenant spoke to weakness and separation from God.  "But when Christ appeared" all of that was about to change!  Follow the imagery being presented by the Holy Spirit in this text.  Let your mind travel to that all-important day of atonement.  Do you see the tabernacle? Do you see the smoke rising? Do you see the priest entering? Do you see how futile it all is?  Regardless of the work of that priest, you still never get to enter.  His work is weak, temporary, and ultimately ineffective.  But now look again.  For this time Christ has appeared to perform it correctly.  Praise Jesus for coming to do for us what no man has ever been able to do.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Kevin & Rhonda Brendle
• Tom & Marilyn Taylor

Hebrews 9:6–10 
6 "Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship, 7 but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing, 9 which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, 10 since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation."

The Holy Spirit used that old system of veils to make a point; namely that access to God is not granted when a veil remains.  But then the writer goes even further to say that the unsuccessful system of veils is "a symbol for the present time."  He refers to the day in which his audience lives.  A day when the sacrifices were still in full operation, but no one was getting any closer to God through them.  That is because food, drink, washings, and other regulations cannot earn God's favor, and that is still true today.  Religious ceremony has never been effective earn God's favor and it still isn't.  Commit to seek God today, and allow your commitment to Him to be more than ceremonies and traditions.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Terry & Teenya Gilbert
• Daniel & Sunni Cates (Caleb, Bethani, Jonathan)

Hebrews 9:6–10
6 "Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship, 7 but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing, 9 which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, 10 since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation."

The writer not only reminds us of the system of veils, but also of who had access inside them.  Into that innermost veil only the high priest went, only once a year, and not without blood.  And then the point.  "The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing..."  In short veils are separators.  Veils divide.  Veils limit access to God.  And that is a fitting illustration for all works-based systems.  The labor is intense, but access is never earned.  Confess to God that your works are not capable of carrying you behind the veil.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Chris & Rachel Horn
• Cody & Karen Hurdt

Hebrews 9:1–5
1 "Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place. 3 Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, 4 having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail."

The writer is about to make a significant point about the Old Covenant, but first it is important that we gain a picture of that system.  It is a system of veils.  In the innermost veil was the seat of mercy, and ironically that was the hardest place to get to.  The writer will make his point later, but this morning praise God that His mercy is now so easily available to us.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Chuck & Laurie Hinson
• Gladys Hinson

Hebrews 8:13
13 "When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear."

When God brought a new covenant He meant it.  The Old Covenant of works was no longer needed and was removed.  In fact, just a few years after this letter was written Rome destroyed the temple and sacrifices were never offered again.  The only covenant God offers with man now is the covenant of salvation through the atoning and interceding work of Christ.  Pray that all in our church would flee from legalism and embrace the saving work of Christ.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Les & Cindy Heflin
• Lucy Sanchez
• Neal & Nancy Hindman

Hebrews 8:10–12
10 “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. 11 “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. 12 “For I will be merciful to their iniquities, And I will remember their sins no more.”

Whereas the Old Covenant brought only a reminder of sins year by year, the New Covenant brings the total forgiveness of them.  Because the New Covenant effects the heart and produces genuine righteousness and knowledge of God, judgment is removed.  Our sins, having been completely atoned for through Christ are no longer remembered and we enjoy the blessing of forgiveness.  Pray that all in our church would embrace Christ and know this blessing.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Lance & Amy Harris (Kodah)
• Rita Harris

Hebrews 8:10–12
10 “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. 11 “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. 12 “For I will be merciful to their iniquities, And I will remember their sins no more.”

The result of God's New Covenant is a genuine knowledge of God.  No longer will men hear of God second-hand, but God will make Himself known to all who are a part of it.  Pray that everyone in our church will truly know God.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• George & Pam Goodall
• Max & Rebecca Haney

Hebrews 8:10–12
10 “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. 11 “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. 12 “For I will be merciful to their iniquities, And I will remember their sins no more.”

The New Covenant is not external, it is internal.  The Old Covenant contained laws written on stone that the people were to obey.  The New Covenant sees God writing those laws on the heart with an internal change.  The result of this covenant is that God will be our God and we will be His people.  Pray that all those who attend our church would embrace this new covenant and the change of heart that comes with it.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Charlena Fitzgerald (Gage)
• Benny & Cathy Fitzgerald

Hebrews 8:7–9
7 "For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. 8 For finding fault with them, He says, “Behold, days are coming, says the Lord, When I will effect a new covenant With the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; 9 Not like the covenant which I made with their fathers On the day when I took them by the hand To lead them out of the land of Egypt; For they did not continue in My covenant, And I did not care for them, says the Lord."

The Old Covenant was flawed.  But that flaw was not in its character.  The Old Covenant rightly and accurately depicted the righteousness of God.  The flaw of the Old Covenant was that it depended on man to fulfill it and man has continually been proven incapable.  Israel repeatedly broke that covenant and only ever received judgment for it.  Confess to God your inability and need for a covenant of grace and not works.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• David & Toni Crawford
• Bonnie Edwards

Hebrews 8:3–6
3 "For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. 4 Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; 5 who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “See,” He says, “that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” 6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises."

Jesus is a better priest.  Jesus is in a better location.  Jesus offers a better sacrifice.  Jesus holds His office permanently.  And here we find that He is the mediator of a better covenant that is enacted on better promises.  The Old Covenant given at Sinai had failed.  Jesus came to give a new one!  Praise God for the New Covenant.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Les & Tammy Fincher (Tyler, Ramey, Seth, Chase)
• Joe & Paula Fincher

Hebrews 8:3–6
3 "For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. 4 Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; 5 who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “See,” He says, “that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” 6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises."

What a thought.  "If He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all" because those priests aren't actually going before God, they are just going before Him symbolically.  But Christ left earth and went to heaven that He might actually go before God on our behalf.  It gives us yet another reason why it was to our advantage for Him to leave.  We have the perfect priest and He is perfectly placed!  Lift up your requests through Him today.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Phil & Paula Driggers
• Neta Driggers

Hebrews 8:1–2
1 "Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man."

We have a faithful and praying high priest who sits at the right hand of God in the true tabernacle.  And then the writer says, it is a tabernacle "which the Lord pitched, not man."  This reality of a faithful priest praying for us was not a scheme we devised, it is the plan of God.  Man didn't build this tabernacle so that we could select a priest to pray for us.  God built this tabernacle, He selected the priest, and He ordained the service.  This is God's doing!  How great is the love and care of God for our souls that He would institute such a service so that we might be atoned for!

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Leo & Joan Day
• Steve & Janet Bridges

Hebrews 8:1–2
1 "Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man."

We find that we have a high priest who is seated next to God.  But He is not a lazy and retired priest.  He is "a minister in the sanctuary".  Though His atoning work is finished, His intercessory work is ongoing and He is faithful to do it.  You are being prayed for today by Jesus Christ.  How would you ask Him to pray for you today?

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Ronnie & Marcella Bilberry
• Derek & Cheyenne Bilberry (Gentry, Cooper, Kutter)

Hebrews 8:1–2
1 "Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man."

We have a high priest!  And we have one "who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens".  No priest ever sat, he was too busy working.  Our priest finished His atoning work and now He sits.  And He sits at the right hand of God.  God has forever accepted the work of our priest.  Everything He does for you is permanent and effective.  Declare your trust in His atoning work today.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Chris & Meegan Weaver (Aydin, Calin, Maggie)
• Texas Girls & Boys Ranch

Hebrews 8:1–2
1 "Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man."

By the author's own admission, here we reach "the main point in what has been said".  And it is this.  "We have such a high priest".  The fear among the Hebrews was that following Jesus would get them excommunicated from thy synagogue and the temple and thus they would lose all of the privileges of the priestly services on their behalf.  The writer of Hebrews says, "Nonsense!"  We have a high priest!  We have a better one!  Have you made use of your high priest today?

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Ronnie & Janet Overby
• Taylor & Tanya Philips (Tyler, Timberlyn)

Hebrews 7:26–28 
26 "For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever."

Not only do we notice that Christ is holy, innocent, undefiled, and separated from sinners, but we also notice that He no longer needs to offer up sacrifices.  The former priests did this annually, first for themselves and then for the people.  Christ never needed to atone for Himself and He will never again atone for us because He did this "once for all when He offered up Himself."  What a sufficient offering Christ gave on our behalf!  The portal to God is forever opened.  God will never close it again, for Christ has paid such a gift that access will never be revoked!  We unlimited and unending access to the Father through Christ.  Praise Him!

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Don & Judy Kaneski
• Ole & Doreen Olson

Hebrews 7:26–28 
26 "For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever."

This passage clearly exposes the weakness of the old priests ordained by the Law, but even more than that it highlights the greatness of the new priest ordained through the oath God gave in Psalms 110:4.  Let us consider Him for a moment.  We read that Jesus is "holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens".  He has a sinless nature, He is holy.  He lived a sinless life, He is innocent.  He overcame every sinful temptation and influence, He is undefiled.  He will never be tempted again, He is separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens.  The former priests were weak and full of failure.  Jesus never failed and He never will!

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Cody Lee
• Brendon Walker

Hebrews 7:26–28 
26 "For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever."

What a wealth of information we find here!  At its core it is another comparison between the priests ordained by the Law and the one true Priest ordained through the oath of Psalms 110:4.  First consider the priests ordained through the Law.  One main word describes them: "weak".  They were sinful and prone to stumbling.  They had to first atone for their own sins before they could atone for yours.  They were subject to deception and temptation and constant moral failure.  In short, there was always a chance your priest would disqualify himself and his offering on your behalf would be rejected.  This morning praise God that He ordained a better way!

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Gracie Hadding
• Cindy Wampler

Hebrews 7:23–25
23 "The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."

Certainly the fact that Jesus always lives makes Him a permanent High Priest with totally effective work.  But it is also important to us to understand what work He does.  He always lives, but why?  "He always lives to make intercession for them."  That is for those who draw near to God through Him.  Christ never leaves office and He never stops praying for you!  He intercedes for you with fail.  Thank Him today!

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Vicki Diggs
• Cindy Glass
• Liam & Riannon Horn

Hebrews 7:23–25
23 "The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."

What is the benefit of having a priest who never leaves office?  His work never expires.  How many presidents have overruled a previous administration's "executive orders" simply because the former was out of office?  But not with Christ.  He will never leave office and His work will never be overturned.  He holds His priesthood permanently.  "Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him"  Praise Jesus for saving us and saving us forever!

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Ken Brendle
• Doug & Carissa Clark (Elsie, Rivers, Murphy, Hezekiah, Judah)