Hebrews 6:4–8
4 "For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. 7 For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; 8 but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned."

An often misunderstood passage, but one of great importance.  Let's start with the basic audience.  Verse 4 identifies them who have once been enlightened.  Verse 6 indicates them as those who eventually fall away.  We will begin there with this observation.  While enlightenment is necessary for salvation, it is not salvation in and of itself.  Those who are merely confronted with truth can still fall away from it.  Pray that none in our church stop simply with enlightenment.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Rory & Carrie Mosley (Abigail)
• Willie & Margaret Neufeld (Marissa, Cassie, Tyler, Aubrey, Ruby)

Hebrews 6:1–3
1 "Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do, if God permits."

The writer also describes what he means by pressing on to maturity.  It requires leaving behind the elemental things like basic repentance, faith, washings, and laying on of hands, resurrection, and judgment.  The writer is referring to the Law and especially the sacrificial system.  If you think about it, it was all very "hands on", it was elemental, it was something that could be easily grasped by a child.  But all of those things were merely illustrations to point to a greater reality.  It would be a shame if we stayed stuck in the symbol and never understood the point.  That is what the writer wants.  He wants us to move beyond symbolic gestures into a deep and filling relationship with Christ.  Pray that God would permit our church to press on to maturity.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Charlie & Fronye Morris
• Tommie McCormick-Davis

Hebrews 6:1–3
1 "Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do, if God permits."

Following the rebuke that ended chapter 5, the writer now gives the encouragement.  "Let us press on to maturity".  It is an obvious calling.  Little children are cute when they are little.  An infant is cute when he drools and sticks out his tongue and makes indiscernible sounds of gibberish, but those same behaviors are far less attractive on a teenager or adult.  Maturity is necessary.  So is spiritual maturity, and it is obtained through a commitment to rightly dividing the word.  Pray that our church would "press on to maturity."

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• George & Evelyn Matthewson
• Woody & Linda McArthur

Hebrews 5:11–14
11 "Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil."

The call is to get off of the milk and start eating solid food.  We understand it perfectly.  It is time we move past the general Bible stories that we learned as children and learn to rightly divide the truth of God's Word.  For sure it is a time-consuming goal.  As the writer freely admits, it requires "practice" to have our sense trained.  So practice.  Pray that our church will commit to practice rightly dividing God's Word.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

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

Hebrews 5:11–14
11 "Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil."

The rebuke of the writer is a stinging one.  "For though by this time you ought to be teachers of the oracles of God."  Have you considered that it is God's expectation that you be a teacher of His word?  It is contained even in the Great Commission that we are to "teach them to obey all that I have commanded you".  Ask God to show you someone whom you can teach God's word to this week.  Pray that our church would be filled with eager teachers of His word.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

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

Hebrews 5:11–14
11 "Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil."

We recognize the frustration of the writer.  His congregation is "dull of hearing."  He is surprised that he has to tell them truths about Melchizedek.  The reality is that they should have read Psalm 110 and already learned this for themselves.  We consider this a confrontation of our own souls as well.  In a nation where Bibles are easy to acquire, we have no excuse for not knowing what God has said.  Pray that our church would develop a love for reading God's word.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Ruby Karr
• Keith Karr
• Louise Huffman
• David Karr

Hebrews 5:11–14
11 "Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil."

Here come across the first real frustration of the writer of Hebrews.  He has just introduced that Christ is a High Priest like Melchizedek.  And there is a great theological point he wants to make in that regard.  (A point he will make in ch. 7).  The problem is that his congregation has become "dull of hearing".  They aren't committed to knowing and understanding what God is saying to them through His word.  And there is their problem.  They are afraid and contemplating leaving Christ because they don't know how glorious He is.  And they don't know how glorious He is because they refuse to read and study the word.  What a warning to us.  Commit yourself today to seeing Christ in His word!

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Kevin & Rhonda Brendle
• Tom & Marilyn Taylor

Hebrews 5:7–10
7 "In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, 10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek."

Once again we are reminded that our great High Priest; the faithful, proven, holy, qualified, effective One was the One whom God designated for us.  God chose for you to have this qualified priest that you might have unhindered access to Him at all times.  Take advantage of that, and draw near to God through Jesus Christ.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

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

Hebrews 5:7–10
7 "In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, 10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek."

Now that we have covered His credentials, the writer moves to the glorious benefit of having such a qualified priest.  "He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation".  What a statement!  He is the source!  Salvation flows only from Him and through Him.  It is for all who obey Him, indicating that He saves His own, not all people indiscriminately.  And the best part...it is an "eternal salvation".  It never expires!  It is never fails!  Once received it lasts forever!  What a great priest!  Every other priest at best secured a cease fire for a year, He secured salvation for all eternity.  Praise Him!

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Chris & Rachel Horn
• Cody & Karen Hurdt

Hebrews 5:7–10
7 "In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, 10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek."

In this text we read another puzzling statement.  The writer refers to our great High Priest as, "having been made perfect".  This again puzzles us since Christ is certainly holy and perfect.  Again the writer refers to His experience as a human and His sympathy as a priest.  Because He became human, because He suffered, because He learned the cost of obedience, He became a perfect High Priest!  He is not only qualified by His character, He is qualified through His experience!  He is perfect, flawless, and battle tested!  Our priest can handle anything you can throw at Him!

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Chuck & Laurie Hinson
• Gladys Hinson

Hebrews 5:7–10
7 "In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, 10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek."

We also learn the somewhat puzzling truth that our High Priest, even though He is the Son of God, "learned obedience from the things which He suffered."  How could the Son of God learn since He is omniscient?  And how could He learn obedience, since He is perfectly holy?  The answer is that He learned those things experientially.  By becoming Human He learned the cost of obedience, the pain of obedience, and the difficulty of obedience.  Do you ever struggle with obedience?  Do you find it difficult at times to obey God?  Jesus understands!  Take your struggles to Him for help.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

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

Hebrews 5:7–10
7 "In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, 10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek."

We also learn of our Great High Priest that He is God's Son.  The writer already introduced that back in verse 5 as He quoted Psalm 2:7.  In this we are reminded again of the great love of God who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16).  We are reminded of the clear revelation of God that comes through Jesus, as John told us that in Christ we saw His glory, glory as the only begotten from the Father (John 1:14-18).  God did not select some "run of the mill" priest for us.  He sent the best!  He sent His Son!  Praise God for that.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Lance & Amy Harris (Kodah)
• Rita Harris

Hebrews 5:7–10
7 "In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, 10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek."

We also immediately recognize the immense suffering our High Priest endured in order to sympathize with us.  He faced death; and more than that, the wrath of God which accompanies it.  This grief was so intense that "He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears".  If you have ever experienced such emotions, know that Jesus can sympathize!  Take your tears to Him!

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• George & Pam Goodall
• Max & Rebecca Haney

Hebrews 5:7–10
7 "In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, 10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek."

The first thing we notice about our final High Priest is His piety (religious zeal).  Our High Priest was incredibly zealous about His job.  His piety was so intense and sincere that it caused the God of Heaven to hear His prayers.  What a blessing!  For who wants a High Priest whom God doesn't hear?  Praise Jesus for His piety and gaining favor with God.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Charlena Fitzgerald (Gage)
• Benny & Cathy Fitzgerald

Hebrews 5:5–6
5 "So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”; 6 just as He says also in another passage, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”

We have seen God's prophetic announcement of the final High Priest.  He will be one who is a begotten Son, He will be one who is a priest forever, and He will be a priest in the same way that Melchizedek was a priest." (Gen. 14:17-24) Praise God for promising such a priest, and for fulfilling that promise in Christ.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• David & Toni Crawford
• Bonnie Edwards

Hebrews 5:5–6
5 "So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”; 6 just as He says also in another passage, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”

The writer just made the point that every true High Priest must be appointed by God, and not one who takes the honor upon himself.  This was certainly true of Jesus.  Quoting from Psalm 2:7 and Psalm 110:4 the writer makes the point that Jesus was and is God's chosen High Priest.  It gives added weight to the statement by Jesus that no one comes to the Father except through Him.  He is the priest God has chosen and the only High priest He will accept.  Praise God for making a way to Himself through Christ for you!

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

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

Hebrews 5:1–4
1 "For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; 2 he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; 3 and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. 4 And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was."

One final thing we learn about a good High Priest is that it is not a position that one claims for himself.  He must be a man who is "called by God".  In short, he must be a priest that God is willing to negotiate with.  Praise Jesus for filling every requirement to make Himself acceptable to God to be qualified to intercede on your behalf.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Phil & Paula Driggers
• Neta Driggers

Hebrews 5:1–4
1 "For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; 2 he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; 3 and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. 4 And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was."

Another fundamental aspect of a High Priest is that he is "obligated to offers sacrifices for sins".  The priests in the Old Testament had to first atone for themselves and then for the people.  We praise Jesus who needed no atonement, but who remained committed to atoning for those who did!

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Leo & Joan Day
• Steve & Janet Bridges

Hebrews 5:1–4
1 "For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; 2 he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; 3 and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. 4 And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was."

Another aspect of a good High Priest is that because he is human and "beset with weakness", he can "deal gently with the ignorant and misguided."  A good High Priest is sympathetic to your failures.  Though Jesus was not weak, He clothed Himself with meekness that He might sympathize.  He faced your temptation, He embraced your suffering, He submitted to arrest, scorn, shame, and death.  He was committed to His job!

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

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

Hebrews 5:1–4
1 "For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; 2 he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; 3 and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. 4 And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was."

As we consider what makes a man a good High Priest we also learn that his ministry is "to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins".  In short, he works on behalf of man to offer appeasement to God.  The role of a priest is to advocate before God by giving Him a propitiatory sacrifice.  What an important role!  Praise Jesus for taking on such a role for you!

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

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

Hebrews 5:1–4
1 "For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; 2 he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; 3 and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. 4 And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was."

What does it take for a man to be a good High Priest?  Here we learn that his ministry is "in things pertaining to God."  Priests don't concern themselves with earthly things.  They are concerned with spiritual things.  Their objective is to see to it that your soul is saved.  Praise Jesus for having such a concern for you!

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

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

Hebrews 5:1–4
1 "For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; 2 he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; 3 and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. 4 And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was."

As the writer focuses on what makes a man a good High Priest he reminds us that every priest is "appointed on behalf of men".  In short the role of a priest is for the benefit of men.  God doesn't need a priest, we do.  Today praise God for providing the Priest we needed in Jesus Christ.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Don & Judy Kaneski
• Ole & Doreen Olson

Hebrews 5:1–4
1 "For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; 2 he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; 3 and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. 4 And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was."

In order to make the point of what a great High Priest we have in Jesus, the writer first sets out to describe what makes a man a good priest.  First we notice that they are "taken from among men".  It reminds us that if Christ was to be our priest He had to become human.  Praise Him for condescending that He might serve as your priest!

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Cody Lee
• Brendon Walker

Hebrews 4:15–16
15 "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Do you have confidence in Jesus when you cry out to Him?  Do you have confidence that He hears?  Do you have confidence that He cares?  Do you have confidence that He can help?  It is imperative that when we approach Him we approach Him with faith.  Confess to Jesus how confident you are in Him today!

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Gracie Hadding
• Cindy Wampler

Hebrews 4:15–16
15 "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

When you draw near to Jesus to lay your burdens on Him and to seek His rest, you are not approaching One who is unsympathetic, untested, or unqualified.  Jesus knows!  Jesus experienced!  Jesus overcame!  Jesus is ready to help!  Draw near to Him today with your burdens.

PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Vicki Diggs
• Cindy Glass
• Liam & Riannon Horn