Hebrews 5-6; Psalms 27 - Prayer Tents

Hebrews 5

5Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins.G1063G3956G749G2983G1537G444G2525G5228G444G4314G2316G2443G4374G5037G1435G2532G2378G5228G2662And he is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same weaknesses.G1410G3356G50G2532G4105G1893G4029G846G2532G4029G7693That is why he must offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as theirs.G2532G1223G5026G3784G2531G4012G2992G3779G2532G4012G1438G4374G5228G2664And no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor. He must be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was.G2532G3756G5100G2983G5092G1438G235G2564G5259G2316G2509G2532G25That is why Christ did not honor himself by assuming he could become High Priest. No, he was chosen by God, who said to him, "You are my Son. Today I have become your Father

."G3779G2532G5547G1392G3756G1438G1096G749G235G2980G4314G846G4771G1488G3450G5207G4594G1080G1473G1080G45716And in another passage God said to him, "You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek."

G2531G3004G2532G1722G2087G4771G2409G1519G165G2596G5010G31987While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God.G3739G1722G2250G846G4561G4374G1162G5037G2532G2428G3326G2478G2906G2532G1144G4314G1410G4982G846G1537G2288G2532G1522G575G21248Even though Jesus was God's Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.G2539G5607G5207G3129G5218G575G3739G39589In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.G2532G5048G1096G159G166G4991G3956G5219G84610And God designated him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.G4316G5259G2316G749G2596G5010G3198

A Call to Spiritual Growth

11There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don't seem to listen.G4012G3739G2254G3056G4183G3056G2532G1421G3004G1893G1096G3576G18912You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God's word

. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.G2532G1063G1223G5550G3784G1511G1320G2192G5532G1321G5209G3825G5101G746G4747G3051G2316G2532G1096G2192G5532G1051G2532G3756G4731G516013For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn't know how to do what is right.G1063G3956G3348G1051G552G3056G1343G1063G2076G351614Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.G1161G4731G5160G2076G5046G1223G1838G2192G145G1128G4314G1253G5037G2570G2532G2556

Hebrews 6

6So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don't need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds

and placing our faith in God.G1352G863G746G3056G5547G5342G1909G5047G3361G2598G3825G2310G3341G575G3498G2041G2532G4102G1909G23162You don't need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.G1322G909G5037G1936G5495G5037G386G3498G2532G166G29173And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.G2532G5124G4160G1437G4007G2316G20104For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit,G1063G102G530G5461G5037G1089G2032G1431G2532G1096G3353G40G41515who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come—G2532G1089G2570G4487G2316G5037G1411G165G31956and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.G2532G3895G340G3825G1519G3341G388G1438G5207G2316G388G2532G38567When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God's blessing.G1063G1093G3588G4095G5205G2064G4178G1909G846G2532G5088G1008G2111G1565G2532G1223G3739G1090G3335G2129G575G23168But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it.G1161G1627G173G2532G5146G96G2532G1451G2671G3739G5056G1519G27409Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don't believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation.G1161G27G3982G2909G4012G5216G2532G2192G4991G1499G2980G3779G298010For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers

, as you still do.G1063G2316G3756G94G1950G5216G2041G2532G2873G26G3739G1731G1731G1519G846G3686G1247G40G2532G124711Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true.G1161G1937G1538G5216G1731G846G4710G4314G4136G1680G891G505612Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and endurance.G3363G1096G3363G3576G1161G3402G1223G4102G2532G3115G2816G1860

God’s Promises Bring Hope

13For example, there was God's promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying.G1063G2316G1861G11G1893G2192G3660G2596G3762G3187G3660G2596G143814"I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number."

G3004G2229G3375G2127G2127G4571G2532G4129G4129G457115Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.G2532G3779G3114G2013G186016Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding.G1063G444G3303G3660G2596G3187G2532G3727G1519G951G846G4009G3956G48517God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind.G1722G3739G2316G1014G4054G1925G2818G1860G276G846G1012G3315G372718So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.G2443G1223G1417G276G4229G1722G3739G102G2316G5574G2192G2478G3874G3588G2703G2902G1680G429519This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary.G3739G2192G5613G45G5590G5037G804G2532G949G2532G1525G1519G2082G266520Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.G3699G4274G1525G5228G2257G1525G2424G1096G749G1519G165G2596G5010G3198

Psalms 27

27[A psalm of David.] The LORD is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?H1732H3068H216H3468H3372H3068H4581H2416H63422When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.H7489H6862H341H7126H398H1320H3782H53073Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.H4264H2583H3820H3372H4421H6965H9824The one thing I ask of the LORD—the thing I seek most—is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD's perfections and meditating in his Temple.H259H7592H3068H1245H3427H1004H3068H3117H2416H2372H5278H3068H1239H19645For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock.H3117H7451H6845H5520H5643H168H5641H7311H66976Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the LORD with music.H7218H7311H341H5439H2076H168H2077H8643H7891H2167H30687Hear me as I pray, O LORD. Be merciful and answer me!H8085H3068H7121H6963H2603H60308My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me." And my heart responds, "LORD, I am coming."H1245H6440H3820H559H6440H3068H12459Do not turn your back on me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don't leave me now; don't abandon me, O God of my salvation!H5641H6440H5186H5650H5186H639H5833H5203H5800H430H346810Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close.H1H517H5800H3068H62211Teach me how to live, O LORD. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me.H3384H1870H3068H5148H4334H734H832412Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things I've never done; with every breath they threaten me with violence.H5414H5315H6862H8267H5707H6965H3307H255513Yet I am confident I will see the LORD's goodness while I am here in the land of the living.H3884H539H7200H2898H3068H776H241614Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.H6960H3068H2388H553H3820H6960H3068