Scripture – Micah 5:4-5a “And He shall stand and feed His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God, and they shall abide for He shall be great to the ends of the earth. And this One shall be peace.”

Observation – This is a prophecy concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. He has made a stand and does feed His flock with the strength of God. His flock shall and does abide (John 15) with Him forever. He is known and is great to the ends of the earth. Multiplies millions throughout the earth know His name. Many have and do speak of bringing peace, but He is the only one who shall bring peace because He is Peace.

 Application – We can trust God’s word. It shall come to pass. As many words were fulfilled regarding Christ first coming and we can be just as sure at He shall fulfil every word of prophecy concerning His final coming. We can also be confident that He is our Shepherd and feed us with His strength and that we shall abide with Him forever. He saves to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25) and He lives forever to make intercession for us.

 Prayer – Lord, thank You for being my always faithful, life giving, abiding Shepherd. Only You bring the peace that passes understanding. I shall abide in You and Your words shall abide in Me. I am saved to the uttermost and shall be with the Lord forever. I am indeed very blessed. You are my peace!

Scripture – Hebrews 6:12 “That you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

 Observation – We are being exhorted to continue on in faith with a full assurance of hope until the end. Obviously some who ‘had tasted the heavenly gift…’ had fallen away from the faith.

There is a danger that when we grow lazy, we can open a door to unbelief. There can be a long time between the receiving of the promise and inheritance or ‘actual’ fulfilment of the promise. Abraham is a good example of someone who needed faith and patience before the promise came. His example in Romans 4:17-25 is a good one. “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but strengthened himself in faith, giving glory to God.”

 Application – Abraham becomes our mentor when it comes to inheriting the promises through faith and patience. We need to stop looking at our natural feelings and circumstances but be proactive in giving thanks for the promise and ‘seeing’ it by faith. Just because we haven’t seen it yet in the natural realm doesn’t mean we haven’t got it in the spiritual realm.

 Prayer – Lord, I want to thank You for Abraham and his example. I will continue to thank You for all the promises that You have made and that are mine in Christ Jesus. Some I won’t see until the end but I believe in them. They are certain. Help me to continue in faith and patience to receive all Jesus died and rose to give us.

Scripture

Hebrews 4:14-16 “Seeing then that we have a High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the thrown of grace, that we may obtain mercy and grace to help us in time of need.”

 Observation

Jesus understands. He is a wonderful High Priest who is touched with our weakness. He has been on earth and suffered the attack of the enemy.

Two things we are exhorted to do:

1. Hold fast our confession.
2. Come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and grace to help us in our time of need.

Application – Our confession of faith, that we should hold fast to, is a confession that Jesus is our High Priest, that He has provided a rest and that He has opened the way to the throne of grace in heaven.

This confession helps to build the faith that gives us the confidence to go boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and grace in time of need.

Sometimes when in the very difficult times we need a simple formula to help us. As we keep it simple and hold fast to that which is true we can have confidence that something good will happen.

Prayer – Lord, right now I need this to be the reality in my life. I do confess that You are my High Priest and that you have done the work and I can enter in the Rest and I can find grace to help me in this time of need.

Scripture – Jude 1:19 “There are sensual persons who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.”

 Observation – One of the characteristics of sensual people is that they cause divisions. This is closely connected to them not having the Spirit, who is the unifier and maintainer of unity. It is not unusual to see people who ought to be demonstrating unity in the midst of their differences, actually causing divisions. In spite of their protestation one can easily see that they are not being influenced by the Holy Spirit. Their own selfishness and sensuality exposes that it is the flesh and not the Spirit.

 Application – When discord, division and dissention are coming to the surface it is not the Holy Spirit. Love, unity and longsuffering will always accompany His presence.

I not only want to be known for being filled by the Spirit because of the gifts being used, but also to be so filled and influenced by the Spirit that the fruit of the Spirit is obvious to all.

 Prayer – Lord, I give the Spirit full control. This life is too difficult to walk according to flesh. I must be a person who walks according to the Spirit. Help me to be aware of His prompting and stirrings. Holy Spirit fill me, lead me and help me to be a person who causes unity and one accord among the Christians.