Hebrews 8 - Praying God's Word

Please read Hebrews 8.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/heb/8/1/s_1141001

Meditate on verse 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 the superior High Priest, superior to all earthly priests. He works in a better sanctuary; He has obtained a better ministry, and He is the mediator of a better covenant with better promises (vs. 1-6).

A covenant is a binding agreement. Today, a marriage ceremony or purchase of a house are examples of serious covenants. God loves covenants and uses them to help us know His love, faithfulness, and desire to interact with us.

There are many covenants recorded in the Bible. The primary Old Testament covenant was the covenant of the Law, which contained the sacrificial and purity requirements for priests and worshippers.

Hebrews 8 describes a change in God’s primary covenant with you. Jesus’ life and ministry on earth culminated in Him being the perfect sacrifice for you. He is also the perfect priest who fulfills the sacrificial role of the Law and Temple. Therefore, the old covenant is no longer needed to become right with God (v. 13); it has been replaced by a new and better covenant (v. 6). Now you can know the merciful and forgiving God personally through the covenant relationship with Jesus Christ.

Pray Hebrews 8:11b-12 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, help ________ and me know You,

 from the least to the greatest of us.  

Be merciful to our iniquities and

remember our sins no more.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Hebrews 7 - Praying God's Word

Please read Hebrews 7.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/heb/7/1/s_1140001

Meditate on verse 19b.

There is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. 

“Draw near to God” is used twice in this chapter (vs. 19, 25). Only the high priest was permitted to go behind the veil to meet God in the Holy of Holies. God’s holiness could not be in the presence of man’s sinfulness, and any man with sin present who stepped behind the veil was struck dead.

When you became a Christian, the new covenant in Jesus’ blood made you holy. The Holy Spirit in you is proof of this change. Since you are now holy through Jesus, you can draw near to God. In fact, the Holy Spirit in you affirms you are one of God’s children and lets your spirit call out to God, “Abba” (Romans 8:15), which means “Daddy!”

Jesus, the eternal High Priest, lives to make intercession for you, lets you draw near to God, and saves you forever (v. 25). Drawing near to God is such a big deal to Him. He has gone to all of this trouble just so you can have this eternal relationship with Him!

Pray Hebrews 7:19 and 25 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD,  help ________ and me live in the better hope of You.

Let us draw near to You, God.

Jesus, thank You for saving us forever

and constantly making intercession for us.

Let us draw near to You, God.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Hebrews 6 - Praying God's Word

Please read Hebrews 6.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/heb/6/1/s_1139001

Meditate on verses 1a.

Therefore, leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ,

let us press on to maturity…

Reread Hebrews 5:11-14. Do you and your church make an intentional effort to feed your flock with spiritual food appropriate for their particular levels of growth?

Following the resurrection, Jesus restored Peter with three questions followed by three commands (John 21:15-19). Jesus asked, “Do you love me?” Peter’s three responses were followed by Jesus’ commands: “Tend My lambs.” “Shepherd My sheep.” “Tend My sheep.” Decades later, Peter wrote to all Christian leadership for all time, “Shepherd the flock of God among you. And when the Chief Shepherd appears you will receive the unfading crown of glory” (I Peter 5:2a, 4).

The passage beginning in Hebrews 5:11 illustrates the need for teaching the truths of God at appropriate levels. The writer of Hebrews was frustrated with his readers’ lack of maturity. Believers today, no matter their age, need to mature more in the LORD. Therefore, churches need to feed their flock with appropriate food for the individual member’s growth. New believers need special care. The new lambs need to be tended from the moment they are born in the faith and cared for daily. They need the milk of the Word, the elementary things, in order to learn how to walk with Jesus, their Chief Shepherd. As they develop, they need the meat of the Word to build them up and make them strong in the LORD.

Pray Hebrews 5:11-12 and 6:2 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, help ________ and me not become dull of hearing.

Let us press on to maturity.

LORD, send someone, or me,

 to teach ________ the elementary principles of Your Word.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Hebrews 5 - Praying God's Word

Please read Hebrews 5.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/heb/5/1/s_1138001

Meditate on verses 8-10.

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 

And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him

 the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God

as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

The author of Hebrews proved the superiority of Jesus as high priest by contrasting Him to earthly high priests in terms of human sinfulness and bloodlines.

An earthly high priest offered sacrifices for the people and himself since he also was sinful (vs. 1-3). Jesus was “without sin” (Hebrews 4:15) until He became sin for us and made the sacrifice of Himself (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Previous high priests were from the order and lineage of Levi, particularly of Aaron. Jesus was from the tribe of Judah; therefore, not eligible to be an earthly high priest. God appointed Jesus as high priest from the order of King Melchizedek who lived 400 years before Aaron. David, who lived 500 years after Aaron, wrote:

The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind,

You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

—Psalm 110:4

This prophecy is referenced multiple times in Hebrews and quoted in 5:6 and 7:17. Jesus is the superior high priest—being sinless and eternal—from the lineage of Melchizedek. Since Jesus was born of David’s lineage, He is also the eternal King of Israel and your eternal High Priest and King!

Pray Hebrews 5:9 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

Lord help ________ and me obey you.

Help ________ come to know you

 as the source of eternal salvation.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Hebrews 4 - Praying God's Word

Please read Hebrews 4.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/heb/4/1/s_1137001

Meditate on verse 16a.

Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace…

Hebrews 4 is a chapter of extraordinary encouragement for you. Christianity is a real-time journey with God. You have a history and a future with the God of the universe, and you have the ability to be with Him right now!

The Promised Land of Joshua’s time was not the final spiritual rest for God’s people (vs. 8-10); therefore, you are to fearfully remain faithful until you enter this last state of rest. You are not alone in this journey. You get to confidently approach the LORD for help. As you approach Him, think about these truths:

God already knows everything about you, and His Word helps you understand more about yourself (vs. 12-13).

Jesus, the Son of God, is your high priest and has passed through the heavens to enable you to come before God (vs. 14-16).

Jesus sympathetically helps you with your temptations so you can come near to God with confidence. This is a right-now benefit and a command to come to Him (vs. 14-16).

Pray Hebrews 4:16 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

Lord help _____ and me draw near to You

with confidence and receive Your grace.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Hebrews 3 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Hebrews 3.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/heb/3/1/s_1136001

Meditate on verse 6.

But Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—

whose we are, if we hold fast our confidence

and the boast of our hope firm until the end.

This section of Scripture honors Moses’ faithfulness. The writer of Hebrews used that faithfulness to compare the superiority of Jesus’ faithfulness because Jesus is the builder of Moses’ ministry (house). Jesus built a superior ministry (house) to the one founded in the Law through Moses. With this statement, the writer quoted from Psalm 95 and exhorted his readers not to behave like those who wandered in the wilderness and did not hear God’s voice, hardened their hearts, tried and tested the LORD, went astray, and did not know His ways (vs. 7-11).

Ponder these exhortations in the positive: hear God’s voice, soften your heart, see His works, trust Him, remain on His path, know Him, know His ways, and enter His rest.

Pray Hebrews 3:6-11 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“Lord help _______ and me hold fast our hope until the end.

Let us hear Your voice.

Please soften our hearts.

Let us see Your works.

Help us trust You and not go astray.

Help us know You and Your ways.

Let us enter Your rest.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Hebrews 2 - Praying God's Word

Please read Hebrews 2.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/heb/2/1/s_1135001

Meditate on verses 9-10.

But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor,

 so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. 

For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and through whom are all things,

in bringing many sons to glory,

to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.

The book of Hebrews is a great gift because it helps you understand the superiority of Jesus over other revelations of God, angels, Moses, the Levitical priesthood, and previous sacrifices.  The words superior and better are used 15 times in Hebrews.  It is a book of better things. 

Chapter 2 completes the argument of Jesus’s superiority over angels started in Hebrews 1 and reveals the benefits of God’s gift of Jesus.  He overcomes death (vs. 9, 14-15), makes you His brethren (vs. 10-14, 17), and becomes your high priest, taking away your sin (17-18).

As thankful children, pray Hebrews 2:12-13a over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, ______ and I proclaim Your name to our brethren,

In the midst of the congregation we sing Your praise.

We will put our trust in You.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell