Wilderness Wanderings

For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in othe...

In Christ Jesus the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit (Ephesians 2:21-22). What images come to mind when you hear the word 'church'? For many, it's a building, such as the one at 61 Mohawk Road West, Hamilton, where the Immanuel congregation, which I past...

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:19-20)   If you recall from last week, Paul reminded these gentiles in Ephesus of how they were once defined by all the things they were not: "Not-Jew...

He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit (Ephesians 2:17-18). Jesus is our peace. He has done it. He has destroyed the barriers and dividing walls of hostility, putting them to death in his cross. And not only the barriers that stand between us people who are often harboring hostile feeling...

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. (Eph...

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (which is done in the body by human hands)—remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who o...

For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:2b-3) . What images come to mind when you hear (or read) the name 'Jesus'? A little lad hanging onto his mother's leg in the marketplace, unnerved by all the noise,...

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. (Hebrews 12:1-2a)   Peer pressure is a thing.   So is personal determination.   The author of Hebrews draws on both, cheering u...

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect (Hebrews 11:39-40) . The whole book of Hebrews has been heading towards the conclusion of this chapter. The Old Testament saints had something, but we have something better. They received a promise, but we...

An extended Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings!   The text comes from 2 Samuel 6 from the New International Version of the Bible.   Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection!   To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it here on YouTube .   Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC: immanuelm...

Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistre...

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle an...

By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. (Hebrews 11:31)   As pastor Michael pointed out yesterday, we've skipped over 40 years in the wilderness between the Red Sea and Jericho.   Or at least—that section of time is skipped over here in chapter 11's litany of faith.   But the time of wilderness testing did figure earlier in the...

By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days (Hebrews 11:30) . Our writer teleports us from the exodus out of Egypt right to the conquest of the promised land, from the roaring waters of the Red Sea destroying the Egyptian army to the shadows of Jericho's walls. But much has happened in between. Over 40 years of much. And much has changed. Israel's fait...

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. (Hebrews 11:29)   If one reads the book of Exodus, "faith" does not seem the right word to equate with the people.   This is how Exodus 13 reports it: "As Pharaoh approached... They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, 'Was it because there were no grave...

A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings!  The text 2 Samuel 5.  Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection! To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it  here on YouTube .  Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC:  immanuelministries.ca What qualities should a good leader have? Do you know a lea...

Because of his faith, Moses was the first to keep the Passover Feast. He commanded the people of Israel to sprinkle blood on their doorways. He did it so that the destroying angel would not touch their oldest sons (Hebrews 11:28) . God is King. The unseen God is king. My God is King. Moses believed this. This faith is on display once more in our text. God had been demonstrating his kingship throug...

By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. (Hebrews 11:27)   If we said it once, it's worth saying again: God is King, not Pharaoh or any other ruler past, present, or future.   Recall the words from my devotion two days ago.   There the author of Hebrews stated that Moses' parents were not afraid of the king.   Now Moses is the one " n...

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward (Hebrews 11:24-26) . Yesterday, Pastor Anthony ended his devotion...

By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. (Hebrews 11:23)   The character of any person, government, or culture is displayed in highest relief by the way they treat their weak and vulnerable ones.   Under Herod in Matthew 2—the baby boys and toddlers were killed as a means of stamping...

By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones (Hebrews 11:22) . Perhaps the greatest test of faith is not sacrifice but success. If so, Joseph's faith was of the best vintage. We know from his story that he pondered deeply the things of God. His faith could see that the suffering he endured God w...

An extended Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings!   The text comes from 2 Samuel 4 from the New International Version of the Bible.   Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection!   To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it here on YouTube .   Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC: immanuelm...

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.   By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones. (Hebrews 11:20-22)   I am acutely aware at the moment of somethin...

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death" (Hebrews 11:17-19) . In our ears, the...

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Ins...