Lawrence DeMetrius

Lyrics

Letter to the Hebrews
An Intimate Review
Pt 4
By Lawrence DeMetrius

The Consequence of Unbelief Pt 1

In [Heb 3:7-11] the scribe notes that Jesus Christ endured what He needed to so salvation might be possible for all souls. If Yahweh expects any to uphold the Blood-Stained Banner of Christ it is His brethren. Yahweh expects born-again believers to hold fast to the FAITH imparted to them by Christ. They must maintain that this FAITH is what destroys the power and influence of satanic forces. [St Jn 1:1, 11, 14; 14:6; Rev 19:10, 13, 16; I Jn 5:7; Acts 4:10-12; Jn 10:10; II Cor 4:3; 10:4, 5; Eph 6:16, 17] From Enoch to Jesus Christ and His Original Apostles, Christian ambassadors have been adamant about this FAITH. [Num 23:19; Isa 1:18-20; 55:11; Heb 6:18] Per this passage the scribe uses Israel as an example of what can happen when one loses FAITH in the Word of THE LORD writing,

Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will HEAR HIS VOICE, HARDEN not your HEARTS, as in the day of PROVOCATION, in the day of TEMPTATION in the wilderness: when your fathers TEMPTED ME, PROVED ME, and SAW MY WORKS forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, they do always err in their heart; and they have not known MY WAYS. So, I swore in MY wrath, they shall not enter into MY REST.
[Heb 3:7-11]

*hear Gk #191 akouo (ak-oo-o) it means to hear and understand

*voice Gk #5456 phone (fo-nay) it is a saying, language, address for any purpose or an articulate tone be it divine, bestial or artificial

*harden Gk #4645 skleruno (sklay-roo-no) it means to make hard or harden as rock or tissue, make callous, unfeeling and render stubborn

Although one can HARDEN their HEART toward Yahweh’s WORD, they can also choose to be receive it. [St Jn 1:1-13; 3:19; II Tim 2:24-26] Thus, in administering divine words, genuine messengers of GOD are to remember that it is not their duty to force them upon anyone. Every mortal must voluntarily open their HEART to THE LORD and HIS directives. [Rev 3:20] The best an Elect can do is remain personally compliant to divine directives as they offer them to others who reverently inquire of them. [Mt 5:14-16, 19; 7:6; II Tim 2:24-26; Phil 2:15, 16a]

*heart Gk #2588 kardia (kar-dee-ah) it is the heart and is figurative of one’s thoughts, feelings, mind and middle

*provocation Gk #3894 parapikrasmos (par-ap-ik-ras-mos) it is irritation

*temptation Gk #3986 paraluo (par-al-oo-o) it means to loosen beside, relax, paralyze or enfeeble

This is how Yahweh feels when those HE is trying to help fail to BELIEVE HIS WORD. It gives HIM an IRRITABLE and nauseating feeling.

*tempted Gk #3985 peirazo (pi-rad-zo) it means to test, endeavor, scrutinize, entice and discipline

In His Wilderness Experience, Christ noted that Yahweh is not to be TEMPTED. [Mt 4:7] The primary element of reverencing and obeying Yahweh is BELIEVING what HE SAYS. [Isa 1:18-20; Eccl 12:13]

*proved Gk #1381 dokimazo (dok-im-ad-zo) it means to test and approve

*saw Gk #1492 eido (i-dos) it is a view and form

*works Gk #2041 ergon (er-gon) it is as an act and toil as an occupation and effort

*known Gk #1097 ginosko (ghin-oce-ko) it is to know, perceive and understand absolutely

*ways Gk #3598 hodos (hod-os) it is a road, route, distance, mode, act and means

This particular generation of Hebrews KNEW Yahweh’s power and might. Yet, they failed to maintain TRUST in HIS Word concerning them. Their UNBELIEF irritated THE LORD to the point of eradicating those who refused to REST in HIS providence. Because of this, the UNBELIEVING Hebrews of that generation did not obtain the full experience of Yahweh’s providence. They lost the opportunity to enter HIS REST due to their UNBELIEF in HIS Word.

*rest Gk #2663 katapausis (kat-ap-ow-sis) it is a reposing down and abode

• repose is to…
o lie down or be at rest upon something, as from work and activity
o lie dead and be peacefully calm and quiet
o depend and rely on a person or thing

• abode is a…
o residence, dwelling and place in which a person resides
o sojourn, home, habitation and an extended stay in a place

Yahweh expects HIS children to be at REST in HIS Word, which is an eternal state and ABODE of divine PEACE. HE becomes extremely uneasy when they are not, especially because of UNBELIEF. [Isa 26:3, 4; Jn 14:23, 27; Rev 3:20] In [Heb 3:12] the scribe notes that THE LORD expressed through prophet Malachi that HE changes not. [Mal 3:6] The disdain HE has for UNBELIF is the same throughout all generations. UNBELIEF in divine words have always been the root of unfortunate circumstance for mortals. Born-again believers do well to heed Israel’s experience lest they fall prey to their fate. The scribe writes,

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in DEPARTING from THE LIVING GOD.
[Heb 3:12]

*departing Gk #868 aphistemi (af-is-tay-mee) it means to…
• remove, desist and desert
• actively instigate to revolt
• refrain, fall away and withdraw oneself from


In [Heb 3:13-19] the scribe gives counsel that helps to combat the EVIL HEART of UNBELIEF writing,

But exhort one another DAILY, while it is called TO DAY; lest any of you be HARDENED through the DECEITFULNESS OF SIN.
[Heb 3:13]

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone. This is why everyone should remain concerned about their personal disposition before THE LORD every day. Unfortunately, many disregard wise counsel, choosing to continue in deceitful pleasures of sin. In so doing, they deny divine wisdom and bring upon themselves unfortunate consequence. [St Jn 3:19, 36; Rm 8:5-7; Rev 20:11-15] The Elect are admonished to continually govern themselves according to wise counsel. The scribe writes,

For we are made partakers of Christ, IF we HOLD the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; While it is said, TO DAY, if ye will HEAR HIS VOICE, HARDEN not your HEARTS, as in the PROVOCATION. For some, when they had HEARD, did PROVOKE: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was HE grieved forty years? Was it not with them that had SINNED, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? And to whom swore HE that they should not enter into HIS REST, but to them that BELIEVED not? So, we see that they could not enter in because of UNBELIEF.
[Heb 3:14-19; I Cor 1:18; 2:14]

Born-again believers will always find the pathways of righteousness in Christ. Per Apostle Matthew’s letter, the most valuable benefits allotted to living mortals is lifetime under the sun and good health for their mortal body. [Mt 6:19-34; Col 3:1-4] Per Job, mortal life is short and full of trouble regardless of one’s financial status. [Job 14:1] This is so even for the righteous. [Jn 16:33; II Tim 3:12] Apostle Paul admonishes the Elect writing,

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
[I Tim 6:3-7]

Prioritizing Yahweh’s Word in heart invokes the manifestation of every benefit one requires now and forevermore. [Ps 34:1-22; Mt 6:32-34; Rm 8:28]

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