Frank's Bible Blog

Hebrews 13-- Read the Instructions!

I must admit that when it comes to assembling or installing new things, my default position is the stereotypical male's--I want to do it without reading the directions. But I have discovered over the years that when I do this, I usually end up with a mess. So, for the most part, I now read the instructions first before launching into the project. Many people take the same approach to life. They want to get in and do it themselves without consulting the manual and they end up making a mess of things. The Bible is our life manual, and if heeded, saves us a lot of grief. Hebrews 13 is a collection of life instructions. Notice what is says. First, we need to demonstrate love by caring for others (vv1-3). Next we must protect the sanctity of marriage (v4). We should then be content with what we have (vv5-6). Honoring and following godly leaders is to our benefit (vv7-8). We need to guard our beliefs (v9). As the redeemed of God, we should bring a new sacrifice, a sacrifice of praise to God and kindness to others (vv10-16). God wants us to submit to authority (v17). Finally, we should pray for those in ministry (vv18-19). Let's not only read these instructions but let's actually do them!
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Hebrews 12-- Let's Run!

I ran track when I was a freshman in high school. Actually, to be completely honest, I ran one event at one meet but did manage to come in fifth. That was the start--and end--of my running "career."  Running, even jogging, has never really been my thing. But when it comes to life, Hebrews 12 implores us to run. We are to run smart by abandoning the sin and situations that entangle us and learn from the discipline we receive from our Heavenly Father (vv1-11). We need to run strong by pursuing peace and holiness (vv12-17). Finally, we should run successfully by tapping into God's incredible power (vv18-24), listening to His voice (vv25-27) and serving God with grace (vv28-29). We don't have to be superstars in track and field, but we can excel at the race of life if we will heed the words of Hebrews 12.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Hebrews 11-- Seeing What You Can't See

Our family enjoys travel and we have taken a couple extended driving vacations. Those vacations all start off the same way--with a vision. A vision of new sights that we will see. A vision of new experiences we will enjoy. A vision of good times together. They also start off with a map (and a GPS system!) so that we can find our way. Even though we can't see exactly where we are going, we launch out trusting the map, and believing our vehicle will get us to our destination. In many ways, this is what the Christian life is like. Through faith, we envision the future. Through the road map of God's word and the vehicle of salvation we press forward. Hebrews 11, often called the "Hall of Faith," describes some of the journeys of those who have gone before us. These men and women "saw it all from a distance and welcomed the promises of God" (v13). They knew that ultimately their reward would not be found in this life, but how they lived this life would effect that reward. So, they pressed on as should we, remembering that "God had far better things in mind for us" (v40). You may be discouraged today. I would encourage you to not look around but look ahead. See what others cannot see. Know that God has something far better in store for you! If we will walk by faith and not sight, our journey will be a success.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Hebrews 10-- The Bottom Line

Anytime I hear a speech, sermon, presentation, etc. I think to myself "so what..what is the bottom line of what has been said? What can I take away from all that I have heard?" So, I bring that question to the book of Hebrews. For 10 and a half chapters the author of Hebrews has been showing the superiority of Christ, particularly in relationship to the Old Testament law. Now he moves to the bottom line--the "so what" of the message. How are we to respond to all of this? First, if you are outside of Christ he wants you to know that "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (v31). God is a loving and graceful God but He is also holy and will not allow sin to remain in His presence. Through His Son, God has given you everything needed to receive eternal life and avoid eternal punishment, but it is up to you to accept that or not. For those of us who have accepted Christ as our Savior, the writer tells us to do five things. First, we can and should draw near to God with a true heart (v22). Second, we need to hold fast our confession of hope without wavering (v23). Next, we should be considerate of other believers to love them, encourage them to do good (v24), and to gather together with them for worship and exhortation (v25). Then, we should remember where we came from and the way in which God has guided us to this point (vv32-34). Finally, we should hold to our confidence in the Lord regardless of our circumstances (vv35-36). All of these things are now possible thanks to the complete and superior sacrifice of Christ. That's the bottom line!

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Hebrews 9-- Completing the Job

Starting a project is one thing, but completing it is what is important. Whether it's business, politics, sports or home improvement, it is important to bring completion. Something that is only half-done becomes an eye-sore and a mess. Well, when it comes to life, Hebrews 9 tells us that Jesus is that completion. The chapter details the Old Testament tabernacle and sacrificial system then shows how Christ is the fulfillment of all things. His sacrifice was eternal. The power of sin was not temporarily defeated but totally destroyed. Everything Christ does is far better than the best the world has to offer. In Him, we too can be complete. If you are looking for satisfaction, purpose, peace or trying to build your life outside of Christ, you will come up short. Only Christ can bring completion to your life.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Hebrews 8-- Baby Teeth

I took my 11-year old to the dentist because her tooth started chipping off for no apparent reason. The dentist took an x-ray and told us that it actually was her last baby tooth but it was having trouble coming out. Her permanent tooth was coming in, but unless we pulled that baby tooth, it may not come in properly. So we had him pull the tooth to make way for something permanent, something better. Her baby teeth had serve their purpose for the time being but now it was time for something lasting.  Hebrews 8 describes a process of replacing something temporary with something far better and lasting. It discusses the "old covenant" which was the law and system of sacrifice. The old covenant, like our baby teeth, served a purpose for a time but it was never intended to be permanent. It was preparation for what was to come, the "new covenant." That new covenant came when Christ died and rose from the dead, conquered sin and death, and provided a permanent sacrifice for our sin. The old covenant is now obsolete (v13). The bottom line is that under the new covenant we have a closer relationship with God that doesn't need an intermediary like a priest (vv10-12). We experience God's mercy and presence first-hand. We have something that is permanent and far better than what was before Christ. So, enjoy your new "teeth," the new covenant, and a wonderful, rich and fulfilling walk with God.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Hebrews 7--Who's the Best?

I love watching the slam dunk competition that takes place during the annual National Basketball Association's All-Start weekend. Each player not only tries to outperform that night's competition, but he tries to land a dunk more memorable than previous years winners. Well, when it comes to performing the functions of a priest, the writer to a Jewish audience in Hebrews 7 systematically shows the superiority of Christ. Much of the chapter illustrates this by referring to Melchizedek, a priest who appeared to Abraham hundreds of years before the Jewish priesthood was established under Moses and Aaron. Some scholars believe Melchizedek was actually a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, while others hold that he was a type of Christ. Either way, Christ is demonstrated to perfectly and completely perform all the priestly functions such as intercession for people and offering sacrifices (He was the sacrifice!). What does this mean to us today? "Therefore, He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him" (v25). Jew or Gentile, Christ is all-sufficient for you today, tomorrow, and for eternity. He truly is the Best!
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Hebrews 6-- Where's My Coffee???

Have you ever had one of those mornings where you just couldn't get going? You stumble out of bed and go through your morning rituals but it is like you are in slow motion. You think "If I could just get my coffee I'd be able to get going." You're sluggish and are laboring to make any progress. Well, unfortunately a lot of Christians are like this when it comes to their spiritual life. They are sluggish and moving in slow motion in their growth and development in Christ. We see that in Hebrews 6. Even people who are actively engaged in ministry (v10) can be sluggish in their growth. God says it is great that you are serving--keep it up--but don't forget about your need to grow. How can we break out of our sluggishness? "Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (v12). Find someone who is growing. Spend time with them. Ask them what they do to keep their walk with Christ fresh. Watch their consistency and learn from them. They may be just the shot of "coffee" you need to jump-start your spiritual progress.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Hebrews 5-- Over Our Heads

Some people pick up foreign languages very easily. Others, like myself, struggle with them. In college I took classes in Spanish and later Greek. It seemed that I was always at least two weeks behind in my comprehension of what the professors were teaching. They would teach but it would go right over my head because I hadn't grasped earlier concepts. (I did, by the way, pass--but I had to work at it!). The same is true with spiritual lessons. In Hebrews 5 the author begins to explain how Christ is the ultimate high priest but cuts short his remarks because it would be over his audience's head. Not only should they have been able to comprehend it, but at this point in their spiritual journey, they actually should have been teaching it (v12). Instead, they were needing the basics of the faith explained to them again (v12) because they had not matured (vv13-14). There are two things that cause this delay in maturity: being "dull of hearing" (v11) and not exercising your spiritual senses to discern good and evil (v14). Both of these require focus and a commitment to action on our part. Are you regularly reading God's word and exposing yourself to solid biblical teaching? If so, do you listen intently to try and hear from God? Do you ask God for discernment and then respond to His "still small voice" as it convicts you of what is right and wrong? Or have you learned to ignore it and do whatever you want? How you answer these questions will make the difference in whether or not you mature as a believer. Without this maturity, everything God wants to show you will just go right over your head. You will miss becoming all that God created you to become.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Hebrews 4-- Destination Hotels

They are called destination hotels. Hotels, resorts really, that have so many amenities that they become a vacation destination in themselves. You never have to leave the hotel grounds to find outstanding food, entertainment, shopping and activities. Some of these hotels offer massive indoor water parks while others unique wildlife or even submarine rides. Anything you might need or desire is available without leaving the resort. Well, on a grander scale, that is the way it is with God. Everything we could possibly need or desire--for eternity--is found in Him. Hebrews 4 outlines some of those "amenities." The first is rest--true rest. But God's rest comes when we cease our working (v10) of our way to Heaven and place our faith in Christ. You never will experience the incredible peace and rest of God until you realize that you cannot do anything to work your way into His grace. Second, is revelation. The Word of God not only reveals God to us, but it reveals us to ourselves (vv12-13). We are able to see our real motives and why we do what we do. Finally, we have incredible resources. One of the greatest is the ability to "come boldly to the throne of grace" (v16) through prayer and receive from all-mighty God "the mercy and grace to help in time of need." Destination hotels are wonderful but the day always comes when you have to leave and go back to "reality." God offers us so much more and the best part is we never have to leave!
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Hebrews 3-- The Difficulty of Change

Many people, maybe even a majority, are uncomfortable with change. We get into a routine which becomes a comfort zone for us and it is hard to break out. This is especially true when it comes to our belief system. This is what Hebrews 3 tackles as it deals with those whose belief system was centered on Moses and the law. They are challenged to move to faith in Christ who is far superior than Moses (vv1-6). The author reminds readers that even those who followed Moses out of Egypt rebelled (v16). Because of their unbelief they were not allowed to enter into the rest of the promised land (v18). So it is today for those who are still outside of Christ. To those who are clinging to their traditions, to a works-based religion, or to another world-view that doesn't have Christ as the center, God says to you "Do not harden your hearts" (vv7, 15) and remain in unbelief (v19). Rather, become partakers with Christ and experience His rest. Yes, that does require change but it will be a change that you will never regret.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Hebrews 2-- Nobody Knows My Sorrow

Singer-song writer Louis Armstrong wrote "Nobody knows the trouble I've seen. Nobody knows but Jesus." You may be in that situation today where you feel that nobody knows the kind of trouble you are experiencing. But Armstrong got it right--there is someone who knows and He is Jesus. Hebrews 2 is a beautiful passage that lays out how it is that Jesus knows so much about what you are going through. Jesus knows what it is like to sacrifice everything for someone else (v7). He knows what it is like to suffer falsely for something He didn't do (v9).  He knows the pains and challenges that our bodies face (v14). He knows what it is like to be tempted (v18) and because of that He can aid us in our times of temptation (v18). But beyond how He relates to us, notice also what He does for us. He tasted death--physical and spiritual--for us (v9). He perfected our salvation (v10). He sanctifies those who place their faith in Him (v11). He releases us from the fear of death (v15) and He provides forgiveness for our sins (v17). How should we respond to all this? Verse 1 makes it clear: "Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away." Don't drift away from what you know about Christ, even if your situation seems bad at the moment. Jesus knows all about your needs--and He cares for you. Give Him the opportunity to work in your life today.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Hebrews 1-- Famous People

I have had the privilege of meeting a few famous people in my life. There was something "special" about seeing these people. They were famous partly because they were among the top in their fields but mostly because large numbers of people knew who they were. People get famous in this life for various reasons, but Hebrews 1 points out that there is no one as famous, important or significant as Jesus Christ. Not even the angels can compare (vv5, 13-14). From the time He created the world (v10) to the time that the earth as we know it passes away (v11) and into eternity (v8, 11) Jesus Christ is God (v8) and He reigns supreme (v13). Whatever revelations we need in life, we need to look no further than Jesus Christ (vv1-2). Have you "met" Jesus? Have you acknowledged that what He did in dying and raising from the dead is all sufficient to forgive your sin and provide everlasting life in Heaven? It is fine to get excited about meeting famous people. But there is no one who can change your life like Christ can.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.