Tag Archives: Christians

Exhortations

Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so. 10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. 15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. 17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. 18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 22 Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly. 23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you. 24 Greet all your leaders and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy send you their greetings. 25 Grace be with you all.

Hebrews 13:9-25

Concluding Exhortations from Hebrews 13

**Let Us Remain in the Truth of Christ (9-14)

Avoid False Teaching

Avoid Reverting Back io the Past Life

Preach and Hold to the Cross as the way of forgiveness

**May We Worship and Do Good to others (15-16)

**May We Pray for One Another (17-18)

**Let us Serve Together in Love (19-25)

Tony French

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Final Instruction

1 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hebrews 13:1-8

Final Instructions from Hebrews

**Love All

Each Other (1)

Strangers (2)

Prisoners (3)

Our Spouses (4)

**Do Not To Love Money—Be Content (5-6)

**Honor and Follow The Leadership of Spiritual Leaders (7)

**Follow Christ As Our Ultimate Leader (8)

Follow Christ, Child of God. Better days are ahead. It will be worth it all!

Tony French

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The Word

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

Psalm 19:7

In a world filled with uncertainty and constant change, one question remains eternally relevant: How can we truly know that we belong to Christ? What is tangible evidence of a genuine relationship with God? These aren’t mere philosophical musings—they’re deeply personal questions that touch the heart of every believer’s journey.

The beautiful truth is that God hasn’t left us guessing. Throughout Scripture, He’s provided clear markers, identifiable traits that distinguish His children from the world. These aren’t burdensome requirements to earn salvation, but rather natural outgrowths of a transformed heart. Let’s explore one powerful evidence of authentic faith today. Let’s consider a hunger for the Bible.

The Psalmist declares with profound clarity that “the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul” (Psalm 19:7). This ancient wisdom points to a fundamental truth: genuine believers develop an appetite for Scripture. It’s not about religious duty or checking off a spiritual to-do list. Rather, it’s a deep-seated desire to know God more intimately through the revelation He’s given us.

This hunger may ebb and flow—we’re human, after all, still wrestling with our sinful nature. There will be seasons when the Word feels less compelling, when distractions pull us away. But these are exceptions, not the rule. A true child of God consistently returns to Scripture, drawn by an inexplicable pull to understand what God has said.

The Bible describes itself as “sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:10). When we taste this sweetness, when we experience the life-giving power of God’s Word, we can’t help but come back for more. This desire is itself a testimony, a quiet confirmation that the Spirit of God dwells within us.

Tony French

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Instruction

14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.

18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”  21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”

Hebrews 12:14-29

Instructions for the Christian life from Hebrews 12……

**Live in Peace (14)

**Live a Holy Life (14)

**Do Not Let Bitterness Rule in Your life (15)

**Avoid Immoral Behavior (16)

**Avoid Godless Behavior (16)

**Don’t Forget Who You Are In Christ (17)

**Remember, Jesus Saves by His Grace (22-24)

**Believe in Jesus in and Be Saved (25-29)

Tony French

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God’s Discipline

And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12:5-13

4 Reasons God disciplines His own:

**God’s discipline is a proof of our salvation (5-9)

**God’s discipline helps us to learn obedience (9)

**God’s discipline teaches us to be holy (10)

**God’s discipline produces righteous works in our lives (11)

Tony French

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Mission

38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

Luke 8:38-39

The man who was demon possessed obeyed after his deliverance. He went throughout the entire city proclaiming what Jesus had done for him. He became a living testimony to the transforming power of Christ.

This is our calling too. When Christ saves us, heals us, delivers us, sustains us—we’re called to tell others. Not in a pushy, obnoxious way, but simply sharing our story. What has God done for you? How has He changed your life? Where would you be without Him?

These are powerful testimonies that can’t be argued away. They’re not theoretical theology—they’re lived experience.

Tony French

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Tell

34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35 and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.

Luke 8:34-37

The account of the demon-possessed man in Luke 8 takes an interesting turn in verses 34-37. You’d think the townspeople would celebrate this miracle. This man had been a blight on their community for years. And now He had been cured completely by the Savior. Instead, they were afraid and asked Jesus to leave.

Sometimes people prefer familiar misery to unfamiliar freedom. Change—even positive change—can be unsettling. The presence of holiness can be uncomfortable when we’re accustomed to compromise.

Jesus honored their request and began to leave. He doesn’t force Himself on anyone.

But the healed man? He begged to go with Jesus. Who could blame him? Jesus had given him his life back.

Yet Jesus had different instructions: “Return to your own house and tell what great things God has done for you.” The same command is given to Christians in our time. Christ has saved us, sanctified us, and set us free through His grace. May we tell others the wonderful things that God has done for us.

Tony French

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By Faith

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because sheconsidered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. 13 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 istance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Hebrews 11:7-16

36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 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 mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Hebrews 11:36-40

Let us consider three thoughts from Hebrews 11 today:

**At times, faithful people are empowered by God to do great things

**At times, faithful people are empowered by God to endure great suffering

**God’s people believe it by faith before it is received.

May the blessings of God be upon you all!

Tony French

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The Awesome Word of God

The Bibles teaches us the following thought; “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”  (2nd Timothy 4:3)  This powerful prophesy perfectly describes a growing segment of the church today. There are some who desire to fit the Bible to their convictions rather than allowing the Bible to shape their convictions.

The Word of God is our standard and our rule of faith. We should order our lives by its teachings and not seek to force our own preferences upon the Scriptures. From the Bible, the believer derives their core beliefs and doctrine. We can know the truth and it will set us free. (John 8:32)   

It is important for Christians to know what they believe and why they believe it. For instance, why do we believe in Jesus? The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a good place to begin. Jesus died, was buried, and rose again. He predicted His death, burial, and resurrection. Who else could do such a thing but God alone?

Why do we believe in the resurrection? The first reason is the eyewitness testimony of the risen Savior. (1 Corinthians 15) There were many witnesses (up to 500) to Jesus resurrection. Also, many of those who encountered the resurrected Savior were willing to give their lives for their commitment to the truth that Jesus was raised from the dead. Ultimately, we believe that Jesus is alive by faith. (Hebrews 11:1-6) The risen Savior is the foundation and the heart of Christian belief.

May we always be ready to give an answer for our beliefs. But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (1st Peter 3:15)

Tony French

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Supreme Savior

13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:1-14

The Greater Force

The account found in Luke 8 isn’t primarily about demons—it’s about the supremacy of Christ. He is greater than every force of darkness. He is greater than our problems, our fears, our doubts, and our sins.

This is why believers in Christ need not fear demonic possession. The Spirit of God dwells within us, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Light and darkness cannot coexist in the same space.

But this protection isn’t automatic for everyone. It comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ—through turning from sin and trusting in His finished work on the cross. He didn’t just defeat demons during His earthly ministry; He defeated sin, death, and Satan himself through His crucifixion and resurrection.

Tony French

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