The Superior Sacrifice Hebrews 9:23 – 10:18

Jan 25, 2015 Prayer Requests Danny Lovato and Family Ruth Gawith Don Rob Milton Davis & Kathy Davis Young families – Gods guiding in upcoming changes. Unspoken Gods leading and direction in our Church Families. Keith McNew-Christ’s working in his life. Luke Haynes – UCL healing Winnie – health (Sandra’s business acquaintance) James Alexander -- Dialysis Lucy McKinney Ginny Jellison College Students

SandraGreat Britain DavidMexico Saurabh Bangladesh, Angola, Namibia RuthIndia, Israel, Australia, New Zealand Keith & Ruth Switzerland SarahSwaziland WayneAfrica Unexpected blessing by small but powerful church in Myanmar I asked Rinpuii how we could specifically pray for her. She had two requests: that Nine Mile Church would be the salt and light in the village that, like Sodom and Gomorrah, is in such need of Christ; that we pray for her son, who is now studying to be a pastor at a seminary in Korea, that he would be equipped to be able to return and make Christlike disciples within the country of Myanmar.

Praying for the US & Canada Richie Merryman: NY, NM, CA Alexanders: CA, OK, GA, QC Vanderpool: NM (SE ABQ) Jellisons: UT, TX, AK Shultzs: CA, DC, MA, BC Moores: AZ, NM, DC, CA, YT, QC Abby Nielson: MA, OH, VT, QC Aliece Nielson: NM, VT, PEI L. Kilgore: VA, MI T. & P. Brown: IL, HW, PA, DC Nielsons: OH, PEI, VT, MA, RI Griffins: VT, OH, (Northeast) C. Yazzie: NM, AZ, & Navajo Nation Adams: NM, CA, MA B. Brown: GA, OR, ON B. Vito: NY,ID Southern Florida youth serve through service projects, food drive More than 150 high school and college students from across the Southern Florida District converged on Lehigh Acres the weekend of January 23 for a Youth Mission Encounter. Co- sponsored by the district Nazarene Missions International and Nazarene Youth International, the students worked at a farm, fed the hungry, and participated in a community outreach event. Healthy Harvest CEO Joe Pearson said the Nazarene youth completed what his regular volunteers would normally accomplish in six months.

Hebrews 9(NIV) 23 It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. 5

Hebrews 10(NIV) The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 6

A Done Deal What will be the purpose in Christ appearing at the end of the age? How was the law a shadow of good things to come? What was the purpose of the law? 7

Hebrews 10 (NIV) 5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; 6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. 7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll — I have come to do your will, my God.’” 8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 8

A Sanctifying Sacrifice If God did not desire sacrifice and offering, why do you think He instituted them in the law? What does the writer of Hebrews mean when he says, “…we have been made holy?” What does it mean to be holy? 9

Hebrews 10 (NIV) 11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. 10

Hebrews 10 (NIV) (cont) 15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: 16 “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” 17 Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” 18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary. 11

A Holy Heart What is the relationship between “those who are being made holy” and the law? In what sense are we “being made holy?” What disciplines support our “being made holy?” 12

Next Week Unit 2: Hebrews: The Superior Sacrifice Lesson 5: Faithful to the End Hebrews 10:19 – 39 13

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God Spoke in Times Past 2 God also said to Moses, “I am the L ORD. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the L ORD I did not make myself fully known to them. 4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they resided as foreigners. 5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant. 6 “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the L ORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the L ORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the L ORD.’” 15

God Spoke in Times Past I am the Lord … I appeared … I established … I give … I have heard … I have remembered I will bring you out … I will free you … I will redeem you … I will take you as my own …, I will be your God I will bring you to the land … I will give it to you … I am the Lord. 16

How to help Ebola relief Africa West Field Strategy Coordinator Daniel Gomis suggests the following activities to support Ebola relief efforts: Have a time of fasting and a time of prayer at least once a week Pray for God to bind any fear and loose peace in the hearts of the people of West Africa Pray for our district superintendents, pastors, leaders, and churches in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea Conakry, that the Lord will use them powerfully as agents of hope and salt and light of Jesus in these difficult days Pray for God's wisdom and protection over the medical doctors and health personnel in the Ebola-affected countries Pray for God's wisdom for the head of nations and decision makers in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea Conakry Inform and educate by checking the World Health Organization and International SOS websites for updates Funds contributed through the Africa Emergency Relief Fund will go toward Ebola education programs, prevention and hygiene supplies, and food and vitamins for individuals and families in affected communities. 17 The Eurasia Regional Office is inviting Nazarenes across the Eurasia Region to link hearts with our brothers and sisters in the Africa Region by joining them in prayer and fasting for the people suffering from the Ebola virus outbreak in Western Africa, for those who are sick, those who have lost loved ones, communities impacted negatively by quarantine, fear, loss of producers and earners, and for those brave medical workers treating the sick.