Hebrews 9: “Access in Heaven while on Earth”

 

“Access in Heaven while on Earth”

In the Old Testament, the earthy Holy Place was described in Hebrews 9:1-10 as;

Tabernacle = Temporary dwelling place of God

Blood of the animals = repeated sin offering 

1. The temporary dwelling place of God which needs repeated blood sacrifice

2. The Holy place is where daily rituals were performed by the priest

3. The most Holy place was only accessed once a year and only by the high priest, taking blood is a MUST for the sin offering of the people. 

- Everything is purified with blood

 No blood=no forgiveness 

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In the New Testament, Hebrews 9:23-28 described for us the perfect House and perfect Blood, 

Heaven = The true dwelling place of God

Jesus = The perfect Blood Sacrifice 

1. Jesus died ONCE for all (v.27)

 - it means no more repeated sacrifices 

 - it means His blood is precious enough for atoning sacrifice

 - it means that it perfectly satisfied God’s holy justice.

 

2. Jesus entered Heaven (v.24)

 - it means He entered not in the Holy place made by human hands

 - it means that He appeared in the presence of God on our behalf

  - it means His intercession is not just once a year but all year long

3. Jesus will appear the second time (v.28)

 - it means meeting the Lord in His glorious body

 - it means salvation for those who eagerly wait

 - it means finally accessing the Most Holy place

 - it means to be home with the Father forever

~Jesus’ Ministry for us did not stop on earth but it continues to heaven not in repeated blood sacrifice but in intercession and defending us against the world. 

His sacrifice was once-for-all, and perfectly satisfied God’s holy justice.~

While on earth, we can access heaven….

Jesus is the High Priest (Hebrews 8:1-6), and all believers have direct access to God through him, serving as a "royal priesthood". 

We meet God daily in the Holy place, spend time with Him  through prayers and worship not in performance nor rituals but fellowship. 

Our ACCESS in HEAVEN while on earth is JESUS.

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PASTORA MATET

Hebrews 8 - Jesus Our Assurance in Heavenly Places

 Hebrews 8 - Jesus Our Assurance in Heavenly places

We committed sin

We make mistakes

We fall short of the glory of God

Do we deserve to be forgiven and enter heaven?

If repeated sins, mistakes and disobedience were done to people, the answer is most likely NO.

But God’s mercy and grace through Jesus Christ the answer is YES. God gave us Jesus as our great mediator that assures our position in heavenly place.

Verse says,

8 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being

Imagine you have done a grievous thing to someone like stealing big amount of money but instead of him suing you, he even gives you more than what you steal and invites you to his house to eat with his loved ones.

You don’t have to pay him back

You just have to receive everything he offers.

What will be your response?

Will you refuse what he is offering or will you repent from your sin and show gratefulness

We can see that not by any good work, not by any effort but out of pure grace and love to forgive someone who has done us wrong.

Like the deepest love of the Father to us that no matter how sinful we are He still embraced us and gave us the chance to be with Him. He finds a way to save us from the sure danger in hell.

When we forget to pray, He reminds us through our devotions, intercessory prayer

When we disobey him, He gives us another chance on the next day to attend church activities

When we choose worldly decisions leading to destruction, He sends us people to guide us to a better path 

When we disgrace him through complaining, there is the small voice of the Holy Spirit that will correct us

In any thing that separates us from God, He is making a way to bring us back to Him

Verse 7 says,

7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another

God chooses to forget the old, wicked and disgraceful human nature and make a new covenant with even better promises which enables man to be transformed to a godly life.

Verse 10 says,

10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel

    after that time, declares the Lord.

I will put my laws in their minds

    and write them on their hearts.

I will be their God,

    and they will be my people.

Are we truly transformed on our speech, actions and thoughts When I say Lord, you are my God, do I really mean that everything he says I will obey even if I am not comfortable of doing it, even if it is painful, even if it will cost my time, strength and resources?

Do we really know our God that daily we want to please him in all areas of our life? Do I care and love those unlovable people, those whose attitude is unacceptable and those unhuggable people where God’s heart is and whose God’s love just like me? 

Is my relationship to the Lord manifesting that people see God’s character in me and that they can know the goodness of God through me?

Verse 11 says,

11 No longer will they teach their neighbor,

    or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’

because they will all know me,

    from the least to the greatest.

Is everything that we learned by Gods’ grace through Church equipping’s reflects on our daily lives?

Are our dealings and treatments to our brothers and Sisters mirrors to our faith in God that we profess when we accepted Jesus as our personal Lord and savior?

Our personal relationship to God, not just intellectual doctrine. It is about knowing God as a loving Father. Gods’ heart is fulfilled through Jesus Christ alone. Let us put our confidence to the only one who can represent us to God the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Is the new covenant in Jesus Christ causing us to be faithful or are we still turning away from God by giving in to our fleshly desires?

God’s will is perfect

God can never be wrong in His ways and intentions

God is merciful

God is loving

God is just

God chose us to be with him eternally in heaven.

Let us fully received and not abandon the assurance of eternal life in heaven through Jesus Christ.

Let us pray...

Heavenly Father, we come before you with everything exposed in your sight, both good and bad you know all, nothing we can hide from you, and we thank you for giving us this moment to ask forgiveness for all the wrong that we have done. Lord God, we are sorry if we put our trust on our own abilities, strength and resources apart of knowing that all those things are come from you.

Thank you for your faithfulness Lord God that though we choose to live in our own ways, you still choose to rescue us and give us the chance to know your purpose in our lives and live according to your will.

Align our speech, our thoughts and our actions to your will Father God that your people will see transformation in us. Help us Father God to live in confidence with the finished work of Jesus in a way that we always choose godly decisions and actions guarding our mouth, our lips and our minds.

Father God, thank you for giving us Jesus Christ as our High Priest, our mediator and our representative to you, our only assurance in heaven. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen

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Elder Ernelyn

Hebrews 7: Jesus Our Eternal High Priest

 

Hebrews 7: Jesus Our Eternal High Priest

 In Hebrews 7, we are introduced to Melchizedek - a mysterious priest and king who appears briefly in Book of Genesis 14, yet carries deep spiritual significance. He had no recorded genealogy, no beginning or end mentioned. He is called “king of righteousness” and “king of peace,” foreshadowing the perfect righteousness and lasting peace found in Jesus Christ. (vv. 1-4)

 Unlike the priests of the Old Covenant who came from the tribe of Levi, Jesus’ priesthood is entirely different. The Levitical priests served under the law. They were appointed without an oath. They were many because death kept them from serving forever. They offered sacrifices daily - first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people. Their work was never finished because animal sacrifices could never truly take away sin. (Vv.20, 23, 27)

 But Jesus is our New Covenant High Priest.

 He is permanent because He lives forever. He was appointed by God’s oath (Hebrews 7:17,21, Psalm 110:4). He did not offer repeated sacrifices; instead, He offered Himself once for all as the complete and perfect sacrifice. And He is holy, blameless, pure, and set apart from sinners (vv. 21–28)

 What a beautiful truth: through Jesus, we have a better hope and a better covenant.

 Because His priesthood is eternal, the salvation He offers is forever.

 Hebrews 7:25 assures us that He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.

 

1. He Saves Completely

This means totally. Utterly. To the very end. There is no sin so great that it lies beyond His reach. There is no distance so far that He cannot bridge it. His salvation isn't partial or incomplete - it covers everything: guilt, shame, failure, and secures our eternity. Completely.

 2. We Come Through Him

This is the simple path to God. We don't approach the Father because we are good enough, cleaned up, or have our lives together. We come through Jesus. He is the door, the way.(John 14:6) We come just as we are—honest, broken, and real—and He welcomes us in His name. In Him, we are not seen in our failure; we are seen as loved, accepted, and fully redeemed.

 3. He Always Intercedes

This is the most comforting truth. Jesus is not a distant Savior who finished His work on earth and now waits passively in heaven. He is actively, personally, continually interceding for us. Right now, at this very moment, Jesus is speaking to the Father on our behalf. He is not listing our failures or pointing out our shortcomings. He is presenting His own finished work and saying, “This one belongs to Me.”

 Remember when Jesus said to Peter, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail” (Luke 22:31-32). Jesus didn't pray that Peter would avoid the struggle. He prayed that his faith would survive it. And even when Peter stumbled - when he denied knowing Jesus, that prayer was still at work. It protected him from despair. It brought him back to repentance. It restored him.

 Jesus is praying the same way for us. He is not praying that we will never struggle. He is praying that our faith will endure. And because He lives forever, that prayer never stops, never loses power, and never gets set aside.

When we feel weak, He is interceding.

When we stumble, He is interceding.

When we don’t know how to pray, He is interceding.

Even when we are unaware of our needs, He is still interceding.

 We are not holding on to Him by our own strength. He is holding on to us. Our access to God is secure, not because we are perfect person, but because we have a perfect, eternal High Priest who continually represents us before the Father.

 Today, rest in this: We never stand before God alone. Jesus, our perfect High Priest, is standing right there with us, for us.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of Jesus, our eternal High Priest. Thank You that we do not stand before You alone, uncertain or unworthy, but represented by the One who is holy, blameless, and perfect.

 

Lord Jesus, thank You that You save completely. There is nothing in our lives beyond Your reach - no sin too great, no failure too deep, no shame too heavy. Your sacrifice was once for all, and it is enough. Let that truth settle deeply in our hearts today.

 

Thank You that we come to the Father through You. Not because we have it all together. Not because we deserve it. But because You have made a way.

Teach us to come honestly, humbly, and confidently—trusting in Your finished work.

 And thank You that You always live to intercede for us.

When we feel weak, You are praying.

When we stumble, You are praying.

When we don't know what to say, You are praying.

Hold our faith steady when life tries to shake it. Guard our hearts from despair. Restore us quickly when we fall.

 Help us rest in the security of Your eternal priesthood.

Help us live in the peace that comes from knowing we are fully saved, fully known, and fully loved.

 Today we choose to trust—not in our grip on You, but in Your unbreakable hold on us.

In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

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ELDER HANNA

HEBREWS 6 - BE REMINDED

BE REMINDED

Hebrews 6 gives us six reminders.

Reminder 1 (vv 1-3). Enough of the basic teachings -  the elementary principles of Christ. We all know about the repentance, salvation, baptism, laying of hands, resurrection and eternal judgment; we could recite them in our sleep. So move on, learn more, learn deeper, learn bigger about Christ. There are many things waiting for us if we seek Him more. Let us all grow and be mature in Christ.

Reminder 2 (vv 4-6). Beware and be alarmed of drifting away. If you feel that you are going away from your relationship with Christ, go back immediately. Be reminded of how great, how faithful, how merciful, how generous and how loving our Father is. Go back to the times when you have encountered Christ, when you feel so blessed, so love and the time you have received the Holy Spirit, the time when you were used to bless others, to heal others, when the power of our Lord manifest in you. Stop sinning! Go back to Jesus!

Reminder 3 (vv 7-8). Be productive! Produce good fruits! Have the fruits of the holy spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control – let these be seen in you. Let these be an indicator that you are one with the Holy Spirit, as you have the character of Christ. Be fruitful or else you will be burned!

Reminder 4 (vv 9-12). Persevere. Do not be lazy. Join with the brethren, fellowship, work for the Lord, share the gospel, go to missions, serve with love and humility. Imitate Paul, imitate your Pastors who labor faithfully and patiently thus was able to receive God’s promises. 

Reminder 5 (vv 13-18). God is God. He never breaks His promises. That is His nature- He never lie. Take all his promises written in the Bible, do your part, do your best and surely He will give you the reward. In everything you do, give glory to His name.

Reminder 6 (vv 19-20). We have Jesus – our one and only high priest forever. Nothing to worry, He is Emmanuel -  Jesus is with us. He got your back!

Let us pray.

Papa God, 

Thank you for the revelation of Your word and for the conviction it brings.

I am sorry. I have too many shortcomings. Forgive me Father for not doing my best to serve you.

I am sorry that I am not intentionally giving my best to be productive in the church.

I am sorry, if I am lazy to pray. I am sorry that I am giving more time to check my phone than my Bible.

I am sorry if I am making excuses not to attend to church activities. I am sorry if I do not prioritize your work. I am sorry if I can be early at work and friends meeting but I am late for Sunday service and church activities. I am sorry Lord if I enjoy the world than the word. 

Forgive me Papa God.

Thank You for the forgiveness Lord.

Papa I am asking that you remind me always of Hebrews Chapter 6. 

May I intentionally learn more about Christ and be a mature Christian. 

Protect me from sinning Lord and help me not to be away from you. 

Make me cooperate with the Holy Spirit and all His character manifest in me. 

Make me persevere in doing what is right and may I glorify You always in everything I do. 

That I will imprint in my heart that You are my God, my savior, my all and all, my everything. 

That You are the way maker, the promise keeper, the miracle worker. 

That you are God and for You nothing is impossible. 

You have given Jesus the most precious gift I have ever received so I cannot ask for more. You are enough, your daily grace is enough for me. 

Give me steadfast faith that I can do all things for You, to serve you, to please You. 

Because You deserve my all. My labor is not enough to give you praise and thanks. You are worthy of my everything. 

I love You, my Lord, my God and my King. Amen.

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ELDER MAYEN

HEBREWS 5- BALANCED MEAL OF FAITH

 

HEBREWS 5-

Hebrews 5:12-14 [12] For you should already be professors instructing others by now; but instead, you need to be taught from the beginning the basics of God’s prophetic oracles! You’re like children still needing milk and not yet ready to digest solid food. [13] For every spiritual infant who lives on milk is not yet pierced by the revelation of righteousness. [14] But solid food is for the mature, whose spiritual senses perceive heavenly matters. And they have been adequately trained by what they’ve experienced to emerge with understanding of the difference between what is truly excellent and what is evil and harmful. BALANCED MEAL OF FAITH (GO, GROW, GLOW)

GO(action/mission)
-kumilos sa pananampalataya
-mag evangelize, mag mission, mag disciple
- GO food is a source of Energy- Jesus is our source of energy
- serve others

GROW(MATURITY/ GROWTH
-lumago sa karunungan at paggawa sa Diyos
- lumaking may laban, mag pakatibay sa ating pananampalataya
Mga pangunahing elemento/pundasyon kailangan para magtagumpay sa buhay Cristiano
- read the WORD OF GOD
- Pray like Jesus
- wag kaligtaan ang mga fellowship

GLOW (INFLUENCE)
Radiance of Jesus
- makita ang Pag-ibig ni Cristo sa atin, when they see us they see Jesus in us
- magkaroon tayo ng positibong impluwensya sa iba.
- Serve like Jesus served

WHY BALANCE MATTERS: 1. Nourishes spiritual growth 2. Provides strength and guidance 3. Helps navigate life's challenges 4. Reflects Christ's love to others

 HEBREWS 5-RHEMA(Sis, Nics, P. Czar and Bro John)

Hebrews 5 - A Call to Grow in Christ

 

Hebrews 5

A Call to Grow in Christ

¹¹ About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing  —Hebrews 5:11

Growing  in Christ means keeping our hearts soft and ready to listen. When we feel God’s Word becoming dull, it’s a signal to wake up, pay attention, and let Him speak again. Listening leads to learning, and learning leads to growing.

Many of us have been Christians for years. We all know Jesus saves, God loves, prayer is powerful. But Hebrews 5 reminds us that some believers were still stuck on “milk” when they should already be eating “solid food.”

This is not to discourage us, but to push us forward. God wants us to grow stronger, deeper, and more fruitful. He wants us to move from being learners to being teachers, from being carried to walking firmly, from being fed to feeding others.

We are truly blessed our church is already providing opportunities to grow. Through Bible studies, equipping, prayer meetings, daily devotion, evangelism, discipleship, and ministries, we are given many ways to strengthen our faith. What we need to do is simple but challenging —To obey what God wants us to do. Growth happens when we take part, commit, and practice daily obedience.

1. Why We Need to Grow

¹² For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food. —  Hebrews 5:12      

-God doesn’t want us to stay spiritual infants. He desires maturity so we can handle deeper truths and responsibilities.

-Growth isn’t just for ourselves, it equips us to guide others.

-Fellowship, equipping, service opportunities, and discipleship are God’s instruments to help us move forward.

-Growth isn’t automatic, it comes when we obey God’s Word and apply it in daily life.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. — 2 Peter 3:18

2. Signs of Staying Immature

13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.  —Hebrews 5:13

·       Milk means basics—only knowing simple truths, not ready for deeper teaching.

·       Unskilled in God’s Word—unable to live it out or guide others.

·       Still a child—weak, dependent, not mature enough to lead.

God is calling us to grow! Staying on milk keeps us powerless. But when we learn and obey His Word, we become strong, mature, and ready to serve.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. — Ephesians 4:14

3. How to Grow in Christ

¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. —        Hebrews 5:14

Growth requires daily practice and obedience.

-Read the Word daily for nourishment.

-Obey God’s Word in both small and big choices.

-Train your heart to choose what pleases God.

-Serve others with love and forgiveness.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” — James 1:22

When we grow in Christ, our lives begin to show fruit.

-We can discern right from wrong.

-We become stable and strong in faith.

-We can teach and guide others.

What we do:

-Don’t settle for baby faith. Move forward.

-Join daily devotion, equipping and all church activities.

-Practice obedience daily, even in small choices.

-Serve others with love and consistency.

Let’s reflect!

1. What areas of our faith feel like milk right now, and what steps can we take toward solid food?
2. Are we taking advantage of the equipping and activities our church offers?
3. How can we obey God daily and encourage others to grow in faith?

 

Let’s pray

Heavenly Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit,

Lord Jesus, thank You for saving us and giving us Your Word. Help us not to stay a child in faith, but to grow strong and mature. Teach us to listen, obey, and practice Your Word every day. Thank You for the church that gives us ways to grow and serve. Make us faithful, fruitful, and ready to serve others.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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PASTORA MAY

 

HEBREWS 4 - ENTERING GOD’S REST

 

ENTERING GOD’S REST

 HEBREWS 4 exhorts believers to enter God’s rest- a state of salvation, peace, and security in Christ- by faith, warning against the disobedience and unbelief that kept the Israelites from the Promise Land.

 ENTER GOD’S REST- with a PROMISE

 4 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.

 The promise that still stands is the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ.

JESUS is the one who makes the promise of rest possible.

He says in Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Through His death and resurrection, He opened the way for us to experience GOD’S TRUE REST-both now and forever.

God’s love is shown in that the promise of rest “still stands.” He didn’t close the door even after generations failed. He continues to invite people in. His heart is for us to find peace, joy, and life with Him.

 ENTER GOD’S REST- with FAITH as the Key

 ² For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.

 Faith isn’t just believing that something is true-it’s trusting in it and acting on it. The Israelites heard God’s promises, but they didn’t mix that hearing with real trust, so they didn’t obey. Because of that, they missed out on what God had for them. The same warning applies to us today: hearing the gospel isn’t what saves a person. It must be received with a heart of faith that leads to obedience.

  ENTER GOD’S REST- with DILIGENCE

 ¹¹ Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

 Yes, salvation is a free gift from God, and our response is important. We are not saved by works, but we are called to actively trust, obey, and persevere. Why? So “that no one will fall by following their [the Israelites’] example of disobedience”. Entering God’s rest is not passive. It requires that we keep believing, keep following, and keep resisting the pull of sin and unbelief.

When Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30), He completed the work of salvation. We no longer have to strive to earn God’s favor. In Christ, we rest-not because we’ve done enough, but because He has.

 Questions for reflection:

1.  What does “God’s rest” mean to you personally?
2.  What does it mean for you to “make every effort to enter” God’s rest?

3. How does the example of the Israelites in the wilderness serve as a warning to you?
4. In what ways can you encourage others to stay strong in their walk with God?

 

To enter God’s rest is not to stop living faithfully but to stop striving as though everything depends on us. 

 God’s rest is a place where obedience flows, hope is our anchor, and peace becomes our posture – because God is already at work.

 Lord teach us to rest in what you have done, and to live diligently and faithfully from the rest in trust and hope. Amen.

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PASTORA PAULA