OUR FATHER WHO PROVIDES A DISPENSATION OF GRACE TO DRAW ALL THOSE INTENDED FOR GOD'S FAMILY

The book of Ephesians chapter 3 says this:

 1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the [e]principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.  

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO MADE US ALIVE EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN SIN

In the book of Ephesians chapter 2, Paul the apostle contrasts the state of death we were in during our former lives of sin where we were under the domination of prince of the power of the air and the life that God allocated for us when we were saved through faith.

On one side, we lived to fulfill the desires of the flesh and mind being in league with the spirit of darkness that drove our disobedience to the things of God.  On the other side, God, out of His great mercy and love for us, provided a way that anyone who believed in Christ could be made alive and saved and then raised us up in Christ and made us sit in heavenly places.

This vast contrast between the fate of those who continue in rebellion and those who give up the rebellion by surrendering to Christ will show in the ages to come how unfathomably great Godś kindness was towards us.

This kindness is especially highlighted by the fact that we who needed the grace of redemption were completely provided for such that we were not saved by any righteousness of our own but rather saved entirely by the work that God did on our behalf which not only saved us from destruction but also elevated us into heavenly places where we could be together with the Lord Jesus.

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Paul continues with a discussion of the special circumstances that Gentiles were in vis-a-vis the salvation that came through the children of Isreal by the promise to their patriarch Abraham.

Whereas we were ourside the family of God and called Gentiles, yet God provided a mechanism by which Gentiles from the whole world would be able to access the salvation provided by promise to the Children of Abraham. This access was in the form of faith that was the same access point used by Abraham. Any gentile who in faith trusts in the provision of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, is secured into the family of God and are taken into the one body with all other Gentiles who believe and with the children of Israel who believe. The Prince of Peace that the Lord Jesus was, reconciled the disperate Gentiles, Israel and God and the divisions that were in place were broken down in His body through the cross.

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

In the family of faith, we are all citizens and we are integrated with everyone else when we are made part of the holy temple of God where He lives in the Spirit. The Lord Jesus is himself the chief cornerstone of this construction.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO PROVIDES US WITH PEACE

Ephesians chapter 1 

To start his letter to the believers in the church of Ephesus, Paul introduces himself by name and then by his God-given title of apostle. He then speaks grace and peace over them.

Paul then calls God the Father blessed, who, through the Lord Jesus Christ, blessed believers with every spiritual blessing in the spiritual realm. To wit, the Father chose the believers from before the foundation of the world to be blamelessly separated to Him in love.

We were selected ahead of time to be added as sons to God's family by adoption through the Lord Jesus Christ. This was God's will and good pleasure and the resulting grace abounding to us is altogether praise-worthy for the glory it revealed about God and it is this grace that gave us access and joined us to the members of the family of God.

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus.

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

The apostle Paul then describes the process of reclaiming men from the kingdom of darkness to His kingdom of light in sequence.

• Redemption through Jesus' blood
• Forgiveness through grace
• Revelation of God's purpose
• Gathering of them into Christ
• Inclusion into God's family
• Placement into God's eternal destiny
• Showcased as the praise of God's glory

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

In order for God to shepherd all those who believed and trusted in Christ through the process of the acquisition of His people, we are sealed by the promised Holy Spirit who is the deposit made as a guarantee that we will be collected upon the advent of the dispensation of fullness of time.

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Paul now moves onto the prescription of what we, who are being redeemed, need to do during this process.

• Sustain faith in the Lord Jesus
• Sustain love for all the saints
• Receive the spirit of wisdom
• Receive revelation of knowledge
• Gain knowledge of our calling
• Gain knowledge of our inheritance
• Gain knowledge of God's power invested in our redemption

15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Paul then tells the believers in Ephesus to be sure of the supremacy of the exceptionally great power that God is using to underwrite the plan of their translation from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light and the absolute and unchallengable position that Christ has been lifted to.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO BROUGHT HIS SON UP FROM THE DEAD 

The writer of the book of Hebrews chapter 13 verses 18 - 25 concludes the book of Hebrews this way. Starting by requesting prayer from the readers, the writer tells them that he may be restored to them from where he is being held.

18 Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. 19 But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

22 And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words. 23 Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly.

24 Greet all those who rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.

25 Grace be with you all. Amen.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHO GIVES US

The writer of the book of Hebrews chapter 13 verses 7 - 17 tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ, being the same eternally, has uniform principles that, when adopted by successive generations of believers, yield the same sanctified conduct and thus those who speak the word of God to us, their faith can be followed. This is to avoid being led into false doctrines and to avoid practicing dietary observances instead of being established in grace. 

7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

As believers, we have a most excellent altar that not even those who served in the tabernacle can eat from and therefore, we must follow the pattern set by the Lord Jesus Christ by leaving the city the same way He left the city to suffer. 

As we bear the reproach the Jesus bore, we can abandon the ways of our former habitation and continually offer sacrifices of praise and giving thanks while at the same time, doing good in the world sharing what we have with other for such thing please God.

Observing how faithful forebearers walk, we can follow them as they lead us. Because they are are accountable for those who are placed under their purview, it is good counsel to be understudies who are a joy to oversee and the writer alerts us that bringing grief to the overseeing person is unprofitable.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO IS THE JUDGE

The book of Hebrews chapter 13 verses 1 - 6 finalizes with counsel for believers to continue in love for one another and to show hospitality to strangers because there is a chance that the strangers could actually be angels. 

The writer of Hebrews also reminds christians to be sexually pure and to restrict sexual activity to the marriage bed.

As well, christians are to eschew covetousness  (or envy) and be content in all things because God is our helper and thus it is not appropriate to fear because there is an explicit promise by God that He would never leave us nor forsake us.

1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. 3 Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.

4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

6 So we may boldly say:

“The Lord is my helper;

I will not fear.

What can man do to me?”

Amen.

1

 OUR FATHER WHO IS A CONSUMING FIRE

The book of Hebrews chapter 13 verses 25 - 29 continues with the concept of the greater connection with heavenly realities and how these realities, compared to the old earthly covenant made it even more urgent that we treat the things of God with reverence and Godly fear for in the greater privilege given to us, the requirement is that we not be ones who vassilates in our faith but rather be steadfast for the all things in heaven and earth will be shaken and that which remains will abide forever and it is good to keep in mind that God is a consuming fire.

25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHOSE CITY IS MOUNT ZION 

The book of Hebrews chapter 12 verses 18 - 24 says this;

18 For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. 20 (For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.” 21 And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

After alerting the believers to the dangers of falling short of the grace of God, the writer of Hebrews explained that being at Mount Sinai (to which Moses brought the children of Isreal) was a terrifying experience for all the people and the strictures surrounding that mountain were severe and even Moses himself was afraid and trembling.

If the earthly Mount Sinai was so fearful, how much more would Mount Zion in Heaven be? The writer tells us that Mount Zion is the city of the Living God and it contains: 

• An innumerable company of angels
• The general assembly
• The church of the firstborn registered in heaven 
•  God the Judge of all
• Spirits of just men made perfect
• Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant 
• The blood that speaks better things than the blood of Abel.

As such, in light of what the pinacle of the kingdom of God under the new covenant, contains, great fear should govern our conduct.

Amen.

1

 OUR FATHER WHOSE GRACE MUST BE DILIGENTLY SOUGHT

The writer of the book of Hebrews chapter 12 verses 12 - 17, continuing in the context of the Lord's chastening, charges the reader to keep themselves and those around them encouraged through seasons of chastening so that they keep going forward and so that the discipline of the Lord bring about healing and correction and not a dislocaton of the one being chastened. 

12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

The counsel given is that believers should pursue peace with everyone around them and as well, pursue holiness in their own lives because holiness is a pre-condition for seeing God.  Believers are encouraged to keep an eye on everyone around them to make sure that roots of bitterness are not growing in anyone's heart because this will bring about defilement in many people and in that state, they become vulnerable to selling their birthright for a pittance the way Esau did.

This warning is given because after selling one´s birth-right, there is no pathway to reclaiming it even if it is tearfully sought.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHO WILL NOT BE  SEEN WITHOUT HOLINESS

The book of Hebrews chapter 12 verses 12 - 17 says this;

12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or [f]profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHO CHASTENS THOSE HE LOVES

The writer of the book of Hebrews chapter 12 verses 3 - 11 adjures the readers to keep in mind that their salvation was attained by the Lord Jesus who endured violent hostility to the point of death thus those who are being saved must perservere through hardships with the understanding that they are subject to correction by their Father in heaven and even when the chastening feels unpleasant, it yields the peacable fruit of righteousness that synchronizes us with the civilization of heaven where we can be partakers of His holiness.

If our human fathers benefitted us when they chastened us with their limited understanding, how much more will our heavenly Father's corrections yield righteousness unto life in our lives if we subject ourselves to it.

3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:

“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,

Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;

6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens,

And scourges every son whom He receives.”

7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON SET THE EXAMPLE OF ENDURANCE 

The book of Hebrews chapter 12 verses 1 - 2 says this;

1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The saints of old are watching the race as a great cloud of witnesses to see how the faith they practiced in their day will play out in the culmination of all things.

They are like a relay team that passed the baton from one generation of faith to another and then they all gather at the finish line to see how their team completes the race.

The writer of Hebrews encourages us to lay aside all encumberances and discard the sin that so easily ensnares us and run our race with endurance to the end.

Amen.

1

 OUR FATHER WHOSE PEOPLE IDENTIFY WITH HIM BY FAITH

The book of Hebrews chapter 11 verses 30 - 40 says this;

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again.

Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

After listing the exploits of faith of the generations of prophets and judges, the writer of Hebrews concludes this passage by indicating that inspite of their robust in which they carried out their note-worthy lives, they did not receive the promise of God in their time because it was in our time that God provided the better promise so that the saints of old would not be perfected apart from us who appeared later but we would all be perfected into the one faith, the one family of God.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHOSE MEDIUM OF INTERACTION WITH HIS PEOPLE IS FAITH

The book of Hebrews chapter 11 verses 23 - 29 says this:

 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.

24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the [g]passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures [i]in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.  

Amen.

6      

 OUR FATHER WHO WAS NOT ASHAMED TO BE CALLED THE GOD OF THE PATRIARCHS

The writer of the book of Hebrews chapter 11 verses 13 - 22 lists the articles of faith that the patriarchs exercised while they lived and that this faith was the same faith that we in our time adopt to become members of the family of God.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

Amen.

4

 OUR FATHER WHO PROMISES ARE THE BASIS OF FAITH

The book of Hebrews chapter 11 verses 8 - 12 says this;

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she[d] bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. 

Amen.

3

OUR FATHER WHO IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE WITHOUT FAITH

The book of Hebrews chapter 11 verses 1 - 7 says this;

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Amen.

1

 OUR FATHER WHO WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE

The writer of the book of Hebrews chapter 10 verses 26 - 39 explains why it is so important to gather together to encourage one another in the faith. He declares that wilfull sining after having gained the knowledge of the truth, there would no longer be provision for sins and all that is left is the expectation of the same fiery judgement that would consume the enemies of God. 

The temporary covenant had provision to end the life of a person with merely the testimony of two or three witness and so how much more would judgement be visited upon those who had gained knowledge of the perfection of Christ's sacrifice and yet decided to trample it underfoot and insult the Spirit of grace.

The writer recommends that the reader think back to all the sufferings that they had endured to sustain their testimony against persecution and even to associate with those who were being made a spectacle of and then as well were compassionate to the writer while he was imprisoned and withstood the ransacking of their provisions. 

The writer encourages them to remain in the faith and not cast down the hope that they had received in the face of the hardships because there was a great reward for those who were steadfast and had endurance for it is by this that they would receive the promises of God.

26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32 But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; 34 for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

37 “For yet a little while,

And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.

38 Now the just shall live by faith;

But if anyone draws back,

My soul has no pleasure in him.”

39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE SON IS THE HIGH PRIEST OVER HIS HOUSE

The book of Hebrews chapter 10 verses 19 - 25 declares that because of the perfection of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, we can be bold in entering the Holiest part of the presence of God that was previously kept hiden by a veil in the temple. 

The blood of that perfect sacrifice, when in faith is sprinkled on us, cleans our conscience and our bodies are washed with the pure water. 

Because of the totality and the profundity of this provision of leansing from sin,, the writer of the book of Hebrews urges the reader to cleave steadfastly to the confession of hope for the one who made the promise and underwrote the new covenant is faithful. As well, the reader is encouraged to think of others who share the confession of hope by caring for them to stir up their faith and by gathering together to exhort and to encourage one another even as the great Day of the Lord approaches.

19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHOSE SON PERFECTED THOSE WHO ARE BEING SANCTIFIED

The book of Hebrews chapter 10 verses 11 - 18 says this;

 11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,

16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

The daily sacrifices, being shadows of the actual requirements to clean men from sin, did not have the power to take sin away but the One Man from heaven who appeared on eath to be the perfect sacrifice by which those who were to be sanctified were going to be perfected.

Going further, the writer of Hebrews explains that the Spirit of God, through the writers of the old testament, described the nature of the coming new covenant which would not be carved into the stones like the ten commandments but rather would be spiritually written into the hearts and minds of men and their sins would be erased. Thus the new covenant was one where santification is undertaken on the hearts and minds of those who were under the covenant of faith.

The passage ends with a caution that points to the finality of the offering that was made and for those whose have the remission of sins, have no other method by which they can be saved from their sins if they abandon the process of sanctification.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHOSE SON'S MISSION WAS WRITTEN OF IN THE SCROLL

The writer of the book of Hebrews chapter 10 verses 1 -  10, continues the discussion of the relationship between the shadows that the law represented and the actual things of heaven.

The law, having provided for sacrifices needed also to provide for repeated sacrifies because the sacrifices did not make those being sacrificed for perfect and the proof of this was that they needed to repeat the sacrices. The blood of bulls and goats, being shadows of an ultimate sacrifice, could not take away sins from men.

The writer points to Psalm 40 verses 6 - 8 which fortells of the arrival of the Son of God who would say that God did not take pleasure in the sacrifices but that He (Jesus) found Himself written of in the scroll and that He was ready to do the will of God with the body that was prepared for Him.

This revealed the intention of God to displace the original animal sacrifices  provided for under the law with a sacrifice of the Son of God whose sacrifice would be eternal and based on this, a santified  people would be established under a new eternal covenant.

 1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:

“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,

But a body You have prepared for Me.

6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin

You had no pleasure.

7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—

  In the volume of the book it is written of Me - To do Your will, O God.’ ”

8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE SON'S SHED BLOOD WAS PROOF IN HEAVEN OF THE SACRIFICE THAT SECURED THE ETERNAL COVENANT

The book of Hebrews chapter 9 verses  16 - 28 says this;

16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19 When Moses had proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20 He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.” 21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

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.  

The writer of Hebrews reveals a vital component of the nature of covenants that are secured by blood.

In the same way that a legal will is only valid if the writer of the will is proven to have died, the covenant of blood is only valid if the person securing the covenant is proven to have died. The blood itself is then the proof of death. 

When blood was spilled on the ark and on the utensils of the covenant, the blood was proof that a death had been exacted upon the sacrifice in order to perform the cleansing.

All the sacrifices pertaining to the earthly tabernacle were temporal and thus had to be performed yearly with the blood being presented each time but the sacrifice that Jesus gave of His own life was eternal (once and for all)  and ascended into heaven itself where  His sacrifice became a better sacrifice because He was directly in the presence of God. 

When the Lord Jesus was on the cross, a Roman soldier pierced His side to ascertain that Jesus had legally died.
The blood that poured out of His side was the proof of death that secured the covenant. Confirmed by the precept that the life of the body was in the blood (Leviticus chapter 17 verse 11), if the blood is spilled on the ground or presented at the tabernacle, it is legal proof of the death of the one whose blood it was.

Considering the legal case that was before heaven when Cain killed Abel, the ground had received Abel's blood and the blood cried out from the ground that was proof of the death of Abel and this was enough to find Cain guilty of the crime of murder even though Cain had denied knowledge of Abel's whereabouts.

When Jesus died on the cross, the Roman soldier's verification of the Jesus's death using a spear plunged into His side resulted in Jesus's blood pouring onto the earth.  The earth quaked in revolt upon receipt of a righteous person's blood and this registered in heaven as proof of Jesus's death in the same was that Abel's innocent blood gave proof to heaven of Abel's death.

This is why Jesus said in Luke chapter 22 verse 20 , "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you".  The blood that was shed as proof in heaven, secured the covenant. 

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE SON MEDIATES IN A GREATER TABERNACLE THAT IS NOT PART OF THIS CREATION

The book of Hebrews chapter 9 verses 11  - 15 says this;

  11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO MADE A WAY FOR MANKIND TO REACH HIM THROUGH JESUS CHRIST

In the book of Hebrews chapter 9 verses 1 - 10, the writer focuses in on the practices of the earthly sanctuary that were governed by the first covenant. The spaces and accoutrements of the tabernacle all signified levels of the heavenly realm and the item pertinent to the point that the writer wanted to make was the fact that in the holy place, ordinary priests could enter to carry out tasks and routines but the inner space was the most holy place and only the high priest could enter this space and he could only do this once a year and only while he was carrying the blood for the atonement of his own sin and for the sin of the people of Israel.

In this detail of highly restricted access, the Holy Spirit was revealing that the way to the presence of God had not been made known to men and this would be true as long as the space of the tabernacle was still in operation because the activitites of offering sacrifies were ongoing in the tabernacle but still access into the inner space was not provided for anyone except the high priest. 

What was made clear in the protocols of the old order was that they were insufficient to give mankind access to their God and this pointed to the a new order that would be built by God Himself and would be mediated by the perfect and eternal Son of God.

1 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 2 A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 4 which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

6 When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. 9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO PROMISED A NEW AND BETTER COVENANT AND JESUS WAS THE FULFILLMENT OF THAT PROMISE

The book Hebrews chapter 8 verses 7 - 13 gives the scriptural basis for the obsolesence of the old covenant when the new eternal covenant was revealed.  Pointing to the book of Jeremiah chapter 31 verses 31 - 34, the writer demontrates that the scriptures, having prescribed the old covenant, directly mentions a new covenant that would displace the old covenant that God made with His people.  The children of Israel had broken the first covenant and as such, a new covenant of a new type that involved the transformation of the hearts of men and that would provide grace for the integration of the race of men into the family of God.

This new covenant was a better covenant that made the old covenant obsolete and so the children of children are alerted that it was coming and would overide the covenant made with their fathers.

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. 

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

13 In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO HAS GIVEN A SUPERIOR PRIESTLY MINISTRY TO HIS SON 

The book of Hebrews chapter 8 verses 1 - 6 says this;

1 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.

3 Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. 4 If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. 5 They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” 6 But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.

In this passage, the writer of Hebrews continues to emphasize the qualifications of the Lord Jesus Christ as a priest who supercedes the priests of the Levitical order.

1) He sat at the right hand of Majesty in Heaven

2) He serves in the orginal God-built sanctuary of which the earthly tabernacle made by men was merely a shadow.

3) The covenant to which He is a mediator is superior to the old covenant because it encapsulates better promises.

Jesus is a calibre of high priest who can ensure eternal representation for men before the sanctuary in heaven. 

Amen.

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON WAS MADE PERFECT FOREVER BY BEING SINLESS AND BY HIS SACRIFICE FOR MEN

Hebrews chapter 7 verses 23 - 28 says this;

23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Whereas the priests innuaguated by the law were flawed human beings and thus needed to offer sacrifices to cover their own sins before they could offer sacrifices for the rest of the children of Israel,  the Lord Jesus was holy, bameless and pure (set apart from sinners). The Lord Jesus was therefore the perfect priest who, already exalted above the heavens, could accurately represent humanity before God.

Also, Levitical priests, being mortal, could only serve during their life spans while Jesus is the eternally living priest  who sustains a permanent priesthood and thus His priesthood is able to completely save those who come to God through Him because He is ever present.   

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO SWORE TO THE ETERNAL PRIESTHOOD OF JESUS

The writer of the book of Hebrews chapter 7 verses 13 - 22 continues his examination of what the king and priest named Melchizedek represented.

Because the priestly tribe of Levi did not exist at the time Abraham encountered Melchizedek, it is clear that Melchizedek come from a priestly line that had nothing to do with the Levitic priestly tribe that was later established in the law. Further to that, the Lord Jesus came from the tribe of Judah which had no prescription of priesthood.

What is revealed is that there is a priesthood that exists that is not secured through ancestral lineages but rather through the indestructibility of that priest's life which the Lord Jesus fulfilled by rising from the dead.

13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared:

                       “You are a priest forever,

                        in the order of Melchizedek.”

18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:

                “The Lord has sworn

                and will not change his mind:

                ‘You are a priest forever.’”

22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.

The priesthood occupied by the Lord Jesus is also one secured by an eternal oath of God which makes Jesus an eternal priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Whereas Levitical priest were not innaugurated by oaths, the priestly line to which Jesus belonged was one that was sworn to by God himself and as such was a better covenant because it was a priesthood that was under-written by the life of God forever.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER BEFORE WHOM WAS MELCHIZEDEK AS HIS HIGH PRIEST

The writer of Hebrews chapter 7 verses 1 - 10, having expressed how reliable the salvation through the Lord Jesus provided by God actually is by explaining how Jesus, the One who represents us before the One behind the veil that conceals the Presence, was a priest in the order of Melchizedek, goes on in this passage to reveal the significance of Melchizedek.

 1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.

4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. 5 And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; 6 but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. 8 Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. 9 Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. 

Melchizedek (whose name translates to 'king of righteousness") and whose title of king of Salem (translates of 'king of peace'), is a figure who came from no defined place and was not in the known ancestry of the children of Israel.

After Abraham had run down and killed the kings who had kidnapped members of his family, Melchizedek approached Abraham and Abraham paid him a tithe of the spoils of the battle.

The tithe, according to the law, was to be paid to the Levite priests who were descendants of Abraham but when Abraham paid his tithe to Melchizek, the Levite priests still within Abraham, in effect, also paid their tithes to Melchizedek which placed Melchizek above Abraham and above the priestly stucture that was set up under the Mosaic law.

This puts Melchizedek in a more senior position than anyone charted in the family tree of God's people and further to that, Melchizedek blessed Abraham which is another indication of the greatness of Melchizedek who was able to bless the patriarch Abraham who had the promise of salvation for all mankind and because the absence of a mention of an end of life, Melchidek is represented as being an eternal priest.

Amen.

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