_                         It’s because of the Blood (part-1)
                                                Hebrews 9:1-15

We find that the book of Hebrews is titled "To the Hebrews," even though the letter simply begins with Jesus has appeared, atoned for our sins, and is now seated at the right hand of God in heaven (Hebrews 1:1-4). It is somewhat different from some of the other gospels in that the other gospels we started with, “Paul the apostle.”  And the letter closes with the words "Grace be with you all" (Hebrews 13:25).

Let’s look at the book of the Hebrews.   Although some include the Book of Hebrews among the Apostle Paul's writings, what is missing is Paul's customary salutation common to his other works.  It is also suggested that the writer of this epistle relied upon knowledge and information provided by others who were actual eye-witnesses of Christ Jesus in 2:3.  Another possible writer of the Hebrews is Timothy who has written the book of Hebrews.  Regardless of who the writer is, the Holy Spirit of God is the divine author of all Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16) “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”  Therefore, Hebrews speaks with the same canonical authority as the other sixty-five books of the Bible.

Because there is evidence showing the end of the Old Testament sacrificial system that occurred with Jerusalem's destruction in A.D. 70, it indicates the book of Hebrews was written around A.D. 65.  The Purpose of this letter is to exhort those persecuted believers to continue in the grace of Jesus Christ.  The Book of Hebrews addresses three separate groups:

               1.  Believers in Christ.
               2. Unbelievers who had knowledge of and an intellectual acceptance of 
                    the facts of Christ.
               3. And unbelievers who were attracted to Christ, but who rejected Him                     ultimately.

The Major Theme shows us the superiority of the Lord Jesus.  Where Jesus became the new priest and this also indicated that there was a completed law.  The theme shows us that Jesus is the “author and finisher of our faith”, in Hebrews 12:2.  Also no other book so eloquently defines Christ as the high priest, (and New priesthood implies a new law) and the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.  During Abraham’s time, the priest was Mel-chiz-e-dek.   In Genesis 14:18-24, Melchizedek offers a sacrifice of bread and wine to Abram and Abram paid his tithes to him.  

Now Christ therefore fulfilled the prophecy of Ps 110:4, that he would be a priest "after the order of Melchizedek," showing us that Jesus existed before creation and at the Last Supper, when he broke and shared bread with his disciples it showed the completion of the new priest order.

Here in Psalms 110:4, the Lord is to be a high priest—not a Levitical priest, (Levitical priests were commissioned by God, separated unto God, and were allowed to approach God.  The Levitical priesthood began with the tribe of Levi and continued through the sons of the family of Aaron, according to Numbers 18:1, 8 and Exodus 28:1), and in the book of Hebrews it shows us a different kind of priest.  Not only is there a new priest but a new covenant where Jesus is, for he is priest over the new covenant and the priest forever after Melchizedek. 

Now, who was Mel-chiz-e-dek, he was a mysterious man, first spoken of in the book of Genesis, a priest without genealogy. He was a representative of the priestly line through which a future king of Israel's Davidic line was ordained.  And this is said in Psalms 110:4.  Melchizedek is mentioned twice in the Hebrew Bible, the first in Genesis and the second in psalms, also in Hebrews 7:1-2.  The first mentioning, as part of the larger story of which tells how Abram returns from defeating king Chedorlaomer and meets with Bera the king of Sodom, and Abram paying his tithes to him, in Genesis 14:18-20. And we will see a connection between the Old and New Testament.   The Old Covenant required continual sacrifices and a once-a-year atonement for sin offered by a human priest, the New Covenant provides a once-for-all sacrifice through Christ, Hebrews 10:10 and direct access to the throne of God for all who are in Him. 

Understanding The Blood
We find that the Blood of Jesus opens up another or new Sanctuary in 9:1.  The first sanctuary was mentioned in Exodus 25:8.  Or we will find that Jesus would be a priest after a different order.   This new order was opened up because God had always wanted to be with his people or wanted a new covenant. 

• Therefore, in this order to create that new covenant or to dwell with human God had to robe himself in the flesh to dwell just to dwell with us.  We find that God had wanted to build His tabernacle with His people, or dwell in his people, according to scripture in;
• In Genesis God had dwelled with man, in Genesis 3:8-9 he was in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve.
• The call of Abraham, that God will be with him, Gen.12:1-3
• Reason why Israel was brought out of Egypt was for God to dwell with them, in Ex. 29:45-46.
• In the Tabernacle the cloud was so thick that Moses could not go in, inn Ex. 40:35.
• After the Temple was build, God promise to live among the people in 1 Kings 6:11-13.
• And now in this time God still dwell among us and in us, in Revelation 7:15 & 21:2-4.

So it is because God wanted to dwell among his people, that he established a new covenant which was put into place.  And since Jesus has become the high priest, he gave us the privilege also into the priesthood, in (1-Peter 2:9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;).

For us to understand that it’s all because of the blood.  We will see that in Hebrews 9, we find that the author is describing how things were in the tabernacle.  It was the tabernacle that God gave to Moses and the children of Israel that he will dwell with them, in Exodus 25:8.  But most importantly was the testimony which was God allowing them to come out of Egypt into the promise land, in exodus 25:16.  But since sin entered the world and separated us from God, God had wanted to come back and dwell with man.  Therefore, from the inception, it was God’s desire to change the first covenant, where men were making sacrifices of dove and lamb foreshadowing the sacrificial lamb, “Jesus Christ.”

Jesus became the sacrificial lamb or high priest (High priest means, beginning, origin, the person or thing that commences the first person or thing in a series, the leader).  Now, since Jesus became the high priest there are several noticeable things that the blood does for an individuals.  Next week we will deal with the noticeable things that the blood does in an individual’s life. 

_                                         Blessing During Your Famine (PART 2)
                                                     Genesis 26:1-5 & 12
Last week we say that the major themes of the book of Genesis are God’s covenant promise to Abraham, Monotheism, Sin and Origins.  Also we saw that famine was in the land where Isaac was in Beer-sheba.  The purpose of the book of Genesis is to begin the story of the Covenant.  And the message is an introduction to the Israelite God (Yahweh). 

In the famine that Isaac sow and received one hundred fold during the famine.  He didn’t only receive one hundred fold but God blessed him.  The Hebrew word hundredfold is ‘shah'-ar’ and means, a measure, to split or open.Therefore, because Isaac sowed during the famine, Isaac opened himself to receive a blessing which was released in his life from the LORD. Notice that the scripture stated that during the famine the LORD blessed Isaac, the Hebrew there is,baw-rak', and means, abundantly bless, pronounce blessing, had to bless.  It wasn’t Isaac who blesses the LORD but rather the LORD blessed him. 

So it is in our famine that the Lord can and will chose to bless us, we find that Isaac sowing in a time of famine brings out six things that one can expect to understand and see about God’s blessing during a famine.  These six things are

I-What a famine is and you agree that you are in a famine. (verse 1)
Remember that Abraham also had a similar misadventure in Gerar in chapter 20.  So this story was repeated to Isaac.  Where we see that he mentioned the Philistines, and the Philistines came to the coast land of Canaan following their defeat by the Egyptians.  They were Greek people who migrated eastward according to I-Samuels 4: 1And the word of Samuel came to all Israel.  Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.  The Egyptians called them the “Sea Peoples”.  The famine was in the land of Canaan. (Canaan is the fourth son of Ham, who was a son of Noah (Genesis 9:18).  Here is where the Canaanites came from.  This Abimelech was the son of the former king, and this was a common name to the kings of Gerar or the Philistines, as Pharaoh was to the kings of Egypt. Isaac came to this place from Lahairoi,where he had dwelt many years, see (Genesis 24:62) (25:11) ; which was at or near Beersheba, and was about eight miles from Gerar (means "a lodging place"). The famine was in the land where Isaac was.  Understand what a famine is. The Hebrew word famine is ra`ab and means, Famished and Hunger. 

The second thing is we have to do during the famine in order to receive the blessing is that you have to stay in the famine until God brings you out.

II-You have to stay where you are in the famine (verses 2)
God told Isaac to “go not down”.  This is the first time God appeared to Isaac.  But God has spoken with Rebakah before about their children in 25:22-23.  Notice that God appeared to Isaac.  Appeared there is ra'ah or raw-aw, and means,to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider, observe, watch, look upon, look out, and find out.  Even though, the Lord told Isaac not to go down to Egypt it was in the heart of Isaac to go down into Egypt, and the Lord appeared unto him, and charged him not to go thither, partly to try his faith in him, and dependence on his providence for support in this time of famine.We see this inGenesis 32:26And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he (Jacob) said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

The third thing we must do in during the famine in order to receive that blessing is that we must listen to God’s instruction.

III-Listen to God’s instruction (verse 3)
God told him to sojourn in this land. Sojourn means ‘Goor’, Abide, dwell in, dwell with, remain, inhabit, be a stranger, be continuing, surely, dwell for a time and remain.  Here is where instruction was given. When you listen the blessing will come to you first then it will pass on, but it can’t pass on until you position yourself to receive it.  God said that he was going to be with Isaac first, then bless Isaac, then bless his seed, seed there is ‘zera’ / ‘zeh'-rah’ and means, sowing, offspring, descendants, posterity, children, of moral quality, a practitioner of righteousness, descent and family, nation

When God assure us that he will do something it means that he will bless us, then he will give all the countries ('erets/ eh'-rets) to us, countries there means, territory, district, region, tribal territory,  piece of ground.  After the Lord bless us he will perform   a great miracle in our lives the Hebrew word perform is ‘koom’ and means, to rise, stand, rise up, stand up also accomplish and establish. Not only will the Lord, bless, give and perform great things in our lives during a famine once we listen to his instruction.  The Lord will also perform an oath, the Hebrew word oath is ‘shĕbuw`ah’/ sheb-oo-aw' and means, attesting of innocence or Oath (of Jehovah.  Solomon tells us what happens when we follow the Lord’s instruction in, Proverbs 8: 32-34Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.33Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 34"Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

The forth thing that will happen in the famine is that there will be generational blessing. 

IV-There will be generational blessings there (verses 4)
Here God told Isaac that he will multiply his seed.  Multiply ‘rabah’ /’raw-baw'and means, be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous, abundance, exceedingly, great, greater increase and long.  Notice that God promised to bless the entire world, all the nations through Abraham’s descendants in 12:3, 22:18, 28:14.  And the book of Proverbs and Ezekiel shows this promise also in Proverbs 10:22 “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.”Ezekiel 34: 26And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.

Not only will the Lord bless you and your spouse during this time of famine, but HE will bless your children, your children-children and other generation.  If God promise generational blessing, HE certainly will release it, because his promises are ye and amen.  You must much position yourself for this blessing and teach your children how to prepare and position themselves for this blessing from the LORD JESUS CHRIST. 

The fifth thing you have to do in the famine is that you have to be obedience which will bring the blessing.

V-Obedience will bring the blessings (verses 5)
Notice God told Isaac that because Abraham obeyed, the Hebrew there for obeyed is ‘shama’/ ‘shaw-mah' andmeans, to hear, listen to, to hear with attention or interest, to understandand to consent, agree,also toGive heed.  Abraham not only obeyed but he kept the LORD’s commandments.  The Hebrew word kept there is shamar/ shaw-mar' and means,toobserve, give heed, wait for, and to watch, and observe.  With Abraham’s commitment to the Lord we find that Isaac learned from him on how to keep and obey the things of God and this brought his blessings. 

Therefore, for every Christian, obedience is the key for anything that we will receive and do for the Lord.  Since obedience means to give heed or hear, it is obedience that will allow anyone to move forward to the other level that God has for them. These levels include both a material blessing and spiritual increase.  And God doesn’t not bless and take back, but once God blesses you he will make sure you maintain and or keep it.  In the scripture it says in I-Samuel 15:22 “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” Also in Romans 2:13,”For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.”

The last thing that we have to do in order to receive in the famine is you must sow in the famine.

VI-You must SOW in the famine. (Verse 12)
During Isaac’s sojourn in that district he farmed a piece of land, which, by the blessing of God on his skill and industry, was very productive and by his plentiful return he increased so rapidly in wealth. In the book ofPsalms 37:19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.”  Notice that it was that same year when there was a famine in the land; while others scarce reaped at all, he reaped thus plentifully.  Notice that Isaac sowed the Hebrew there is, zara/` zaw-rah' and means, scatter seed, conceive, gives birth, producing, yielding seed and sower.  

It was after he sowed he reaped a hundredfold, the Hebrew word hundredfold is ‘me'ah’ / ‘may-aw' means, hundred times, this was a mark of great increase or it could also be, shah'-ar’ and means, a measure, to split or open.   The Gospel of Mark say in Mark 4:20And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty fold, some sixty, and some an hundred.  Understand that Isaac used what he had to sow and reap an hundred fold. He used his gift and his ability.  He was a tiller of the ground and the same land that had famine he used to gain his blessing.  The Lord blessed him so much that he became prosperous.   Matthew 13:23 says 23”But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” 

Will you also sow into God’s kingdom by using the gift God has given you during your famine?  If you sow into the kingdom of God, the Lord will certainly release into your bosom a hundredfold.  You must sing even if a church will not pay you or can’t pay you the amount of money you so desire, you must preach and win souls into the kingdom of God, even if they can’t pay you the money that you so desire, play skillfully unto the Lord with your musical gift and ability even if they can’t pay you, the day will come when god will release that blessing because of your obedience to work in your gift.  Therefore, sow your gift into the kingdom of God now and God will multiply not only your financial blessings but also your gifts. 

__                                     Blessing During Your Famine (PART-1)
                                                    Genesis 26:1-5 & 12

If the question is asked, how many need a blessing NOW, the answer will be enormous.  Because most individual monthly expensive are more than their monthly income, but yet they are surviving.  This means that God is certainly doing the impossible in their lives, and only HE can.  When someone is living pay check to pay check, we know for sure that they are experiencing a famine and famine is only for a season.  But its during a famine we must sow more into the things of God.  Sow more of your time, finances and or gifts into the kingdom of God without hesitation.  When you sow more into the things of God, God will release supernaturally into your life directly during your famine.  In this lesson we will look at How Isaac sowed during a famine and received an hundred fold, but first let's understand the book of Genesis before we examine chapter 26.

Moses is the author of the book of Genesis.  And it is the book of the beginning of all things created by the LORD GOD.  It records the beginning of creation, time, life, sin, salvation and mankind, as well as the beginning of the Hebrew nation.  It is the foundational book of the Bible, and it covers more time than any other book in the King James Bible.  The book of Genesis record bears witness to the grandeur and eternity of the only LORD GOD and the beginning of His people. Genesis covers the whole plight of man, who was created in God's image, but because of sin incurred God’s wrath.

With this, we see that the major themes are the Covenant (Why God chose Abraham’s family).  I believe this is the unifying theme of God’s covenant promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 and this covenant continued until chapter 50. The next theme is, Monotheism (Worship of One God), Sin (the introduction of sin into the world and the impact it has had on human history) and Origins (Dealing with what God created, how did God create and when did God create).  Many of the great questions of life are answered in Genesis. Where did I come from? (God created us - Genesis 1:1).  Why am I here? (We are here to have a relationship with God - Genesis 15:6.  Where am I going? (We have a destination after death - Genesis 25:8).  

Genesis appeals to the scientist, the historian, the theologian, the housewife, the farmer, the traveler, and the man or woman of God.  It is a fitting beginning for God's story of His plan for mankind.  We have seen that many New Testament themes have their roots in Genesis.  Jesus Christ is the Seed of the woman who will destroy Satan’s power (Gen. 3:15).  The faith displayed by Abraham would be the gift of God and the basis of salvation for both Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 11).

So as we read the Book of Genesis, we can divide it into two sections to get a better understanding.  It can be divided into the: Earliest existence of men and the promise founders. Earliest Existence of Men records; The Creation (Genesis chapters 1-2); The fall of man (Genesis chapters 3-5); The Flood (Genesis chapters 6-9); and The dispersion (Genesis chapters 10-11).   The promise founders records the lives of four great men: Abraham (Genesis 12-25:8); Isaac (Genesis 21:1-35-29); Jacob (Genesis 25:21-50:14); and Joseph (Genesis 30:22-50:26).

Before we can understand the Genesis 26:1-5 & 6, we have to know what is the purpose and message of the book of Genesis.  The purpose of the book of Genesis is to begin the story of the Covenant.  You, see God created everything and “it was very good” 1:31 but sin jeopardized our relationship with God, and we didn’t know what God was like.  So this is why God decided to make a covenant with a chosen-people Abraham and his family.  So as we read the book of Genesis, it will tell us how the covenant was established.  And this leads us to the main message of the book of Genesis.

There are three messages in Genesis:  It gives an introduction to the Israelite God (Yahweh).  We were created in the image of God.  It explains how Israel came to be organized according to the twelve tribes.  In Genesis 26:1-5 & 12, we see that God chose Abraham, through whom He would create a chosen people.  The chosen line was passed on to Abraham's son Isaac, and then to Isaac's son Jacob.  God changed Jacob's name to Israel, and his twelve sons became the ancestors of the twelve tribes of Israel.  With this history, this will help us to understand what was going on during this time in chapters twenty-six.  As we break it down we will see,26:1-5 God's covenant with Isaac confirmed, 26:6-16 Dispute with Abimelech, 26:17-25 Dispute about wells, 26:26-33 Covenant between Isaac and Abimelech and 26:34-35 The wives of Esau.

Now let us get into the verses that we have read and understand the blessings God has for you during your famine.  We will see that First of all that, this was a second famine of eleven that happen in the bible.  The first famine was during the time of Abraham in Genesis 12:10-20.  In this famine Abraham left and went to Egypt.  And the same experience that Abraham had with his wife Sarai or Sarah, with her being fair to look upon, was the same experience Isaac had with Rebekah.  The eleven Famines were:1. In Canaan with Abraham in Genesis 12.  2. Canaan with Isaac in Genesis 26.  3. Canaan with Jacob in 41:45-57.  4. Canaan during the judges in Ruth 21.  5. Canaan with David in 2 Samuel.  6. Canaan with Elijah in I-kings 17.  7. Canaan with Elisha in 2-Kings 4.  8.  Samaria with Elisha in 2-Kings 6.  9. Canaan with Elisha in 2-Kings 8.  10. Jerusalem with Zedekiah in 2-Kings 25.  11. An unknown land in Luke 15:14. 

So it was after Abraham’s death, another famine came over the land.  This was about an hundred years after the first famine.  At this time Isaac is over 75 years old because Abraham died when Isaac was 75 years old, and Isaac two sons Jacob and Esau were at least 15 years old.  So here Yahweh appeared to Isaac and told him not to go down to Egypt, but to stay in the land of Canaan with a promise to bless him. 

Now when the famine came about Isaac went to Abimelech in Gerar of the Philistines to whom Abraham had said that Sarah was his wife before the birth of Isaac.  And Isaac had already received all the good from his father according to:  Genesis 24:36And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath.  And Genesis 25:5And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.

Not only did Abraham blessed Isaac God also blessed him in 25:11And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.   So it was after Isaac accorded his the blessing to his sons and Esau gave Jacob his birth right and departed from his parents that the second famine occurred. 

The famine was in the land where Isaac was in Beer-Sheba and he was told to go to Gerar, according to verse 1, where God appeared to him, and warns him not to go to Egypt, because he had to renew the promises to him which he had made to his father Abraham, in verse 3-5. So Isaac dwells at Gerar. With Abraham’s obedience he received blessings during a famine.  And there are six things that God promise to bless you with during you famine.

Next week we will deal with the six things you will receive during a famine.