Issue #762~March 27, 2023
Dear Friends,

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Christ is All and in All,
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It's Impossible to Rewind the VCR of Life

“And this we shall do, if indeed God is permitting."
Hebrews 6:3

"For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,"
Hebrews 6:4
verse 3: "And this we shall do, indeed God is permitting."

Once again, the author identifies with the reader and makes this follow-up statement: "this we shall do, if indeed God is permitting." This takes us back to verse 1: "let us be pressing on to maturity."

The author is in full recognition of God's sovereign purpose and also the process involved in spiritual growth.

And this pressing on to maturity we will do. Maturity is possible because of what they now have. The Lord knows best how to grow us up. It's with His plan, His provisions, and His power that are all available to produce Christlikeness in each of us. You cannot be brought to maturity without leaving dullness and indifference behind.

Tony Evans said it well: "Your choices will not determine whether God winds up where He wants to go. He will arrive at His destination...either through you, around you, over you, by you, or in spite of you." (Our God is Awesome, 92)

verse 4: For it is impossible in the case of those who have been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit."

Notice the word "those" in verse 4. The Bible Knowledge Commentary calls this "The Alternative to Progress....If they did not advance, they would retreat. Should anyone so retreat, his situation would be grim indeed." (794)

I think what we need to recognize here is there is no rewind button on the VCR of life. You cannot reverse relationships. I think it is important for us to make the observation here that the author has changed from "we" in verse 3 to "those" in verse 4.

There are 3 characteristics here in this verse: (1) "those who have once been enlightened" - this speaks of conversion; (2) "those who have tasted of the heavenly gift" - this likewise is reference to conversion; and (3) "partakers of the Holy Spirit."

(From “A Great While Before Day: Issue 2, part 2” by Don Anderson)
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Praises & Prayer Requests

1.  Pray: I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.
Isaiah 46:10 (NIV)
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2.  Pray: But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Hebrews 5:14 (NASB)
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3.  Pray: Therefore, leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God. Hebrews 6:1 (NASB)
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4.  Praise: Jesus is our great High Priest.
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I think it would be good for us to bow our heads before the Lord and praise Him for His faithfulness in providing all that we need to go onto maturity in Christ, and to make verbal commitment in the song we sing today:

Where He Leads I'll Follow

Sweet are the promises; kind is the Word.
Dearer far than any message man ever heard.
Pure was the mind of Christ - sinless, I see.
He the great example is, and pattern for me.

List to His loving words: 'Come unto me.'
Weary, heavy-laden, there is sweet rest for thee.
Trust in His promises, faithful and sure;
Lean upon the Savior, and thy soul is secure.

Where He leads I'll follow. Follow all the way.
Where He leads I'll follow, Follow Jesus ev'ry day.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) 

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