Anglican Daily Fountain 15 November 2023 (Devotional Today)
Welcome to Today’s Daily Fountain Devotional of the Anglican Church of Nigeria. Daily Fountain is a daily reading devotional for all Anglicans and Non-Anglicans to read, study, share and discuss the Word of God on a daily basis.
TOPIC: FAITH AND WORKS
TEXT: Hebrew 3:7-4:13(KJV)
3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
3:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
3:10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
3:11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
3:16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
3:17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
3:18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
3:19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4:4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
4:5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
4:6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
4:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
4:8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Anglican Daily Fountain 15th November 2023 STUDY:
Our today’s reading brings two things to light about our anchor in Christianity (faith and works), as well as the consequences of unbelief. God can give us rest in our family, career or any other path of life. The blessing of God makes rich and adds no sorrow, yet we see some people who have made it in life but still lack some things, like health, children, etc. The word of God is can be depended upon, but we need to act on what we hear from Him in order to see it work in our lives. The word says ‘Let us labour to enter into that rest’ – this takes work! Faith is not just believing, sitting down and waiting for God to perform but believing God and acting on your beliefs. You cannot believe God for an excellent business and not be diligent. Your belief in God must spur you to act. Faith without works is dead!
The word of God cuts across all things. It is quick, powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword and has the ability to intervene in all situations, spiritual and physical. Depend on the word, speak the word and act according to the word to receive the change you desire.
PRAYER: Lord I believe your Word and I receive grace to step out in faith today to see your promises fulfilled, Amen.
Read Today’s Daily Devotional Message
