Luke 1 - 9.1.25

Scripture

‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭37‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“For no word from God will ever fail.”

Observation

In this first chapter of Luke we read about two miracle births. One is the birth of John the Baptist, and the other is the birth of Jesus Christ. John’s parents were Elizabeth and Zechariah. Jesus’ parents were Mary and Joseph. John’s mother Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and she and her husband Zechariah were pretty up there in age. Meanwhile, Jesus was to be born from Mary, who was a virgin. How can these births be? Well, Zechariah and Elizabeth, and Mary and Joseph found favor in God’s eyes. So God sent His angel Gabriel to deliver these couples the good news of the miracles that they were about to experience and be a part of.

Application

God keeps His promises.

I can’t imagine being in the shoes of either one of these couple’s lives. I mean here you are receiving this news from an angel of God that seems impossible! Could it be our imagination playing tricks on us? Well, we read in this chapter that Zechariah was silenced until John was born because of his doubt in the news he received. Only to regain his voice once his baby boy was born and he followed through the angel Gabriel’s instructions by naming the baby John.

God followed through by keeping His promises to both Zechariah and Elizabeth, and Mary and Joseph. Even if it seemed impossible, God made it possible. His word and promises came to pass. 

And the same can be said for those who put their faith in Jesus. We are grafted into God’s family tree. We are His children, which means that we inherit all His promises as well. Promises like:

“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Deuteronomy‬ ‭31‬:‭8

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬ ‭

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.”-‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭38‬ ‭

And these are just a small sample of the MANY promises God gives those who put their faith and trust in His beloved Son Jesus. I encourage you all to take advantage of our 21 Days in the Word challenge. Let’s dive into God’s Word together and see and discover all the promises God has in store for us. Let’s take heart knowing that God keeps His promises and is STILL in the business of miracles today. 😊

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” -‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬ ‭

“You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” -Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭45‬ ‭

Prayer 

Father God,

I want to pray Your blessing over our church as we begin our 21 Days in the Word. May we build a discipline and culture within our church that enjoys spending time with You through prayer and studying Your Word daily. May You reveal Your character and promises to us as we read Your Word each day. May You bless all the Small Group meetings. May there be an enthusiasm about getting together with our brothers and sisters in Christ, as we discuss what we are learning through our time with You. Draw those who aren’t participating. Give them a desire to want to grow more spiritually. Help them to find community within our church and fellow believers. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽 

-Moses Gaddi

Hebrews 9 - 8.29.25

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews 9:24

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.

OBSERVATION

This Chapter in the New Testament is about our high priest and the tabernacle, but we will start with a quick review in the Old Testament which is a copy of the True One, Jesus.   In Exodus chapters 25-31 and  35-41, we see the man-made tabernacle.  God told Moses how to make the materials,  what materials to use, what each item was used for, and who can go into the Tabernacle.. Inside the tabernacle is where the Ark of the Covenant was placed. God also appointed Aaron as the high priest. He was told what to sacrifice and how. The spilling of blood was an atonement for sins. This was done once a year.

In the verse above, we see Christ entered heaven. He is the True One. He is our high priest. Nothing is made by human hands in heaven.  The statement that got me was “now to appear for us in God’s presence.”  Jesus is talking to God about me. I have so many flaws but Jesus, who died for you and me, loves you and me. He is interceding for us in heaven right now as you are reading this. Jesus’ sacrifice, by the shedding of his blood, was the atonement for our sins and was done once and it is forever.

I like what Hebrews 7:25 states “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”

APPLICATION

Here on earth, the old ways are gone. We do not need to go to a person or priest to ask forgiveness of our sins or shed the blood of animals once a year. We can now go directly to Jesus, who died for us and shed his blood for us. Jesus is the only way to the Father and is interceding for us in heaven. How can we not love Jesus more?

There are several ways we can show our love for Jesus. We can get into his Word, journal, pray, listen to praise and worship music, be with God’s people at church on Sunday, join a small group, break bread with each other outside of Sunday’s, etc.

PRAYER

Jesus, the most high priest, my Lord and Savior, you love me and are interceding for me in heaven. Thank you for giving me the desire to be at Church and be around the brethren. Give me the passion to be in your Word and to pray. Help me avoid the distractions in this life. It seems like this battle will never end but you Lord, you can give me the strength to keep going. I am not alone Lord because you are with me. Thank you in Jesus’ name Amen.

- Robert Oberg

Hebrews 8 - 8.28.25

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 8:6

A New, Better Covenant

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

OBSERVATION

The author of Hebrews most likely had some connection with Paul, whether it was Paul himself or one of his friends who had heard a number of his sermons and read his writings. But ultimately, there is no conclusive answer to who wrote this book.

He has obtained a more excellent ministry: No earthly priest could take away sin the way Jesus did. Therefore, Jesus’ ministry is far better than the ministry of the priesthood under the Law of Moses.

Mediator of a better covenant: Jesus has mediated for us a better covenant, a covenant of grace and not of works, guaranteed for us by a cosigner (Hebrews 7:22). It is a covenant marked by believing and receiving instead of by earning and deserving.

i. Jesus is our Mediator for this greater covenant. Mediator is the ancient Greek word mesites, which means “one who stands in the middle between two people and brings them together.” (Barclay)

ii. Moses was the mediator of the Old Covenant because he “brought the two parties together.” Jesus is the Mediator of the New Covenant, a better covenant, bringing us to God the Father.

iii. Jesus’ covenant is a better covenant, better than any of the previous covenants God made with men. The covenant of Jesus fulfills the other covenants described in the Bible.

· There is an eternal covenant between the members of the Godhead that made possible the salvation of man (Hebrews 13:20).

· God’s redemptive plan was continued through the covenant He made with Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3).

· The Mosaic covenant was another step in God’s redemptive plan (Exodus 24:3-8).

· The Davidic covenant was yet another step in God’s redemptive plan (2 Samuel 7:1-16).

· The redemptive plan of God was fulfilled in the New Covenant (Luke 22:14-20).

APPLICATION

The New Covenant that replaced the old is one of unmerited redemption (salvation, liberation, and transformation) and nothing we earned or can earn, which was established on better promises through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  Jesus has better promises for us:

These are promises to see us through the most desperate and dark times.

These are promises that become alive to us through the Holy Spirit when we accept Jesus as our savior, the promised Messiah.

These are promises of blessing and undeserved favor instead of promises to curse and judge based on our actions/choices as was the old covenant.

And how do we receive these promises?

John 3:16  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

PRAYER

Lord, Jesus, thank you for ALL you did to give us, undeserved, unmerited grace and forgiveness, and that you walk with us every minute of every day.  Lord let me watch my words and live a life that honors you in looking for those who need you so that they come to know you as their savior and the promises you make of eternal life!! I want to be your servant and do what your word says and let each of us at DSC be a beacon of light that we may attract others to come to know your unfailing grace, forgiveness and receive all the blessings in your promises. Amen!

- Charleen Zakarian