Pastor Eugene Smith

Hebrews 11 is written to encourage weary believers to continue while under pressure. Drawing largely from the histories of Abraham and Moses, the author reminds us that this world is not our home, and that we should expect opposition from this world. But faith looks both to the future when God fully fulfilled his promises, and also looks to God himself who supplies power and strength to endure through the opposition. With powerful skill, the author weaves lessons that inspire the believer to keep true to the call of God!

Jesus said that John was the greatest man born of a woman. Yet he experienced discouragement when he was in the dungeons of Herod. Had he spent his life in vain? Had he dedicated himself to a wrong cause? Listen how Jesus answers his deep query.

After a powerful victory on Mt. Carmel, Elijah fell into a deep depression. God had not come through as he expected. What lessons did Elijah need to learn on Mt. Horeb? What adjustments did he need to make in this thinking? Listen to how a compassionate God shared his heart with his faithful prophet.

Death was the King of Terrors. Death made life hopeless and futile. But the gospel brings life and immortality to light and death has been abolished, stripped of its power to terrorize its victims! Now death is a gift to the believer. Hear what this marvellous transformation does for the human soul!

The pastor in Hebrews encourages his hearers to embrace the difficult challenges of life, to see them as training exercises in the gymnasium of preparation for the ultimate revelation of Christ. Let us look to Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith, that we may also finish the race that is set before us.

Jacob blessed Pharaoh! Which of the two men was greater? What was there about Jacob that allowed him to bless the most powerful man on the earth? Who can God use? Does our past and present hinder us from reaching out to others in power today? Listen to the secret of Jacob's confession!

With great condescension, God who strongly desires to make it known he can be trusted, conforms his promise with an oath. In order to provide motivation for continuing to persevere, God certifies the reward at the end of the journey. It is guaranteed by God's oath. Let us press on!

Once we understand what our Great High Priest has and is doing for us, we must give diligent response. It is impossible to be unaffected, but the believer must make every effort to press into the provision our Great High Priest has secured for us!

What did Jesus do on the Cross? The Old Testament gives a vivid object lesson in Leviticus 16, as the only day in the year that High Priest entered the Holy of Holies. What Jesus accomplished is so much more than the object lesson could portray. Be motivated to worship as we hear the remarkable work accomplished by Jesus on that day he went to the cross.

Have we settled? Do we allow the test of time to make us comfortable where we are, or are we pressing for greater fulfillment of the promises of God? This message revisits the story of 2 Kings 2. We have seen too much of the power of God that we can never settle but we must continue our pilgrimage to more closely embrace the will of God for our lives and church.