David Hathaway

‘See to it that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the Living God.’ Paul is saying to us, see to it that none of you is full of unbelief – which is sin – but ‘encourage one another daily, as long as it’s called Today, so that none of you be hardened by sins deceitfulness’! Oh boy! Scripture says the devil is like a roaring lion – going round eating people! The danger is that weak Christians can be deceived, taken in by the devil. If you’re not following the Lord closely, the devil can deceive you – and that’s sin. To share in Christ, we have to hold fast to our faith in Him! And in v15, Paul repeats what he says in v7-8, ‘Today, if you hear His Voice, don’t harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.’ It’s critical we pay attention!

Jesus was called by God to take us, out of ‘Egypt’, out of this world of sin, and bring us, through the years, to the Coming Kingdom. For 40 years Moses led the people of Israel through the wilderness, but in the end, was not allowed to enter the Land. The ministry of Jesus, as Apostle and High Priest is to bring us from the moment of our first salvation out of sin, to the moment when we enter the Kingdom. Moses was faithful and did his job – it wasn’t easy because the people soon began to grumble and complain, and the weight of this hindered him from entering into the Promise. We need to be careful that we don’t grumble and complain – Jesus is faithful to do His job, as Moses was his! Paul is saying Moses was a faithful witness in that he did what God commanded him. He led the children of Israel through the Red Sea, right through to the Promised Land. But Christ, Paul says in v6, is faithful in a different way, faithful as a Son over the whole of God’s House – and WE are His House if we hold on to our courag

Thank you for your support in prayer and finance, especially during my latest evangelism in Central Asia. In the capital city Astana, they only managed to get a permit for me one week before our meetings started. But, for the first time in 20 years they were allowed to put a banner in the street to advertise the meetings; and after 20 years of ‘provocations’, (disturbances, created to bring in the police), we enjoyed absolute peace! They doubled the seating capacity in the church, and every meeting was virtually full. There were wonderful miracle healings.

'Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest' (Hebrews 3:1, NIV). What a wonderful way to start! I would challenge you – FIX YOUR THOUGHTS ON JESUS! He is the Beginning, the Ending – He’s Everything! To us as Christians, it’s not religious observance, it’s Jesus, the Son of God! It’s Him we relate to! Jesus, ‘the Apostle and High Priest whom we confess’! An Apostle – the Chief of all Apostles – because He was sent by God to accomplish an important mission on God’s behalf. And in v2, it says, Jesus ‘was faithful to the One who appointed Him’. Jesus came as one appointed by God to be His Apostle or Ambassador and to be High Priest on behalf of the people; and, like Moses, He was faithful ‘in all God’s House’. I see something very similar here between Moses and Jesus. Like Moses, Jesus was called by God to take us, out of ‘Egypt’, out of this world of sin, and bring us, through the years, to the Coming Kin

By His resurrection, Jesus proved that the power of the devil has been broken and death has no more hold on us! Five hundred were witnesses to His resurrection! We have eternal life! The Bible says so! We have it NOW! My body might die, but aged 91, this is just an old temple. The ‘real me’ can never die! Jesus has delivered me! Can you understand the mercy, the goodness, the Love, and the Power of God? Can you understand that in order to make a way of escape, to break the curse and the power of the devil, Jesus HAD to be made subject to the power of the devil and all the things that plague us?! We don’t pray to a Holy God who has never experienced what we experience. When we pray, we call on the Name of Jesus, because He lived like you and me! He went through suffering to the point of death, so that He would be ‘fit’ to be our Intercessor and plead on our behalf. When God the Father looks at His Son, sitting at His Right Hand – He doesn’t see His Son, He sees you! He sees me! Because, v17, ‘in everything, He

Jesus became flesh and blood like us, that through death, He might destroy ‘him’ that had the power of death – that is, the devil, (Hebrews 2v14). Jesus died so that we could be adopted into God’s family! That’s the whole purpose of the new birth! By faith we’re born again into the Kingdom of God as children, sons and daughters of God! It was not God who brought death to the human race, but the devil himself, that fallen rebellious angel! But through His death, Jesus destroyed him – Satan – who had the power of death over us! Death is Satan’s final ‘gift’ to us. When he tempted Adam and Eve to disobey God, he brought death on us all. But what Jesus has done is, He’s defeated death!!! By His resurrection, He’s proved that the power of the devil has been broken and death has no more hold on us! Five hundred were witnesses to His resurrection! We have eternal life! The Bible says so! We have it NOW! Come on! My body might die, but aged 91, this is just an old temple. The ‘real me’ can never die! Jesus has delive

In Hebrews Chapter 1 we saw Jesus the Son, exalted to the highest place by God His Father. Paul is writing to the Jews, trying to reveal who this Jesus – who lived among them in bodily form on earth – really is!  Going back to the previous chapter, v13ff, Paul writes, ‘To which of the angels did God say at any time, “Sit at My Right Hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool”? Angels – who are they? ‘Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to minister to those who will be the heirs of salvation?’ Salvation is a heritage, our inheritance; we inherit it through the death of Jesus! You only inherit when someone dies. Jesus died – and we live! Chapter 2.1 continues, ‘Therefore’ – because of this amazing truth – ‘we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we’ve heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.’ Pauls says quite expressively in Romans 10.17, ‘Faith comes by hearing.’ Faith – the greatest gift, the gift that I ask for, the gift that I’ve lived by all my life – comes by HEARING!

‘In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.’ (Hebrews 1:10-12, NIV) When we look at everything around us – we get sick and we get old, the things we have wear out, the cars we have break down and get scrapped… Everything perishes in the end. But this is the miracle: God says of Jesus, YOUR years will never end! ‘To which of the angels did God ever day, “Sit at My Right Hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your Feet”’?! We imagine angels have great power; but from the moment when Jesus obeyed the Father and came down from Heaven and was born as a man and lived and suffered and died – His life and death and the miracle of His resurrection gave Him a position above every other being, above angels and all Creation, superior to all things, at t

The Son (v3), is the Radiance of God’s Glory and the exact Representation of His Being. Jesus, as the Son, is in the SAME Image as God. Right back in Creation when God is speaking, He says, “Let US make man in Our Image!” That’s you and me. But intriguingly, it says here of Jesus, He is not just the Son, the exact Image of God and Co-Creator – it is He who SUSTAINS ALL THINGS BY HIS POWERFUL WORD! We see something very significant: the Power behind Jesus is the Power of His Word. He is – GOD SPEAKING! “You are MY SON; today I have become Your Father!” (v5). Paul is quoting Psalm 2:7. And again, “I will be His Father and He will be MY SON.” 2 Sam 7:14; 1 Chron 17:13. When God brought His Firstborn into the world, when He allowed HIS SON to be born on earth as a man, He says, “Let all God’s angels worship Him.” When Jesus became the visible, tangible Image of God on earth, the angels are instructed to worship Him!

As we reflect on these 500 days of social and relief work in Ukraine, we are reminded of the immense challenges we have overcome and the lives we have touched. However, our journey is far from over. The road to recovery and rebuilding is still long, and the need for support remains great. We are steadfast in our dedication to continue serving the people of Ukraine, standing alongside them as they rebuild their lives and their nation.

'In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.' (Hebrews 1:1-4, NIV.) The Jewish people had so much tradition going back to Moses and the prophets – and they knew their Scriptures very well. But although the teachings, rituals and traditions pointed to Jesus – and they were looking for His Coming – when He came, only a small number recognised Him, believed in Him and followed Him. And of these, many later were tempted to fall away from Him, back into the old traditional ways. After all, who was this Jesus they

'I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.' (4v7-8.) There is a reward for faithfulness. Have you been faithful in your calling, will God say to you, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant'? Jesus taught that those who are faithful with little will be faithful with much. Although the Apostle Paul did not receive an earthly reward, he knew there was a reward waiting him in the Kingdom. Whatever we may face in this life - discouragement, persecution, or even martyrdom - we know our reward is with Christ in heaven.  'The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heaven

Jesus said, “You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you to bring forth fruit and it shall remain” – the evidence is so positive in every area to which the Lord has called us! But we need much prayer because these new areas of evangelism are difficult and dangerous – and strenuous to get to! This year is proving one of the busiest for me, it seems that the older I get the heavier the demand for my involvement! However, this year is recording some remarkable events.

'All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.' (2 Timothy 3:16-17.) The whole Bible is God’s inspired word. Because it is trustworthy, we should read it and apply it to our lives. The Bible is our source of guidance for how we should live. It is our only source of knowledge, revealing how we receive salvation. It is our safeguard against every false teaching. 

'But mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.' (2 Timothy 3:1-5, NIV)

Be a faithful witness of Christ: 'If we die with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful. Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarrelling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.'  Jesus is faithful; He will stay by our side, even when we have endured so much, it seems we have no faith left. Jesus is faithful to His promise to be with us 'to the end of the age'. 

'The Word of God cannot be chained. So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen' (2 Timothy 2:9-10, NLT). God will use our sufferings, our heartaches, and pains, to bring Glory to His Name. I've twice had cancer; I've been imprisoned for Bible smuggling; yet each time God has used these hardships to bring Glory to His Name. The Gospel of Christ is not constrained by sickness or disappointments, rather, the Glory of God is revealed through these circumstances.  

'Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules' (2 Timothy 2:1-5). The Apostle Paul was cautioning Timothy that he would face suffering, but that he would be able to endure through the grace of Jesus Christ. Paul used the comparison with soldiers and athletes, who must discipline themselves and be willing to sacrifice to achieve their goals. Like soldiers, we must give up worldly security and endure rigorous discipline. And like athletes, we must train hard and follow the rules of the competition. Our suffering is worthwhile when we achieve our goal of glorifying Jesus and winning the lost for Him. 

'Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you – guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.'  You have everything you need to face the future if you hold on tightly to the Lord. When facing difficult circumstances, remember how the Lord helped and delivered you in the past. Build on the foundation of faith you received. Use the Gifts of the Spirit to strengthen yourself and others. No matter what setbacks or problems we face, we can trust God. Paul trusted the Lord to guard his own soul until Christ's second coming; his confidence was in the faithfulness of God, 'for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.' 

'For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. So we must never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. For with the strength God gives us, we must be ready to suffer for the proclamation of the Gospel.' (2 Timothy 1.7-8.) In a time of mounting persecution, the apostle Paul told timothy to expect suffering. Timothy, like Paul, would be jailed for preaching the Good News. But Paul promised Timothy, that God would give him strength, and that he would be ready when it was his turn to suffer. God will strengthen us too. Jesus promised He will be with us until the end of the age. Paul mentions three characteristics of the effective Christian leader: power, love, and self-discipline. These are available to us because the Holy Spirit lives in us.