Hebrews 6:4-8

Works without faith are dead. 

Those who give an outward appearance of belief are like the land that produces thorns and thistles. (Hebrews 6:8)

Faith without works is dead. (James 2:17)   

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22)

No good tree bears bad fruit, and no bad tree bears good fruit. (Matthew 7:15-20)

The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient. (James 5:7-8)

The context of this passage comes directly after the author saying we need to stop laying the foundation over and over again, and that we need to build on that foundation and grow into mature believers and doers of the faith. 

If we continue in an endless cycle of sinning and repenting, our hearts will be hardened so much so that we will eventually turn away from God entirely. Therefore, it's time to grow up spiritually speaking and mature in our faith. 

Thinking we have to do it all in our own strength, fear of not being good enough, and a lack of trusting in God may be contributing factors that hinder or stunt our growth. 

A mature believer receives blessings from God because they are producing a crop that is useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated. Hebrews 6:7

Cultivate (verb) prepare and use for the raising of crops, to loosen or break up the soil; to foster the growth of; to refine; to improve by labor, care, or study; to encourage

There is either an endless cycle of sinning and repenting, or there is an endless cycle of refining and blessing. 

Dear Lord, please help me to produce good fruit. Thank you Lord.

Hebrews 6:1-3

 It's time to stop laying the foundation because the foundation has been laid. It's time to start building upon that foundation that has been laid. It's time to learn more and grow in maturity. 

Six foundational teachings:

1. Faith without works is dead, produces good fruit
2. Whatever is not faith is sin (Romans 14:23)
3. Clean heart
4. Needs to be led by God and not in our own strength, like when Moses struck the rock so he lost the promise because he didn't give God the credit
5. Our faith is built on the resurrection of Jesus Christ
6. Eternal judgment (Daniel 7)

What keeps us from moving past foundational teachings to eating solid food? Maybe a lack of trusting in God, maybe a fear of not being good enough, and probably thinking that I have to do it my own strength rather than relying on God's power and authority.

Dear Lord, please fill me with your holy spirit daily. Lord please help me to study Your Word. Thank you Lord for your help and your guidance.

Hebrews 5:14

 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:14

When one is spiritually mature and spiritually disciplined, then that person is able to discern both good and evil, is skilled in the word of righteousness, and should teach others what they have learned about how to study God's Word.

We cannot stay on our mother's milk and baby food forever; as we grow, we learn to eat meat... then as we mature, we learn to hunt for our food and cook the food for ourselves. Likewise, we must grow and mature in our faith and then help others to do the same. 

We need to use our senses and have our senses exercised so that we are able to discern both good and evil. 

People who handle abundant amounts of cash for a living have been taught to use their senses when studying what real cash looks and feels like, so that when something counterfeit comes along, they will know it because it doesn't look right and/or it doesn't feel right. 

It is better to study what is right, that way you'll know when something is wrong, even though you may not be able to understand or explain it fully, you will know that it is not quite right.

Accordingly, when someone says to you that money is the root of all evil, you will know that is not quite right... it's not the money itself, it is actually the love of money according to God's Word.

"For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 1 Timothy 6:10

Please help us Lord to study and know Your Word. 

Hebrews 4:11-13

God wants us to make every effort to remember to take a break and rest, even if we have to schedule it on our personal calendar and set an alarm to remind ourselves.

God wants us to continually try to be obedient and try not to sin. 

God knows our inner thoughts and hearts so we must continually strive to not sin and not harden our hearts for fear that we won't enter into His rest for our souls. 

Knowing that God is all-knowing shows me that I am known by God.

Dear Lord, I know I am not perfect, that is why I need Jesus! Please don't let my heart be hardened with the deceitfulness of sin, disobedience and unbelief. I need to trust you Lord because you are all-knowing. Please help me Lord to continually pray and seek your will and your guidance and to remember that you know my heart and thoughts. Thank you Lord!