House of Hope Online

March 23, 2025

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This week, the Lord spoke into my wife, Nancy, a few passages of scripture, which she obediently posted on Facebook.  The words are to comfort and encourage many who are troubled today.  I want to share those passages with you and go further with what we believe the Lord is speaking to His people in this time.

Beware the Root of Bitterness

It is easy to fall into a trap of bitterness toward those who might disagree with your beliefs, or toward those who have spoken a word that offends you.  The Lord is admonishing us to be careful with what we say.

Ephesians 4:

 29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such [a word] as is good for edification according to the need [of the moment,] that it may give grace to those who hear.

 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

 32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.  (NASB)

Hebrews 12:

 15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;

The standard of our speech is given in Ephesians 4:29. Make sure whatever you say is good for the edification of others; in other words, make sure it builds others up and gives grace to those who hear.  Let bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor be put aside when you speak.  Be kind and tender-hearted, and forgive those who offend you, just as Jesus did.

Hebrews 12 warns us that a root of bitterness within us is a bad thing.  It causes trouble and defiles many.  The Greek word for “defiled” means to sully or taint, i.e., contaminate.  So, bitterness will contaminate our relationships with friends and even family.

Jesus wants us to walk in peace, without troubled hearts.

John 14:

 27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

The peace that Jesus refers to is not getable from this world.  It is not getable from the government, nor from our employers.  Jesus is saying if we reach for and receive His peace, our hearts will not be troubled, nor will we be fearful.

The Pathway to Jesus’ Peace

Rather than focus on our employers, or world leaders, the Kings of the Earth, so to speak, the writer of Hebrews encourages us to lay aside what burdens us and fix our eyes on Jesus.

Hebrews 12:

 1 ¶ Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The word “encumbrance” in verse 1 is an interesting word choice.  In finance, the word means a debt or other lien that reduces the value of an asset.  A mortgage for example is an encumbrance on a residential property.  The property cannot be sold unless and until that encumbrance is satisfied. 

The Greek word for encumbrance in verse 1 means a burden, hindrance, or load of weight.  What is weighing you down today?  What hinders your joy?  Verse 1 also tells us to lay aside the sin which entangles us, which could have its root in deeds of the flesh such as hatred, strife, excessive zeal, jealousy, anger, disputes, dissensions, and factions. 

Are we overly zealous in our opinions and beliefs?  Are we part of a faction that is eager to dispute?  If yes, then we can be easily entangled in sins of the flesh.  Paul advises us in Galatians 5 to seek the Holy Spirit to crucify our flesh and stop challenging one another.

Galatians 5:

 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

 26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

We live in a world where seemingly every statement can be challenged by fact checkers and claims of fake news.  It is a sign of the end times, and the imminence of the Rapture.  We are taught by the Scripture to instead walk by the Holy Spirit and lay aside every encumbrance. 

So, in the middle of strife, how do we follow Hebrews12:1-2 and lay aside every encumbrance and sin which entangles us?  How do we fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God?  The answer is simple.  We run inside the Throne Room and worship Him.

You might be thinking: “Well, I don’t have access to the Throne Room until I die and go to Heaven.”  That is not the case.  Something very important occurred on the first Good Friday, when Jesus breathed His last, as told in the Book of Mark.

The Veil Is Torn

When Jesus died, the veil of the temple was torn, and this was a very significant event for those of us seeking the peace of our Lord, Jesus.

Mark 15:

 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last.

 38 And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

 39 And when the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

When Jesus died, the veil (or thick curtain) of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.  This is significant because that curtain separated the outer tabernacle from the second tabernacle, where only the High Priest was allowed to enter.  Jesus’ death tore the veil and opened the door for us to worship in the Throne Room, or the Holy of Holies of the Old Testament.  In fact, that worship began immediately in verse 39 when the centurion said: “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

Hebrews 9 explains the significance of the veil of the temple being torn.

Hebrews 9:

 1 ¶ Now even the first [covenant] had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary.

 2 For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which [were] the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place.

 3 And behind the second veil, there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,

 4 having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which [was] a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant.

 5 And above it [were] the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

 6 Now when these things have been thus prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle, performing the divine worship,

 7 but into the second only the high priest [enters], once a year, not without [taking] blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.

Prior to Jesus’ death, we were not permitted into the Holy of Holies.  Only the High Priest was permitted, and He was limited to once a year, when he took in the blood sacrificed for the sins of himself and the people.

Mark 15 tells us the veil was torn when Jesus died on the cross, giving us access to the Throne Room, into which we should all run to worship.

Run Inside the Throne Room

Charity Gayle sings a beautiful worship song, entitled “Throne Room Song.”  Here is an excerpt from the lyrics:

The veil is torn and the doors fling wide

I see glory as I run inside

The Throne Room, before you, I bow, I bow.

Holy, holy. holy Lord

God Almighty, over all

You were, You are, and You’ll be forever

The King, enthroned, in glorious splendor.

Holy, holy Lord

Holy, holy. holy Lord

God Almighty, over all

When Jesus died, the veil was torn, and we were given access to the Holy Place.  With the veil torn, and the doors flung wide, let us run inside the Throne Room, and fix our eyes on Jesus and just worship Him.  Amid the chaos of this world, just focus on the Throne Room and the holiness of Your King, who is enthroned there.  He is God almighty, and He is over all!

Let us pray.

Father God, thank You for Jesus and the torn veil.  Thank You for giving us a place to run inside and worship Him.  Thank You for a place for us to receive an impartation of the Holy Spirit.  Lord, help us to walk in the Spirit and to lay aside all encumbrances and sins which entangle us.  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from us, along with all malice.

And let us be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as Jesus has forgiven us.  Let us speak no unwholesome word, but only a word which edifies our brothers and sisters and brings glory to You.  In Jesus’ name, we pray.  Amen.