Making Sure My Children Are Good I Got A Word Brandon Dumas

Sep 01, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The Signed Will That Demands Death to Activate

The ancient practice of sealing covenants with blood finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ. A legal will only takes effect after the testator dies—Jesus’ death wasn’t tragic oversight but divine necessity. His blood, unlike temporary animal sacrifices, carries eternal weight. This covenant isn’t a vague promise but a binding document signed in crimson, demanding death to unlock its blessings. The inheritance waits, but only the testator’s sacrifice makes it accessible. [04:30]

“For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.”
(Hebrews 9:16-17, NKJV)

Reflection: What earthly legacy have you prioritized that pales compared to the eternal inheritance Jesus’ death secured? How does His “signed will” shift your view of daily struggles?

Day 2: Blood Without Expiration Date

Temple rituals required repeated sacrifices—calves, goats, hyssop—but their blood only covered sin. Jesus’ sacrifice breaks the cycle. His blood doesn’t merely mask failure; it obliterates guilt. Unlike perishable offerings, His payment stays potent across centuries, cultures, and failures. The crimson thread from Eden to Calvary never fades, always accessible to the repentant heart. [19:10]

“Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
(1 Peter 1:18-19, NKJV)

Reflection: Where have you acted like Jesus’ blood has a “best by” date? What shame are you carrying that His timeless sacrifice already addressed?

Day 3: Divorced From Law to Marry Grace

The law condemns; grace adopts. Just as death frees a widow to remarry, our death with Christ severs legalism’s grip. Baptism isn’t ritual—it’s a funeral for the old self and a wedding to new life. Like the woman with the issue of blood, we touch grace through the tassels of Christ’s righteousness, not our own merit. [45:05]

“Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.”
(Romans 7:4, NKJV)

Reflection: What “legalistic marriage” do you still flirt with? How might embracing your union with Christ’s grace transform a current struggle?

Day 4: The Go-Between Who Knows Spit and Slaps

Job longed for a mediator who understood human pain. Jesus didn’t just observe suffering—He wore spit, betrayal, and nails. As High Priest, He intercedes not from distant glory but scarred familiarity. Our trials pass through hands that still bear crucifixion marks, ensuring Heaven hears our cries through a voice that whispered “Father, forgive them.” [41:33]

“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.”
(1 Timothy 2:5, NKJV)

Reflection: What hardship feels too “human” to bring to Jesus? How does His experience with betrayal and pain reshape your honesty in prayer?

Day 5: Withdrawing From the Death-Paid Account

Salvation isn’t earned—it’s drawn. Christ’s will deposits righteousness, authority, and purpose, but we must actively withdraw these gifts. Like a child learning to access a trust fund, believers grow in claiming their inheritance through obedience and faith. The Executor lives to guide every withdrawal. [23:19]

“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
(Philippians 2:12-13, NKJV)

Reflection: What specific “inheritance check” (healing, courage, forgiveness) have you hesitated to cash? How can you partner with the Executor this week to claim it?

Sermon Summary

Hebrews 9 grounds the promise of inheritance in blood, because a testament has no power until the testator dies. The text presses Jewish believers to let go of trying to hold onto the law as the final answer and to receive the new covenant that Jesus ratified through His own blood. Jesus stands superior to every shadow that came before Him: superior to Moses, superior to angels, superior to the Levitical priesthood, and superior to animal sacrifices.

The law revealed sin, but it could never remove sin. Animal blood could cover a person’s sins for a season, but Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. His sacrifice has no expiration date because He offered Himself through the eternal Spirit. His blood was sufficient then, and it is sufficient now. Jesus laid down His life, picked it up again, and made the inheritance available to all who receive Him.

Sonship becomes the center of identity for those in Christ. Creation by God gives every person value, worth, and dignity, but receiving Jesus gives the right to become a child of God. Position in Christ must shape condition in life. The reality of being seated with Christ changes what conversations can be entertained, what places can be embraced, and what old patterns can still be called home.

The legal will provides a picture of what Christ has done. Jesus is the Testator who wrote the will with His blood. Jesus is also the Executor who rose again to make sure every part of the inheritance is carried out. Jesus is the Guardian who watches over His children, intercedes for them, and remains faithful when faith feels weak. His resources are unlimited, so no child of God has been left out of what grace has purchased.

Romans 7 shows that death is necessary to be released from the law and joined to another. Baptism pictures that inward reality: burial with Christ means divorce from condemnation, and resurrection with Christ means marriage to grace. The woman with the issue of blood touched the tassel that represented the law, yet that law was attached to grace in Jesus. Law and grace clapped hands, and healing came. Christ has already died, the inheritance is already available, and the call is to die to self so that newness of life can become real.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus’ blood never expires Jesus did not offer a sacrifice that works only for one generation, one season, or one type of person. His blood was offered through the eternal Spirit, so its power reaches back over every debt and forward into every need. The cross did not merely create a possibility of forgiveness; it secured a sufficient payment. [19:10]
2. Sonship must shape daily living Identity as God’s child comes before identity as a spouse, parent, student, employee, or leader. Position in Christ gives direction to condition, because a person who knows whose they are begins to recognize what no longer fits. Sonship is not about gender but about being made a joint heir with Christ. [20:47]
3. Salvation is worked out, not earned Grace cannot be earned by moral effort, religious activity, or personal merit. Salvation is received by grace through faith, but the inheritance deposited in Christ must be drawn out in daily obedience. God works within His children both to will and to do His good pleasure. [22:54]
4. Jesus manages the whole inheritance Jesus is the Testator who died, the Executor who lives, and the Guardian who watches over His children. His resurrection means the will did not remain a dead document, because He lives to make sure its contents are carried out. His unlimited resources mean grace does not run short for any heir. [33:26]
5. Death to self releases new life Death with Christ breaks the old bond to the law’s condemnation and joins the believer to grace. Baptism declares that burial and resurrection are not merely religious symbols but an inward transfer of allegiance. The more self-rule dies, the more Christ’s purchased inheritance becomes visible in life.

## [46:18]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:59] - Bible Confession and Hebrews 9
[06:00] - Making Sure My Children Are Good
[07:53] - Hebrews, Law, and Grace
[09:04] - The Superiority of Jesus
[10:52] - Jesus Greater Than the Old Priesthood
[12:23] - The Lamb Who Takes Away Sin
[15:17] - Moses, Elijah, and Jesus
[18:36] - The Sacrifice With No Expiration Date
[20:13] - Sonship as Identity
[23:19] - Created by God or Child of God
[25:10] - The Spiritual Legal Will
[33:00] - Jesus the Testator, Executor, and Guardian
[38:26] - Jesus the Mediator Who Intercedes
[43:20] - Dying to the Law and Living to Grace
[45:27] - Law and Grace Clapped Hands

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Hebrews 9:16-22
For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. [04:26]

Romans 7:1-4
Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. [43:51]

John 1:12
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: [24:34]

1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, [38:28]

Observation questions

In Hebrews 9:16-22, what had to happen before a testament could take effect, and what role did blood have in both the first covenant and forgiveness?
What limitations did the Levitical high priest and animal sacrifices have, according to the message, and what was different about Jesus’ sacrifice? [12:09]
According to John 1:12, what response to Jesus is connected with receiving the right to become a child of God?
In Romans 7:1-4, what does Paul say death releases a person from, and to whom are believers joined afterward? [44:37]

Interpretation questions

Why does Hebrews use the picture of a legal will to help explain Christ’s death? What does this picture show about the inheritance believers receive through Him? [25:10]
Animal sacrifices could cover sin for a time, but Jesus takes away sin. How does that difference shape a believer’s confidence when dealing with past sin, present weakness, or repeated failure? [18:36]
John 1:12 says that those who receive Jesus become children of God. How is being created by God different from becoming a child of God through faith in Christ? [23:33]
Romans 7 describes believers as dead to the law and joined to the risen Christ in order to bear fruit for God. How does this protect a believer from both trying to earn salvation and treating grace as permission to continue in sin? [45:27]

Application questions

Jesus’ blood has no expiration date. Is there any sin, regret, or season of failure that has made you wonder whether grace can still reach you? What would it look like to bring that honestly to Jesus? [19:10]
Being God’s child is meant to shape every other identity. Which identity—work, family role, success, past, struggle, or reputation—most often tries to become your main identity? How can sonship in Christ give that area its proper place? [20:24]
Position in Christ should shape daily condition. Are there conversations, environments, habits, or relationships that no longer fit who you are in Christ? What is one wise boundary or faithful step you could take this week? [21:19]
Salvation is received by grace through faith, not earned by effort. Where do you find yourself slipping into trying to prove yourself to God? How can you practice obedience from gratitude rather than striving for acceptance? [22:32]
Jesus is the Testator who died, the Executor who lives, and the Guardian who watches over His children. What current concern would be easier to carry if you remembered that Jesus is actively interceding for you? [38:53]
Baptism pictures burial with Christ and resurrection into new life. Whether you have been baptized or not, what does “dying to self” look like in one specific part of your life right now? [44:52]
The inheritance has already been made available through Christ, yet believers are called to receive it and walk in newness of life. What part of God’s grace—freedom, peace, forgiveness, courage, wisdom, or obedience—do you most need to draw on this week? [47:01]

Sermon Clips

65s

#WorkOutYourFaith

“You know why I love that? Because sometimes my will is against his will. And sometimes he has to corral me a little bit. Sometimes he has to correct me. Sometimes he has to discipline me. Can I get a witness? But he says, work out. I want you to pay. Don't miss this. He didn't say work for. He didn't say work for your salvation. I wanna encourage you, saints of God, when you come into the kingdom, you are not working to earn your salvation. Your salvation is received by grace through faith. There is nothing that we could do on any merit that could earn his grace or his mercy. It was lavished upon us. But he says, work out. In other words, there's a deposit that has been made. I have to begin to draw out all of the contents of this inheritance so that I can experience the abundant life that he promised me.”

58s

#JesusOurExecutor

“But you don't know something about Jesus? His resources are unlimited. He didn't have to worry about that. Come on. Because he owns a cattle in a thousand hills, so no one's gonna feel left out because I have a unlimited supply of resources. And not only that, not only did Jesus step in and write out this will, write out this testament, write out this inheritance, but he also died so that it could come into being, but he also lives to make sure the contents are being carried out the way that he intended. This is what brings me to my first point. Jesus is our testator. He's our executor, and he's also our guardian. He's all three at one. He's the one who wrote it. He's the one that's making sure it's being carried out effectively, and he's also the one that watches over us.”

28s

#IAmHisChild

“One of your greatest identities as a child of God is you are his son or daughter. If there's anything that you put on your social media, on your profile, it should be I am his child. More than I am a husband, more than I am a father, more than I am a CEO or I'm a college student, I am his son, and that's where everything else receives its place and direction. I am his son.”

32s

#BuriedWithChrist

“See, the only way that I can be distant or divorced from the law is I have to die. And when I die in Christ, see, that's why baptism is so powerful because it is an outward illustration of an inward reality. And by the way, baptism's coming up on September 20. It is a outward expression of an inward reality. So when you give your life to Christ, guess what? You were buried with Christ in baptism.”

35s

#JesusUnderstands

“He was tempted. Come on. Give him glory. He was tempted. He can sympathize with our weaknesses because he was tempted in all points, but yet he never sinned. He knows what it's like to lose a loved one, Lazarus. He knows what it's like to be betrayed or to go to somebody that you thought had your back in the middle of a trial and they didn't. He knows what that's like, Judas. He knows what it's like to be beaten, to be abused even though you did nothing wrong.”

40s

#JoyInTrials

“He knows what it's like to be lied on, to be mistreated. He knows what it's like to be slapped in the face even though you created the hand that was slapping you. He knows, oh, god. He knows what it's like to be spat in the face even though you created the spit that the person is using to spit on you. He knows. He knows. So whatever you're going through, whatever trial you find yourself in, count it all joy. Isn't that what James one two tells us? Count it all joy when you go through various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”

25s

#ChildlikeFaith

“We're not called to be childish, but we're called to be childlike. And that's something you must never lose, your complete dependence upon God. No matter how sophisticated you are, no matter how many degrees you have behind your name, no matter what your retirement account says or how much money you have in the bank, you still need the Lord. And we need his wisdom.”

59s

#LawRevealsSin

“For the sake of this conversation today, I want us to just focus on 10, the 10 commandments. How many of us in this room can say with honesty that we've kept all of those 10 commandments from our youth? We can't. All of us have fallen short. But here's the question that I asked when I was in a place of discovery trying to figure out which religion I was gonna choose. Why would God give these commandments if he knew that no one could keep them? What was his purpose? His purpose was to reveal what sin is. How would I know that coveting is wrong without the law? How would I know that stealing is wrong without the law? How would I know that adulterous on all of these things are wrong without the law? No doubt these sins or these things can be committed, but sin is not imputed or charged to your account unless there's a law.”

51s

#JesusIsCentral

“But even as we look at this particular scripture, one theme or this whole book rather, one theme that is consistent from start to finish is Jesus. And the superiority of Jesus in the New Testament versus the Old Testament law. I've said this before, and I probably said it a thousand times. I'll say it again. The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed. The New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. Everything that you read in the Old Testament is a foreshadowing or a type of what is to come in the New Testament. How many of you are thankful that Jesus has already come? And he's already died, and he's already risen.”

26s

#CreatedByGod

“All of us were created by God whether we like it or not. When you were in your mother's womb, it was God who was crafting you, who was molding you, who was shaping you. So just as we were praying over these kids, I want them to know no matter who your mother or father is, that does not determine your value and your worth because you were created by God.”

45s

#StandInIntegrity

“Will you allow yourself to be cheated? You know what? The Lord dropped it in my spirit as I was counseling a couple and marriage counseling. How many times do you feel justified when you're having an argument or a bitter disagreement with somebody? Will you allow yourself to be cheated? Will you allow yourself to accept wrong? Will you allow yourself to stay in character even though the other smiles may be operating in the flesh? Be who God has called you to be despite how they're acting. And the same is true with your child. And I gotta be honest with you. I've made some mistakes in this area, but I've had to come to an understanding. I gotta maintain my integrity and be the man of God that he's called me to be in all circumstances.”

44s

#EternalSacrifice

“The reason why he's superior to sacrifices is because once these sacrifices were killed, they could be used no more. But what you have to understand about Jesus, when he sacrificed himself, first of all, he didn't have his life taken from him. He laid down his life. And if he lays down his life, he has the power to pick it back up again. But the reason come on, somebody. The reason why his sacrifice is unique is because his sacrifice was offered through the eternal spirit of God. Yeah. And the reason why that's important is his sacrifice doesn't have a expiration date. Come on.”

28s

#AlwaysInterceding

“Your Jesus is interceding for you, and I want you to know something. Even when you're not praying to him, he's praying for you. Even when you are faithless, he remains faithful because he can't deny himself. And it's not like he has to sleep because he neither sleeps nor slumbers. So it doesn't matter what time of the night you need intercession, he's interceding for you.”

29s

#CrucifiedWithChrist

“Because when I know who I am in him, there are certain things that I will not do. There are certain places that I will not go. There are certain conversations I will not engage in because that's not who I am anymore. I've been crucified with Christ. It's no longer I who live, but Christ that lives on the inside of me. Am I speaking to somebody? But he left us an inheritance, an inheritance.”

30s

#AuthorAndFinisher

“He's not only our mediator, he's also the author and the finisher of our faith. Hebrews twelve two teaches us that Jesus, he's the author, he's the finisher. But as I bring this in for a close, I wanna drop one more point. To receive god's inheritance, it requires the physical death of the testator and the death of the individual who's looking to receive it.”

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