1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,200 Be reading from Hebrews 12/14 through 29. 2 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:08,480 Pursue peace with everyone and holiness without. 3 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:11,000 Without it, no one will see the Lord. 4 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:14,960 Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and 5 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:18,280 that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and 6 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:21,200 defiling many. And make sure that there isn't 7 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:25,480 any immoral or irreverent person like Esau, who sold his 8 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:27,560 birthright in exchange for a single meal. 9 00:00:28,100 --> 00:00:31,060 For you know that later when he wanted it to inherit the 10 00:00:31,060 --> 00:00:34,900 blessing, he was rejected, even though he sought it with tears, 11 00:00:34,980 --> 00:00:37,860 because he didn't find any opportunity for repentance. 12 00:00:38,780 --> 00:00:42,340 For you have not come to what could be touched, to a blazing 13 00:00:42,340 --> 00:00:47,300 fire, to darkness, gloom, and storm, to the blast of a trumpet 14 00:00:47,500 --> 00:00:50,660 and the sound of words. Those who heard it begged that 15 00:00:50,700 --> 00:00:54,380 that not another word be spoken to them, for they could not bear 16 00:00:54,380 --> 00:00:57,380 what was commanded. If even an animal touches the 17 00:00:57,380 --> 00:01:01,530 mountain, it must be stoned. The appearance was so terrifying 18 00:01:01,930 --> 00:01:04,410 that Moses said, I am trembling with fear. 19 00:01:05,209 --> 00:01:08,290 Instead you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living 20 00:01:08,290 --> 00:01:12,930 God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to myriads of angels, a festive 21 00:01:12,930 --> 00:01:16,770 gathering to the assembly of the first born whose names have been 22 00:01:16,770 --> 00:01:20,730 written in heaven. To a judge who is God of all, to 23 00:01:20,730 --> 00:01:24,650 the spirits of righteous people made perfect, And to Jesus, the 24 00:01:24,650 --> 00:01:28,400 mediator of a new covenant, And to sprinkle the blood which says 25 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:30,000 better things than the blood of Abel. 26 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:33,680 See to it that you do not reject the one who speaks. 27 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:37,600 For if they did not escape, when they rejected him who warned 28 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:42,280 them on earth, even less will we turn away from him who warns us 29 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:44,920 from heaven. His voice shook the earth at 30 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:49,000 that time, but now he has promised yet once more. 31 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:52,280 I will not shake only the earth, but also the heavens. 32 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:57,290 This expression yet once more indicates the removal of what 33 00:01:57,290 --> 00:02:01,770 can be shaken, that is, created things, so that what is not 34 00:02:01,770 --> 00:02:05,490 shaken might remain. Therefore, since we are 35 00:02:05,490 --> 00:02:09,090 receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. 36 00:02:09,930 --> 00:02:14,010 By it we may serve God acceptably with reverence and 37 00:02:14,010 --> 00:02:16,810 awe, for our God is a consuming fire. 38 00:02:17,010 --> 00:02:20,390 This is the word of God. How many of Y'all have been 39 00:02:20,390 --> 00:02:22,910 without power a lot recently this last week? 40 00:02:22,910 --> 00:02:25,070 Some of you Decatur folks. Yeah, some of you. 41 00:02:25,110 --> 00:02:27,270 This isn't a knock on Decatur utilities, Clint. 42 00:02:27,910 --> 00:02:29,950 When people bash them, I think of you so. 43 00:02:31,870 --> 00:02:35,830 So we have had a lot of thunderstorms and wind this last 44 00:02:35,830 --> 00:02:39,110 week. Last Sunday afternoon we were 45 00:02:39,110 --> 00:02:41,670 on, they had moved my son's baseball practice to an indoor 46 00:02:41,670 --> 00:02:44,070 facility. And so we were on the way there 47 00:02:44,070 --> 00:02:46,950 and right as we pulled into the parking lot, the sky just 48 00:02:46,950 --> 00:02:50,170 absolutely opened up. And so we're like running and 49 00:02:50,170 --> 00:02:51,730 we're trying to, you know, not get too wet. 50 00:02:51,730 --> 00:02:53,410 And then we're running right by this dumpster. 51 00:02:53,410 --> 00:02:56,090 And it like takes the the lids of the dumpster, which had a 52 00:02:56,090 --> 00:02:58,690 bunch of water on them and just like, you know, flung it all 53 00:02:58,690 --> 00:03:01,170 over me. I'm soaked, you know, it's just 54 00:03:01,170 --> 00:03:04,090 blowing Everything Everywhere. And then on the way home, we're 55 00:03:04,090 --> 00:03:06,090 taking the same route. And we just noticed, I mean, 56 00:03:06,090 --> 00:03:08,730 there are limbs down everywhere. Some of the smaller trees are 57 00:03:08,730 --> 00:03:11,920 split and some of you guys. Have been seeing that going on 58 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:16,160 in our world here in Alabama. Bad weather is that type of bad 59 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:18,200 weather anyways, is something that we have to deal with 60 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:20,520 regular enough that we're familiar with it. 61 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:24,600 I grew up in Oklahoma and so that was an area called Tornado 62 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:28,280 Alley and I was pretty familiar with bad weather as well. 63 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:30,920 I can remember pulling over on the side of the road when I was 64 00:03:30,920 --> 00:03:34,120 in high school and just watching a tornado, you know, go by and 65 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:35,400 you're like, well, there it goes, you know? 66 00:03:36,150 --> 00:03:39,590 And anytime you look at the pictures of destruction that a 67 00:03:39,590 --> 00:03:44,030 tornado or a bad thunderstorm leaves behind, one thing that is 68 00:03:44,030 --> 00:03:47,430 always untouched is the concrete foundations. 69 00:03:47,830 --> 00:03:50,510 You can have whole neighborhoods wiped out and you can see the 70 00:03:50,510 --> 00:03:54,110 drone footage, but you can still see the footprint of what once 71 00:03:54,110 --> 00:03:56,950 was because the foundation is there. 72 00:03:57,510 --> 00:04:01,630 And when I think of the word unshakable, this is the type of 73 00:04:01,630 --> 00:04:05,890 image that comes to mind. The concrete foundations are 74 00:04:05,890 --> 00:04:09,410 surrounded by earth and rocks. They're embedded in the earth, 75 00:04:09,410 --> 00:04:11,450 sometimes even feel like it's cheating to call it unshakeable. 76 00:04:11,450 --> 00:04:14,650 It's like of course it is, but that's the point when a house is 77 00:04:14,650 --> 00:04:17,130 being built. Before walls can ever be framed, 78 00:04:17,130 --> 00:04:21,050 or before a roof can ever go up, there has to be a foundation 79 00:04:21,050 --> 00:04:23,570 poured. And the hope is that the home 80 00:04:23,570 --> 00:04:26,970 that is built on a solid foundation can withstand much 81 00:04:26,970 --> 00:04:31,740 more than a house that is not. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus 82 00:04:31,740 --> 00:04:35,740 uses this analogy when he talks about those who build their 83 00:04:35,740 --> 00:04:40,580 lives on his message and his truth versus their own logic. 84 00:04:41,100 --> 00:04:44,100 And this is what he says in Matthew Chapter 7, verse 24. 85 00:04:44,100 --> 00:04:48,380 He says, therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and 86 00:04:48,380 --> 00:04:51,940 acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the 87 00:04:51,940 --> 00:04:54,660 rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, 88 00:04:54,660 --> 00:04:56,780 and the winds blew and pounded that house. 89 00:04:56,780 --> 00:05:01,460 Yet it didn't collapse. Because its foundation was on 90 00:05:01,460 --> 00:05:04,180 the rock. But everyone who hears these 91 00:05:04,180 --> 00:05:08,180 words of mine and doesn't act on them will be like a foolish man 92 00:05:08,180 --> 00:05:11,740 who built his house on the sand. The rain fell. 93 00:05:12,020 --> 00:05:15,020 The rivers rose. The winds blew and pounded that 94 00:05:15,020 --> 00:05:19,100 house and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash. 95 00:05:20,020 --> 00:05:25,300 The pastor of Hebrews explores a similar metaphor when he talks 96 00:05:25,300 --> 00:05:28,260 about the Kingdom of God that we've been given. 97 00:05:29,110 --> 00:05:33,310 He tells us that what we have received in Christ is 98 00:05:33,350 --> 00:05:39,350 unshakable, that no matter what comes your way, no matter what 99 00:05:39,350 --> 00:05:42,870 is thrown, your direction, that the Kingdom that you've been 100 00:05:42,870 --> 00:05:48,150 given cannot be removed. It can withstand the worst of 101 00:05:48,150 --> 00:05:53,630 times and the strongest of foes, even death itself, because Jesus 102 00:05:53,950 --> 00:05:59,910 brings us an unshakable Kingdom. Good morning again, Church. 103 00:05:59,910 --> 00:06:02,670 Thank you for being with us. As I said earlier, my name is 104 00:06:02,670 --> 00:06:04,550 Joel. I get to serve as one of the 105 00:06:04,550 --> 00:06:06,910 pastors and elders here, specifically the pastor for 106 00:06:06,910 --> 00:06:09,310 preaching and oversight. And that just means that I get 107 00:06:09,310 --> 00:06:12,390 to handle the bulk of the preaching ministry along with 108 00:06:12,390 --> 00:06:16,270 bringing direction to the various ministries of New Eden 109 00:06:16,270 --> 00:06:17,830 Church. And honestly, I'm just grateful 110 00:06:17,830 --> 00:06:20,390 to be a part of what God is doing here. 111 00:06:21,610 --> 00:06:24,930 And yeah, as you can tell, we're continuing in our series through 112 00:06:24,930 --> 00:06:28,250 the book of Hebrews. We are looking at Chapter 12 113 00:06:28,250 --> 00:06:30,290 today. We're going to be in verse 14 114 00:06:30,290 --> 00:06:32,930 and we're going to work our way, as you heard read all the way 115 00:06:32,930 --> 00:06:35,650 through the end of the chapter. We'll be in the CSB version. 116 00:06:35,650 --> 00:06:38,410 If you want to follow along on your phones, Bibles, whatever. 117 00:06:38,410 --> 00:06:42,570 We'll also have the scripture on the screen here for you as well. 118 00:06:46,350 --> 00:06:49,510 So if you'll remember, our preacher throughout this whole 119 00:06:49,510 --> 00:06:54,350 book has been reminding us of the supremacy of Christ. 120 00:06:54,830 --> 00:06:59,230 That in all things and in everything, Jesus is better. 121 00:06:59,750 --> 00:07:03,190 We've just been reminded at the beginning of Chapter 12 to fix 122 00:07:03,190 --> 00:07:07,350 our eyes on Jesus, who is the pioneer and perfector of our 123 00:07:07,350 --> 00:07:09,830 faith. And so, in light of the reality 124 00:07:09,830 --> 00:07:14,470 of what Christ has accomplished, the preacher begins to exhort us 125 00:07:14,470 --> 00:07:18,660 to run well. Because what we have received 126 00:07:18,700 --> 00:07:23,580 and what we will receive in Christ is worth the pursuit. 127 00:07:24,700 --> 00:07:27,780 This passage is easily broken down into four reminders that 128 00:07:27,780 --> 00:07:30,260 the preacher gives us. He's going to remind us in 129 00:07:30,260 --> 00:07:34,540 verses 14 through 17 of a communal race. 130 00:07:35,540 --> 00:07:39,220 In verses 18 to 24, he's going to remind us of a present 131 00:07:39,380 --> 00:07:44,370 reality in verse 25 through 27. He's going to remind us of a 132 00:07:44,530 --> 00:07:50,170 future revealing and a verses 28 through 29 he will remind us of 133 00:07:50,170 --> 00:07:54,170 a grateful response. And so let's start by looking at 134 00:07:54,170 --> 00:07:57,730 the first of our four main reminders, a communal race. 135 00:07:58,170 --> 00:08:00,090 Let me read verse 14 for us again. 136 00:08:00,090 --> 00:08:04,570 It says pursue peace with everyone and holiness. 137 00:08:05,250 --> 00:08:08,850 Without it, no one will see the Lord. 138 00:08:10,090 --> 00:08:12,610 If you remember last week, he ended our time together with 139 00:08:12,890 --> 00:08:17,130 reminding us to strengthen weary hands and weakened knees. 140 00:08:17,130 --> 00:08:19,970 And we remember that this was a thing that we're supposed to do 141 00:08:19,970 --> 00:08:23,970 together to care for each other. And then he tells them to pursue 142 00:08:23,970 --> 00:08:27,010 peace with everyone. Now one interpretation of this 143 00:08:27,010 --> 00:08:30,050 could take this as meaning that everyone you come into contact 144 00:08:30,050 --> 00:08:31,770 with, you are to pursue peace with. 145 00:08:31,770 --> 00:08:34,650 And there are other scriptures that call us to that here 146 00:08:34,650 --> 00:08:37,169 though. I believe what this is saying is 147 00:08:37,289 --> 00:08:40,330 it's meant to be understood that together with the church, with 148 00:08:40,370 --> 00:08:45,010 everyone you are to pursue peace and holiness. 149 00:08:45,450 --> 00:08:51,490 It is this idea for the church to run this communal race well, 150 00:08:52,010 --> 00:08:54,850 and we see that evidence by the next three things he tells us to 151 00:08:54,850 --> 00:08:58,090 watch out for. He says be on guard, watch out 152 00:08:58,090 --> 00:09:00,730 that no one among you. It is this communal call that we 153 00:09:00,730 --> 00:09:03,450 are looking out for our brothers and sisters. 154 00:09:03,970 --> 00:09:07,650 In contrast to the voice of Cain that cried out and my my 155 00:09:07,650 --> 00:09:11,970 brother's Keeper, we recognize that the gospel calls us to say 156 00:09:12,250 --> 00:09:15,450 I am my brother's and sister's keeper. 157 00:09:16,330 --> 00:09:19,050 And the reason we care about this communal race that we are 158 00:09:19,050 --> 00:09:23,730 called the link, arms and run together is because without it 159 00:09:23,730 --> 00:09:28,090 no one will see the Lord. Now, this is not meant to say 160 00:09:28,090 --> 00:09:31,930 that if you don't measure up and become holy enough, then you're 161 00:09:31,930 --> 00:09:34,920 not going to make it to see God. That would literally go against 162 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:37,560 the entire message of Hebrews. So, So we have to understand 163 00:09:37,560 --> 00:09:41,800 that's not what he's saying. It is simply encouraging this 164 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:47,520 pursuit to live in the reality of the peace and holiness that 165 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:51,960 Christ has already accomplished on your behalf. 166 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:56,800 If you are in Christ, the reality that you live in is you 167 00:09:56,800 --> 00:09:59,780 are right now. United in peace with other 168 00:09:59,780 --> 00:10:01,740 believers. Whether you feel like it or not, 169 00:10:02,020 --> 00:10:05,860 that is the reality Christ has done, and you have also been 170 00:10:05,860 --> 00:10:07,980 made perfectly righteous and holy. 171 00:10:08,580 --> 00:10:12,260 Now there's a sense in which this isn't fully realized until 172 00:10:12,500 --> 00:10:14,660 Jesus returns. And so we recognize we live in 173 00:10:14,660 --> 00:10:16,100 the already. Not yet. 174 00:10:16,100 --> 00:10:19,580 But if if that's the reality that we live in, why not begin 175 00:10:19,580 --> 00:10:22,900 to live out of that? Why wait till eternity to 176 00:10:22,900 --> 00:10:26,580 experience the union, The union with brothers and sisters? 177 00:10:26,910 --> 00:10:32,030 And the holiness that God has granted us, the past reality of 178 00:10:32,030 --> 00:10:36,790 our justification and the future reality of our glorification, 179 00:10:37,190 --> 00:10:40,550 meet in the present to spur us on in our journey of 180 00:10:40,550 --> 00:10:46,230 sanctification. It's also reminding us that the 181 00:10:46,230 --> 00:10:51,310 means of grace that God has given you to live out what Jesus 182 00:10:51,310 --> 00:10:55,640 has accomplished is the Church. And the church is a mess. 183 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:58,240 I'm the first one to admit it. It's got baggage. 184 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:01,360 It's got brokenness. But your brothers and sisters 185 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:06,000 around you is the means by which you are kept and sustained until 186 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:10,040 the end, until we see the Lord like it is a gift to you, and 187 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:12,600 you are a gift to your brothers and sisters. 188 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:15,320 Some of you need to hear that you need the Church, and some of 189 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:17,720 you need to be reminded that the Church needs you. 190 00:11:20,130 --> 00:11:24,210 Christ will complete the work, and He chooses to do it by 191 00:11:24,210 --> 00:11:27,530 everyday, ordinary communion of the Saints. 192 00:11:28,290 --> 00:11:30,050 This is a miracle. If you're wondering what God's 193 00:11:30,050 --> 00:11:32,090 doing in the world, look around and I know it. 194 00:11:32,090 --> 00:11:34,890 It might not make the news, and it might not seem miraculous, 195 00:11:35,130 --> 00:11:39,890 but just the ordinary every day, caring for each other, going to 196 00:11:39,890 --> 00:11:43,410 battle against sin together, picking each other up, 197 00:11:43,810 --> 00:11:45,850 strengthening weary hands, and weakening. 198 00:11:47,290 --> 00:11:51,140 And so He cares about this. And so he warns against some 199 00:11:51,140 --> 00:11:55,500 attitudes and ideas that could keep us from experiencing that 200 00:11:55,500 --> 00:11:59,220 reality in the church. He mentions what he knows the 201 00:11:59,220 --> 00:12:02,500 church at Hebrews, and so he's mentioning specific dangers for 202 00:12:02,500 --> 00:12:05,580 the church he's writing this letter to, preaching this sermon 203 00:12:05,580 --> 00:12:07,980 to. But some of those same ideas 204 00:12:07,980 --> 00:12:10,500 might be dangers for us in our midst. 205 00:12:13,380 --> 00:12:16,740 The first thing he says, he says to see to it. 206 00:12:17,180 --> 00:12:21,860 Make sure that no one among you fall short of the grace of God. 207 00:12:23,180 --> 00:12:25,380 What this means like like we hear that and sometimes we're 208 00:12:25,380 --> 00:12:27,780 like, oh, does that mean I can fall from the grace of God? 209 00:12:28,020 --> 00:12:32,700 What he's saying is that we should never fail to continue 210 00:12:32,700 --> 00:12:35,660 giving each other the good news of the life, death, the burial 211 00:12:35,660 --> 00:12:38,780 and resurrection. We don't assume, and he didn't 212 00:12:38,780 --> 00:12:41,940 assume, that just because someone was visibly a part of 213 00:12:41,940 --> 00:12:45,420 the church that they had actually experienced. 214 00:12:45,830 --> 00:12:49,710 The grace of God. And it would be a travesty if 215 00:12:49,710 --> 00:12:53,550 someone made their home among the New Eden family and they 216 00:12:53,550 --> 00:12:56,550 missed out on God's grace because we spent more time 217 00:12:56,550 --> 00:13:00,430 talking about our hobby horses or our preferred political 218 00:13:00,430 --> 00:13:02,510 stance or our favorite sports teams. 219 00:13:02,670 --> 00:13:05,590 Like, you can talk about those themes things, but what is the 220 00:13:05,590 --> 00:13:10,270 constant drum beat? Is it the grace of God or is it 221 00:13:10,270 --> 00:13:13,150 one of these other things? I've heard it said this way and 222 00:13:13,150 --> 00:13:15,470 this is a reminder for me all the time. 223 00:13:16,020 --> 00:13:21,380 Don't assume the gospel. We should be a church that 224 00:13:21,380 --> 00:13:26,460 relies so deeply and heavily on Jesus that it is impossible for 225 00:13:26,460 --> 00:13:30,660 someone to be among us, even for one Sunday, without having to 226 00:13:30,660 --> 00:13:35,420 face the question of whether or not Jesus really did live, die, 227 00:13:35,460 --> 00:13:39,900 was buried, and rose again. If you could attend New Eden 228 00:13:39,900 --> 00:13:44,380 Church just as this kind of cultural idea for for five 229 00:13:44,380 --> 00:13:45,910 years. You know, it helped. 230 00:13:45,910 --> 00:13:48,790 You have a better week and you, it's just kind of something you 231 00:13:48,790 --> 00:13:51,710 do in the South, right? Like if that can happen and 232 00:13:51,710 --> 00:13:54,750 you're not confronted with the reality of the resurrection of 233 00:13:54,790 --> 00:13:57,830 Jesus and the radical grace of God, then we've missed it. 234 00:13:57,950 --> 00:14:00,230 We're not a church. We're a Country Club with the 235 00:14:00,230 --> 00:14:04,390 decently cool building, right? Like that's we're missing it. 236 00:14:06,230 --> 00:14:10,190 We are responsible. Make sure that no one misses the 237 00:14:10,190 --> 00:14:15,460 grace of God. We speak the truth over and over 238 00:14:15,500 --> 00:14:19,140 and over, and if you came in this morning for a different 239 00:14:19,140 --> 00:14:23,460 reason than hearing the good news of Jesus, I want to say you 240 00:14:23,460 --> 00:14:25,860 are welcome. I'm not kicking you out the 241 00:14:25,860 --> 00:14:27,340 door. That's not my point. 242 00:14:27,900 --> 00:14:32,740 But I do want you to see that at the end of the day, what all we 243 00:14:32,740 --> 00:14:35,740 have to offer is not some new set of rules. 244 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:39,000 Not a charity, a place to give your money to, or some 245 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:41,920 guidelines and principles to help you have a better life. 246 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:45,480 All we have to offer you is simple and radical. 247 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:49,080 Grace upon grace upon grace. That's it. 248 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:52,080 Cards on the table. Full transparency. 249 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:56,560 This is where we want to stake our flag. 250 00:14:57,440 --> 00:14:59,760 Because if you miss out on that, you miss out on everything. 251 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:06,240 So he challenges us with this, and then he goes on to remind us 252 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:09,400 that we're running a communal race that guards against the 253 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:13,080 root of bitterness springing up in our midst. 254 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:16,640 We're told that this root of bitterness can creep in and 255 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:22,560 begin to defile many among us. And so, so the encouragement 256 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:25,800 both for you and your own heart and then the the friends around 257 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:28,880 you that you have relationship with when we begin the sense of 258 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:32,240 bitterness. And some wrongly motivated anger 259 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:35,520 that wells up in our hearts. We're willing to talk about that 260 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:38,080 and put it on the table and have that conversation. 261 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:39,760 It can happen quickly. I've been there. 262 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:42,920 Maybe I've been treated wrongly or poorly. 263 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:46,600 Maybe I've grown frustrated with how something was done or not 264 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:50,840 done, and I can begin to see that person, or maybe that group 265 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:54,960 of people with a lens that is incredibly and overwhelmingly 266 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:57,400 negative. I I put them in their box. 267 00:15:57,400 --> 00:15:59,280 They're in their bucket. Nothing's going to change my 268 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:02,280 mind, right? And don't get me wrong, like, I 269 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:05,800 want to be clear that we have the freedom to exercise godly 270 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:09,880 discernment. OK, if we can objectively see 271 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:12,680 that there's unhealthy patterns. Or maybe authoritarian 272 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:15,280 leadership, right? I've even seen authoritarian 273 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:19,640 authoritarian leadership use this idea of bitterness to shut 274 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:22,280 down someone who's just exposing sin and bring it to light, 275 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:23,960 right? There's nothing wrong with that. 276 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:25,520 That's not a bad thing. But. 277 00:16:26,060 --> 00:16:28,500 We are talking about something here, OK? 278 00:16:28,500 --> 00:16:32,180 And we do have to be on guard against allowing unfettered 279 00:16:32,180 --> 00:16:36,780 bitterness to consume us. It does cause trouble and it 280 00:16:36,780 --> 00:16:39,100 does the file many and the answer is it's putting it in the 281 00:16:39,100 --> 00:16:40,860 lights. And hey, you said something that 282 00:16:40,860 --> 00:16:43,260 that bothered me. Can we can we talk about that? 283 00:16:43,500 --> 00:16:45,260 And I'm amazed because most the time it's either a 284 00:16:45,260 --> 00:16:50,020 misunderstanding or maybe God is using you to bring light to to 285 00:16:50,020 --> 00:16:52,540 that situation and bring awareness to someone. 286 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:55,080 For me, I can. I don't know what it is for you, 287 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:58,680 but I can only tell it's bitterness, not discernment, OK? 288 00:16:58,680 --> 00:16:59,800 Because those are two different things. 289 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:03,160 I can tell it's bitterness when it's normally full of sarcasm, 290 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:06,200 anger and defensiveness. OK, that's what I normally know. 291 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:09,280 It's more bitter when it's normally just like objectively. 292 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:12,319 Like, I think that was wrong. I I disagree with that. 293 00:17:12,319 --> 00:17:14,280 Like there's nothing wrong with discerning right. 294 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:17,520 And so kind of just just be on guard against that. 295 00:17:17,599 --> 00:17:21,040 And I found having a simple conversation can go a long way. 296 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:25,400 And then lastly, we're called to make sure that immorality and 297 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:28,520 irreverence doesn't run rampant in our midst. 298 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:30,880 And he gives us this Old Testament example, right? 299 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:34,600 We've just seen a bunch of positive Old Testament examples 300 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:37,240 from Hebrews 11 and now we get one of Esaw. 301 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:41,040 He is this negative example and he's called irreverent because 302 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:44,680 he sold his birthright for a single mill. 303 00:17:45,080 --> 00:17:47,920 So if you know the story, Esaw sold his birthright. 304 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:49,760 He was hungry, came in from the field. 305 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:55,000 And and the idea here is that he exchanged the eternal something, 306 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:59,160 and in his case it was maybe not eternal, but it was something 307 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:01,600 that was given to him. And he exchanged that for 308 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:05,280 immediate gratification. And the challenge to us is that 309 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:09,600 will we trust what seems good or feels good in the moment and 310 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:13,080 ignore what God has to say about our lives, that that this path 311 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:15,240 or this choice leads towards death. 312 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:16,760 But we say, well, it feels good here. 313 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:18,800 It's said it's pleasurable for a season. 314 00:18:19,130 --> 00:18:20,770 Right. So this is in contrast to Moses, 315 00:18:20,770 --> 00:18:23,970 who chose to suffer with the people of God and and not enjoy 316 00:18:23,970 --> 00:18:25,810 the fleeting pleasures of sin. Right? 317 00:18:25,970 --> 00:18:30,370 But he saw did, and our author warns that this is dangerous 318 00:18:30,490 --> 00:18:34,130 territory. He tells us that later on, even 319 00:18:34,210 --> 00:18:37,530 when he saw from it from earthly logic, he realized that selling 320 00:18:37,530 --> 00:18:42,410 his birthright was a bad idea. He found no place to repent. 321 00:18:43,530 --> 00:18:46,890 Now, does this mean that he saw wasn't sorry? 322 00:18:46,890 --> 00:18:50,320 No, he was sorry. We're told that he even shed 323 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:53,400 tears when he wanted back the blessing. 324 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:57,000 But the IT that he was seeking when he shed tears over it, the 325 00:18:57,000 --> 00:19:00,040 IT he was seeking. There is not that he was seeking 326 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:02,680 repentance with tears. He was seeking the birthright 327 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:06,080 with tears. He was only sorry that he missed 328 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:09,320 out on the earthly pleasures of the birthright. 329 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:15,520 And the irony and sadness here is that if he saw had been truly 330 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:18,740 repentant. He would have got something much 331 00:19:18,740 --> 00:19:20,460 greater than an earthly birthright. 332 00:19:21,460 --> 00:19:23,740 He would have He would have received a heavenly one and 333 00:19:23,740 --> 00:19:27,660 found his name enrolled among the first born who have names 334 00:19:27,660 --> 00:19:32,060 written in heaven. The idea here is not to scare 335 00:19:32,060 --> 00:19:35,460 you into thinking that if you make one mistake, you'll never 336 00:19:35,940 --> 00:19:38,180 find a chance to repent. That's not it. 337 00:19:39,100 --> 00:19:42,180 But it is sitting with the gravity that there are times, 338 00:19:42,180 --> 00:19:44,180 and we've probably all come to these. 339 00:19:44,450 --> 00:19:48,010 Forks fork in the roads in our life or maybe we've had someone 340 00:19:48,010 --> 00:19:51,250 close to us come to these where people are faced with these 341 00:19:51,250 --> 00:19:55,570 pivotal moments of of will I follow God or follow man? 342 00:19:56,370 --> 00:19:59,770 And these can be pivotal moments that can set our lives on a 343 00:19:59,770 --> 00:20:03,530 trajectory of running from God or to him. 344 00:20:04,970 --> 00:20:10,370 And and at the core of this is, what do we trust and how will we 345 00:20:10,370 --> 00:20:13,940 as God's people? Continue to preach the good news 346 00:20:13,940 --> 00:20:17,380 of Jesus so that we might spur each other on to choose what God 347 00:20:17,380 --> 00:20:19,620 has to say over what man has to say. 348 00:20:20,140 --> 00:20:23,020 How will we in those moments with those people that we love, 349 00:20:23,220 --> 00:20:28,660 plead with compassion and humility to turn to God and not 350 00:20:28,660 --> 00:20:31,340 from him? And then I think this is 351 00:20:31,340 --> 00:20:34,620 important too, because there will be times where where you 352 00:20:34,620 --> 00:20:39,130 will choose self wisdom over God, wisdom and part of not 353 00:20:39,130 --> 00:20:43,730 being like Esau is finding a place for confession and 354 00:20:43,730 --> 00:20:50,250 repentance. Will you be like David who for a 355 00:20:50,250 --> 00:20:53,970 long time just ran away from God year and a half? 356 00:20:54,490 --> 00:20:57,930 Or will you eventually come to the place that David did and and 357 00:20:57,930 --> 00:21:02,330 respond in true confession and say God against you and you only 358 00:21:02,370 --> 00:21:06,910 have I sinned because we have it clear in scripture that God will 359 00:21:06,910 --> 00:21:08,830 not cast out anyone who comes to him. 360 00:21:09,350 --> 00:21:11,390 God is after that contrite heart. 361 00:21:11,590 --> 00:21:14,110 That's what he wants. That is the only person that God 362 00:21:14,110 --> 00:21:17,790 will not despise. But when we bear down in pride 363 00:21:17,790 --> 00:21:20,430 and say, that might not have been the best decision, but you 364 00:21:20,430 --> 00:21:21,990 know what? I really am only sorry that I 365 00:21:21,990 --> 00:21:24,630 got caught, and I'm really only sorry that I have to deal with 366 00:21:24,630 --> 00:21:28,030 the earthly consequences of it. But I don't really care that I I 367 00:21:28,030 --> 00:21:32,550 send against God. Do we surrender in humility? 368 00:21:33,680 --> 00:21:36,680 It's one of the reasons as a church we we corporately pray 369 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:40,840 confessions of prayer together. What that is is, is agreeing 370 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:43,560 with God and saying, you know what your way is best. 371 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:45,680 And I need to corporately be reminded of that because 372 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:48,600 sometimes my heart doesn't believe it, sometimes my heart 373 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:52,000 believes my logic and my way. And so together we confess that 374 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:59,120 we are utterly dependent on God. Sent Corinthian 710. 375 00:21:59,120 --> 00:22:01,160 Paul said it like this to the Corinthian church. 376 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:06,790 He said godly grief produces a repentance that leads to what? 377 00:22:06,990 --> 00:22:10,350 Salvation without regret, which is wild. 378 00:22:11,430 --> 00:22:15,190 The grief of God frees you from regret, not places more on you. 379 00:22:16,710 --> 00:22:21,590 The godly confession frees you, but worldly grief produces 380 00:22:21,590 --> 00:22:24,230 death. It enslaves you and leads you to 381 00:22:24,230 --> 00:22:28,190 the grave. The godly confession and grief 382 00:22:29,110 --> 00:22:33,830 leads us to salvation. The worldly grief doesn't deal 383 00:22:33,830 --> 00:22:38,110 with the root issue, and so we're placed with this caution. 384 00:22:38,270 --> 00:22:42,470 OK, but with all of these cautions, the main thrust of 385 00:22:42,470 --> 00:22:46,310 what he's saying is this. Choose eternal, lasting 386 00:22:46,310 --> 00:22:50,550 pleasures over earthly, fleeting ones. 387 00:22:51,110 --> 00:22:54,470 And to make this clear, he paints probably the most vivid 388 00:22:54,470 --> 00:22:58,710 contrast and picture we get in all of Hebrews. 389 00:22:59,330 --> 00:23:03,330 He shows us what is offered to us in Christ and what is offered 390 00:23:03,330 --> 00:23:07,970 to us if we choose our own way. That's what verses 18 to 24 do 391 00:23:07,970 --> 00:23:10,330 for us. We saw the communal race and now 392 00:23:10,330 --> 00:23:22,110 we see a present reality. In verses 18 to 21 we have this 393 00:23:22,110 --> 00:23:23,790 crescendo. He's already told us all 394 00:23:23,790 --> 00:23:27,390 throughout Hebrews how how useless the law is and saving 395 00:23:27,390 --> 00:23:29,750 sinners, how it only leads to death. 396 00:23:30,070 --> 00:23:34,790 And here we get reminded that without Christ, the best hope 397 00:23:34,790 --> 00:23:39,760 you have is Mount Sinai. He doesn't say its name, but for 398 00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:42,480 the hears they would have known exactly what he was talking 399 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:44,760 about. All the descriptors listed would 400 00:23:44,760 --> 00:23:48,120 have brought in the minds of the listeners visions of the 401 00:23:48,120 --> 00:23:52,280 mountain where the law was given to the people through Moses, 402 00:23:52,920 --> 00:23:57,560 this place called Sinai, he gives some descriptors. 403 00:23:57,560 --> 00:23:59,440 He says it's of an earthly substance. 404 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:01,920 It can be touched. It's it's of the earth, and on 405 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:04,680 the earth, he says that it was destructive. 406 00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:08,520 It's this blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a storm. 407 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:12,080 It was unapproachable. God's voice was announced with 408 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:14,920 the trumpet. It was distant and removed and 409 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:17,600 booming and loud and and impersonable. 410 00:24:18,360 --> 00:24:21,000 The people themselves, they begged, I don't want to hear 411 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:22,200 anymore of the law. We can't. 412 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:25,080 We can't take it. It was unattainable. 413 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:28,440 The law that was given, they knew that it couldn't be kept, 414 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:31,960 that the best of their efforts was simply filthy rags. 415 00:24:32,310 --> 00:24:35,550 And because of this, he tells them, even Moses, your revered 416 00:24:35,750 --> 00:24:40,590 hero, he was scared to death. He was terrified, right? 417 00:24:40,590 --> 00:24:44,150 God's chosen servant to deliver the law through was scared to 418 00:24:44,150 --> 00:24:47,870 death. This is this crescendo of 419 00:24:47,870 --> 00:24:50,150 Hebrews, if you haven't got it by now. 420 00:24:50,350 --> 00:24:53,910 There is a vivid picture of the law and the Old Covenant, and 421 00:24:53,910 --> 00:24:56,590 it's terrifying and it only leads to death. 422 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:03,240 He wants to expose for his hearers the absolutely fruitless 423 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:06,560 endeavor of trying to measure up and live under the law. 424 00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:09,480 Like Paul, he says, You who want to live under the law, do you 425 00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:12,600 hear it? Is that really what you want? 426 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:17,400 And he does this by showing them the destructive nature of the 427 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:19,800 Old Covenant. And he's saying it's not worth 428 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:21,920 it. All this stuff he's been saying, 429 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:24,360 Don't be like Esau. This is what it leads to. 430 00:25:24,360 --> 00:25:27,200 Let me give you a clear picture of the two paths. 431 00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:30,880 And he says, you who are in Christ, you have not come to 432 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:34,280 that, but you have come to something much better. 433 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:37,120 And I love that He says it in the present tense. 434 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:43,160 He says, you have come. This is the full reality now. 435 00:25:43,240 --> 00:25:45,240 You have not come to Mount Sinai. 436 00:25:45,360 --> 00:25:51,420 You have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God. 437 00:25:51,580 --> 00:25:57,140 It is alive for the listeners. They would have known that Mount 438 00:25:57,140 --> 00:26:02,260 Zion was seen as the centerpiece of worship of God's place, this 439 00:26:02,420 --> 00:26:06,820 Mecca of meeting with God. It's where God's presence dwelt, 440 00:26:07,060 --> 00:26:10,540 and the preacher takes this idea and gives it a new meaning. 441 00:26:10,980 --> 00:26:13,860 This Mount Zion is not a physical place. 442 00:26:14,100 --> 00:26:18,940 It's a person and his name is Jesus. 443 00:26:19,780 --> 00:26:24,660 And this eternal Mount Zion stands in utter contrast to 444 00:26:24,660 --> 00:26:28,140 Mount Sinai. Everything that Mount Sinai was, 445 00:26:28,420 --> 00:26:31,420 or was it Mount Zion is the opposite. 446 00:26:31,700 --> 00:26:35,700 Sinai was earthly. Zion is eternal, A heavenly 447 00:26:35,700 --> 00:26:38,020 Jerusalem. This doesn't mean it's not 448 00:26:38,020 --> 00:26:40,980 tangible and real. It just means it's it's eternal 449 00:26:41,060 --> 00:26:44,340 and everlasting. It's the God space and it's 450 00:26:44,340 --> 00:26:48,610 filling all the earth. Whereas Sinai was destructive. 451 00:26:48,890 --> 00:26:51,490 Zion is cleansing and brings hilly. 452 00:26:51,490 --> 00:26:55,490 And he said you have come to people made perfect and 453 00:26:55,490 --> 00:26:59,610 righteous. It is approachable. 454 00:27:00,570 --> 00:27:04,770 He says that those you have come to you it is it is full of the 455 00:27:04,770 --> 00:27:07,730 first born whose names are written in heaven. 456 00:27:07,890 --> 00:27:11,880 This is identity. Unlike Esau, who sold his 457 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:16,080 birthright for a meal and lost out, those who trust Christ have 458 00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:21,960 received an eternal birthright. You have access to God, who is 459 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:25,040 the just a judge of all that's not meant to scare you. 460 00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:28,280 If you are in Christ, that is saying that God is the one who 461 00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:30,800 justifies and has declared you righteous. 462 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:33,440 So who cares what the accuser says? 463 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:36,120 The judge of all has declared you perfect. 464 00:27:36,560 --> 00:27:44,720 Be encouraged. We are made clean This mountain, 465 00:27:44,720 --> 00:27:46,920 Zion. This new covenant Kingdom is 466 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:52,960 attainable and up close It wasn't a distant word thundered 467 00:27:52,960 --> 00:27:59,320 from a mountain. The word himself came down, made 468 00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:06,140 his home among us, took on flesh and blood and every bit of of 469 00:28:06,140 --> 00:28:09,180 suffering you face and weakness you face as a human. 470 00:28:09,300 --> 00:28:13,180 He experienced it, and he didn't come with the blast of a 471 00:28:13,180 --> 00:28:16,100 trumpet, but with the cry of a baby. 472 00:28:18,300 --> 00:28:21,580 This mountain, I love it. It's the opposite of fearful. 473 00:28:22,140 --> 00:28:24,780 It is joyful. Do you understand that? 474 00:28:24,780 --> 00:28:27,620 He says. It is a festive gathering. 475 00:28:27,660 --> 00:28:31,360 This is a party like Jesus brings the better wine. 476 00:28:31,720 --> 00:28:35,480 Let's celebrate and dance and shout and sing because that's 477 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:39,360 what we've been invited to do. A myriad of angels like the best 478 00:28:39,360 --> 00:28:41,960 guest ever. There's laughter and eternal 479 00:28:41,960 --> 00:28:45,760 pleasures forevermore. It's not just this somber thing 480 00:28:45,760 --> 00:28:49,960 like, yes, we'll sit and grief, but there is a day coming where 481 00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:53,560 it will all be made new and we can experience that in the 482 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:58,520 present now. It's not just the future 483 00:28:58,520 --> 00:29:01,820 reality. See, because of the work of 484 00:29:01,820 --> 00:29:04,660 Christ, this is offered to each of you. 485 00:29:05,380 --> 00:29:09,020 And I love this, this final crescendo of Mount Zion and 486 00:29:09,100 --> 00:29:11,940 first born names in heaven. And to God, who's judge of all 487 00:29:11,940 --> 00:29:15,140 in this festive gathering, a myriad of angels and all these 488 00:29:15,340 --> 00:29:18,780 beautiful benefits of being in Christ that are incredible. 489 00:29:18,900 --> 00:29:20,980 But what does the crescendo end with? 490 00:29:21,700 --> 00:29:26,180 What is it that we gain? Ultimately, you have come to 491 00:29:26,460 --> 00:29:29,990 Jesus. That's the center of everything. 492 00:29:30,190 --> 00:29:34,270 It's the one we long to be with, and it's the one we have access 493 00:29:34,270 --> 00:29:37,790 to right now. He's the mediator of a new 494 00:29:37,790 --> 00:29:42,390 covenant, the one who has shed his blood for you, and it speaks 495 00:29:42,430 --> 00:29:44,550 over you. Better things than the blood of 496 00:29:44,550 --> 00:29:46,590 Abel. The best the blood of Abel could 497 00:29:46,590 --> 00:29:50,190 do was cry out from the ground for vengeance, justice. 498 00:29:50,350 --> 00:29:55,150 But the blood of Jesus cries out for mercy and acceptance at the 499 00:29:55,150 --> 00:29:59,500 foot of the cross. That's what it's all about. 500 00:29:59,500 --> 00:30:02,220 Church, I told you. That's what we all All we have 501 00:30:02,220 --> 00:30:06,460 to offer is Jesus every week. He lived the perfect life. 502 00:30:06,940 --> 00:30:09,660 He pursued peace and holiness perfectly. 503 00:30:10,620 --> 00:30:13,740 He allowed no root of bitterness to spring up in him, even as he 504 00:30:13,740 --> 00:30:19,140 was rejected by his own, even as he wept blood and tears in the 505 00:30:19,140 --> 00:30:22,980 garden and could have grown angry at God for calling him to 506 00:30:22,980 --> 00:30:28,170 walk through the suffering. Instead, he says, Father, not 507 00:30:28,170 --> 00:30:33,610 your will, but mine be done. He was unwilling to trade his 508 00:30:33,610 --> 00:30:36,850 place as the first born, among many, as he's called, which he 509 00:30:36,850 --> 00:30:38,810 knew meant death. And the enemy came and offered, 510 00:30:38,810 --> 00:30:44,490 Hey, give up that birthright and you can have all of this, all 511 00:30:44,490 --> 00:30:47,330 that the earth offers, much more than a bowl of soup. 512 00:30:48,890 --> 00:30:52,170 But he stays faithful even in the tempter's face. 513 00:30:52,290 --> 00:30:55,370 He said his face like a Flint towards Jerusalem. 514 00:30:56,360 --> 00:31:00,960 He knew it meant pain and death, and he offers up his life as the 515 00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:06,000 mediating sacrifice for sinners. His death is bringing about the 516 00:31:06,040 --> 00:31:11,560 inauguration of a new covenant, and it is one based not on work 517 00:31:11,560 --> 00:31:14,520 keeping that only brings death, but one that is based on the 518 00:31:14,520 --> 00:31:16,800 grace and mercy of God that brings life. 519 00:31:17,560 --> 00:31:21,120 Mount Sinai could not be approached, but Calvary's 520 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:28,530 mountain is open to all, and by his atoning death, he becomes 521 00:31:28,770 --> 00:31:32,490 both the judge of all. He's just because he takes our 522 00:31:32,490 --> 00:31:35,730 place, but he's also the justifier of the ungodly. 523 00:31:38,450 --> 00:31:41,370 He takes the things we should have received because our law 524 00:31:41,370 --> 00:31:45,850 breaking the gloom and doom and destruction of Sinai. 525 00:31:45,970 --> 00:31:50,170 He takes in his own body and bears it and lays in a tomb. 526 00:31:51,130 --> 00:31:53,690 The sky shakes. The sky grows dark. 527 00:31:53,690 --> 00:31:58,520 The earth shakes and he breathes his last, but death and sin 528 00:31:58,520 --> 00:32:02,320 could not hold him. On Easter morning, gloom gives 529 00:32:02,320 --> 00:32:06,080 way to rejoicing. The stone rolls back and up from 530 00:32:06,080 --> 00:32:09,040 the grave. He rose, and he triumphs over 531 00:32:09,040 --> 00:32:13,120 his foes. And he wins for us the joys of 532 00:32:13,120 --> 00:32:17,280 Zion by walking through Calvary's suffering. 533 00:32:25,400 --> 00:32:30,180 And when we trust in him instead of artworks or the pleasures of 534 00:32:30,180 --> 00:32:34,500 this age, his blood speaks over you, that you are made 535 00:32:34,860 --> 00:32:38,340 righteous, you are adopted as sons and daughters, and your 536 00:32:38,340 --> 00:32:42,580 name is written in heaven. This is the hope of the gospel. 537 00:32:43,460 --> 00:32:47,020 This is the present reality. This is accessible right now 538 00:32:47,020 --> 00:32:49,140 through Christ, for all who've repented and believed. 539 00:32:49,550 --> 00:32:51,070 And this is what we plead for you. 540 00:32:51,070 --> 00:32:54,310 If you've not accepted the free offer of grace, if, if, if 541 00:32:54,310 --> 00:32:56,830 you've made it about what you can do and how much you can 542 00:32:56,830 --> 00:32:59,190 bring to the table, we urge you and beg you. 543 00:32:59,430 --> 00:33:03,710 That only leads to death. Just simple faith and trust in 544 00:33:03,710 --> 00:33:06,150 Christ. We want you to exchange this 545 00:33:06,150 --> 00:33:10,070 temporal life for eternal life. We don't want you to reject the 546 00:33:10,070 --> 00:33:16,390 one who spoke to us by the life and death of His Son, because he 547 00:33:16,390 --> 00:33:21,120 will return one day and he will reveal the hearts of men. 548 00:33:21,920 --> 00:33:24,720 That's what verses 25 to 27 remind us of. 549 00:33:25,640 --> 00:33:27,880 There's a call and a reminder of a communal race. 550 00:33:27,880 --> 00:33:32,800 There's a present reality, but there's also a future revealing. 551 00:33:34,320 --> 00:33:39,600 As sure as Christ arose from the grave, so will he return to 552 00:33:39,600 --> 00:33:42,040 bring a new heaven and a new earth. 553 00:33:43,110 --> 00:33:46,030 All the things we've longed for, the consummation of the the New 554 00:33:46,030 --> 00:33:49,390 Jerusalem, the eternal Zion will be ushered in. 555 00:33:49,390 --> 00:33:53,350 And all who are in Christ will be revealed to be righteous and 556 00:33:53,350 --> 00:33:58,310 perfect and presented as a a bride for the best groom ever. 557 00:33:59,950 --> 00:34:03,710 But we are also warned not to reject the glory of God as 558 00:34:03,710 --> 00:34:06,110 revealed for us in the person of Jesus. 559 00:34:06,850 --> 00:34:10,090 There is a promise that the earth will shake once more. 560 00:34:10,489 --> 00:34:12,210 And the goal of this is not destruction. 561 00:34:12,210 --> 00:34:15,409 The gold is purging. The gold is revealing, It is it 562 00:34:15,409 --> 00:34:18,850 is to shake, to reveal who has built their house on a 563 00:34:18,850 --> 00:34:21,730 foundation that cannot be shaken. 564 00:34:22,530 --> 00:34:25,570 He says that the created things which doesn't mean all the 565 00:34:25,570 --> 00:34:27,010 things that God created which it. 566 00:34:27,010 --> 00:34:30,130 What this means is that things that men have built for 567 00:34:30,130 --> 00:34:33,330 themselves, for their own kingdoms, that will be shaken 568 00:34:33,330 --> 00:34:39,580 away and removed, and what will last, is the Kingdom of God. 569 00:34:40,780 --> 00:34:42,940 Paul talks about it this way in his letter to the church at 570 00:34:42,940 --> 00:34:45,540 Corinth. He says no one can lay any 571 00:34:45,540 --> 00:34:47,980 foundation other than what has been laid down. 572 00:34:48,739 --> 00:34:52,300 That foundation is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on the 573 00:34:52,300 --> 00:34:55,699 foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or 574 00:34:55,699 --> 00:35:00,680 straw, each one's work will become obvious for the day. 575 00:35:00,680 --> 00:35:03,560 We'll disclose it because it will be revealed by fire. 576 00:35:03,560 --> 00:35:06,840 The fire will test the quality of each one's work. 577 00:35:07,480 --> 00:35:10,120 So here it's described as a fire and Hebrews is described as a 578 00:35:10,120 --> 00:35:12,480 shaking. I don't think it's about making 579 00:35:12,480 --> 00:35:15,040 it about whether which one of those is literally the point 580 00:35:15,040 --> 00:35:20,360 here is that there will be a future revealing and it's easy 581 00:35:20,360 --> 00:35:23,680 to hear this and think well man, I better get to work I better 582 00:35:23,680 --> 00:35:26,990 start doing a lot and start building my house like. 583 00:35:26,990 --> 00:35:29,990 But notice what's important. What he says will stand is what 584 00:35:29,990 --> 00:35:33,710 it's built on right. You can from the outside it can 585 00:35:33,710 --> 00:35:35,710 look great. You can't see the foundation. 586 00:35:35,990 --> 00:35:38,230 You might look like you have an amazing ministry and you have a 587 00:35:38,230 --> 00:35:40,510 great track track record in the sunny school. 588 00:35:40,510 --> 00:35:43,390 Chart has all the stars by your name because you never missed 589 00:35:43,390 --> 00:35:46,190 one. And it can be built on a 590 00:35:46,190 --> 00:35:50,190 foundation and all that will be revealed for what it really is. 591 00:35:50,910 --> 00:35:54,050 Build on Christ alone. You can't add to it. 592 00:35:54,450 --> 00:35:58,090 You can only receive what he's done and simply reflect that and 593 00:35:58,090 --> 00:36:01,210 image it to the world. This is not about getting it 594 00:36:01,210 --> 00:36:03,890 right. It's making sure that you don't 595 00:36:03,890 --> 00:36:07,010 miss out on God's grace because you think Christianity is 596 00:36:07,010 --> 00:36:10,370 somehow about being good enough. You can grow up in the church 597 00:36:10,370 --> 00:36:12,210 and know the songs and quote the scriptures. 598 00:36:12,330 --> 00:36:16,250 If your faith is not in Christ alone, it is meaningless and 599 00:36:16,250 --> 00:36:18,820 empty. As we've said multiple times, 600 00:36:18,820 --> 00:36:21,140 it's not about the amount of your faith, that is about the 601 00:36:21,140 --> 00:36:22,940 object. Who is it placed in? 602 00:36:23,140 --> 00:36:27,140 But if you have, doesn't matter what else is going on, you 603 00:36:27,140 --> 00:36:31,060 should be encouraged because the preacher of Hebrews, he gives 604 00:36:31,060 --> 00:36:33,500 that warning. But then he wants to speak over 605 00:36:33,500 --> 00:36:37,580 you with incredible confidence. Look at verses 28 and 29. 606 00:36:38,620 --> 00:36:44,300 Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom that can not 607 00:36:44,420 --> 00:36:49,700 be shaken, let us be thankful. The primary posture of the 608 00:36:49,700 --> 00:36:52,740 Christian is gratitude. By it we may serve God 609 00:36:52,740 --> 00:36:56,860 acceptably with reverence and all, for our God is a consuming 610 00:36:56,860 --> 00:37:00,180 fire, he says. The Kingdom we have received 611 00:37:00,180 --> 00:37:03,990 through Christ cannot be shaken. It is unshakable. 612 00:37:03,990 --> 00:37:07,310 It is a firm foundation, and we receive it not based on any 613 00:37:07,310 --> 00:37:11,470 merit we have or deeds we do, but only by the grace of God. 614 00:37:12,110 --> 00:37:14,870 And this unshakable Kingdom we've received leads us to the 615 00:37:14,870 --> 00:37:18,550 last thing we'll see a grateful response. 616 00:37:19,870 --> 00:37:23,630 If this is all true, if everything that we've 617 00:37:23,630 --> 00:37:28,530 proclaimed, if it really is a reality that we have received a 618 00:37:28,530 --> 00:37:33,730 joyous, eternal Kingdom, then the only response of that is 619 00:37:33,730 --> 00:37:39,650 gratitude and thankfulness. See, it is the gospel and the 620 00:37:39,650 --> 00:37:43,450 gospel alone that transforms our hearts from the inside out. 621 00:37:44,330 --> 00:37:47,450 It is the goodness of God that changes us. 622 00:37:48,410 --> 00:37:51,850 He even says the only way we can worship and serve Him acceptably 623 00:37:52,640 --> 00:37:55,440 is through this Kingdom that you didn't do anything to earn. 624 00:37:55,560 --> 00:37:58,840 It is through grace alone. So if you think man God did a 625 00:37:58,840 --> 00:38:02,560 lot for me, I better go do a lot for him That's going to get 626 00:38:02,560 --> 00:38:06,000 tired and weary. But if you said, man, God did a 627 00:38:06,000 --> 00:38:09,000 lot for me, thank you. Thank you for what you've been 628 00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:11,040 giving me. Now what is it? 629 00:38:11,360 --> 00:38:14,760 Here's my life. And from a new heart we begin to 630 00:38:14,760 --> 00:38:18,820 live with gratitude, not out of duty, but out of delight. 631 00:38:19,100 --> 00:38:22,540 Why would we not want to rule and reign with God as his 632 00:38:22,540 --> 00:38:24,780 subject? He says, come partner with me. 633 00:38:24,780 --> 00:38:28,620 And making this world new you who messed it up the first time, 634 00:38:28,900 --> 00:38:31,660 Let's go. Like the father who's letting 635 00:38:31,660 --> 00:38:33,860 his kid help him mow the lawn even though the lines are 636 00:38:33,860 --> 00:38:36,900 crooked and straight. He's like, because I care about 637 00:38:36,900 --> 00:38:43,200 you, let's go, I'll fix it. We get to partner with God in 638 00:38:43,200 --> 00:38:45,680 our lives and our families and our churches and our communities 639 00:38:45,960 --> 00:38:49,520 wherever we may go. We are simply building on the 640 00:38:49,520 --> 00:38:50,960 foundation that has already been laid. 641 00:38:51,440 --> 00:38:53,080 And we sit back and watch God of Work. 642 00:38:53,760 --> 00:38:57,160 He'll take care of the results. He's the consuming fire again. 643 00:38:57,160 --> 00:38:59,960 For those in Christ, this is meant to be encouraging. 644 00:39:00,520 --> 00:39:03,120 You don't have to take on the role of judge and fight every 645 00:39:03,120 --> 00:39:04,760 battle. He'll handle it. 646 00:39:05,720 --> 00:39:08,000 We just walk in simple gratitude and obedience. 647 00:39:09,400 --> 00:39:11,640 And the the preacher of Hebrews is going to get real practical 648 00:39:11,940 --> 00:39:14,060 Hebrews 13, one through 6. We'll look at that the next 649 00:39:14,060 --> 00:39:15,780 week. He gives us some clear examples 650 00:39:15,780 --> 00:39:17,900 of what that means. Clear exhortations. 651 00:39:18,860 --> 00:39:24,140 But as we run this race, let us not forget the foundation of our 652 00:39:24,140 --> 00:39:28,620 lives. The one who ran before us, the 653 00:39:28,620 --> 00:39:33,100 pioneer and perfector. Be encouraged, Church, the 654 00:39:33,100 --> 00:39:36,660 battle is 1. You have received an unshakable 655 00:39:36,660 --> 00:39:37,820 Kingdom. We're going to sing about it in 656 00:39:37,820 --> 00:39:40,620 a minute, and you're probably going to hear me say something 657 00:39:40,620 --> 00:39:42,500 like yeah or something. Because it's exciting. 658 00:39:43,140 --> 00:39:47,700 You have received an unshakable Kingdom and no one can take it 659 00:39:47,700 --> 00:39:50,500 away. So join the shout of festive 660 00:39:50,500 --> 00:39:55,060 gathering, Feast on the life of Jesus and go in peace, knowing 661 00:39:55,060 --> 00:39:57,060 that you have been made righteous by the blood of 662 00:39:57,060 --> 00:40:01,060 Christ, who speaks a better word over your life.