1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:06,200 This afternoon, I want to draw your attention to a story from 2 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:11,000 the word of God that at first, may seem totally irrelevant to 3 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,900 the very subject and the reason why we are celebrating today and 4 00:00:14,900 --> 00:00:18,900 it could be for some that what you are about to hear is 5 00:00:18,900 --> 00:00:22,000 something familiar to you while for others. 6 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:25,100 I wouldn't be surprised if it's the first time you've ever heard 7 00:00:25,100 --> 00:00:30,700 the story shared from the Bible. And they count that. 8 00:00:30,700 --> 00:00:33,200 I'm speaking of as, you know, is found here in the Book of 9 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:38,800 Numbers in the 17 chapter and what you're going to read here 10 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,400 with me is one of the most Monumental Miracles that has 11 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:48,700 taken place in Israel's history. Monumental because the outcome 12 00:00:48,700 --> 00:00:53,600 of this Supernatural occurrence was asked of the people to be 13 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:57,900 preserved and guarded. As a testimony for future 14 00:00:57,900 --> 00:00:59,900 Generations. There was something being 15 00:00:59,900 --> 00:01:03,800 communicated through this miracle that had to be held and 16 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:08,600 remembered for the ages to come. But before you and I expound on 17 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:11,600 what this miracle is. And what it is saying, we have 18 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:13,600 to have a simple background behind it. 19 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:15,700 We have to understand the context of and here it is. 20 00:01:16,900 --> 00:01:19,900 And God wanting to deliver the nation of Israel from the 21 00:01:19,900 --> 00:01:22,000 tyrannical oppression of pharaoh. 22 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:27,600 He raised up to men. These two men were brothers, 23 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:34,600 their names, Moses and Aaron, He sent them with Assurance of his 24 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:37,400 power and of his presence that they would be successful and 25 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:41,900 seeing the people of Israel released from captivity and 26 00:01:41,900 --> 00:01:47,300 after a series of amazing powerful glorious interventions 27 00:01:47,300 --> 00:01:50,400 from God eventually Pharaoh gave in. 28 00:01:50,900 --> 00:01:54,200 And the people of Israel were, in fact, released, they were 29 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:57,500 sent out and not only were they sent out, they went through the 30 00:01:57,500 --> 00:02:01,000 Red Sea and they were brought safely Into the Wilderness. 31 00:02:01,100 --> 00:02:06,000 Des, but the Wilderness was not the final destination for this 32 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,000 people. There was a land that God had in 33 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:12,000 mind. There was a broad place that the 34 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:16,200 Lord had promised and prepared for this people group a place 35 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:20,000 flowing with milk and honey. A place filled with joy and 36 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,800 security. It was theirs. 37 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:26,300 He had sought it out for them and he had given them the exact 38 00:02:26,300 --> 00:02:29,500 blueprint of what to do when they got there. 39 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:33,800 But unfortunately, The student of the Bible knows that the same 40 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:36,000 people who were saved from slavery. 41 00:02:37,100 --> 00:02:40,200 Through a series of events, disobeyed and rebelled against 42 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:43,400 the very same God who saved them one. 43 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:46,700 After the other different episodes, different tests of 44 00:02:46,700 --> 00:02:50,700 Faith were were failed because of their stubbornness and 45 00:02:50,700 --> 00:02:55,100 because of their unbelief and one of the most serious 46 00:02:55,100 --> 00:03:00,500 offenses, one of the most stumbling decisions that they've 47 00:03:00,500 --> 00:03:02,900 ever made, were here in this neighborhood of the book of 48 00:03:02,900 --> 00:03:05,100 numbers. And this is what happened. 49 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:08,700 At some point, unfortunately, you had a group of men within 50 00:03:08,700 --> 00:03:11,600 the camp who had prominent positions by the way. 51 00:03:12,700 --> 00:03:15,800 That allowed jealousy to take over their hearts and Vita rise 52 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:17,400 up. And they begin to challenge The 53 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:21,000 Authority, that God established over them through Moses and 54 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:24,800 Aaron. And so this, this band of rebels 55 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:29,700 attempted to cause an uprising and they specifically 56 00:03:29,700 --> 00:03:34,100 challenged, the Priestly Duty that has been exclusively 57 00:03:34,100 --> 00:03:40,300 assigned to Aaron, and his descendants, only Aaron and his 58 00:03:40,300 --> 00:03:44,200 descendants were called by God. God to be the mediators between 59 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:48,200 the people and God himself. They were the connecting factor 60 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:53,800 between these two parties and and these men Cora and others 61 00:03:54,300 --> 00:03:57,700 were disturbed by that. And so they attempted to bring 62 00:03:57,700 --> 00:04:02,800 division within the camp and it wasn't very soon after God 63 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:07,400 intervene in a very frightening way toward these instigators and 64 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:09,700 their supporters. What did he do? 65 00:04:10,100 --> 00:04:14,200 He opened up the Earth beneath them and And swallow them alive. 66 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:17,899 Now you would think after witnessing such a spectacle, 67 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:23,000 such a terrifying ordeal that, that would convince you that God 68 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:26,100 is really backing up. Backing up. 69 00:04:26,100 --> 00:04:29,500 This aaronic priesthood and we have no right to challenge. 70 00:04:29,500 --> 00:04:32,000 God, we're going to trust God, and we're going to be content 71 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,000 with whatever Lottie is assigned to us. 72 00:04:34,100 --> 00:04:37,700 But know the Israelites are like you and me, we're stubborn no 73 00:04:37,700 --> 00:04:39,800 matter how many warnings God gives us, no matter how many 74 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:43,300 sermons we hear. No matter how many Social events 75 00:04:43,300 --> 00:04:47,300 occur to get our attention. We're still headstrong head 76 00:04:47,300 --> 00:04:51,100 towards our will. And so what does God do, while 77 00:04:51,100 --> 00:04:53,100 he brings another event of judgment? 78 00:04:53,100 --> 00:04:57,200 And there is still believe it or not, murmurings in the camp, you 79 00:04:57,200 --> 00:05:02,000 still had people talking whether or not Moses and Aaron were 80 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:07,500 really the ones who are called by God, we're holy to, we're 81 00:05:07,700 --> 00:05:11,800 called people too. So how is the Lord going to 82 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:14,100 settle this dispute? How is he going to put this to 83 00:05:14,100 --> 00:05:16,800 rest, while he's going to do something that we're going to 84 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:20,500 read here number 17, instead of coming in judgment, he's going 85 00:05:20,500 --> 00:05:22,600 to provide another miracle. But oh, he's going to come and 86 00:05:22,608 --> 00:05:26,500 great gentleness and though it is going to be a gentle 87 00:05:26,500 --> 00:05:29,800 demonstration of his power, it is nonetheless, powerful. 88 00:05:30,100 --> 00:05:33,600 I want you to read with me. The first few verses number 17 89 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:38,600 verse 1, the Lord spoke to Moses saying, speak to the people of 90 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:43,500 Israel and get from them. Staffs one for each father's 91 00:05:43,500 --> 00:05:47,600 house from all their Chiefs, according to their fathers 92 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:53,900 houses, 12 staffs right. Each man's name on his staff and 93 00:05:53,900 --> 00:05:56,600 right Aaron's name on the staff of Levi's. 94 00:05:57,200 --> 00:06:00,600 For there shall be one staff for the head of each father's house. 95 00:06:01,100 --> 00:06:04,300 Then you shall deposit them in the tent of meeting before the 96 00:06:04,300 --> 00:06:07,500 testimony. Where I meet with you and the 97 00:06:07,500 --> 00:06:10,600 staff of the man whom I choose shall Sprout. 98 00:06:11,500 --> 00:06:14,900 Thus, I will make to cease from me, the grumblings of the people 99 00:06:14,900 --> 00:06:18,500 of Israel, which they Grumble against you. 100 00:06:19,900 --> 00:06:22,100 Trust me, this is going somewhere. 101 00:06:24,500 --> 00:06:26,400 The instructions are straightforward, are they not 102 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:31,300 God tells Moses to call for each chief of the tribes to bring 103 00:06:31,300 --> 00:06:37,100 forth a staff, a staff, with the name of the chief on the staff 104 00:06:37,100 --> 00:06:40,400 itself and when it came to the tribe of Levi, Aaron was to put 105 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:44,300 his name on his Rod. Now, why would the Lord demand 106 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:47,100 these kind of instruments? Because again, if you're 107 00:06:47,100 --> 00:06:50,400 familiar with the Bible, you understand that a staff, a rod 108 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:54,400 was a symbol of authority. You see it being exercised 109 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:57,100 throughout the Exodus where many, many of the Miracles were 110 00:06:57,100 --> 00:07:00,700 used through what Moses would wield when that was the staff 111 00:07:00,900 --> 00:07:05,000 and God honored that and even the staff early on, in The 112 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:08,800 Exodus Journey or at least the attempt to bring about an exodus 113 00:07:09,100 --> 00:07:12,000 swallowed up, the other staffs of the Servants of pharaoh. 114 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:14,600 And so you see, this picture in the context of The Wider 115 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:17,500 context, that our staff speaks of dominance and superiority, 116 00:07:18,100 --> 00:07:21,800 you see it even in some of the Psalms the famous Psalm Psalm 117 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:24,900 23. With a Shepherd, has a staff and 118 00:07:24,900 --> 00:07:27,300 that staff also speaks of authority of leadership 119 00:07:27,300 --> 00:07:29,000 comforting and guiding the Sheep. 120 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:31,800 You read, also in prophecies in a different examples and 121 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:35,400 scenarios where there are rulers and commanders of Clans and 122 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:39,300 kingdoms who had a scepter and that scepter again speaks of 123 00:07:39,300 --> 00:07:42,100 authority. So this was not a strange thing 124 00:07:42,100 --> 00:07:44,500 for the Lord to request from these leaders of these Twelve 125 00:07:44,500 --> 00:07:47,100 Tribes. He was asking to bring these 126 00:07:47,100 --> 00:07:51,500 emblems of authority to bring about a demonstration. 127 00:07:51,500 --> 00:07:56,300 That would prove which Each one was in fact chosen by him to be 128 00:07:56,300 --> 00:07:59,800 the Priestly line. And so they come forward with 129 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:03,900 these staffs and before exploring that concept further, 130 00:08:04,100 --> 00:08:07,300 let's understand the nature of these staffs their branches. 131 00:08:08,300 --> 00:08:12,200 They weren't very sophisticated, but they were a part of a Life 132 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:14,600 Source at one point in obviously, they were cut off 133 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:16,800 from that Life Source. They dried up, and they 134 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:21,100 withered, and they were used as as these kind of instruments. 135 00:08:22,100 --> 00:08:24,200 So in essence, when you realize, what these staffs are, they're 136 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:28,500 just dead sticks, but they hold so much representation 137 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:31,900 especially in this moment. And so these sticks are going to 138 00:08:31,900 --> 00:08:36,600 be brought and they are going to be in the presence of God and 139 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:38,000 overnight. We hurt rear. 140 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:39,900 It. The Lord will choose one of 141 00:08:39,900 --> 00:08:44,600 those staffs to sprout and the one that would Sprout would 142 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:50,100 indicate his will his consecration his purpose for 143 00:08:50,100 --> 00:08:53,900 this nation. Now, you're beginning, hopefully 144 00:08:53,900 --> 00:08:56,800 to see the universal application of this true though. 145 00:08:56,800 --> 00:09:00,900 It is a unique incidents. Essentially what the Lord is 146 00:09:00,900 --> 00:09:02,800 saying. To this nation is I'm going to 147 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:10,800 take a rootless sapless, lifeless stick And I'm going to 148 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:15,300 resurrect it. And when I bring it back to life 149 00:09:15,300 --> 00:09:22,800 then you will know. My will you will know whom I 150 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:27,100 have chosen. And though, God raise the dead 151 00:09:27,100 --> 00:09:29,200 on many occasions. Throughout the word of God. 152 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:32,800 There is something about this particular Resurrection doesn't? 153 00:09:33,500 --> 00:09:35,100 It doesn't seem like there's a connection. 154 00:09:35,100 --> 00:09:37,600 It seems insignificant. It seems like a random Miracle 155 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:40,000 but no, it points to the resurrection that you and I are 156 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:41,700 singing and celebrating about today. 157 00:09:42,500 --> 00:09:44,700 Would you believe it? Yes. 158 00:09:44,700 --> 00:09:48,200 Christ is the theme of The Bible and look here again in chapter 159 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:52,500 17 verse 6. Moses spoke to the people of 160 00:09:52,508 --> 00:09:57,300 Israel and all their Chiefs gave him staffs one for each Chief, 161 00:09:57,300 --> 00:10:01,000 according to their fathers houses, 12 staffs and the staff 162 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:04,600 of Aaron was among their staff eyes. 163 00:10:04,900 --> 00:10:08,700 I love that phrase. The staff of Aaron was among 164 00:10:08,700 --> 00:10:11,600 their staffs. It's not very difficult to see 165 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:15,200 how this points to some measure of the nature of our Lord Jesus 166 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:18,800 Christ. That Jesus the one that we 167 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:20,600 worship. The one that we adore became 168 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:24,500 like one of us and physically dwelt among us, he was in our 169 00:10:24,500 --> 00:10:28,100 midst and what the people saw with Aaron's Rod at this point 170 00:10:28,100 --> 00:10:30,300 as well. Most men witness and be held 171 00:10:30,300 --> 00:10:32,500 while Jesus was on the earth a Jewish man. 172 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:39,300 Who carried the physical features of of a human who 173 00:10:39,300 --> 00:10:46,200 operated as a true man. Who ate, who grew who worked? 174 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:49,500 Who is weary? Who thirsted? 175 00:10:50,300 --> 00:10:54,900 Who eventually died? And he had no former Majesty 176 00:10:54,900 --> 00:10:58,700 that we should look at him and he was tempted in every respect 177 00:10:58,700 --> 00:11:02,300 though without sin. But Christ, not only had a human 178 00:11:02,300 --> 00:11:05,100 life Christ, actually died a very human death. 179 00:11:06,300 --> 00:11:10,200 He was nailed with real nails, and it penetrated real flesh. 180 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:15,100 He did sweat. He did shed blood. 181 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:20,800 He was bruised, he was beaten and eventually he was laid 182 00:11:20,900 --> 00:11:25,600 bodily in a real tomb. And so, like Aaron's Rod among 183 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:29,700 the other stash, the physical expiration of Christ's body was 184 00:11:29,700 --> 00:11:32,600 not really perceived as any different of someone else's. 185 00:11:34,300 --> 00:11:37,300 His greatest enemies and his most faithful followers really 186 00:11:37,300 --> 00:11:43,000 believe that that he died. That he died until a short 187 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:46,500 amount of time has passed come here and read what happens in 188 00:11:46,500 --> 00:11:50,900 verse 7 of this chapter and Moses deposited the staffs 189 00:11:50,900 --> 00:11:53,800 before the Lord in the tent of the testimony. 190 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:58,000 Remember that was the place of worship that did not have an 191 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:00,100 open entrance for just anybody to come in know, there were 192 00:12:00,100 --> 00:12:02,700 priests who can come in only and among the priests. 193 00:12:02,700 --> 00:12:04,800 There is only the high priest who can go to the most holy 194 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:10,700 Place, Moses takes these staffs. These dead dry withered. 6. 195 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:14,500 And he brings them into the very presence of God as close as he 196 00:12:14,500 --> 00:12:17,600 can get, and he just laid them there. 197 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:23,500 He walked out, look what happens in verse 8 on the next day, 198 00:12:24,100 --> 00:12:28,900 Moses went into the tent of the testimony and behold the staff 199 00:12:28,900 --> 00:12:33,000 of errand for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth Buds 200 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:37,500 and produce blossoms and it bore ripe almonds. 201 00:12:38,700 --> 00:12:43,600 What was Moses face like? When he realized that early 202 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:46,000 morning, that there weren't just Little Sprouts that came out, 203 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:50,500 but you had the full maturation of an almond Branch right there, 204 00:12:51,300 --> 00:12:57,000 fully developed in one night. And yet, you see here that these 205 00:12:57,000 --> 00:13:01,300 branches were brought into the tent of the meeting. and in 206 00:13:01,300 --> 00:13:05,800 secret in seclusion and intervention of God took place, 207 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:10,300 No I beheld it, there is no external elements, that 208 00:13:10,300 --> 00:13:14,400 influenced it and in like manner, when Christ was buried 209 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:17,800 and sealed from the outside world, the exact moments of 210 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:20,800 Animation entering into his frame. 211 00:13:21,900 --> 00:13:26,100 The precise details of him, removing those burial cloths. 212 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:30,800 Him standing up from that slab that they placed him on was not 213 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:33,300 observed by any human eye, though. 214 00:13:33,300 --> 00:13:36,300 The evidence of his resurrection was perceived very clearly 215 00:13:36,300 --> 00:13:41,100 afterwards. All that the people knew with 216 00:13:41,100 --> 00:13:45,600 those rods that entered in is that those rods went in as dead 217 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:49,100 rods and one came out back to life. 218 00:13:50,700 --> 00:13:55,100 And someone already observed The God Who worked in the sanctuary 219 00:13:55,300 --> 00:13:59,400 to bring life to this staff is the same God who worked in that 220 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:01,700 tomb to bring Jesus back to life. 221 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:06,800 Resurrection Life. Is there more to say about this 222 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:08,400 miracle? Oh, you better believe it. 223 00:14:10,100 --> 00:14:12,600 Out of all the manifestations that could have occurred out of 224 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:15,700 all the fruits and of all the vegetation. 225 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:20,200 We are told to very plainly and clearly that it bore ripe, 226 00:14:20,300 --> 00:14:24,500 almonds almonds. And if you come here on Friday, 227 00:14:24,900 --> 00:14:28,000 you know, that there's no detail in the Bible, that's by 228 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:30,400 accident. I've looked at this and I 229 00:14:30,408 --> 00:14:32,800 thought almonds, I've all things almonds and there's a scriptural 230 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:35,800 evidence of what that reveals but want to go a little deeper 231 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:37,900 and think almonds of all things, why almonds? 232 00:14:38,700 --> 00:14:42,400 So I decided to look up, almond, trees, and I realized that 233 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:46,000 almond trees and I confirmed it with Pastor Daniel who's very 234 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:47,900 familiar with the agriculture there in Israel. 235 00:14:49,100 --> 00:14:54,700 That the Almond Tree was special in this, that it would Blossom 236 00:14:54,800 --> 00:15:00,600 very late into the winter. The Almond Tree was in essence, 237 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:04,800 one of the first plants that would reveal life. 238 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:10,000 In a very unusual time of the year and on average, you would 239 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:13,600 see the almond trees, begin to show their beautiful white and 240 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:17,800 pinkish colors in February of all times of the year. 241 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:24,100 And this has become for many of the Jews and assemble an ancient 242 00:15:24,100 --> 00:15:28,100 symbol of Hope. Because what this almond tree 243 00:15:28,100 --> 00:15:33,000 would do is bring about some reminder that spring is soon 244 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:37,200 coming. That this, this harsh and cruel, 245 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:41,800 winter is soon over, and that there is something to come and 246 00:15:41,808 --> 00:15:43,900 there is something to look forward to and there's something 247 00:15:43,900 --> 00:15:48,300 to anticipate and the joy that this almond tree would bring was 248 00:15:48,300 --> 00:15:51,100 not just the obvious fruit that it would offer at some point. 249 00:15:51,100 --> 00:15:56,100 But it's very presence in the midst of again, a very Bleak and 250 00:15:56,100 --> 00:16:01,400 gloomy time of the year. The almond tree at that time. 251 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:05,100 And in this time, even not part of the world was God's natural 252 00:16:05,100 --> 00:16:09,100 signpost. That spring is on its way. 253 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:15,600 You can endure a little longer. You can believe that there is 254 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:19,400 more to come. And do you think that the 255 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:21,700 resurrection of Jesus has a different message? 256 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:26,600 It has the very same message for you and I first Corinthians 257 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:32,700 15:20, Paul tells us this but in fact Christ has been raised from 258 00:16:32,700 --> 00:16:35,900 the dead. The first fruits of those who 259 00:16:35,900 --> 00:16:41,000 have fallen asleep. That's that's the Holy Spirit 260 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:45,200 giving language to a very practical thing that we should 261 00:16:45,300 --> 00:16:48,500 adopt in our own thinking the first fruits. 262 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:54,500 Of those who have fallen asleep, meaning what, that Jesus dying 263 00:16:54,500 --> 00:16:58,100 and Rising again. Should create the same kind of 264 00:16:58,100 --> 00:17:01,500 anticipation that Israelite would know when they would begin 265 00:17:01,500 --> 00:17:03,900 to see the first fruits of their crop in their Harvest. 266 00:17:03,900 --> 00:17:07,300 And they've been called by God in the law to bring that first 267 00:17:07,300 --> 00:17:10,900 fruits to the house of God and to dedicate it to recognize God 268 00:17:10,900 --> 00:17:13,500 for it. But also in faith to believe 269 00:17:13,500 --> 00:17:17,000 that there is more to come, that there is a harvest to be 270 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:19,500 expected and they would celebrate God for that. 271 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:22,400 And this is the language that the Holy Spirit has given Paul 272 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:24,300 to ascribe to Jesus. Resurrection. 273 00:17:24,300 --> 00:17:27,700 His resurrection is The first fruits. 274 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:31,700 And so you and I also have to understand that when we meditate 275 00:17:31,700 --> 00:17:35,900 and rehearse and reflect and sing about the resurrection, we 276 00:17:35,900 --> 00:17:41,400 are also believing for something to come for something to arrive. 277 00:17:41,700 --> 00:17:43,800 And what is it? That is arriving. 278 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:47,600 Well, again the firstfruits predicted and pledged a harvest 279 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:50,400 to come and it is no different for Resurrection Life. 280 00:17:50,500 --> 00:17:53,800 Jesus died and rose again. Indicating what? 281 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:56,300 There is a great Resurrection to arrive. 282 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:59,300 Bye. Among whom the redeemed. 283 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:04,300 And so here's the thing, we look at the resurrection, we hear 284 00:18:04,300 --> 00:18:07,900 about the resurrection, we preach the resurrection not as a 285 00:18:07,908 --> 00:18:12,300 past event, But also as a promise for something tomorrow 286 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:15,200 and in the same way that almond tree. 287 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:21,100 Promised. During a cruel time of the year. 288 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:24,500 A wet time. Very difficult time for just 289 00:18:24,500 --> 00:18:30,100 even daily activity promised. There is a season coming spring 290 00:18:30,100 --> 00:18:33,200 is coming. Christ's Resurrection promises 291 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:37,700 in Eternal spring. Christ's Resurrection assures us 292 00:18:37,700 --> 00:18:40,100 that there is a Time coming in which you and I will be able to 293 00:18:40,100 --> 00:18:45,200 escape the brutality of this broken world that this long 294 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:48,500 chapter of human history. Will eventually come to an end 295 00:18:48,500 --> 00:18:52,300 and we will enter into a new age with new bodies and we will be 296 00:18:52,300 --> 00:18:55,500 delivered from all time. And for all time the very things 297 00:18:55,500 --> 00:18:59,200 that we try to whether an indoor day after day that is what 298 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:02,400 Christ's Resurrection does. And so when you see this concept 299 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:04,500 of an almond tree, you are seeing something that these 300 00:19:04,500 --> 00:19:05,600 people would have been very familiar. 301 00:19:05,900 --> 00:19:08,300 Her with there is something ahead. 302 00:19:08,700 --> 00:19:10,400 Something happened? Yes. 303 00:19:10,900 --> 00:19:13,200 But there's something also ahead. 304 00:19:14,100 --> 00:19:16,400 If you're in Christ, you can believe that. 305 00:19:17,100 --> 00:19:19,400 If you're in Christ, that's what the resurrection means to you. 306 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:23,900 How can you say, you 66% of Americans that there is no 307 00:19:23,900 --> 00:19:26,200 practical implication of the Resurrection? 308 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:28,900 It is the very anchor of your hope. 309 00:19:29,700 --> 00:19:33,900 It is the very source that you refer to Moment by moment saying 310 00:19:33,900 --> 00:19:37,700 this is not it, there is more to come. 311 00:19:37,900 --> 00:19:40,700 There is something that I have in terms of a future and a 312 00:19:40,708 --> 00:19:44,500 future that is secure and a future that delivers in a future 313 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:50,000 that promises spring Paul uses this language. 314 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:54,700 And so what you see here with number 17 is a miracle of 315 00:19:54,700 --> 00:19:58,700 Resurrection. Yes, of a staff but preparing us 316 00:19:58,700 --> 00:20:01,800 for a greater Correction preparing us for something more 317 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:05,500 significant than an almond tree, promising, warm weather, and 318 00:20:05,500 --> 00:20:08,400 bright scenery. Now, there is heaven to come, 319 00:20:09,100 --> 00:20:13,200 there is a saving from this body that is fractured and broken by 320 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:16,000 the fall. And where do we look to that? 321 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:19,500 Not a staff. But A Savior Jesus Christ. 322 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:27,700 But remember, God called for air and staff to be inscribed with 323 00:20:27,700 --> 00:20:29,700 his name. That represented the tribe of 324 00:20:29,700 --> 00:20:35,900 Levi for for a specific purpose and this context these people in 325 00:20:35,900 --> 00:20:40,200 every single tribe apparently were not content with one. 326 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:42,800 What God had put them in, in terms of their position of 327 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:44,700 leadership in terms of their service. 328 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:49,600 And they wanted to use syrup they wanted what these men had 329 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:52,700 specifically Aaron. And so God was coming to his 330 00:20:52,700 --> 00:20:55,900 defense because it wasn't about Aaron, it was about God's 331 00:20:55,900 --> 00:21:01,200 election over Aaron as a priest. And so God is doing this whole 332 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:07,700 thing to authenticate the priesthood of Aaron as 333 00:21:07,700 --> 00:21:10,700 descendants. Now in reading into this and 334 00:21:10,700 --> 00:21:14,300 looking into this, I'm aware that we're now getting into 335 00:21:14,300 --> 00:21:17,500 deeper waters. So if you have questions, see 336 00:21:17,500 --> 00:21:21,100 Pastor Daniel after the service and he'll be more than willing 337 00:21:21,100 --> 00:21:23,900 to answer these questions. I feel like the author of 338 00:21:23,900 --> 00:21:26,300 Hebrews when he began to speak about what I'm about to speak 339 00:21:26,300 --> 00:21:31,600 about was hesitant because Again, we're now going into 340 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:34,300 meat. This is not milk. 341 00:21:34,900 --> 00:21:39,100 So I will try to present it in the form of milk as milky as 342 00:21:39,100 --> 00:21:43,100 possible. But if you're going to get it, 343 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:48,100 it will bless you. Remember, we see here that God 344 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:53,400 wants to put his Mark of approval, on the priesthood of 345 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:58,400 Aaron. And it worked, it worked you 346 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:00,900 read at the end of it, you realize that these people were 347 00:22:00,900 --> 00:22:04,800 humbled, they were broken and they stopped with the Rebellion. 348 00:22:04,900 --> 00:22:07,400 They just they were satisfied with what they have seen. 349 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:09,300 Okay. Aaron and his descendants, their 350 00:22:09,300 --> 00:22:12,200 priesthood. That's God's choice and that 351 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:15,300 they were silenced and the murmuring ceased. 352 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:18,700 But something happens as you read on throughout the Bible, as 353 00:22:18,700 --> 00:22:22,400 you progress throughout the narrative, you also see that 354 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:25,200 there is greater divine revelation being granted to this 355 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:28,400 people group called Israel. And one of the revelations 356 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:32,200 that's given to this People. Israel is that there is another 357 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:39,300 priesthood to come. As binding as they erotic 358 00:22:39,300 --> 00:22:40,400 priesthood. Was. 359 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:44,200 This nation was told of a messiah to come. 360 00:22:45,300 --> 00:22:48,000 And they were told that a king would arrive on the scene and he 361 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:53,500 would bring an eternal Dominion. But when you read and explore 362 00:22:53,500 --> 00:22:59,400 this in detail, you realize that this king would also be a 363 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:03,200 priest. That was contradictory to the 364 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:05,600 system. Here of Israel, you didn't have 365 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:07,200 Kings who were priests or priests or Kings. 366 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:09,500 You're either a priest or you're a king, and those are two 367 00:23:09,500 --> 00:23:11,600 different, two different roles all together. 368 00:23:11,900 --> 00:23:16,700 And yet, in Psalm 110, we are told about the Messiah and at 369 00:23:16,700 --> 00:23:20,300 one point in verse 4, we are told that he would be priest 370 00:23:20,300 --> 00:23:25,500 forever. Priest forever, according to the 371 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:30,100 order of who not Aaron Melchizedek. 372 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:32,800 Now, you see my struggle here. Now I got to tell you a 373 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:34,800 Melchizedek is and have to keep you here. 374 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:39,700 You're gonna have to miss lunch. I won't do that Melchizedek. 375 00:23:40,700 --> 00:23:44,400 Not a foreign idea to the Old Testament, though. 376 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:48,400 His appearance is rare. It is absolutely significant. 377 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:54,800 It held prophetic. Power and prediction after the 378 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:58,900 order of Melchizedek, and I believe that God knew the 379 00:23:58,900 --> 00:24:03,000 difficulty that his own people. At this time, would have an 380 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:07,200 embracing this idea of a priesthood apart from Aaron. 381 00:24:08,300 --> 00:24:10,400 I mean, this is the system that they've known for hundreds and 382 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:14,900 hundreds of years, the Levites, this sacrifices, the offerings, 383 00:24:14,900 --> 00:24:18,600 the order the furnishings and now, God is telling us that 384 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:22,700 there is a messiah to come and when This Messiah comes, he will 385 00:24:22,700 --> 00:24:25,400 not just sit on a throne but he will assume the role of a 386 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:29,300 mediator. If you don't believe that there 387 00:24:29,300 --> 00:24:31,500 was a struggle, all there was a struggle because we have a whole 388 00:24:31,500 --> 00:24:34,600 book about that struggle. The book of Hebrews in the New 389 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:38,300 Testament, the whole point of the book of Hebrews is you had 390 00:24:38,300 --> 00:24:42,100 Jewish Christians, who did acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah 391 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:46,000 but we're being tempted, not to revert back to the judicial the 392 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:51,300 Jewish system They wanted to go back to the law, go back to 393 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:55,300 acknowledging Aaron as a superior priesthood, and they 394 00:24:55,300 --> 00:24:58,000 were experiencing persecution. And there is internal strife. 395 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:01,800 And so this author inspired by the Holy Spirit comes in and he 396 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:07,000 makes this glorious case in the book of Hebrews of why Jesus is 397 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:10,600 greater than Moses. An amazing study. 398 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:12,700 Maybe you didn't know this. I'll just throw it in there. 399 00:25:12,900 --> 00:25:18,700 People believe that the book of Hebrews was actually a sermon is 400 00:25:18,700 --> 00:25:22,300 actually a sermon and so if you read the book of Hebrews out 401 00:25:22,300 --> 00:25:25,800 loud it is estimated that you can complete it around 60 402 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:28,800 minutes. When I learned that I was very 403 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:31,300 comforted because I learned that I have 60 Minutes to preach a 404 00:25:31,308 --> 00:25:33,400 sermon, and nobody can say anything. 405 00:25:34,300 --> 00:25:39,800 It's in the Bible. It's this Rich in-depth study 406 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:43,700 where the author is using what they were understanding to be 407 00:25:43,700 --> 00:25:46,000 their Authority. And it is Authority the the 408 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:50,400 Hebrew scriptures and he showed Jesus being Superior from the 409 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:55,100 Hebrew scriptures and in this is one of the arguments he makes to 410 00:25:55,100 --> 00:25:58,800 persuade these Believers to be Concrete in their faith that 411 00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:01,500 Jesus, as their mediator sufficed. 412 00:26:01,500 --> 00:26:04,100 And not only suffice was Superior to any other 413 00:26:04,100 --> 00:26:06,300 priesthood. Hebrew seven. 414 00:26:06,300 --> 00:26:07,700 Look at this. In verse 22. 415 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:10,000 All I want you to see it. Turn your pages there. 416 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:24,500 Hebrews 7:22. Hebrew 7:22 reads, this makes 417 00:26:24,500 --> 00:26:28,700 Jesus the guarantor of a better Covenant. 418 00:26:29,500 --> 00:26:32,700 The former priest were many in number because they were 419 00:26:32,700 --> 00:26:37,000 prevented by Death from continuing in office but he 420 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:41,200 holds his priesthood permanently because he continues forever. 421 00:26:42,300 --> 00:26:45,200 Yes Hallelujah indeed, I love the rumbling of your amens this 422 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:47,600 afternoon. Is it not true? 423 00:26:48,300 --> 00:26:50,400 And why does Jesus continue forever? 424 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:53,700 Because he has been raised to life I've never to die again. 425 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:57,000 And so here's what the author is saying, why would you, you 426 00:26:57,000 --> 00:27:00,500 Jewish Christians go back to a system in which the priest 427 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:04,100 cannot continue and hold office. When you now have in the New 428 00:27:04,100 --> 00:27:06,700 Covenant, a priest who Remains the Same priest? 429 00:27:06,700 --> 00:27:09,700 The same high priests with the one single offering sufficient 430 00:27:09,700 --> 00:27:12,300 for all of eternity. Why would you go back to that? 431 00:27:12,900 --> 00:27:17,000 Why And you see the connection that I'm trying to make here 432 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:23,300 with number 17 in what way that God in this Covenant 433 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:28,400 authenticate to a skeptical and critical crowd that the ironic 434 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:32,000 priesthood was his choice. Resurrection. 435 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:36,600 He raised a staff to life and it's silence them. 436 00:27:37,500 --> 00:27:39,000 And now we come to the New Covenant. 437 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:43,100 A covenant that was predicted in the old and Jesus. 438 00:27:43,900 --> 00:27:47,600 Our God consistent with his ways. 439 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:52,700 Now looks to a skeptical crowd Jew and Gentile. 440 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:57,200 How am I going to authenticate that the priesthood of Jesus is 441 00:27:57,200 --> 00:28:00,000 superior to that even of Aaron's Resurrection. 442 00:28:01,700 --> 00:28:07,200 I've raised him from the dead and because he is risen, he is 443 00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:11,100 greater than all and not just greater than the aaronic 444 00:28:11,100 --> 00:28:14,600 priesthood. There are many staffs there are 445 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:17,600 many rods. There are many expressions and 446 00:28:17,600 --> 00:28:22,300 ideologies and even faiths that attempt to challenge the 447 00:28:22,300 --> 00:28:26,400 exclusive message of the gospel. And they are lay it out there 448 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:29,800 and many attempt to say look like Aaron staff. 449 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:32,600 He is numbered among others. They all look the same. 450 00:28:32,600 --> 00:28:34,700 They all point to the same reality, they all share 451 00:28:34,700 --> 00:28:38,200 Authority. But may I add this afternoon 452 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:42,600 boldly without fear with the courage that I have here in the 453 00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:45,000 scriptures. And by the Holy Spirit, no 454 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:48,100 matter what kind of authority claims whatever they want, none 455 00:28:48,100 --> 00:28:51,700 of them have risen from the dead not Muhammad. 456 00:28:54,000 --> 00:29:00,200 Not Buddha. Not Joseph Smith, no one has 457 00:29:00,200 --> 00:29:03,900 risen from the dead except our God, our Christ, Our Messiah 458 00:29:03,900 --> 00:29:16,200 Jesus, so let them claim all they want their in the Tomb. 459 00:29:16,200 --> 00:29:20,600 Still, they did not come out. Sprouting with life. 460 00:29:20,900 --> 00:29:24,400 They did not predict their own death and not just their own 461 00:29:24,400 --> 00:29:29,100 death but they're right. Rising from the dead and Christ 462 00:29:29,100 --> 00:29:31,500 not only predicted. He says I have the authority to 463 00:29:31,500 --> 00:29:35,000 lay it down and I have the authority to rise it up again, 464 00:29:35,500 --> 00:29:38,400 that's our Christ. And so we see here that in the 465 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:44,500 same way this staff coming to life authenticated a priesthood 466 00:29:44,500 --> 00:29:47,400 of the past that priesthood is now obsolete because a greater 467 00:29:47,400 --> 00:29:50,800 Resurrection has taken place, the resurrection of our Lord and 468 00:29:50,800 --> 00:29:54,800 savior, We look at this and we think this is glorious. 469 00:29:55,600 --> 00:29:59,000 Yes, it is glorious. But there's even more we come 470 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:01,500 here to verse 10 of our text. And what do we read? 471 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:07,000 That's actually read verse 9, then Moses brought out all the 472 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:11,300 staffs from before the Lord, to all the people of Israel and 473 00:30:11,300 --> 00:30:14,500 they looked. And each man took his staff. 474 00:30:14,500 --> 00:30:16,700 I love that. I love that the Holy Spirit 475 00:30:16,700 --> 00:30:19,600 included that Moses goes in that next morning. 476 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:23,400 He gathers all these sticks and he brings it out and publicly 477 00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:26,100 displays and before all the people and they all with their 478 00:30:26,100 --> 00:30:29,600 own eyes recognized, as they looked at the names on each 479 00:30:29,600 --> 00:30:32,500 staff, Aaron staff has come to life. 480 00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:35,700 And we have our Christ who resurrected. 481 00:30:35,700 --> 00:30:38,300 Yeah. Although it was secluded and the 482 00:30:38,300 --> 00:30:42,900 immediate infusion of that animation and energy that 483 00:30:42,900 --> 00:30:45,800 brought his body at up. Again, although that was 484 00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:48,400 concealed. He came out. 485 00:30:49,400 --> 00:30:53,000 And when he did come out, he showed himself publicly and when 486 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:56,900 he showed himself publicly, there was no denying, this is 487 00:30:56,900 --> 00:30:59,200 the same man that I saw crucified. 488 00:30:59,500 --> 00:31:01,700 This is the same man, that was buried in. 489 00:31:01,700 --> 00:31:05,700 Joseph's, tomb, why did he lie? Care and staff? 490 00:31:05,700 --> 00:31:08,800 Have his name inscribed on him? No, he had marks. 491 00:31:11,500 --> 00:31:13,700 And he came to a doubting disciple and he says, put your 492 00:31:13,700 --> 00:31:16,800 finger here. Touch my side. 493 00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:22,500 And so these Apostles and many other disciples as Paul said, 494 00:31:22,500 --> 00:31:27,300 500 at one time beheld him, he came out of the Tomb like how 495 00:31:27,300 --> 00:31:30,300 Aaron came out? His staff came out of this tent 496 00:31:30,500 --> 00:31:33,300 and there is no denying. This is God's choice. 497 00:31:33,700 --> 00:31:36,400 This is God's doing. This is a miracle from heaven. 498 00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:39,300 We read on. And what do we see in verse 10? 499 00:31:39,300 --> 00:31:43,200 And the Lord said to Moses, put back the staff of Aaron before 500 00:31:43,200 --> 00:31:48,200 the testimony to be kept as a sign for the rebels that you may 501 00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:51,100 make an end of their grumblings against me. 502 00:31:51,100 --> 00:31:55,800 Lest they die. So, Moses was called to take 503 00:31:55,800 --> 00:32:01,500 that one staff that miraculous rod and to return it into the 504 00:32:01,500 --> 00:32:07,000 tent of meeting and to place it in the very presence of God and 505 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:09,000 it's not difficult to see how that applies to our 506 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:10,300 understanding of the Resurrection. 507 00:32:10,300 --> 00:32:12,600 Does it? Yes, Jesus. 508 00:32:13,300 --> 00:32:19,800 In a tomb hidden. New resurrection and Jesus left 509 00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:25,100 that tomb and he showed his marks and people saw and 510 00:32:25,100 --> 00:32:27,400 believed that he is indeed raised from the dead. 511 00:32:27,400 --> 00:32:32,800 His identity cannot be mistaken. But Jesus, just like this Rod 512 00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:35,600 returned into the presence of God. 513 00:32:37,300 --> 00:32:41,400 And he did not just resurrect but he ascended on high and as 514 00:32:41,400 --> 00:32:44,500 he ascended he entered into the very throne room of God and is 515 00:32:44,500 --> 00:32:49,000 seated at the right hand of majesty and though he is hidden 516 00:32:49,000 --> 00:32:52,900 from our sight, we believe he is coming back again and so we see 517 00:32:52,900 --> 00:32:54,900 this staff. It goes back into the very 518 00:32:54,900 --> 00:32:58,700 throne room of God at that time, which was the Ark of the 519 00:32:58,700 --> 00:33:02,400 Covenant and it was in close. Proximity to him, isn't the 520 00:33:02,400 --> 00:33:06,800 Bible amazing? But this is what I want to bring 521 00:33:06,800 --> 00:33:10,400 your attention to in closing, something happens to these 522 00:33:10,400 --> 00:33:14,500 people as they witnessed this miracle, what did they witness? 523 00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:17,300 We read here. And the people verse 12 of 524 00:33:17,300 --> 00:33:23,400 Israel said to Moses behold. We perish, we are undone, we are 525 00:33:23,400 --> 00:33:27,000 all undone. Everyone who comes near, who 526 00:33:27,000 --> 00:33:29,900 comes near to the Tabernacle of the Lord shall die. 527 00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:36,100 Are we all to perish? And that's how the story ends. 528 00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:42,100 And so you obviously see a Contrition here, there is a 529 00:33:42,100 --> 00:33:44,500 humbling that's taken place with these Rebels. 530 00:33:44,500 --> 00:33:48,100 That were very bold and accusing God and questioning his ways. 531 00:33:48,400 --> 00:33:53,200 But after this particular miracle, They had this 532 00:33:53,200 --> 00:33:55,900 overwhelming sense that they were going to be judged. 533 00:33:57,600 --> 00:34:00,600 They realized their fault, they realized their mistake, they 534 00:34:00,600 --> 00:34:03,700 realized their error and now they are living with this 535 00:34:03,700 --> 00:34:07,700 anticipation. That God is going to do 536 00:34:07,700 --> 00:34:12,199 something to us. And I want to make this point 537 00:34:12,199 --> 00:34:16,400 and it might be contrary to what you might hear on Easter 538 00:34:16,400 --> 00:34:19,800 weekend. This is not an unreasonable 539 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:25,600 reaction. Because there is an element of 540 00:34:25,600 --> 00:34:31,199 the Resurrection that we must consider and that is the return 541 00:34:31,199 --> 00:34:36,500 of Jesus in judgment. Now, that's not my own idea. 542 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:39,300 It's not because I love preaching judgment. 543 00:34:39,800 --> 00:34:43,199 It's because in the minds of the Apostle, they could not 544 00:34:43,199 --> 00:34:48,000 disassociate the doctrine of the resurrection and the reality of 545 00:34:48,000 --> 00:34:52,000 a returning, King, who is come to vindicate. 546 00:34:53,400 --> 00:34:56,300 Can I prove that to you in closing, meet with me here? 547 00:34:57,900 --> 00:35:02,700 In Acts 17. And as you turn there, I want 548 00:35:02,700 --> 00:35:06,400 you to see something that Paul preached to Gentiles and verse 549 00:35:06,400 --> 00:35:17,000 30. Acts 17:30. 550 00:35:18,000 --> 00:35:23,000 He's at the Apostle says, the times of ignorance God, 551 00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:27,000 overlooked. But now he commands all people 552 00:35:27,000 --> 00:35:32,400 everywhere to repent because he has fixed a day on which he will 553 00:35:32,400 --> 00:35:38,200 judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed 554 00:35:38,200 --> 00:35:43,000 and of this, he has given Assurance to All by raising him 555 00:35:43,000 --> 00:35:48,000 from the dead. So, you understand here that the 556 00:35:49,100 --> 00:35:55,000 the idea of a coming judgment is fixed and assured pain. 557 00:35:55,000 --> 00:36:00,300 The resurrection So the disciples understood Christ, 558 00:36:00,400 --> 00:36:03,400 Rising bodily. They've been promised, he's 559 00:36:03,400 --> 00:36:08,100 returning bodily and he's not returning bodily to died for 560 00:36:08,100 --> 00:36:12,000 sins again. He is returning Bali to judge 561 00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:15,800 sin, especially the sin of those who have not repented when they 562 00:36:15,800 --> 00:36:20,600 had the chance. So, here's how they're thinking 563 00:36:20,600 --> 00:36:25,200 because the resurrection is true, you 66% of Americans who 564 00:36:25,200 --> 00:36:28,700 don't understand the Practical implications, listen, because 565 00:36:28,700 --> 00:36:32,700 the resurrection is true. Repentance is necessary. 566 00:36:34,100 --> 00:36:39,600 That's the idea. So Easter is not about figuring 567 00:36:39,600 --> 00:36:41,700 out that week. What kind of cute dress you're 568 00:36:41,700 --> 00:36:43,900 going to wear for that Sunday? So what Easter is about some 569 00:36:43,900 --> 00:36:46,100 about wearing bright colors, it's not about singing more 570 00:36:46,100 --> 00:36:48,200 lively songs. It's not about having a special 571 00:36:48,200 --> 00:36:51,000 Pollock after the service. No, because the resurrection is 572 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:55,800 true repentance. Must be declared And that's what 573 00:36:55,800 --> 00:36:57,600 these men preached. Do we want to be like the New 574 00:36:57,600 --> 00:36:59,200 Testament Church? We need to get back to the New 575 00:36:59,200 --> 00:37:00,500 Testament Church. Okay. 576 00:37:00,500 --> 00:37:02,000 Then, let's see how they preached. 577 00:37:03,300 --> 00:37:06,200 This passage might ruffle some feathers, especially our 578 00:37:06,207 --> 00:37:08,600 traditional view of what Easter is all about. 579 00:37:09,000 --> 00:37:11,500 But Paul shares another dimension of what the 580 00:37:11,500 --> 00:37:14,500 resurrection is proof of, and that is a future coming 581 00:37:15,200 --> 00:37:18,600 judgment. The world both Jew and Gentile. 582 00:37:18,600 --> 00:37:22,800 Small and great will be examined and evaluated in righteousness, 583 00:37:22,900 --> 00:37:26,000 by a man whom God has chosen, and the evidence of this 584 00:37:26,100 --> 00:37:29,700 Universal ruling being a certainty, is that God exalted 585 00:37:29,700 --> 00:37:31,800 him and we'll be the judge of the Earth. 586 00:37:34,600 --> 00:37:39,900 And that is why they emphasized the resurrection because it is 587 00:37:40,000 --> 00:37:41,600 again, Inseparable from repentance. 588 00:37:41,600 --> 00:37:43,900 That's the pattern of preaching throughout the Book of Acts, 589 00:37:44,600 --> 00:37:48,300 they preached resurrection. And in the same breath they 590 00:37:48,300 --> 00:37:51,500 could say Repent Christ is risen. 591 00:37:51,500 --> 00:37:54,600 He is risen indeed. Now repent you don't hear that 592 00:37:54,600 --> 00:37:59,000 second part usually but that's how they preached that's how 593 00:37:59,000 --> 00:38:01,700 they preached. The grave is empty. 594 00:38:01,800 --> 00:38:04,200 Hallelujah. So surrendered to the Lord who 595 00:38:04,200 --> 00:38:09,200 has the keys of death and Hades. so, when we go about telling 596 00:38:09,200 --> 00:38:13,800 others, Christ has resurrected, which we should. 597 00:38:14,700 --> 00:38:19,100 We are also informing them. Of a returning judge. 598 00:38:23,000 --> 00:38:28,300 And now we hear that and we think to ourselves and closing, 599 00:38:28,800 --> 00:38:31,100 what are the practical implications of that? 600 00:38:31,700 --> 00:38:33,900 Well, you heard it and unfortunately you're going to 601 00:38:33,908 --> 00:38:38,100 get different responses to it. And I want to show you the three 602 00:38:38,100 --> 00:38:42,000 different responses that Paul experienced when he preached 603 00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:44,400 this very same message that I'm preaching to you. 604 00:38:44,800 --> 00:38:51,400 So you're there in Acts 17 right now look here in verse 32. now, 605 00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:54,600 when they heard of the resurrection of the Dead, some 606 00:38:55,000 --> 00:39:00,100 mocked, Okay, pause some here. I'm fully aware though. 607 00:39:00,100 --> 00:39:05,700 My prayer is not for this. I am a realist and I understand 608 00:39:05,900 --> 00:39:09,200 that there are different soils and this place this afternoon, I 609 00:39:09,500 --> 00:39:13,000 would not be surprised if leaving this place, some Will 610 00:39:13,000 --> 00:39:16,900 Mock and maybe not outright blaspheme, but you're just, 611 00:39:16,900 --> 00:39:18,900 you're indifferent to this. You could care less. 612 00:39:19,400 --> 00:39:22,400 You see this as a silly myth, this is just a tradition, you're 613 00:39:22,400 --> 00:39:24,900 just no different than any other religion with their High 614 00:39:24,900 --> 00:39:28,800 holidays, in the year. So So yeah the resurrection okay 615 00:39:28,800 --> 00:39:31,900 judgment men we've developed we're past that. 616 00:39:32,000 --> 00:39:37,700 Okay, let's move on here, let's catch up with the times, raising 617 00:39:37,700 --> 00:39:40,700 of the Dead, what are you? What are you speaking about? 618 00:39:41,500 --> 00:39:44,500 So I'm fully aware that there could be some God forbid but 619 00:39:44,500 --> 00:39:47,900 they can be some who will mock you will walk and leave right 620 00:39:47,900 --> 00:39:51,300 out of here with no hint of conviction. 621 00:39:52,100 --> 00:39:54,800 And you'll be just fine and you might show up again next year 622 00:39:55,100 --> 00:39:57,100 and the same thing will happen but God forbid. 623 00:39:57,100 --> 00:40:00,100 Some mocked look at the second part of the verse but others 624 00:40:00,100 --> 00:40:03,800 said, we will hear you again about this. 625 00:40:04,900 --> 00:40:08,400 So unlike the first crowd you had some where their interest 626 00:40:08,400 --> 00:40:13,300 was sparked, huh? Resurrection from the dead, huh? 627 00:40:13,700 --> 00:40:15,400 A coming judgment. Hmm. 628 00:40:16,200 --> 00:40:19,500 Fascinating, you know, you have people like that today who are 629 00:40:19,500 --> 00:40:22,800 were just caught up in philosophy and love debate and 630 00:40:23,400 --> 00:40:27,100 and try to reason everything. And so they're intrigued by this 631 00:40:27,100 --> 00:40:29,200 kind of conversation. And that's what you have here, 632 00:40:29,300 --> 00:40:31,700 whether they were sincerely skeptical, or they were just 633 00:40:31,700 --> 00:40:33,100 trying to be nicer than the first crowd. 634 00:40:33,100 --> 00:40:34,800 I don't know. But here's the one thing, Thing 635 00:40:34,800 --> 00:40:38,100 that I can say for certain this kind of attitude as much as it 636 00:40:38,100 --> 00:40:41,300 is. More honourable than the former 637 00:40:41,500 --> 00:40:45,000 is dangerous. Because it's a delay. 638 00:40:46,600 --> 00:40:49,900 This is delaying. And as one person said, 639 00:40:49,900 --> 00:40:52,400 procrastination is the recruiting sergeant of hell. 640 00:40:55,000 --> 00:40:58,000 We will hear you again about this. 641 00:40:59,000 --> 00:41:01,800 But here's the problem with that, as much as they intended 642 00:41:02,000 --> 00:41:05,900 to have this conversation again conversations about your soul. 643 00:41:05,900 --> 00:41:10,100 The truth about eternity may never happen again and that's 644 00:41:10,100 --> 00:41:13,100 what happened here, verse 33. So Paul went out from their 645 00:41:13,100 --> 00:41:17,600 midst. The preacher left town, he went 646 00:41:17,600 --> 00:41:21,000 on, he moved out with his missionary Endeavors. 647 00:41:21,000 --> 00:41:23,500 No indication that he came to the same group of people at all. 648 00:41:25,200 --> 00:41:28,600 And so there is a sense in which people understand the urgency 649 00:41:28,600 --> 00:41:31,900 and perhaps even in this time of History more than ever realizing 650 00:41:31,900 --> 00:41:35,100 that all the promises of this life are in fact lies. 651 00:41:36,600 --> 00:41:39,200 So there are existential questions, being asked. 652 00:41:39,200 --> 00:41:43,900 And so may God use this weekend to really stir Hearts, but if 653 00:41:43,900 --> 00:41:45,800 your heart is stirred, would you please not? 654 00:41:45,800 --> 00:41:49,700 Leave this place. Delaying what this means for 655 00:41:49,700 --> 00:41:53,200 your soul. Would you instead stay, would 656 00:41:53,200 --> 00:41:55,400 you instead talk to the person who invited you? 657 00:41:55,400 --> 00:41:58,200 That, you know, as a Christian would you meet with some of the 658 00:41:58,207 --> 00:42:02,300 leaders here and and deal with those skeptical things and have 659 00:42:02,300 --> 00:42:04,700 some clarity on where there might be confusion? 660 00:42:05,200 --> 00:42:09,600 Because your soul is at stake. Your Eternal destination is at 661 00:42:09,600 --> 00:42:12,000 stake? Not church membership, not you 662 00:42:12,000 --> 00:42:16,400 doing something on Sunday, afternoon your soul, Your 663 00:42:16,400 --> 00:42:21,600 Eternal Soul. And what do we see here? 664 00:42:21,600 --> 00:42:25,100 Verse 34? But some men joined him. 665 00:42:26,600 --> 00:42:31,400 And believed joined him and believed among whom were also 666 00:42:31,600 --> 00:42:34,500 died. Nauseous and areopagite and a 667 00:42:34,500 --> 00:42:36,900 woman named Damaris and others with them. 668 00:42:38,300 --> 00:42:42,100 Some joined him. And believed Jesus said, I am 669 00:42:42,100 --> 00:42:46,900 the resurrection and the life whoever believes in me though. 670 00:42:46,900 --> 00:42:50,100 He die. Yet shall he live? 671 00:42:52,000 --> 00:42:54,400 Do you want to be in that number? 672 00:42:55,200 --> 00:42:57,000 Do you want to be able to look at the resurrection? 673 00:42:57,000 --> 00:43:01,400 Not just, as some cultural American tradition, that 66 674 00:43:01,400 --> 00:43:04,800 percent of people believe in and observe year-round. 675 00:43:04,800 --> 00:43:08,900 Do you want to go beyond that? And say, I want to see the 676 00:43:08,900 --> 00:43:12,300 resurrection of Jesus as the first fruits of my future. 677 00:43:13,500 --> 00:43:16,400 That even though I may die and I'll tell you this death is 678 00:43:16,400 --> 00:43:19,000 promised to all of us. It is a plague with 100% 679 00:43:19,000 --> 00:43:23,500 fatality rate. Though, that is my inescapable 680 00:43:23,500 --> 00:43:26,300 future that will not be my final destination. 681 00:43:26,400 --> 00:43:30,700 I'll tell you what you need to do repent and believe, that's 682 00:43:30,700 --> 00:43:33,700 what you need to do. Say well what is demanded of me, 683 00:43:33,800 --> 00:43:37,400 I'll tell you what's the matter of you give up, give up what? 684 00:43:37,500 --> 00:43:40,700 Stop trying to make your way to heaven. 685 00:43:42,500 --> 00:43:47,400 Release your self-righteous Tendencies and come to the foot 686 00:43:47,400 --> 00:43:50,700 of the cross and surrender and acknowledge that what Christ has 687 00:43:50,700 --> 00:43:55,000 done, he did on your behalf and that you cannot attain eternal 688 00:43:55,000 --> 00:43:59,100 life by your own Merit but that you have been forgiven freely by 689 00:43:59,100 --> 00:44:03,300 God that in his love, he extended his son to you to live 690 00:44:03,300 --> 00:44:06,100 a life that you could not live and to die to death that you 691 00:44:06,100 --> 00:44:09,500 deserve to die and you come into that place of faith and you 692 00:44:09,500 --> 00:44:12,100 acknowledge my sin, put them on that. 693 00:44:12,300 --> 00:44:16,100 Cross and yet, because he's on that cross his righteousness. 694 00:44:16,100 --> 00:44:19,500 Can now be mine. That's the gospel. 695 00:44:19,800 --> 00:44:23,100 It's not do this and hopefully you will make it to Heaven. 696 00:44:23,200 --> 00:44:25,200 It's not in sha Allah. It's not. 697 00:44:25,200 --> 00:44:28,500 I hope it's not maybe it's not when I stand there. 698 00:44:28,500 --> 00:44:33,500 I'll figure it out. You will know, I am saved. 699 00:44:36,200 --> 00:44:40,600 It's a free gift. It's a free gift unto eternal 700 00:44:40,600 --> 00:44:43,800 life. And I want to extend that gift 701 00:44:43,800 --> 00:44:47,400 to you today, you don't have to come to a priest, you don't have 702 00:44:47,400 --> 00:44:50,800 to jump through hoops, you don't need to stand on your head, you 703 00:44:50,800 --> 00:44:53,400 need to believe in your heart and confess with your mouth, 704 00:44:54,000 --> 00:44:56,400 that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that God raised him from the 705 00:44:56,400 --> 00:45:00,300 dead. And the moment that your heart 706 00:45:00,300 --> 00:45:04,500 truly believes that God will justify you. 707 00:45:05,000 --> 00:45:08,500 In that very second, you will be seen as forgiving the sight of a 708 00:45:08,500 --> 00:45:12,600 holy God and you will have your name inscribed in the Lamb's 709 00:45:12,600 --> 00:45:16,500 Book of Life, you will have a hope for tomorrow and even 710 00:45:16,500 --> 00:45:19,700 though tomorrow is not promised, there is a promise for your 711 00:45:19,700 --> 00:45:23,800 tomorrow and it is this that you will have eternal life with God 712 00:45:23,800 --> 00:45:26,000 in Christ Jesus. That's it. 713 00:45:33,600 --> 00:45:36,000 This is why we Christians call The Gospel. 714 00:45:36,000 --> 00:45:39,600 Good news. It's not kind of good news, nor 715 00:45:39,600 --> 00:45:42,700 is it old news. It's good news for today. 716 00:45:43,700 --> 00:45:47,800 And I want to tell you this, that he has risen from the dead, 717 00:45:48,400 --> 00:45:53,100 and he will return, but when he returns, will he find you? 718 00:45:54,100 --> 00:45:59,300 Waiting for him. Will he find you expecting him? 719 00:46:00,600 --> 00:46:04,100 Will he find you washed by his blood? 720 00:46:05,100 --> 00:46:07,200 I pray that today. You would make that decision. 721 00:46:08,000 --> 00:46:12,100 I want this Jesus to be my Lord, and my savior, I want to be 722 00:46:12,100 --> 00:46:15,200 forgiven, I'm a sinner, I've done so much. 723 00:46:15,600 --> 00:46:18,400 I've grieved God, I've grieved man, I've grieved the law of 724 00:46:18,400 --> 00:46:20,700 God. I read the law of man, and I 725 00:46:20,707 --> 00:46:24,800 know that if I were to stand before God, I would be judged. 726 00:46:25,800 --> 00:46:30,600 no matter what, you've done name that sin and I can tell you with 727 00:46:30,600 --> 00:46:35,500 confidence in return, it can be forgiven And you can be restored 728 00:46:35,500 --> 00:46:38,800 and reconciled to a holy God where you walk with a no longer 729 00:46:38,800 --> 00:46:42,100 as your judge. But as your father Can I pray 730 00:46:42,100 --> 00:46:52,700 with you? Well, we thank you for the 731 00:46:52,700 --> 00:46:57,500 Glorious. The Glorious gospel. 732 00:47:00,200 --> 00:47:07,500 Even seeing a glimpse, a shadow. Of the Resurrection in Numbers 733 00:47:07,500 --> 00:47:12,800 chapter 17. Lord. 734 00:47:12,800 --> 00:47:19,200 We ask that the joy of our Salvation would not just be 735 00:47:19,200 --> 00:47:23,200 renewed for this afternoon, but that it would be taken to a new 736 00:47:23,200 --> 00:47:29,600 height that we can live in, and we realize That spring is 737 00:47:29,600 --> 00:47:34,900 coming. That the warmth of your presence 738 00:47:34,900 --> 00:47:40,000 over us will remain forever. And everything, all the pain, 739 00:47:40,000 --> 00:47:42,800 all the scars, all the hurts, all the Betrayal. 740 00:47:43,500 --> 00:47:48,400 All the trauma will be a memory of the past and a memory that 741 00:47:48,408 --> 00:47:50,100 will not really haunt us anymore. 742 00:47:50,100 --> 00:47:52,300 It will be swallowed up by the Bliss of Heaven. 743 00:47:53,400 --> 00:47:58,700 The joy of your presence. Lord, we just ask that for the 744 00:47:58,700 --> 00:48:01,500 believer, they would be strengthened again in their 745 00:48:01,500 --> 00:48:04,700 faith. And that they would be anchored 746 00:48:04,700 --> 00:48:08,800 in the truth of the first fruits of the Resurrection for the 747 00:48:08,800 --> 00:48:12,200 person in this place that we are so happy as visiting. 748 00:48:12,600 --> 00:48:15,900 But perhaps does not know you or have the Assurance of knowing 749 00:48:15,900 --> 00:48:21,000 you may they not be like those first two groups who mocked or 750 00:48:21,000 --> 00:48:26,300 delayed What to do with their souls in whose hand to place 751 00:48:26,300 --> 00:48:29,200 their souls and may today, be the day of salvation. 752 00:48:29,800 --> 00:48:33,500 And may, they realize that in your goodness, you have set them 753 00:48:33,500 --> 00:48:37,600 up to be here to hear this news because you love them and you 754 00:48:37,600 --> 00:48:40,900 want them. Lord, we sing to you Because we 755 00:48:40,900 --> 00:48:44,800 believe this is true and we sing to you because you are worthy of 756 00:48:44,808 --> 00:48:48,700 Glory. Give us eyes to see That you are 757 00:48:48,700 --> 00:48:52,800 the resurrected King and that you are the returning judge to 758 00:48:52,800 --> 00:48:57,000 redeem your bride and to vindicate, your name in Jesus 759 00:48:57,000 --> 00:48:58,300 name. Amen. 760 00:48:59,000 --> 00:49:00,500 Let's stand together and sing to the Lord.