1 00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:03,800 You're listening to the Bridgetown Church Podcast with 2 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:06,840 Pastor Casey Kendall, where our vision is Jesus, our mission is 3 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:09,760 people, and our cause is love. Thanks for tuning in. 4 00:00:10,040 --> 00:00:13,360 Let's dive in. Hebrews chapter 10, starting in 5 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:15,640 verse 19 says, Therefore, brothers, since we have 6 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:20,160 confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by 7 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:22,680 the new and living way that he opened for us through the 8 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:26,760 curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great 9 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:30,320 priest over the House of God, let us draw near with a true 10 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,960 heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled 11 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:37,720 clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure 12 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:40,520 water. Let us hold fast the confession 13 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:44,720 of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 14 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:49,080 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good 15 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:52,120 works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of 16 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:54,280 some, but encouraging one another. 17 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:58,560 And all the more, as you see the day drawing near, you may be 18 00:00:58,560 --> 00:00:59,480 seated. Let's pray. 19 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,000 Father, I thank you for Your word. 20 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:05,280 I thank you that we get to come together, that we get to gather 21 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:09,520 together and read the very words that you have breathed. 22 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:13,320 Lord, may you prepare our hearts. 23 00:01:13,320 --> 00:01:19,280 May you stir the soil of our hearts that we may be able to 24 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:27,280 receive the truth of God's Word. We thank you, Lord, for this 25 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:29,120 opportunity. Now I pray that you would help 26 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:33,520 us to stay focused, that you would help us to have a hear to 27 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:38,200 ear or a hear, a ear to hear and a heart to listen. 28 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:40,280 Lord, we love you. We thank you for all you've 29 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:43,800 given us in your precious and holy name, Amen. 30 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:46,880 So there's something that I wanted to share with you guys 31 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:49,800 today out of Hebrews chapter 10, something that's kind of been on 32 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:52,560 my heart for the last about a year and a half. 33 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:57,160 For those of you that know, many of you know, but for those that 34 00:01:57,160 --> 00:01:59,800 you don't know, I've been overseeing the multiply 35 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:02,920 communities, which is our church's home groups that we do 36 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:05,440 throughout the week. I've been overseeing them for 37 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:08,440 about a year and a half, going on two years now. 38 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:13,040 And my wife and I have actually led the young adult study out of 39 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:15,160 our home. And when my wife and I, we 40 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:20,120 started the young adult study, one of our hearts desires was to 41 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:25,600 get people, including the young adults, back into reading the 42 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:27,920 Scripture. We chose this book called the 43 00:02:27,920 --> 00:02:31,960 Immerse Bible, which is the exact translation of the Bible. 44 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:37,120 But what the Bible does is it takes out all the the titles, 45 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:40,440 the chapter delineations, the verse delineations, and it 46 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:43,480 basically reads like a traditional book, right? 47 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:46,800 So you open it up and there's No title headings, there's no verse 48 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:50,960 chapters, anything like that. It's just the text and the whole 49 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:54,600 premise of it is just in its title, the Immerse Bible. 50 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:58,640 The goal of it is to spend time in God's Word. 51 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:04,200 Last year with the young adults, we read the entire New Testament 52 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:08,320 together and it we read the entire New Testament over 8 53 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:11,120 weeks. It was quite a bit of reading 54 00:03:11,920 --> 00:03:15,080 and it was challenging for us, for me as well as the young 55 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:18,360 adults as we sat down and we read God's Word throughout the 56 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:23,360 week and then we met on a weekly basis to discuss it and some 57 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:29,120 really amazing conversation happened, some really good 58 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:31,760 questions and challenges that we were faced with. 59 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:36,800 But one of the really neat things and the empowering things 60 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:40,240 that I loved about reading God's Word in this light was seeing 61 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:43,920 the Bible from kind of a different point of view. 62 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:48,120 And what I mean by that is oftentimes when we come to 63 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:52,520 church, we go to maybe a home Bible study, we often look at 64 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:57,360 whatever we are reading and studying through a macro or a 65 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:01,880 micro lens, right? We often isolate a certain 66 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:04,880 scripture or a certain text, which is totally fine. 67 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:06,880 There's nothing wrong with that, right? 68 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:10,640 But we often isolate these individual stories or sections 69 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:14,880 of the Bible and we study it and we discuss it, and Pastor Casey 70 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:18,560 shares about it and gives his wisdom and insight that he has 71 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:23,520 received from the Lord. But what often can happen is we 72 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:28,640 as the body, we tend to forget the bigger picture, right? 73 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:33,240 And we forget to view these isolated scripture texts and 74 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:38,560 these stories through the lens of the main overarching theme of 75 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:42,720 the Bible. And So what was really cool is 76 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:45,320 reading the Old Testament, or, I'm sorry, reading the New 77 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:48,240 Testament. And then the following session 78 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:50,800 that we did, we spent eight weeks reading through the 1st 5 79 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:54,600 books of the Bible, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and 80 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:58,160 Deuteronomy. And what was really awesome in 81 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:01,760 the conversation that we had that was really amazing was seen 82 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:06,600 after we had read the New Testament, which at times felt 83 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:08,520 like drinking through a fire hose, right? 84 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:12,160 Which was just a little bit, sometimes a lot to take in in a 85 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:14,840 short amount of time. But then seeing the young adults 86 00:05:14,840 --> 00:05:19,400 read the Old Testament and seeing how everything in the Old 87 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:21,800 Testament was pointing towards the New Testament. 88 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,160 And often times as we study God's Word and we meet here on 89 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:31,560 church, we miss that we missed that correlation, that 90 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:34,640 everything as we're going through Samuel, right as Casey 91 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:38,640 has been taking us through the book of Samuel, that we have to 92 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:43,920 approach it from a vision, a lens, that wide angle lens as 93 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:46,560 well. We cannot forget that what we 94 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:49,560 are reading in the Old Testament is pointing towards the New 95 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:52,320 Testament. That's such an important aspect 96 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:56,800 as we study God's Word. And so I want to share with you 97 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:00,400 as, as Casey spoke with us last week, the title of his message 98 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:05,200 was Forming the Future, right? It was an encouragement to us, 99 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:06,880 right? As we enter into the new year. 100 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:10,480 It's January, it's January what, 4th today, right? 101 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:12,480 So it's, it's the new year, right? 102 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:15,040 Happy new Year as you walk in the door, right? 103 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:17,040 I've probably heard that 100 times in the last couple of 104 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:18,040 days, right? Happy new year. 105 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:21,800 And Pastor Casey shared with us as we are moving into the new 106 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:26,280 year of forming that future. And so piggybacking off of that, 107 00:06:26,280 --> 00:06:32,280 as we form the future, as we go forward into the new year, I 108 00:06:32,280 --> 00:06:35,880 want to discuss what that foundation upon which we stand 109 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:40,760 as we form our future. We form the future standing on a 110 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:44,360 simple foundation. What is the foundation that we 111 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:48,760 stand on as we go? Jesus Christ, that is the 112 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:53,000 foundation of everything that we are doing moving forward. 113 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:56,320 And so the title of my message is simple Assurance. 114 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:02,000 Why is this so important? Why is this so important? 115 00:07:02,280 --> 00:07:05,880 The whole Bible points to Christ and we often miss the evidence 116 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:09,120 that is enveloping throughout the throughout every story, 117 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:12,280 text, chapter that we read and study. 118 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:15,880 We often read and receive the Word of God in broken up 119 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:19,240 sections, chapters, verses, and stories causing it to be easy 120 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:21,160 for us to miss the whole picture. 121 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:25,720 If Christ is the overarching theme, then we must approach our 122 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:29,680 reading and study with Christ at the center. 123 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:32,880 The same intentionality must bleed into the rest of our 124 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:36,560 lives, in our relationships, work, school, and even ministry. 125 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:41,000 That has to be the foundation and the book of Hebrews 126 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:44,280 addresses that here in chapter 10. 127 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:49,040 So let's dive into the text. There's three halves that I want 128 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:53,520 to point out that we see in this section of Scripture in Hebrews 129 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:55,680 chapter 10, there's three halves. 130 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:57,880 And what I want to point out about the haves is this is a 131 00:07:57,880 --> 00:08:02,160 present tense. This is not a you had or you 132 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:06,000 will have. This is you have when you accept 133 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:09,040 Christ into your life when you accept accept Christ's work on 134 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:13,320 the cross. You have these three things. 135 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:15,760 The first thing in verse 19 and 20. 136 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:20,120 Therefore, brothers, since we have a confidence to enter the 137 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:23,120 holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way 138 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:27,640 that he opened through for us through the curtain, that is 139 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:30,480 through his flesh number one, the first habit is we have a 140 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:36,480 fulfilling sacrifice. We have a fulfilling sacrifice, 141 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:42,039 but first we need to address the therefore, as we often say, what 142 00:08:42,039 --> 00:08:45,040 do we say when we see a therefore, what is it therefore, 143 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:48,440 right? So the author of Hebrews is 144 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:52,800 pointing to something previously in his letter, he is pointing 145 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:54,760 back to something and saying pay attention to this. 146 00:08:54,760 --> 00:09:00,400 Because of this, now this, what came before this text is what we 147 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:03,560 need to draw our attention to. The author of Hebrews is 148 00:09:03,560 --> 00:09:06,680 addressing the Jewish Christians at the time because there was a 149 00:09:06,680 --> 00:09:10,960 drifting from the New Covenant back into the Old covenant. 150 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:16,000 The author is addressing this problem by pointing God's people 151 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:18,680 back to the work of Christ on the cross. 152 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:21,000 So we have to remember this is in the New Testament, right? 153 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:25,760 This is coming after Christ's death and resurrection, right? 154 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:28,720 And now it calling into that life under the new covenant. 155 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:33,160 For thousands of years God's people lived under this old 156 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:37,200 covenant and it was becoming a problem because they were 157 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:41,680 drifting back into that. The author is hoping is hoping 158 00:09:41,680 --> 00:09:44,720 to enlighten God's people to the truth that Christ's work on the 159 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:49,000 cross was final. There was no longer a need to 160 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:53,320 live under that old covenant, but now a need and a necessity 161 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:59,360 to live under the new covenant. The Old covenant was never meant 162 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:03,280 to be the answer due to the human element. 163 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:07,200 It was never going to be perfect or final because it was reliant 164 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:09,480 upon human intentionality and action. 165 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:13,160 For those of you that have read the Old Testament, specifically 166 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:16,840 the first five books of the Bible, if any of you have ever 167 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:20,480 read through the book of Leviticus is not the easiest to 168 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:24,600 read and that's OK. But it's a it's a basically a 169 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:29,120 book of rules about the old covenant, right? 170 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:32,600 There was a need for God's people for their sins to be 171 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:35,680 covered, right? Just like we have the same need 172 00:10:35,680 --> 00:10:38,920 today. But there was no Jesus at that 173 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:41,440 time. There was no final fulfillment. 174 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:44,240 There's no final fulfilling sacrifice at that time. 175 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:49,160 So the people of Israel were required through the priestly 176 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:53,640 hood, through the Levitical priests, to give sacrifices, 177 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:56,800 sacrifice animals, and the washing of their blood in the 178 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:59,680 temple is what covered their sin. 179 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:02,440 But the problem with it, I shouldn't say the problem with 180 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:06,760 it, but the the issue was, is that it relied upon human 181 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:10,880 action, right? And by nature we are sinful, we 182 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:16,840 are imperfect, we are inconsistent, we slip away, we 183 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:20,000 get comfortable, right? And we saw, we see all through 184 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:22,160 the Old Testament, even the New Testament, and we see it in our 185 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:24,400 own lives. It's natural for us. 186 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:28,720 It's our sinful nature. We are not perfect, and so 187 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:33,640 therefore this old covenant that required perfection was never 188 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:36,600 perfect. We saw all through the Old 189 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:39,720 Testament that in our nature there is a consistent tendency 190 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:42,640 to fail, which ultimately would lead down a dark path. 191 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:48,920 It was a vicious cycle of sin, sacrifice and separation, Sin, 192 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:52,160 sacrifice, separation. The author is we're reminding 193 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:56,840 God's people that we no longer have to live in this Hebrews 194 00:11:56,840 --> 00:12:01,640 chapter 10 so so earlier in this chapter it says for since the 195 00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:06,120 law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the 196 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:10,400 true form of these realities, it can never by the same sacrifices 197 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:13,640 that are continually offered every year make perfect those 198 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:17,120 who draw near. So it's saying the old covenant 199 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:19,920 was a shadow. When we think about shadows, 200 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:26,880 shadows will cast an imagery of what is of the object that is 201 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:30,080 there, right? So the old covenant was a casted 202 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:34,760 shadow of what was to come. You could see the outline, you 203 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:38,040 can see the shape, but it wasn't, it's not the final 204 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:40,680 thing, right? If I look at my shadow on the 205 00:12:40,680 --> 00:12:44,600 ground, it, it gives the shape, it gives the idea of what's 206 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:47,880 there, but it doesn't give the full picture, right? 207 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:49,600 And that was what the old covenant was. 208 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:53,160 And that's what the author of Hebrews is saying is that it was 209 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:57,840 an imagery of what was to come, that the final fulfilling 210 00:12:57,840 --> 00:13:00,840 sacrifice was coming. And in Hebrews chapter 10, verse 211 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:04,440 three, it says, but in these sacrifices there is a reminder 212 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:08,160 of sins every year. And so the author is saying that 213 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:11,040 there is this shadow. And the the problem is that it 214 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:16,640 required this human element that reminded of sin every year. 215 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:20,440 There's a whole list of different rituals and sacrifices 216 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:23,400 that were required by the people each and every year. 217 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:27,160 And it was a reminder. So there was this constant 218 00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:30,320 reminder as they fell back into sin and came back and then fell 219 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:32,000 back into sin and then came back. 220 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:36,000 There was this reminder of sin because there was no perfect 221 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:40,520 forgiveness at that time. And so we see right before our 222 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:44,120 text in Hebrews chapter 1017 through 18, it says. 223 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:47,880 Then he adds, I will remember their sins and their lawless 224 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:51,800 deeds no more. Where there is forgiveness of 225 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:55,560 these, there is no longer any offering for sin. 226 00:13:55,560 --> 00:13:58,240 Christ's work on the cross tore back the veil. 227 00:13:58,560 --> 00:14:02,400 The washing of blood covered and washed away our sins that caused 228 00:14:02,560 --> 00:14:05,840 separation. Christ's sacrifice on the cross 229 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:09,720 now gives us the boldness and the confidence to enter into the 230 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:15,880 Most Holy place with Him. The veil in the temple, if you 231 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:22,080 can visualize with me, was 60 feet tall by 30 feet wide and 232 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:25,640 four inches thick is the dimensions of the veil. 233 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:29,680 The veil was a visualization of Christ. 234 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:34,880 And why is that? Because beyond the veil was what 235 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:39,720 it was the most Holy of Holies. It was the place where the high 236 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:44,680 priest, the Levitical high priest, would enter in and 237 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:48,360 provide sacrifices to cover the sins of the people. 238 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:49,800 And that's where God would rest, right? 239 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:53,520 In the Old Testament we see the the representation of Christ, 240 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:56,200 which was the cloud during the day and the fire by night would 241 00:14:56,200 --> 00:15:01,640 sit in the most Holy of Holies. And so the high priest had to go 242 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:05,440 through this veil into the holy of Holy place. 243 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,640 But when Christ died on the cross, what happened? 244 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:13,040 It says that the veil was torn from top to bottom, a pretty 245 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:17,680 significant happening for a veil that was 4 inches thick by 60 246 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:20,720 feet tall and 30 feet wide, right? 247 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:25,440 And so through Christ's brokenness on the cross, we see 248 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:29,240 that same imagery in the veil, the the tearing, the breaking of 249 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:32,480 the veil which now allows us to enter in. 250 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:36,760 So through Christ, through his brokenness, we can enter in. 251 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:39,480 That is the fulfilling sacrifice. 252 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:45,240 And we see in verse 20, it says by the new and living way that 253 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:50,240 He opened for us through the curtain, a new living way, a 254 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:53,920 refreshing way. For thousands of years they were 255 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:57,360 bonded by this old covenant and through Christ's work on the 256 00:15:57,360 --> 00:15:59,400 cross. Now there is this new covenant. 257 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:01,280 There is a forgiving of our sins. 258 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:05,320 There is a boldness now that we can enter in to the Holy of 259 00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:08,120 Holies. Which brings me to my 260 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:12,640 second-half. Our second-half in verse 21, it 261 00:16:12,640 --> 00:16:15,720 says, and we have a great high priest over the House of God. 262 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:19,160 So #2 we have a great high priest. 263 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:23,320 So number one, we have a fulfilling sacrifice #2 we have 264 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:27,400 a great high priest. Christ now stands in our place 265 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:30,480 on the altar because Christ fulfilled what we could not. 266 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:32,760 Christ fulfilled what we could not. 267 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:34,400 And we saw it all through the Old Testament. 268 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:40,040 As I have said over and over again, there was a human element 269 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:43,720 that allowed the people to not fulfill what we were supposed to 270 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:46,720 fulfill, what we were called to fulfill. 271 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:51,960 But through God sending His Son to live that perfect life, to do 272 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:56,040 what we could not, He now stands in our place. 273 00:16:57,240 --> 00:17:00,200 It was made clear through all the Old Testament that we would 274 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:02,600 never fully fulfill what was required. 275 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:06,880 It was a constant battle with the sins of our flesh which 276 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:09,880 continually grasp and clawed at our souls. 277 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:14,680 In the Old Covenant, the Levi's were called to serve as priests 278 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:18,480 for God's people. This was a calling and work that 279 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:21,079 demanded a lot. Serving as a priest in the Old 280 00:17:21,079 --> 00:17:24,480 Covenant was a high calling but riddled with fear. 281 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:30,040 The Levitical priests were given a list of rules and specific 282 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:32,200 processes that were to be followed. 283 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:36,120 Due to the nature of these responsibilities, there was no 284 00:17:36,120 --> 00:17:37,960 room for error. One mistake would cost them 285 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:42,120 their life. And we see it, we see priests 286 00:17:42,120 --> 00:17:45,600 that made mistakes that did not follow these commands and these 287 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:50,280 instructions in that were given in the book of Leviticus and 288 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:53,560 they were killed on the spot. They actually, it, it says in 289 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:56,560 the Bible that they actually had to tie a rope to these guys with 290 00:17:56,560 --> 00:17:58,560 bells on it. So the bells stopped moving. 291 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:02,880 They knew they were dead and they would pull them out, right? 292 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:05,480 Because they couldn't enter into the holy of holy place because 293 00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:09,440 the high priest had to cleanse themselves perfectly to enter in 294 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:12,240 through the veil. So they knew if they stepped 295 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:13,960 into there that they were going to be killed too. 296 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:19,080 So is this it was this riddling of fear because that human 297 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:22,120 element, right? But the amazing thing is that 298 00:18:22,120 --> 00:18:26,240 Christ came and He fulfilled that so that we no longer have 299 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:31,640 to live in fear. Fear was bestowed upon them as 300 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:34,520 they were to represent God's people in the temple and the 301 00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:38,000 holy place because there was a necessity to cover the sins of 302 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:40,760 God's people. The problem with the Old 303 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:45,080 Covenant was the human factor. The representation and covering 304 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:48,960 of God's people was reliant upon human adherence to a strict set 305 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:52,640 of rules and procedures. We saw that the Old Covenant 306 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:55,920 served a purpose, but was never the hopeful promise. 307 00:18:56,720 --> 00:19:00,880 It served a purpose for those people to have their sins 308 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:04,240 covered. But it was never the end. 309 00:19:04,440 --> 00:19:07,080 It was never the hopeful promise. 310 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:10,600 When the veil was torn, everything changed. 311 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:15,360 Christ was and is and always will be enough. 312 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:19,600 All that is required is that we receive the gift of the gospel. 313 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:22,720 That is it. He's already approved of you. 314 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:27,760 He's already approved of us through His Son, because now 315 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:31,720 everything that God sees is through the perfect sacrifice of 316 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:34,000 his son, the washing of his blood on the cross. 317 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:38,360 We even we remember the thief on the cross. 318 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:45,920 Such a great story, such a powerful, impactful story if you 319 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:49,680 look at it through the right perspective that the thief on 320 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:54,280 the cross who was dying a true death, a rightful death for the 321 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:58,440 sins that he had committed next to a man who was perfect, who 322 00:19:58,440 --> 00:20:00,920 was dying for other people's sins. 323 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:06,800 In that moment, he recognized what was happening and he says, 324 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:09,200 Remember Me and what does God say? 325 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:10,800 What does Jesus say on the cross? 326 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:13,360 He says today you will be with me in paradise. 327 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:17,400 The thief on the cross didn't serve in ministry. 328 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:22,080 The thief on the Cross didn't go St. witnessing and and convert 329 00:20:22,360 --> 00:20:27,320 souls through evangelism. The thief on the cross didn't 330 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:31,560 serve in hospitality or kids ministry or the the ushering. 331 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:35,160 He didn't serve in worship on the stage. 332 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:39,920 But where do we find him? We find him in the presence of 333 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:45,400 God. That is the hope of the gospel, 334 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:52,240 that as long as you accept what has been given that covering of 335 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:54,800 our sins through the blood of Christ, that is it. 336 00:20:55,760 --> 00:20:58,920 And that is the approach that we have to have in ministry. 337 00:20:59,920 --> 00:21:02,920 The approach we have to have in ministry as Christians here in 338 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:07,800 this church has to be on a foundation of Jesus Christ and 339 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:10,840 Christ alone. If we approach ministry with 340 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:14,720 that same mentality and attitude that everything that we see, 341 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:18,440 every person that comes through that door, every treat that gets 342 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:20,720 put on that table, every kid that comes into children's 343 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:26,960 ministry going out and St. witnessing or handing out Flyers 344 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:32,800 or decorating the church for Christmas, that if everything 345 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:36,480 that we do is from a foundation and a launching point of Jesus 346 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:41,080 Christ, then it's going to be fruitful and going to grow. 347 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:43,440 And I don't necessarily mean in numbers. 348 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:49,640 I don't necessarily mean in numbers, though that is a fruit 349 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:54,920 of of ministry under that vision, but it's going to grow 350 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:57,360 as we grow wide. I pray that we grow deep as a 351 00:21:57,360 --> 00:22:03,040 church, and we cannot do that. We cannot do that without the 352 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:07,400 foundation of Jesus Christ. And so now we enter into 353 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:09,440 boldness, not with the spirit of fear. 354 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:13,000 Christ came as the perfect sacrificial lamb, and now he 355 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:18,280 stands in our place as our perfect priest, our perfect high 356 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:23,400 priest, that whatever we do in this life, whatever sin that we 357 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:26,680 commit or mistake that we make or trial that we face, that 358 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:31,680 Christ is sending in our place. Which brings me to my third 359 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:35,440 have, third and final have, which is in verse 22. 360 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:39,920 It says let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of 361 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:43,200 faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience 362 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:44,800 and our bodies washed with water. 363 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:50,960 I want to take a note to the to the first sentence that we draw 364 00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:53,240 near with a true heart in full assurance. 365 00:22:53,240 --> 00:23:00,120 So #3 we have a full assurance of faith, a full assurance of 366 00:23:00,120 --> 00:23:03,240 faith. You have a full assurance of 367 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:05,840 faith. Not come to me. 368 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:08,840 I will teach you. You need to serve in ministry. 369 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:13,080 No, no, no, when you accept Christ into your life and you 370 00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:16,520 accept the gift of His Son on the cross and rising again, you 371 00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:19,920 have the full assurance of faith. 372 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:25,560 I love what Hebrews chapter 4 verse 14 through 16 says. 373 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:29,600 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through 374 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:32,200 the heavens, Jesus the Son of God. 375 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:37,400 Let us hold fast our confession, for we do not have a high priest 376 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:42,800 who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but now who in 377 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:47,640 every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin, let 378 00:23:47,640 --> 00:23:51,960 us draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy 379 00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:56,080 and find grace to help in a time of need. 380 00:23:56,080 --> 00:23:58,680 That is the full assurance of faith. 381 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:02,600 There's finality in Christ's work, and so therefore there's 382 00:24:02,600 --> 00:24:05,480 finality in our hope and faith in Him. 383 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:09,360 It's final. There's finality in it. 384 00:24:09,360 --> 00:24:12,160 The assurance we have is unwavering. 385 00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:18,280 There's no earning it. There's no if you do this, then 386 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:22,200 you will get this. We have a full assurance that 387 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:25,040 when we accept it, that we are his. 388 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:30,080 Despite its unwavering nature, though, it is grown and lived 389 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:33,680 out through enduring discipline and steadfast work. 390 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:38,280 And what do I mean by that? Our full assurance is something 391 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:41,520 that we have and is given and guaranteed to us, but it is 392 00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:45,920 worked out in our life through enduring discipline and 393 00:24:45,920 --> 00:24:49,680 steadfast work. We see the truth brought forth 394 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:53,560 later in the book of Hebrews. We see this truth of that full 395 00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:56,800 assurance being lived out. Hebrews Chapter 11 is widely 396 00:24:56,800 --> 00:25:00,200 regarded as the hall of faith testimonies. 397 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:04,720 Excuse me, testimonies of human people called by God to live a 398 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:06,960 life set apart from the rest of the world. 399 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:10,280 They are there for us to look to. 400 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:13,800 So in Hebrews Chapter 11, if you haven't already read it, I would 401 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:18,400 encourage you to read it. It's a full list of very short 402 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:22,160 stories or paragraphs about the people through the Old Testament 403 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:28,760 living out their faith. Imperfect people living out 404 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:31,960 their faith, living out that calling in their life. 405 00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:36,360 Though they sin, though they fail, they were recognized and 406 00:25:36,360 --> 00:25:40,880 they're there for us to look to. As they lived out their faith, 407 00:25:41,400 --> 00:25:45,120 so should we also. The author then charges us with 408 00:25:45,120 --> 00:25:49,680 direction in the next chapter. So here we have in chapter 10, 409 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:53,720 right? We have a reminder of stepping 410 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:58,440 out of that old covenant into the new covenant, that assurance 411 00:25:58,440 --> 00:26:01,760 of faith that we have. And then in Chapter 11 there's 412 00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:05,040 the Hall of Faith, which is examples that we can look to. 413 00:26:05,120 --> 00:26:08,440 And then in chapter 12, there's a charge that I think we all 414 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:12,840 know and all need to be reminded of Hebrews chapter 12, verse one 415 00:26:12,840 --> 00:26:14,400 and two. Therefore, since we are 416 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:18,280 surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside 417 00:26:18,280 --> 00:26:23,560 every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us 418 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:28,720 run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to 419 00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:32,760 Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy 420 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:36,400 set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and 421 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:38,520 is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 422 00:26:39,240 --> 00:26:44,080 I want to take note of the word endurance in light of what we're 423 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:46,640 reading about, about the full assurance of our faith. 424 00:26:46,960 --> 00:26:51,120 In two chapters later, he says run the race with endurance. 425 00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:54,640 A full assurance of faith does not. 426 00:26:54,920 --> 00:26:58,240 As I like to say to my kids, life is not always rainbows and 427 00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:01,560 unicorns. There's not a promise that with 428 00:27:01,560 --> 00:27:04,040 a full assurance of faith, things are going to be great and 429 00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:10,000 fantastic. Rather, he says, run the race 430 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:13,200 with endurance. The very word endurance incites 431 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:15,520 that there will be challenges ahead. 432 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:22,120 There will be challenges ahead, there will be difficulty, there 433 00:27:22,120 --> 00:27:25,480 will be trials, there will be brokenness, but this is the 434 00:27:25,480 --> 00:27:29,120 charge that we are to run the race with endurance. 435 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:33,400 The full assurance of our faith has practical implications for 436 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:37,760 our life, which comes at a cost of discipline and endurance. 437 00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:41,120 However, that is not the defining characteristic. 438 00:27:42,040 --> 00:27:45,440 The full assurance of our faith, yes, is worked out and it has 439 00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:49,680 grown through endurance and discipline, but that's not the 440 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:55,160 defining characteristic it fosters. 441 00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:58,520 Rather, the full assurance. It fosters a promise of peace 442 00:27:58,720 --> 00:28:02,920 and hopeful confidence, enabling us as Christians to live boldly 443 00:28:03,120 --> 00:28:07,400 and serve God faithfully. This full assurance, it let me 444 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:09,760 read that again. It fosters a promise of peace 445 00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:14,920 and hopeful confidence, enabling us as Christians to live boldly 446 00:28:14,920 --> 00:28:18,880 and serve God faithfully despite the endurance and discipline 447 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:22,600 that we have to walk through. That is the full assurance of 448 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:26,040 Christ. When we come to know Christ, a 449 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:30,800 renewing and redemptive work begins in our life. 450 00:28:31,600 --> 00:28:36,480 Allowing Christ to work in and through us as His child by no 451 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:39,640 means is an easy task. In fact, we are promised 452 00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:43,360 difficulty and trials. However, the hope we have is the 453 00:28:43,360 --> 00:28:47,520 assurance of our faith that God has promised and sustains us. 454 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:52,240 In this assurance is imprinted upon our hearts for us to know 455 00:28:52,480 --> 00:28:55,880 that while we are walking through the valley of the shadow 456 00:28:55,880 --> 00:29:01,080 of death, we can fear no evil, for our God is with us. 457 00:29:01,080 --> 00:29:04,840 We can lean on our promised assurance and know that it will 458 00:29:04,840 --> 00:29:07,560 not return void. That is the promise. 459 00:29:07,960 --> 00:29:10,840 That is the full assurance of faith that despite what you are 460 00:29:10,840 --> 00:29:14,480 going through, whether it's issues at work, whether it's 461 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:19,000 relationships, whether it's an illness, whatever it might be, 462 00:29:19,160 --> 00:29:22,520 that the full assurance that God has promised you is that despite 463 00:29:22,520 --> 00:29:25,960 what you are going through, I am working it out through you in 464 00:29:25,960 --> 00:29:30,000 endurance and discipline. But bet you He's going to be 465 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:33,560 there and it's not going to return void. 466 00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:38,280 It is not going to return void. It's like having really good 467 00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:40,880 insurance. I don't know if any of you have 468 00:29:40,880 --> 00:29:44,560 ever experienced insurance, whatever it might be. 469 00:29:44,560 --> 00:29:47,440 There's a billion different insurances out there, right? 470 00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:49,720 I've been on the flip side of both. 471 00:29:49,880 --> 00:29:52,280 I've had good insurance and I've had bad insurance. 472 00:29:54,200 --> 00:29:59,080 It's kind of like having really good insurance because insurance 473 00:29:59,080 --> 00:30:02,000 doesn't promise that nothing will happen, but really good 474 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:04,720 insurance promises peace and presence in the time of need. 475 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:10,200 When we have that assurance, that good insurance from God, 476 00:30:10,840 --> 00:30:13,040 right? We know that whatever we're 477 00:30:13,040 --> 00:30:18,000 going through that when we pick up the phone, he's going to be 478 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:22,440 there and he is providing that continual peace because we 479 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:27,760 haven't invested in him, right. Having good insurance costs. 480 00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:33,600 It costs, it costs to walk with the Lord, It does. 481 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:38,440 It's difficult, it's hard. We are promised that it will be 482 00:30:38,440 --> 00:30:44,120 hard, but he says I am walking with you and I will not return 483 00:30:44,400 --> 00:30:50,920 void. But despite this difficulty, the 484 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:53,320 book of James reminds us that despite the stress and 485 00:30:53,320 --> 00:30:56,600 difficulty of this calling on our life, that we can still find 486 00:30:56,600 --> 00:30:59,440 joy. James, 1/2 through 4, says count 487 00:30:59,440 --> 00:31:01,280 it all. Joy, my brothers, when you meet 488 00:31:01,280 --> 00:31:04,200 trials of various kinds for you, know that the testing of your 489 00:31:04,200 --> 00:31:08,520 faith produces steadfastness, and let steadfastness have its 490 00:31:08,520 --> 00:31:12,800 full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in 491 00:31:12,800 --> 00:31:16,680 nothing. We find joy when we allow God's 492 00:31:16,680 --> 00:31:21,440 foundational, God's foundation of truth and hopeful promises to 493 00:31:21,440 --> 00:31:26,080 stir our vision that our lives are dictated by the truth we 494 00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:28,320 have rather than the emotions that we feel. 495 00:31:29,360 --> 00:31:32,800 That is joy. We are going to feel emotion. 496 00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:35,360 We're going to feel fear. We're going to feel stressed. 497 00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:40,160 We're going to feel anxiety. We're going to feel angry and 498 00:31:40,160 --> 00:31:43,080 upset and sad. We're going to feel happy and 499 00:31:43,080 --> 00:31:48,560 glad, but true joy that is found in Christ is dictated by the 500 00:31:48,560 --> 00:31:53,480 truth of God's Word. And if we allow this to dictate 501 00:31:53,560 --> 00:31:57,960 our vision for those issues that we are facing or whatever we are 502 00:31:57,960 --> 00:32:00,720 encountering, that is when we find joy. 503 00:32:00,960 --> 00:32:06,560 Joy does not mean happiness. Joy does not mean happiness. 504 00:32:06,560 --> 00:32:11,200 Happiness is an emotion, right? So we have to allow the joy to 505 00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:14,280 come through the truth and the foundation of God's Word. 506 00:32:15,600 --> 00:32:18,160 So 4 things I want to draw our attention to with our full 507 00:32:18,160 --> 00:32:19,800 assurance. With full assurance, One we 508 00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:24,960 commune regularly and intimately in our relationship with God #2 509 00:32:24,960 --> 00:32:31,240 we are grounded in unwavering truth #3 we abide in His perfect 510 00:32:31,240 --> 00:32:35,200 love despite our failures. And #4 we are sustained with 511 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:38,800 spiritual resilience from the working of the Holy Spirit in 512 00:32:38,800 --> 00:32:41,400 our lives. And we'll repeat those #1 we 513 00:32:41,400 --> 00:32:46,520 commune regularly and intimately in our relationship with God #2 514 00:32:46,720 --> 00:32:50,200 we are grounded in unwavering truth. 515 00:32:50,640 --> 00:32:55,040 The truth does not change #3 We abide in His perfect love 516 00:32:55,040 --> 00:32:59,280 despite our failures. His love is always there, that 517 00:32:59,280 --> 00:33:03,320 agape love is always there. Number four, we are sustained 518 00:33:03,320 --> 00:33:08,080 with spiritual resilience, that bending but not breaking from 519 00:33:08,080 --> 00:33:11,120 the working of the Holy Spirit that is given to us when we step 520 00:33:11,120 --> 00:33:16,280 into a walk with Christ. And so in light of this text, in 521 00:33:16,280 --> 00:33:21,120 light of the three halves, that we have a fulfilling sacrifice, 522 00:33:22,040 --> 00:33:25,520 a great high priest, and a full assurance of faith, the next 523 00:33:25,520 --> 00:33:27,360 section of text calls us to action. 524 00:33:28,400 --> 00:33:34,160 There are three let us actions that I would encourage you to 525 00:33:34,160 --> 00:33:40,560 take note of #1 verse 22. Let us draw near with a true 526 00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:45,560 heart. The first let us number one, let 527 00:33:45,560 --> 00:33:49,360 us draw near. This is one of the defining 528 00:33:49,360 --> 00:33:51,760 characteristics of our walk with Christ. 529 00:33:51,760 --> 00:33:58,120 As a Christian, Christ desires to know us and desires for us to 530 00:33:58,120 --> 00:34:02,440 know Him. Draw near. 531 00:34:03,000 --> 00:34:06,120 It's that bending down to to draw up the water. 532 00:34:06,520 --> 00:34:09,440 It's to pull the rope right? It's to draw near. 533 00:34:09,440 --> 00:34:12,679 It's an act of physical approach. 534 00:34:13,880 --> 00:34:19,639 Moving closer. Christ has already approved of 535 00:34:19,639 --> 00:34:22,159 us. He stands in our place. 536 00:34:22,159 --> 00:34:25,400 The only thing standing in our way is us. 537 00:34:27,080 --> 00:34:31,360 The only thing standing in our way is us and what we bring with 538 00:34:31,360 --> 00:34:35,800 us. God is calling us to draw near. 539 00:34:39,880 --> 00:34:43,000 I love what 1 commentary wrote in my studies. 540 00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:47,760 It says there ought to be no wavering in regards to these 541 00:34:47,760 --> 00:34:51,639 superlative realities. Rather, each new covenant 542 00:34:51,639 --> 00:34:55,080 worshipper, which is US, each new covenant worshipper, should 543 00:34:55,080 --> 00:35:00,120 approach God in the conscious enjoyment of freedom from guilt 544 00:35:00,480 --> 00:35:04,480 and with a sense of personal holiness that Christ's sacrifice 545 00:35:04,600 --> 00:35:08,400 makes possible. There ought to be no wavering in 546 00:35:08,400 --> 00:35:10,680 regards to these superlative realities. 547 00:35:11,040 --> 00:35:14,680 Rather, each New Covenant worshipper should approach God 548 00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:19,520 in the conscious enjoyment of freedom from guilt and with a 549 00:35:19,520 --> 00:35:22,840 sense of the personal holiness that Christ's sacrifice makes 550 00:35:22,840 --> 00:35:25,840 possible. What is hindering you from 551 00:35:25,840 --> 00:35:29,000 drawing near? I ask you today, what is 552 00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:33,840 hindering you from drawing near? You can only answer that 553 00:35:33,840 --> 00:35:37,680 question. You have to evaluate what's in 554 00:35:37,680 --> 00:35:40,360 your heart. What are you allowing to stand 555 00:35:40,360 --> 00:35:45,040 in your way of drawing near? A church that is not actively 556 00:35:45,040 --> 00:35:47,400 drawing near is missing the mark of ministry. 557 00:35:49,160 --> 00:35:53,280 A church that is not actively drawing near is a church that is 558 00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:57,880 missing the mark of ministry. Ministry is founded upon 559 00:35:57,960 --> 00:36:02,920 individual relationships with Christ that blossom and grow and 560 00:36:02,920 --> 00:36:05,880 spread. That is the foundation of truth. 561 00:36:05,880 --> 00:36:09,400 Not the lights on the stage, not the sound, not the food in the 562 00:36:09,400 --> 00:36:12,040 back table, not the smiling faces that come through the 563 00:36:12,040 --> 00:36:13,000 door. Although those things are 564 00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:17,520 important, the foundation of it is drawing near to Him. 565 00:36:19,040 --> 00:36:22,720 Number two of the let us verse 23. 566 00:36:22,720 --> 00:36:26,200 It says, let us hold fast the confession of our hope without 567 00:36:26,200 --> 00:36:29,280 wavering. For he who promised is faithful 568 00:36:29,280 --> 00:36:33,280 #2 let us hold fast. To our hope, let us hold fast. 569 00:36:34,280 --> 00:36:39,600 That very phrase incites this, this graspy nature, like a kid 570 00:36:39,600 --> 00:36:42,280 that's clinging to their mom or their dad, right? 571 00:36:42,520 --> 00:36:45,360 Holding fast. They know what they have, they 572 00:36:45,360 --> 00:36:48,240 know where they're comfortable, and they're holding on to it, 573 00:36:49,320 --> 00:36:53,440 right? We need to do that same thing. 574 00:36:55,960 --> 00:36:59,520 We need to hold fast in light of what we have been given. 575 00:36:59,760 --> 00:37:04,320 In light of what we have been given, let us cling to the Lord. 576 00:37:06,040 --> 00:37:09,640 We hold fast and hope because God is faithful, as it says at 577 00:37:09,640 --> 00:37:15,320 the end of this verse. Let us hold fast the confession 578 00:37:15,320 --> 00:37:18,720 of hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 579 00:37:19,800 --> 00:37:21,920 We hold fast because he is a good God. 580 00:37:27,760 --> 00:37:31,280 We are to hold tightly to this hope it has been given by God 581 00:37:31,320 --> 00:37:38,000 for us in our time of need #3 In verse 24 and 25 it says, And let 582 00:37:38,000 --> 00:37:41,800 us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 583 00:37:41,800 --> 00:37:45,880 not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but 584 00:37:45,880 --> 00:37:49,920 encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day 585 00:37:50,080 --> 00:37:55,080 drawing near. This verse for those that are 586 00:37:55,080 --> 00:37:59,160 multiply community leaders. I gave you guys a sheet about 587 00:37:59,160 --> 00:38:02,240 multiply community leaders and this verse is on the top of it, 588 00:38:03,120 --> 00:38:07,600 the very heading of the Multiply Community Group flyer for the 589 00:38:07,600 --> 00:38:10,000 leaders who are leading a group. This is the verse. 590 00:38:12,440 --> 00:38:16,280 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good 591 00:38:16,280 --> 00:38:19,400 works, and not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit 592 00:38:19,640 --> 00:38:22,400 of some, but encouraging one another. 593 00:38:22,520 --> 00:38:25,000 And all the more, as you see the day drawing near. 594 00:38:25,000 --> 00:38:28,880 Well, guess what, the day is drawing near, the day is drawing 595 00:38:28,880 --> 00:38:31,240 near. And this is a call to action. 596 00:38:32,240 --> 00:38:36,240 We draw near to Christ and cling to Him, and therefore we gather 597 00:38:36,480 --> 00:38:44,000 together. Consider in this verse let us 598 00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:48,840 consider incites intentionality on how we stir one another up. 599 00:38:49,880 --> 00:38:53,400 This is not mindless engagement of social activity. 600 00:38:54,640 --> 00:38:59,640 This is an intentionality of gathering and growing together. 601 00:39:01,720 --> 00:39:06,160 We stir up in love, which in the text this is he is referring to 602 00:39:06,160 --> 00:39:10,920 that agape love we which is that unconditional love that God 603 00:39:10,920 --> 00:39:13,160 shows us. We stir up in love and good 604 00:39:13,160 --> 00:39:17,920 works, yet we must never neglect gathering. 605 00:39:19,800 --> 00:39:24,560 We must never neglect it. God's word is telling us that we 606 00:39:24,560 --> 00:39:27,720 must gather. Now this isn't a hopeful pitch 607 00:39:27,720 --> 00:39:31,960 to to join multiply communities like make the big, make the 608 00:39:31,960 --> 00:39:33,560 groups bigger. That's not what I'm saying. 609 00:39:33,560 --> 00:39:35,400 Although is it? It is a part of it. 610 00:39:36,560 --> 00:39:43,760 But I encourage you that if church is your one gathering and 611 00:39:43,760 --> 00:39:47,080 one Christ centered activity or conversation that you have 612 00:39:47,080 --> 00:39:50,240 throughout the week, then something is wrong in your 613 00:39:50,240 --> 00:39:53,240 priorities. Something's wrong. 614 00:39:54,040 --> 00:39:58,440 If this is the only time that you gather and meet and discuss 615 00:39:58,440 --> 00:40:01,920 and talk about God's Word together and encourage one 616 00:40:01,920 --> 00:40:04,600 another, and it's going to it looks differently across the 617 00:40:04,600 --> 00:40:09,880 board, then there's something wrong with our priorities 618 00:40:11,600 --> 00:40:14,640 because all through the book of Acts, we see the church in its 619 00:40:14,920 --> 00:40:17,560 in its. In its birth, in its early 620 00:40:17,560 --> 00:40:23,160 inception, the very foundation of of the Christian Church was 621 00:40:23,160 --> 00:40:27,760 born out of gathering. We don't look at the book of 622 00:40:27,760 --> 00:40:30,680 Acts and see all kinds of church services that were happening, 623 00:40:30,680 --> 00:40:33,800 though they did happen, but they were gathering in homes, they 624 00:40:33,800 --> 00:40:37,400 were gathering to give, they were gathering to worship, they 625 00:40:37,400 --> 00:40:40,560 were gathering to pray. And in one of the stories in the 626 00:40:40,560 --> 00:40:44,080 book of Acts, the very how shook from the the prayer that was 627 00:40:44,080 --> 00:40:48,400 happening. We must not neglect gathering an 628 00:40:48,400 --> 00:40:54,440 intentionality with each other. The redeeming work of require of 629 00:40:54,440 --> 00:40:57,240 Christ requires a response from us. 630 00:40:57,520 --> 00:41:01,040 We must go in faith. We must grow and abide daily. 631 00:41:01,040 --> 00:41:03,040 We must bestow grace upon others. 632 00:41:03,280 --> 00:41:06,680 We must give generously. And they will know us by our 633 00:41:06,680 --> 00:41:11,200 fruit. They will know us by our fruit. 634 00:41:11,320 --> 00:41:15,000 They will know this church by the fruit of this church. 635 00:41:16,880 --> 00:41:21,520 Very, very few people remember what the the the speaker and the 636 00:41:21,520 --> 00:41:23,720 pastor shared on any given Sunday. 637 00:41:24,840 --> 00:41:29,240 But what they remember is, is the fruit of the church that is 638 00:41:29,240 --> 00:41:33,240 bestowed and bled out from your walks with the Lord. 639 00:41:33,240 --> 00:41:36,800 You're drawing near to the Lord and your intentionality to 640 00:41:36,800 --> 00:41:45,400 gather and to and to grow. Recently, I, my wife and I had 641 00:41:45,400 --> 00:41:51,080 the opportunity to go to Africa approximately 2 1/2 years ago. 642 00:41:52,240 --> 00:41:55,000 I know that the church supported us and they prayed for us and 643 00:41:55,000 --> 00:41:58,080 sent us off. We didn't unfortunately, have an 644 00:41:58,080 --> 00:42:00,880 opportunity to really like share a whole lot about the trip. 645 00:42:01,560 --> 00:42:03,360 So if you ever want to know about the trip, please come and 646 00:42:03,360 --> 00:42:09,080 ask me. But we went out and we we went 647 00:42:09,080 --> 00:42:11,560 on a medical mission. My wife came to me. 648 00:42:11,760 --> 00:42:14,640 She had an opportunity through a kind of a mutual friend. 649 00:42:14,640 --> 00:42:17,520 And she said, hey, I think this would be a really awesome 650 00:42:17,520 --> 00:42:19,040 opportunity. I've always wanted to do this 651 00:42:19,040 --> 00:42:21,560 and I would love to go with you. And I was like, let's do it. 652 00:42:21,560 --> 00:42:26,480 And so I'm going to put my wife on on blast a little bit because 653 00:42:26,480 --> 00:42:28,640 she volunteered me to, to be up here. 654 00:42:29,480 --> 00:42:32,360 So this is payback. I'm just kidding. 655 00:42:32,360 --> 00:42:34,360 But I'm going to put my wife on blast a little bit. 656 00:42:34,360 --> 00:42:36,160 I want to bring up a photo of my wife. 657 00:42:42,920 --> 00:42:47,640 There's my wife. There's a reason why. 658 00:42:48,280 --> 00:42:50,360 There's a reason why I bring up this photo. 659 00:42:51,120 --> 00:42:53,880 OK, and I have another photo, but there's a reason why I bring 660 00:42:53,880 --> 00:42:56,600 up this photo. It's a little misleading and 661 00:42:56,600 --> 00:42:59,560 maybe a little bit deceptive on on why I'm showing you this 662 00:42:59,560 --> 00:43:02,960 photo. When I look at this photo, 663 00:43:02,960 --> 00:43:06,560 knowing the, the the the back story and and what had happened 664 00:43:06,560 --> 00:43:12,240 that day, I see my wife answering the call in her life. 665 00:43:13,480 --> 00:43:16,240 I see her taking a leap of faith and going. 666 00:43:17,320 --> 00:43:20,360 This was at the very end of the day after we had worked for 667 00:43:20,360 --> 00:43:25,040 about 12 hours in in this tiny little village treating several 668 00:43:25,040 --> 00:43:28,280 100 people, I believe several 100 people that came through the 669 00:43:28,480 --> 00:43:31,120 the clinic that we were operating and establishing. 670 00:43:31,120 --> 00:43:34,480 They got evaluation from doctors. 671 00:43:35,120 --> 00:43:38,040 They had their vitals and their all their, some of their blood 672 00:43:38,040 --> 00:43:40,680 work checked. They got tested for malaria. 673 00:43:40,920 --> 00:43:42,240 They got their blood sugar checked. 674 00:43:42,400 --> 00:43:44,320 They got Ivs from me and Sabrina. 675 00:43:44,480 --> 00:43:47,200 And then they went through a pharmacy that we set up and they 676 00:43:47,200 --> 00:43:50,120 got malaria medication and they got high blood pressure 677 00:43:50,120 --> 00:43:51,920 medication and all sorts of things. 678 00:43:53,040 --> 00:43:56,520 But this is probably one of my favorite pictures from the trip. 679 00:43:57,760 --> 00:44:00,160 I know it's kind of a little bit of a funny trip, but I see my 680 00:44:00,160 --> 00:44:05,720 wife who is just exhausted after giving and sacrificing for the 681 00:44:05,720 --> 00:44:09,280 Lord's calling on her life because the next picture is 682 00:44:09,280 --> 00:44:14,320 really what was going on. And we see the joy in her face, 683 00:44:16,440 --> 00:44:19,080 this little baby, as you can see, we started an IV in his 684 00:44:19,080 --> 00:44:20,960 hand because he was malnourished. 685 00:44:21,600 --> 00:44:23,120 How old was he? Like a year old? 686 00:44:24,440 --> 00:44:26,960 He was like a year old, but he looked like like a like a three 687 00:44:26,960 --> 00:44:31,160 month old. We started an IV on him and I 688 00:44:31,160 --> 00:44:34,480 snapped this picture as she blew up a glove and was giving it to 689 00:44:34,480 --> 00:44:36,560 him. And just the joy that you see on 690 00:44:36,560 --> 00:44:38,680 this baby's face and the joy in my wife. 691 00:44:40,920 --> 00:44:42,760 And so I'm putting her on blast a little bit. 692 00:44:42,960 --> 00:44:45,760 And if any of you know my wife, she doesn't like that very much. 693 00:44:46,400 --> 00:44:51,960 So forgive me, but this is what it looks like to go. 694 00:44:53,720 --> 00:44:58,920 This is what I when I see these pictures, I see someone who is 695 00:44:58,920 --> 00:45:01,840 being called and sent and answers the call. 696 00:45:03,160 --> 00:45:09,240 Now with that, everybody's calling is going to we can, we 697 00:45:09,240 --> 00:45:12,840 can perfect everybody's calling. Everybody's calling is going to 698 00:45:12,840 --> 00:45:16,640 look different. Everybody's calling is going to 699 00:45:16,640 --> 00:45:18,760 look different. I don't put that up to say if 700 00:45:18,760 --> 00:45:22,000 you're not on Africa missions trips, you are not doing it 701 00:45:22,000 --> 00:45:23,200 right. OK. 702 00:45:24,000 --> 00:45:25,800 Although I encourage you to, if that's the Lord's calling, 703 00:45:25,800 --> 00:45:27,920 that's awesome. But because that was, that was a 704 00:45:27,920 --> 00:45:30,440 very, very difficult, very difficult trip. 705 00:45:32,000 --> 00:45:35,920 Everybody's calling is going to look different, but the message 706 00:45:36,120 --> 00:45:39,720 is the same. The message is the same, though 707 00:45:39,720 --> 00:45:43,160 the calling may be different. The real question is, will you 708 00:45:43,640 --> 00:45:48,400 answer it in light of what we have read in Hebrews chapter 10 709 00:45:48,720 --> 00:45:53,120 of stepping out of that old covenant, receiving Christ in 710 00:45:53,120 --> 00:45:56,520 our life, that full assurance of faith, What are you going to do 711 00:45:56,520 --> 00:46:00,760 with it? We're not like the thief on the 712 00:46:00,760 --> 00:46:02,640 cross. We're here, we're alive. 713 00:46:03,360 --> 00:46:09,400 We have some time, that is the goodness of the gospel, that 714 00:46:09,400 --> 00:46:14,920 despite our works we are still forgiven and we still enter into 715 00:46:14,960 --> 00:46:17,040 eternity with Christ because we have accepted Him. 716 00:46:17,240 --> 00:46:23,440 But now we have time in response to that good message. 717 00:46:23,440 --> 00:46:24,960 What are you going to do with it? 718 00:46:26,920 --> 00:46:31,160 I have some thoughts. First one, we need to stop 719 00:46:31,160 --> 00:46:33,000 looking for a reason because we already have it. 720 00:46:35,440 --> 00:46:37,960 We need to stop looking for a reason because we have it. 721 00:46:38,320 --> 00:46:42,080 We have a reason to answer the call in our life #2 we need to 722 00:46:42,080 --> 00:46:44,400 stop making excuses for our lack of boldness. 723 00:46:45,880 --> 00:46:49,080 Stop making excuses for our lack of boldness. 724 00:46:49,480 --> 00:46:54,680 God has called us into the holy of Holies with all boldness. 725 00:46:55,680 --> 00:46:58,800 Understand some people are more social than others and boldness 726 00:46:58,800 --> 00:47:00,200 will look different for everybody. 727 00:47:00,520 --> 00:47:04,640 But we need to stop making excuses for our lack of boldness 728 00:47:05,600 --> 00:47:08,960 #3 the calling has already been placed on our life, it's up to 729 00:47:08,960 --> 00:47:11,200 you to answer it. God has already sent us and 730 00:47:11,200 --> 00:47:15,000 equipped us for the journey. Not everyone's calling will look 731 00:47:15,000 --> 00:47:16,640 the same, but the message is the same. 732 00:47:19,560 --> 00:47:22,640 And so as we kind of close out and enter into a time of 733 00:47:22,640 --> 00:47:29,160 worship, I have a couple things that I, I, I just, I want to 734 00:47:29,160 --> 00:47:33,040 challenge us with a couple things that I want to challenge 735 00:47:33,680 --> 00:47:37,320 us as we close out this time and enter a time of worship. 736 00:47:40,320 --> 00:47:43,800 I know I mentioned this first one before earlier, but if 737 00:47:43,800 --> 00:47:46,600 church on Sunday is your only regular Christ centered 738 00:47:46,600 --> 00:47:49,040 activity, your priorities are not where they should be. 739 00:47:51,680 --> 00:47:53,120 That's going to look different for everybody. 740 00:47:53,120 --> 00:47:55,840 I'm not saying you have to be a part of a multiplied community 741 00:47:55,840 --> 00:47:59,280 and you have to go to another church on Wednesday nights, but 742 00:47:59,280 --> 00:48:01,960 if that's the only time that Christ is at the center of your 743 00:48:01,960 --> 00:48:06,640 time, there's something wrong. There's something wrong and you 744 00:48:06,640 --> 00:48:11,720 need to re evaluate your priorities #2 often. 745 00:48:11,720 --> 00:48:15,680 God's moving and actions is made evident not when we ask for it, 746 00:48:15,680 --> 00:48:17,880 but when we step forward into it. 747 00:48:17,880 --> 00:48:22,880 Even if it's unknown. God's moving and action is made 748 00:48:22,880 --> 00:48:28,200 evident not when we ask for it, but when we step forward into 749 00:48:28,200 --> 00:48:30,400 it. God is asking you to move. 750 00:48:30,400 --> 00:48:32,360 God is asking you to answer the call. 751 00:48:32,360 --> 00:48:35,440 God is asking you to draw near and to cling to him. 752 00:48:37,800 --> 00:48:40,880 But often times we, we step back because, oh, you know, I'm, I'm 753 00:48:40,880 --> 00:48:42,440 waiting on the Speaking of the Lord. 754 00:48:43,320 --> 00:48:44,520 And yes, there is a time to wait. 755 00:48:44,520 --> 00:48:49,840 There is a time to wait, but it is made evident when we step 756 00:48:49,840 --> 00:48:51,520 into it and say, Lord, here I am. 757 00:48:51,520 --> 00:48:54,920 Send me as cry. As Pastor Casey shared with us 758 00:48:54,920 --> 00:48:59,760 last week #3 unanswered questions and unsolved problems 759 00:48:59,760 --> 00:49:05,040 does not always mean wait. Unanswered questions and 760 00:49:05,040 --> 00:49:07,320 unsolved problems does not always mean wait. 761 00:49:07,600 --> 00:49:11,720 Often times we allow some roadblocks for us to stay 762 00:49:11,720 --> 00:49:16,160 stagnant. That's part of our full 763 00:49:16,160 --> 00:49:19,560 assurance of faith is stepping into those things and allowing 764 00:49:19,760 --> 00:49:24,040 God to work in full assurance that He is walking with us. 765 00:49:26,600 --> 00:49:30,280 And the last one, God has called us into boldness, not just 766 00:49:30,280 --> 00:49:32,720 confirmation. We often wait for God to make 767 00:49:32,720 --> 00:49:36,200 the MU, make the move, and make excuses in the meantime. 768 00:49:37,280 --> 00:49:40,480 God has called us into boldness, not just confirmation. 769 00:49:41,080 --> 00:49:44,160 We often wait for God to make the move and make excuses in the 770 00:49:44,160 --> 00:49:48,080 meantime. What excuses are you making? 771 00:49:49,360 --> 00:49:53,080 What are you bringing to the table that is hindering you from 772 00:49:53,080 --> 00:49:57,240 stepping forward? So as we enter into a time of 773 00:49:57,240 --> 00:49:59,280 worship, I challenge you with those questions. 774 00:49:59,760 --> 00:50:02,920 These are hard questions. These are questions that aren't 775 00:50:02,920 --> 00:50:06,920 answered right this moment, all the time. 776 00:50:09,440 --> 00:50:12,080 These are questions that are worked out in our full assurance 777 00:50:12,080 --> 00:50:15,200 of faith as we simply just step forward. 778 00:50:16,240 --> 00:50:19,080 As we say to the Lord, I know what you have done. 779 00:50:20,040 --> 00:50:23,160 I know that I have full assurance that your son came and 780 00:50:23,160 --> 00:50:27,320 died on the cross for my sins. And now I am responding to that. 781 00:50:28,640 --> 00:50:34,440 I am stepping forward and I'm saying here I am, Lord, send me, 782 00:50:35,000 --> 00:50:39,000 whether that's to Africa or Cambodia or here to the, to the 783 00:50:39,000 --> 00:50:41,120 foothills, to Glendora, whatever it might be. 784 00:50:41,520 --> 00:50:45,880 Maybe it's in the ministry. Maybe you've been feeling like I 785 00:50:45,880 --> 00:50:47,760 need to, I need to, I need to do something. 786 00:50:47,760 --> 00:50:49,200 I want to help. I want to be a part of 787 00:50:49,200 --> 00:50:51,760 something. But well, you know, we got, you 788 00:50:51,760 --> 00:50:54,440 know, kids sports and we got this and I'm tired and I didn't 789 00:50:54,600 --> 00:50:58,800 like I, I get it. I get it financially. 790 00:50:59,400 --> 00:51:02,480 I don't, I don't have the money to go on those trips or do these 791 00:51:02,480 --> 00:51:08,520 certain things God says in his words, challenge me, test me. 792 00:51:10,120 --> 00:51:12,120 All I ask is that you step forward. 793 00:51:12,880 --> 00:51:16,600 All I ask is that you respond to the hope that I have given you. 794 00:51:18,120 --> 00:51:20,680 We hope you enjoyed this message and we'd love for you to join us 795 00:51:20,680 --> 00:51:22,840 in person every Sunday at 10:30 AM. 796 00:51:23,240 --> 00:51:25,240 For more information and updates, visit 797 00:51:25,240 --> 00:51:27,880 wearebridgetown.com. Thanks for tuning in and we'll 798 00:51:27,880 --> 00:51:28,720 see you next week.