1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,960 Now I want to review a couple scriptures from last week and 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:05,960 build upon the concept about the rest of God. 3 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:11,200 Hebrews chapter 4 says, For if Joshua had given them rest, then 4 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:13,960 he would not have afterwards spoken of another day. 5 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:17,560 There remains there for a rest for the people of God. 6 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:23,040 For he who has entered his rest has all himself also ceased from 7 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:29,080 his works, as God did from his. Now the story of Joshua and the 8 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:31,400 children of Israel in the Old Testament, of course, is a very 9 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:32,920 important scripture for us to note. 10 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:36,920 Bible tells us that the children of Israel, God's people, the 11 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:39,280 seed of Abraham, were slaves in the land of Egypt. 12 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:42,520 But God, being faithful to His covenant for what he has spoken 13 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:46,080 to, the father Abraham, sent Moses to be delivered for the 14 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:48,720 people. And so he brought them out of 15 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:52,000 Egypt with a mighty hand, taking them through the wilderness. 16 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,280 There were many signs and wonders, but then they came to 17 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:57,920 the Promised Land. There was a transition in 18 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:01,680 leadership for this next phase because Joshua was a military 19 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:05,160 leader and he would lead them into taking possession of the 20 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:08,160 promised land. He had the faith to believe that 21 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:11,800 he could slay giants or anything that would get in the way of the 22 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:14,160 word of God. He was that kind of a leader. 23 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:17,000 And I like to point out how important it is for us to note 24 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:20,920 that the name Joshua in the Old Testament is the same New 25 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:25,600 Testament name, Jesus, because Jesus is our Joshua. 26 00:01:25,960 --> 00:01:30,280 He wants to take us into the promised land, which is the land 27 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:32,400 that he has for each and every one of us. 28 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:36,040 It's a beautiful land. In the Old Testament it was a 29 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:39,960 physical place, but in the New Testament is first of all a 30 00:01:39,960 --> 00:01:43,440 state of being. It is a place where God gives to 31 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:47,200 us a place of peace and also a place of rest. 32 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:50,560 Now the children of Israel went in and took possession literally 33 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:53,160 of the promised land, but because they didn't have the 34 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:57,640 internal rest of God, because they didn't enter into the land 35 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:01,200 internally if you would, eventually they lost the 36 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:03,160 promised land. Eventually the temple was 37 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:06,920 destroyed, the people were taken into captivity, and ultimately, 38 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:10,000 even when the Messiah came, they rejected him. 39 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:14,280 And so it was important for the Hebrew writer here to take note 40 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:18,560 of how important it is for us to not miss what God has for us. 41 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:23,400 God says today He has a place of rest for us and he's calling 42 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:25,840 each and every one of us to enter into it. 43 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:29,640 Now we connect the word rest to the word Sabbath, which is what 44 00:02:29,640 --> 00:02:31,480 that word means in the Old Testament. 45 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:35,040 You may have heard about how that the Lord rested on the 7th 46 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:39,520 day from his works, calling it the 7th day through Moses for 47 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:42,800 the children of Israel because there were many Sabbath's that 48 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,440 were a part of their religious celebrations. 49 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:49,680 If you would always to remind them that God has a place of 50 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:53,800 rest for his people. God rested on the 7th day and He 51 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:57,600 wants us all to know that he has a rest for us as well. 52 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:01,320 Now the children of Israel did not enter in the Scripture tells 53 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:03,280 us. Therefore, as the Holy Spirit 54 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:08,000 says today, if you will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts 55 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:12,240 as in the rebellion in the day of trial in the wilderness where 56 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:16,720 your father's tested me, tried me and saw me works 40 years. 57 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:21,560 Therefore, I was angry with that and said they always go astray 58 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:23,800 in their heart. They have not known my ways. 59 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:28,040 So I swore in my wrath they shall not enter my rest. 60 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:31,200 So last week we talked about the fact that they never came into 61 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:35,120 God's rest and there was a problem focusing on the word 62 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:37,400 rebellion. Because in the original concept, 63 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:39,480 that word doesn't just mean I'm rebelling. 64 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:43,720 It talks about what happens in the day of your irritation. 65 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:45,720 Anybody out there ever been irritated? 66 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:47,840 How many? When you're irritated, you 67 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:51,720 respond to it typically. But for the children of Israel, 68 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:54,400 they responded by murmuring and complaining. 69 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:58,800 And the Bible says they were always testing God and trying 70 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:00,760 God. If you would God, why aren't you 71 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:02,320 doing this? Why are you doing that? 72 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:07,280 Well, God did many, many miraculous things for them, but 73 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:11,160 because of the conflicts that they went through, they would 74 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:14,720 harden their heart and they missed the place of rest that 75 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:18,440 God had for them. And so we have to learn by that 76 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:22,120 example and understand we don't want to be there now. 77 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:25,800 He said today if you will hear the voice of God, because 78 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:29,640 hearing the voice of God is key. The Bible teaches us that faith 79 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:32,280 comes by hearing, hearing by the Word of God. 80 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:36,000 And when we hear the word of God, that gives us the capacity 81 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:39,960 to operate not just in our natural realm, but in the faith 82 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:40,960 realm. We could call it. 83 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:44,280 But it is spiritual dimension, if you would, where we can be 84 00:04:44,280 --> 00:04:48,400 lifted above our own efforts, above our own abilities, and 85 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:50,800 receive something that only God can give. 86 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:54,320 And so today, if you will hear his voice, be careful. 87 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:58,240 Your heart is soft before God because He wants you to have 88 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:01,280 that faith. And the Bible teaches us also 89 00:05:01,280 --> 00:05:04,080 that the Word of Faith must come to our heart, because with our 90 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:07,480 heart we believe. And then as we walk in faith, 91 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:11,920 letting his faith grow in our hearts, because life has 92 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:15,040 conflict with it. And God says in the midst of the 93 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:19,960 conflict, he can give us a state of being as it is rest now we're 94 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:24,000 living in a time of conflict. Sometimes you can launch the 95 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:26,440 news and see there's literal wars going on. 96 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:30,360 And also you can see there's all kinds of debates going on. 97 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:33,640 Everybody has an opinion because of the social media. 98 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:36,720 Everybody has access to express their opinion. 99 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:39,840 And so people are always observing opinions. 100 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:43,080 Not the time is the best way to get followers on your social 101 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:46,480 media page is to get people upset, get them excited in 102 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:50,200 whatever manner you can, get them emotional so that they will 103 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:53,200 respond well. It's created an environment of 104 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:56,080 conflict in our world today. And God says to the church, 105 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:59,200 don't you understand that in this time of conflict, I want 106 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:02,840 you to come to a place of rest. I want you to understand there 107 00:06:02,840 --> 00:06:06,880 is a place I can bring you into, says the Lord, where you can 108 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:11,280 have the peace that passes all understanding so that you're not 109 00:06:11,280 --> 00:06:14,880 all cut up in the turmoil and the conflict of the time. 110 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:18,800 But you can just rest and say, you know what, I'm satisfied. 111 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:20,640 I don't have to get involved in those things. 112 00:06:20,840 --> 00:06:24,040 Now God wants us to be a people that deal with life, no question 113 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:25,640 about it. And there's a lot of 114 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:29,560 responsibilities that we have in life and some of them can offer 115 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:32,440 conflict to us. But God says in the midst of all 116 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:35,480 that, again, we need to understand that in each place 117 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:39,880 there's a place of rest when we find the Lord in our situation. 118 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:43,240 So whatever you're dealing with today, perhaps it's a family 119 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:48,080 issue, child, I'll issue a job issue, just something going on 120 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:50,520 in your life. God says, now remember, there is 121 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:54,760 a place of rest, and that place of rest is in the Lord. 122 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:57,320 So we absolutely have to seek Him out. 123 00:06:57,840 --> 00:07:00,600 Now having said that, I want to read from Hebrews chapter 12 124 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:04,200 this scripture that says pursue peace with all people and 125 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:08,560 holiness without which no one will see the Lord, looking 126 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:11,920 carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God. 127 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:16,240 Does any word of bitterness bring up cause trouble and by 128 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:20,000 this many become defiled, as there be any fornicator or 129 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:23,880 profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his 130 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:27,160 birthright for you know that afterward when he wanted to 131 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:31,400 inherit the blessing he was rejected for, he found no place 132 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:35,400 of repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. 133 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:39,440 Now in last week's message, shouldn't talking about having 134 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:42,120 that place of rest? We were primarily talking about 135 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:46,040 our relationship with God. But obviously, it's also true 136 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:50,160 that much of our conflict comes from other sources, namely 137 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:52,600 people. And so it's important here for 138 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:56,480 us to recognize here that the writer here in Hebrews is saying 139 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:59,160 in this particular place now, you got to remember something 140 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:02,480 when you go through life, sometimes you'll get what he 141 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,920 terms bitter places. Sometimes things aren't going 142 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:08,400 well and you get a little bit on the bitter side. 143 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:10,720 And I'm sure you know what that's talking about. 144 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:14,280 And he says, you know, you have to be very careful with 145 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:16,800 bitterness because it becomes a root. 146 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:20,000 And sometimes you don't think it's all that important, but 147 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:23,400 then just the right situation comes and that seed begins to 148 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:25,440 grow again. And what happens is the 149 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:28,640 bitterness comes to the surface. And the Bible says that's when 150 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:33,960 many people become defiled by bitterness and they lose their 151 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:35,880 peace. They certainly can't come to a 152 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:38,600 place of rest. And they find conflict both with 153 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:41,000 God and again in this place with people. 154 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:43,720 And so we have to understand that God wants us to have peace 155 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:47,320 with him, and He also wants us to walk in a place of rest that 156 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:50,720 we have with each other. He uses the illustration of Esau 157 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:53,080 in the Old Testament. There were twin brothers born 158 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:56,000 Esau and Jacob. A prophecy came forth before 159 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:59,880 they were born that the elder was going to serve the younger. 160 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:02,720 Their lives have been charted out for them. 161 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:06,560 But because Jacob, who was the benefactor, if you would, of the 162 00:09:06,560 --> 00:09:10,880 prophecy of what his life of unfold, did some things he 163 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:14,960 shouldn't have done and mistreated his brother in many 164 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:18,600 ways, his brother became defiled by bitterness. 165 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:21,560 Now, when he realized he was missing out on the blessings 166 00:09:21,560 --> 00:09:24,920 that life had to offer him, the Bible says that he sought the 167 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:27,600 Lord crying, but he found a place of repentance. 168 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:31,400 That doesn't mean that he didn't have a God who would listen to 169 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:34,360 his prayer. It meant that he really, in that 170 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:39,640 particular case, wanted to repent of the actions of his 171 00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:42,680 life that have produced the wrong response. 172 00:09:42,680 --> 00:09:47,160 So he was more repented of what the results of his life were 173 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:51,080 rather than realizing it was the action itself that was the 174 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:53,680 problem. And so we have to understand how 175 00:09:53,680 --> 00:09:57,320 important it is to recognize that actions produce seeds in 176 00:09:57,320 --> 00:10:00,800 our life so that we'll follow the things that God has for us 177 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:03,880 and not be causing trouble for ourselves. 178 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:07,760 And sometimes that will mean trouble for other people later 179 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:10,200 on in our life. Now, having said that, I want to 180 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,120 go to this Scripture in Ephesians. 181 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:14,640 God keeps bringing me back to this particular reference of 182 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:17,320 Scripture. It says for by grace you have 183 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:21,320 been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. 184 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:25,320 It is the gift of God, not of works, as anyone should boast. 185 00:10:25,560 --> 00:10:30,160 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good 186 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:35,000 works which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk 187 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:37,400 in them now. When the Bible talks about 188 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:40,680 grace, it's often defined as God's unmerited favor, because 189 00:10:40,680 --> 00:10:44,400 grace is God has chosen us. How many of you are a believer 190 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:46,440 today? It's because God chose you. 191 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:50,160 That's an important concept that some people struggle with. 192 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:53,680 But those of us who know the Lord have to recognize that 193 00:10:53,680 --> 00:10:56,680 everything that we have in him starts with him. 194 00:10:57,040 --> 00:11:01,760 Because that starting with him in our life gives us confidence 195 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:04,560 in our life. Because sometimes we do things 196 00:11:04,560 --> 00:11:07,960 we aren't supposed to do. Sometimes we have attitudes we 197 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:12,120 don't shouldn't have anyway. And the end result of that is we 198 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:14,520 miss out on God. But when we realized, hey, this 199 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:19,440 is about God's choice, and if God started the work, hey, I 200 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:22,720 know he's going to finish it. And he said, by grace you have 201 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:25,680 been saved through faith. Because when God chooses us, he 202 00:11:25,680 --> 00:11:29,000 gives us the gift of faith. And all of a sudden we have the 203 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:32,960 capacity to reach out for something from God that's above 204 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:35,720 ourselves. Sometimes people just have one 205 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:38,560 act of faith, if you would. So they have the Christian 206 00:11:38,560 --> 00:11:40,640 faith. But God doesn't want us just to 207 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:43,680 have the Christian faith. The Bible says that the Joshua 208 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:47,040 live by faith. And so we need to always be 209 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:50,400 asking God to give us the gift of faith that gives us that 210 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:55,000 capacity to go beyond ourselves. So by grace, you have been saved 211 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:56,920 through faith that not of yourself. 212 00:11:56,920 --> 00:12:01,040 It is the gift of God. It brings it down to God making 213 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:04,120 a choice for us. Now, when the Bible was first 214 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:07,400 written and given to us, especially when we read these 215 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:10,280 letters in the New Testament, we have to understand that they 216 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:13,080 weren't divided up in the chapters and verses as we're so 217 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:15,840 familiar with. That actually didn't come about 218 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:19,040 until the 5th century guy decided, hey, this would be 219 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:21,880 easier reading if we divide into chapters and verses. 220 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:25,760 Well, it does provide for easier reading, but sometimes people 221 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:29,560 will just take one verse and build a doctrine on it without 222 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:32,200 understanding. Well take it in the context of 223 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:34,640 what's there. That's very important in the 224 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:38,200 scripture I read to you because it's by grace through faith that 225 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:41,160 not of yourself. It is the gift of God, but we 226 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:45,800 also have to know that God has chosen us through Christ onto 227 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:50,440 good works, and those good works have been prepared ahead of time 228 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:53,040 that we should be able to walk in them. 229 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:58,400 And so God has made a provision for us to fulfill his purposes 230 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:00,880 in the earth. Now that's very important for us 231 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:05,240 to understand because oftentimes people have this attitude that 232 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:09,840 well, God doesn't need me or I made a mistake, so I'm 233 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:13,840 disposable. And God wants us to know, no, I 234 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:17,920 need you, says the Lord. Well, how could God have a need? 235 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:21,120 God is God after all. And especially when we look at 236 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:23,520 the fact that he's the creator of all things. 237 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:27,080 Well, it's just in the way that he created all things. 238 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:31,200 The Bible says that on the 6th impression, before he rested, he 239 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:34,120 created mankind. And he said be fruitful, 240 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:37,240 multiply, fill up the earth and take dominion of it. 241 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:41,800 When you look at mankind and you see what God has created, it's 242 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:44,760 no wonder the psalmist said who's man that you were mindful 243 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:46,720 of him or the son of man that you visited him. 244 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:50,280 You create him a little lower than the angels and yet you have 245 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:53,800 prompted with glory on her life and that you have put all things 246 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:56,120 under him. And so God needs us. 247 00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:59,000 Why does he need us Well, because he chose to make us a 248 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:02,920 part of the program. Now, when you study theology or 249 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:07,520 talk about people's expectations about especially eschatology or 250 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:11,000 things that God's going to do in the future, oftentimes people 251 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:15,240 have this attitude that well, we are a part of the plan, but 252 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:19,040 well, we're a disposable part. Somewhere along the line, God 253 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:22,360 always has to step in and say, excuse me, I'll get it done for 254 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:24,320 you. And really especially as if 255 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:27,080 people think about the end times, we think we're giving God 256 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:31,640 the glory when we say, OK, God, in the end, we're failures. 257 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:35,200 You're going to be the success for us and Lord says no, the 258 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:38,720 glory I have is that I'm able to do it through you, says the 259 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:41,640 mighty God. Wow, that's amazing, isn't it, 260 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:43,480 Church? Give the Lord a praise on that. 261 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:48,640 When Jesus Christ came to the earth, he came for a very good 262 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:51,840 purpose and one of the most important purposes, as he said, 263 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:55,280 I came to show you what your Father is like. 264 00:14:55,960 --> 00:14:59,280 You have a Heavenly Father church, and it's so important 265 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:02,880 for us to realize that when we realize that we won't see our 266 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:06,080 relationship with God as transactional or like in a 267 00:15:06,080 --> 00:15:08,840 business sense where God's in heaven saying this is what you 268 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:11,520 do and if you do it right, you get to go to heaven. 269 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:16,640 No, you have a father, and because of that, you're a child 270 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:19,960 of the most high God. Now God has a plan for you, and 271 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:23,960 that is that you grow up from being just a child to becoming a 272 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:27,080 mature, responsible person in His Kingdom. 273 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:30,240 And because he's a good father, he's not going to give up on 274 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:32,520 that. When our children are young, I 275 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:35,080 know this from being a parent, when they're really young, they 276 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:36,640 really want to help with everything. 277 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:39,640 Daughter wants to get up there and help mom with the dishes and 278 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:41,800 the boys are wanting to help mow the lawn, etcetera. 279 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:44,760 That's what it was when we were growing up and raising our kids, 280 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:47,040 I should say, and they want to participate now. 281 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:51,120 They're really not good at it and really they're in the way. 282 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:55,000 But the best you can, you try to bring them into the program 283 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:57,920 right when they go to school, they come home and they'll show 284 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:00,400 you their picture, maybe even from Sunday school. 285 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:04,640 And what it is, is usually stick people art, if you would. 286 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:07,360 Oh, this looks so good. So you kind of put it on your 287 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:09,800 refrigerator and make it sound like it's really something 288 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:13,080 special. Now as they grow up, you hope 289 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:15,240 they're going to grow out of that and become responsible. 290 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:18,120 Unfortunately, when they're able to do stuff, they usually want 291 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:20,280 to not participate at that point. 292 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:24,120 But as kids are growing up, you don't just say at one point, 293 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:26,600 say, you know what, you're a whole lot of work. 294 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:28,960 We're going to just get you out of the way and I'm going to do 295 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:30,240 it myself. Amen. 296 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:32,880 Some people think that's what God's going to do. 297 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:35,760 Oh, you know, I've tried and done everything possible, but 298 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:38,880 you're useless. Get out of here. 299 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:42,400 I'll do it myself. Oh, thank you, Heavenly Daddy. 300 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:48,520 You're so good to me. No, God wants us to know that He 301 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:52,600 has committed himself to a purpose to bring us into the 302 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:57,480 full state of maturity. That's His glory and also in the 303 00:16:57,480 --> 00:17:02,680 context of that, it's important to understand God needs us. 304 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:05,240 Now having said that, I want to go to this next verse of 305 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:08,640 Scripture and 1st John, it says, beloved, let us love one 306 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:10,000 another. Why? 307 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:14,760 Well, for love is of God and everyone who loves is born of 308 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:17,520 God and knows God. It's all wrapped together, isn't 309 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:19,760 it? He who does not love does not 310 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:23,480 know God, for God is love, and this the love of God was 311 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:27,160 manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son 312 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:31,320 into the world that we might live through Him in. 313 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:35,280 This is love, not that we love God, but that He loved us and 314 00:17:35,280 --> 00:17:39,640 sent His Son to be the perpetuation or the substitute 315 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:43,120 for our sins. Now in saying that, we 316 00:17:43,120 --> 00:17:46,240 understand there is a commandment that we should love 317 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:48,680 God. One day they were talking to 318 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:50,800 Jesus. What's the greatest commandment 319 00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:54,040 of the Old Testament? He said, well, it's this love 320 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:57,960 the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all your soul, 321 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:01,800 with all your mind, with all your strength, and your neighbor 322 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:02,720 as yourself. How many you know? 323 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:07,120 That's a whole lot of loving. And that was a command of the 324 00:18:07,120 --> 00:18:08,680 Old Testament. They should love God. 325 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:11,440 But how do you know real love isn't something you command from 326 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:14,360 people. You're going to love me if you 327 00:18:14,360 --> 00:18:17,920 like it or not. That's not love. 328 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:22,800 I can pretend I love you, but that's not going to be love. 329 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:26,480 God never wanted it to be a commandment of love. 330 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:28,760 God actually wanted to be love. Why? 331 00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:32,120 Because He is love. And the Bible says that when you 332 00:18:32,120 --> 00:18:34,600 get around that love, when you're born of God, you're going 333 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:37,840 to start loving too. Now, one of the things that love 334 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:41,960 demands is reciprocity. Because if you love somebody, 335 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:45,520 how many know your love expectation is you're going to 336 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:49,480 love me back. And if the person doesn't love 337 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:53,560 you back, that's a very bad situation, isn't it? 338 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:58,640 So love is reciprocal. So when you begin to give love, 339 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:01,440 and that's what this verse is saying, then it creates A 340 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:05,680 reciprocity where you give love, then you get back love. 341 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:07,800 And that's what God has done for us. 342 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:12,080 God is love. Now, in the Old Testament, the 343 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:16,040 people used to offer, offer sacrifices to God. 344 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:20,360 Now, that was no different than most of the other nations at the 345 00:19:20,360 --> 00:19:22,520 time. Everybody had their gods and 346 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:24,280 everybody offered their sacrifices. 347 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:27,000 But typically, if you study history, you'll find out that 348 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:32,120 most people with their gods had gods that were very selfish. 349 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:36,880 And the reason for the sacrifices was to try to protect 350 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:40,560 yourself from that God, try to motivate that God, because it 351 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:43,800 was all about, I'm going to do this in order to get this. 352 00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:47,400 But it was a transactional, not a relationship good thing. 353 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:50,200 But through the prophets, the Lord told the children of 354 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:53,400 Israel, I don't need what you're giving. 355 00:19:53,960 --> 00:19:58,160 What I'm wanting is you to give from your heart. 356 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:02,440 And so the system is not set up to appease me because I'm a God 357 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:04,360 of purpose. I don't need to be appeased. 358 00:20:04,360 --> 00:20:07,400 I don't need to be persuaded. How do you know God loves you 359 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:09,640 and he cares about you all the time. 360 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:11,920 Amen. Give him a praise on that. 361 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:16,560 That's important to understand. Jesus even said it like this. 362 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:19,760 You don't even have to pray for your needs because God, your 363 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:21,720 Father knows all about your needs. 364 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:25,400 And do don't you understand that He cares about your needs and 365 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:28,880 he's going to participate in fulfilling those needs, says the 366 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:31,960 Lord. And so we have a God who has 367 00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:36,560 said to us, I want you to love me, but he also says that he's 368 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:40,240 going to love him. Now I love us. 369 00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:43,280 And so when we understand that, we begin to understand that 370 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:46,840 process of working love, giving love, receiving love. 371 00:20:47,120 --> 00:20:50,800 It's a very beautiful thing. Now, again, I'd like to point 372 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:54,880 out that because God commanded love to such an extent, if you 373 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:57,480 say you got to love me with your heart, your soul, your strength, 374 00:20:57,480 --> 00:20:59,480 and your mind, how many know that's a whole lot of giving on 375 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:03,040 the other person's bar. Obviously, when God's looking 376 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:06,360 for that much love, He needs that love. 377 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:09,960 Again, I don't know how it all worked in history, but we know 378 00:21:09,960 --> 00:21:13,800 from the very beginning of time, God decided that He would have a 379 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:17,000 relationship of love with His people. 380 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:21,280 And so because the love is easily defined as something that 381 00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:26,240 we give and receive, I believe we could certainly also say that 382 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:30,840 God needs our love or He wouldn't have asked for our 383 00:21:30,840 --> 00:21:34,160 love. Now I said those two points for 384 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:36,760 one thing, because yesterday I was in prayer and the Lord spoke 385 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:40,600 those to me and He said, now I'm wanting to bring my people into 386 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:44,520 a whole new level in me. But in order for people to get 387 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:49,160 there, they have to understand who I am and that I need them. 388 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:52,680 Because if they don't see that I need them, they're going to 389 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:55,840 think they're disposable. They're going to think, well, 390 00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:59,720 God tried to me, it didn't work, so I'm out of here or I'll just 391 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:03,040 kind of hang in there, whatever. But God says, no, I want you to 392 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:06,840 know that I still have something for you to do and I still have 393 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:10,480 called you as a recipient of my love, says the mighty God. 394 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:15,040 And he said, I want every one of my people to know it's not a 395 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:19,240 time to hold back thinking you can't do it, but to stand up and 396 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:21,960 say no, I'm ready, I'm going forwards. 397 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:26,560 Amen Church, I believe that with all my heart that God is calling 398 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:29,920 us to a place in him. And that's the final thing I'm 399 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:33,600 going to talk about that God says to all of us, if you're 400 00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:36,800 here today, God said send them a message. 401 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:39,560 You're one of those I've chosen. Don't look back. 402 00:22:39,560 --> 00:22:42,680 We'll look forward forgetting those things which are behind. 403 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:46,200 It's time to press more for the mark of the prize of the high 404 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:50,200 calling of God in Christ Jesus. Amen, Church, it's the day for 405 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:55,400 that in the book of Ephesians. It tells us, of course, that God 406 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:58,080 has made a provision for us in this case. 407 00:22:58,080 --> 00:23:02,760 Speaking of Jesus Christ, it says, for He himself is our what 408 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:05,240 peace. Well, how is He our peace? 409 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:09,600 Well, who has made both? One has broken the middle wall 410 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:15,600 of separation, having abolished in his flesh the enmity that is 411 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:18,320 the law of commandments contained in Norton, so as to 412 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:24,520 create in himself one new man from the two, thus making 413 00:23:24,680 --> 00:23:28,880 there's a word again, peace, and that he might reconcile them 414 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:32,520 both to God in bond one body through the cross, therefore 415 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:36,120 putting to death the enmity. Now one of the first things this 416 00:23:36,120 --> 00:23:40,800 is talking about is in the coming of Jesus Christ and the 417 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:44,000 fact that the gospel was to all nations of the earth. 418 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:46,400 There was a little bit of confusion, especially in 419 00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:49,600 Jerusalem around Israel, like, well, where did the Jews fit in? 420 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:54,640 And this is God saying through this letter, well, Jesus Christ 421 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:59,480 came to take away the walls of separation, that in Christ we 422 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:02,880 neither are male nor female, junior Greek bond or free, but 423 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:05,560 we're all called of God. Can I hear Amen in that? 424 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:08,760 Amen. And he came, Jesus Christ with 425 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:15,440 his blood, to settle all enmity or hostility, if we will let him 426 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:19,160 between US and God. If you're in the service today, 427 00:24:19,560 --> 00:24:23,640 release all your hostility. If you confess your sin, He's 428 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:26,680 faithful and just to forgive me of your sin, and they clunge you 429 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:30,240 from all unrighteousness. It is settled, says the mighty 430 00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:33,040 God. And also as we read in the other 431 00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:36,000 scripture, it's time for us to end our hostilities that we 432 00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:39,600 would have with people again, it's not hurting them, it's 433 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:42,520 hurting you. It's time for us to release all 434 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:46,720 those things so we can go into that next level that God has for 435 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:52,480 us, where we have that peace that Jesus Christ has made for 436 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:57,320 us so that we can walk fully in that which God has for us. 437 00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:01,160 This is such an exciting time. I believe it's a time when God 438 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:03,840 is calling this into a whole new realm in him. 439 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:08,480 Going back to Hebrews chapter 5, it says for we who have believed 440 00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:13,240 to enter that rest as he has said, so I swore in my wrath, 441 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:17,000 they shall not enter my rest. Now chapter 4 here is quite 442 00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:19,920 repetitious, even repeating what was in chapter 3. 443 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:21,920 This is how much he wants to get the point of grass. 444 00:25:22,280 --> 00:25:25,240 Although the works were finished from the foundation of the 445 00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:29,800 world, For He has spoken in a certain place of the 7th day in 446 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:34,880 this way, and God rested on the 7th day from all His works. 447 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:38,280 And again in this place they shall enter my rest. 448 00:25:38,280 --> 00:25:43,080 Emphasis the my here again. For he who has entered his rest 449 00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:49,400 has himself also ceased from his works, as God did from his. 450 00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:53,480 And so God is sending out an invitation, and the invitation 451 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:56,680 is that you would come into my rest, says the Lord. 452 00:25:57,040 --> 00:25:59,920 That's different than your rest because your rest is based on 453 00:25:59,920 --> 00:26:03,240 you trying to pull your world together, making all your plans 454 00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:05,880 for the future. And there's a place for that in 455 00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:08,560 the natural. But God says that's not going to 456 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:10,560 give you the rest that you're looking for. 457 00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:13,880 There's only one way you can get that kind of rest is to come 458 00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:20,600 into my peace as the mighty God. It's time for you to say I'm not 459 00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:22,680 going to accomplish it for myself. 460 00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:26,800 I know that somebody else has made a provision for me, and 461 00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:30,560 that's God, and that's why I want to enter into His rest. 462 00:26:30,560 --> 00:26:33,000 Can you say Amen to that? So they will walk in the 463 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:36,000 fullness of all things that He has for us. 464 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:41,640 And then there comes an end to our conflict so that we can 465 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:46,840 fully experience the peace that passes all understanding that 466 00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:50,000 God has for us. Now I want to go to our text of 467 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:54,800 scriptures today from Psalms 132 and I put over this scripture 468 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:58,960 Davidde desire. Lord, remember David and all his 469 00:26:58,960 --> 00:27:03,120 afflictions, how he swore to the Lord and vowed to the mighty one 470 00:27:03,120 --> 00:27:05,560 of Jacob. Surely I will not go into the 471 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:08,760 Chamber of my house or go up to the comfort of my bed. 472 00:27:09,120 --> 00:27:12,920 I will not get sleeve to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids until I 473 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:16,640 find a place for the Lord, a dwelling place for the mighty 474 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:19,600 one of Jacob. Now he's talking about building 475 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:22,920 God a temple. He had recently made himself a 476 00:27:22,920 --> 00:27:26,960 palace, and sitting in the palace he thought, wow, I'm in a 477 00:27:26,960 --> 00:27:29,200 palace. And at that time the presence of 478 00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:32,200 God was dwelling in a Tabernacle or a tent. 479 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:36,080 Now, but notice his attitude in doing this. 480 00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:40,160 He was a man in his afflictions. And while he's in his 481 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:44,440 afflictions, he says, And I will not sleep to my eyes or give 482 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:47,440 slumber to my eyelids until I find a place for God. 483 00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:51,760 Now, doesn't that sound like quite a noble thing for him? 484 00:27:52,240 --> 00:27:55,440 My, my life is a wreck. I'm in all this turmoil and I'm 485 00:27:55,440 --> 00:27:58,000 going to even create more turmoil if I have to, because 486 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:03,520 I'm going to build God a temple. God's like, no thanks. 487 00:28:05,280 --> 00:28:08,160 And that's the way the story actually went, because he said 488 00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:10,000 I'm going to build a temple for God. 489 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:12,800 And God sent her prophets to him and said, no, you're not going 490 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:15,600 to build me something because I didn't ask you for it. 491 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:19,160 But in another place. And telling his son about the 492 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:22,640 situation, he said, God said, I can't do this because I've been 493 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:26,720 a man of war. And David was that he was a man 494 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:30,320 of much affliction, much distress, and a whole lot of 495 00:28:30,320 --> 00:28:33,360 fighting. And God said, that's not the 496 00:28:33,360 --> 00:28:37,320 temple that I'm going to have built because my temple is going 497 00:28:37,320 --> 00:28:41,560 to be a place of rest. And so he had this idea that he 498 00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:44,760 was going to do for God the same thing he had done for himself. 499 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:47,960 And God's like, no, that's not the way it's going to work. 500 00:28:48,640 --> 00:28:52,280 That's why last week we emphasized that Moses knew the 501 00:28:52,840 --> 00:28:56,280 ways of God, the children of resident knew the acts of God. 502 00:28:56,680 --> 00:29:00,520 But God wants us to be a people that know His ways, to begin to 503 00:29:00,520 --> 00:29:04,560 understand there is a way that seemeth right unto men, but the 504 00:29:04,560 --> 00:29:09,080 end thereof is the way of death. Yes, God's ways are not our 505 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:10,480 ways. His thoughts are not our 506 00:29:10,480 --> 00:29:12,440 thoughts as far as the heavens are from the earth. 507 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:15,320 That's how far God's way is from our way. 508 00:29:15,600 --> 00:29:20,320 But through the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, we can begin to 509 00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:24,320 get a glimpse of understanding and we can begin to know the 510 00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:27,480 ways of God. I noticed this the other day. 511 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:30,880 I was reading, I often times quote, of course, Isaiah chapter 512 00:29:30,880 --> 00:29:32,520 2. In the latter days of time, the 513 00:29:32,520 --> 00:29:35,280 mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on top of 514 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:37,720 the mountains, exalted above the hills. 515 00:29:37,920 --> 00:29:39,800 And people are going to say, come and let us go to the 516 00:29:39,800 --> 00:29:42,920 mountain of the Lord, to the House of the God of Jacob, and 517 00:29:42,920 --> 00:29:46,600 he will teach us of his ways. I never saw it that way. 518 00:29:46,600 --> 00:29:49,960 I saw the rest where it says and he'll show us basically how to 519 00:29:49,960 --> 00:29:51,840 live and people are going to see how we live. 520 00:29:52,560 --> 00:29:55,080 But when you get up to the mountain, you're going to know 521 00:29:55,280 --> 00:29:59,120 his ways. You're going to understand God's 522 00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:03,320 ways are not our ways and we are going to begin to see what 523 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:06,640 that's all about. David thought he could in his 524 00:30:06,640 --> 00:30:10,480 way do for God something and God's like, you're not going to 525 00:30:10,480 --> 00:30:14,040 do for me what you do for yourself because I have a 526 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:17,480 different way. He said, let us go into his 527 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:21,320 Tabernacle and let us worship at His footstool. 528 00:30:21,720 --> 00:30:24,560 Arise, O Lord, to your resting place, you in the ark of your 529 00:30:24,560 --> 00:30:27,880 strength, and let your priest be clothed with the righteousness. 530 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:31,120 And what? Let your St. shout for joy. 531 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:34,760 You see, God's house has to be a place of rest. 532 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:37,600 I like it. It says let us worship at His 533 00:30:37,840 --> 00:30:40,400 footstool. How we know what the footstool 534 00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:42,240 is for? It's when you want to kick up 535 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:44,840 your feet and just kind of rest a little bit. 536 00:30:44,840 --> 00:30:47,160 Amen. You're going to relax. 537 00:30:47,920 --> 00:30:50,560 In modern language, you might say, well, I'm going to go set 538 00:30:50,560 --> 00:30:54,360 up my lazy boy, pull the thing back and my feet go up there and 539 00:30:54,360 --> 00:30:56,680 I'm going to relax. You can even go into the 540 00:30:56,680 --> 00:30:59,840 theaters now and you have a button you can push and you can 541 00:30:59,840 --> 00:31:02,160 pull your feet up and just relax. 542 00:31:02,320 --> 00:31:07,280 And God says that's what I like. I like to go home and just get 543 00:31:07,280 --> 00:31:12,080 in my easy chair and relax. Say to somebody, give me the 544 00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:14,280 clicker so I can watch what I want to watch. 545 00:31:14,760 --> 00:31:17,480 Give me my cup of coffee. Somebody's saying that sounds 546 00:31:17,480 --> 00:31:19,640 like my husband. No, I'm not talking about that. 547 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:25,600 I'm just presenting you a, a story of how you can see how God 548 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:30,360 wants to be a play in a place of his dwelling where it's a place 549 00:31:30,360 --> 00:31:32,880 of rest. So that when we're worshiping, 550 00:31:32,880 --> 00:31:36,120 we're worshiping at the footstool of rest. 551 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:39,160 We're not bringing conflict into the house. 552 00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:42,560 We're bringing peace that God has given to us and we're 553 00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:48,040 worshiping in that place of peace and rest with him that we 554 00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:50,680 can walk in the fullness. And notice what it talks about 555 00:31:50,680 --> 00:31:56,320 here is basically the atmosphere is a people who are worshipping 556 00:31:56,320 --> 00:32:00,440 and praising a God who has done awesome things in their life. 557 00:32:01,480 --> 00:32:06,560 And with our human experience, the truth is we love it when 558 00:32:06,560 --> 00:32:11,840 somebody does things for it for us, but we also love it when we 559 00:32:11,840 --> 00:32:13,680 can accomplish something ourselves. 560 00:32:13,680 --> 00:32:16,000 Amen. That's why God, knowing the 561 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:20,000 human condition, says I'm going to do something for you as 562 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:23,040 you're doing something for yourself and for me. 563 00:32:23,200 --> 00:32:27,680 And together it's going to be a place of a glorious habitation, 564 00:32:27,680 --> 00:32:31,240 says the mighty God. I'm calling you now to a place 565 00:32:31,240 --> 00:32:33,800 of rest, says the mighty God. Give my praise on that. 566 00:32:33,800 --> 00:32:39,120 That's good. And this is the final Scripture 567 00:32:39,120 --> 00:32:40,840 as we present ourselves to the Lord today. 568 00:32:40,840 --> 00:32:43,800 Because I believe God's going to do something powerful. 569 00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:48,960 For the Lord has chosen Zion. He has desired it for His 570 00:32:48,960 --> 00:32:53,000 dwelling place. This is my what resting place 571 00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:56,280 forever. Here I will dwell, for I have 572 00:32:56,440 --> 00:33:00,440 desired it, and it is a place of blessing. 573 00:33:00,440 --> 00:33:04,160 This is important to understand. I will abundantly bless her, her 574 00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:07,360 vision. I will satisfy her part with 575 00:33:07,360 --> 00:33:10,080 bread. I will cold her priest with 576 00:33:10,080 --> 00:33:13,760 salvation, and her Saints are going to shout for joy. 577 00:33:14,160 --> 00:33:17,720 There I will make the horn of David grow, and I will prepare a 578 00:33:17,720 --> 00:33:21,760 lamp for my anointed. His enemies I will clothe the 579 00:33:21,760 --> 00:33:26,760 shame, but upon himself his crown shall flourish. 580 00:33:27,280 --> 00:33:30,320 David was a man who loved the presence of God. 581 00:33:30,920 --> 00:33:34,200 And when he wanted to build God a house, it was because he saw 582 00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:38,320 the blessing of the presence, The ark of God's covenant, which 583 00:33:38,320 --> 00:33:41,960 was the place that God dwelt in the Old Testament, because of a 584 00:33:41,960 --> 00:33:45,120 series of advance, had been left at a man by the name of 585 00:33:45,120 --> 00:33:48,960 Obadiaban's house. And the Bible says that as long 586 00:33:48,960 --> 00:33:51,840 as it was in his house, everything was being blessed. 587 00:33:52,280 --> 00:33:55,760 There's there's a place of God's blessing that comes in his 588 00:33:55,760 --> 00:34:02,280 presence, but multiplied when it's a place of rest, a 589 00:34:02,280 --> 00:34:04,880 habitation we have prepared for him. 590 00:34:05,640 --> 00:34:08,400 And so God says to his people, it's time to make that 591 00:34:08,400 --> 00:34:13,719 commitment for a habitation of rest, not just for ourselves, 592 00:34:13,960 --> 00:34:18,560 but understanding that's that place God wants to take us so he 593 00:34:18,560 --> 00:34:22,920 can share his rest with us. It's a true Sabbath in the 594 00:34:22,920 --> 00:34:26,840 presence of the living God. And I remember many years ago 595 00:34:26,840 --> 00:34:29,600 the Lord spoke this story to me when we first started the 596 00:34:29,600 --> 00:34:32,000 church. And it's always been my endeavor 597 00:34:32,280 --> 00:34:35,159 that Mount Zion would be a place of God's rest. 598 00:34:35,520 --> 00:34:38,719 And I, I just feel it so strongly in my spirit right now. 599 00:34:38,719 --> 00:34:43,560 The Lord says, well, you've been working in that dimension all 600 00:34:43,560 --> 00:34:47,280 these years to make your house the House of rest, make your 601 00:34:47,440 --> 00:34:51,000 life a place of rest. And Lord said, this is the day 602 00:34:51,679 --> 00:34:56,159 today, if you will hear his voice, there's a rest that God 603 00:34:56,159 --> 00:34:58,000 has for you. I'm going to ask everyone to bow 604 00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:00,240 your heads and close your eyes for just a moment. 605 00:35:00,840 --> 00:35:03,600 This is Pastor Lauren Coverbius from Mount Zion Church. 606 00:35:03,760 --> 00:35:06,560 We thank you for joining us today and invite you to connect 607 00:35:06,560 --> 00:35:10,200 with our church family by visiting mountzion.org and 608 00:35:10,200 --> 00:35:12,800 following us on social media. God bless you.