1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:05,560 Can we stand tonight? Turn to Genesis chapter 23. 2 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:13,280 Genesis chapter 23. Folks, listen, I was sick the 3 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:14,400 whole time. I was gone. 4 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:18,120 Like it started last Wednesday. I was gone the whole time. 5 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:20,720 It's like, OK, whatever. Yeah. 6 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:24,160 I preached, sang in a trio, played the drums, ran the sound 7 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:28,440 system, prayed for people. It was all good, though. 8 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:30,080 God's good. Amen. 9 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:33,800 Genesis 23 and verse #1 I'm just going to read the first 2 10 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:35,200 verses. I'll let you be seated. 11 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:37,200 All right, and then we'll continue on. 12 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:41,080 And Sarah was 107 and 20 years old. 13 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:44,320 That means she was 127. The Bible just does this type of 14 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:48,320 thing where it sounds weird. These were the years of the life 15 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:51,440 of Sarah. And Sarah died in Kirjath Arba, 16 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:54,960 and the same as Hebron in the land of Canaan. 17 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:59,800 And Abram came and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep 18 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:01,160 for her. You may be seated. 19 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:04,640 I want to talk tonight about faith that outlives the grave 20 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:08,760 faith that outlives the grave. Father, help us, Lord, guide us, 21 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:11,880 instruct us, help us to learn of your word find words, Lord 22 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:15,240 applicable Lord Jesus for life and will not fail to thank you 23 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:17,160 in Jesus name. I'm going to continue reading 24 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:19,360 the whole chapter just right here up front. 25 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:21,840 So if you didn't get your Bible reading in today, here we go. 26 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:23,720 You at least knock 1 chapter out today. 27 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:26,720 And Abraham stood up from this is verse 3. 28 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:30,040 And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake into the 29 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:33,640 sons of Heth, saying, I am a stranger and a sojourner with 30 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:36,680 you. Give me a possession of burying 31 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:40,000 place with you, that I may bury my dad out of my sight. 32 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:43,320 And the children of hath answered Abraham's into him. 33 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:47,080 Hear us, my Lord, Thou art a mighty Prince among us in the 34 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:49,480 choice of our sepulchers. Bury thy dead. 35 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:53,360 None of us shall withhold from thee this sepulchre, but that 36 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:56,760 thou mayest bury thy dead. And Abraham stood up and bowed 37 00:01:56,760 --> 00:02:00,120 himself to the people of the land, even to the children of 38 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:01,520 heath. There's going to be several 39 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:04,440 verses here that's kind of tied up with negotiations. 40 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:06,680 OK. And he communed with them, 41 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:10,320 saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my 42 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:14,400 sight, hear me and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar, 43 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:19,480 that he may give me The Cave of Mackpullah which he hath, which 44 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:23,080 is in the end of his field, for as much money as it is worth. 45 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:26,080 He shall give it me for possession of a burying place 46 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:28,280 amongst you. And Ephron dwelt among the 47 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:32,120 children of Hath, and Ephron the Hittite, and answer to Abraham 48 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:35,120 in the audience of the children of Hath, even all that went in 49 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,760 at the gate of his city, saying, Name, my Lord, hear me. 50 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:42,120 The field I give thee in The Cave that is there in, I give it 51 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:43,720 thee. In the presence of the sons of 52 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:46,600 my people, give I it thee. Bury thy dead. 53 00:02:46,920 --> 00:02:50,040 Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land, 54 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:53,120 and he's spaken to Efron in the audience of the people of the 55 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:57,160 land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me, I 56 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:00,040 will give thee money for the field, take it of me, and I will 57 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:03,200 bury my dead there. And Efron answered Abraham, 58 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:07,400 saying to him, My Lord hearkened to me, and the land is worth 400 59 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:10,160 shekels of silver. What is that betwixt me and 60 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:12,480 thee? Bury therefore thy dad and 61 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:15,840 Abraham hearken to Efron, And Abraham way to Efron the silver 62 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:19,000 which he had named in the audience of the sons of hath 400 63 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:21,440 shekels of silver money with the merchant. 64 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:25,400 And the field of Ephron, which was Macklaw, which was before 65 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:27,440 Mamrie. The field in The Cave which was 66 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:30,200 there in and all the trees that were in the field that were in 67 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:33,360 all the borders roundabout were made sure that the Abraham for 68 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:37,120 possession in the presence of the children of heath before all 69 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:39,440 that went in at the gate of his city. 70 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:43,680 And after this Abraham buried Sarah his wife in The Cave of 71 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:47,040 the field of Mack to law before Mamrie the same as Hebron in the 72 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:49,920 land of Canaan. And the field in The Cave that 73 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:53,480 is there in were made sure into Abraham for possession of 74 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:57,600 burying place of a burying place by the sons of hath. 75 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:00,800 You can check off Genesis chapter #23 for your reading 76 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:02,880 program this year. All right. 77 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:06,600 God bless you in Jesus name this chapter. 78 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:09,360 We talked about this just a little bit at the end of last 79 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:12,720 week that there's coming a transition here in Scripture 80 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:16,560 where the focus has been on Abraham and switching over to 81 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:19,680 Isaac very shortly. Because now Isaac is born, has 82 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:23,800 grown some up in life and the the purpose for Abraham and 83 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:27,560 Sarah really has come to an end or to a close. 84 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:30,720 So this chapter in a certain degree is kind of tying up some 85 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:34,360 loose ends for our first patriarchal family of Abraham 86 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:36,360 and Sarah. And so and it's helping 87 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:40,440 transition is from that Abraham centric type of story now to the 88 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:43,200 Isaac centric more of a focus on Isaac. 89 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:47,280 But it does leave us a little longing for for something more 90 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:51,920 because as there have been promises has been spoken of 91 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:56,560 descendants plural and land. It feels as though that's kind 92 00:04:56,560 --> 00:05:00,720 of left a little bit unfinished because we have a descendant 93 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:05,520 right, namely Isaac and we've not yet secured really any land, 94 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:08,280 so to speak, right as far as ownership. 95 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:10,840 As a matter of fact, we understand that these are the 96 00:05:10,840 --> 00:05:14,560 purposes of people like Abraham and Sarah, even Isaac and Jacob 97 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:17,560 and many of the patriarchs, even Joseph and others. 98 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:20,680 They are all the sermon I priest years ago when I was just a 99 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:23,280 young lad and went behind the ears was talking about in 100 00:05:23,280 --> 00:05:26,880 Hebrews Chapter 11. The Bible declares in verse 13. 101 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:32,200 It speaks how all these died in faith, not having received the 102 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:34,880 promises, but they were links in the promise. 103 00:05:35,280 --> 00:05:39,400 They were links in the promise. And so it was they, they, they 104 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:42,560 gave something, they offered something, they were a part of 105 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:46,000 something that was leading toward the full fulfillment of 106 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:48,000 the promise. For that matter, consider 107 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:50,040 Abraham. He has walked with God here now 108 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:55,120 for decades upon decades, and he has witnessed some things 109 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:58,240 concerning God. He has witnessed God's aid and 110 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:03,160 he has witnessed God's power in his life first hand, and he has 111 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:07,280 even entered into a covenant with God where promises has been 112 00:06:07,280 --> 00:06:11,160 made to him by God. And those have been emphasized 113 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:14,960 till our eyes have bled with what God has said concerning his 114 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:18,640 promises and even got more detailed with Abraham over and 115 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:20,720 over. You'll become a great nation, 116 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:23,960 you'll have many descendants, you'll have a land, so on and so 117 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:28,320 forth. And yet when Sarah dies again, 118 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:33,960 she is only leaving Abraham one son, a promise, Isaac. 119 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:37,440 At this stage, Abraham owns no land. 120 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:42,080 He has no permanent home in the land of Canaan. 121 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:47,840 And so it seems quite far from what has been promised to him 122 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:51,560 and to Sarah. And so it's there that we start 123 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:55,600 to get a little grasp concerning the promises of this that 124 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:58,920 sometimes and for sure concerning these that have been 125 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:02,400 given to Abraham and Sarah, promises sometimes can span 126 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:06,720 generations. They can span generations and 127 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:10,360 what may begin and one generation as the start of the 128 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:14,200 fulfillment, total fulfillment might not take place even 129 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:17,840 generations from that first generation where it begins or 130 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:20,800 where it began. And so, but with that, then each 131 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:25,200 generation still has a play a role in moving the promise 132 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:29,400 forward right to its completion. And so Abraham and Sarah here in 133 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:32,640 Scripture have done their part. And Abraham is now standing, he 134 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:34,800 has it at now a dead wife, Sarah. 135 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:39,280 And he's bargaining for a burial site, notably for a burial site 136 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:44,520 in Canaan, in Canaan, in that thing that is to become the 137 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:46,520 promised land. He's he's bargaining for a 138 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:50,440 burial site there again, in doing so, he's just moving the 139 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:55,800 promise just a little further forward because Abraham's 140 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:58,960 descendants is going to be rooted in Canaan. 141 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:01,280 He knows that that's been promised by God. 142 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:05,520 But even right now before they have that in its totality, he's 143 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:08,160 putting a foot down. If I can just get a little more 144 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:11,880 so a little piece of land, even if it's for the barrel, my lot, 145 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:15,480 my wife, just a little piece that's moving the promise for 146 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:16,960 it. I know it's a land that will 147 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:20,640 totally inherit someday. And so the interesting thing 148 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:23,080 about the Bible, and we could be very morbid here with chapter 149 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:26,400 #23 because it's about death. I think there's spiritual 150 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:28,000 application. I think there's also very 151 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:31,600 practical applications of Genesis 23 because the Bible 152 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:33,840 doesn't just record. I'm thankful that it doesn't. 153 00:08:34,039 --> 00:08:36,720 All the signs, miracles and wonders, and it just tells us 154 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:38,280 everything. That's great and wonderful 155 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:42,280 throughout the eons of time, but it also highlights very natural 156 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:45,920 occurrences of life as well, such as birth and death and 157 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:49,400 sickness and disease and so on and so forth because that allows 158 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:52,400 us to be able to relate, be able to relate to it. 159 00:08:52,680 --> 00:08:55,560 And we live in a world today and I've different times than 160 00:08:55,560 --> 00:08:58,520 different, different funerals and have ridden with funeral 161 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:01,640 director directors and corners and things of that nature. 162 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:06,040 And it seems to be the case that today death is often seen as an 163 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:10,280 eruption. It's an interruption on many 164 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:12,520 levels. People kind of get annoyed that 165 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:15,160 they got to miss work or change the routine in order to pay 166 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:18,560 respects to the dead. Just being real with you, what 167 00:09:18,560 --> 00:09:21,360 I've heard from them. And so it's even clearer. 168 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:23,880 Just even ever wrote a lot of hearses and you've seen them 169 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:26,440 hearses coming down, lights are on, there's a procession. 170 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:29,360 And that you can tell even by the way that people are with 171 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:32,200 their vehicles or that they're not with their vehicles. 172 00:09:32,560 --> 00:09:35,360 Very disrespectful. Very disrespectful toward the 173 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:37,960 dead. And so Abraham, though here in 174 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:40,280 Scripture, I think when we learned that Abraham, Abraham 175 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:45,840 pauses life, he pauses to pay his respects to his wife and to 176 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:49,120 plan her burial. No one ever wants to discuss 177 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:52,120 this aspect of life, right? It's not like a group of people 178 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:54,240 you ever see just sitting around talking about death. 179 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:56,400 We don't want to talk about death. 180 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:58,720 We want to talk about living. We want to talk about our 181 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:02,120 dreams, our aspirations. Nobody wants to discuss death, 182 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:05,920 but here's the not awesome. But here's the obvious thing. 183 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:11,160 It's an inevitable part of life. A matter of fact. 184 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:13,600 I think it'd do some of us a little better if we live life 185 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:18,240 with the end and view. But it's an inevitable part of 186 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:20,400 life. And they say that's probably why 187 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:23,480 only 50% of Americans even have a will made out, because they 188 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:27,360 want to entertain the thought of contending with death. 189 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:28,800 They don't want to think about it. 190 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:33,320 Someone once said this, and it's 100% true that life is 100% 191 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:37,360 fatal. Life is 100% fatal. 192 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:40,560 We will all die short of the rapture of the church unless 193 00:10:40,560 --> 00:10:44,080 that happens and you're a part of the church, sure that we will 194 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:47,200 all die someday. And so the last we hear of 195 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:49,880 Abraham, you remember even the last chapter, the last we hear 196 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:52,520 of him, he is dwelling in Beersheba. 197 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:56,240 However, the Bible says that Sarah dies in Kirjeth Arba, 198 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:58,640 which it would be later known as Hebron. 199 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:02,080 So if he's in Beersheba, it seems like he came to where she 200 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:04,160 was. If that's the case, he has 201 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:08,960 travelled some 2628 miles to come to where his deceased wife 202 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:11,400 is. That's about a day's journey on 203 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:13,040 foot. He's pausing. 204 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:17,240 Whatever's going on, he's going the distance on a day's journey 205 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:20,920 on foot to mourn his wife. And for practical, practical 206 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:24,400 purposes tonight, I believe this is important because the Bible 207 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:28,080 says in verse 2 and the last phrasing there says that Abraham 208 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:31,240 came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. 209 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:34,520 It's not saying the same thing. It's not parallelism, meaning 210 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:36,440 that mourning the weeping are the same thing. 211 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:39,280 They're two different words. What he is doing are two 212 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:42,040 different things. He's mourning for her and he's 213 00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:44,760 weeping for her. To mourn means that he has some 214 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:49,000 type of public expression of grief, like a person would have, 215 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:53,480 like a funeral dirge or some type of ceremony, all right? 216 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:56,920 It involves some type of eulogy, a eulogy of the dead, some type 217 00:11:56,920 --> 00:12:01,280 of thing that's taking place. But then it also says that he 218 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:05,240 weeps, which it's defined as something more personal, often 219 00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:09,120 times even private, better represents a very genuine raw 220 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:12,920 emotional grief of shedding tears and of wailing. 221 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:16,320 I think it's important because very practical. 222 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:23,680 You need both of those in your your life with loss. 37 years 223 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:27,600 has the past. Isaac is 37 years old and now 224 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:32,600 Sarah dies she's dies at the ripo age of 127 years and Dennis 225 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:36,120 Prager said this he said Sarah, which is interesting is the only 226 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:40,720 woman in the Torah whose age at the time of her death is 227 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:43,400 recorded. You'll see that concern any 228 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:47,520 other woman but Sarah. Some say well that just points 229 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:51,360 indicates how how important that she was in Scripture. 230 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:56,840 Perhaps, but it's also vital because given her date or her 231 00:12:57,040 --> 00:13:02,080 age at death along with the purchasing of this cave of Mac 232 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:04,560 Pulay. This burial place kind of gives 233 00:13:04,560 --> 00:13:08,800 us time stamp for when some of the first land of Canaan came 234 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:10,520 under the hand of the Israelites. 235 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:17,040 If Abraham and the Bible says he didn't in Romans 4 says that 236 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:20,600 Abraham did not stagger at the promise of God through unbelief 237 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:24,720 whenever he was 100 years old and learned that he and his wife 238 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:28,440 would conceive and have a son, he did not stagger. 239 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:31,040 And folks listen, if he didn't stagger then I'm telling you 240 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:33,560 he's not staggering now. The Bible said that he was 241 00:13:33,560 --> 00:13:37,120 strong in faith then and I see in the actions that he's taken 242 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:41,800 here, he is strong in faith now. Romans 421 spoke at that time 243 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:44,600 when he learned that he would conceive said and being fully 244 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:47,040 persuaded. Romans 421 and being fully 245 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:51,040 persuaded that what he had promised Speaking of God, he was 246 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:55,920 people also to perform. Abraham is still channeling the 247 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:59,320 same type of determination. I believe right here in Genesis 248 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:03,720 chapter 23, because the reason why I say that is because it 249 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:07,200 would have been natural, acceptable and even culturally 250 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:15,160 appropriate for him to have taken Sarah back to err of child 251 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:21,040 ease, or at the very least taken her back to Haran to the 252 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:27,160 ancestral homes to bury her. But he didn't. 253 00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:34,280 He buried her in what would become the promised land. 254 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:39,040 If I'd stated in these words, he didn't bury her where they came 255 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:42,400 from. He buried her in where they were 256 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:48,760 going. That was he believed so much in 257 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:54,400 the certainty of God's promise that he said, I'll put the the 258 00:14:54,400 --> 00:15:01,560 body of my loved one in the land that we're going to inherit, not 259 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:06,080 the land that we came from. So sure of it. 260 00:15:06,080 --> 00:15:08,880 He's staggering, not at the promise of God. 261 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:12,520 That's the reason why we see that over and over again in the 262 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:14,480 patriarchs and the matriarchs, Amen. 263 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:17,560 Through generations talking about links in the fulfillment 264 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:20,000 of a promise. That's the reason why whenever 265 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:24,920 Jacob is on his deathbed, he gathers those 12 tribes, those 266 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:28,880 12 boys together at his bedside and he's pronouncing blessing 267 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:32,040 upon each one of them. But he particularly asked 268 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:35,280 Joseph. He says, Joseph, whenever I die, 269 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:38,520 do not at that time they were in Egypt at that that time they 270 00:15:38,520 --> 00:15:42,080 were in Egypt, He says, but whenever I die, don't bury me 271 00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:46,240 here in Egypt. He says I want you to bury me in 272 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:48,680 Canaan. The Bible bears an hour and I 273 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:51,360 got a little bit of scripture. Genesis 49 verse 29. 274 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:55,400 The Bible says and he Jacob charged them Speaking of the 12 275 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:59,360 tribes said to them, I am to be gathered into my people bury me 276 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:01,680 with my father's in The Cave. What cave? 277 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:05,680 The one, the one that Abraham purchased. 278 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:09,480 Look at this, bear me with my father's in The Cave that is in 279 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:12,920 the field of Ephron the Hittite. In The Cave is in the field of 280 00:16:12,920 --> 00:16:16,040 Mac Pilla, which is before memory in the land of Canaan, 281 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:19,280 which Abraham bought and in which Abraham bought with the 282 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:23,120 field of Ephron the Hittite for possession of a varying place. 283 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:26,680 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. 284 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:30,920 There they buried Isaac and Rebecca his wife, and there I 285 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:32,880 buried Leah. Do you understand here? 286 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:36,840 So that wasn't just, that wasn't just Sarah's burying place, that 287 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:40,600 became Jacob's bearing place, Isaac's bearing place, Rebecca's 288 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:42,760 bearing place, Leah's bearing place. 289 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:45,880 He says bury me right there. What's happening with each time 290 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:47,280 they bury one of their loved ones there? 291 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:50,240 They are not having the fulfillment of the promise yet, 292 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:53,040 but they believe it's still going to happen with every new 293 00:16:53,040 --> 00:17:00,320 body they lay in that tomb. They're saying I believe, I 294 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:05,839 still believe, I still believe verse 32 in the purchase of the 295 00:17:05,839 --> 00:17:08,200 field of The Cave that is there in was from the children of 296 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:10,040 have. That's the reason why Jacob's 297 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:11,920 doing that. That's the reason why later 298 00:17:12,040 --> 00:17:18,040 whenever Joseph he's dying again still in Egypt, he has his 299 00:17:18,040 --> 00:17:22,040 brothers come in around them and he says, guys, the Lord's surely 300 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:26,839 going to visit us. He says, carry up my bones from 301 00:17:26,839 --> 00:17:31,240 hence until you reach the promised land. 302 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:34,800 Genesis 50, verse 24 and 25. And Joseph said unto his 303 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:38,840 brothers, I died, and God will surely visit you and do what? 304 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:43,160 And bring you out of this land. What land, Egypt to the land 305 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:45,160 which he swear to Abraham. What is that? 306 00:17:45,360 --> 00:17:51,280 Canaan and what he swore to Isaac and to Jacob, all of 307 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:54,520 that's the land of promise. Canaan and Joseph took an oath 308 00:17:54,520 --> 00:17:57,800 of the children of Israel saying God will surely visit you and ye 309 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:00,880 shall carry up my bones from hence. 310 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:03,760 Folks, that's amazing. Joseph was embalmed with the 311 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:07,400 best of the Egyptian embalming practices of that day for the 312 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:11,040 preservation of his body. But you know what? 313 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:14,240 Even with the best preservation, he was letting them know you're 314 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:16,960 not going to carry my body up. You're going to be carrying my 315 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:20,120 bones up. It's going to be a long time 316 00:18:20,120 --> 00:18:23,240 before this happens, but God's going to visit us. 317 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:25,840 I'm sure of it. Man, I feel the Holy Ghost right 318 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:27,720 now. God's going to visit us, I'm 319 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:28,880 sure of it. You're not going to carry my 320 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:30,480 body. You're going to be carrying my 321 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:32,040 bones. Amen. 322 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:34,360 The the, the, the earth and the bugs of the earth, they're going 323 00:18:34,360 --> 00:18:38,200 to have stripped me down just to bones, but you're going to carry 324 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:41,520 them over into Canaan and all on their journey. 325 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:45,040 Whenever they left Egypt with a high hand and God brought 326 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:49,560 deliverance by Moses, The Bible tells us Moses took up the bones 327 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:51,080 of Joseph. Why? 328 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:54,200 He wasn't to be buried Egypt. He was to be buried in Canaan 329 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:57,000 and for 40 years they're carrying around Joseph. 330 00:18:57,160 --> 00:18:59,760 For 40 years, they're. Why are you doing that? 331 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:02,160 Can you imagine the children? I just feel the Holy Ghost. 332 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:05,760 Why are you doing that? Because God surely will visit 333 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:08,040 us. God has given us a promise 334 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:09,800 that's not totally fulfilled yet. 335 00:19:10,080 --> 00:19:14,200 And this is a testament that we still believe God will do what 336 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:16,720 God said he will do for 40 years. 337 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:19,640 Can I tell you, you hear what I'm saying? 338 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:22,800 Not just 40 years, but all these years. 339 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:25,800 Then once they finally get there and go through the conquest in 340 00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:30,000 the book of Joshua, until finally there's the dividing of 341 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:32,640 the allotment of land to all the different tribes. 342 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:40,520 And then Joseph is buried in Canaan and the fullness of the 343 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:45,360 fulfillment of the promise has come to pass after hundreds of 344 00:19:45,360 --> 00:19:49,800 years from Abraham till now. But all along, every generation 345 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:53,360 saying, I believe, I still believe it's going to come to 346 00:19:53,360 --> 00:19:55,720 pass, just like he said it would come to pass. 347 00:19:55,920 --> 00:20:00,040 And every new body we put in that land is a testament to our 348 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:02,000 faith. It outlives. 349 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:10,240 Now lives the grave. Now lives the grave. 350 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:19,960 Promise drove them to do what they did with their dead 351 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:27,360 unfulfilled, maybe to the the greatest degree in the Abraham 352 00:20:27,360 --> 00:20:29,600 and Isaac's generation. But it would be someday. 353 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:33,120 What that does then, for those generations like Isaac and 354 00:20:33,120 --> 00:20:38,680 Jacob, has them living in the tension of the in between. 355 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:45,360 Sister Sheila, the tension of the in between is having the 356 00:20:45,360 --> 00:20:49,640 promise of land and descendants, but not fully possessing the 357 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:53,840 descendants in the land yet. That's where most of us find 358 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:56,120 ourselves. It's not that you've not been 359 00:20:56,120 --> 00:20:59,440 promised something, but you've not seen the full possession of 360 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:02,200 the promise in your life yet. You're in the tension of in 361 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:06,040 between, of it having been said and started, but not completely 362 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:11,400 fulfilled. That the Bible tells us that 363 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:15,440 they live by faith, and some of them, Hebrews said, died also in 364 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:19,280 faith. Abraham even approached the sons 365 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:22,120 of Hath and he told them how he still yet filled, felt like a 366 00:21:22,120 --> 00:21:24,400 stranger and a sojourner among them. 367 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:29,240 What if he purchases this land? It was, it was in essence, 368 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:36,560 Bishop going to be like the earnest of his full promise, be 369 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:40,640 the earnest of his full promise. It was a strong statement when 370 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:43,040 he purchased that land. That was a strong statement to 371 00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:47,480 reverberate through generations. Basically this. 372 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:52,400 We're not going back to Haran and we're not going back to her. 373 00:21:53,120 --> 00:21:56,520 We're not going back to her. Who's made a statement by 374 00:21:56,520 --> 00:21:58,240 purchasing that we're not going back there. 375 00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:00,840 No. And that has been the mindset. 376 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:04,080 That's the mindset that later whenever we see in Genesis 377 00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:08,320 chapter 24 and the whole seeking out a mate for Isaac type thing, 378 00:22:09,880 --> 00:22:13,360 I believe that had a little touch upon the servant of 379 00:22:13,360 --> 00:22:15,160 Abraham or Abraham even conveyed it. 380 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:18,560 Remember what he told him? He said whenever you go back and 381 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:24,080 you'd go to find a bride, he says you got to bring her to 382 00:22:24,120 --> 00:22:27,240 Isaac. Don't take Isaac back there. 383 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:34,160 Abraham and all man who made the stance, I bought land here. 384 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:38,400 We're not going back. We we've already travelled this 385 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:42,360 road, we've already travelled this terrain, we've already went 386 00:22:42,360 --> 00:22:44,560 through the testings and the trials of this path. 387 00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:48,200 There's no reason to go back and do it all over. 388 00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:50,480 No, you bring her to where he is. 389 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:58,280 I'm going back. And so we've seen this before. 390 00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:03,600 Another other biblical passages, verse number six tells us that 391 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:08,120 the sons of Hath, which were the Hittites, they called Abraham a 392 00:23:08,120 --> 00:23:10,760 mighty Prince among us. And if you're worried because 393 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:13,320 I'm just in verse number six, negotiations will go good. 394 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:17,880 OK. But in contrast to that, again, 395 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:21,760 Abraham referred to himself as a sojourner, a stranger. 396 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:25,960 Again, what we've seen another biblical passages even along the 397 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:29,200 way is that the way that you see yourself is not always the way 398 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:34,720 that other people see you. That's right, That's right. 399 00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:38,280 Abraham enters into negotiations with the Hittites for a burial 400 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:42,120 place for Sarah and he's he's respectful. 401 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:46,160 We see a different modes that that he bows in his language is 402 00:23:46,160 --> 00:23:50,720 very respectful. He's showing his humility in in 403 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:54,640 his request and their responses to his request at times. 404 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:56,360 But he's looking really what he's looking for. 405 00:23:56,360 --> 00:23:58,920 I know there's a lot of the give language here in the 406 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:02,280 negotiations, but what Abraham is actually looking for is a 407 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:07,000 place to buy. But here's where here's where 408 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:11,160 the contrast is. He's looking for a place to buy 409 00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:14,600 and they're suggesting and offering something that he can 410 00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:20,840 borrow, They said. They said that a response to 411 00:24:20,840 --> 00:24:24,000 verse 6 was basically there's nobody among us that would 412 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:30,240 refuse the choice sepulchers that we have in order for you to 413 00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:34,880 bury your dead wife because this was the way it was with tombs at 414 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:37,400 that day, typically that they were carved out of stone. 415 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:40,760 Yes, And there was almost like carved, carved out shelving in 416 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:42,640 there. You put a body on there, it 417 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:45,000 would deteriorate the bones. They would push those aside or 418 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:48,360 they had something called a repository pit for bones that 419 00:24:48,360 --> 00:24:50,360 they would put those in. And then that shelf was ready 420 00:24:50,360 --> 00:24:54,960 for another body. So yes, you put your wife in 421 00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:57,080 here. Whenever she the case, we'll 422 00:24:57,080 --> 00:24:59,240 push that aside and he'll be ready for another body. 423 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:03,680 You can borrow if you will, but he wasn't looking to borrow. 424 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:08,240 He wanted to buy, wasn't satisfied with borrowing. 425 00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:14,040 He wanted to buy because if he borrowed, he had no legal claim 426 00:25:14,040 --> 00:25:21,160 to the land where his loved one was laid to rest if he borrowed. 427 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:27,840 Abraham is in this mode of just, well, if if you desire me to 428 00:25:27,840 --> 00:25:29,800 bury my dead because it's looking like you're wanting to 429 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:32,440 work with me here because you're willing to let me borrow, you 430 00:25:32,440 --> 00:25:34,480 know, one of your shelves and your tombs. 431 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:37,960 And if you're willing to do that, he says, then I want to 432 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:44,280 buy The Cave of Macpola at the end of Ephron's field for as 433 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:46,400 much. Look in verse 9, for as much 434 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:51,960 money as it's worth, like money's not an object, as much 435 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:55,120 money as it's worth. And so there's a negotiation 436 00:25:55,120 --> 00:25:57,920 that's happening among them. You can look at verse #10 the 437 00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:02,200 Bible says this negotiation between him and Efron is 438 00:26:02,200 --> 00:26:05,920 happening among the, the, the children of the Hittite, among 439 00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:09,240 the audience of the children of Heath, even at the gate of the 440 00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:11,720 city. Because historically, the gate 441 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:14,600 of the city is where all legal transactions took place. 442 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:19,160 Whenever, whenever Boaz went to get Ruth's hand and, and let the 443 00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:22,080 first Redeemer have his chance, it happened at the city gates. 444 00:26:22,360 --> 00:26:24,960 That's the reason why you read in Matthew, the Bible says the 445 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:28,600 gates of hell shall not prevail because it's a place where 446 00:26:28,600 --> 00:26:32,160 transactions take place, right? The gates of hell shall not 447 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:34,120 prevail against you. And so they're at the place 448 00:26:34,120 --> 00:26:36,880 where transactions can happen. All this is happening in the 449 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:41,680 ears of the public so that what does happen #1 it'll be public 450 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:44,920 #2 it'll be legal #3 it'll be permanent. 451 00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:50,960 And so the transaction was going to be public so that the 452 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:55,920 ownership of the burial place would be certain and sure for 453 00:26:55,920 --> 00:26:58,640 Abraham. So Abraham, here he is. 454 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:01,160 He's contending really for more than just a burial place for his 455 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:03,160 wife. He is contending for a burial 456 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:09,200 place for his family. And he wants legal claim to this 457 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:13,200 little area that would become God's promise played out in his 458 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:16,080 life. It's just a small little 459 00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:19,680 irreversible step forward. And so again, here's Efron and 460 00:27:19,680 --> 00:27:21,320 all good majors and they're all being polite. 461 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:23,720 It's just the way that hit tight and all these type of deals, 462 00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:25,680 they go back and forth. It's not you just walk in and 463 00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:27,400 it's done though. It's kind of part of that. 464 00:27:27,560 --> 00:27:29,000 It's just kind of part of the process. 465 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:31,000 You go back and forth. It's like being for cars. 466 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:33,720 So well, you give, how about that trade, all that garbage? 467 00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:36,200 They're going back and forth. And so Efron's like, well, 468 00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:38,080 Abraham, I'll give you the field. 469 00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:41,440 Notice he throws in the field. Now I want to buy, I want to buy 470 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:43,400 The Cave. He says, well, you know, I'll 471 00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:45,840 give you the field in The Cave as a burial place. 472 00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:50,440 And Abraham says in verse 13, I just want to pay the price if I 473 00:27:50,440 --> 00:27:53,920 got at least, at least The Cave. But if I got to buy the field, 474 00:27:53,920 --> 00:27:56,840 then I'll buy the field again. And he's just insistent, though, 475 00:27:56,840 --> 00:27:59,240 with Efron. I'm not here for a handout. 476 00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:02,960 This got to cost me something. There must be some type of price 477 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:05,600 for this burial place. Amen. 478 00:28:05,800 --> 00:28:11,800 Because if years go by and somebody can test whether or not 479 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:21,400 that's mine, he says, I want to have this price agreement that 480 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:27,280 underscores and everybody to witness that that belongs to 481 00:28:27,280 --> 00:28:32,320 that name. Efron says 404 hundred shekels, 482 00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:36,600 400 shekels of silver. Now listen folks, I know Efron 483 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:40,600 says, well, Abraham, what's 400 shekels of silver between you 484 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:43,320 and I? As though it's nothing but 400 485 00:28:43,320 --> 00:28:45,520 shekels of silver was nothing to sneeze at. 486 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:50,040 In the book of Jeremiah, we see him buying a partial land for 17 487 00:28:50,040 --> 00:28:53,400 shekels. SO400 shekels, nothing to sneeze 488 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:55,960 at. But what that makes though 489 00:28:55,960 --> 00:29:01,040 between Abraham and Efron here is a hefty amount, maybe more 490 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:04,680 amount than what it should have been for him to get a cave and 491 00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:07,120 to get a field. But at least he knows this. 492 00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:11,400 There's no one that will later say I cheated or took advantage 493 00:29:13,120 --> 00:29:17,400 of this man, but it was worth probably less than what I even 494 00:29:17,400 --> 00:29:22,320 paid for it. But undoubtfully it belongs unto 495 00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:24,320 Abraham. What are you doing Abraham? 496 00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:26,960 Here's what Abrahams doing. That's going to become the 497 00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:29,800 promised land. That's going to become what God 498 00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:32,960 has promised us. And when this thing is all said 499 00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:36,760 and done, I don't want my family's future to be tied to a 500 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:39,720 favor of man. I want them to always see it was 501 00:29:39,720 --> 00:29:47,120 the hand of God. I don't want their promise to be 502 00:29:47,160 --> 00:29:52,720 rooted in God. The only piece of land that 503 00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:59,440 Abraham would ever own in Canaan was the burial place for his 504 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:01,760 family. Not much, you might say. 505 00:30:02,800 --> 00:30:05,960 A cave and a field out of all the land of Canaan. 506 00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:10,520 A cave and a field and a burial place, Mr. Sheila, on top of 507 00:30:10,520 --> 00:30:13,560 that. Not some three story mud and 508 00:30:13,560 --> 00:30:15,520 DOB, you know, Thatcher of place. 509 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:20,320 Not with all of his cattle, No, just a cave and a field. 510 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:26,160 But it's legal and it's his and it belongs to his family. 511 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:33,880 And so in Chapter 23, as we see, perhaps a funeral, really it is 512 00:30:34,360 --> 00:30:39,280 in certain means of foundation because it would be this burial 513 00:30:39,280 --> 00:30:44,080 place that would become the anchor point or the land of 514 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:48,960 promise until the day whenever Joshua's divvying up the land 515 00:30:49,800 --> 00:30:53,000 that it would come to full fruition of being theirs. 516 00:30:53,640 --> 00:30:55,680 I say all that tonight and I'm not going to hold you much 517 00:30:55,680 --> 00:30:57,040 longer. I told you I keep track of your 518 00:30:57,040 --> 00:30:59,120 time. Mr. McGee took 10 minutes. 519 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:07,880 I timed her probably a little bit more because I started my 520 00:31:07,880 --> 00:31:15,400 timers late. If you look beyond the story of 521 00:31:15,640 --> 00:31:22,960 Abraham for a moment, Abraham bought a tomb to claim land. 522 00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:34,720 But I know of another covenant that was purchased that involved 523 00:31:34,720 --> 00:31:42,240 the tomb as well. He purchased eternal life for 524 00:31:42,240 --> 00:31:49,520 us, not with silver or gold. We were not redeemed with 525 00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:52,560 corruptible things, as Peter said, such as silver and gold, 526 00:31:53,200 --> 00:31:59,880 but with the precious blood, his own blood, he purchased the 527 00:31:59,880 --> 00:32:03,960 church. So Sarah's grave is a reminder 528 00:32:03,960 --> 00:32:07,400 to us that of course death cannot stop and death cannot 529 00:32:07,400 --> 00:32:12,760 cancel God's promises. But the tomb that we have in our 530 00:32:12,760 --> 00:32:18,560 life also proves to us that death's been conquered forever. 531 00:32:19,640 --> 00:32:24,760 O grave, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting? 532 00:32:24,760 --> 00:32:30,280 And so Abraham has his hope anchored in a cave, but we also 533 00:32:30,280 --> 00:32:34,040 have our hope anchored in a grave that happens to be empty, 534 00:32:35,080 --> 00:32:39,160 not full. And So what we hope now we 535 00:32:39,160 --> 00:32:42,760 understand that the inheritance for us someday, it is secure. 536 00:32:43,120 --> 00:32:45,000 It is secure because of what we hold now. 537 00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:48,360 And what we hold now in confidence and in trust is an 538 00:32:48,360 --> 00:32:52,120 empty tomb of what Christ purchased then on a hill called 539 00:32:52,240 --> 00:32:54,920 Mount Calvary. And so we grieve today. 540 00:32:54,920 --> 00:32:58,360 Oftentimes we do with every funeral we have, even those of 541 00:32:58,360 --> 00:33:01,000 Saints. But we do not grieve as those, 542 00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:03,600 as the New Testament said, as those that are without hope. 543 00:33:04,520 --> 00:33:06,760 Remember in the book of Thessalonians, he said, we 544 00:33:06,760 --> 00:33:10,040 grieve, yes, but we don't grieve as those that without hope 545 00:33:10,240 --> 00:33:12,440 because we're not, if I'd say it in this major, we're not 546 00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:14,520 standing at a grave that's back in Haran. 547 00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:16,880 We're not standing at a grave that's back in Earn. 548 00:33:16,880 --> 00:33:20,400 No, we're standing at a grave that's pointing to a future 549 00:33:20,400 --> 00:33:25,640 fulfillment of a promise. We do not stand here grieving 550 00:33:25,800 --> 00:33:29,280 and and without hope because we have hope of the resurrection, 551 00:33:29,280 --> 00:33:31,520 right, Because Christ resurrected. 552 00:33:31,840 --> 00:33:33,680 Amen. And if that same spirit that 553 00:33:33,680 --> 00:33:37,360 raised Christ from the dead dwell in you, it will quicken 554 00:33:37,360 --> 00:33:41,720 your mortal body. And so every grave I stand at is 555 00:33:41,880 --> 00:33:45,600 a earnest for the expectation of the promise of what Christ is 556 00:33:45,600 --> 00:33:48,560 going to do. Everything we put in the ground 557 00:33:48,840 --> 00:33:52,480 and we sing farther along, we'll learn all about it. 558 00:33:52,600 --> 00:33:56,080 Is a testament who are promised still yet to come. 559 00:33:57,960 --> 00:34:00,720 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Every time we leave there and 560 00:34:00,720 --> 00:34:04,760 say see you later rather than goodbye is a testament that we 561 00:34:04,760 --> 00:34:07,480 believe his promise is still sure. 562 00:34:07,640 --> 00:34:08,600 It's still. Yeah. 563 00:34:09,000 --> 00:34:23,159 It's still like, Oh yes, someone say thank you, Jesus to the 564 00:34:23,159 --> 00:34:24,600 Hittites. He might just seem to grieve 565 00:34:24,600 --> 00:34:26,280 you. No man, purchasing some land. 566 00:34:28,719 --> 00:34:33,920 But in Abraham's eyes, as kids, we used to do it, King of the 567 00:34:33,920 --> 00:34:35,960 mountain or such like that. We did stuff like that. 568 00:34:36,440 --> 00:34:38,960 We had flags. You planted your flag. 569 00:34:40,040 --> 00:34:42,040 That's what's Abraham's doing with the purchase of this 570 00:34:42,040 --> 00:34:44,560 burial. He's just planting a flag. 571 00:34:46,679 --> 00:34:51,199 He's just planting a flag in the land of promise. 572 00:34:52,679 --> 00:34:58,080 Our Kent Hughes said Abraham was so sure that his descendants 573 00:34:58,080 --> 00:35:01,320 would get the land that he wanted Sarah's bones to be 574 00:35:01,320 --> 00:35:05,440 buried there so they'd be there when they got there. 575 00:35:09,680 --> 00:35:11,720 God's promise. I'm closing you and Stan. 576 00:35:12,200 --> 00:35:16,120 God's promise was bigger than death. 577 00:35:18,440 --> 00:35:24,800 His covenant that he made with them superseded Outlast the 578 00:35:24,800 --> 00:35:29,160 Grave because Abraham's going to die, ISIS is going to die, 579 00:35:29,960 --> 00:35:34,440 Rebecca's going to die, Jacob's going to die, Rachel's going to 580 00:35:34,440 --> 00:35:38,600 die, Leah's going to die, Joseph's going to die. 581 00:35:39,160 --> 00:35:42,720 And there are going to be a whole generation of deaths of 582 00:35:42,720 --> 00:35:47,360 Israelites in the wilderness for a new generation to come along 583 00:35:47,360 --> 00:35:50,640 with conquest. Very thing that God told Abraham 584 00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:57,160 shall be yours. So you have an opportunity to. 585 00:35:57,160 --> 00:35:59,920 Be a link in the fulfillment because I already have 586 00:35:59,920 --> 00:36:02,000 generations before Maytag, right? 587 00:36:02,680 --> 00:36:04,320 My grandma and grandpa. McGee, they're dead. 588 00:36:04,640 --> 00:36:06,320 Grandma and Grandpa Weisenberger are dead. 589 00:36:06,520 --> 00:36:08,560 My parents are going to die one of these days. 590 00:36:12,040 --> 00:36:16,000 And I've not yet received the. Full fulfillment of the promise, 591 00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:19,800 but. Though their bodies cold. 592 00:36:19,800 --> 00:36:25,160 In a grave, there's still a testament that's saying they 593 00:36:25,160 --> 00:36:28,520 died in faith. My grandma. 594 00:36:28,520 --> 00:36:30,520 McGee as she her. Grandma Weisenberg, She's 595 00:36:30,520 --> 00:36:33,080 leaving this world. There are many times she's 596 00:36:33,080 --> 00:36:34,680 speaking in tongues as she's leaving. 597 00:36:35,880 --> 00:36:37,680 She died in. Faith what was? 598 00:36:37,680 --> 00:36:39,960 That, what was that a testament to me of you know what? 599 00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:46,280 She believed she hadn't stopped. I think about I. 600 00:36:46,280 --> 00:36:48,960 Think about Sister Ryan. Her her mother is is just ridden 601 00:36:48,960 --> 00:36:52,520 with dimension and and Alzheimer's and there's a lot of 602 00:36:52,520 --> 00:36:55,160 things that she has forgotten. I mean big, big, big, big time. 603 00:36:55,360 --> 00:36:57,520 But you know what every night they pray and that Lady still 604 00:36:57,520 --> 00:36:59,080 prays and mentions the name of Jesus. 605 00:36:59,080 --> 00:37:01,560 She's not forgotten that you know what that a testament is to 606 00:37:01,560 --> 00:37:03,720 me? She still believes that the 607 00:37:03,720 --> 00:37:07,840 promise you can. I can forget my telephone. 608 00:37:07,840 --> 00:37:09,240 Number. My Social Security number. 609 00:37:09,240 --> 00:37:11,000 But I'm remembering Jesus. Why? 610 00:37:11,200 --> 00:37:12,880 Because that's what I'm believing in. 611 00:37:13,160 --> 00:37:17,960 That's where my hope is found it, and it goes beyond any cruel 612 00:37:17,960 --> 00:37:27,500 grave. Amen. 613 00:37:29,020 --> 00:37:30,780 Praise. God, it's a faith that. 614 00:37:30,780 --> 00:37:35,060 Outlives the grave and we're going to pray tonight and next 615 00:37:35,060 --> 00:37:37,100 week we'll get into a marriage. We went to a funeral, now we're 616 00:37:37,100 --> 00:37:39,860 going to go to a wedding, or at least. 617 00:37:39,860 --> 00:37:42,260 The seat, the the. The courting game. 618 00:37:44,540 --> 00:37:50,640 And I feel the Holy Ghost here. We've our heads here tonight. 619 00:37:50,640 --> 00:37:54,800 God, I love you Jesus, and I'm thankful, Lord, for your spirit. 620 00:37:56,600 --> 00:38:01,720 I'm thankful, Lord, God, that in this life is not where I only 621 00:38:01,720 --> 00:38:05,200 have hope. God, that if in this life is the 622 00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:09,200 only place I have hope, then I am of all men most miserable. 623 00:38:09,800 --> 00:38:12,160 But God, I have a hope beyond this life. 624 00:38:12,800 --> 00:38:16,280 I have a hope beyond the here now and the 70 plus years that 625 00:38:16,280 --> 00:38:19,000 we spend upon this earth. I have a hope beyond this life. 626 00:38:19,600 --> 00:38:23,600 Oh God, today, help me Lord, to live with the end of view. 627 00:38:24,040 --> 00:38:26,440 I pray, oh God, that there is something beyond. 628 00:38:26,440 --> 00:38:28,800 I pray God, help us to live with the end of view. 629 00:38:29,320 --> 00:38:33,200 I pray, O God, today, help us, Lord, not to stagger at the 630 00:38:33,200 --> 00:38:36,760 promises of God and unbelief, but God, have faith. 631 00:38:37,200 --> 00:38:40,400 God know, Lord, that you are faithful, the one who promised 632 00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:42,960 this faithful. I pray, O God, today, let 633 00:38:42,960 --> 00:38:45,840 people, Lord, find God, their faith inside of them. 634 00:38:46,160 --> 00:38:50,880 God, if it's waxed weak, if it's waxed, Lord Jesus, O Lord, if if 635 00:38:50,880 --> 00:38:54,640 doubt and unbelief has entered their hearts and minds and God 636 00:38:54,640 --> 00:38:57,960 some may think about turning around or forsaking, I pray, O 637 00:38:57,960 --> 00:39:01,360 God, help us to understand that the promise is still true. 638 00:39:01,360 --> 00:39:04,360 It's still sure, and it'll still occur and it'll still happen. 639 00:39:04,640 --> 00:39:07,760 I pray, O God, tonight, minister, Lord Jesus to us. 640 00:39:07,760 --> 00:39:11,160 Lord, this week, help us how to keep our eyes, Lord, on what's 641 00:39:11,160 --> 00:39:14,080 before us, our eyes, God, on what's ahead of us. 642 00:39:14,320 --> 00:39:17,440 God, let us not to give to the allurements of the past, not to 643 00:39:17,440 --> 00:39:19,560 the allurements of those things that are behind. 644 00:39:19,800 --> 00:39:22,720 Help us to forgive those things that are behind and press toward 645 00:39:22,720 --> 00:39:25,600 the mark of the high calling of God, which is in Christ Jesus. 646 00:39:25,800 --> 00:39:29,160 Press toward that mark. I pray Father every day in the 647 00:39:29,400 --> 00:39:33,320 name of Jesus Christ that I pray Hallelujah and Amen and the 648 00:39:33,320 --> 00:39:38,760 church say Amen, Amen. God bless you tonight Jesus name 649 00:39:38,760 --> 00:39:40,520 Amen. People go back and greet 650 00:39:40,520 --> 00:39:43,040 Christian night. So good to see her Amen here 651 00:39:43,040 --> 00:39:44,800 this evening. Greet her in Jesus name. 652 00:39:45,080 --> 00:39:45,880 Hallelujah.