1 00:00:01,300 --> 00:00:05,100 I mean, how do we live among them and are surrounded by them? 2 00:00:05,900 --> 00:00:09,700 And yet, try not to be overwhelmed or or try to feel 3 00:00:09,700 --> 00:00:14,000 small while living for our Lord and upholding his Doctrine. 4 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:20,900 And what I want to focus on is kind of a somewhat of a spin-off 5 00:00:20,900 --> 00:00:24,300 to that idea. And it's taken from what we saw 6 00:00:24,300 --> 00:00:28,500 here in Hebrews 12:1 were it says that we are surrounded by 7 00:00:28,500 --> 00:00:31,000 so great, a cloud of witnesses. And the reason why I want to 8 00:00:31,008 --> 00:00:34,000 talk about this is because even though the we might find 9 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,700 ourselves surrounded by the world. 10 00:00:38,300 --> 00:00:43,000 We are also comforted by the fact that we are surrounded by 11 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:45,800 something that's even far greater than what this world 12 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:48,800 has. We really are and I think you'll 13 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:51,700 see that at the end of our study this morning. 14 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,100 So we're going to talk about this idea from the context here 15 00:00:55,100 --> 00:01:00,600 in chapter 12 and also going back to chapter 11 here for just 16 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:03,900 a little while this morning. And so when you first of all, 17 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:08,500 take a look at this first verse and identifying this cloud of 18 00:01:08,500 --> 00:01:12,100 witnesses, it says, therefore we also since we are surrounded by 19 00:01:12,100 --> 00:01:16,900 so great, a cloud of witnesses. There's a key word here, in 20 00:01:16,900 --> 00:01:20,400 order to determine what this cloud of witnesses is referring 21 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:23,800 to, who are they Rich? Who is this Cloud? 22 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:29,800 That's being referred to here as so, basic Bible, interpretation 23 00:01:30,700 --> 00:01:34,100 would point you to a keyword and that's this word. 24 00:01:34,100 --> 00:01:38,100 Therefore and usually when you see the word therefore it's 25 00:01:38,100 --> 00:01:41,600 there for a reason, what it does, it makes it connection to 26 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:44,600 what is about to be said from what? 27 00:01:44,700 --> 00:01:48,500 It was just mention. And so, in that case, that is 28 00:01:48,500 --> 00:01:52,400 just the case, here, in this context of the book of Hebrews, 29 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:55,800 and in this particular case. So what I want to do I want to 30 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:58,800 go back to chapter 11, just for a moment. 31 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:04,000 And so we kind of understand who this cloud of witnesses is that 32 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:09,900 we are surrounded by and kind of get get an idea of these people. 33 00:02:10,300 --> 00:02:14,400 And so you have chapter 11 of Hebrews. 34 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:19,000 We That this chapter is, is label the The Heroes of Faith or 35 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:23,900 the Hall of faith, and we read about great people in this 36 00:02:23,900 --> 00:02:27,000 chapter. I mean, we read about people a 37 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:31,000 lot of faith like, like Noah where he, displayed his faith by 38 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:33,700 building the ark. Over such a long amount of time, 39 00:02:33,700 --> 00:02:36,200 it took about 120 years to build the ark. 40 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:41,600 But he was persistent and his faith, kept him going to build 41 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:44,500 that Ark. Not only that, but we are also 42 00:02:44,700 --> 00:02:47,800 So it also mentions, the faith of Abraham. 43 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:52,300 And the Bible says there in the context, that, that Abraham, he 44 00:02:52,300 --> 00:02:56,000 showed his faith by leaving his homeland, to go to a different 45 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:58,600 place and he had no idea where he was going. 46 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:01,900 God said, I want you to go to this place and Abraham said, all 47 00:03:01,908 --> 00:03:05,800 right, he left everything behind and did that. 48 00:03:06,300 --> 00:03:10,500 And he showed us faith. And from that, from him and 49 00:03:10,500 --> 00:03:14,600 Sarah Isaac, the child of Promise was born and a great 50 00:03:14,700 --> 00:03:18,300 Jason came about from that you talk about the faith of Moses 51 00:03:18,300 --> 00:03:21,500 that as mentioned here, in chapter 11, to leave the easy 52 00:03:21,500 --> 00:03:25,000 life of an Egyptian and to join his true nation, the Israelites 53 00:03:25,300 --> 00:03:28,000 and endure hardships for the rest of his life in the 54 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,700 wilderness. That's faith. 55 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:35,300 But what I want to do is begin ready here in verse number 32. 56 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:42,300 Because you got some kind of a summary now of how people 57 00:03:42,300 --> 00:03:47,000 displayed their faith in various ways because it says it, what 58 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:51,400 more shall I say for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon 59 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:55,300 Barak and Samson and Jeff. But L also of David and Samuel 60 00:03:55,500 --> 00:03:58,800 and the prophets who through faith, what do they do? 61 00:03:58,900 --> 00:04:01,700 Well, they subdued kingdoms, they work righteousness obtained 62 00:04:01,700 --> 00:04:04,200 promises stopped. The mouths of lions. 63 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:07,400 Quenched, the violence of fire escaped, the edge of the sword. 64 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:10,600 You're out of weakness, were made strong, became value to 65 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:16,200 metal turn to fight the flight. The armies of the aliens women 66 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:20,100 received their dead raised to life again. 67 00:04:20,899 --> 00:04:25,100 And So within, this is just a whole slew of acts of faith, you 68 00:04:25,100 --> 00:04:29,100 have here Gideon and you might know the story of Gideon to wear 69 00:04:29,300 --> 00:04:33,500 even though Gideon, he started out with a great number in this 70 00:04:33,500 --> 00:04:35,800 RV. Got some, oh, you got too much 71 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:39,800 and it kept doing the Down to just three hundred, guys. 72 00:04:41,700 --> 00:04:46,200 And among those 300 guys, they were able to take the midianites 73 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:48,700 and the amalekites by the tens of thousands. 74 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:54,300 All because of the faith of this man of Gideon, Not only that 75 00:04:54,300 --> 00:04:58,100 Barak, he led 2008 of Israel against the mighty full of 76 00:04:58,100 --> 00:05:00,700 cicerone, his men, and they were victorious in their battle. 77 00:05:01,100 --> 00:05:04,600 According to what we see in judges chapters 4 and 5. 78 00:05:04,900 --> 00:05:06,800 You have Samson, that's mentioned here. 79 00:05:07,100 --> 00:05:10,100 Now, sometimes people question the life of Samson thinking how 80 00:05:10,100 --> 00:05:15,100 in the world is he pitching here in faith but he is, he was a man 81 00:05:15,100 --> 00:05:19,000 of faith. And the writer divinely. 82 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:23,500 Inspired penned, his name here, but he displayed, his faith in 83 00:05:23,500 --> 00:05:26,400 God toward the end of his life. And God used him to kill many of 84 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:28,000 the Philistines. Yep. 85 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:31,300 Jephthah and like Samson. He was far from perfect, but he 86 00:05:31,300 --> 00:05:33,700 showed his faith in the Lord through battles with the amla 87 00:05:34,100 --> 00:05:37,500 ammonites and the ephraimites and then you got David and so 88 00:05:37,500 --> 00:05:41,100 much could be said about the faith of David and his life but 89 00:05:41,100 --> 00:05:44,900 one phrase really puts it into perspective that he was a man 90 00:05:44,900 --> 00:05:48,800 after God's Own Heart. And he displayed his faith in so 91 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:52,400 many ways and God gave him victories in this life. 92 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:56,200 You got here, Samuel, Samuel was a great prophet and he was the 93 00:05:56,200 --> 00:06:00,200 last judge of Israel and he helped, he was very influential 94 00:06:00,300 --> 00:06:04,400 when the Kings began to come in to be established at the nation 95 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:06,300 of Israel. He helped King Saul. 96 00:06:06,500 --> 00:06:11,900 He helped also kick David and he provided spiritual guidance to 97 00:06:11,900 --> 00:06:14,800 them. And then he talked about here 98 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:17,000 about them. Subduing kingdoms, and these 99 00:06:17,100 --> 00:06:20,000 Which these men mentioned did just that due to their faith, 100 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:23,400 they these people worked righteousness also says that 101 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:27,800 they had obtained promises couple and perspective was that 102 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:33,400 of a the the nation of Israel where they receive the promise 103 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:36,800 of the land of Canaan. You have also Abraham where he 104 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:39,700 received the promise of this child Isaac, even though they 105 00:06:39,700 --> 00:06:43,200 were advanced in age, God still prominent, Our God still gave 106 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:46,400 them a child. And so they live by faith in 107 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:48,400 anticipation that that would come. 108 00:06:48,900 --> 00:06:52,600 He also makes is that the, the stopped the mouths of lions at, 109 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:55,800 of course, our mind is taken to Daniel and Daniel was thrown 110 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:59,300 into the Den of Lions. Their Daniel chapter 6 and how 111 00:06:59,300 --> 00:07:01,300 he was not harmed by those lines. 112 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,300 Quenched, the violence of fire, this happened when Shadrach 113 00:07:04,300 --> 00:07:06,800 Meshach and Abednego? Well, they were thrown into that 114 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:09,200 fiery furnace but they didn't die. 115 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:15,100 Not even, not even the evidence of being around fire was up, was 116 00:07:15,100 --> 00:07:19,400 all them, but because of their faith, God, save them from that 117 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:21,700 fire. And then, he mentions that they 118 00:07:21,900 --> 00:07:25,300 some escaped, the edge of the sword talking about David Elijah 119 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:30,200 Elijah in their lives and also women received their dead raised 120 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:32,000 to life. Again, there are two examples of 121 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:35,500 this in the Old Testament. You got that of a, the son of 122 00:07:35,500 --> 00:07:39,000 Gera Phyllis Widow died. But due to her faith, Elijah 123 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:41,000 raised her son. From the dead and you got the 124 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:45,000 shooter might son where they had passed away yet. 125 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:48,100 Due to her faith, Elijah raised him from the dead. 126 00:07:48,300 --> 00:07:51,700 And so, I quickly went through all that, and I want you to 127 00:07:51,700 --> 00:07:55,700 understand something that there were great victories because 128 00:07:55,700 --> 00:07:59,300 people had faith in God and God bless these people. 129 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:06,200 So they died in faith. but I want you to understand, stand 130 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:10,800 something, as we continue reading the tone changes, Yes, 131 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:13,900 we're still talking about people of Faith, but not every time 132 00:08:13,900 --> 00:08:17,500 that people had faith, not, every time they had victories, 133 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,700 sometimes it was very difficult for people because of their 134 00:08:22,700 --> 00:08:26,200 faith. Look here, as we continue on to 135 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:33,299 verse number 35, others were tortured, not accepting 136 00:08:33,299 --> 00:08:36,900 Deliverance. They might obtain a better 137 00:08:36,900 --> 00:08:41,500 Resurrection. Still others, had trial of 138 00:08:41,500 --> 00:08:45,400 mockings and scourgings. Yes. 139 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:49,500 And of change and imprisonment. They were stoned. 140 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:56,700 They were signing to or tempted were slain with the sword. 141 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:00,700 They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins being 142 00:09:00,700 --> 00:09:05,700 destitute Afflicted, tormented of whom the world was not 143 00:09:05,700 --> 00:09:08,500 worthy. They wandered in deserts and 144 00:09:08,500 --> 00:09:15,700 mountains and did some caves of the Earth And so, what the Bible 145 00:09:15,700 --> 00:09:17,900 mentions that some were tortured, not accepting 146 00:09:17,900 --> 00:09:20,100 Deliverance. This word torture to act, it's 147 00:09:20,100 --> 00:09:22,600 an interesting word. It actually means stretch. 148 00:09:25,100 --> 00:09:27,700 And although we don't find examples in the scriptures, were 149 00:09:27,700 --> 00:09:29,600 the disciples of the Lord were tortured. 150 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:32,200 In this way, we do know that it happened because the rider 151 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:36,600 divinely-inspired wrote. These things about how people in 152 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:39,700 former times have shown their faith in the Lord, and it's 153 00:09:39,700 --> 00:09:43,900 amazing to me with this phrase, not accepting, Deliverance. 154 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:48,100 That tells me that they had a way out. 155 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:53,000 They had a way to denounce their faith and to escape that type of 156 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:57,700 torture. But they chose not to. 157 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:04,100 It rather be tortured and have their faith to the Lord and to 158 00:10:04,108 --> 00:10:09,400 deny him. That's a person of faith. 159 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,700 Trials and walking scourging, chains imprisonment. 160 00:10:15,300 --> 00:10:17,900 An example of this was Samson who was mocked before the 161 00:10:17,900 --> 00:10:21,400 Philistines after he had been captured after, he had been in 162 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:25,600 prison, some were stoned is what it says and this was a common 163 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:28,500 way of punishment among the Jews that there is, there's really no 164 00:10:28,500 --> 00:10:31,900 telling how many of them were stoned due to their faith. 165 00:10:34,500 --> 00:10:37,300 One thing that sticks out to me, they were sawn into here, in 166 00:10:37,308 --> 00:10:42,300 verse number 37, that's horrible and most Scholars agree. 167 00:10:42,300 --> 00:10:47,800 This is what happened to Isaiah do to the evil King Manasseh, 168 00:10:48,300 --> 00:10:51,300 around that time. He was the king of Judah for 169 00:10:51,300 --> 00:10:53,500 some time. In fact, historically speaking 170 00:10:53,500 --> 00:10:56,100 manasa tried all of his might to kill all the prophets of the 171 00:10:56,100 --> 00:11:01,200 Lord, and that man would just play Wicked in what he did to 172 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:03,400 try to get rid of the profits of the Lord. 173 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:07,400 So there was much death because of that man. 174 00:11:07,700 --> 00:11:09,400 There were others who were slain By The Sword. 175 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:11,000 Some profits were killed by the sword. 176 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:14,600 Of fact, Uriah was one of them Elijah mentioned other prophets. 177 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:17,100 Who had died by the sort of fact, Elijah was even worry 178 00:11:17,100 --> 00:11:19,300 himself that he was going to be the next one. 179 00:11:19,300 --> 00:11:22,000 In fact, he wanted to just give up and call it quits. 180 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:29,100 Because the pressure. Others wandered about in 181 00:11:29,100 --> 00:11:32,400 sheepskins and goatskins being destitute Afflicted tormented in 182 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,500 one particular account that this happened was with the Prophet 183 00:11:35,500 --> 00:11:37,800 Elijah. He was driven away from his 184 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:39,500 home, due to his faith in the Lord. 185 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:43,800 And basically he was an outcast to everyone that was around him 186 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:47,000 since since those who were around him that he was 187 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:52,600 surrounded by rejected the Lord, there was no safe place for the 188 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:57,400 Prophet Elijah. And then it says of whom, the 189 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:00,800 world was not worthy. And that the phrase stands out 190 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:03,500 to me in the midst of of a contrast that is shown through 191 00:12:03,500 --> 00:12:06,900 these individuals of faith of the opposition that surrounded 192 00:12:06,900 --> 00:12:08,300 them. Because even though they lived 193 00:12:08,300 --> 00:12:12,700 on the earth and among these people, that what they did is 194 00:12:12,700 --> 00:12:17,500 that they showed and they live their way showing this world was 195 00:12:17,500 --> 00:12:21,200 not their home. They were looking for a better 196 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:22,900 place. A Homeland. 197 00:12:24,100 --> 00:12:28,300 After this life is over. And they lived their lives in 198 00:12:28,300 --> 00:12:31,100 faith. Even though these bad things 199 00:12:31,100 --> 00:12:36,500 happen to them, they still had faith that God, that it was 200 00:12:36,500 --> 00:12:42,100 going to be worth it in the end. And so we see a sad and tragic 201 00:12:42,100 --> 00:12:44,700 outcome for some of these people who show their faith. 202 00:12:45,900 --> 00:12:48,200 In the midst of being surrounded by the enemy. 203 00:12:49,700 --> 00:12:52,400 But I want you to know something from what we've seen this 204 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:56,400 morning. Yes, we're going to have 205 00:12:56,400 --> 00:13:00,800 victories because of our faith. And we're going to have times 206 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:03,000 where really all is right in the world. 207 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:05,800 And we're going to have times where we feel great about 208 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:09,500 walking with the Lord, but really the harsh reality, is 209 00:13:09,500 --> 00:13:12,200 that not everything is just blue skies and sunshine. 210 00:13:13,700 --> 00:13:18,800 And I say that because I want all of us, I want you and I to 211 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:23,300 be ready for times like that, and to be aware that times will 212 00:13:23,300 --> 00:13:25,000 come times have come in our lives? 213 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:30,700 Haven't they, or it's been hard? It's been hard and it tests our 214 00:13:30,700 --> 00:13:33,800 faith. I mean it's tough to read about 215 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:36,400 what we just read about how these Heroes of Faith suffered 216 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:39,600 at how they were rejected and how they were tormented and they 217 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:43,200 died because they were surrounded by people who did not 218 00:13:43,300 --> 00:13:46,200 appreciate the Lord. And did not appreciate his 219 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:50,700 commands. And his way And you're going to 220 00:13:50,700 --> 00:13:53,300 encounter people who will not appreciate the Lord or 221 00:13:53,300 --> 00:13:55,500 appreciate the scriptures at face value. 222 00:13:55,900 --> 00:13:59,400 And you know what, you're going to be, the one who's going to be 223 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:02,600 ridiculed because of that, you're going to receive. 224 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:09,000 Pretty much the bad end of the deal because of that, and it 225 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:10,700 doesn't have anything to do with you. 226 00:14:11,500 --> 00:14:15,600 It's their view of God and it's their view of the scriptures and 227 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:18,400 we they take it out on us because of that. 228 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:23,000 We're going to be mocked. We're going to be looked down 229 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:26,600 upon. We're going to be looked at as 230 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:29,900 close minded individuals, who are not accepting or tolerant 231 00:14:29,900 --> 00:14:33,000 with things that are happening in the society, and the changes 232 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:36,800 in the society, and people are going to question why we're so, 233 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:39,800 so close-minded and don't consider everyone. 234 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:42,100 Who is accepted Jesus in the heart, to be in the Lord's 235 00:14:42,100 --> 00:14:46,800 Church, and I want you to be aware of this, not because I 236 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:51,400 want you to be scared and try to avoid these types of people, but 237 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:56,000 I want you to be ready for it and equip yourself for it and be 238 00:14:56,000 --> 00:15:01,000 grounded in the scriptures for when these times come, because 239 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:05,400 when we are equipped with God's word, That's what gives us the 240 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:08,800 strength to combat, those who surround us. 241 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:17,100 And so our faith from that will build, and will be encouraged. 242 00:15:17,300 --> 00:15:19,400 And we'll be able to be bolded display. 243 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:22,200 Our faith, no matter who's watching, or who might try to 244 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:25,000 bring us down, or whatever the opposition might be. 245 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:28,700 But let me ask you this, what if we are ridiculed? 246 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:32,800 I mean, what if we are mocked? What if we don't win the 247 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:37,100 argument? Does that mean that we just give 248 00:15:37,100 --> 00:15:39,100 up? We just stopped trying because 249 00:15:39,100 --> 00:15:41,200 we're thinking, oh man, I don't want to go through that again. 250 00:15:43,700 --> 00:15:48,400 Absolutely not. Because what we do is that we 251 00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:49,900 learn from those encounters, don't we? 252 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:53,700 And I believe that we actually should have the same attitude 253 00:15:53,700 --> 00:15:57,500 that the apostles had at the end of Acts, chapter 5. 254 00:15:57,500 --> 00:16:01,400 And I love the example that we see with those Apostles at the 255 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:06,500 end of chapter 5 because those, those apostles were threatened, 256 00:16:07,100 --> 00:16:10,200 don't ever preach. Jesus Christ round here again 257 00:16:10,500 --> 00:16:13,200 and go off on your way and we don't want to hear about you 258 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:16,000 guys teaching about the about Christ being the site and being 259 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:19,900 the son of God, they were beaten. 260 00:16:20,900 --> 00:16:26,400 They are marked. And when you read those words at 261 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:29,100 the end of Acts chapter 5 of their reaction to that, do we 262 00:16:29,100 --> 00:16:32,400 read where they just said, well we don't want to go through 263 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:34,900 those beatings against. We better just kind of lay low 264 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:37,400 be quiet about it. No. 265 00:16:39,100 --> 00:16:41,100 But they went off their way rejoicing. 266 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:45,600 And we find later on, as we read throughout the Book of Acts and 267 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:50,800 also the following letters, they kept on preaching Christ. 268 00:16:51,500 --> 00:16:53,700 But you know, why they went on their way rejoicing? 269 00:16:54,300 --> 00:16:57,800 Because the scripture says that they were, they were counted 270 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:00,600 worthy to suffer for his name sake. 271 00:17:02,100 --> 00:17:04,900 They had the correct perspective. 272 00:17:06,700 --> 00:17:09,800 And even though they were threatened, it's did not waver 273 00:17:09,900 --> 00:17:12,400 their faith did not waver because of any of that. 274 00:17:13,599 --> 00:17:16,400 But, you know, that there's another reason why being 275 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:20,700 ridiculed should not stop us in our faith with the Lord and it's 276 00:17:20,700 --> 00:17:25,500 because of what we see again. Actually at the end of this 277 00:17:25,500 --> 00:17:29,500 chapter here, it says and all these having obtained a good 278 00:17:29,500 --> 00:17:34,500 testimony through faith did not receive the promise God provided 279 00:17:34,500 --> 00:17:37,100 something better for us that they should not that they should 280 00:17:37,100 --> 00:17:39,300 not be made perfect apart from us. 281 00:17:39,900 --> 00:17:43,800 And so when it's talking about them receiving this promise, I 282 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:47,700 mean, yes, we know that the Israelites they they inherited 283 00:17:47,700 --> 00:17:51,600 the land of Canaan and took a little longer because of their 284 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:54,600 Disobedience, but they finally received that promise, God was 285 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:56,200 faithful to that promise, wasn't he? 286 00:17:56,900 --> 00:18:00,400 And so they received it and what do you think about Abraham? 287 00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:04,200 Yes, Abraham received the promise from God by receiving a 288 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:06,600 son in whom all nations would be blessed. 289 00:18:06,900 --> 00:18:11,300 But the promise that's mention here is not talking about those 290 00:18:11,300 --> 00:18:12,800 things. You know what the problem is 291 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:16,600 that as Mitchell here is the promise of the Messiah. 292 00:18:19,300 --> 00:18:23,600 The promise of Jesus Christ coming to this world and saving 293 00:18:23,700 --> 00:18:30,200 us from our sins. And so, they didn't receive that 294 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:33,300 promise because they never saw the Messiah their lifetime. 295 00:18:35,900 --> 00:18:38,800 But we have haven't we have not in our lifetime but we read 296 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:43,000 about him in the scriptures and we know he came and we read 297 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:45,500 about the scriptures and we read about the great thing that he 298 00:18:45,500 --> 00:18:47,900 did. How he provided salvation to all 299 00:18:47,900 --> 00:18:51,100 of us, how we could have a new life, how we can have hope how 300 00:18:51,100 --> 00:18:56,600 we can inherit Haven't, those are great things, and so we have 301 00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:59,600 this advantage. And so we, that's reason enough 302 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:04,300 to keep our faith strong in him. And so, all of us now brings 303 00:19:04,300 --> 00:19:07,500 brings us back to chapter 12 again, where it says that we are 304 00:19:07,500 --> 00:19:10,600 surrounded by this great City by, so great, a cloud of 305 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:12,400 witnesses. And again, I ask, what are 306 00:19:12,408 --> 00:19:14,300 these? What's this cloud of witnesses 307 00:19:14,300 --> 00:19:18,400 that were surrounded by We're talking about all those in 308 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:21,600 chapter 11 who lived their lives and faith. 309 00:19:23,300 --> 00:19:27,600 But not just those people. But others who are not mentioned 310 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:30,600 here, who have lived their lives of Faith as well. 311 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:36,500 You've got family members who have live lives of say that have 312 00:19:36,500 --> 00:19:40,400 died in faith, will be included in this cloud of witnesses. 313 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:44,100 We have, we've had passed members of this congregation and 314 00:19:44,100 --> 00:19:46,900 also, the Brundage link congregation that I passed on. 315 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:51,900 But yet because of their faith of the Lord, they are part of 316 00:19:51,900 --> 00:19:55,300 this cloud of witnesses that we are surrounded by, to encourage 317 00:19:55,300 --> 00:20:00,700 us to keep on going. And to hold Faith a whole dark 318 00:20:00,700 --> 00:20:05,000 heart faith. Strong, And so the writer 319 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:09,100 lichens, Our Lives of Faith. Now to erase keeping this in 320 00:20:09,100 --> 00:20:13,500 mind with being surrounded, he talks about now, he says lay 321 00:20:13,500 --> 00:20:18,900 every let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so 322 00:20:18,900 --> 00:20:22,600 easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance, the race 323 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:28,700 that is set before us. And so we're in a race and those 324 00:20:28,700 --> 00:20:32,100 of us who are faithful, are those who are faithful have 325 00:20:32,100 --> 00:20:33,900 gone. Before are surrounded, us and 326 00:20:33,900 --> 00:20:37,300 cheering us on if you will to run and finish this race in this 327 00:20:37,300 --> 00:20:40,000 life. Now I didn't see it this year 328 00:20:40,900 --> 00:20:43,700 but with the Summer Olympics that were here. 329 00:20:43,900 --> 00:20:46,500 We love watching the Olympics at home. 330 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:50,000 So it's the great stories that come from it. 331 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:53,800 The great competition that comes from it too, but I didn't see it 332 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:55,900 this year, but the previous Summer Olympics. 333 00:20:55,900 --> 00:20:58,700 I saw something that really stuck out to me. 334 00:20:59,700 --> 00:21:02,500 And it was, it was the end of the men's Marathon. 335 00:21:03,700 --> 00:21:06,800 And that the man were, they were ran through the streets of the 336 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:10,200 city. And then the last leg of that 337 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:13,400 Marathon. What the how it ended is that 338 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:17,600 there would enter the stadium and they would make one circle 339 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:20,300 around that track and then finish the race. 340 00:21:21,500 --> 00:21:24,200 And I'll never forget, I don't know who it was, what they said 341 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:26,600 he was representing, but he answered that stadium. 342 00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:31,200 And that stadium was just, it was full of people and as soon 343 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:35,600 as he entered that Stadium, there was an eruption cheering 344 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:40,400 that man on and the look on that man's face was just priceless. 345 00:21:41,700 --> 00:21:43,200 Because he knew he was at the end. 346 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:48,100 He saw those people and all the cheers and it carried him around 347 00:21:48,100 --> 00:21:50,100 that track and everyone else who came in. 348 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:55,100 And in this perspective, being surrounded by this cloud of 349 00:21:55,100 --> 00:21:57,900 witnesses, I can see the same thing in the spiritual sense. 350 00:22:00,100 --> 00:22:04,400 And loved ones who have gone before us and seeing them. 351 00:22:06,300 --> 00:22:12,300 And seeing them cheer us on. I can picture Grandma Pat, grab 352 00:22:12,300 --> 00:22:15,800 onto golf, Grandpa husband. Sharon the song. 353 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:21,300 So, we finish. Finish our race. 354 00:22:21,300 --> 00:22:24,200 You know why? Because it's worth it. 355 00:22:25,700 --> 00:22:30,900 It's worth it. What a great Cloud. 356 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:35,000 We are surrounded by. These people of faith. 357 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:43,300 There's something. That we have to do, is we race? 358 00:22:45,100 --> 00:22:47,600 It says here that we have to get rid of the weight. 359 00:22:50,100 --> 00:22:53,000 That way the sin or anything else that might lead us that 360 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:56,400 might lead to sin. And try to run with that. 361 00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:58,300 It weight is not productive it in time. 362 00:22:58,300 --> 00:23:02,700 It's going to weigh us down and really our rate are the wait, 363 00:23:02,700 --> 00:23:05,100 are the race is going to be burdensome and is going to be 364 00:23:05,100 --> 00:23:08,100 even more difficult? And I like, I like with David 365 00:23:08,100 --> 00:23:13,500 wrote in regards to this. The 119th Soul verse. 366 00:23:13,500 --> 00:23:17,200 Number 37. Turn away my eyes from looking 367 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:22,100 at worthless things and revive me in your way. 368 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:26,600 And I like that, I like that perspective, that David writes, 369 00:23:26,900 --> 00:23:30,300 because David knew where his focus should be and weren't 370 00:23:30,300 --> 00:23:34,600 needed to stay away from anything that is not helping us 371 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:39,300 run, the race is worthless and is not needed in our life. 372 00:23:39,700 --> 00:23:43,300 And instead of looking at those things, we, as David look for we 373 00:23:43,300 --> 00:23:46,100 look towards the Lord and we seek the ways of the Lord and 374 00:23:46,100 --> 00:23:51,600 see what it is, that can help us spiritually to carry on in our 375 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:54,900 race in this life. And there's something else about 376 00:23:54,900 --> 00:23:59,800 this race that's mention here. And in verse number one is that 377 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:04,800 we know, he says it's an endurance race and it's not a 378 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:08,600 full-on Sprint, nor is it one where we just kind of poke along 379 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:10,200 either? It's a race that we just keep a 380 00:24:10,208 --> 00:24:13,300 steady Pace in. Our faith, can be hot colder 381 00:24:13,300 --> 00:24:16,500 than hot cold, but we keep it a steady in his strongest 382 00:24:16,500 --> 00:24:20,300 possible, but I want you to notice something as we look here 383 00:24:20,300 --> 00:24:26,100 now, verses 2 & 3, About our race as we run in this life. 384 00:24:26,700 --> 00:24:30,900 He says looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our 385 00:24:30,900 --> 00:24:32,600 faith. Who for the joy that was set 386 00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:35,800 before him. Endured the cross despising, the 387 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:39,400 shame and has sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God, 388 00:24:40,500 --> 00:24:44,600 for consider him. Who endured such hostility from 389 00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:48,900 Sinners against himself, lest you become weary and discouraged 390 00:24:49,100 --> 00:24:54,200 in your souls. And so really here to me, it's 391 00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:59,300 it's a bit ironic if you will because yes, we have the cloud 392 00:24:59,300 --> 00:25:02,700 of witnesses surrounding us, an example of how to run this race 393 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:05,100 and yes, it provides us encouragement to run. 394 00:25:05,100 --> 00:25:09,000 Well, But you know what? They are. 395 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:17,400 Not our main focus. The rider here says Jesus should 396 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:19,500 be our main focus through this race. 397 00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:23,300 Why? Well, he gives reason why here 398 00:25:23,300 --> 00:25:26,900 in this context is because he's the author and the finisher in 399 00:25:26,900 --> 00:25:30,300 or in other words he's the first and last example of our faith, a 400 00:25:30,300 --> 00:25:35,100 faith in God. So, how is he an example? 401 00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:40,900 Well, he talks about that. He despises same that the cross 402 00:25:40,900 --> 00:25:44,800 brought get, he willingly died on it anyway because he knew 403 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:46,700 what Joe would ultimately come from it. 404 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:52,400 He knew that we would be saved by his death on the cross. 405 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:56,800 And he was willing to pay the cost for the ultimate benefit of 406 00:25:56,800 --> 00:25:59,300 me for the ultimate benefit of view. 407 00:25:59,500 --> 00:26:04,500 And For All Mankind, And we have to determine the pay, the cost, 408 00:26:04,500 --> 00:26:08,600 no matter what, the benefit of the Lord, for the benefit of 409 00:26:08,600 --> 00:26:12,300 Lord, and for his glory. And if we have any doubts, or if 410 00:26:12,300 --> 00:26:15,100 we ever become the scourge of needed encouragement of this 411 00:26:15,100 --> 00:26:20,400 life, verse number 3, says to consider Jesus. 412 00:26:20,700 --> 00:26:23,600 I mean would you consider Jesus and consider the life that he 413 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:26,300 lived? There was lots of opposition 414 00:26:26,300 --> 00:26:30,200 that he ran into. You talked about the Pharisees 415 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:32,300 and the Sadducees of the scribes. 416 00:26:32,900 --> 00:26:36,600 And those people were trying all their might to try some some 417 00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:40,700 scheme to try to get Jesus out of the picture or maybe try to 418 00:26:40,700 --> 00:26:46,400 diss to discredit him from what he says, or what he did in his 419 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:50,300 ministry, all kinds of opposition and I love, when I 420 00:26:50,300 --> 00:26:54,400 read of all the opposition that Jesus dealt with every single 421 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:58,700 time, he shut them down. and there was nothing that they 422 00:26:58,700 --> 00:27:04,100 could that they could say to him, Every time he shut them 423 00:27:04,100 --> 00:27:08,400 down. And I love that and I love to 424 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:12,900 see that picture of Jesus and that gives us greater faith that 425 00:27:12,900 --> 00:27:14,700 even though there might be opposition. 426 00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:18,400 Our faith could still be strong too. 427 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:24,100 Don't let it waiver, no matter what this person might say to 428 00:27:24,100 --> 00:27:28,100 you, no matter what, they might try to do, no matter what it is, 429 00:27:28,100 --> 00:27:30,500 do not let it waiver due to the opposition. 430 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:39,300 Now, When this race is over. We know there's going to be a 431 00:27:39,300 --> 00:27:44,400 price for us. It's not going to be a gold 432 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:48,500 medal. It's going to be something far 433 00:27:48,500 --> 00:27:53,000 greater than a gold medal. Paul says in First Corinthians 434 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:56,700 chapter 9, you know what, we're going to receive a crown of 435 00:27:56,700 --> 00:28:00,400 righteousness. A crown of righteousness. 436 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:04,200 To be, that's something to look forward to. 437 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:08,900 But there are so many other blessings that I look forward to 438 00:28:08,900 --> 00:28:13,000 as well. With just reaching the end and 439 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:19,900 finishing my race for the Lord. I mean, consider being with with 440 00:28:19,900 --> 00:28:23,700 Jesus and God, and with the angels and being able to hear 441 00:28:23,700 --> 00:28:27,700 the seeing and just the worship and the fellowship. 442 00:28:28,700 --> 00:28:33,100 And being able to in my opinion, just ask questions that I have. 443 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:36,200 Maybe sit down talking with Moses. 444 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:40,900 Whether great Heroes of Faith that we read in the scriptures 445 00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:47,400 so many things to look forward to. so, our Fates do not waver 446 00:28:49,100 --> 00:28:50,900 And I want to tell you it's going to be worth every effort 447 00:28:50,900 --> 00:28:53,400 that we put into our race for the Lord. 448 00:28:54,500 --> 00:28:57,100 Even considering those who have gone before the surrounded by 449 00:28:57,100 --> 00:29:00,800 this great cloud of witnesses, there cheering us on to finish. 450 00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:06,100 We thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the 451 00:29:06,100 --> 00:29:11,800 Church of Christ at 22:15 plans. Road in Bakersfield, if you 452 00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:14,900 would like any additional information, or you would like 453 00:29:14,900 --> 00:29:18,100 to receive a free Bible correspondence, course by mail. 454 00:29:18,700 --> 00:29:22,600 Please email us at info at her Church of Christ 455 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:26,500 Bakersfield.com. Our service times are on Sundays 456 00:29:26,500 --> 00:29:32,100 at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. 457 00:29:32,700 --> 00:29:36,300 Please make plans to join us. We would love for you to be our 458 00:29:36,300 --> 00:29:37,200 honored guest.