1 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:07,200 It's good to be back here with you this afternoon and we are 2 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:09,900 grateful for everyone being here. 3 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:13,000 This morning I talked for a little bit over time on the 4 00:00:13,008 --> 00:00:16,400 subject of heaven and this evening for a little while. 5 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,800 I'm not planning on talking to you over time and hopefully even 6 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:22,800 a little less than that. What I thought I would do is if 7 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:26,400 you remember this morning I talked about as the Bible 8 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:29,600 describes those that are going to be in heaven and when we say 9 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:32,299 heaven, we're not going to be talking about a refurbishing of 10 00:00:32,308 --> 00:00:34,800 this Earth. Because all of those things, the 11 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:37,900 former things will be passed away and we're going to look for 12 00:00:37,900 --> 00:00:40,300 a new Heaven and a new Earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 13 00:00:40,300 --> 00:00:44,200 And so the Bible says that those that are going to be in heaven, 14 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:48,600 are those that are going to live righteous lives or lives that 15 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:53,000 are filled with right doing also, the Bible would say that 16 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:54,600 those that are going to enter into heaven. 17 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:58,800 Are those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of 18 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:01,200 Life? And I mentioned rather briefly 19 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:03,300 at the latter part of my sermon about. 20 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:07,700 Out encouraging words regarding hanging on until that time. 21 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,800 And how awful would it be? If we would live our life and go 22 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:14,600 through and endure many things that we endure in this life and 23 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:17,600 then turn our backs on the Lord and only defined that as 24 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:21,600 miserable as we were in our existence here that we miss 25 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:25,400 Heaven all together to and how awful that would be. 26 00:01:25,900 --> 00:01:28,600 We are so grateful though that we can turn to the scriptures 27 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:31,000 and find that there are encouraging words. 28 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:33,800 I'm not just talking about emotional Pick me up. 29 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:37,300 So, I'm talking about encouraging words based upon the 30 00:01:37,300 --> 00:01:41,200 testimony of men's lives that have lived before you, and I 31 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:45,100 ever lived encouraging, things encouraging examples, and then 32 00:01:45,100 --> 00:01:48,900 over and over again, encouraging words, that re-establish, the 33 00:01:48,900 --> 00:01:53,500 promise that is for everyone, that is faithful unto death. 34 00:01:53,900 --> 00:01:56,500 So what I thought I would do is turn to the book of Hebrews, the 35 00:01:56,500 --> 00:01:59,900 12th chapter, and I want to just talk to you about a few passages 36 00:01:59,900 --> 00:02:02,800 that are found there. Read with me, Hebrews chapter 37 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:05,400 12. L've and beginning in verse 1. 38 00:02:06,700 --> 00:02:10,000 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great, a 39 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:13,900 cloud of witnesses. Let us lay aside every weight at 40 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:18,300 and the sin, which so easily, easily, beset us, and let us run 41 00:02:18,300 --> 00:02:22,100 with patience, the race that is set before us looking unto 42 00:02:22,100 --> 00:02:24,800 Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. 43 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:27,300 Who for the joy that was set before him. 44 00:02:27,300 --> 00:02:31,300 Endured the cross despising, the shame and is set down at the 45 00:02:31,300 --> 00:02:35,300 right hand of the Throne of God, for consider him that endured 46 00:02:35,300 --> 00:02:38,800 such contradiction. Of Sinners against himself lest 47 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:42,000 ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 48 00:02:42,300 --> 00:02:46,300 You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin, and 49 00:02:46,300 --> 00:02:48,700 you have forgotten the exhortation, which speaketh unto 50 00:02:48,700 --> 00:02:52,400 you, as unto children. My son, despise not thou, the 51 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:55,700 chastening of the Lord nor faint, when thou art rebuked of 52 00:02:55,700 --> 00:03:00,100 him for whom the Lord, loveth, he chasteneth and scourges every 53 00:03:00,100 --> 00:03:04,400 son whom he receiveth. If you endure chastening God, 54 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:09,000 dealeth with you. You as, with sons for what son 55 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:10,900 is. He whom the father chasteneth, 56 00:03:10,900 --> 00:03:15,600 not, but if he be without chastisement, whereof all are 57 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:18,800 partakers then you are bastards and not Sons. 58 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:22,900 Furthermore, we have had fathers in our flesh which corrected us 59 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:26,700 and we gave them, reverence, shall we not much rather be in 60 00:03:26,700 --> 00:03:30,100 subjection to the father of spirits and live for, they 61 00:03:30,100 --> 00:03:33,500 verily, for a few days, chastened us after their own 62 00:03:33,500 --> 00:03:37,300 pleasure, but he for our own profit And that we might be 63 00:03:37,300 --> 00:03:41,200 partakers of his Holiness. Now, no chastening for the 64 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,800 present seemeth to be joyous, but Grievous, nevertheless, 65 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:48,000 afterward it yieldeth, the Peaceable fruit of righteousness 66 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:52,500 unto them, which are exercised their, by wherefore lift up the 67 00:03:52,500 --> 00:03:56,500 hands which hang down and the feeble knees and make straight 68 00:03:56,500 --> 00:04:00,900 paths for your feet less, that that which is lame be turned out 69 00:04:00,900 --> 00:04:03,500 of the way, but let it rather be healed. 70 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:06,300 Follow peace with all men and holiness. 71 00:04:06,500 --> 00:04:11,400 Out which no man shall see the Lord looking diligently. 72 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:13,900 Lest any man fail of the grace of God. 73 00:04:14,500 --> 00:04:17,399 Lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you. 74 00:04:17,700 --> 00:04:20,300 And thereby many be defiled lest there. 75 00:04:20,300 --> 00:04:24,500 Be any fornicator or profane person as Esau who for one 76 00:04:24,500 --> 00:04:26,600 morsel of meat, sold his Birthright. 77 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:30,500 Finally, one more verse for ye know how that afterward when he 78 00:04:30,500 --> 00:04:34,600 would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected for he 79 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:37,300 found no place of repentance. Sentence, though. 80 00:04:37,300 --> 00:04:40,100 He sought it carefully with tears. 81 00:04:40,900 --> 00:04:42,200 What? I want to notice just a couple 82 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:44,500 things by way of an introduction here. 83 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:47,600 First of all, I do believe and you've heard me say this before 84 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:49,200 that. I believe that the Apostle Paul 85 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:52,300 happens to be the writer of the book of Hebrews. 86 00:04:52,500 --> 00:04:57,100 And so for many times I might say that the Hebrew writer or 87 00:04:57,100 --> 00:05:00,700 other times I just simply might say the Apostle Paul but 88 00:05:00,700 --> 00:05:04,400 certainly it fits the language of the writings of the Apostle 89 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:08,300 Paul and these were Brew Brethren that were undergoing 90 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:11,700 much persecution. In fact, Paul would basically 91 00:05:11,700 --> 00:05:15,700 describe that very thing. They were receiving persecutions 92 00:05:15,700 --> 00:05:19,900 in their life that they deemed to be unnecessary. 93 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:22,900 I'll tell you something. It's a hard thing to endure 94 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:25,700 persecutions. Even when you got it coming, 95 00:05:25,900 --> 00:05:29,200 it's a whole lot harder to deal with things that you don't in 96 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:33,700 your mind feel are right or justifiable. 97 00:05:34,500 --> 00:05:37,200 These were Hebrew Christians. I don't know what perhaps, how 98 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:40,000 long they were Christians. I don't know specifically those 99 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,000 that would have fallen into this category. 100 00:05:42,100 --> 00:05:44,500 It is written to Hebrew Brethren, but it's also written 101 00:05:44,500 --> 00:05:48,000 for our learning for our admonition for our instruction 102 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:50,600 to. And so the Apostle Paul in 103 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:53,700 writing the Hebrew letter is going to describe some 104 00:05:53,700 --> 00:05:58,000 encouraging things to them. And in the first two verses, he 105 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:01,900 gives the example of running in a race. 106 00:06:02,100 --> 00:06:05,100 You know many times the Bible would talk about Out running in 107 00:06:05,100 --> 00:06:09,200 a race or some competitive athletic event. 108 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:12,700 And what he's going to do is he's going to give us an 109 00:06:12,700 --> 00:06:16,600 understanding of what it's like. In other words, be encouraged, 110 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:19,900 because of the example of those that have gone on before in 111 00:06:19,900 --> 00:06:24,000 verse 1, but more than that more so than that, be extra 112 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:28,200 encouraged because you look to Jesus and know what Jesus did 113 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:31,900 For All Mankind. In the beginning of this 114 00:06:31,900 --> 00:06:36,000 chapter, we find that the Hebrew writer These Brethren to look to 115 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:40,400 those Heroes who have been described in chapter 11 as 116 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:43,400 described as a great cloud of witnesses. 117 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:49,100 In verse 1 of chapter 12, you can read various Scholars and 118 00:06:49,100 --> 00:06:53,000 they will pretty much all come up with the same thing regarding 119 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:56,000 this. Great cloud of witnesses, the 120 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:58,100 word cloud, their means for wrong. 121 00:06:58,100 --> 00:07:01,100 It's talking about the number or this great number. 122 00:07:01,100 --> 00:07:05,200 That's been talked about in the 11th chapter Of all of those 123 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:08,000 that would be listed in the Hall of Fame of faith, those that are 124 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:11,600 great examples because these were individuals that you and I 125 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:15,500 can look to for encouragement, you know, the Bible does talk 126 00:07:15,500 --> 00:07:17,700 about imitating that which is good. 127 00:07:17,700 --> 00:07:21,400 The Apostle Paul would say that. So it's a good thing to look to 128 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:25,100 the example of somebody that maybe his faith is stronger than 129 00:07:25,100 --> 00:07:28,900 our faith so that we might live the Christian life even better. 130 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:32,800 So, this is what he says. He said, there's a great throng 131 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:36,000 of witnesses now. I would say that this would be 132 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:39,800 paint the picture, like it's a great big football stadium or a 133 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:44,500 great big like the Colosseum and all of these Witnesses are in 134 00:07:44,500 --> 00:07:48,100 the stands and you are running the race. 135 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:53,700 A couple of things, the word witness, the word witness there 136 00:07:53,700 --> 00:07:58,800 is in reference to athletic games, and it was customary that 137 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:02,400 if somebody was going to run a race in an athletic game. 138 00:08:02,700 --> 00:08:05,900 There were specific people that That were designated as 139 00:08:05,900 --> 00:08:08,600 Witnesses. The reason for that is they're 140 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:11,700 going to watch and see that you're keeping the rules. 141 00:08:11,700 --> 00:08:15,000 You're not leaving your lane. Whatever the rules are, it's 142 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:17,500 kind of like when you're playing golf and nobody's looking, you 143 00:08:17,500 --> 00:08:19,900 can kind of Caddyshack one out there just kind of move your 144 00:08:19,900 --> 00:08:23,800 ball, but if you're playing competitively with somebody, 145 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:26,700 you're watching each other, there are witnesses to your 146 00:08:26,700 --> 00:08:29,300 behavior. Therefore it keeps you in line. 147 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:31,500 I'm not saying anybody would cheat on purpose. 148 00:08:31,500 --> 00:08:36,700 I'm just giving an illustration. My point is this the witnesses 149 00:08:36,700 --> 00:08:40,500 that Paul is referring to are those that have died and are 150 00:08:40,500 --> 00:08:44,900 found in the eleventh chapter. But let me just make this point, 151 00:08:44,900 --> 00:08:48,400 though, these were individuals that had already died, they were 152 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:50,600 dead. So I don't believe that this 153 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:55,600 great throng of Witnesses are really literally watching us. 154 00:08:55,700 --> 00:08:57,700 Personally, they've already died. 155 00:08:57,700 --> 00:09:01,100 They've already crossed over. I don't believe it's literal 156 00:09:01,100 --> 00:09:04,300 that they're literally watching us and cheering us on I believe 157 00:09:04,300 --> 00:09:08,100 it's their testimony of their life their example that they set 158 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:11,900 that's what's watching us that's what's cheering us on and every 159 00:09:11,900 --> 00:09:14,800 single time we get the idea that no we can't do it. 160 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:18,400 We can look to those Heroes of Faith that endured so much more 161 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:20,900 than you. And I will ever endure and stay 162 00:09:20,900 --> 00:09:23,700 on the path. So I believe that to be 163 00:09:23,700 --> 00:09:28,700 figurative and not literal that they are watching us but oh 164 00:09:28,700 --> 00:09:33,100 their testimony is watching us the testimony of their life. 165 00:09:33,100 --> 00:09:37,600 The example of faithful ones. One more point about the reason 166 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:41,700 why I believe that there's no Bible evidence of somebody that 167 00:09:41,700 --> 00:09:46,300 has crossed over to the other side and had dealings with man 168 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:49,400 that are currently still living. In fact you remember when the 169 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:52,400 rich man and Lazarus died? What did the rich man? 170 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:56,500 Have he had no access back home. He had no access back to those. 171 00:09:56,500 --> 00:09:59,400 That still lived. In fact, what he said is because 172 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:03,400 he knew he had no access. He made a request, send Lazarus 173 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:08,400 back and warn my brethren. There was no connection. 174 00:10:08,900 --> 00:10:11,100 I don't believe that those that have died. 175 00:10:11,100 --> 00:10:13,700 Like, for example, sometimes we, I've heard people say that their 176 00:10:13,700 --> 00:10:15,500 dad was really helping him today. 177 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:19,300 Well, you know, my dad helps me to my dad has been dead for over 178 00:10:19,300 --> 00:10:21,200 10 years. He helps me too. 179 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:24,500 He's not watching me. He can't see me. 180 00:10:24,700 --> 00:10:28,000 But my father, every single time I reflect back on something, 181 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:32,300 he's taught me or him encouraged by that or in my memory, the 182 00:10:32,300 --> 00:10:35,800 testimony of his life when those things ring in my head, than 183 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:38,500 he's helping me. Me and guiding me along the way 184 00:10:38,700 --> 00:10:42,100 these great Heroes. These great characters in the 185 00:10:42,100 --> 00:10:46,300 eleventh chapter, truly are examples for anyone who would 186 00:10:46,300 --> 00:10:49,400 live the Christian Life. Now notice another word there, 187 00:10:49,700 --> 00:10:54,300 it says, lay aside every weight. It was also customary. 188 00:10:54,500 --> 00:10:57,700 That what they would do is they would remove any articles of 189 00:10:57,700 --> 00:11:01,500 clothing that they didn't need. I'm not saying that they, scrape 190 00:11:01,500 --> 00:11:04,500 their self down naked. I'm just simply saying whatever 191 00:11:04,500 --> 00:11:08,200 garment that they were wearing that was Caesarea, they would 192 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:12,800 take that off like a cloak or an Overcoat you wouldn't run a 193 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:16,300 100-yard dash with a raincoat on, you wouldn't do it. 194 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:20,400 What did he say to do? He said, lay aside every weight, 195 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:24,500 lay aside, every obstacle that standing in your way of running 196 00:11:24,500 --> 00:11:28,700 this race. You know what I thought of, I 197 00:11:28,700 --> 00:11:34,500 thought of material possessions, I thought of all the things we 198 00:11:34,500 --> 00:11:37,400 enjoy, I thought about distractions. 199 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:39,400 And when I thought of all of that, you know, who I thought 200 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:43,300 of, I thought of in the New Testament, when Jesus was 201 00:11:43,300 --> 00:11:46,800 passing through Jericho, I thought of old blind Bartimaeus, 202 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:51,500 the son of Timaeus, remember him, he was a beggar, not the 203 00:11:51,500 --> 00:11:53,100 one that Jesus healed. It was born blind. 204 00:11:53,100 --> 00:11:57,900 Another man Bartimaeus was Begging Bartimaeus. 205 00:11:57,900 --> 00:12:02,000 Could hear that. Jesus Christ was walking by with 206 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:06,300 his disciples and all of those others that were passing by with 207 00:12:06,300 --> 00:12:12,400 Jesus and he calls out to Jesus, but he doesn't just call him 208 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:16,400 Jesus of Nazareth. He says, Jesus of Nazareth, thou 209 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:19,900 son of David. You know, you can call Jesus of 210 00:12:19,900 --> 00:12:22,800 Nazareth and all you're saying is his name and where he was 211 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:26,100 born where he was from nothing else, those that can, Siddur 212 00:12:26,100 --> 00:12:27,600 him. The Carpenter's son didn't think 213 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:31,300 any more than that big deal Jesus of Nazareth, but when they 214 00:12:31,300 --> 00:12:36,200 would say, when he said thou son of David, he was recognizing him 215 00:12:36,300 --> 00:12:41,200 as the Messiah. And he calls out to him, you 216 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:43,600 know, the disciples do that. The top. 217 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:46,000 There's disciples. Try to shut him up a little bit. 218 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:47,800 Try to keep people what you just keep quiet. 219 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:51,600 Don't bother the master and this is a blind man that it's a 220 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:54,100 beggar. And the Bible says that that's 221 00:12:54,100 --> 00:12:56,300 not enough, he rises up and he says, wait a minute. 222 00:12:56,400 --> 00:13:00,200 Jesus, thou son of David have mercy on me. 223 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:05,800 And Jesus stops and he tells one of his disciples to go back and 224 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:08,500 get him. And the Bible says that one does 225 00:13:08,500 --> 00:13:13,000 and he comes to him and says, be of good cheer or be glad or be 226 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:15,100 of good Comfort. I think the King James version 227 00:13:15,100 --> 00:13:18,100 says, because he will see you now. 228 00:13:18,700 --> 00:13:20,400 And the Bible says, this is amazing. 229 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:23,700 Now, this is a beggar. This was a poor man and the only 230 00:13:23,700 --> 00:13:25,900 thing that this man owned was on his back. 231 00:13:25,900 --> 00:13:30,200 You know, what he does, he rises up, and he takes off his cloak. 232 00:13:31,100 --> 00:13:34,200 He took off one of the articles of clothing that was all that he 233 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:36,000 had. And he laid it down and the 234 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:38,500 reason that he did. So he felt like he needed to 235 00:13:38,500 --> 00:13:42,700 move faster to Jesus. He laid aside a weight that was 236 00:13:42,700 --> 00:13:46,200 standing his way to get the Jesus, and he went to Jesus. 237 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:48,700 And Jesus says, what will you have me to do? 238 00:13:48,700 --> 00:13:52,300 And he says that I may receive my sight and he said, go in 239 00:13:52,300 --> 00:13:55,400 peace. Thy faith has made you whole and 240 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:58,100 he received his sight. And then the Bible says from 241 00:13:58,100 --> 00:14:03,400 that point forward, he followed Jesus, my point is this that's a 242 00:14:03,408 --> 00:14:06,900 perfect example of somebody. Taking something that they even 243 00:14:06,900 --> 00:14:09,000 needed. I'm not talking about talking 244 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:11,700 about something that we want, something that he needed 245 00:14:11,700 --> 00:14:14,500 something that he was poor, he didn't have a laid it down 246 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:17,200 because it was going to weigh him down to coming to Christ 247 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:20,100 coming to Jesus. That's what the Hebrew writer is 248 00:14:20,100 --> 00:14:25,000 saying, lay aside, every single weight, everything that will 249 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:27,600 stand in your way that would so easily. 250 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:33,300 Beset us, Then verse 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and 251 00:14:33,300 --> 00:14:36,100 finisher of our faith. Who for the joy, that was set 252 00:14:36,100 --> 00:14:39,800 before him, endured the cross despising, the shame and is set 253 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:42,100 down at the right hand of the Throne of God. 254 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:45,100 So, in other words, this is a continuation of verse 1. 255 00:14:45,100 --> 00:14:47,000 There's a comma there. What are you going to do you lay 256 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:49,700 aside the weight? Then you look unto Jesus. 257 00:14:49,700 --> 00:14:52,800 What is Jesus? He is both the author and he is 258 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:56,100 the finisher of our faith, the word author. 259 00:14:56,100 --> 00:14:59,500 There really means one who sets the example, Oil. 260 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:01,900 And the word finisher means it carries out. 261 00:15:01,900 --> 00:15:07,400 The idea of he who carries out the plan, that's what Jesus did 262 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:10,200 Jesus set the example with his life. 263 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:14,200 So, look to his example. That's first and foremost 264 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:17,400 secondarily. He is worthy of such because he 265 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:21,400 was the finisher. He carried out the plan but it 266 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:24,800 goes further than that to. And some Scholars would say in a 267 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:28,200 secondary measure here that there's something else being 268 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:32,600 said in author and finisher author, could also mean like 269 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:35,200 someone who starts the race. Now we're talking about a race 270 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:38,000 here. Somebody that starts the race is 271 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:42,000 Jesus Christ and one enters the path on that race when he's 272 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:44,600 back. Baptized into Christ, Jesus adds 273 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:48,300 him to the church and his sins are washed away. 274 00:15:48,700 --> 00:15:51,700 Jesus, indeed is the author and that he starts the race. 275 00:15:51,700 --> 00:15:54,900 That's true. But he's also the finisher at 276 00:15:54,900 --> 00:15:57,600 the Finish Line in a secondary sense. 277 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:01,200 We look unto Jesus. You know what's amazing to me. 278 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:05,400 What's amazing is in any race that you will ever run. 279 00:16:05,500 --> 00:16:08,900 It matters, how fast you ran the race. 280 00:16:10,100 --> 00:16:13,500 If you run in a race and you come in last, you get nothing. 281 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:17,300 If you're slow, you're not rewarded for being slow. 282 00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:22,100 In fact, the idea is to be competitive and finish first. 283 00:16:23,500 --> 00:16:25,600 You know, what's great about running the Christian race. 284 00:16:26,900 --> 00:16:31,000 All you got to do is finish. That's it. 285 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:35,100 You don't have to beat somebody to the Finish Line. 286 00:16:35,700 --> 00:16:38,000 All you have to do because you're not running against 287 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:41,900 anybody else, you are running with Jesus as the standard and 288 00:16:41,900 --> 00:16:46,300 you're running to him with your I ever fixed on him. 289 00:16:46,300 --> 00:16:48,800 He's the author. He's the finisher of our faith 290 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:50,900 who for the joy. What was the joy? 291 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:55,200 The joy that was set before him the joy was because he was going 292 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:59,900 to be the savior of the world. He was going to be the savior of 293 00:16:59,900 --> 00:17:01,500 the world. And that was the joy. 294 00:17:01,500 --> 00:17:04,500 That was set before him. And because of that, he endured 295 00:17:04,500 --> 00:17:07,000 the cross, he despised the shame. 296 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:11,000 And he sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God, 297 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:13,099 although there were Christians, that were persecuted 298 00:17:13,099 --> 00:17:16,700 unnecessarily, and some of these Hebrew Christians, they thought 299 00:17:16,700 --> 00:17:20,599 wait a minute, it's easier back serving under Moses. 300 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:23,500 Maybe, I'll just go back and that way, maybe all the 301 00:17:23,500 --> 00:17:25,700 persecution. That's coming my way from fellow 302 00:17:25,700 --> 00:17:30,300 Jews, if I just turn away from Jesus, Isis and go back and 303 00:17:30,300 --> 00:17:35,300 serve the other, well, serve, my old way, which is serving Moses. 304 00:17:35,700 --> 00:17:39,900 Then that's quite easier for me. He is telling them don't make 305 00:17:39,900 --> 00:17:43,100 basically do not make that choice. 306 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:50,100 Jesus suffered for righteousness sake and consider him as he is 307 00:17:50,100 --> 00:17:54,100 the great example and have courage and then the word faint 308 00:17:54,100 --> 00:17:56,200 is there. The word fate means to be 309 00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:59,400 discouraged on account of Trials. 310 00:18:01,900 --> 00:18:05,700 How many people just get discouraged on account of Trials 311 00:18:05,700 --> 00:18:09,700 and then just quit? You know what I love about this 312 00:18:09,700 --> 00:18:12,200 in just a minute. Nothing is going to be sitting 313 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:17,000 here about how easy it is. Nothing, nothing is stated, or 314 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:19,600 described as easy, nothing at all. 315 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:21,800 What? He's saying is fight the fight 316 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:26,100 of Faith because, and lay aside the weight and cast aside the 317 00:18:26,100 --> 00:18:29,600 sin that so easily, beset us, and incidentally, that works in, 318 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:32,600 I think is they're talking specifically primarily to the 319 00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:36,200 sin of unbelief, but really, it's any sin that would pull 320 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:41,300 this back. Focus on Jesus and all that he 321 00:18:41,300 --> 00:18:46,200 did for us. He says, ye have not yet 322 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:49,400 resisted verse for unto blood striving against sin. 323 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:52,400 You've not even resisted against that you have, and you have 324 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:55,400 forgotten the exhortation, which speaketh unto you as unto 325 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:58,500 children. My son, despise not thou, the 326 00:18:58,500 --> 00:19:02,500 chastening of the Lord nor faint when thou art rebuked of him. 327 00:19:02,900 --> 00:19:05,600 You know, this is in reference to Proverbs chapter 3 and verse 328 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:11,200 11 and 12 about the you that don't have disrespect or don't 329 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:15,100 have disdain for the chastening of the Lord. 330 00:19:17,100 --> 00:19:21,000 How many here, honestly? Like to be rebuked. 331 00:19:23,100 --> 00:19:25,500 How many people enjoy getting their wings? 332 00:19:25,500 --> 00:19:29,400 Clipped? It's that fun. 333 00:19:30,900 --> 00:19:33,400 How many people enjoy looking to the Bible? 334 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:36,100 And realizing we were wrong about something and have to look 335 00:19:36,100 --> 00:19:40,900 at it and face the music as it were Those are not fun things at 336 00:19:40,900 --> 00:19:48,200 all, but don't despise. The chastening of the Lord 337 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:54,700 notice, as he continues on for the lord, loves, he that chasing 338 00:19:54,700 --> 00:19:58,400 it and scourges every son whom he receiveth. 339 00:19:58,500 --> 00:20:02,900 You know, when I see the word Scourge, I think about Jesus, 340 00:20:03,100 --> 00:20:06,200 maybe you do too. But I think about Jesus being 341 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:08,600 bound, I think about Jesus with a bear. 342 00:20:08,700 --> 00:20:11,700 Back and a Roman soldier standing behind him with a cat 343 00:20:11,700 --> 00:20:15,100 of nine, tails thrusting it to the back of Jesus and tearing 344 00:20:15,100 --> 00:20:18,000 his flesh from his body. That's what I think of. 345 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:22,800 When I see the word scourge. Is it saying that God's going to 346 00:20:22,808 --> 00:20:27,200 do that to us? what does he mean by that, that 347 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:32,800 word and that phrase, Scourge means this, that God allows us 348 00:20:33,100 --> 00:20:41,400 to be afflicted for our training God allows us to be afflicted 349 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:44,300 because of our training. We're going to find that. 350 00:20:44,300 --> 00:20:48,300 That's a good thing because he accepts us, it is proof that he 351 00:20:48,300 --> 00:20:53,400 accepts us. It is proof that God loves us, 352 00:20:54,100 --> 00:20:56,500 God wants us to be better than we are. 353 00:20:57,100 --> 00:21:00,300 And so the word Scourge races, he scourges those that he loves 354 00:21:00,300 --> 00:21:02,500 and so forth. Those that are his children, it 355 00:21:02,500 --> 00:21:04,600 doesn't mean that he's going to beat us to death. 356 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:07,100 It means, he allows things to happen. 357 00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:09,600 That's going to help us in our training. 358 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:19,400 One scholar said a good father has the duty not the ability has 359 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:22,400 the duty. To correct. 360 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:26,400 But if he be without chastisement whereof all are 361 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:30,600 partakers then are you bastards and not Sons. 362 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:34,300 You know there's another thing that a good parent does and that 363 00:21:34,300 --> 00:21:38,300 is provide education of all kinds for their kids. 364 00:21:39,100 --> 00:21:42,300 In fact that's also something that we consider as a person 365 00:21:42,300 --> 00:21:45,200 that has good parent or not. For example, I am involved with 366 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:47,700 a lot of different kids from a lot of different walks of life 367 00:21:47,700 --> 00:21:51,300 and so on and so forth and I have been as a youth coach in 368 00:21:51,300 --> 00:21:53,300 many different sports and what I found. 369 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:57,200 Found is you can tell by looking at a child. 370 00:21:57,300 --> 00:22:00,200 You can certainly tell what kind of parents he has. 371 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:04,700 I guarantee you can you can look to see how educated they are or 372 00:22:04,700 --> 00:22:06,300 not. You can look and see how 373 00:22:06,300 --> 00:22:09,900 well-mannered they are, or not. You can look at their behavior 374 00:22:09,900 --> 00:22:13,600 and tell whether they've got good loving parents. 375 00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:17,100 You know, when I was a kid, think back. 376 00:22:17,100 --> 00:22:21,500 Now, when you were all kids, Maybe you can relate to this, 377 00:22:21,500 --> 00:22:24,800 you know what I used to think when I was little, I used to 378 00:22:24,808 --> 00:22:27,800 think that the good parents. My parents were strict. 379 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:30,500 My dad was strict. I thought man, the good ones are 380 00:22:30,500 --> 00:22:34,000 the ones that let you do stuff. That's not the good ones. 381 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:37,900 The good ones are the ones that don't get go overboard as I 382 00:22:37,900 --> 00:22:40,800 thought, and get grounded for an entire semester because your 383 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:42,000 grades aren't what they ought to be. 384 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:43,900 I thought Mass kind of hard a good parent would be. 385 00:22:43,900 --> 00:22:47,100 The was just sad. Just hang in there, do better. 386 00:22:48,900 --> 00:22:54,400 No, that's a bad parent. A bad parent is the one that is 387 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:58,600 not interested in the education of their children and is not 388 00:22:58,700 --> 00:23:03,700 interested in chastisement of or chastening of their children and 389 00:23:03,700 --> 00:23:08,200 correcting them and teaching them and instructing them in the 390 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:11,800 way that they should go. That's a bad parent. 391 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:18,000 Also, those that are neglected are those that we look at as 392 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:22,300 proof of not having a father or a good mother. 393 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:26,200 Now, the King James version says, the word bastards here. 394 00:23:26,700 --> 00:23:29,800 And in the new King James that uses the word illegitimate. 395 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:33,100 Now, the idea isn't that a person that's illegitimate. 396 00:23:33,100 --> 00:23:38,000 Cannot have proper training. What's being said, is you can if 397 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:42,100 you reject the training of God, if you reject what God has for 398 00:23:42,100 --> 00:23:45,600 you, Then you can't call yourself his son. 399 00:23:47,500 --> 00:23:52,500 Because if you are his son, he corrects you don't despise it. 400 00:23:52,500 --> 00:23:55,800 According to the Book of Proverbs, listen to it and 401 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:59,400 follow it. Furthermore, we have had fathers 402 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:01,900 in our flesh which have corrected us and we gave them 403 00:24:01,900 --> 00:24:05,000 reverence, shall we not much rather be in subjection to the 404 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:08,700 father of spirits and lands? Again, the connection or the 405 00:24:08,700 --> 00:24:12,900 comparison between physical matters and spiritual matters? 406 00:24:13,100 --> 00:24:16,800 Now, my kids absolutely have to obey me, they do they have no 407 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:19,700 choice. Choice. they have no choice but 408 00:24:19,700 --> 00:24:24,600 to obey Tina and I in our home There's going to come a day 409 00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:27,200 though when they're going to be too old for that and they'll be 410 00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:29,500 able to make their own decisions. 411 00:24:30,900 --> 00:24:34,300 But you know, in God's word that would describe even a babe in 412 00:24:34,300 --> 00:24:37,900 Christ, all the way up until somebody is able to receive the 413 00:24:37,900 --> 00:24:41,600 meat of the word. Every one of those individuals, 414 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:46,800 regardless of your spiritual age, Has the freedom of choice. 415 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:50,300 And that's what he's saying. Here in comparison or 416 00:24:50,300 --> 00:24:53,500 connection. You had physical fathers and you 417 00:24:53,500 --> 00:24:56,900 listen to them. Now you got the choice. 418 00:24:57,400 --> 00:25:01,100 Wouldn't you much rather follow the spirit that God the Father, 419 00:25:01,900 --> 00:25:08,000 the god of of spirits and live? How much greater it is to follow 420 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:13,500 God, and God, corrects us. Because he loves us. 421 00:25:14,900 --> 00:25:17,900 For, they verily, for a few days, chastened us after their 422 00:25:17,900 --> 00:25:22,400 own pleasure, but he for our profit that we might be 423 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:26,600 partakers of his Holiness. You know, this is a very 424 00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:31,500 interesting passage of scripture because it's not saying that our 425 00:25:31,500 --> 00:25:37,000 fathers chastened us or whipped us because it felt good to them. 426 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:40,300 And incidentally, it's a good reason not to correct your kids 427 00:25:40,300 --> 00:25:43,800 when you're mad. Because you might it might feel 428 00:25:44,100 --> 00:25:48,100 good to correct them. That's not what he's talking 429 00:25:48,100 --> 00:25:52,300 about the own pleasure there. That phrase actually means based 430 00:25:52,300 --> 00:25:57,300 upon their best judgment. So your father, your physical, 431 00:25:57,300 --> 00:26:00,700 father corrupted, you based upon his own pleasure which simply 432 00:26:00,700 --> 00:26:06,900 means his best judgment and we live and we listened For our 433 00:26:06,900 --> 00:26:10,300 Prophet, the Bible says, regarding God. 434 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:14,500 That we might be partakers of his Holiness. 435 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:16,700 Now, no chastening for the present. 436 00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:19,600 Present seemeth to be joyous but Grievous, nevertheless 437 00:26:19,600 --> 00:26:22,200 afterward, yieldeth the Peaceable fruit of righteousness 438 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:27,400 unto them which are exercised their by the phrase exercise 439 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:31,700 means to take correction and amend your ways. 440 00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:35,900 There has to be a result with exercise. 441 00:26:36,100 --> 00:26:40,400 There has to be some times people cheat the exercise, and 442 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:42,100 therefore, they get in. No results. 443 00:26:42,100 --> 00:26:45,700 If we treat, if we cheat the exercise of absorbing the 444 00:26:45,708 --> 00:26:48,000 correction of God, that we're not going to have the same 445 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:54,600 result, but if we accept the exercise the end result is good. 446 00:26:54,900 --> 00:26:59,100 The end result when we mend our ways and we change our ways when 447 00:26:59,100 --> 00:27:03,300 we've been wrong is only going to benefit us spiritually. 448 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:07,800 Then he says in verse 12, wherefore lift up the hands 449 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:11,100 which hang down and the feeble needs another word. 450 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:14,800 Is get yourself out of the spirit of Despair. 451 00:27:15,300 --> 00:27:21,200 Change your thinking, change your focus, And make straight 452 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:25,600 paths for your feet, less that which is lame be turned out of 453 00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:29,100 the way but let it rather be healed. 454 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:33,600 This is an interesting phrase here that he tells them to make 455 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:37,900 smooth the paths for their feet. This is done by removing every 456 00:27:37,900 --> 00:27:41,400 Temptation that's in their life. You know the Bible talks about 457 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:45,400 in The Book of Proverbs a very interesting passage on a secret 458 00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:49,400 to success regarding Temptation and the Bible would say the wise 459 00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:52,200 man of old would say that when there are those that would 460 00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:56,200 entice you when Sinners entice you consent thou not in fact if 461 00:27:56,200 --> 00:27:59,400 they're going in this direction you aren't even to go in that 462 00:27:59,400 --> 00:28:02,200 direction. And you are to refrain your foot 463 00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:04,100 from their path. That means if they're going in 464 00:28:04,100 --> 00:28:07,100 that direction he didn't just say, don't do what they do. 465 00:28:07,100 --> 00:28:12,300 He says you go that way. You refrain your foot from their 466 00:28:12,300 --> 00:28:13,600 path. Why? 467 00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:18,700 Because if you refrain your foot from their path, chances are, 468 00:28:18,700 --> 00:28:22,000 you're not going to fall. But if you go in the way, even 469 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:25,000 though you're trying to be strong and you're trying to go 470 00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:27,200 along with the crowd, but not sin. 471 00:28:27,500 --> 00:28:32,000 Oh, be careful because sin is Is coming and you will fall and I 472 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:35,400 don't care how strong you think you are and brother-sister. 473 00:28:35,900 --> 00:28:38,800 I can tell you from firsthand experience, that's true. 474 00:28:40,700 --> 00:28:44,600 I lived where there was no church for five years. 475 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:48,800 And every weekend had to drive two and a half hours home. 476 00:28:50,700 --> 00:28:54,300 I want to talk about, you want to talk about being isolated and 477 00:28:54,300 --> 00:28:58,700 you think I'm so strong. It wears on you. 478 00:28:59,800 --> 00:29:03,300 If you run with people that are going in the wrong direction, 479 00:29:04,300 --> 00:29:08,600 sooner or later their influences will enter into your life. 480 00:29:09,300 --> 00:29:11,100 And I'm going to tell you something, it doesn't make any 481 00:29:11,100 --> 00:29:14,200 difference how strong you think you are in some way. 482 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:17,900 Larger small, you're going to fall, you're going to stumble at 483 00:29:17,900 --> 00:29:22,300 least at some point in time. That's why the wise man of old 484 00:29:22,300 --> 00:29:25,000 says, go that way. That's what the writer of 485 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:28,800 Hebrews is saying make straight the paths, make straight for 486 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:31,600 your feet on the path. He didn't say, by the way, make 487 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:34,400 your own path, make your own way, make your own rule. 488 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:38,100 He's saying this the path has already been established, Jesus 489 00:29:38,100 --> 00:29:41,600 set the path and laid it out. He laid the course after this 490 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:44,100 race. All you got to do is make 491 00:29:44,100 --> 00:29:48,500 straight your feet on that path. Don't zigzag and do not. 492 00:29:48,500 --> 00:29:50,900 That's number one because By the way. 493 00:29:51,900 --> 00:29:55,000 The Bible says few there be that find it talking about the 494 00:29:55,008 --> 00:29:57,600 Straight Gate and narrow way which leads to life. 495 00:29:58,200 --> 00:30:00,800 Okay? Now you have to stay on that 496 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:06,100 path for your own benefit but the Hebrew writer says, also for 497 00:30:06,100 --> 00:30:13,100 the benefit of somebody else. Unless you make the lame to 498 00:30:13,100 --> 00:30:20,200 fall, The Lame to be dislocated in their life and fall. 499 00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:24,700 You know, the word lame, there doesn't mean handicapped. 500 00:30:25,900 --> 00:30:30,900 The word lame, there is in reference to somebody that has 501 00:30:30,900 --> 00:30:36,700 less knowledge less wisdom and less experience than you do. 502 00:30:38,300 --> 00:30:40,200 Now, you know, I tell you, I think one of the saddest things 503 00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:44,400 that we find today. Is when somebody that has been 504 00:30:44,400 --> 00:30:48,300 around for a long time and has a great influence over, a lot of 505 00:30:48,300 --> 00:30:53,500 people maybe even a preacher and that man has been going along, 506 00:30:53,500 --> 00:30:58,100 has been known for a long time. And, you know, if he wants to 507 00:30:58,100 --> 00:31:03,200 digress and go off to the some Faraway belief in something. 508 00:31:04,900 --> 00:31:08,000 The problem isn't that? He just made the choice. 509 00:31:08,700 --> 00:31:10,800 The problem isn't. Well, he's just made his bed. 510 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:12,900 He'll have to sleep in it. There he goes, and it doesn't 511 00:31:12,900 --> 00:31:15,200 affect anybody else. That's the problem. 512 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:19,300 It affects everybody else especially those that have less 513 00:31:19,300 --> 00:31:23,000 knowledge less wisdom and less experience than he does. 514 00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:26,600 That's what's scary. That's what's really sad. 515 00:31:27,500 --> 00:31:31,800 If somebody digresses and goes off to some far out, doctrinal 516 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:35,300 belief. What's really sad is all the 517 00:31:35,300 --> 00:31:37,500 poor folks who don't know any better and they just follow 518 00:31:37,500 --> 00:31:41,500 along. You know what the Hebrew writer 519 00:31:41,500 --> 00:31:44,100 said a long time ago. He said, make straight the paths 520 00:31:44,100 --> 00:31:47,100 of your feet on the path that has already been laid out of the 521 00:31:47,100 --> 00:31:50,000 race but Jesus already laid out. The course all you got to do is 522 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:54,300 stay on it, don't get off of it and make your path straight. 523 00:31:54,300 --> 00:31:58,300 Don't zigzag, don't Veer off, don't create hurdles, don't 524 00:31:58,300 --> 00:32:01,500 stumble. So that the lame will be 525 00:32:01,500 --> 00:32:03,900 dislocated and their feet fall down too. 526 00:32:05,100 --> 00:32:07,800 We have the responsibility of not only getting ourselves to 527 00:32:07,808 --> 00:32:10,100 heaven but I have a responsibility for you and not 528 00:32:10,100 --> 00:32:14,100 just because I'm a preacher either, you have the 529 00:32:14,100 --> 00:32:17,500 responsibility. I have the responsibility we are 530 00:32:17,500 --> 00:32:21,000 as Christians have the responsibility of helping each 531 00:32:21,000 --> 00:32:26,800 other get to heaven. Remember Jesus says that one 532 00:32:26,800 --> 00:32:28,600 that would offend one of these little ones. 533 00:32:30,300 --> 00:32:32,800 It were better than a millstone were hung around his neck and he 534 00:32:32,808 --> 00:32:34,300 would drown at the depths of the sea. 535 00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:38,900 Ignorance will not be an excuse either. 536 00:32:39,500 --> 00:32:42,800 Bible says the time of ignorance God winked at, but now 537 00:32:42,800 --> 00:32:46,500 commandeth all men everywhere to repent. 538 00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:51,000 The path has been set. We don't do our own way, we 539 00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:55,300 don't go our own way. We pursue with the Lord has 540 00:32:55,300 --> 00:32:58,500 already said, we must stay on that path. 541 00:32:58,500 --> 00:33:04,300 The one that the Savior trod by removing Al weights obstacles, 542 00:33:04,300 --> 00:33:06,100 that would be said us and finish. 543 00:33:06,200 --> 00:33:09,100 Our course. Paul said I have fought a good 544 00:33:09,100 --> 00:33:10,200 fight. I have finished. 545 00:33:10,200 --> 00:33:13,100 My course, I have kept the faith henceforth. 546 00:33:13,100 --> 00:33:15,800 There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness that the Lord, 547 00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:19,100 the righteous judge, shall give me at that day and not to me 548 00:33:19,100 --> 00:33:23,100 only, but to all those that love his appearing. 549 00:33:23,700 --> 00:33:26,400 And then in verse 14, here's some more instruction. 550 00:33:27,600 --> 00:33:36,200 Follow peace with all men and Holiness without which no, man 551 00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:41,100 can see the Lord. He said follow peace. 552 00:33:41,100 --> 00:33:44,900 The word, follow their means pursue peace. 553 00:33:45,400 --> 00:33:48,600 That means we have to work to get along with each other. 554 00:33:48,800 --> 00:33:51,700 That tells me that we have to work at that. 555 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:55,400 Notice Romans chapter 12 to there's another example there of 556 00:33:55,400 --> 00:33:57,700 what to do when you're having somebody. 557 00:33:57,700 --> 00:34:00,800 That's just really can't take risks or being mean or rude or 558 00:34:00,800 --> 00:34:03,600 whatever how is it that you should treat that person? 559 00:34:03,900 --> 00:34:07,100 First of all in Romans chapter 12 let's begin reading in verse 560 00:34:07,100 --> 00:34:11,000 18 please. He's if it be possible as much 561 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:15,199 as lieth in you live peaceably with all men, dearly beloved, 562 00:34:15,199 --> 00:34:18,600 avenge not yourselves. But rather give Place unto wrath 563 00:34:18,600 --> 00:34:21,100 for it is written. Vengeance is mine? 564 00:34:21,100 --> 00:34:24,800 I will repay saith the Lord therefore if thine enemy hunger, 565 00:34:24,800 --> 00:34:27,400 feed him, if he thirst, give him drink for in. 566 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:32,199 So doing Thou shalt Heap, coals clothes of fire on his head. 567 00:34:32,500 --> 00:34:36,199 And by the way, you can't be mad at somebody and then get back at 568 00:34:36,199 --> 00:34:38,400 him by going through some phone. Knee. 569 00:34:38,400 --> 00:34:40,199 Well I'm going to just act like I'm nice to him because the 570 00:34:40,199 --> 00:34:42,699 Bible says gets you pour the coals on their sit back and 571 00:34:42,699 --> 00:34:47,800 outfits here. I start what he's saying. he's 572 00:34:47,800 --> 00:34:50,699 saying if you don't respond, if you don't retaliate, if you 573 00:34:50,699 --> 00:34:55,500 truly are kind of those, that mistreat you And they don't want 574 00:34:55,500 --> 00:34:57,600 to make things, right? And they don't want to drop the 575 00:34:57,600 --> 00:34:59,600 case and they don't want to feel better about things. 576 00:34:59,600 --> 00:35:01,800 They want to be mad. They want to fight what they 577 00:35:01,800 --> 00:35:06,500 want is you to retaliate. If you don't it's like pouring 578 00:35:06,500 --> 00:35:10,300 coals on their head and they are seeing somebody like that that 579 00:35:10,300 --> 00:35:12,100 want to pick a fight but you wouldn't respond. 580 00:35:13,500 --> 00:35:16,200 You know, I too many times in my life. 581 00:35:16,600 --> 00:35:21,600 I've been the one to respond. It's just want to, just want to 582 00:35:21,600 --> 00:35:28,500 say it. And sometimes my desire to 583 00:35:28,500 --> 00:35:34,200 respond and defend, sometimes causes me to be hateful and I 584 00:35:34,200 --> 00:35:38,300 shouldn't be like that. I think we've all had things in 585 00:35:38,300 --> 00:35:40,200 there in our life that are weaknesses. 586 00:35:41,100 --> 00:35:44,500 Remember, I've told you before grudges aren't one of mine but 587 00:35:44,500 --> 00:35:47,400 responding is. I'm not quick to. 588 00:35:47,400 --> 00:35:51,000 I'm not slow to speak. I have to work on it, daily. 589 00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:53,500 But I'm going to tell you something. 590 00:35:54,300 --> 00:36:00,800 The Bible says, if somebody is going to mistreat us, be kind if 591 00:36:00,800 --> 00:36:03,400 he's if your enemy hunger feed him. 592 00:36:04,400 --> 00:36:06,600 If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. 593 00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:12,500 And then in verse 21, be not overcome of evil, but overcome 594 00:36:12,500 --> 00:36:15,600 evil with good and that right there brother is one of the 595 00:36:15,600 --> 00:36:16,900 hardest thing in the world to do. 596 00:36:18,600 --> 00:36:20,300 Thanks to work on for all of us me too. 597 00:36:20,300 --> 00:36:25,200 And especially We have to work on being at peace. 598 00:36:25,200 --> 00:36:28,100 McKnight says we must earn Astley cultivate. 599 00:36:28,100 --> 00:36:31,700 Peace with all men. All men means both Jews and 600 00:36:31,700 --> 00:36:35,400 Gentiles alike man. In our society means those that 601 00:36:35,400 --> 00:36:37,600 are members of the body of Christ and those that are 602 00:36:37,600 --> 00:36:44,100 outside of the body of Christ, he also says to pursue Holiness 603 00:36:44,400 --> 00:36:47,500 this word, translated, sanctification here, which 604 00:36:47,500 --> 00:36:52,200 properly consist according to one scholar properly, It's in 605 00:36:52,200 --> 00:36:56,300 being free from lust that are gratified of the senses and from 606 00:36:56,300 --> 00:37:00,200 those bad passions, which are of a more spiritual nature. 607 00:37:00,200 --> 00:37:05,600 Things like anger, things, like malice things, like revenge and 608 00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:11,000 things like, Envy mr. McKnight also says that when 609 00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:15,200 these bad passions are indulged, they render the person who 610 00:37:15,200 --> 00:37:21,800 indulges them detestable in the eyes of God, simply put without 611 00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:26,100 Holiness. One cannot see the Lord one day. 612 00:37:27,600 --> 00:37:31,900 Verse 15. Looking diligently lest any man 613 00:37:31,900 --> 00:37:35,000 fail of the grace of God. Lest any root of bitterness 614 00:37:35,000 --> 00:37:38,900 springing up trouble you. And thereby many be defiled. 615 00:37:39,100 --> 00:37:42,900 Let's there be any fornicator or profane person as Esau who for 616 00:37:42,900 --> 00:37:46,800 one morsel of meat, sold his Birthright for he know how that 617 00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:50,200 afterward when he would have inherited the blessing, he was 618 00:37:50,200 --> 00:37:53,500 rejected for he found no place of repentance though. 619 00:37:53,500 --> 00:37:56,200 He sought it carefully with tears. 620 00:37:56,500 --> 00:38:01,000 First of all and verse 15, he is telling them Carefully observe 621 00:38:01,000 --> 00:38:06,000 their own behavior. Also observe the behavior of 622 00:38:06,000 --> 00:38:09,000 somebody else. Why you've got to protect 623 00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:12,900 yourself, that you don't be led astray and that you don't file 624 00:38:13,100 --> 00:38:17,300 will be corrupted by vices and errors. 625 00:38:18,700 --> 00:38:22,500 But then he says about being a fornicator or profane person. 626 00:38:22,700 --> 00:38:26,800 You know, it's interesting East Side was not a fornicator but 627 00:38:26,800 --> 00:38:30,900 he's lumped together with the idea of a fornicator or profane 628 00:38:30,900 --> 00:38:34,500 person in the very next thing that's being said is about. 629 00:38:34,600 --> 00:38:40,600 Esau, the term profane person means the use of temporal 630 00:38:40,600 --> 00:38:44,800 things. The temporal use of sacred 631 00:38:44,800 --> 00:38:49,100 things. That's what a profane activity 632 00:38:49,100 --> 00:38:55,600 is. Temporal use of a sacred thing. 633 00:38:56,800 --> 00:39:00,800 The idea is this. The two brothers. 634 00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:09,100 The Bible says that Jacob sod pottage Isa goes out, Isa comes 635 00:39:09,100 --> 00:39:11,600 back. Isa has the birthright. 636 00:39:12,400 --> 00:39:14,800 Esau comes back and here's something interesting. 637 00:39:15,200 --> 00:39:17,600 Do you know that there's no evidence at all in the Bible 638 00:39:17,600 --> 00:39:21,000 that says, that if he had not eaten that potage, that red 639 00:39:21,000 --> 00:39:24,900 pottage from Jacob, there's no Bible evidence that he would 640 00:39:24,900 --> 00:39:27,600 have died or start to death. He just thought he was going to 641 00:39:27,607 --> 00:39:29,400 die. He just thought he was going to 642 00:39:29,408 --> 00:39:32,000 starve to death. So he comes and says Give me 643 00:39:32,000 --> 00:39:34,700 some of that Patty inch and Jacob says, give me your 644 00:39:34,700 --> 00:39:37,100 Birthright. He said, okay, I'll give you my 645 00:39:37,100 --> 00:39:39,200 Birthright. He said swear to me that you'll 646 00:39:39,200 --> 00:39:41,500 give me the birthright and he does. 647 00:39:42,100 --> 00:39:45,800 He ate the meal? And right after that, he knew 648 00:39:45,800 --> 00:39:49,300 I've made a mistake. You know, what's interesting is 649 00:39:49,300 --> 00:39:54,700 the Bible says that he sought repentance with tears, wonder 650 00:39:54,700 --> 00:39:57,400 what that means sot repentance with tears. 651 00:39:57,400 --> 00:40:01,000 First of all, repentance is not just sorrow and regret. 652 00:40:01,200 --> 00:40:04,500 She has a sermon a very good sermon on repentance it's not 653 00:40:04,500 --> 00:40:09,400 just sorrow Godly sorrow worketh repentance but repentance is not 654 00:40:09,400 --> 00:40:13,800 just sorrow and repentance is not just regret what happened? 655 00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:16,200 This was a man. This was a man that realized 656 00:40:16,200 --> 00:40:19,200 I've made a mistake and his Brother was going to capitalize 657 00:40:19,200 --> 00:40:21,500 on that mistake. And his brother was not going to 658 00:40:21,500 --> 00:40:23,900 let him out of the deals. Brother was going to take the 659 00:40:23,900 --> 00:40:27,000 birthright. The Bible says that Esau sent 660 00:40:27,000 --> 00:40:32,300 repentance, but to no avail found none, even with tears. 661 00:40:33,500 --> 00:40:38,200 It says he was rejected. Who rejected him God? 662 00:40:39,500 --> 00:40:43,500 No. His physical father in the flesh 663 00:40:43,500 --> 00:40:48,400 rejected overturning. The deal they made. 664 00:40:49,900 --> 00:40:51,800 What's that an indication of what's that? 665 00:40:51,800 --> 00:40:55,600 An example of we're through? That's an example. 666 00:40:56,500 --> 00:40:58,300 How many times we talk about the consequence of sin? 667 00:40:58,300 --> 00:41:01,000 If that is not an example of the consequences of sin? 668 00:41:01,000 --> 00:41:05,900 I don't know what is that is a perfect example of how if he had 669 00:41:05,900 --> 00:41:08,800 a any sin whatsoever that God would have forgiven or whatever 670 00:41:08,800 --> 00:41:10,600 it is. If it's in this life, God, 671 00:41:10,600 --> 00:41:12,200 forgives us when we make mistakes. 672 00:41:12,200 --> 00:41:15,600 God forgives us when we repent. This was somebody that was 673 00:41:15,600 --> 00:41:18,500 really sorry. He sat repentance with tears but 674 00:41:18,500 --> 00:41:20,000 he found. None other words. 675 00:41:20,200 --> 00:41:26,300 Nobody was going to overturn their deal. and it was confirmed 676 00:41:26,800 --> 00:41:31,100 with their father, I'ma tell you something, we can send in our 677 00:41:31,100 --> 00:41:34,200 life. We can mess up and I mean mess 678 00:41:34,200 --> 00:41:38,400 up and God will forgive us. But sometimes now, another great 679 00:41:38,400 --> 00:41:42,300 thing is, the great thing is, when we mess up and we have 680 00:41:42,300 --> 00:41:45,400 time, and we can fix it, that's the great thing. 681 00:41:45,400 --> 00:41:49,000 We can change our ways, be forgiven and fix it. 682 00:41:49,100 --> 00:41:52,900 The problem though, is when we change our ways and God forgives 683 00:41:52,900 --> 00:41:55,100 us similar spiritual matter. Everything's fine. 684 00:41:55,600 --> 00:41:59,700 But then the consequence still exists that That's the problem. 685 00:41:59,900 --> 00:42:02,100 That's why we say make good choices. 686 00:42:02,100 --> 00:42:04,100 That's why we say stay on the path. 687 00:42:04,200 --> 00:42:07,100 That's right. We say, make straight but Paths 688 00:42:07,500 --> 00:42:11,000 of your feet. We thank you for listening to 689 00:42:11,000 --> 00:42:15,900 our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans. 690 00:42:15,900 --> 00:42:19,400 Road in Bakersfield, if you would like any additional 691 00:42:19,400 --> 00:42:22,700 information, or you would like to receive a free Bible 692 00:42:22,700 --> 00:42:28,100 correspondence, course by mail. Please email us at info at her 693 00:42:28,100 --> 00:42:30,600 Church of Christ Bakersfield.com. 694 00:42:31,200 --> 00:42:36,500 Our service times are on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and 695 00:42:36,500 --> 00:42:40,900 Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Please make plans to join us. 696 00:42:41,400 --> 00:42:43,600 We would love for you to be our honored guest.