1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:03,960 Well, I have AI have a confession to make this morning. 2 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:11,400 I enjoy watching people from other countries eat American 3 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:14,240 food on YouTube. Does anyone? 4 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:15,800 Do you know what I'm talking about here? 5 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:17,400 Raise your hand if you also enjoy this. 6 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:20,000 No, nobody, nobody, nobody watches this. 7 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:23,880 OK, if you are unaware, maybe people are just too embarrassed 8 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:26,880 to admit it. I don't know, but but there are 9 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:31,200 people, I there's all, you know, Josh and Ollie, Mr. H and his 10 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:34,240 family. There's a European couple in 11 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:36,360 America, There's two sisters from North Korea. 12 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:41,200 There's a whole list of people who they'll either take out an 13 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:45,240 American recipe and cook it in their own country and then taste 14 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:51,520 it themselves, or they'll actually travel 5 / 5000 miles 15 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:57,720 to come to the US and taste some of this American food for 16 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:01,080 themselves. And just some. 17 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:03,400 And some of the food that they're that they're fascinated 18 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:09,040 by, we eat every day or several times during the week perhaps 19 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:11,720 we've been eating these foods our whole lives and they are 20 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:14,640 just amazed. They're amazed they're Tex Mex 21 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:18,640 BBQ biscuits and gravy of all things is what they're sampling. 22 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:22,880 And I watched their reactions as they're eating, and they're just 23 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:27,320 amazed by how good it tastes. And I'm just kind of like, oh, 24 00:01:27,320 --> 00:01:30,640 yeah, yeah, it's good, right? It's good, right? 25 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:32,200 And that's what I'm thinking to myself. 26 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:36,240 And. And somewhere, somehow, somebody 27 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:39,840 told them American food is amazing. 28 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:42,040 You've got to try this for yourself. 29 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:45,840 And they do. The sad thing is, I was thinking 30 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:47,520 about this. The sad thing is, is that I 31 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:51,440 would say that most people are more interested in seeking out 32 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:55,920 good food and new flavors than they are in seeking the 33 00:01:55,920 --> 00:02:02,200 spiritual blessings of God. Psalm 34, eight says taste and 34 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:07,080 see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who takes 35 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:11,200 refuge in him. Last week, Pastor Ben introduced 36 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:15,360 us to a group of people in the early church known as the Desert 37 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:20,560 Fathers and Mothers who weren't content to know, just know about 38 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:24,800 God. They wanted to know God and they 39 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:29,000 went to great lengths in their spiritual hunger to experience 40 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:31,920 more of God. Their devotion continues to to 41 00:02:31,920 --> 00:02:36,520 inspire generations today. The Bible has many examples of 42 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:38,880 this hunger for God. So if you have your Bibles or 43 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:41,840 phones electronic devices this morning, turn with me, if you 44 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:47,520 will, to Psalm 84. Psalm 84 is we study a hunger 45 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:52,000 for holiness. But first let's pray, Lord God, 46 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:56,440 I pray that you would speak through me and to me God, I pray 47 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:59,360 that I would decrease, that you would increase. 48 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:03,160 I pray Lord, that as we lift you up, that you would draw all of 49 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:09,960 us to yourself in Jesus name. And everybody said Amen, Amen. 50 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:13,640 Psalm 84. The first thing we see in this 51 00:03:13,640 --> 00:03:18,600 passage is a passionate pursuit, A passionate pursuit. 52 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:22,320 The author sought the presence of the Lord with an uncommon 53 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:25,000 intensity. Look with, look with me at 54 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:28,720 verses one through 4. How lovely is your dwelling 55 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:34,880 place, O Lord Almighty? My soul yearns, even faints for 56 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:39,080 the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh cry out 57 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:42,680 for the living God. Even the Sparrow has found a 58 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:46,920 home and the swallow a nest for herself where she may have her 59 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:49,640 young. A place near your altar. 60 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:55,080 O Lord Almighty, my King and my God, blessed are those who dwell 61 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:58,800 in your house. They are ever praising you. 62 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:09,000 Salah, look at the language used here. 63 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:15,400 Yearns, faints, My heart and flesh cry out. 64 00:04:17,079 --> 00:04:20,160 Verse three goes on to say even the Sparrow, which is a bird of 65 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:24,160 little value, and the swallow, which is a bird that's always 66 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:28,280 restless, we're able to live in the courts of the Lord and find 67 00:04:28,280 --> 00:04:32,720 refuge and peace. The author is desperate to be 68 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:36,720 closer to God and even seems to envy the birds who perched in 69 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:41,920 the Tabernacle courts. But the devil doesn't want us to 70 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:48,120 want God, and he does his best to Tempest away from pursuing a 71 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:51,440 close relationship with God. How many of you ever heard of 72 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:53,760 the seven deadly sins? Are you familiar with that? 73 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:59,800 OK, well before before Gregory the Great famously named the 74 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:06,200 Seven deadly sins, there was a man named John Cashin and he was 75 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:11,680 one of the Desert Fathers. And he spoke about the eight 76 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:15,880 thoughts, the eight thoughts, the deep rooted patterns of the 77 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:18,560 heart that tend to pull us away from God. 78 00:05:18,840 --> 00:05:21,680 And we're going to look at this list with practical suggestions 79 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:25,360 from our study for how to overcome these temptations. 80 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:27,120 I just want you to think about them. 81 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:31,400 Weigh these in your own heart. See if you have fallen into 82 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:34,480 these temptations. The first is gluttony. 83 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:39,320 Gluttony. And the suggestion is to fast 84 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:44,080 one meal in the next week and replace that time with prayer. 85 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:49,600 Lust. And the suggestion is become 86 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:53,200 mindful of the shows you are watching and time spent on your 87 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:55,840 devices. There's greed. 88 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:00,360 Lean into generosity every chance you get this week. 89 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:04,200 Could you put off buying something for yourself and gift 90 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:08,320 that money to someone else? Anger. 91 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:15,520 Practice breath prayers. Just a short prayer, every 92 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:19,040 breath. As you breathe in, breathe out a 93 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:21,520 blessing, perhaps on the person who's frustrating you. 94 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:27,680 Breathe peace. Ask God for your help. 95 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:34,280 Take time to calm your inner world, and take time to pray for 96 00:06:34,280 --> 00:06:37,800 those who frustrate you. Dejection. 97 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:42,680 Start a gratitude journal. Begin each day this coming week 98 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:45,000 by naming 10 things you are thankful for. 99 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:49,680 There's a Cydia, which means apathy or listlessness. 100 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:54,160 Commit to prayer walking each day this week. 101 00:06:55,440 --> 00:07:02,240 There's Vainglory, which means boasting fast from any posting 102 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:07,160 on social media this week which showcases admirable aspects of 103 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:09,840 your life. Just keep that to yourself. 104 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:19,200 Then there's pride, which is really the root of all sins, and 105 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:20,880 the suggestion is for confession. 106 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:25,800 Be honest with someone you trust about this week's talk and the 107 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:28,040 areas of struggle you are dealing with. 108 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:32,640 In Revelation chapter 2, God begins by commending the church 109 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:36,040 in Ephesus for their hard work and their perseverance. 110 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:39,720 But in verses 4 through 5, he says, yet I hold this against 111 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:42,840 you. You have forsaken your first 112 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:46,600 love. Remember the height from which 113 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:50,640 you have fallen. Repent and do the things you did 114 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:52,720 at first. I'm just going to give you a 115 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:55,320 sermon within the sermon. This is just a little bonus. 116 00:07:56,600 --> 00:08:00,880 That's not a bad way to repair a relationship to start there. 117 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:03,880 If you're struggling in a relationship, if you're 118 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:08,920 struggling with a spouse or a loved one, remember when. 119 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:14,240 Remember the good times together, perhaps, and turn away 120 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:18,760 from the direction that you're going and start doing again the 121 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:21,360 things you did at the beginning when you first fell in love, 122 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:23,080 when you first had that relationship. 123 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:31,400 Start over. If you've drifted into one of 124 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:34,960 these sins, know that you can turn around today and go God's 125 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:37,600 way. Maybe the spiritual hunger shown 126 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:41,000 in these verses will inspire you to pursue a closer walk with 127 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:42,880 God. I remember the first time that I 128 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:45,840 read The Pursuit of God by AW Tozer. 129 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:50,000 Anyone read that book? Wonderful book, wonderful book. 130 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:51,440 I encourage everybody to read it. 131 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:57,080 I thought, here is a man who's hungry for God. 132 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:02,240 Here's a man who will not be satisfied with anything less 133 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:07,280 then to bow his soul at God's feet and love him with all of 134 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:11,040 his heart and soul and mind and strength. 135 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:14,840 And I thought, that's how I want to be too. 136 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:19,800 I want to be like that. It's contagious. 137 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:24,240 It's contagious. AW Tozer called people with this 138 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:28,400 passionate love for God the Fellowship of the Burning heart, 139 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:34,320 and I'm convinced that this fellowship is much smaller than 140 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:40,920 we might suspect. I remember the tender joy on my 141 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:45,840 grandmother's face as she would sing in the garden, and I've 142 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:51,120 sung songs like Refiners Fire or As the Deer or I'm Desperate for 143 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:55,200 You, and other songs more recently, such as Homesick for 144 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:59,960 Heaven. Songs over time, over the 145 00:09:59,960 --> 00:10:03,600 decades that have seemed to express this hunger for God. 146 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:08,880 The author displays this same passionate pursuit, and it gives 147 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:12,760 us an example to follow today. The second thing we see in this 148 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:14,920 passage is the Pilgrim's Progress. 149 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:19,040 The Pilgrim's Progress. God gives his strength to us as 150 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:21,760 we are tested by the difficulties of life. 151 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:27,680 Look what verses 5 through 8. Blessed are those whose strength 152 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:31,960 is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. 153 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:34,920 As they pass through the valley of Baca. 154 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:39,640 They make it a place of springs. The autumn rains also cover it 155 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:43,080 with pools. They go from strength to 156 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:46,840 strength till each appears before God and Zion. 157 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:50,200 Hear my prayer, O Lord God Almighty. 158 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:54,400 Listen to me, O God of Jacob, Sela. 159 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:04,640 The Valley of Baca is also known as the Valley of Tears or the 160 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:08,760 Valley of Sorrow. It's a valley full of thorny 161 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:13,120 bushes that inevitably scratch you as you travel on your way to 162 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:17,360 Mount Zion to worship. It's a place of testing to see 163 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:22,240 if you're willing to endure that travel to worship God. 164 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:26,200 But it's also a place where travellers see the provision of 165 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:28,400 God as they pass through the valley of Baca. 166 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:32,480 They make it a place of springs. The autumn rains also cover it 167 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:35,560 with pools. There's something when you need 168 00:11:35,560 --> 00:11:37,800 it. Now. 169 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:41,800 God is a just in time kind of a God. 170 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:46,960 God gives you what you need, not necessarily what you want, but 171 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:54,200 what you need just in time. It's one thing for me to hear or 172 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:56,120 read stories about God's faithfulness. 173 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:59,680 It's another thing entirely to see God's faithfulness in your 174 00:11:59,680 --> 00:12:03,320 time of trial and to know that you were faithful to God in your 175 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:06,960 trial as well. Verse 7 says they go from 176 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:09,360 strength to strength. Most of the time. 177 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:12,200 The further you walk, the more tired you get. 178 00:12:13,560 --> 00:12:18,240 But here we see the people on pilgrimage getting stronger the 179 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:21,800 further that they travel, and so should it be in our walk with 180 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:25,120 Christ. As we learn more about Jesus, we 181 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:27,760 learn to draw our strength from Him. 182 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:33,120 I remember a missionary that had to return to the States to have 183 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:38,680 a surgery and I watched her as she recovered when she was so 184 00:12:38,680 --> 00:12:41,840 weak that she could barely, barely lift her arms. 185 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:48,280 But her face lit up with this incredible joy as she as she 186 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:51,680 worshipped the Lord. And eventually the strength of 187 00:12:51,680 --> 00:12:55,200 her body caught up with the strength of her spirit and she 188 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:57,080 was able to return to the mission field. 189 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:07,680 Philippians 413 says I can do all things through Christ who 190 00:13:07,680 --> 00:13:13,360 strengthens me. Use the means of grace not for 191 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:17,000 an end in and of, in and of themselves, but for a way of 192 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:22,040 drawing closer to God as a way of filling your soul with God's 193 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:25,400 love and with God's power. And remember that the valley is 194 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:29,200 not the destination. It's a place of discovery. 195 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:33,080 It's a place to learn more about God and more about yourself. 196 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:37,880 I'm not sure what valley you might be in today, but I know 197 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:43,320 that everybody deals with something and know that God 198 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:46,320 intends to make you stronger because of it. 199 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:51,240 So we've seen a passionate pursuit, we've seen the pilgrims 200 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:54,920 progress, and finally we see the perfect provision. 201 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:58,440 The perfect provision. God has blessings in store for 202 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:00,440 those who trust Him. Read with me in verses 9 through 203 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:03,280 12. Look upon our shield, O God. 204 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:06,160 Look with favour on your anointed one. 205 00:14:06,560 --> 00:14:12,400 Better is one day in your courts than 1000 elsewhere. 206 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:16,800 I would rather be a doorkeeper in the House of my God than 207 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:18,680 dwell in the tents of the wicked. 208 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:22,200 For the Lord God is a son and a shield. 209 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:25,360 The Lord bestows favour in honour. 210 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:28,680 No good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is 211 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:31,800 blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed is the 212 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:41,640 man who trusts in you. Better is I would rather they 213 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:45,200 show a recognition that being in God's presence is better than 214 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:48,920 anything else in the world. I remember the story of Martha 215 00:14:48,920 --> 00:14:51,600 complaining to Jesus that Mary was just sitting at the Lord's 216 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:54,680 feet listening to what he said instead of getting up and 217 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:58,240 helping her. But Jesus told her in Luke 1042. 218 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:03,440 Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away 219 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:06,640 from her. A friend and I once ate at a 220 00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:11,840 restaurant that served all you can eat pancakes for $0.25. 221 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:20,320 Yeah, back in my day. And the waiter told me if you 222 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:21,880 leave hungry, it's your own fault. 223 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:29,320 Matthew 5-6 says blessed are those who hunger and thirst for 224 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:32,320 righteousness, for they will be filled. 225 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:37,280 If you're empty and hungry in your soul, if you sense 226 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:42,520 something as missing, you came to the right place because God 227 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:45,240 says you can have all of him that you want. 228 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:50,280 But here's the thing, When I ate all those pancakes, I won't tell 229 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:53,280 you how many I ate, but when I ate those pancakes, I didn't 230 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:55,040 want another pancake for two years. 231 00:15:56,840 --> 00:15:58,600 I didn't eat another pancake for two years. 232 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:03,840 Honestly, I had had enough. But it's the opposite with God. 233 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:10,160 It's the opposite with God. The more time that we spend with 234 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:16,560 Him, the more that we draw our life from his life, the more of 235 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:21,000 him we want. Saint Bernard, put it this way, 236 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:29,000 We taste thee, O thou living bread, and long to feast upon 237 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:31,840 thee. Still we drink of Thee, The 238 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:36,280 Fountainhead, and thirst our souls from Thee to fill. 239 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:41,240 The more time that we spend with God, the more of Him that we 240 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:45,800 want. Verse 11 describes God as a son 241 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:48,240 and a shield. This illumination and this 242 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:50,480 protection. Who gives favour and honour? 243 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:52,800 In fact, God doesn't hold anything back. 244 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:56,600 No good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is 245 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:58,440 blameless. I'm not going to say that you're 246 00:16:58,440 --> 00:16:59,800 not going to experience difficulty. 247 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:01,480 We already talked about the valley. 248 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:04,640 We are. We will occasionally walk 249 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:08,280 through the valley, but the blessings of God upon His people 250 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:13,760 are unmistakable. Verse 2 and verse 10 talk about 251 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:15,359 the courts of the Lord. And if you remember, in the 252 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:19,400 Tabernacle and later in the temple, there were separate 253 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:22,839 areas with greater restrictions. Really. 254 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:26,800 There was the outer court, and then there was the inner court, 255 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:32,480 and then there was a veil, a heavy veil which separated the 256 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:35,800 holy place from the Most Holy Place, the Holy of Holies. 257 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:39,560 And only one person could go into the Holy of Holies, and 258 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:42,520 that was a high priest. And that was only on one day of 259 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:45,000 the year. But it was the Holy of Holies 260 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:48,000 where the presence of God was in a special way. 261 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:54,600 When Jesus died on the on the cross, the veil of the temple 262 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:59,320 was torn into from top to bottom as if God was saying, you can 263 00:17:59,320 --> 00:18:07,760 come in now, you can come in. Hebrews 416 says, let us then 264 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:13,280 approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may 265 00:18:13,280 --> 00:18:17,320 receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of Dean. 266 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:22,320 Hebrews tells us that the earthly Tabernacle was a copy of 267 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:25,320 a heavenly of the heavenly courts. 268 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:30,200 It was a copy. It's just an imitation, but now 269 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:33,320 we have access in the heavenlies, in heaven, in the 270 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:36,720 heavenly courts. We have access to approach in 271 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:39,280 our spirit God's throne of grace. 272 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:42,760 More than anyone in the Old Testament. 273 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:46,200 We now have access to the presence of God Himself. 274 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:50,400 Finally, we can realise the reality of what it says in verse 275 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:53,800 4. Blessed are those who dwell, who 276 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:56,280 dwell, who stay there in your house. 277 00:18:56,480 --> 00:19:00,160 They are ever praising you. Today, in all the stress of 278 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:06,400 life, in any valley or test, your spirit can continually 279 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:09,120 dwell in the presence of the Lord. 280 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:16,280 The Bible says God has placed eternity in the heart of man. 281 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:24,080 God has placed a God sized God shaped whole in our spirit, in 282 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:27,960 our soul and we all feel the need to fill that void. 283 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:30,800 Most of the people in the world honestly are trying to fill that 284 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:34,960 void with power, pleasure or possessions. 285 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:38,120 The same things that Jesus was tempted with in his desert. 286 00:19:39,360 --> 00:19:41,640 The devil came to him and said if you are the Son of God, tell 287 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:46,240 these stones to become bread. You haven't eaten in 40 days, 288 00:19:47,280 --> 00:19:49,640 it's not pleasant. You're hungry. 289 00:19:50,120 --> 00:19:51,960 Why don't you just enjoy a little pleasure? 290 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:56,320 Throw yourself down from the temple. 291 00:19:57,640 --> 00:20:00,600 When the angels catch you, you'll be recognized and you'll 292 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:03,000 as the Messiah and you'll have all the power. 293 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:11,000 Everyone will will respect you. Just bow down and I'll give you 294 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:14,120 all the possessions in all the kingdoms of the world. 295 00:20:14,120 --> 00:20:19,240 You'll be a trillionaire. Power. 296 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:22,440 Pleasure. Possessions. 297 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:24,800 It's the same temptations we have. 298 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:28,800 Jesus was tempted in every way but without sin. 299 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:34,680 And the people of this world pursue these things to try to 300 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:40,880 fill the God sized void in their soul, and they feel fuller for a 301 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:43,600 little while, but it never satisfies. 302 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:48,960 It never satisfies because we have an infinite need and only 303 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:54,160 the infinite God can satisfy it. Mick Jagger saying I can't get 304 00:20:54,160 --> 00:20:58,840 no and I won't say saying it. I can't get no satisfaction. 305 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:04,840 I can't get no satisfaction. And I try and I try and I try 306 00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:13,120 and I try, but I can't get no satisfaction because there's a 307 00:21:13,120 --> 00:21:18,520 God sized, a God shaped hole in his soul and only God can fill 308 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:25,280 that. So there's a back story. 309 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:26,960 I don't know if you realize this. 310 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:32,080 There's a back story going on behind the scenes for Psalm 84. 311 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:36,320 If you look in my Bible, it says Psalm 84 for the director of 312 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:40,560 music according to Getteth, which I think is a strained 313 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:43,600 instrument. So Garrett, you're, you're in 314 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:51,400 there of the songs of Kora, of the sons of Kora, a song of the 315 00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:53,480 sons of Kora. Who's this Kora guy? 316 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:57,680 Was he some spiritual leader? Was he a, a prophet perhaps? 317 00:21:57,680 --> 00:21:59,960 Was he a, did he write songs as well? 318 00:21:59,960 --> 00:22:01,720 Who's this? Who's this Kora? 319 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:04,320 Was he a spiritual example for the people to follow? 320 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:15,040 No, quite the opposite. Kora was a Levite who got 321 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:20,640 jealous of Moses and Aaron and LED 250 members of the Israelite 322 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:25,480 council along with some 3 prominent men from the tribe of 323 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:30,560 Reuben in a rebellion against the authority of Moses and 324 00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:32,960 Aaron. And it's recorded in the Book of 325 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:38,680 Numbers chapter 16. Spoiler alert, this did not end 326 00:22:38,680 --> 00:22:47,120 well. God proposed a test, said have 327 00:22:47,120 --> 00:22:51,120 the 250 consul leaders take some of the holy incense which only 328 00:22:51,120 --> 00:22:55,080 the priests were allowed to offer, and put this incense in 329 00:22:55,080 --> 00:23:00,280 small metal, small metal dishes called sensors, and make an 330 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:04,440 offer, an offering to God along with Aaron. 331 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:10,560 And then God said, move away from the tents of Korra and from 332 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:12,840 the tents of the three men of Reuben. 333 00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:22,280 And then the earth opened up and swallowed Kora and all that he 334 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:26,560 had, and the man from the tribe of Reuben and all that they had. 335 00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:31,600 And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who 336 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:35,080 were offering incense. And then God had Aaron take and 337 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:39,000 hammer out these sensors and overlay the altar with them as a 338 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:43,720 sign for the Israelites. But the sons of Korra didn't 339 00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:48,880 stand with their father. Their desire was for God alone. 340 00:23:50,360 --> 00:23:53,440 And we see their humility and their hunger for God in the 341 00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:58,000 lines of this song. My soul yearns, even faints for 342 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:01,480 the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh cry out 343 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:07,160 for the living God. But this wasn't the only Psalm 344 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:09,520 written by the songs The sons of Korra. 345 00:24:10,120 --> 00:24:12,640 Several other psalms were written by the sons of Quran. 346 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:15,360 We continue to hear this heart's cry. 347 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:18,600 They wrote what we call Psalm 42. 348 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:23,080 And in Psalm 42 verses one through 2, it says as the deer 349 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:29,720 pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God, my 350 00:24:29,720 --> 00:24:32,280 soul thirsts for God, for the living God. 351 00:24:32,720 --> 00:24:39,840 When can I go and meet with God? They also wrote Psalm 46 verse 352 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:43,680 one says God is our refuge and strength in ever present help in 353 00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:48,080 trouble. Verse 10 says be still and know 354 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:53,440 that I am God. They wrote Psalm 48 verse 9 says 355 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:58,120 within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love. 356 00:24:58,520 --> 00:25:01,520 Over and over again. We continue to see their hunger 357 00:25:01,520 --> 00:25:05,480 for God and their reliance on his strength and love. 358 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:10,400 And does this inspire us? Does this devotion inspire you 359 00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:14,560 today, as Paul Harvey said, And now you know the rest of the 360 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:22,920 story, You may come from a religious family, or maybe you 361 00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:25,600 used to go to church and you drifted away. 362 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:30,120 Or maybe you realize today that you have barely even sampled 363 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:35,640 everything that God has for you. So my question is, what about 364 00:25:35,640 --> 00:25:36,920 now? What about today? 365 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:40,640 Is God drawing you closer to Himself today? 366 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:44,040 What is He whispering to your soul? 367 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:49,960 There's a word that we see twice in the margin. 368 00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:54,760 It's my right margin in my Bible of Psalm 84, and it says sela. 369 00:25:55,960 --> 00:25:58,880 You often see this in the margins of the Psalms, Sela. 370 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:02,840 The best definition I could find of sela is pause. 371 00:26:03,360 --> 00:26:08,680 Take time and think about that. Think about what you just read. 372 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:10,920 And that's what we want to offer you today. 373 00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:18,880 As the musicians come, we invite you to pause and take time to 374 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:21,520 think about the love God has for each of us today. 375 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:25,560 Maybe you realize that you used to be hungrier for spiritual 376 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:28,920 things of God than you are right now, and you want that to be 377 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:31,920 renewed. Maybe you've drifted into some 378 00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:35,200 of the eight thoughts John Cash enlisted that you want to 379 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:38,040 confess and repent from those today. 380 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:41,440 Maybe you feel like you're going through the valley of Becca, 381 00:26:42,120 --> 00:26:44,640 through a valley of sorrow, a valley of tears. 382 00:26:45,320 --> 00:26:50,040 And we want to support you, to encourage you, and to offer you 383 00:26:50,040 --> 00:26:52,600 the comfort and strength that we have found during our dark 384 00:26:52,600 --> 00:26:56,160 times. We're on a pilgrimage together, 385 00:26:57,800 --> 00:27:00,680 and we offer you a moment to pray with those who have found 386 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:05,040 the rest and peace to be found walking hand in hand with God. 387 00:27:06,600 --> 00:27:10,640 Maybe someone here realizes they need God's greatest gift, 388 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:15,760 salvation in Jesus Christ. Don't harden your heart. 389 00:27:18,240 --> 00:27:22,000 Today is the day of salvation. That's what the Bible says. 390 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:25,080 Today is the day of salvation.