1 Corinthians - Introduction - Loving an Imperfect Church

Loving an Imperfect Church (Part 1)

Introduction to 1 Corinthians

Overcoming the Barriers to Love
Jeff Garrett

Today I begin a series of sermons through 1 Corinthians around the theme "Loving an Imperfect Church." There is no such thing as a perfect church. If you find a perfect church don't join it because you will ruin it.

I have two goals for this series of sermons.
1. Strengthen our relationship with Jesus (1 Cor. 2:2)
2. Learn to love our imperfect church (1 Cor 13:1-8)

I want to set the stage by giving you some background information about Corinth.

During Paul’s second missionary tour he visited the city of Corinth. As you can see on the screen Paul arrived in Corinth from Athens. The story is found in Acts 18:1-17. Paul preached in the synagogue on the weekend and made tents to support himself until Silas and Timothy brought support from Macedonia Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. When they rejected Christ, Paul turned to the Gentiles. The opposition was great but Acts 18:9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." 11 So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. After the church was established Paul went to Ephesus where he wrote this letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 16:8).

Last week I used Google Earth to capture a satellite of Corinth which is on the screen. Corinth is located about 50 miles west of Athens in Greece. You can see the Canal of Corinth which allows ships to pass through the Isthmus from the Mediterranean to the Aegean Sea. Nero began construction on that canal in 67 A.D. but it was not finished for hundreds of years. During the time Paul the Corinthians used a "haul across" drag ships on rollers across the isthmus.

Step into the time machine and let’s go back to the mid 50s A.D. and we book a room in a Holiday Inn. There were so many things to do in Corinth. The city is rich in commerce and full of people traveling from all over the world, from different cultures and speaking different languages. The common language is Greek. You could conduct business, buy and sell goods. You could enjoy entertainment or attend sporting events like the Isthmain Games. You could get an education by going to hear philosophers lecture on the meaning of life. Or you could visit the temples - Corinth had 12 temples. This is a picture of the remains of the temple of Apollo. But the most famous was the Temple to Aphrodite where one thousand priest served as temple prostitutes. The Greeks coined the term “Corinthianize” which mean “sexual immorality.” Sort of like the Red Hot Chilli Pepper’s album cover “Californicaiton.” Corinth was the Los Vegas of the ancient world. But you don’t visit any of those places. You are looking for the church and you find on in a house. Someone stands and says “I just received a letter from Paul.” And you hear it read for the first time.

1 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— 6because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

This is an amazing way to begin a letter to a church that has so many problems. Think of the …

Church Problems
Division (ch. 1-3)
Sexual immorality (ch. 5-6)
Civil courts (ch.6)
Marriage and divorce (ch.7)
Idols (ch. 8-10)
Lord’s supper (ch 11)
Confusion about spiritual gifts (ch.12-14)
False teaching about resurrection (ch.15)

Given the serious problems in this church, I doubt the some of our preachers would have been so gracious. They would have began with fire and brimstone but Paul begins with grace and peace. He said that they were genuinely saved, spiritually gifted and heaven bound because of the faithfulness of God. Then, after you expresses his love and thanksgiving he begins to deal with the controversial issues. I want you to look at some of the controversial issues I am going to be discussing as we study this letter.

Hot Potatoes
Who is a Christian? (ch.1-3)
How to handle a church scandal? (ch. 5)
Can Christians sue others in civil courts? (ch.6)
Sexual immorality, pornography (ch. 6)
Divorce and remarriage (ch. 7)
Christian liberty (ch. 8-10)
Can women lead assemblies? (ch. 11 & 14)
Spiritual gifts e.g., speaking in tongues (ch.12-14)

One of the challenges of expository preaching is that it forces us to deal with hard passages and difficult subjects but if we keep the focus on Jesus Christ and love each other we can learn and grow.

The title of my lesson today is Overcoming the Barriers to Love. I’m going to talk about …

Four Barriers to Love
1. Guilt Barrier (I cannot be forgiven)
2. Isolation Barrier (I do not belong)
3. Criticism Barrier (The church makes me sick)
4. Pain Barrier (I need Jesus but I don’t need the church)

#1. Guilt Barrier
1 Corinthians 11:24 But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, 25 and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"

Notice that this is an unbeliever who does not understand. He comes into the assembly and everybody is prophesying and he is convinced by all that he is a sinner. I picture this like an AA meeting were a new comer who is in denial listens to everybody talk about how their alcoholism and how God changed their life and they become convinced that they are an alcoholic. That’s what church is like. Church is not for perfect people. Church is for imperfect people. The only requirement for membership is faith in Jesus and the willingness to acknowledge the guilt of sin.

Church is for Guilty People
6: 9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

If you are tired are carry the heaviness of guilt, come to Jesus just as you are and he will forgive you.

#2. Isolation Barrier

1 Corinthians 12:14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. ... 18 ... God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ... 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

When Jesus saves you he adds you to his church. But you have to overcome the isolation barrier if you are going to connect and gain a sense of belonging. Let me illustrate this with a group of volunteers from the audience. Form a circle holding hands. If your group is closed a new Christian cannot break in. After several attempts they may stop trying and live in isolation, never gaining a sense of belonging. They may think "because I'm not an eye or a hand I do not belong to the body." This often happens to new Christians or Christians who move into our church and we are not aware of it. We're not intentionally exclusive but it happens.

I want to say two things about this: First, if you already have established friendships start looking for people to include and help them connect. Second, if you have not found friends, don't give up. Keep trying and you will eventually connect. We are so happy you are here.

#3. Criticism Barrier

2 Corinthians 3:1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly-mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?

Some Christians are church critics. They quarrel and complain and criticize. They for 95% of things that are going well and focus on the 5% they don’t like. The criticize the elders, ministers, ministry leaders, small groups, evangelistic efforts, youth group, education, children’s ministry, music, etc. They have a critical and negative spirit about their job, their family, and it carries over into your relationship with Jesus and his church. They are so negative and critical and it makes them sick.

When I was on a airplane I took a barf bag so that I could illustrate this point. Maybe you feel like Jesus did when he said that the lukewarm church made him so sick that he was going to spew them out of his mouth. Here's what I want you to do. Vomit out all of your complaints to Jesus this afternoon then sit quietly. Read and pray over …

1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.

You can’t love the church when you are tearing it down with criticism. You have to overcome that barrier and love her in spite of her imperfections.

#4 Pain Barrier

Some people have been so hurt by the church that they think “I need Jesus but I don’t need the church.” But I doubt that any of us have experienced as much pain as the apostle Paul.

2 Corinthians 11:23 I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?

In spite of all of the pain and heartache Paul experienced, he still loved the church. He said …

I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you. 2 Corinthians 2:4

Make room for us in your hearts. ... I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. 2 Corinthians 7:2-3

We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange-I speak as to my children - open wide your hearts also. 2 Corinthians 6:11-13

That’s what I want us to do. Open wide your heart and let people in. But you have to overcome the barriers of guilt, isolation, criticism and pain. Do it for Jesus sake and for your own.

Prayer Time

MP3 (Part 3) Manifest Presence of God - Spirit We Love You

Manifest Presence of God - MP3 (Part 3)
Spirit We Love You
Jeff Garrett

This is the third sermon in a series called MP3 - Manifest Presence of God – Father, Son and Spirit. Understanding the nature of God can be confusing. There are four basic views of God.

Tritheism - there are three Gods, not one. I studied twelve weeks with two Mormon missionaries and they believed “As we are god was. As god is we will become.” But the Bible teaches us that there is one God and there is no other.

Arianism - Arius, who lived in the 4th century A.D, taught that the only the Father was eternal. The Father created the Son and Spirit. He believed that the Son and Spirit were created beings, something less than God. When I studied with some Jehovah Witnesses they told me that Jesus was a creature, not equal with God and that the Spirit the impersonal energy force of God (an “it” not “him”). I do not believe this because the Bible teaches that Jesus and the Spirit are fully God.

Sabellianism (or Modalism) – Sabellius lived in the 3rd Century A.D. and he taught that there is one God but he plays three different roles. Like ancient Greek drama, one actor plays three roles by wearing different masks but all three could never be on the stage at the same time. One of my relatives, who was from the United Pentecostal Church, believed this. She referred to it as the “Jesus-only doctrine”. I loved her but I do not agree with her. At the baptism of Jesus in Matthew 3 you see all three members of the Godhead one the stage at the same time. The Son is baptized, the Spirit descends and the Father speaks from heaven. Finally, the fourth word is one that you have heard.

Trinity - The word “Trinity” is from the Latin word “Trinitas”, which means “three-fold or triad.” The word trinity is not found in the Bible but it comes closer to expressing what I believe the Bible teaches about the nature of God. God is one and there is no other. God is manifest in three distinct persons – Father, Son and Spirit. Not three Gods but one God in three persons. Expressed mathematically it would not be 1+1+1=3. But 1x1x1=1.

See if you can spot the three members of the Godhead.

Luke 10:21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,

Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

Ephesians 1:17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

1 Peter 1:2 [we] have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:

We serve a triune God – Father Son and Holy Spirit. You can’t have one without the other two.

Someone says, I want the Father but I don’t think I need Jesus. Jesus said in John 14:6 "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Someone else says if I have Jesus I don’t need the Father – Jesus said in John 6:44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. So Jesus is the only way to the Father and the Father is the only way to the Jesus. Still, someone else says I want the Father and Jesus but I don’t believe you need the Spirit – Paul said in Romans 8:9 if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

All three members of the Godhead are essential to life and you need to know how to relate to each of them. So we want to know God better.

But how can we know God? Well, how do you get to know someone? You know me. Some of you know me better than others. But none of you know me as well as Kim. We’ve been married for 22 years and she knows me better than anyone. If you really want to know me better try to view me through the eyes of Kim. She sees the good and the bad and she loves me anyway.

When I was preparing for this series I took the same approach. I tried to “move inside the Godhead”, as it were, and understand the relationship they have with one another. I did this by searching to Bible to find how they talked to each other and what they said about each other and how they addressed each other. And then I shared what I found with you.

In the first lesson we talked about the Father. I said that the best way to understand the Father is to view him through the eyes of Jesus. So we call him Righteous Father, Holy Father and Abba Father. In the second lesson we focused on Jesus. We viewed Jesus through the eyes of the Father. And we learned to call Jesus God, Lord and Son because that’s how the Father addressed him. In this third and final lesson we are going to discuss the Spirit, the third member of the Godhead. Similar to the first two lessons, we are going to view the Spirit through the eyes of Jesus and learn to call him “Holy Spirit”, “the Counselor” and “the Spirit of truth”. Each of these names given to the Spirit by Jesus can give us a better understanding of how to relate to the Spirit in a more personal way. Let’s think about the first one …

1. Jesus called him "Counselor"

John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—

When you understand that the Spirit is a “person” who counsels you, not an “it”, you will be able to relate to him in a more personal way.

The Spirit possesses a will - 1 Cor 12:11 ”All of these (gifts) are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just has he determines.”

The Spirit possesses a mind - Romans 8:27 “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.

The Spirit possesses feelings - Eph 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

The Spirit possesses the capacity to love - Romans 15:30 “I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.

Jesus called the Spirit our counselor. I love this name. I know something about counselors. I am one. I also train students to be counselors. I have been to counselors. Some were better than others. But counselor is as good as the Spirit of God.

The Spirit confronts us – he convicts us of sin.
The Spirit teaches us – to follow Jesus
The Spirit reminds us – of what Jesus said
The Spirit reassures us – he testifies with out spirit that we are God’s children.
The Spirit understands us when no one else can – he intercedes.
The Spirit empowers us – he gives us gifts and talents.
The Spirit loves us – God’s love is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

2. Jesus called him the “Spirit of Truth”

John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

The Holy Spirit helps you understand the Bible. 1 Corinthians 2: 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. … 14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

3. Jesus Called Him “Holy Spirit”

Acts 1:8 [Jesus said], you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you

You don’t have the power to be holy without the Holy Spirit. God gives you his Spirit so you will be holy - Hebrews 12:14 says “without holiness no one will see the Lord.

1 Corinthians 6: 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

There’s a battle in your body between the Holy Spirit and your sinful nature. That’s why you have to live by the Spirit. Galatians 5: 16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

Think about your thoughts, feelings and behavior. Let me illustrate it like this [picture of model].

Thoughts – You can speak about 150 words a minute but you think about 1500 words a minute. There is an on-going inner dialogue – that’s the way you process information, through thoughts and images.

Feelings – You feel the way you think.

Physical Reactions – e.g., stress, crying, etc.

Behavior – naturally flows from your thoughts and feelings.

Sinful nature - But there is something else that influences how we think, feel, and behave. It is our sinful nature. Paul said in Romans 7:18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.

The Holy Spirit crucifies our sinful nature and transforms us into the image of Jesus. Galatians 5:24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. How do we crucify the sinful nature? Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. That’s why, after David’s sin with Bathsheba he prayed in Psalm 51:11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. The only way to be holy is to be filled with the Holy Spirit and he will change your thoughts, feelings, behavior and your relationships with other people.

Prayer Time

MP3 Part 2 - Manifest Presence of God - Jesus We Love You

MP3 Part 2
Manifest Presence of God
Jesus We Love You

Jeff Garrett

This is the second sermon in a series called MP3 - Manifest Presence of God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Last week we talked about the Father. The best way to understand the Father is to view him through the eyes of Jesus. We learned to call him Righteous Father, Holy Father and Abba Father.

Today we are going to focus on Jesus, the second person in the Trinity. Similar to last week when we viewed the Father through the eyes of Jesus, the best way to understand Jesus is to view him through the eyes of his Father. The Father called Jesus God, Lord and Son. Each of these names can give us a better understanding of how to relate to Jesus. First …

The Father Called Jesus “God”

Hebrews 1:6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." 7 In speaking of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire." 8 But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy."

Notice how the Father addresses Jesus in contrast to the angels. When he speaks to the angels he makes his angels winds and flames of fire. But when he speaks to his Son he says “"Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever” …” therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy."

The Father calls Jesus “God.” He’s not a demi-god or a mini-god or the junior vice president. Jesus Christ is fully God. He is equal with God.

Phil 2:5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Colossians 1:16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

That’s why we worship Jesus. When God brought Jesus in the world he said “Let all the angels worship him.” He was worshiped when he was a man. In Matthew 2:11, when Jesus was born, the Magi worshiped Jesus. In Matthew 14:33, after Jesus walked on water, the disciples worshiped him in a boat. In Matthew 28:9, after his crucifixion and resurrection, the women worship him. In Matthew 28:17, before Jesus gave the great commission, the disciples worshiped him. Then he ascended to heaven and in Revelation 5: 11-14 we see that he is worshiped by every creature. They circle the throne and sing “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.” Let him receive glory, honor praise! The Father called Jesus God and he is worthy of our worship.

The Father Called Jesus “Lord”

One thousand years before Jesus came to earth as a man David wrote Psalm 110:1 The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."

God the Father said to David’s Lord – he was superior to David, his sovereign. Jesus talked about this in Matthew 22:41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?" "The son of David," they replied. 43 He said to them, "How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord'? For he says, 44 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet." ' 45 If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?" 46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Phil 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The Father called him God. The Father called him Lord. Third …

The Father Called Jesus “Son”

Hebrews 1:1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father"? Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"

Do you remember what the Father said when Jesus was baptized.

Matthew 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

I want you to see two things. First, the baptism of Jesus is a wonderful picture of the manifest presence of God. The Son is being baptized, the Spirit is descending, and the Father is speaking from heaven. We serve one God who reveals himself as three persons. Second, I want you to notice what the Father said. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

Notice that the Father said that he loved the Son. Think about the perfect love between the Father and Son. You might say “I understand how the Father could love the Son, but how could he ever love me? He loved you so much that Jesus died for you and he wants your heart to be at rest in his presence.

1 John 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.19 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20 whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. … He knows everything about you. Listen,

Psalm 139

1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.

5 You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. …

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

That was Psalm 139 and it was written by David. I love that psalm. It reflects a profound awareness of how awesome it is to ask God to examine you – your thoughts, your motives, your behavior, and your heart and soul. There is an intimacy and nearness to God that I long for, and so do you. We want to know God. We want our hearts to be at rest in his presence.

Five Prayers for This Week

Search me
Know me
Test me
Change me
Lead me

Prayer Time

MP3 Part 1 - Manifest Presence of God - Father we Love You

Manifest Presence of God - MP3 (Part 1)
Father we Love You
Jeff Garrett

Jake reads Matthew 28:18-20

How many of you have heard of MP3s? When I was a kid I used to listen to music on LP (Long Playing) records or 8-track tapes. How many remember LPs and 8-tracks? This will date you because LPs were introduced in 1948 and 8-tracks in 1965.

Then, in 1979 Sony introduced the Walkman Cassette Players. About four years later Sony and Philips introduced CD (compact disc) technology. The first MP3 players were sold in Korea in 1998. But today, the most popular portable music player is the ipod, which was introduced by Apple. MP3 is the file extension for MPEG Audio Layer-3. It is a compressed audio file that you can download from the internet onto your computer or ipod. This little ipod can hold 2GB worth of music and sermons. I use my ipod every day.

Today I begin a three part series called MP3 – Manifest Presence of God. I’m going to be talking about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Notice the passage the Jake read.
Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Today we are going to talk about our relationship with our Heavenly Father. The only way to the Father is through the Son. John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

You cannot have a relationship with the Father without having a relationship with the Son. The best way to learn how to relate to your Heavenly Father is to view the Father through the eyes of Jesus. Jesus knew his Father longer and better than anyone. I want to show three important ways that Jesus addressed his Father. First, Jesus called him …

Righteous Father

John17:25 "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, … Jesus called him Righteous Father.

Our Heavenly Father is righteous. The word “righteous” refers to his justice, his moral character and his goodness. We don’t have any righteousness of our own. There is no one who is righteous, not even one. So God bestows his righteousness to us. He declares us righteous by our faith in Jesus Christ. Then he empowers us by his Holy Spirit to live a righteous life. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

So your Heavenly Father is righteous and he wants you to live a righteous life. Just like all good fathers, he wants you to be good. The second way that Jesus addressed him …

Holy Father

John 17:11 Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one. Jesus called him Holy Father.

Our Father in heaven is holy. Revelation 4:8 says Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."… Our Heavenly Father is worthy of our worship because he is holy.

He wants his children to be holy. 1 Peter 1:14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

Now, if you disobey your Heavenly Father he will discipline you. Hebrews 13:5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son. …10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.

The severity of the discipline will depend upon your attitude. When I was a kid my dad caught me smoking. There was a long “S” curve at the mouth of the hollow and my friends and I were under a train tressel smoking cigarettes. When I saw dad’s truck coming down that road I threw my cigarette on the ground and stomped it. He stopped his truck and walked up the train tracks and I ran to meet him. I was dizzy from the cigarette. Dad said “What are you boys doing?” I said, “We’re skipping rocks.” He told me when to be home and walked away. I couldn’t smoke any more cigarettes. I felt so guilty and I cried as I rode my bike home because I lied to my father. You can’t have a close relationship with your father when you are burdened with guilt and living a lie. That night I confessed to him and he didn’t punish me because he thought that my guilt was enough. But if I would have had a bad attitude I’m sure the punishment would have been greater.

I don’t know what you are doing under your train tressel but your heavenly Father knows about it. And the severity of your discipline depends upon your attitude and your willingness to confess and repent of it.

1 John 1: 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 2:1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Your Heavenly Father says “Be holy for I am holy. And when you sin confess it and he will forgive you. The third way Jesus addressed his Father was …

Abba Father

Mark 14:36"Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."

Jesus called God “Abba, Father.” “Abba” is a term of endearment. It means “Daddy” or “Pa Pa”.

Now, I want you to look at this next passage which says that we have been adopted and that we are God’s children. Ephesians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ … 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will ...

We have all been adopted by the Father and he wants us to call him by the same name Jesus called him. God has given us his Spirit and Romans 8:15 …And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

There is a nearness, a tenderness, an affection that some of you have never known. The Father wants an intimate relationship with you. Let me show you a passage that speaks of this intimacy.

Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

Notice three things. First, he takes great delight in you. Second, when you are upset he quiets you with his love. And third, he rejoices over you with singing. It sounds just like the relationship that I have with my girls. I take great delight in them. When Amber hit that softball yesterday I ran to first base with her on the other side of fence. When Tori through that disk 79 feet I jumped up and said “Amazing!” When Shayna got her trophy for straight A’s and sang those Grease Lighting songs in the school I applauded and my heart swelled. The Herald Dispatch was there and interviewed me and I bragged on all of them. When they are upset or hurt I quiet them with my love. And sometimes I will take my guitar in their room at night and play them a song and rejoice over them with singing. At night, they will say “Daddy.” I just like to hear them say it – “Daddy.”

Can you view God that way? Yes, he is Righteous Father. Yes, he is Holy Father. But he is also Abba Father. Can you view the Father like Jesus did?

Some of you can’t because you feel so insecure and so unworthy. You can feel insecure about anything - your habits, sins, thoughts, behavior, and even your weight or your age. You feel like a failure because of the way you look or how old you are and it restricts your relationship with God, it restricts your relationships with your family and friends.

Susie asked her Grandmother some personal questions – “How old are you Grandma? How much do you weigh?” She smiled at her curious questions but said “Susie, It’s not appropriate for you to ask personal questions like that. I’m not going to tell you. I would be embarrassed.” This made Susie curious. She disappeared into the kitchen and came back a few minutes later and said “Grandma, I know how old you are and how much you weigh.” She said “You are 63 years old and you weigh 158 pounds.” Her Grandmother was surprised and asked, “How did you know that?” Susie said “It was easy. You left your drivers license on the kitchen table. It tells the year you were born and I did the math and figured it out. I also noticed that you got an ‘F’ in sex!”

Some of you feel so insecure about your weight, your age, your looks, not to mention your past failures and sins which have already been forgiven. You need to accept Jesus as Lord and know that God the Father loves you. Learn to relate to him in a personal intimate way. Know him as Holy Father, Righteous Father, and Abba Father.

Prayer Time

Hebrews 13 - Love like Jesus

Faithful to Jesus (Part 14)
Hebrews 13
Love like Jesus
Jeff Garrett

Our study of Hebrews ends today. The title of this final lesson is Love like Jesus.

1 Keep on loving each other as brothers. Stay on good terms with each other. Treat each other like family. Paul tells us how to love each other in 1 Timothy 5:1 …treat older men as fathers. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. Love each other like a family for that is what you are. Everybody is equally important. Nobody is better than anyone else. Some children had worked long and hard to build a club house out of large card board boxes. It was place where they could play and have fun together. Since it was a club house they needed some rules. So they made three rules. Number one, no body act big. Number two, nobody act small. Number three, everybody act medium. That’s what we need to do. Just act medium and keep on loving each other.

2 Do not forget to entertain strangers…To entertain means to show hospitality. Be ready with a meal or a bed when it’s needed. Make people feel at home. Have you ever been somewhere that you didn’t feel welcome. Some people make you feel at home and some people make you wish you were. I want to commend you for the great job you do when you welcome people to our church. Studies show that people decide whether they are going to return for a visit within the first 12 minutes. So we want to welcome them on the parking lot, at the door, when they enter the auditorium, we want several people to shake their hands while they are sitting in the pew and after the benediction for them to be welcomed and invited to dinner and when they leave we want them to say that’s the friendliest place I’ve ever been!

3 Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Some of the believers had been in or were in jail for their faith and the conditions in those prisons were terrible. Timothy had just been released from prison. 23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you. He was waiting on Timothy so they could travel together to visit these Hebrews. We are not persecuted for our faith but there are still many places in the world where Christians are persecuted. This afternoon go to http://www.persecutedchurch.org/ or http://www.persecution.com/ and take a look at the prison list and request for Bibles and blankets and prayers.

So keep on loving each other, show hospitality for strangers and compassion for the oppressed. And then he gives instruction about marriage … 4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. The Bible gives one command for how to deal with the sin of fornication. Flee! Run from it. Keep your marriage bed pure. Don’t sleep around or God will judge you.

5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, …. There is nothing wrong with having money. There is something wrong when we love it, so be on your guard against every form of greed. I like the statement. We should love people and use money but we must never use people and love money. If you are running low on money don’t sweat it … 5 … because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." You wouldn’t leave or forsake your children, would you? Well, last Wednesday I left Amber at the building. Kim thought I had her and I thought Kim had her. So we drove off and left her at the building. When I went back to pick her up she said “I can’t believe you forgot your own daughter!” I said “I’m so sorry honey. It’s your mom’s fault.” No I didn’t say that. We just laughed together because Amber knows how much we love her. She is confident that we will always take care of her.

The same is true with God. 6 So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" You can apply this verse the next time you start worrying. You get anxious and fearful because your thoughts are distorted. I like to say “Don’t let your self talk to you, you talked to yourself.” If you let your self talk to you, you will be afraid. But if you talk to yourself and speak words of faith you will be able to deal with fear. The next time you are afraid say to yourself “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.”

Notice how you are to relate to your leaders. 7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. … 17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. Notice two words – “remember” and “obey”. First, remember your leaders. Consider how they lived. Imitate their faith. Second, obey your leaders. Don’t be a complainer and stir up trouble or be divisive or resistant. Stop complaining and criticizing and start cooperating. When you constantly complain you become a burden to your leaders. Moses experienced this as he was leading people.

Numbers 11: 10 Moses heard the people of every family wailing, each at the entrance to his tent. The LORD became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. 11 He asked the LORD, "Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their forefathers? 13 Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, 'Give us meat to eat!' 14 I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin."

Some people just complain and grip and grumble and criticize their leaders and it heaps up to the point that leader wants to quit. It’s not a joy, it’s burden. Don’t do that. Pray for your leaders. You don’t have to agree with everything we do but, my lands, show some cooperation. It’s not easy to lead a church. Now, Norway Avenue is different. You guys are great and there is a spirit of cooperation and unity and it makes our job a joy. The reason we have unity and love is because we are focused on Jesus Christ. Look at …

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. He never changes. Everything changes but Jesus remains the same and his years will never end. So be faithful to Jesus and 9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them. 10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.
Do you remember the five major sacrifices from Leviticus 1-7 that we discussed in an earlier lesson? Burnt offerings. Grain offerings. Fellowship offerings. Sin offerings and Guilt offerings. They had certain procedure for making offerings and it usually went like this. They made the sin offering or the guilt offering first because sin had to be dealt with. Second, they made a burnt offering with a grain offering to consecrate themselves. Third, the made a fellowship offering which included a meal from part of the animal they sacrificed.

That’s what is referred in v.9 when he talks about “ceremonial foods.” They are of no value to those who eat them because they all point to the sacrifice of Jesus. So, v.10 We have an altar [it is the cross of Jesus] from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat… because they don’t know Jesus.

11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. Do you remember the lesson from Hebrews 9 when I asked you to remember this? The priest took the blood of a bull and sprinkled it on the horns of the altar of incense and he poured the rest of the blood on the altar at the entrance of the tent. Then he burned part of the bull on the altar. Leviticus 4:11 But the hide of the bull and all its flesh, as well as the head and legs, the inner parts and offal- 12 that is, all the rest of the bull—he must take outside the camp to a place ceremonially clean, where the ashes are thrown, and burn it in a wood fire on the ash heap.

Now, do you get what he’s saying? Hebrews 13:12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. Jesus was accused, beaten and scourged inside the city of Jerusalem. But he was crucified outside the city. He was sacrificed, not on the altar at the temple. He was sacrificed outside the camp like the priest would take the guts and remains of the bull and burn it on an ash heap. Crucified in disgrace. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

Let’s go to the cross of Christ, bearing the disgrace he bore. That’s why we sang the song Altar of God. I love the words …I will go to the altar of God, my joy and my delight, I will praise you with all my heart. And I will go to the altar of God, my song through the night I will praise you with all my heart. I want to praise Jesus with all my heart.

15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. We don’t sacrifice animals because God’s ultimate sacrifice has been made but we still offer up sacrifices of praise when we confess his name, do good and share with others.

He ends the letter with a request for prayer, a benediction, and a plea to obey the Bible.
A request for prayer - 18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon. At the end of every service we have a family prayer time where you can request prayer. This Thursday is the national day of prayer and we want you to participate. We have seven time periods that need to be filled. Please sign up at the welcome center.

A benediction - At the end of every service we do a benediction in the spirit of Numbers 6:22 The LORD said to Moses, 23 "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: 24 " ' "The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." ' 27 "So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them." Here is the benediction at the end of Hebrews 13:20 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. A benediction is a blessing.

A plea to take God’s word seriously – 22 Brothers, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written you only a short letter. To “bear with my word of exhortation” means to take what I've written most seriously. He calls Hebrew “my word of exhortation”. It’s a sermon manuscript. He quoted over 40 passages from the OT and explained how all of them pointed to Jesus. He said that it’s short but it took us 14 weeks to complete and I want you to sign up for the series at the welcome center after service. I want to encourage you to study and obey the word of God.

The Bible is the most treasured book in the world. Study it. Obey it. You can’t know Jesus without the Bible. I also want to encourage you to bring some Bibles next week and put them in this box. We are collecting Bibles with other churches. The goal is to collect 4 million Bibles so that we can send them to Africa.

So he ends the letter with these words. 13:24 Greet all your leaders and all God's people. Those from Italy send you their greetings. 25 Grace be with you all.

Prayer Time

Hebrews 12 - Run to Jesus

Faithful to Jesus (Part 13)
Hebrews 12
Run to Jesus
Jeff Garrett

Please open your Bibles to Hebrews 12. The title of my lesson is Run to Jesus. Hebrews 12 gives us three encouraging images to help us endure hard times. The first is …

An athlete

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Notice the latter part of v.1 let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. The picture that he paints is that we are like athletes running in a race. It’s not a 100 yard dash. It’s a long distance marathon and we are all running the race together. We’re not competing against one another. We are helping each other toward the finish line. And there are two things you need to know so that you will not grow weary and loose heart.

First, we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. The cloud of witnesses are the people listed in Hebrews 11. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets, and the unnamed heroes of the Old Testament. It’s the honor roll of the saints who were faithful.

I didn’t make the honor roll in high school except for one time. I remember going to the honor roll banquet and they said, “You can’t come in here.” I said, “Well I made the honor roll and got an invitation.” One of the teachers said to another “Go check the list.” “Yes,” she said, “Jeff’s name is on the list.” They let me in but I didn’t feel like I belonged with all the smart people.
You may not feel like you belong on the fieldwhen you look at the honor roll list in Hebrews 11. But remember, none of them were perfect. Noah got drunk, Abraham lied, Jacob deceived Isaac, Moses committed murder, Rahab was a prostitute, and David committed adultery. You don’t have to have a perfect past to run to Jesus. Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.

These people were not perfect but they were all forgiven and used by God. By faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; they shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; their weakness was turned to strength; and they became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. That’s who is cheering for you! And if that don’t light your fire I think your wood is wet. That ought to make us want to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, [so that we can] run with perseverance the race marked out for us. I don’t want to do the sinful things I used to do. I want to be like my heroes who marked the path of faith. But there is another witness that’s greater than them all.

Second, we must fix our eyes on Jesus. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. … When you grow weary. Think about how Jesus endured the cross. When you get tired from all the problems of life – all the worries about your health, your job, your children, your marriage, your money problems, and all the other hardships you face and you think “I just can’t go on. I am just going to quit.” Fix your eyes on the Lord and run to Jesus. Don’t give up! Keep running to Jesus. The second image is that we are like …

A Child

5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

The words “discipline”, “rebukes”, and “punishes” appear 12 times in seven verses but he calls this a “word of encouragement”. How could that be? Because it addresses us as sons and daughters of God. God disciplines us because he loves us.

I know my father loved me. He expressed his love in many ways. He told me he loved me. He provided for our family and expressed his affection to all of us. But one of the most important ways dad expressed his love was when he disciplined me and I respect him for it. I can’t remember being spanked by dad. I’m sure he did but I can’t remember it. I got my share of spankings in school. I remember how Mrs. Baisden, my 8th grade teacher, whipped me with the board of education for misbehaving. I remember being whipped by Coach Shoal. I remember how I wish that I had not wore thin dress pants because they were so thin and he sit my bottom on fire! I also got whipped by the principal at Scott High.

But my dad didn’t have to whip me. O’, I deserved it. But he didn’t paddle me like my teachers did in school. He would just talk to me and it broke my heart. I remember two stern talks my dad gave me when I was a teenager. One took place near a stream behind the garden and the other took place in a house across the creek that I was helping him prepare for renters. We were putting up paneling and I remember what he said. He disciplined me and taught me right from wrong. It was an expression of his love. If he didn’t care he wouldn’t said anything.
Sometimes our heavenly Father disciplines us. He rebukes us because he loves us. If he didn’t accept us and love us he would let us do as we please. But his love will not allow it. That’s why he says.

14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.

When we refuse to keep the peace and become bitter and angry and cause trouble and defile many people - the Lord may discipline us. If we are sexually immoral or godless like Esau, who demanded immediate gratification when for a single meal he sold his inheritance rights – the Lord may discipline us. And we have a choice as to how we will respond.

We can make light of the Lord's discipline. To “make light” means to shrug it off like it’s nothing. Or we can lose heart when he rebukes us. To “loose heart” means “give up when he corrects us. Or we can remember that the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." God’s discipline is proof that we belong to him.

But, I want to caution you not to assign blame to God for every bad thing that happens. When something bad happens don’t immediately think “God is punishing me.” God doesn’t cause every bad thing that happens in this world. When the student at VT murdered 32 people in cold blood – don’t call that an act of God. God did not do that. John 8:44 says that Satan is a murder and a liar. I believe Satan was behind that just like Satan was behind all the Christians that were persecuted and tortured in the Roman Coliseum. Be careful about blaming God for all the bad things that happen - some people to loose their faith and even blaspheme God because they blame him for things he is not responsible for.

But we should endure hardships as discipline. God may not have caused it but God works in everything for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose. That’s why we consider it pure joy when we face trials of many kind because we know that the testing of our faith produces perseverance. And when perseverance has done it’s work we will be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. The most painful experiences can teach us the most valuable lessons but we have to persevere like an athlete and receive disciple like a child. The third image is that of a …

A Worshiper.

Notice the contrast between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion.

10:18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned." 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."

22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

The contrast is so great. When the people stood at the base of Mount Sinai they trembled with fear and covered their ears because the trumpet blast was so loud and the commands of God were so great – they beg that no further word be spoken.

But we have not come to Sinai. We’ve come to Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem. The city of the living God. We will see that city one day. It will come down from heaven.
Revelation 21:1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Now that’s our goal. That’s the finish line. And until that happens we will keep running to Jesus like an athlete that perseveres and we will endure hardships as discipline and we will worship God with all our heart. I love the way chapter 12 ends. v.28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29for our "God is a consuming fire."

Prayer Time.

Hebrews 11 - Keep Your Faith in Jesus

Faithful to Jesus (Part 12)
Hebrews 11

Keep Your Faith in Jesus
Jeff Garrett

Susie May reads Hebrews 11:1-12:2

This is the 12th lesson in a series of sermons called Faithful to Jesus. In two weeks the series will be complete. I want you to sign up at the welcome center and purchase these sermons so that you can put them in your library at home. We have spent three and a half months studying this great book. We have learned that Jesus is superior to the prophets, to angels, to Moses, to Joshua, to Aaron and the levitical priests that descended from Levi. Jesus is our great High Priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. These truths are not something to lesson to one time and put it away. This is something you need to revisit time and again because it will help you live Faithful to Jesus.

Notice the first and last verse of the text Susie read. These two verses are like book ends and the summarize the main point of the lesson. Let’s read them together.

11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,

The word “faith” is mentioned 28 times in Hebrews 11. Verse 1 gives us a concise definition of faith. v.1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Faith is being sure and certain. Faith is not wishful thinking. Faith is not a blind leap into the dark. It’s a leap from the darkness into the light. Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; faith gives us assurance that the things we cannot see are real.

He’s not talking about faith in faith or faith in ourselves or faith in religion. He’s talking about faith in Jesus Christ. Let’s make the good confession together. Repeat after me.

I believe with all my heart (echo).
That Jesus Christ is the Son of God (echo).
He died for my sins (echo).
He rose from the grave (echo).
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior (echo).

You see, "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved (Romans 10:8-10).

This Hebrew preacher uses the phrase "by faith" repeatedly, reiterating the phrase over and over again, driving it into our consciousness. He lists twelve examples to support the idea that the people of God live by faith. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. Listen to all of the heroes listed in the Hall of Faith.

By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice …
By faith Enoch went to heaven without experiencing death …
By faith Noah built an ark and saved his family …
By faith Abraham left his home, had a baby, and offered Isaac on an altar …
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau …
By faith Jacob passed the blessing on to Joseph’s sons …
By faith Joseph spoke of the Exodus ….
By faith Amram and Jochebed hid baby Moses …
By faith Moses refused the pleasures of Egypt and kept the Passover ...
By faith the Hebrews walked through the Red Sea on dry ground …
By faith Joshua marched around Jericho and the walls fell down …
By faith Rahab hid the spies …

32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again…

Many of these heroes won great victories by faith, but others suffered terrible persecution.
36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
That’s exactly what these Hebrews believers were enduring. They were meeting in caves, catacombs and holes in the ground. They were destitute, persecuted and mistreated. This was nothing new to them. They had experienced persecution before.

Hebrews 10:32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.

They had already lived though it once, but shortly after this letter was written wide spread persecution broke out against believers under Nero. Have you ever read Foxe’s Book of Martyrs? The book tells how Christians were persecuted and murdered for their faith in Jesus. Phillip was scourged and crucified. Matthew was killed with an ax (i.e., halberd). James the Less was beat, stoned and clubbed in the head until his brain spilled out. Matthias, who took the place of Judas, was stoned and beheaded. Andrew was crucified on a cross with the two ends two ends fixed transversely in the ground. When I was in India I visited the traditional cite where pagan priest thrust Thomas through with spears. Mark was dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria. Paul’s head was cut off in Rome and Peter was crucified upside-down.

This persecution lasted for a long time – throughout the reign of Roman Emperors like Nero (A.D.67), Domitian (A.D. 81), Trajan (A.D. 108), Antoninus (A.D.162), Severus (A.D.192), Maximus (A.D. 235), Decius (A.D. 249), Valerian (A.D. 257), Aurelian (A.D. 274), Diocletian (303), and finally Constantius put an end to the persecution and made Christianity the official religion of Rome.

Do you understand what this Hebrew preacher was preparing them for? Wide spread, long-term persecution. One of the famous martyrs is Polycarp who lived between 70 and 155 A.D. and was a friend of the apostle John. Polycarp was arrested on the charge of being a Christian. As he stood in front of an angry mob, the Roman proconsul took pity on him because he was such a gentle old man. So the proconsul urged Polycarp to renounce his faith and proclaim, "Caesar is Lord" and offer a small pinch of incense to Caesar's statue he would escape torture and death. But Polycarp responded, "Eighty-six years I have served Christ, and He never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?" When he refused to renounce his faith in Jesus Christ he was burned alive at the stake.

This is the type of persecution these Hebrew believers were facing. It hadn’t started yet – 12:4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. But they probably would so he reminds them of the heroes in the Hall of Faith. 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.They are not separate from us. They stand together with us. It’s we are in a great contest and the bleachers are full of heroes who are cheering us on to victory saying “Keep your faith in Jesus!”
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Look up and listen because everybody is cheering you on. Look forward and you can see Jesus who endured the cross where he forgave all your sins and sat down at the right hand of God. You’re not saved because you run the race. Your saved because of the cross of Jesus Christ.
Jim struggled to understand the cross. Jim was like so many people who believe the false notion that salvation is by works. He did not know how to get rid of his guilt because he could not understand the cross. That is, until he had betrayed his wife and the guilt tormented him so much that he thought “I cannot keep this from my wife any longer. I am going to tell her what I have done.”

So he ask his wife to sit down and said “I am going to tell you something that is going to crush you. I have betray you. I have been unfaithful.” And he told her about his infidelity and his relationship with another woman.

His wife just broke down and wept and wept. Finally, after hours of sobbing she took his hand and said “I promised to stay married to you and I love you. I will not allow your betrayal the opportunity for me to forgive you.” At that point it dawned on Jim what the cross was all about. It was love crucified by sin. Love crucified by sin.

What language shall I borrow to thank Thee dearest friend.
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end.
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be.
Lord let me never, never, outlive my love for Thee.

A little boy named Johnny had a lot of marbles and his sister Suzie had a lot of candy. One day he said “I’ll trade you all my marbles for all your candy.” Suzie agreed. She went to her room and gathered all her candy in a bag. Johnny went to his room and gathered his marbles but he kept the shiny ones and hid them under his pillow. Then he went to the living room and made the trade. He gave her the marbles and she gave him the candy. That night Suzie slept soundly but Johnny was wide awake. Do you know why? Johnny could not sleep because one question was haunting him – Did she give me all the candy? And guilt will continue to haunt you until you give Jesus all your sin.

Sit quietly and think about the cross of Jesus while you listen to this song.

Jeremy Miller sings Jesus Paid it All.

Prayer Time

Hebrews 10 - The Sacrifice of Jesus

Faithful to Jesus (Part 11)
Hebrews 10
The Sacrifice of Jesus
Jeff Garrett

Jay Barrow reads Hebrews 10

1 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. A “shadow” is a dark image cast on the ground by a body intercepting light. There is no substance or reality or meaning to a shadow apart from what it is a shadow of. Its an imperfect imitation, a copy, a model of something greater than it self. The law, together with the tabernacle, the priest, the sacrifices were only a shadow, a picture, a preview of the sacrifice of Jesus.

When you go to the theater you see previews. The previews are not the movie. They are advertisements that inform you of a movie that is “coming soon to a theater near you.”.
That’s what the law was. It was a shadow, a preview, an advertisement. God set the stage with a temple that was a model of the one in heaven. The temple was full of props. The lamps pointed to Jesus who is the light of the world. The table of consecrated bread pointed to Jesus who is the bread of life. Hebrews 10:20 says that the curtain is the body of Jesus through which we can enter the Most Holy Place where Jesus sits on the throne.

[High Priest enters stage] The most important actor in the drama was the high priest who wore a special costume. Exodus 28:2 Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron, to give him dignity and honor. … 4 These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. … 5 Have them use gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen. …36 "Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD … 38 It will be on Aaron's forehead … 34 The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe. 35 Aaron must wear it when he ministers. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the LORD and when he comes out, so that he will not die. 29 Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart…

The robe had a breast piece with twelve stones and engraved on the stones were the names of the twelve tribes of Israel which he wore over his heart. He wore a sign on his head that said “Holy to the Lord”. The high priest was a picture of Jesus. When Jesus was sacrificed he wore our names over his heart. He was holy to the Lord and his sacrifice makes us holy. It all pointed to Jesus. [High priest exits stage]

Every year the drama would take place on this stage. A bull was brought to the outer court and sins were confessed on the head of the bull. Watch this clip from The Nativity Story – it shows a priest instructing a worshiper to confess his sins on the head of a bull before it is sacrificed.

[Clip from The Nativity Story]

That’s the way animals were sacrificed. But notice v.4. v. 4 those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, 4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; 6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. 7 Then I said, 'Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, O God.' "

The strangest thing happened. The actors in the drama turn against him. His own shadow sentenced him to death. The high priest ask him, “Are you the Son of God?” Jesus answered “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Mark 14: 63 The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. 64 "You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, "Prophesy!" And the guards took him and beat him.

Then Roman soldiers scourged him with whips. They nailed him to a cross but Jesus said “Father forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.” Then he said “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.” Many people do not know this but when Jesus said this he was quoting the script (Psalm 22). Then he cried out “It is finish!” I have done the will of God. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. No more sacrifice is needed.

The sacrifice of Jesus makes us holy. Holiness is more than a hat with a sign on it, like the high priest wore. We have been declared holy by the sacrifice of Jesus once for all. Jesus died on the cross, they buried him in a grave but God raised him from the dead and he ascended into the Most Holy Place in heaven where he sit down.

I want you to notice the contrast between the sacrifice of Jesus and sacrifices made at the earthly temple. 11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. 13 Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool,

I underlined the words “stands” and “sat down”. Notice the difference in posture. Day after day every priest stands and offers sacrifices that can never take away sins. His work was never done. He never sat down. There was a lot of furniture in the temple but there was no seat. The only seat in the temple was the “mercy seat.” It would have been blasphemy for the priest to try to sit on it. But after the sacrifice of Christ, Jesus sat down, 14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Now think about that. By one sacrifice he has made perfect for over those who are being made holy. How can that be? It sounds like a contradiction. How can he make perfect forever those who are being made holy? How can the perfecting and the being made holy be at the same time a finished and an ongoing work. Well if you don't understand this you're probably not going to be able to get rid of guilt. Its because the sacrifice of Jesus is to be appreciated from two perspectives.

The sacrifice of Jesus makes perfect forever. It finishes. It completes. It nails down. It covers. God has taken the sin in my life as it relates to the blood of Jesus and he has destroyed it. God has made me perfect by the blood of Christ.

Somebody says, "How has he made you perfect? You sure don't look perfect to me. Because Jesus is perfect and God has given me his righteousness. And when God comes looking for me - do you know where God finds me? In Christ. That's my status.

Now at the same time I will quickly admit that God is working on me to get some things out of my life that ought not to be there. To purify and to mold me. To get evil out of my mind. To get evil out of my life. And to put righteous and holy deeds into my life. God is holding me secure with one hand while with the other hand he is shaping and molding me into the image of his one perfect Son Jesus Christ so that I can reflect his glory. So he holds me secure - he makes me perfect forever based on Jesus blood. And then he keeps on making me holy. Isn't that beautiful? That's almost too good to believe.

But a lot of people they don't listen to God when he says I have made you perfect forever by the blood of Jesus. I have forgiven your sins. Instead of listening to God do you know who we listen too? We listen to the accuser - Satan - who accuses us.

Satan the great slanderer can stand and rail at me for all he's worth and for all that's wrong in my life. For all of the flaws and the imperfections that are so obvious to any of you who know me well at all. And Satan the great slanderer stands and he's pointing at me. And God says “But I don't see Jeff. I see Jesus. I have credited the status of my one perfect Son Jesus to my adopted son Jeff. So say all you want to. Rail away. Everything you're saying is in fact true. You don't have to make anything up. He's as bad as what you say he is. But what you don't realize Devil, Slanderer is, that I've made him perfect by the blood of Jesus while day by day I'm making him holy to get rid of all those things you are accusing him about.”

I like to sing a little song which explains this. Sing - He’s still working on me.

He’s still working on me, to make me what I ought to be.
It took him just a week to make the moon and the stars,
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars.
How loving and patient he must be, cause he’s still working on me.

There really ought to be a sign upon my heart.
Don’t just me yet there’s an unfinished part.
But I’ll be ready just according to his plan.
Fashioned by the Masters loving hand.

Four Lessons for Easter

Draw near to God - 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience …

Encourage one - 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Remember the warning - 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? … 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Persevere through hard times - 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Prayer time

Hebrews 9 - The Blood of Jesus

Faithful to Jesus (Part 10)
Hebrews 9
The Blood of Jesus
Jeff Garrett

MP3 of Max McLean reads Hebrew 9

The title of my lesson is The Blood of Jesus. The word “blood” is mentioned twelve times in Hebrews 9. The goal of this lesson is to show you how the old covenant pointed to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. I want you to trust Jesus Christ and know that his blood washes away your sins and gives you access to God.

1 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 2 A tabernacle was set up. There was a fenced outer court that could be entered through a single gate on the eastern side. In this area was the altar on which various animal sacrifices were presented to God. There was also a brass laver (i.e., basin) just in front of the entrance to the tabernacle where the priests washed before entering to perform their duties. Hebrews 9 allows us to see inside the tabernacle.

[Debbie and Amy open the temple]

The tabernacle contained two rooms. The first room was called the Holy Place. Near the south wall stood a gold lampstand with seven arms and its lamps were never allowed to go out. Opposite of the lampstand, near the north wall, sit a table made of acacia wood plated with gold. The consecrated bread was placed on top of this table. On the Sabbath the priest would eat this bread and replace them with 12 fresh loaves, one loaf for each of the twelve tribes of Israel.

The third piece of furniture was the altar of incense. There has been a lot of discussion about where the altar of incense was actually placed. In Hebrews 9 it is pictured inside the Most Holy Place while passages picture it in the first room. It is clear from this passage that the altar of incense had a close relationship to the Most Holy Place and the ark of the covenant. On the day of atonement the high priest took incense from this altar, along with the blood of the sin offering into the Most Holy Place (Lev 16:12-14).

Inside the Most Holy Place, behind the curtain, sit the ark of the covenant which was a rectangular shaped chest made of acacia wood, covered with gold. It was about four feet long and about two and a half feet wide (Exodus 25:10ff) and it contained three items. These three items were originally place in front of the ark but later they placed them inside the ark for safe keeping. The first item was the golden jar of manna which is the bread the fell from heaven that “tasted like wafers made with honey” (Exodus 16:31). The second item was Aaron’s rod the budded (Numbers 17) which indicated the priesthood belong to Aaron, the tribe of Levi. The third item was the stone tablets of the covenant on which were written the ten commandments.
Above the ark were the cherubim of glory. Cherubs are strong holy angels with a face of a human, the body of an animal and the wings of a bird. In Genesis 3:24 the cherubim guarded the way to the tree of life and here they are pictured as guardians of the ark and the Divine Presence. They were made of pure gold and their wings overshadowed the atonement cover which was called the “mercy seat”. The mercy seat was the gold plate on top of the ark where the priest sprinkled the blood of sacrificed animals to atone for his own sins and the sins of the people.

5 …But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. 6 When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. The priests entered the Holy Place every morning and evening to take care of the lampstand (Exodus 27:20-21; 30:7-8). Every Sabbath priests would enter the Holy Place and put fresh loaves of bread on the table. 7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. Verse 7 is a reference to the day of atonement which took place on the 10th day of the 7th month. It was a day of fasting and repentance and mourning over sin. God gave the high priest instructions for the day of atonement in Leviticus 16. I counted eight acts of worship.

First, Aaron entered the sanctuary area with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. As high priest, he stood before the people as one of them. He had a bull, a ram, and he wore a special robe. He wore a breast plate that contained twelve stones. Engraved on the stones were the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. He was their representative and he wore their names over his heart as he entered the presence of God.

Second, he consecrated himself by a ceremonial washing. After he bathed himself with water he put on a linen tunic and tied a linen sash around him and put on a linen turban.

Third, from the Israelite community he took two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. Then, he took the two goats and presented them before the Lord at the entrance of the tabernacle where he cast lots for the two goats. One lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat. He sacrificed the goat whose lot fell to the Lord but the scapegoat was not killed.

Fourth, the high priest slaughtered the bull to make atonement for his own sins. After killing the bull he took a censor full of burning coals from the altar and two hands full of fragrant incense, along with the blood of the bull, behind the curtain. The smoke from the incense concealed the atonement cover so that he would not die. He took some of the bull’s blood sprinkled it on the front of the atonement cover. Then, with his finger he sprinkled the bull’s blood seven times before the atonement cover. When the high priest disappeared behind the curtain everybody held their breath and waited for him to come out.

Fifth, he then slaughtered the goat for the sins of the people and took the goat’s blood behind the curtain and did the same thing with the goat’s blood that he did with the bull’s blood. He sprinkled it on the atonement cover and in front of it. This is how he made atonement for himself, his family and the sins of the people. No one was allowed in the tabernacle from the time Aaron went in the Most Holy Place until he came out.

Sixth, he came out of the tabernacle to the altar and he made atonement for it by taking the blood of the bull and goat and putting it on the horns of the altar. He sprinkled the blood seven times to cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites.

Seventh, when he had finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting and the altar, he brought the live goat forward and laid both of his hands on it’s head and confessed the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites. He put all their sin on the head of that goat. Then he appointed a man to lead the goat to a solitary place in the desert and release it. And as the goat was taken out, the people knew that goat carried on it’s head the sin of all the people.

Eighth, then Aaron when back into the Tent of Meeting and took off his linen garments and left them there. He bathed himself inside the Holy Place and put on his regular garments. Then he came out and sacrificed the burnt offering for himself and the burnt offering for the people. He burned the fat of the sin offering on the altar but the hides, the flesh, and the offal of the bull and goat that were used for the sin offering were burned outside the camp (remember that – it will be important when we get to Hebrews 13:11-13).

What I have described are the regulations for the high priest on the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16. The regulations for worship under the old covenant are so foreign to us. So many animals. So much blood. It looks more like a murder scene than a worship service.

8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

If you lived under the old covenant your conscience was not clear. All you had was an animal that had no idea why it was dying. The scapegoat did not really carry your sins away. Have wondered if one of those goats ever found their way back home? All of these rituals were preparing us for the lamb of God who takes way the sin of the world.

11 When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.

Jesus is our great high priest. When he made his sacrifice on the cross he wore our names over his heart. When God raised Jesus from the dead he enter the Most Holy Place in heaven with his own blood. The blood of the new covenant.

Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant. Think of it this way (v.16) – The new covenant is like a will that went into effect when Jesus died and Jesus made you an heir so that you can receive your inheritance. His blood guarantees it!

The old covenant was put into effect by the blood of animals. 19 When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20 He said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep." 21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies.
Imagine listening to Moses proclaim every command from the book of the law and hearing him say “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep”. And you watch Moses sprinkle blood on the tabernacle, everything used in its ceremonies and all the people. 22 … the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. The copies of the heavenly things had to be purified with the blood of animals but the heavenly things themselves had to be cleansed with a better sacrifice.
So Jesus came as our great high priest. He died on a cross and rose from the grave and was exalted to the Most Holy Place in heaven. 27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

When the high priest disappeared behind the curtain everybody held their breath and waited for him to come back out. That’s what Jesus did. Jesus appeared the first time to offer himself as the sacrifice on the cross. And now, as our great high priest, he has gone behind the curtain and we are waiting for his to appear the second time, not to bear sin, but the bring salvation to those who are waiting on him.

I want end by focusing with a word to two groups of people.

First, if you are a Christian I want you to think about v.14 which says How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! We serve God with a clear conscience. So stop beating yourself up for the sins in your past. Jesus has already forgive you. His blood guarantees it!

Second, if you are not a Christian I want you think about v.27. 27 … man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment … One day you are going to die and you are going to face the judgment. God’s going to call your name. What are going to say when he calls your name? I hope you will become a Christian now and when you face judgment you will say “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling. My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.” Stop procrastinating and make your decision today. Jesus will forgive you, give you a clear conscience and access to the God.

Please listen as the praise team sings this song. Sit quietly and worship. Think about the words as they present this song.

Prayer Time

Hebrews 8 - Jesus and His New Covenant

Faithful to Jesus (Part 9)
Hebrews 8
Jesus and His New Covenant
Jeff Garrett

During the next three weeks I am going to use the model of the temple on the stage as a prop for teaching Hebrews 8, 9 and 10. Three people have been working on this temple – Debbie Kirk, Harley Cremeans and Amy Kent. Let’s show our appreciation for their magnificent work. It is amazing!

We’re not going to go inside the tabernacle today. We’re going to go inside of the tabernacle next week because Hebrews 9 explains the furniture in the tabernacle. So, please don’t peak inside the door. Only Levites can touch the temple. Remember what happened to Uzzah.
The title of my lesson is Jesus and His New Covenant. Look at the first two verses.

Hebrews 8:1 The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.

A good preacher knows how do make a point. He sums up everything he’s said so far and he’s said a lot. Jesus is superior to the prophets, to angels, to Moses, to Joshua, to Aaron and all of his descendents who served as priests. Jesus is a high priest in the order of Melchizedek. We need a high priest who is holy, blameless and pure. We need a high priest who lives forever, a permanent priest in the heaven temple. And that’s the point of what we are saying. Jesus is our king and our great high priest.

3 Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. 4 If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already men who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. 5 They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."

6 But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises. 7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.
Hebrews 8 compares the old covenant with the new. It shows how the new covenant is better. I want you to see three important features of the old covenant. The first is …

The Tabernacle – The word tabernacle and sanctuary appears four times in verses 1-5.

v. 2 …[Jesus] serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man. …5 [Levitical priests] serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."

Notice the difference between these two tabernacles. One is on earth and the other is in heaven. The one on earth is a shadow. A shadow has no substance in itself, no independent existence or meaning apart from what is a shadow of. The tabernacle was a shadow of the true temple in heaven.

Look at it like this - The tabernacle in Israel was only a copy, a picture, or a model of the true tabernacle in heaven. It’s sort of like the model that we have on the stage. This is not the real tabernacle from Israel. It’s only a model. Debbie studied the pattern found in the Bible and made one like it. That’s what Moses did. God showed Moses the true tabernacle in heaven and he built a model of it.

Moses built the tabernacle exactly like God told him to. [pic of tabernacle] The tabernacle was 45 feet long, 15 feet wide, and 15 feet high. The interior was divided into two rooms. The first room was called the Holy Place. The Holy Place was 30 feet long and 15 feet wide. The inner room was called the Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies) and it was a perfect cube – 15 feet long, 15 feet wide and 15 feet high.

The tabernacle was a center piece for the old covenant. This is where they worshiped, the confessed their sins and atonement was made. This is where decisions were made. [pic of Israelite Camp and Tabernacle] The Israelites even camped around the tabernacle as the wandered through the wilderness. There were three tribes to the north, three tribes to the south, three tribes to the east, and three tribes to the west. And the tabernacle was in the center. The glory of God rested over the tabernacle.

Next week we will see what is in these two rooms. But for now, he wants us to understand that the tabernacle was merely a copy, a shadow of the true tabernacle in heaven. The second important feature of the old covenant was the law.

The law – 4 If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already men who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. God gave Moses the law on Mount Sinai. The law was the foundation of the old covenant. God said “If you fully obey my commands and keep my covenant I will bless you.” The condition of the covenant was obedience to the law. God thundered from Mount Sinai,

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the land of slavery”
You shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not bow down and worship any idol
You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy.
Honor your father and mother.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not give false testimony.
You shall not covet.

God said “If you keep my law you will be my treasured possession out of all the nations of the earth.” God engraved his laws on tablets of stone that were put in the ark of the covenant in the Most Holy Place of the tabernacle. Later Moses wrote the book of the law (i.e., the first five books of the Bible – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). When Moses read the law the Israelites they responded by saying “We will do everything written in the book of the law”. You might think Moses would have been happy with that response but he wasn’t. He told them they would not keep it. Moses said “If you rebelled against God while I am living what will you do when I am dead?” Moses called them a rebellious and stiff-necked people and he told the priest to put the law in the ark of the covenant and to keep it there as a testimony against them.

So the old covenant involved a tabernacle that was only a copy and a law that was a witness against them. The third important feature of the old covenant were the sacrifices made on the altar.

The sacrifices – 3 Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. 4 If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already men who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.
Leviticus 1-7 gave instructions for five major sacrifices which included: burnt offerings, grain offerings, fellowship offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings. The animals they sacrificed on the altar included bulls, rams, goats, lambs, and birds such as doves and pigeons. Grain offerings were made using grain, fine flour, olive oil, incense, and baked bread such as cakes and wafers, along with a drink offering.

In Numbers 7 Moses anointed and consecrated the altar and all it’s utensils. Aaron and his sons sacrificed animals 12 days straight. I was impressed by the total number of sacrifices made. One by one, for 12 consecutive days, the heads of each of the 12 tribes brought gifts and sacrifices to dedicate the altar and the temple. Numbers 7:87 tells us the total number of sacrifices that were offered when the altar and temple were dedicated.

Burnt offerings = 12 bulls, 12 rams, 12 lambs, 12 goats, together with the grain offering.
Fellowship offering – 24 oxen, 60 rams, 60 goats, 60 lambs.

Think of all the sacrifices and offerings that were made at the altar. If my calculation is right, the priests offered 252 animals in twelve days and that was just to dedicate the altar! When Solomon dedicated the temple 1 Kings 8:63 says that the priest offered 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats as sacrifices.

Thousands of animals were sacrificed on the altar but they could not atone for sin. Those sacrifices where only shadows that pointed to the perfect sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

This is why the old covenant is inferior to the new. It consisted of
a tabernacle that was only a copy,
a law that that was a witness against them,
sacrifices that could not atone for sin.

Verse 7 says that if there had been nothing wrong with it we would not need a new one. What was wrong with it? Well there was nothing wrong with the covenant itself. God found fault with the people (v.8). So he spoke about another covenant in Jeremiah 31.

"The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 9 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. 10 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11 No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

13 By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear. About five years after he wrote this sermon, in A.D. 70, the Romans destroyed the temple in Jerusalem. Just as Jesus predicted in Matthew 24, the Romans destroyed the temple and they did not leave one stone on top of the other. The soldiers separated the stones to steal the gold. Today, the old covenant is not only obsolete, it has literally disappeared and no sacrifice has been made at the temple in Jerusalem for over 2000 years.

The new covenant better than the old one.

Our high priest is superior. Jesus serves in the true tabernacle in heaven. The law is no longer against us because Jesus fulfilled it. The Holy Spirit writes God’s Law on our hearts and minds. We belong to God and God belongs to us. God forgives our wickedness and forgets our sins because of the blood of Jesus.

You are new covenant Christians but some of you are living with an old covenant mentality. You worry about your salvation as if it depended on your performance. You struggle with sin and temptation. When you do well you feel saved and when you sin you feel lost. You loose heart, you don’t feel like you belong to God, and you feel condemned because of sin. That’s a terrible way to live. Jesus does not want you to live that way. He loves you and wants you to know that you are saved regardless of your performance. It’s not like he wants you to perform poorly. He wants you to repent of sin and live for him but as you live for him he knows that you are going to fail and that’s why he died for you. Jesus will keep you saved through all of your failures and sins.

Prayer Time

I’m In …(Recommitment Sunday)

I’m In …(Recommitment Sunday)
Jeff Garrett

Let’s say our mission statement together … Our purpose is to know him, follow him, share him and worship him. Everything we do is focused on Jesus. Jesus is our Lord and Savior and today we are going to make four commitments in his name.

Commitment #1 – I will be faithful to Jesus -

To demonstrate our faithfulness to Jesus we want to be …

1. faithful in prayer (1 Thess 5:17)
2. diligent to study and apply God’s word (2 Tim 2:15)
3. confess our sins and repent (1 John 1:8-10).
4. find a place to serve (John 13:12-17)
5. be a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2).

We want to do these things because we love Jesus. Jesus said in John 14:23 "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Commitment #1 is – I will be faithful to Jesus.

Commitment #2 – I will love my church family.

Jesus said in John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Years later Peter said in 1 Peter 1:22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply. Peter also said in 1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.

Your most outstanding quality as a church is your love for Jesus and people. I know this first hand. I remember my first sermon. I was nervous as I told my story. But you open your arms and accepted me. Your love covered my sin - a multitude of sins and I thank God for you because you changed my life! I want everyone to experience God’s love.

As we recommit ourselves to love our church family we want to …
1. attend the assemblies (Hebrews 10:24-25) so we can encourage one another.
2. join a small group (Acts 20:20) so we connect with Jesus and people,
3. maintain our unity and allow nothing to divide us (Romans 14)
4. refuse to participate in grumbling and complaining (1 Cor 10:10)
5. build meaningful, deep relationships (1 Peter 1:22).

Commitment #3 – I will share Jesus with the lost.

Matthew 28: 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Our goal is to make disciples for Jesus. We will baptize them and teach them to observe everything Jesus has commanded. We don’t exist for ourselves. We don’t want to be a people that asked “What can the church do for me?”. We want to be a people who ask “What can we do for Jesus? We want to find powerful and relevant ways to get the church out of the building and be disciples in our communities. We are committed to be faithful to Jesus, to love our church family, and to share Jesus with the lost. I’m going to spend the rest of the lesson talking about commitment #4.

All four commitments are important. In fact, commitment #1 (faithful to Jesus) is foundation to the other three. I would love to spend equal time on each commitment but time will not allow it. The fourth part of this sermon simply takes more time to develop because you need to understand our current financial status and the new plan to move forward. Even though we spend less time discussing the first three commitments, I want you to remember that your faithfulness to Jesus, love for our church family and willingness to share Jesus with the lost is vital and essential. The first three provide the framework for the pressing matter the elders ask me to address.

Commitment #4 – I will give generously.

One month ago the elders called a meeting and informed the staff of the state of our finances. They asked the staff to develop a plan. Jeanie and Becky and Dan did most of the work but each staff member made important contributions to the new plan which is the result of much prayer and discussion. We presented the new plan to the elders and they approved it. Then we took it to the ministry leaders and they agreed with it. You can pick up a copy of the presentation we made after the service. I am going to briefly share a few points with you now. The old plan included six bank accounts.

OLD PLAN
Sonshiners
Bank Account
UFC Bank Account
General Church Bank Account
Youth Bank Account
Ladies’ M. Bank Account
Children M. Bank Account

Money had been budgeted for each of these bank accounts and people thought they were spending within their budget when there was actually a deficit. The old plan was done in good faith. The elders were able to use money from savings to compensate for the spending because some very generous people had willed large amounts of money to the church from their estates. That money is almost gone. We currently have about $830.70 in checking and $9,000 in savings. That may sound like a lot of money but it is not. Our current operating cost (salaries, pensions, insurance, liability insurance for the church and utilities) is $24,023 a month and our average weekly giving is only $23,833 a month. We need $5,500 every week just to cover our operating cost.

The first point of the new plan is that we currently have no money to budget beyond our operating cost.
Under this new plan all accounts will be closed by April 1st and we will have only one general bank account.

NEW PLAN
One General Checking Account & One Savings Account

There are many advantages to this new plan. First, it simplifies everything for our treasures Dan and Becky. Second, everyone will know the available balance and the limits. Third, with only one bank account, we have four layers of accountability which include one elder (Bill Wright), one staff (Jeanie, our office administrator), and two members (Donna Watson and Stewart Kaisar). Fourth, having only one bank account will enable us to build up the general fund.

This new plan gives us a fresh start. The good news is there is no debt. We don’t have much money but we don’t have any debt. We will decrease spending and wisely manage what God has given us. We are very optimistic about our bright future. God will bless us. Our church is very generous. You gave over $3000 for the Emmon’s Apartment fire. You have given special contributions to build a youth facility, a big stage with two screens and a studio. These special projects were paid for by special contributions. The elders did not use the general fund to pay for special projects. Some very generous people gave a lot of money to pay for these things and we will use it to glorify Christ. At this time we need special contributions to the general fund rather than special projects.

Somebody says “How are we going to minister? We don’t have any money? Are we just going to shut everything down?” No! Ministry will continue. We don’t need a lot of money to continue to minister for Jesus. Just think about all of the exciting things that we are doing. On March 5 the Sonshiners met at Golden Corral to eat together and Thursday they toured Hospice House together. Bob and Janet Dozier and Ralph and Dottie Larue pick up bread each Tuesday and Friday evening from Panera Bread and distribute it all over town for our bread ministry. Janet Dozier and her education team are having great success with our Sunday School classes. The Connect 4 Christ group continues to provide activities each month for their group---last month the ladies got together for a game of lazer tag. Today the Ladies Ministry is hosting a Bridal Shower for Christina Honaker and in a few weeks they’ll host another one for Tiffany Manning. On April 7 the Connect 4 Christ Group will host an Easter Egg Hunt for children. Small Groups are hosting a fellowship night on April 24th which will kick off a plan for the ‘National Day of Prayer’. Our teen ministry has a brand new Youth Center for activities and we have great youth sponsors who will continue to work with them until our new Youth Minister arrives. Jay and our campus group continues to meet Monday evenings for worship and their small groups meet at various locations around town at various times throughout the week.

We are reaching out just as much or more than we ever did and we are not spending money when we do these things.

But we still need to raise money for our general fund. If you’re visitor you may think “O’ no. This is my first time to visit this church and he’s asking for money.” Listen, we are not asking for your money. When we take up the offering don’t feel obligated to give. We are just happy you’re here.

I have avoided talking about giving money. In three years I have preached about 138 sermons. Do you know how many have focused on giving? Only one. One out of 138 sermons. After researching the subject I am convinced that I need to talk about it more. According to four different sources I discovered that Jesus talked more about money than he talked about prayer or heaven or hell. One out of every nine verses is related directly or indirectly to money. Thirty percent of his parables were about money. Money is a spiritual issue and since Jesus talked about it we must talk about.

First, we want you to have an opportunity to contribute to our special contribution on April 1st. Our leaders have already committed to give $8,900 and we are praying that you will give generously to our special contribution. The elders and staff want to be first to give and by giving this gift each of us are saying “I’m in!” We encourage you to do the same and make plans to give to our special contribution on April 1st.

Second, we are asking you to increase you weekly giving. Follow Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 and give money in keeping with your income. It is important that you give consistently, if you cannot be here one Sunday make up for it the next Sunday. We are coming up on summer and many of us are going to be on vacation and if we miss a Sunday it is important for all of us to make it up when we return.

Somebody says “How much should I give?” That’s between you and God. I cannot answer that question. Some of you are giving all you can give. If that is the case, don’t feel guilty that you can’t give more but some of you can give more.

Malachi 3:7 …Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty. "But you ask, 'How are we to return?' 8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

I want you to notice three words. The first word is “curse.” They were under a curse because they were robbing God of the tithe. God said bring the first ten percent to me and you will no longer be under a curse. It’s a lot better to live on 90% that is blessed than 100% that is cursed.

The second word is “bring.” He’s not talking about giving, he’s talking about bringing. Everything belongs to God so bring to God what belongs to him.

The third word is “test”. God challenged Israel to test him in this. God said, bring the whole tithe and I will pour out such a blessing you will not have enough room for it.

Somebody says, “I can’t bring ten percent. I need about 10 more percent to even pay my bills. Then start with a lower percentage and make it your goal to move up. As you grow in the grace of giving don’t force it or feel some compulsion. God loves a cheerful giver. God will bless you when you give responsibly and joyfully. But if you are stingy you will miss out on the blessing.

Last Monday Amber, Shayna and I went to Kroger’s. Amber asked for some money and she bought some gummy worms. Afterwards, I let Amber drive in an open parking lot. She did a good job driving and got back in the passenger’s seat and started eating her gummy worms. Shayna said “Amber, can I have some gummy worms?” Amber said “No.” Shayna said, “Come on give me some gummy worms.” Amber said, “No. I bought these gummy worms. They are mine.” Shayna said, “But dad gave you the money. Dad tell her to give me some gummy worms!” I said, “Amber, if you share I’ll buy some more but if you don’t share you’re probably not going to get any gummy worms for a while.” So Amber started sharing with Shayna. Then I told them I would pay the 50 cents each if they would let me use that story as an illustration in this Sunday’s sermon. So I owe each of them 50 cents.

We all have gummy worms. Some of us have a big bowl, others have a medium sized bowl and some of us have a little bag of gummy worms. No matter how big or small your pile of gummy worms are, God wants you to share. God said, “No man is to come before me empty handed.” If you bring what is his he will give you so many gummy worms you will not have room to store them.

I’m not talking about giving. I’m talking about bringing. Someone bring me a hundred dollars [Tori brings me a $100 bill]. Thank you Tori! Now, I didn’t really take Tori’s money. This is actually my $100 bill. Do you know why she brought it to me? Because it belongs to me. Everything we have belongs to God and God is asking you to bring his money.

Does anybody have a $10 bill? [Kim brings me a $10 bill]. Kim, I’ll give you $100 if you give me $10. Kim takes it and ask “Can I keep it?” Yes! Is that a good deal or what? Bring God the tithe and he will bless you with more. Kim, please put that in the offering. It was just an illustration and the church needs the money.

Jesus said in Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." If you sow sparingly you will reap sparingly. If you sow generously you will reap much more.

We want you to pray about two things this week. Pray about the special contribution and your weekly contribution on April 1st. Involve you children, pray together as a family, and make the commitment to give generously. Then, teach your children the principle of tithing every week. This morning we’ve made four commitments. As you repeat these statements, let it be your way of saying “Lord, I’m in!” Repeat after me.

I will be faithful to Jesus (echo).
I will love my church family (echo).
I will share Jesus with the lost (echo).
I will give generously (echo).

We are going to take up the offering at this time. Give generously. Show the Lord how much you love him. Give God your very best. God is not asking you to do anything that he hasn’t already done. God did not give you leftovers. God gave you the best! God gave his one and only Son. Jesus became poor so that you could be rich. Show your love to God now by giving generously.

Offering

Prayer Time

Hebrews 7 - Jesus is our Great High Priest

Faithful to Jesus (Part 8)
Hebrews 7
Jesus is our Great High Priest
Jeff Garrett

George and the youth worship leaders did a fantastic job leading worship last week. Let’s show them how much we appreciate them. Thank you George!

Next week is Recommitment Sunday.

I’m In … (Recommitment Sunday)
March 18, 2007
We are going to make four commitments.
Commitment #1 – I will be faithful to Jesus.
Commitment #2 – I will love my church family.
Commitment #3 – I will give generously.
Commitment #4 – I will share Jesus with the lost.

Let’s listen as Jay reads today’s passage - Hebrews 7. (Please record Jay as he reads)
I have titled today’s lesson Jesus is Our Great High Priest. The priesthood of Jesus has been mentioned in every chapter to this point.
Hebrews 1:3b After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (“Purification for sins” refers to Jesus’ priestly work.)

Hebrews 2:17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 3:1 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.

Hebrews 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

Hebrews 5: 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. 11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. After he reproves them for their stunted growth, he encourages them to move beyond the elementary truths and go on to maturity. Then he ends chapter 6 by giving them hope and talking about the certainty of God’s promise.

Hebrews 6:19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

So he’s talked about the priesthood of Jesus in every chapter thus far. It is a major theme and it occupies the largest section in the book. He has a lot to say so I’m going to spend four lessons talking about it. Here are my upcoming sermon titles.

Chapter 7 – Jesus is our great high priest (introduction to the priesthood)
Chapter 8 – Jesus and his new covenant (which is superior to the old covenant)
Chapter 9 – The blood of Jesus (explore the earthly tabernacle and blood sacrifice)
Chapter 10 – The sacrifice of Jesus. (veil will be torn & we’ll enter the Most Holy Place)

Hebrews 7 - 10 contains what the Hebrew preacher considers advance teaching for mature believers i.e., it is solid food for the mature. My goal is to make it simple and encouraging to everyone, regardless of your level of maturity. I want everyone to understand that Jesus is your high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

Who is Melchizedek? He was a king and priest who lived during the days of Abraham. Melchizedek is a type, a shadow, a model of Jesus Christ. His story is found in Genesis 14: 17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the (… King's Valley). 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

That’s how Hebrews 7:1-2 begins. Melchizedek was a king of Salem. “Salem” is a shortened form of Jerusalem and it is related to the Hebrew word for peace. So the name Melchizedek means “king of peace” and “king of righteousness” – just like Jesus who is the prince of peace and righteousness is the scepter of his kingdom.

v. 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever. Search the genealogies in Genesis and you will not find one for Melchizedek. Of course he had parents. He may have had children. He had a beginning and an end. But we have no record of it. We have no family tree. We have genealogies for Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph – but none for Melchizedek. So far as the record goes, he is without beginning of days or end of life – like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.

4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Melchizedek was greater than Abraham. The fact that Abraham gave a tithe to him and received a blessing from him means that he was greater than Abraham. It could even be said that Levi paid a tithe to Melchizedek because at that time he was still in Abraham’s body. So Melchizedek was not only greater than Abraham, he was also greater than all of Abraham’s descendents, including all the priests that came from the tribe of Levi.

That’s why there was God changed the priesthood and the law (v.11-12). Jesus is not a priest in the order of Aaron. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. Jesus has become priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of his indestructible life. That is why God declared v.17 "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." That quote is from Psalm 110:4. Jesus is the fulfillment of David’s prophecy that was made at the height of the Levitical Priesthood.

Psalm 110:1 The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."… 4 The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."

So v. 18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), …. There was nothing wrong with the law. It was weak and useless because we could not keep it. Jesus is the fulfillment of the law so it was set aside. With Jesus … a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, … . There was no divine oath associated with the Levitical Priesthood. But v.21 says that Jesus became a priest with an oath when God said: 21 … "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever.' " 22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
What’s better about it? I want to close with three words that describe your relationship with Jesus.

Permanent (Relationship) - 23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. There have been many priest. Many good ones. One of my favorite priest was Ezra. Ezra was one of the best priest in the Old Testament. I admire Ezra. There have been many priest but none of them held a permanent position because death prevented them from continuing in office. It’s hard for Gentiles to identify with this so I want you to think of a close relationship like a parent.

My dad was the best man I’ve ever known [picture of dad]. I wrote a song about him. It goes like this My daddy was a preacher, the spark of the family. And all my life he’s been my teacher, I’m finding it hard to get him all in me. O’ Country feeling. Fill me up let me sing my song. O’ Country feeling. Pick me up and take me home. My mother is a lady. She’s got more love than the world can hold. She gave me life and fed my body. Now with her life she feeds my soul. (Chorus).

Dad died in November 2000. We will see him again but for now, like so many priests and fathers and mothers and loved ones, death prevented them continuing in “office”. 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. You have a permanent relationship with Jesus. He’s never going to die. You’ll never loose your intimate relationship with Jesus. And he will even make it possible for you to see your loved ones again.
Personal (Relationship) 26 Such a high priest meets our need …. Jesus meets all your personal needs. The closest personal relationship I have ever had is with my wife Kim.
This week Kim and I will celebrate 22 years of marriage [pic of our wedding]. On March 15, 1985 Kim and I were married at the Sunshine Church of Christ in Minford Ohio.

The Bible says that Jesus is married to the church. He’s not only your high priest, he’s your husband. He meets all your needs. He knows you better than anyone. He loves you like know other person can live. Your relationship with Jesus is personal.

Perfect (Relationship) 26b one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Millions of people are searching for the perfect relationship. [picture of Neil Warren] Nobody knows this better than Dr. Neil Clark Warren who is the founder of eharmony.com. Millions of people visit his website, take his test which measures 21 dimensions of personality, in order to find a compatible mate. And many people have been successful. I know couples who met using eharmony.com.

This morning, however, we are offering you the perfect relationship with someone who is holy, blameless and pure. He loves you so much that he died for you on the cross [picture of the cross]. He offers a relationship that is permanent, personal and perfect.

Prayer Time

Hebrews 5:13-6:20 Grow up Like Jesus

Faithful to Jesus (Part 7)
Grow up Like Jesus
Hebrews 5:13-6:20
Jeff Garrett

Introduction - I want to begin by showing some baby pictures. The slides you are going to see are pictures of the people on the stage. Guess who are in these pictures.

Harley Cremeans. (baby pic then recent pic on my cue).
Bill Wright (baby pic then recent pic on my cue).
Paul Durst (baby pic then recent pic on my cue).
Bud Watson. (baby pic then recent pic on my cue).
Rodney May (baby pic then recent pic on my cue).
Jeff Garrett (baby pic then recent pic on my cue).

For most people the developmental process is natural and automatic so long as we maintain a good diet and exercise. When you take your children to the pediatrician they are weighed and measured and examined to make sure that they are maturing. [pic of Growth Chart] Pediatricians even have a growth chart to record their developmental progress. The pediatrician records their weight, length and the circumference of their head. If something interferes with the process of physical development we become concerned. [pic of Brendan’s head on Allen’s body] Would you be concerned if Brendan’s head were on Allen’s body? [pic of Allen’s head on Brendan’s body] Or if Allen’s head was on Brendan’s body? Yes! It’s easy to see that there is something terribly wrong with those pictures. This is what normal development looks like [pic of Brendan on Allen’s shoulders]. We are all familiar with human growth and development.

Three Stages of Spiritual Development [Lists all three at once]

Stage 1 - The Childhood of Faith. When we accept Christ we are born again and the Bible calls us “infants”. In order to grow up like Jesus we have to develop an appetite [pict of got milk] 1 Peter 2:2-3 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Stage 2 – The Adolescence of Faith. During adolescence we move beyond milk and we add meat to our diet [pic of where’s the beef]. Adolescence is a period of searching and questioning. At age 12, just before adolescence, Luke said “After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. (Luke 2:46) I have underlined four words: listening, questioning, understanding, and answers. I believe those four words summarize the developmental process during adolescence. Some believers never get beyond childhood because they fail to listen and ask questions. Their growth is stunted because their understanding is limited. But if we grow through adolescence we move into a higher stage of development.

Stage 3 – Mature Faith - Our ultimate goal is to grow up like Jesus … until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
(Ephesians 4:13-15)

Our Text Hebrews 5:11-6:20 - The passage we are studying today focuses on the problem of stunted growth. These Christians were infants when they should have been mature. He wanted to give them meat but they were still on milk. To this point in Hebrews we have seen that Jesus is superior to prophets, to angels, to Moses, to Joshua, and to Aaron. At this point he begins to focus on the priesthood of Jesus but it is advanced teaching that requires a level of maturity that they hadn’t reached.

Hebrews 5:11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so.

5:11 We have much to say about this. What is “this”? The previous verse tells you. Hebrews 4:10 [Jesus] was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. He’s got a lot to say about this because it’s so important and it’s impossible explain it briefly. He’s wants them to understand it but there’s a problem v.11 … it is hard to explain. Now, any advanced teaching may be difficult to explain for several reasons. One reason may be the complexity of the truth. A second reason may be that the teacher does not fully understand it or can’t find the words to explain it clearly. But that’s not the problem. He understands it completely and he knows how to explain it. The problem is in v.11 … it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn.

By this time they should have been able to teach others but they needed to be taught the ABCs of God’s word all over again. He said, “You need milk, not solid food!” People who live on milk are infants who really don’t know what is right. Solid food is for the mature who are trained to know right from wrong. He wants to give them advanced teaching about the priesthood of Jesus which would help them endure a crisis of persecution and apostasy, but they were not mature enough to receive it because they were stuck on the ABCs. That’s why he said to move beyond the elementary teachings and go on to maturity. Then he lists six elementary teachings they monotonously repeated.

Six Elementary Teachings
Repentance.
Faith in God.
Instruction about baptisms.
The laying on of hands.
The resurrection of the dead.
Eternal judgment.

Imagine you go to a restaurant after church and the waitress gives you a kids menu [pic of kids menu]. You say “I want the adult menu.” But she says, “I’m sorry that’s all we serve.” You say, “I don’t want corndogs or macaroni and cheese. I want a T-bone steak, bake potato with butter and green beans.” She says, “I’m sorry, that’s all we serve.”

That’s all this Hebrew church was serving. Stuff on the kids menu – elementary truths about faith, repentance, baptism, and eternal judgment. He says, “The foundation has already been laid and with God’s help, we will be faithful to it. But it’s time to grow up!” You need to understand that Jesus was the permanent High Priest. If all you talk about are the ABCs you’re not going to mature or be prepared for the temptations you are going to face. Some of your number are turning away from Christ and going back to Judaism. Your church is in crisis and the crisis you are facing is apostasy!

4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6 if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

In essence he said, if you keep repeating the elementary truths your going to loose people and your never going to get them back to Jesus. People who have seen the light, received the gift, have shared in the Holy Spirit, tasted the goodness of God’s word and experienced the powers of the coming age - these people already know all the elementary teachings. They’ve heard you talk about it so much they know what you’re going to say before you say it. Your not helping them. Your boring them. You’re killing them!

Imagine visiting the Catacomb Church of Christ in Rome [pic of catacomb] and you hear the leader ask for prayer request. Somebody raises their hand and says “Please pray for me, my property was just confiscated and we don’t have any place to live.” Another says, “My husband was just arrested and sent to prison because he is a Christian.” Another says “Please pray for me because I denied Christ by telling someone that Judaism was my religion.” Still another says “My daughter was tore apart by lions in the Roman coliseum because she was a Christian [pic of Roman Coliseum]. I can’t go on like this. Will somebody give me something more than these elementary things we learned in kindergarten? I need some hope! I need some solid food that will give me strength to endure this persecution.” But after the prayer a leader stands up and says my lesson is from Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized or you will receive eternal judgment.”
Have you ever had that happen. You are struggling with major life problems – marriage problems, child problems, money problems, job problems, depression, anxiety, guilt, addictions, temptations – but you go to church and hear the same basic lesson – faith, repentance, baptism, eternal judgment - over and over again. Don’t you feel like standing up and saying “Every body in this room has been baptized! You’ve already talked about it 17 times this year! Can’t you see we need something more than the ABCs? We just feel so weak and dry. If you give us living water we will drink it up!”

7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

That is the barren, bleak image of a congregation that never matures [pic of burned land]. There is no fruit. There is no vitality. No life. It’s just dead. And the people in it feel like it’s worthless. It’s useless. You keep talking about the same old things and it does not addressing any of the real concerns I have. So they fall away. And we’re so blind to our own immaturity and our only response is to blame them and continue to talk about the same elementary truths.
After a strong rebuke you need to come back with a positive affirmation. And that’s exactly what he does in v.9. He changes his tone. 9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation.

Isn’t that great? After he rebukes them, he encourages them. He calls them “dear friends” and tells them that he is confident they will do better.. And he gives two reasons for this confidence. First, in v.10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. You’ve done a lot of good and we want you continue to be diligent to the very end (v.11-12).

The second reason for his confidence is even better than the first because it is based on the irrevocable promise of God. 13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants." 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. God made a promise to Abraham, he sealed it with an oath and Abraham received what was promised. God has done the same for you.

16 Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things [a promise and an oath] in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.

I want you to take hold of the hope that God offers you so that you will be greatly encouraged this morning.

You may have not grown as you should. You may still be drinking milk when you should be on solid food. You should be able to teach others. You’ve got some growing to do and I am confident that God will bless you and help you mature.

If you have sinned God promised to forgive you. If you have problems in your marriage, problems with your children, problems with your finances, if you have doubts or fears or depression or guilt – bring it all to Jesus. It doesn’t matter what you are facing or how bad it is –we can have confidence because God promised that he will take care of us.

19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

Now he’s back to what he wants to talk about. He has a lot to say so I have to spend four Sundays explaining it. In chapter 7 we will see how Jesus is a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. In chapters 8, 9, and 10 we will learn about the significance of the heavenly temple where Jesus serves as high priest. To illustrate this Debbie and Harley are going to build a temple which I will use as a prop to explain how the temple on earth related to the one in heaven where Jesus serves as high priest. And you will see how knowing this gives you strength to handle your problems.

The objective of this lesson was to encourage you to grow up like Jesus. Do you remember the beginning of the lesson when I talked about the physician’s growth chart [pic of growth chart]. This morning the great physician is examining your growth. What would Jesus say about your spiritual development? What stage are you in? The Childhood of Faith? The Adolescence of Faith? Mature Faith? I don’t know what stage you’re in but I’m sure we all have at least one thing in common. We all want to grow up like Jesus. And we need motivation to grow. I want to end by saying the greatest motivation to mature is love. When you understand how much Jesus loves you then you will be motivated to love him more. God’s love makes you want to grow up like Jesus.

Amazing Love (Jeff sings and plays guitar)
I'm forgiven, because You were forsaken I'm accepted, You were condemned I'm alive and well, Your Spirit is within me Because you died and rose again Amazing love, how can it be That You my king would die for me? Amazing love, I know it's true And It's my joy to honor You In all I do, I honor You You are my king, You are my king Jesus, You are my king, Jesus, You are my king

Prayer Time

Hebrews 4:14-5:10 Jesus Understands Your Problems

Faithful to Jesus (Part 6)
Jesus Understands Your Problems
Hebrews 4:14-5:10
Jeff Garrett

Jay Barrow reads Hebrews 4:14-5:10

Imagine that you are a 12 year old Jewish boy. For a week your family has have been preparing to go to Jerusalem for the Day of Atonement. You wake up early and you start the journey up to Jerusalem. The roads are crowded with people who are making the same trip. Children are playing and running and families are traveling together – all your aunts and uncles and cousins and friends are walking together. You get to camp out because it’s a two day journey from your home.

When you get near Jerusalem the road becomes more congested. You start climbing up the ascent and the people start singing the psalms of the ascent. There are certain psalms (Psalm 120-134) called psalms of the ascent. And when you start climbing up the ascent towards Jerusalem people just spontaneously start singing. Your favorite is …
Psalm 121:1 I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; ... 8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

And as you sing you climb the hills and make that final turn in the road and there she sits – Jerusalem! And everybody sings …

Psalm 122:1 I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD." 2 Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem. 4 That is where the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, to praise the name of the LORD … 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you be secure. 7 May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels." 8 For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, "Peace be within you."
You’ve known those psalms all your life but they are so meaningful as you sing together.
Finally, you find a place to set up camp. You help put up the tent. During night you see camp fires all around the city. Thousands of people have made this pilgrimage. They came to worship the Lord and the city is so full of people that you have to camp outside the city.
There are a million people and no one is eating food (Lev 15:29). You asked, “Dad can I have something to eat? I’m hungry!” “No son. Today we must fast and tomorrow is the Day of Atonement.

Early in the morning you walk into Jerusalem and head toward the temple. The city is overcrowded – it’s packed with people You turn a corner and you see the temple. You hear the sound of trumpets and a shoafer. You smell the aroma of sacrifice.

You walk through courtyards. The court of Gentiles. The court of women – that’s where you leave your mother and sisters. But you and your father walk into the inner courtyard which is filled with men and their sons. You see an altar, fire, blood.

And then, one priest comes out wearing a special robe. You say, “Dad, who is that?” “That’s the high priest. He is appointed by God. No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.

“So he’s really important?” you ask. “Yes son, he’s a very important man. He represents us in matters related to God, to offers gifts and sacrifices. He is the only man who can enter the Most Holy Place to make atonement for our sins.

You watch as the high priest makes a sacrifice. And you asked “Is that sacrifice for us?” “No son, that sacrifice is for him.” “You mean he sins too?” you ask. “Yes, he is a sinner like us. That’s why 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. He understands our problems because he’s just like us.

You watch the High Priest sacrifice a bull and a ram. He made atonement for himself and his family (Leviticus 16:6) and then for the people. He took two male goats and he cast lots for the goats – one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat. He slaughtered one goat and offered it to the Lord. Then he took his censer full of burning coals and fragrant incense and he carried blood of the bull and the goat behind the curtain and he sprinkled it with his fingers on the mercy seat. Then he came back out and put some blood on the horns of the altar. And he placed his hands on the head of the other goat and he confessed the sins of the Israelites on the head of that goat and sent it away in the desert. You witnessed that year after year. The high priest was a central figure in your life. He was your representative to God.

That is a picture of what Christ did for us but Jesus did what no other high priest has ever been able to do. He did not offer the blood of animals. He offered his own blood when he died on the cross. He became our Great High Priest. And the temple he entered was not the one on earth. Our Great High Priest has gone through the heavens!

Jesus has gone through the heavens to the real temple - Hebrews 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

The faith that we profess is in the one that we confess. Let’s make the good confession this morning. Repeat after me.

I believe with all my heart (echo).
That Jesus Christ is the Son of God (echo).
He died for my sins and rose from the grave (echo).
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior (echo).

Hold on firmly … When you face temptation. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
What temptations are you facing right now? Some of you are struggling with pride. Others are struggling with lust. Some of you may be struggling with fornication or a sinful relationship – your getting too close to someone. Some are struggling with pornography. Some of you are struggling with drugs or alcohol. Perhaps your struggling with pride or jealousy. Some of you complain and grumble. Or your heart is filled with pride. And your tempted. Some of you have crossed the line and you think there’s no hope.

But that’s not true. Jesus made atonement for your sins my his own blood. He didn’t offer the blood of an animal. We are not cleansed by the blood of animals. We are cleansed once and for all by the precious blood of Jesus.

And we have a high priest who can sympathize with our weakness because he has been tempted in every way just like we are – yet he was without sin. But if you have sinned against the Lord you should approach to the throne of grace with confidence. Notice, you are not approaching a throne of judgment and condemnation. You are approaching the throne of grace and you will receive mercy and find grace in your time of need. And you need his grace right now!
That’s how much confidence you can have in our Great High Priest!

Hold on firmly when you suffer - 7 During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Some of you are going through a Gethsemane experience. You’re suffering. You didn’t do anything wrong. You’re suffering for another reason. You may be suffering because of someone else’s sin. You may be suffering because someone you love is terminally ill. Perhaps you are ill and you’re facing serious health problems. Maybe it’s financial problems. Or perhaps someone broke your heart. And you pray with loud cries and tears.

Jesus knows what that’s like. He understands your problems. He’s been there. he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. He learned obedience from the things that he suffered and he became the source of eternal life for all who obey him. He was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Jesus understands your problems and he can do something about it. Jesus will forgive your sins, give you eternal life, put you in a family of believers who will love you and support you and encourage you and lift you up when you’re down. So let’s hold on firmly to the faith that we profess. We have a high priest that can sympathize with all our weaknesses and problems.

Prayer Time

Hebrews 4:1-13 - Rest in Jesus

Faithful to Jesus (Part 5)
Rest in Jesus
Hebrews 4:1-13
Jeff Garrett

I want you to imagine that we’re standing on the bank of the River Jordan. On the other side of that river is the Promised Land. A land that flows with milk and honey. God promised that you could enter that land and live there. He’s prepared a place for you to live. You’ll live in houses that you did not build. You’ll eat from gardens that you did not plant. It’s a land of rest. Now its not the kind of rest where you take a break and do nothing. It is a battle field. You’re going to have to fight in order to take it. So he’s talking about a spiritual rest.

The rest God calls you to enter is not your rest, but his, which he invites you to share in. You have no problem understanding this concept. It may be ambiguous to some people who have never been in the wilderness. But you know exactly what God means when he invites you into his rest.

All you’ve ever known is the restlessness of the wilderness. You want to enter God’s rest and it’s not going to be easy. There is a river to cross. There are walls that need to be broken and there are giants to kill.

So we’re standing on the bank of the Jordan separated by a river of difficulty and there are giants in the land. You’re in a war! But God gives your rest, a spiritual rest that makes you strong and powerful and confident. You’re not scared and faithless and paralyzed. You’re not going to chicken out. You’re parents did. That’s why you spent 40 years in the wilderness! 40 years of hot rock. 40 years of digging graves. 40 years of judgment.

Somebody says “Well let’s just stay right here and look at the land” but you can’t stand still. There are only two ways to move. You move forward in faith or backward in disobedience but there is no stand still. And there’s no way you are going to go backwards. You’ve learned from a bad example. You are ready to enter God’s rest and you know the promise still stands (v.1).

1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. The promise of entering God’s rest is still good and we need to be careful so we don’t fall short of it. The word’s “be careful” acturally mean “to fear”. We should fear God because we are in the same spot they were. We’ve heard the good news just like that did. It didn’t do them a bit of good because they did not have any faith. But we have faith (v. 3).

3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, "So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.' The emphasis is on the words “my rest.” This is God’s rest. God created the world in six days and v.4 "on the seventh day God rested from all his work." 5 And again in the passage above he says, "They shall never enter my rest." 6 It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. 7 Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.
12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Three things jump off the page when I read that passage and they all center on God. God’s rest (v.3). God’s voice (v.7), and God’s eyes (v13).

It’s all about God. And we’re standing on the bank of the river looking at God’s rest. You hear God’s voice. He’s calling you today so do not harden you’re hearts. Make every effort to enter God’s rest when you hear God voice because God’s eyes are penetrating. He’s sees you inside out. You can’t fake it.

God’ word is living and active, and sharp as a two-edged sword. It penetrates so deep that it exposes your thoughts and attitudes and motives. Nothing is hidden from God’s eyes. So here we are, standing on the banks of the Jordan and our hearts are uncovered and exposed to his sight. What does God see when he looks in your heart?

You say, “He see sees my sin. He knows my thoughts and motives. He’s sees everything that I’ve done. I’ll bet he doesn’t want me to enter.

Yes he does. He’s calling you. He’ll forgive you. God did not free you from slavery to be stuck in the wilderness. But there is a river to cross, there are walls to break down, and there are giants to kill. So you have to be strong and courageous.

Do you remember what God told Joshua? God said, “Moses is dead. Now, get ready to lead these people across the Jordan. I will give you every place you sit your foot. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so shall I be with you. I will never leave you or forsake you.

Joshua 1: 6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. …8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, …. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

A river to cross - So Joshua brought the people to the Jordan. That’s where you’re standing. Some of you are facing a river of difficulty. The current is fast, the river is wide, it looks impossible to cross. You think, “We’ll never get across that river.” But then you hear God’s voice Isaiah 43:2 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

So together, by faith, we step into the river. And just like in Joshua’s day, as soon as we step into the river, the water is cut off and we walk across on dry ground. I’ve been singing that song.
God will make a wayWhere there seems to be no wayHe works in ways we cannot see He will make a way for me He will be my guide Hold me closely to His side With love and strength for each new day He will make a way He will make a way

So we cross the river on dry ground and we meet the next obstacle.

Walls to break down. The walls of Jericho were large and fortified. Sort of like some of the walls that you face. Walls are erected in marriages and relationships. Walls that separate. Walls that must be broken down. But before you can break down the walls you have to be strengthened by worship.

Joshua 5:13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" 14 "Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?" 15 The commander of the LORD's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.

You can’t break down walls until you kneel down in worship. Worship is the key because the battle is the Lord’s. He’s the commander – you’re not. Notice, Joshua ask “Are you for us or them?” I expected him to say “I am for you Joshua!” But that’s not what he said. When Joshua asked “Are you for us or them?” He said, “Neither. But as the commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” The question is not “Is the Lord on our side?” The question is “Are we on the Lord’s side?” because the battle is the Lords. And when we are on the Lord’s side. The walls come tumbling down! The Lord will break down every wall!

Giants to kill. You’ve crossed the river of difficulty. You’ve broke down the walls of separation. But now, you turn to the north and you turn to the south and you realize that there are giants in the land.

Giant size problems in your family, in your relationships, in your finances, and giants that threaten your children. You’re facing giants like addiction or bitterness or anxiety or depression. They won’t back down. You have to face them but you can’t rely on your own strength. If you go in your own strength you’ll loose. If you chicken out you will never know rest, you will only know regret and restlessness. You want be able to rest when you lay down to rest because your heart will be filled with regret or fear.

But you have heard God’s voice and you rest in God’s power to strengthen you. It’s all about God. God’s voice. God’s rest. God’s eyes. God’s word. God’s power. It’s just like what David said when he faced down his giant. He wasn’t intimidated because he had his eyes fixed on the Lord. David said “You come against me with a spear and a sword and a javelin. But I come against in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will give you into my hands and I will strike you down and cut your head off (that’s my favorite part!) and the world will know that there is a God in Israel for the battle is the Lord’s! And David killed that 9’ 6” giant with a little rock and cut his head off!

That story is in the Bible for a reason. It tells us that God wants to kill every giant in your life but you have to rest in his power.

Now, we’ve crossed over the river and we’ve broken down the walls and we’ve killed the giants, but there are a thousand more battles to fight.

I have know idea what rivers or walls or giant you will face in the future but here are two things you need to rest in God’s power.

1. Faith - 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

2. Confidence -16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Prayer Time

Hebrews 3 - Fix Your Thoughts on Jesus

Faithful to Jesus (Part 4)
Fix Your Thoughts on Jesus
Hebrew 3
Jeff Garrett

Hebrews 3 read by Susie May.

In chapter 1 we learned that Jesus is superior to prophets and angels. In chapter 2 we learned that Jesus became human so that he could destroy the devil, so that he could become our merciful and faithful high priest and so that he might make atonement for our sins. And now, both the one who makes men holy (that’s Jesus) and those who are made holy (that’s us) are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers.

3:1 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. Fix your thoughts on Jesus in his role as the apostle …. This is the only place in the Bible where the title “apostle” is given to Jesus. When we hear the word “apostle” we think of “the Twelve”. But the word “apostle” simply means “one who is sent” and it’s used in a general way to refer to people like Barnabas (Acts 14:14). But here, in Hebrews 3:1 Jesus is called God’s apostle, the one sent to give God’s final word. Jesus is also called the high priest whom we confess. As high priest Jesus represents us to God and he makes atonement for our sins. So as the apostle, Jesus is God’s representative to man. As our high priest, Jesus is man’s representative to God. The only mediator between God and man is the man Jesus.

2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God's house. Jesus and Moses have many things in common, two of which are highlighted in verse 2. Both Jesus and Moses were appointed by God and both were faithful to God.

I love the story of Moses. God appointed Moses at the burning bush. God said, “Go to Egypt [pic of Egypt] and tell Pharaoh to let my people go.” Pharaoh’s heart was hard so God sent terrible plagues of blood, frogs, gnats, flies, he killed their livestock, inflicted them with boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and finally the death of all the firstborn in Egypt. Moses told the Hebrews to kill a lamb and paint their doorpost with blood and everyone under the blood would be saved. That night the death angel came and killed every firstborn in Egypt and the cry was so great that Pharaoh let the Hebrew slaves go. So Moses led the entire nation out of Egyptian bondage.

They left Egypt with great possessions and got as far as the Red Sea when Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his army after them. When the Israelites saw the Egyptian army they panicked. Then Moses said to the people, “Do you see these Egyptians? You will never see them again. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.” The waters parted and as they walked through the water, Paul said, they were all baptized into Moses (1 Corinthians 10:2). When the Egyptians followed them the sea collapsed and killed them all. All that was left were dead soldiers washed up on the shore of the Red Sea. Moses led them to [pic] Mount Sinai where they received the 10 commandments. Moses delivered them from slavery, destroyed their enemy, gave them the law, and they were ready to enter the Promised Land. They were on the banks of the Jordan River.

Moses sent 12 men to explored the land and 10 came back with this report (Numbers 13:27): "The flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. … 30 Caleb said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." But the other 10 spies spread a bad report among the Israelites. They said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are. There are giants in the land. We look like grasshoppers compared to them.”

Numbers 14: 1 That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. 2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and … said …, "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! 3 Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?" And they talked about stoning Moses and choosing another leader to go back to Egypt.

10 … Then the glory of the LORD appeared… 11 The LORD said to Moses, "How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them? God was ready to kill them all and start over with Moses. But Moses, faithful to his appointed position, interceded and asked God to forgive them. Numbers 14:20 The LORD replied, "I have forgiven them, as you asked. 21 Nevertheless, as surely as I live … 22 not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I performed … but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times- 23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it.

God turned them back into the wilderness for 38 years and an entire generation died because of their unbelief. That is exactly what Hebrews 3:16-18 is referring to when he ask five questions. Hebrews 3:16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. God said, “I cannot work with people who don’t believe me.” And the same is true today.

Jesus is like Moses. However, v.3 Jesus is as much superior to Moses as builders are to houses, as sons are to servants. Moses was a servant in God’s house but Jesus Christ is the Son over God’s house. The word “house” does not refer to a physical building, it refers to God’s household, God’s people. 6 … And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

Don’t loose your courage. Don’t loose your hope. Think of it this way. Jesus, like Moses, led a great exodus out of slavery to sin and death. Jesus is our Passover lamb and everybody under his blood is safe. Jesus led us to the water and we were baptized into him and we are standing on the bank of the Jordan looking at the Promised Land. We are his household, if we hold on to our courage and our hope.

Yet, when put to the test, when God asks us to lay hold of the giants in our life, those giants of anxiety or fear or bitterness or jealousy or addiction and all the other things that steal our hope – we loose our courage. Our thoughts are distorted because we are preoccupied with our problems. We don’t have our thoughts fixed on Jesus. We have your thoughts fixed on our problems.

You think about it all the time and the more you think about your problems the bigger they grow. Your problems are like giants and you feel like a grasshopper. Giant size problems at work, problems at home, problems in marriage, problems with your children, problems in your relationships or with your finances. It just looks impossible. You say “I can’t make it. It’s hopeless. I might as well quit. I might as well go back to Egypt.”

When your thoughts are distorted your heart gets hard and you grumble and complain and spread bad reports among God’s people. “We’ll never make it. It’s too difficult. Let’s retreat and go back.” Go back to what? Slavery? The wilderness? I don’t want to wonder in the wilderness of sin. I don’t want to wonder in the wilderness of religion. We’ve been in the wilderness too long. I say we move forward. I can’t go back and neither can you!

3: 12 See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. The living God is bigger and more powerful than any giant you will ever face. So don’t turn away. Move forward. And as you move forward you need to do three things.

Fix your thoughts on Jesus (v.1b) He's the centerpiece of everything we believe. Think about him. Focus on him. Let your thought-life be centered on Jesus. 2 Corinthians 10:5 we take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. Think about who he is, what he has done, and what he is currently doing. You don’t have to make it up just think about what Hebrews has said about Jesus.

Think about who he is – Jesus is the Son, he is God, he is Lord. Jesus is your brother, the author of salvation, the apostle and high preist. He is superior to prophets, to angels, and to Moses. Think about who he is and then …

Think about what he has done – he created all things, he upholds all things, he is the heir of all things, his death and resurrection, and he provided purification for your sins. After you think about who he is and what he has done …

Think about what he is doing now – as he sits at God’s right hand waiting to crush his enemies. As he intercedes for you with such mercy and understanding. As he sustains everything he has created by the power of his word and one day it will wear out like a garment and he will roll it up like a robe but he remains the same and he will never, never change!

Fix your thoughts on Jesus. Any one of those ideas could occupy your mind for days and you will never get tired of thinking about him. Fix your thoughts on Jesus and your problems will shrink. His power surpasses every power in every realm. For instance, consider the fact that Jesus is the creator.

[pic of our galaxy – the milky way] – Look at this picture of our galaxy. There are about 100 billion stars in our galaxy alone. Imagine 100 billion stars in one picture! Dr. David Block – an astrophysicists – calculated that if you started counting the stars in our galaxy and you counted one star per second, you would be here for 2,500 years counting just those stars. Jesus made all over them! He calls them by name (Psalm 147:4)! If Christ has the power to create and sustain the universe, his power is sufficient to deal with you problems.

Guard your heart - 7 So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, 9 where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. 10 That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, 'Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.' 11 So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.' "

Encourage one another daily – 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.

There are so many things that discourage us. Discouragement comes from disappointment and criticism and hardships. You can’t reach the Promised Land unless you go through the wilderness. You are going to face giants in your marriage, with your children, in your school, at your work, with your health, and every where else you go.

So, we need to encourage one another daily, as long as it is called TODAY. Today is the day of salvation. Today is the day of opportunity, but it will not go on indefinitely.

So we must encourage one another daily. Some of you discourage other people daily. You’re negative. You’re always criticizing and finding fault and grumbling and complaining. Complain about your family and your work and the nation and the church – you complain about it every day. Stop doing that. He didn’t say to discourage one another daily. He said to encourage on another daily.

Say, I know it’s hard but we are going to make it. Yes, there’s giants in the land but God will crush them all. Nothing will defeat us. Nothing can separate us. Nothing will make us turn our backs on Jesus.

Speak words of faith to yourself and to one another. Then, as your faith grows, when you hear God’s voice your heart will be soft and receptive and obedient. You’ll face tough times but they won’t last. Tough times don’t last but tough people do. Jesus makes you tough. Jesus gives you courage and confidence. Jesus will led you to the Promised Land where you can enter into his rest. Come back next week and hear about that!

But this morning, some of you need to come forward and say “I want to fix my thoughts on Jesus”. I’ve become so preoccupied with my problem. I need help with my thought-life. Some of you need to ask God to give you a soft heart. You’re heart is becoming hard and cynical. Others of you need to ask God to help you stop complaining and grumbling and discouraging others. Some of you need to be encouraged and affirmed. You need that because you beat your self up and your mind is filled with fear and doubts. Some of you just need encouragement and affirmation. You need to say “Lord, I’m really struggling and I’m discouraged. I need my brothers and sisters to encourage me daily.” Come now.

Prayer Time.