Sermon
Worshiping a Holy God (Hebrews 12:18-29)
Publisher transcript
Transcript
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I want to start off with just kind of an observation and a question that maybe some of you can relate with or at least have heard.
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! Has anyone ever heard someone say something along the lines?
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Now again, I'm not saying you have said this. I'm saying maybe you've heard somebody say this.
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Something along the lines, well, I don't really care for the Old Testament.
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There's too much violence there. I prefer the New Testament.
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In the New Testament, God is more loving than the Old Testament.
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In the Old Testament, He's quick to judge and swift to justice.
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In the New Testament, He's much more lenient and forgiving and patient with us.
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Has anybody ever heard somebody say that?
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I think we've all heard people say that.
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A lot of times we start comparing God of the Old Testament to the God of the New Testament as there's somebody different.
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And we start thinking of it kind of along the lines of our parents when they become grandparents.
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You know, as parents, they didn't let us get away with very much.
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But for some reason, my kids can get away with so much.
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I don't know how many times I've said, I would have never gotten away with that.
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I would never have been able to do that.
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And if we're not careful, sometimes when we start reading God's Word and we start hearing other people say things about God, that's where our mind can often go.
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We start telling ourselves these different things.
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The problem with this thinking when it comes to God is it's not true.
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In fact, it would be heretical to say that God is changing through our time.
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We believe the Bible clearly teaches the immutability of God, meaning that He doesn't change.
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His character never changes.
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His promises never change.
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His nature never changes.
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His love never changes.
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He is perfect.
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He is God.
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That is who He is.
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In fact, when we look at different passages, for example, in James chapter 1, we're told,
James 1 chapter mention
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Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
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Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
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Next week, when we get into Hebrews chapter 13 and finish up the book of Hebrews next week, we're going to see Hebrews 13.8,
Hebrews 13 chapter mention
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where it says Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
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However, understanding the immutability of God will be very helpful as we take a look at this week's passage,
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as we understand the tail end of Hebrews chapter 12 here, making our way into the final chapter.
Hebrews 12 chapter mention
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And so if you have a copy of God's Word, I want to invite you to follow along with me.
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Open up to Hebrews chapter 12 and follow along as we read verses 18 through 29.
Hebrews 12 chapter mention
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This is what the Word of the Lord says.
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It says,
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Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said,
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I tremble with fear.
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But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,
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and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all,
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and to the spirits of righteousness made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant,
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and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
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See that you do not refuse him who is speaking.
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For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth,
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much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.
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At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised.
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Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.
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This phrase, yet once more, indicates the removal of things that are shaken.
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That is, things that have been made in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.
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Therefore, let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,
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and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and all,
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for our God is a consuming fire.
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Now I believe the main idea the author is trying to communicate to us from this passage
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is that we serve a holy and just God.
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His holiness and justice prevents sin from coming into his presence,
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but Jesus makes a way.
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And so my hope and prayer, the main thing that I want us to see today
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is that God is still holy and perfect.
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Our sin still separates us from him,
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but Jesus still makes a way.
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And so this understanding will lead us to a heart of thankfulness
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and a heart of worship.
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And so to help us understand this this morning,
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I want us to begin by answering a very important question.
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I want us to start by answering a very important question
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that we must all be able to answer in our lives,
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and it is this.
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How can we confidently approach God?
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How can we confidently approach God?
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And we see this from verses 18 through 24 that we just read.
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And in here you have the tale of two mountains.
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You have this understanding of Mount Sinai,
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and then you also have the understanding of Mount Zion.
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And Mount Sinai, to understand this,
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to understand what the author is trying to communicate to us here
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in Hebrews chapter 12 about Mount Sinai,
Hebrews 12 chapter mention
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we really must go back to Exodus chapter 19 to understand this.
Exodus 19 chapter mention
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In fact, I would encourage you this afternoon,
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as we leave here, go back and read Exodus 19,
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and then in light of that, read through Exodus 12.
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But as we read in Exodus 19,
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Moses was going to Sinai,
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and he gave strict rules as to what should take place
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when God appears there.
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They were told,
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do not go near the mountain.
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Don't even approach it,
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not even to the edge of it.
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And if someone does,
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then they will be put to death.
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Also, there will be an earthquake.
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A thick cloud will circle it,
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and there will be thunder and lightning,
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the sound of trumpets,
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and the Lord will descend as fire with great smoke.
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And so there was much to do about this.
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In all of this,
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God was explaining and establishing very clearly
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in their hearts that he is a holy God.
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He is righteous.
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He is perfect.
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We don't treat him casually.
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We don't talk about him flippantly.
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We come to him understanding who he is,
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that he is God and we are not.
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They caught a glimpse of his glory,
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and it caused them to better understand
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his holiness and their sinfulness.
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It says,
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if even a beast touches the mountain,
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it shall be stoned.
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What we are to see from this is
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that because of our sin,
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God is unapproachable.
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Because of our sin,
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God is unapproachable.
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In our sinfulness,
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we cannot come into the presence of God.
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We,
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because of our sin,
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can't approach a holy and perfect God.
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But there's another mountain in this story.
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There's another mountain that we must consider,
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Mount Zion.
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And the author has let us know
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that they are coming to a different mountain.
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Mount Zion,
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that represents God's dwelling.
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The difference now is that this mountain,
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at this mountain,
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he is approachable.
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He is no less holy,
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no less just,
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no less righteous.
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But here on this mountain,
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there's a picture of joy.
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There's a picture of singing.
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We're told that the angels are in festal gathering.
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There's now a picture of celebration.
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Celebration for those who are enrolled in heaven,
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it says in verse 23.
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There's a role written in the Lamb's book of life.
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And because of Jesus,
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our names can be written on this role.
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That's why we sing,
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when the role is called up yonder,
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I'll be what?
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Be there.
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If our names are written in the Lamb's book of life,
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then we will be there with Jesus.
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We can come into his presence,
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not on our own doing,
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but on Christ's doing.
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The contrast of these two mountains
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is not given to paint a picture of a changing God,
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but rather to show how God and God alone can make a way.
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If a person ran back to Sinai,
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as opposed to running to Christ,
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then they would be left with only animal sacrifices
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to stand between them and a holy God.
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And we already know from what the author has told us in Hebrews
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that it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats
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to take away sins.
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And so Michael Kruger, reflecting on this notes,
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he says,
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in effect then,
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to reject Christ
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and return to the old covenant
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would be attempting to draw near to God
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in one's own strength
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and one's own merits.
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This would enslave a person to law keeping
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as a basis for their acceptance,
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which inevitably would lead to a lack of assurance
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and peace.
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We don't go back and try to do this on our own.
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We don't look back and say,
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you know what?
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Jesus, what you did was great,
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but I need to add to that a little bit.
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We don't look back and say,
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you know what?
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Thank you, Jesus, for what you did,
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but I need to make sure that I keep doing this
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and keep living this life
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so that I can keep having acceptance.
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acceptance.
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That's not understanding the gospel.
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What this is very clearly showing is
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there's only one way to the Father,
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and that is through Jesus,
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by placing our faith and our trust in Him.
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And if we're trying to do this on our own,
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if we're trying to live a good enough life
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to be accepted,
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it will never, ever work.
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And so what this does,
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Mount Zion,
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I may remind you of how unholy you are,
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but Mount Zion is where you find
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that you have been made perfect.
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And so how is it
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that the same God can be so terrifying
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and unapproachable at Mount Sinai
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and be so welcoming and approachable at Zion?
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Well, the answer is found in verse 24.
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The answer is found in verse 24.
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In fact, all of this,
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what we're talking about,
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comes to a head as we look at verse 24.
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All of this is possible in Jesus
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because He is the mediator of a new covenant.
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And to the sprinkled blood
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that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
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The reason that we, sinful people,
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can come into the presence of a holy and just God
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is because Jesus is our mediator.
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If we are believers,
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if we are followers of Christ,
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He is our mediator,
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and that is the only way
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that we can come into the presence of a holy God
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because He, Christ,
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has given us His righteousness.
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And so that when God looks at us,
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He no longer sees that sin and that shame,
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but He sees His Son's perfect and holy life
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given in our place.
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And so how does Jesus' blood
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speak a better word than the blood of Abel?
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How does Jesus' blood speak a better word
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than the blood of Abel?
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Do you remember the story of Cain and Abel?
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Going back to Genesis chapter 4,
Genesis 4 chapter mention
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in this story,
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Cain and Abel are both making offerings to the Lord.
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Abel gives of the first fruit,
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the firstborn.
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He gives the very best that he has
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as an offering to God.
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And Cain gives some of the leftovers.
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He still gives the offering there,
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but he gives out of the leftovers,
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not out of the first.
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And so God, in this,
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He accepts Abel's offering
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and He rejects Cain's.
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Well, of course, this makes Cain upset.
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And so Cain goes out
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and then kills his brother Abel.
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And so right after this takes place,
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in Genesis chapter 4,
Genesis 4 chapter mention
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we're able to see God's interaction with Cain.
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And he comes to him in verse 10 of Genesis 4,
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and he says,
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And the Lord said,
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What have you done?
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The voice of your brother's blood
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is crying to me from the ground.
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And so what we see here
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is that Abel's blood is crying out to God
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from the ground,
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is crying out to him.
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Abel's blood cried out from the ground
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for vengeance,
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for judgment,
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for justice.
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But now Jesus' blood cries out
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that the judgment,
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the wrath,
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the justice of God
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has been perfectly satisfied.
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And we hear clearly the love,
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the grace,
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and mercy of a God
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who is perfect in His love,
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who is perfect in His justice,
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who is perfect in His mercy,
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who is perfect in His righteous wrath.
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At the cross,
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we see God's justice,
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His wrath,
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His mercy,
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His grace,
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His love,
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all coming together.
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And so the voice we hear
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calling from the cross
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is one of God's riches
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at Christ's expense.
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The message we hear at the cross
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is of God's grace and mercy.
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The question we must all answer is this,
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have we received this call?
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Have we put our faith
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and our trust in this call?
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Are we still going
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to try to do this on our own?
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Are we trying to be good enough?
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Or are we boldly
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and confidently
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coming before God
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not because of what we have done,
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but because of what Christ has done for us?
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And so as we answer this question,
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how can we confidently approach God,
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we see the author giving us
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a very important warning here.
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We see the author bringing this home for us
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for just a moment where he says this.
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Basically what he's saying,
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after understanding this,
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he says,
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don't miss this.
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Don't miss this.
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Don't miss the gospel.
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Don't miss God's grace.
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Don't miss this understanding.
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Verse 25 says this.
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He says,
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See that you do not refuse him
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who is speaking.
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For if they did not escape
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when they refused him
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who warned them on earth,
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much less will we escape
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if we reject him
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who warns from heaven.
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This passage is giving us
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a strong word of caution.
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The warning lets us know
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that we must not neglect
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the gospel of Christ
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and refuse to hear God's word.
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is a direct warning
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that we must take to heart.
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That we must not dismiss
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but genuinely take to heart.
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You see,
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throughout Hebrews,
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as we've noted,
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the author has been clear
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that God has spoken
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through his son.
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In the very first chapter of Hebrews,
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we're told very clearly
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that God has spoken to us
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through his son.
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And this saving message
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is not one that we can ignore.
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And so why is this so important?
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Because if this is ignored,
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if we don't take seriously
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what God has done for us,
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if we fail to understand
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that we are all sinners
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and that we need Jesus,
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then judgment will come.
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To help us see this,
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the author brings our attention
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back to Mount Sinai another time.
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Despite all of the frightening sights
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and sounds
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that the people experienced there
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as God descended on Mount Sinai,
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the people refused.
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It says here,
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they refused him
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who warned them on earth
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and God was faithful
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to his promise
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and they did not escape
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his judgment.
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He then brings this home
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for the original audience
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and I think for us today as well.
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His argument is simple.
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If God held people accountable
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when on earth,
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when they were warned here on earth,
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how much more will he hold us accountable
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when warned from heaven?
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You see, the passage tells us
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there will be a time
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when our faith is made very clear.
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It says in verse 26 and 27,
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At that time,
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his voice shook,
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but now he has promised,
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yet once more,
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I will shake not only the earth
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but also the heavens.
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This phrase,
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yet once more,
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indicates the removal of things
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that are shaken,
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that is things that have been made,
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in order that the things
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that cannot be shaken
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may remain.
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He is saying that there was a shaking
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at Mount Sinai,
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but there will be a greater shaking
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when we must make sure
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that our foundation,
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what we are building our lives on
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as believers,
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is secure in Christ Jesus.
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There was a shaking at Mount Sinai.
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There's going to be a greater shaking
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where we must make sure
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that our salvation,
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that our foundation in this life
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is built on Christ Jesus.
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But here's the thing about foundations.
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Foundations.
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Foundations are not easily seen.
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Foundations are hard for us
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to see at times.
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In fact,
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nobody goes into
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a building of historical nature
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like the Biltmore House
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or the Sistine Chapel
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or Buckingham Palace.
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Nobody walks into these iconic places
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and says,
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wow,
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look at the foundation of this place.
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Nobody says that
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because you can't see the foundation.
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You can't see what it's built on.
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You see the fruit of what it's built on.
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You see the building that it's built on.
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But you can't see the foundation itself.
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It's hard to tell.
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It's hard to see the foundation.
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Yet,
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without a firm foundation,
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the building will never last.
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And the truth of the matter is
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that this is often the case
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in our lives as well.
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Each and every one of us,
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if enough people are looking at our lives,
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if enough people are watching us,
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each and every one of us
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can probably do the right thing
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most of the time.
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We can look the part
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if everybody's looking at us.
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We know the right things to say.
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We know how we should act.
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So,
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if everybody's looking at us,
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we can look the part.
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But that's not what we're talking about.
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Salvation doesn't come
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from fooling everyone around you
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by looking the part.
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It comes from placing your faith
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and trust in Jesus
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to do what you couldn't do.
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You see,
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Jesus gave a very similar warning
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at the end of the Sermon on the Mount.
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Jesus was giving this message
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to a group of people
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that were showing interest in Him.
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At the Sermon on the Mount,
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Jesus is preaching
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to all of these
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that are gathered there to listen.
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And all of these people
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are interested in Him.
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All of these people
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want to hear what Jesus has to say.
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There's a lot of interest
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that they're showing in Jesus.
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And so,
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He was speaking to a group of people
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that claim to love Him
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and His words,
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that on the outside,
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everyone's looks the same.
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And so,
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He doesn't look in one direction
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they're preaching
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and say,
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you know what?
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This group of people,
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y'all built your house
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on the firm foundation.
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You built your house
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on the rock.
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You're the ones
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that when the storm comes
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and when everything happens,
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your foundation
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will remain secure.
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He doesn't look out
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at one group of people
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and say this
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and then walk over
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to another group of people
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who are living sinful lives.
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And I'm not saying
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you're living sinful lives over here.
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I'm just making a distinction.
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He doesn't go over
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to another group
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and say,
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well,
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you're building your house
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on the sand.
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Your foundation is not secure.
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When the storm comes,
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your house will fall.
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He's looking out
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at a group of people
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that on the outside,
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everybody looks the same.
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Everybody appears
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to be the same.
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He does
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what every preacher
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in the world
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does every week.
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He looks out
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at a group of people
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that are there
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because they choose
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to be there.
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That listen
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to the words of God
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and on the outside,
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they look identical.
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And He says,
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the wise person
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hears these words of mine
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and does them.
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And the foolish person
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hears these words of mine
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and does not do them.
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Both have come
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to hear the word,
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but only one
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actually does them.
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You see,
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there's going to be
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another shaking.
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A storm
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where our foundation
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will be put to the test.
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If we reject
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the message
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of the gospel,
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then we will rightly
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experience
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the wrath of God.
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And so as your pastor,
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I urge you
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to clearly hear
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the message
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of the gospel.
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But not just hear it,
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but believe it.
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To trust it.
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Don't try to
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look the part.
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Don't try to
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fool yourself
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or fool those around you
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by looking the part.
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Because here's the thing,
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you're going to be able
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to fool me pretty easily.
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You're going to be able
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to fool others
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around you pretty easily.
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You may even at times
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be able to fool yourself.
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But what we're saying
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is if you're putting
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your faith
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and your trust
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and doing enough,
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being enough,
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going back to living
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a good enough life
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and trying to
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do it yourself
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and not looking
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to Jesus,
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then this warning
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is for you.
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You've got to put
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your faith
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and your trust
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in Him.
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So the question
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we must ask,
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do we believe this?
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If this is something
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that you need
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to get right
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and get done,
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then make sure
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that it happens today.
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None of us
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are promised tomorrow.
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So let us put our faith
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and our trust in Jesus.
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But in addition
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to this warning,
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we see the results
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of a life
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that is fixed on Jesus.
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And so we're answering
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the question,
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how can we
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confidently approach God?
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And the only answer
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to that is if Jesus Christ
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is our mediator.
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The author says,
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hey,
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don't miss this.
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Don't try to skip
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this part.
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Don't miss the gospel.
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But then what we finally see
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is worship
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is the result
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of a relationship
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with Jesus.
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Worship
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is the product
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of a relationship
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with Jesus.
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Listen to verses 28
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and 29.
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Therefore,
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let us be grateful
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for receiving a kingdom
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that cannot be shaken.
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And thus,
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let us offer to God
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acceptable worship
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with reverence
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and awe
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for our God
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is a consuming fire.
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The first thing
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that the author
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tells us here
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in this passage
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is understanding
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who Jesus is
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and what he's done
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for us
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will lead
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to a life
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of thankfulness.
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It will lead us
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to being thankful.
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And thankfulness
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is the mark
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of a believer.
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And a lack
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of thankfulness
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is a mark
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of an unbeliever.
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If you think about it,
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when we truly
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understand the gospel
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message
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that we are sinners
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and that there's nothing
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that we can do
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to save ourselves
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and that God
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left the glory
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of heaven,
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lived the life
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we couldn't live,
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died the death
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that we deserve,
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then we can't
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truly understand
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that without being
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thankful to God.
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Without saying,
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praise God,
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you did
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what I couldn't do.
-
I would have
-
no hope
-
outside of you.
-
Thank you,
-
Jesus,
-
for the blood.
-
Thank you
-
for what you
-
have accomplished
-
for me.
-
And so,
-
understanding this
-
leads to a life
-
of thankfulness.
-
But the next thing
-
the author tells us
-
to do
-
is to worship.
-
And I also believe
-
that the order
-
is significant here.
-
We're thankful
-
for this gospel message.
-
We're thankful
-
for what it means
-
for us.
-
And out of that
-
thankful heart,
-
we understand
-
that we naturally
-
move to worship God.
-
And so,
-
worship is the result
-
of a relationship
-
with Jesus.
-
Worship is the result
-
of a relationship
-
with Him.
-
And when you look
-
at the creation,
-
this all makes sense.
-
When you go back
-
to God's creation
-
back in Genesis,
-
this makes sense.
-
When God created
-
Adam and Eve,
-
we are told that
-
He placed Adam and Eve
-
in the garden
-
to work it
-
and to keep it.
-
To work it
-
and to keep it.
-
John Salehammer,
-
a Hebrew scholar,
-
he notes that
-
these same words
-
that are translated here
-
as to work it
-
and keep it
-
are used in other places
-
typically
-
in the life
-
of the priest
-
in the temple
-
when they are working
-
and keeping
-
in the temple.
-
And so,
-
in those places,
-
oftentimes,
-
it's translated
-
as worship
-
and obeying.
-
And so,
-
what we see
-
from the very beginning
-
is that we were created
-
to work it
-
and to keep it
-
to worship
-
and obey God.
-
We were all created
-
for worship.
-
Sin, however,
-
destroyed our relationship
-
with God
-
and we began
-
to worship
-
other things.
-
Now,
-
we still did
-
what we were created.
-
We still do
-
what we were created for.
-
We worship,
-
but now,
-
the object
-
of our worship
-
changes.
-
Romans 1, 25
-
says
-
that we have
-
exchanged the truth
-
about God
-
for a lie
-
and worshipped
-
and served
-
the creature
-
rather than
-
the creator
-
who is blessed
-
forever.
-
You see,
-
we all worship.
-
The question
-
that we must ask
-
is what
-
or whom
-
are we worshiping?
-
And oftentimes,
-
in our minds,
-
we tend
-
to think
-
of worship
-
in only terms
-
of singing
-
or what we do
-
when we come
-
to church
-
church.
-
There's no doubt
-
that when we sing,
-
when we open up
-
our hymnals
-
and we sing
-
praises to God,
-
that is worship.
-
No doubt about that.
-
But worship
-
should be an act
-
of our lives.
-
We should be giving
-
our lives to God
-
in worship.
-
Years ago
-
when I was a
-
youth pastor,
-
and that's hard
-
for me to say sometimes,
-
years ago
-
when I was a youth pastor,
-
it seems like
-
just yesterday,
-
but years ago
-
when I was a youth pastor,
-
one of the things
-
that we did
-
every single fall
-
is we took the kids
-
on a retreat
-
and we called
-
this retreat
-
Live to Worship.
-
And the whole point
-
of this retreat
-
was for us
-
to see our lives
-
as an act
-
of worship.
-
Sometimes I would have
-
Clay come
-
and lead worship,
-
lead songs.
-
Sometimes we intentionally
-
didn't do that
-
because we wanted
-
to make the point
-
very clear
-
that life
-
is worship.
-
And so what we
-
understand is that
-
as believers,
-
the way that we
-
interact at work
-
is worship.
-
The way that we
-
do our jobs
-
should be worship.
-
The way that we
-
love our spouse
-
should be worship.
-
The way that we
-
raise our kids
-
should be worship.
-
The way that we
-
honor our father
-
and mother
-
should be worship.
-
The way that we
-
drive our cars,
-
the way that we
-
live our lives,
-
everything
-
should be worship
-
to God.
-
It's not something
-
we turn on
-
and we turn off.
-
But during this
-
retreat one year
-
at Lived Worship,
-
we had everyone
-
take an idolatry
-
detector test,
-
an idolatry
-
detection test.
-
It went along
-
with a Bible study
-
that some of our
-
youth were doing
-
at the time
-
and we thought
-
it would be a
-
great thing
-
for everybody
-
to do.
-
And so what we
-
did was we had
-
everybody in the room
-
and we started
-
asking some
-
fill-in-the-blank
-
responses and
-
some questions
-
that would help
-
us to see
-
what it is
-
that we put
-
an emphasis
-
on in our
-
lives.
-
And so here's
-
a few of those
-
things that we
-
asked them.
-
The first was
-
a fill-in-the-blank
-
and it was this,
-
the thing I'd be
-
most worried
-
about losing
-
is blank.
-
The thing that
-
I'd be most
-
worried about losing
-
is blank.
-
What would you
-
put in that blank?
-
What would you
-
put in that spot?
-
The next was
-
the thing I'd
-
be most worried
-
about never
-
attaining is
-
blank.
-
What is it that
-
you're giving
-
your life to
-
getting?
-
What is it that
-
you're trying to
-
attain in this
-
life that you're
-
spending all of
-
your time and all
-
of your resources
-
on?
-
What would you
-
put in that
-
fill-in-the-blank?
-
The question
-
that we had them
-
ask is throughout
-
your life,
-
what have you
-
been most willing
-
to sacrifice
-
for?
-
You see,
-
worship and
-
sacrifice always
-
go hand in
-
hand.
-
You're willing
-
to sacrifice
-
to gain whatever
-
is most valuable
-
to you.
-
You're willing
-
to give things
-
up if there's
-
something that
-
you're going
-
to gain that
-
is better than
-
what you're
-
giving up.
-
We're all
-
willing to
-
sacrifice in
-
order to gain
-
something that
-
we see as
-
more valuable.
-
And so,
-
how would you
-
answer that
-
question?
-
Another one,
-
what has made
-
you most bitter
-
in life?
-
Bitterness almost
-
always points to
-
something that has
-
a great weight
-
in our life
-
that we've missed
-
out on.
-
What is it that
-
we're holding
-
on to saying,
-
if this just
-
hadn't happened,
-
if this person
-
hadn't said this,
-
if they hadn't
-
done that,
-
then my life
-
would be great.
-
Is there something
-
that you're holding
-
on to that is
-
causing this
-
bitterness?
-
Or here's a
-
tough one.
-
What are you
-
willing to lie
-
for?
-
What are you
-
willing to lie
-
for?
-
Most of us
-
don't lie
-
for the fun
-
of it.
-
Most of us
-
understand that's
-
not a good
-
thing.
-
Usually,
-
when you lie,
-
it's because
-
you're protecting
-
an idol,
-
like your
-
reputation
-
or your
-
comfort.
-
So what is it
-
that you're
-
willing to
-
lie for?
-
And then
-
finally,
-
a question to
-
think about
-
is this,
-
where do you
-
turn for
-
comfort?
-
comfort?
-
Where do you
-
turn for
-
comfort?
-
If the day
-
has been long
-
and hard
-
and stressful
-
and it's just
-
one of those
-
days,
-
where do you
-
turn to
-
make it
-
better?
-
Where do you
-
turn to
-
take your
-
mind off
-
of the
-
difficulties,
-
the stress,
-
and the
-
heartache
-
that you
-
have been
-
experiencing?
-
And so as
-
we answer
-
these questions,
-
as we fill
-
in these
-
blanks,
-
it sheds
-
some light
-
onto the
-
things that
-
are most
-
important
-
to us.
-
These are
-
all tough
-
questions that
-
ultimately
-
are difficult
-
for us
-
to answer.
-
But really
-
what this
-
all boils
-
down to
-
is this,
-
is you
-
will worship,
-
you will
-
go after,
-
you will
-
seek,
-
you will
-
go and
-
try to
-
find whatever
-
it is that
-
is most
-
valuable to
-
you.
-
You will
-
pursue,
-
you will
-
go after
-
your greatest
-
treasure.
-
And so
-
ultimately
-
what this
-
is showing
-
us is that
-
Jesus is
-
our greatest
-
treasure.
-
Understanding
-
who he is,
-
that he's
-
the only
-
one that
-
can bring
-
us into
-
the presence
-
of a holy
-
and just
-
and perfect
-
God,
-
understanding
-
that there
-
is no
-
other way
-
apart from
-
Jesus,
-
will help
-
us to see
-
him as
-
our greatest
-
treasure.
-
And as we
-
see Jesus
-
as our
-
greatest
-
treasure,
-
then all
-
of a sudden
-
our lives
-
fall in line.
-
All of a
-
sudden we
-
go after,
-
we pursue,
-
we worship
-
him because
-
he is of
-
utmost value
-
to us.
-
And so
-
the question
-
that we
-
must all
-
ask is,
-
what is it
-
that you're
-
going after?
-
Who is it
-
that you're
-
seeking?
-
Have you
-
placed your
-
faith and
-
your trust
-
in Jesus
-
to do
-
what only
-
he could
-
do to
-
save you
-
from your
-
sins?
-
Father,
-
we thank
-
you so
-
very much
-
for this
-
passage,
-
Lord,
-
a passage
-
that causes
-
us to
-
look to
-
the past
-
as we
-
look to
-
the future,
-
a passage
-
that calls
-
us to
-
look at
-
what it
-
is that
-
you've done
-
for us,
-
how there's
-
no hope
-
on our
-
own,
-
we can't
-
do this
-
on our
-
own,
-
we can't
-
live a
-
good enough
-
life,
-
we can't
-
do all
-
of these
-
things,
-
Lord,
-
but you
-
made a
-
way.
-
And so,
-
Lord,
-
I pray
-
that there's
-
someone here
-
today,
-
maybe it's
-
their first
-
time that
-
they've ever
-
been in
-
this service,
-
maybe it's
-
their thousandth
-
time,
-
but maybe
-
they're realizing
-
today for
-
the first
-
time that
-
they've been
-
trying to
-
save
-
themselves,
-
they've been
-
putting their
-
confidence,
-
their trust,
-
in being good
-
enough,
-
doing enough
-
good,
-
coming to
-
church enough,
-
tithing enough,
-
praying enough,
-
doing all of
-
these things,
-
and today
-
they realize
-
that the only
-
hope we have
-
in this life
-
and the life
-
to come is
-
in the precious
-
blood of
-
Jesus.
-
So,
-
Lord,
-
help us to
-
see that
-
clearly today.
-
Help us to
-
not miss
-
this.
-
Help us not
-
to just skip
-
over this
-
vital truth
-
to our faith
-
and to grow
-
deeper into
-
it.
-
And,
-
Lord,
-
I pray that
-
for the rest
-
of us,
-
as we clearly
-
see who
-
you are,
-
as we
-
clearly see
-
what you've
-
done for
-
us,
-
it will lead
-
to a heart
-
that desires
-
to worship
-
you with
-
everything we
-
have.
-
It leads us
-
to a heart
-
that says,
-
Lord,
-
here's my
-
life,
-
take it
-
and use
-
it for
-
your honor
-
and for
-
your glory.
-
And so,
-
Lord,
-
we ask all
-
these things
-
in Jesus'
-
precious name.
-
Amen.
-
Amen.
-
I want to
-
invite you
-
to take
-
your
-
Baptist hymnal
-
and turn
-
to hymn
-
number
-
363,
-
let others
-
see Jesus
-
in you.
-
If the
-
Lord is
-
speaking to
-
you this
-
morning,
-
won't you
-
respond as
-
we stand
-
together
-
and sing?