WEBVTT 00:00:01.230 --> 00:00:01.780 00:00:03.830 --> 00:00:04.562 God's good. 00:00:04.616 --> 00:00:05.662 He supplies. 00:00:05.806 --> 00:00:07.000 That's why today's message. 00:00:07.000 --> 00:00:09.310 More about what can you count on? 00:00:09.990 --> 00:00:12.434 What can you know for a fact? 00:00:12.552 --> 00:00:13.096 All right, 00:00:13.096 --> 00:00:15.510 we're going to talk about that in a few minutes, 00:00:15.510 --> 00:00:19.090 because as I read the passages, 00:00:19.510 --> 00:00:21.566 as I outline the passages, 00:00:21.678 --> 00:00:26.982 as I seek to understand what God is revealing to us of himself, 00:00:27.046 --> 00:00:30.624 remember, the word of God is the revelation of God himself to us. 00:00:30.624 --> 00:00:32.576 And so as we study the word of God, 00:00:32.576 --> 00:00:34.448 what we get a glimpse of, 00:00:34.448 --> 00:00:36.416 what we see in the word of God, 00:00:36.416 --> 00:00:37.638 is God himself. 00:00:37.814 --> 00:00:42.890 And so we've been calling the messages the object of our faith. 00:00:43.050 --> 00:00:44.484 And now we've got a new. 00:00:44.484 --> 00:00:48.084 These are new now because now they've got scripture on the back to kind 00:00:48.084 --> 00:00:53.242 of give you the focal point of it that we get to follow after Jesus. 00:00:53.306 --> 00:00:56.472 And so I'm excited about what God's doing as we make our way through 00:00:56.472 --> 00:00:58.014 Hebrews. Hope you're studying. 00:00:58.062 --> 00:00:58.718 Hope you're reading. 00:00:58.718 --> 00:00:59.608 Hope you're praying about it. 00:00:59.608 --> 00:01:01.214 So let's read Hebrews, 00:01:01.262 --> 00:01:02.734 chapter 214 to 18. 00:01:02.782 --> 00:01:03.772 Here we go. 00:01:04.550 --> 00:01:07.958 Now, since the children have flesh and blood in common, 00:01:08.044 --> 00:01:10.914 Jesus also shared in these so that through his death, 00:01:10.914 --> 00:01:13.666 he might destroy the one holding the power of death, 00:01:13.666 --> 00:01:14.326 that is, 00:01:14.364 --> 00:01:15.154 the devil, 00:01:15.282 --> 00:01:18.988 and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of 00:01:18.988 --> 00:01:22.502 death. For it is clear that he does not reach out to help angels, 00:01:22.502 --> 00:01:24.152 but to help Abraham's offspring. 00:01:24.182 --> 00:01:27.648 Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way so 00:01:27.648 --> 00:01:31.558 that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters 00:01:31.558 --> 00:01:32.436 pertaining to God, 00:01:32.436 --> 00:01:35.028 to make atonement for the sins of the people. 00:01:35.028 --> 00:01:37.658 For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, 00:01:37.658 --> 00:01:40.858 he is able to help those who are tempted. 00:01:40.954 --> 00:01:41.614 All right, 00:01:41.668 --> 00:01:42.628 pray with me. 00:01:42.628 --> 00:01:43.924 Father, we thank you for your word. 00:01:43.924 --> 00:01:44.424 And we thank you, 00:01:44.424 --> 00:01:47.064 God, that indeed you are showing us yourself. 00:01:48.310 --> 00:01:50.488 God, you want us to know you better. 00:01:50.488 --> 00:01:53.458 God, you want us to draw near to you. 00:01:53.112 --> 00:01:55.550 God, you want us to abide in your presence. 00:01:55.550 --> 00:01:58.428 God, you want us to reach out and cry out to you. 00:01:58.428 --> 00:01:58.892 And, God, 00:01:58.892 --> 00:02:00.892 I'm so grateful for what you've shown us, 00:02:00.892 --> 00:02:04.192 but what you teach us as we study your word, 00:02:04.252 --> 00:02:04.892 because, God, 00:02:04.892 --> 00:02:06.860 you have indeed shown us yourself. 00:02:06.860 --> 00:02:07.212 And so, 00:02:07.212 --> 00:02:08.202 God, as we. 00:02:08.364 --> 00:02:10.344 God, help us to pay attention. 00:02:11.390 --> 00:02:15.062 God, help us to see that which we would not see ordinarily. 00:02:15.062 --> 00:02:18.368 God, we pray by your spirit that you would fill us up in a way, 00:02:18.368 --> 00:02:24.270 God, that we would be able to understand our heavenly Father, 00:02:25.010 --> 00:02:26.314 our joint heir, 00:02:26.442 --> 00:02:29.214 Jesus. And God, 00:02:29.252 --> 00:02:34.850 your spirit that fills us and empowers us and guides and convicts. 00:02:35.350 --> 00:02:38.418 God, help us to see you today. 00:02:38.584 --> 00:02:40.564 We pray it in Jesus name. 00:02:40.120 --> 00:02:43.750 Amen. One other thing I meant to mention this morning is, 00:02:43.928 --> 00:02:45.032 well, let me mention this, 00:02:45.032 --> 00:02:47.294 too. I know this is like more announcements. 00:02:47.294 --> 00:02:48.414 Don't forget these cards. 00:02:48.414 --> 00:02:50.092 This is how you can communicate with us. 00:02:49.868 --> 00:02:50.572 Fill these out. 00:02:50.572 --> 00:02:54.012 If you want to get the daily devotional gathering in the words. 00:02:54.012 --> 00:02:55.196 You can check that little box, 00:02:55.196 --> 00:02:57.180 or if you want to get the right now media link, 00:02:57.180 --> 00:02:58.124 check that box. 00:02:58.124 --> 00:03:01.710 You drop these cards in the white boxes by the door. 00:03:01.710 --> 00:03:03.318 If you want to give by envelope, 00:03:03.318 --> 00:03:05.248 those envelopes are in the backs of the seat. 00:03:05.078 --> 00:03:07.306 This is an opportunity for you, 00:03:07.328 --> 00:03:08.346 if you're interested, 00:03:08.528 --> 00:03:11.770 and it's entitled just explore homeschooling. 00:03:11.850 --> 00:03:15.150 It's a workshop that's going to be held Saturday here. 00:03:15.188 --> 00:03:17.594 Curious about or currently homeschooling. 00:03:17.642 --> 00:03:18.180 Need support. 00:03:18.180 --> 00:03:18.840 Need help? 00:03:18.692 --> 00:03:21.332 It's just an opportunity to find some help. 00:03:21.650 --> 00:03:22.586 Marianne Orr. 00:03:22.618 --> 00:03:23.614 Some of y'all know Marianne. 00:03:23.614 --> 00:03:25.202 Marianne was homeschooling before. 00:03:25.256 --> 00:03:26.660 Homeschooling was cool. 00:03:27.350 --> 00:03:31.368 And so she and I met a few weeks ago and she said she'd really like to 00:03:31.368 --> 00:03:32.766 just get homeschoolers, 00:03:32.878 --> 00:03:36.514 homeschool families together and just talk and find out what resources 00:03:36.562 --> 00:03:38.940 and helps that she might be able to provide. 00:03:38.940 --> 00:03:40.590 And so that's an opportunity. 00:03:40.636 --> 00:03:43.936 They've got this information out at the desk out there. 00:03:44.010 --> 00:03:44.774 Last thing. 00:03:44.812 --> 00:03:45.494 You ready? 00:03:45.612 --> 00:03:46.860 Joy's back. 00:03:48.990 --> 00:03:51.456 Joy moved away from us a few years ago, 00:03:51.456 --> 00:03:54.256 but she's come back to worship with us this morning, 00:03:54.256 --> 00:03:55.530 and that's exciting. 00:03:56.590 --> 00:03:57.910 What do we know? 00:03:58.670 --> 00:04:00.080 What do we know about. 00:04:00.080 --> 00:04:00.736 Well, no, 00:04:00.736 --> 00:04:02.660 let's just ask this question in general. 00:04:02.660 --> 00:04:04.640 What do we know about anything, 00:04:05.250 --> 00:04:05.662 right? 00:04:05.716 --> 00:04:05.988 I mean, 00:04:05.988 --> 00:04:07.268 you look at the world around you. 00:04:07.268 --> 00:04:10.238 Is there anything that we can count on anymore? 00:04:11.890 --> 00:04:13.092 I look at stuff around, 00:04:13.092 --> 00:04:13.448 I go, 00:04:13.448 --> 00:04:14.980 okay, you know what? 00:04:15.430 --> 00:04:18.158 I'm going to just use a very simple illustration. 00:04:18.158 --> 00:04:20.494 If I drive to this gas station, 00:04:20.542 --> 00:04:23.182 I know it's going to be the cheapest. 00:04:24.150 --> 00:04:25.380 No, it's not. 00:04:25.750 --> 00:04:29.110 They'll jack it up ten cents because it's Thursday, 00:04:29.690 --> 00:04:30.680 right? I mean, 00:04:30.764 --> 00:04:32.092 what can we count on? 00:04:32.092 --> 00:04:34.162 Well, as we study the book of Hebrews, 00:04:34.162 --> 00:04:35.708 there's some things that we can count on. 00:04:35.708 --> 00:04:36.924 Well, first of all, 00:04:36.924 --> 00:04:37.868 I've shared with you, 00:04:37.868 --> 00:04:40.028 we're not really sure who wrote the book of Hebrews. 00:04:39.858 --> 00:04:42.342 There are some people who are convinced might be Paul. 00:04:42.342 --> 00:04:43.718 Some say it could be Barnabas. 00:04:43.718 --> 00:04:44.582 Some say Apollo. 00:04:44.582 --> 00:04:46.528 Some say it could be some collection of them. 00:04:46.528 --> 00:04:48.128 Eli threw out one to me yesterday. 00:04:47.958 --> 00:04:50.268 What if it's Paul writing to James? 00:04:51.710 --> 00:04:52.416 I was like, 00:04:52.416 --> 00:04:53.412 where'd you get that from? 00:04:53.412 --> 00:04:54.004 He said, 00:04:54.004 --> 00:04:54.994 I don't know. 00:04:56.050 --> 00:04:57.460 So we're not really sure. 00:04:57.460 --> 00:04:57.764 I mean, 00:04:57.764 --> 00:05:00.618 there are some people that are heavily under the conviction that it's 00:05:00.618 --> 00:05:00.948 Paul. 00:05:00.922 --> 00:05:03.416 There are other scholars who look at the greek and all that and say, 00:05:03.416 --> 00:05:04.328 I don't think so. 00:05:04.328 --> 00:05:05.182 Who's the audience? 00:05:05.182 --> 00:05:10.418 The audience is obviously people who are knowledgeable and familiar with 00:05:10.504 --> 00:05:12.260 hebrew culture and history, 00:05:12.630 --> 00:05:15.294 but they're obviously christians who have trusted Jesus. 00:05:15.342 --> 00:05:19.852 But there seems to be some question as to what are they holding to. 00:05:19.852 --> 00:05:21.628 Are they holding to their christian faith? 00:05:21.442 --> 00:05:25.132 Are they looking forward to going back to a hebrew standard of law and 00:05:25.132 --> 00:05:26.396 rules and all that? 00:05:26.396 --> 00:05:27.408 So the writer is saying, 00:05:27.408 --> 00:05:29.210 look, Jesus is it, 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:30.742 Jesus is superior. 00:05:30.806 --> 00:05:32.874 Jesus is the end all be. 00:05:32.992 --> 00:05:36.060 Jesus is the superior message of God to us. 00:05:36.670 --> 00:05:38.400 Nothing that you've known in the past, 00:05:38.400 --> 00:05:42.320 nothing that you've known before is what Jesus is. 00:05:43.970 --> 00:05:46.196 The book of Hebrews teaches us these things. 00:05:46.196 --> 00:05:47.470 God has spoken. 00:05:48.370 --> 00:05:49.722 God spoke through prophets, 00:05:49.786 --> 00:05:51.390 God spoke through angels. 00:05:52.290 --> 00:05:53.496 But in these days, 00:05:53.496 --> 00:05:55.256 God has spoken through his son, 00:05:55.256 --> 00:05:57.860 who is heir of all things. 00:05:58.710 --> 00:06:00.142 He is the creator, 00:06:00.286 --> 00:06:02.926 he is the sustainer of all God's creations. 00:06:02.766 --> 00:06:05.262 He is the radiance of God's glory. 00:06:05.326 --> 00:06:09.346 He is the exact expression of the essence of God, 00:06:09.448 --> 00:06:10.260 you see? 00:06:11.110 --> 00:06:13.422 And so when we look at the book of Hebrews, 00:06:13.422 --> 00:06:15.950 what we're going to keep coming back to is Jesus. 00:06:15.950 --> 00:06:17.488 We're going to run over here and take a look at that, 00:06:17.488 --> 00:06:18.710 come back to Jesus. 00:06:18.710 --> 00:06:20.944 We're going to talk about angels and come back to Jesus. 00:06:20.806 --> 00:06:22.720 We're going to talk about the, 00:06:22.720 --> 00:06:25.310 and we're going to do that all the way through, 00:06:25.310 --> 00:06:27.620 because Jesus is superior in every way. 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:29.166 Jesus the Christ, 00:06:29.348 --> 00:06:31.328 is the one and only God, 00:06:31.380 --> 00:06:35.802 man, who could accomplish the purpose, 00:06:35.866 --> 00:06:41.474 plan and the progression of God's redemptive story, 00:06:41.592 --> 00:06:44.232 plan and purpose going back to the fall. 00:06:45.270 --> 00:06:46.690 Jesus is king, 00:06:47.830 --> 00:06:49.540 which means he's just. 00:06:51.110 --> 00:06:53.490 And as a just king, 00:06:54.570 --> 00:06:56.550 guess what he has to do? 00:06:56.650 --> 00:06:58.630 He has to punish sin. 00:07:00.170 --> 00:07:01.420 If he's going to be just, 00:07:01.420 --> 00:07:02.642 there has to be punishment. 00:07:02.642 --> 00:07:03.670 But guess what? 00:07:03.820 --> 00:07:10.010 Jesus is the only one that has the authority to also be the high priest. 00:07:11.070 --> 00:07:12.662 So you've got Jesus, 00:07:12.726 --> 00:07:13.686 who is king, 00:07:13.686 --> 00:07:14.838 and high priest, 00:07:14.934 --> 00:07:17.030 who is able to give us justice, 00:07:17.030 --> 00:07:18.490 but also mercy. 00:07:19.310 --> 00:07:21.002 Because if you look at the Old Testament, 00:07:21.002 --> 00:07:22.740 you look at the story of the hebrew people, 00:07:22.740 --> 00:07:24.052 you've got a just God, 00:07:24.052 --> 00:07:28.670 and yet he kept giving mercy for sin. 00:07:29.730 --> 00:07:31.120 So he's not just. 00:07:31.490 --> 00:07:32.858 If he's not punishing sin, 00:07:32.858 --> 00:07:34.178 then he's not just. 00:07:34.630 --> 00:07:38.094 But he established the system of the priesthood and the sacrificial 00:07:38.094 --> 00:07:39.480 system and all that sort of thing. 00:07:39.480 --> 00:07:42.642 Well, Jesus comes along and Jesus is both God, 00:07:42.776 --> 00:07:44.142 he is both high priest, 00:07:44.142 --> 00:07:45.228 he is both man, 00:07:45.228 --> 00:07:46.076 he is God. 00:07:46.076 --> 00:07:46.962 He is king, 00:07:46.962 --> 00:07:47.986 he is high priest, 00:07:47.986 --> 00:07:49.116 and so he is just, 00:07:49.116 --> 00:07:50.508 and yet he is merciful. 00:07:50.322 --> 00:07:52.070 And we see God's grace. 00:07:54.010 --> 00:07:55.240 What's the point? 00:07:56.350 --> 00:07:56.992 Point is, 00:07:56.992 --> 00:08:02.940 Jesus is the faithful highest priest and God. 00:08:04.110 --> 00:08:05.302 So in this passage, 00:08:05.302 --> 00:08:05.952 what does it say? 00:08:05.952 --> 00:08:09.440 Now, since the children have flesh and blood in common, 00:08:10.850 --> 00:08:14.666 Jesus also shared in these so that through his death, 00:08:14.698 --> 00:08:17.642 he might destroy the one holding the power of death, 00:08:17.642 --> 00:08:17.988 that is, 00:08:17.988 --> 00:08:24.466 the devil and free those who are held in slavery all their lives by the 00:08:24.488 --> 00:08:25.368 fear of death. 00:08:25.182 --> 00:08:25.720 You see, 00:08:25.720 --> 00:08:26.382 at creation, 00:08:26.446 --> 00:08:30.260 God gave dominion over his creation to man. 00:08:31.910 --> 00:08:32.914 He said, 00:08:33.112 --> 00:08:35.430 you're to exercise dominion. 00:08:36.730 --> 00:08:39.110 And yet man failed, 00:08:39.770 --> 00:08:41.202 handed dominion, 00:08:41.266 --> 00:08:46.422 handed an authority over God's creation to the adversary, 00:08:46.486 --> 00:08:47.530 to the devil. 00:08:48.670 --> 00:08:52.410 See, he forfeited his dominion. 00:08:52.990 --> 00:08:58.866 But man was given sort of that ambassador rule over God's creation, 00:08:58.998 --> 00:09:01.438 to rule in God's place. 00:09:01.604 --> 00:09:04.574 And yet he forfeited that rulership to the devil. 00:09:06.370 --> 00:09:09.120 God's plan is to take that back. 00:09:10.370 --> 00:09:11.688 See, this is all in here. 00:09:11.688 --> 00:09:12.136 I mean, 00:09:12.136 --> 00:09:12.862 it's complex. 00:09:12.926 --> 00:09:18.050 And I had to study really hard to be able to give you this summary. 00:09:19.350 --> 00:09:20.546 But you see, 00:09:20.728 --> 00:09:24.258 man forfeited his dominion. 00:09:24.434 --> 00:09:30.678 And yet in order for God to give man that dominion back, 00:09:30.764 --> 00:09:32.870 the devil has to be defeated. 00:09:33.290 --> 00:09:34.316 But you know what? 00:09:34.316 --> 00:09:36.070 We can't defeat the devil. 00:09:37.550 --> 00:09:39.200 Mankind can't defeat the devil. 00:09:39.206 --> 00:09:41.186 Only God can defeat the devil. 00:09:41.222 --> 00:09:47.530 So God had to become man to accomplish the devil's defeat. 00:09:49.650 --> 00:09:50.560 You see, 00:09:51.330 --> 00:09:57.646 God had to become man to recover that dominion and give it back to 00:09:57.668 --> 00:10:01.514 mankind. So Jesus destroys the devil. 00:10:01.642 --> 00:10:04.690 He destroys the devil's hold over death. 00:10:05.030 --> 00:10:08.542 And I love this sentence right here where it's a long sentence. 00:10:08.542 --> 00:10:10.392 It just runs on and on and on. 00:10:10.168 --> 00:10:11.818 They tell me in English, 00:10:13.370 --> 00:10:14.882 it sounds like Paul. 00:10:15.026 --> 00:10:16.742 It is similar now, 00:10:16.796 --> 00:10:19.020 since the children have flesh and blood in common, 00:10:19.020 --> 00:10:20.524 Jesus also shared in these. 00:10:20.524 --> 00:10:21.506 So Jesus. 00:10:21.698 --> 00:10:25.186 The humanity of Jesus. 00:10:25.378 --> 00:10:26.698 In the first chapter, 00:10:26.738 --> 00:10:27.728 we see Christ. 00:10:27.520 --> 00:10:28.838 Christ. In the second chapter, 00:10:28.838 --> 00:10:29.462 we see Jesus. 00:10:29.462 --> 00:10:33.062 Jesus, Jesus Christ always pointing to his kingship, 00:10:33.126 --> 00:10:38.714 Jesus always reporting to his humanity so that through his power he might 00:10:38.752 --> 00:10:40.586 destroy the one holding the power of death. 00:10:40.586 --> 00:10:41.386 That's the devil. 00:10:41.386 --> 00:10:42.376 And listen this. 00:10:42.196 --> 00:10:48.414 And free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of 00:10:48.452 --> 00:10:51.598 death. We've been freed. 00:10:51.694 --> 00:10:54.152 And Scot just sang about that up here. 00:10:54.152 --> 00:10:57.170 I've been freed and forgiven. 00:10:58.630 --> 00:11:00.420 I'm not going back. 00:11:01.030 --> 00:11:04.342 Right, that's it. 00:11:04.396 --> 00:11:08.600 See, Jesus frees God's family. 00:11:10.330 --> 00:11:12.870 Jesus frees mankind. 00:11:13.370 --> 00:11:14.402 See, romans, 00:11:14.466 --> 00:11:16.448 I think it's somewhere around chapter six or so. 00:11:16.448 --> 00:11:21.130 It says that we are enslaved to sin and death. 00:11:22.110 --> 00:11:24.330 See? And Jesus frees us. 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:25.632 How does he free us. 00:11:25.632 --> 00:11:29.190 He frees us by destroying the devil. 00:11:29.270 --> 00:11:30.000 Now, guess what? 00:11:29.888 --> 00:11:31.828 The devil's still kind of doing his thing. 00:11:31.828 --> 00:11:33.534 He's not ultimately destroyed yet, 00:11:33.572 --> 00:11:34.804 but he will be. 00:11:34.804 --> 00:11:39.802 His head will ultimately be crushed under the foot of Jesus, 00:11:39.866 --> 00:11:40.526 you see? 00:11:40.612 --> 00:11:43.610 And that's the promise going all the way back to Genesis. 00:11:43.610 --> 00:11:45.590 And so what do we have? 00:11:45.304 --> 00:11:45.838 And folks, 00:11:45.838 --> 00:11:46.392 I'll be honest, 00:11:46.392 --> 00:11:47.112 I'm sitting here going, 00:11:47.112 --> 00:11:47.940 oh, wow, 00:11:48.790 --> 00:11:50.802 our world can be upside down. 00:11:50.856 --> 00:11:51.976 But I'm asking the question, 00:11:51.976 --> 00:11:53.626 what can I count on? 00:11:54.070 --> 00:11:56.050 Here's what I can count on. 00:11:56.410 --> 00:11:58.054 God has proclaimed it. 00:11:58.092 --> 00:11:59.574 God has established it. 00:11:59.612 --> 00:12:01.640 God has accomplished it. 00:12:02.170 --> 00:12:04.172 God who sits outside of time says, 00:12:04.172 --> 00:12:06.152 yes, this is how it works. 00:12:06.810 --> 00:12:09.686 I've told you before that the Old Testament and the New Testament, 00:12:09.686 --> 00:12:10.662 the book of Hebrews, 00:12:10.662 --> 00:12:13.550 kind of is the hinge that holds all this together. 00:12:13.550 --> 00:12:19.342 It is the revelation of God and his work and his plan through son, 00:12:19.476 --> 00:12:22.110 heir, king, 00:12:22.930 --> 00:12:24.778 priest Jesus, 00:12:24.954 --> 00:12:27.594 he's the one that accomplished all this stuff. 00:12:28.210 --> 00:12:29.998 He's freed us. 00:12:30.164 --> 00:12:32.144 And then this phrase right here, 00:12:32.550 --> 00:12:39.570 who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death, 00:12:40.550 --> 00:12:43.190 y'all. We live in a world that is, 00:12:44.150 --> 00:12:45.980 this is just the way it's going to come out. 00:12:45.980 --> 00:12:49.610 We live in a world that's scared to death of death. 00:12:51.690 --> 00:12:52.252 I mean, 00:12:52.252 --> 00:12:58.714 just like we're doing everything that we can not to go there or to 00:12:58.752 --> 00:13:00.678 somehow avoid death. 00:13:00.854 --> 00:13:04.940 Can I just go ahead and tell you nothing works? 00:13:09.090 --> 00:13:10.554 It's a terminal ending, 00:13:10.602 --> 00:13:15.280 folks. I didn't do anything to it this time. 00:13:16.690 --> 00:13:19.902 Where's Jennifer's microphone popping again? 00:13:19.956 --> 00:13:23.586 I put my new mic on and now it's broke again, 00:13:24.710 --> 00:13:25.272 you see? 00:13:25.272 --> 00:13:26.712 And so I look around and I go, 00:13:26.712 --> 00:13:27.682 guess, mean, 00:13:27.736 --> 00:13:28.568 I remember as a kid, 00:13:28.568 --> 00:13:29.800 they always said to said, 00:13:29.800 --> 00:13:30.580 you know, 00:13:31.030 --> 00:13:34.978 only things you can count on are death and taxes, 00:13:35.074 --> 00:13:35.404 right? 00:13:35.436 --> 00:13:35.932 Remember that, 00:13:35.932 --> 00:13:40.294 y'all? And then somebody threw in the smart aleck comment and taxes until 00:13:40.332 --> 00:13:41.190 you die, 00:13:42.330 --> 00:13:43.990 right? You. 00:13:44.140 --> 00:13:45.158 I mean, 00:13:45.324 --> 00:13:47.900 Jesus frees us from the fear of that. 00:13:47.900 --> 00:13:49.984 And I try to tell people all the time, 00:13:49.984 --> 00:13:51.634 why do we fear death? 00:13:51.950 --> 00:13:54.656 If we would pay more attention to the promises of God, 00:13:54.656 --> 00:13:55.744 the hope of God, 00:13:55.744 --> 00:13:59.648 the things that God has guaranteed for us and has revealed to us through 00:13:59.648 --> 00:14:02.426 his word and through his son and by his spirit, 00:14:02.426 --> 00:14:05.066 then we don't have a fear of that. 00:14:06.610 --> 00:14:09.044 That doesn't mean we're going to run into it. 00:14:09.044 --> 00:14:10.068 I'm not looking up and I go, 00:14:10.068 --> 00:14:10.394 oh, death. 00:14:10.394 --> 00:14:10.708 Oh, yeah, 00:14:10.708 --> 00:14:13.346 here. But I mean, 00:14:13.368 --> 00:14:13.976 the point is, 00:14:13.976 --> 00:14:18.266 I don't have to fear it because I've been released from that fear. 00:14:22.310 --> 00:14:23.416 He goes on to say, 00:14:23.416 --> 00:14:26.530 for it is clear that he does not reach out to help angels. 00:14:26.530 --> 00:14:27.116 Now see, 00:14:27.116 --> 00:14:31.030 this is that differentiation between the angels and mankind. 00:14:32.810 --> 00:14:36.110 Y'all know we live in a culture just loves angels. 00:14:36.490 --> 00:14:37.666 In the Old Testament, 00:14:37.666 --> 00:14:42.234 you see the angels delivering the message of God to God's people. 00:14:42.432 --> 00:14:45.950 But every time you see an angel deliver a message of God, 00:14:45.950 --> 00:14:47.488 you know what he says? 00:14:47.232 --> 00:14:48.700 He proclaims God. 00:14:49.950 --> 00:14:51.710 He proclaims who God is. 00:14:51.780 --> 00:14:53.700 He proclaims the way God works. 00:14:53.700 --> 00:14:55.210 He proclaims God's judgment. 00:14:55.290 --> 00:14:57.002 He proclaims God's mercy. 00:14:57.066 --> 00:14:59.046 He proclaims the things of God. 00:14:59.172 --> 00:15:01.992 But we live in a culture that likes to talk about angels going, 00:15:01.992 --> 00:15:04.302 oh, you can be your own God. 00:15:04.710 --> 00:15:07.060 Just watch afternoon talk shows, 00:15:09.270 --> 00:15:13.550 right? And then we put it into movies, 00:15:13.630 --> 00:15:16.008 right? And I was listening to one preacher this week, 00:15:16.008 --> 00:15:16.568 and he was talking about, 00:15:16.568 --> 00:15:16.904 he said, 00:15:16.904 --> 00:15:17.516 man, he said, 00:15:17.516 --> 00:15:19.276 if you pay attention what I say, 00:15:19.276 --> 00:15:20.680 I didn't know. 00:15:21.770 --> 00:15:25.132 He went through a whole list of all these people who said, 00:15:25.132 --> 00:15:29.092 well, I wrote this book because an angel gave it to me. 00:15:29.530 --> 00:15:34.778 I wrote this script for this movie because an angel appeared to me. 00:15:34.944 --> 00:15:36.352 He went through this whole list. 00:15:36.352 --> 00:15:36.688 He said, 00:15:36.688 --> 00:15:37.328 you know what he said? 00:15:37.328 --> 00:15:38.736 And in all of those, 00:15:38.736 --> 00:15:46.026 none of those angels proclaim God and God's purpose and God's justice. 00:15:46.058 --> 00:15:47.028 As a matter of fact, 00:15:47.028 --> 00:15:49.732 a lot of the angels that we see in pop culture today says, 00:15:49.732 --> 00:15:51.220 oh, there is no God. 00:15:51.220 --> 00:15:52.798 You're your own God. 00:15:52.964 --> 00:15:54.342 There is no judgment. 00:15:54.426 --> 00:15:56.450 There's no punishment for judgment. 00:15:58.630 --> 00:15:59.272 You know what? 00:15:59.272 --> 00:16:00.328 When I hear those kind of things, 00:16:00.328 --> 00:16:00.936 I think to myself, 00:16:00.936 --> 00:16:01.208 I think, 00:16:01.208 --> 00:16:01.608 oh, yeah. 00:16:01.608 --> 00:16:04.578 But didn't a third of the angels become demons? 00:16:06.410 --> 00:16:10.070 There's a whole lot of demonic influence in our culture today. 00:16:10.140 --> 00:16:12.754 Y'all people paying attention to angels, 00:16:12.802 --> 00:16:14.280 but the wrong ones. 00:16:19.070 --> 00:16:21.942 God didn't reach out to help angels. 00:16:22.086 --> 00:16:26.070 God didn't send Jesus to redeem angels. 00:16:26.230 --> 00:16:29.470 God sent Jesus to help Abraham's offspring. 00:16:30.290 --> 00:16:35.038 Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way. 00:16:35.204 --> 00:16:36.068 Remember last week, 00:16:36.068 --> 00:16:36.516 I said, 00:16:36.516 --> 00:16:40.270 he is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters. 00:16:42.210 --> 00:16:47.096 He had to be like us in every way so that he could become a merciful and 00:16:47.096 --> 00:16:51.346 faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God to make atonement for 00:16:51.368 --> 00:16:52.376 the sins of the people. 00:16:52.376 --> 00:16:53.320 What did he do? 00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:54.674 He became like us. 00:16:54.792 --> 00:16:56.684 He was tempted just like us. 00:16:56.684 --> 00:16:59.468 And that unfolds a little later in the book of Hebrews. 00:16:59.298 --> 00:17:05.138 But the idea is that Jesus had to be like us so that he could defeat 00:17:05.234 --> 00:17:08.230 Satan, because only God can defeat Satan. 00:17:08.310 --> 00:17:11.280 But he had to be man to defeat Satan. 00:17:12.190 --> 00:17:16.330 He had to be man to take back God's dominion. 00:17:18.290 --> 00:17:23.002 See, for since he himself has suffered when he was tempted. 00:17:23.146 --> 00:17:26.362 He is able to help those who are tempted. 00:17:26.426 --> 00:17:28.240 Jesus joined with us. 00:17:28.690 --> 00:17:31.758 See, Jesus became like us. 00:17:31.924 --> 00:17:33.208 Here's what I love about it, 00:17:33.208 --> 00:17:35.000 and I forget who I heard say this. 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:40.930 Jesus joined with us in humanity so we could join with him in eternity. 00:17:42.310 --> 00:17:43.674 He gave us victory, 00:17:43.742 --> 00:17:44.390 y'all. 00:17:45.850 --> 00:17:51.494 Yeah, I look around at gas stations and gas prices because I drive a lot 00:17:51.532 --> 00:17:52.360 these days. 00:17:55.530 --> 00:17:56.988 You know what I used to could count on? 00:17:56.988 --> 00:18:01.082 I used to could count on South Carolina having gas prices $0.25 lower 00:18:01.136 --> 00:18:02.410 than North Carolina. 00:18:03.230 --> 00:18:04.368 It's not happening now. 00:18:04.368 --> 00:18:04.976 Matter of fact, 00:18:04.976 --> 00:18:08.336 South Carolina's gas prices were higher than North Carolina's this past 00:18:08.336 --> 00:18:10.750 week. Thinking what happened? 00:18:10.900 --> 00:18:16.270 I used to could count on just getting across the line and saving about 00:18:16.340 --> 00:18:20.830 $2.50 because my car only holds ten gallons. 00:18:24.390 --> 00:18:26.040 What can we count on? 00:18:26.470 --> 00:18:27.860 What can you know? 00:18:29.670 --> 00:18:31.060 Here's what we know. 00:18:32.150 --> 00:18:35.430 We know that God has spoken. 00:18:36.330 --> 00:18:41.270 We know that God has revealed himself as father, 00:18:42.010 --> 00:18:45.670 as son by a spirit. 00:18:46.090 --> 00:18:48.946 See, remember, 00:18:48.988 --> 00:18:50.928 I preached out of first acts one, 00:18:50.928 --> 00:18:51.520 one time, 00:18:51.520 --> 00:18:54.160 and I do this every time I like. 00:18:54.190 --> 00:18:55.514 It's funny to me, 00:18:55.632 --> 00:18:57.840 Christ, and I call it Jesus the Christ, 00:18:57.840 --> 00:19:01.630 because Christ is the greek word for the Old Testament messiah, 00:19:03.010 --> 00:19:05.050 or the reference to the messiah. 00:19:05.130 --> 00:19:06.382 God's promised one, 00:19:06.436 --> 00:19:07.614 God's anointed one. 00:19:07.652 --> 00:19:09.358 And so Jesus Christ, 00:19:09.444 --> 00:19:10.404 and we use it, 00:19:10.404 --> 00:19:13.192 and you see it in scripture like it's a first name and a last name, 00:19:13.192 --> 00:19:14.182 and that's fine. 00:19:14.280 --> 00:19:18.046 But the point is that he is God's salvation, 00:19:18.158 --> 00:19:19.150 the messiah. 00:19:19.230 --> 00:19:21.090 That's what his name represents. 00:19:21.670 --> 00:19:23.320 And we can know that. 00:19:23.850 --> 00:19:25.560 We can trust that. 00:19:26.250 --> 00:19:28.220 We can put our hope in that. 00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:29.000 You see, 00:19:31.450 --> 00:19:34.946 when I look around at the world that is falling apart, 00:19:34.946 --> 00:19:38.090 folks, the world around us is falling apart. 00:19:38.590 --> 00:19:39.910 What can I know? 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:45.142 I can know that God has a plan and a purpose for his creation, 00:19:45.286 --> 00:19:47.510 for the redemption of his creation. 00:19:47.670 --> 00:19:50.522 He has a plan and a purpose for the redemption of mankind. 00:19:50.522 --> 00:19:53.492 He has a plan and a purpose for me. 00:19:54.450 --> 00:19:55.246 See? 00:19:55.428 --> 00:20:00.080 And so how do I get in the middle of that? 00:20:01.830 --> 00:20:03.810 How do I live that out? 00:20:05.030 --> 00:20:09.300 How do I abide in that revelation of God? 00:20:11.110 --> 00:20:14.760 See, how do I dwell there? 00:20:15.930 --> 00:20:23.720 How do I walk in that identity that God has given us in Jesus Christ? 00:20:24.890 --> 00:20:27.978 See, when I study through this, 00:20:28.064 --> 00:20:30.096 and this is the end of chapter two. 00:20:30.096 --> 00:20:33.066 So next week we'll be jumping into chapter three, 00:20:33.470 --> 00:20:37.974 and then it just continues to amplify these messages. 00:20:38.022 --> 00:20:43.840 Chapter one and chapter two kind of present the going forward, 00:20:44.450 --> 00:20:47.716 get into chapter three, four, five, or six up to about chapter nine, 00:20:47.716 --> 00:20:52.994 and we start to see that the writer is unfolding this failure on the part 00:20:53.032 --> 00:20:56.740 of God's people to recognize who Jesus was and is. 00:20:58.310 --> 00:21:02.562 And so we get about four warnings in here that tell us, 00:21:02.616 --> 00:21:09.320 don't miss Jesus like God's people did. 00:21:10.250 --> 00:21:13.990 Don't rebel because of unbelief. 00:21:15.210 --> 00:21:16.370 Don't be selfish. 00:21:16.450 --> 00:21:18.090 Don't be self centered. 00:21:18.430 --> 00:21:22.112 Don't go off on your own plan because your own plan is going to lead to 00:21:22.112 --> 00:21:24.780 death. Okay? 00:21:25.310 --> 00:21:27.050 Recognize who Jesus is. 00:21:27.120 --> 00:21:28.846 Recognize what God has done. 00:21:28.948 --> 00:21:35.770 Know that you know that you know that Jesus is Messiah, 00:21:35.930 --> 00:21:37.550 son, savior, 00:21:37.970 --> 00:21:39.790 creator, sustainer, 00:21:41.190 --> 00:21:52.222 Jesus, the very exact essence of God wherein we recognize God the Father, 00:21:52.286 --> 00:21:53.096 God the Son, 00:21:53.096 --> 00:21:54.370 God the spirit, 00:21:54.790 --> 00:21:59.406 and know that he has revealed himself to us. You know, 00:21:59.528 --> 00:22:00.892 I'm glad you're here this morning. 00:22:00.892 --> 00:22:02.332 I see some first time folks here. 00:22:02.332 --> 00:22:03.890 I'm glad you all are here. 00:22:03.052 --> 00:22:04.988 Yay. We'd be back next week, 00:22:04.988 --> 00:22:05.532 so you come, 00:22:05.532 --> 00:22:07.654 too. Well, 00:22:07.692 --> 00:22:09.672 my point in that is this. 00:22:10.110 --> 00:22:13.740 There's a lot of you folks that I like a lot. 00:22:14.750 --> 00:22:16.736 I'd love to hang out with you. 00:22:16.736 --> 00:22:18.118 Let's go get a cup of coffee. 00:22:18.118 --> 00:22:20.370 Because I drink coffee all day long, 00:22:20.370 --> 00:22:24.320 right? But to be perfectly honest, 00:22:25.330 --> 00:22:27.040 transparent in this. 00:22:28.210 --> 00:22:30.400 I'd rather spend time with God. 00:22:31.350 --> 00:22:33.460 Please don't be offended by that. 00:22:34.790 --> 00:22:37.890 I just want to spend time in God's presence. 00:22:38.390 --> 00:22:40.370 I just want to praise him. 00:22:41.110 --> 00:22:45.960 I want to be still and know God. 00:22:48.810 --> 00:22:50.790 I just want to be there. 00:22:51.930 --> 00:22:55.560 I want to sit on his lap in his swivel rocker. 00:22:56.110 --> 00:22:59.740 Right? I just want to be close to God. 00:23:01.630 --> 00:23:06.048 See, that's what I can know in a world where gas prices have gone through 00:23:06.048 --> 00:23:10.010 the roof and I don't know who to trust on the television, 00:23:10.090 --> 00:23:14.510 and I don't know who to trust in the street anymore. 00:23:15.730 --> 00:23:16.964 What can I know? 00:23:16.964 --> 00:23:20.990 I can know that Jesus is victory. 00:23:21.910 --> 00:23:23.810 Jesus is my victory. 00:23:24.150 --> 00:23:26.530 Jesus is really the only victory. 00:23:26.950 --> 00:23:29.260 And that's what we can know today. 00:23:30.150 --> 00:23:32.222 Okay. If you don't know Jesus, 00:23:32.286 --> 00:23:34.266 we want you to know Jesus. 00:23:34.470 --> 00:23:38.430 Want you to receive the salvation that only Jesus can give us. 00:23:39.050 --> 00:23:40.700 Want you to trust him, 00:23:41.370 --> 00:23:42.940 want you to live him. 00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:44.590 Live Jesus in the world. 00:23:44.636 --> 00:23:45.388 Because guess what? 00:23:45.388 --> 00:23:46.898 The world needs Jesus. 00:23:47.074 --> 00:23:48.482 And if you don't have Jesus, 00:23:48.482 --> 00:23:49.746 you need Jesus. 00:23:49.938 --> 00:23:50.928 Pray with me. 00:23:51.004 --> 00:23:52.352 Father, thank you for this day, 00:23:52.352 --> 00:23:55.088 a day that you've given us to rejoice and be glad in you. 00:23:54.928 --> 00:23:55.552 And I thank you, 00:23:55.552 --> 00:23:57.580 God, that your word is clear. 00:23:58.030 --> 00:23:59.620 You are faithful and true, 00:23:59.620 --> 00:24:02.426 and you have shown us what we could not know otherwise. 00:24:02.426 --> 00:24:03.946 God, we are finite. 00:24:04.138 --> 00:24:05.630 You are infinite. 00:24:06.370 --> 00:24:12.570 God, you have revealed yourself through your word in creation, 00:24:12.730 --> 00:24:14.380 through the body of Christ, 00:24:14.950 --> 00:24:18.580 God, we can know things that even the angels can't know. 00:24:18.790 --> 00:24:20.814 So God help us to pay attention. 00:24:20.814 --> 00:24:24.910 And if there's even one here this morning that hasn't trusted Jesus, 00:24:24.990 --> 00:24:28.978 that doesn't know that if this were it, 00:24:29.064 --> 00:24:30.632 they'd spend eternity with you, 00:24:30.632 --> 00:24:31.032 then, God, 00:24:31.032 --> 00:24:32.352 my prayer would be, 00:24:32.790 --> 00:24:34.450 they'd meet Jesus this morning. 00:24:34.520 --> 00:24:35.272 They'd know you, 00:24:35.272 --> 00:24:37.994 Jesus. They'd surrender to you, 00:24:38.032 --> 00:24:38.896 God, as we sing, 00:24:38.896 --> 00:24:40.944 I pray that we'd respond to you, 00:24:40.944 --> 00:24:43.488 God. If there are those that want to be a part of what you're doing here 00:24:43.488 --> 00:24:44.198 at the gathering, 00:24:44.198 --> 00:24:46.178 then let them come on down. 00:24:45.952 --> 00:24:48.262 God, we just want to serve you. 00:24:48.352 --> 00:24:49.552 We want to be near you, 00:24:49.552 --> 00:24:51.184 and we pray it in Jesus name. 00:24:51.184 --> 00:24:51.510 Amen.