WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.030 --> 00:00:02.880 Henry: Welcome To Immerse: The Daily Bible Reading Experience. 00:00:02.978 --> 00:00:03.878 Day 64. 00:00:04.238 --> 00:00:08.498 faith shows the reality of what we hope for it is the evidence of things 00:00:08.498 --> 00:00:11.198 we cannot see through their faith. 00:00:11.468 --> 00:00:15.998 The people in days of old earned a good reputation by faith. 00:00:15.998 --> 00:00:19.538 We understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, 00:00:20.078 --> 00:00:23.258 that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. 00:00:24.173 --> 00:00:29.003 It was by faith that Abel brought him more acceptable offering to God than Kane did. 00:00:29.693 --> 00:00:33.323 Abel's offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God 00:00:33.323 --> 00:00:35.183 showed his approval of his gifts. 00:00:35.903 --> 00:00:40.133 Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example 00:00:40.133 --> 00:00:45.503 of faith, it was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying. 00:00:46.043 --> 00:00:48.533 He disappeared because God took him. 00:00:49.358 --> 00:00:54.548 For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God and it is 00:00:54.548 --> 00:00:56.708 impossible to please God without faith. 00:00:57.458 --> 00:01:02.108 Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he 00:01:02.108 --> 00:01:04.358 rewards those who sincerely seek him. 00:01:05.258 --> 00:01:09.698 It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood 00:01:10.268 --> 00:01:14.258 He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. 00:01:15.113 --> 00:01:19.913 By his faith, Noah condemned the rest of the world and he received the 00:01:19.913 --> 00:01:21.923 righteousness that comes by faith. 00:01:23.033 --> 00:01:27.293 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home 00:01:27.593 --> 00:01:30.953 and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. 00:01:31.703 --> 00:01:36.083 He went without knowing where he was going and even when he reached the land, God 00:01:36.083 --> 00:01:41.573 promised him he lived there by faith for he was like a foreigner living in tents. 00:01:42.323 --> 00:01:46.253 And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. 00:01:47.033 --> 00:01:51.293 Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, 00:01:51.863 --> 00:01:54.473 a city designed and built by God. 00:01:55.553 --> 00:02:00.383 It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was 00:02:00.383 --> 00:02:05.513 barren and was too old, she believed that God would keep his promise. 00:02:05.843 --> 00:02:09.983 And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead. 00:02:10.838 --> 00:02:15.908 A nation with so many people that like the stars and the sky and the sand on the 00:02:15.908 --> 00:02:18.758 seashore, there is no way to count them. 00:02:19.868 --> 00:02:24.248 All these people died still believing what God had promised them. 00:02:25.088 --> 00:02:28.148 They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all 00:02:28.148 --> 00:02:30.128 from a distance and welcomed it. 00:02:30.818 --> 00:02:33.938 They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. 00:02:34.658 --> 00:02:38.078 Obviously, people who say such things are looking forward to a 00:02:38.078 --> 00:02:39.698 country that can call their own. 00:02:40.733 --> 00:02:44.003 If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone 00:02:44.003 --> 00:02:48.383 back, but they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. 00:02:49.343 --> 00:02:52.943 That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God for he 00:02:52.943 --> 00:02:54.653 has prepared a city for them. 00:02:55.523 --> 00:03:00.413 It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. 00:03:01.388 --> 00:03:05.108 Abraham who had received God's promises, was ready to 00:03:05.108 --> 00:03:07.448 sacrifice his only son, Isaac. 00:03:07.748 --> 00:03:11.318 Even though God had told him, Isaac is the son through whom 00:03:11.318 --> 00:03:12.938 your descendants will be counted. 00:03:13.928 --> 00:03:18.908 Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. 00:03:19.538 --> 00:03:23.708 And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead. 00:03:24.893 --> 00:03:27.893 It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future 00:03:27.893 --> 00:03:30.443 to his sons, Jacob and Esau. 00:03:31.193 --> 00:03:35.063 It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed 00:03:35.063 --> 00:03:39.833 each of Joseph's sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff. 00:03:40.123 --> 00:03:45.563 It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that 00:03:45.563 --> 00:03:47.573 the people of Israel would leave Egypt. 00:03:48.053 --> 00:03:51.413 He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left. 00:03:52.493 --> 00:03:57.053 It was by faith that Moses' parents hid him for three months when he was born. 00:03:57.743 --> 00:04:01.733 They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not 00:04:01.738 --> 00:04:03.863 afraid to disobey the king's command. 00:04:04.703 --> 00:04:09.203 It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called 00:04:09.203 --> 00:04:10.583 the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 00:04:11.273 --> 00:04:14.783 He chose to share the oppression of God's people instead of enjoying 00:04:14.783 --> 00:04:16.043 the fleeting pleasures of sin. 00:04:17.378 --> 00:04:20.258 He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than 00:04:20.258 --> 00:04:21.788 to own the treasures of Egypt. 00:04:22.268 --> 00:04:26.318 For he was looking ahead to his great reward, but was by faith 00:04:26.678 --> 00:04:30.638 that Moses left the land of Egypt not fearing the king's anger. 00:04:31.178 --> 00:04:35.708 He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who was invisible. 00:04:36.533 --> 00:04:40.043 It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the 00:04:40.043 --> 00:04:44.753 Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death 00:04:44.783 --> 00:04:46.793 would not kill their firstborn sons. 00:04:47.813 --> 00:04:52.073 It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea 00:04:52.403 --> 00:04:54.233 as though they were on dry ground. 00:04:55.073 --> 00:04:58.463 But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned. 00:04:59.393 --> 00:05:04.043 It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven 00:05:04.043 --> 00:05:06.953 days and the walls came crashing down. 00:05:07.823 --> 00:05:11.873 It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people 00:05:11.873 --> 00:05:14.003 in her city who refused to obey God. 00:05:14.753 --> 00:05:17.273 Forhe had given a friendly welcome to the spies. 00:05:18.233 --> 00:05:20.033 How much more do I need to say? 00:05:20.963 --> 00:05:24.443 It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon 00:05:24.653 --> 00:05:30.083 Barak, Samson, Jeff, the David Samuel, and all the prophets. 00:05:31.013 --> 00:05:35.843 By faith, these people overthrew kingdoms ruled with justice and 00:05:35.843 --> 00:05:37.703 received what God had promised them. 00:05:38.063 --> 00:05:42.593 They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped 00:05:42.593 --> 00:05:44.033 death by the edge of the sword. 00:05:44.693 --> 00:05:46.603 Their weakness was turned to strength. 00:05:47.558 --> 00:05:50.588 They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. 00:05:51.158 --> 00:05:55.478 Women received their loved ones back again from death, but others 00:05:55.478 --> 00:05:59.138 were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. 00:05:59.858 --> 00:06:04.658 They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection, some were jered at 00:06:04.988 --> 00:06:06.908 and their backs were cut open with whips. 00:06:07.478 --> 00:06:09.128 Others were chained in prisons. 00:06:09.578 --> 00:06:10.988 Some died by stoning. 00:06:11.168 --> 00:06:14.678 Some were sawed in half, and others were killed with a sword. 00:06:15.248 --> 00:06:19.208 Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute 00:06:19.208 --> 00:06:20.828 and oppressed, and mistreated. 00:06:21.638 --> 00:06:23.408 They were too good for this world. 00:06:23.768 --> 00:06:28.238 Wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the 00:06:28.243 --> 00:06:33.098 ground, all these people earned a good reputation because of their faith. 00:06:33.788 --> 00:06:37.358 Yet none of them received all that God had promised for. 00:06:37.358 --> 00:06:41.018 God had something better in mind for us so that they would not 00:06:41.018 --> 00:06:43.058 reach perfection without us. 00:06:45.413 --> 00:06:50.183 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of 00:06:50.183 --> 00:06:55.703 faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that 00:06:55.708 --> 00:07:01.193 so easily trips us up and let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 00:07:01.913 --> 00:07:05.363 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who 00:07:05.368 --> 00:07:07.103 initiates and perfects our faith. 00:07:08.078 --> 00:07:13.448 Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross disregarding a shame. 00:07:14.198 --> 00:07:17.828 Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. 00:07:18.578 --> 00:07:21.668 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people. 00:07:22.058 --> 00:07:25.838 Then you won't become weary and give up after all. 00:07:26.138 --> 00:07:30.518 You have not yet given your lives and your struggle against sin, and have 00:07:30.518 --> 00:07:32.528 you forgotten the encouraging words? 00:07:32.528 --> 00:07:34.358 God spoke to you as his children. 00:07:34.928 --> 00:07:37.028 He said, my child. 00:07:37.403 --> 00:07:41.303 Don't make light of the Lord's discipline and don't give up when he 00:07:41.303 --> 00:07:45.863 corrects you For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes 00:07:45.863 --> 00:07:51.473 each one He accepts as his child, as you endure this divine discipline. 00:07:51.803 --> 00:07:55.043 Remember that God is treating you as his own children. 00:07:55.673 --> 00:07:59.183 Whoever heard of a child who was never disciplined by its father. 00:08:00.188 --> 00:08:04.118 If God doesn't discipline you as he does all of his children, it means 00:08:04.118 --> 00:08:07.598 that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 00:08:08.348 --> 00:08:12.728 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn't we submit 00:08:12.728 --> 00:08:18.158 even more to the discipline of the father of our spirits and live forever for our 00:08:18.158 --> 00:08:23.888 earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years doing the best they knew how, but 00:08:23.888 --> 00:08:28.328 God's discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 00:08:29.168 --> 00:08:30.908 No discipline is enjoyable. 00:08:30.908 --> 00:08:35.078 While it is happening, it's painful, but afterward there will be a 00:08:35.078 --> 00:08:39.008 peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. 00:08:39.908 --> 00:08:44.798 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. 00:08:45.518 --> 00:08:49.218 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and 00:08:49.328 --> 00:08:51.938 lame will not fall, but become strong. 00:08:52.808 --> 00:08:57.218 Work at living in peace with everyone and work at living a holy life. 00:08:57.683 --> 00:09:01.583 For those who are not holy, will not see the Lord look after each 00:09:01.583 --> 00:09:04.853 other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. 00:09:05.633 --> 00:09:09.443 Watch out, that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble. 00:09:09.443 --> 00:09:10.883 You corrupting many. 00:09:11.513 --> 00:09:15.353 Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who 00:09:15.353 --> 00:09:18.803 traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. 00:09:19.403 --> 00:09:23.903 You know that afterward when he wanted his father's blessing, he was rejected. 00:09:24.548 --> 00:09:26.018 It was too late for repentance. 00:09:26.348 --> 00:09:31.598 Even though he begged with bitter tears, you have not come to a physical 00:09:31.598 --> 00:09:37.328 mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind as 00:09:37.328 --> 00:09:41.468 the Israelites dead at Mount Sinai for they heard an awesome trumpet 00:09:41.468 --> 00:09:46.298 blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. 00:09:46.988 --> 00:09:49.178 They staggered back under God's command. 00:09:49.628 --> 00:09:53.558 If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death. 00:09:54.428 --> 00:09:57.758 Moses himself was so frightened at the site that he said, I 00:09:57.758 --> 00:09:59.588 am terrified and trembling. 00:10:00.488 --> 00:10:06.908 No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the Living God, the heavenly 00:10:06.908 --> 00:10:11.258 Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels and a joyful gathering. 00:10:12.128 --> 00:10:15.668 You have come to the assembly of God's firstborn, children whose 00:10:15.668 --> 00:10:17.048 names are written in heaven. 00:10:17.648 --> 00:10:21.518 You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. 00:10:22.793 --> 00:10:25.583 You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven 00:10:25.853 --> 00:10:27.623 who have now been made perfect. 00:10:28.343 --> 00:10:32.633 You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between 00:10:32.633 --> 00:10:37.313 God and people, and to the sprinkled blood which speaks of forgiveness. 00:10:37.318 --> 00:10:42.203 Instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel, be careful that you 00:10:42.203 --> 00:10:46.913 do not refuse to listen to the one who is speaking for if the people of Israel 00:10:46.943 --> 00:10:50.903 did not escape when they refuse to listen to Moses the earthly messenger. 00:10:51.293 --> 00:10:55.343 We will certainly not escape if we reject the one who speaks to us from heaven. 00:10:56.363 --> 00:11:00.803 When God spoke from Mount Sinai, his voice shook the earth, but 00:11:00.803 --> 00:11:02.273 now he makes another promise. 00:11:03.173 --> 00:11:06.743 Once again, I will shake not only the earth but the heavens. 00:11:06.748 --> 00:11:12.323 Also, this means that all of creation will be shaken and removed so that 00:11:12.323 --> 00:11:14.303 only unshakable things will remain. 00:11:15.263 --> 00:11:19.493 Since we are receiving a kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful. 00:11:20.138 --> 00:11:25.088 And please God, by worshiping him with holy fear and awe, for 00:11:25.088 --> 00:11:27.578 our God is a devouring fire. 00:11:30.308 --> 00:11:31.718 Keep on loving each other. 00:11:31.838 --> 00:11:36.638 As brothers and sisters, don't forget to show hospitality to strangers. 00:11:36.968 --> 00:11:40.358 For some who have done this, have entertained angels without realizing it. 00:11:41.198 --> 00:11:44.288 Remember those in prison as if you were there yourself. 00:11:44.918 --> 00:11:49.628 Remember also those being mistreated as if you felt their pain in your own bodies. 00:11:50.513 --> 00:11:54.593 Give honor to marriage and remain faithful to one another in marriage. 00:11:55.073 --> 00:11:59.303 God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. 00:12:00.083 --> 00:12:01.193 Don't love money. 00:12:01.643 --> 00:12:03.353 Be satisfied with what you have. 00:12:03.893 --> 00:12:06.923 For God has said, I will never fail you. 00:12:07.313 --> 00:12:08.573 I will never abandon you. 00:12:09.473 --> 00:12:14.933 So we can say with confidence, the Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. 00:12:15.443 --> 00:12:17.003 What can mere people do to me? 00:12:18.293 --> 00:12:21.413 Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. 00:12:22.133 --> 00:12:25.433 Think of all the good that has come from their lives and follow 00:12:25.438 --> 00:12:26.723 the example of their faith. 00:12:27.473 --> 00:12:31.343 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 00:12:32.003 --> 00:12:35.363 So do not be attracted by strange new ideas. 00:12:36.413 --> 00:12:41.183 Your strength comes from God's grace, not from rules about food, which 00:12:41.183 --> 00:12:42.683 don't help those who follow them. 00:12:43.613 --> 00:12:47.123 We have an altar from which the priests and the tabernacle have no right to eat. 00:12:47.903 --> 00:12:51.863 Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into 00:12:51.863 --> 00:12:56.123 the holy place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals 00:12:56.123 --> 00:12:57.803 were burned outside the camp. 00:12:58.493 --> 00:13:02.603 So also, Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his 00:13:02.603 --> 00:13:05.033 people holy by means of his own blood. 00:13:05.663 --> 00:13:09.863 So let us go out to him outside the camp and bear the disgrace. 00:13:09.863 --> 00:13:10.613 He bore. 00:13:11.348 --> 00:13:13.598 For this world is not our permanent home. 00:13:14.078 --> 00:13:16.628 We are looking forward to a home yet to come. 00:13:17.528 --> 00:13:22.358 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to 00:13:22.358 --> 00:13:26.978 God, proclaiming our allegiance to His name, and don't forget to do 00:13:26.978 --> 00:13:29.258 good and to share with those in need. 00:13:29.798 --> 00:13:34.418 These are the sacrifices that please God obey your spiritual 00:13:34.418 --> 00:13:39.008 leaders and do what they say their work is to watch over your souls. 00:13:39.488 --> 00:13:41.108 And they are accountable to God. 00:13:41.708 --> 00:13:45.038 Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. 00:13:45.728 --> 00:13:47.888 That would certainly not be for your benefit. 00:13:48.788 --> 00:13:53.408 Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in 00:13:53.408 --> 00:13:58.088 everything we do and especially pray that I will be able to come back to you soon. 00:13:59.348 --> 00:14:03.998 Now may the God of peace who brought up from the dead, our Lord Jesus, the 00:14:03.998 --> 00:14:08.648 great shepherd of the sheep and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood. 00:14:09.398 --> 00:14:13.298 May he equip you with all you need for doing his will. 00:14:13.718 --> 00:14:17.018 May he produce in you through the power of Jesus Christ. 00:14:17.348 --> 00:14:23.198 Every good thing that is pleasing to him, all glory to him forever and ever. 00:14:24.098 --> 00:14:24.788 Amen. 00:14:25.238 --> 00:14:30.728 I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, to pay attention to what I have 00:14:30.728 --> 00:14:32.348 written in this brief exhortation. 00:14:33.038 --> 00:14:36.038 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released from jail. 00:14:36.548 --> 00:14:41.288 If he comes here soon, I will bring him with me to see you greet all your 00:14:41.288 --> 00:14:43.178 leaders and all the believers there. 00:14:43.688 --> 00:14:46.118 The believers from Italy send you their greetings. 00:14:47.078 --> 00:14:49.868 May God's grace be with you all. 00:14:51.518 --> 00:14:54.368 This concludes today's Immer reading experience. 00:14:54.488 --> 00:14:55.718 Thank you for joining us.