WEBVTT 00:00:04.040 --> 00:00:04.350 Oh, wow. 00:00:04.350 --> 00:00:08.254 This week we've had the opportunity to celebrate many things, 00:00:08.302 --> 00:00:10.406 to be honest and quite, 00:00:10.518 --> 00:00:11.142 you know, 00:00:11.142 --> 00:00:12.958 I'm thankful for Doris bringing red, 00:00:12.958 --> 00:00:17.494 white, and blue flowers this morning and the opportunity that we've been 00:00:17.542 --> 00:00:20.850 given, this foundation of liberty, 00:00:21.590 --> 00:00:23.678 freedom, you know, 00:00:23.734 --> 00:00:25.614 those things that we like to acknowledge, 00:00:25.614 --> 00:00:27.610 particularly around the 4 July, 00:00:28.270 --> 00:00:29.054 quite honestly, 00:00:29.102 --> 00:00:30.350 based on a grant from God, 00:00:30.350 --> 00:00:32.070 if you want to know the truth. 00:00:32.070 --> 00:00:36.086 The fact is that as we developed, 00:00:36.198 --> 00:00:36.858 we were, 00:00:36.870 --> 00:00:38.086 as it is quoted, 00:00:38.086 --> 00:00:39.970 endowed by our creator. 00:00:40.510 --> 00:00:45.110 He gave us the choice to be free, 00:00:45.230 --> 00:00:46.490 to have liberty, 00:00:46.830 --> 00:00:47.918 but to honor him. 00:00:47.918 --> 00:00:50.490 There's a difference between liberty and license. 00:00:50.950 --> 00:00:53.630 And so we need to be careful because we live in a culture now. 00:00:53.630 --> 00:00:55.290 That's all about license. 00:00:56.660 --> 00:01:01.012 So our nation is racing to honor humanity. 00:01:01.196 --> 00:01:04.556 I remember the first time in school when I heard the word secular 00:01:04.556 --> 00:01:08.840 humanism. The elevation of me. 00:01:09.700 --> 00:01:10.960 I'm in charge. 00:01:11.420 --> 00:01:13.160 I am my own authority. 00:01:13.580 --> 00:01:15.116 Ultimately, what that saying is, 00:01:15.116 --> 00:01:17.096 is I am my own God. 00:01:17.620 --> 00:01:20.060 Secular humanism is the doctrine of self, 00:01:20.100 --> 00:01:26.000 and it derives from all kinds of selfish, 00:01:26.120 --> 00:01:28.712 garden fall philosophies. 00:01:28.816 --> 00:01:32.376 We see it evidenced in our culture and our society, 00:01:32.448 --> 00:01:35.384 you can call it by a number of different philosophies. 00:01:35.128 --> 00:01:41.112 I just choose to go back to the one that rose up in our sort of century 00:01:41.216 --> 00:01:42.660 and call it Marxism, 00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:46.024 the power and purpose of the individual. 00:01:46.024 --> 00:01:47.674 It does not honor God. 00:01:47.960 --> 00:01:53.936 It seeks to disregard and to destroy the concept of goddess and his 00:01:53.968 --> 00:01:58.568 authority. And in the mortal words of Forrest Gump, 00:01:58.624 --> 00:02:01.264 that's all I got to say about that. 00:02:02.840 --> 00:02:05.480 Folks, we gather this morning to honor God. 00:02:05.800 --> 00:02:07.624 We gather this morning to worship. 00:02:07.624 --> 00:02:10.008 We want to lift high the name of Jesus, 00:02:10.008 --> 00:02:13.152 not the name of the individual or the identity that the individual 00:02:13.152 --> 00:02:14.576 happens to choose today. 00:02:14.768 --> 00:02:17.968 Okay, last week we were in the park. 00:02:18.024 --> 00:02:21.814 How many of you joined with us in the park last week? 00:02:21.510 --> 00:02:23.160 It was a nice time, 00:02:23.550 --> 00:02:25.410 all, but for one thing, 00:02:26.190 --> 00:02:34.286 it was 97 degrees at 10:00 I told people I felt much like the wicked 00:02:34.318 --> 00:02:35.158 witch of the west. 00:02:35.158 --> 00:02:35.990 I'm melting. 00:02:36.070 --> 00:02:37.050 I'm melting. 00:02:38.550 --> 00:02:40.530 But it was a great time, 00:02:41.190 --> 00:02:44.438 and I shared with you about the new entrance God's given us. 00:02:44.438 --> 00:02:46.428 It's a faith trust, 00:02:46.614 --> 00:02:49.176 trust entrance we have, 00:02:49.328 --> 00:02:53.936 and we are in this relationship with God our creator in the book of 00:02:53.936 --> 00:02:55.916 Hebrews, as we've made our way. 00:02:55.816 --> 00:02:57.168 We're in the summation now, 00:02:57.168 --> 00:02:58.760 y'all. We're in chapter ten. 00:02:58.760 --> 00:03:00.912 We're finding out and learning what it is. 00:03:00.912 --> 00:03:05.872 God has actually given to us what it is he's provided for us, 00:03:05.896 --> 00:03:07.420 what he's offered. 00:03:08.520 --> 00:03:12.810 And then there are the warnings that come throughout the book of Hebrews. 00:03:12.970 --> 00:03:13.458 You see, 00:03:13.458 --> 00:03:17.088 he made a way for us to come into his presence. 00:03:17.530 --> 00:03:20.794 He's pointed it out from Hebrews chapter one all the way up into the 00:03:20.794 --> 00:03:22.114 beginning of chapter ten. 00:03:22.210 --> 00:03:23.946 He made that way through his son, 00:03:23.946 --> 00:03:24.490 his heir, 00:03:24.490 --> 00:03:25.154 the creator, 00:03:25.202 --> 00:03:27.146 the sustainer of all the universe, 00:03:27.146 --> 00:03:28.796 the radiance of God's glory, 00:03:28.826 --> 00:03:31.290 the exact expression of the essence of God. 00:03:31.290 --> 00:03:31.994 He is king, 00:03:31.994 --> 00:03:33.644 he is the highest priest. 00:03:33.698 --> 00:03:36.670 And he died in our place. 00:03:37.380 --> 00:03:38.720 He died for me. 00:03:39.500 --> 00:03:40.508 You know what God knows? 00:03:40.508 --> 00:03:41.948 You. Y'all know what I hear. 00:03:41.948 --> 00:03:44.012 I want to share something with y'all. 00:03:43.628 --> 00:03:45.480 I am a good judge. 00:03:46.260 --> 00:03:47.420 Y'all know that. 00:03:47.580 --> 00:03:49.308 I'm not saying I'm a fair judge. 00:03:49.308 --> 00:03:51.618 I'm just saying I'm good at judging, 00:03:53.300 --> 00:03:54.884 man. I can look around and go, 00:03:54.884 --> 00:03:56.040 that ain't right. 00:03:57.700 --> 00:03:59.140 I can look at people doing something, 00:03:59.140 --> 00:04:02.040 go, you meant to do that. 00:04:02.780 --> 00:04:04.900 You chose to do that. 00:04:05.020 --> 00:04:06.540 That's how good a judge I am. 00:04:06.540 --> 00:04:09.510 Don't y'all want me following y'all around all weekend? 00:04:10.270 --> 00:04:13.240 Man, I've been at this for a long time, 00:04:15.190 --> 00:04:15.814 you know? 00:04:15.678 --> 00:04:17.328 And as we were singing, 00:04:17.510 --> 00:04:19.398 and as Lois mentioned, 00:04:19.494 --> 00:04:20.610 the fact that, 00:04:21.150 --> 00:04:21.638 you know, 00:04:21.638 --> 00:04:23.742 God's mercies are new every morning. 00:04:23.806 --> 00:04:25.278 And God knows you, 00:04:25.334 --> 00:04:27.170 and God knows your heart. 00:04:27.510 --> 00:04:31.290 He knows your faith better than you know your faith. 00:04:32.310 --> 00:04:34.620 He knows when you run to him. 00:04:35.360 --> 00:04:37.670 He knows when he's running to you. 00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:38.420 You see, 00:04:39.200 --> 00:04:43.700 he tells us in the beginning of chapter ten to approach with boldness, 00:04:44.120 --> 00:04:44.800 not fear. 00:04:44.840 --> 00:04:45.520 You know what? 00:04:45.520 --> 00:04:53.592 I've told y'all the story of my wayward early life when the fire got out 00:04:53.616 --> 00:04:59.736 of hand and I dreaded my daddy coming home that day and he found me 00:04:59.768 --> 00:05:00.860 behind the door, 00:05:01.550 --> 00:05:03.798 right? I was scared of him. 00:05:03.974 --> 00:05:04.838 Well, see, 00:05:05.014 --> 00:05:08.574 the message of Hebrews and the message of the whole Bible from the Old 00:05:08.574 --> 00:05:09.734 testament to the new, 00:05:09.734 --> 00:05:12.044 is this message of confidence and boldness. 00:05:12.078 --> 00:05:16.198 Because we are adopted into the family of God and we approach our loving 00:05:16.198 --> 00:05:18.110 heavenly father in relationship. 00:05:18.150 --> 00:05:18.974 Because guess what? 00:05:18.974 --> 00:05:21.510 I remember in 1982 when I surrendered to ministry, 00:05:21.510 --> 00:05:24.358 God called me and I was running and I didn't want to do it. 00:05:24.358 --> 00:05:25.054 And he called me. 00:05:25.054 --> 00:05:26.270 And I remember a preacher saying, 00:05:26.270 --> 00:05:27.260 you know what? 00:05:27.610 --> 00:05:30.250 You can't disappoint a God who knows everything. 00:05:34.010 --> 00:05:35.550 Grieve, maybe, 00:05:37.610 --> 00:05:40.330 but he already knew you were going to do it. 00:05:40.330 --> 00:05:44.986 Okay, so this message today is based on probably one of the most 00:05:45.018 --> 00:05:46.226 difficult passages, 00:05:46.378 --> 00:05:49.850 at least in the book of Hebrews and possibly in the Bible. 00:05:49.850 --> 00:05:52.202 Here's what it says beginning in verse 26. 00:05:52.266 --> 00:05:57.422 For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the 00:05:57.446 --> 00:06:01.110 truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 00:06:01.190 --> 00:06:06.582 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to 00:06:06.606 --> 00:06:08.930 consume the adversaries enemies. 00:06:09.590 --> 00:06:13.454 Anyone who disregarded the law of Moses died without mercy, 00:06:13.502 --> 00:06:16.802 based on the testimony of just two or three witnesses. 00:06:16.910 --> 00:06:20.110 How much worse punishment do you think one will deserve? 00:06:20.110 --> 00:06:23.578 Who has trampled on the son of God, 00:06:23.754 --> 00:06:25.442 who is regarded as profane, 00:06:25.506 --> 00:06:28.506 the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, 00:06:28.506 --> 00:06:30.482 and who has insulted the spirit of grace? 00:06:30.482 --> 00:06:32.858 For we know the one who has said, 00:06:32.858 --> 00:06:34.346 vengeance belongs to me. 00:06:34.378 --> 00:06:35.130 I will repay. 00:06:35.130 --> 00:06:35.554 And again, 00:06:35.554 --> 00:06:37.534 the Lord will judge his people. 00:06:37.970 --> 00:06:42.260 It's a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 00:06:43.690 --> 00:06:46.210 Remember the earlier days when, 00:06:46.250 --> 00:06:47.418 after you had been enlightened, 00:06:47.418 --> 00:06:49.734 you endured a hard struggle with sufferings. 00:06:49.882 --> 00:06:53.350 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to taunts and afflictions, 00:06:53.390 --> 00:06:56.718 and at other times you were companions of those who were treated that 00:06:56.718 --> 00:06:59.806 way. For you sympathized with the prisoners and accepted with joy the 00:06:59.806 --> 00:07:01.398 confiscation of your possessions. 00:07:01.494 --> 00:07:04.518 Because you know that you yourselves have a better and enduring 00:07:04.518 --> 00:07:05.366 possession. 00:07:05.518 --> 00:07:07.582 So don't throw away your confidence, 00:07:07.766 --> 00:07:09.416 which has a great reward. 00:07:09.710 --> 00:07:11.302 For you need endurance, 00:07:11.366 --> 00:07:13.158 so that after you have done God's will, 00:07:13.158 --> 00:07:15.334 you may receive what was promised. 00:07:15.382 --> 00:07:17.086 For yet in a very little while, 00:07:17.086 --> 00:07:20.400 the coming one will come and not delay, 00:07:20.780 --> 00:07:22.828 but my righteous one will live by faith. 00:07:22.828 --> 00:07:23.812 And if he draws back, 00:07:23.812 --> 00:07:25.792 I have no pleasure in him. 00:07:26.340 --> 00:07:27.500 I like the last verse, 00:07:27.500 --> 00:07:28.292 verse 39. 00:07:28.356 --> 00:07:33.180 But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, 00:07:33.220 --> 00:07:35.964 but those who have faith and are saved. 00:07:36.052 --> 00:07:37.080 Pray with me. 00:07:37.380 --> 00:07:39.690 Father, we thank you for your word. 00:07:39.980 --> 00:07:40.596 We thank you, 00:07:40.596 --> 00:07:44.440 God, that you didn't hide anything from us. 00:07:45.140 --> 00:07:48.108 God, you're not trying to be deceptive in any way. 00:07:47.860 --> 00:07:52.400 You're telling us exactly that which you desire. 00:07:53.380 --> 00:07:53.836 And so, 00:07:53.836 --> 00:07:59.308 God, let our hearts be surrendered and willing and broken before you. 00:07:59.324 --> 00:08:00.740 And let us understand and know, 00:08:00.740 --> 00:08:09.100 God, that it's your incredible love for us that allows us to have 00:08:09.140 --> 00:08:12.666 entrance and to approach the throne boldly, 00:08:12.858 --> 00:08:15.870 and not as enemies or adversaries, 00:08:16.610 --> 00:08:22.218 but to know that you are our heavenly father and that you love us. 00:08:22.394 --> 00:08:22.826 And so, 00:08:22.826 --> 00:08:23.954 God, we bow before you. 00:08:23.954 --> 00:08:24.258 And I, 00:08:24.258 --> 00:08:27.410 even today I just confess my own sin before you, 00:08:27.410 --> 00:08:28.070 knowing God, 00:08:28.090 --> 00:08:29.110 that you've said, 00:08:29.770 --> 00:08:31.590 if we confess our sin, 00:08:32.370 --> 00:08:34.680 you are faithful and you are just. 00:08:35.539 --> 00:08:37.279 You forgive us our sin. 00:08:37.619 --> 00:08:40.067 Cleanse us from unrighteousness, 00:08:40.163 --> 00:08:42.771 God, cleanse me this morning. 00:08:42.915 --> 00:08:44.571 We pray it in Jesus name. 00:08:44.571 --> 00:08:48.201 Amen. I want you to know I've wrestled with these verses, 00:08:48.275 --> 00:08:48.605 man. 00:08:48.547 --> 00:08:49.971 This is this section, 00:08:50.035 --> 00:08:52.923 verses 26 through 31. 00:08:53.051 --> 00:08:57.771 I've been studying and working out for a month or more. 00:08:57.955 --> 00:09:03.507 And here's what I realized faith is that which preserves and possesses 00:09:03.563 --> 00:09:04.519 the soul. 00:09:05.690 --> 00:09:06.242 You see, 00:09:06.242 --> 00:09:08.410 when we surrender ourselves to God, 00:09:08.450 --> 00:09:11.442 when we receive the good news, 00:09:11.506 --> 00:09:12.386 the gospel, 00:09:12.498 --> 00:09:13.670 the message, 00:09:14.370 --> 00:09:20.230 and obtain the confession of faith before the throne of God, 00:09:20.890 --> 00:09:21.790 you see, 00:09:22.650 --> 00:09:24.610 God possesses us, 00:09:24.690 --> 00:09:26.074 preserves us, 00:09:26.202 --> 00:09:28.298 and then I see as sinners like. 00:09:28.298 --> 00:09:29.818 For if we deliberately go on sin, 00:09:29.818 --> 00:09:32.170 y'all know what I can almost tell you. 00:09:31.946 --> 00:09:32.442 Well, no, 00:09:32.442 --> 00:09:38.186 I can absolutely tell you I deliberately sinned sometime yesterday and 00:09:38.218 --> 00:09:39.208 probably this morning, 00:09:39.234 --> 00:09:40.578 too. Okay, 00:09:40.714 --> 00:09:43.474 so does that mean that if I go out here and choose to. 00:09:43.474 --> 00:09:43.930 Thank you, 00:09:43.930 --> 00:09:45.474 Kyle, for the reminder, 00:09:45.562 --> 00:09:50.870 but I go out here and choose to do 62 down highway 17, 00:09:52.730 --> 00:09:59.974 that I have lost my salvation because I have deliberately chosen to speed 00:10:00.022 --> 00:10:01.130 down the highway, 00:10:01.590 --> 00:10:04.318 is that the relationship that I have with God? 00:10:04.318 --> 00:10:06.970 Is that the faith that possesses my soul? 00:10:07.790 --> 00:10:09.598 Is that the judge? 00:10:09.654 --> 00:10:10.990 Now, I'm not a good judge. 00:10:10.990 --> 00:10:12.318 I lied to y'all earlier, 00:10:12.318 --> 00:10:13.970 and I did it willfully. 00:10:15.390 --> 00:10:17.090 I'm not a good judge. 00:10:18.230 --> 00:10:20.686 See, God is a righteous judge. 00:10:20.718 --> 00:10:22.690 And God knows my heart. 00:10:23.160 --> 00:10:23.820 And see, 00:10:23.872 --> 00:10:29.408 from the day that I became aware of God's love for me and Jesus death on 00:10:29.424 --> 00:10:32.400 the cross and the sacrifice that was made, 00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:36.200 that I might have adoption into the body of Christ, 00:10:36.280 --> 00:10:38.384 into the family of God, 00:10:38.552 --> 00:10:43.400 God's view of me changed in that because he sees me through the shed 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:44.240 blood of his son, 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:44.952 Jesus Christ. 00:10:45.016 --> 00:10:46.420 I belong to him. 00:10:47.640 --> 00:10:48.660 I'm his. 00:10:49.130 --> 00:10:50.426 And I become aware of that. 00:10:50.426 --> 00:10:52.406 And when sin enters my life, 00:10:52.426 --> 00:10:55.830 the first response always is, 00:10:57.570 --> 00:10:58.750 sorry, God. 00:11:02.770 --> 00:11:03.586 I didn't. 00:11:03.698 --> 00:11:05.050 I pray like David prayed. 00:11:05.050 --> 00:11:06.570 I didn't just let myself down. 00:11:06.570 --> 00:11:07.890 I let you down. 00:11:09.170 --> 00:11:12.950 I wasn't holy as you are holy. 00:11:13.290 --> 00:11:14.626 So what does he mean by this? 00:11:14.626 --> 00:11:18.386 For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of 00:11:18.386 --> 00:11:19.870 what is willful sin, 00:11:20.490 --> 00:11:21.480 what is it? 00:11:21.506 --> 00:11:25.290 Is it just simply that you chose to do the wrong thing? 00:11:25.290 --> 00:11:25.866 Well, yeah, 00:11:25.866 --> 00:11:27.298 that's a form of willful sin. 00:11:27.298 --> 00:11:28.946 But what is this referring to? 00:11:28.746 --> 00:11:30.138 See, here's what I want you to understand. 00:11:30.138 --> 00:11:33.202 This is the book of Hebrews is a message for the ages. 00:11:33.202 --> 00:11:38.270 Remember, the Old Testament is all about Jesus. 00:11:39.050 --> 00:11:39.890 The Old Testament, 00:11:39.890 --> 00:11:41.250 everything in the Old Testament, 00:11:41.250 --> 00:11:42.030 the law, 00:11:43.210 --> 00:11:44.066 the prophets, 00:11:44.138 --> 00:11:45.070 the angels, 00:11:45.770 --> 00:11:46.594 the covenant, 00:11:46.642 --> 00:11:47.834 the sacrifice, 00:11:48.002 --> 00:11:48.586 the temple, 00:11:48.586 --> 00:11:49.258 the Tabernacle, 00:11:49.314 --> 00:11:51.250 all of it points us to Jesus. 00:11:51.250 --> 00:11:53.834 The New Testament reveals Jesus. 00:11:53.962 --> 00:11:56.458 The book of Hebrews shows us how it all fits together. 00:11:56.458 --> 00:11:59.058 And we see JesuS throughout the book of hebRews, 00:11:59.058 --> 00:12:03.402 and we see JesuS elevated to this point of priority and purpose. 00:12:03.506 --> 00:12:04.898 And so when we see this, 00:12:04.898 --> 00:12:08.970 we see in the book of Hebrews this message that God has given to the 00:12:08.970 --> 00:12:13.110 ages. But it's in the context of God's wilderness people. 00:12:13.740 --> 00:12:16.520 These were the people who saw God work, 00:12:18.900 --> 00:12:22.040 who received the blessing of God's work, 00:12:22.500 --> 00:12:24.500 saw the plagues. 00:12:24.660 --> 00:12:29.500 Can you imagine hanging out in Egypt when the plagues are going on? 00:12:29.620 --> 00:12:31.270 Y'all wouldn't drink that water, 00:12:32.060 --> 00:12:34.180 right? You know what? 00:12:34.220 --> 00:12:36.280 I've had my field of grasshoppers, 00:12:37.740 --> 00:12:39.646 frogs, just the legs. 00:12:39.678 --> 00:12:40.490 Thank you. 00:12:41.590 --> 00:12:42.910 See what I mean? 00:12:43.110 --> 00:12:46.670 And they received and they enjoyed the blessing of God. 00:12:46.710 --> 00:12:49.750 And yet when they got to the boundaries of the promised land, 00:12:49.750 --> 00:12:50.214 they said, 00:12:50.214 --> 00:12:51.330 no, God. 00:12:52.870 --> 00:12:56.810 We would rather go back to Egypt. 00:12:57.990 --> 00:13:00.730 A rejection of God. 00:13:01.790 --> 00:13:04.770 So what is this deliberate sin? 00:13:05.260 --> 00:13:08.840 It is this choosing to reject God, 00:13:10.380 --> 00:13:10.908 to say, 00:13:10.908 --> 00:13:11.668 I don't want you, 00:13:11.668 --> 00:13:14.172 God. I've heard the story of Jesus. 00:13:14.276 --> 00:13:16.036 I see what happened on the cross, 00:13:16.036 --> 00:13:18.476 and I don't want anything to do with it. 00:13:18.476 --> 00:13:18.916 Do you know, 00:13:18.916 --> 00:13:25.076 I've only met a few people who have actually said that to me. 00:13:25.268 --> 00:13:27.908 I don't want anything to do with God. 00:13:27.980 --> 00:13:28.640 Most people. 00:13:28.652 --> 00:13:28.948 You know, 00:13:28.948 --> 00:13:33.140 I love it when couples sit down in my office and start telling me their 00:13:33.140 --> 00:13:33.580 life story, 00:13:33.580 --> 00:13:33.956 and I go, 00:13:33.956 --> 00:13:35.356 really? Well, 00:13:35.388 --> 00:13:36.188 tell me, 00:13:36.364 --> 00:13:39.080 is your relationship God honoring? 00:13:41.140 --> 00:13:43.120 That's the first look I get. 00:13:45.340 --> 00:13:47.092 Well, explain it to me. 00:13:47.276 --> 00:13:48.092 You know what? 00:13:48.092 --> 00:13:48.868 And I'll tell you what. 00:13:48.868 --> 00:13:52.988 I don't know if it was the puritanical spirit of the founding of our 00:13:52.988 --> 00:13:55.948 country, but I always get to that point where you hear this phrase, 00:13:55.948 --> 00:13:57.200 living in sin, 00:13:57.910 --> 00:13:58.742 right? And I go, 00:13:58.742 --> 00:14:01.052 okay, what you gonna do about it? 00:14:01.630 --> 00:14:06.050 Right? Because the deliberate sin is nothing. 00:14:07.470 --> 00:14:11.670 I don't care what God says about how I should live my life. 00:14:11.670 --> 00:14:16.410 What is the proper response to sin in our lives? 00:14:17.990 --> 00:14:19.130 Forgive me? 00:14:19.990 --> 00:14:22.690 Repentance. Confession. 00:14:23.560 --> 00:14:26.200 Right? Does it mean you're perfect after that? 00:14:26.232 --> 00:14:33.580 No, but we've been given this opportunity of relationship with God. 00:14:35.280 --> 00:14:37.160 See, we're given the gospel, 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:38.300 the good news, 00:14:39.920 --> 00:14:43.220 and some people are given the gospel and say no. 00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:47.580 And here's the spirit of the deliberate sin or the willful sin. 00:14:48.770 --> 00:14:49.830 It's wrong, 00:14:50.410 --> 00:14:51.730 and I don't care. 00:14:55.050 --> 00:14:56.570 God, I know what you expect, 00:14:56.570 --> 00:14:57.890 but I don't care. 00:14:58.570 --> 00:14:59.986 I don't want you. 00:15:00.178 --> 00:15:02.130 I don't want anything to do with you. 00:15:02.130 --> 00:15:04.906 Remember I showed y'all what my little sister did once upon a time? 00:15:04.906 --> 00:15:06.322 And she might be watching this morning, 00:15:06.322 --> 00:15:06.770 but. 00:15:06.890 --> 00:15:08.082 Or listening at least. 00:15:08.082 --> 00:15:11.630 So you're not the boss of me, 00:15:12.450 --> 00:15:14.762 right? I remember that as a child, 00:15:14.826 --> 00:15:17.676 my little sister looking at me like that. 00:15:17.708 --> 00:15:18.828 Right? She's a little bitty thing, 00:15:18.828 --> 00:15:21.620 too, but that's that. 00:15:21.660 --> 00:15:22.320 That's the. 00:15:22.324 --> 00:15:23.468 That's the deliberate, 00:15:23.524 --> 00:15:24.916 willful sin of God. 00:15:24.988 --> 00:15:29.480 You're not God over me. 00:15:30.300 --> 00:15:31.356 See that? 00:15:31.548 --> 00:15:32.208 Watch out. 00:15:32.220 --> 00:15:34.200 So, so what is this rejection? 00:15:34.212 --> 00:15:37.396 This rejection is to be an enemy of God. 00:15:37.588 --> 00:15:39.436 And that's why he goes on down there to say that. 00:15:39.436 --> 00:15:40.096 He says, 00:15:40.132 --> 00:15:40.884 but a terr. 00:15:40.884 --> 00:15:43.556 Alright, so for if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the 00:15:43.556 --> 00:15:44.276 knowledge of the truth, 00:15:44.276 --> 00:15:46.444 there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 00:15:46.444 --> 00:15:48.080 but a terrifying expectation, 00:15:48.100 --> 00:15:52.280 expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the 00:15:52.280 --> 00:15:53.592 enemies, the adversaries, 00:15:53.656 --> 00:15:57.300 those who set themselves up in opposition to God. 00:15:58.280 --> 00:15:58.712 You know what? 00:15:58.712 --> 00:16:00.432 I bet if I walked around this room, 00:16:00.432 --> 00:16:01.880 ask everybody in this room, 00:16:01.880 --> 00:16:03.860 are you an enemy of God? 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:06.936 I dare say people would go, 00:16:06.936 --> 00:16:09.888 but yet we remember the verse from romans five eight that says, 00:16:09.888 --> 00:16:11.900 while we were yet enemies, 00:16:12.640 --> 00:16:14.780 Christ died for us. 00:16:15.920 --> 00:16:16.472 You see, 00:16:16.472 --> 00:16:17.376 that's good news. 00:16:17.376 --> 00:16:18.620 That's the gospel. 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:21.696 And like I said, 00:16:21.696 --> 00:16:28.300 I've known very few people who were confronted with just a statement. 00:16:29.400 --> 00:16:33.920 I remember sitting at a restaurant in Edgewood, 00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:36.460 Maryland. I asked this guy, 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:37.608 I said, 00:16:37.608 --> 00:16:40.152 so would you say that you're an adversary of God? 00:16:40.152 --> 00:16:41.232 And he actually said, 00:16:41.232 --> 00:16:48.546 yes. One of the few times that I've actually had somebody bold enough to 00:16:48.578 --> 00:16:49.898 say that to me. 00:16:50.330 --> 00:16:55.390 Now, I've seen people live as if they were adversaries of God. 00:16:56.890 --> 00:16:59.114 That's where the good judge comes in. 00:16:59.114 --> 00:17:01.426 Right? But you know what? 00:17:01.458 --> 00:17:04.498 There are a lot of times when I see people living as adversaries of God, 00:17:04.498 --> 00:17:06.298 where I confront them with the gospel and I say, 00:17:06.298 --> 00:17:09.769 did you know that goddess loves you? 00:17:11.309 --> 00:17:12.773 Well, he's never shown me. 00:17:12.773 --> 00:17:13.433 Oh, really? 00:17:13.453 --> 00:17:15.433 Let's talk about that a minute. 00:17:15.669 --> 00:17:20.289 Let's talk about how God has shown his love to you and for you. 00:17:21.029 --> 00:17:21.809 Wow. 00:17:22.549 --> 00:17:24.693 You start to see a melting taking place. 00:17:24.693 --> 00:17:29.117 Kind of like 97 degrees at 10:00 on Sunday morning. 00:17:29.213 --> 00:17:31.809 They just start to wow, 00:17:32.829 --> 00:17:33.213 you know, 00:17:33.213 --> 00:17:37.150 if you can convey the love of God to somebody, 00:17:38.010 --> 00:17:39.362 I had somebody ask me, 00:17:39.362 --> 00:17:39.898 when was it? 00:17:39.898 --> 00:17:43.198 Wednesday? I was eating breakfast somewhere and somebody asked me, 00:17:43.530 --> 00:17:44.658 think when we get to heaven, 00:17:44.658 --> 00:17:50.242 God's going to be standing there waiting with his stick to punish us for 00:17:50.266 --> 00:17:50.596 sin. 00:17:50.530 --> 00:17:50.858 I said, 00:17:50.858 --> 00:17:51.330 you know what? 00:17:51.330 --> 00:17:51.658 I said, 00:17:51.658 --> 00:17:54.628 we're going to walk into heaven full of shame. 00:17:54.810 --> 00:17:55.330 I said, 00:17:55.330 --> 00:17:58.538 but we're going to be confronted, 00:17:58.714 --> 00:18:03.440 surrounded by the almost tangible love of God. 00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:05.480 See that? 00:18:07.540 --> 00:18:09.180 So what is this rejection? 00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:10.172 This rejection. 00:18:10.236 --> 00:18:12.572 And I remember as a kid hearing that phrase, 00:18:12.572 --> 00:18:14.132 the unforgivable sin, 00:18:14.276 --> 00:18:24.480 right? To reject God and to reject him as the authority over all things. 00:18:26.310 --> 00:18:27.300 You know what? 00:18:28.030 --> 00:18:29.382 In chapter ten where it says, 00:18:29.382 --> 00:18:31.854 approach the throne of God with boldness, 00:18:31.902 --> 00:18:33.222 what does that mean? 00:18:33.790 --> 00:18:35.038 Here's what I know. 00:18:35.038 --> 00:18:41.046 I love God and I want my life to be a testimony of that love for God, 00:18:41.118 --> 00:18:43.758 not a testimony of my love for myself. 00:18:44.270 --> 00:18:48.890 Okay? We live in a world where there's a testimony of love for oneself. 00:18:48.630 --> 00:18:51.600 I want my testimony to be love for goddess. 00:18:51.610 --> 00:18:54.250 I want people to see I love God. 00:18:55.560 --> 00:18:56.760 I want to be near God. 00:18:56.760 --> 00:18:57.880 I want to pursue God. 00:18:57.880 --> 00:18:59.860 I want to run after him. 00:18:59.552 --> 00:19:00.528 I want that. 00:19:00.528 --> 00:19:01.520 And so guess what? 00:19:01.520 --> 00:19:02.904 I need more gospel. 00:19:02.952 --> 00:19:04.232 I need more good news. 00:19:04.232 --> 00:19:08.656 Every day I like to run into people who want to share with me good news. 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:12.192 I like to talk to people who want to share the Bible and Jesus and talk. 00:19:12.192 --> 00:19:13.808 Let's just sit down and talk. 00:19:13.808 --> 00:19:14.624 There's a song. 00:19:14.624 --> 00:19:15.800 Let's talk about Jesus. 00:19:15.800 --> 00:19:18.020 It's one of Scott's kind of songs, 00:19:18.020 --> 00:19:18.380 right? 00:19:18.420 --> 00:19:20.380 You know the one I'm talking about? 00:19:20.380 --> 00:19:21.540 Yeah. See, 00:19:21.580 --> 00:19:23.480 I love talking about Jesus. 00:19:24.020 --> 00:19:24.972 It's fun. 00:19:25.076 --> 00:19:27.244 Do y'all remember what happened last Sunday, 00:19:27.244 --> 00:19:28.580 right at the end, 00:19:28.740 --> 00:19:29.388 when we. 00:19:29.196 --> 00:19:30.836 When we finished preaching and. 00:19:30.836 --> 00:19:31.700 And gathering, 00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:33.796 worship, came up to finish the song, 00:19:33.796 --> 00:19:36.388 there was a young man walked right over there and said, 00:19:36.388 --> 00:19:38.038 I want to be saved. 00:19:38.700 --> 00:19:39.690 I was like, 00:19:39.692 --> 00:19:41.964 whoo. What a way to worship in the park. 00:19:41.964 --> 00:19:44.330 Y'all see what I mean? 00:19:45.510 --> 00:19:46.850 That's the point. 00:19:47.710 --> 00:19:49.250 We run to Jesus. 00:19:49.910 --> 00:19:53.130 Those who are deliberately sinning are running from Jesus. 00:19:54.190 --> 00:19:56.610 They've rejected God, 00:19:57.070 --> 00:19:57.970 you see? 00:19:59.630 --> 00:20:03.350 And some of you remember the song by the Gaithers. 00:20:03.430 --> 00:20:04.670 He's still working on me. 00:20:04.670 --> 00:20:06.980 I mention it from time to time. 00:20:07.910 --> 00:20:11.720 We sang it as a children's group when I was a kid in church. 00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:13.864 Now I'm 61, 00:20:13.912 --> 00:20:15.088 about to be 62. 00:20:15.144 --> 00:20:16.134 And guess what? 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:17.580 He's still working on me. 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:25.968 First youth camp I did as a youth pastor about 30 years ago. 00:20:26.024 --> 00:20:26.620 Now. 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:33.060 This was the passage for the week from. 00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:38.456 I call him Grandpa John because he calls everybody beloved in his whole 00:20:38.488 --> 00:20:43.090 letter. This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you, 00:20:43.090 --> 00:20:44.080 God is light. 00:20:44.650 --> 00:20:46.666 There's absolutely no darkness in him. 00:20:46.698 --> 00:20:51.898 If we say we have fellowship with him and yet walk in darkness, 00:20:51.994 --> 00:20:54.826 deliberately walking in darkness, 00:20:55.018 --> 00:20:56.150 we're lying. 00:20:56.810 --> 00:20:58.670 We're not practicing the truth. 00:20:59.410 --> 00:21:00.826 If we walk in the light, 00:21:00.826 --> 00:21:02.634 as he himself is in the light, 00:21:02.634 --> 00:21:04.614 we have fellowship with one another. 00:21:04.746 --> 00:21:05.940 And the blood of Jesus, 00:21:05.940 --> 00:21:06.508 his son, 00:21:06.508 --> 00:21:08.320 cleanses us from all sin. 00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:10.720 We say we have no sin. 00:21:11.140 --> 00:21:12.468 We're deceiving ourselves. 00:21:12.524 --> 00:21:13.680 We're liars. 00:21:14.260 --> 00:21:15.700 Truth is not in us. 00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:17.350 If we confess our sins, 00:21:17.660 --> 00:21:22.212 he's faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from 00:21:22.212 --> 00:21:23.300 all unrighteousness. 00:21:23.340 --> 00:21:25.020 And if we say we have not sinned, 00:21:25.020 --> 00:21:26.670 we make him a liar. 00:21:26.820 --> 00:21:29.130 And his word is not in us. 00:21:30.070 --> 00:21:32.050 His word is not in us. 00:21:33.110 --> 00:21:37.070 To say we have no sin and to say there's no God. 00:21:38.630 --> 00:21:44.534 To ignore our own sin is to disregard the blood of Christ. 00:21:44.622 --> 00:21:45.758 Listen to what it says here. 00:21:45.758 --> 00:21:46.418 I mean, 00:21:46.558 --> 00:21:47.462 it goes on down. 00:21:47.462 --> 00:21:50.638 Anyone who disregarded the law of Moses back in the wilderness. 00:21:50.638 --> 00:21:52.046 Remember I mentioned the wilderness? 00:21:51.870 --> 00:21:53.520 The context of the wilderness. 00:21:55.640 --> 00:21:57.320 They died without mercy. 00:21:57.360 --> 00:21:58.728 Just based on two or three witnesses. 00:21:58.728 --> 00:22:01.248 How much worse punishment do you think one will deserve? 00:22:01.248 --> 00:22:03.016 Who is trampled on? 00:22:03.048 --> 00:22:04.064 The son of God. 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:08.552 Who has regarded as profane the blood of the covenant by which he was 00:22:08.576 --> 00:22:11.660 sanctified. And who has insulted the spirit of grace. 00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:15.576 For we know the one who has said, 00:22:15.576 --> 00:22:16.736 vengeance belongs to me. 00:22:16.736 --> 00:22:17.312 I'll repay. 00:22:17.312 --> 00:22:17.712 And again, 00:22:17.712 --> 00:22:19.224 the Lord will judge his people. 00:22:19.224 --> 00:22:23.514 It's a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 00:22:23.610 --> 00:22:26.178 Remember the earlier days when after you had been enlightened, 00:22:26.178 --> 00:22:28.154 you endured the hard struggle, 00:22:28.322 --> 00:22:28.906 suffering. 00:22:28.978 --> 00:22:32.314 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to taunts and afflictions. 00:22:32.362 --> 00:22:35.986 And other times you were companions of those who were treated that way. 00:22:35.986 --> 00:22:38.978 For you sympathized with the prisoners and accepted with joy the 00:22:38.978 --> 00:22:40.394 confiscation of your possessions. 00:22:40.442 --> 00:22:43.410 Because you know that you yourselves have a better and enduring 00:22:43.410 --> 00:22:46.754 possession. So don't throw away your confidence, 00:22:46.882 --> 00:22:48.532 which has a great reward. 00:22:48.900 --> 00:22:52.420 For you need endurance so that after you have done God's will, 00:22:52.420 --> 00:22:54.760 you may receive what was promised. 00:22:55.180 --> 00:22:56.468 For yet in a very little while, 00:22:56.468 --> 00:22:58.172 the coming one will come and not delay. 00:22:58.172 --> 00:23:00.124 But my righteous one will live by faith. 00:23:00.124 --> 00:23:01.068 And if he draws back, 00:23:01.068 --> 00:23:02.652 I have no pleasure in him. 00:23:02.652 --> 00:23:03.108 And now, 00:23:03.108 --> 00:23:03.820 verse 39. 00:23:03.860 --> 00:23:04.680 You ready? 00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:08.290 We are not those who draw back, 00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:13.360 folks. Don't draw back from the confession of your faith. 00:23:13.870 --> 00:23:18.958 Don't draw back from the boldness to enter the very presence of an all 00:23:19.014 --> 00:23:21.850 powerful, all holy, 00:23:22.310 --> 00:23:25.142 all righteous creator. 00:23:25.206 --> 00:23:29.050 God who knows you and knows your heart. 00:23:30.070 --> 00:23:32.790 We are not those who draw back and are destroyed, 00:23:32.790 --> 00:23:36.542 but those who have faith and are saved. 00:23:36.606 --> 00:23:38.570 God knows you. 00:23:39.520 --> 00:23:42.100 Does that give you boldness or fear? 00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:47.190 That's a good checking point right there. 00:23:47.800 --> 00:23:49.120 Does God know you? 00:23:49.152 --> 00:23:50.420 Give you boldness? 00:23:53.080 --> 00:23:54.760 I hadn't planned to tell this story, 00:23:54.760 --> 00:23:55.416 but I'll tell it, 00:23:55.416 --> 00:23:57.496 because Eli reminded me of it this week. 00:23:57.496 --> 00:23:58.480 He went back. 00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:59.664 I don't know if I told y'all. 00:23:59.664 --> 00:24:00.448 No, I didn't tell y'all. 00:24:00.448 --> 00:24:04.078 He went back to Pisgah Forest Baptist Church last Wednesday night. 00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:07.790 So all those people who knew him when he was five, 00:24:08.700 --> 00:24:09.900 he went back up there. 00:24:09.900 --> 00:24:11.444 And here's how it went. 00:24:11.444 --> 00:24:12.172 I don't know if I. 00:24:12.172 --> 00:24:13.388 I don't think I told you all this. 00:24:13.388 --> 00:24:14.480 Anyway, he said, 00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:15.684 they said, 00:24:15.772 --> 00:24:16.164 hi. 00:24:16.252 --> 00:24:17.596 A nice lady that I know. 00:24:17.596 --> 00:24:18.164 She comes up, 00:24:18.164 --> 00:24:19.180 and she says to Eli, 00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:19.960 she says. 00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:20.988 She says, 00:24:20.988 --> 00:24:22.308 hi, my name's Jerry. 00:24:23.860 --> 00:24:24.436 And he said, 00:24:24.436 --> 00:24:24.908 I'm Eli. 00:24:24.908 --> 00:24:26.558 This is my wife Lillian. 00:24:27.100 --> 00:24:27.596 She says, 00:24:27.596 --> 00:24:28.316 where are y'all from? 00:24:28.316 --> 00:24:28.700 He says, 00:24:28.700 --> 00:24:29.600 surf city. 00:24:30.100 --> 00:24:30.660 She says, 00:24:30.660 --> 00:24:32.640 oh, do you know Bobby Owingsh? 00:24:32.716 --> 00:24:36.506 No. Do you happen to know Bobby Owings is the way it was worded? 00:24:36.226 --> 00:24:36.986 And Eli goes, 00:24:36.986 --> 00:24:39.296 well, he happens to be my father. 00:24:40.850 --> 00:24:43.482 So every one of them began to tell the story. 00:24:43.482 --> 00:24:46.594 He said he heard it probably ten times before he left that night. 00:24:46.594 --> 00:24:48.450 The day that I was doing children's time, 00:24:48.450 --> 00:24:49.026 and I used to. 00:24:49.026 --> 00:24:50.676 Would sit on the steps. 00:24:51.130 --> 00:24:52.666 And Eli, 00:24:52.818 --> 00:24:54.962 as they were getting to worship, 00:24:55.066 --> 00:24:56.722 we're not always right on time, 00:24:56.722 --> 00:24:58.066 but as they got there, 00:24:58.066 --> 00:25:00.706 the double doors in the back opened up, 00:25:00.990 --> 00:25:05.926 and my little boy came running down that center aisle. 00:25:05.958 --> 00:25:08.268 Cause I had kids all around me. 00:25:08.630 --> 00:25:10.702 My little boy came running down the aisle going, 00:25:10.702 --> 00:25:11.246 I'm coming, 00:25:11.246 --> 00:25:13.302 daddy. I'm coming, 00:25:13.366 --> 00:25:14.130 daddy. 00:25:16.550 --> 00:25:21.890 Man, is that how you approach the presence of God? 00:25:22.790 --> 00:25:23.622 I'm coming, 00:25:23.686 --> 00:25:24.450 daddy. 00:25:26.800 --> 00:25:28.072 I just want to be close. 00:25:28.072 --> 00:25:30.052 I just want to be near. 00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:33.180 I want to chase after God. 00:25:33.520 --> 00:25:35.170 If you don't know Jesus, 00:25:35.296 --> 00:25:36.864 you need to know Jesus. 00:25:36.864 --> 00:25:37.752 Pray with me. 00:25:37.496 --> 00:25:39.146 Father, thank you for today. 00:25:40.280 --> 00:25:40.824 Thank you. 00:25:40.824 --> 00:25:42.080 That. That's your kind of love. 00:25:42.080 --> 00:25:43.968 I don't know how to love like that. 00:25:43.696 --> 00:25:45.944 I love it that my son loves me that way. 00:25:45.944 --> 00:25:49.300 But I don't know how to love like you love. 00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:51.240 And yet, 00:25:51.240 --> 00:25:52.336 God, I know you know me. 00:25:52.336 --> 00:25:53.392 You know my failures. 00:25:53.392 --> 00:25:54.656 You know my sin. 00:25:54.432 --> 00:25:54.912 You know. 00:25:54.912 --> 00:25:57.056 You know all of those things about me, 00:25:57.056 --> 00:25:58.220 and yet I. 00:25:58.670 --> 00:26:00.650 You welcome me into your presence, 00:26:00.678 --> 00:26:02.370 not because I'm worthy, 00:26:04.230 --> 00:26:05.550 but like the song says, 00:26:05.550 --> 00:26:06.730 there's a mercy. 00:26:07.870 --> 00:26:08.366 And so, 00:26:08.366 --> 00:26:12.490 God, we enter your presence with boldness. 00:26:13.550 --> 00:26:15.302 We are not your adversary. 00:26:15.486 --> 00:26:17.136 We are not your enemies. 00:26:17.510 --> 00:26:18.070 And yet, 00:26:18.070 --> 00:26:19.334 while we were enemies, 00:26:19.334 --> 00:26:21.758 Christ provided a way. 00:26:21.894 --> 00:26:23.718 He died in my place. 00:26:23.854 --> 00:26:25.490 He died for me. 00:26:27.520 --> 00:26:29.500 So I run into your presence, 00:26:31.160 --> 00:26:33.368 God, I thank you for everybody here this morning. 00:26:33.368 --> 00:26:38.280 I thank you for folks who just come out to worship God. 00:26:38.320 --> 00:26:42.160 My prayer would be that we draw near and draw near with boldness, 00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:43.568 because you love us that much. 00:26:43.568 --> 00:26:46.320 And if there's even one person in this room that doesn't know Jesus, 00:26:46.320 --> 00:26:48.416 God, we want to introduce them. 00:26:48.608 --> 00:26:50.588 We want them to know Jesus. 00:26:51.490 --> 00:26:53.602 So help us to tell people about Jesus, 00:26:53.602 --> 00:26:54.842 not just in this room, 00:26:54.842 --> 00:26:56.190 but everywhere we go. 00:26:56.610 --> 00:26:59.338 Help us to have Jesus conversations all day long, 00:26:59.338 --> 00:27:01.442 and we pray it in Jesus name. 00:27:01.442 --> 00:27:04.010 Amen. I.