WEBVTT 00:00:04.320 --> 00:00:08.940 I feel as though I warned you last week and you showed up anyway, 00:00:10.230 --> 00:00:11.610 just so you know. 00:00:12.310 --> 00:00:15.910 Because now we're going to dig into the struggle against sin. 00:00:15.910 --> 00:00:17.710 Cause that's where I left it last week. 00:00:17.710 --> 00:00:20.570 Remember the Hebrews, 00:00:21.390 --> 00:00:22.222 chapter twelve, 00:00:22.286 --> 00:00:23.250 verse four, 00:00:23.590 --> 00:00:25.022 that begins with the words, 00:00:25.022 --> 00:00:26.558 in struggling against sin, 00:00:26.614 --> 00:00:30.340 you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood. 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:35.300 I thought about that this week while I was shaving. 00:00:35.320 --> 00:00:37.248 Whiskers cannot be considered sin, 00:00:37.304 --> 00:00:38.954 even though I bleed often. 00:00:39.480 --> 00:00:42.208 Okay, so we're gonna dig into this a little bit. 00:00:42.208 --> 00:00:45.008 Remember, we've been in the book of Hebrews for all year. 00:00:45.008 --> 00:00:47.848 We've been under the topic of the object of our faith. 00:00:47.848 --> 00:00:50.496 And Jesus is indeed the object of our faith. 00:00:50.328 --> 00:00:54.296 And everything about the book of Hebrews points us to Jesus and points us 00:00:54.296 --> 00:00:55.286 to God's design, 00:00:55.344 --> 00:00:56.208 his provision, 00:00:56.344 --> 00:00:57.040 his plan, 00:00:57.120 --> 00:00:59.824 not simply for what we refer to as salvation, 00:00:59.824 --> 00:01:00.256 but actually, 00:01:00.256 --> 00:01:01.960 actually our redemption. 00:01:02.340 --> 00:01:03.540 God had a purpose, 00:01:03.540 --> 00:01:04.196 a plan, 00:01:04.196 --> 00:01:08.356 a design to buy us back from sin, 00:01:08.468 --> 00:01:09.556 death, and hell. 00:01:09.668 --> 00:01:10.460 All right, 00:01:10.620 --> 00:01:12.772 so this is what Hebrews is about. 00:01:12.772 --> 00:01:14.540 It keeps pointing us to it. 00:01:14.540 --> 00:01:16.644 And so we're going to dig into that today. 00:01:16.420 --> 00:01:17.580 I'm going to read the passage, 00:01:17.580 --> 00:01:19.252 but there's a couple things I got to tell you. 00:01:19.252 --> 00:01:20.132 Baptism today. 00:01:20.196 --> 00:01:23.188 Remember that today is the day that they're going to do the gathering 101 00:01:23.188 --> 00:01:26.812 class. Gathering 101 is just an informational class kind of. 00:01:26.836 --> 00:01:28.486 It goes over our priorities. 00:01:28.484 --> 00:01:32.270 It goes over what is basically the four tenets of our covenant, 00:01:32.270 --> 00:01:34.822 what we refer to as covenant relationship, 00:01:35.006 --> 00:01:36.182 here in the gathering. 00:01:36.182 --> 00:01:39.558 And that meeting is going to take place at twelve noon in the fellowship 00:01:39.558 --> 00:01:40.662 hall. If you're interested, 00:01:40.662 --> 00:01:41.350 show up. 00:01:41.430 --> 00:01:42.286 They got lunch. 00:01:42.286 --> 00:01:44.198 But if you didn't sign up, 00:01:44.198 --> 00:01:46.178 then somebody's going to eat napkins. 00:01:46.182 --> 00:01:47.290 But it's okay. 00:01:47.870 --> 00:01:51.170 There's a restaurant down the street if you're really hungry. 00:01:51.630 --> 00:01:55.366 Second thing is we're going to meet for baptism at 1245. 00:01:55.518 --> 00:01:57.590 After I get done preaching. 00:01:57.630 --> 00:01:59.854 During the last worship gathering at 1150, 00:01:59.902 --> 00:02:02.528 we're going to meet here to get ready for baptism, 00:02:02.528 --> 00:02:07.224 and then we'll cross over to the ocean and we'll do baptism right after 00:02:07.272 --> 00:02:07.602 that. 00:02:07.552 --> 00:02:08.328 So I always say, 00:02:08.328 --> 00:02:10.976 1245, you want to attend baptism, 00:02:11.048 --> 00:02:13.040 be on the beach at 1245. 00:02:13.200 --> 00:02:16.552 Cause if we go over from here and you show up at one, 00:02:16.552 --> 00:02:17.872 you might miss it. 00:02:17.920 --> 00:02:20.344 We had folks that were supposed to take pictures one time, 00:02:20.344 --> 00:02:20.888 show up, 00:02:20.888 --> 00:02:22.248 and we were done, 00:02:22.384 --> 00:02:23.872 and I wasn't doing it again. 00:02:23.872 --> 00:02:26.600 So, plus, 00:02:26.760 --> 00:02:29.368 we've seen a whole lot since the first of the year. 00:02:29.368 --> 00:02:33.290 We noticed back in January and February that we were having seating 00:02:33.290 --> 00:02:33.910 issues. 00:02:34.410 --> 00:02:38.430 We had full rooms during 925 and 1040. 00:02:39.370 --> 00:02:41.770 And even then back in January and February, 00:02:41.770 --> 00:02:43.578 we were having parking lot issues. 00:02:43.578 --> 00:02:44.490 And so that's. 00:02:44.490 --> 00:02:47.790 And in the summer just makes that much more fun. 00:02:48.690 --> 00:02:51.250 So what we're going to do is kind of, 00:02:51.250 --> 00:02:56.778 we're going to ask somebody to step up and take a position of service for 00:02:56.794 --> 00:03:01.478 the kingdom of God as parking coordinator to help develop and schedule 00:03:01.534 --> 00:03:04.350 teams to coordinate parking. 00:03:04.390 --> 00:03:07.360 The parking coordinator doesn't have to do it all, 00:03:07.510 --> 00:03:10.734 but what I've been telling folks is the parking people are really just 00:03:10.734 --> 00:03:12.050 outdoor greeters. 00:03:12.470 --> 00:03:13.270 Right? Folks, 00:03:13.310 --> 00:03:13.798 pull up. 00:03:13.798 --> 00:03:14.942 You just get to greet people. 00:03:14.942 --> 00:03:16.526 That's what you get to do. 00:03:16.254 --> 00:03:16.750 And then, 00:03:16.750 --> 00:03:19.130 too, because we started doing a lot, 00:03:22.830 --> 00:03:24.250 anybody do flooring? 00:03:26.830 --> 00:03:28.810 We've been doing lots of meals, 00:03:28.950 --> 00:03:32.910 and we've got a lot of different kitchen teams and different ministries 00:03:32.926 --> 00:03:33.790 within the gathering, 00:03:33.790 --> 00:03:35.440 have their own kitchen teams, 00:03:35.510 --> 00:03:39.254 but just want to try to find somebody to be willing to kind of coordinate 00:03:39.254 --> 00:03:40.690 kitchen stuff. 00:03:40.990 --> 00:03:43.630 So if you're willing to do either of those things, 00:03:43.630 --> 00:03:44.950 please let me know. 00:03:45.190 --> 00:03:46.006 All right. 00:03:46.158 --> 00:03:46.918 Hebrews twelve, 00:03:46.974 --> 00:03:49.302 413. Read it on the screens or. 00:03:49.406 --> 00:03:51.670 Yeah, on the screens or read it in your Bible. 00:03:51.670 --> 00:03:53.042 If you want to read it in a Bible, 00:03:53.042 --> 00:03:55.274 there might be one in a chair in front of you. 00:03:55.274 --> 00:03:56.242 Here we go. 00:03:56.242 --> 00:03:56.842 Verse four. 00:03:56.842 --> 00:03:58.250 In struggling against sin, 00:03:58.290 --> 00:04:01.346 you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 00:04:01.066 --> 00:04:04.314 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons, 00:04:04.314 --> 00:04:04.994 my son, 00:04:05.122 --> 00:04:08.298 do not take the Lord's discipline lightly or lose heart when you are 00:04:08.298 --> 00:04:09.458 reproved by him. 00:04:09.554 --> 00:04:13.106 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and punishes every son he 00:04:13.106 --> 00:04:16.888 receives. Endure suffering as discipline. 00:04:17.074 --> 00:04:18.708 See the connection he's making there? 00:04:18.708 --> 00:04:19.368 Get ready. 00:04:19.380 --> 00:04:20.132 He's coming. 00:04:20.276 --> 00:04:22.268 God is dealing with you as sons. 00:04:22.268 --> 00:04:25.372 For what son is there that a father does not discipline? 00:04:25.372 --> 00:04:27.004 But if you are without discipline, 00:04:27.004 --> 00:04:28.116 which all receive, 00:04:28.188 --> 00:04:31.412 then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 00:04:31.596 --> 00:04:35.226 Furthermore, we had human fathers discipline us and we respected them. 00:04:34.940 --> 00:04:39.560 Shouldn't we submit even more to the father of spirits and live for they 00:04:39.604 --> 00:04:43.960 disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, 00:04:44.140 --> 00:04:48.360 but he does it for our benefit so that we can share his holiness? 00:04:48.360 --> 00:04:50.720 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, 00:04:50.760 --> 00:04:53.080 but painful later on. 00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:57.392 However, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have 00:04:57.416 --> 00:04:58.704 been trained by it. 00:04:58.704 --> 00:05:02.360 Therefore, strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees and make 00:05:02.400 --> 00:05:06.904 straight paths for your feet so that what is lame may not be dislocated, 00:05:06.904 --> 00:05:08.376 but healed instead. 00:05:08.448 --> 00:05:09.340 Let's pray. 00:05:09.970 --> 00:05:11.746 God, we just bow before you right now. 00:05:11.746 --> 00:05:12.906 Just giving you thanks, 00:05:12.906 --> 00:05:13.506 praising you, 00:05:13.506 --> 00:05:15.266 God, that we get to gather, 00:05:15.266 --> 00:05:19.490 that we get to come and just greet one another and love on each other. 00:05:19.490 --> 00:05:20.098 And know God, 00:05:20.098 --> 00:05:21.362 that as we meet, 00:05:21.362 --> 00:05:22.762 you meet with us in this place. 00:05:22.762 --> 00:05:23.338 And yet God, 00:05:23.338 --> 00:05:24.218 as we meet, 00:05:24.218 --> 00:05:25.106 we want to hear from you, 00:05:25.106 --> 00:05:26.306 we want to hear your voice, 00:05:26.306 --> 00:05:29.442 we want to acknowledge and recognize your words. 00:05:29.546 --> 00:05:30.546 And God, 00:05:30.578 --> 00:05:33.548 we want it to have an impact on us. 00:05:34.650 --> 00:05:36.866 We don't want to do this without, 00:05:36.866 --> 00:05:37.928 without reason. 00:05:38.064 --> 00:05:41.608 We want to gather and be changed as you speak. 00:05:41.744 --> 00:05:42.248 So God, 00:05:42.248 --> 00:05:43.504 help us to hear you. 00:05:43.504 --> 00:05:44.952 Help us to get a better glimpse of you. 00:05:44.952 --> 00:05:47.184 And we pray it in Jesus name. 00:05:46.520 --> 00:05:48.500 Amen. So the book of Hebrews, 00:05:48.544 --> 00:05:51.818 and I'm going to do the quick outline of the first ten and a half 00:05:51.818 --> 00:05:56.328 chapters. What is pointed to and what is revealed is that Jesus is the 00:05:56.328 --> 00:05:57.472 object of our faith. 00:05:57.472 --> 00:06:00.304 He is the Son and he is the heir of all things. 00:06:00.304 --> 00:06:02.614 He is the creator of all things. 00:06:02.456 --> 00:06:05.600 And he is the sustainable sustainer of all things created. 00:06:05.600 --> 00:06:08.336 Okay? This is all in the first parts of Hebrews. 00:06:08.336 --> 00:06:11.904 He is the exact expression of the essence of God. 00:06:11.952 --> 00:06:14.368 This is a statement of Jesus deity. 00:06:14.464 --> 00:06:16.304 He is the essence of God. 00:06:16.304 --> 00:06:18.888 He is the radiance of the glory of God. 00:06:18.888 --> 00:06:21.858 So when we see the glory of God shining, 00:06:21.872 --> 00:06:22.862 that is Jesus, 00:06:22.872 --> 00:06:24.224 the radiance of God. 00:06:24.312 --> 00:06:25.700 He is the king, 00:06:26.280 --> 00:06:27.600 the king of kings. 00:06:27.616 --> 00:06:31.778 He is the highest priest of all priests. 00:06:31.954 --> 00:06:35.710 The covenant of the Old Testament points to Jesus. 00:06:36.090 --> 00:06:37.090 The tabernacle, 00:06:37.130 --> 00:06:39.194 the temple point to Jesus. 00:06:39.362 --> 00:06:42.178 The sacrificial system point to Jesus. 00:06:42.234 --> 00:06:45.498 The law of the Old Testament points to Jesus. 00:06:45.594 --> 00:06:48.962 Everything about the Old Testament points to Jesus. 00:06:49.026 --> 00:06:50.906 Okay? The New Testament, 00:06:50.938 --> 00:06:53.626 now this is where we get to be excited. 00:06:53.626 --> 00:06:56.730 The New Testament reveals Jesus, 00:06:56.890 --> 00:06:58.370 shows us Jesus, 00:06:58.450 --> 00:07:01.838 gives us his life and the things he did. 00:07:01.994 --> 00:07:06.558 I love seeing the nuance of the things that Jesus did in relationship and 00:07:06.558 --> 00:07:10.134 interaction with his disciples and the people that followed along with 00:07:10.134 --> 00:07:10.846 him and that sort of thing. 00:07:10.846 --> 00:07:14.326 I just think it's the coolest thing to study the life of Jesus. 00:07:14.126 --> 00:07:18.126 And then you study the called out ones, 00:07:18.158 --> 00:07:19.062 the congregation, 00:07:19.126 --> 00:07:19.950 the body of Christ, 00:07:19.950 --> 00:07:22.334 the fellowship of believers that Jesus said, 00:07:22.422 --> 00:07:25.810 I will build the body of Christ. 00:07:26.350 --> 00:07:29.646 Right? So we've walked all through that and then we get to this book of 00:07:29.646 --> 00:07:33.240 Hebrews. And I've admitted before that I never really studied it piece by 00:07:33.240 --> 00:07:36.208 piece, taking it apart like we have over the last eight months. 00:07:36.208 --> 00:07:37.512 But, but to be honest with you, 00:07:37.512 --> 00:07:37.912 I look at it, 00:07:37.912 --> 00:07:38.208 I go, 00:07:38.208 --> 00:07:40.188 man, this ties it all together. 00:07:40.720 --> 00:07:42.020 This is cool. 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:46.384 But now we get to the by faith part of it. 00:07:46.384 --> 00:07:47.208 Chapter eleven says, 00:07:47.208 --> 00:07:47.720 by faith, 00:07:47.720 --> 00:07:48.168 by faith. 00:07:48.168 --> 00:07:48.560 By faith. 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:49.768 Moses lived by faith. 00:07:49.408 --> 00:07:50.448 Abraham lived by faith. 00:07:50.448 --> 00:07:51.560 Abel lived by faith. 00:07:51.560 --> 00:07:53.800 These men lived lives of faith, 00:07:53.840 --> 00:07:59.040 and they are examples and witnesses to us of what God does when we live 00:07:59.080 --> 00:07:59.974 by faith. 00:08:00.152 --> 00:08:03.210 And so the challenge to us is to live by faith, 00:08:03.210 --> 00:08:04.218 walk by faith, 00:08:04.274 --> 00:08:06.074 right? That's what we're being called to. 00:08:05.898 --> 00:08:11.110 So I made the point of today's message is to walk in righteousness. 00:08:11.810 --> 00:08:17.010 Walk in righteousness because that's the father's expectation. 00:08:17.170 --> 00:08:18.954 That's our father's expectation. 00:08:19.002 --> 00:08:20.146 So the question we have, 00:08:20.146 --> 00:08:22.870 do we have the ability to choose righteousness? 00:08:23.930 --> 00:08:27.842 See, I believe we're being called as followers of Christ, 00:08:28.026 --> 00:08:31.942 as those who have surrendered ourselves to the person and work of Jesus 00:08:31.942 --> 00:08:35.450 Christ, to put off unrighteousness. 00:08:35.990 --> 00:08:38.174 Not to make excuses for unrighteousness, 00:08:38.262 --> 00:08:40.118 to put off unrighteousness. 00:08:40.254 --> 00:08:41.382 I'm really loud, 00:08:41.446 --> 00:08:44.998 Chris. Can you back me down just like a fraction? 00:08:45.054 --> 00:08:45.890 Thank you. 00:08:48.590 --> 00:08:49.046 Thank you, 00:08:49.046 --> 00:08:50.250 Steve. Appreciate that. 00:08:50.750 --> 00:08:53.526 I'm going to be loud anyway because my voice came back this week, 00:08:53.526 --> 00:08:54.718 just so you know. 00:08:54.718 --> 00:08:56.358 But to put off unrighteousness, 00:08:56.358 --> 00:09:00.722 and I believe that means we are to personally put off unrighteousness. 00:09:00.906 --> 00:09:05.270 But our struggle is against unrighteousness. 00:09:05.970 --> 00:09:12.034 Okay. We are actually in a struggle against unrighteousness. 00:09:12.202 --> 00:09:12.762 I think, 00:09:12.762 --> 00:09:15.394 personally, my own personal battles with my pride, 00:09:15.394 --> 00:09:17.370 my anger and lust or whatever. 00:09:17.370 --> 00:09:20.602 Yeah. Those are things that I am personally day in, 00:09:20.602 --> 00:09:21.162 day out, 00:09:21.162 --> 00:09:22.386 morning, noon and night. 00:09:22.194 --> 00:09:25.506 I am at war with in my own life. 00:09:25.658 --> 00:09:28.034 And yet I look at the world around me, 00:09:28.034 --> 00:09:28.730 the society, 00:09:28.810 --> 00:09:29.470 the community, 00:09:29.514 --> 00:09:30.338 the culture. 00:09:30.434 --> 00:09:31.194 Guess what? 00:09:31.322 --> 00:09:36.950 I am personally at war with unrighteousness in our culture. 00:09:37.690 --> 00:09:38.666 Okay. 00:09:38.858 --> 00:09:39.298 All right. 00:09:39.298 --> 00:09:41.162 Some of you have been waiting for this message. 00:09:41.162 --> 00:09:48.674 So we are to run the race like we mean to run the race. 00:09:48.722 --> 00:09:51.600 That's what we're told in the beginning of chapter twelve. 00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:54.480 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses, 00:09:54.480 --> 00:09:57.128 those who have shared with us their lives by faith, 00:09:57.128 --> 00:09:58.280 they're surrounding us. 00:09:58.360 --> 00:10:02.304 Let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. 00:10:02.304 --> 00:10:06.072 So not only do we have the witness of those who went before us, 00:10:06.072 --> 00:10:08.888 but we become the witnesses to living by faith. 00:10:08.888 --> 00:10:10.300 To those around us. 00:10:10.600 --> 00:10:11.640 They're the witnesses. 00:10:11.680 --> 00:10:12.010 What? 00:10:11.888 --> 00:10:12.952 See, I got too loud, 00:10:12.952 --> 00:10:13.424 didn't I? 00:10:13.424 --> 00:10:13.752 All right, 00:10:13.752 --> 00:10:16.920 see, they're the witnesses to our lives by faith. 00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:18.220 They're watching us. 00:10:18.590 --> 00:10:21.078 Do you stand up for righteousness? 00:10:21.214 --> 00:10:23.718 Do you war against unrighteousness? 00:10:23.814 --> 00:10:27.970 And are you willing to let the world see you oppose unrighteousness? 00:10:29.550 --> 00:10:33.750 Yeah, run the race like you mean it. 00:10:33.790 --> 00:10:35.342 And fix your eyes on Jesus, 00:10:35.342 --> 00:10:37.062 because he has authored, 00:10:37.246 --> 00:10:40.926 completed, finished what is our faith. 00:10:41.038 --> 00:10:42.558 He has redeemed us. 00:10:42.614 --> 00:10:43.604 It is finished. 00:10:43.518 --> 00:10:44.838 It has been paid. 00:10:45.760 --> 00:10:46.620 All right, 00:10:46.920 --> 00:10:48.180 so discipline. 00:10:48.640 --> 00:10:52.480 How many of you saw me run up the aisle a minute ago? 00:10:52.480 --> 00:10:53.976 How many of you said, 00:10:53.976 --> 00:10:56.420 pastor really shouldn't be running in church? 00:10:56.960 --> 00:10:58.024 Anybody think that? 00:10:58.072 --> 00:11:00.560 My mom used to get on my case. 00:11:00.560 --> 00:11:01.496 So, parents, 00:11:01.608 --> 00:11:03.944 when you see your child run in church, 00:11:03.944 --> 00:11:07.100 just think he might one day be the pastor. 00:11:10.970 --> 00:11:13.642 Discipline, obedience, 00:11:13.786 --> 00:11:16.754 right? That's what we're called to. 00:11:16.882 --> 00:11:22.330 This whole passage is a reference to discipline and ultimately our 00:11:22.370 --> 00:11:25.898 obedience, because this gets into what is the father's discipline? 00:11:25.994 --> 00:11:29.610 What is the father's expectation of our lives for? 00:11:29.650 --> 00:11:33.618 Consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself so 00:11:33.634 --> 00:11:35.618 that you won't grow weary and give up. 00:11:35.314 --> 00:11:36.850 That's the statement about Jesus. 00:11:36.850 --> 00:11:38.164 And then I, 00:11:38.202 --> 00:11:39.240 we jump into chapter, 00:11:39.240 --> 00:11:39.928 into verse four. 00:11:39.928 --> 00:11:41.528 In struggling against sin, 00:11:41.624 --> 00:11:44.528 you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 00:11:44.528 --> 00:11:48.328 And I said last week that that is an encouragement until you consider the 00:11:48.328 --> 00:11:49.620 word yet. 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:52.040 And I started thinking, 00:11:52.072 --> 00:11:53.096 even after last week, 00:11:53.096 --> 00:11:54.248 I started thinking to myself, 00:11:54.248 --> 00:11:54.984 all right, 00:11:55.152 --> 00:12:03.224 how will my struggle against sin result in blood from shaving absolutely 00:12:03.272 --> 00:12:04.200 nothing. 00:12:04.570 --> 00:12:10.266 But if I am going to encounter and oppose unrighteousness, 00:12:10.458 --> 00:12:11.990 how might I bleed? 00:12:14.170 --> 00:12:18.310 Could I get attacked for opposing unrighteousness? 00:12:19.250 --> 00:12:25.550 Could I find myself up against a system of unrighteousness? 00:12:26.610 --> 00:12:29.710 Could I find myself in opposition to a. 00:12:30.220 --> 00:12:34.040 An ideology of unrighteousness? 00:12:35.740 --> 00:12:38.680 Might I find myself in opposition to a, 00:12:40.140 --> 00:12:41.044 dare I say, 00:12:41.044 --> 00:12:42.580 party of unrighteousness? 00:12:42.660 --> 00:12:43.680 I don't know, 00:12:45.620 --> 00:12:50.460 folks. God has called us to righteousness. 00:12:50.500 --> 00:12:52.772 So if you consider verse three and say, 00:12:52.772 --> 00:12:55.480 why were sinners hostile to Jesus? 00:12:56.330 --> 00:12:57.642 Consider he. 00:12:57.786 --> 00:12:58.418 Excuse me, 00:12:58.418 --> 00:12:59.510 consider him, 00:13:00.130 --> 00:13:06.522 right, who endured such hostility from sinners against himself? 00:13:06.586 --> 00:13:07.330 What did he do? 00:13:07.330 --> 00:13:12.790 He pointed out the sin in his world culture. 00:13:13.290 --> 00:13:19.546 He pointed out the sin that was going on in his own people and got 00:13:19.618 --> 00:13:21.350 crucified for it. 00:13:22.250 --> 00:13:26.310 And what this is telling us is you've not yet been crucified. 00:13:28.330 --> 00:13:29.430 But it's coming. 00:13:29.970 --> 00:13:31.950 That's the yet part of it, 00:13:33.210 --> 00:13:36.430 folks. If we take a real stand against unrighteousness, 00:13:36.930 --> 00:13:38.870 we're going to encounter opposition. 00:13:39.810 --> 00:13:41.510 If we obey our father, 00:13:42.370 --> 00:13:44.750 we will face hostility. 00:13:45.890 --> 00:13:47.448 If you obey God, 00:13:47.594 --> 00:13:49.574 you're going to find some hostility. 00:13:49.980 --> 00:13:54.180 Okay, so if we face hostility, 00:13:54.300 --> 00:13:55.640 what will we do? 00:13:56.500 --> 00:13:58.556 Look down at the very end of the passage. 00:13:58.556 --> 00:14:02.520 Will we grow weary and give up? 00:14:03.140 --> 00:14:05.532 That was at the end of the passage last week, 00:14:05.532 --> 00:14:07.524 so that you won't grow weary and give up. 00:14:07.524 --> 00:14:09.174 The end of verse three. 00:14:09.380 --> 00:14:10.988 And then down at the bottom of this passage, 00:14:10.988 --> 00:14:11.308 it says, 00:14:11.308 --> 00:14:15.190 make straight paths for your feet so that the what is lame may not be 00:14:15.190 --> 00:14:17.006 dislocated but he'll instead, 00:14:17.038 --> 00:14:21.370 what he's saying right there is watch for the obstacles to your walk. 00:14:21.750 --> 00:14:24.350 Watch for the obstacles in the race that you run. 00:14:24.350 --> 00:14:28.998 Avoid the obstacles so you don't trip and blow out a knee or something. 00:14:29.134 --> 00:14:31.022 We are to walk in righteousness. 00:14:31.022 --> 00:14:33.002 That's what God's called us to. 00:14:32.678 --> 00:14:35.350 God is using our suffering in this life, 00:14:35.390 --> 00:14:36.150 in this world. 00:14:36.150 --> 00:14:36.702 And remember, 00:14:36.702 --> 00:14:38.422 this is a first century world. 00:14:38.422 --> 00:14:41.108 This is not a 21st century world. 00:14:41.284 --> 00:14:42.580 There's a first century world. 00:14:42.580 --> 00:14:42.876 He says, 00:14:42.876 --> 00:14:46.148 look, endure suffering is discipline because God's dealing with you as 00:14:46.148 --> 00:14:46.492 sons. 00:14:46.516 --> 00:14:50.372 So if you are living righteousness and you face opposition and you face 00:14:50.372 --> 00:14:51.940 hostility, and you, 00:14:52.100 --> 00:14:53.750 to the point of blood, 00:14:54.300 --> 00:14:57.980 recognize God's allowing your suffering for your own discipline makes you 00:14:58.020 --> 00:15:00.960 stronger. Okay? 00:15:01.380 --> 00:15:02.924 So as I was working through this thing, 00:15:02.924 --> 00:15:03.308 I was like, 00:15:03.308 --> 00:15:09.750 whoa, this is going to get specific. 00:15:11.650 --> 00:15:12.818 So, discipline. 00:15:12.954 --> 00:15:16.914 The word discipline comes from the same root as the word disciple. 00:15:17.130 --> 00:15:18.870 We're called to be disciples. 00:15:19.370 --> 00:15:20.754 We're called to follow. 00:15:20.842 --> 00:15:26.830 Well, the first word or the first definition of disciple is learner. 00:15:28.290 --> 00:15:35.148 It assumes learning by following like I'm following Jesus and learning of 00:15:35.204 --> 00:15:37.900 Jesus so that I can be more like Jesus. 00:15:37.900 --> 00:15:42.700 And so God uses discipline and refining to make me more like Jesus. 00:15:42.780 --> 00:15:45.364 So if I am encountering hardship, 00:15:45.492 --> 00:15:47.340 opposition, struggle, 00:15:47.420 --> 00:15:52.164 if I am encountering hostility toward me for living out righteousness, 00:15:52.252 --> 00:15:58.584 God is using that hostility toward me or that struggle toward me to 00:15:58.632 --> 00:16:01.312 refine me to be more like Jesus. 00:16:01.496 --> 00:16:05.100 Okay. All right. 00:16:05.760 --> 00:16:08.060 Discipline is also correction. 00:16:08.520 --> 00:16:14.640 I have told y'all time and time again my childhood church experiences, 00:16:14.760 --> 00:16:15.420 right? 00:16:15.960 --> 00:16:17.072 Can I just tell you. 00:16:17.072 --> 00:16:18.216 And I've told this story, 00:16:18.216 --> 00:16:20.328 and parents love this story. 00:16:20.384 --> 00:16:21.440 Kids hate this story, 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:22.760 but here it goes. 00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:23.768 We had these big, 00:16:23.768 --> 00:16:26.592 tall steps out in front of our church where I was growing up, 00:16:26.592 --> 00:16:30.130 and right beside the steps were these great big old shrub bushes. 00:16:30.130 --> 00:16:35.870 They were such big shrub bushes that they could hide anything behind them. 00:16:36.290 --> 00:16:37.730 Now, you're already thinking, 00:16:37.770 --> 00:16:42.050 what did that mischievous little bobby hide behind the shrubbushes? 00:16:42.130 --> 00:16:43.310 It wasn't me. 00:16:44.730 --> 00:16:45.434 You know what? 00:16:45.434 --> 00:16:48.314 I'd been taken out of that church and behind those shrubbushes for a 00:16:48.314 --> 00:16:50.030 totally different reason sometimes, 00:16:50.450 --> 00:16:55.680 right, we had these slick pews. 00:16:56.340 --> 00:16:58.320 There were no cushions back then. 00:16:58.740 --> 00:17:01.380 Suffering was just sitting on the hard wood. 00:17:02.660 --> 00:17:03.364 But they were, 00:17:03.364 --> 00:17:04.520 like, oiled, 00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:07.040 which made perfect slides. 00:17:08.020 --> 00:17:08.948 And so I'd go. 00:17:08.948 --> 00:17:10.556 I'd push off from one end and go, 00:17:10.556 --> 00:17:14.160 whoosh. Right up to the point of my heart, 00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:16.220 right? 00:17:16.380 --> 00:17:20.570 See, discipline is sometimes correction. 00:17:21.150 --> 00:17:28.150 So if we step out of line and we go with unrighteousness or we go with 00:17:28.230 --> 00:17:29.170 the world, 00:17:29.870 --> 00:17:34.130 we find ourselves in opposition to God and walking by faith, 00:17:35.190 --> 00:17:38.390 therefore, we must be corrected. 00:17:38.470 --> 00:17:39.598 And guess what? 00:17:39.734 --> 00:17:41.530 God will correct. 00:17:42.920 --> 00:17:46.540 God will also discipline by correcting. 00:17:47.080 --> 00:17:49.104 So what has God required of us? 00:17:49.104 --> 00:17:50.256 In one corinthians eleven, 00:17:50.256 --> 00:17:53.226 we know that we are told to examine ourselves. 00:17:53.560 --> 00:17:56.608 Do you take a healthy examination of your life, 00:17:56.744 --> 00:17:57.328 in a sense, 00:17:57.328 --> 00:17:59.584 on a daily basis to where you consider, 00:17:59.584 --> 00:17:59.856 all right, 00:17:59.856 --> 00:18:02.064 well, what is sin in my life? 00:18:02.064 --> 00:18:07.776 What is preventing me from drawing near to God with boldness and 00:18:07.888 --> 00:18:10.528 confidence? That's what we're encouraged to in Hebrews. 00:18:11.220 --> 00:18:13.636 See, we step out of line. 00:18:13.668 --> 00:18:14.236 God corrects, 00:18:14.236 --> 00:18:18.156 therefore we are called to live righteousness. 00:18:18.308 --> 00:18:21.660 We're called to denounce unrighteousness. 00:18:21.820 --> 00:18:27.760 Our correction ready for this is a message to the world. 00:18:29.100 --> 00:18:31.160 When God corrects our sin. 00:18:31.620 --> 00:18:35.840 That's a message to the world to define sin, 00:18:36.420 --> 00:18:38.400 to steer clear of sin, 00:18:39.020 --> 00:18:41.356 not to play in the sin, 00:18:41.548 --> 00:18:43.720 not to abide in the sin, 00:18:44.060 --> 00:18:45.560 get out of it. 00:18:45.980 --> 00:18:47.484 So that goes back to the question, 00:18:47.484 --> 00:18:50.124 do we have the ability to choose righteousness? 00:18:50.252 --> 00:18:53.612 Absolutely. We have the ability to choose righteousness. 00:18:53.796 --> 00:18:56.000 God's identified righteousness. 00:18:56.300 --> 00:18:59.400 We just make excuses for our unrighteousness. 00:19:00.100 --> 00:19:03.252 And then I started to consider it because I have people all the time say, 00:19:03.252 --> 00:19:03.796 Pastor Bobby, 00:19:03.796 --> 00:19:05.380 would you please pray with me about this, 00:19:05.380 --> 00:19:07.316 or would you please pray with me about that, 00:19:07.316 --> 00:19:08.636 or, I'm struggling here. 00:19:08.642 --> 00:19:09.786 I'm struggling there. 00:19:09.858 --> 00:19:11.746 So then I went to some scripture passages. 00:19:11.746 --> 00:19:12.406 You ready? 00:19:12.410 --> 00:19:13.710 This idea of, 00:19:14.290 --> 00:19:17.150 if your right hand offends you, 00:19:19.330 --> 00:19:20.470 no, that's left. 00:19:22.410 --> 00:19:23.550 Cut it off. 00:19:25.090 --> 00:19:32.010 Better to enter eternity without a right hand than to not enter eternity 00:19:32.170 --> 00:19:33.210 with Jesus, 00:19:33.370 --> 00:19:35.790 right? Whoo. 00:19:36.530 --> 00:19:39.186 So I hear this word all the time from politicians. 00:19:39.010 --> 00:19:39.670 You ready? 00:19:39.738 --> 00:19:42.270 Was Jesus just using hyperbole? 00:19:43.490 --> 00:19:44.306 Don't you hear that? 00:19:44.306 --> 00:19:46.898 Now, how many of you hear that a lot on the news these days. 00:19:46.898 --> 00:19:47.830 Hyperbole. 00:19:48.450 --> 00:19:53.378 Was he speaking metaphorically as to the extent of avoiding sin? 00:19:53.434 --> 00:19:54.754 I think he was. 00:19:54.778 --> 00:19:55.602 I think he was. 00:19:55.602 --> 00:19:56.258 But here you go. 00:19:56.258 --> 00:19:57.834 Let me make it more practical for you, 00:19:57.834 --> 00:19:58.738 because I'm going to say this, 00:19:58.738 --> 00:20:00.474 and I'm going to say it to some. 00:20:00.066 --> 00:20:01.586 Everything I'm going to say, 00:20:01.586 --> 00:20:03.164 I thought about it ahead of time. 00:20:03.164 --> 00:20:05.240 This is not impulsive, 00:20:05.940 --> 00:20:09.348 folks. If your computer offends your righteousness, 00:20:09.404 --> 00:20:11.714 you probably need to throw it away. 00:20:14.260 --> 00:20:18.324 If your computer offends your righteousness, 00:20:18.412 --> 00:20:21.382 then you probably need to get a flip phone. 00:20:22.860 --> 00:20:31.878 Okay? If youre romance novel offends your righteousness, 00:20:32.014 --> 00:20:34.654 then you probably need to throw it away. 00:20:37.270 --> 00:20:38.014 You see, 00:20:38.142 --> 00:20:41.830 I told you all y'all didn't want to come back this week. 00:20:41.830 --> 00:20:42.382 You see, 00:20:42.382 --> 00:20:44.782 we are called to walk in righteousness. 00:20:44.926 --> 00:20:48.410 Not make excuses for unrighteousness in our lives. 00:20:49.710 --> 00:20:53.490 I remember telling young staff people over the years, 00:20:53.790 --> 00:20:58.726 make sure that wherever your computer is set up that it faces the door to 00:20:58.726 --> 00:21:02.278 the room so that anybody that walks in the room can see what's on your 00:21:02.278 --> 00:21:03.410 computer screen. 00:21:06.430 --> 00:21:10.846 Okay? In an office setting, 00:21:10.998 --> 00:21:12.770 computers face the door, 00:21:13.910 --> 00:21:15.890 not the back of the computer. 00:21:16.750 --> 00:21:20.248 Right? Very practical stuff. 00:21:20.304 --> 00:21:21.224 Because guess what? 00:21:21.096 --> 00:21:21.856 If it offends you, 00:21:21.856 --> 00:21:22.846 cut it off. 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:25.328 You see the other. 00:21:25.328 --> 00:21:27.928 Abstain from the appearance of. 00:21:28.024 --> 00:21:29.104 I wrote notes on my hands, 00:21:29.104 --> 00:21:29.700 y'all. 00:21:33.040 --> 00:21:35.576 Abstain from not evil. 00:21:35.728 --> 00:21:39.140 Abstain from the appearance of evil. 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:44.450 Don't. Don't even open the door for somebody to consider that you might 00:21:44.456 --> 00:21:46.374 be doing something evil comes from one, 00:21:46.374 --> 00:21:47.650 thessalonians five. 00:21:49.390 --> 00:21:50.130 Right? 00:21:50.550 --> 00:21:53.490 Abstain from even the appearance of evil. 00:21:54.070 --> 00:21:55.862 Whoa. That means you see evil coming, 00:21:55.862 --> 00:21:57.842 man, you run the other way. 00:22:01.190 --> 00:22:07.570 Finally, make no provision for the flesh. 00:22:08.790 --> 00:22:10.610 No provision for the flesh. 00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:13.300 That means don't plan. 00:22:16.120 --> 00:22:18.430 Don't make a plan for your sin. 00:22:19.880 --> 00:22:25.780 Like, I'm gonna go hang out here and. 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:30.000 Okay, I have to go with the thought, 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:31.980 oh, I'm gonna go drink this, 00:22:33.520 --> 00:22:36.490 or I'm gonna go hang out with this person, 00:22:36.530 --> 00:22:38.050 or I'm going to go do that. 00:22:38.050 --> 00:22:40.754 See, I've always told you I won't make sin lists for you, 00:22:40.754 --> 00:22:41.498 but I'm telling you, 00:22:41.498 --> 00:22:44.138 God gave me a sin list this week. 00:22:44.570 --> 00:22:46.910 Discipline is obedience, 00:22:47.490 --> 00:22:49.842 discipline is correction. 00:22:49.986 --> 00:22:51.866 And discipline is. 00:22:51.938 --> 00:22:52.910 Press on. 00:22:53.730 --> 00:22:54.870 Press on. 00:22:55.450 --> 00:22:56.130 Guess what? 00:22:56.170 --> 00:22:58.570 If we press on in righteousness, 00:22:58.690 --> 00:23:00.962 we are going to face opposition. 00:23:01.026 --> 00:23:03.994 Now I'm going to speak to the ideology I referred to a minute ago because 00:23:03.994 --> 00:23:05.974 I did some reading this week. 00:23:06.690 --> 00:23:10.650 I wanted to get a little bit better acquainted with Karl Marx. 00:23:11.610 --> 00:23:13.186 How many of you know the guy? 00:23:13.186 --> 00:23:18.310 Right? I love the nuance of our vocabulary. 00:23:19.770 --> 00:23:20.760 You know what? 00:23:23.330 --> 00:23:26.670 I think of myself as progressive in some ways, 00:23:27.770 --> 00:23:29.230 but not marxist. 00:23:31.580 --> 00:23:34.840 Okay? You know where this is going. 00:23:35.420 --> 00:23:39.380 You know that Karl Marx called for the destruction of five things, 00:23:40.540 --> 00:23:42.520 called for the destruction of family. 00:23:43.660 --> 00:23:46.676 He called for the destruction of individuality, 00:23:46.828 --> 00:23:49.060 personhood, you know, 00:23:49.100 --> 00:23:52.828 the imago dei that God made us into, 00:23:52.964 --> 00:23:57.440 right? He called for the destruction of eternal truth. 00:23:58.100 --> 00:23:59.116 Jesus said, 00:23:59.228 --> 00:24:00.908 I am the way, 00:24:01.004 --> 00:24:04.180 the truth and the life. 00:24:04.220 --> 00:24:07.116 Carl Marx called for the destruction of eternal truth. 00:24:07.116 --> 00:24:11.204 Karl Marx called for the destruction of national identity, 00:24:11.332 --> 00:24:12.680 of nations. 00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:19.480 Karl Marx called for the destruction of history or the past. 00:24:23.030 --> 00:24:27.934 Folks, if you don't have the eyes to see what's going on in our culture, 00:24:27.934 --> 00:24:28.694 our society, 00:24:28.782 --> 00:24:29.690 our nation, 00:24:30.910 --> 00:24:32.518 then come and ask me, 00:24:32.518 --> 00:24:34.290 and I will tell you. 00:24:35.870 --> 00:24:39.210 I will tell you individually what I see, 00:24:39.990 --> 00:24:44.730 okay? Because I see the destruction of families, 00:24:46.150 --> 00:24:49.890 I see the death of innocent unborns, 00:24:51.350 --> 00:24:58.766 okay? I see the destruction of personhood as God designed it, 00:24:58.918 --> 00:24:59.790 planned it, 00:24:59.870 --> 00:25:01.690 and provided for it. 00:25:02.750 --> 00:25:03.446 See? 00:25:03.598 --> 00:25:08.170 I see the destruction of the value of humanity. 00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:14.300 I found it, 00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:18.300 y'all. I think that's a sign. 00:25:20.120 --> 00:25:23.744 I'm going to sound like a squeaky floor on these things over the next few 00:25:23.744 --> 00:25:27.496 weeks, because this is the summation of the book of Hebrews and the 00:25:27.496 --> 00:25:28.240 message of God, 00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:36.660 y'all. I see the denial of eternal truth in our nation, 00:25:38.320 --> 00:25:39.640 that God doesn't matter. 00:25:39.664 --> 00:25:40.654 He's not truth. 00:25:40.520 --> 00:25:43.432 There is no such thing as a God who has a design, 00:25:43.432 --> 00:25:44.620 purpose and plan. 00:25:47.400 --> 00:25:49.688 I see the destruction of nations, 00:25:49.864 --> 00:25:50.940 our nation. 00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:57.020 And I see the rewriting of history to accommodate, 00:25:59.400 --> 00:26:02.632 to accommodate people's desire, 00:26:02.736 --> 00:26:04.220 will and agenda. 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:08.936 Folks, if I. 00:26:09.008 --> 00:26:10.000 And I'm not talking about y'all, 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:10.584 I'm not. 00:26:10.584 --> 00:26:15.650 This is not a call to go out on whatever. 00:26:17.350 --> 00:26:22.210 I intend to oppose unrighteousness in our culture. 00:26:23.710 --> 00:26:25.090 And if I bleed, 00:26:25.550 --> 00:26:26.570 I bleed. 00:26:29.190 --> 00:26:38.290 You have not yet struggled right against sin to the point of bleeding. 00:26:39.290 --> 00:26:46.070 That's a perfect picture to Jesus standing against a religious hierarchy 00:26:47.130 --> 00:26:48.950 and a government empire. 00:26:50.410 --> 00:26:51.750 And he was crucified. 00:26:53.450 --> 00:26:55.442 And then he said to us, 00:26:55.466 --> 00:26:56.538 before he was crucified, 00:26:56.538 --> 00:26:56.930 he said, 00:26:56.930 --> 00:26:57.194 you know, 00:26:57.194 --> 00:26:58.514 the world hates me. 00:26:59.290 --> 00:27:02.260 Don't you think they're going to hate you too? 00:27:03.090 --> 00:27:03.906 So, folks, 00:27:04.018 --> 00:27:05.818 I remember one preacher said one time, 00:27:05.818 --> 00:27:07.434 and it was very convicting to me. 00:27:07.434 --> 00:27:08.340 You ready? 00:27:08.800 --> 00:27:10.312 If you're loved by the world, 00:27:10.312 --> 00:27:12.140 hmm, you better watch out. 00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:20.456 Okay, so let me summarize in the last three minutes that we have you 00:27:20.488 --> 00:27:22.864 ready? It's all about Jesus, 00:27:22.912 --> 00:27:26.900 folks. If you can't fix your eyes on Jesus, 00:27:28.600 --> 00:27:30.910 that's a work that's ahead of you. 00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:33.136 To fix your eyes on Jesus. 00:27:33.208 --> 00:27:34.168 He is the author, 00:27:34.168 --> 00:27:34.856 the finisher, 00:27:34.888 --> 00:27:36.780 the perfecter of our faith. 00:27:37.170 --> 00:27:39.390 Fix your eyes on Jesus. 00:27:39.890 --> 00:27:42.002 Stand for righteousness. 00:27:42.106 --> 00:27:44.790 Oppose unrighteousness. 00:27:45.730 --> 00:27:48.110 Stand against unrighteousness. 00:27:48.610 --> 00:27:51.282 Live by faith. 00:27:51.386 --> 00:27:54.970 That means you've got to show the people closest to you, 00:27:54.970 --> 00:27:58.906 the people in the outlying rings of your relationships, 00:27:58.978 --> 00:28:01.482 what it means to stand tall, 00:28:01.626 --> 00:28:08.196 to stand boldly for the righteousness of God against everything else, 00:28:08.348 --> 00:28:14.000 because the world is the pressure against the righteousness of God. 00:28:14.580 --> 00:28:15.440 All right, 00:28:16.900 --> 00:28:17.760 all right. 00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:21.200 Do you know Jesus this morning? 00:28:21.940 --> 00:28:23.876 See, we celebrated yesterday. 00:28:23.948 --> 00:28:24.788 I can tell this story, 00:28:24.788 --> 00:28:25.124 can't I, 00:28:25.124 --> 00:28:25.680 Tim? 00:28:26.020 --> 00:28:30.736 We celebrated yesterday at 11:00 I don't even know how old she was. 00:28:30.808 --> 00:28:32.856 She's a resident down at Woodbury. 00:28:32.928 --> 00:28:34.368 But over the past few weeks, 00:28:34.368 --> 00:28:37.544 as Tim has been leading the gathering at Woodbury. 00:28:37.592 --> 00:28:39.984 That's what I'm gonna call it the gathering at Woodbury. 00:28:39.984 --> 00:28:42.294 Tim's been leading the worship down there, 00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:47.768 and she kind of worked her way up the hall to the hallway and started 00:28:47.824 --> 00:28:48.814 coming to worship. 00:28:48.704 --> 00:28:52.656 And sometime this week or sometime in the last several days, 00:28:52.688 --> 00:28:55.700 she trusted Jesus for salvation. 00:28:56.130 --> 00:28:57.346 And they called me and they said, 00:28:57.346 --> 00:28:58.570 bobby, can we do a. 00:28:58.570 --> 00:29:00.880 Tim's already been doing baptism at Woodbury, 00:29:00.890 --> 00:29:02.730 but he was out of town. 00:29:02.730 --> 00:29:03.770 So they called me and said, 00:29:03.770 --> 00:29:05.850 can we do baptism at Woodbury? 00:29:05.890 --> 00:29:06.450 And I was like, 00:29:06.450 --> 00:29:07.298 yeah, when? 00:29:07.354 --> 00:29:07.634 They said, 00:29:07.634 --> 00:29:07.954 I don't know. 00:29:07.954 --> 00:29:08.594 When can you do it? 00:29:08.594 --> 00:29:08.762 I said, 00:29:08.762 --> 00:29:10.218 well, I'm not back till Friday. 00:29:10.218 --> 00:29:10.586 All right, 00:29:10.586 --> 00:29:12.026 let's do it Saturday at eleven. 00:29:12.026 --> 00:29:13.786 So we decided to do it Saturday at eleven. 00:29:13.586 --> 00:29:15.402 So Tim decided to come home. 00:29:15.402 --> 00:29:18.682 So we had a gathering at Woodbury yesterday of, 00:29:18.826 --> 00:29:20.350 what, 15 people, 00:29:20.730 --> 00:29:25.900 about 15 people in this hydrotherapy room, 00:29:26.920 --> 00:29:28.816 because it's one of those walk in tubs, 00:29:28.816 --> 00:29:31.880 and you shut the door and then you fill it up. 00:29:31.880 --> 00:29:35.936 And we baptized a lady there at Woodbury yesterday because she had 00:29:36.128 --> 00:29:38.100 decided to choose Jesus. 00:29:38.840 --> 00:29:40.980 Right. And that's something, 00:29:43.520 --> 00:29:44.040 folks. 00:29:44.120 --> 00:29:46.500 Jesus is our focus. 00:29:47.800 --> 00:29:50.048 If we get caught in the distractions, 00:29:50.048 --> 00:29:52.358 focusing on the things in the world, 00:29:52.920 --> 00:29:54.096 and I'll go ahead and say it. 00:29:54.096 --> 00:29:59.260 If we put anything on the throne of our lives above God, 00:29:59.560 --> 00:30:01.300 be it ideology, 00:30:02.360 --> 00:30:03.184 even family, 00:30:03.272 --> 00:30:05.740 career, any of those things above God, 00:30:06.080 --> 00:30:07.500 that's idolatry. 00:30:09.080 --> 00:30:11.264 And God tells us to stand against it. 00:30:11.264 --> 00:30:14.496 Okay, if you don't know Jesus, 00:30:14.528 --> 00:30:16.178 we want to introduce you. 00:30:16.048 --> 00:30:17.760 If there's something else you need. 00:30:17.760 --> 00:30:18.606 Want to pray about, 00:30:18.606 --> 00:30:20.326 I'm going to be down front here. 00:30:20.326 --> 00:30:21.982 We're going to sing one more song, 00:30:21.982 --> 00:30:23.694 give you the opportunity to respond. 00:30:23.694 --> 00:30:24.310 So let's pray. 00:30:24.310 --> 00:30:25.960 God, thank you for today. 00:30:26.390 --> 00:30:30.350 God, I thank you that your word's really specific in this struggle 00:30:30.390 --> 00:30:31.410 against sin. 00:30:32.910 --> 00:30:36.210 And it appears that the promise is we might bleed. 00:30:37.070 --> 00:30:37.670 So, God, 00:30:37.670 --> 00:30:43.090 my prayer would be that we would be fixed in Christ, 00:30:44.400 --> 00:30:48.020 God. That we would be bold in our faith. 00:30:48.680 --> 00:30:49.408 And that God, 00:30:49.408 --> 00:30:52.048 when the world around us seems to crumble, 00:30:53.120 --> 00:30:53.808 that, God, 00:30:53.864 --> 00:31:00.336 we would speak and preach the foundation, 00:31:00.408 --> 00:31:04.140 the rock that is set for eternity. 00:31:04.560 --> 00:31:05.980 And that's Jesus. 00:31:06.560 --> 00:31:08.160 God, help us to do that, 00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:09.848 and we pray it in Jesus name. 00:31:09.848 --> 00:31:10.080 Amen.