WEBVTT 00:00:04.120 --> 00:00:05.342 Glad you're here this morning. 00:00:05.342 --> 00:00:06.878 If this is your first time with us, 00:00:06.878 --> 00:00:09.662 welcome. If it's your second time with us, 00:00:09.686 --> 00:00:10.678 you know what to expect. 00:00:10.678 --> 00:00:11.998 So here we go. 00:00:12.990 --> 00:00:16.966 We are in the last four weeks of Hebrews now. 00:00:16.998 --> 00:00:18.978 We've been in Hebrews since January. 00:00:19.630 --> 00:00:21.230 It's been a fun book, 00:00:21.230 --> 00:00:22.662 not so much fun all the time. 00:00:22.662 --> 00:00:27.126 But I have thoroughly enjoyed taking Hebrews apart and putting it back 00:00:27.158 --> 00:00:33.146 together, gaining a better understanding of who God is and what he's 00:00:33.178 --> 00:00:39.630 done, but also of getting a glimpse of God and how we need to know him, 00:00:40.090 --> 00:00:42.218 how we need to pursue knowing him. 00:00:42.218 --> 00:00:44.528 And that's where our text is today. 00:00:44.690 --> 00:00:46.434 As I've shared with you before, 00:00:46.434 --> 00:00:52.330 the object of our faith is sort of the overriding title for this year. 00:00:52.450 --> 00:00:54.950 Jesus is the object of our faith. 00:00:55.400 --> 00:01:00.304 We fix our eyes on Jesus as we learned in the beginning of chapter 00:01:00.352 --> 00:01:01.720 twelve. He is the author, 00:01:01.720 --> 00:01:02.560 the completion, 00:01:02.600 --> 00:01:04.080 the finisher of our faith. 00:01:04.080 --> 00:01:06.408 And so we make him our priority. 00:01:06.464 --> 00:01:08.232 I've said over and over again this year, 00:01:08.232 --> 00:01:09.500 consider Jesus. 00:01:09.800 --> 00:01:10.504 In the morning, 00:01:10.504 --> 00:01:11.408 consider Jesus. 00:01:11.464 --> 00:01:12.072 In the evening, 00:01:12.072 --> 00:01:12.944 consider Jesus. 00:01:12.992 --> 00:01:13.848 Everything in between, 00:01:13.848 --> 00:01:14.760 consider Jesus. 00:01:14.840 --> 00:01:17.600 So I'm going to ask a question this morning before I read the text, 00:01:17.600 --> 00:01:19.248 and just simply put it this way. 00:01:19.248 --> 00:01:22.218 What are you going to waste time doing today? 00:01:23.860 --> 00:01:24.796 See, I mean, 00:01:24.796 --> 00:01:26.140 think about it a minute. 00:01:26.140 --> 00:01:28.780 We all get the same amount of time. 00:01:30.540 --> 00:01:35.040 How we prioritize the youths of that time is on us. 00:01:35.980 --> 00:01:38.684 So what will we waste time doing today? 00:01:38.772 --> 00:01:43.844 Now, I would like to go ahead and submit that this hour is not a waste. 00:01:43.844 --> 00:01:45.164 Just so you know, 00:01:46.620 --> 00:01:50.820 I want to let you know that we did baptism last Sunday at 1245. 00:01:50.820 --> 00:01:54.372 We baptized four folks this Sunday at 1245. 00:01:54.436 --> 00:01:58.500 We're going to meet and baptize again today because folks keep responding 00:01:58.540 --> 00:02:00.332 and keep saying we want to be baptized. 00:02:00.332 --> 00:02:02.540 So we're going to do baptism again today. 00:02:02.540 --> 00:02:04.068 So we'll meet at 1245. 00:02:04.124 --> 00:02:05.788 If you want to be here for baptism, 00:02:05.788 --> 00:02:07.908 just be on the beach at 1245. 00:02:07.964 --> 00:02:09.660 If you want to be baptized, 00:02:09.660 --> 00:02:13.290 be in the fellowship hall at 1245 and we'll walk over together. 00:02:14.140 --> 00:02:15.284 Hebrews chapter twelve, 00:02:15.332 --> 00:02:16.788 verses 14 to 29. 00:02:16.844 --> 00:02:17.834 Here we go. 00:02:18.190 --> 00:02:19.462 It's a long passage, 00:02:19.462 --> 00:02:23.214 so you're just going to have to either read it in your bibles. 00:02:23.214 --> 00:02:24.102 If you don't have a Bible, 00:02:24.102 --> 00:02:25.582 there might be one in the chair around you, 00:02:25.582 --> 00:02:26.630 or it'll be up on the screen. 00:02:26.630 --> 00:02:27.606 Here we go. 00:02:27.110 --> 00:02:30.126 Pursue peace with everyone in holiness. 00:02:30.278 --> 00:02:30.918 Without it, 00:02:30.918 --> 00:02:32.102 no one will see the Lord. 00:02:32.102 --> 00:02:35.278 Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God, 00:02:35.278 --> 00:02:37.558 and that no root of bitterness springs up, 00:02:37.558 --> 00:02:42.254 causing trouble and defiling many make sure that there isn't any immoral 00:02:42.302 --> 00:02:44.732 or irreverent person like Esau, 00:02:44.926 --> 00:02:48.184 who sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal. 00:02:48.184 --> 00:02:49.936 For you know that later, 00:02:50.088 --> 00:02:52.040 when he wanted to inherit the blessing, 00:02:52.040 --> 00:02:52.912 he was rejected, 00:02:52.912 --> 00:02:54.392 even though he sought it with tears, 00:02:54.392 --> 00:02:57.888 because he didn't find any opportunity for repentance. 00:02:58.064 --> 00:03:01.136 For you have not come to what could be touched, 00:03:01.136 --> 00:03:02.336 to a blazing fire, 00:03:02.336 --> 00:03:03.000 to darkness, 00:03:03.040 --> 00:03:04.152 to gloom and storm, 00:03:04.152 --> 00:03:07.592 to the blast of a trumpet or the sound of words. 00:03:07.288 --> 00:03:11.104 Those who heard it begged that not another word be spoken to them, 00:03:11.104 --> 00:03:13.174 for they could not bear what was commanded. 00:03:13.174 --> 00:03:15.270 If even an animal touches the mountain, 00:03:15.270 --> 00:03:16.254 it must be stone. 00:03:16.254 --> 00:03:20.254 The appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, 00:03:20.382 --> 00:03:22.290 I am trembling with fear. 00:03:22.630 --> 00:03:24.918 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, 00:03:24.918 --> 00:03:26.662 to the city of the living God, 00:03:26.662 --> 00:03:27.910 the heavenly Jerusalem, 00:03:27.950 --> 00:03:29.734 too, to myriads of angels. 00:03:29.782 --> 00:03:30.966 And here's my best, 00:03:30.966 --> 00:03:32.454 my favorite little description, 00:03:32.502 --> 00:03:36.414 a festive gathering to the assembly of the firstborn, 00:03:36.462 --> 00:03:38.110 whose names have been written in heaven, 00:03:38.110 --> 00:03:40.750 to a judge who is God of all, 00:03:40.920 --> 00:03:43.640 to the spirits of righteous people made perfect, 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:44.552 and to Jesus, 00:03:44.552 --> 00:03:46.600 the mediator of a new covenant, 00:03:46.640 --> 00:03:48.072 and to the sprinkled blood, 00:03:48.072 --> 00:03:51.042 which says better things than the blood of Abel. 00:03:51.200 --> 00:03:55.088 See to it that you do not reject the one who speaks. 00:03:55.088 --> 00:03:58.760 For if they did not escape when they rejected him, 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:00.416 who warned them on earth, 00:04:00.416 --> 00:04:05.366 even less will we if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven. 00:04:05.560 --> 00:04:07.520 His voice shook the earth at that time, 00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:08.760 but now he has promised. 00:04:08.760 --> 00:04:11.850 Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, 00:04:11.850 --> 00:04:13.082 but also the heavens. 00:04:13.082 --> 00:04:14.082 This expression, 00:04:14.186 --> 00:04:17.816 yet once more indicates the removal of what can be shaken, 00:04:18.130 --> 00:04:18.790 that is, 00:04:18.826 --> 00:04:19.990 created things, 00:04:20.450 --> 00:04:23.090 so that what is not shaken might remain. 00:04:22.946 --> 00:04:25.898 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, 00:04:25.898 --> 00:04:28.378 let us be thankful by it. 00:04:28.434 --> 00:04:30.186 We may serve God acceptably, 00:04:30.258 --> 00:04:31.410 with reverence and awe. 00:04:31.410 --> 00:04:34.898 For our God is a consuming fire. 00:04:34.994 --> 00:04:36.546 The point of today's message is, 00:04:36.546 --> 00:04:38.144 don't reject goddess. 00:04:38.342 --> 00:04:39.428 Don't reject God. 00:04:39.484 --> 00:04:40.004 Pray with me. 00:04:40.004 --> 00:04:40.356 All righty. 00:04:40.356 --> 00:04:41.548 Father, we thank you for your word. 00:04:41.548 --> 00:04:44.548 And thank you that one of the first things we learned in the book of 00:04:44.548 --> 00:04:46.200 Hebrews is that you speak. 00:04:46.820 --> 00:04:51.476 There was a time that you spoke through prophets and angels and God, 00:04:51.508 --> 00:04:52.924 you've spoken through your word, 00:04:52.924 --> 00:04:55.268 and you've spoken by your spirit, 00:04:55.324 --> 00:04:57.640 and you've spoken through your creation. 00:04:57.980 --> 00:04:58.920 And God. 00:04:59.340 --> 00:05:00.644 You're speaking now, 00:05:00.732 --> 00:05:02.380 God, we've got your written word. 00:05:02.380 --> 00:05:03.684 We've got the living word. 00:05:03.684 --> 00:05:05.620 Jesus. We've got these things. 00:05:05.660 --> 00:05:08.716 God. So we have truth among us. 00:05:08.748 --> 00:05:11.320 God, help us to listen. 00:05:11.780 --> 00:05:13.430 Help us to pay attention. 00:05:14.140 --> 00:05:17.756 God, I thank you for what you want to accomplish this morning. 00:05:17.068 --> 00:05:18.720 Because truth is, 00:05:19.820 --> 00:05:23.450 we can't even conceive of all that you will do today. 00:05:23.900 --> 00:05:28.660 So God help us to simply be surrendered and sacrificed that we might hear 00:05:28.700 --> 00:05:29.228 and obey. 00:05:29.228 --> 00:05:30.964 And we pray it in Jesus name. 00:05:30.964 --> 00:05:32.944 Amen. So that's the question today. 00:05:32.980 --> 00:05:33.780 What are you going to do? 00:05:33.780 --> 00:05:36.000 How are you going to waste your time today? 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:36.424 I mean, 00:05:36.424 --> 00:05:37.256 if you think about it, 00:05:37.256 --> 00:05:41.876 because a couple of the things that I want us to look at today, 00:05:42.920 --> 00:05:46.584 because the library is changing its shape and form, 00:05:46.632 --> 00:05:50.336 I went back and got a couple of books that were in my library and now 00:05:50.336 --> 00:05:54.280 they're back in my library because they were in this library for years. 00:05:54.280 --> 00:05:57.072 But I want us to consider what we're looking at right here. 00:05:57.072 --> 00:06:02.472 We have seen in chapters one through ten and a half and eleven and half 00:06:02.496 --> 00:06:03.156 of twelve. 00:06:03.120 --> 00:06:11.682 Now God has made the case for who he is and what he's done and how he's 00:06:11.746 --> 00:06:13.522 pointed us to Jesus, 00:06:13.626 --> 00:06:15.550 how he has simply said, 00:06:16.170 --> 00:06:18.442 this is what you need to be focusing on. 00:06:18.442 --> 00:06:19.098 Not that, 00:06:19.098 --> 00:06:19.754 not that, 00:06:19.754 --> 00:06:21.842 but focus on Jesus. 00:06:21.906 --> 00:06:23.474 Pay attention to Jesus. 00:06:23.602 --> 00:06:27.306 Right, because it's in Jesus that what God is saying to us. 00:06:27.306 --> 00:06:31.200 It's in Jesus that I have accomplished the promise, 00:06:31.820 --> 00:06:32.840 the work, 00:06:33.460 --> 00:06:37.156 the provision for your redemption and your salvation. 00:06:37.308 --> 00:06:39.972 So now you need to focus your lives. 00:06:40.036 --> 00:06:41.444 And this is God speaking to all of us. 00:06:41.444 --> 00:06:42.004 I'm not saying you. 00:06:42.004 --> 00:06:42.988 I'm saying me too. 00:06:42.988 --> 00:06:43.548 God is saying, 00:06:43.548 --> 00:06:46.172 now focus your lives on Jesus. 00:06:46.236 --> 00:06:48.164 Who is it that you're paying attention to? 00:06:48.164 --> 00:06:49.814 Who is it you serve? 00:06:50.100 --> 00:06:54.200 Where are you invested in your everyday life? 00:06:55.310 --> 00:06:57.918 What are you going to waste time doing today that doesn't have something 00:06:57.918 --> 00:06:59.238 to do with Jesus? 00:06:59.990 --> 00:07:00.980 I mean that. 00:07:01.046 --> 00:07:04.926 Okay? Pursue peace with everyone in holiness. 00:07:04.998 --> 00:07:05.662 Without it, 00:07:05.726 --> 00:07:06.918 no one will see the Lord. 00:07:06.918 --> 00:07:07.126 All right, 00:07:07.126 --> 00:07:08.814 so let's put that sentence back together. 00:07:08.814 --> 00:07:09.958 Pursue peace. 00:07:10.094 --> 00:07:11.370 Pursue holiness. 00:07:12.190 --> 00:07:13.558 Pursue those things. 00:07:13.614 --> 00:07:15.910 Don't make excuses for sin in your life. 00:07:15.910 --> 00:07:18.880 We've already seen that in the book of Hebrews. 00:07:18.910 --> 00:07:20.358 We get the forewarnings, 00:07:20.374 --> 00:07:21.854 and I'm going to get to that in a few minutes. 00:07:21.718 --> 00:07:22.822 But what he's saying is, 00:07:22.822 --> 00:07:25.136 pursue peace and pursue holiness, 00:07:25.288 --> 00:07:27.136 because without pursuing those things, 00:07:27.168 --> 00:07:27.992 you will not see it. 00:07:27.992 --> 00:07:31.040 Doesn't say you're gonna always find peace. 00:07:31.080 --> 00:07:31.568 Guess what? 00:07:31.568 --> 00:07:34.208 I have unrest in my life at times. 00:07:34.360 --> 00:07:36.224 There's sin in my life at times, 00:07:36.224 --> 00:07:36.584 so. 00:07:36.672 --> 00:07:42.380 But I'm supposed to pursue those things with the goal of reaching them. 00:07:42.880 --> 00:07:46.280 Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter, 00:07:46.280 --> 00:07:48.168 no root of bitterness springs up, 00:07:48.168 --> 00:07:50.074 causing trouble and defiling many. 00:07:50.192 --> 00:07:51.254 What's he talking about right there? 00:07:51.254 --> 00:07:52.574 He's talking about division. 00:07:53.030 --> 00:07:56.660 He's talking about the body of Christ at odds with itself, 00:07:56.950 --> 00:07:57.310 see? 00:07:57.350 --> 00:07:58.502 Because in Christ, 00:07:58.566 --> 00:07:59.918 what do we see in the book of acts? 00:07:59.918 --> 00:08:01.326 We see there was unity. 00:08:01.326 --> 00:08:02.976 They were in one accord. 00:08:02.990 --> 00:08:06.510 What happened when the body of Christ was in unity in one accord? 00:08:06.510 --> 00:08:10.810 Thousands and thousands heard the message of the gospel and responded. 00:08:11.510 --> 00:08:12.102 You see, 00:08:12.102 --> 00:08:15.926 one of the things that makes the body of Christ weak today is all the 00:08:15.926 --> 00:08:17.290 division in it, 00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:25.112 see? So be careful of that kind of division that causes bitterness among 00:08:25.176 --> 00:08:29.544 us. Make sure there isn't any immoral or irreverent person like Esau. 00:08:29.592 --> 00:08:30.312 You know what? 00:08:30.312 --> 00:08:31.962 I think I could appeal. 00:08:31.704 --> 00:08:38.944 I shouldn't say that Esau is such a sort of out there kind of example. 00:08:39.032 --> 00:08:39.504 You know, 00:08:39.504 --> 00:08:40.740 Jacob and Esau. 00:08:41.040 --> 00:08:42.224 Esau is the hunter. 00:08:42.224 --> 00:08:45.470 He's the one that makes the beef stew that daddy likes to. 00:08:45.470 --> 00:08:46.094 Right? 00:08:46.222 --> 00:08:46.758 Daddy says, 00:08:46.758 --> 00:08:48.190 go make me some stew. 00:08:48.190 --> 00:08:49.926 So mom and Jacob get into it, 00:08:49.926 --> 00:08:51.974 right? We can fool him, 00:08:52.102 --> 00:08:54.926 right? But what happened before that? 00:08:55.038 --> 00:08:56.918 What happened before that was Esau said, 00:08:56.918 --> 00:08:59.590 you, Jacob. 00:08:59.750 --> 00:09:00.510 All right, 00:09:00.670 --> 00:09:01.782 let me go back and read this. 00:09:01.782 --> 00:09:05.350 Make sure there isn't any immoral or irreverent person like Esau, 00:09:05.350 --> 00:09:08.646 who sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal. 00:09:08.646 --> 00:09:09.502 We know the story, 00:09:09.502 --> 00:09:10.542 right? Jacob and Esau. 00:09:10.542 --> 00:09:12.290 Jacob is the one cooking. 00:09:12.680 --> 00:09:17.060 Esau trades his birthright for stew. 00:09:17.520 --> 00:09:18.584 You know that later, 00:09:18.584 --> 00:09:20.080 he wanted to inherit the blessing, 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:22.056 but couldn't inherit the blessing. 00:09:22.248 --> 00:09:23.888 What is he referring to right here? 00:09:23.888 --> 00:09:25.008 This is selfishness. 00:09:25.104 --> 00:09:26.144 This is division. 00:09:26.272 --> 00:09:27.600 This is immorality. 00:09:27.720 --> 00:09:29.020 This is behavior. 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:32.112 So, aside from my rendition of this story, 00:09:32.176 --> 00:09:33.088 forgive me, 00:09:33.224 --> 00:09:34.544 but here you go. 00:09:34.608 --> 00:09:36.258 What do you choose first? 00:09:38.010 --> 00:09:39.660 What do you choose first? 00:09:41.410 --> 00:09:43.070 Do you choose self first? 00:09:43.810 --> 00:09:45.490 See, that's what Esau did. 00:09:45.650 --> 00:09:47.630 That's why he calls him immoral. 00:09:48.250 --> 00:09:49.900 You see the point there? 00:09:50.690 --> 00:09:51.458 And like I say, 00:09:51.458 --> 00:09:51.746 I mean, 00:09:51.746 --> 00:09:53.442 this is such a big passage. 00:09:53.330 --> 00:09:55.082 I could have preached four weeks, 00:09:55.082 --> 00:09:57.510 1234 weeks on this passage. 00:09:57.970 --> 00:09:59.170 And breaking this down. 00:09:59.170 --> 00:10:00.298 What we realize is, 00:10:00.298 --> 00:10:02.866 is that we are Selfish People. 00:10:02.938 --> 00:10:04.410 This is the sin of the garden. 00:10:04.410 --> 00:10:06.794 This is choosing me over goddess. 00:10:06.992 --> 00:10:09.270 And so he goes into the Old Testament covenant, 00:10:09.270 --> 00:10:10.246 the old covenant, 00:10:10.246 --> 00:10:11.198 in the next passage, 00:10:11.198 --> 00:10:11.822 in verse 18. 00:10:11.822 --> 00:10:12.246 For he says, 00:10:12.246 --> 00:10:15.046 for you have not come to what could be touched. 00:10:15.046 --> 00:10:15.982 To a blazing fire, 00:10:15.982 --> 00:10:16.590 to darkness, 00:10:16.590 --> 00:10:17.870 gloom, storm, 00:10:18.030 --> 00:10:19.998 to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words. 00:10:19.998 --> 00:10:20.958 What is he referring to there? 00:10:20.958 --> 00:10:24.130 Remember the people at the base of the mountain? 00:10:25.070 --> 00:10:26.150 What'd they do? 00:10:26.310 --> 00:10:28.450 God's speaking on the mountaintop. 00:10:28.790 --> 00:10:29.910 They hear the thunder. 00:10:29.910 --> 00:10:30.862 They hear the rumble. 00:10:30.862 --> 00:10:32.238 Moses has gone up there. 00:10:32.030 --> 00:10:33.254 They figure he's dead. 00:10:33.254 --> 00:10:35.560 I. What do they do? 00:10:35.860 --> 00:10:37.240 They pick a cow. 00:10:39.180 --> 00:10:45.400 We'd rather worship a golden cow than worship God on a mountaintop. 00:10:45.940 --> 00:10:48.250 And I love that scene in there. 00:10:48.260 --> 00:10:51.620 This is one of my favorite things to say about that scene. 00:10:51.620 --> 00:10:53.148 Moses comes back down the mountain, 00:10:53.148 --> 00:10:54.148 he confronts his brother, 00:10:54.148 --> 00:10:54.772 and he goes, 00:10:54.772 --> 00:10:56.060 what have you done? 00:10:56.060 --> 00:10:56.500 He says, 00:10:56.500 --> 00:10:56.996 I don't know. 00:10:56.996 --> 00:11:00.956 We threw the gold in the fire and out walked his cow. 00:11:02.220 --> 00:11:03.036 I'm looking at that. 00:11:03.036 --> 00:11:03.316 I'm going, 00:11:03.316 --> 00:11:06.836 whoa. But what he's saying is, 00:11:06.868 --> 00:11:07.220 is that, 00:11:07.220 --> 00:11:07.676 you know what? 00:11:07.676 --> 00:11:14.340 The people were so scared of God that even Moses himself trembled at the 00:11:14.380 --> 00:11:17.520 confrontation that was there at Mount Sinai. 00:11:18.100 --> 00:11:19.252 Then he goes on to say, 00:11:19.252 --> 00:11:21.052 instead, you have come to Mount Zion. 00:11:20.924 --> 00:11:21.164 All right, 00:11:21.164 --> 00:11:23.572 so this is us in the new covenant, 00:11:23.572 --> 00:11:24.996 to the city of the living God, 00:11:24.996 --> 00:11:26.276 to the heavenly Jerusalem, 00:11:26.276 --> 00:11:27.540 to myriads of angels, 00:11:27.540 --> 00:11:31.406 a festive gathering to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have 00:11:31.406 --> 00:11:32.318 been written in heaven, 00:11:32.318 --> 00:11:34.750 to a judge who is God of all, 00:11:34.750 --> 00:11:36.958 to the spirits of righteous people made perfect, 00:11:36.958 --> 00:11:37.750 and to Jesus, 00:11:37.750 --> 00:11:39.158 the mediator of a new covenant, 00:11:39.158 --> 00:11:43.446 and to the sprinkled blood that says better things than the blood of 00:11:43.446 --> 00:11:44.970 Abel. So now, 00:11:45.390 --> 00:11:49.118 here's where we want to stop for a minute and consider what all is being 00:11:49.118 --> 00:11:51.750 said. God's running it down for us now. 00:11:51.750 --> 00:11:52.450 All right? 00:11:53.840 --> 00:11:56.512 From the beginning of the book of Hebrews all the way through, 00:11:56.512 --> 00:12:00.460 what we've seen is the people of God, 00:12:01.400 --> 00:12:04.480 who in places served God, 00:12:04.560 --> 00:12:06.208 who rejected God, 00:12:06.264 --> 00:12:07.024 the covenant, 00:12:07.072 --> 00:12:08.528 the sacrificial system, 00:12:08.664 --> 00:12:09.552 the law, 00:12:09.696 --> 00:12:10.768 the priests, 00:12:10.904 --> 00:12:11.894 all those things. 00:12:11.872 --> 00:12:12.560 And he said, 00:12:12.560 --> 00:12:13.420 no, look, 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:15.384 pay attention to Jesus, 00:12:15.432 --> 00:12:16.328 because now, 00:12:16.424 --> 00:12:18.260 aside from all those things, 00:12:18.880 --> 00:12:20.340 Esau, Abel, 00:12:21.030 --> 00:12:22.294 Abraham, Moses, 00:12:22.342 --> 00:12:24.382 everything that we saw in chapter eleven, 00:12:24.382 --> 00:12:25.654 all of those things, 00:12:25.654 --> 00:12:29.030 instead, we have something more than they have, 00:12:29.070 --> 00:12:30.774 because we've got Mount Zion, 00:12:30.942 --> 00:12:32.670 we've got the city of the living God, 00:12:32.670 --> 00:12:34.662 we've got all these descriptive things, 00:12:34.806 --> 00:12:36.486 and we've got the mediator, 00:12:36.558 --> 00:12:38.294 Christ of the new covenant, 00:12:38.342 --> 00:12:40.190 into his sprinkled blood, 00:12:40.310 --> 00:12:43.846 which says better things than Abel's blood and all the blood of the 00:12:43.846 --> 00:12:46.228 sacrifices of the Old Testament. 00:12:46.374 --> 00:12:47.768 So I look at this thing and I go, 00:12:47.768 --> 00:12:48.500 all right. 00:12:48.920 --> 00:12:54.700 And I've been working on it this week with really the idea of choice. 00:12:56.120 --> 00:12:57.488 So I want to ask you a question, 00:12:57.488 --> 00:13:01.720 and this was a thing that was presented to me years and years ago. 00:13:01.720 --> 00:13:09.300 If you were to examine the time you spend in a week, 00:13:10.160 --> 00:13:11.304 how much do you, 00:13:11.304 --> 00:13:14.764 how much time do you spend pursuing God, 00:13:14.852 --> 00:13:16.884 pursuing holiness, 00:13:17.052 --> 00:13:18.880 pursuing the things of God? 00:13:21.780 --> 00:13:22.580 All right, 00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:23.820 let's get a little pickier. 00:13:23.820 --> 00:13:24.500 Now, I tell y'all, 00:13:24.500 --> 00:13:25.524 I don't like to do lists, 00:13:25.524 --> 00:13:26.196 but I'm gonna do one. 00:13:26.196 --> 00:13:26.908 You ready? 00:13:27.044 --> 00:13:30.344 How much time did you spend watching tv this week? 00:13:31.380 --> 00:13:35.340 Did you spend more time watching tv than you spent pursuing God? 00:13:36.300 --> 00:13:37.908 How much time did you listen to, 00:13:37.908 --> 00:13:38.760 let's say, 00:13:39.710 --> 00:13:41.370 political rhetoric? 00:13:42.670 --> 00:13:46.150 Did you spend more time listening to that than you did pursuing God this 00:13:46.150 --> 00:13:48.886 week? I went back to, 00:13:49.078 --> 00:13:49.646 like I said, 00:13:49.646 --> 00:13:50.614 the library back there, 00:13:50.614 --> 00:13:51.638 and I pulled this book off. 00:13:51.638 --> 00:13:55.470 I used to order this book and give it away by the case. 00:13:55.470 --> 00:13:58.440 It's called the Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges. 00:13:58.574 --> 00:14:01.182 It actually says there's over a million of them sold, 00:14:01.182 --> 00:14:03.492 and I probably got half of them. 00:14:04.630 --> 00:14:05.806 But basically, 00:14:05.998 --> 00:14:10.476 this, the title of the book comes from this verse that we're looking at, 00:14:10.476 --> 00:14:12.000 the pursuit of holiness. 00:14:12.780 --> 00:14:14.100 Jerry Bridges wrote this, 00:14:14.116 --> 00:14:14.516 and he said, 00:14:14.516 --> 00:14:15.020 you know what? 00:14:15.020 --> 00:14:15.356 He said, 00:14:15.356 --> 00:14:21.620 it's time that we stop making excuses for the lack of holiness in our 00:14:21.660 --> 00:14:23.164 lives. He actually says, 00:14:23.212 --> 00:14:25.460 romans 614 is the first chapter. 00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:29.252 For sin shall not be your master because you are not under the law, 00:14:29.252 --> 00:14:30.320 but under grace. 00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:35.200 See, this is one of those classic books that I studied years ago. 00:14:35.550 --> 00:14:37.726 Now, this is not my actual copy of it. 00:14:37.726 --> 00:14:39.694 This is just a copy that was in the library. 00:14:39.694 --> 00:14:41.022 But the truth is, 00:14:41.206 --> 00:14:44.550 if we're not pursuing holiness, 00:14:44.630 --> 00:14:45.950 what does it say? 00:14:45.870 --> 00:14:48.302 Pursue peace with everyone and pursue holiness. 00:14:48.366 --> 00:14:48.918 Without it, 00:14:48.918 --> 00:14:50.654 no one will see the Lord. 00:14:50.654 --> 00:14:53.230 Folks, this is an expectation of God. 00:14:53.270 --> 00:14:56.570 Indeed, it's a command of God that we pursue holiness. 00:14:56.614 --> 00:15:00.518 Now, how much time will you spend pursuing holiness versus how much time 00:15:00.518 --> 00:15:04.250 do you spend wasting your pursuits? 00:15:04.830 --> 00:15:06.134 Then I pulled this one out. 00:15:06.134 --> 00:15:08.822 I was surprised to find this one still in there. 00:15:08.822 --> 00:15:09.510 This one. 00:15:09.590 --> 00:15:11.166 This one does have my name on it. 00:15:11.166 --> 00:15:15.006 It's even got some of my old sticky note on the front. 00:15:14.726 --> 00:15:15.982 And to be honest, 00:15:15.982 --> 00:15:18.292 it's not much of a book anymore. 00:15:20.150 --> 00:15:21.478 But when you flip through it, 00:15:21.478 --> 00:15:26.054 you can see where I underlined and highlighted and all these things. 00:15:26.102 --> 00:15:27.574 This is called the knowledge. 00:15:27.574 --> 00:15:30.020 Knowledge of the holy by aw Tozier. 00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:32.520 Knowledge of the holy. 00:15:32.520 --> 00:15:35.712 And basically what Tozier says in this. 00:15:35.896 --> 00:15:42.780 What you think about God is the most important thing about you. 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:48.104 What you think about God is the most important. 00:15:48.104 --> 00:15:51.980 So how do you focus on who God is? 00:15:52.440 --> 00:15:55.740 Because when we get to this next section right here, 00:15:56.950 --> 00:15:59.846 this is where I want to remind you of the warnings of Hebrews. 00:15:59.846 --> 00:16:00.942 The first warning of he. 00:16:00.942 --> 00:16:02.592 I'm not walking right there. 00:16:04.430 --> 00:16:05.886 Somebody told me last week, 00:16:05.886 --> 00:16:07.866 when I started pointing it out, 00:16:09.150 --> 00:16:09.878 they said, 00:16:09.974 --> 00:16:12.710 I didn't hear it until you pointed it out. 00:16:12.710 --> 00:16:14.690 So I'm walking around it now. 00:16:16.830 --> 00:16:18.050 The warnings, 00:16:18.710 --> 00:16:21.686 right? The warnings of the Book of Hebrews. 00:16:21.718 --> 00:16:22.708 There are four. 00:16:22.830 --> 00:16:23.806 Like four and a half. 00:16:23.806 --> 00:16:26.494 Cause there's a little bit of a warning in chapter ten. 00:16:26.350 --> 00:16:27.926 But the first one was don't drift. 00:16:27.926 --> 00:16:29.630 Remember the surfing illustration? 00:16:29.790 --> 00:16:33.490 If you don't pay attention to where you're paddling, 00:16:33.870 --> 00:16:36.180 the waves will take you with them. 00:16:37.150 --> 00:16:37.998 Folks, if we, 00:16:37.998 --> 00:16:39.046 as the body of Christ, 00:16:39.046 --> 00:16:40.310 as followers of Jesus, 00:16:40.310 --> 00:16:45.502 as those who are seeking and pursuing the peace of God and the holiness 00:16:45.566 --> 00:16:46.286 of God, 00:16:46.398 --> 00:16:48.710 if we're not paddling in that direction, 00:16:48.750 --> 00:16:49.410 guess what? 00:16:49.470 --> 00:16:52.770 The waves in the world will take you with it. 00:16:53.130 --> 00:16:58.666 You will find yourself in a place that you don't need to be. 00:16:58.698 --> 00:16:59.938 And quite honestly, 00:17:00.114 --> 00:17:01.746 as a follower of Christ, 00:17:01.746 --> 00:17:02.994 you don't want to be. 00:17:02.994 --> 00:17:06.578 The second warning of the Book of Hebrews was, 00:17:06.634 --> 00:17:09.550 don't rebel against God. 00:17:10.610 --> 00:17:16.642 Well, don't rebel against God like his people did in the wilderness. 00:17:16.706 --> 00:17:18.026 What did they do? 00:17:17.842 --> 00:17:19.924 They chose a cow over God. 00:17:20.052 --> 00:17:22.028 We want to go back to Egypt. 00:17:22.028 --> 00:17:25.148 We like the food we had there by the Nile River. 00:17:25.148 --> 00:17:27.188 God, I know you've promised all this stuff, 00:17:27.188 --> 00:17:30.158 but we'd rather go back to where we're comfortable, 00:17:30.180 --> 00:17:33.810 to where we have all of the things of the world. 00:17:34.180 --> 00:17:36.068 Folks, I'm going to be honest with you right now, 00:17:36.068 --> 00:17:37.772 and I'm not being honest. 00:17:37.956 --> 00:17:38.964 Somebody always told me, 00:17:38.964 --> 00:17:39.580 don't say that, 00:17:39.580 --> 00:17:40.604 because that means you're lying. 00:17:40.604 --> 00:17:42.254 Everything you said before that. 00:17:43.350 --> 00:17:45.630 So let me just be transparent a minute. 00:17:45.630 --> 00:17:46.558 My fear is, 00:17:46.558 --> 00:17:51.238 is that a lot of the body of Christ is busy choosing the world over 00:17:51.238 --> 00:17:52.888 choosing the things of God. 00:17:54.470 --> 00:17:56.894 Keith Green sang a song years ago called, 00:17:56.894 --> 00:17:58.534 you want to go back to Egypt. 00:17:58.334 --> 00:18:02.350 How many of y'all are old enough to remember Keith Green in that song? 00:18:02.350 --> 00:18:02.934 He said, 00:18:02.934 --> 00:18:04.870 and there's a line in there that says, 00:18:04.870 --> 00:18:07.730 eating leeks and onions by the Nile. 00:18:08.430 --> 00:18:09.494 Ooh. What? 00:18:09.542 --> 00:18:10.466 Breathe. 00:18:10.608 --> 00:18:12.530 You're dining out in style. 00:18:13.790 --> 00:18:16.606 See, I want you to consider the things that are pure, 00:18:16.606 --> 00:18:21.062 worldly, and figure out what is it you're choosing. 00:18:21.126 --> 00:18:22.422 What is it I'm choosing? 00:18:22.422 --> 00:18:24.310 Are we choosing worldliness, 00:18:24.350 --> 00:18:26.290 or are we choosing godliness? 00:18:27.270 --> 00:18:28.170 You see, 00:18:28.750 --> 00:18:34.302 are we compromising with the sin and the system of this world because 00:18:34.366 --> 00:18:36.170 Satan's in charge of that? 00:18:36.780 --> 00:18:37.772 And when we. 00:18:37.916 --> 00:18:38.906 There it is. 00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:47.280 See, it sort of takes the steam out of me when I do that. 00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:51.160 Don't be rebellious against what God has set before us. 00:18:51.740 --> 00:18:53.380 The third warning was, 00:18:53.420 --> 00:18:55.380 don't believe wrongly. 00:18:55.420 --> 00:18:57.400 The warning is apostasy. 00:18:58.060 --> 00:19:02.888 Believe what God has revealed about himself and what he's done right, 00:19:02.944 --> 00:19:03.274 not. 00:19:03.168 --> 00:19:05.808 Not what the world would say about it. 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:12.940 See, this is the one where I say the world is actively rejecting God, 00:19:13.760 --> 00:19:16.420 actively rejecting God's design, 00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:21.728 actively rejecting what God has said about certain things. 00:19:21.904 --> 00:19:23.376 Remember last week I said, 00:19:23.376 --> 00:19:23.688 you know, 00:19:23.688 --> 00:19:28.544 that the world is trying to destroy the whole concept of God and his 00:19:28.592 --> 00:19:29.584 design. By what? 00:19:29.632 --> 00:19:31.020 By destroying the family? 00:19:32.550 --> 00:19:33.210 By. By. 00:19:33.222 --> 00:19:35.410 By destroying truth, 00:19:35.710 --> 00:19:37.570 by destroying history. 00:19:38.990 --> 00:19:39.686 You see, 00:19:39.798 --> 00:19:43.342 the world stands in opposition to God. 00:19:43.406 --> 00:19:44.850 Don't choose the world. 00:19:47.590 --> 00:19:50.910 Which leads us to the final warning. 00:19:50.990 --> 00:19:57.256 See to it that you do not reject the one who speaks back. 00:19:57.288 --> 00:19:58.560 In the beginning of Hebrews, 00:19:58.560 --> 00:19:59.056 he said, 00:19:59.056 --> 00:20:00.376 the Lord has spoken. 00:20:00.472 --> 00:20:03.008 God has spoken through angels and prophets. 00:20:03.064 --> 00:20:05.400 And now he speaks through his son, 00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:08.752 Jesus, who is the heir of all things, 00:20:08.856 --> 00:20:10.872 the radiance of the glory of God, 00:20:10.872 --> 00:20:13.512 the exact expression of his essence. 00:20:13.616 --> 00:20:14.800 He is creator. 00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:16.016 Jesus is creator. 00:20:16.048 --> 00:20:17.360 Jesus is sustainer. 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:18.816 Jesus is the king of kings. 00:20:18.816 --> 00:20:20.744 Jesus is the highest priest. 00:20:20.912 --> 00:20:22.680 The covenant points to Jesus. 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:25.820 The law points to Jesus sacrificial system. 00:20:25.940 --> 00:20:27.212 All points to Jesus. 00:20:27.212 --> 00:20:33.160 And yet we are very easily distracted. 00:20:34.820 --> 00:20:35.340 He says, 00:20:35.340 --> 00:20:37.320 don't reject the one who speaks. 00:20:36.676 --> 00:20:40.884 For if they did not escape when they rejected him, 00:20:40.932 --> 00:20:42.640 who warned them on earth, 00:20:43.020 --> 00:20:48.400 even less will we if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven. 00:20:50.910 --> 00:20:52.974 His voice shook the earth at that time. 00:20:52.974 --> 00:20:55.270 But now he has promised yet once more, 00:20:55.270 --> 00:20:56.678 I will shake not only the earth, 00:20:56.678 --> 00:20:58.062 but also the heavens. 00:20:58.206 --> 00:21:01.850 See, that's kind of a subtle promise, 00:21:02.510 --> 00:21:06.470 that if you put your trust in the things of this earth, 00:21:06.990 --> 00:21:08.970 it's all going to be destroyed. 00:21:12.230 --> 00:21:16.190 Things we can count so hard on in the earth around us. 00:21:17.140 --> 00:21:18.460 See what I mean? 00:21:19.340 --> 00:21:21.212 His voice shook the earth at that time. 00:21:21.212 --> 00:21:22.348 That was Mount Sinai. 00:21:22.348 --> 00:21:23.396 But now he's promised, 00:21:23.396 --> 00:21:24.788 I will shake not only the earth, 00:21:24.788 --> 00:21:26.108 but the heavens also. 00:21:26.012 --> 00:21:29.756 This expression yet once more indicates the removal of what can be 00:21:29.756 --> 00:21:32.764 shaken, and that is the created things. 00:21:32.932 --> 00:21:37.780 God's creation is going to be shaken so that what is not shaken might 00:21:37.820 --> 00:21:39.268 remain. So what's not shaken. 00:21:39.268 --> 00:21:43.800 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, 00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:46.000 let's be thankful. 00:21:46.080 --> 00:21:47.576 What are we being thankful for? 00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:49.060 That we're receiving the kingdom. 00:21:49.560 --> 00:21:51.024 You're hearing the message of hope. 00:21:51.024 --> 00:21:52.896 You're hearing the message of eternity. 00:21:52.896 --> 00:21:57.408 You're hearing God's communication of who he is and what he's provided 00:21:57.464 --> 00:21:59.720 for, the message of redemption, 00:21:59.760 --> 00:22:01.540 the message of salvation. 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:05.180 So what is our response to all these things? 00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:06.776 Last chapter. 00:22:06.808 --> 00:22:07.880 In the beginning of this chapter, 00:22:07.880 --> 00:22:08.960 it talked about discipline. 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:10.032 It talked about obedience. 00:22:10.032 --> 00:22:11.280 It talked about correction. 00:22:11.280 --> 00:22:12.936 How do we respond to discipline? 00:22:12.752 --> 00:22:16.482 Do we respond to discipline by rebelling against God? 00:22:16.506 --> 00:22:20.190 Or do we respond to discipline by pursuing peace and holiness? 00:22:21.370 --> 00:22:21.826 You see? 00:22:21.826 --> 00:22:24.850 Cause God pointed out the difference between their mountain and our 00:22:24.850 --> 00:22:28.910 mountain. Mount Sinai is not our mountain. 00:22:30.610 --> 00:22:31.600 What's our mountain? 00:22:31.634 --> 00:22:34.790 Our mountain's the kingdom that cannot be shaken. 00:22:35.530 --> 00:22:36.430 You see? 00:22:37.130 --> 00:22:39.930 And so we get this promise of God. 00:22:39.970 --> 00:22:41.826 And then I ask this morning, 00:22:41.826 --> 00:22:44.796 Nick and I reflected on it a minute ago, 00:22:45.650 --> 00:22:47.960 how much do we really trust God? 00:22:49.530 --> 00:22:50.010 I mean, 00:22:50.010 --> 00:22:56.306 seriously, or is there a percentage of trust that we place more in 00:22:56.338 --> 00:22:58.110 ourselves than we do God? 00:23:00.090 --> 00:23:02.150 See, that's the challenge. 00:23:03.370 --> 00:23:04.434 Don't reject God. 00:23:04.482 --> 00:23:06.242 Don't reject the promises of God. 00:23:06.242 --> 00:23:07.232 God's not shaken. 00:23:07.266 --> 00:23:09.070 God's kingdom is not shaken. 00:23:09.380 --> 00:23:10.720 I can be shaken, 00:23:12.060 --> 00:23:13.148 but he cannot. 00:23:13.244 --> 00:23:15.108 So if I placed my hope, 00:23:15.108 --> 00:23:16.772 trust in everything that I am, 00:23:16.772 --> 00:23:17.820 in who he is, 00:23:17.820 --> 00:23:19.040 then guess what? 00:23:20.060 --> 00:23:24.548 I'm unshaken because I'm in him, 00:23:24.644 --> 00:23:25.600 in Christ, 00:23:26.100 --> 00:23:26.628 you see? 00:23:26.628 --> 00:23:28.608 And that's what God's giving us. 00:23:28.452 --> 00:23:30.116 And I look at this thing and I'm like, 00:23:30.116 --> 00:23:30.760 wow. 00:23:33.500 --> 00:23:36.596 I thought about dividing this passage up and taking us all the way 00:23:36.596 --> 00:23:37.580 through the end of October, 00:23:37.580 --> 00:23:38.036 and I was like, 00:23:38.036 --> 00:23:39.856 nope. This is the summary. 00:23:39.948 --> 00:23:43.272 This is where God kind of gives us the instruction, 00:23:43.376 --> 00:23:44.696 points out what was, 00:23:44.776 --> 00:23:46.200 points out what is, 00:23:46.320 --> 00:23:47.780 and then tells us, 00:23:48.760 --> 00:23:49.820 be careful, 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:52.536 be careful who you follow, 00:23:52.536 --> 00:23:54.186 be careful what you believe, 00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:58.580 and be careful how you behave. 00:23:58.880 --> 00:24:00.992 I tell the story of living in Baltimore, 00:24:00.992 --> 00:24:02.312 in the Baltimore area. 00:24:03.800 --> 00:24:07.984 They came up with a citywide campaign one time to try to make the, 00:24:07.984 --> 00:24:09.380 make the city better. 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:12.608 And so they passed out these bumper stickers. 00:24:12.608 --> 00:24:15.448 You'd see them all over Baltimore on the bumper sticker. 00:24:15.448 --> 00:24:16.072 They'd just say, 00:24:16.072 --> 00:24:21.060 believe. Just believe for something better and it'll happen. 00:24:21.360 --> 00:24:22.100 Really? 00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:26.592 If I just believe something better is going to happen? 00:24:26.592 --> 00:24:31.460 No. Isn't there a response to what God expects? 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:33.048 See, a couple weeks ago, 00:24:33.048 --> 00:24:35.300 I preached on the father's expectation. 00:24:36.270 --> 00:24:38.438 We're going to get to it in chapter 13, 00:24:38.438 --> 00:24:39.090 actually. 00:24:39.630 --> 00:24:41.654 So they came out with a second bumper sticker, 00:24:41.654 --> 00:24:45.238 and I think it was somebody probably that had a sense of humor like me, 00:24:45.238 --> 00:24:47.450 because it was pretty sarcastic, 00:24:47.910 --> 00:24:51.540 because the believe bumper sticker was followed by the behave bumper 00:24:51.550 --> 00:24:52.290 sticker. 00:24:54.310 --> 00:24:57.310 Behave, folks. 00:24:57.350 --> 00:25:00.770 The world encourages us not to behave. 00:25:02.080 --> 00:25:10.020 The world's encouraging you to forget what it means to follow God. 00:25:10.600 --> 00:25:11.540 You see, 00:25:12.360 --> 00:25:14.248 God's called us to holiness, 00:25:14.344 --> 00:25:15.700 to righteousness. 00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:21.944 We're supposed to show a lost and dying world what it looks like to 00:25:21.992 --> 00:25:26.340 follow an eternal, 00:25:26.930 --> 00:25:29.190 holy, righteous. 00:25:29.650 --> 00:25:32.514 God comes down to trust. 00:25:32.562 --> 00:25:33.754 Do I trust what he said? 00:25:33.754 --> 00:25:35.734 Do I trust who he is? 00:25:35.810 --> 00:25:42.630 And then how do I order my life to live that trust? 00:25:45.890 --> 00:25:48.530 How you going to waste your time today? 00:25:49.170 --> 00:25:51.150 Got a couple of book recommendations. 00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:56.836 Right? Pursue holiness. 00:25:57.028 --> 00:25:58.140 Pursue peace. 00:25:58.260 --> 00:25:59.320 Without it, 00:26:00.060 --> 00:26:01.710 no one will see God. 00:26:02.620 --> 00:26:04.396 If you don't know Jesus this morning, 00:26:04.396 --> 00:26:05.652 that's the starting point. 00:26:05.652 --> 00:26:06.880 You need Jesus. 00:26:07.420 --> 00:26:09.276 I would point you to Jesus. 00:26:09.276 --> 00:26:10.080 Okay. 00:26:10.820 --> 00:26:12.140 If you know him, 00:26:13.340 --> 00:26:14.636 you know your shortcomings. 00:26:14.636 --> 00:26:15.626 I know mine. 00:26:16.460 --> 00:26:17.492 I know when I fail, 00:26:17.492 --> 00:26:22.590 goddess, it comes back to confession and repentance. 00:26:23.890 --> 00:26:29.674 See, if you've got distractions in your life that are essentially sin, 00:26:29.722 --> 00:26:32.692 then you need to get with God about that. 00:26:33.210 --> 00:26:36.954 Maybe you know God and you pursuing him just as hard as you can. 00:26:36.634 --> 00:26:37.346 Well, yay. 00:26:37.418 --> 00:26:38.738 I'm glad you are. 00:26:38.762 --> 00:26:40.110 Just keep on. 00:26:40.490 --> 00:26:41.562 It's a marathon, 00:26:41.626 --> 00:26:43.276 not the hundred yard dash. 00:26:44.180 --> 00:26:47.260 Okay, we're going to sing one more song, 00:26:47.300 --> 00:26:49.940 give you the opportunity to respond to God. 00:26:49.780 --> 00:26:52.836 I'll stand here and pray with you about anything you want to pray about, 00:26:52.836 --> 00:26:53.492 but really, 00:26:53.492 --> 00:26:55.612 the response is between you and God. 00:26:55.612 --> 00:26:56.516 So let's pray together. 00:26:56.516 --> 00:26:59.420 God, we thank you and praise you for who you are and God, 00:26:59.420 --> 00:27:00.440 what you're doing. 00:27:00.820 --> 00:27:02.540 God, I thank you that your word's true. 00:27:02.540 --> 00:27:04.324 And even if I get tongue tied about it, 00:27:04.324 --> 00:27:08.880 God, you already have communicated with us the things that are important. 00:27:09.510 --> 00:27:10.110 So, God, 00:27:10.110 --> 00:27:14.110 I would pray that you help us see you. 00:27:14.270 --> 00:27:15.366 God, that we see. 00:27:15.366 --> 00:27:16.438 Jesus, we seek. 00:27:16.494 --> 00:27:18.094 Jesus, we pursue peace. 00:27:18.142 --> 00:27:19.334 We pursue holiness. 00:27:19.462 --> 00:27:23.610 God, we quit making excuses when we fall short. 00:27:24.150 --> 00:27:30.462 God, we seek the righteousness that we are not mastered by sin because we 00:27:30.486 --> 00:27:31.890 are covered by grace. 00:27:32.390 --> 00:27:34.210 God, help us to behave. 00:27:35.080 --> 00:27:36.460 Help us to behave. 00:27:37.360 --> 00:27:43.220 Thank you that you expect better of us than we expect of ourselves. 00:27:44.320 --> 00:27:44.928 So, God, 00:27:44.928 --> 00:27:45.588 help us, 00:27:45.664 --> 00:27:47.008 we pray it in Jesus name. 00:27:47.008 --> 00:27:47.200 Amen.