WEBVTT 00:00:03.920 --> 00:00:07.784 We are continuing in this topic the object of our faith. 00:00:07.832 --> 00:00:13.516 The idea is that we need to understand what it is that is the priority of 00:00:13.538 --> 00:00:14.528 who we are. 00:00:14.626 --> 00:00:20.652 We really need to have an understanding of why we worship the way we 00:00:20.706 --> 00:00:22.264 worship, why we worship, 00:00:22.312 --> 00:00:24.264 not the thing we worship, 00:00:24.312 --> 00:00:26.096 but who we worship. 00:00:26.248 --> 00:00:27.792 And so when I use this phrase, 00:00:27.792 --> 00:00:28.992 the object of our faith, 00:00:28.992 --> 00:00:32.234 and you can get these little art things out at the welcome desk if you 00:00:32.234 --> 00:00:32.858 want them. 00:00:32.858 --> 00:00:38.560 But the idea is to understand that the book of Hebrews focuses just 00:00:38.650 --> 00:00:40.920 completely on Jesus, 00:00:41.260 --> 00:00:44.328 on what God has accomplished through his son, 00:00:44.414 --> 00:00:45.332 his heir, 00:00:45.476 --> 00:00:46.654 the king of kings. 00:00:46.532 --> 00:00:47.188 He is king, 00:00:47.188 --> 00:00:48.508 he is high priest, 00:00:49.420 --> 00:00:51.070 he is all of those things. 00:00:51.070 --> 00:00:54.184 And so when we come together and make the statement, 00:00:54.184 --> 00:00:55.740 it's all about Jesus, 00:00:56.160 --> 00:00:58.120 it's always about Jesus. 00:00:58.200 --> 00:01:00.008 It's only about Jesus, 00:01:00.104 --> 00:01:04.258 then the emphasis of that is that we're going to direct our hearts and 00:01:04.258 --> 00:01:06.300 our minds to Jesus. 00:01:06.460 --> 00:01:07.388 So in Hebrews, 00:01:07.388 --> 00:01:07.942 chapter two, 00:01:07.942 --> 00:01:10.566 we're just dealing with verses ten through 13 this morning. 00:01:10.566 --> 00:01:11.886 So here they are. 00:01:11.750 --> 00:01:14.880 For in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, 00:01:16.020 --> 00:01:18.228 it was entirely appropriate that God, 00:01:18.314 --> 00:01:20.912 for whom and through whom all things exist, 00:01:20.912 --> 00:01:25.684 should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings for 00:01:25.722 --> 00:01:27.200 the one who sanctifies. 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:30.660 And those who are sanctified all have one father. 00:01:31.240 --> 00:01:34.516 That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, 00:01:34.516 --> 00:01:38.196 saying, I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. 00:01:38.228 --> 00:01:40.660 I will sing hymns to you in the congregation. 00:01:40.660 --> 00:01:42.338 Again, I will trust in him. 00:01:42.162 --> 00:01:42.956 And again, 00:01:43.138 --> 00:01:46.108 here I am with the children God gave me. 00:01:46.194 --> 00:01:46.706 All right, 00:01:46.706 --> 00:01:47.426 let's pray together. 00:01:47.426 --> 00:01:53.260 God, we want to thank you for all that you've accomplished, 00:01:53.680 --> 00:01:54.456 God, indeed, 00:01:54.488 --> 00:01:56.066 for all that you've done. 00:01:56.066 --> 00:02:00.678 And we look at it from the big picture of your word and creation and 00:02:00.678 --> 00:02:03.596 eternity past to eternity future and understanding, 00:02:03.628 --> 00:02:05.366 God, that you are always at work. 00:02:05.366 --> 00:02:06.686 You continue to work. 00:02:06.662 --> 00:02:07.222 And God, 00:02:07.222 --> 00:02:09.632 your work continues in us on a daily basis. 00:02:09.632 --> 00:02:09.962 And so, 00:02:09.962 --> 00:02:14.964 God, as we understand and see what you've done in your word and 00:02:15.002 --> 00:02:17.492 understand what you've accomplished through Christ. 00:02:17.546 --> 00:02:23.192 God, it has an impact not simply on our daily to do list, 00:02:23.246 --> 00:02:25.966 but it has an impact on who we are. 00:02:25.966 --> 00:02:26.382 So, God, 00:02:26.382 --> 00:02:32.500 help us to realize who we are and how you have directed that and guided 00:02:32.580 --> 00:02:33.836 that. And so, 00:02:33.858 --> 00:02:38.364 God, we just ask that you help us understand and pay attention this 00:02:38.402 --> 00:02:39.932 morning in Jesus name, 00:02:39.986 --> 00:02:40.808 amen. 00:02:40.984 --> 00:02:44.400 We're going to have to dial me back a little bit. 00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:46.646 I know y'all have reset this thing, 00:02:46.646 --> 00:02:49.344 so all the audio resets have taken place. 00:02:49.462 --> 00:02:52.768 Y'all notice there's a new drum kit back there. 00:02:52.934 --> 00:02:54.268 It's electronic. 00:02:54.364 --> 00:02:57.664 You can't tell that because they hid it from us. 00:02:58.020 --> 00:02:59.606 And so they've reset everything. 00:02:59.606 --> 00:03:02.520 Everybody notice there's not so much clutter on the platform. 00:03:02.520 --> 00:03:04.282 They cleaned everything up this week. 00:03:04.282 --> 00:03:05.242 I tell you what, 00:03:05.242 --> 00:03:10.212 Michael and Jared and host of others just kind of straighten things up. 00:03:10.346 --> 00:03:11.996 And that's all very good. 00:03:11.690 --> 00:03:12.592 So excited. 00:03:12.656 --> 00:03:13.412 That. But, 00:03:13.466 --> 00:03:14.058 yeah, okay. 00:03:14.058 --> 00:03:15.172 Now I sound more natural. 00:03:15.172 --> 00:03:16.398 Thank you very much. 00:03:16.158 --> 00:03:17.886 I was starting to echo in my own head, 00:03:17.886 --> 00:03:19.022 which is not a good thing. 00:03:19.022 --> 00:03:19.486 All right, 00:03:19.486 --> 00:03:20.616 so growing up, 00:03:20.718 --> 00:03:21.358 I went to, 00:03:21.358 --> 00:03:22.462 and I mentioned it last week, 00:03:22.462 --> 00:03:24.292 Cali self Memorial Baptist Church. 00:03:24.356 --> 00:03:27.752 And we would do this thing every Sunday at the end of worship, 00:03:27.752 --> 00:03:30.808 right? We would do this thing as a congregation. 00:03:30.984 --> 00:03:32.562 And what they would do is they would say, 00:03:32.562 --> 00:03:33.356 all right, 00:03:33.538 --> 00:03:35.820 join hands with your neighbor. 00:03:36.160 --> 00:03:37.874 And so all through the know, 00:03:37.874 --> 00:03:39.138 there was two sides like this, 00:03:39.138 --> 00:03:40.118 and went all the way to the back. 00:03:40.118 --> 00:03:42.342 And so they'd cross over the aisle in the middle, 00:03:42.342 --> 00:03:43.302 and everybody joined hands. 00:03:43.302 --> 00:03:44.614 You know what that did to us? 00:03:44.614 --> 00:03:47.540 It made us pick wisely where we sat. 00:03:49.160 --> 00:03:51.338 Because you'd look across the aisle when you went to sit down, 00:03:51.338 --> 00:03:52.150 you'd go, 00:03:52.920 --> 00:03:54.570 I'm moving back a row. 00:03:54.840 --> 00:03:56.762 I don't want to hold hands with that guy. 00:03:56.762 --> 00:04:00.016 Right? And then we'd sing this song, 00:04:00.048 --> 00:04:00.922 and it went like this. 00:04:00.922 --> 00:04:01.914 I'm not going to sing it to you, 00:04:01.914 --> 00:04:03.392 but it'd say, 00:04:03.466 --> 00:04:08.718 I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God I've been washed in the 00:04:08.718 --> 00:04:14.876 fountain and cleansed by his blood joint heirs with Jesus as we travel 00:04:14.978 --> 00:04:16.220 this sod. 00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:18.870 Always thought that was a funny line. 00:04:18.658 --> 00:04:19.832 Travel this sod. 00:04:19.896 --> 00:04:23.196 I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of. 00:04:23.680 --> 00:04:24.824 I understand, 00:04:24.962 --> 00:04:25.526 you know, 00:04:25.526 --> 00:04:29.296 theoretically, what the congregation and the pastor and everybody was 00:04:29.318 --> 00:04:30.230 creating was this, 00:04:30.230 --> 00:04:35.376 let's join hands and have this sort of physical expression of what it 00:04:35.398 --> 00:04:38.864 means for us to be the family of know. 00:04:38.982 --> 00:04:40.266 And we'd sing that together. 00:04:40.266 --> 00:04:41.498 Well, as a know, 00:04:41.498 --> 00:04:44.040 you hear words the way you want to hear them, 00:04:44.040 --> 00:04:44.548 right? 00:04:44.634 --> 00:04:46.224 Joint heirs with Jesus. 00:04:46.272 --> 00:04:48.120 I didn't know what that meant. 00:04:48.120 --> 00:04:50.760 So we'd sing joint hands with Jesus. 00:04:51.100 --> 00:04:53.080 Join hands with Jesus. 00:04:53.740 --> 00:04:58.308 It fit right as we travel this sod. 00:04:58.484 --> 00:05:00.134 And I was always like, 00:05:00.302 --> 00:05:03.636 sod? That was back when you planted grass seeds. 00:05:03.668 --> 00:05:06.274 There was no such thing as Sod when I was a kid. 00:05:06.274 --> 00:05:10.350 Right? You planted your grass and waited for it to grow. 00:05:11.520 --> 00:05:12.712 But that song, 00:05:12.776 --> 00:05:13.698 it stuck with me. 00:05:13.698 --> 00:05:14.408 And then Angie, 00:05:14.408 --> 00:05:15.762 I was talking to her about it this morning, 00:05:15.762 --> 00:05:16.098 she said, 00:05:16.098 --> 00:05:17.062 yeah, I remember singing that. 00:05:17.062 --> 00:05:19.042 We did it at first Baptist, 00:05:19.052 --> 00:05:21.494 Buford, when I was the youth pastor there. 00:05:21.494 --> 00:05:24.530 So this idea of creating family, 00:05:27.380 --> 00:05:31.252 it's actually very real in the word of God. 00:05:31.306 --> 00:05:35.252 I've said that for me to call us several things, 00:05:35.306 --> 00:05:38.682 I use several phrases to refer to the body of Christ. 00:05:38.378 --> 00:05:39.770 One is the body of Christ. 00:05:39.770 --> 00:05:41.268 One is the gathering of the saints. 00:05:41.268 --> 00:05:43.188 The other is the fellowship of believers. 00:05:43.188 --> 00:05:46.158 Or you can call us the family of God. 00:05:46.620 --> 00:05:49.260 So what does it take to be family? 00:05:50.940 --> 00:05:52.462 What has to be done to be family? 00:05:52.462 --> 00:05:52.798 I mean, 00:05:52.798 --> 00:05:54.030 I know my family. 00:05:54.030 --> 00:05:55.724 I got born into it, 00:05:55.762 --> 00:05:58.040 right? That's the way we say it in the south. 00:05:58.040 --> 00:05:59.790 I was born into it. 00:06:00.320 --> 00:06:03.522 So I grew up understanding who mom and daddy were, 00:06:03.522 --> 00:06:03.954 right? I mean, 00:06:03.954 --> 00:06:04.488 as a baby, 00:06:04.488 --> 00:06:06.188 you start out with that old mama, 00:06:06.188 --> 00:06:07.570 Dada, whatever, 00:06:08.100 --> 00:06:11.766 understand that a few years after I was the only one around, 00:06:11.766 --> 00:06:13.760 suddenly my little sister was born. 00:06:14.180 --> 00:06:16.112 She disrupted my whole life. 00:06:16.166 --> 00:06:17.040 No, I'm just kidding. 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:17.978 I'm just joking. 00:06:17.792 --> 00:06:18.298 You did not. 00:06:18.298 --> 00:06:21.350 Melanie. Melanie is watching with my dad this morning. 00:06:21.800 --> 00:06:25.670 But my point is that the creation of family, 00:06:26.600 --> 00:06:30.744 right, this understanding of what family means is, 00:06:30.782 --> 00:06:31.940 quite honestly, 00:06:32.100 --> 00:06:35.530 I believe originates in the father heart of God, 00:06:36.780 --> 00:06:44.552 that God in creation established the two that he created in creation, 00:06:44.616 --> 00:06:45.606 Adam and Eve. 00:06:45.688 --> 00:06:50.750 And then we get this impression from Genesis that he hung out with them. 00:06:51.680 --> 00:06:58.272 And then we hear throughout scripture this father communication of God as 00:06:58.326 --> 00:06:59.820 a heavenly father. 00:06:59.980 --> 00:07:06.804 Right. And so we understand in our sort of context that there is this 00:07:06.842 --> 00:07:09.296 idea of our father, 00:07:09.488 --> 00:07:10.138 and, I mean, 00:07:10.138 --> 00:07:11.466 how did Jesus pray it? 00:07:11.466 --> 00:07:12.928 Right. Our Father, 00:07:13.104 --> 00:07:14.820 who art in heaven, 00:07:16.440 --> 00:07:19.528 hollowed or holy is your name, 00:07:19.614 --> 00:07:20.008 right. 00:07:20.094 --> 00:07:24.388 And so we understand that in Christ as christians, 00:07:24.484 --> 00:07:27.454 that we have become a part of God's family. 00:07:28.860 --> 00:07:29.742 Several years ago, 00:07:29.742 --> 00:07:30.910 I heard a story, 00:07:30.910 --> 00:07:32.722 and it was one of the gathering members here, 00:07:32.722 --> 00:07:34.700 and it's not my story, 00:07:34.770 --> 00:07:35.698 so I can't tell it, 00:07:35.698 --> 00:07:38.952 but it was interesting that they were talking about adoption. 00:07:38.952 --> 00:07:44.848 And right now we've got several folks that we've sort of partnered with 00:07:44.854 --> 00:07:50.560 the baptist children's homes of North Carolina to try to get every child 00:07:50.630 --> 00:07:54.160 that's in the system into a home of some sort. 00:07:54.230 --> 00:07:57.248 And that's baptist churches all across the state. 00:07:57.414 --> 00:07:59.514 So we've got one couple that's already. 00:07:59.370 --> 00:07:59.722 I mean, 00:07:59.722 --> 00:08:00.362 she's out there, 00:08:00.362 --> 00:08:04.276 right? She's got three kids that are in her home now. 00:08:04.298 --> 00:08:06.282 So now she's got six kids in her home. 00:08:06.282 --> 00:08:07.272 And I'm like, 00:08:07.800 --> 00:08:12.568 right, and we've got two other couples who are in the application process 00:08:12.654 --> 00:08:15.246 because I've had to write references for them that, 00:08:15.246 --> 00:08:19.726 yes, they are actively a part of this body of Christ and serving God. 00:08:19.726 --> 00:08:20.408 And, yes, 00:08:20.494 --> 00:08:23.944 they have a nice home and stable environment, 00:08:23.992 --> 00:08:27.202 and fostering kids would be a great thing and all that thing, 00:08:27.202 --> 00:08:27.870 right? 00:08:28.640 --> 00:08:35.504 So this idea of fostering an adoption is to bring someone into the 00:08:35.542 --> 00:08:36.610 family, right? 00:08:37.460 --> 00:08:40.100 So what does it take to be family? 00:08:42.020 --> 00:08:45.052 What is it that we're looking at in this particular verses? 00:08:45.052 --> 00:08:45.712 I mean, 00:08:45.766 --> 00:08:47.380 it's just four verses. 00:08:48.040 --> 00:08:52.500 For in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, 00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:55.892 it was entirely appropriate that God, 00:08:55.946 --> 00:08:58.816 for whom and through whom all things exist, 00:08:58.928 --> 00:09:03.124 should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering. 00:09:03.172 --> 00:09:04.068 So that one verse, 00:09:04.068 --> 00:09:05.422 what is he saying right there? 00:09:05.422 --> 00:09:07.096 He's saying that we, 00:09:07.198 --> 00:09:08.772 as brothers and sisters, 00:09:08.836 --> 00:09:10.020 sons and daughters, 00:09:10.100 --> 00:09:12.300 are brought to glory. 00:09:13.680 --> 00:09:19.630 So what did it take for God to make us a part of his family? 00:09:20.560 --> 00:09:21.372 You see, 00:09:21.506 --> 00:09:24.108 this is a big deal in the book of Hebrews, 00:09:24.108 --> 00:09:27.452 because the writer of Hebrews is explaining to his audience, 00:09:27.516 --> 00:09:30.176 to the hearers or the readers of it, 00:09:30.358 --> 00:09:31.490 that Christ, 00:09:32.580 --> 00:09:33.312 the Son, 00:09:33.366 --> 00:09:34.268 the heir, 00:09:34.444 --> 00:09:36.088 creator, sustainer, 00:09:36.204 --> 00:09:37.632 radiance of God's glory, 00:09:37.696 --> 00:09:39.568 and the exact essence, 00:09:39.664 --> 00:09:42.080 the exact expression of God's essence, 00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:44.630 right. That Christ, 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:46.470 God the Son, 00:09:47.480 --> 00:09:49.476 became humanity, 00:09:49.588 --> 00:09:50.408 became human. 00:09:50.494 --> 00:09:55.624 He was birthed into this existence I shared with you a couple of weeks 00:09:55.662 --> 00:09:58.072 ago. No, 00:09:58.126 --> 00:10:06.780 we can't even imagine Christ in glory stepped into this filth. 00:10:07.520 --> 00:10:09.138 Can I just put it that way? 00:10:09.138 --> 00:10:12.460 Can we admit that the Christ who knew no sin, 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:18.210 the Jesus who had existed in the presence of God, 00:10:19.860 --> 00:10:20.992 by God's will, 00:10:21.046 --> 00:10:25.410 involuntarily came down to hang out with us? 00:10:27.540 --> 00:10:29.612 Right? Think about that a minute. 00:10:29.756 --> 00:10:32.474 How many of y'all know people you don't want to hang out with? 00:10:32.474 --> 00:10:33.066 Go ahead. 00:10:33.066 --> 00:10:33.726 Yeah, see, 00:10:33.818 --> 00:10:35.866 some of you willingly raise your hand. 00:10:35.562 --> 00:10:36.522 Yes, I know people. 00:10:36.522 --> 00:10:39.024 Just here's the even worse question. 00:10:39.082 --> 00:10:43.702 How many of you got family members you don't want to hang out with? 00:10:44.620 --> 00:10:47.748 Right? Just think about that a minute. 00:10:47.844 --> 00:10:48.302 I mean, 00:10:48.302 --> 00:10:53.644 these are flesh and blood people that we're connected to in family and 00:10:53.682 --> 00:10:55.992 genealogy and all that kind of stuff. 00:10:56.018 --> 00:10:57.768 And then you go to family reunion, 00:10:57.768 --> 00:10:58.162 you go, 00:10:58.162 --> 00:11:00.764 oh, right. 00:11:00.882 --> 00:11:06.556 It's worse than holding hands across the aisle and choosing your seat so 00:11:06.578 --> 00:11:09.548 you don't have to hold hands with that guy, 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:10.924 you see? 00:11:11.042 --> 00:11:12.578 So when I start to consider, 00:11:12.578 --> 00:11:15.550 what did God do to make me his kid, 00:11:16.360 --> 00:11:20.070 to adopt me into his family? 00:11:21.800 --> 00:11:27.910 What did it cost to make me a child of his? 00:11:29.420 --> 00:11:35.850 It took the death of his only begotten to adopt me. 00:11:37.500 --> 00:11:43.480 See? And in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, 00:11:44.460 --> 00:11:48.008 just by God's own adoption in Christ's death, 00:11:48.104 --> 00:11:50.084 I have been brought to glory. 00:11:50.880 --> 00:11:52.242 Now, it doesn't look like it. 00:11:52.242 --> 00:11:52.902 I know. 00:11:52.962 --> 00:11:55.148 Yet, right? 00:11:55.234 --> 00:11:55.558 I mean, 00:11:55.558 --> 00:11:56.610 you look around, 00:11:57.300 --> 00:11:57.798 I mean, 00:11:57.798 --> 00:11:58.422 I've seen people, 00:11:58.422 --> 00:11:59.412 sometimes I go, 00:11:59.414 --> 00:12:00.734 God did you really. 00:12:00.774 --> 00:12:01.570 I mean, 00:12:02.100 --> 00:12:03.062 you see my point? 00:12:03.062 --> 00:12:07.628 My point is that the price that was paid to make us a part of God's 00:12:07.628 --> 00:12:11.300 family is more than we can imagine. 00:12:12.280 --> 00:12:13.754 Now, I grew up in church. 00:12:13.632 --> 00:12:16.288 I keep telling y'all this through the daily devotionals and on Sunday 00:12:16.288 --> 00:12:18.660 mornings. I grew up in church. 00:12:19.080 --> 00:12:21.754 Mom and dad raised me in a christian home. 00:12:21.754 --> 00:12:22.954 They shared Jesus with me. 00:12:22.954 --> 00:12:25.604 They made sure I was in Sunday school and worship, 00:12:25.604 --> 00:12:28.628 and they made sure that I was in discipleship trainings, 00:12:28.628 --> 00:12:30.062 that we called it training union. 00:12:29.828 --> 00:12:30.504 Back then, 00:12:30.622 --> 00:12:32.148 I was in the ras, 00:12:32.148 --> 00:12:37.116 and they made sure that I was receiving this spiritual education all of 00:12:37.138 --> 00:12:37.950 my life. 00:12:38.400 --> 00:12:39.858 Now, I'll go ahead and admit to you, 00:12:39.858 --> 00:12:42.560 I went through those years where I was like, 00:12:42.560 --> 00:12:46.020 right. I don't know if I want to be a part of that family. 00:12:46.020 --> 00:12:47.340 See what I mean? 00:12:47.700 --> 00:12:49.622 But when I began to realize. 00:12:49.356 --> 00:12:50.346 Wait a minute. 00:12:51.060 --> 00:12:53.472 To follow Jesus to be. 00:12:53.526 --> 00:12:55.052 Now, that's an important phrase. 00:12:55.052 --> 00:13:01.044 Follow Jesus to be God's son through the shed blood of Jesus Christ is 00:13:01.082 --> 00:13:04.260 this incredible gift. 00:13:04.840 --> 00:13:07.104 But I don't think I realized, 00:13:07.152 --> 00:13:08.506 growing up in a christian home, 00:13:08.506 --> 00:13:12.440 the price that was paid to bring me to glory, 00:13:13.980 --> 00:13:14.872 you see? 00:13:15.006 --> 00:13:16.852 So as we study through Hebrews, 00:13:16.852 --> 00:13:17.908 this is what we're realizing, 00:13:17.908 --> 00:13:20.084 is that God intentionally, 00:13:20.212 --> 00:13:26.830 willfully planned to kill his only begotten son. 00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:29.298 Now we're sitting here going, 00:13:29.298 --> 00:13:29.938 wait a minute. 00:13:29.938 --> 00:13:30.598 Well, no, 00:13:30.626 --> 00:13:38.480 look, Jesus the Son fulfilled God's will and plan on the cross. 00:13:39.620 --> 00:13:42.496 Right? Now there's all this argument about, 00:13:42.518 --> 00:13:43.318 well, who killed him? 00:13:43.174 --> 00:13:44.054 Did the Jews kill him? 00:13:44.054 --> 00:13:45.270 Did the Romans kill him? 00:13:45.270 --> 00:13:47.720 I'm not even going to worry about that, 00:13:47.720 --> 00:13:54.964 because God was at work from Genesis in creation when he said that the 00:13:55.002 --> 00:13:59.024 seed of woman would crush the head of Satan. 00:13:59.072 --> 00:14:03.032 We're going to get to that as we continue working through this. 00:14:04.300 --> 00:14:06.766 But when I look at this thing and that, 00:14:06.766 --> 00:14:08.206 that for whom and through. 00:14:08.206 --> 00:14:08.558 All right. 00:14:08.558 --> 00:14:11.858 So for in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, 00:14:11.976 --> 00:14:13.740 yay. Welcome to glory. 00:14:16.080 --> 00:14:18.428 Here's a little exercise for you. 00:14:18.594 --> 00:14:19.592 Look at your neighbor. 00:14:19.592 --> 00:14:23.852 Even if you're not sitting close to someone and tell them their glory, 00:14:23.852 --> 00:14:24.780 say your glory. 00:14:24.780 --> 00:14:25.570 Go ahead. 00:14:29.860 --> 00:14:31.170 How'd that feel? 00:14:32.660 --> 00:14:35.014 Now, did any of you look at your neighbor and go, 00:14:35.014 --> 00:14:35.756 wait a minute. 00:14:35.756 --> 00:14:36.820 Your glory? 00:14:40.360 --> 00:14:46.320 The fact of the matter is that God did a work to bring us to glory. 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:49.082 And it goes on to say it was entirely appropriate that God, 00:14:49.082 --> 00:14:52.520 for whom and through whom all things exist, 00:14:52.940 --> 00:14:54.484 should make the pioneer. 00:14:54.532 --> 00:14:56.516 Now, that word pioneer coming out of Greek, 00:14:56.516 --> 00:14:59.284 is a reference to being the trailblazer, 00:14:59.332 --> 00:15:03.596 the one who goes before everybody that comes behind him. 00:15:03.618 --> 00:15:06.588 And so Christ is that pioneer of our salvation. 00:15:06.616 --> 00:15:12.108 He's the one that enacted our salvation by dying and rising again. 00:15:12.194 --> 00:15:13.844 And then that word perfect, 00:15:13.890 --> 00:15:15.540 the pioneer of their salvation. 00:15:15.564 --> 00:15:16.652 Perfect through sufferings. 00:15:16.716 --> 00:15:18.470 It wasn't that Jesus wasn't perfect. 00:15:18.470 --> 00:15:20.588 It means that through his sufferings, 00:15:20.684 --> 00:15:25.372 he completed the pioneering work of salvation for our behalf. 00:15:25.436 --> 00:15:27.498 That's how God brought us to glory. 00:15:27.292 --> 00:15:32.740 For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one 00:15:32.810 --> 00:15:37.082 father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and 00:15:37.082 --> 00:15:40.040 sisters. Now back to the story of adoption. 00:15:41.420 --> 00:15:43.108 I was listening to this testimony. 00:15:43.108 --> 00:15:44.758 I thought it was cool. 00:15:44.780 --> 00:15:46.760 And they were adopting a child. 00:15:47.420 --> 00:15:48.142 And they said, 00:15:48.142 --> 00:15:48.542 you know, 00:15:48.542 --> 00:15:50.852 said the day that the judge said, 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:54.620 she's now yours, 00:15:55.760 --> 00:16:00.190 see, that child was secure from that day forward. 00:16:01.040 --> 00:16:02.690 That child had a family. 00:16:02.882 --> 00:16:05.200 That child hadn't had a family before. 00:16:05.350 --> 00:16:07.330 That child now had a family. 00:16:07.190 --> 00:16:11.280 That child now had a father and a mother and siblings. 00:16:12.420 --> 00:16:13.410 You see, 00:16:14.260 --> 00:16:21.204 when in salvation we receive the redemption that God has given us. 00:16:21.242 --> 00:16:23.670 And God says, 00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:26.516 you belong to me now. 00:16:26.698 --> 00:16:27.990 You're my family. 00:16:28.780 --> 00:16:30.312 I've adopted you. 00:16:30.366 --> 00:16:32.628 You call me Abba, 00:16:32.804 --> 00:16:35.530 Father. You see, 00:16:36.860 --> 00:16:41.630 what did God do to make us a part of his family? 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:46.136 The one who sanctifies or sets apart. 00:16:46.328 --> 00:16:47.724 That's what sanctifies mean. 00:16:47.762 --> 00:16:53.464 The one who sets apart and those who are set apart all have one father. 00:16:53.512 --> 00:16:57.382 So Christ is the one who has done this work that provides us with this 00:16:57.382 --> 00:17:00.176 sanctification, this righteousness that is not our own, 00:17:00.198 --> 00:17:03.828 this holiness that we can't earn and we don't deserve it. 00:17:04.260 --> 00:17:07.612 That's why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. 00:17:07.612 --> 00:17:08.582 What does he say? 00:17:08.582 --> 00:17:09.142 Look at that. 00:17:09.142 --> 00:17:10.058 That is why. 00:17:09.850 --> 00:17:10.282 All right, 00:17:10.282 --> 00:17:14.058 so we've already joked and laughed and thank you for laughing along with 00:17:14.058 --> 00:17:17.472 me because I got family members at family reunion that I avoid, 00:17:17.472 --> 00:17:18.070 too. 00:17:20.860 --> 00:17:25.480 Jesus had every right to look at the sin in this world and go, 00:17:27.180 --> 00:17:28.490 that's bad. 00:17:30.300 --> 00:17:31.102 But he said, 00:17:31.102 --> 00:17:31.726 that's bad, 00:17:31.726 --> 00:17:34.366 and I'm going to die in their place. 00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:36.888 Then he knelt in a garden. 00:17:36.888 --> 00:17:37.218 He said, 00:17:37.218 --> 00:17:38.530 God, if there's any other way, 00:17:38.530 --> 00:17:40.510 Father, if there's any other way, 00:17:41.600 --> 00:17:43.470 but your will be done. 00:17:44.420 --> 00:17:52.290 And he took the beating and he died the death that belonged to us. 00:17:53.220 --> 00:17:53.920 You see, 00:17:53.990 --> 00:17:55.132 because of sin, 00:17:55.196 --> 00:17:56.740 we deserve death. 00:17:57.800 --> 00:18:00.180 Okay, Jesus died in our place. 00:18:00.250 --> 00:18:02.560 What did it take to adopt you? 00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:07.590 What did it take to make you a part of God's family? 00:18:08.860 --> 00:18:09.864 You see, 00:18:10.062 --> 00:18:16.504 it's really important that we understand the magnitude of what God has 00:18:16.542 --> 00:18:22.072 done on our behalf because the prophetic words here, 00:18:22.126 --> 00:18:25.426 I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. 00:18:25.272 --> 00:18:29.496 Jesus is the one proclaiming the father to the brothers and sisters. 00:18:29.528 --> 00:18:31.944 I will sing hymns to you in the congregation. 00:18:31.944 --> 00:18:33.924 Again, I will trust in him. 00:18:33.974 --> 00:18:34.752 And again, 00:18:34.886 --> 00:18:38.130 here I am with the children God gave me. 00:18:39.700 --> 00:18:41.350 Do you belong to God? 00:18:43.380 --> 00:18:46.020 I like to give us the benefit of doubt. 00:18:46.020 --> 00:18:48.000 You all showed up this morning. 00:18:48.260 --> 00:18:50.240 You're all here for a reason. 00:18:52.680 --> 00:18:54.842 If we accept the benefit of the doubt and say, 00:18:54.842 --> 00:18:56.492 yes, I belong to God, 00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:58.420 yes, I'm God's child. 00:18:58.490 --> 00:19:00.470 I'm a part of God's family, 00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:05.704 right? Then you know something I can't get away from right now. 00:19:05.742 --> 00:19:06.318 Many of you know, 00:19:06.318 --> 00:19:07.268 I travel back and forth, 00:19:07.268 --> 00:19:07.928 South Carolina, 00:19:07.972 --> 00:19:10.222 and do things with mom and dad and that sort of thing. 00:19:10.222 --> 00:19:11.998 And a lot of times like this, 00:19:11.998 --> 00:19:13.902 know, I had to explain some things. 00:19:13.662 --> 00:19:14.322 People say, 00:19:14.350 --> 00:19:15.602 well, what's your dad's full name? 00:19:15.602 --> 00:19:16.002 And I say, 00:19:16.002 --> 00:19:18.460 robert Earl Owings senior. 00:19:19.600 --> 00:19:20.258 You know what? 00:19:20.258 --> 00:19:21.954 I can't get away from that. 00:19:21.954 --> 00:19:22.482 They said, 00:19:22.482 --> 00:19:23.138 what's your name? 00:19:22.978 --> 00:19:23.298 I said, 00:19:23.298 --> 00:19:24.268 just change one letter, 00:19:24.268 --> 00:19:25.918 the s and the j. 00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:27.868 I'm Robert Earl Owings, 00:19:27.964 --> 00:19:29.730 Jr. Right? 00:19:30.100 --> 00:19:34.112 I'll bear that until I am no more. 00:19:34.166 --> 00:19:34.770 Right. 00:19:35.620 --> 00:19:37.888 So then our identity in Christ, 00:19:37.974 --> 00:19:39.482 if we're part of the family of God, 00:19:39.482 --> 00:19:42.730 if we're part of God's family and we are God's kids, 00:19:42.730 --> 00:19:47.990 then do we bear that identity throughout every aspect of our lives? 00:19:49.100 --> 00:19:50.750 Do we live it out? 00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:51.998 I mean, 00:19:51.998 --> 00:19:57.684 I'm going to keep challenging on this because God intended by inspiration 00:19:57.812 --> 00:20:02.712 for this whole book of Hebrews to emphasize, 00:20:02.776 --> 00:20:05.580 to prioritize Jesus. 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:09.058 I think as we study through it, 00:20:09.058 --> 00:20:16.064 then God's expectation of us is that we emphasize and prioritize Jesus in 00:20:16.102 --> 00:20:16.930 our lives. 00:20:17.940 --> 00:20:22.172 See, we were brought to glory through the shed blood of Jesus. 00:20:22.236 --> 00:20:24.560 We've been called siblings. 00:20:28.180 --> 00:20:28.982 That's what it says. 00:20:28.982 --> 00:20:31.808 That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. 00:20:31.808 --> 00:20:32.202 He says, 00:20:32.202 --> 00:20:34.688 I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. 00:20:34.688 --> 00:20:37.658 I will sing hymns to you in the congregation. 00:20:38.860 --> 00:20:40.360 We're siblings, 00:20:40.940 --> 00:20:44.040 joint heirs with Jesus. 00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:46.158 See, I used to describe it this way. 00:20:46.158 --> 00:20:47.808 I've told y'all the story, 00:20:49.580 --> 00:20:50.686 and it's still there. 00:20:50.686 --> 00:20:55.436 Actually, my mom and dad bought a living room, 00:20:55.538 --> 00:20:59.580 den kind of furniture suit about the time I was born, 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:04.000 because it's still in the front room at the house now, 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:08.832 and it's got all this early american print on it. 00:21:08.886 --> 00:21:13.158 And it's one of the reasons why I said as I was becoming an adult that I 00:21:13.158 --> 00:21:17.330 would never put early american anything in my house. 00:21:19.140 --> 00:21:21.236 Anyway, this couch is still there, 00:21:21.258 --> 00:21:23.104 and there's this swivel rocker. 00:21:23.232 --> 00:21:26.922 I know what a swivel rocker is it turns like this and it rocks like this. 00:21:26.922 --> 00:21:28.572 There's no recliner to it. 00:21:28.602 --> 00:21:30.592 But that was my dad's chair, 00:21:30.736 --> 00:21:36.084 right? My dad would come in from work and he'd sit down with the index 00:21:36.132 --> 00:21:40.158 journal, and he'd sit in that swivel rock and he'd snap that paper open 00:21:40.158 --> 00:21:40.868 in the evening. 00:21:40.868 --> 00:21:42.132 He'd be reading the newspaper, 00:21:42.132 --> 00:21:42.730 right? 00:21:43.100 --> 00:21:44.936 Well, then as a teenager, 00:21:44.968 --> 00:21:48.190 I got real sarcastic about it. 00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:52.082 And so I'd come in the house from wherever I had been at school or 00:21:52.082 --> 00:21:55.712 whatever, or later in the evening out with friends or something, 00:21:55.860 --> 00:21:59.490 I'd go and sit in his lap and crush his paper. 00:21:59.540 --> 00:22:00.880 He's my dad, 00:22:01.380 --> 00:22:05.696 right? And I was getting close to being as tall as he was, 00:22:05.718 --> 00:22:09.008 and I just thought it was funny that I'd sit in his lap in that swivel 00:22:09.008 --> 00:22:13.456 rocker as a bigger teenage kid and crush his newspaper. 00:22:13.568 --> 00:22:18.188 I thought that was funny until later in life when I started to think 00:22:18.202 --> 00:22:22.256 about my impression and the imagery of God on his throne. 00:22:22.288 --> 00:22:22.874 To me, 00:22:22.874 --> 00:22:26.846 a lot of people want to put God in front of some dark brown judges board 00:22:26.846 --> 00:22:27.198 like that, 00:22:27.198 --> 00:22:28.094 with a big old, 00:22:28.094 --> 00:22:33.784 big old chair and a black robe and pointing down across the judge's bench 00:22:33.832 --> 00:22:37.580 at those who deserve a sentence and a punishment. 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:41.920 And a lot of people have that view of God, 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:46.684 or God the king on a throne and how it's dangerous to approach. 00:22:46.732 --> 00:22:47.270 And yet, 00:22:47.270 --> 00:22:51.250 God the father adopted me as his kid, 00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:52.806 and he said, 00:22:52.806 --> 00:22:54.908 you can call me Abba, 00:22:55.084 --> 00:22:57.220 you can call me daddy. 00:22:59.240 --> 00:23:00.756 And spiritually speaking, 00:23:00.858 --> 00:23:01.722 folks, he says, 00:23:01.722 --> 00:23:04.032 you can come sit in my lap. 00:23:07.510 --> 00:23:08.500 See that? 00:23:10.650 --> 00:23:11.596 So years ago, 00:23:11.596 --> 00:23:15.228 I started describing God's throne in my mind as a swivel rocker with 00:23:15.228 --> 00:23:16.790 early american print, 00:23:18.010 --> 00:23:21.442 okay, he's my heavenly daddy. 00:23:21.586 --> 00:23:22.732 And when I say that, 00:23:22.732 --> 00:23:25.526 there have been people through the years who've gotten real uncomfortable 00:23:25.526 --> 00:23:29.130 with me referring to God as my heavenly daddy. 00:23:30.270 --> 00:23:31.200 But do you know, 00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:33.660 in the difficult times of life, 00:23:35.730 --> 00:23:38.720 when the challenges seem to mount up, 00:23:41.170 --> 00:23:49.754 when things get hard to talk about or things get tough, 00:23:49.802 --> 00:23:52.056 right? None of y'all have ever experienced that, 00:23:52.056 --> 00:23:54.740 right? We've all got it made. 00:23:56.150 --> 00:23:56.952 Do you know what? 00:23:56.952 --> 00:23:59.106 It's in those still, 00:23:59.288 --> 00:24:04.374 quiet morning hours. 00:24:04.492 --> 00:24:05.980 And I'll go ahead and tell you. 00:24:05.980 --> 00:24:11.240 02:00 this morning I woke up. 00:24:13.530 --> 00:24:16.490 I just called on my heavenly daddy. 00:24:17.550 --> 00:24:18.192 I said, 00:24:18.192 --> 00:24:26.010 daddy, I'm glad you're awake because you never sleep or slumber. 00:24:27.170 --> 00:24:31.386 I'm glad you meet me in these dark moments. 00:24:31.578 --> 00:24:33.040 I'm glad you're there. 00:24:34.450 --> 00:24:39.230 I'm glad that you paid the price to make me yours. 00:24:41.350 --> 00:24:44.674 We've been given see that's what he says. 00:24:44.712 --> 00:24:47.464 Here I am with the children God gave me. 00:24:47.464 --> 00:24:49.220 That's what Jesus is saying. 00:24:50.310 --> 00:24:52.130 We're joint heirs. 00:24:52.970 --> 00:24:54.680 We belong to God. 00:24:56.010 --> 00:24:58.370 The world wants to convince you otherwise. 00:24:58.450 --> 00:25:02.722 The world wants to lead you down a path of destruction, 00:25:02.786 --> 00:25:08.330 because Satan is the one that guides so much of what's going on around 00:25:08.400 --> 00:25:11.226 us. See, 00:25:11.408 --> 00:25:12.940 I belong to God. 00:25:13.870 --> 00:25:18.000 And whatever else falls apart in the world, 00:25:18.450 --> 00:25:19.412 and trust me, 00:25:19.412 --> 00:25:20.750 it's fallen apart. 00:25:23.090 --> 00:25:26.218 God's still sitting on his throne, 00:25:26.394 --> 00:25:34.580 and he still invites me into his presence because I belong to him. 00:25:36.710 --> 00:25:38.340 I can trust that. 00:25:38.790 --> 00:25:41.540 I can live that every day. 00:25:42.970 --> 00:25:49.160 See, because my big brother died for me. 00:25:50.490 --> 00:26:05.500 See, that I don't want to forget that at any point of any day in my life, 00:26:06.270 --> 00:26:07.790 I belong to God. 00:26:07.940 --> 00:26:11.280 He holds me in the palm of his hand. 00:26:11.890 --> 00:26:13.086 Don't forget it. 00:26:13.188 --> 00:26:15.828 See, if you don't have that this morning, 00:26:16.210 --> 00:26:20.930 you've never trusted Jesus for salvation and redemption. 00:26:25.430 --> 00:26:26.872 I'm going to call it what it is. 00:26:26.872 --> 00:26:36.044 That fear and that question I shared one day this week in one of the 00:26:36.082 --> 00:26:38.722 devotionals that one of my professors once said, 00:26:38.722 --> 00:26:44.590 you got to know that you know that you know that you belong to God. 00:26:45.360 --> 00:26:47.680 See, we can have that assurance. 00:26:48.180 --> 00:26:50.320 We can live that assurance. 00:26:50.900 --> 00:26:52.726 If you don't know Jesus this morning, 00:26:52.726 --> 00:26:54.046 we want you to. 00:26:54.180 --> 00:26:57.480 We want you to be a part of God's family. 00:26:57.780 --> 00:26:58.870 See, that? 00:27:01.320 --> 00:27:02.592 Maybe you know Jesus. 00:27:02.592 --> 00:27:03.178 Maybe you know, 00:27:03.178 --> 00:27:04.660 you've trusted Jesus, 00:27:05.160 --> 00:27:07.590 but it's been difficult to live it. 00:27:08.040 --> 00:27:11.020 This is where I always like to quote Pastor Nick. 00:27:11.020 --> 00:27:11.582 You know, 00:27:11.582 --> 00:27:15.604 it's. It's simple to be a Christian. 00:27:15.652 --> 00:27:16.972 It's just not easy. 00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:20.780 You got to get out there and live it. 00:27:20.780 --> 00:27:22.516 Got to make it the priority. 00:27:22.516 --> 00:27:25.816 You got to make it the focus of your identity, 00:27:26.320 --> 00:27:27.986 see, not just in this room, 00:27:27.986 --> 00:27:28.990 but out there, 00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:36.428 see? Run to the father because he's invited you to. 00:27:36.594 --> 00:27:38.904 Okay. All righty. 00:27:38.952 --> 00:27:40.316 We're going to sing one more song, 00:27:40.316 --> 00:27:44.064 give you the opportunity to respond to God. 00:27:44.182 --> 00:27:45.286 If you don't know God, 00:27:45.286 --> 00:27:45.798 if you don't know, 00:27:45.798 --> 00:27:47.448 if you've never trusted Jesus, 00:27:47.516 --> 00:27:48.836 this is your opportunity. 00:27:48.886 --> 00:27:50.206 So pray with me. 00:27:50.278 --> 00:27:51.446 Father, thank you for today, 00:27:51.446 --> 00:27:52.586 and thank you for your word. 00:27:52.586 --> 00:27:53.370 And thank you that, 00:27:53.370 --> 00:27:55.020 God, you have adopted us. 00:27:55.098 --> 00:27:59.072 You have made us sons and daughters through the shed blood of Jesus 00:27:59.072 --> 00:27:59.802 Christ and God. 00:27:59.802 --> 00:28:03.210 I'm so grateful that that's a real thing. 00:28:04.060 --> 00:28:08.292 We don't just look at that as a spiritual truth, 00:28:08.356 --> 00:28:14.200 God, that is the real family that is portrayed in our earthly families, 00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:19.560 and yet we've made such a mess of our earthly families. 00:28:20.940 --> 00:28:23.980 God help us to look to you as our father. 00:28:23.980 --> 00:28:26.950 Help us to run to you as our father. 00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:33.472 God help us to show others what it means to have a heavenly daddy who 00:28:33.526 --> 00:28:35.836 loves us and cares for us always. 00:28:36.180 --> 00:28:37.974 We pray it in Jesus name. 00:28:37.974 --> 00:28:38.300 Amen.