WEBVTT 00:00:04.150 --> 00:00:04.592 It's St. 00:00:04.592 --> 00:00:05.232 Patrick's Day. 00:00:05.232 --> 00:00:06.882 You notice all the green. 00:00:08.750 --> 00:00:12.374 St. Patrick made three leaf clover famous. 00:00:12.422 --> 00:00:15.660 Right? That's for children's church next service. 00:00:17.870 --> 00:00:21.274 It's funny how we like Easter and Christmas and St. 00:00:21.312 --> 00:00:21.888 Patrick's Day. 00:00:21.888 --> 00:00:24.864 We add a bunch of stuff to it that don't really matter, 00:00:24.864 --> 00:00:30.434 like corn beef and green everything and green beer and all sorts of other 00:00:30.472 --> 00:00:31.474 stuff. But St. 00:00:31.512 --> 00:00:33.250 Patrick was famous for. 00:00:33.400 --> 00:00:33.912 He was. 00:00:33.912 --> 00:00:37.288 Actually, I was reading about him this morning because I realized it was 00:00:37.288 --> 00:00:39.598 St. Patrick's Day when I woke up, 00:00:40.330 --> 00:00:41.720 and I don't remember, 00:00:42.090 --> 00:00:43.852 I guess six or seven years ago, 00:00:43.852 --> 00:00:45.218 St. Patrick's Day was on a Sunday, 00:00:45.218 --> 00:00:48.188 but I don't remember it being on a Sunday. 00:00:49.850 --> 00:00:50.962 And St. 00:00:51.036 --> 00:00:56.730 Patrick was kidnapped by pirates, 00:00:57.150 --> 00:01:00.450 and they took him to Ireland when he was about 16, 00:01:00.510 --> 00:01:06.810 and he felt led by the Holy Spirit to make it back to the coast. 00:01:06.970 --> 00:01:10.574 So he traveled over 200 miles on foot, 00:01:10.692 --> 00:01:11.920 tradition says, 00:01:12.450 --> 00:01:14.760 and made it back to his home, 00:01:14.900 --> 00:01:19.250 and then ended up going and being a missionary back to Ireland, 00:01:19.670 --> 00:01:23.960 which is where all the green and things we have today come from. 00:01:23.976 --> 00:01:28.930 But he was most well known for taking a clover, 00:01:29.290 --> 00:01:30.354 three leaf clover, 00:01:30.402 --> 00:01:33.190 and explaining the trinity of God, 00:01:33.260 --> 00:01:33.916 Father, son, 00:01:33.916 --> 00:01:35.010 Holy Spirit. 00:01:35.170 --> 00:01:37.150 And it's just a cool thing. 00:01:37.036 --> 00:01:38.146 It makes me realize, 00:01:38.146 --> 00:01:44.326 like, God gives us not only his creation to enjoy and to be in awe and 00:01:44.348 --> 00:01:44.892 wonder of, 00:01:44.892 --> 00:01:48.672 but there's all sorts of things in creation that you can use that point 00:01:48.672 --> 00:01:53.568 back to God and that he is who he says he is and that he made all this 00:01:53.568 --> 00:01:55.092 stuff, and he made you and me, 00:01:55.092 --> 00:01:58.640 and there's no other way to explain it. 00:01:59.330 --> 00:02:05.822 So science really is just us figuring out what God did more than us 00:02:05.876 --> 00:02:10.980 figuring out that we're evolving or smarter or whatever. 00:02:11.350 --> 00:02:13.570 So, three leaf clover, 00:02:14.070 --> 00:02:14.974 St. Patrick, 00:02:15.022 --> 00:02:15.592 happy St. 00:02:15.592 --> 00:02:16.594 Patrick's Day. 00:02:16.712 --> 00:02:19.470 Right. Before I go any further, 00:02:19.550 --> 00:02:20.740 get carried away, 00:02:21.210 --> 00:02:22.428 I'd love to pray for us. 00:02:22.428 --> 00:02:23.160 All right, 00:02:24.810 --> 00:02:26.636 God, thank you for this beautiful day. 00:02:26.636 --> 00:02:28.770 Thank you for this beautiful weather, 00:02:28.930 --> 00:02:31.484 for these beautiful people I get to worship with. 00:02:31.484 --> 00:02:32.198 Thank you, 00:02:32.284 --> 00:02:33.934 God, for people like St. 00:02:33.852 --> 00:02:38.006 Patrick and reminding us that there's all sorts of things in creation 00:02:38.038 --> 00:02:39.280 that just reveal yourself, 00:02:39.280 --> 00:02:42.848 and thank you for revealing yourself to us and making yourself known to 00:02:42.848 --> 00:02:43.734 us. Dear Lord, 00:02:43.734 --> 00:02:47.124 I pray that we would just see you today and hear you. 00:02:47.124 --> 00:02:47.658 Dear Lord, 00:02:47.658 --> 00:02:52.212 I pray that you would speak through me in a way that glorifies you and 00:02:52.212 --> 00:02:54.302 points people to you and people, 00:02:54.356 --> 00:02:55.140 make a change, 00:02:55.140 --> 00:02:56.190 make a decision, 00:02:57.510 --> 00:02:59.010 will be renewed. 00:02:59.510 --> 00:03:00.686 Come, dear Lord, 00:03:00.718 --> 00:03:01.378 for healing, 00:03:01.422 --> 00:03:02.254 for deliverance, 00:03:02.302 --> 00:03:03.576 for whatever it is, 00:03:03.576 --> 00:03:04.078 dear Lord, 00:03:04.078 --> 00:03:04.738 help them, 00:03:04.792 --> 00:03:05.358 dear Lord, 00:03:05.358 --> 00:03:07.518 to just lay these things at your feet. 00:03:07.518 --> 00:03:08.370 Dear Lord, 00:03:08.730 --> 00:03:10.386 and surrender. 00:03:10.418 --> 00:03:11.430 Dear Lord, 00:03:12.090 --> 00:03:15.720 help us all to do that and be reminded and encouraged. 00:03:16.090 --> 00:03:18.732 We love you and thank you for it all. 00:03:18.732 --> 00:03:19.974 In Jesus name, 00:03:20.172 --> 00:03:21.190 amen. 00:03:24.030 --> 00:03:25.530 As I said earlier, 00:03:28.510 --> 00:03:31.150 I'm not supposed to be up here today, 00:03:31.470 --> 00:03:34.110 which was why I did the video announcement, 00:03:34.370 --> 00:03:37.010 which is something I'm still getting used to. 00:03:39.090 --> 00:03:41.866 But just pray for Bobby. 00:03:41.898 --> 00:03:42.874 He's sick. 00:03:43.002 --> 00:03:44.234 Home, thankfully. 00:03:44.282 --> 00:03:46.262 Didn't want to get all sick. 00:03:48.550 --> 00:03:49.656 Just pray for him. 00:03:49.656 --> 00:03:51.306 But you get me instead. 00:03:51.384 --> 00:03:57.362 And so we've been in the book of Hebrews for a while, 00:03:57.416 --> 00:03:58.520 since beginning of the year, 00:03:58.520 --> 00:04:00.306 right? The object of our faith. 00:04:00.306 --> 00:04:02.616 What is the object of our faith? 00:04:05.050 --> 00:04:07.622 We're in chapter four last week, 00:04:07.676 --> 00:04:11.190 remember? Kyle and Bobby both preached about rest, 00:04:11.260 --> 00:04:13.152 right? What is our rest in? 00:04:13.152 --> 00:04:14.288 What are you resting in? 00:04:14.288 --> 00:04:15.278 Is it Jesus? 00:04:15.286 --> 00:04:18.620 Or is it you thinking you need physical rest? 00:04:19.310 --> 00:04:21.290 Or that you need a vacation? 00:04:21.550 --> 00:04:25.110 Or that those things will fix you? 00:04:25.200 --> 00:04:28.814 Right? Have you ever took a vacation in it? 00:04:28.932 --> 00:04:29.988 And when you got back, 00:04:29.988 --> 00:04:30.324 you're like, 00:04:30.324 --> 00:04:32.964 man, I need a vacation from my vacation. 00:04:33.018 --> 00:04:34.240 I need rest. 00:04:35.010 --> 00:04:37.006 It don't always satisfy you, 00:04:37.028 --> 00:04:37.694 does it? 00:04:37.812 --> 00:04:39.642 And so our rest is in Jesus. 00:04:39.642 --> 00:04:43.582 And so this whole book has been pointing toward the object of our faith, 00:04:43.582 --> 00:04:43.986 right? 00:04:44.088 --> 00:04:46.926 It's been talking about how Jesus is greater than Moses, 00:04:46.926 --> 00:04:49.090 how our rest is in Jesus, 00:04:49.170 --> 00:04:52.918 how God's promised rest. 00:04:53.084 --> 00:04:55.394 It isn't just confined to a day. 00:04:55.420 --> 00:04:59.320 It isn't just how Jesus is God's son. 00:05:00.730 --> 00:05:03.480 They give us some warnings about drifting away. 00:05:05.130 --> 00:05:08.352 And then it starts to talk about at the end of chapter four, 00:05:08.352 --> 00:05:10.332 how Jesus is our high priest. 00:05:10.670 --> 00:05:14.720 And it's already mentioned this kind of at the end of chapter two and 00:05:14.720 --> 00:05:16.036 beginning of chapter three, 00:05:16.036 --> 00:05:20.474 how Moses was that and how Jesus is greater than Moses, 00:05:20.522 --> 00:05:25.630 right? But picking up in verse twelve where we left off last Sunday, 00:05:26.210 --> 00:05:27.806 it says in Hebrews, 00:05:27.838 --> 00:05:29.806 chapter. And I'm reading out a New Living Translation. 00:05:29.806 --> 00:05:32.446 If it sounds different than what you're reading, 00:05:34.710 --> 00:05:36.820 verse twelve starts off by saying, 00:05:37.750 --> 00:05:41.190 for the word of God is alive and powerful, 00:05:42.890 --> 00:05:45.346 sharper than the sharpest two edged sword, 00:05:45.458 --> 00:05:47.042 cutting between soul and spirit, 00:05:47.042 --> 00:05:48.434 between joint and marrow. 00:05:48.562 --> 00:05:51.670 It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 00:05:52.510 --> 00:05:55.150 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. 00:05:55.390 --> 00:05:58.122 Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes. 00:05:58.176 --> 00:06:03.806 And he is the one to whom we are accountable for. 00:06:03.828 --> 00:06:05.722 The word of God is alive and powerful. 00:06:05.722 --> 00:06:08.160 Anybody ever read that and wondered how? 00:06:09.410 --> 00:06:10.292 What does that mean? 00:06:10.292 --> 00:06:13.262 How is the word of God alive and powerful? 00:06:15.330 --> 00:06:17.798 John. Jesus'cousin, 00:06:17.834 --> 00:06:18.824 John. Chapter one, 00:06:18.856 --> 00:06:19.554 verse one. 00:06:19.672 --> 00:06:20.662 Does anybody know? 00:06:20.728 --> 00:06:22.740 Remember what it says? 00:06:24.150 --> 00:06:25.650 For in the beginning, 00:06:26.790 --> 00:06:29.574 the word was with God, 00:06:29.612 --> 00:06:31.262 and the word was God. 00:06:31.690 --> 00:06:34.450 And John is talking about his cousin Jesus. 00:06:34.610 --> 00:06:36.534 And how Jesus is God. 00:06:36.652 --> 00:06:39.814 And because Jesus gave us. 00:06:39.932 --> 00:06:45.690 Remember, Jesus gave up his holy spirit and went back to heaven. 00:06:46.350 --> 00:06:51.286 But he intercedes for us on our behalf through his spirit. 00:06:51.398 --> 00:06:58.940 And it is alive and active today if you have believed and received that. 00:06:59.390 --> 00:07:02.360 So the word of God is alive and powerful, 00:07:03.090 --> 00:07:05.710 sharper than the sharpest two edged sword, 00:07:06.150 --> 00:07:07.854 cutting between soul and spirit, 00:07:07.902 --> 00:07:09.090 joint and marrow. 00:07:09.990 --> 00:07:12.770 It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 00:07:14.230 --> 00:07:15.880 You ever heard the scripture, 00:07:15.918 --> 00:07:17.898 the truth will set you free? 00:07:19.130 --> 00:07:23.334 You ever heard the saying that the truth will set you free? 00:07:23.532 --> 00:07:25.320 It'll make you mad first, 00:07:29.290 --> 00:07:33.190 because it gets to your innermost thoughts and desires. 00:07:33.350 --> 00:07:40.502 The word of God will expose your heart and its callousness or hardness, 00:07:40.646 --> 00:07:42.522 right? And so sometimes, 00:07:42.656 --> 00:07:44.426 just like Adam and Eve in the garden, 00:07:44.426 --> 00:07:45.652 you remember what happened? 00:07:45.652 --> 00:07:50.378 They ate from the tree and then they hid. 00:07:50.554 --> 00:07:52.534 And what did God ask them? 00:07:53.970 --> 00:07:55.198 Where are you? 00:07:55.364 --> 00:07:56.212 Not so much, 00:07:56.212 --> 00:07:58.008 because God didn't know where they were. 00:07:58.008 --> 00:08:02.510 But he wanted Adam and Eve to what he was exposing their innermost 00:08:02.590 --> 00:08:04.370 thoughts and desires. 00:08:05.590 --> 00:08:10.520 And so sometimes we hide from the truth or we hide from God. 00:08:12.810 --> 00:08:15.450 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. 00:08:17.530 --> 00:08:20.390 Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes. 00:08:20.540 --> 00:08:23.840 And he is the one to whom we are accountable. 00:08:23.930 --> 00:08:24.934 In the CSB, 00:08:24.982 --> 00:08:26.208 I believe it says, 00:08:26.208 --> 00:08:29.838 he is the one whom we are to give an account. 00:08:30.750 --> 00:08:33.392 Does everybody realize that one day you're going to have to give an 00:08:33.392 --> 00:08:35.520 account for what you've done? 00:08:37.490 --> 00:08:38.474 That's sobering, 00:08:38.522 --> 00:08:39.280 ain't it? 00:08:40.770 --> 00:08:42.516 And that nothing is hidden from. 00:08:42.516 --> 00:08:43.748 So if nothing is hidden from God, 00:08:43.748 --> 00:08:45.398 then why do we hide? 00:08:48.980 --> 00:08:52.592 I've realized that because the word of God is alive and powerful, 00:08:52.592 --> 00:08:54.064 and because Jesus gave up his spirit, 00:08:54.064 --> 00:08:58.390 and his spirit is interceding for us on our behalf right now. 00:08:58.920 --> 00:09:02.100 And because this word is the truth, 00:09:02.180 --> 00:09:04.890 that the more you read it, 00:09:05.500 --> 00:09:07.352 the more you speak it, 00:09:07.486 --> 00:09:09.466 the less I want to hide, 00:09:09.900 --> 00:09:14.632 the more I feel safe in the safest place to be is have no secrets, 00:09:14.632 --> 00:09:15.230 right? 00:09:21.920 --> 00:09:25.220 We're going to have to give an account one day. 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:28.456 And so sometimes that makes you want to hide, 00:09:28.456 --> 00:09:29.462 right? Because you're like, 00:09:29.462 --> 00:09:35.408 lord, I don't want to have to confess everything I have done or am doing, 00:09:35.574 --> 00:09:36.902 even though you know it all, 00:09:36.902 --> 00:09:39.212 everybody in here don't know it all. 00:09:40.680 --> 00:09:45.652 And what you don't realize is I've been talking about this every 00:09:45.706 --> 00:09:48.128 Wednesday as we've been trying to prepare for Easter, 00:09:48.128 --> 00:09:50.362 leading up to Easter's two weeks left. 00:09:50.362 --> 00:09:58.836 And in this lent Easter season of trying to shed off stuff to get closer 00:09:58.868 --> 00:09:59.348 to Jesus, 00:09:59.348 --> 00:10:01.658 to understand what Jesus did for us. 00:10:04.060 --> 00:10:07.064 I've been trying to help people realize Jesus, 00:10:07.192 --> 00:10:10.354 God is the only one who can take bad stuff and make it good. 00:10:10.354 --> 00:10:16.032 Do you realize that God is the only one who can take your guilt and your 00:10:16.086 --> 00:10:23.248 shame and something like the cross that was meant for death and turn it 00:10:23.254 --> 00:10:24.176 into life? 00:10:24.358 --> 00:10:28.182 So if you're not giving him your stuff that you're humiliated about, 00:10:28.182 --> 00:10:29.556 that you're ashamed of, 00:10:29.658 --> 00:10:31.396 that you feel guilty of, 00:10:31.418 --> 00:10:33.888 if you're not laying that at his feet, 00:10:33.888 --> 00:10:36.186 nobody else can make that stuff good. 00:10:36.186 --> 00:10:39.670 Nobody else can wash that away. 00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:49.196 So you hiding ain't hurting nobody but you alive, 00:10:49.308 --> 00:10:51.040 powerful, sharp. 00:10:54.160 --> 00:10:54.946 I was thinking. 00:10:54.946 --> 00:10:55.842 I was trying to think of something, 00:10:55.842 --> 00:10:56.098 you know, 00:10:56.098 --> 00:10:57.088 anything that's alive, 00:10:57.096 --> 00:10:58.540 powerful and sharp. 00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:04.488 Most people go in the ocean, 00:11:04.488 --> 00:11:05.070 right? 00:11:07.300 --> 00:11:09.372 Because there's some stuff out there that's alive, 00:11:09.372 --> 00:11:10.188 powerful and sharp, 00:11:10.188 --> 00:11:11.104 ain't it? 00:11:11.302 --> 00:11:15.226 And you don't want to get near it or you're scared of what might be under 00:11:15.226 --> 00:11:15.834 the water, 00:11:15.834 --> 00:11:18.964 right? I don't surf much. 00:11:19.002 --> 00:11:23.292 I do it more for exercise than I'm really any good at it. 00:11:23.480 --> 00:11:28.062 But when the water is warm and I'll go out there a handful of times 00:11:28.062 --> 00:11:28.724 during summer, 00:11:28.772 --> 00:11:31.326 and if you're sitting out there by yourself, 00:11:31.326 --> 00:11:32.920 sometimes it's sobering, 00:11:33.500 --> 00:11:36.258 especially when something rubs up against your leg or, 00:11:36.258 --> 00:11:37.070 you see, 00:11:38.320 --> 00:11:41.432 most of the time they're black tip sharks, 00:11:41.576 --> 00:11:42.456 smaller sharks. 00:11:42.488 --> 00:11:44.402 But you'll see one and you're like, 00:11:44.402 --> 00:11:46.584 well, that thing's alive, 00:11:46.632 --> 00:11:47.908 sharp and powerful. 00:11:48.104 --> 00:11:53.004 And it gives you this reverence, 00:11:53.052 --> 00:11:53.712 this fear, 00:11:53.756 --> 00:11:54.370 right? 00:11:58.040 --> 00:11:59.296 Gives you this reverence, 00:11:59.296 --> 00:12:00.340 this respect, 00:12:02.040 --> 00:12:03.770 every word of God. 00:12:05.740 --> 00:12:08.840 So Jeremiah 23 28 through 29, 00:12:08.910 --> 00:12:14.330 Jeremiah is talking about prophets and people that speak of God's word. 00:12:15.020 --> 00:12:21.404 And in verses 28 and 29 pertaining to God's word, 00:12:21.522 --> 00:12:22.818 he says this in 28, 00:12:22.818 --> 00:12:23.138 he says, 00:12:23.138 --> 00:12:25.704 let these false prophets tell their dreams. 00:12:25.832 --> 00:12:31.010 But let my true messengers faithfully proclaim every word. 00:12:31.540 --> 00:12:34.300 There is a difference between straw and grain. 00:12:34.460 --> 00:12:36.310 Does not my word burn like fire? 00:12:36.310 --> 00:12:37.116 Says the Lord? 00:12:37.116 --> 00:12:41.406 Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to pieces? 00:12:43.160 --> 00:12:45.700 So there's false prophets and true prophets, 00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:47.546 and they're different, 00:12:47.546 --> 00:12:48.528 like straw and grain. 00:12:48.528 --> 00:12:50.838 What's the difference between straw and grain? 00:12:51.560 --> 00:12:53.104 Straw is useless. 00:12:53.152 --> 00:12:55.400 It don't sustain you. 00:12:55.550 --> 00:12:56.472 It's light. 00:12:56.606 --> 00:12:58.382 It blows away in the wind. 00:12:58.382 --> 00:13:01.492 And grain is something that is nutritious and feeling, 00:13:01.556 --> 00:13:04.078 right. So what are you filling yourself with? 00:13:04.078 --> 00:13:07.048 Are you filling yourself with the word of God? 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:10.440 In the gospels, 00:13:10.600 --> 00:13:12.744 man doesn't live by bread alone, 00:13:12.792 --> 00:13:15.570 but that every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, 00:13:15.570 --> 00:13:20.556 right? We were eating chicken wings last Thursday in my garage. 00:13:20.748 --> 00:13:22.128 Two Thursdays a month, 00:13:22.214 --> 00:13:27.008 I cook chicken wings just the opportunity to hang out with guys and have 00:13:27.094 --> 00:13:30.394 more of a conversation than you can have on Sunday. 00:13:31.460 --> 00:13:33.664 And a couple of guys, 00:13:33.782 --> 00:13:36.858 I'm trying to cook chicken wings and make sure everybody's got what they 00:13:36.858 --> 00:13:40.158 need. And it's been like an hour since we started. 00:13:39.882 --> 00:13:44.298 And so a couple of guys get up to leave and I stop them like, 00:13:44.298 --> 00:13:46.276 hey, I'm about to read a verse. 00:13:46.276 --> 00:13:46.846 Just wait. 00:13:46.846 --> 00:13:48.222 Can you just wait just a second? 00:13:48.222 --> 00:13:49.900 I'm about to read a verse. 00:13:49.900 --> 00:13:56.428 And I think it was revelation 411 where it talks about God's glory and 00:13:56.434 --> 00:14:02.252 holiness and the elders casting their crowns at his feet and falling and 00:14:02.306 --> 00:14:03.956 just how do we worship? 00:14:04.024 --> 00:14:08.050 And one guy named Aaron stopped and said, 00:14:09.540 --> 00:14:11.324 I didn't really need them chicken wings, 00:14:11.324 --> 00:14:12.644 but I needed that. 00:14:13.460 --> 00:14:15.632 That is what sustains you. 00:14:15.766 --> 00:14:16.850 God's word. 00:14:17.460 --> 00:14:18.902 I'm going to get hungry again. 00:14:18.902 --> 00:14:20.842 I'm going to get thirsty again. 00:14:20.534 --> 00:14:26.244 But if I have God and God's word and the truth that exposes me and 00:14:26.282 --> 00:14:27.924 cleanses and purifies me, 00:14:27.962 --> 00:14:31.030 that is what is going to fill me, 00:14:31.800 --> 00:14:33.322 and I won't never thirst again. 00:14:33.322 --> 00:14:35.900 Like Jesus says to the woman at the well, 00:14:35.900 --> 00:14:37.550 that's what he's talking about. 00:14:38.380 --> 00:14:43.604 And so if you're not telling people the truth and you're not exposing 00:14:43.652 --> 00:14:47.710 yourself to the truth and you're not letting go of your stuff, 00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:53.794 that's probably why you have a hard time telling people about God, 00:14:53.794 --> 00:14:56.110 right? Proclaiming God, 00:14:56.640 --> 00:14:58.220 preaching, teaching, 00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:01.090 or just sharing with your friends, 00:15:01.540 --> 00:15:02.726 this is who I am, 00:15:02.726 --> 00:15:04.376 this is what I believe. 00:15:04.980 --> 00:15:08.454 Anybody have a hard time doing that because you feel like you don't want 00:15:08.454 --> 00:15:10.050 to mishandle God's word? 00:15:11.860 --> 00:15:13.648 God doesn't give us a spirit of fear, 00:15:13.648 --> 00:15:16.288 but a power of love and sound mind. 00:15:17.720 --> 00:15:19.418 Do you give that to God? 00:15:19.418 --> 00:15:21.402 I had to give it to God standing right back there. 00:15:21.402 --> 00:15:22.352 Because the devil, 00:15:22.352 --> 00:15:25.962 anytime I get up here to try to communicate God's word, 00:15:25.962 --> 00:15:29.758 I get attacked by the devil and it's spirit of fear and anxiety and well, 00:15:29.758 --> 00:15:31.902 what if I do this and what do I need to say? 00:15:31.902 --> 00:15:35.054 And then I get all jumbled up and I have to say, 00:15:35.054 --> 00:15:36.932 lord, in Jesus name, 00:15:37.086 --> 00:15:38.914 devil, I ask you to get behind me. 00:15:38.914 --> 00:15:40.136 You're defeated. 00:15:40.328 --> 00:15:41.848 God doesn't give us a spirit of fear, 00:15:41.848 --> 00:15:44.158 but if you don't have that truth, 00:15:45.760 --> 00:15:47.660 you're going to get defeated. 00:15:48.260 --> 00:15:50.240 You're going to want to hide. 00:15:50.900 --> 00:15:52.880 That's just the first two verses. 00:15:55.700 --> 00:16:02.230 And so what Jeremiah is saying is when you share God's word with people, 00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:05.668 they look for its effectiveness in you, 00:16:05.834 --> 00:16:09.750 right? And unless it's changed you, 00:16:10.280 --> 00:16:12.920 why should they think it can change them. 00:16:15.940 --> 00:16:18.908 You've heard the saying the best messages aren't preached, 00:16:18.908 --> 00:16:19.920 they're lived. 00:16:23.250 --> 00:16:28.586 That's what happens when you allow God's word to get in here and it 00:16:28.628 --> 00:16:30.222 becomes alive and powerful. 00:16:30.366 --> 00:16:33.006 And if you're not allowing that to happen, 00:16:34.070 --> 00:16:37.102 then I bet some of that guilt, 00:16:37.166 --> 00:16:39.860 shame, hiding happens. 00:16:42.650 --> 00:16:43.394 Verse 14, 00:16:43.442 --> 00:16:43.852 he says. 00:16:43.852 --> 00:16:44.760 So then, 00:16:46.010 --> 00:16:49.218 since we have a great high priest who has entered heaven, 00:16:49.218 --> 00:16:50.332 Jesus, the Son of God, 00:16:50.332 --> 00:16:52.972 let us hold firmly to what we believe. 00:16:55.130 --> 00:16:57.458 This high priest of ours understands our weaknesses, 00:16:57.458 --> 00:16:59.168 for he faced all the same things we do, 00:16:59.168 --> 00:17:00.646 yet he did not sin. 00:17:00.646 --> 00:17:04.112 So let us come boldly into the throne of our gracious God. 00:17:04.112 --> 00:17:05.862 There we will receive his mercy, 00:17:05.862 --> 00:17:10.152 and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. 00:17:13.250 --> 00:17:16.782 What makes him so great is. 00:17:16.836 --> 00:17:19.674 What was the question I had. 00:17:19.732 --> 00:17:24.530 So, since we have a great high priest who has entered heaven, 00:17:25.030 --> 00:17:26.680 what makes him so great? 00:17:28.390 --> 00:17:29.998 What makes him the highest priest? 00:17:29.998 --> 00:17:31.978 What makes him greater than Moses? 00:17:32.490 --> 00:17:33.292 You gotta remember, 00:17:33.292 --> 00:17:39.574 these Hebrew people are Jewish people who were living by the law and who 00:17:39.612 --> 00:17:40.690 accepted Jesus. 00:17:40.770 --> 00:17:44.178 But during this time of persecution, 00:17:44.274 --> 00:17:48.466 right after Jesus went back to heaven, 00:17:48.658 --> 00:17:52.466 there's people trying to deceive them. 00:17:52.508 --> 00:17:54.720 There's people trying to get them to go back to the law, 00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:56.946 back to the high priest, 00:17:57.078 --> 00:18:02.382 where you have to offer up sacrifices and do all these things to get 00:18:02.436 --> 00:18:05.034 right. The writer of Hebrews, 00:18:05.082 --> 00:18:07.534 whoever they are, 00:18:07.652 --> 00:18:12.850 is trying to remind them it's only because of Jesus. 00:18:14.390 --> 00:18:15.832 And the great thing about that, 00:18:15.832 --> 00:18:18.142 especially because we just talked about speaking, 00:18:18.200 --> 00:18:18.820 right? 00:18:19.190 --> 00:18:20.952 People have a hard time speaking, 00:18:20.952 --> 00:18:22.322 telling people about God. 00:18:22.376 --> 00:18:25.442 Only thing you have to do is point them to Jesus. 00:18:25.442 --> 00:18:27.308 You don't have to know everything. 00:18:27.308 --> 00:18:31.030 You don't have to be a doctor of theology. 00:18:32.490 --> 00:18:33.810 Everybody has a story, 00:18:33.820 --> 00:18:36.570 everybody that has been saved. 00:18:36.990 --> 00:18:40.234 It can be something as simple as I was. 00:18:40.272 --> 00:18:42.234 One way Jesus came, 00:18:42.272 --> 00:18:43.456 and now I'm different. 00:18:43.456 --> 00:18:45.766 And if you'll just come to Jesus, 00:18:48.760 --> 00:18:50.740 that's what makes him greater. 00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:55.344 It says he entered heaven. 00:18:55.472 --> 00:18:57.984 So to enter back into heaven, 00:18:58.032 --> 00:18:59.352 what does that mean? 00:19:01.260 --> 00:19:02.356 He was on earth, 00:19:02.356 --> 00:19:05.240 right? And he entered into heaven. 00:19:06.140 --> 00:19:07.290 Passed through. 00:19:07.820 --> 00:19:09.240 Some translations say. 00:19:09.310 --> 00:19:10.932 So that means he resurrected, 00:19:10.932 --> 00:19:11.530 right? 00:19:13.020 --> 00:19:14.756 Without the resurrection, 00:19:14.948 --> 00:19:17.784 there's no point of me speaking to y'all. 00:19:17.832 --> 00:19:22.098 There's no point of us being here today if Jesus didn't do what he said 00:19:22.098 --> 00:19:22.738 he did. 00:19:22.738 --> 00:19:24.472 If Jesus isn't resurrected, 00:19:24.536 --> 00:19:24.962 you know, 00:19:24.962 --> 00:19:26.960 all this is just dumb, 00:19:27.540 --> 00:19:28.290 right? 00:19:32.060 --> 00:19:36.036 He entered into heaven and gave up his spirit, 00:19:36.068 --> 00:19:37.880 which intercedes on our behalf. 00:19:44.110 --> 00:19:44.752 Like I said, 00:19:44.752 --> 00:19:45.254 on Wednesdays, 00:19:45.254 --> 00:19:50.926 we've been going through crucifixion and the last seven sayings of 00:19:50.948 --> 00:19:53.658 Christ. And it's been tough. 00:19:53.754 --> 00:19:55.070 It's been humbling. 00:19:57.430 --> 00:19:58.338 Jesus took, 00:19:58.424 --> 00:20:00.478 you know the word excruciation? 00:20:00.654 --> 00:20:02.500 That word comes from. 00:20:03.830 --> 00:20:05.080 We get that word. 00:20:05.080 --> 00:20:06.568 We made up that word, 00:20:06.568 --> 00:20:08.030 which excruciating, 00:20:08.110 --> 00:20:11.350 right? Means the cross. 00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:18.910 It's where we get crucifixion from. 00:20:21.360 --> 00:20:26.332 Jesus took on all that came down from heaven, 00:20:26.396 --> 00:20:27.600 gave up heaven, 00:20:28.260 --> 00:20:31.090 paid a price we couldn't pay. 00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:36.112 And not only did he do that, 00:20:36.246 --> 00:20:37.648 died a death we should have died, 00:20:37.648 --> 00:20:43.030 but goes back to heaven and intercedes for us until he comes back again. 00:20:43.560 --> 00:20:47.668 And so that's why the Hebrew writer is trying to remind us, 00:20:47.754 --> 00:20:52.730 remind them that let us hold firmly to what we believe. 00:20:54.620 --> 00:20:57.668 This high priest of ours understands our weaknesses, 00:20:57.764 --> 00:21:00.734 for he faced all the same testings we do, 00:21:00.798 --> 00:21:02.448 yet he did not sin. 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:04.700 That's what makes him so great. 00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:11.650 Before I really understood how much Jesus loved me, 00:21:12.180 --> 00:21:17.536 before I kept surrendering and dying and dying and trying to on a daily 00:21:17.568 --> 00:21:22.180 basis, and it was more like a Easter and Christmas basis. 00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:27.738 Cynical. Know when I heard that and I read that, 00:21:27.738 --> 00:21:28.950 cynical me thought, 00:21:30.120 --> 00:21:32.430 did Jesus have to deal with abortion? 00:21:33.580 --> 00:21:37.012 Did Jesus have to deal with being gay or transsexual? 00:21:37.076 --> 00:21:39.156 Or Jesus have to deal with being a lesbian? 00:21:39.156 --> 00:21:46.556 Or Jesus have to deal with old age and suicidal thoughts because of your 00:21:46.578 --> 00:21:47.630 failing health? 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:51.330 Anybody ever thought of that? 00:21:52.560 --> 00:21:55.530 So how could he be tempted in every way? 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:58.998 Jesus don't deal with what I have to deal with. 00:21:58.998 --> 00:21:59.942 He don't say it. 00:21:59.942 --> 00:22:01.262 I haven't read it. 00:22:01.414 --> 00:22:03.394 So how does Jesus know me? 00:22:04.180 --> 00:22:06.820 How does he know what I go through? 00:22:08.360 --> 00:22:09.680 That's not the point. 00:22:09.754 --> 00:22:14.980 You're missing it when you look up the Greek of that sentence. 00:22:16.120 --> 00:22:18.980 This high priest of ours understands our weaknesses, 00:22:20.540 --> 00:22:23.510 for he faced all the same testings we do, 00:22:23.598 --> 00:22:25.248 yet he did not sin. 00:22:25.580 --> 00:22:27.240 He cannot sin. 00:22:29.500 --> 00:22:31.050 That cannot work. 00:22:31.820 --> 00:22:35.120 Our english language is not the best in the world. 00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:40.258 And sometimes we use a word that is the closest we can get to the 00:22:40.258 --> 00:22:40.984 original language, 00:22:41.032 --> 00:22:44.270 but it doesn't really measure up all the way. 00:22:45.540 --> 00:22:48.316 And so when you get back to the original language, 00:22:48.316 --> 00:22:52.624 what the writer is saying and what that cannot word mean, 00:22:52.662 --> 00:22:54.642 I can't pronounce the greek word. 00:22:55.220 --> 00:22:59.940 Jesus will not break like a scale. 00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:03.710 The more weight you put on it, 00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:06.948 the more weight Jesus can hold. 00:23:07.114 --> 00:23:08.500 Jesus won't break. 00:23:08.650 --> 00:23:11.168 That's what he's saying when he was tempted. 00:23:11.168 --> 00:23:13.146 And he understands what you go through. 00:23:13.146 --> 00:23:16.228 What he's saying is you take your stuff and you give it to Jesus, 00:23:16.228 --> 00:23:18.948 and he's the only one that can hold it. 00:23:18.540 --> 00:23:21.840 He's the only one that won't break under that pressure. 00:23:22.620 --> 00:23:23.940 You've heard the saying, 00:23:23.982 --> 00:23:26.720 God won't give you more than you can handle. 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:27.950 Yes, he will. 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:32.754 To get you to the point of giving it to him so he can handle it. 00:23:32.754 --> 00:23:39.904 That's what he means when he's saying he wasn't tempted beyond more than 00:23:39.942 --> 00:23:41.262 what he could handle. 00:23:41.116 --> 00:23:43.520 When he was tempted in the wilderness, 00:23:46.020 --> 00:23:47.338 when the devil tempted him, 00:23:47.338 --> 00:23:48.410 what did he do? 00:23:48.410 --> 00:23:50.070 He used God's word, 00:23:53.730 --> 00:23:54.910 the truth. 00:23:59.360 --> 00:24:00.350 Kind of like, 00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:04.280 I love to exercise, 00:24:04.364 --> 00:24:05.410 love to run. 00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:10.640 But if you've ever bench pressed, 00:24:12.260 --> 00:24:13.424 at some point, 00:24:13.542 --> 00:24:15.200 the more you do, 00:24:15.270 --> 00:24:17.328 the harder it is to push that same weight, 00:24:17.328 --> 00:24:20.084 right. The more you're tempted with something, 00:24:20.202 --> 00:24:21.946 the more you go back to the same. 00:24:21.946 --> 00:24:23.266 The more you push, 00:24:24.040 --> 00:24:25.306 the harder it is. 00:24:25.306 --> 00:24:31.976 Right? And what the hebrew writer is saying is that Jesus will not break 00:24:32.158 --> 00:24:33.880 whatever you give to him. 00:24:33.950 --> 00:24:36.590 He's the only one that can handle it. 00:24:37.900 --> 00:24:41.656 So whatever issue you're facing that you think Jesus can't handle, 00:24:41.688 --> 00:24:43.998 why don't you give it to him? 00:24:49.430 --> 00:24:53.714 That last verse says, 00:24:53.752 --> 00:24:56.680 so let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. 00:24:56.680 --> 00:25:01.532 There we will receive his mercy and we will find his grace to help us 00:25:01.532 --> 00:25:03.182 when we need it most. 00:25:04.090 --> 00:25:05.880 So why don't you come? 00:25:09.110 --> 00:25:10.420 My last question. 00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:19.544 Remember they had the tabernacle. 00:25:19.592 --> 00:25:20.460 High priest. 00:25:21.120 --> 00:25:22.536 We're not jewish, 00:25:22.728 --> 00:25:27.200 so high priest probably don't mean as much to us as it does to them. 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:29.040 Chief leader, 00:25:30.180 --> 00:25:33.440 highest religious person you can be, 00:25:33.590 --> 00:25:39.984 right? I think you understand that there was only one guy that come into 00:25:40.022 --> 00:25:41.040 the tabernacle. 00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:43.090 And this is, 00:25:45.080 --> 00:25:48.058 if you don't understand the Old testament Hebrews is almost like a 00:25:48.058 --> 00:25:50.420 commentary of the Old Testament. 00:25:52.040 --> 00:25:54.132 So the tabernacle is just a tent, 00:25:54.132 --> 00:25:58.650 right, with a dirt floor and a gold box inside. 00:25:59.020 --> 00:26:00.890 And only once a year, 00:26:01.660 --> 00:26:02.788 on the day of atonement, 00:26:02.788 --> 00:26:08.068 could the high priest go up in there and he had to offer up a sacrifice. 00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:08.898 And so, 00:26:08.898 --> 00:26:14.030 do you realize what the hebrew writer is trying to explain to you today? 00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:20.304 Now, today God is saying you can boldly and confidently come to me 00:26:20.422 --> 00:26:21.920 anytime, any place, 00:26:21.990 --> 00:26:23.410 anywhere you want. 00:26:24.100 --> 00:26:25.772 The veil was torn. 00:26:25.916 --> 00:26:27.596 There was a veil in the tabernacle. 00:26:27.596 --> 00:26:29.520 You had this holy place, 00:26:29.590 --> 00:26:30.908 and then you had the holy of holies, 00:26:30.908 --> 00:26:33.498 and there was a veil dividing the two. 00:26:33.498 --> 00:26:38.602 And only once a year could one person go in there and try to offer up 00:26:38.602 --> 00:26:40.550 sacrifices for everyone. 00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:43.130 And what God is saying now, 00:26:43.130 --> 00:26:45.332 you can boldly and confidently, 00:26:45.396 --> 00:26:46.452 because of Jesus, 00:26:46.516 --> 00:26:47.720 come anytime, 00:26:48.300 --> 00:26:53.770 anytime you're struggling with any of the examples I gave. 00:26:54.780 --> 00:26:57.500 Addiction, loneliness, 00:26:59.440 --> 00:27:02.248 suicide, lust, 00:27:02.344 --> 00:27:07.320 temptation, you can come anytime, 00:27:07.400 --> 00:27:09.404 boldly and confidently because of Jesus. 00:27:09.452 --> 00:27:11.432 That's what makes him so great? 00:27:12.500 --> 00:27:15.490 Do you understand what I'm saying? 00:27:16.660 --> 00:27:21.420 You can bring your junk and lay it at his feet. 00:27:21.580 --> 00:27:26.346 And he is the only person that can carry that weight and handle it over 00:27:26.346 --> 00:27:29.738 and over and over again and won't wear out and won't get tired. 00:27:29.568 --> 00:27:37.440 And that's what he's saying when he said he understands our weaknesses. 00:27:40.090 --> 00:27:41.442 You ain't got to buy tickets. 00:27:41.442 --> 00:27:43.282 You ain't got to perform any kind of rituals. 00:27:43.282 --> 00:27:45.880 You don't have to get clean. 00:27:47.770 --> 00:27:48.840 Just come. 00:27:52.040 --> 00:27:53.850 So why don't you come? 00:28:00.650 --> 00:28:02.300 We're about to sing again. 00:28:02.890 --> 00:28:03.970 I'm going to pray, 00:28:03.970 --> 00:28:05.196 then we're going to sing again. 00:28:05.196 --> 00:28:07.212 And I want you to answer that question. 00:28:07.212 --> 00:28:09.522 I want you to ask God that. 00:28:10.910 --> 00:28:11.820 All right? 00:28:12.830 --> 00:28:13.930 Let's pray. 00:28:21.650 --> 00:28:27.882 God, thank you for Jesus. 00:28:27.946 --> 00:28:30.126 Thank you for showing me, 00:28:30.308 --> 00:28:30.986 dear Lord, 00:28:31.018 --> 00:28:36.994 over the last 24 hours that Jesus understands our weaknesses and our 00:28:37.032 --> 00:28:39.544 temptations, and he is the only one that can handle them, 00:28:39.544 --> 00:28:40.526 dear Lord. 00:28:40.718 --> 00:28:44.834 He's the only one that won't break under that help, 00:28:44.872 --> 00:28:46.242 that to encourage us, 00:28:46.296 --> 00:28:47.182 dear Lord, 00:28:47.326 --> 00:28:51.628 to bring our stuff to you and know that you're the only one that can do 00:28:51.628 --> 00:28:52.124 something about it. 00:28:52.124 --> 00:28:56.028 You're the only one that can turn what was meant for evil and turn it for 00:28:56.028 --> 00:28:57.190 good. Dear Lord. 00:28:58.190 --> 00:29:00.500 And so the things we're struggling with, 00:29:02.270 --> 00:29:03.930 the things we're hiding, 00:29:05.630 --> 00:29:06.198 dear Lord, 00:29:06.198 --> 00:29:11.774 help us remember that it is your truth and your word that exposes those 00:29:11.812 --> 00:29:15.786 things. Not for guilt and for shame or to condemn, 00:29:15.898 --> 00:29:16.778 but, dear lord, 00:29:16.778 --> 00:29:17.700 to make clean, 00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:18.500 to make whole, 00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:19.520 to make complete, 00:29:21.410 --> 00:29:22.356 to wash away, 00:29:22.356 --> 00:29:23.016 to purify, 00:29:23.066 --> 00:29:24.030 dear Lord, 00:29:24.370 --> 00:29:26.350 so help us to do that. 00:29:26.850 --> 00:29:29.482 Thank you for our high priest, 00:29:29.546 --> 00:29:30.346 dear Lord, 00:29:30.458 --> 00:29:36.566 I pray that whoever's in this room that needs to make them their high 00:29:36.588 --> 00:29:42.150 priest or lord will and just ask all these things in your name. 00:29:42.300 --> 00:29:43.270 Amen.