A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken

February 16, 2020 · Hebrews

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Series · Hebrews · Week 58 of 69

Scripture referenced 18 passages

The passage this message was preached from, in full, with every other passage it reached for.

Psalm 29 quoted at the opening: 'The Lord reigns as king forever. The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace.'

1 Ascribe to Yahweh, you sons of the mighty, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Worship Yahweh in holy array.
3 Yahweh’s voice is on the waters. The God of glory thunders, even Yahweh on many waters.
4 Yahweh’s voice is powerful. Yahweh’s voice is full of majesty.
5 Yahweh’s voice breaks the cedars. Yes, Yahweh breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young, wild ox.
7 Yahweh’s voice strikes with flashes of lightning.
8 Yahweh’s voice shakes the wilderness. Yahweh shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 Yahweh’s voice makes the deer calve, and strips the forests bare. In his temple everything says, “Glory!”
10 Yahweh sat enthroned at the Flood. Yes, Yahweh sits as King forever.
11 Yahweh will give strength to his people. Yahweh will bless his people with peace.

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Hebrews 12:14-28

the primary passage preached through the entire sermon

14 Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord,

15 looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it;

16 lest there be any sexually immoral person, or profane person, like Esau, who sold his birthright for one meal.

17 For you know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently with tears.

18 For you have not come to a mountain that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and to blackness, darkness, storm,

19 the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which those who heard it begged that not one more word should be spoken to them,

20 for they could not stand that which was commanded, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned”;

21 and so fearful was the appearance that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.”

22 But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels,

23 to the festal gathering and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,

24 to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel.

25 See that you don’t refuse him who speaks. For if they didn’t escape when they refused him who warned on the earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven,

26 whose voice shook the earth then, but now he has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.”

27 This phrase, “Yet once more”, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can’t be shaken, let us have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,

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Hebrews 12:14

pursue peace with all men and sanctification without which no one will see the Lord

14 Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord,

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Hebrews 12:15

see to it that no one comes short of the grace of God and no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble

15 looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it;

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Hebrews 12:16-17

see to it there be no immoral or godless person like Esau who sold his birthright for a single meal and later found no place for repentance

16 lest there be any sexually immoral person, or profane person, like Esau, who sold his birthright for one meal.

17 For you know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently with tears.

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Hebrews 12:18-21

you have not come to a mountain that can be touched, blazing fire, darkness, gloom, whirlwind; Moses said I am full of fear and trembling

18 For you have not come to a mountain that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and to blackness, darkness, storm,

19 the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which those who heard it begged that not one more word should be spoken to them,

20 for they could not stand that which was commanded, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned”;

21 and so fearful was the appearance that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.”

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Hebrews 12:22-24

you have come to Mount Zion, city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem, myriad of angels, Jesus mediator of a new covenant, sprinkled blood that speaks better than Abel's

22 But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels,

23 to the festal gathering and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,

24 to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel.

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Hebrews 12:25-27

see to it you do not refuse him who is speaking; his voice shook the earth then; yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also heaven

26 whose voice shook the earth then, but now he has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.”

27 This phrase, “Yet once more”, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain.

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Hebrews 12:28-29

since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire

28 Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can’t be shaken, let us have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,

29 for our God is a consuming fire.

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Haggai 2:6

cited as the source of 'yet once more I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land'

6 For this is what Yahweh of Armies says: ‘Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the dry land;

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Hebrews 2

referenced as an earlier warning passage in the series

1 Therefore we ought to pay greater attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away.

2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense;

3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation—which at the first having been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard;

4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, by various works of power, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will?

5 For he didn’t subject the world to come, of which we speak, to angels.

6 But one has somewhere testified, saying, “What is man, that you think of him? Or the son of man, that you care for him?

7 You made him a little lower than the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor.

8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that he subjected all things to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we don’t see all things subjected to him, yet.

9 But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone.

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many children to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

11 For both he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brothers,

12 saying, “I will declare your name to my brothers. Among of the congregation I will sing your praise.”

13 Again, “I will put my trust in him.” Again, “Behold, here I am with the children whom God has given me.”

14 Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in the same way partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

15 and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

16 For most certainly, he doesn’t give help to angels, but he gives help to the offspring of Abraham.

17 Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.

18 For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

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Hebrews 3

today if you hear the voice of the Lord do not harden your hearts as they did in the wilderness

1 Therefore, holy brothers, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Jesus;

2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, as also was Moses in all his house.

3 For he has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, because he who built the house has more honor than the house.

4 For every house is built by someone; but he who built all things is God.

5 Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were afterward to be spoken,

6 but Christ is faithful as a Son over his house; whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the glorying of our hope firm to the end.

7 Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, “Today if you will hear his voice,

8 don’t harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, like as in the day of the trial in the wilderness,

9 where your fathers tested me by proving me, and saw my deeds for forty years.

10 Therefore I was displeased with that generation, and said, ‘They always err in their heart, but they didn’t know my ways;’

11 as I swore in my wrath, ‘They will not enter into my rest.’”

12 Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God;

13 but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called “today”; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm to the end:

15 while it is said, “Today if you will hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts, as in the rebellion.”

16 For who, when they heard, rebelled? No, didn’t all those who came out of Egypt by Moses?

17 With whom was he displeased forty years? Wasn’t it with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?

18 To whom did he swear that they wouldn’t enter into his rest, but to those who were disobedient?

19 We see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief.

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Hebrews 4

referenced as one of the warning passages in the series

1 Let us fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest.

2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didn’t profit them, because it wasn’t mixed with faith by those who heard.

3 For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, they will not enter into my rest”; although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

4 For he has said this somewhere about the seventh day, “God rested on the seventh day from all his works”;

5 and in this place again, “They will not enter into my rest.”

6 Seeing therefore it remains that some should enter into it, and they to whom the good news was preached before failed to enter in because of disobedience,

7 he again defines a certain day, today, saying through David so long a time afterward (just as has been said), “Today if you will hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.”

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day.

9 There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

10 For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his.

11 Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.

12 For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

13 There is no creature that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.

14 Having then a great high priest, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold tightly to our confession.

15 For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in time of need.

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Hebrews 10

referenced as one of the warning passages in the series

1 For the law, having a shadow of the good to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near.

2 Or else wouldn’t they have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins?

3 But in those sacrifices there is a yearly reminder of sins.

4 For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.

5 Therefore when he comes into the world, he says, “Sacrifice and offering you didn’t desire, but you prepared a body for me.

6 You had no pleasure in whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin.

7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come (in the scroll of the book it is written of me) to do your will, O God.’”

8 Previously saying, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you didn’t desire, neither had pleasure in them” (those which are offered according to the law),

9 then he has said, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He takes away the first, that he may establish the second,

10 by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 Every priest indeed stands day by day serving and often offering the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins,

12 but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God;

13 from that time waiting until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet.

14 For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,

16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them: ‘After those days,’ says the Lord, ‘I will put my laws on their heart, I will also write them on their mind;’” then he says,

17 “I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more.”

18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

19 Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus,

20 by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

21 and having a great priest over God’s house,

22 let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water,

23 let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful.

24 Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works,

25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.

26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins,

27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries.

28 A man who disregards Moses’ law dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses.

29 How much worse punishment do you think he will be judged worthy of who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance belongs to me,” says the Lord, “I will repay.” Again, “The Lord will judge his people.”

31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32 But remember the former days, in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings;

33 partly, being exposed to both reproaches and oppressions; and partly, becoming partakers with those who were treated so.

34 For you both had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an enduring one in the heavens.

35 Therefore don’t throw away your boldness, which has a great reward.

36 For you need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise.

37 “In a very little while, he who comes will come, and will not wait.

38 But the righteous will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”

39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the saving of the soul.

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Hebrews 11

the blood of Abel still speaking, referenced in connection with Hebrews 12:24

1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.

2 For by this, the elders obtained testimony.

3 By faith, we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible.

4 By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.

5 By faith, Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn’t see death, and he was not found, because God translated him. For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God.

6 Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.

7 By faith, Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared a ship for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

8 By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went.

9 By faith, he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.

10 For he looked for the city which has the foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 By faith, even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised.

12 Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.

15 If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return.

16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

17 By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his one and only son,

18 to whom it was said, “your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac”;

19 concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.

20 By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.

21 By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

22 By faith, Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave instructions concerning his bones.

23 By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.

24 By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

25 choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time;

26 accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

27 By faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

28 By faith, he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.

29 By faith, they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.

30 By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days.

31 By faith, Rahab the prostitute, didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.

32 What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets;

33 who, through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee.

35 Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

36 Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment.

37 They were stoned. They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword. They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated

38 (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.

39 These all, having had testimony given to them through their faith, didn’t receive the promise,

40 God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

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James (unspecified)

if you fail in one point you have broken the whole law

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1 Thessalonians 5:18

be thankful in all things for this is God's will concerning you in Christ Jesus

18 In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.

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Psalm 13:2-5

how long must I wrestle with my thoughts, how long will my enemies triumph, but I trust in your unfailing love

2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart every day? How long shall my enemy triumph over me?

3 Behold, and answer me, Yahweh, my God. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death;

4 Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him”; Lest my adversaries rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your loving kindness. My heart rejoices in your salvation.

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Recap

The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.

Pastor Ray returned to Hebrews 12:14-28 after time away, pulling together threads from the previous weeks on forgiveness and sanctification and pressing toward the close of the chapter. The sermon centered on the contrast between the old covenant given at Sinai and the new covenant mediated by Jesus, and on what it means to live in a kingdom that cannot be shaken. A baptism followed the message.

What was said

Pastor Ray came back to the commands he had already introduced: pursue peace with all men, pursue sanctification, and see to it that no one comes short of the grace of God. He was careful to say that grace is exactly the point, that no other gospel that ties salvation to human effort is correct. These are not suggestions but elevated imperatives, what he described as a high rhetorical form in the Greek that signals something extremely important.

The next "see to it" he lingered on was the warning about falling into Esau's error. Esau gave up his birthright, something intangible and not yet seen, for a meal he could taste right now. Pastor Ray said this is the pattern of trusting only what you can see, touch, and feel in the present moment over what God has promised. He made the application plain, including naming specific apps by name, and pointed out that Esau regretted his decision but never actually repented of it, and that those are not the same thing.

From there he moved into what he called the new material for the day. The writer of Hebrews sets up a sharp contrast: you have not come to Mount Sinai, a mountain that could be touched, surrounded by fire and darkness and a voice so overwhelming the people begged it to stop. That was the old covenant, and even Moses said he was full of fear and trembling at it.

But then verse 22 turns: you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to the assembly of the church of the firstborn, to God the judge of all, and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant whose sprinkled blood speaks better than the blood of Abel. Pastor Ray said this is where believers stand now, and the entire argument of Hebrews is a plea not to walk back from that into the shadow that pointed toward it.

The following warning is the sharpest in the passage. If the wilderness generation did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will those escape who turn away from the one warning from heaven. Pastor Ray connected this to the promise quoted from Haggai, that God will shake not only the earth but also heaven, and said the point is that everything built on human invention or created things will not survive that shaking. Only what is of God will remain.

That leads to the conclusion Pastor Ray said he was most eager to reach. Since believers receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, the fitting response is gratitude, and it is gratitude that makes acceptable service to God possible. He drew on the Psalms to show what honest lament looks like, the "how long" of David, and then the turn, "but I trust in your unfailing love." If a person is shut inside what he called the inner room, focused on every grievance, serving God from that place is nearly impossible. But when the grace already received is recognized, the posture changes.

He closed the passage with the line he called a clincher: "our God is a consuming fire." Everything not submitted to Him will be consumed. Pastor Ray said he wanted to be part of that fire rather than consumed by it, and he prayed that the congregation would walk in the holiness the new covenant calls for, not as a condition of salvation but as the fruit of it.

Doing a Bible study?

Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages in order, questions for the group, and room to write.

Ray described an 'inner room' where bitterness can take root, walled off from God's love and truth. Have you recognized that place in yourself, and what has it looked like when you stayed there too long?
Ray drew a distinction between Esau's regret over a poor decision and genuine repentance. What do you think the difference looks like in a person's life, and why does that distinction matter?

and 3 more questions in the guide

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0:00 Okay,

0:02 my friends. I think we are on. You made it here. Congratulations. How about this?

0:10 Let's stand up. We'll sing together. Here's a Psalm. Psalm 29. The Lord reigns as king forever.

0:19 The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace. What do you say? We sing in faith.

0:41 Our God, a firm foundation, are I your own solid ground as nations rise and fall. Kingdoms want strong now shaking. We trust forever in your name. The name of Jesus. And we trust.

1:07 We trust the name of Jesus. And you are. You are the only king forever. Almighty God, we lift you higher. You are the only king forever, forevermore.

1:26 You are victorious. You are the only king forever. Almighty God, we lift you higher. You are the only king forever, forevermore. You are victorious.

1:45 Alright. Unmatched. We trust the name of Jesus. You are the only king forever. Almighty God, we lift you higher.

2:28 You are the only king forever, forevermore. You are victorious. You are the only king forever. Almighty God, we lift you higher. You are the only king forever, forevermore.

2:47 You are victorious.

2:57 Alright. Let's sing, We Lift Our Banner High. 're

3:07 gonna name of Jesus from midst to edge you reign. Your kingdom has no end. You are the only king forever. Almighty God, we lift you higher. You are the only king forever, forevermore.

3:41 You are victorious. You are the only king forever. Almighty God, we lift you higher. You are the only king forever, forevermore. You are victorious

4:28 Hey, welcomes. Nice to meet, nice to see you. This is a great surprise. We've got a few announcements. Home sweet home.

4:38 Monday nights at First

4:39 People. Yeah, we're on tomorrow and we're in Proverbs and we're on a topic tomorrow of wisdom and humility. The sorry, humility and pride. The wisdom of humility, the foolishness of pride, what scripture says about it but know that you're invited. There's meal, music, and message starting at six.

4:58 You said meal or meal?

5:00 Well, it would, meal's alright too.

5:39 Jeremiah part one, Thursday mornings is our precept study. Jane Cranenberg is leading, facilitating that study. That's happening Thursday mornings at 09:00 sharp. Women read Bible and pray in Teton Valley, Idaho. This is a study for Christian women to read together 08:30 to ten, read and pray and that's at the Connell's house.

6:03 When I use this mic, sure. Thank you, Blake. There's a few other things. Oh, there is a baptism today. We're going wait till the end of the service but I'm warning you now.

6:13 There's a baptism today. There is water. What hinders you from being baptized? If you're a believer in Jesus and you haven't yet, I don't care whether you brought clothes or not. It's not that cold, right?

6:23 The water is warm. It's here. So, there is a baptism but it'll be at the end of the service. The baby bottle campaign for Turning Point is happening. We have the baby bottles here.

6:34 They're in the back. If you would like to be a part of that and gather your loose change and bills and checks and put em in those bottles and help out with Turning Point. That campaign is starting up today. They're trying to keep a tighter rain on it this year and keep it into a certain time frame. So, let's get em early and start filling em.

6:55 Community groups, Imma invite James Landis up to talk about community groups while I go get some batteries.

7:03 My boys want to come up too. Just don't touch it. Good morning. How's everyone doing? Good.

7:11 Wanted to announce community groups are starting this week. If you guys look in your bulletins, there should be a little cutout here that you can put fill out and then put into the offering plate when it comes by today. If you guys are interested, so it's going to be structured. It's going to be at someone's house. You're going have food in the beginning.

7:30 You're to have a little Bible discussion afterwards. Just really about building relationships with our church body and so that's what we're really hoping for. We're gonna see how these go. We'd love to get one over in Driggs. We'd love to get one Victor maybe more here.

7:46 And so we're gonna see how these go and then build from that. So if you guys have any questions, there's one on Tuesday starting at six, and then there's one at on Thursday starting at 05:30. But yeah.

7:57 Thank you very much. There's a Tuesday and a Wednesday and a Thursday option this go round. But we're trying to establish this and get get it going and growing. So, community groups, thank you, James. Nursery volunteers are needed.

8:18 This is a great service. It is an absolutely great service that you can offer and the volunteers needed. So, you can sign up today. It's possible. We we are, we will let you if you want to, okay?

8:30 And if you sign up today, you'll help Katie Davis to spread the load so that the ones who are currently serving don't get to keep hogging that blessing. Alright, if you look at it this way. So, if you use the service, we understand. You're around kids all the time and you're just like, oh, it's one hour a week. When I don't have to but it's one hour occasionally if a lot of people do it.

8:52 So, please, please, please, if you would, please sign up today and help out with the nursery volunteers. Do you have another slide for that, Blake? He had a picture of a sad child throwing a penny into a wishing well this morning. So, we have a lot of happy children. It's a great thing to have life in the church and young lives in the church is really really good.

9:16 It's a healthy and vibrant, thriving situation down there. So, if you want to help out, if you feel like gifted in that way or if you feel like, you know what, I might not be but I might be. Let's try it. Let's try it, okay? Sign up today.

9:26 There's discovery class today for those who are interested in membership or learning more about the beliefs, vision, ministry of First B. It's held regularly. I say regularly kind of loosely but it's held regularly on the third Sunday of the month. Gary Geek will be leading that today. Gary, would you stand up?

9:44 He is not scary. He is Gary and he's a good guy. If you would go in between services into my office, there's a table there. He's got a few membership information packets and you can kind of ask questions, find out more about the church, and we can hopefully find out a little more about you. That's a discovery class.

10:03 This is coming up. So, the World Day of Prayer. Every year, there's a World Day of Prayer and different it's the Women's World Day of Prayers what it has been called previously and it comes from a different group of women in a different part of the world. We did this a few years back and it was ladies from one country and this year, it's going to be ladies from Zimbabwe that have prepared this. Tanya is kind of heading up the a committee to a committee of one to help get this thing going at first be.

10:35 So, we are hosting this time, March 6, 03/06/2020, twelve to one. There's a lunch in there and she may be hitting you up to help out with that. Did you have anything else you want to say, Ty? Okay. We we have put the word out to other churches.

10:56 It is something where all of us will gather together. All the ladies will gather go from different churches and then go through this kind of a Bible study that the ladies of Zimbabwe have prepared for this year. So, it's going to be at first be twelve to one, 03/06/2020. Is there another announcement? I think that there is.

11:14 Would you come on up, Clay Erwin?

11:23 Good morning. Ray stole my thunder. Wanted to talk about the the nursery. There's a sign up sheet in the back and if you ran back there right now, you would not be the first one on the list. I am and I'm not going to ask you to do anything that I would do.

11:43 So, that's why I'm up here. I'm volunteering. I want you to know that and if I can do it, anybody can do it. So, if you have a moment, one Sunday, every other Sunday, once a month, twice a year, once a year, everything helps. Katie is a beautiful young mom and we want to keep her that way.

12:11 We don't we don't want to we we don't want her to start aging too quickly. So, sign up and I'll meet you downstairs to to help out with the with the

12:24 little ones but thank you. Alright. Thank you, Clay.

12:27 Appreciate

12:27 that. He just told me he want to he told me he wanted fifteen seconds. He didn't say what it was about. So, if y'all let me know that, that's how easy it is to get this microphone but no, Clay is actually the moderator of the church right now too and so when we meet in board of trustees meetings, we meet in elders meetings, we discuss things that are very important. We do want to make that an easier job for the nursery coordinator.

12:51 Please do sign up today and help out with that. I think that's it. Not right now. I think we're going do it at the end of the service. You could've worn shorts too this morning.

13:05 Would you all stand up? We're going to sing something. Y'all greet each other and we'll start singing something.

13:59 Oh, Lord, my God. When I, in awesome wonder, consider all the world's thy hand in the name. And I see the stars. I hear them rolling thunder that'll bow throughout the universe displayed. You know the chorus.

14:22 And sings my soul, my savior God to thee. How great thou art, how great thou art. And when through the woods and forest blades I wonder and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees. When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur and see the brook and feel the gentle breeze. Ellen sings my soul, my savior got to thee.

15:13 How great thou art, how great thou art. Ellen sings my soul, my savior God to thee. How great thou art, how great thou art. And when I think that God is some not sparing, sending him to die. Ice scarce can take it in.

15:43 And on that cross, my burden gladly bearing, great thou art, how great thou art, and sings my soul, my savior God to be. How great thou art,

16:35 God, as we have breath in our lungs, let us let us use it to to praise you, to glorify you. There are so many things to praise you for. Thank you for your goodness. Thank you for your mercy. Thank you God for creation.

16:47 Just looking around and and being able to to live where where we do, to be able to see, to be able to breathe, to be able to sing to you. It's a gift. Amen. I

17:06 know when I've why God's wondrous grace to me I've made known nor I unworthy. Christ in love redeemed me for his own. But I But I know I have believed it and I'm persuaded that he is able to keep that I've committed unto him against that day. I know not when the Lord may come at night day

19:59 God, as we're singing that song, I think, thank you

20:01 for faith. Thank you for

20:03 imparting faith. I don't know how this all works. I don't always know how the spirit moves. How how faith works but lord, you impart as we walk toward you. You work walk toward us.

20:14 You impart faith and then we act on that faith. May it be so. May it be so. Amen.

20:33 When darkness tries to roll over my bones, when sorrow comes to steal the joy I own. Brokenness and pain is all I know. Oh, I won't be shaken. I won't be shaken. My fear doesn't stand a chance when I stand in your chance when I stand in your love.

22:06 And there's power. There's power that can break off every chain.

23:06 Amen. Y'all can have a seat. I'm going invite the frontline team to come forward. God, I thank you for all of those who are here gathered in your name this morning. Lord, I pray that you would use your committed servants to do your will in this valley and in this world.

23:22 Lord, we have folks here from all over the place. Some of em from right here in town and others that are extending all the way to the other side of the globe. Lord, I thank you for the way that you are at work. You don't slumber nor sleep. You don't get tired.

23:37 You don't get weary. You're there when we call out. And you say that you will save. And we believe you. You say that you will sanctify if we will trust you.

23:48 Lord, help us with our unbelief. Help us to commit, lord, to commit our lives to your service, to purity, to holiness, to humility, and not pride. May we recognize your way, lord, and walk in it. This morning, as we come to this time of offering, lord, I pray that we would consider every gift that you've given, every good and perfect gift and that we'd put a portion back in the plates of the financial stuff but that we'd put our all, our all in metaphorically, lord. It would put every bit of everything that you have given us in to the advance of your kingdom.

24:32 Lord, would you do what you can do through us? Would you amaze us by what you can do through us? I pray lord that you'd surprise us this morning by how faithful you are. I pray that you'd surprise us lord by how you can and you do open the eyes of the blind. I pray that the scales would fall away.

24:55 In Jesus name, lord, would you do what only you can do? We'll leave the redemptive work up to you. Amen

25:17 It's the hardest thing to give away. Last thing in my day, it always goes to those who don't deserve. It's the opposite of how you feel when the pain they cause just too real. Takes everything you have to say in the word. Forgiveness.

25:46 Forgiveness. It flies in the face of all your pride, moves away the mountainside. It's always anger's own worst enemy. And even when the jury and the judge say you got a right to hold a grudge, it's whisper in your ear saying set it free. Forgive me.

26:19 I'm forgetting Help me now to do the impossible forgiveness. Forgiveness. So let him go and be amazed by what you see through eyes of grace. The prisoner that really freezes you. Forgive forgiveness, and show me how to love the unlovable.

27:34 Show me how to reach the unreachable. Help me now to do the impossible

28:23 It's time now for children's church and there's a middle school, high school girls study. No boys study today. Good morning. It feels weird when I'm ever away for a little while. It feels weird to get back up here.

28:37 And the last time that I preached, the right now, this is what we're going to cover today. Hebrews twelve fourteen through 28. If you've been here, not last week but the week before and building up, we've already covered 14 through 17. Actually, a couple of times but I'm going to hit it again because it leads into the message today. Hebrews twelve fourteen through 28 is what we're going to cover but last week, we hit this and pursue peace with all men and sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.

29:05 That is pursue peace and pursue sanctification. Go for it. Go after it. Go after peace. Be making the effort towards peace.

29:15 Be making the effort towards sanctification because it does require that you submit your will to God for him to sanctify. He promises he will do it but you have to submit your will to his will. You can resist. Don't. That's what the Hebrews author is saying.

29:36 Pursue peace with all men, sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it. It's a see to it. This is a command. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God.

29:45 It has to be about God's grace. It can't be about your works. It is about God's grace. See to it that no one misunderstand that. You cannot earn God's favor.

29:56 God loves you. He loves you and he stands ready to forgive. Instead of just you walking towards him and he's walking towards you, he is already leaning towards you. That's what grace means. A leaning towards with unmerited favor.

30:11 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God. See to it that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble and by many be defiled and when I hit that three weeks ago, it prompted a topical sermon on forgiveness and I covered this. I and I told a lot of you, this is what I usually go through in premarital counseling or in post wedding counseling. When the staying in the weed becomes difficult. So, God's love and truth flowing into individuals and then he has given us the glorious opportunity because it's not good for man or woman to be alone.

30:50 He's given us the opportunity to relate to others. Not always just in marriage but to relate to everyone around us and staying in the we is where God does some of his most profound and productive work and the overflow from the we is what has an influence on the community around us and even to the uttermost parts of the world. So, that's something that I love that beautiful picture but then I talked about this inner room. All of us have within ourself this section off little inner room here and we can fill up with God's love and truth but if you'll notice, that inner room is walled off from God's love and truth. It's the toxic place where we sit in our misery and our self righteousness and see all the ways we've been mistreated and it's a toxic toxic place and it is a great place for roots of bitterness to be nurtured and grown.

31:46 So, I'm going to come back to this. I feel like I did this last week. Alright, I got the how to deal with the past, at least the order of things, taking a full account and grieving and then asking God for forgiveness on our own sins. Receiving God's cleansing, confessing when it's appropriate and possible for our own past sins and then, sins committed against me, taking a full account, grieving, and then making a choice to forgive. I'm willing to be willing.

32:19 I'm willing to make a choice, to forgive. God, show me how. Help me with my unbelief. Help me when I try to pick this back up again and then, letting go of any expectation. Let it go.

32:29 That song, set it free, that forgiveness. You'll hear that again a couple of times probably soon. I I plan on coming back because last week, I ran through this because I was looking at the clock and we had communion still on the table. So, I ran through how to go forward. I realized that and I want to go through it.

32:49 Today is not the day. I'm still cooking that one, alright? There's more than one way to go forward. Hopefully, I told y'all this is my marriage and premarital. Hopefully, this is how to stay together but there are times when there's a sharp disagreement and there's not a way to stay together and so I'm still cooking that one.

33:10 Would you pray for me as I try to get the truth of the word to the hearts of the people? This is a text I got this week and I was trying to decide all day. I've I've been working on the forgiveness sermon. I got slides started but I'm just not finished. I'm not ready yet and I got a text yesterday that said this, hey, Ray.

33:30 Hope all is well. We'll be gone the next two Sundays. Well, thank you for telling me. See our daughters. We'll be praying for you as you close out Glorious Chapter 12.

33:37 I said, thank you lord for that word. So, this is what I'm doing. It's closing out the chapter 12 but this synopsis with Jesus, the new mediator of a new covenant and the kingdom that can't be shaken. How many of y'all feel shaken? Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant and the kingdom that can't be shaken which leads to worship with reverence.

34:06 Now, I'm fired up just writing that, he says. Love you and thanks for preaching and living the gospel. May it be true. Thank you. God is good and I appreciate the prayers.

34:14 I always do. Here we go. Hebrews twelve fourteen to 28. God, would you bless the proclamation of your word. Amen Starting back at pursue peace.

34:27 It's active. This is an active be pursuing peace. It is a command. Be pursuing peace with all men. There's no way around this.

34:36 This is you don't get to be the only one that's not doing it. Pursue peace with all men. Pursue sanctification. Go for it. God will transform you but it requires your submission.

34:50 See to it that no one come short of the grace of God. I just covered this. See to it that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble. Those two we've covered fairly well. The very next C to it is right here.

35:02 See to it that there but be no immoral or godless person like Esau. Three weeks ago, we went through this and I I think that I focused on a different part of this verse but I'm gonna just say, see to it that there be no, that word there for immoral or godless person is fornicator. That's what it is. Pornice. It's fornicator.

35:26 See to it that there be not. You don't hear me harping on different sins specifically very often. I'll say whatever the text says. I'm saying this one today because this is what it says. Do you understand?

35:38 See to it that there be no fornicator or godless person. Does that say we cast out anyone who is among us that is a fornicator? This is a direct message to each of us. It's directly to us. See to it.

35:53 That you don't fall into Esau's error. Esau's error was, I want what I want and I want it now and I'm willing to give up anything precious to me to get. See to it that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau who sold his own birthright for a single meal. Esau's error was given up which that which was intangible and not yet seen the blessing of his inheritance. For something that he could see, taste, touch, smell, enjoy right now.

36:33 See to it. That there, that you don't fall into Esau's error Of just trusting what you can see and experience in the right now. For you know that even afterwards, this is talking about after he had done what he did, stupid decision. He was tricked into it by his brother, the trickster, and his mama. For you know that even after it's when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected.

37:00 He was rejected because he made a choice and the choice made a difference. You can choose to reject God's urging. You can choose to harden your heart and not listen to his voice. You can choose to stay unsanctified in an area. But it's not good for you.

37:22 And you don't know the ramifications of what's going to happen in the future. So, see to it that there not be a fornicator or an immoral godless person like Esau. See to it that you don't fall into Esau's error. You know that even after when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected for he found no place for repentance. Though he sought for it, he sought for that blessing.

37:45 He sought for that blessing with tears. It never gets into in the text. It never says that he repented. He didn't repent of it. He regretted it but that's not the same thing as repenting.

37:57 He regretted a poor decision. How many of y'all regret a poor decision? Oh my goodness. God is merciful and he can forgive but there are consequences to action that you can't see right now. So, see to it that there not be any immoral or godless person, fornicator, specifically, like Esau.

38:22 And then we go into this. This is the new new today. For you have not come to. You have not come to this. Now, this was originally written first century Jewish background, people who had claimed Christ and so, the whole of the book of Hebrews is trying to get those folks who had claimed Christ not to go back to the shadow which is first century ritualistic, legalistic, Judaism.

38:49 Instead of what that pointed towards, instead of what the new covenant going back to the old covenant. For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched into a blazing fire into the darkness and gloom and whirlwind. This is where we aren't. We are not in the Old Testament. We are not at Sinai, Mount Sinai is what this is referring to right there where God gave the law, he shook the ground, and he gave the commands to Moses and it was something to behold.

39:22 You've not come to this mountain that can be touched with a blazing fire into darkness and the gloom and the whirlwind. This is things that people could see and experience and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. It is too much for us, lord. They covered their ears and Moses stood between them and God. For they could not bear the command.

39:49 If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned. There were some harsh penalties and they were there was no doubt about it and so terrible was the sight that Moses himself said, I am full of fear and trembling and who do they think better of? First century Jewish background. Folks, than Moses. Hebrews author is advocating for Christ being so much better as a son and not as a servant.

40:14 Moses was a servant and even a faithful servant. He's mentioned that multiple times but Christ is a son and he's seated at the right hand of the father. This is the place to stay. Don't go back to that. We have not come to this.

40:27 This is where we aren't. But verse 22, you have come to this. This is where we are. You have come to Mount Zion. This is not Mount Sinai.

40:37 This is not the old covenant. This is the new covenant. You've come to Mount Zion into the city of the living God. That city of God. It says, Abraham and Sarah were searching for that city whose foundations were in God.

40:52 You've come to that city. Mount Zion to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to the myriad of angels, and to the general assembly of the church of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven. And to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect. Is there a big contrast between these two? Yeah.

41:13 He's setting up a contrast that he's going to talk about further in 25 to 29 with the last warning before he gets to the close of this letter chapter 13 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant. It's not just that old covenant where it's all on you and there's no way out when you sin. You have come to Zion. You've come to Calvary. You've come to the place where Jesus is, the mediator of this new covenant and to the sprinkled blood.

41:45 Amen. They knew all about the sprinkling blood. Everything's purified with blood. We've already covered that multiple times in Hebrews. Jesus's blood was sprinkled and it speaks better than the blood of Abel.

41:56 If you remember back up to chapter 11, he talks about the blood of Abel still speaking. Cain slew Abel and Abel's blood still speaks. But Jesus's blood speaks better than that blood of Abel. So, this is not the old covenant. This is the new covenant.

42:14 So, with that in mind and this is where we get into some more new imperatives for today. Here's the warning. See to it that you do not refuse him who is speaking. If you go back to chapter two, chapter three, chapter four, it says, today, if you hear the voice of the Lord, do not harden your hearts like they did in the wilderness. See to it that you do not refuse capital H.

42:36 It's not just Ray that you're refusing. It's refuse him who is speaking. That's God. See to it that you do not refuse him who is speaking for if those did not escape, when they refused him, who warned them on Earth, who's that talking about? The wilderness generation, the wilderness generation, they did not escape when they refused and they bucked up against what God was directing them through Moses.

43:03 For if they, those did not escape, when they refused him who warned them on our small H, much less than will we escape. Oh my goodness. So, this is another one of those warning passages from Hebrews four, six, ten, twelve. Here they are. How much less than will we escape?

43:21 It's a argument from the lesser to the greater. How much less will we escape who turn away from him who warns us from heaven. God is actively speaking to us, says the writer of Hebrews. He's using the whole Old Testament and he's using the life of Christ and the history of the church. He's saying, how much more will we, how much less will we escape, who turn away from him who warns from heaven and his voice shook the earth then.

43:55 Now, if you look back in Exodus, you can see that God's voice shook the earth at Sinai and it describes a lot of this. Normally, I'd throw that up there. I did not put it in the slides this week. His voice shook the earth then but now he has promised saying, yet once more, I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven. This is the power of God.

44:17 This is from also a prophecy from Haggai two six. Haggai says this, for thus says the Lord of hosts. Once more in a little while and I'm going to shake the heavens and the earth. The sea and also the dry land. It's there's not anything that won't be shaken and in '21, he says, speak to Zerubabel, governor of Judah saying, I'm going to shake the heavens and the earth.

44:41 There was a display of God's power at Sinai but it is nothing like the display of God's power that is coming. This expression, verse 27 says, yet, once more, this expression, yet once more denotes the removing of all those things which can be shaken. I think right here of a wise man built his house upon a rock. Not on shifting sand. This expression yet wants more denotes removing of those things which can be shaken as of created things.

45:17 Our own inventions, our own ways. The argument from this writer from the book of Hebrews is that Jesus is the way. I know John said that but Jesus is the way. He is the only way. That's unshakable.

45:37 It's God's way. It's not created by hands. So, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Everything that we do for the Lord will remain. All else is wood, hay, and stubble will be burned up.

45:56 Yet, once more, I will shake not only the earth but also heaven. This yet once more denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken as of created things so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, drawing a conclusion from this. Since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken. Peter calls it an incorruptible hope.

46:20 Since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, don't be tempted by what you see and feel and hear and fear, hear, to go back to something that is safer. And narrower and not of God. That was of God for a time to point to this. You're here. Don't go back to that.

46:44 Also, don't fall off in this other ditch of license either. Let there be no fornicators among you. It's always bringing us back in with guardrails, right? Into a call to holiness. Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, even though you are in pain and maybe under persecution.

47:03 Let us show gratitude. Be thankful in all things for this is God's will concerning you in Christ Jesus. Let us show gratitude by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and with awe. If we're in a place where we are not thankful, if we're in a place where we don't recognize the kingdom that we have, that will not be shaken. If we're in a place where we are in our inner room, if I can use that and we're just seeing how bad things are for us.

47:37 We will be tempted to go just hide away. Christ, use me as you will. I'm thankful to be yours. It looks bad and I trust you. I think of David and the Psalms of David where he says, how long must I wrestle with my thoughts?

48:01 How long must I have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemies triumph over me? That sounds like a pretty bad day, right? How long? Oh Lord and then, he hits a great adversative conjunction but I trust in your unfailing love and my heart rejoices that you say from above.

48:21 Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant. If you have not trusted in him, you are living under the old covenant and probably not very well. If you fail in one point, James says, you have broken the whole law but Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant. He offers salvation. He offers forgiveness, Forgiveness.

48:45 He offers his love. And then having accepted that from last week or two weeks ago, forgiven people, forgive people. When you recognize that God has forgiven you, you can breathe. Freely, freely, I have received. Freely, freely, I give.

49:05 Let us show gratitude by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and all and that sounds beautiful and then the close is a is kind of a clincher. It's why this is a warning For our God is a consuming fire. Everything that is not devoted to him, everything that has not submitted to him. He's a consuming fire. I want to be a part of that consuming fire.

49:33 I want to be a part of and partake in as he says, as the writer of Hebrews says the beginning, that we can be partakers in this divine nature. Be a part of it. Let our souls burn for you, lord. May we be humble and recognize. The goodness that you offer.

49:53 May we be able, lord, to articulate that and offer it to others. In Jesus name, lord, we thank you and we thank you that the new covenant is on him and not on us but we are to walk in holiness. Would you give us the strength? Lord, to break the chains. Would you break those chains that bind us?

50:14 As we submit to you in Jesus name. Amen. So, these are the commands from today's passage from 14 through 28. This is it. Pursue peace with all men, okay?

50:26 Pursue peace with all men, not just half of em, not just the ones that agree with you. Pursue peace with all men. See to it and the see to it is a kind of an elevated imperative. I've I've mentioned earlier in this book that there are hortatory subjunctives and we'll get to the last one. That's what that is.

50:42 That's all of us together. Let's do this but the C to it is a high speech in the Greek. It's a high speech kind of a rhetorical device and it is this is extremely important people. That's what it is. It's really, really, really important.

50:58 Pursue peace with all men. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God. If anybody offers you any other gospel that says, you can do this or do that and by doing these things, you'll be saved. They're wrong. It is the grace of God freely accepted by his only way, Jesus Christ.

51:16 Pursue peace with all men. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God. It saves and it sanctifies. See to it that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble. Roots of bitterness will spring up.

51:29 We talked about forgiveness two weeks ago. We'll talk about it probably next week. It might be another week. See to it that no one falls to Esau's error. I do think that that's metaphorical about the fornication but it's also literal.

51:45 If that is your issue, if you have Tinder on your phone, delete it. Give it up. If you have grinder on your phone, give it up. If there are others, I don't know anything about. Give em up.

51:59 You don't need that temptation. You don't need that in your life. See to it that you don't fall. The Esau's error. See to it that you don't refuse him who is speaking.

52:09 Capital H, that's God. Hopefully, I am saying what he is saying. And then the hoardatory subjective, it kind of gathers us all back together here. Let us all, let us all show gratitude because that's how we can offer service to God. If we are constantly moping about what God has not done in our lives, it is very hard serve him.

52:33 But if we recognize what he has done in our life, then it's more encouraging for us and it's certainly more encouraging for everyone around us. So, let's all show gratitude because that's the way we can offer acceptable service to God. Our God is a consuming fire. Would you stand? Wait, wait a second.

52:51 What are we doing right now? We're doing a baptism. This, I love this. So, we have a song to play after the baptism that's called Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So. So, if you are a believer in Jesus, would you just say so?

53:07 Amen? Amen. Amen. It's awesome. So, today, Ginger is going to come up.

53:12 Ginger's around here somewhere. Ginger's going to come up and she is going to say something whether she says something into this microphone or not by being dumped. She is saying that she is one of the redeemed of the Lord and wants to walk together, walk forward in newness of life. I had a feeling that was going to happen. You don't want say

55:05 Let's sing of it.

55:18 He led me out of my desert and brought me into his streams river of living water. It turned my bitter and sweet, and all my burdens are lifted. They took the shackles off my feet. There's no sound louder there on evermore. Bore out your thankfulness and let it overflow.

56:01 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so. There is joy in the morning that springing up from my soul. There's life worth living because he calls me his own. And there's a hallelujah after sweet victory. And there's no sound loud and they hunt a captive set free.

56:35 There's no there's no sound. Loud and they hunt a captive set free. So let, so let the redeemed of the Lord say so. Sing of his promise is evermore. Pour out your thankfulness and let it overflow.

57:01 The redeemed of the Lord say so. And you're my deliverer. And you are my deliverer. The freedom I'm living in. You are my deliverer, you are my promise land you are.

57:24 You are my deliverer, you're the freedom I'm living in. You are my deliverer. You are my promise land. So let the redeemed of the Lord say so.

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Baptism Bitterness And Forgiveness Gratitude In Hard Times New Covenant Sexual Temptation Shaken Faith

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