WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:15.240 Please do be seated. 00:00:18.760 --> 00:00:24.019 The Olympic sprinter Linford Christie used to talk about the bee of the bang. 00:00:24.019 --> 00:00:31.519 If you want to do well in a race, you have to get out the blocks on the bee of the bang. 00:00:33.759 --> 00:00:35.600 Starting things well is important. 00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:39.859 How a sprinter gets out of the blocks, that's important. 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:45.060 In a rugby game, you want the person to catch the ball from the kickoff and not drop it. 00:00:45.260 --> 00:00:46.100 That's important. 00:00:46.840 --> 00:00:50.140 You want to get round to tidying the garage as you promised your wife you would. 00:00:50.960 --> 00:00:51.879 Thankfully, mine's left now. 00:00:52.439 --> 00:00:53.200 That's important. 00:00:55.020 --> 00:00:58.640 But what's more important is how you finish. 00:01:00.820 --> 00:01:02.580 It's great to start things. 00:01:04.659 --> 00:01:09.280 And that's what the writer is getting at here in Hebrews in chapters 3 to 4. 00:01:11.560 --> 00:01:13.520 Imagine, put yourself in these shoes. 00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:20.000 It's the first century AD, you're in a local church and you're sitting beside your ancestor. 00:01:21.520 --> 00:01:22.680 And we old ancestor. 00:01:22.680 --> 00:01:26.380 Well, to be honest, to be honest, she's struggling a bit. 00:01:27.880 --> 00:01:33.420 Catching up after the service over a cup of tea and you find out she's really struggling in her faith. 00:01:33.420 --> 00:01:38.780 And she says to you, do you know, when I was a Jew, I would go to the temple. 00:01:38.780 --> 00:01:43.219 I saw the priest when I sinned. 00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:46.700 I saw that sacrifice being killed before me for my sin. 00:01:46.900 --> 00:01:49.320 I saw their blood being sprinkled. 00:01:49.319 --> 00:01:50.319 Now I have nothing. 00:01:50.319 --> 00:01:52.439 Now I have nothing. 00:01:52.439 --> 00:01:56.699 I don't have those physical things. 00:01:56.699 --> 00:01:57.379 I can see. 00:01:57.379 --> 00:01:58.079 I can touch. 00:01:58.079 --> 00:01:58.739 I can smell. 00:01:58.739 --> 00:02:01.259 All I have now is this word. 00:02:01.260 --> 00:02:04.180 And you're thinking in your head. 00:02:04.180 --> 00:02:06.540 How can I encourage my ancestor? 00:02:06.540 --> 00:02:14.659 But before you're able to help counsel her, she lifts her head, looks you in the eyes and said, 00:02:15.819 --> 00:02:20.000 you know, when I started following Jesus, I thought it would be easy. 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:22.879 But life got harder. 00:02:25.060 --> 00:02:26.780 I preferred the things I could see. 00:02:26.780 --> 00:02:28.639 I almost preferred the things I could touch. 00:02:28.939 --> 00:02:32.360 And I didn't suffer as much before I followed Jesus. 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:35.659 I actually welcomed in the market. 00:02:37.199 --> 00:02:37.900 Not now. 00:02:37.960 --> 00:02:40.280 My friends don't really want much to do with me. 00:02:40.900 --> 00:02:43.060 They don't think much of me following Jesus. 00:02:46.180 --> 00:02:47.300 See, we antest her. 00:02:48.479 --> 00:02:49.500 She started well. 00:02:50.780 --> 00:02:51.960 But she's in danger. 00:02:53.479 --> 00:02:56.759 There's a huge temptation for her to go back to Judaism. 00:02:58.800 --> 00:03:01.460 And the temptation for her, it's real. 00:03:02.300 --> 00:03:04.840 And it's real for this church as well in this letter. 00:03:06.479 --> 00:03:09.180 Just remind yourselves, look at verse 1 of chapter 2. 00:03:09.659 --> 00:03:14.800 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 00:03:14.800 --> 00:03:20.560 Or look at verse 6 of chapter 3 in your Bibles, which you looked at last week. 00:03:20.560 --> 00:03:23.640 But Christ is faithful as the Son of God's house. 00:03:23.639 --> 00:03:25.059 And we are his house. 00:03:25.059 --> 00:03:30.579 If indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory. 00:03:31.899 --> 00:03:34.359 This church is in danger of going back. 00:03:34.360 --> 00:03:38.920 And the author, what's he done so far at this point? 00:03:38.920 --> 00:03:41.360 He's been talking about how Jesus is better. 00:03:42.200 --> 00:03:42.920 About his superiority. 00:03:43.880 --> 00:03:45.160 Superior to angels. 00:03:45.780 --> 00:03:46.720 Superior to humans. 00:03:46.920 --> 00:03:47.940 Superior to Moses. 00:03:47.939 --> 00:03:52.780 And if you turn your back on that, that's a serious thing. 00:03:55.780 --> 00:04:00.219 In the section last week, you saw that he's been comparing Moses and Jesus. 00:04:00.419 --> 00:04:03.620 And now, it's in our passage, he compares their followers. 00:04:05.939 --> 00:04:11.219 He'll say, if you turn your back on Jesus, you're just like your ancestors who followed Moses. 00:04:11.219 --> 00:04:14.219 So don't do that. 00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:16.240 Keep going. 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:18.579 And encourage one another to keep going. 00:04:20.100 --> 00:04:25.480 Before we dig into our passage and look at that, let me pray and ask God for his help again. 00:04:25.660 --> 00:04:26.120 Let's pray. 00:04:32.459 --> 00:04:36.100 Speak, O Lord, from your word, we ask this evening. 00:04:36.100 --> 00:04:41.320 Give us ears to hear what it is you have to say. 00:04:42.760 --> 00:04:47.100 Give us obedient hearts who will seek to follow you. 00:04:49.220 --> 00:04:51.960 Make us a people, we ask, that spur one another on. 00:04:53.420 --> 00:04:56.180 And so incline our hearts to your word, we ask, not to anything else to see. 00:04:57.080 --> 00:04:59.800 Open our eyes to see truly wonderful things in it. 00:05:01.939 --> 00:05:05.740 Unite our hearts in reverent fear of you and satisfy our hearts. 00:05:06.100 --> 00:05:07.600 In your steadfast love. 00:05:08.780 --> 00:05:09.800 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:05:10.500 --> 00:05:10.939 Amen. 00:05:12.840 --> 00:05:14.340 So two points for us this evening. 00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:16.120 First off, we're going to see a warning. 00:05:16.960 --> 00:05:19.000 Don't be like your unbelieving ancestors. 00:05:19.780 --> 00:05:25.360 And then an exhortation to listen to God and to encourage one another. 00:05:26.100 --> 00:05:27.740 Let's look at the warning first together. 00:05:29.580 --> 00:05:33.340 The author, I'm sure, of the Hebrews, as you picked up while looking at this book, 00:05:33.340 --> 00:05:34.740 he is a bit of a genius. 00:05:34.740 --> 00:05:41.699 He knows the people so well he is writing to and he constantly uses things that they get. 00:05:42.259 --> 00:05:43.600 Images they understand. 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:45.259 Metaphors they use. 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:49.680 And here in our section, with quoting Psalm 95, he does just that again. 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:56.519 The original readers were almost certainly Jewish and they would have known the story of the Exodus. 00:05:57.319 --> 00:06:03.220 Where God used those ten blows, the ten plagues, to free them from slavery in Egypt. 00:06:03.620 --> 00:06:05.280 He brought them through the Red Sea. 00:06:05.400 --> 00:06:08.939 He led them on a journey through the wilderness to the Promised Land. 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:11.199 It is truly epic. 00:06:11.199 --> 00:06:17.420 And the story we read of in the Exodus, it's a bit like our Christian life as well. 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:19.800 It's a great visual aid for us. 00:06:20.759 --> 00:06:23.039 As Christians, we were once in slavery to sin. 00:06:23.719 --> 00:06:28.099 And we were freed not by the blood of a lamb, but by the blood of Jesus Christ. 00:06:28.100 --> 00:06:35.320 And we are on a journey not to the Promised Land, Canaan, and rest there, but to the new creation. 00:06:35.939 --> 00:06:38.180 And eternal rest in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:06:38.180 --> 00:06:47.259 And in that original journey in the wilderness, the people, they all started off together. 00:06:48.160 --> 00:06:50.620 They all received the blessings of the covenant. 00:06:52.960 --> 00:06:54.240 But they didn't all make it. 00:06:55.840 --> 00:06:57.160 The journey was hard. 00:06:59.100 --> 00:07:00.740 People wanted to go back to Egypt. 00:07:00.740 --> 00:07:06.100 And the author of the Hebrews used a Psalm 95 here. 00:07:06.680 --> 00:07:08.860 Referring to Exodus chapter 17. 00:07:08.980 --> 00:07:12.519 I think numbers 14 as well, as he does so quote in this section. 00:07:13.040 --> 00:07:13.860 And remember the story. 00:07:13.960 --> 00:07:15.759 They'd seen these amazing things. 00:07:15.840 --> 00:07:17.280 They'd seen the rescue. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:19.259 The people were running out of water. 00:07:19.319 --> 00:07:21.939 And all of a sudden, they think God's somehow forgotten about them. 00:07:24.259 --> 00:07:27.340 They'd just been on the most daring rescue mission ever. 00:07:27.339 --> 00:07:31.759 Overnight, he provided for all of his people's needs. 00:07:32.519 --> 00:07:35.319 He was clearly committed to them time and time again. 00:07:36.479 --> 00:07:38.839 He gave evidence for it time and time again. 00:07:39.139 --> 00:07:41.639 He gave instructions to show them how to live as his people. 00:07:42.159 --> 00:07:45.579 And despite all that God had done, they whinged. 00:07:47.319 --> 00:07:50.159 But more than that, I think it also refers to numbers 14. 00:07:50.279 --> 00:07:54.759 When the people refused to go into the Promised Land, where they rebelled against God. 00:07:54.759 --> 00:08:00.039 They couldn't, or rather they wouldn't believe that God would lead them into this rest. 00:08:02.839 --> 00:08:03.639 It's there. 00:08:04.199 --> 00:08:05.319 It's in front of them. 00:08:05.860 --> 00:08:07.620 It's on the cusp of receiving it. 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:10.379 And they don't believe God. 00:08:11.899 --> 00:08:13.379 They hardened their hearts. 00:08:14.039 --> 00:08:16.279 Like Pharaoh before them. 00:08:17.740 --> 00:08:19.079 God had spoken to them. 00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:21.420 And they ignored it. 00:08:21.420 --> 00:08:21.480 They ignored it. 00:08:21.480 --> 00:08:28.140 And so what was meant to be a two-week journey was 40 years. 00:08:29.020 --> 00:08:30.160 A generation gone. 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:36.220 And the author to the Hebrews says to these people in this church, 00:08:36.659 --> 00:08:39.019 don't make the same mistake. 00:08:42.100 --> 00:08:44.320 And the Holy Spirit says the same thing to us today. 00:08:45.580 --> 00:08:47.840 Don't make that same mistake. 00:08:47.840 --> 00:08:50.820 See how verse 7 begins? 00:08:51.440 --> 00:08:53.780 So as the Holy Spirit says, 00:08:55.180 --> 00:08:59.899 Psalm 95 was written long before Hebrews was. 00:09:01.460 --> 00:09:01.980 And yet, 00:09:03.160 --> 00:09:04.540 God's speaking to us through it. 00:09:04.920 --> 00:09:05.720 Through the letter to Hebrews. 00:09:06.240 --> 00:09:07.420 And what's the heart of the warning? 00:09:07.560 --> 00:09:09.320 So as the Holy Spirit says, verse 7, 00:09:09.320 --> 00:09:10.160 today, 00:09:10.160 --> 00:09:10.360 today, 00:09:10.500 --> 00:09:12.120 if you hear his voice, 00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:16.620 do not harden your hearts. 00:09:23.620 --> 00:09:25.180 It's a stark warning, isn't it? 00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:31.080 And what I think is even more surprising is when you read the context of Psalm 95. 00:09:31.080 --> 00:09:34.200 You read the Psalm, 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:34.980 and it's amazing. 00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:38.420 It's this Psalm that causes you to praise God. 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:41.400 The first two thirds are majestic, 00:09:41.620 --> 00:09:42.220 and then there's this, 00:09:42.780 --> 00:09:43.100 oh, 00:09:43.879 --> 00:09:46.280 this clunky gear change it feels into this section. 00:09:47.879 --> 00:09:48.639 Why is that? 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:53.700 Well, I think it's because it's easy to praise God with your lips. 00:09:53.700 --> 00:09:56.660 And then in your heart, 00:09:56.740 --> 00:09:57.560 be far from him. 00:10:01.280 --> 00:10:02.920 The journey to the promised land, 00:10:03.440 --> 00:10:04.360 to God's rest, 00:10:04.400 --> 00:10:04.980 it was hard, 00:10:05.860 --> 00:10:06.640 it was tiring, 00:10:07.400 --> 00:10:08.960 there was temptations to turn back, 00:10:09.560 --> 00:10:10.759 and that's the same for us. 00:10:11.820 --> 00:10:13.360 Our journey to our eternal rest, 00:10:13.420 --> 00:10:14.360 and Lord Jesus Christ, 00:10:14.460 --> 00:10:14.980 the new creation, 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:16.160 it's long, 00:10:17.040 --> 00:10:17.980 it's hard, 00:10:18.700 --> 00:10:19.500 it's tiring, 00:10:20.500 --> 00:10:22.480 and there's temptations to turn back. 00:10:23.700 --> 00:10:26.900 Think again of their life, 00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:27.800 living in tents, 00:10:28.860 --> 00:10:30.020 never in houses. 00:10:30.400 --> 00:10:31.480 Houses were around at the time. 00:10:32.759 --> 00:10:33.480 Living in tents, 00:10:33.580 --> 00:10:35.340 that's what we're like here in our home, 00:10:35.379 --> 00:10:35.900 in our journey. 00:10:36.940 --> 00:10:37.680 Home's not here. 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:39.379 It's to come. 00:10:41.960 --> 00:10:43.480 So we don't want to get comfortable. 00:10:47.460 --> 00:10:48.759 Keep pressing on, 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:50.580 to enter the eternal rest, 00:10:50.960 --> 00:10:53.320 because Jesus is better. 00:10:53.700 --> 00:10:58.820 Now here's the question, 00:10:58.860 --> 00:10:59.800 which might come to your mind. 00:11:01.500 --> 00:11:02.940 Is it possible then, 00:11:03.379 --> 00:11:04.620 to be a Christian, 00:11:05.580 --> 00:11:07.200 and to not reach that finish line? 00:11:07.740 --> 00:11:09.160 To not enter that rest? 00:11:11.220 --> 00:11:12.259 That's a fair question, 00:11:12.300 --> 00:11:12.620 I think. 00:11:13.900 --> 00:11:15.080 That's the warning here, 00:11:15.140 --> 00:11:16.420 the end of the passage it seems. 00:11:16.419 --> 00:11:16.759 Well, 00:11:16.759 --> 00:11:20.339 I think the Bible's clear on this. 00:11:22.019 --> 00:11:23.679 You read chapters like John 6, 00:11:24.719 --> 00:11:25.860 John 10, 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:27.620 Romans 8, 00:11:28.379 --> 00:11:30.339 all that are saved are safe. 00:11:31.699 --> 00:11:32.719 No thing, 00:11:32.899 --> 00:11:33.699 no one, 00:11:34.179 --> 00:11:35.879 can pry you out of the Father's hand. 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:40.639 But then you read chapters like Matthew 24, 00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:43.539 1 Corinthians 10, 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:45.740 that causes us to check, 00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:46.620 are we saved? 00:11:47.720 --> 00:11:49.519 We read passages like these warnings in Hebrews 00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:50.639 at the start of chapter 2, 00:11:51.019 --> 00:11:52.259 verse 6 of chapter 3, 00:11:52.340 --> 00:11:53.179 our section today, 00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:55.139 how do we hold these in tension? 00:11:57.139 --> 00:11:57.320 Well, 00:11:57.320 --> 00:11:57.919 think of it this way, 00:11:57.980 --> 00:11:58.159 again, 00:11:58.159 --> 00:11:59.299 looking at the Israelites, 00:11:59.940 --> 00:12:01.299 who the authors of the Hebrew uses. 00:12:01.299 --> 00:12:03.399 Let's remember, 00:12:03.479 --> 00:12:04.620 they all heard the message, 00:12:05.419 --> 00:12:07.699 but not all of them believed. 00:12:08.939 --> 00:12:10.620 Their lack of faith showed 00:12:10.620 --> 00:12:12.479 that they didn't believe the message. 00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:13.559 They weren't saved 00:12:13.559 --> 00:12:15.359 because they rejected God's word, 00:12:16.659 --> 00:12:19.559 despite having all the blessings of the covenant. 00:12:20.939 --> 00:12:22.599 They presumed they were fine, 00:12:23.599 --> 00:12:24.939 but they disobeyed 00:12:24.939 --> 00:12:26.740 because their hearts did not believe. 00:12:28.139 --> 00:12:29.299 And we see this in church too, 00:12:29.359 --> 00:12:29.679 don't we? 00:12:31.299 --> 00:12:33.719 People know the Bible. 00:12:34.679 --> 00:12:35.879 They listen to sermons. 00:12:36.959 --> 00:12:38.059 They have the Lord's Supper. 00:12:39.539 --> 00:12:40.699 They look like Christians. 00:12:40.819 --> 00:12:41.620 People think they are Christians. 00:12:41.719 --> 00:12:42.740 Perhaps they think they're Christians. 00:12:43.179 --> 00:12:44.159 And yet, at heart, 00:12:44.259 --> 00:12:46.479 they don't believe the gospel. 00:12:49.240 --> 00:12:51.740 We can sometimes slip into that way of thinking. 00:12:53.559 --> 00:12:54.519 We think we're fine 00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:56.559 because we go to this church, 00:12:56.679 --> 00:12:58.439 not that church down the road. 00:12:59.019 --> 00:12:59.819 We think we're fine 00:12:59.820 --> 00:13:02.780 because we're a well-known family in the free church. 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:04.240 We think we're fine 00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:05.820 because we're in the CU exec, 00:13:06.060 --> 00:13:07.780 or we use our annual leave to help with camps, 00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:09.180 or this, or that. 00:13:09.340 --> 00:13:09.980 And yet, 00:13:10.040 --> 00:13:11.240 we can enjoy the blessings 00:13:11.240 --> 00:13:13.560 of being part of God's covenant people, 00:13:14.200 --> 00:13:16.800 and yet have unbelieving hearts. 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:21.539 See, like the Israelites in the wilderness, 00:13:21.539 --> 00:13:23.159 so it is in the church 00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:24.699 where you have the visible church, 00:13:25.219 --> 00:13:27.879 those who seem to belong to Christ, 00:13:27.959 --> 00:13:28.519 but within that, 00:13:28.620 --> 00:13:30.379 there's the invisible church, 00:13:30.439 --> 00:13:32.559 those who truly belong to Christ. 00:13:35.139 --> 00:13:36.120 All here, 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:38.500 but not all are saved. 00:13:38.500 --> 00:13:42.120 But make no mistake, 00:13:42.840 --> 00:13:46.399 when God breaks into someone's life, 00:13:46.899 --> 00:13:49.519 when He puts His Spirit into their hearts, 00:13:49.580 --> 00:13:51.379 He saves them forever. 00:13:54.840 --> 00:13:57.600 And the danger when looking at topics like this 00:13:57.600 --> 00:14:00.379 is that often the wrong people are unsettled. 00:14:00.379 --> 00:14:03.799 If you're here listening 00:14:03.799 --> 00:14:05.720 and you're a bit worried 00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:06.919 about what you're hearing, 00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:10.759 that's probably a good thing, 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:13.480 because it means that your heart is soft 00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:15.200 and not hard. 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:19.179 We are warned in this passage, 00:14:19.419 --> 00:14:22.320 don't be like your unbelieving ancestors. 00:14:24.220 --> 00:14:26.639 Then notice the exhortation in the middle 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:27.799 to listen to God 00:14:27.799 --> 00:14:30.199 and encourage one another. 00:14:33.299 --> 00:14:34.679 The way to keep going, 00:14:35.219 --> 00:14:37.039 the way to persevering to the end 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:39.219 is to listen to God's Word. 00:14:39.299 --> 00:14:40.699 So the question is simple, isn't it? 00:14:40.719 --> 00:14:41.699 When God speaks, 00:14:43.019 --> 00:14:43.639 when we sing, 00:14:43.859 --> 00:14:44.579 speak, O Lord, 00:14:45.439 --> 00:14:47.620 do we listen? 00:14:50.659 --> 00:14:52.019 When you listen to God's Word 00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:53.639 being explained here, 00:14:53.740 --> 00:14:54.459 are you listening? 00:14:54.539 --> 00:14:55.839 Is it in one ear, out the other? 00:14:55.840 --> 00:14:59.600 When you go to a midweek Bible study 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:01.340 in a one-to-one in your own quiet time, 00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:03.860 how do you respond to God's Word? 00:15:06.160 --> 00:15:08.000 See, because how we relate to God's Word 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:10.980 tells us a lot about how we relate to God. 00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:14.500 Think back to the start of Hebrews 1, 00:15:14.500 --> 00:15:15.019 verse 1, 00:15:15.060 --> 00:15:15.920 if you've got your Bible open. 00:15:16.340 --> 00:15:17.060 Long ago, 00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:18.100 at many times, 00:15:18.180 --> 00:15:19.060 and in many ways, 00:15:19.540 --> 00:15:21.420 God spoke to our fathers by the prophets. 00:15:22.280 --> 00:15:23.360 But in these last days, 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:25.500 He has spoken to us by His Son. 00:15:27.820 --> 00:15:29.180 I think we can infer from this 00:15:29.180 --> 00:15:30.840 that to reject God's voice in the Bible 00:15:30.840 --> 00:15:32.019 is to reject God's Son. 00:15:33.460 --> 00:15:35.159 So it's a serious thing, isn't it, 00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:35.899 if we're not listening? 00:15:38.580 --> 00:15:39.320 Or think about when someone 00:15:39.320 --> 00:15:40.419 says something to you 00:15:40.419 --> 00:15:42.519 and your conscience is pricked. 00:15:43.800 --> 00:15:44.580 What do you do? 00:15:44.580 --> 00:15:49.120 God's Word cuts us to the core, 00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:50.600 as you'll see next week. 00:15:52.700 --> 00:15:56.040 I think this passage is immensely challenging, 00:15:56.139 --> 00:15:56.580 isn't it? 00:15:59.060 --> 00:16:00.700 But also really encouraging. 00:16:02.060 --> 00:16:03.600 Did you see the repeated words here 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:04.639 as the section went through? 00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:07.080 Today. 00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:12.580 We aren't called to worry 00:16:12.580 --> 00:16:13.720 about our faithfulness tomorrow. 00:16:15.420 --> 00:16:16.120 Just today. 00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:20.160 Doesn't ask us to fight all temptation 00:16:20.160 --> 00:16:21.100 we'll face at once. 00:16:22.900 --> 00:16:23.600 Just today. 00:16:27.139 --> 00:16:28.040 Not asked to think 00:16:28.040 --> 00:16:29.560 if we'll trust God tomorrow 00:16:29.560 --> 00:16:31.180 or if we'll listen to Him tomorrow. 00:16:34.040 --> 00:16:35.300 Just make sure you listen today. 00:16:37.080 --> 00:16:39.420 See that three times in our section? 00:16:39.980 --> 00:16:41.480 Verses 7, 13, 15. 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:43.020 Today, today, today. 00:16:44.620 --> 00:16:45.660 See, listening to God 00:16:45.660 --> 00:16:46.540 is what's essential 00:16:46.540 --> 00:16:47.580 for a believing heart. 00:16:49.820 --> 00:16:50.840 But here we see that 00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:52.300 a believing heart manifests itself 00:16:52.300 --> 00:16:52.940 in another way. 00:16:54.800 --> 00:16:56.240 A believing heart looks like 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:58.320 is seen in encouraging one another 00:16:58.320 --> 00:17:00.000 in their walk with God. 00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:02.560 Have a read with me 00:17:02.560 --> 00:17:04.140 from verse 12. 00:17:04.140 --> 00:17:07.580 See to it, brothers and sisters, 00:17:07.580 --> 00:17:08.380 that none of you 00:17:08.380 --> 00:17:10.200 has a sinful, unbelieving heart 00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:11.440 that turns away 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:12.259 from the living God. 00:17:13.140 --> 00:17:14.920 But encourage one another daily 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:16.600 as long as it is called today 00:17:16.600 --> 00:17:17.960 so that none of you 00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:18.720 may be heartened 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:19.840 by sin's deceitfulness. 00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:22.540 We have come to share in Christ 00:17:22.540 --> 00:17:23.340 if indeed 00:17:23.340 --> 00:17:25.240 we hold our original conviction 00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:25.800 firmly 00:17:25.800 --> 00:17:27.180 to the very end. 00:17:27.180 --> 00:17:34.900 How often do you need encouragement 00:17:34.900 --> 00:17:35.620 to follow Jesus? 00:17:37.340 --> 00:17:38.779 How often do I need encouragement 00:17:38.779 --> 00:17:39.460 to follow Jesus? 00:17:40.820 --> 00:17:41.460 More importantly, 00:17:41.560 --> 00:17:42.560 what does God's word say? 00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:44.440 How often does God think 00:17:44.440 --> 00:17:45.160 we need encouragement 00:17:45.160 --> 00:17:45.840 to follow Jesus? 00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:48.860 Every day. 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:52.440 Every day we need encouragement 00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:53.140 to follow Jesus. 00:17:53.140 --> 00:17:55.960 And who does this encouragement? 00:17:57.960 --> 00:17:59.860 Is it James and the elders? 00:18:01.360 --> 00:18:01.920 Yes. 00:18:03.360 --> 00:18:04.580 It's not just them, is it? 00:18:06.920 --> 00:18:08.680 See to it, brothers and sisters, 00:18:09.620 --> 00:18:10.220 one another, 00:18:10.360 --> 00:18:12.540 encourage one another daily. 00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:15.740 It's something we're all called to do 00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:16.420 with one another. 00:18:18.200 --> 00:18:20.140 So what does that mean practically? 00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:21.540 It means that after church tonight, 00:18:21.539 --> 00:18:23.480 we don't just want small talk. 00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:27.159 We want proper talk. 00:18:28.299 --> 00:18:29.619 We want to encourage one another. 00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:34.539 We want to encourage one another every day. 00:18:34.839 --> 00:18:38.279 So it means we probably need to see Christians 00:18:38.279 --> 00:18:39.460 more than once a week on a Sunday. 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:42.079 If you're not part of a CDG, 00:18:42.899 --> 00:18:43.519 that's the website, 00:18:43.639 --> 00:18:44.379 it says you call them brackets, 00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:46.420 community discipleship groups, CDGs, 00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:47.259 join one. 00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:50.200 Because we need encouraged. 00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:54.059 If you genuinely can't be part of one, 00:18:55.139 --> 00:18:57.460 get good friends who will spot when you drift, 00:18:58.200 --> 00:18:59.980 when your zeal goes. 00:19:04.839 --> 00:19:07.039 It would be good for us to ask ourselves as well, 00:19:07.700 --> 00:19:10.720 are there the beginnings of an unbelieving heart in me? 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:15.500 What does that look like? 00:19:15.579 --> 00:19:15.740 Well, 00:19:16.339 --> 00:19:18.920 am I giving opportunities to suggestions, 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:20.440 clothed in fine words, 00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:22.240 that God is not wholly good, 00:19:23.180 --> 00:19:25.120 that I can't really trust his way to live? 00:19:28.019 --> 00:19:28.779 Be careful, 00:19:28.920 --> 00:19:29.860 because sin's deceptive, 00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:30.559 as we see here. 00:19:31.380 --> 00:19:32.420 Satan's the deceiver. 00:19:32.420 --> 00:19:32.480 Satan's the deceiver. 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:38.200 To keep going to the air, 00:19:38.259 --> 00:19:39.759 we're called to encourage one another, 00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:42.680 called to exhort one another. 00:19:45.180 --> 00:19:46.400 Sometimes that hurts, 00:19:47.400 --> 00:19:49.860 but we don't do it out of spite, 00:19:50.860 --> 00:19:54.400 because we don't want our friends' hearts to harden, 00:19:54.640 --> 00:19:54.900 to drift. 00:19:54.940 --> 00:19:56.700 We don't want our own hearts to harden and drift. 00:19:56.700 --> 00:19:58.720 I love the proverb, 00:19:58.900 --> 00:20:00.299 the kisses of an enemy multiply, 00:20:00.900 --> 00:20:02.740 but faithful are the wounds of a friend. 00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:06.460 What else does that look like to encourage one another? 00:20:06.620 --> 00:20:06.759 Well, 00:20:07.080 --> 00:20:08.220 when with Christian friends, 00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:09.960 we don't want to spur one another on 00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:12.100 into banter that's gone too far. 00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:13.019 I'm guilty of that, 00:20:13.059 --> 00:20:13.480 to be honest. 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:15.559 We think we're fine, 00:20:15.660 --> 00:20:15.940 we get, 00:20:16.259 --> 00:20:16.940 enjoy the banter, 00:20:17.059 --> 00:20:18.539 and sometimes we get caught up in a moment, 00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:19.880 and things go too far. 00:20:21.799 --> 00:20:23.380 Or when we're with our spouse, 00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:26.299 be careful that we don't play one another on, 00:20:26.299 --> 00:20:27.359 inside and sin, 00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:29.059 egg each other on. 00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:32.019 There's someone perhaps who, 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:33.879 who does your head in, 00:20:34.460 --> 00:20:35.619 so you mention it to your spouse, 00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:35.899 then you, 00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:38.159 it's a very gossip session about them. 00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:41.619 Encourage one another. 00:20:42.659 --> 00:20:43.859 Don't let your anger, 00:20:44.859 --> 00:20:45.899 be an excuse either. 00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:47.859 I said, 00:20:47.980 --> 00:20:49.220 encourage one another in holiness. 00:20:50.159 --> 00:20:51.759 Play one another on side in holiness. 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.319 Friends, 00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:55.339 friends, 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:58.500 what we see here in the section is that we are never cruising to glory. 00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:01.200 There is no cruise control, 00:21:01.319 --> 00:21:03.379 there's no autonomous driving to glory. 00:21:03.619 --> 00:21:04.019 Together, 00:21:04.420 --> 00:21:05.599 we are heading to glory. 00:21:07.559 --> 00:21:08.839 And to help us keep going, 00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:10.259 we need one another. 00:21:11.119 --> 00:21:14.000 We need to share the generous gospel word of encouragement. 00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:16.379 And anyone who's a Christian can do that. 00:21:16.380 --> 00:21:22.020 You don't need a PhD in Hebrew syntax or anything like that to say, 00:21:22.440 --> 00:21:23.680 how was your week? 00:21:24.560 --> 00:21:25.700 I was praying for you. 00:21:27.600 --> 00:21:30.540 Why don't we read Psalm 130 we looked at in church this morning? 00:21:31.660 --> 00:21:33.500 Be reminded of how good the gospel is. 00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:37.180 So friends, 00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:37.980 if you're a Christian, 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:41.980 if you've come to share in Christ and in his salvation, 00:21:42.759 --> 00:21:44.160 as the author to the Hebrew says, 00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:47.140 if today you hear his voice, 00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:49.259 and you have, 00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:50.039 we've been looking at it, 00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:51.720 don't harden your heart. 00:21:53.299 --> 00:21:53.700 Instead, 00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:55.000 use what God has given us, 00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:55.440 his word, 00:21:55.539 --> 00:21:56.480 that firm foundation, 00:21:56.980 --> 00:21:59.640 and one another to speak the gospel, 00:22:00.140 --> 00:22:01.319 to encourage one another, 00:22:01.319 --> 00:22:02.679 to keep going, 00:22:03.639 --> 00:22:04.819 so we fight sin together. 00:22:05.939 --> 00:22:06.679 Let me pray. 00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:18.119 Our Father, 00:22:18.179 --> 00:22:18.679 in one sense, 00:22:18.819 --> 00:22:21.359 this section here is really straightforward. 00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:24.339 And in another sense, 00:22:24.379 --> 00:22:25.579 it is really hard to live out. 00:22:27.679 --> 00:22:30.779 But thank you that you have given us all that we need to keep going. 00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:33.059 Your word to hear your voice, 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:35.740 and one another to speak it to you. 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:41.200 May you help us here in Becloof Free Church, 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:43.099 in our CDGs, 00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:47.000 to be a people who are known for encouraging one another. 00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:50.679 Friends who we can just drop a text to, 00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:51.639 and we need that encouragement. 00:22:54.359 --> 00:22:55.980 And the words to say to one another, 00:22:56.099 --> 00:22:59.019 to remind ourselves that you are good, 00:22:59.019 --> 00:23:00.059 and the gospel is true. 00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:02.019 That Jesus is better, 00:23:02.119 --> 00:23:02.759 he is worth it, 00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:03.819 so let's keep going together. 00:23:07.660 --> 00:23:08.259 And Father, 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:09.059 for those who are, 00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:11.859 who are shaken by the warnings here, 00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:17.240 may they know that no one can pry them out of the Father's hand. 00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:20.859 And for those here who, 00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:22.500 perhaps have hard hearts, 00:23:23.379 --> 00:23:25.000 may tonight your word have softened them, 00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:26.380 and cause them, 00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:27.359 again, 00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:28.240 to turn to you, 00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:31.019 and to want to go hard after following the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:23:34.660 --> 00:23:35.019 Father, 00:23:35.180 --> 00:23:36.599 by your grace and for your glory, 00:23:36.700 --> 00:23:38.000 help us to keep going to the end, 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:40.359 to persevere to the end, 00:23:40.740 --> 00:23:43.079 and enter that rest in Christ. 00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:45.579 It's in his name we pray. 00:23:46.579 --> 00:23:46.900 Amen. 00:23:46.900 --> 00:23:53.640 God's word is a firm foundation in our lives. 00:23:53.860 --> 00:23:54.980 Let's thank him for that. 00:23:55.300 --> 00:23:56.500 Let's praise him for it, 00:23:56.580 --> 00:23:58.080 and sing the great song together, 00:23:58.140 --> 00:24:00.019 how firm a foundation. 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:00.660 Then afterwards, 00:24:00.840 --> 00:24:03.040 please remain standing for our benediction. 00:24:05.120 --> 00:24:06.019 Let's stand and sing. 00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:06.080 Amen. 00:24:06.080 --> 00:24:06.220 Amen. 00:24:06.220 --> 00:24:07.019 Amen. 00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:08.019 Amen. 00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:09.019 Amen. 00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:10.019 Amen. 00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:11.019 Amen. 00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:12.019 Amen. 00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:13.019 Amen. 00:24:13.019 --> 00:24:14.019 Amen. 00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:15.019 Amen. 00:24:15.019 --> 00:24:16.019 Amen. 00:24:16.019 --> 00:24:16.880 Amen. 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:23.300 How firm a foundation, 00:24:23.840 --> 00:24:26.460 you saints of the Lord, 00:24:26.900 --> 00:24:30.000 is laid for your faith, 00:24:30.120 --> 00:24:33.480 in his excellent word. 00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:37.180 What more can he say, 00:24:37.420 --> 00:24:40.580 than to you he has said? 00:24:41.060 --> 00:24:46.100 For you who for refuge to Jesus 00:24:46.099 --> 00:24:47.099 have led? 00:24:47.099 --> 00:24:56.119 Fear not, I am with you, 00:24:56.119 --> 00:24:59.179 O be not dismayed, 00:24:59.179 --> 00:25:02.480 for I am your God, 00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:05.859 and will still give you weight. 00:25:06.059 --> 00:25:08.699 I'll strengthen you, 00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:10.059 help you, 00:25:10.059 --> 00:25:11.059 and cause you to stand, 00:25:11.059 --> 00:25:12.720 and cause you to stand, 00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:16.960 upheld by my gracious, 00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:20.079 omnibult and happy. 00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:21.079 when through the deep waters, 00:25:21.079 --> 00:25:33.519 when through the deep waters I call you to go, 00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:40.359 the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow. 00:25:40.359 --> 00:25:43.359 for I will be with you, 00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:44.359 for I will be with you, 00:25:44.359 --> 00:25:47.359 your trouble to bless, 00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:51.359 and sanctify to you, 00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:55.359 your deepest distress. 00:25:55.359 --> 00:26:02.359 when through fiery trials, 00:26:02.359 --> 00:26:05.359 your pathway shall light, 00:26:05.359 --> 00:26:09.359 my grace all sufficient, 00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:12.359 shall be your supply. 00:26:12.359 --> 00:26:17.359 the flames shall alarm you, 00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:19.359 I only decide, 00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:22.359 your trust to consume, 00:26:22.359 --> 00:26:27.359 and your gold to refine. 00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:37.819 the soul that our Jesus 00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:40.359 does not lead or impose, 00:26:40.359 --> 00:26:44.359 I will not, I will not 00:26:44.359 --> 00:26:47.359 desert to his foes. 00:26:47.359 --> 00:26:51.359 That soul though I'll have, 00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:54.359 should endeavor to shake, 00:26:54.359 --> 00:26:57.359 I'll never, 00:26:57.359 --> 00:26:58.359 no never, 00:26:58.359 --> 00:27:04.359 no never forsake. 00:27:06.359 --> 00:27:09.359 Here's God's blessing from Hebrews 13. 00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:11.359 Now may the God of peace, 00:27:11.359 --> 00:27:12.359 who brought again from the dead, 00:27:12.359 --> 00:27:13.359 our Lord Jesus, 00:27:13.359 --> 00:27:15.359 the great shepherd of the sheep, 00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:17.359 by the blood of the eternal covenant, 00:27:17.359 --> 00:27:21.359 equip you with everything good, 00:27:21.359 --> 00:27:23.359 that you may do his will, 00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:26.359 working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, 00:27:26.359 --> 00:27:28.359 through Jesus Christ, 00:27:28.359 --> 00:27:29.359 to whom be glory, 00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:30.359 forever and ever. 00:27:30.359 --> 00:27:31.359 Amen.