WEBVTT

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 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,

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 Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion

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 on the day of testing in the wilderness,

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 where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for 40 years.

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 Therefore, I was provoked with that generation and said,

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 They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways.

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 As I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest.

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 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart,

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 leading you to fall away from the living God.

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 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called today,

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 that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

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 For we have come to share in Christ,

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 if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

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 As it is said,

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 Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.

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 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled?

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 Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses?

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 And with whom was he provoked for 40 years?

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 Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?

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 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest,

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 but to those who were disobedient?

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 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

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 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands,

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 let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.

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 For good news came to us just as to them,

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 but the message they heard did not benefit them,

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 because they were not united by faith with those who listened.

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 For we have believed, sorry, we who have believed enter that rest,

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 as he has said.

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 As I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest.

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 Although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.

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 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way,

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 and God rested on the seventh day from all his works.

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 And again in this passage he said,

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 they shall not enter my rest.

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 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it,

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 and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience,

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 again he appoints a certain day, today,

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 saying through David so long afterwards,

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 in the words already quoted,

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 Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.

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 For if Joshua had given them rest,

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 God would not have spoken of another day later on.

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 So then there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,

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 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

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 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest,

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 so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

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 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword,

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 piercing the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow,

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 and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

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 And no creature is hidden from his sight,

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 but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him whom we must give account.

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 Good morning, everyone.

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 Can I encourage you to have your Bibles open at Hebrews chapters 3 and 4?

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 I'm about to embark on the sheer madness of trying to teach this entire passage in one talk,

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 a passage which refers to the books of Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, Joshua and Psalms,

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 and it has something to say about each of them.

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 So I think we're going to need God's help.

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 So how about I'm going to need God's help,

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 and you're going to need God's help to listen.

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 So let's pray and ask for God's help.

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 Heavenly Father, we thank you that we can spend this time together meditating on your word,

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 and please give me clarity of thought and expression as I teach it,

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 and may my words be faithful and true.

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 And we pray that all of us might draw encouragement from this portion of the scriptures today.

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 In Jesus' name, amen.

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 What do you think is the defining feature of our day?

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 Is it computer technology, smartphones, social media, the internet, artificial intelligence?

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 Over the last 50 years, computers and associated technologies have moved from being something marginal

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 to something that pervades every aspect of our lives.

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 And now that the AI cat is out of the bag, some jobs are disappearing,

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 many other jobs are changing, and the world will never be the same again.

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 Is that the defining feature of our age?

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 Maybe the defining feature of our day is gender confusion.

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 The ideology of expressive individualism has run roughshod over science,

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 over natural law, over logic, and over common sense,

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 so that now the midwife who makes the plain observation and says it's a girl

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 is guilty of the crime of assigning gender at birth.

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 Maybe that's the defining feature of our day.

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 Or is the defining feature of our day political polarisation?

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 A hardening of positions, progressive and conservative, left and right,

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 and a decay, a consequent decay of public discourse, a decay of reasonable debate.

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 Everything's political spin and name-calling and accusations and demonisation and scaremongering.

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 And increasingly, people are locked into online echo chambers

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 where they only hear their own opinions voiced back to them.

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 Maybe that's the defining feature of our day.

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 Or maybe the defining feature of our day is climate change, environmental degradation,

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 the age of the Anthropocene where human activity has become,

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 the impact of human activity on our world has become so great

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 that the natural world is starting to collapse under the weight of it.

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 No, we live in anxious times.

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 Things fall apart.

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 The centre cannot hold.

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 Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.

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 That's how William Butler Yeats described the atmosphere in post-World War Europe in 1919.

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 But they're words that could fit our day.

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 The doomsday clock has been set to 89 seconds to midnight.

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 According to its custodians, this is,

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 the world is the closest it has ever been to catastrophe.

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 We live in a world on the brink.

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 And yet for all this, the Bible says there is another,

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 much more important defining feature of the present time.

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 Today is the day when the voice of God is heard.

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 Hebrews chapter 3 verse 7.

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 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,

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 today, if you hear his voice.

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 The first part of that verse are the words of the author of Hebrews.

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 The second part of that verse,

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 in the second part of that verse,

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 he begins to quote from Psalm 95.

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 Psalm 95 verses 7 to 11.

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 And Hebrews takes that Old Testament passage,

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 Psalm 95,

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 and applies it directly to the New Testament Christian readers and hearers of this book.

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 This is what the Holy Spirit says to you today.

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 Down in verse 13, he says,

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 exhort one another every day so long as it is called today.

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 He picks up that idea of today and says this entire present time is a succession of today's.

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 A sequence of days in which the voice of God is heard.

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 If you're flying on a plane and sipping a cup of tea and doing a crossword and listening to some music on your earphones

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 and suddenly the captain's voice comes across the speakers,

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 attention, the plane's engines have failed.

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 We're gliding over open sea and we'll crash into it within the next three minutes.

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 Listen carefully and I'll tell you how you can survive.

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 Well, you would first regret that you hadn't paid any attention to the safety briefing at the start of your flight.

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 And second, give the captain your full attention.

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 Cups of tea and crosswords would be forgotten.

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 The most important feature of today,

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 as long as it's called today,

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 is that we hear the voice of God and give it our full attention.

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 But the word of God we hear is not a new word.

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 We don't seek God's word in visions and dreams.

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 The word of God we hear is the ancient word indelibly written down,

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 passed down through the centuries and spoken afresh to each generation by the Holy Spirit.

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 The ancient word is the present word.

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 The Holy Spirit is speaking to us today in the words of the scriptures.

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 Now, the author of the Hebrews,

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 the author of this book,

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 takes the ancient word of Psalm 95 and applies it to the Christians he's addressing.

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 We can go a step further.

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 We can take this entire passage,

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 Hebrews 3 and 4,

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 as an ancient word addressed in the present to us.

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 This Hebrews 3 and 4,

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 an ancient word which includes the even more ancient word of Psalm 95.

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 So what is the Holy Spirit saying to us today from Psalm 95 and from Hebrews chapters 3 and 4?

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 Well, verse 7 again,

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 therefore it begins,

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 therefore.

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 Now,

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 that is what he's going to say in this passage is an implication of what he's just said before.

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 What has he just said before?

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 Well,

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 earlier in chapter 3,

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 he said in verse 3 that Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses.

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 Won't go into why Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses.

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 That would be to repeat the message from last week.

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 But the point is,

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 the one we follow,

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 Jesus,

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 is more glorious than the one the ancient Israelites followed,

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 Moses.

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 The one through whom God has spoken to us,

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 Jesus,

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 is more glorious than the one through whom God spoke to them,

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 Moses.

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 Because Jesus is greater than Moses,

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 therefore,

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 as the Holy Spirit says,

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 verse 7,

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 today,

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 if you hear his voice,

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 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion on the day of testing in the wilderness,

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 where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for 40 years.

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 Therefore,

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 I was provoked with that generation and said,

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 they always go astray in their heart.

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 They have not known my ways.

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 As I swore in my wrath,

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 they shall not enter my rest.

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 That's the ancient word that the writer to the Hebrews quotes as a present word for his hearers.

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 We're not going to spend much time on verses 7 to 11 directly here,

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 partly because we've got another 21 verses to get through.

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 But more importantly,

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 because what the Bible then does is draw out three specific things from that quotation from Psalm 95.

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 This is what Psalm 95 is saying to you today.

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 But I do want to make one further observation before we get to those three things.

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 And that is,

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 so far I've been glossing over a nuance of the text.

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 Notice verse 7 actually implies two acts of hearing.

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 As the Holy Spirit says,

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 today if you hear his voice.

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 Perhaps we could say two moments of divine speech.

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 There's an initial moment of divine communication,

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 if you hear his voice.

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 And then there's another moment,

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 as the Holy Spirit says.

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 That is,

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 the Holy Spirit is instructing us in what to do when we hear God's voice.

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 To put it another way,

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 the words quoted from Psalm 95 are not the complete word of God to us today.

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 Rather,

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 they are a word about how we respond to the word.

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 The Holy Spirit telling us how to respond to the word of God.

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 But that logically prior word,

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 which Psalm 95 instructs us in about how to respond to,

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 that could in a sense be any word of God.

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 But in context,

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 it is a specific word.

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 The word which the writer calls in chapter 4,

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 verse 2,

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 the good news.

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 Good news came to us,

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 just as to them.

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 It's the good news of Jesus Christ.

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 That's the voice of God for us today.

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 That's the word that is being proclaimed in this day throughout the whole world.

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 And it's about that word that the writer to the Hebrews instructs us in terms of how we respond to it from Psalm 95.

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 This word about how to respond to the word.

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 Okay.

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 So what do we see from this word about how to respond to the word?

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 Well,

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 three things.

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 First,

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 verses 12 to 15,

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 a warning.

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 Then verses 16 to 19,

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 an example.

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 And then in chapter 4,

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 a promise.

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 And then finally,

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 the writer rounds it out with a meditation,

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 a solemn meditation on the word of God in chapter 4,

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 verses 12 and 13.

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 Well,

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 first,

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 let's think about a warning for us today.

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 Look at chapter 3,

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 verse 12 with me,

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 a warning for us today.

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 Take care,

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 brothers,

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 lest there be in any of you an evil,

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 unbelieving heart,

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 leading you to fall away from the living God.

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 But exhort one another every day,

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 as long as it's called today,

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 that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

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 For we share in Christ,

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 if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

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 As it is said today,

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 if you hear his voice,

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 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.

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 Now,

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 this isn't the time to take a deep dive into the doctrine of the perseverance of

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 the saints,

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 which I fully believe.

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 But the implication of these verses is that it is impossible,

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 it is possible to make some kind of beginning.

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 And yet to fall away from the living God.

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 You fall away,

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 or you depart from,

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 a position,

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 a path,

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 a course of action,

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 that you previously occupy.

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 You fall away from a place you already are.

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 It involves turning away,

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 it involves leaving something behind.

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 That's the sense of this word,

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 wherever it occurs throughout the New Testament.

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 And the word,

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 the words in verse 12 are addressed to brothers.

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 Although brothers,

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 they're used in an inclusive sense,

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 brothers and sisters.

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 But it's to believe it's believers that this,

00:16:23.899 --> 00:16:25.899
 these words are addressed to brothers,

00:16:26.220 --> 00:16:27.019
 brothers and sisters.

00:16:27.960 --> 00:16:33.740
 A non-believer doesn't fall away from the living God because a non-believer has not

00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:35.820
 come to the living God in the first place.

00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:40.039
 It is a Christian brother or sister who might.

00:16:40.039 --> 00:16:44.139
 See brothers,

00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:44.519
 sisters,

00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:47.159
 it matters not only how we begin the race,

00:16:47.899 --> 00:16:50.959
 it matters how we complete the race.

00:16:52.079 --> 00:16:53.199
 Verse 14,

00:16:53.899 --> 00:16:55.339
 we share in Christ,

00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:59.939
 if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

00:17:02.439 --> 00:17:09.460
 Marathon runners train carefully so that they can sustain their race pace from beginning to end.

00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:15.379
 They start their race conservatively so that they can finish strong.

00:17:17.159 --> 00:17:22.980
 And few marathon runners fail to finish the race because they've been tripped over by a spectator

00:17:22.980 --> 00:17:26.200
 or bitten by a stray dog.

00:17:27.420 --> 00:17:29.099
 When a runner falls short,

00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:32.819
 it's because their own physical or mental stamina fails.

00:17:34.599 --> 00:17:35.220
 Likewise,

00:17:35.420 --> 00:17:36.319
 in the Christian race,

00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:38.799
 the greater threats are internal,

00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:40.680
 not external.

00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:44.740
 It's not persecution or hardship or difficulties,

00:17:44.859 --> 00:17:46.740
 although these of course may play their part.

00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:49.519
 The real danger though is within.

00:17:52.099 --> 00:17:54.919
 Take care lest there be in any of you an evil,

00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:56.619
 unbelieving heart

00:17:56.619 --> 00:18:00.000
 leading you to fall away from the living God.

00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:02.259
 What we must guard against,

00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:03.000
 verse 13,

00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:08.380
 is that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:09.940
 The battleground is within.

00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:15.019
 It's over the contested territory of the human heart.

00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:18.119
 And our enemy,

00:18:18.119 --> 00:18:18.960
 sin,

00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:21.740
 does not fight in the open field.

00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:24.500
 It's a Trojan horse.

00:18:26.319 --> 00:18:27.960
 Sin's strategy is to deceive

00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:32.799
 so that we open the gates of our heart to it unawares.

00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:37.500
 Richard Baxter wrote this,

00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:39.960
 the devil is a greater scholar than you

00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:42.839
 and a nimbler disputant.

00:18:43.899 --> 00:18:48.399
 He can transform himself into an angel of light to deceive.

00:18:49.399 --> 00:18:53.059
 He will get within you and trip up your heels before you are aware.

00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:56.059
 You see neither hook nor line,

00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:58.220
 much less the subtle angler himself,

00:18:58.759 --> 00:19:00.539
 while he is offering you his bait.

00:19:00.539 --> 00:19:05.059
 And his bait shall be so fitted to your temper and disposition

00:19:05.059 --> 00:19:08.680
 that he will be sure to find advantages within you

00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:12.779
 and make your own principles and inclinations betray you.

00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:16.399
 Sin deceives us.

00:19:17.940 --> 00:19:20.740
 See the first step in forsaking God's word

00:19:20.740 --> 00:19:23.839
 may even seem to us like virtue.

00:19:26.659 --> 00:19:30.299
 So one rejects unpopular teachings of the Bible

00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:34.000
 under the guise of compassion and inclusion.

00:19:35.819 --> 00:19:37.119
 Or on the flip side,

00:19:37.240 --> 00:19:41.139
 another sees himself as a staunch defender of truth

00:19:41.139 --> 00:19:47.019
 and under that banner abandons love and grace and humility

00:19:47.019 --> 00:19:50.299
 as slowly his heart is consumed by self-righteousness.

00:19:52.299 --> 00:19:55.359
 See, because sin's strategy is to deceive,

00:19:55.359 --> 00:20:02.439
 our defence against sin is to be part of a community

00:20:02.439 --> 00:20:06.659
 committed to speaking the truth to one another.

00:20:08.259 --> 00:20:09.359
 Verse 13,

00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:13.419
 exhort one another every day,

00:20:13.500 --> 00:20:15.059
 as long as it's called today,

00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:17.679
 that none of you may be hardened

00:20:17.679 --> 00:20:19.559
 by the deceitfulness of sin.

00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:22.039
 Notice a couple of things about this.

00:20:22.039 --> 00:20:24.019
 First,

00:20:24.099 --> 00:20:26.700
 this is everyone's responsibility,

00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:29.819
 not just the pastors.

00:20:31.079 --> 00:20:33.519
 The New Testament is full of one another's.

00:20:33.879 --> 00:20:34.000
 Now,

00:20:34.059 --> 00:20:35.099
 we're to love one another,

00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:36.339
 be kind to one another,

00:20:36.500 --> 00:20:37.460
 forgive one another.

00:20:38.779 --> 00:20:39.279
 Well,

00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:42.200
 here we are to exhort one another.

00:20:44.359 --> 00:20:46.899
 Dave Bott needs us to exhort him

00:20:46.900 --> 00:20:50.500
 as much as we need him to exhort us.

00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:55.460
 Pastors are as vulnerable to temptation as anyone.

00:20:56.820 --> 00:20:58.460
 And the fact that sin deceives

00:20:58.460 --> 00:21:02.420
 means that the person being deceived by it is unaware.

00:21:04.340 --> 00:21:05.940
 That's why we need a community,

00:21:06.600 --> 00:21:07.400
 all of us,

00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:11.019
 where we are committed to speaking the truth to one another.

00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:16.200
 Second thing to notice is that exhorting one another

00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:18.940
 is essentially a verbal activity.

00:21:20.619 --> 00:21:23.779
 The author of Hebrews calls this book,

00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:24.579
 the book of Hebrews,

00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:26.639
 a word of exhortation.

00:21:28.779 --> 00:21:32.160
 Another way you could translate that is encourage one another,

00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:33.240
 a word of encouragement.

00:21:34.059 --> 00:21:35.700
 The purpose is to strengthen,

00:21:35.859 --> 00:21:36.819
 it's to build up.

00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:37.980
 And it's true,

00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:40.779
 we do encourage one another by deeds of love.

00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:45.619
 But the central idea here is that we exhort one another.

00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:48.160
 We speak the truth to each other

00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:51.200
 so as to expose sin's deceptions

00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:54.420
 and so as to fortify each other in faith.

00:21:57.460 --> 00:22:02.119
 And we don't fulfil this instruction to exhort one another.

00:22:02.180 --> 00:22:04.579
 We don't fulfil it by being hypercritical.

00:22:06.099 --> 00:22:06.700
 You know,

00:22:06.740 --> 00:22:09.639
 by pulling each other up for every minor fault.

00:22:09.740 --> 00:22:10.779
 That's not what this is saying.

00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:15.759
 We don't fulfil it by constantly berating ourselves

00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:18.099
 for how awful we all are.

00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:22.039
 In 1893,

00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:24.180
 18-year-old Winston Churchill

00:22:24.180 --> 00:22:26.940
 qualified to enter the Royal Military College

00:22:26.940 --> 00:22:29.139
 at Sandhurst as a cavalry cadet.

00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:33.339
 His father was disappointed

00:22:33.339 --> 00:22:35.299
 that he hadn't qualified for the infantry.

00:22:36.639 --> 00:22:38.240
 And so his father sent him this letter.

00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:38.579
 He said,

00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:46.500
 The first extremely discreditable failure of your performance

00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:47.819
 was missing the infantry.

00:22:47.819 --> 00:22:51.599
 for in that failure is demonstrated beyond refutation

00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:53.559
 your slovenly, happy-go-lucky,

00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:55.399
 harem-scare-em style of work

00:22:55.399 --> 00:22:57.039
 for which you've been distinguished

00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:58.539
 at your different schools.

00:22:59.339 --> 00:23:01.879
 Never have I received a really good report

00:23:01.879 --> 00:23:03.259
 of your conduct in your work

00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:04.639
 from any master or tutor,

00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:06.399
 always behind-hand,

00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:08.319
 never advancing in your class,

00:23:08.659 --> 00:23:11.339
 incessant complaints of total want of application.

00:23:11.339 --> 00:23:14.740
 Do not think that I'm going to take the trouble

00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:16.139
 of writing you long letters

00:23:16.139 --> 00:23:19.059
 after every failure and folly you commit and undergo

00:23:19.059 --> 00:23:21.659
 because I no longer attach the slightest weight

00:23:21.659 --> 00:23:22.919
 to anything you may say

00:23:22.919 --> 00:23:24.939
 about your own accomplishments and exploits.

00:23:25.379 --> 00:23:28.480
 Make this position indelibly impressed on your mind

00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:30.459
 that if your conduct and action

00:23:30.459 --> 00:23:33.019
 is similar to what it's been in the other establishments,

00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:35.439
 then my responsibility for you is over.

00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:38.640
 because I am certain that if you cannot prevent yourself

00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:41.500
 from leading the idle, useless, unprofitable life

00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:43.420
 that you have had during your school days

00:23:43.420 --> 00:23:44.160
 and latter months,

00:23:44.360 --> 00:23:46.600
 you will become a mere social wastrel,

00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:49.299
 one of the hundreds of the public school failures,

00:23:49.539 --> 00:23:51.200
 and you will degenerate into a shabby,

00:23:51.340 --> 00:23:52.900
 unhappy and futile existence.

00:23:53.460 --> 00:23:54.279
 If that is so,

00:23:54.360 --> 00:23:55.960
 you will have to bear all the blame

00:23:55.960 --> 00:23:57.580
 for such misfortune yourself,

00:23:58.500 --> 00:24:00.420
 your affectionate father, Randolph SC.

00:24:00.420 --> 00:24:01.420
 LAUGHTER

00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:10.660
 That is not a word of encouragement.

00:24:10.660 --> 00:24:10.980
 LAUGHTER

00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:21.460
 Yes, each of us is an incredibly complex mix of good and bad.

00:24:22.900 --> 00:24:26.600
 Yes, each of us is subject to temptation

00:24:26.600 --> 00:24:28.779
 and prone to weakness.

00:24:28.779 --> 00:24:32.960
 But we exhort one another,

00:24:33.059 --> 00:24:36.720
 not by constantly telling each other how bad we are,

00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:43.879
 we exhort one another by telling each other how good he is,

00:24:44.779 --> 00:24:49.379
 by reminding one another of the goodness of Christ,

00:24:50.180 --> 00:24:51.599
 the beauty of Christ,

00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:52.940
 the one who's better than angels,

00:24:53.139 --> 00:24:54.139
 better than Moses,

00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:55.839
 crowned with glory and honour,

00:24:55.839 --> 00:24:58.899
 our merciful and faithful high priest.

00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:03.559
 The aim of exhorting one another is,

00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:06.139
 as it's expressed in verse 14,

00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:11.179
 that we hold our original confidence in Christ

00:25:11.179 --> 00:25:13.439
 firm to the end.

00:25:13.440 --> 00:25:19.759
 And so the chief theme of our exhortation

00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:25.039
 is the goodness and majesty and sufficiency of Christ.

00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:30.480
 After all, it's not being a sinner

00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:35.259
 that means I fall away from the living God.

00:25:35.259 --> 00:25:40.579
 It's rather being an unbelieving sinner,

00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:46.720
 an evil, unbelieving heart.

00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:50.079
 It's being an unforgiven sinner,

00:25:51.079 --> 00:25:54.079
 a sinner so hardened by sin's deceitfulness

00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:56.940
 that I no longer even realise I am a sinner

00:25:56.940 --> 00:25:59.339
 and that I need a saviour.

00:25:59.339 --> 00:26:04.480
 The heart of our exhortation is to remind one another

00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:07.619
 of our perfect saviour and say,

00:26:08.619 --> 00:26:10.899
 keep trusting in him.

00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:17.539
 Well, alongside the warning for today,

00:26:18.599 --> 00:26:21.539
 the words Hebrews quotes from Psalm 95

00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:24.359
 also give us an example for today.

00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:27.039
 Look at verse 16, chapter 3, verse 16.

00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:30.480
 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled?

00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:35.440
 Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses?

00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:37.960
 And with whom was he provoked for 40 years?

00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:39.339
 Was it not those who sinned,

00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:40.619
 whose bodies fell in the wilderness?

00:26:41.019 --> 00:26:42.220
 And to whom did he swear

00:26:42.220 --> 00:26:43.879
 that they would not enter his rest,

00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:45.420
 but to those who were disobedient?

00:26:46.159 --> 00:26:48.079
 So we see that they were unable to enter

00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:49.480
 because of unbelief.

00:26:51.899 --> 00:26:55.420
 The example that Psalm 95 draws on

00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:58.800
 is the generation of Israelites

00:26:58.800 --> 00:27:00.420
 who were led by Moses.

00:27:02.660 --> 00:27:04.779
 They'd been, God had brought them

00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:05.940
 under Moses' leadership

00:27:05.940 --> 00:27:07.779
 out of slavery in Egypt.

00:27:08.420 --> 00:27:10.400
 They'd witnessed the 10 plagues.

00:27:11.340 --> 00:27:13.080
 They passed through the Red Sea.

00:27:14.080 --> 00:27:16.039
 They were led by the pillar of fire

00:27:16.039 --> 00:27:17.340
 and smoke in the wilderness.

00:27:17.640 --> 00:27:19.180
 They drank water from the rock.

00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:21.080
 They ate manna from heaven.

00:27:21.079 --> 00:27:26.139
 They saw my works, God says.

00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:29.559
 They made a beginning.

00:27:32.059 --> 00:27:33.720
 They experienced redemption.

00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:36.439
 They came out of Egypt.

00:27:39.019 --> 00:27:40.740
 But that's as far as they got.

00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:45.359
 They did not enter the promised land.

00:27:47.539 --> 00:27:48.019
 Why?

00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:50.680
 Well, Hebrews 3, verses 16 to 19

00:27:50.680 --> 00:27:53.420
 uses a variety of terms for their apostasy.

00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:57.339
 Verse 16, they heard and yet rebelled.

00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:59.839
 Verse 17, they sinned.

00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:01.480
 Verse 18, they were disobedient.

00:28:01.599 --> 00:28:03.579
 Verse 19, unbelief.

00:28:03.579 --> 00:28:07.559
 There were a string of instances

00:28:07.559 --> 00:28:09.480
 of Israel's disobedience and unbelief

00:28:09.480 --> 00:28:11.059
 in the wilderness.

00:28:12.119 --> 00:28:14.179
 But the key moment came in Numbers

00:28:14.179 --> 00:28:15.839
 chapters 13 and 14

00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:19.519
 where Israel arrived at Kadesh Barnea

00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:22.439
 at the edge of the promised land

00:28:22.439 --> 00:28:24.399
 and instructed by God,

00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:26.099
 they sent out 12 spies

00:28:26.099 --> 00:28:27.899
 to scout out the land.

00:28:28.419 --> 00:28:29.819
 And the spies returned

00:28:29.819 --> 00:28:32.059
 and they reported that the land was good

00:28:32.059 --> 00:28:35.019
 but they also reported

00:28:35.019 --> 00:28:36.299
 that it was heavily defended.

00:28:37.399 --> 00:28:38.799
 The people were strong.

00:28:38.919 --> 00:28:40.259
 The cities fortified.

00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:42.940
 The descendants of Anak,

00:28:43.179 --> 00:28:44.779
 giants were among them.

00:28:47.299 --> 00:28:49.579
 Two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb,

00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:50.799
 pleaded with the people,

00:28:51.159 --> 00:28:53.019
 do not rebel against the Lord.

00:28:54.940 --> 00:28:56.599
 But the people were too afraid.

00:28:58.019 --> 00:28:59.559
 They did not trust God.

00:28:59.559 --> 00:29:03.019
 They refused to enter the land.

00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:05.799
 They were unable to enter

00:29:05.799 --> 00:29:07.679
 because of unbelief.

00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:09.960
 Verse 19 says here.

00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:13.139
 And so God confirmed them in that fate,

00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:16.599
 sentencing them to 40 years

00:29:16.599 --> 00:29:18.179
 of wandering around the wilderness

00:29:18.179 --> 00:29:21.139
 until an entire adult generation

00:29:21.139 --> 00:29:22.200
 had perished.

00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:24.599
 I swore in my wrath,

00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:26.139
 they shall not enter my rest.

00:29:26.139 --> 00:29:26.379
 They were unable to enter

00:29:29.559 --> 00:29:30.559
 and they shall not enter my rest.

00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:33.419
 Well, the word of God drives home

00:29:33.419 --> 00:29:36.200
 the message of this example

00:29:36.200 --> 00:29:37.480
 in chapter 4,

00:29:38.980 --> 00:29:41.279
 likening us Christians

00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:44.919
 to Israel at Kadesh Barnea,

00:29:46.099 --> 00:29:47.659
 poised at the edge

00:29:47.659 --> 00:29:49.179
 of entering the promised land.

00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:52.319
 Look at chapter 4, verses 1 and 2.

00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:55.119
 Therefore, while the promise

00:29:55.119 --> 00:29:56.539
 of entering his rest

00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:57.839
 still stands,

00:29:58.259 --> 00:29:59.899
 let us fear lest any of you

00:29:59.899 --> 00:30:01.559
 should seem to have failed to reach it.

00:30:02.599 --> 00:30:04.980
 For good news came to us

00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:07.019
 just as to them,

00:30:07.720 --> 00:30:09.439
 but the message they heard

00:30:09.439 --> 00:30:10.659
 did not benefit them

00:30:10.659 --> 00:30:13.240
 because they were not united by faith

00:30:13.240 --> 00:30:15.519
 with those who listened.

00:30:16.559 --> 00:30:18.200
 The last part of verse 2 there

00:30:18.200 --> 00:30:20.339
 is a little bit difficult,

00:30:20.339 --> 00:30:22.079
 but I think what is meant there

00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:23.859
 because they were not united

00:30:23.859 --> 00:30:25.039
 by faith with those who listened.

00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:27.179
 The they there is Israel,

00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:27.779
 the Israelites,

00:30:28.740 --> 00:30:29.859
 and the those who listened

00:30:29.859 --> 00:30:31.720
 I think are Caleb and Joshua,

00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:33.199
 the two spies who did heed

00:30:33.199 --> 00:30:33.879
 the word of God

00:30:33.879 --> 00:30:34.819
 and said we must enter.

00:30:36.079 --> 00:30:37.699
 But the rest of Israel

00:30:37.699 --> 00:30:40.879
 would not unite themselves

00:30:40.879 --> 00:30:42.500
 with the faith of Caleb and Joshua

00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:44.679
 and so were sentenced

00:30:44.679 --> 00:30:46.319
 to perish in the wilderness.

00:30:46.319 --> 00:30:51.679
 But we, like Israel,

00:30:52.139 --> 00:30:53.399
 are promised rest.

00:30:55.059 --> 00:30:57.299
 I will bring you into the land,

00:30:58.059 --> 00:30:59.419
 the Lord had promised Israel.

00:31:01.619 --> 00:31:03.579
 Whoever believes in the Son

00:31:03.579 --> 00:31:06.139
 has eternal life,

00:31:06.839 --> 00:31:08.659
 the Lord has promised us.

00:31:08.660 --> 00:31:12.000
 two different forms

00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:14.259
 of the one promise,

00:31:15.160 --> 00:31:17.279
 the promise of entering God's rest.

00:31:18.360 --> 00:31:20.400
 Good news for Old Testament Israel,

00:31:21.400 --> 00:31:23.400
 good news for New Testament

00:31:23.400 --> 00:31:24.580
 disciples of Christ.

00:31:26.040 --> 00:31:27.860
 And the point chapter 4 makes

00:31:27.860 --> 00:31:29.440
 is that the promise

00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:31.400
 of entering God's rest

00:31:31.400 --> 00:31:32.940
 still stands.

00:31:33.680 --> 00:31:34.660
 It's open,

00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:35.620
 it's available.

00:31:35.619 --> 00:31:42.199
 The promise of entering

00:31:42.199 --> 00:31:43.359
 his rest still stands,

00:31:43.439 --> 00:31:44.519
 chapter 4 verse 1.

00:31:46.539 --> 00:31:49.039
 So let us fear lest any of you

00:31:49.039 --> 00:31:50.079
 should seem to have failed

00:31:50.079 --> 00:31:50.559
 to reach us.

00:31:50.639 --> 00:31:52.459
 Notice again that God's word

00:31:52.459 --> 00:31:52.919
 calls us,

00:31:52.919 --> 00:31:53.919
 as in chapter 3 verse 12,

00:31:54.199 --> 00:31:55.179
 God's word calls us

00:31:55.179 --> 00:31:57.119
 to a corporate responsibility

00:31:57.119 --> 00:31:58.000
 for one another.

00:31:59.139 --> 00:32:00.479
 Let us fear lest any

00:32:00.479 --> 00:32:01.479
 should seem to have failed

00:32:01.479 --> 00:32:02.099
 to reach it.

00:32:02.359 --> 00:32:03.139
 3 verse 12,

00:32:03.259 --> 00:32:04.000
 take care brothers

00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:04.500
 that there,

00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:05.680
 lest there be

00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:07.660
 in any one of you

00:32:07.660 --> 00:32:09.319
 an evil,

00:32:09.460 --> 00:32:10.259
 unbelieving heart.

00:32:11.839 --> 00:32:12.960
 Each one of us

00:32:12.960 --> 00:32:13.759
 is to be concerned

00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:15.140
 not only with our own faith,

00:32:16.140 --> 00:32:18.119
 but all of us

00:32:18.119 --> 00:32:20.160
 are to care for everyone.

00:32:23.420 --> 00:32:24.880
 When I was at Bible college

00:32:24.880 --> 00:32:26.839
 in our year,

00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:27.259
 there were,

00:32:27.420 --> 00:32:28.700
 we had a few classmates

00:32:28.700 --> 00:32:31.339
 who struggled academically,

00:32:31.339 --> 00:32:34.220
 who struggled to learn Greek,

00:32:34.939 --> 00:32:35.740
 or who struggled

00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:36.679
 at writing essays.

00:32:38.019 --> 00:32:39.559
 And others in our class

00:32:39.559 --> 00:32:40.799
 would get alongside them

00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:41.699
 and assist them

00:32:41.699 --> 00:32:42.779
 and provide tuition

00:32:42.779 --> 00:32:43.559
 and help them

00:32:43.559 --> 00:32:44.319
 with their study.

00:32:45.359 --> 00:32:46.659
 Because as a class,

00:32:47.259 --> 00:32:48.099
 all of us

00:32:48.099 --> 00:32:49.559
 wanted everyone

00:32:49.559 --> 00:32:50.959
 to reach the goal.

00:32:50.960 --> 00:32:53.980
 But we,

00:32:54.100 --> 00:32:54.319
 of course,

00:32:54.360 --> 00:32:55.360
 have a much greater goal

00:32:55.360 --> 00:32:55.960
 before us,

00:32:56.000 --> 00:32:56.400
 don't we?

00:32:57.440 --> 00:32:58.600
 Which is nothing less

00:32:58.600 --> 00:32:59.680
 than the goal of life,

00:33:00.460 --> 00:33:02.180
 the goal of entering

00:33:02.180 --> 00:33:03.819
 God's rest.

00:33:06.400 --> 00:33:07.480
 In Hebrews 4,

00:33:07.579 --> 00:33:08.539
 verses 3 to 10,

00:33:09.059 --> 00:33:09.960
 the Bible gives us

00:33:09.960 --> 00:33:11.480
 a brief history of rest,

00:33:11.740 --> 00:33:12.920
 and the main point

00:33:12.920 --> 00:33:14.279
 is just to reinforce

00:33:14.279 --> 00:33:15.920
 the point that's already

00:33:15.920 --> 00:33:16.660
 been made,

00:33:17.039 --> 00:33:18.019
 the promise of entering

00:33:18.019 --> 00:33:19.120
 his rest still stands.

00:33:19.120 --> 00:33:20.380
 I'll fly through it.

00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:21.259
 Quickly,

00:33:21.600 --> 00:33:22.759
 a brief history of rest.

00:33:23.440 --> 00:33:25.079
 In verses 3 and 4,

00:33:26.100 --> 00:33:28.259
 we read of rest established.

00:33:29.299 --> 00:33:30.240
 Rest established.

00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:32.420
 From halfway through

00:33:32.420 --> 00:33:33.000
 verse 3,

00:33:33.460 --> 00:33:34.460
 God's works

00:33:34.460 --> 00:33:35.420
 were finished

00:33:35.420 --> 00:33:37.380
 from the foundation

00:33:37.380 --> 00:33:38.259
 of the world,

00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:39.940
 for he has spoken

00:33:39.940 --> 00:33:41.000
 of the seventh day

00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:41.700
 in this way,

00:33:41.799 --> 00:33:42.740
 and God rested

00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:44.200
 on the seventh day

00:33:44.200 --> 00:33:45.779
 from all his works.

00:33:46.480 --> 00:33:47.360
 The point

00:33:47.360 --> 00:33:49.640
 God's word is making here

00:33:49.640 --> 00:33:51.200
 is that from the very

00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:51.860
 beginning,

00:33:52.620 --> 00:33:53.680
 rest has been available.

00:33:55.360 --> 00:33:56.980
 God created things

00:33:56.980 --> 00:33:59.180
 and then he rested.

00:34:00.620 --> 00:34:01.100
 If you look,

00:34:01.160 --> 00:34:01.720
 and if you look at

00:34:01.720 --> 00:34:03.060
 Genesis chapters 1 and 2,

00:34:03.320 --> 00:34:05.220
 you see that the seventh day

00:34:05.220 --> 00:34:08.059
 is the only day

00:34:08.059 --> 00:34:09.660
 in the narrative

00:34:09.660 --> 00:34:10.960
 which doesn't end.

00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:13.059
 For every other day,

00:34:13.099 --> 00:34:14.420
 we're told there was evening,

00:34:14.640 --> 00:34:15.320
 there was morning,

00:34:15.320 --> 00:34:16.220
 the first day,

00:34:16.740 --> 00:34:17.180
 so on.

00:34:17.900 --> 00:34:18.900
 But the seventh day

00:34:18.900 --> 00:34:19.559
 is open-ended.

00:34:21.700 --> 00:34:22.680
 God created

00:34:22.680 --> 00:34:25.019
 and then rested

00:34:25.019 --> 00:34:27.420
 and he's resting still.

00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:30.880
 Now,

00:34:31.320 --> 00:34:32.380
 God resting still,

00:34:32.480 --> 00:34:32.700
 of course,

00:34:32.760 --> 00:34:33.440
 doesn't mean that he's

00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:34.440
 sitting back doing nothing.

00:34:35.220 --> 00:34:35.700
 Jesus said,

00:34:35.780 --> 00:34:36.639
 my father's working

00:34:36.639 --> 00:34:37.740
 and I'm working

00:34:37.740 --> 00:34:38.700
 until now.

00:34:39.619 --> 00:34:40.639
 God is sustaining

00:34:40.639 --> 00:34:41.780
 the world he's made.

00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:43.980
 But with the work

00:34:43.980 --> 00:34:45.119
 of creation completed,

00:34:45.380 --> 00:34:46.659
 he established

00:34:46.659 --> 00:34:47.599
 his rest

00:34:47.599 --> 00:34:48.740
 as the goal

00:34:48.740 --> 00:34:50.599
 to which creation

00:34:50.599 --> 00:34:51.139
 is heading.

00:34:52.780 --> 00:34:53.539
 The goal

00:34:53.539 --> 00:34:53.940
 for which

00:34:53.940 --> 00:34:55.139
 we were made

00:34:55.139 --> 00:34:57.500
 that we might share

00:34:57.500 --> 00:34:58.339
 in his rest.

00:35:00.799 --> 00:35:01.759
 From the beginning,

00:35:01.980 --> 00:35:02.559
 God rested

00:35:02.559 --> 00:35:03.259
 and that rest

00:35:03.259 --> 00:35:04.779
 has always been available.

00:35:07.799 --> 00:35:08.879
 Rest established.

00:35:10.460 --> 00:35:10.920
 Secondly,

00:35:11.059 --> 00:35:12.379
 in this brief history

00:35:12.379 --> 00:35:12.679
 of rest,

00:35:12.759 --> 00:35:13.719
 we hear of rest

00:35:13.719 --> 00:35:14.719
 rejected.

00:35:15.940 --> 00:35:16.420
 Again,

00:35:16.480 --> 00:35:17.159
 in verse 5,

00:35:17.219 --> 00:35:17.960
 again in the passage,

00:35:18.059 --> 00:35:18.440
 he said,

00:35:18.539 --> 00:35:19.379
 they shall not enter

00:35:19.379 --> 00:35:20.199
 my rest.

00:35:21.279 --> 00:35:22.019
 And verse 6,

00:35:22.099 --> 00:35:22.900
 those who formerly

00:35:22.900 --> 00:35:24.359
 received the good news

00:35:24.360 --> 00:35:25.940
 failed to enter

00:35:25.940 --> 00:35:27.360
 because of disobedience.

00:35:29.800 --> 00:35:31.120
 Israel had no one

00:35:31.120 --> 00:35:32.140
 but themselves

00:35:32.140 --> 00:35:32.660
 to blame

00:35:32.660 --> 00:35:33.300
 for their failure

00:35:33.300 --> 00:35:33.740
 to enter.

00:35:34.820 --> 00:35:35.760
 Rest was available.

00:35:36.980 --> 00:35:38.180
 It was promised

00:35:38.180 --> 00:35:38.700
 to them.

00:35:40.760 --> 00:35:42.140
 But they rejected it.

00:35:44.519 --> 00:35:46.120
 They disbelieved

00:35:46.120 --> 00:35:47.360
 the promise

00:35:47.360 --> 00:35:47.980
 of God.

00:35:47.980 --> 00:35:51.579
 thirdly,

00:35:51.699 --> 00:35:52.280
 in this

00:35:52.280 --> 00:35:53.019
 brief history

00:35:53.019 --> 00:35:53.280
 of rest,

00:35:53.340 --> 00:35:53.820
 we read of

00:35:53.820 --> 00:35:54.579
 rest

00:35:54.579 --> 00:35:56.000
 promised

00:35:56.000 --> 00:35:56.619
 again.

00:35:57.059 --> 00:35:57.599
 Verse 7,

00:35:58.639 --> 00:35:59.599
 and so again,

00:36:00.019 --> 00:36:00.960
 God appoints

00:36:00.960 --> 00:36:01.740
 a certain day

00:36:01.740 --> 00:36:02.400
 today,

00:36:03.039 --> 00:36:03.679
 saying through

00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:04.639
 David so long

00:36:04.639 --> 00:36:05.019
 afterward,

00:36:05.139 --> 00:36:05.699
 in the words

00:36:05.699 --> 00:36:06.380
 already quoted,

00:36:06.699 --> 00:36:07.119
 today,

00:36:07.260 --> 00:36:07.820
 if you hear

00:36:07.820 --> 00:36:08.400
 his voice,

00:36:08.760 --> 00:36:09.320
 do not harden

00:36:09.320 --> 00:36:09.920
 your hearts.

00:36:12.719 --> 00:36:13.460
 The point

00:36:13.460 --> 00:36:14.300
 the Bible's

00:36:14.300 --> 00:36:14.760
 making here

00:36:14.760 --> 00:36:15.240
 is that

00:36:15.239 --> 00:36:16.959
 in Psalm 95,

00:36:17.459 --> 00:36:18.179
 God is

00:36:18.179 --> 00:36:19.739
 reiterating

00:36:19.739 --> 00:36:20.619
 his promise

00:36:20.619 --> 00:36:21.699
 of rest

00:36:21.699 --> 00:36:22.699
 several hundred

00:36:22.699 --> 00:36:23.519
 years after

00:36:23.519 --> 00:36:24.359
 that generation

00:36:24.359 --> 00:36:24.739
 that fell

00:36:24.739 --> 00:36:25.299
 in the wilderness

00:36:25.299 --> 00:36:26.839
 through David.

00:36:28.579 --> 00:36:29.059
 Now,

00:36:29.099 --> 00:36:29.599
 you might say

00:36:29.599 --> 00:36:30.199
 Psalm 95

00:36:30.199 --> 00:36:30.939
 sounds a bit more

00:36:30.939 --> 00:36:31.619
 like a warning

00:36:31.619 --> 00:36:32.319
 than a promise.

00:36:32.459 --> 00:36:33.099
 Where's the promise

00:36:33.099 --> 00:36:34.059
 in Psalm 95?

00:36:34.459 --> 00:36:35.459
 It's a stern warning.

00:36:37.619 --> 00:36:38.179
 But let me say

00:36:38.179 --> 00:36:38.599
 a couple of things

00:36:38.599 --> 00:36:38.899
 about that.

00:36:38.959 --> 00:36:39.159
 Firstly,

00:36:39.239 --> 00:36:40.279
 that the warning

00:36:40.279 --> 00:36:41.299
 actually implies

00:36:41.299 --> 00:36:41.879
 a promise.

00:36:41.880 --> 00:36:43.579
 if you were

00:36:43.579 --> 00:36:44.300
 to go to the zoo

00:36:44.300 --> 00:36:45.960
 and go to an

00:36:45.960 --> 00:36:46.480
 enclosure and

00:36:46.480 --> 00:36:47.000
 there's a sign

00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:47.559
 at the enclosure

00:36:47.559 --> 00:36:48.119
 that says,

00:36:48.660 --> 00:36:49.320
 do not feed

00:36:49.320 --> 00:36:50.539
 the chimpanzees,

00:36:50.940 --> 00:36:53.220
 you would expect

00:36:53.220 --> 00:36:54.440
 to see chimpanzees

00:36:54.440 --> 00:36:56.680
 and feel pretty

00:36:56.680 --> 00:36:57.039
 ripped off

00:36:57.039 --> 00:36:57.660
 if you didn't.

00:36:59.619 --> 00:37:00.140
 Likewise,

00:37:01.099 --> 00:37:01.740
 the warning

00:37:01.740 --> 00:37:02.700
 of Psalm 95

00:37:02.700 --> 00:37:03.820
 is don't

00:37:03.820 --> 00:37:04.340
 harden your

00:37:04.340 --> 00:37:04.840
 hearts.

00:37:04.980 --> 00:37:05.720
 It implies

00:37:05.720 --> 00:37:06.360
 the promise.

00:37:06.820 --> 00:37:07.940
 God's promise,

00:37:08.640 --> 00:37:09.220
 God's offer

00:37:09.220 --> 00:37:09.780
 of rest

00:37:09.780 --> 00:37:10.360
 is still

00:37:10.360 --> 00:37:10.840
 available.

00:37:11.880 --> 00:37:12.720
 Don't

00:37:12.720 --> 00:37:13.220
 harden your

00:37:13.220 --> 00:37:13.680
 hearts

00:37:13.680 --> 00:37:14.480
 so that

00:37:14.480 --> 00:37:14.780
 you don't

00:37:14.780 --> 00:37:15.240
 miss it.

00:37:17.480 --> 00:37:18.260
 But indeed,

00:37:18.380 --> 00:37:18.559
 secondly,

00:37:18.680 --> 00:37:19.019
 if you look

00:37:19.019 --> 00:37:19.460
 at the whole

00:37:19.460 --> 00:37:20.220
 of Psalm 95,

00:37:20.579 --> 00:37:21.119
 the first

00:37:21.119 --> 00:37:22.000
 half is

00:37:22.000 --> 00:37:22.440
 indeed

00:37:22.440 --> 00:37:23.559
 an invitation

00:37:23.559 --> 00:37:24.160
 to come.

00:37:25.980 --> 00:37:26.800
 The second

00:37:26.800 --> 00:37:27.099
 half,

00:37:27.220 --> 00:37:27.599
 which Hebrews

00:37:27.599 --> 00:37:28.079
 quotes,

00:37:28.280 --> 00:37:28.840
 is a warning

00:37:28.840 --> 00:37:29.920
 not to reject

00:37:29.920 --> 00:37:30.619
 the invitation.

00:37:31.519 --> 00:37:31.960
 So how does

00:37:31.960 --> 00:37:32.539
 Psalm 95

00:37:32.539 --> 00:37:33.160
 start?

00:37:34.420 --> 00:37:35.220
 Psalm 95,

00:37:35.740 --> 00:37:36.440
 O come,

00:37:36.680 --> 00:37:37.300
 let us sing

00:37:37.300 --> 00:37:37.840
 to the Lord,

00:37:37.920 --> 00:37:38.380
 let us make

00:37:38.380 --> 00:37:39.480
 a joyful noise

00:37:39.480 --> 00:37:40.140
 to the rock

00:37:40.140 --> 00:37:41.039
 of our salvation.

00:37:41.039 --> 00:37:41.900
 Let us

00:37:41.900 --> 00:37:42.920
 come into

00:37:42.920 --> 00:37:43.779
 his presence

00:37:43.779 --> 00:37:44.719
 with thanksgiving.

00:37:45.619 --> 00:37:45.940
 Let us

00:37:45.940 --> 00:37:46.679
 make a joyful

00:37:46.679 --> 00:37:47.559
 noise to him

00:37:47.559 --> 00:37:48.340
 with songs

00:37:48.340 --> 00:37:49.119
 of praise,

00:37:49.380 --> 00:37:50.099
 for the Lord

00:37:50.099 --> 00:37:50.639
 is a great

00:37:50.639 --> 00:37:51.300
 God and a

00:37:51.300 --> 00:37:51.800
 great king

00:37:51.800 --> 00:37:52.340
 above all

00:37:52.340 --> 00:37:52.739
 gods.

00:37:53.739 --> 00:37:54.259
 Psalm 95

00:37:54.259 --> 00:37:55.340
 is an invitation

00:37:55.340 --> 00:37:56.159
 to enter

00:37:56.159 --> 00:37:57.099
 God's presence,

00:37:57.420 --> 00:37:57.940
 to share

00:37:57.940 --> 00:37:58.679
 in his joy,

00:37:59.679 --> 00:38:00.460
 and then a

00:38:00.460 --> 00:38:01.000
 warning not

00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:01.460
 to reject

00:38:01.460 --> 00:38:02.139
 the invitation.

00:38:04.779 --> 00:38:05.300
 Rest

00:38:05.300 --> 00:38:05.880
 is promised.

00:38:07.360 --> 00:38:07.820
 But another

00:38:07.820 --> 00:38:08.380
 might object,

00:38:08.820 --> 00:38:09.420
 hold on,

00:38:09.420 --> 00:38:10.920
 yes,

00:38:11.039 --> 00:38:11.700
 a generation

00:38:11.700 --> 00:38:12.300
 of Israel

00:38:12.300 --> 00:38:13.139
 perished in

00:38:13.139 --> 00:38:13.559
 the wilderness,

00:38:14.559 --> 00:38:15.740
 but what about

00:38:15.740 --> 00:38:16.099
 the next

00:38:16.099 --> 00:38:16.619
 generation?

00:38:17.559 --> 00:38:17.900
 Didn't

00:38:17.900 --> 00:38:18.860
 they enjoy

00:38:18.860 --> 00:38:19.320
 rest?

00:38:19.500 --> 00:38:19.820
 Didn't

00:38:19.820 --> 00:38:20.579
 Joshua

00:38:20.579 --> 00:38:22.079
 lead them

00:38:22.079 --> 00:38:22.440
 into the

00:38:22.440 --> 00:38:23.079
 promised land

00:38:23.079 --> 00:38:23.700
 and God

00:38:23.700 --> 00:38:24.360
 gave them

00:38:24.360 --> 00:38:24.900
 the land

00:38:24.900 --> 00:38:26.079
 and they

00:38:26.079 --> 00:38:26.360
 enjoy,

00:38:26.420 --> 00:38:26.659
 in fact,

00:38:26.920 --> 00:38:27.300
 even if you

00:38:27.300 --> 00:38:27.700
 look at the

00:38:27.700 --> 00:38:27.980
 book of

00:38:27.980 --> 00:38:28.360
 Joshua,

00:38:28.740 --> 00:38:29.059
 the book

00:38:29.059 --> 00:38:29.539
 of Joshua

00:38:29.539 --> 00:38:30.139
 says,

00:38:31.280 --> 00:38:32.220
 in chapter

00:38:32.220 --> 00:38:32.840
 21,

00:38:32.940 --> 00:38:33.700
 verse 43

00:38:33.700 --> 00:38:34.300
 and 44,

00:38:34.300 --> 00:38:34.960
 thus the

00:38:34.960 --> 00:38:35.519
 Lord God

00:38:35.519 --> 00:38:36.080
 gave to

00:38:36.080 --> 00:38:36.500
 Israel

00:38:36.500 --> 00:38:37.019
 all the

00:38:37.019 --> 00:38:37.400
 land that

00:38:37.400 --> 00:38:37.800
 he swore

00:38:37.800 --> 00:38:38.100
 to give

00:38:38.100 --> 00:38:38.300
 their

00:38:38.300 --> 00:38:38.700
 fathers

00:38:38.700 --> 00:38:39.260
 and they

00:38:39.260 --> 00:38:39.960
 took possession

00:38:39.960 --> 00:38:40.240
 of it

00:38:40.240 --> 00:38:40.539
 and they

00:38:40.539 --> 00:38:40.800
 settled

00:38:40.800 --> 00:38:41.300
 there and

00:38:41.300 --> 00:38:41.640
 the Lord

00:38:41.640 --> 00:38:42.200
 gave them

00:38:42.200 --> 00:38:42.700
 rest on

00:38:42.700 --> 00:38:43.360
 every side

00:38:43.360 --> 00:38:43.860
 just as

00:38:43.860 --> 00:38:44.280
 he'd sworn

00:38:44.280 --> 00:38:44.620
 to their

00:38:44.620 --> 00:38:45.080
 fathers.

00:38:46.940 --> 00:38:47.420
 Didn't

00:38:47.420 --> 00:38:47.980
 they get

00:38:47.980 --> 00:38:49.340
 rest in

00:38:49.340 --> 00:38:49.680
 the land

00:38:49.680 --> 00:38:50.320
 after all?

00:38:52.620 --> 00:38:52.920
 Well,

00:38:53.840 --> 00:38:54.400
 the writer

00:38:54.400 --> 00:38:54.580
 of the

00:38:54.580 --> 00:38:54.780
 Hebrews

00:38:54.780 --> 00:38:55.480
 replies to

00:38:55.480 --> 00:38:56.380
 that potential

00:38:56.380 --> 00:38:56.840
 objection

00:38:56.840 --> 00:38:57.280
 in verse

00:38:57.280 --> 00:38:57.560
 8.

00:38:58.360 --> 00:38:59.080
 If Joshua

00:38:59.080 --> 00:38:59.560
 had given

00:38:59.560 --> 00:39:00.300
 them rest,

00:39:01.180 --> 00:39:02.019
 God would

00:39:02.019 --> 00:39:02.320
 not have

00:39:02.320 --> 00:39:02.960
 spoken of

00:39:02.960 --> 00:39:03.760
 another day

00:39:03.760 --> 00:39:05.019
 later on.

00:39:06.579 --> 00:39:07.420
 So then

00:39:07.420 --> 00:39:08.019
 there remains

00:39:08.019 --> 00:39:08.400
 a Sabbath

00:39:08.400 --> 00:39:09.720
 rest for

00:39:09.720 --> 00:39:10.079
 the people

00:39:10.079 --> 00:39:10.579
 of God.

00:39:11.460 --> 00:39:12.099
 The

00:39:12.099 --> 00:39:12.980
 reiteration

00:39:12.980 --> 00:39:13.559
 of God's

00:39:13.559 --> 00:39:14.039
 promise

00:39:14.039 --> 00:39:14.880
 through

00:39:14.880 --> 00:39:15.320
 David

00:39:15.320 --> 00:39:15.960
 hundreds of

00:39:15.960 --> 00:39:16.460
 years after

00:39:16.460 --> 00:39:16.940
 Joshua

00:39:16.940 --> 00:39:18.639
 demonstrated

00:39:18.639 --> 00:39:19.260
 that the

00:39:19.260 --> 00:39:19.940
 promise was

00:39:19.940 --> 00:39:20.539
 incomplete.

00:39:22.420 --> 00:39:22.820
 It

00:39:22.820 --> 00:39:23.300
 demonstrated

00:39:23.300 --> 00:39:23.639
 that the

00:39:23.639 --> 00:39:24.199
 good things

00:39:24.199 --> 00:39:25.059
 Israel enjoyed

00:39:25.059 --> 00:39:25.340
 in the

00:39:25.340 --> 00:39:26.019
 land from

00:39:26.019 --> 00:39:26.400
 the time

00:39:26.400 --> 00:39:26.920
 of Joshua

00:39:26.920 --> 00:39:27.480
 onwards

00:39:27.480 --> 00:39:30.039
 didn't

00:39:30.039 --> 00:39:30.659
 exhaust

00:39:30.659 --> 00:39:31.900
 God's

00:39:31.900 --> 00:39:32.360
 promise of

00:39:32.360 --> 00:39:32.760
 rest.

00:39:32.960 --> 00:39:35.659
 that at

00:39:35.659 --> 00:39:36.019
 most it

00:39:36.019 --> 00:39:36.300
 was a

00:39:36.300 --> 00:39:37.000
 foretaste

00:39:37.000 --> 00:39:39.619
 but not

00:39:39.619 --> 00:39:40.720
 the true

00:39:40.720 --> 00:39:41.300
 rest

00:39:41.300 --> 00:39:43.360
 which God

00:39:43.360 --> 00:39:43.740
 offered his

00:39:43.740 --> 00:39:44.119
 people.

00:39:45.480 --> 00:39:46.340
 True rest

00:39:46.340 --> 00:39:46.800
 was not

00:39:46.800 --> 00:39:48.220
 temporal and

00:39:48.220 --> 00:39:48.579
 earthly

00:39:48.579 --> 00:39:51.000
 but eternal

00:39:51.000 --> 00:39:52.820
 and heavenly.

00:39:54.800 --> 00:39:55.639
 It's not

00:39:55.639 --> 00:39:56.139
 something that

00:39:56.139 --> 00:39:56.639
 can ever be

00:39:56.639 --> 00:39:58.119
 satisfied by

00:39:58.119 --> 00:39:58.920
 our present

00:39:58.920 --> 00:39:59.820
 fallen

00:39:59.820 --> 00:40:01.139
 broken world

00:40:01.139 --> 00:40:02.139
 world.

00:40:02.139 --> 00:40:02.639
 Whether in

00:40:02.639 --> 00:40:03.019
 the land

00:40:03.019 --> 00:40:03.559
 of Israel

00:40:03.559 --> 00:40:05.039
 or the

00:40:05.039 --> 00:40:05.379
 land of

00:40:05.379 --> 00:40:05.839
 Australia.

00:40:07.839 --> 00:40:08.679
 No matter

00:40:08.679 --> 00:40:09.500
 how good

00:40:09.500 --> 00:40:10.339
 your long

00:40:10.339 --> 00:40:11.239
 service leave

00:40:11.239 --> 00:40:12.519
 that's not

00:40:12.519 --> 00:40:13.179
 true rest.

00:40:13.879 --> 00:40:14.719
 No matter

00:40:14.719 --> 00:40:15.159
 how good

00:40:15.159 --> 00:40:15.960
 your retirement

00:40:15.960 --> 00:40:17.960
 that's not

00:40:17.960 --> 00:40:19.259
 true rest.

00:40:19.260 --> 00:40:21.320
 true rest.

00:40:21.320 --> 00:40:22.040
 Not even the

00:40:22.040 --> 00:40:22.880
 12 weeks of

00:40:22.880 --> 00:40:23.500
 holidays a

00:40:23.500 --> 00:40:23.840
 year that

00:40:23.840 --> 00:40:24.580
 school teachers

00:40:24.580 --> 00:40:25.560
 get are

00:40:25.560 --> 00:40:26.280
 true rest

00:40:26.280 --> 00:40:28.020
 as I'm

00:40:28.020 --> 00:40:28.440
 sure they'll

00:40:28.440 --> 00:40:28.840
 testify.

00:40:30.880 --> 00:40:31.920
 True rest

00:40:31.920 --> 00:40:32.480
 is entering

00:40:32.480 --> 00:40:33.100
 the presence

00:40:33.100 --> 00:40:33.720
 of God

00:40:33.720 --> 00:40:35.280
 with

00:40:35.280 --> 00:40:35.980
 thanksgiving

00:40:35.980 --> 00:40:37.460
 with songs

00:40:37.460 --> 00:40:38.080
 of joy

00:40:38.080 --> 00:40:40.480
 and sharing

00:40:40.480 --> 00:40:41.860
 in his

00:40:41.860 --> 00:40:42.460
 rest.

00:40:42.460 --> 00:40:42.500
 rest.

00:40:44.960 --> 00:40:45.720
 And that

00:40:45.720 --> 00:40:46.079
 promise

00:40:46.079 --> 00:40:46.559
 remains

00:40:46.559 --> 00:40:47.119
 open.

00:40:48.519 --> 00:40:48.720
 The

00:40:48.720 --> 00:40:49.340
 promise of

00:40:49.340 --> 00:40:49.579
 rest

00:40:49.579 --> 00:40:50.280
 remains.

00:40:52.440 --> 00:40:53.260
 Verse 9

00:40:53.260 --> 00:40:53.500
 again.

00:40:53.599 --> 00:40:53.699
 There

00:40:53.699 --> 00:40:54.679
 remains a

00:40:54.679 --> 00:40:54.940
 Sabbath

00:40:54.940 --> 00:40:55.519
 rest for

00:40:55.519 --> 00:40:55.960
 the people

00:40:55.960 --> 00:40:56.480
 of God

00:40:56.480 --> 00:40:57.179
 for whoever

00:40:57.179 --> 00:40:57.679
 has entered

00:40:57.679 --> 00:40:58.380
 God's rest

00:40:58.380 --> 00:40:58.900
 has also

00:40:58.900 --> 00:40:59.559
 rested from

00:40:59.559 --> 00:41:00.400
 his works

00:41:00.400 --> 00:41:01.420
 as God

00:41:01.420 --> 00:41:01.880
 did from

00:41:01.880 --> 00:41:02.220
 his.

00:41:03.940 --> 00:41:04.260
 So the

00:41:04.260 --> 00:41:04.800
 main point

00:41:04.800 --> 00:41:05.179
 of this

00:41:05.179 --> 00:41:06.240
 brief

00:41:06.240 --> 00:41:06.760
 biblical

00:41:06.760 --> 00:41:07.300
 theology

00:41:07.300 --> 00:41:07.900
 of rest

00:41:07.900 --> 00:41:09.539
 is that

00:41:09.539 --> 00:41:11.079
 the promise

00:41:11.079 --> 00:41:11.820
 remains for

00:41:11.820 --> 00:41:12.460
 us today.

00:41:13.920 --> 00:41:14.460
 Indeed we

00:41:14.460 --> 00:41:14.840
 who live

00:41:14.840 --> 00:41:15.580
 after Christ

00:41:15.580 --> 00:41:16.220
 enjoy a

00:41:16.220 --> 00:41:16.580
 privileged

00:41:16.580 --> 00:41:17.140
 position

00:41:17.140 --> 00:41:18.420
 because all

00:41:18.420 --> 00:41:18.980
 of history

00:41:18.980 --> 00:41:19.340
 has been

00:41:19.340 --> 00:41:19.820
 building to

00:41:19.820 --> 00:41:20.420
 this point.

00:41:21.680 --> 00:41:22.559
 The goal

00:41:22.559 --> 00:41:23.280
 of life

00:41:23.280 --> 00:41:25.720
 anticipated

00:41:25.720 --> 00:41:26.260
 since

00:41:26.260 --> 00:41:26.840
 creation

00:41:26.840 --> 00:41:28.980
 promised to

00:41:28.980 --> 00:41:30.120
 Israel but

00:41:30.120 --> 00:41:30.860
 constantly

00:41:30.860 --> 00:41:32.620
 slipping out

00:41:32.620 --> 00:41:32.880
 of their

00:41:32.880 --> 00:41:33.380
 grasp.

00:41:34.740 --> 00:41:35.460
 Promised

00:41:35.460 --> 00:41:36.100
 again by

00:41:36.100 --> 00:41:36.680
 David,

00:41:37.740 --> 00:41:38.360
 by God

00:41:38.360 --> 00:41:38.740
 through

00:41:38.740 --> 00:41:39.240
 David.

00:41:40.559 --> 00:41:41.280
 That

00:41:41.280 --> 00:41:41.860
 promise of

00:41:41.860 --> 00:41:42.240
 rest is

00:41:42.240 --> 00:41:42.780
 offered to

00:41:42.780 --> 00:41:44.820
 us in

00:41:44.820 --> 00:41:45.200
 the gospel

00:41:45.200 --> 00:41:45.620
 of Jesus

00:41:45.620 --> 00:41:46.140
 Christ.

00:41:47.900 --> 00:41:48.680
 Come to

00:41:48.680 --> 00:41:49.260
 me,

00:41:50.960 --> 00:41:51.300
 Jesus

00:41:51.300 --> 00:41:51.760
 said,

00:41:52.460 --> 00:41:52.920
 all who

00:41:52.920 --> 00:41:53.420
 labour and

00:41:53.420 --> 00:41:53.740
 are heavy

00:41:53.740 --> 00:41:54.140
 laden,

00:41:55.140 --> 00:41:56.100
 and I

00:41:56.100 --> 00:41:56.420
 will give

00:41:56.420 --> 00:41:57.000
 you rest.

00:41:59.400 --> 00:42:00.320
 But what a

00:42:00.320 --> 00:42:00.920
 madness it

00:42:00.920 --> 00:42:02.360
 would be to

00:42:02.360 --> 00:42:03.280
 come to the

00:42:03.280 --> 00:42:03.740
 one who

00:42:03.740 --> 00:42:04.640
 gives rest

00:42:04.640 --> 00:42:07.880
 and yet

00:42:07.880 --> 00:42:08.900
 refuse to

00:42:08.900 --> 00:42:09.480
 enter the

00:42:09.480 --> 00:42:09.940
 rest he

00:42:09.940 --> 00:42:10.380
 gives.

00:42:13.820 --> 00:42:14.420
 So,

00:42:14.740 --> 00:42:15.280
 verse 11,

00:42:16.019 --> 00:42:16.440
 let us

00:42:16.440 --> 00:42:16.780
 therefore

00:42:16.780 --> 00:42:18.300
 strive to

00:42:18.300 --> 00:42:18.900
 enter that

00:42:18.900 --> 00:42:20.480
 rest so

00:42:20.480 --> 00:42:21.059
 that no

00:42:21.059 --> 00:42:21.659
 one may

00:42:21.659 --> 00:42:22.460
 fall by

00:42:22.460 --> 00:42:22.900
 the same

00:42:22.900 --> 00:42:23.280
 sort of

00:42:23.280 --> 00:42:24.039
 disobedience.

00:42:25.460 --> 00:42:26.440
 Consider all

00:42:26.440 --> 00:42:26.920
 that God's

00:42:26.920 --> 00:42:27.619
 rest means

00:42:27.619 --> 00:42:29.059
 in terms of

00:42:29.059 --> 00:42:29.340
 what we

00:42:29.340 --> 00:42:30.000
 leave behind

00:42:30.000 --> 00:42:31.480
 and in

00:42:31.480 --> 00:42:31.840
 terms of

00:42:31.840 --> 00:42:32.119
 what we

00:42:32.119 --> 00:42:32.740
 enter into.

00:42:32.739 --> 00:42:35.500
 we leave

00:42:35.500 --> 00:42:36.479
 behind labour

00:42:36.479 --> 00:42:38.500
 and struggle

00:42:38.500 --> 00:42:40.199
 and hardship.

00:42:41.199 --> 00:42:42.259
 We leave

00:42:42.259 --> 00:42:43.119
 behind grief

00:42:43.119 --> 00:42:43.879
 and pain

00:42:43.879 --> 00:42:44.619
 and tears

00:42:44.619 --> 00:42:45.259
 and death.

00:42:45.260 --> 00:42:47.340
 we leave

00:42:47.340 --> 00:42:48.780
 behind temptations

00:42:48.780 --> 00:42:50.280
 and stumbling

00:42:50.280 --> 00:42:50.820
 blocks.

00:42:51.820 --> 00:42:52.680
 We leave

00:42:52.680 --> 00:42:53.720
 behind loneliness.

00:42:55.840 --> 00:42:57.000
 We enter

00:42:57.000 --> 00:42:58.640
 into the

00:42:58.640 --> 00:42:59.040
 love of

00:42:59.040 --> 00:42:59.420
 God.

00:43:00.180 --> 00:43:01.020
 We enter

00:43:01.020 --> 00:43:02.040
 into his

00:43:02.040 --> 00:43:02.980
 joy and

00:43:02.980 --> 00:43:03.540
 gladness.

00:43:03.820 --> 00:43:04.160
 We enter

00:43:04.160 --> 00:43:05.240
 into a

00:43:05.240 --> 00:43:05.820
 life of

00:43:05.820 --> 00:43:06.480
 eternal

00:43:06.480 --> 00:43:07.600
 blessedness.

00:43:07.599 --> 00:43:07.679
 rest.

00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.639
 So,

00:43:12.739 --> 00:43:12.980
 let us

00:43:12.980 --> 00:43:13.539
 strive to

00:43:13.539 --> 00:43:14.019
 enter that

00:43:14.019 --> 00:43:14.440
 rest.

00:43:16.880 --> 00:43:17.599
 At a

00:43:17.599 --> 00:43:18.039
 cross-country

00:43:18.039 --> 00:43:18.599
 race in

00:43:18.599 --> 00:43:19.380
 2013,

00:43:20.799 --> 00:43:21.199
 Kenyan

00:43:21.199 --> 00:43:21.940
 distance

00:43:21.940 --> 00:43:22.339
 runner,

00:43:23.000 --> 00:43:23.440
 Abel

00:43:23.440 --> 00:43:24.219
 Mutai,

00:43:24.360 --> 00:43:24.699
 was in

00:43:24.699 --> 00:43:25.519
 first place

00:43:25.519 --> 00:43:26.179
 approaching

00:43:26.179 --> 00:43:26.599
 the finish

00:43:26.599 --> 00:43:26.920
 line.

00:43:26.920 --> 00:43:30.320
 But as

00:43:30.320 --> 00:43:30.619
 Mutai

00:43:30.619 --> 00:43:31.000
 approached

00:43:31.000 --> 00:43:31.340
 the finish

00:43:31.340 --> 00:43:31.519
 line,

00:43:31.599 --> 00:43:31.880
 he was

00:43:31.880 --> 00:43:32.579
 confused

00:43:32.579 --> 00:43:33.059
 by the

00:43:33.059 --> 00:43:33.619
 signs

00:43:33.619 --> 00:43:35.240
 and

00:43:35.240 --> 00:43:35.559
 stopped

00:43:35.559 --> 00:43:35.960
 short,

00:43:36.440 --> 00:43:36.700
 a few

00:43:36.700 --> 00:43:36.920
 metres

00:43:36.920 --> 00:43:37.180
 short,

00:43:37.320 --> 00:43:37.800
 thinking

00:43:37.800 --> 00:43:38.099
 he'd

00:43:38.099 --> 00:43:38.340
 finished

00:43:38.340 --> 00:43:38.519
 the

00:43:38.519 --> 00:43:38.860
 race.

00:43:41.659 --> 00:43:42.240
 Spanish

00:43:42.240 --> 00:43:42.760
 athlete

00:43:42.760 --> 00:43:43.240
 Ivan

00:43:43.240 --> 00:43:43.880
 Fernandez

00:43:43.880 --> 00:43:44.280
 was in

00:43:44.280 --> 00:43:44.539
 second

00:43:44.539 --> 00:43:44.920
 place,

00:43:45.019 --> 00:43:45.220
 right

00:43:45.220 --> 00:43:45.599
 behind

00:43:45.599 --> 00:43:46.039
 Mutai.

00:43:46.980 --> 00:43:47.280
 He

00:43:47.280 --> 00:43:47.440
 could

00:43:47.440 --> 00:43:47.780
 easily

00:43:47.780 --> 00:43:47.980
 have

00:43:47.980 --> 00:43:48.200
 just

00:43:48.200 --> 00:43:49.240
 run

00:43:49.240 --> 00:43:49.700
 past

00:43:49.700 --> 00:43:50.240
 Mutai

00:43:50.240 --> 00:43:50.920
 and

00:43:50.920 --> 00:43:51.240
 finished

00:43:51.240 --> 00:43:51.780
 first.

00:43:53.619 --> 00:43:54.220
 Instead,

00:43:54.380 --> 00:43:54.740
 realising

00:43:54.740 --> 00:43:55.059
 what had

00:43:55.059 --> 00:43:55.320
 happened,

00:43:55.460 --> 00:43:56.119
 he started

00:43:56.119 --> 00:43:56.599
 shouting

00:43:56.599 --> 00:43:57.299
 at Mutai,

00:43:57.860 --> 00:43:58.199
 keep

00:43:58.199 --> 00:43:58.579
 running.

00:44:00.380 --> 00:44:00.759
 Mutai

00:44:00.759 --> 00:44:01.019
 didn't

00:44:01.019 --> 00:44:01.420
 understand

00:44:01.420 --> 00:44:01.920
 Spanish.

00:44:03.799 --> 00:44:04.059
 So

00:44:04.059 --> 00:44:04.460
 Fernandez

00:44:04.460 --> 00:44:05.039
 came up

00:44:05.039 --> 00:44:05.400
 behind

00:44:05.400 --> 00:44:05.779
 him,

00:44:06.619 --> 00:44:07.539
 speaking,

00:44:07.920 --> 00:44:08.339
 pointing,

00:44:09.599 --> 00:44:09.920
 pushing

00:44:09.920 --> 00:44:10.199
 him,

00:44:10.360 --> 00:44:10.659
 urging

00:44:10.659 --> 00:44:11.219
 him on,

00:44:12.500 --> 00:44:14.019
 so that

00:44:14.019 --> 00:44:14.299
 Mutai

00:44:14.299 --> 00:44:14.679
 could get

00:44:14.679 --> 00:44:15.139
 across the

00:44:15.139 --> 00:44:15.380
 finish

00:44:15.380 --> 00:44:15.639
 line

00:44:15.639 --> 00:44:16.099
 first.

00:44:18.839 --> 00:44:19.440
 There

00:44:19.440 --> 00:44:20.539
 remains a

00:44:20.539 --> 00:44:20.860
 Sabbath

00:44:20.860 --> 00:44:21.480
 rest for

00:44:21.480 --> 00:44:21.839
 the people

00:44:21.839 --> 00:44:22.400
 of God.

00:44:23.400 --> 00:44:24.400
 So let's

00:44:24.400 --> 00:44:25.079
 push one

00:44:25.079 --> 00:44:25.460
 another

00:44:25.460 --> 00:44:26.339
 towards

00:44:26.340 --> 00:44:26.579
 that

00:44:26.579 --> 00:44:26.980
 goal.

00:44:29.980 --> 00:44:30.740
 And in

00:44:30.740 --> 00:44:30.980
 this

00:44:30.980 --> 00:44:31.320
 day,

00:44:31.519 --> 00:44:31.940
 today,

00:44:32.579 --> 00:44:32.980
 while the

00:44:32.980 --> 00:44:33.380
 voice of

00:44:33.380 --> 00:44:33.720
 God is

00:44:33.720 --> 00:44:34.100
 heard,

00:44:34.400 --> 00:44:34.720
 let's

00:44:34.720 --> 00:44:34.900
 not

00:44:34.900 --> 00:44:35.200
 harden

00:44:35.200 --> 00:44:35.400
 our

00:44:35.400 --> 00:44:35.660
 hearts

00:44:35.660 --> 00:44:35.900
 to

00:44:35.900 --> 00:44:36.120
 it.

00:44:37.680 --> 00:44:37.920
 Verse

00:44:37.920 --> 00:44:38.320
 12,

00:44:38.720 --> 00:44:39.059
 for the

00:44:39.059 --> 00:44:39.600
 word of

00:44:39.600 --> 00:44:39.960
 God

00:44:39.960 --> 00:44:40.180
 is

00:44:40.180 --> 00:44:40.660
 living

00:44:40.660 --> 00:44:40.960
 and

00:44:40.960 --> 00:44:41.440
 active,

00:44:42.539 --> 00:44:42.860
 sharper

00:44:42.860 --> 00:44:43.320
 than any

00:44:43.320 --> 00:44:43.800
 two-edged

00:44:43.800 --> 00:44:44.280
 sword,

00:44:45.059 --> 00:44:45.600
 piercing to

00:44:45.600 --> 00:44:46.039
 the division

00:44:46.039 --> 00:44:46.680
 of soul

00:44:46.680 --> 00:44:47.000
 and of

00:44:47.000 --> 00:44:47.300
 spirit,

00:44:47.380 --> 00:44:47.820
 of joints

00:44:47.820 --> 00:44:48.340
 and marrow,

00:44:48.760 --> 00:44:49.400
 and discerning

00:44:49.400 --> 00:44:50.100
 the thoughts

00:44:50.100 --> 00:44:51.480
 and intentions

00:44:51.480 --> 00:44:52.079
 of the

00:44:52.079 --> 00:44:52.440
 heart.

00:44:52.440 --> 00:45:05.460
 God's

00:45:05.460 --> 00:45:05.780
 word is

00:45:05.780 --> 00:45:06.179
 living and

00:45:06.179 --> 00:45:06.500
 active.

00:45:06.679 --> 00:45:06.760
 It's

00:45:06.760 --> 00:45:07.340
 powerful and

00:45:07.340 --> 00:45:07.720
 effective.

00:45:08.000 --> 00:45:08.220
 It will

00:45:08.220 --> 00:45:08.880
 accomplish the

00:45:08.880 --> 00:45:09.440
 purpose for

00:45:09.440 --> 00:45:09.720
 which he

00:45:09.720 --> 00:45:10.220
 sends it.

00:45:11.500 --> 00:45:11.920
 God's

00:45:11.920 --> 00:45:12.139
 word

00:45:12.139 --> 00:45:13.340
 penetrates to

00:45:13.340 --> 00:45:13.720
 the very

00:45:13.720 --> 00:45:14.300
 core of

00:45:14.300 --> 00:45:14.940
 our being,

00:45:16.260 --> 00:45:16.940
 judging the

00:45:16.940 --> 00:45:17.400
 thoughts and

00:45:17.400 --> 00:45:18.019
 attitudes of

00:45:18.019 --> 00:45:18.579
 our heart.

00:45:18.579 --> 00:45:20.179
 it leaves

00:45:20.179 --> 00:45:20.840
 us utterly

00:45:20.840 --> 00:45:21.579
 exposed.

00:45:26.059 --> 00:45:26.579
 Dave

00:45:26.579 --> 00:45:27.219
 asked the

00:45:27.219 --> 00:45:27.840
 question for

00:45:27.840 --> 00:45:28.199
 us.

00:45:29.159 --> 00:45:29.659
 Are these

00:45:29.659 --> 00:45:30.119
 words

00:45:30.119 --> 00:45:31.299
 hopeful

00:45:31.299 --> 00:45:33.340
 or are

00:45:33.340 --> 00:45:33.460
 they?

00:45:33.519 --> 00:45:33.719
 I can't

00:45:33.719 --> 00:45:34.000
 remember the

00:45:34.000 --> 00:45:34.319
 other word

00:45:34.319 --> 00:45:34.920
 Dave used.

00:45:36.239 --> 00:45:36.759
 Terrifying?

00:45:37.299 --> 00:45:37.719
 Fearful?

00:45:38.239 --> 00:45:39.099
 Fear-inducing?

00:45:41.219 --> 00:45:41.779
 Intimidating?

00:45:42.039 --> 00:45:42.259
 Thanks,

00:45:42.360 --> 00:45:42.579
 Dave.

00:45:43.000 --> 00:45:43.360
 Are these

00:45:43.360 --> 00:45:44.099
 words hopeful

00:45:44.099 --> 00:45:45.539
 or intimidating?

00:45:45.699 --> 00:45:46.179
 They sound

00:45:46.179 --> 00:45:46.579
 ominous,

00:45:46.639 --> 00:45:47.079
 don't they?

00:45:48.579 --> 00:45:50.639
 But this

00:45:50.639 --> 00:45:52.539
 is exactly

00:45:52.539 --> 00:45:54.059
 the instrument

00:45:54.059 --> 00:45:54.779
 we need for

00:45:54.779 --> 00:45:55.420
 our hearts.

00:45:57.500 --> 00:45:58.460
 Sin may

00:45:58.460 --> 00:45:59.400
 deceive us,

00:46:00.199 --> 00:46:01.139
 but it

00:46:01.139 --> 00:46:01.759
 can't deceive

00:46:01.759 --> 00:46:02.199
 God.

00:46:03.259 --> 00:46:04.059
 And the

00:46:04.059 --> 00:46:04.480
 word of

00:46:04.480 --> 00:46:05.000
 God is a

00:46:05.000 --> 00:46:05.299
 sharp

00:46:05.299 --> 00:46:05.900
 scalpel.

00:46:07.179 --> 00:46:08.480
 It slices

00:46:08.480 --> 00:46:09.259
 through our

00:46:09.259 --> 00:46:11.019
 pretenses and

00:46:11.019 --> 00:46:11.940
 rationalisations.

00:46:12.739 --> 00:46:14.039
 It reveals the

00:46:14.039 --> 00:46:14.860
 secret workings

00:46:14.860 --> 00:46:15.119
 of our

00:46:15.119 --> 00:46:15.500
 heart.

00:46:15.500 --> 00:46:18.119
 God cuts

00:46:18.119 --> 00:46:18.960
 away sin's

00:46:18.960 --> 00:46:20.519
 deceptions so

00:46:20.519 --> 00:46:21.559
 that we may

00:46:21.559 --> 00:46:22.420
 hold on to

00:46:22.420 --> 00:46:23.920
 the promise

00:46:23.920 --> 00:46:24.400
 of God.

00:46:27.119 --> 00:46:27.800
 So,

00:46:27.880 --> 00:46:28.239
 brothers and

00:46:28.239 --> 00:46:28.559
 sisters,

00:46:29.219 --> 00:46:29.800
 do you hear

00:46:29.800 --> 00:46:30.300
 the word of

00:46:30.300 --> 00:46:30.599
 God?

00:46:32.119 --> 00:46:33.300
 Do you hear

00:46:33.300 --> 00:46:34.239
 the word of

00:46:34.239 --> 00:46:35.320
 God's promise

00:46:35.320 --> 00:46:38.019
 drawing us

00:46:38.019 --> 00:46:38.860
 into his

00:46:38.860 --> 00:46:39.320
 rest?

00:46:40.880 --> 00:46:41.699
 Do you hear

00:46:41.699 --> 00:46:42.400
 the word of

00:46:42.400 --> 00:46:42.960
 God's

00:46:42.960 --> 00:46:43.559
 warning?

00:46:43.559 --> 00:46:46.860
 cutting away

00:46:46.860 --> 00:46:48.360
 our doubts

00:46:48.360 --> 00:46:49.420
 and unbelief?

00:46:51.920 --> 00:46:52.559
 Well,

00:46:52.599 --> 00:46:53.059
 let's heed

00:46:53.059 --> 00:46:53.519
 the warning.

00:46:54.920 --> 00:46:55.799
 Let's hold

00:46:55.799 --> 00:46:56.219
 on to the

00:46:56.219 --> 00:46:56.639
 promise

00:46:56.639 --> 00:46:58.900
 and let's

00:46:58.900 --> 00:46:59.460
 exhort

00:46:59.460 --> 00:47:00.699
 one another

00:47:00.699 --> 00:47:02.059
 daily

00:47:02.059 --> 00:47:03.519
 so that

00:47:03.519 --> 00:47:04.239
 all together

00:47:04.239 --> 00:47:05.699
 we might

00:47:05.699 --> 00:47:06.199
 reach that

00:47:06.199 --> 00:47:06.559
 goal.

00:47:06.559 --> 00:47:09.099
 Will you pray

00:47:09.099 --> 00:47:09.460
 with me?

00:47:09.460 --> 00:47:09.559
 Amen.

00:47:09.559 --> 00:47:09.559


00:47:09.559 --> 00:47:09.559


00:47:09.559 --> 00:47:09.559


00:47:09.559 --> 00:47:09.559


00:47:09.559 --> 00:47:09.559


00:47:09.559 --> 00:47:09.559


00:47:09.559 --> 00:47:09.559


00:47:09.559 --> 00:47:09.559


00:47:09.559 --> 00:47:09.559


00:47:09.559 --> 00:47:09.559


00:47:09.559 --> 00:47:09.559


00:47:09.559 --> 00:47:09.559


00:47:13.559 --> 00:47:22.079
 Heavenly Father,

00:47:22.179 --> 00:47:22.779
 we thank you

00:47:22.779 --> 00:47:25.639
 for the

00:47:25.639 --> 00:47:26.519
 promise of

00:47:26.519 --> 00:47:28.840
 rest that

00:47:28.840 --> 00:47:29.860
 still stands,

00:47:30.860 --> 00:47:32.980
 that all

00:47:32.980 --> 00:47:33.719
 who come to

00:47:33.719 --> 00:47:34.559
 Jesus and

00:47:34.559 --> 00:47:35.239
 trust in

00:47:35.239 --> 00:47:35.639
 him

00:47:35.639 --> 00:47:39.960
 and cling

00:47:39.960 --> 00:47:40.440
 to him

00:47:40.440 --> 00:47:41.159
 our

00:47:41.159 --> 00:47:41.759
 saviour,

00:47:42.299 --> 00:47:43.179
 our

00:47:43.179 --> 00:47:43.579
 Lord,

00:47:44.339 --> 00:47:46.400
 will enter

00:47:46.400 --> 00:47:47.059
 your rest.

00:47:49.559 --> 00:47:50.579
 We thank you

00:47:50.579 --> 00:47:50.920
 that this

00:47:50.920 --> 00:47:51.599
 promise is

00:47:51.599 --> 00:47:52.460
 certain.

00:47:54.319 --> 00:47:55.299
 We thank you

00:47:55.299 --> 00:47:55.619
 that it

00:47:55.619 --> 00:47:56.440
 doesn't depend

00:47:56.440 --> 00:47:57.079
 on us

00:47:57.079 --> 00:47:58.940
 but on our

00:47:58.940 --> 00:47:59.500
 saviour who

00:47:59.500 --> 00:48:00.059
 went before

00:48:00.059 --> 00:48:00.480
 us.

00:48:00.480 --> 00:48:03.719
 and so

00:48:03.719 --> 00:48:04.280
 we pray

00:48:04.280 --> 00:48:05.000
 for each

00:48:05.000 --> 00:48:05.420
 and every

00:48:05.420 --> 00:48:05.940
 one of us

00:48:05.940 --> 00:48:06.320
 here

00:48:06.320 --> 00:48:08.260
 that you

00:48:08.260 --> 00:48:09.179
 might guard

00:48:09.179 --> 00:48:09.920
 our hearts

00:48:09.920 --> 00:48:10.240
 from the

00:48:10.240 --> 00:48:10.800
 deceitfulness

00:48:10.800 --> 00:48:11.360
 of sin.

00:48:12.980 --> 00:48:13.980
 Please keep

00:48:13.980 --> 00:48:14.639
 us trusting

00:48:14.639 --> 00:48:15.240
 in Jesus

00:48:15.240 --> 00:48:17.059
 until the

00:48:17.059 --> 00:48:17.719
 very end

00:48:17.719 --> 00:48:20.300
 and help

00:48:20.300 --> 00:48:20.960
 us as a

00:48:20.960 --> 00:48:21.719
 church to

00:48:21.719 --> 00:48:22.639
 exhort and

00:48:22.639 --> 00:48:23.320
 encourage one

00:48:23.320 --> 00:48:23.800
 another in

00:48:23.800 --> 00:48:25.679
 this so

00:48:25.679 --> 00:48:26.139
 that none

00:48:26.139 --> 00:48:26.639
 of us might

00:48:26.639 --> 00:48:27.240
 stumble and

00:48:27.240 --> 00:48:27.500
 fall.

00:48:28.920 --> 00:48:29.599
 We ask

00:48:29.599 --> 00:48:30.059
 all of this

00:48:30.059 --> 00:48:30.500
 in Jesus

00:48:30.500 --> 00:48:30.900
 name.

00:48:31.579 --> 00:48:31.860
 Amen.