WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.980 Amen. Children, we are ready for Children's Church at this time. You may make your way to the back. 00:00:06.480 --> 00:00:07.640 Isn't it a blessing? 00:00:08.519 --> 00:00:16.379 The things that we believe, the things that Scripture tells us are true of us and that will be true of our eternity. 00:00:16.379 --> 00:00:28.179 And my goodness, what a joy it is to come together with other believers and proclaim those truths, to sing those truths, to stand on the promises of God. 00:00:28.179 --> 00:00:37.460 I am so thankful that we are able to be here today to celebrate the good news that we have a risen Savior and that His name is Jesus. 00:00:37.659 --> 00:00:41.140 And because of Him, we have hope. 00:00:41.539 --> 00:00:42.880 What a joy that is. 00:00:42.920 --> 00:00:46.980 And I'm also grateful for this church and our commitment to missions. 00:00:47.679 --> 00:00:57.359 Evan mentioned earlier, but I just want to highlight again, I had a goal of $12,000 to go to Annie Armstrong, brought in over $21,000. 00:00:57.359 --> 00:00:59.439 I think we need to up the goal next year. 00:00:59.920 --> 00:01:12.000 That is an incredible opportunity, incredible heart behind those individuals in our church who see the message that we have as worthy of investing in, 00:01:12.039 --> 00:01:19.920 not just our time, but our resources and saying, hey, we want to make sure this good news is proclaimed all over North America. 00:01:19.920 --> 00:01:27.260 And not only did we meet and exceed our goal to Annie Armstrong, but we also earlier, we met and exceeded our goal to Lottie Moon. 00:01:27.359 --> 00:01:36.079 So this message that we're proclaiming, this hope that we have is a hope that we want to share with everyone across this world. 00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:39.719 And I'm so very thankful for that. 00:01:40.200 --> 00:01:43.620 Today, we're going to be back in the book of Hebrews. 00:01:44.500 --> 00:01:50.120 And so if you have a copy of God's Word, I want to invite you to go ahead and turn with me to Hebrews chapter 5. 00:01:50.340 --> 00:01:54.039 We're going to be in verses 5, 11 through 6, 12 today. 00:01:54.180 --> 00:01:55.900 And so I want you to go ahead and make your way there. 00:01:56.120 --> 00:02:00.200 But as you're turning there, I want you to think with me about something for just a moment. 00:02:00.200 --> 00:02:06.140 Maybe this applies to you, or maybe it applied to you at some point in your life. 00:02:06.219 --> 00:02:10.000 But I'm willing to guess we all know somebody that this applies to. 00:02:10.159 --> 00:02:15.980 But how many of us in here have ever lived by, near, at one point in time or now, 00:02:16.060 --> 00:02:18.480 or known somebody that lives near railroad tracks? 00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:20.620 Does that apply to anybody? 00:02:20.680 --> 00:02:29.900 Okay, most of us either have lived by railroad tracks or know somebody that has lived by some railroad tracks. 00:02:29.900 --> 00:02:36.120 And what's amazing to me is the people who live near railroad tracks don't even hear a train anymore. 00:02:36.760 --> 00:02:37.960 It's amazing to me. 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:40.640 I think part of it is because I love trains. 00:02:40.819 --> 00:02:42.240 And so I'm like a little kid. 00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:42.659 I hear a train. 00:02:42.740 --> 00:02:44.040 I'm like, oh, where's the train at? 00:02:44.080 --> 00:02:45.500 I want to see it. 00:02:45.659 --> 00:02:51.080 I still count the cars whenever I'm stopped at a railroad track. 00:02:51.080 --> 00:02:53.860 And I get a little bit excited when I see multiple engines on the front. 00:02:53.960 --> 00:02:55.860 I'm like, oh, this is going to be a long one. 00:02:56.200 --> 00:02:57.520 This is going to be a big train. 00:02:57.520 --> 00:03:05.580 And so I like trains, but it amazes me that you can be at someone's house that has lived by railroad tracks for a long time, 00:03:05.580 --> 00:03:08.360 and they don't even hear it anymore. 00:03:08.760 --> 00:03:11.800 They don't even notice it anymore when a train goes by. 00:03:11.879 --> 00:03:18.360 They've gotten so used to the trains that they don't even look up or even pay attention when a train goes by. 00:03:18.860 --> 00:03:20.180 But it's not just trains. 00:03:20.180 --> 00:03:26.920 For example, men can get so used to hearing a child cry that they don't even wake up for it in the middle of the night. 00:03:27.879 --> 00:03:29.920 For some reason, women are immune to this. 00:03:30.020 --> 00:03:31.500 They wake up every single time. 00:03:31.620 --> 00:03:33.540 Catherine says, I just developed like a reflex. 00:03:33.780 --> 00:03:35.240 I just had this like little nudge. 00:03:35.540 --> 00:03:38.860 I said, sweetie, every time that I heard a child cry. 00:03:38.860 --> 00:03:47.600 But we can get so used to these things that are around us that we become desensitized to the sights and sounds around us, 00:03:47.720 --> 00:03:52.980 so much so that obvious things are no longer obvious. 00:03:53.900 --> 00:03:58.200 Now, if you live beside some railroad tracks, this is a really good thing. 00:03:58.199 --> 00:04:03.899 But when it comes to reading God's Word, this is a really bad thing. 00:04:04.639 --> 00:04:14.719 This is a really bad thing if we get so used to God's Word that we become desensitized so that we don't even pay attention to it anymore. 00:04:14.839 --> 00:04:20.839 The author of Hebrews has some pretty direct words concerning this for us today. 00:04:20.839 --> 00:04:28.459 And so I want to encourage you, if you've made your way to Hebrews chapter 5, starting in verse 11, to follow along as we read these words. 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:29.359 It says this, 00:04:29.359 --> 00:04:36.819 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 00:04:37.459 --> 00:04:45.699 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. 00:04:46.059 --> 00:04:48.679 You need milk, not solid food. 00:04:48.680 --> 00:04:54.060 For everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness since he is a child. 00:04:54.860 --> 00:04:57.439 But solid food is for the mature. 00:04:58.040 --> 00:05:04.819 For those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish between good from evil. 00:05:05.540 --> 00:05:10.220 Therefore, let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:15.840 not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and faith towards God, 00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:21.819 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 00:05:22.339 --> 00:05:24.939 And this we will do if God permits. 00:05:25.719 --> 00:05:31.459 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, 00:05:32.059 --> 00:05:35.899 who have tasted the heavenly gift and shared in the Holy Spirit, 00:05:35.979 --> 00:05:41.539 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 00:05:41.540 --> 00:05:46.040 and then have fallen away to restore them again to repentance, 00:05:46.040 --> 00:05:54.060 since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to content. 00:05:54.760 --> 00:06:03.300 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, 00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:05.180 receives a blessing from God. 00:06:05.180 --> 00:06:09.740 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless, 00:06:10.780 --> 00:06:14.540 and near being cursed, and in its end is to be burned. 00:06:15.139 --> 00:06:21.120 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things, 00:06:21.620 --> 00:06:25.439 things that belong to salvation, for God is not unjust, 00:06:25.660 --> 00:06:32.939 so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 00:06:32.939 --> 00:06:37.019 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness, 00:06:37.100 --> 00:06:40.300 to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 00:06:40.540 --> 00:06:42.379 so that you may not be sluggish, 00:06:42.740 --> 00:06:49.079 but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 00:06:49.939 --> 00:06:51.319 As we read through this, 00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:56.220 much of these warnings sound like a father speaking to his son, 00:06:56.459 --> 00:06:59.560 or at least like I remember my dad speaking to me. 00:06:59.959 --> 00:07:01.060 You don't listen. 00:07:01.060 --> 00:07:03.980 You should be doing more for yourself by now. 00:07:04.300 --> 00:07:06.240 In fact, I don't even know if you're mine. 00:07:07.280 --> 00:07:09.060 I'm joking about that last part, 00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:13.139 but he said all those other things at different times. 00:07:13.819 --> 00:07:20.139 But there are a few observations from this passage that I want to bring our attention to this morning. 00:07:20.220 --> 00:07:23.819 We will see the problem, and we'll see the solution, 00:07:23.959 --> 00:07:28.360 but I also want us to see a truth that is sandwiched in between the problem and the solution here. 00:07:28.360 --> 00:07:32.240 But the first thing that I want to bring our attention to is this, 00:07:32.660 --> 00:07:34.460 is identifying the problem, 00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:37.439 and that is dullness of hearing. 00:07:38.259 --> 00:07:41.480 We must identify the problem, which is dullness of hearing. 00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:41.800 He says, 00:07:41.800 --> 00:07:59.439 You see, up to this point, the author has described the problem and described the remedy for the problem over and over again, 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:01.580 but he hasn't come right out and said it. 00:08:01.579 --> 00:08:06.159 We've seen him describe it, and we've seen some things we must do. 00:08:06.300 --> 00:08:10.479 In chapter 2, he's told us that we are to make sure that we pay attention, 00:08:10.939 --> 00:08:13.939 or pay much closer attention to what he's telling us. 00:08:14.300 --> 00:08:17.339 In chapter 3, he tells us we must consider Jesus. 00:08:17.500 --> 00:08:18.659 And again there, he tells us, 00:08:18.919 --> 00:08:20.560 Don't harden your heart. 00:08:21.279 --> 00:08:22.219 And in verse 14, 00:08:22.220 --> 00:08:24.140 The last time we were in this, 00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:28.040 we were told to hold fast to our confession. 00:08:28.700 --> 00:08:31.040 We must hold fast to what we believe. 00:08:31.220 --> 00:08:33.399 Now he diagnoses the problem. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:34.320 He says, 00:08:34.440 --> 00:08:37.019 You have become dull of hearing. 00:08:37.920 --> 00:08:39.060 In the previous verse, 00:08:39.139 --> 00:08:41.700 the author has just begun to talk about Jesus, 00:08:42.399 --> 00:08:46.120 and our great and perfect high priest that he is. 00:08:46.320 --> 00:08:49.259 He's a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. 00:08:49.259 --> 00:08:50.919 And so understanding that, 00:08:51.000 --> 00:08:53.879 we realize that he is both a priest and a king. 00:08:54.039 --> 00:08:55.279 He is a king forever. 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:56.480 He's a priest forever. 00:08:56.819 --> 00:09:00.480 And he stops himself before he returns to this later. 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:02.360 And next week we'll get into that more. 00:09:02.460 --> 00:09:03.860 But he stops himself, 00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:04.279 and he says, 00:09:04.399 --> 00:09:05.319 About this, 00:09:05.779 --> 00:09:07.299 we have much to say, 00:09:07.580 --> 00:09:09.299 and it's hard to explain, 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:12.779 because you have become dull of hearing. 00:09:13.439 --> 00:09:15.460 So why is this hard to explain? 00:09:15.460 --> 00:09:19.280 Is it because his readers aren't very smart? 00:09:19.900 --> 00:09:22.680 Is it because the concept he's trying to communicate 00:09:22.680 --> 00:09:25.160 are so deep and so complex 00:09:25.160 --> 00:09:27.080 that they just go right over their head? 00:09:27.680 --> 00:09:28.120 No. 00:09:28.820 --> 00:09:31.820 It's because these Christians that he is speaking to 00:09:31.820 --> 00:09:33.379 aren't listening. 00:09:34.080 --> 00:09:35.980 They may be hearing the words. 00:09:36.080 --> 00:09:37.420 They may be hearing it, 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:39.379 but they're just going in one ear 00:09:39.379 --> 00:09:40.860 and out the order they're hearing, 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:43.019 but they're not listening. 00:09:43.019 --> 00:09:45.480 What we have to remember is that 00:09:45.480 --> 00:09:48.220 the author is writing to a group of believers. 00:09:48.860 --> 00:09:51.439 At one time they were growing and maturing, 00:09:51.799 --> 00:09:53.379 and they were doing all of these things, 00:09:53.480 --> 00:09:57.159 but they have become dull of hearing. 00:09:57.659 --> 00:10:01.720 The word dull here means sluggish or lethargic. 00:10:02.259 --> 00:10:05.079 And so basically the author is calling them lazy. 00:10:05.579 --> 00:10:06.500 Basically he's saying, 00:10:06.600 --> 00:10:07.740 Look, you've become lazy. 00:10:08.460 --> 00:10:10.220 You've stopped growing in your faith. 00:10:10.299 --> 00:10:11.879 You've stopped listening to these things. 00:10:11.879 --> 00:10:13.779 You've just become lazy. 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:17.759 And in fact, this is how the Christian Standard Bible translates. 00:10:18.019 --> 00:10:18.240 It says, 00:10:18.360 --> 00:10:21.679 You have become too lazy to understand. 00:10:22.659 --> 00:10:25.059 And so what we see as the root cause 00:10:25.059 --> 00:10:27.080 of their spiritual immaturity 00:10:27.080 --> 00:10:30.480 is that they have become too lazy. 00:10:31.500 --> 00:10:34.320 Now I know all of you during your high school 00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:38.080 and college days were all just incredibly wonderful students. 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:40.520 That you were always on top of everything. 00:10:41.220 --> 00:10:43.780 That nothing was ever late or anything like that. 00:10:43.920 --> 00:10:45.740 For me, that was not always the case. 00:10:45.820 --> 00:10:48.020 I like to procrastinate a little bit. 00:10:48.060 --> 00:10:50.639 And then I would come up with excuses 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:52.759 and these clever little sayings 00:10:52.759 --> 00:10:54.259 to kind of make it funny 00:10:54.259 --> 00:10:55.620 while I was procrastinating. 00:10:55.700 --> 00:10:55.940 I'll say, 00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:56.160 You know, 00:10:56.400 --> 00:10:58.759 Well, I just do my best work under pressure. 00:10:59.100 --> 00:11:00.840 And so it's not procrastinating. 00:11:00.840 --> 00:11:03.920 It's just overachieving that I'm waiting till the end. 00:11:04.340 --> 00:11:05.500 But when all of those things, 00:11:05.740 --> 00:11:07.560 even if you're procrastinating, 00:11:07.800 --> 00:11:10.759 all of those things have a due date, right? 00:11:11.100 --> 00:11:14.740 Even if you procrastinate with the paper that is due, 00:11:14.820 --> 00:11:16.420 even if you wait till the last minute, 00:11:16.660 --> 00:11:17.800 there is a due date. 00:11:17.860 --> 00:11:19.660 And so if you're going to succeed in school, 00:11:19.780 --> 00:11:21.720 you're going to have to make sure 00:11:21.720 --> 00:11:23.540 that if you do it ahead of time 00:11:23.540 --> 00:11:24.480 or at the last minute, 00:11:24.560 --> 00:11:25.740 that it gets done. 00:11:26.340 --> 00:11:29.100 There's always a date for that test to take place. 00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:32.200 There's always a time when this must happen. 00:11:32.580 --> 00:11:33.419 But oftentimes, 00:11:33.940 --> 00:11:36.340 when it comes to our faith, 00:11:36.440 --> 00:11:39.000 we don't see the same sense of urgency. 00:11:39.500 --> 00:11:40.840 And we procrastinate. 00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:43.539 And we say that at some point in the future, 00:11:43.539 --> 00:11:44.620 we'll begin this. 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:47.120 At some point later down the road, 00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:49.399 I'll begin to become more disciplined. 00:11:50.039 --> 00:11:52.980 It's just I've got so much going on in my life right now 00:11:52.980 --> 00:11:56.159 that that's going to have to wait for another day. 00:11:56.840 --> 00:11:58.539 The problem is for many of us, 00:11:58.620 --> 00:12:00.320 that day doesn't come. 00:12:01.019 --> 00:12:03.259 And we've become like the Hebrews here, 00:12:03.340 --> 00:12:05.320 we've become dull of hearing 00:12:05.320 --> 00:12:08.240 and lazy in our spiritual walk. 00:12:08.680 --> 00:12:09.920 We know it's important. 00:12:10.420 --> 00:12:12.139 We know we should be growing, 00:12:12.740 --> 00:12:15.460 but we put it off for another day. 00:12:16.060 --> 00:12:17.960 And this is the root of the problem 00:12:17.960 --> 00:12:19.100 that the author is, 00:12:19.480 --> 00:12:20.720 he's treated the symptoms 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:23.600 and now he identifies the disease. 00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:25.560 Piper says it like this. 00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:25.879 He says, 00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:28.120 this is what is behind 00:12:28.120 --> 00:12:30.779 all of those exhortations up to this point. 00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:31.620 Where he says, 00:12:31.960 --> 00:12:32.960 pay close attention, 00:12:33.560 --> 00:12:34.620 consider Jesus, 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:35.899 don't harden your heart, 00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:38.480 fear, be diligent, hold fast. 00:12:38.899 --> 00:12:40.560 These are doctor's prescriptions 00:12:40.560 --> 00:12:44.460 for the disease of dullness of hearing. 00:12:45.100 --> 00:12:47.399 And so it's important for us to take steps 00:12:47.399 --> 00:12:50.100 in order to assess our current condition. 00:12:50.720 --> 00:12:53.160 That we honestly ask ourselves, 00:12:53.300 --> 00:12:55.040 are we just dull of hearing 00:12:55.040 --> 00:12:58.800 or is there a bigger problem 00:12:58.800 --> 00:12:59.920 that is at stake here? 00:13:00.560 --> 00:13:02.680 Have we just become dull of hearing 00:13:02.680 --> 00:13:05.560 or is there a much bigger problem 00:13:05.560 --> 00:13:07.060 that we must deal with? 00:13:07.060 --> 00:13:08.460 The issue of whether or not 00:13:08.460 --> 00:13:10.560 we are actually true believers. 00:13:11.420 --> 00:13:12.820 And so before we get into 00:13:12.820 --> 00:13:14.420 the remedy of our condition, 00:13:14.920 --> 00:13:16.660 before we get into the fix, 00:13:16.759 --> 00:13:18.600 the solution for our condition 00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:20.620 of being dull listeners, 00:13:20.620 --> 00:13:22.180 I want us to jump down 00:13:22.180 --> 00:13:24.100 to the end of the passage 00:13:24.100 --> 00:13:25.620 that we read for just a moment 00:13:25.620 --> 00:13:28.019 and consider the truth 00:13:28.019 --> 00:13:29.639 that faith in Christ 00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:32.220 produces faithfulness to Christ. 00:13:33.340 --> 00:13:34.779 Faith in Christ 00:13:34.779 --> 00:13:39.740 always produces faithfulness to Christ. 00:13:39.740 --> 00:13:42.080 The section of Scripture 00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:45.620 that I am about to read for us again 00:13:45.620 --> 00:13:48.500 is probably some of the most difficult verses 00:13:48.500 --> 00:13:50.659 that you will find in the New Testament 00:13:50.659 --> 00:13:52.680 to wrap our minds around. 00:13:53.299 --> 00:13:54.440 And so I want you to listen 00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:55.680 as we read a portion 00:13:55.680 --> 00:13:59.279 of chapter 6, verses 4 through 12. 00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:00.940 The first part of that, 00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:02.360 starting in verse 4, says this, 00:14:02.360 --> 00:14:03.700 For it is impossible 00:14:03.700 --> 00:14:05.539 in the case of those 00:14:05.539 --> 00:14:07.560 who have once been enlightened, 00:14:08.200 --> 00:14:10.419 who have tasted the heavenly gift 00:14:10.419 --> 00:14:12.379 and have shared in the Holy Spirit 00:14:12.379 --> 00:14:13.779 and have tasted the goodness 00:14:13.779 --> 00:14:15.440 of the Word of God 00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:17.159 and the powers of the age to come 00:14:17.159 --> 00:14:19.240 and then have fallen away 00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:21.960 to restore them again to repentance, 00:14:22.899 --> 00:14:25.440 since they are crucifying once again 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:26.899 the Son of God 00:14:26.899 --> 00:14:28.420 to their own harm 00:14:28.420 --> 00:14:31.240 and holding Him up to contempt. 00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:34.019 Now, I'm not going to spend 00:14:34.019 --> 00:14:36.360 a great deal of time 00:14:36.360 --> 00:14:37.680 in this section 00:14:37.680 --> 00:14:39.139 because we've already discussed 00:14:39.139 --> 00:14:40.639 on two other occasions 00:14:40.639 --> 00:14:42.539 much of these same themes, 00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:46.279 but I also don't want us to skip 00:14:46.279 --> 00:14:47.759 such a strong warning 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:48.899 that we have in this passage. 00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:51.500 Now, we've already addressed this 00:14:51.500 --> 00:14:52.220 a couple of times, 00:14:52.279 --> 00:14:53.320 so we're not going to go 00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:55.180 into incredible detail here, 00:14:55.240 --> 00:14:56.680 but I also don't want us 00:14:56.680 --> 00:14:58.680 to just bypass over this 00:14:58.680 --> 00:15:01.220 because this is a very strong warning. 00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:04.460 Now, I've said this multiple times before, 00:15:04.560 --> 00:15:06.600 but I think it bears repeating again. 00:15:07.159 --> 00:15:09.980 When it comes to difficult passages, 00:15:10.519 --> 00:15:11.779 when it comes to passages 00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:13.000 that are hard to understand, 00:15:13.379 --> 00:15:15.680 it's best not to interpret them 00:15:15.680 --> 00:15:16.600 in isolation. 00:15:17.560 --> 00:15:19.539 It's best not to just interpret them 00:15:19.539 --> 00:15:20.180 in isolation, 00:15:20.200 --> 00:15:22.240 and what we do is we let Scripture 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:23.720 interpret Scripture. 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:24.960 In other words, 00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:26.659 we let clear passages 00:15:26.659 --> 00:15:29.460 shed light on less clear passages. 00:15:29.460 --> 00:15:32.180 And so when we think about that 00:15:32.180 --> 00:15:33.060 as we come to this, 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:34.200 there's a couple options, 00:15:34.360 --> 00:15:35.580 two main options 00:15:35.580 --> 00:15:37.500 that people will come to 00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:38.600 when they come to this passage. 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:40.379 One option is that people 00:15:40.379 --> 00:15:42.900 will explain this this way, 00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:45.320 that these people being talked about 00:15:45.320 --> 00:15:46.340 here in this passage 00:15:46.340 --> 00:15:47.780 are genuine believers. 00:15:48.460 --> 00:15:50.600 They have truly repented of their sins, 00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:52.360 were united with Christ, 00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:55.000 and were active in the body of believers, 00:15:55.400 --> 00:15:56.720 and then they fell away. 00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:58.740 If this is true, 00:15:59.259 --> 00:16:01.279 then this is a frightful warning 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:03.320 for many genuine Christians 00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:05.440 will fall away from the faith. 00:16:05.540 --> 00:16:07.519 They will lose their salvation. 00:16:08.560 --> 00:16:09.680 Scripture, however, 00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:12.300 rules out this interpretation. 00:16:13.019 --> 00:16:15.440 The Bible repeatedly tells us 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:17.379 that God keeps us. 00:16:18.139 --> 00:16:20.019 The Bible repeatedly tells us, 00:16:20.279 --> 00:16:21.480 Paul over and over again 00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:22.580 in many of his letters, 00:16:22.920 --> 00:16:25.680 tells us that God who began the good work, 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:27.479 and you will see it through to completion. 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:29.639 In 1 John 2.19, 00:16:29.799 --> 00:16:32.299 and really much of the rest of 1 John, 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:34.939 John tells us that these people 00:16:34.939 --> 00:16:36.500 in leaving the faith 00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:38.159 showed that they were never truly 00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:40.239 a part of the faith to begin with. 00:16:41.239 --> 00:16:42.419 And so the other option 00:16:42.419 --> 00:16:43.599 that I want us to consider 00:16:43.599 --> 00:16:44.839 is the one that I think 00:16:44.839 --> 00:16:47.299 is most true to this text 00:16:47.299 --> 00:16:49.459 and Scripture as a whole, 00:16:49.819 --> 00:16:51.620 is that this passage is, 00:16:51.740 --> 00:16:53.019 it really is a warning, 00:16:53.019 --> 00:16:54.699 but it's not a warning 00:16:54.699 --> 00:16:56.059 to the true believer. 00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:58.399 Rather, it is a caution 00:16:58.399 --> 00:16:59.879 for individuals 00:16:59.879 --> 00:17:01.939 who have seen the gospel, 00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:04.759 understood the gospel, 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:07.279 but not truly believed. 00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:09.099 For those individuals 00:17:09.099 --> 00:17:11.400 who may have grown up in the church, 00:17:11.819 --> 00:17:13.359 they've heard this message 00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:14.519 their whole life, 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:16.440 they understand it, 00:17:16.460 --> 00:17:17.099 they may even know 00:17:17.099 --> 00:17:19.119 that there's a need for it 00:17:19.119 --> 00:17:19.799 in their lives, 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:21.799 but they've never given 00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:23.639 their life to Jesus. 00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:26.099 And so may we be honest 00:17:26.099 --> 00:17:26.919 with ourselves 00:17:26.919 --> 00:17:30.039 that this may never be said of us, 00:17:30.299 --> 00:17:31.719 that we have heard, 00:17:32.059 --> 00:17:33.079 that we understand, 00:17:33.379 --> 00:17:34.459 that we knew we needed 00:17:34.459 --> 00:17:35.899 to give our life to Christ, 00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:37.619 but we never did. 00:17:38.699 --> 00:17:39.679 You see, perseverance 00:17:39.679 --> 00:17:41.879 is the test of true faith. 00:17:42.839 --> 00:17:44.000 Jesus made the point 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:45.159 in the parable of the sower 00:17:45.159 --> 00:17:45.959 when He indicated 00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:47.000 that some seed 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:48.779 immediately sprang up. 00:17:48.840 --> 00:17:49.720 It looked like 00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:51.059 it was going to grow, 00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:52.640 but it didn't last 00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:55.140 because it had no depth of soil. 00:17:56.059 --> 00:17:58.319 The author over and over again 00:17:58.319 --> 00:17:59.140 is giving us 00:17:59.140 --> 00:18:00.840 a sobering warning 00:18:00.840 --> 00:18:02.100 in the book of Hebrews 00:18:02.100 --> 00:18:03.559 not to scare us, 00:18:03.860 --> 00:18:04.860 not to cause us 00:18:04.860 --> 00:18:05.840 to live in fear 00:18:05.840 --> 00:18:07.259 that we can lose our salvation, 00:18:07.420 --> 00:18:09.279 but to honestly ask ourselves, 00:18:09.480 --> 00:18:11.000 is Jesus truly 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:12.840 our Lord and Savior? 00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:15.100 You see, responding to Jesus 00:18:15.099 --> 00:18:17.379 means not only hearing Him, 00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:20.500 but trusting and following Him. 00:18:21.159 --> 00:18:22.059 It is believing 00:18:22.059 --> 00:18:23.139 that He is the only one 00:18:23.139 --> 00:18:23.939 that can save you 00:18:23.939 --> 00:18:24.659 from your sins, 00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:26.799 take you from death to life, 00:18:27.059 --> 00:18:29.000 and in response to that belief, 00:18:29.119 --> 00:18:30.919 choosing to walk in obedience 00:18:30.919 --> 00:18:32.139 to His commands. 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:34.699 This is what a disciple does. 00:18:34.699 --> 00:18:38.039 This is what a follower of Jesus does. 00:18:38.299 --> 00:18:39.079 Because you see, 00:18:39.299 --> 00:18:40.519 faith in Christ 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:44.480 always produces faithfulness to Christ. 00:18:45.099 --> 00:18:47.639 A saving relationship with Jesus 00:18:47.639 --> 00:18:49.719 is always going to change us. 00:18:50.459 --> 00:18:52.799 A life-changing experience 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:54.399 of placing your faith 00:18:54.399 --> 00:18:55.439 and trust in Jesus 00:18:55.439 --> 00:19:00.019 is always going to lead to life change. 00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:01.480 And the question we must 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:03.899 honestly ask ourselves is this. 00:19:04.659 --> 00:19:05.980 If I'm not growing 00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:07.740 in my relationship with God, 00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:09.460 is it because 00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:11.599 I'm dull of hearing 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:13.640 or is it because 00:19:13.640 --> 00:19:14.380 I've never placed 00:19:14.380 --> 00:19:15.519 my faith in Christ? 00:19:16.859 --> 00:19:17.700 But here's the thing, 00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:18.859 I've got good news 00:19:18.859 --> 00:19:20.059 no matter how you answer 00:19:20.059 --> 00:19:20.799 that question. 00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:22.920 You can place your faith 00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:23.960 in Jesus today. 00:19:24.339 --> 00:19:25.660 And you can begin 00:19:25.660 --> 00:19:27.579 growing today. 00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:29.680 And so this brings us 00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:31.079 to the solution 00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:31.960 to the problem 00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:32.920 found in this process. 00:19:33.019 --> 00:19:33.279 Remember, 00:19:33.620 --> 00:19:34.859 the problem is 00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:35.679 that they have become 00:19:35.679 --> 00:19:36.659 dull of hearing, 00:19:36.899 --> 00:19:38.359 that they've become lazy 00:19:38.359 --> 00:19:40.000 in their spiritual walk, 00:19:40.119 --> 00:19:41.719 but here's the solution. 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:43.779 And this is earth-shattering news 00:19:43.779 --> 00:19:44.359 right here, alright? 00:19:44.439 --> 00:19:45.019 The solution 00:19:45.019 --> 00:19:46.599 is growth in Christ. 00:19:47.219 --> 00:19:48.779 It's just to begin growing. 00:19:50.199 --> 00:19:50.939 Let's go back 00:19:50.939 --> 00:19:52.259 to the end of chapter 5 00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:52.719 and the beginning 00:19:52.719 --> 00:19:53.859 of chapter 6, 00:19:53.939 --> 00:19:57.399 verses 5-12-6-3. 00:19:57.400 --> 00:19:59.480 For though by this time 00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:00.840 you ought to be teachers, 00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:02.340 you need someone 00:20:02.340 --> 00:20:03.700 to teach you again 00:20:03.700 --> 00:20:05.000 the basic principles 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:06.200 of the oracles of God. 00:20:06.780 --> 00:20:07.980 You need milk, 00:20:08.340 --> 00:20:09.480 not solid food. 00:20:09.560 --> 00:20:11.040 For everyone who lives 00:20:11.040 --> 00:20:12.519 on milk is unskilled 00:20:12.519 --> 00:20:13.759 in the word of righteousness 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:15.000 since he is a child. 00:20:15.540 --> 00:20:16.960 But solid food 00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:18.420 is for the mature, 00:20:18.840 --> 00:20:19.740 for those who have 00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:21.140 their powers of discernment 00:20:21.140 --> 00:20:23.140 trained by constant practice 00:20:23.140 --> 00:20:25.019 to distinguish good from evil. 00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:25.759 Therefore, 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:26.700 let us leave 00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:27.859 the elementary doctrine 00:20:27.859 --> 00:20:28.579 of Christ 00:20:28.579 --> 00:20:30.420 and go on to maturity, 00:20:30.940 --> 00:20:32.240 not laying again 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:33.579 a foundation of repentance 00:20:33.579 --> 00:20:34.879 from dead works 00:20:34.879 --> 00:20:36.099 and faith toward God 00:20:36.099 --> 00:20:38.039 and of instruction 00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:39.319 about washings, 00:20:39.619 --> 00:20:40.799 laying on of hands, 00:20:40.940 --> 00:20:42.160 the resurrection of dead 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:43.180 and eternal judgment. 00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:45.200 And this we will do 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:46.720 if God permits. 00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:48.500 You see, 00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:49.180 most of us 00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:49.859 can understand 00:20:49.859 --> 00:20:51.759 this passage pretty well. 00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:53.640 These believers 00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:54.980 are being 00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:55.980 ineffective 00:20:55.980 --> 00:20:57.019 for Christ 00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:58.579 due to a lack 00:20:58.579 --> 00:20:59.220 of maturity. 00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:00.860 These believers, 00:21:01.160 --> 00:21:02.099 they should be 00:21:02.099 --> 00:21:02.900 teaching others 00:21:02.900 --> 00:21:03.940 and not just talking 00:21:03.940 --> 00:21:05.000 about teaching others 00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:07.380 from a preaching standpoint 00:21:07.380 --> 00:21:08.920 or even a 00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:10.500 Sunday school standpoint, 00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:11.759 a small group standpoint, 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:12.559 but they should be 00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:13.539 teaching others. 00:21:13.640 --> 00:21:14.480 They should be sharing 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:15.779 their faith with others. 00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:16.900 This is something 00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:17.819 that should be evident 00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:19.319 of all believers. 00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:20.599 They should be 00:21:20.599 --> 00:21:21.680 teaching others. 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:22.660 They should be sharing 00:21:22.660 --> 00:21:23.200 with others, 00:21:23.300 --> 00:21:24.019 their faith, 00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:25.460 and yet they're not. 00:21:25.540 --> 00:21:26.360 And it's due to 00:21:26.360 --> 00:21:28.420 this ineffectiveness 00:21:28.420 --> 00:21:30.279 because they're not growing. 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:32.019 They're not growing. 00:21:32.380 --> 00:21:34.000 And because they aren't growing, 00:21:34.080 --> 00:21:34.800 they aren't fit 00:21:34.800 --> 00:21:35.519 to do what God 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:36.720 has called them to do. 00:21:37.220 --> 00:21:38.300 The author says, 00:21:38.380 --> 00:21:39.660 because you aren't growing, 00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:42.019 we have to revisit everything. 00:21:42.700 --> 00:21:43.840 We have to continue 00:21:43.840 --> 00:21:45.320 to go back over this 00:21:45.320 --> 00:21:47.360 over and over again. 00:21:47.820 --> 00:21:48.720 It's kind of like 00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:48.980 he's saying, 00:21:49.060 --> 00:21:49.980 all we're doing 00:21:49.980 --> 00:21:51.500 is treading water here. 00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:52.880 He's not saying 00:21:52.880 --> 00:21:53.759 you aren't busy. 00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:54.920 He's not saying 00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:56.620 that we're not doing things. 00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:57.079 He's saying 00:21:57.079 --> 00:21:58.339 that you aren't maturing. 00:21:59.180 --> 00:21:59.400 You see, 00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:00.259 treading water, 00:22:00.940 --> 00:22:01.259 I don't know 00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:01.819 if you've ever done 00:22:01.819 --> 00:22:02.480 this before or not, 00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:03.279 but treading water 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:04.220 is a lot of work. 00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:05.819 And guess where you go? 00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:07.279 Nowhere. 00:22:08.120 --> 00:22:09.200 He's not saying 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:10.819 you're not doing things. 00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:11.099 He's saying 00:22:11.099 --> 00:22:12.259 you're not growing 00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:13.380 in your faith. 00:22:13.720 --> 00:22:14.640 We can be busy 00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:15.460 with church, 00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:16.920 but not growing. 00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:18.279 You see, 00:22:18.339 --> 00:22:18.980 I'm convinced 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:20.140 that there are lots of people 00:22:20.140 --> 00:22:20.559 in churches 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:21.779 all over the world 00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:23.039 that are busy 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:24.599 working in churches 00:22:24.599 --> 00:22:26.460 where everything looks good 00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:27.279 on the outside, 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:28.799 but they minimize 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:30.039 their effectiveness 00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:30.839 for the Lord 00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:33.019 because of a lack of growth. 00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:34.519 On the outside, 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:35.519 they look busy. 00:22:35.799 --> 00:22:37.599 They're constantly doing things 00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:38.579 over and over again, 00:22:38.819 --> 00:22:40.660 but yet they're trivializing 00:22:40.660 --> 00:22:42.220 their effectiveness for God 00:22:42.220 --> 00:22:43.980 because of a lack of growth. 00:22:44.099 --> 00:22:45.720 They're doing good things, 00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:47.579 but those good things 00:22:47.579 --> 00:22:48.759 are getting in the way 00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:49.899 of the best 00:22:49.899 --> 00:22:51.439 that God has for them. 00:22:51.960 --> 00:22:53.199 Those good things 00:22:53.199 --> 00:22:54.359 are keeping them 00:22:54.359 --> 00:22:55.240 from the best 00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:57.399 that God has for him. 00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:00.439 I agree with several commentators 00:23:00.439 --> 00:23:01.480 that verse 14 00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:03.799 is kind of the key verse 00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:05.279 for us understanding 00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:06.259 our solution 00:23:06.259 --> 00:23:07.000 to the problem 00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:08.799 of being dull of hearing 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:10.199 or being lazy 00:23:10.199 --> 00:23:11.599 in our walk with Christ. 00:23:12.099 --> 00:23:13.099 Verse 14 says, 00:23:13.099 --> 00:23:14.359 But solid food 00:23:14.359 --> 00:23:15.539 is for the mature, 00:23:15.959 --> 00:23:17.079 for those who have 00:23:17.079 --> 00:23:18.480 their powers of discernment 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:20.699 trained by constant practice 00:23:20.699 --> 00:23:23.000 to distinguish good from evil. 00:23:23.679 --> 00:23:24.879 If solid food 00:23:24.879 --> 00:23:26.199 is for the mature, 00:23:26.399 --> 00:23:28.839 then how do you become mature? 00:23:29.539 --> 00:23:30.899 If solid food 00:23:30.899 --> 00:23:32.240 is for the mature, 00:23:32.419 --> 00:23:33.399 then the question becomes, 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:35.159 how do you get to that point? 00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:36.839 And the way that you get 00:23:36.839 --> 00:23:37.740 to that point 00:23:37.740 --> 00:23:39.119 is a healthy 00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:40.199 and consistent 00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:41.740 and constant dose 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:42.779 of milk. 00:23:43.340 --> 00:23:43.720 You see, 00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:45.340 it's okay for a baby 00:23:45.340 --> 00:23:46.140 to drink milk 00:23:46.140 --> 00:23:47.160 because they're growing. 00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:48.000 They need this. 00:23:48.080 --> 00:23:48.279 And so, 00:23:48.380 --> 00:23:50.000 how do we get to the point 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:51.480 of being able 00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:52.960 to eat solid food? 00:23:53.120 --> 00:23:54.539 It's by consistently 00:23:54.539 --> 00:23:57.140 consuming that milk. 00:23:57.559 --> 00:23:57.860 Piper, 00:23:57.960 --> 00:23:58.640 he notes it this way. 00:23:58.700 --> 00:23:58.860 He says, 00:23:58.940 --> 00:24:00.519 This is how you grow 00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:01.620 from a baby Christian 00:24:01.620 --> 00:24:03.200 to a mature Christian. 00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:05.100 From the milk of the word 00:24:05.100 --> 00:24:06.360 to the muscle of faith 00:24:06.360 --> 00:24:08.140 to acts of righteousness. 00:24:08.140 --> 00:24:10.520 We grow in our knowledge 00:24:10.520 --> 00:24:11.160 of God, 00:24:11.500 --> 00:24:13.440 which leads to grow 00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:15.240 in trust and faith, 00:24:15.660 --> 00:24:17.320 which leads to grow 00:24:17.320 --> 00:24:18.560 in action. 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:20.759 We grow in all 00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:21.660 of these things. 00:24:22.820 --> 00:24:24.840 After having three kids, 00:24:24.900 --> 00:24:25.580 one of the things 00:24:25.580 --> 00:24:26.340 that I've noticed 00:24:26.340 --> 00:24:27.600 is they grow up 00:24:27.600 --> 00:24:28.160 too quickly. 00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:29.740 Anybody want to agree 00:24:29.740 --> 00:24:30.140 with that? 00:24:30.680 --> 00:24:31.660 You know, 00:24:31.800 --> 00:24:32.860 it's so many times 00:24:32.860 --> 00:24:33.480 you think 00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:34.580 that everybody tells you, 00:24:34.680 --> 00:24:34.860 Oh, 00:24:35.160 --> 00:24:36.520 these are the best days 00:24:36.520 --> 00:24:37.120 when they're little 00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:37.979 and all you can think 00:24:37.979 --> 00:24:38.599 about when they're little 00:24:38.599 --> 00:24:39.699 is I can't wait 00:24:39.699 --> 00:24:40.579 for them to get out 00:24:40.579 --> 00:24:41.000 of diapers. 00:24:41.539 --> 00:24:42.539 I can't wait 00:24:42.539 --> 00:24:43.059 till they can get 00:24:43.059 --> 00:24:44.099 a shower by themselves. 00:24:44.219 --> 00:24:44.799 I can't wait 00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:45.359 till they can do 00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:45.839 these things. 00:24:46.159 --> 00:24:46.759 And then guess what? 00:24:46.879 --> 00:24:47.379 The problems 00:24:47.379 --> 00:24:48.000 just get bigger 00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:49.379 and they get more expensive 00:24:49.379 --> 00:24:50.199 and all kinds 00:24:50.199 --> 00:24:50.859 of other things. 00:24:50.959 --> 00:24:52.339 But in those moments, 00:24:52.579 --> 00:24:54.579 it just goes so quickly. 00:24:54.739 --> 00:24:56.239 It seems like just yesterday 00:24:56.239 --> 00:24:57.879 that Catherine and I 00:24:57.879 --> 00:24:59.059 were moving down here 00:24:59.059 --> 00:25:00.259 from North Carolina 00:25:00.259 --> 00:25:01.699 and Jacob was one years old. 00:25:02.239 --> 00:25:03.500 It seems like just yesterday. 00:25:03.619 --> 00:25:03.719 Well, 00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:05.379 turns out 14 years ago 00:25:05.379 --> 00:25:06.459 seems like yesterday. 00:25:07.119 --> 00:25:08.159 And from talking 00:25:08.159 --> 00:25:08.879 with many of you 00:25:08.879 --> 00:25:09.539 who have kids 00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:10.619 older than our kids, 00:25:10.759 --> 00:25:12.059 it doesn't slow down. 00:25:12.219 --> 00:25:13.299 It just seems to go 00:25:13.299 --> 00:25:15.059 faster and faster. 00:25:15.899 --> 00:25:17.179 And so I remember 00:25:17.179 --> 00:25:18.519 a couple of years ago 00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:20.859 after a pretty severe 00:25:20.859 --> 00:25:23.059 thunder and lightning storm, 00:25:23.059 --> 00:25:23.939 I walked up 00:25:23.939 --> 00:25:25.019 to Charlotte's room 00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:25.859 to wake her up 00:25:25.859 --> 00:25:26.739 the next morning. 00:25:27.179 --> 00:25:28.339 And the first thing 00:25:28.339 --> 00:25:29.219 that she said to me 00:25:29.219 --> 00:25:29.500 was, 00:25:29.859 --> 00:25:30.119 Daddy, 00:25:30.719 --> 00:25:32.179 did you hear that thunder? 00:25:33.239 --> 00:25:33.539 Daddy, 00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:34.539 did you hear that? 00:25:34.539 --> 00:25:35.839 And I was trying 00:25:35.839 --> 00:25:36.819 to downplay it 00:25:36.819 --> 00:25:37.480 to let her know 00:25:37.480 --> 00:25:38.299 that there was nothing 00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:39.359 to worry about. 00:25:39.559 --> 00:25:40.220 And I said, 00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:41.399 I did hear it. 00:25:41.639 --> 00:25:43.399 I like listening to thunder. 00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:45.299 And she thought about that 00:25:45.299 --> 00:25:45.920 for a minute 00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:47.159 and could tell 00:25:47.159 --> 00:25:47.980 that her wheels 00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:49.539 were turning in her mind. 00:25:49.619 --> 00:25:49.879 She goes, 00:25:50.420 --> 00:25:51.079 me too. 00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:52.559 When I was little, 00:25:52.639 --> 00:25:54.059 I was scared of thunder, 00:25:54.059 --> 00:25:55.619 but now I'm a big girl. 00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:57.519 And this was several years ago 00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:58.319 that she's saying this. 00:25:58.519 --> 00:25:59.799 And so it was 00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:00.539 one of those 00:26:00.539 --> 00:26:01.500 bittersweet moments 00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:02.500 for me as a parent. 00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:04.799 My baby is getting bigger. 00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:06.480 You miss the fact 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:08.200 that they aren't a baby anymore, 00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:09.879 but at the same time, 00:26:10.379 --> 00:26:11.899 you're excited for them 00:26:11.899 --> 00:26:13.059 because they're doing 00:26:13.059 --> 00:26:14.539 exactly what they're 00:26:14.539 --> 00:26:15.379 supposed to do. 00:26:15.939 --> 00:26:16.960 They're growing. 00:26:17.240 --> 00:26:18.179 They're maturing. 00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:19.579 In fact, 00:26:19.599 --> 00:26:20.559 if they weren't growing 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:21.159 and maturing, 00:26:21.299 --> 00:26:22.159 that would be a sign 00:26:22.159 --> 00:26:24.119 that something was wrong. 00:26:24.919 --> 00:26:25.139 You know, 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:26.720 when you take your kids 00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:28.500 to their doctor's appointments 00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:29.600 when they're young, 00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:30.839 the first thing that they do 00:26:30.839 --> 00:26:32.200 is they check their height 00:26:32.200 --> 00:26:32.839 and weight. 00:26:33.500 --> 00:26:35.079 Because it's a good thing 00:26:35.079 --> 00:26:36.019 if your kids 00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:37.740 are growing taller 00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:38.600 and heavier. 00:26:39.120 --> 00:26:40.360 I miss those days. 00:26:40.839 --> 00:26:41.460 Now the doctor 00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:42.140 doesn't want me 00:26:42.140 --> 00:26:43.039 to get heavier. 00:26:43.620 --> 00:26:45.180 But as a child, 00:26:45.180 --> 00:26:46.700 this is a sign 00:26:46.700 --> 00:26:47.920 that things are going 00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:48.980 in a good direction. 00:26:49.660 --> 00:26:50.839 This is a sign 00:26:50.839 --> 00:26:52.240 that they're growing, 00:26:52.420 --> 00:26:53.360 that everything is 00:26:53.360 --> 00:26:55.120 as it should be. 00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:56.899 The point is 00:26:56.899 --> 00:26:58.500 growth is vital. 00:26:59.259 --> 00:27:00.000 It's a part 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:01.739 of being a mature Christian. 00:27:03.399 --> 00:27:03.859 Just the, 00:27:04.239 --> 00:27:05.000 not too long ago, 00:27:05.039 --> 00:27:06.339 I was looking at some research 00:27:06.339 --> 00:27:06.879 that was done 00:27:06.879 --> 00:27:07.679 by the Barna Group 00:27:07.679 --> 00:27:08.879 and this research 00:27:08.879 --> 00:27:10.199 is a little bit older now. 00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:10.859 It's probably seven 00:27:10.859 --> 00:27:12.179 or eight years old 00:27:12.179 --> 00:27:13.179 at this point. 00:27:13.319 --> 00:27:14.519 But I'm going to go out 00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:15.079 on a limb 00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:17.119 and just guess 00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:18.559 that the research, 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:19.399 that the things 00:27:19.399 --> 00:27:20.079 have not gotten 00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:21.059 any better. 00:27:21.819 --> 00:27:22.659 In the research, 00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:23.559 it showed that 00:27:23.559 --> 00:27:25.099 almost 30% 00:27:25.099 --> 00:27:26.659 of professing Christians, 00:27:26.779 --> 00:27:27.139 now again, 00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:29.220 this is professing Christians, 00:27:29.639 --> 00:27:31.200 this is not just 30% 00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:32.440 of the general population, 00:27:32.659 --> 00:27:34.079 but 30% 00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:35.980 of professing Christians 00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:37.599 believe that 00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:38.720 all people pray 00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:39.879 to the same God 00:27:39.879 --> 00:27:40.679 or spirit 00:27:40.679 --> 00:27:42.700 no matter what name 00:27:42.700 --> 00:27:43.559 they use 00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:45.279 for that spiritual being. 00:27:46.119 --> 00:27:47.159 30% 00:27:47.159 --> 00:27:49.619 of professing Christians 00:27:49.619 --> 00:27:50.419 believe that. 00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:52.900 in that same study, 00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:53.960 more than a quarter 00:27:53.960 --> 00:27:55.560 of professing Christians 00:27:55.560 --> 00:27:57.640 believe that meaning 00:27:57.640 --> 00:27:58.920 and purpose 00:27:58.920 --> 00:28:00.940 come from being one 00:28:00.940 --> 00:28:02.300 with all that is. 00:28:03.140 --> 00:28:04.140 Meaning and purpose 00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:05.720 come from being one 00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:07.400 with all that is out there. 00:28:07.640 --> 00:28:08.380 I'm not even sure 00:28:08.380 --> 00:28:09.180 what that means. 00:28:10.060 --> 00:28:10.940 I'm not even sure 00:28:10.940 --> 00:28:11.360 what that means, 00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:12.480 but I can promise you 00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:14.019 that meaning and purpose 00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:15.220 come from God 00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:17.380 who created you 00:28:17.380 --> 00:28:18.620 for the purpose 00:28:18.620 --> 00:28:20.340 of worshiping Him. 00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:22.540 If we are not growing 00:28:22.540 --> 00:28:23.340 in our relationship 00:28:23.340 --> 00:28:24.000 with God, 00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:25.420 then we are sliding 00:28:25.420 --> 00:28:26.720 further away 00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:27.620 from maturity. 00:28:28.200 --> 00:28:29.480 If we're not growing 00:28:29.480 --> 00:28:30.220 in our relationship 00:28:30.220 --> 00:28:30.720 with Him, 00:28:30.860 --> 00:28:31.740 then we're sliding 00:28:31.740 --> 00:28:32.800 further away. 00:28:33.020 --> 00:28:34.340 If we aren't growing 00:28:34.340 --> 00:28:35.580 in truth, 00:28:35.800 --> 00:28:36.620 then it becomes 00:28:36.620 --> 00:28:37.580 really easy 00:28:37.580 --> 00:28:38.600 for us to believe 00:28:38.600 --> 00:28:39.200 the lies 00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:39.640 that anybody 00:28:39.640 --> 00:28:40.440 will tell us. 00:28:40.920 --> 00:28:42.180 If we aren't growing 00:28:42.180 --> 00:28:42.720 in truth, 00:28:42.780 --> 00:28:43.500 then it becomes easy 00:28:43.500 --> 00:28:44.580 to believe a lie. 00:28:44.579 --> 00:28:46.899 If you and I 00:28:46.899 --> 00:28:47.759 want to grow 00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:49.220 in spiritual maturity, 00:28:50.220 --> 00:28:50.859 and remember, 00:28:51.220 --> 00:28:52.259 this is crucial 00:28:52.259 --> 00:28:53.059 to our relationship 00:28:53.059 --> 00:28:53.639 with God, 00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:55.460 this is the solution 00:28:55.460 --> 00:28:56.259 to the problem 00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:57.559 of dullness of hearing 00:28:57.559 --> 00:28:59.079 or being lethargic 00:28:59.079 --> 00:28:59.939 or lazy 00:28:59.939 --> 00:29:00.740 in our growth 00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:01.559 in our relationship 00:29:01.559 --> 00:29:02.399 with Christ, 00:29:02.939 --> 00:29:03.839 then we must 00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:05.919 daily follow Jesus. 00:29:06.699 --> 00:29:07.960 We must daily 00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:09.539 grow in our relationship 00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:10.119 with Him. 00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:11.000 We do this 00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:11.579 by growing 00:29:11.579 --> 00:29:12.379 in our knowledge 00:29:12.379 --> 00:29:13.059 of who He is 00:29:13.059 --> 00:29:14.559 by reading His Word. 00:29:15.079 --> 00:29:16.200 This is the greatest 00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:17.319 way that we can grow 00:29:17.319 --> 00:29:18.119 in our relationship 00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:18.779 with God. 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:20.740 If you want to grow 00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:21.460 and mature 00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:22.200 in your relationship 00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:22.779 with the Lord, 00:29:22.940 --> 00:29:24.700 then read His Word. 00:29:25.480 --> 00:29:26.619 Develop a habit 00:29:26.619 --> 00:29:27.379 of that. 00:29:27.919 --> 00:29:29.119 Not just reading it 00:29:29.119 --> 00:29:29.919 for completion. 00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:31.000 You know, 00:29:31.019 --> 00:29:31.759 it's great if you want 00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:32.299 to set a goal, 00:29:32.399 --> 00:29:32.819 read it through 00:29:32.819 --> 00:29:33.200 in a year, 00:29:33.259 --> 00:29:34.079 but I would just rather 00:29:34.079 --> 00:29:34.960 you just pick it up 00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:35.659 and read it 00:29:35.659 --> 00:29:37.399 and follow along 00:29:37.399 --> 00:29:38.279 with what God 00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:39.759 is telling us. 00:29:40.619 --> 00:29:41.419 We do this 00:29:41.419 --> 00:29:42.039 by growing 00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:42.779 in our relationship 00:29:42.779 --> 00:29:43.099 with Him 00:29:43.099 --> 00:29:44.159 by reading His Word, 00:29:44.299 --> 00:29:45.420 which causes us 00:29:45.420 --> 00:29:46.619 to trust Him more. 00:29:47.079 --> 00:29:48.259 And as we realize 00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:49.539 that He always 00:29:49.539 --> 00:29:50.519 keeps His promises, 00:29:50.700 --> 00:29:52.059 that He is worthy 00:29:52.059 --> 00:29:52.759 of our trust 00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:53.799 more than anybody else, 00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:54.399 He's worthy 00:29:54.399 --> 00:29:55.139 of our trust, 00:29:55.399 --> 00:29:56.440 then we freely 00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:57.980 and willingly say, 00:29:58.099 --> 00:29:58.279 Lord, 00:29:58.440 --> 00:29:59.879 here's my life. 00:30:00.639 --> 00:30:01.119 Take it 00:30:01.119 --> 00:30:02.000 and use it 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:03.500 because I realize 00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:04.619 that You are worthy 00:30:04.619 --> 00:30:05.339 of trust. 00:30:05.980 --> 00:30:06.379 You see, 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:07.559 as we grow 00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:08.339 in our knowledge 00:30:08.339 --> 00:30:09.579 of who God is, 00:30:09.579 --> 00:30:11.220 if we're actually 00:30:11.220 --> 00:30:11.819 growing, 00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:13.599 then we realize 00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:15.179 that He and He alone 00:30:15.179 --> 00:30:16.139 is worthy 00:30:16.139 --> 00:30:16.960 of our trust. 00:30:17.619 --> 00:30:18.699 He and He alone 00:30:18.699 --> 00:30:19.099 is the one 00:30:19.099 --> 00:30:19.899 that we can give 00:30:19.899 --> 00:30:20.939 our life to 00:30:20.939 --> 00:30:22.019 and we give 00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:22.839 our life to Him 00:30:22.839 --> 00:30:23.059 and say, 00:30:23.139 --> 00:30:23.279 Lord, 00:30:23.439 --> 00:30:24.539 here's my life. 00:30:24.639 --> 00:30:25.000 Take it 00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:25.720 and use it. 00:30:26.139 --> 00:30:27.559 I'd rather follow You 00:30:27.559 --> 00:30:28.799 and where You have me go 00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:29.839 even if it means 00:30:29.839 --> 00:30:30.399 that I move 00:30:30.399 --> 00:30:31.379 somewhere different. 00:30:31.960 --> 00:30:32.859 Even if it moves 00:30:32.859 --> 00:30:33.740 that I do something 00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:34.259 different in my life, 00:30:34.379 --> 00:30:35.199 I would rather 00:30:35.199 --> 00:30:36.039 follow You 00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:37.220 because I realize 00:30:37.220 --> 00:30:38.480 that You are far 00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:39.279 more trustworthy 00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:40.720 than the lies 00:30:40.720 --> 00:30:41.380 that other people 00:30:41.380 --> 00:30:42.519 may be telling me. 00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:44.039 And so we grow 00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:44.680 in our knowledge 00:30:44.680 --> 00:30:45.420 of who He is 00:30:45.420 --> 00:30:46.860 which allows us 00:30:46.860 --> 00:30:47.779 to trust Him more, 00:30:48.059 --> 00:30:49.140 which allows us 00:30:49.140 --> 00:30:50.339 to give our lives 00:30:50.339 --> 00:30:50.860 to Him and say, 00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:51.400 Lord, 00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:52.700 here's my life. 00:30:53.120 --> 00:30:53.700 Take it 00:30:53.700 --> 00:30:54.660 and use it. 00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:56.100 This is what it means 00:30:56.100 --> 00:30:57.740 to follow Jesus. 00:30:59.039 --> 00:31:00.259 And as we do this 00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:01.839 day after day, 00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:03.140 year after year, 00:31:03.140 --> 00:31:04.140 we grow 00:31:04.140 --> 00:31:05.180 by leaps 00:31:05.180 --> 00:31:06.100 and bounds 00:31:06.099 --> 00:31:06.939 and begin 00:31:06.939 --> 00:31:08.119 to see God 00:31:08.119 --> 00:31:08.980 more clearly. 00:31:09.719 --> 00:31:10.699 I love how 00:31:10.699 --> 00:31:11.399 C.S. Lewis 00:31:11.399 --> 00:31:12.559 describes this 00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:14.839 in the Narnia series. 00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:15.759 And this is probably 00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:17.219 one of my favorite 00:31:17.219 --> 00:31:18.359 conversations, 00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:19.139 one of my favorite 00:31:19.139 --> 00:31:20.679 parts of the whole series 00:31:20.679 --> 00:31:22.379 is when Aslan 00:31:22.379 --> 00:31:23.959 is having this conversation 00:31:23.959 --> 00:31:25.199 with Lucy 00:31:25.199 --> 00:31:27.219 after a long absence. 00:31:28.279 --> 00:31:29.619 And Aslan said, 00:31:29.679 --> 00:31:29.980 Lucy, 00:31:30.059 --> 00:31:30.859 this is how it begins. 00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:31.639 Aslan said, 00:31:31.699 --> 00:31:32.059 Lucy, 00:31:33.059 --> 00:31:34.119 you're bigger. 00:31:34.119 --> 00:31:36.159 This is because 00:31:36.159 --> 00:31:36.919 you're older, 00:31:37.119 --> 00:31:37.519 little one, 00:31:37.579 --> 00:31:38.259 he answered. 00:31:39.139 --> 00:31:40.619 Not because you are, 00:31:40.839 --> 00:31:41.339 said Lucy. 00:31:42.299 --> 00:31:43.459 I am not. 00:31:44.019 --> 00:31:45.239 But every year 00:31:45.239 --> 00:31:46.019 you grow, 00:31:46.699 --> 00:31:48.039 you will find me 00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:48.699 bigger. 00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:51.099 May that be 00:31:51.099 --> 00:31:52.059 our desire. 00:31:52.899 --> 00:31:54.000 That as we grow 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:54.899 in our relationship 00:31:54.899 --> 00:31:55.559 with God, 00:31:56.659 --> 00:31:57.519 that we see Him 00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:58.139 more clearly. 00:31:58.779 --> 00:32:00.000 That He becomes 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:00.619 bigger in our lives. 00:32:00.659 --> 00:32:02.059 Not because He is bigger. 00:32:02.339 --> 00:32:03.359 He's always been 00:32:03.359 --> 00:32:04.000 that big. 00:32:04.679 --> 00:32:05.240 But because 00:32:05.240 --> 00:32:06.899 we understand Him 00:32:06.899 --> 00:32:07.359 more, 00:32:07.659 --> 00:32:08.459 we're growing 00:32:08.459 --> 00:32:09.219 in that faith, 00:32:09.479 --> 00:32:10.539 we're trusting Him 00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:10.779 more, 00:32:10.959 --> 00:32:11.939 and because of that 00:32:11.939 --> 00:32:12.899 we see Him 00:32:12.899 --> 00:32:13.799 more and more 00:32:13.799 --> 00:32:14.319 clearly 00:32:14.319 --> 00:32:15.359 for who He 00:32:15.359 --> 00:32:16.740 truly is. 00:32:17.439 --> 00:32:18.319 And so may we 00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:19.439 honestly come 00:32:19.439 --> 00:32:20.419 to this passage. 00:32:21.119 --> 00:32:22.019 May we honestly 00:32:22.019 --> 00:32:22.819 come to this passage 00:32:22.819 --> 00:32:24.079 and ask some 00:32:24.079 --> 00:32:25.439 questions of ourselves. 00:32:26.359 --> 00:32:26.719 You see, 00:32:26.779 --> 00:32:27.199 here's the thing, 00:32:27.259 --> 00:32:28.459 we can lie to ourselves, 00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:29.740 we can lie to 00:32:29.740 --> 00:32:30.339 everybody else 00:32:30.339 --> 00:32:30.819 around us, 00:32:30.819 --> 00:32:31.519 but we can't lie 00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:32.000 to God. 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:33.160 And so I want 00:32:33.160 --> 00:32:33.880 to encourage you 00:32:33.880 --> 00:32:35.220 to honestly come 00:32:35.220 --> 00:32:36.099 to this passage 00:32:36.099 --> 00:32:37.400 and ask these 00:32:37.400 --> 00:32:37.740 questions. 00:32:38.279 --> 00:32:39.359 Have I become 00:32:39.359 --> 00:32:40.140 dull of hearing? 00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:41.720 Have I become 00:32:41.720 --> 00:32:42.519 dull of hearing 00:32:42.519 --> 00:32:43.359 in my relationship 00:32:43.359 --> 00:32:43.700 with God? 00:32:43.759 --> 00:32:44.259 Have I become 00:32:44.259 --> 00:32:46.019 lazy in my 00:32:46.019 --> 00:32:46.960 relationship with 00:32:46.960 --> 00:32:47.380 God? 00:32:48.660 --> 00:32:49.400 And then ask 00:32:49.400 --> 00:32:49.720 yourself, 00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:50.400 is it that 00:32:50.400 --> 00:32:52.220 I'm dull of hearing? 00:32:52.859 --> 00:32:53.779 Or is it because 00:32:53.779 --> 00:32:54.599 I've never trusted 00:32:54.599 --> 00:32:55.220 in Jesus? 00:32:55.220 --> 00:32:58.539 Am I not growing 00:32:58.539 --> 00:32:59.539 because I've become 00:32:59.539 --> 00:33:00.440 dull of hearing, 00:33:00.440 --> 00:33:01.380 or am I not growing 00:33:01.380 --> 00:33:02.000 because I don't 00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:02.940 have the relationship 00:33:02.940 --> 00:33:03.900 to begin with? 00:33:04.840 --> 00:33:05.360 And so I want 00:33:05.360 --> 00:33:06.240 to encourage you, 00:33:06.860 --> 00:33:07.620 if you're here 00:33:07.620 --> 00:33:09.120 today and you've 00:33:09.120 --> 00:33:10.019 never placed your 00:33:10.019 --> 00:33:10.620 faith and your 00:33:10.620 --> 00:33:11.440 trust in Jesus, 00:33:12.160 --> 00:33:12.880 then this is 00:33:12.880 --> 00:33:13.500 something that you 00:33:13.500 --> 00:33:14.279 can do today. 00:33:14.900 --> 00:33:15.759 You can go from 00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:17.039 death to life. 00:33:17.840 --> 00:33:18.779 If you've never 00:33:18.779 --> 00:33:19.799 placed your faith 00:33:19.799 --> 00:33:20.620 and trust in Jesus, 00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:21.779 where you understand 00:33:21.779 --> 00:33:23.140 Jesus as your only 00:33:23.140 --> 00:33:24.380 hope in this life, 00:33:24.940 --> 00:33:25.720 where you understand 00:33:25.720 --> 00:33:27.180 that He's the one 00:33:27.180 --> 00:33:28.240 who left the glory 00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:28.779 of heaven, 00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:30.339 lived the perfect 00:33:30.339 --> 00:33:31.519 life that you 00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:32.299 and I couldn't 00:33:32.299 --> 00:33:32.839 live, 00:33:33.400 --> 00:33:34.339 died the death 00:33:34.339 --> 00:33:35.380 that we deserve, 00:33:36.339 --> 00:33:36.980 and then three 00:33:36.980 --> 00:33:37.940 days later was 00:33:37.940 --> 00:33:38.559 raised from the 00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:39.299 grave because it 00:33:39.299 --> 00:33:40.620 was not possible 00:33:40.620 --> 00:33:41.720 for death to 00:33:41.720 --> 00:33:42.259 hold Him, 00:33:42.680 --> 00:33:43.400 if you've never 00:33:43.400 --> 00:33:44.259 placed your faith 00:33:44.259 --> 00:33:44.819 and your trust 00:33:44.819 --> 00:33:45.359 in Him, 00:33:46.720 --> 00:33:47.319 then let me 00:33:47.319 --> 00:33:48.099 encourage you, 00:33:48.599 --> 00:33:49.579 let that be 00:33:49.579 --> 00:33:50.400 where you start 00:33:50.400 --> 00:33:50.900 today. 00:33:51.539 --> 00:33:52.539 Because that is 00:33:52.539 --> 00:33:53.059 the beginning 00:33:53.059 --> 00:33:53.859 of a relationship 00:33:53.859 --> 00:33:54.359 with Him. 00:33:54.880 --> 00:33:55.599 It's the beginning 00:33:55.599 --> 00:33:56.279 of a relationship 00:33:56.279 --> 00:33:56.940 that we're all 00:33:56.940 --> 00:33:58.420 called to grow 00:33:58.420 --> 00:33:58.980 for the rest 00:33:58.980 --> 00:33:59.519 of our lives, 00:33:59.579 --> 00:34:00.379 to grow deeper 00:34:00.379 --> 00:34:00.759 into, 00:34:01.180 --> 00:34:01.960 to grow deeper 00:34:01.960 --> 00:34:02.700 in our understanding 00:34:02.700 --> 00:34:03.259 of Him. 00:34:03.839 --> 00:34:04.740 And then the final 00:34:04.740 --> 00:34:05.379 thing is this, 00:34:05.399 --> 00:34:06.279 are we going to 00:34:06.279 --> 00:34:06.799 commit, 00:34:06.960 --> 00:34:07.980 all of us, 00:34:08.539 --> 00:34:09.820 to grow so that 00:34:09.820 --> 00:34:10.840 we can be better 00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:12.900 used by God? 00:34:14.259 --> 00:34:14.860 Have we become 00:34:14.860 --> 00:34:15.500 dull of hearing? 00:34:16.019 --> 00:34:16.779 Have we placed 00:34:16.779 --> 00:34:18.440 our faith in Jesus? 00:34:19.139 --> 00:34:20.079 And are we going 00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:21.619 to commit to grow 00:34:21.619 --> 00:34:22.259 so that we can be 00:34:22.259 --> 00:34:23.360 better used by Him? 00:34:23.960 --> 00:34:24.759 In just a moment, 00:34:24.840 --> 00:34:25.380 we're going to 00:34:25.380 --> 00:34:26.119 stand together 00:34:26.119 --> 00:34:26.460 and we're going 00:34:26.460 --> 00:34:27.260 to sing a song 00:34:27.260 --> 00:34:27.900 of invitation. 00:34:28.980 --> 00:34:29.460 And I want to 00:34:29.460 --> 00:34:30.019 encourage you 00:34:30.019 --> 00:34:31.059 to be honest 00:34:31.059 --> 00:34:31.740 with yourself 00:34:31.740 --> 00:34:32.619 in these things. 00:34:33.400 --> 00:34:34.160 Maybe this morning 00:34:34.160 --> 00:34:34.860 you need to come 00:34:34.860 --> 00:34:36.019 forward and pray 00:34:36.019 --> 00:34:36.960 to receive Christ. 00:34:37.099 --> 00:34:38.079 Well, praise the Lord. 00:34:38.800 --> 00:34:39.700 But maybe you just 00:34:39.700 --> 00:34:40.440 need to sit right 00:34:40.440 --> 00:34:41.180 where you are 00:34:41.180 --> 00:34:42.400 and be honest 00:34:42.400 --> 00:34:42.880 with yourself 00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:43.599 as everybody else 00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:44.200 stands up and 00:34:44.200 --> 00:34:44.940 begins to sing 00:34:44.940 --> 00:34:46.019 and you need to pray. 00:34:46.440 --> 00:34:46.780 You say, 00:34:46.880 --> 00:34:48.440 Lord, I've been lazy. 00:34:49.079 --> 00:34:50.280 I've become dull 00:34:50.280 --> 00:34:50.940 of hearing 00:34:50.940 --> 00:34:52.180 and I want that 00:34:52.180 --> 00:34:52.920 to change. 00:34:53.320 --> 00:34:54.360 I want to commit 00:34:54.360 --> 00:34:55.079 to growing 00:34:55.079 --> 00:34:56.019 in my relationship 00:34:56.019 --> 00:34:56.519 with you. 00:34:56.860 --> 00:34:57.360 You may want 00:34:57.360 --> 00:34:58.019 to do that right there. 00:34:58.079 --> 00:34:58.440 You may want 00:34:58.440 --> 00:34:59.039 to come down. 00:34:59.340 --> 00:35:00.440 There's nothing special 00:35:00.440 --> 00:35:01.019 about the front 00:35:01.019 --> 00:35:01.579 of this stage 00:35:01.579 --> 00:35:02.460 but that may be 00:35:02.460 --> 00:35:03.880 a way of committing 00:35:03.880 --> 00:35:04.260 saying, 00:35:04.519 --> 00:35:05.720 I'm serious about this. 00:35:05.780 --> 00:35:06.099 Maybe you want 00:35:06.099 --> 00:35:06.660 to come down here 00:35:06.660 --> 00:35:06.920 and pray. 00:35:07.200 --> 00:35:07.599 Maybe you want 00:35:07.599 --> 00:35:08.380 to come pray with me. 00:35:08.440 --> 00:35:09.000 I'd love to pray. 00:35:09.039 --> 00:35:09.539 I'd love to pray 00:35:09.539 --> 00:35:10.039 with you. 00:35:11.260 --> 00:35:11.960 But I want to 00:35:11.960 --> 00:35:12.700 encourage you 00:35:12.700 --> 00:35:14.400 to respond 00:35:14.400 --> 00:35:15.519 however it is 00:35:15.519 --> 00:35:16.039 that God 00:35:16.039 --> 00:35:16.620 is leading 00:35:16.620 --> 00:35:17.420 this morning. 00:35:18.240 --> 00:35:18.800 Let's go to the Lord 00:35:18.800 --> 00:35:19.019 in prayer. 00:35:19.099 --> 00:35:19.740 Father, thank you 00:35:19.739 --> 00:35:20.500 so very much. 00:35:21.239 --> 00:35:22.379 For Jesus, Lord, 00:35:22.419 --> 00:35:22.959 we thank you 00:35:22.959 --> 00:35:24.579 for the relationship 00:35:24.579 --> 00:35:27.359 that you give us 00:35:27.359 --> 00:35:27.919 in him. 00:35:28.239 --> 00:35:29.239 Lord, we thank you 00:35:29.239 --> 00:35:30.039 that by placing 00:35:30.039 --> 00:35:30.659 our faith 00:35:30.659 --> 00:35:31.239 and our trust 00:35:31.239 --> 00:35:31.599 in him, 00:35:31.659 --> 00:35:32.079 we can go 00:35:32.079 --> 00:35:32.579 from death 00:35:32.579 --> 00:35:33.039 to life. 00:35:33.119 --> 00:35:33.659 That we can go 00:35:33.659 --> 00:35:34.099 from being 00:35:34.099 --> 00:35:34.839 an enemy 00:35:34.839 --> 00:35:35.679 to a child. 00:35:36.399 --> 00:35:36.979 And so, Lord, 00:35:37.039 --> 00:35:37.819 I pray that there's 00:35:37.819 --> 00:35:38.539 someone here today 00:35:38.539 --> 00:35:39.219 that has never 00:35:39.219 --> 00:35:39.859 done that. 00:35:40.439 --> 00:35:41.719 Let today be the day 00:35:41.719 --> 00:35:42.179 that they go 00:35:42.179 --> 00:35:42.699 from death 00:35:42.699 --> 00:35:43.359 to life. 00:35:44.239 --> 00:35:44.579 But, Lord, 00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:45.419 I also pray 00:35:45.419 --> 00:35:46.279 that for many 00:35:46.280 --> 00:35:46.960 of us 00:35:46.960 --> 00:35:48.220 as we think 00:35:48.220 --> 00:35:48.620 about our 00:35:48.620 --> 00:35:49.080 relationship 00:35:49.080 --> 00:35:49.620 with you, 00:35:49.900 --> 00:35:50.720 a genuine 00:35:50.720 --> 00:35:51.280 and true 00:35:51.280 --> 00:35:51.860 relationship 00:35:51.860 --> 00:35:52.519 with you, 00:35:52.960 --> 00:35:53.240 Lord, 00:35:53.300 --> 00:35:54.120 may we honestly 00:35:54.120 --> 00:35:55.260 ask ourselves 00:35:55.260 --> 00:35:56.860 in what ways 00:35:56.860 --> 00:35:57.620 have we become 00:35:57.620 --> 00:35:58.640 dull of hearing? 00:35:59.200 --> 00:36:00.060 In what ways 00:36:00.060 --> 00:36:00.740 have we become 00:36:00.740 --> 00:36:02.160 lazy in our 00:36:02.160 --> 00:36:03.019 walk with you? 00:36:03.220 --> 00:36:04.200 In what ways 00:36:04.200 --> 00:36:05.120 have we diminished 00:36:05.120 --> 00:36:06.440 our usefulness 00:36:06.440 --> 00:36:06.680 to you 00:36:06.680 --> 00:36:07.580 because of our 00:36:07.580 --> 00:36:08.420 laziness? 00:36:09.600 --> 00:36:10.280 And so, Lord, 00:36:10.360 --> 00:36:11.160 let us repent 00:36:11.160 --> 00:36:11.740 of that. 00:36:12.280 --> 00:36:13.580 Let us commit 00:36:13.580 --> 00:36:14.160 ourselves 00:36:14.160 --> 00:36:15.300 to growing 00:36:15.300 --> 00:36:16.260 in our relationship 00:36:16.260 --> 00:36:16.760 with you 00:36:16.760 --> 00:36:17.200 so that we 00:36:17.200 --> 00:36:17.740 can be better 00:36:17.740 --> 00:36:18.820 used by you. 00:36:19.540 --> 00:36:19.980 Lord, 00:36:20.040 --> 00:36:20.600 I pray that 00:36:20.600 --> 00:36:21.780 as we dive 00:36:21.780 --> 00:36:22.720 into your word 00:36:22.720 --> 00:36:24.680 that our eyes 00:36:24.680 --> 00:36:25.240 would be open 00:36:25.240 --> 00:36:26.480 to see you 00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:27.500 for who you are. 00:36:28.080 --> 00:36:28.840 That we grow 00:36:28.840 --> 00:36:29.760 in not only 00:36:29.760 --> 00:36:30.380 our knowledge 00:36:30.380 --> 00:36:31.500 of who you are 00:36:31.500 --> 00:36:32.460 but in our trust 00:36:32.460 --> 00:36:33.400 of who you are. 00:36:33.860 --> 00:36:34.640 And as we learn 00:36:34.640 --> 00:36:35.720 to trust you more, 00:36:35.820 --> 00:36:36.000 Lord, 00:36:36.100 --> 00:36:36.640 I pray 00:36:36.640 --> 00:36:37.960 that we get 00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:38.800 to the point 00:36:38.800 --> 00:36:39.740 where we say, 00:36:39.840 --> 00:36:40.020 Lord, 00:36:40.100 --> 00:36:40.980 here's my life. 00:36:41.720 --> 00:36:42.480 Take it 00:36:42.480 --> 00:36:43.560 and use it. 00:36:43.940 --> 00:36:44.860 I want to follow 00:36:44.860 --> 00:36:45.400 you more 00:36:45.400 --> 00:36:45.820 than I want 00:36:45.820 --> 00:36:46.600 to follow me. 00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:47.460 I want 00:36:47.460 --> 00:36:48.200 to follow you 00:36:48.200 --> 00:36:48.920 more than I want 00:36:48.920 --> 00:36:49.800 to follow anybody 00:36:49.800 --> 00:36:50.740 else that's telling 00:36:50.740 --> 00:36:51.420 me what I need 00:36:51.420 --> 00:36:52.440 to do with my life. 00:36:53.360 --> 00:36:53.740 Lord, 00:36:53.800 --> 00:36:54.240 may we get 00:36:54.240 --> 00:36:54.940 to that point 00:36:54.940 --> 00:36:55.900 so that we 00:36:55.900 --> 00:36:56.760 can be used 00:36:56.760 --> 00:36:57.700 by you 00:36:57.700 --> 00:36:59.180 for your honor 00:36:59.180 --> 00:37:00.460 and your glory. 00:37:00.940 --> 00:37:01.440 And we ask 00:37:01.440 --> 00:37:01.880 all this 00:37:01.880 --> 00:37:02.820 in Jesus' name. 00:37:03.260 --> 00:37:03.559 Amen. 00:37:04.260 --> 00:37:04.720 I want to invite 00:37:04.720 --> 00:37:05.300 you to stand. 00:37:05.380 --> 00:37:05.880 We're going to sing 00:37:05.880 --> 00:37:06.760 a song of invitation 00:37:06.760 --> 00:37:07.260 that the Lord 00:37:07.260 --> 00:37:07.800 is speaking. 00:37:08.320 --> 00:37:09.059 Won't you respond 00:37:09.059 --> 00:37:09.600 as we stand 00:37:09.600 --> 00:37:10.640 together and sing? 00:37:11.339 --> 00:37:12.299 who have 00:37:12.299 --> 00:37:12.299 00:37:12.299 --> 00:37:12.299 00:37:12.299 --> 00:37:12.299 00:37:12.299 --> 00:37:12.299 00:37:12.299 --> 00:37:12.819 who have 00:37:12.819 --> 00:37:13.839 who have 00:37:13.839 --> 00:37:14.839 who have 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:14.839 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:15.619 ! 00:37:15.619 --> 00:37:15.619 00:37:15.619 --> 00:37:15.619 00:37:15.619 --> 00:37:16.379 ! 00:37:16.379 --> 00:37:16.379 00:37:16.379 --> 00:37:16.679 ! 00:37:16.679 --> 00:37:16.679 00:37:16.679 --> 00:37:16.679 00:37:16.679 --> 00:37:16.679 00:37:16.679 --> 00:37:16.679 00:37:16.679 --> 00:37:16.679 00:37:16.679 --> 00:37:18.139 ! 00:37:18.139 --> 00:37:18.139 00:37:18.139 --> 00:37:18.139 00:37:18.139 --> 00:37:18.139 00:37:18.139 --> 00:37:18.139 00:37:18.139 --> 00:37:18.139 00:37:18.139 --> 00:37:18.139 00:37:18.139 --> 00:37:18.139 00:37:18.139 --> 00:37:18.139 00:37:18.139 --> 00:37:18.139 00:37:18.139 --> 00:37:18.139 00:37:18.139 --> 00:37:18.139