Children, we are ready for Children's Church at this time. You may make your way to the back.
My goodness, that is a lot of kids making their way to the back.
And what a joy it is to see as they're making their way to go learn about Jesus.
It's always encouraging when Savannah shares what they're going through in Children's Church,
how they're learning about Scripture.
They're not just, you know, taking a story here and there.
They're walking through Scripture.
They've already gone through the entire Bible in the last year and a half or so.
I was thinking, I was like, if I make it through the entire Bible at the pace that we're going through Hebrews,
it may be 10 or 15 years before we do that.
They've gone through the whole thing in a year and a half.
And it's just a joy to hear all of those questions that come as they come home
and talk about what they've learned in Children's Church.
But today we're going to be continuing in our study of the book of Hebrews.
We're going to be in Hebrews chapter 4, verses 1 through 13.
But throughout our study of the book of Hebrews thus far,
we've seen and heard some pretty remarkable statements about who Christ is.
We've seen some pretty remarkable statements about who Jesus is,
what He came to do, some things that He accomplished while He was here.
We've seen that Jesus is the Son of God.
We've seen that He's the revelation of God.
We've seen that He's the fulfillment of God's revelation in the Old Testament,
the heir of all things, the agent of creation, the radiance of God's glory.
And that's just the first three verses of Hebrews.
And then as we continue through Hebrews, we've seen that He is far superior than the angels.
He's greater than Moses.
He's greater than anything else in all of creation,
as much superior as the builder of the house is than the house itself.
We were called to consider Jesus,
to pay close attention to who He is so that we don't miss who He is.
And now this week, we are seeing why this is so important,
why this is such a big deal in our relationship with God.
And so if you have a copy of God's Word with you this morning,
I want to invite you to turn with me to Hebrews chapter 4.
And we're going to read the first 13 verses together today.
Hebrews chapter 4, starting in verse 1, says this,
Therefore,
Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands,
let us fear, lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.
For good news came to us just as to them,
but the message they heard did not benefit them,
because they were not united by faith with those who listened.
For we who believed entered that rest, as He has said,
As I swore my wrath, they shall not enter my rest.
Although His works were finished from the foundation of the world,
for He has somewhere spoken on the seventh day in this way,
and God rested on the seventh day from all His works.
And again, in this passage, He said,
They shall not enter my rest.
Since, therefore, it remains for some to enter it,
and those who formerly received the good news
failed to enter because of disobedience,
again He points a certain day.
Today, saying through David so long afterward,
in the words already quoted,
Today, if you hear His voice,
do not harden your hearts.
For if Joshua had given them rest,
God would not have spoken of another day later on.
So then there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
For whoever has entered God's rest
has also rested from His works,
as God did from His.
Let us, therefore, strive to enter that rest,
so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.
For the Word of God is living and active,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing to the division of soul and of spirit,
of joints and of marrow,
and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
And no creature is hidden from His sight,
but all are naked and exposed in the eyes of Him
to whom we must give account.
This passage is a somewhat difficult passage
to consider all that is being said,
But this morning,
I wanted to break it up into three questions
that I feel like the author is begging us to ask
as we go through this.
And so the first question to begin with
that I want us to ask is,
what are we to fear?
What are we to fear?
Verse, we get this in the first five verses,
but verse one right here says,
therefore, while the promise of entering His rest
still stands, let us fear,
lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.
I almost feel like a broken record
as we've gone through the book of Hebrews.
And I keep telling you,
whenever you see a therefore,
make sure that you pay attention
to what it is therefore.
But if you just take a quick glance
at the book of Hebrews so far,
you'll see over and over again
the use of the word therefore.
In fact, in our study today,
that's how we're going to be breaking up
our passage is going from therefore to therefore
and asking these questions
and seeking to try to find what God is telling us.
This passage is telling us
that we should fear.
But it's also telling us to go back
to the first or the last two verses
of chapter three,
where it says,
Now, if you have certain translations,
they won't use fear here in this next passage,
in this next verse in chapter one of,
or chapter four, verse one,
and they might use afraid,
but sometimes they use the word be careful.
Now, I want you to be careful
if your translation uses be careful,
because I don't want it to take away
from the gravity of what the author
is trying to communicate here.
The author is telling us to be afraid,
to fear this.
The passage is telling us to fear.
This seems almost counterintuitive
when you look at the rest of Scripture.
Because when you look throughout Scripture,
you see over and over again
the word of God telling us,
don't be afraid.
In fact, so many of the commands
that we see throughout Scripture
are don't be afraid,
fear not,
don't be anxious.
And it's telling us over and over again
not to be afraid.
In fact, when you look at
the Great Commission,
and when Jesus is telling us
to go and make disciples of all nations,
the final thing he says,
and lo, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age.
And it's implying here
that what he's asking them to do
is a big task.
But he's saying,
hey, it's all right
because I'm going to be with you for this.
I'm going to walk with you through this.
And so we see over and over again
we're told not to be afraid.
But this passage clearly tells us
to be afraid.
And what we are fearing
has very serious consequences.
The passage says,
let us fear lest any of you
should seem to have failed to reach it.
The it here is God's rest.
The restful refuge of salvation.
Be afraid so that you don't miss God's rest.
But what is it that we are to fear
that will cause us to miss God's rest?
And like we said,
the previous verse in chapter 3
is most helpful with this.
Where it says,
so we see that they were unable to enter
because of unbelief.
Therefore, fear that unbelief
because that is what will keep you
from entering God's rest.
Fear that unbelief
because that is what will prevent you
from entering God's rest.
John Piper once said,
he says,
normal Christian life
is aware of the fearful danger of unbelief,
but it does not live paralyzed
or terrorized by it.
It lives in faith.
So let us humbly go to this text
and ask a very logical question
that comes from this.
As believers,
are we supposed to live our lives
in fear of missing heaven?
As believers,
are we supposed to live our lives
in fear of missing heaven?
And before we answer that,
I want you to consider
what the author has already told us
back in chapter 2.
If you would look back over to chapter 2,
starting in verse 14,
it says this,
since therefore the children
share in flesh and blood,
he himself likewise partook
of the same things
that through death,
he might destroy the one
who has the power of death,
that is the devil,
and deliver all those
who through fear of death
were subject to lifelong slavery.
You see,
clearly Christ died
to deliver us
from this slavish fear.
Christ wants us
to be a fearless people.
Christ not only
broke the curse of sin,
that is death,
but he also delivered us
from the devil
who leverages that fear of death
over us
to keep us enslaved.
Jesus' death set us free
not only from sin,
but also from the fear of death.
And this should change our lives
because you can really live for Christ
only when you understand
that death has no power over you.
Then it gives you the power
to live for him.
He wants us to share
with our neighbors.
He wants us to share
with our coworkers,
with our classmates,
without fear.
Christ wants us to go
to unreached people groups
all over the world
without fear.
Faith in the promises of God
makes you fearless
before the threats of men.
And so in short,
what we're seeing here
is one thing to fear
is not believing the promises
that make you fearless.
And so one of the things
that we're seeing here
is that we should fear
is not believing in the promises
that make you fearless.
The warning here
is against unbelief.
He is talking to the church
and so it seems that some
within the church
that may have professed Christ
at some point,
but it is clear
that their actions
show that they are not
followers of Christ
because they are following
something else.
So the author is saying,
he says,
you need to be afraid
because there is a lot
at stake in not believing.
You see,
perseverance
is the evidence
that you truly belong
to Christ.
In other words,
following Christ
is the evidence
that you are a follower
of Christ.
Following Christ
is the evidence
that you are actually
a follower of Christ.
Those who are truly saved,
who have truly placed
their faith
and their trust in Jesus,
those who have seen
that Jesus is far greater
than anything
and everything
in this world
are the ones
who persevere.
They are the ones
who follow Jesus.
And so we are to fear
that unbelief,
but we also see here
there's a sense of urgency
in this passage.
I don't know if you picked up
on it as we first read
through it,
but looking back
at verse 1 again,
it says,
therefore,
while the promise
of entering
his rest
still stands,
let us fear
lest any of you
should seem
to have failed
to reach it.
While the promise
of entering
his rest
still stands.
It seems that
some Jews
were in danger
of talking themselves
out of trusting
in Christ
because they may have
thought they had missed it.
They had missed
the coming Messiah.
They realized
that while he was here,
they didn't see him
as the coming Messiah.
They didn't see him
for who he truly is
and they missed it.
And so now
they're afraid
that,
well,
maybe I've just messed up.
Maybe I have messed up
and we've just missed this
and we can't come
to faith in Christ anymore.
The author is saying,
you have no reason
to believe this
because this offer
still stands for you.
This offer
still stands.
As John MacArthur
notes,
he says,
they did have reason
to be afraid.
Not because they had
lost the opportunity
for salvation,
but because they could
lose it
if they continued
to put off
accepting Christ
as their personal Savior.
Yes,
be afraid.
Not because of
living a life
that prevents you
from coming to faith
in Christ,
but because
there will come a day
when that is no longer
an option.
If you think
you've missed
your opportunity,
then let me tell you,
if you have breath
in your lungs,
if you have breath
in your lungs,
you can accept
Christ
as your Savior.
This week,
I was reading
a story,
a biography
of Mel Trotter.
I don't know
if many of you
probably haven't heard
of Mel Trotter before,
but Mel Trotter
in the latter half
of his life
was an incredibly
gifted Bible teacher.
And not only
was he an incredibly
gifted Bible teacher,
but he also
spent much
of his life
reaching out
to the community
in Grand Rapids,
Michigan.
Reaching out
and serving God
and providing hope,
providing food
for many
who were suffering.
But that came
on the heels
of a life
spent living
for himself.
That came on the heels
of a life spent
where he was
very much
focused on
on him
and whatever
he wanted.
For much
of his life,
Mel had
a drinking problem
that was as bad
of a problem
as you could
possibly imagine.
His children
starved
because of his,
spent his money
on alcohol.
In fact,
his daughter
died of malnutrition
at the age of four
because they had
no money for food
because anything
and everything
that they had,
Mel spent on
buying more alcohol
and trying to
focus on himself
in fact,
when his daughter
died,
the neighbors
came together
and they pulled
their money together
so that they could
provide a burial
for the little girl.
And so they,
they pulled their
money together,
bought a casket,
bought a set of clothes
for her to be buried in.
But,
Mel broke into
the mortuary,
stole the clothes
off of his daughter
and traded it in
for another drink.
You think,
my goodness,
this is a terrible.
But it was shortly
after that,
that Jesus Christ
reached down
and got a hold
of Mel's life.
Got a hold of him
and completely
changed the way
he was living
and what he was
giving his life to.
And he went on
to faithfully
serve the Lord,
reaching many
that everyone else
thought was too far gone.
Mel began to have
a ministry reaching
those that nobody
else wanted to reach.
Nobody else
would give a second
chance to.
And so Mel began
to reach out to them
and he did this
until the day
that he died
until he was able
to see his daughter
in heaven again.
God changed his life.
You see,
what you have done
is not what the author
is telling you
to be afraid of.
It's not believing
in the promises
of God
while you have time.
There's no way
around it.
This is a challenging
passage for us
to consider
and to wrap
our minds around.
On the one hand,
the author is not
trying to cause
unnecessary fear
in our lives.
For those who've
truly placed their faith
and their trust
in Jesus,
the author is not
trying to cause us
to unnecessarily
have fear.
He's not saying,
do you know
that you know
you better walk
the aisle each week
to make sure
that you know
that you're saved.
He's not doing that.
But He is saying,
don't put your hope
in a prayer
that you prayed
at one time
or in a baptism
that you had
where your life
never changed,
that you did
just because
your friends
were doing it.
You see,
our assurance
is our perseverance
in our walk
with Christ.
So what are we
to fear?
Not believing
the promises
of God.
But next,
we're to consider
this question.
What is it that
we're putting
our faith in?
What are we
to fear?
Not believing
the promises
of God.
Which leads us
to the next question.
What are we
putting our faith
in?
Starting in verse 6,
it says,
since therefore
it remains
for some
to enter it
and those
who formerly
received the good
news
failed to enter
because of
disobedience.
Again,
He appoints
a certain day.
Today,
saying through
David so long
afterward
in the words
already quoted,
today,
if you hear
His voice,
do not harden
your hearts.
For if Joshua
had given them rest,
God would not
have spoken
another day
later on.
so then
there remains
a Sabbath rest
for the people
of God.
For whoever
has entered
God's rest
has also
rested
from His works
as God
did from His.
We're reminded
again in verse 6
that the Israelites
failed to enter
because of
disobedience.
And then
in verse 7,
the author
quotes Psalm 95
again saying,
today if you
hear His voice,
do not harden
your hearts.
The point here
is made clear
for us.
Be serious
about making sure
you don't end up
like the Israelites
dying in the wilderness
and failing
to enter
God's rest.
Michael Kruger,
who's been
incredibly helpful
in the study
and preparation
of these messages,
rightly says,
he says,
our modern world
needs this message
more than ever.
Few today
take spiritual
matters seriously.
thoughts of eternity
are dismissed
with a wave
of a hand
as if things
will work themselves
out in the end.
Sadly,
such an approach
is precisely
what the author
is warning
us against.
You see,
no one is going
to work
their way
into heaven
and no one
is going to
stumble their way
into heaven.
You can't be
good enough,
you can't do
enough good
to outweigh
your bad,
your works
will never
save you.
And at the same
time,
no one is going
to stumble
their way
into heaven
by not
taking seriously
the word
of God,
by not
understanding
that there
is a way,
but we must
follow God's
way.
That the only
way to the
father is
through the
son.
No one's
going to
just live
this life
ignoring
what the
scripture
says
and then
just say,
you know
what,
at the end
it's all
going to
work itself
out.
I'm going
to probably
live a better
life than
most and so
that'll just
help me get
right on in.
That's not
the case.
And so the
author is
warning us
against this.
But then
in verse 10
is a beautiful
picture of
the gospel.
We get to
verse 10
and it's just
this beautiful
picture of
the gospel.
I don't know
if you've
ever done
this,
but if you've
read a passage
of scripture
that you've
read many
times and
then all of
a sudden
reading it
again,
it's like
the words
just jump
right off
at the
page at
you.
It's like
I've read
this over
and over
again,
but all
of a sudden
this time
reading through
it,
these words
just seem
to come
right off
of the
page at
you.
And I
don't know
if it's
because I
hadn't paid
attention
before or
if God's
word is
living and
active like
we're about
to hear.
But verse
10 this
week hit
me like a
ton of
bricks.
It says
this,
for whoever
has entered
God's rest
has also
rested from
his works
as God
did from
his.
What a
beautiful picture
of the gospel
in a single
phrase.
For whoever
has entered
God's rest
has also
rested from
his works
as God
did from
his.
You see
this verse
powerfully
captures the
gospel in a
single phrase.
The gospel
is not
morality,
it's not
external
religion,
it's not
checking all
the right
boxes,
saying just
the right
words in
the right
order.
The gospel
is the
message of
Christ's
accomplishments
on our
behalf so
that we
might rest
from our
works by
trusting in
his work.
You see,
the gospel
is the
message of
Christ's
accomplishments
on our
behalf so
that we
might rest
from our
works by
trusting in
his work.
When we
trust in
Christ,
we are
resting in
his work.
Jesus
says,
come to
me,
all who
labor and
are heavy
laden,
and I
will give
you rest.
Take my
yoke upon
you and
learn from
me,
for I am
gentle and
lowly in
heart,
and you
will find
rest for
your souls,
for my
yoke is
easy and
my burden
is light.
Here's the
good news.
In Jesus,
God gives
us a
righteousness
that we
do not
have and
that we
cannot
earn on
our own.
This
saving
righteousness
is received
by faith.
It's not
something you
can earn,
and once you
have it,
it's not
something that
you can
lose.
And so
the question
becomes,
what is
your faith
in?
Is it in
the finished
work of
Jesus Christ
on the
cross?
Or is it
in your
own works
that you're
seeking to
try to earn
God's favor
by doing
enough good
to outweigh
your bad?
Our works
are nothing
but filthy
rags.
Christ's
work is
the work
that is
finished.
It's the
work that
saves.
It's the
only one
that has
the power
to save.
Here
recently,
I've
gotten to
have several
incredibly
encouraging
conversations
with different
people.
Recently,
someone who
is taking
these warnings
that the
author is
saying very
seriously.
Don't
just be a
face in
the crowd
but be a
disciple.
Their
testimony was
very similar
to mine.
I grew
up in
church.
I grew
up with
seeing their
friends walk
the aisle,
make professions
of faith,
and then all
of a sudden
you realize,
you know what,
it's probably
my turn next.
And so just
walking the aisle
because you see
all of your
friends doing
it.
And this
person says,
look,
I realize
that I
haven't done
this.
I haven't
actually placed
my faith and
trust in Jesus.
What I was
doing was just
something to
fit in with
the rest of
the crowd,
with my
friends.
It was what
it was expected
of me to
do.
But now I'm
following Christ
and so I want
to be obedient.
And it's these
conversations like
this that are
incredibly encouraging
but also that
give greatness to
this, making
sure that we
fear lest any
of us should
seem to have
failed to
reach it.
the very
serious question
that we must
all ask is
this, what
is my faith
in?
And it's my
prayer that,
is it in a
prayer that I
said at one
time that
really hasn't
changed my
life?
Is it in a
baptism that I
did because my
friends were doing
it?
Or is my faith
in Jesus
Christ and his
finished work on
the cross that
actually has the
power to save
because this is
the only one
that has power.
What are we to
fear?
Not believing the
promises of God.
What are we to
put our faith in,
the finished work
of Christ?
Now finally I
want us to
consider what is
our foundation
built on?
What is our
foundation built
on?
Verse 11 says,
let us therefore
strive to enter
that rest so
that no one
may fall by the
same sort of
disobedience.
For the word
of God is
living and
active, sharper
than any
two-edged sword,
piercing to the
division of soul
and of spirit,
of joints and
of marrow,
discerning the
thoughts and
intentions of
the heart.
And no creature
is hidden from
his sight, but
all are naked
and exposed to
the eyes of him
to whom we
must give
account.
Verse 11
begins to bring
this home for
us.
We have been
told to fear
unbelief.
We've been
told where to
place our trust
and our faith.
Now we are
told the why.
In light of what
is just said,
let us make
every effort to
enter his
rest.
We must not be
like the Israelites
in the wilderness,
but rather we must
strive to enter
his rest.
In other words,
we must work
at resting.
We must work
at resting.
This means that
we must work
against all
our efforts to
prove our
righteousness.
We must work
against all of
our efforts to
try to think that
we can be good
enough, that we
can earn favor
from God by our
works.
We must work
against all our
efforts to
justify ourselves.
And we do
this through
God's word.
We do this
through, as we
mentioned last
week, encouraging
one another, keeping
each other
accountable.
this is one of
the things that
we do each
week in
corporate worship.
When we hear
God's word
proclaimed, it
should be
encouraging us
to put our
faith in Jesus,
to trust him
more.
This is what we
do when we
sing together.
This is why
the words of
the songs that
we sing matter,
because words
have meaning.
And we must
sing words that
proclaim truth,
the truth of
God's word.
This is what
we do when we
pray together.
This is what
we do when we
get involved
with small
groups and
keep each
other accountable.
But the
author is now
highlighting the
role of God's
word in this,
being the
foundation that
we build our
lives on,
and what keeps
us from
believing lies
the world is
trying to tell
us.
Because here's
the thing,
if you don't
know the
truth, if you
don't know
God's word,
then it becomes
very easy to
believe a lie.
It becomes
really easy to
believe what
everybody else
says if you
don't know
truth, if you're
not building your
life on this
foundation.
And many today
will say they
would like to
take Jesus
apart from
scripture.
They may not
say it openly
like that, but
they say it with
their lives.
They say it with
their lives.
This grace part,
it sounds great.
The fact that
Jesus saves,
that's amazing.
But all of
these ideas
about marriage
and gender,
all of this
talk about
caring for
others more
than you care
for yourself,
that stuff
changes the
way that you
live.
That stuff
changes everything.
Those things
can be
offensive.
But we
can't take
Christ apart
from his
word.
You don't
get to pick
and choose.
Al Mohler
makes the
correct statement
when he says,
Christ cannot
be divorced
from scripture.
Our knowledge
of Jesus
as the divine
son of God
and his
accomplishments
for us
only come
through scripture.
We cannot
have Jesus
apart from
the witness
of the Bible.
The two
are inseparably
wedded together.
In this
passage,
the author
makes a couple
powerful statements
about God's
word.
First,
the word
is living
and active.
Since God
is living
and is the
author of
this book,
it is alive.
Now,
this doesn't
mean that it
changes or
it grows up
or it changes
from season
to season,
but it means
that it is
valuable and
applicable to
us as it
ever has
been.
It is
active.
When you
look through
scripture and
God speaks,
God also
works.
And he
speaks to
us through
his word
and as
he speaks
to us
through his
word,
he works
in our
life.
When God
speaks,
he works.
It's active,
it's effective
for us.
Next,
we see that
this word
is sharper
than any
two-edged
sword.
The description
of the
Bible as a
sword shows
that it
cuts deep.
It has
the power
to cut
deep.
When we
approach
God's
word
humbly
and we
try to
seek and
apply it
to our
lives,
then we
not only
read the
Bible,
but it
begins to
read us
as well.
It begins
to offer
insights about
us that
we couldn't
possibly have
imagined.
It cuts
to the
heart.
It cuts
to our
intentions.
No other
book has
the power
to do
this.
This
reminds me
that God's
word is
dangerous to
anyone who
is seeking
to live for
this world.
If you're
trying to
seek to
live for
this world,
then as
you read
the Bible,
it is going
to be very
dangerous to
that way
of life
because it
cuts deep.
If you want
to shape
your heart
to be more
like God's
heart,
then there
is no
substitution
for His
word.
If you want
to shape
your heart
to be more
like God's
heart,
then there
is absolutely
no substitution
for His
word.
And reading
through it,
it has
the power
to change
our hearts.
It has
the power
to comfort
us as
nothing else
can.
It has
words of
life,
words that
give our
life meaning
and purpose,
words that
are strong
enough to
build the
foundation of
our lives
on,
words that
are strong
enough to
build the
foundation of
the church
on,
words that
are strong
enough to
turn this
world upside
down.
This word
has power,
it is living,
it is active,
it is sharper
than any two-edged
sword.
And in the
context of this
passage,
God's words
give a strong
warning.
What are we
to fear?
We're to fear
unbelief.
I'm not asking
if you can get
every answer
right on a test,
but I'm asking
does your
belief in
Christ change
your life?
Because following
Christ is the
witness,
it's the proof
that you are a
follower of
Christ.
What are you
putting your
faith in?
Are you
putting your
faith in your
works?
Or are you
putting your
faith in
Christ's
finished work
on the cross?
No matter if
you think you
are too far
gone, if you
have breath in
your lungs,
if you are
here today,
if you are
listening to
this message
today,
then there is
hope.
You can give
your life to
Jesus.
And finally,
what is the
foundation of
your life built
on?
See, God's
word is
living and
active.
It's sharper
than any
two-edged
sword.
And this is
how God
speaks to
us and
how he
shapes us
primarily.
And so the
question is,
is he speaking
to you this
morning?
Are you ready
to give your
life to him?
Are you ready
to follow him?
To share
your faith?
To be
baptized?
To serve
on mission
for him?
Or to do
whatever he
has called
you to do
for his
honor,
and for
his glory?
Because God's
word always
calls for a
response.
It's not
written to
just give you
more knowledge,
but it's
written to
change your
life.
So I want to
ask you,
is God speaking
to you this
morning through
his word?
And if so,
then I want to
encourage you
to respond.
Father,
thank you so
very much
for your
word,
because it
is living
and active.
Just as you
are alive,
this word is
alive.
Lord,
it is as
applicable to
us today as
it has ever
been.
And it's
effective to
change our
lives.
And so,
Lord,
I pray that
we come to
your word
humbly,
asking you to
shape us,
to mold us,
and to make us
more like you.
Lord,
if we say that
we want our
heart to be
like your
heart,
then,
Lord,
give us a
desire to
read your
word,
to let it
shape us.
But also,
Lord,
I pray for
the truth
that is
declared in
that.
Truth that
is declared
today,
that you
tell us to
be afraid,
afraid of
unbelief.
And so,
Lord,
I pray that
there's someone
here today
that is
putting their
hope for
eternity in
a past
action that
they didn't
know what
they were
doing,
possibly.
That they
were just
doing because
they saw
their friends
doing it.
Lord,
I pray that
you help us
to see
clearly that
our faith must
be placed in
your finished
work.
Not in our
actions,
not in
anything that
we've done,
but in what
you have done
for us.
And,
Lord,
if we have
done that,
I thank you
for the
assurance that
you give us
that helps
us to live
boldly for
you.
that helps
us to live
without fear
before men
because you
have accomplished
what we
couldn't do
on our
own.
And so,
God,
I thank you
for that.
And,
Lord,
I pray that
as we read
through your
word that we
would apply it
to our lives,
that whatever it
is that you're
calling us to
do,
that our answer
will be yes.
I want to
follow you
because you
are better.
And we ask
all this in
Jesus' name.
Amen.
I want to
invite you to
stand.
We're going to
sing a song of
invitation this
morning.
If God is
speaking to you,
won't you respond
as we stand
together and
sing?
Thank you.