WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.480 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:09.560 Our passion is to experience and express grace. 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:10.620 Join us. 00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:11.480 All right. 00:00:12.660 --> 00:00:16.000 Let's start the Wheel of Bible text for today. 00:00:19.859 --> 00:00:20.920 Where are we landing? 00:00:22.080 --> 00:00:24.420 Oh, the Wheel of Bible text. 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:25.280 Where are we going to go today? 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:30.960 This is exciting. 00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:38.240 Is that really what I'm supposed to preach on? 00:00:38.820 --> 00:00:39.560 I'm just kidding. 00:00:39.719 --> 00:00:40.240 It's good morning. 00:00:40.620 --> 00:00:42.120 I'm so glad everybody's here today. 00:00:42.840 --> 00:00:44.259 Happy July 4th weekend. 00:00:44.799 --> 00:00:48.039 I hope it's been a safe and fun one for you and your families. 00:00:48.600 --> 00:00:55.879 I'm excited this morning to continue on in our series of one another as we talk about living in gospel community together. 00:00:55.880 --> 00:01:00.560 I have to be honest, Will's last two sermons have unsettled me quite a bit. 00:01:01.440 --> 00:01:07.620 And so as we move this morning into considering how to spur one another on toward righteousness, 00:01:08.620 --> 00:01:16.079 I feel like he did me the service or disservice of knocking down some of my basic objections 00:01:16.079 --> 00:01:22.560 to moving together into commitment to a gospel community. 00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:28.820 And that stuff comes from serious pain that's been dealt to me from people in the church, 00:01:29.219 --> 00:01:30.719 from churches themselves, 00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:42.780 basically by other sinners in what was supposed to be a really safe and spiritual and Christian and one another environment. 00:01:42.780 --> 00:01:45.200 And over the last two weeks, 00:01:45.260 --> 00:01:52.359 we've dealt with the joint realities of first confession and then with forgiveness. 00:01:55.579 --> 00:01:57.159 And they've served together. 00:01:57.939 --> 00:01:59.500 I think it's on your cards, kids. 00:01:59.740 --> 00:02:00.879 It's together on your cards. 00:02:03.280 --> 00:02:03.680 Yes. 00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:04.560 No, it isn't. 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:05.500 Put it at the top of your card. 00:02:05.560 --> 00:02:06.140 You get extra credit. 00:02:06.140 --> 00:02:16.219 Together to knock down most of my biggest practical and felt objections toward developing some kind of a deep 00:02:16.219 --> 00:02:22.400 and intentional gospel relationship and community and dive in. 00:02:22.460 --> 00:02:24.500 And I know that's not something a pastor is supposed to say, 00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:27.800 but we're all wounded in different ways. 00:02:28.199 --> 00:02:34.800 And for me, these are two areas that help to knock down those objections. 00:02:34.800 --> 00:02:43.500 Love has been defined by will as a deeply felt value moving toward another in sacrificial action. 00:02:44.760 --> 00:02:51.500 And while God doesn't call us to dive into manipulative or self-destructive relationships 00:02:51.500 --> 00:02:53.800 or spiritually abusive relationships, 00:02:54.200 --> 00:03:01.080 he does call us to remember who we are as blood-bought and blood-washed followers of King Jesus. 00:03:01.080 --> 00:03:07.340 He chased sinners like you and me down through time and space. 00:03:09.040 --> 00:03:11.740 And he still chases us down and he loves us. 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:16.140 And he showed us his love and his death and resurrection. 00:03:18.960 --> 00:03:21.600 So we ought to confess our sins to one another. 00:03:22.140 --> 00:03:24.880 Not only is it a commandment of the Bible, it's something that's good to do. 00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:26.560 We ought to do it not only because we're commanded to, 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:29.520 but because of the practical help it offers believers. 00:03:31.699 --> 00:03:37.819 We seek God and we love each other well by telling each other our sins and what's going on in our lives. 00:03:38.699 --> 00:03:41.740 We confess because we're not alone in our sin. 00:03:42.219 --> 00:03:44.819 When you confess, you find out that other people go through it too. 00:03:46.340 --> 00:03:51.879 And not that it's okay, but that you together can push each other and spur one another on to King Jesus. 00:03:51.879 --> 00:03:55.479 And we forgive each other not only because we're commanded to, 00:03:56.479 --> 00:03:59.299 but also because it reminds us of our need for a Savior. 00:04:01.340 --> 00:04:02.859 We've been forgiven much. 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:08.359 God had to send his son down to die for us. 00:04:10.219 --> 00:04:13.240 And forgiveness and that self-sacrificial reality 00:04:13.240 --> 00:04:18.740 helps us to remind ourselves of that and to remind others of it as they watch us. 00:04:18.740 --> 00:04:24.639 But most importantly, we do these things because it's God's design for his people. 00:04:25.540 --> 00:04:31.100 So that we can grow in our understanding of his love for us in this gospel community. 00:04:32.139 --> 00:04:37.220 And that we might be equipped to show that love to people who are not a part of our gospel community. 00:04:37.340 --> 00:04:39.840 Or should I say yet a part of our gospel community. 00:04:40.400 --> 00:04:44.800 So this morning we press on to the equally daunting goal. 00:04:44.800 --> 00:04:49.980 One that perhaps shows how great the stakes are when we abandon gospel community. 00:04:51.180 --> 00:04:54.020 Or when we replace it with something else. 00:04:55.840 --> 00:04:59.180 And so since we've tackled several factors over the last couple of weeks, 00:04:59.560 --> 00:05:03.879 today we're going to tackle the comfortable factors of idolatry and selfishness. 00:05:03.879 --> 00:05:10.939 That lead us often to that replacement or abandoning of gospel community. 00:05:11.959 --> 00:05:14.839 So whether it be family or money or boredom. 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:17.639 Or simply what appears to be greener grass. 00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:22.600 We are all prone to wander away from the built-in grace of meeting together. 00:05:23.500 --> 00:05:25.779 So with that in mind, let's humbly approach scripture. 00:05:26.379 --> 00:05:29.800 You see there, it's in your pew Bible on page 1007. 00:05:29.800 --> 00:05:34.660 And I'll begin reading actually earlier than the verses assigned there. 00:05:34.680 --> 00:05:38.819 I'm going to begin reading in 19 so that we get a broader context of what we're talking about. 00:05:39.079 --> 00:05:43.259 Although we will focus mostly on verses 24 and 25. 00:05:43.520 --> 00:05:44.439 Or 23 and 24. 00:05:46.360 --> 00:05:47.900 So beginning in verse 19. 00:05:47.899 --> 00:05:53.659 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus. 00:05:54.139 --> 00:05:58.139 By the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain. 00:05:58.439 --> 00:05:59.919 That is through his flesh. 00:06:00.939 --> 00:06:05.779 And since we have a great priest over the house of God. 00:06:06.459 --> 00:06:10.199 Let us draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith. 00:06:10.859 --> 00:06:15.859 With our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 00:06:15.860 --> 00:06:20.000 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering. 00:06:20.060 --> 00:06:21.620 For he who promised is faithful. 00:06:22.860 --> 00:06:26.319 And let us consider how to stir one another up to love and to good works. 00:06:26.420 --> 00:06:27.819 Not neglecting to meet together. 00:06:28.080 --> 00:06:29.600 As is the habit of some. 00:06:29.920 --> 00:06:31.280 But encouraging one another. 00:06:32.139 --> 00:06:34.520 And all the more as you see the day drawing near. 00:06:35.639 --> 00:06:39.879 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:42.699 There's no longer remains a sacrifice for sins. 00:06:42.699 --> 00:06:45.759 But a fearful expectation of judgment. 00:06:46.699 --> 00:06:50.579 And a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 00:06:51.819 --> 00:06:54.000 You're welcome to back up with me to chapter 3. 00:06:54.120 --> 00:06:55.860 Or you can just listen as I read aloud. 00:06:56.339 --> 00:06:57.599 Beginning in verse 12. 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:01.500 Actually I'll back that up to verse 7 as well. 00:07:01.500 --> 00:07:04.800 Therefore as the Holy Spirit says. 00:07:05.399 --> 00:07:06.839 Today if you hear his voice. 00:07:08.500 --> 00:07:10.779 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. 00:07:10.980 --> 00:07:12.860 On the day of testing in the wilderness. 00:07:13.420 --> 00:07:15.180 Where your fathers put me to test. 00:07:15.319 --> 00:07:17.060 And saw my works for 40 years. 00:07:18.279 --> 00:07:20.500 Therefore I was provoked with that generation. 00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:21.139 And said. 00:07:21.839 --> 00:07:23.439 They always go astray in their heart. 00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:26.180 They have not known my ways. 00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:28.439 As I swore in my wrath. 00:07:28.519 --> 00:07:29.939 They shall not enter my rest. 00:07:29.939 --> 00:07:32.480 Take care brothers. 00:07:33.779 --> 00:07:36.660 Lest there be in any of you an evil unbelieving heart. 00:07:37.219 --> 00:07:39.459 Leading you to fall away from the living God. 00:07:40.660 --> 00:07:42.740 But exhort one another every day. 00:07:42.860 --> 00:07:44.160 As long as it's called today. 00:07:45.300 --> 00:07:48.360 That none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 00:07:50.159 --> 00:07:51.399 This is the word of the Lord. 00:07:51.500 --> 00:07:52.060 It's trustworthy. 00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:54.100 We should put our faith in it. 00:07:54.779 --> 00:07:55.259 Pray with me. 00:07:55.259 --> 00:07:55.319 Pray with me. 00:07:59.939 --> 00:08:02.480 Gracious God and Heavenly Father. 00:08:02.660 --> 00:08:05.439 We need you to enter into this place. 00:08:05.500 --> 00:08:07.000 As we tackle a difficult issue. 00:08:10.920 --> 00:08:11.360 Please. 00:08:11.779 --> 00:08:13.279 Illumine our hearts and minds. 00:08:13.379 --> 00:08:15.860 To be open to what you are teaching us individually. 00:08:16.519 --> 00:08:19.439 That we might be able to share it with each other corporately. 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:23.360 These are not black and white issues. 00:08:23.500 --> 00:08:26.000 This isn't a cut and dry conversation. 00:08:26.180 --> 00:08:28.199 This is a conversation of hues of gray. 00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:33.399 And we desperately need to be convicted by your Holy Spirit. 00:08:34.220 --> 00:08:36.740 So that we can be fully convinced of our behavior. 00:08:36.740 --> 00:08:36.860 Father. 00:08:38.460 --> 00:08:44.980 And I pray that the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts will be pleasing unto you as we do this. 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:47.720 For the sake of King Jesus. 00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:50.120 Amen. 00:08:53.340 --> 00:08:56.860 So many years ago in a church far, far away. 00:08:56.860 --> 00:09:04.779 A young pastor named me was asked by several families. 00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:11.519 And one family in particular about the travel sports that they were going to participate in with their children. 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:15.399 This family had a son who was exceptional at baseball. 00:09:16.440 --> 00:09:18.159 Exceptional at baseball at a young age. 00:09:18.680 --> 00:09:25.259 And they wanted to tackle what it looked like for them to participate in tournaments that often overflowed into Sundays. 00:09:25.259 --> 00:09:28.919 And would restrict them from being able to come to church. 00:09:29.039 --> 00:09:33.179 They were the kind of people that came to church on Sunday mornings and Sunday evenings and Wednesday evenings. 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:34.980 If the door was open, they were there. 00:09:36.220 --> 00:09:40.000 And they were very concerned about the effect and impact that this might have on their family. 00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:45.659 And I basically gave them the sage advice of, 00:09:46.939 --> 00:09:48.600 Hey, you should be in church. 00:09:48.860 --> 00:09:49.659 I don't know what to tell you. 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:53.259 I was a little bit more nuanced than that in caring. 00:09:53.259 --> 00:09:57.299 But the effect of what I said was that to them. 00:09:58.200 --> 00:10:01.259 What I didn't know I'd wandered into was somewhat of a hornet's nest. 00:10:01.620 --> 00:10:05.500 The father was fairly convinced that the son was on his way to the major leagues at age 13. 00:10:06.319 --> 00:10:12.620 And the mother came up in a family that was very, very staunch attenders of church. 00:10:13.360 --> 00:10:14.879 And that's where you're supposed to be. 00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:17.220 And that's where you spend your time and your energies. 00:10:17.220 --> 00:10:27.379 So there I was, talking to them and not realizing what the actual situation was going on in their household. 00:10:28.360 --> 00:10:29.960 To me, it really was that cut and dry. 00:10:30.060 --> 00:10:38.160 How could you get involved in something that's going to take you away so regularly from gathering together with people who encourage you? 00:10:38.159 --> 00:10:41.959 Now, Maryland is a much darker place than the South. 00:10:42.120 --> 00:10:49.059 We don't really have church and things like that in our air and in our water the way that I see it down here. 00:10:49.059 --> 00:10:54.059 So maybe to me, I felt something more vital about attending. 00:10:55.539 --> 00:11:05.779 But it raised a big question in my mind because what ended up happening was I found out that they actually made an idol of attending church. 00:11:07.619 --> 00:11:09.559 To me, attending church was life-giving. 00:11:09.559 --> 00:11:15.719 It was what I needed to be around people who had been convicted by the Holy Spirit in the way that I had. 00:11:16.079 --> 00:11:19.639 And really didn't know what we were doing, but we knew that we needed him desperately. 00:11:19.859 --> 00:11:22.819 And we heard great stories from each other about his faithfulness. 00:11:23.099 --> 00:11:26.259 And we recalled stories from the Bible about God's faithfulness. 00:11:26.299 --> 00:11:29.379 And it girded us up to kind of participate and live in that world. 00:11:29.699 --> 00:11:31.579 And I was coming from that place. 00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:36.799 They were coming from a place of idolatry of the church. 00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:43.500 And so by oversimplifying this conversation, I didn't serve to walk with them well through the issue. 00:11:43.899 --> 00:11:48.319 I unwittingly just kind of jammed a wedge down into the family. 00:11:49.779 --> 00:11:58.379 They didn't need to be convicted by a young pastor that they should be in church on Sunday mornings and Sunday evenings and Wednesday nights. 00:11:59.539 --> 00:12:02.439 They needed to be exhorted by a loving sibling. 00:12:03.939 --> 00:12:05.599 By a brother in Christ. 00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:07.799 By a brother in Christ. 00:12:07.799 --> 00:12:12.059 That we need to hold every thought captive to him. 00:12:14.059 --> 00:12:19.039 And as we walk through this this morning, I want to encourage you there. 00:12:20.819 --> 00:12:24.399 Don't hear me saying things that are pointed at you. 00:12:25.399 --> 00:12:33.299 Hear me trying to be a loving brother encouraging us all to hold our thoughts captive to King Jesus. 00:12:33.299 --> 00:12:42.479 That's the starting point for conversations about the meaning and the way conversations like this filter into our hearts and into our lives. 00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:46.620 And that family didn't need that young pastor. 00:12:46.779 --> 00:12:54.219 They needed someone willing to walk with them through what it might look like to begin missing time with their fellow Christians. 00:12:54.220 --> 00:12:58.480 The church where they'd found that community. 00:13:00.899 --> 00:13:03.100 To hazard a guess, we all have something. 00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:04.980 I mean, it could be travel baseball. 00:13:05.259 --> 00:13:05.899 It could be swimming. 00:13:06.660 --> 00:13:07.740 It could be vacations. 00:13:07.740 --> 00:13:10.060 It could be the next deal. 00:13:10.659 --> 00:13:14.279 It could be the once in a lifetime opportunity that needs my attention now. 00:13:14.500 --> 00:13:16.180 It could be my family obligations. 00:13:16.340 --> 00:13:17.820 It could be school projects. 00:13:19.460 --> 00:13:25.299 It could be a lack of energy because your life has been sucked dry by your kids. 00:13:25.299 --> 00:13:31.199 It could be a spouse that doesn't seem to care as much as you do about your faith. 00:13:32.539 --> 00:13:36.459 It could be that you have no way to attend because your ride forgot to bring you. 00:13:36.759 --> 00:13:39.740 It could be that you have anxiety about being in big groups. 00:13:42.219 --> 00:13:46.679 It could be a fear that, once again, no one's going to talk to you this week and you're going to walk in. 00:13:47.359 --> 00:13:48.579 And you're going to walk out. 00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:49.699 And you're going to be alone. 00:13:49.700 --> 00:13:57.060 We all have something that can take the place of vital gospel relationships. 00:13:59.140 --> 00:14:04.360 The problem is the dwelling in these things ends up devastatingly empty. 00:14:06.060 --> 00:14:09.900 The pastor writing to these Hebrews knows this. 00:14:10.040 --> 00:14:17.900 And this is a fact that he points out as the main point of what he's getting at here is the eternal reality 00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:23.939 that meeting together has great impact on our souls. 00:14:27.379 --> 00:14:35.100 It's a primary means by which God has given us to not only come to a setting like this and hear his word preached, 00:14:36.039 --> 00:14:43.759 but also to go into a setting like Connect Communities and hear each other talk about these things, 00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:51.139 hear how the Holy Spirit's worked inside of other people to see how he's working amongst us as a group. 00:14:53.439 --> 00:14:58.080 It's why we can go to table talk groups or to women's small groups 00:14:58.080 --> 00:15:03.519 and what the necessity of all of that type of meeting together is. 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:06.120 It's not about checking off boxes. 00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:12.500 It's about understanding how desperately we need our Savior 00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:20.039 and how desperately we need each other to remind ourselves of that need for our Savior. 00:15:22.299 --> 00:15:25.879 Much like these Hebrews, you and I have a desperate need for each other. 00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:31.299 We have a desperate need to witness the work of the Holy Spirit in each other's lives 00:15:31.299 --> 00:15:33.699 as well as amongst us as a group. 00:15:35.139 --> 00:15:37.759 We need to remind each other of God's faithfulness. 00:15:39.099 --> 00:15:41.079 And we need to push each other toward Christ. 00:15:43.439 --> 00:15:49.159 Gospel communities need to be with each other in order to defend against the practice of sin 00:15:49.159 --> 00:15:56.159 and also to remember that King Jesus has earned our identities as his sons and daughters 00:15:56.159 --> 00:16:00.059 for our Heavenly Father. 00:16:01.299 --> 00:16:04.679 So let's look at this in a couple of different ways. 00:16:05.620 --> 00:16:08.579 As much as this might seem like a theology of Al Green, it's not. 00:16:08.659 --> 00:16:10.199 It all just happened to work this way. 00:16:10.479 --> 00:16:11.859 Let's get together being the title. 00:16:12.299 --> 00:16:16.359 So what does good gospel community look like? 00:16:18.319 --> 00:16:22.899 So good is the goodness of God's design for gospel community. 00:16:24.079 --> 00:16:27.659 Let's read it right here in verses 23 and 24 of chapter 10. 00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:34.419 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for he who promises faithful. 00:16:35.299 --> 00:16:40.259 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and to good works. 00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:45.719 Not neglecting to meet together is the habit of some, but encouraging one another. 00:16:46.299 --> 00:16:48.639 And all the more as you see the day drawing near. 00:16:48.939 --> 00:16:50.600 We get a couple of simple commands here. 00:16:50.679 --> 00:16:53.659 First in verse 23, let's hold fast. 00:16:53.659 --> 00:16:54.139 Hold fast. 00:16:55.339 --> 00:16:56.959 Hold fast to that confession. 00:16:58.620 --> 00:17:01.719 Do you remember confessing King Jesus as your Lord and Savior? 00:17:03.379 --> 00:17:08.819 For some of us that came in a time when you were knocked to the ground in a fetal position, 00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:11.920 almost saying, my Lord and my God, and you knew who he was. 00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:13.599 Undoubted. 00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:19.819 For some of us, and this is no less amazing if you were raised inside of a family that professes 00:17:19.819 --> 00:17:21.799 and now you hold that faith to yourself. 00:17:22.219 --> 00:17:28.119 That's no less amazing than someone who was drawn to God from other incredible circumstances. 00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:34.579 What should amaze us is that we each have this confession. 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:37.619 There are other people that confess and hold to that as well. 00:17:37.619 --> 00:17:41.619 These are people you need to be around. 00:17:45.099 --> 00:17:52.539 Then in verse 24, let us consider how to stir up one another to love and to good works. 00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:59.819 Not neglecting to meet together, but encouraging one another all the more as you see the day coming. 00:17:59.819 --> 00:18:07.779 See, that confession is a bond that goes deeper than any promise of health and wealth 00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:12.200 and any ideas of temporal happiness or any ideas at perfection. 00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:16.480 That hope tells a deeper story than anything that I've ever experienced, 00:18:16.579 --> 00:18:22.419 and it's at the core of who I am, and it drips from my fingertips as I live in desperation every day. 00:18:22.420 --> 00:18:31.000 And based upon that, I must consider how to stir one another up. 00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:33.840 Do you remember Will talking about this last week? 00:18:35.640 --> 00:18:38.640 Hearing from someone else, I struggle with that too. 00:18:45.100 --> 00:18:46.600 We need to pray for each other. 00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:48.019 We need to be around each other. 00:18:48.120 --> 00:18:50.539 We need to see that desperation on other people 00:18:50.539 --> 00:18:55.920 so that we can be reminded of the love that our God has shown us in his son. 00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:59.619 We need to run to the king who knows about our angry outbursts. 00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:03.359 We need to run to the king who knows about our lust. 00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:07.420 We need to run to the king who knows about our poor reactions to our children. 00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:12.839 We need to run to the king who knows about our disdain for our co-worker. 00:19:14.579 --> 00:19:20.339 Let's run to the king and consider how we might show love in difficult situations. 00:19:20.539 --> 00:19:26.039 Let's run to the king and consider how we might do good in the face of being tired 00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:31.019 or being oppressed or being marginalized or being forgotten about. 00:19:33.119 --> 00:19:35.359 We need to run to our king. 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:38.659 It's easy to talk about these things 00:19:38.659 --> 00:19:43.740 because simply this is a command to be together 00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:46.259 and encourage one another to run to our king. 00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:49.319 Not too long ago, I believe it was Easter Sunday morning. 00:19:50.460 --> 00:19:51.640 In fact, it was Easter Sunday morning. 00:19:51.720 --> 00:19:53.619 I should have had that worked out before I started talking about it. 00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:57.859 But Easter Sunday morning, not strange for us to have a bunch of visitors here. 00:19:57.960 --> 00:20:00.420 Some of you might time, if you're coming to the main service, 00:20:00.539 --> 00:20:05.180 you might time getting here, you know, like at 930 as opposed to 935, right? 00:20:05.220 --> 00:20:06.819 Because you need to make sure you have a seat. 00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:10.579 And for others of us, we're just not even going to fight that battle. 00:20:10.660 --> 00:20:12.879 We want to come early to the sunrise service. 00:20:12.880 --> 00:20:17.980 And at the sunrise service, there was a visiting father and son. 00:20:18.420 --> 00:20:21.100 It's really weird to have visitors at the sunrise service. 00:20:22.040 --> 00:20:26.320 And we found out that this father and son were here 00:20:26.320 --> 00:20:30.920 as the son was participating in a travel hockey tournament over at the Iceplex. 00:20:32.520 --> 00:20:34.940 And it was just really important to the dad 00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:39.360 that they find somewhere where they can be around believers and worship. 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:44.059 And if he didn't say this, but if you've been to hockey tournaments, 00:20:44.219 --> 00:20:45.599 especially teenage hockey tournaments, 00:20:46.199 --> 00:20:50.639 not the most uplifting places in the world, 00:20:52.179 --> 00:20:53.979 in the stands or on the ice. 00:20:56.259 --> 00:20:58.559 And I just thought, man, this guy's really doing it well. 00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:01.879 He doesn't know why he's doing this. 00:21:01.880 --> 00:21:05.240 He just knew that it was really important to get his family here 00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:07.960 so that they could be around other believers, 00:21:08.140 --> 00:21:09.280 they could sing to Jesus, 00:21:09.420 --> 00:21:11.780 and they could celebrate his death and his resurrection. 00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:17.620 It was a really simple act that spoke volumes to me. 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:21.300 That's the goodness of God's community. 00:21:22.100 --> 00:21:25.020 That's the goodness of being together in gospel community. 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:26.140 It's a faith thing. 00:21:27.340 --> 00:21:28.800 God calls us to be together. 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:28.919 God calls us to be together. 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:34.240 If your motivation is that when you drill into it 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:36.819 and you understand that your heart motivation is, 00:21:37.339 --> 00:21:37.980 hey, you know what? 00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:41.059 I need to be around people who call me to my Savior. 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:46.079 And I don't know why, but somehow they need to be around me too. 00:21:47.579 --> 00:21:49.299 That's usually a good enough reason. 00:21:51.259 --> 00:21:53.339 That's a safe place to go. 00:21:53.339 --> 00:21:58.419 And there's something really beautiful in trusting in the promises of God 00:21:58.419 --> 00:21:59.639 and gathering together. 00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:05.639 So if that's the good, what is the opposite of that? 00:22:06.139 --> 00:22:09.240 Well, it's the bad. 00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:14.319 In both of these texts we read today, 00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:17.460 there are some pretty stark consequences laid out 00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:20.620 for forsaking gospel community. 00:22:22.039 --> 00:22:25.460 Let me go back to chapter 3, verses 12 and 13. 00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:31.740 Take care, brothers, lest any of you be, 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:34.380 excuse me, lest there be any of you, 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:37.579 in any of you, an evil and unbelieving heart 00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:39.460 leading you to fall away from the living God. 00:22:41.220 --> 00:22:41.620 Wow. 00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:46.420 An evil and unbelieving heart 00:22:46.420 --> 00:22:51.360 might be the reason you don't want to meet with other people, 00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:55.459 why you don't want to see your sin in the mirror 00:22:55.459 --> 00:22:59.719 of the reality of Scripture. 00:23:04.459 --> 00:23:07.079 And that leads you to fall away from the living God. 00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:11.679 But exhort one another every day, 00:23:13.679 --> 00:23:17.319 listening to other people talk about that sin 00:23:17.319 --> 00:23:19.240 and how it's not okay. 00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:22.500 exhort one another every day, 00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:23.960 as long as it's called today, 00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:25.779 so that none of you may be hardened 00:23:25.779 --> 00:23:27.620 by the deceitfulness of sin. 00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:30.640 What a terrible experience. 00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:35.779 What a terrible experience to know sin so well 00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:37.440 that you don't call it sin anymore. 00:23:39.660 --> 00:23:41.240 That it hardens your heart. 00:23:41.539 --> 00:23:43.000 It changes your perspective. 00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:46.019 It makes you unmalleable. 00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:51.660 There's something about sovereignty 00:23:51.660 --> 00:23:53.599 that works well with responsibility. 00:23:56.599 --> 00:23:58.339 And all that I know is that 00:23:58.339 --> 00:24:00.539 I've turned my face toward things 00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:02.019 that I shouldn't have before 00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:04.460 and walked down that road, 00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:05.599 and that's not okay. 00:24:07.579 --> 00:24:08.599 Now, through God's grace, 00:24:08.660 --> 00:24:10.200 I've been called back by brothers and sisters 00:24:10.200 --> 00:24:11.400 who love me and are faithful. 00:24:11.400 --> 00:24:14.920 But I know what it feels like 00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:16.320 to go down that road. 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:19.660 It's not a magical thing that suddenly happens. 00:24:19.780 --> 00:24:20.960 It's a commitment in your heart 00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:22.540 to walk away from King Jesus. 00:24:23.900 --> 00:24:25.060 And that's terrifying, 00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:26.080 and it's sobering. 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:28.840 And going back to chapter 10, 00:24:28.920 --> 00:24:31.680 verses 26 and 27, 00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:34.799 if we go on sinning deliberately 00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:37.759 after receiving the knowledge of truth, 00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:42.140 there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins. 00:24:43.980 --> 00:24:46.200 That's not saying what you might think it's saying. 00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:49.759 It's not saying that Jesus no longer died for sins. 00:24:50.440 --> 00:24:52.140 It's simply saying that 00:24:52.140 --> 00:24:56.000 your sins are still on your head. 00:24:56.000 --> 00:25:01.099 the wrath of God is still coming for you 00:25:01.099 --> 00:25:04.400 because of your active choice 00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:06.519 to go after these things. 00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:16.700 And so if there's no longer a sacrifice, 00:25:16.920 --> 00:25:17.400 what is there? 00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:19.880 There's a fearful expectation of judgment. 00:25:24.339 --> 00:25:25.259 We come here today, 00:25:25.259 --> 00:25:26.460 most of us are very hopeful 00:25:26.460 --> 00:25:28.319 and we love the grace of King Jesus. 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:33.400 The opposite of the grace of King Jesus 00:25:33.400 --> 00:25:35.779 is a fearful expectation of judgment. 00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:44.200 When it comes to eternity and to judgment, 00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:47.480 God outside of Jesus is terrible. 00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:52.220 His wrath is real, 00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:55.140 and his wrath will be satiated. 00:25:55.259 --> 00:26:02.259 And sometimes I know I don't take that fully into account 00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:03.519 when I love, 00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:06.680 man, I don't want to scare the hell out of people. 00:26:06.819 --> 00:26:09.980 I want to scare them into living a life for King Jesus 00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:12.879 and understanding what he's done for us. 00:26:12.880 --> 00:26:19.260 But the reality outside of Jesus 00:26:19.260 --> 00:26:23.480 is that you only have yourself to hope in. 00:26:24.760 --> 00:26:26.120 And that's terrifying. 00:26:27.020 --> 00:26:29.020 That's a terrifying place to be. 00:26:30.700 --> 00:26:31.700 And in the end, 00:26:31.780 --> 00:26:34.140 there's only really one ending to that. 00:26:34.140 --> 00:26:46.900 It seemed like this was going to be a better segue in my head. 00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:49.900 Fleetwood Mac. 00:26:49.900 --> 00:26:56.759 So, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. 00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:59.300 Lindsey Buckingham was lead guitarist, 00:26:59.420 --> 00:27:02.500 and Stevie Nicks was one of the singers for Fleetwood Mac. 00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:09.799 And there are rumors about what happened inside of the band. 00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:11.700 That was a pun. 00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:16.379 But it's hard to really know what happened inside of the band. 00:27:17.879 --> 00:27:20.879 But the most famous, probably, of what happened 00:27:20.879 --> 00:27:22.539 was between Stevie and Lindsey 00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:24.859 because they both were chief songwriters in the band, 00:27:24.940 --> 00:27:27.819 and they wrote songs about each other. 00:27:27.819 --> 00:27:33.679 Recently, You Can Go Your Own Way has been on a car commercial 00:27:33.679 --> 00:27:34.619 or a truck commercial, 00:27:34.859 --> 00:27:36.079 and that's why this got in my head, 00:27:36.179 --> 00:27:37.359 thinking about the two of them. 00:27:38.639 --> 00:27:41.399 But the bottom line of what really happened with them 00:27:41.399 --> 00:27:46.059 is that they decided they didn't want to be together anymore, 00:27:46.159 --> 00:27:46.919 so they stopped. 00:27:51.179 --> 00:27:53.740 Like I said, there are stories about how that came about, 00:27:53.740 --> 00:27:54.960 but that's what happened. 00:27:57.819 --> 00:27:59.819 Even though they remained in the same band, 00:27:59.939 --> 00:28:03.619 and they toured until Lindsey was fired a couple years ago, I think. 00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:06.859 They never talked. 00:28:07.639 --> 00:28:09.379 They never collaborated on music. 00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:13.220 They just completely fell away from each other. 00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:18.179 They decided they weren't going to be a part 00:28:18.179 --> 00:28:20.539 of whatever they were prior to that. 00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:26.220 Twenty years into this ministry thing, 00:28:26.220 --> 00:28:31.000 that's what I see a lot happening in churches when people leave. 00:28:31.079 --> 00:28:32.700 It seems to be a simple decision 00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:36.579 to just not be a part of it anymore. 00:28:38.380 --> 00:28:40.180 They just don't want to be there. 00:28:40.299 --> 00:28:41.339 They don't want to commit. 00:28:41.660 --> 00:28:42.920 They don't want anything. 00:28:44.380 --> 00:28:46.620 It's incredibly sad for me to see that. 00:28:47.579 --> 00:28:48.880 It's also really difficult 00:28:48.880 --> 00:28:52.140 because it creates some kind of a complicated reality 00:28:52.140 --> 00:28:55.640 for us to navigate because it really falls back 00:28:55.640 --> 00:28:57.220 on the root of what I said in the introduction. 00:28:58.180 --> 00:29:00.400 Do our reasons to forsake gospel communities 00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:02.320 stand against the necessity 00:29:02.320 --> 00:29:05.759 of holding every thought captive to Christ? 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:08.860 I'm not going to go through a litany of reasons 00:29:08.860 --> 00:29:10.740 why people have left churches I've been around. 00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:13.920 I don't always know what was going on in their hearts 00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:14.759 or in their minds, 00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:19.099 but that question's a question I can ask you 00:29:19.099 --> 00:29:20.799 and we should be able to ask each other. 00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:24.000 Are you leaving because you're holding 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:25.400 every thought captive to Christ 00:29:25.400 --> 00:29:27.759 and you are now convinced you need to go? 00:29:29.400 --> 00:29:30.740 Or is it something else? 00:29:31.779 --> 00:29:34.660 Are you replacing what God has ordained 00:29:34.660 --> 00:29:37.599 and commanded with something else? 00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:44.519 How can we know if and when 00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:47.059 we live in a vacuum 00:29:47.059 --> 00:29:49.899 absent of other voices? 00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:52.219 It's from that community. 00:29:52.339 --> 00:29:53.919 How can you know if you're holding 00:29:53.919 --> 00:29:55.279 every thought captive to Christ? 00:29:57.240 --> 00:29:58.539 And what about sin? 00:30:00.899 --> 00:30:03.079 What about the existence of sin 00:30:03.079 --> 00:30:04.539 and the reality of sin 00:30:04.539 --> 00:30:06.299 and the need to be called away from it 00:30:06.299 --> 00:30:08.359 and the reason Jesus came to die? 00:30:10.539 --> 00:30:12.220 The whole story of the Bible, 00:30:12.399 --> 00:30:15.059 God's love for us covering up our sin. 00:30:17.579 --> 00:30:20.000 How can you have that spoken into when you leave? 00:30:23.299 --> 00:30:24.559 So that's one poll. 00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:27.200 The goodness, I think, was another poll. 00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:30.799 But most of us probably don't exist over there 00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:31.599 or over there. 00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:34.339 We exist somewhere in the middle of this. 00:30:36.299 --> 00:30:39.139 So what is that middle ground? 00:30:39.399 --> 00:30:41.740 Where is that place that most of us exist? 00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:45.220 So whether good or bad, 00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:50.099 happy or sad is our next point here. 00:30:50.919 --> 00:30:51.940 And what this is discussing 00:30:51.940 --> 00:30:53.879 is the reality of walking through life 00:30:53.879 --> 00:30:56.919 with one another in gospel community. 00:30:58.180 --> 00:31:01.279 And I'm going to go to the end of chapter 10 here 00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:06.139 because I want to end on a really encouraging note. 00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:09.759 Let me read verses 32 and 33. 00:31:12.639 --> 00:31:15.119 Recall the former days after you were enlightened. 00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:19.859 You endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 00:31:21.339 --> 00:31:24.500 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach 00:31:24.500 --> 00:31:25.539 and to affliction, 00:31:25.539 --> 00:31:30.980 and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 00:31:33.180 --> 00:31:36.420 This is why we don't neglect to meet together. 00:31:36.740 --> 00:31:37.759 No man is an island. 00:31:41.480 --> 00:31:45.359 Peter Render cannot exist in this faith 00:31:45.359 --> 00:31:48.799 and be constantly pushed towards righteousness 00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:50.839 without my relationships here. 00:31:52.019 --> 00:31:52.659 Render, kids. 00:31:53.019 --> 00:31:53.259 Render. 00:31:53.259 --> 00:31:55.059 All right. 00:31:57.900 --> 00:31:59.299 It's vitally important. 00:31:59.879 --> 00:32:01.799 I think one of the biggest jokes 00:32:01.799 --> 00:32:03.180 that God played on me 00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:05.079 is making me a pastor 00:32:05.079 --> 00:32:07.660 because I desperately need to be a pastor 00:32:07.660 --> 00:32:09.960 in order to do the faithful 00:32:09.960 --> 00:32:11.400 and dutiful work of a Christian. 00:32:12.660 --> 00:32:14.200 He knew that about me. 00:32:16.119 --> 00:32:17.720 I needed my wife 00:32:17.720 --> 00:32:19.859 to push me toward righteousness 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:22.480 in ways that I never would understand otherwise. 00:32:23.259 --> 00:32:26.779 I need my relationships with James 00:32:26.779 --> 00:32:27.599 and with Derek 00:32:27.599 --> 00:32:28.819 and with Will 00:32:28.819 --> 00:32:30.039 and with Ron 00:32:30.039 --> 00:32:32.900 and with Ty 00:32:32.900 --> 00:32:33.640 and Christine. 00:32:34.799 --> 00:32:36.339 I need these people 00:32:36.339 --> 00:32:38.019 forming who I am. 00:32:38.019 --> 00:32:41.680 I need George Mayer 00:32:41.680 --> 00:32:42.859 speaking into my life 00:32:42.859 --> 00:32:43.859 and Jeremy McCoy 00:32:43.859 --> 00:32:46.359 who would normally be there 00:32:46.359 --> 00:32:48.139 but he's forsaking meeting with us today. 00:32:52.139 --> 00:32:53.619 Speaking into my life. 00:32:55.779 --> 00:32:57.920 This is my gospel community. 00:32:57.920 --> 00:33:01.039 Is it shaped 00:33:01.039 --> 00:33:03.220 and does it look like everything I want it to be? 00:33:03.300 --> 00:33:04.120 Probably not 00:33:04.120 --> 00:33:06.480 but that's not why I'm in this gospel community. 00:33:09.460 --> 00:33:10.759 I'm in this gospel community 00:33:10.759 --> 00:33:12.200 because God's called me here 00:33:12.200 --> 00:33:14.380 and I need it. 00:33:14.380 --> 00:33:17.640 I need it desperately. 00:33:20.340 --> 00:33:22.280 I'm really not that different from you all 00:33:22.280 --> 00:33:23.300 when it comes to that 00:33:23.300 --> 00:33:26.680 and as we discuss small groups 00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:28.280 and different ways to be plugged in 00:33:28.280 --> 00:33:30.520 and to be prayerful with each other 00:33:30.520 --> 00:33:33.240 and to be in Christ-centered relationships 00:33:33.240 --> 00:33:34.860 and to be in Bible studies 00:33:34.860 --> 00:33:36.620 and to do all of these things, 00:33:36.619 --> 00:33:41.179 it's us as pastors 00:33:41.179 --> 00:33:42.879 and elders 00:33:42.879 --> 00:33:43.959 and church leaders 00:33:43.959 --> 00:33:46.159 and people who just are so desperate 00:33:46.159 --> 00:33:48.119 for each other 00:33:48.119 --> 00:33:50.359 and desperate for Jesus 00:33:50.359 --> 00:33:54.359 and we don't want you having the experience 00:33:54.359 --> 00:33:55.559 of coming in here 00:33:55.559 --> 00:33:57.779 and being the person who's alone. 00:34:00.839 --> 00:34:02.319 We don't want you to think 00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:04.500 that you're not worthy to be here 00:34:04.500 --> 00:34:07.319 because you can listen to our stories 00:34:07.319 --> 00:34:07.680 and go, 00:34:07.859 --> 00:34:09.659 wow, I see a lot of myself in that 00:34:09.659 --> 00:34:14.039 and something of what was going on 00:34:14.039 --> 00:34:14.579 with the Hebrews, 00:34:15.019 --> 00:34:16.119 we don't want you to think 00:34:16.119 --> 00:34:17.780 that you're too good to be here either 00:34:17.780 --> 00:34:18.820 because the reality 00:34:18.820 --> 00:34:21.579 of the death and resurrection of King Jesus 00:34:21.579 --> 00:34:23.579 is that we're all cut down 00:34:23.579 --> 00:34:25.059 at the knees at the foot of the cross. 00:34:26.760 --> 00:34:29.039 We all need equally 00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:32.000 and no one is more prepared 00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:32.739 or more able 00:34:32.739 --> 00:34:34.379 to bring themselves 00:34:34.379 --> 00:34:36.079 to Jesus than another. 00:34:37.599 --> 00:34:38.719 That's not the way 00:34:38.719 --> 00:34:39.500 that it works. 00:34:42.779 --> 00:34:44.019 I think for me, 00:34:44.159 --> 00:34:45.179 most importantly, 00:34:45.339 --> 00:34:46.139 gospel community 00:34:46.139 --> 00:34:47.019 has kept me 00:34:47.019 --> 00:34:48.599 from wallowing in my sin. 00:34:52.159 --> 00:34:53.439 It helps to keep us 00:34:53.439 --> 00:34:54.459 from being content 00:34:54.459 --> 00:34:55.439 in idolatry 00:34:55.439 --> 00:34:56.679 and in selfishness. 00:34:57.419 --> 00:34:58.419 It forces us 00:34:58.419 --> 00:34:59.079 to rejoice 00:34:59.079 --> 00:34:59.719 with those 00:34:59.719 --> 00:35:00.960 who are rejoicing 00:35:00.960 --> 00:35:04.000 whether we're rejoicing 00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:04.500 or not 00:35:04.500 --> 00:35:07.259 and it forces us 00:35:07.259 --> 00:35:07.819 to lament 00:35:07.819 --> 00:35:08.420 with those 00:35:08.420 --> 00:35:09.539 who are lamenting 00:35:09.539 --> 00:35:12.139 whether we're lamenting 00:35:12.139 --> 00:35:12.679 or not. 00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:16.119 It forces us 00:35:16.119 --> 00:35:16.619 to listen 00:35:16.619 --> 00:35:17.179 to brothers 00:35:17.179 --> 00:35:17.960 and sisters 00:35:17.960 --> 00:35:20.079 who are marginalized 00:35:20.079 --> 00:35:21.319 by the church. 00:35:21.320 --> 00:35:25.000 It forces us 00:35:25.000 --> 00:35:25.860 to look outside 00:35:25.860 --> 00:35:26.600 of ourselves 00:35:26.600 --> 00:35:28.019 and see the poor 00:35:28.019 --> 00:35:29.539 and the disenfranchised, 00:35:30.100 --> 00:35:31.320 the least, 00:35:31.440 --> 00:35:31.860 the lost, 00:35:31.960 --> 00:35:32.559 the loneliest, 00:35:32.680 --> 00:35:33.160 the littlest 00:35:33.160 --> 00:35:34.180 and the left out 00:35:34.180 --> 00:35:36.780 and to want to move 00:35:36.780 --> 00:35:37.360 toward them 00:35:37.360 --> 00:35:38.200 with the gospel. 00:35:40.880 --> 00:35:42.039 It forces us 00:35:42.039 --> 00:35:42.580 to understand 00:35:42.580 --> 00:35:43.519 that this is not 00:35:43.519 --> 00:35:45.220 our gospel community 00:35:45.220 --> 00:35:46.780 defined by us. 00:35:47.380 --> 00:35:48.780 It's actually redefined 00:35:48.780 --> 00:35:49.620 every time someone 00:35:49.619 --> 00:35:50.619 comes into it 00:35:50.619 --> 00:35:52.219 because they're 00:35:52.219 --> 00:35:52.980 an equal player. 00:35:55.179 --> 00:35:56.679 It's a beautiful thing. 00:35:58.599 --> 00:35:59.900 I want to end today 00:35:59.900 --> 00:36:02.940 by reading the full passage 00:36:02.940 --> 00:36:04.059 that I just began there 00:36:04.059 --> 00:36:05.259 starting in verse 32. 00:36:05.460 --> 00:36:05.960 I'm going to read 00:36:05.960 --> 00:36:07.219 all the way through 39 00:36:07.219 --> 00:36:08.719 and then I'll pray. 00:36:11.639 --> 00:36:12.980 Recall the former days 00:36:12.980 --> 00:36:14.699 when after you were enlightened 00:36:14.699 --> 00:36:16.099 you endured a hard struggle 00:36:16.099 --> 00:36:17.019 with sufferings. 00:36:17.940 --> 00:36:19.599 Sometimes being publicly exposed 00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:20.940 to reproach and affliction 00:36:20.940 --> 00:36:23.179 and sometimes being partners 00:36:23.179 --> 00:36:24.259 with those so treated. 00:36:25.659 --> 00:36:26.920 For you had compassion 00:36:26.920 --> 00:36:27.880 on those in prison 00:36:27.880 --> 00:36:29.900 and you joyfully accepted 00:36:29.900 --> 00:36:31.179 the plundering of your property 00:36:31.179 --> 00:36:32.960 since you knew 00:36:32.960 --> 00:36:34.039 that you yourselves 00:36:34.039 --> 00:36:35.500 had a better possession 00:36:35.500 --> 00:36:37.420 and an abiding one. 00:36:37.480 --> 00:36:38.739 Do you know that this morning? 00:36:41.000 --> 00:36:41.480 Therefore, 00:36:41.599 --> 00:36:42.360 don't throw away 00:36:42.360 --> 00:36:43.059 your confidence 00:36:43.059 --> 00:36:45.380 which has a great reward. 00:36:45.380 --> 00:36:45.420 Lord, 00:36:46.220 --> 00:36:47.500 for you have need 00:36:47.500 --> 00:36:48.039 of endurance 00:36:48.039 --> 00:36:49.280 so that when you have done 00:36:49.280 --> 00:36:50.099 the will of God 00:36:50.099 --> 00:36:50.880 you may receive 00:36:50.880 --> 00:36:51.760 what is promised. 00:36:53.360 --> 00:36:54.599 For yet a little while 00:36:54.599 --> 00:36:55.760 and the coming one 00:36:55.760 --> 00:36:56.360 will come 00:36:56.360 --> 00:36:57.300 and will not delay. 00:36:58.599 --> 00:36:59.780 But my righteous one 00:36:59.780 --> 00:37:00.800 shall live by faith 00:37:00.800 --> 00:37:01.880 and if he shrinks back 00:37:01.880 --> 00:37:03.880 my soul has no pleasure 00:37:03.880 --> 00:37:04.380 in him. 00:37:05.860 --> 00:37:07.099 But we are not 00:37:07.099 --> 00:37:08.539 of those who shrink back 00:37:08.539 --> 00:37:09.340 and are destroyed 00:37:09.340 --> 00:37:11.720 but of those 00:37:11.720 --> 00:37:12.539 who have faith 00:37:12.539 --> 00:37:14.760 and preserve their souls. 00:37:15.380 --> 00:37:16.140 Let's pray. 00:37:22.380 --> 00:37:22.940 Father, 00:37:23.079 --> 00:37:24.440 thank you for your 00:37:24.440 --> 00:37:26.940 love and commitment 00:37:26.940 --> 00:37:28.840 to your children 00:37:28.840 --> 00:37:30.500 who have run astray 00:37:30.500 --> 00:37:31.960 and continue to run astray. 00:37:34.360 --> 00:37:36.579 Thank you for the means 00:37:36.579 --> 00:37:37.160 of grace 00:37:37.160 --> 00:37:38.519 that you've given us 00:37:38.519 --> 00:37:40.800 in your word 00:37:40.800 --> 00:37:43.860 in beautiful songs 00:37:43.860 --> 00:37:44.860 that remind us 00:37:44.860 --> 00:37:45.780 of who you are 00:37:45.780 --> 00:37:46.840 and of your faithfulness 00:37:46.840 --> 00:37:47.500 to us. 00:37:50.039 --> 00:37:51.119 In prayer 00:37:51.119 --> 00:37:55.480 in gathering together 00:37:55.480 --> 00:37:57.719 to worship you 00:37:57.719 --> 00:37:59.440 and to acknowledge 00:37:59.440 --> 00:38:01.219 your reign 00:38:01.219 --> 00:38:02.199 over the universe 00:38:02.199 --> 00:38:04.440 your reign 00:38:04.440 --> 00:38:05.599 over our world 00:38:05.599 --> 00:38:08.059 your reign 00:38:08.059 --> 00:38:09.519 over our church 00:38:09.519 --> 00:38:12.159 and your reign 00:38:12.159 --> 00:38:12.799 over us 00:38:12.799 --> 00:38:13.420 individually. 00:38:15.880 --> 00:38:16.699 And thank you 00:38:16.699 --> 00:38:17.619 for loving us 00:38:17.619 --> 00:38:19.420 and I pray 00:38:19.420 --> 00:38:19.920 that we would know 00:38:19.920 --> 00:38:21.079 more of that love 00:38:21.079 --> 00:38:22.079 tomorrow 00:38:22.079 --> 00:38:22.799 than we could 00:38:22.799 --> 00:38:23.860 even fathom today 00:38:23.860 --> 00:38:26.719 and that that 00:38:26.719 --> 00:38:28.980 serves to change us 00:38:28.980 --> 00:38:29.779 through the power 00:38:29.779 --> 00:38:30.739 of your Holy Spirit 00:38:30.739 --> 00:38:31.400 and to people 00:38:31.400 --> 00:38:33.179 who run after you 00:38:33.179 --> 00:38:35.279 and who encourage 00:38:35.279 --> 00:38:36.000 others to run 00:38:36.000 --> 00:38:36.699 after you 00:38:36.699 --> 00:38:39.500 all for the sake 00:38:39.500 --> 00:38:40.159 of King Jesus. 00:38:41.159 --> 00:38:41.579 Amen. 00:38:44.519 --> 00:38:46.219 For more information 00:38:46.219 --> 00:38:47.519 visit us online 00:38:47.519 --> 00:38:48.819 at southwood.org 00:38:48.820 --> 00:38:49.180 or at Wilco 00:38:49.180 --> 00:38:51.720 of End 00:38:52.280 --> 00:38:52.860 of the Day 00:38:52.860 --> 00:38:54.900 and for your 00:38:54.900 --> 00:38:55.340 peace 00:38:55.340 --> 00:38:55.960 in Alaska 00:38:55.960 --> 00:38:57.120 and with us 00:38:57.120 --> 00:38:57.320 visit us 00:38:57.320 --> 00:38:57.920 and here 00:38:57.920 --> 00:38:58.340 halement 00:38:58.340 --> 00:38:59.780 and 00:38:59.780 --> 00:39:00.100 as well 00:39:00.100 --> 00:39:00.420 as in the 00:39:00.420 --> 00:39:00.620 good of thousands 00:39:00.620 --> 00:39:01.260 ofiento 00:39:01.260 --> 00:39:01.640 and 00:39:01.640 --> 00:39:03.280 to have 00:39:03.280 --> 00:39:03.780 a'll do that 00:39:03.780 --> 00:39:05.900 and as well 00:39:07.320 --> 00:39:07.880 let's wanna 00:39:07.880 --> 00:39:08.080 again 00:39:09.539 --> 00:39:09.940 onun