WEBVTT

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 I'm certainly glad to be here again this morning and spend this time together.

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 It's always a delight to be able to gather to worship,

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 just to be grateful that we live in a country where we have freedom to do this.

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 I remember years ago when I was still young and single,

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 just before I went off to Bible college,

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 I needed to earn some quick money because I was going to be a student.

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 And God opened up an opportunity for me to go work in a mining camp in Pickle Lake, Ontario.

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 And I lived in this mining camp.

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 I was there for several weeks.

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 And we were working long hours.

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 It was called mine construction.

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 And so we weren't limited in the hours we were working.

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 We were kind of isolated, a little ways away from town.

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 And then one Sunday I had the opportunity to not work and drive into town.

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 And there was a little chapel, a group of conservative Mennonite people that had a little chapel there.

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 And they were doing outreach.

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 I remember they had these little printed hymn books with hymns in Cree.

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 And I joined them in fellowship.

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 And I was just reminded again of how important it is to be with God's people

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 and to enjoy that fellowship and the encouragement that comes when we worship together,

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 when we sing together, when we pray together, when we hear the word of God expounded.

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 It just builds us up and encourages us in that walk with the Lord.

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 The church that I spent my teenage years in, my dad was pastoring in a little town called Endeavor, Saskatchewan.

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 And I remember in the back of the platform on the wall, back in those days it was paneling.

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 And on the wall we had looking unto Jesus, kind of in an arch like this, looking unto Jesus.

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 Those words come from Hebrews chapter 12.

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 And this morning I'm going to be looking at that passage of scripture, Hebrews chapter 12.

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 What we're doing with the book of Hebrews is at chapter 12, we're kind of jumping into a sermon.

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 Now some of the New Testament books are letters that the Apostle Paul or Peter or others wrote to churches

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 or to groups of individuals to encourage them in the faith to maybe address some issue.

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 Hebrews is more like a sermon.

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 And so we're kind of jumping into the middle of a sermon.

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 And the author of the book of Hebrews, we could say the preacher, the one that was delivering this sermon,

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 is talking about how Jesus is the fulfillment of all of the Old Testament times leading up to everything is bringing,

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 bringing, coming together and in the story of Jesus we find the fulfillment.

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 And so he's showing how the temple worship and the priesthood and all of these things of the past,

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 how they are all pointing to Jesus and how Jesus comes and fulfills that.

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 And so in the beginning of chapter 12 there he's talking about let's look at Jesus,

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 let's fix our attention on Jesus because he is God's plan for mankind to be reconciled to God for creation that is groaning and that has fallen into sin

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 to be restored to fellowship with God.

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 So because of this great truth of who Jesus is and because Hebrews tells us in chapter 4 that he is a great high priest

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 and he has opened the way for us to come with confidence to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy to find grace to help us in our time of need.

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 And I always like that picture of, in the Old Testament, you know, there was that veil that separated the most holy place from the other parts of the temple.

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 And only the high priest could enter in there with the blood of the sacrifice.

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 Once a year he would go there and bring this sacrifice on behalf of the people.

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 And then Jesus came and when he died on the cross that veil was torn.

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 That means that now we have freedom to go into God's presence because of what Jesus has done.

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 And not only that, God has come out of that confined space and now he indwells us.

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 And he says, when we believe in Jesus Christ, when we put our faith in him, we are a temple of the Holy Spirit.

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 The Holy Spirit lives in us.

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 So the Holy Spirit is now spread throughout the world in believers.

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 And we have that confident, bold relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

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 And so that's kind of some of the story of the book of Hebrews.

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 And so this preacher is so enthusiastic about who Jesus is and what he has accomplished and how God's plan has all come together.

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 And how we still have the hope of God continuing that plan and finishing that plan when Jesus Christ comes back again.

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 So let's fix our eyes this morning on Jesus.

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 Now to get us thinking along those lines a little bit, I want to ask you to just think for a little bit.

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 In your own experience, is there a certain truth about Jesus or a certain description of Jesus that is easy for you to relate to?

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 Or that is especially comforting to you?

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 Has that maybe changed in your life as you've grown as a believer, as you've walked with the Lord?

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 Maybe that has changed.

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 The Bible gives us all kinds of descriptions or ways of thinking about Jesus.

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 For example, in the Gospel of John, there are a number of statements that Jesus says,

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 I am.

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 And of course, for a Jewish person reading the Gospel of John, when Jesus says,

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 I am the way, the truth, and the life, they would have automatically associated him with God saying in the Old Testament to Moses,

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 I am who I am.

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 So Jesus is making that claim to divinity.

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 So he says, I am the way, the truth, and the life.

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 Maybe sometimes that truth has just gripped you, and you've said, wow, this is amazing that in this world of confusion,

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 I can know the truth, and the truth can set me free.

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 Or Jesus said, I am the bread of life.

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 Maybe you've walked around with a hunger inside or a thirst, and Jesus said, I am the living water.

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 And so the bread of life and the living water have just met that need and satisfied that need.

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 Maybe there have been other pictures or images.

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 Maybe you're very familiar with the 23rd Psalm, the Lord is my shepherd.

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 And then Jesus comes in John chapter 10 and says, I am the good shepherd.

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 I lay down my life for the sheep.

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 So many truths about Jesus.

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 Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us.

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 Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

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 Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor.

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 Jesus, the Prophet, the Priest, the King.

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 There are so many pictures of Jesus.

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 Jesus, the Lion and the Lamb.

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 Maybe you can especially relate to some of those.

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 You say, yes, there was a certain time in my life where that truth just became real and meaningful to me

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 and helped me to understand who Jesus is.

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 So let's read the first few verses of Hebrews chapter 12.

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 And then we'll talk a little bit about this idea of walking with Jesus.

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 The whole thrust of the message in the book of Hebrews is about persevering or about endurance.

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 And so in chapter 12, we find the preacher is starting to kind of wrap up his sermon.

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 He's trying to bring, he's bringing some of these loose ends together.

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 And he's saying, this is how we walk with God.

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 This is how we persevere.

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 This is how we endure.

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 Because life is not always easy.

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 The Christian life is not always easy.

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 Sometimes it's great.

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 Sometimes it's easy.

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 Sometimes we live on the mountain.

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 Sometimes we're in the valley.

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 So let's read Hebrews chapter 12, verse 1.

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 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,

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 let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,

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 and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

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 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,

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 who for the joy set before him endured the cross,

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 scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

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 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men

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 so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

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 In your struggle against sin,

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 you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

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 And you have forgotten the word of encouragement that addresses you as sons.

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 My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,

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 and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

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 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,

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 and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.

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 Endure hardship as discipline.

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 God is treating you as sons.

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 For what son is not disciplined by his father?

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 And if you are not disciplined and everyone undergoes discipline,

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 then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.

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 Moreover, we all had human fathers who disciplined us,

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 and we respected them for it.

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 How much more should we submit to the father of our spirits and live?

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 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best,

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 but God disciplines us for our good.

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 God is good.

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 God is always loving.

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 God is always just.

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 God is always righteous.

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 God is always fair.

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 God is always pulling for us.

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 Oh, God is rooting for us.

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 He does it for our good,

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 that we may share in his holiness.

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 To belong to the family of God.

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 To be one with God.

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 To be reconciled to God.

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 That we may share in his holiness.

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 No discipline seems pleasant at the time.

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 Well, we can probably all relate to that, can't we?

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 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.

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 Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace

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 for those who have been trained by it.

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 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.

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 Make level paths for your feet so that what is lame may not be disabled,

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 but rather healed.

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 So there we read a little bit about God's purpose for us.

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 He starts off saying, therefore,

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 and when we read therefore in the Bible,

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 then we always look to see what it is there for, right?

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 You've heard that before, haven't you?

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 Many times.

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 If you've been to church, you've heard that over and over and over again, right?

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 So, chapter 11 is what we refer to as the heroes of the faith.

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 There's a whole list of people that walked with God,

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 that depended on God, that trusted God.

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 So we read about Abraham, we read about Moses,

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 we read about these heroes of the faith

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 and how they clung to the promise of God,

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 even though sometimes in this lifetime here on earth,

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 they didn't see the promise fulfilled,

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 but they held on to the promise of God.

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 They said, what God has spoken is true,

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 and I will put my trust in it.

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 I will believe that God has spoken,

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 that he means what he says,

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 and that he will fulfill his promises.

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 And some of them saw great miracles in their life,

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 some of them saw great deliverances in their life,

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 some of them saw great evidences of God's power in their life.

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 And it said,

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 And others went through all kinds of hardship.

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 They faced jeers,

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 they faced persecution,

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 they faced oppression,

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 they were stoned,

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 they were put to death by the sword,

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 they were destitute and persecuted,

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 mistreated,

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 the world was not worthy of them.

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 They wandered about in deserts and mountains

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 and caves and holes in the ground,

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 and yet they clung to their faith in God.

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 And it says,

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 And they were all commended for their faith,

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 yet none of them received what had been promised.

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 God planned something better for us,

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 so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

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 In other words,

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 while we're here on earth,

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 God is doing a work in us,

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 but there's going to be a fullness,

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 a fulfillment of that work

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 at some time even in the future.

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 And that all comes together in Christ.

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 And so he starts chapter 12 by saying,

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 Since we have all of these examples,

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 all these witnesses,

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 let us throw off everything that hinders

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 and the sin that so easily entangles.

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 Now I'm not one to watch a lot of sports,

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 but you can't help but notice during the Olympics

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 the intensity of the competition.

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 Some of these competitors,

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 they win a medal by hundreds of a second.

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 And there is so much effort put into training,

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 and there is so much effort put into

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 the right kind of equipment.

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 If you're going to be a runner,

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 if you're going to be a cyclist,

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 if you're going to be a swimmer,

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 you have just the best of the equipment and gear

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 that is available.

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 And people spend a lot of time and effort

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 trying to design something that will give them

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 just that little bit of advantage

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 so that they can win their competition.

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 And so the scripture here is telling us,

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 throw off the things that hinder.

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 Throw off the sin that entangles us.

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 Put every effort into being the best competitor

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 that you can.

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 I noticed in these couple of verses,

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 there are, especially,

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 I'm using the New International Version of the Bible,

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 and there it says,

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 let us throw off.

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 Let us do this.

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 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.

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 Let us.

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 When we were studying Spanish,

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 they told us that this type of construction

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 in Spanish was referred to as a command of courtesy.

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 So it carried the weight of a command,

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 but it wasn't done in a harsh way.

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 It was done in a way of saying,

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 let's join together and put our effort into doing this.

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 Let's see what we can accomplish together.

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 And so that's what I'm seeing here in scripture.

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 Let us throw off anything that entangles

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 and the sin that so easily,

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 anything that hinders and the sin

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 that so easily entangles us.

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 Now we know that sin is something

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 that the devil would like to use to distract us,

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 to keep us from serving God well.

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 And of course, temptation at the start

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 always looks great, doesn't it?

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 Temptation always looks attractive.

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 Otherwise, it wouldn't be temptation.

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 But here's what somebody has said,

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 Neil Strait has said about sin.

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 Sin does not serve well

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 as a gardener of the soul.

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 It landscapes the contour of the soul

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 until all that is beautiful

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 has been made ugly.

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 Until all that is high is made low.

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 Until all that is promising is wasted.

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 Then life is like the desert,

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 parched and barren.

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 It is drained of purpose.

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 It is bleached of happiness.

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 Sin then is not wise,

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 but wasteful.

00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:12.799
 It is not a gate,

00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:15.379
 but only a grave.

00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:18.840
 I think that's very insightful about sin.

00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:21.639
 And so it's important to throw that off

00:16:21.639 --> 00:16:23.100
 and get rid of it

00:16:23.100 --> 00:16:25.419
 so that we can run in freedom.

00:16:27.960 --> 00:16:30.220
 Another person has written this.

00:16:30.220 --> 00:16:32.360
 Because of sin,

00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:36.680
 mankind has taken the deity out of religion,

00:16:37.080 --> 00:16:39.360
 the supernatural out of Christianity,

00:16:39.960 --> 00:16:41.720
 the authority from the Bible,

00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:44.200
 God out of education,

00:16:45.080 --> 00:16:47.019
 morality and virtue out of literature,

00:16:48.060 --> 00:16:49.540
 beauty and truth out of art,

00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:51.320
 ethics out of business,

00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:52.779
 fidelity out of marriage.

00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:56.200
 Pretty true words.

00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:58.560
 So we need to throw that off.

00:16:58.700 --> 00:16:59.080
 The guilt,

00:16:59.259 --> 00:16:59.780
 the bondage,

00:16:59.879 --> 00:17:00.320
 the shame,

00:17:00.460 --> 00:17:00.940
 the hiding,

00:17:01.160 --> 00:17:02.640
 the deception.

00:17:03.379 --> 00:17:05.860
 Jesus has taken all of that sin upon himself.

00:17:06.460 --> 00:17:07.600
 Our past sin,

00:17:07.660 --> 00:17:08.259
 our present sin,

00:17:08.299 --> 00:17:08.940
 our future sin,

00:17:09.019 --> 00:17:10.840
 he's already paid for it.

00:17:11.640 --> 00:17:13.980
 It says in Isaiah chapter 53,

00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:17.680
 that all we like sheep have gone astray.

00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:19.480
 We have turned everyone to his own way

00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:21.059
 and the Lord has laid on him

00:17:21.059 --> 00:17:23.240
 the iniquity of us all.

00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:26.360
 And then he also says in Isaiah chapter 1,

00:17:26.420 --> 00:17:26.900
 verse 18,

00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:29.000
 come now and let us reason together,

00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:30.200
 says the Lord,

00:17:30.680 --> 00:17:32.740
 though your sins are like scarlet,

00:17:32.819 --> 00:17:34.019
 they shall be white as snow.

00:17:34.220 --> 00:17:35.860
 Though they are red like crimson,

00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:38.140
 they shall be as wool.

00:17:38.660 --> 00:17:40.079
 If you are willing and obedient,

00:17:40.299 --> 00:17:42.720
 you will eat the best from the land.

00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:46.700
 So sin is there to destroy and distract us

00:17:46.700 --> 00:17:48.880
 and keep us from running that race with Christ.

00:17:49.500 --> 00:17:52.579
 But Jesus Christ has already paid the price.

00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:58.519
 So that is one of the let us.

00:17:59.240 --> 00:18:00.720
 The next let us

00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:05.759
 is in the end of Hebrews chapter 12,

00:18:05.819 --> 00:18:06.240
 verse 1,

00:18:06.319 --> 00:18:06.720
 which says,

00:18:07.100 --> 00:18:09.180
 let us run with perseverance

00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:11.420
 the race marked out for us.

00:18:11.420 --> 00:18:13.580
 Let us run with perseverance

00:18:13.580 --> 00:18:15.060
 the race marked out for us.

00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:19.779
 So in Hebrews,

00:18:20.180 --> 00:18:20.700
 the author,

00:18:21.120 --> 00:18:21.720
 the preacher,

00:18:21.900 --> 00:18:23.539
 has already been making a point.

00:18:24.180 --> 00:18:25.000
 And if we go through,

00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:25.960
 just,

00:18:26.140 --> 00:18:27.900
 let's just kind of review

00:18:27.900 --> 00:18:28.759
 a couple of verses.

00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:30.620
 He's making the point

00:18:30.620 --> 00:18:31.700
 about persevering.

00:18:31.800 --> 00:18:32.680
 He's making the point

00:18:32.680 --> 00:18:34.940
 about let us run with endurance.

00:18:34.940 --> 00:18:38.620
 So if we start in chapter 2,

00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:39.799
 and we'll just kind of glance

00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:40.440
 at a few verses

00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:42.000
 to give us this idea.

00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:45.640
 Chapter 2,

00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:46.400
 verse 1.

00:18:47.320 --> 00:18:49.299
 We must pay more careful attention,

00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:49.660
 therefore,

00:18:49.820 --> 00:18:50.740
 to what we have heard,

00:18:51.059 --> 00:18:54.220
 so that we do not drift away.

00:18:55.600 --> 00:18:56.019
 Now,

00:18:56.080 --> 00:18:56.700
 how often

00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:58.840
 is a failure

00:18:58.840 --> 00:18:59.680
 in the Christian life

00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:00.420
 catastrophic?

00:19:00.420 --> 00:19:02.380
 How often

00:19:02.380 --> 00:19:02.940
 does it come

00:19:02.940 --> 00:19:04.420
 as a big crisis?

00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:04.820
 Usually,

00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:06.160
 it shows up

00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:06.820
 as a crisis

00:19:06.820 --> 00:19:08.279
 after there has been

00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:09.340
 a drifting away.

00:19:10.300 --> 00:19:11.000
 There have been

00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:11.779
 thought patterns.

00:19:11.940 --> 00:19:12.240
 There have been

00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:12.920
 little actions.

00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:13.480
 There have been

00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:14.160
 little habits

00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:14.960
 that have been forming

00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:17.680
 that have been destructive,

00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:18.200
 that have been

00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:19.360
 undermining the faith.

00:19:19.560 --> 00:19:20.420
 And then comes

00:19:20.420 --> 00:19:21.259
 the big failure.

00:19:21.980 --> 00:19:23.060
 So the writer is saying,

00:19:23.140 --> 00:19:23.820
 be careful

00:19:23.820 --> 00:19:24.860
 that we,

00:19:25.300 --> 00:19:25.740
 to what we,

00:19:25.900 --> 00:19:27.080
 and listen to what we've heard.

00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:27.680
 Pay attention

00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:28.500
 to what we've heard,

00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:30.619
 so that we do not drift away.

00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:33.500
 Then in chapter 4,

00:19:33.579 --> 00:19:34.500
 he's talking about

00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:35.400
 the fact that

00:19:35.400 --> 00:19:37.119
 God wants

00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:37.960
 his people

00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:39.180
 to come to rest.

00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:41.240
 Jesus said,

00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:41.559
 you know,

00:19:41.700 --> 00:19:43.279
 all you that are weary

00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:43.980
 and heavy laden,

00:19:44.059 --> 00:19:44.720
 come to me,

00:19:44.859 --> 00:19:46.039
 and I will give you rest.

00:19:46.140 --> 00:19:47.220
 Take my yoke upon me,

00:19:47.420 --> 00:19:49.619
 and take up my yoke upon you,

00:19:49.660 --> 00:19:50.339
 and learn of me,

00:19:50.420 --> 00:19:50.859
 for I am meek

00:19:50.859 --> 00:19:51.559
 and lowly of heart,

00:19:51.640 --> 00:19:53.259
 and you will find

00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:55.819
 rest for your souls.

00:19:56.299 --> 00:19:57.700
 So in Hebrews chapter 4,

00:19:57.700 --> 00:19:58.860
 he's talking about that rest.

00:19:59.180 --> 00:19:59.460
 Therefore,

00:19:59.620 --> 00:20:00.360
 since the promise

00:20:00.360 --> 00:20:01.660
 of entering his rest

00:20:01.660 --> 00:20:02.819
 still stands,

00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:05.319
 let us be careful

00:20:05.319 --> 00:20:05.960
 that none of you

00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:06.500
 be found

00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:07.660
 to fall short of it.

00:20:10.059 --> 00:20:11.100
 And then later on

00:20:11.100 --> 00:20:12.080
 in that same chapter,

00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:12.740
 verse 11,

00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:14.380
 let us therefore

00:20:14.380 --> 00:20:15.920
 make every effort

00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:16.700
 to enter that rest

00:20:17.299 --> 00:20:18.600
 so that none will fall

00:20:18.600 --> 00:20:19.860
 by following their example

00:20:19.860 --> 00:20:20.759
 of disobedience.

00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:23.080
 So again,

00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:24.500
 he's talking about

00:20:24.500 --> 00:20:25.039
 enduring,

00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:26.019
 he's talking about

00:20:26.019 --> 00:20:28.339
 pursuing something

00:20:28.339 --> 00:20:29.299
 that is good.

00:20:30.339 --> 00:20:31.279
 Chapter 6,

00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:33.039
 the beginning of chapter 6,

00:20:33.139 --> 00:20:34.119
 talks about the fact

00:20:34.119 --> 00:20:35.460
 that even though

00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:36.500
 we should,

00:20:36.639 --> 00:20:37.639
 he's telling the people,

00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:38.420
 even though you should

00:20:38.420 --> 00:20:39.460
 already be the point

00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:40.659
 of being able to be

00:20:40.659 --> 00:20:41.639
 a teacher

00:20:41.639 --> 00:20:42.500
 and an instructor

00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:43.599
 and a leader of others,

00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:45.259
 you still need to be taught

00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:46.720
 the most elementary truths

00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:48.519
 of the gospel message.

00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:50.900
 And so he says

00:20:50.900 --> 00:20:52.619
 you need to show diligence.

00:20:53.879 --> 00:20:54.779
 Show diligence

00:20:54.779 --> 00:20:55.660
 to the very end

00:20:55.660 --> 00:20:56.099
 in order

00:20:56.099 --> 00:20:57.720
 to make your hope sure.

00:20:58.779 --> 00:20:59.619
 We don't want you

00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:00.579
 to become lazy,

00:21:00.940 --> 00:21:01.839
 but we want you

00:21:01.839 --> 00:21:04.039
 to imitate those

00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:04.819
 who through faith

00:21:04.819 --> 00:21:05.339
 and patience

00:21:05.339 --> 00:21:06.839
 inherit what has been promised.

00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:09.400
 In chapter 10,

00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:11.099
 verse 23 to 25,

00:21:11.099 --> 00:21:14.259
 let us hold unswervingly

00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:15.660
 to the hope we profess

00:21:15.660 --> 00:21:16.639
 for he who promised

00:21:16.639 --> 00:21:17.299
 is faithful.

00:21:17.299 --> 00:21:19.819
 And let us consider

00:21:19.819 --> 00:21:20.919
 how we may spur

00:21:20.919 --> 00:21:21.799
 one another on

00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:22.359
 toward love

00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:23.059
 and good deeds.

00:21:23.419 --> 00:21:24.480
 Let us not give up

00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:25.180
 meeting together

00:21:25.180 --> 00:21:26.079
 as some are in the habit

00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:26.460
 of doing,

00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:27.740
 but let us encourage

00:21:27.740 --> 00:21:28.379
 one another

00:21:28.379 --> 00:21:30.379
 and all the more

00:21:30.379 --> 00:21:30.980
 as you see

00:21:30.980 --> 00:21:31.919
 that day approaching.

00:21:35.159 --> 00:21:36.180
 So he's talking

00:21:36.180 --> 00:21:37.259
 about this perseverance.

00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:38.139
 He's talking about

00:21:38.139 --> 00:21:38.619
 enduring.

00:21:39.099 --> 00:21:40.279
 He's talking about

00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:45.079
 how we need

00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:46.879
 to run this race

00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:49.540
 let us run this race

00:21:49.540 --> 00:21:51.060
 with perseverance.

00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:53.860
 And then there's

00:21:53.860 --> 00:21:54.800
 another let us.

00:21:55.400 --> 00:21:56.700
 If we look at

00:21:56.700 --> 00:21:57.140
 chapter,

00:21:57.900 --> 00:21:59.120
 number,

00:21:59.240 --> 00:21:59.820
 verse 2,

00:22:01.160 --> 00:22:01.900
 let us fix

00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:02.960
 our eyes on Jesus.

00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:04.220
 Or as I mentioned,

00:22:04.320 --> 00:22:05.300
 the words that I saw

00:22:05.300 --> 00:22:06.060
 and used to see

00:22:06.060 --> 00:22:06.920
 in our little chapel

00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:07.520
 in Endeavor,

00:22:08.040 --> 00:22:09.100
 looking unto Jesus

00:22:09.100 --> 00:22:10.100
 is the King James

00:22:10.100 --> 00:22:10.880
 version of it.

00:22:11.400 --> 00:22:12.540
 Let us fix

00:22:12.540 --> 00:22:13.520
 our eyes on Jesus.

00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:15.079
 Now,

00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:16.359
 Hebrews chapter

00:22:16.359 --> 00:22:17.379
 12,

00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:17.920
 verse 2

00:22:17.920 --> 00:22:19.200
 in the Amplified Bible

00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:20.139
 reads like this.

00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:22.779
 Looking away

00:22:22.779 --> 00:22:23.639
 from all

00:22:23.639 --> 00:22:25.119
 that will distract us

00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:26.420
 to Jesus,

00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:28.379
 who is the leader

00:22:28.379 --> 00:22:29.700
 and the source

00:22:29.700 --> 00:22:30.420
 of our faith,

00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:32.420
 giving the first

00:22:32.420 --> 00:22:32.960
 incentive

00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:34.160
 for our belief

00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:35.220
 and is also

00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:36.019
 its finisher,

00:22:36.359 --> 00:22:37.500
 bringing it to maturity

00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:38.279
 and perfection.

00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:39.279
 He,

00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:41.839
 for the joy

00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:43.099
 of obtaining

00:22:43.099 --> 00:22:43.779
 the prize

00:22:43.779 --> 00:22:44.299
 that was set

00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:45.019
 before Him,

00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:46.700
 endured the cross,

00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:48.279
 despising

00:22:48.279 --> 00:22:49.039
 and ignoring

00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:49.599
 the shame

00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:50.099
 and is now

00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:50.940
 seated at the right

00:22:50.940 --> 00:22:51.700
 hand of the throne

00:22:51.700 --> 00:22:52.240
 of God.

00:22:53.960 --> 00:22:54.339
 And then

00:22:54.339 --> 00:22:56.859
 in 1 Peter chapter 2

00:22:56.859 --> 00:22:57.700
 it talks a little bit

00:22:57.700 --> 00:22:58.319
 more about

00:22:58.319 --> 00:22:59.139
 Jesus.

00:23:01.339 --> 00:23:03.200
 1 Peter chapter 2

00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:04.779
 verse 21

00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:06.339
 says,

00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:07.500
 To this you were called

00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:08.299
 because Christ

00:23:08.299 --> 00:23:09.099
 suffered for you,

00:23:09.220 --> 00:23:10.160
 leaving you an example

00:23:10.160 --> 00:23:11.099
 that you should follow

00:23:11.099 --> 00:23:11.799
 in His steps.

00:23:12.619 --> 00:23:14.000
 He committed no sin

00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:15.740
 and no deceit

00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:16.839
 was found in His mouth.

00:23:17.160 --> 00:23:17.940
 When they hurled

00:23:17.940 --> 00:23:18.879
 their insults at Him,

00:23:18.940 --> 00:23:20.200
 He did not retaliate.

00:23:20.819 --> 00:23:21.740
 When He suffered,

00:23:21.899 --> 00:23:22.859
 He made no threats.

00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:24.180
 Instead,

00:23:24.579 --> 00:23:25.619
 He entrusted Himself

00:23:25.619 --> 00:23:26.319
 to Him

00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:27.579
 who judges justly.

00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:30.039
 He Himself

00:23:30.039 --> 00:23:31.740
 bore our sins

00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:32.379
 in His body

00:23:32.379 --> 00:23:33.000
 on the tree

00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:34.460
 so that we might

00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:35.460
 die to sins

00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:36.640
 and live for righteousness.

00:23:37.420 --> 00:23:38.400
 By His wounds

00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:39.240
 you have been healed.

00:23:40.140 --> 00:23:41.299
 For you were like sheep

00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:42.039
 going astray,

00:23:42.140 --> 00:23:43.539
 but now you have returned

00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:44.619
 to the shepherd

00:23:44.619 --> 00:23:46.220
 and overseer

00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:47.440
 of your souls.

00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:49.960
 Let us fix

00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:50.759
 our eyes

00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:51.420
 on Jesus.

00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:53.400
 Now,

00:23:53.500 --> 00:23:54.420
 if you drive by

00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:55.220
 a farmer's field

00:23:55.220 --> 00:23:55.720
 nowadays,

00:23:55.819 --> 00:23:56.460
 what do you see?

00:23:56.660 --> 00:23:58.039
 You see really nice

00:23:58.039 --> 00:23:59.059
 straight lines

00:23:59.059 --> 00:24:00.140
 because

00:24:00.140 --> 00:24:01.559
 the machine

00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:02.039
 is guided

00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:02.720
 by GPS.

00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:03.960
 I remember

00:24:03.960 --> 00:24:04.740
 back in the days

00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.339
 when I first

00:24:05.339 --> 00:24:06.200
 worked for a farmer

00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:06.819
 and I was driving

00:24:06.819 --> 00:24:07.220
 this little

00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:08.400
 Fordson Major tractor

00:24:08.400 --> 00:24:08.720
 that,

00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:09.240
 wow,

00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:09.779
 it had all

00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:11.079
 of about 50 horsepower

00:24:11.079 --> 00:24:12.720
 and

00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:14.359
 the farmer

00:24:14.359 --> 00:24:15.119
 was pretty

00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:16.940
 insistent

00:24:16.940 --> 00:24:17.440
 that I try

00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:18.039
 to make the rows

00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:18.380
 as straight

00:24:18.380 --> 00:24:18.779
 as I could

00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:19.400
 so I wouldn't

00:24:19.400 --> 00:24:20.519
 miss cultivating

00:24:20.519 --> 00:24:21.519
 parts of the field

00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.140
 or it wouldn't

00:24:22.140 --> 00:24:23.079
 overlap too much.

00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:25.220
 So what did I do?

00:24:25.460 --> 00:24:26.440
 When I started out

00:24:26.440 --> 00:24:27.339
 at the end of the field,

00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.519
 I would pick a mark

00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:29.380
 at the far end

00:24:29.380 --> 00:24:30.400
 and I would aim

00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:31.579
 the tractor for that

00:24:31.579 --> 00:24:32.819
 because if I tried

00:24:32.819 --> 00:24:33.399
 to just follow

00:24:33.399 --> 00:24:34.039
 my track,

00:24:34.159 --> 00:24:34.659
 pretty soon

00:24:34.659 --> 00:24:35.500
 I was doing this

00:24:35.500 --> 00:24:37.659
 but if I had

00:24:37.659 --> 00:24:38.699
 a mark at the far end

00:24:38.699 --> 00:24:39.119
 and I kept

00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:39.899
 following it,

00:24:40.639 --> 00:24:41.179
 then I could

00:24:41.179 --> 00:24:42.299
 stay a little bit

00:24:42.299 --> 00:24:42.779
 straighter.

00:24:43.460 --> 00:24:44.199
 Nothing compared

00:24:44.199 --> 00:24:45.199
 to GPS now

00:24:45.199 --> 00:24:45.539
 but

00:24:45.539 --> 00:24:48.179
 it was better

00:24:48.179 --> 00:24:49.379
 if I did that

00:24:49.379 --> 00:24:50.519
 and that's the way

00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:51.139
 it is with our

00:24:51.139 --> 00:24:52.000
 walk with God.

00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:53.919
 If we fix

00:24:53.919 --> 00:24:54.319
 our eyes

00:24:54.319 --> 00:24:54.879
 on Jesus,

00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:57.840
 we can walk

00:24:57.840 --> 00:24:59.080
 and we can walk

00:24:59.080 --> 00:24:59.860
 toward him

00:24:59.860 --> 00:25:01.360
 and the distractions

00:25:01.360 --> 00:25:02.140
 won't have

00:25:02.140 --> 00:25:03.080
 such a big effect

00:25:03.080 --> 00:25:03.660
 on us.

00:25:07.580 --> 00:25:08.760
 So I just want

00:25:08.760 --> 00:25:09.160
 to mention

00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:10.060
 a couple of things

00:25:10.060 --> 00:25:10.700
 about looking

00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:11.480
 unto Jesus.

00:25:14.080 --> 00:25:15.360
 A farther look.

00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:17.280
 Let us fix

00:25:17.280 --> 00:25:17.580
 our eyes

00:25:17.580 --> 00:25:18.000
 on Jesus,

00:25:18.120 --> 00:25:18.440
 the author

00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:19.080
 and perfecter

00:25:19.080 --> 00:25:19.680
 of our faith,

00:25:20.340 --> 00:25:21.500
 who for the joy

00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:22.820
 set before him

00:25:22.820 --> 00:25:24.260
 endured the cross.

00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:26.180
 He didn't just

00:25:26.180 --> 00:25:27.040
 look at the cross

00:25:27.040 --> 00:25:27.900
 although it was

00:25:27.900 --> 00:25:28.540
 significant,

00:25:28.900 --> 00:25:29.940
 it was important.

00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:31.360
 He agonized

00:25:31.360 --> 00:25:31.780
 over it

00:25:31.780 --> 00:25:32.200
 in the Garden

00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:33.100
 of Gethsemane

00:25:33.100 --> 00:25:34.380
 but he looked

00:25:34.380 --> 00:25:35.060
 beyond it

00:25:35.060 --> 00:25:35.540
 and he said

00:25:35.540 --> 00:25:36.560
 the reward

00:25:36.560 --> 00:25:37.340
 of what is going

00:25:37.340 --> 00:25:38.100
 to be accomplished

00:25:38.100 --> 00:25:39.120
 if I am faithful

00:25:39.120 --> 00:25:40.340
 to the Father's plan

00:25:40.340 --> 00:25:41.760
 outweighs

00:25:41.760 --> 00:25:42.940
 the suffering

00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:43.680
 and the pain

00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:44.680
 of what I'm going

00:25:44.680 --> 00:25:45.200
 to endure.

00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:46.980
 So Jesus

00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:48.440
 had a farther look

00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:49.600
 even though

00:25:49.600 --> 00:25:50.680
 he begged God

00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:51.780
 if it be possible

00:25:51.780 --> 00:25:52.560
 may this cup

00:25:52.560 --> 00:25:53.580
 be taken from me

00:25:53.580 --> 00:25:54.720
 yet he endured

00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.900
 because

00:25:55.900 --> 00:25:57.299
 of what lay

00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:57.980
 before him.

00:25:58.079 --> 00:25:59.019
 What lay beyond that?

00:25:59.100 --> 00:25:59.779
 The power of sin

00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:00.339
 is broken.

00:26:00.700 --> 00:26:01.759
 A fallen groaning

00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:02.480
 creation

00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:04.039
 will be recreated.

00:26:04.420 --> 00:26:05.140
 The lost

00:26:05.140 --> 00:26:05.779
 will be found,

00:26:05.880 --> 00:26:06.200
 the broken

00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:06.839
 will be healed.

00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:07.440
 Paradise

00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:09.019
 will be regained.

00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:10.660
 Who for the joy

00:26:10.660 --> 00:26:11.700
 set before him

00:26:11.700 --> 00:26:12.240
 endured.

00:26:12.680 --> 00:26:14.000
 He took a farther look

00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:14.480
 and so

00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:16.559
 Hebrews encourages us

00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:17.960
 looking unto Jesus.

00:26:18.100 --> 00:26:19.220
 Take a farther look.

00:26:19.519 --> 00:26:20.160
 Look beyond

00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:20.740
 the immediate,

00:26:20.860 --> 00:26:21.460
 look beyond

00:26:21.460 --> 00:26:23.039
 the immediate trials,

00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:24.400
 the immediate temptations.

00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:25.759
 Look to Jesus

00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.559
 beyond that.

00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:29.079
 A higher look.

00:26:31.380 --> 00:26:32.380
 He endured

00:26:32.380 --> 00:26:32.860
 the cross

00:26:32.860 --> 00:26:33.539
 scoring his shame

00:26:33.539 --> 00:26:35.259
 and sat down

00:26:35.259 --> 00:26:36.779
 at the right hand

00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:38.640
 of the throne

00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:39.600
 of God.

00:26:40.100 --> 00:26:41.400
 A higher look.

00:26:42.519 --> 00:26:43.519
 So often

00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:44.100
 we look at

00:26:44.100 --> 00:26:44.660
 the circumstance

00:26:44.660 --> 00:26:45.360
 around us.

00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:45.799
 We look at

00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:46.299
 the immediate.

00:26:47.380 --> 00:26:48.600
 We need to look up

00:26:48.600 --> 00:26:49.819
 to Jesus.

00:26:49.819 --> 00:26:49.960
 Jesus.

00:26:51.159 --> 00:26:52.220
 All of this earth

00:26:52.220 --> 00:26:53.279
 is passing away.

00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:55.339
 Weeping may endure

00:26:55.339 --> 00:26:56.039
 for a night

00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:57.099
 but joy comes

00:26:57.099 --> 00:26:57.779
 in the morning.

00:26:58.659 --> 00:26:59.319
 What was true

00:26:59.319 --> 00:26:59.980
 for Jesus

00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:01.019
 is also true

00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:01.559
 for us.

00:27:02.559 --> 00:27:03.399
 2 Corinthians

00:27:03.399 --> 00:27:04.480
 chapter 4

00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:05.639
 reminds us of that.

00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:06.079
 It says

00:27:06.079 --> 00:27:07.500
 at the end

00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:08.119
 of the chapter,

00:27:08.859 --> 00:27:09.980
 therefore we do

00:27:09.980 --> 00:27:10.759
 not lose heart

00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:11.700
 though outwardly

00:27:11.700 --> 00:27:12.460
 we are wasting

00:27:12.460 --> 00:27:13.720
 weight yet inwardly

00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:14.439
 we are being

00:27:14.439 --> 00:27:15.639
 renewed day by day

00:27:15.640 --> 00:27:17.660
 for our light

00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:18.420
 and momentary

00:27:18.420 --> 00:27:18.700
 trouble.

00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:19.740
 Wait a minute.

00:27:20.900 --> 00:27:21.900
 Light and momentary

00:27:21.900 --> 00:27:22.240
 troubles?

00:27:23.280 --> 00:27:24.060
 Does it feel

00:27:24.060 --> 00:27:24.900
 that way some days?

00:27:25.540 --> 00:27:26.460
 Sometimes it feels

00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:27.020
 like the burdens

00:27:27.020 --> 00:27:27.860
 are pretty heavy.

00:27:29.080 --> 00:27:30.160
 But compared

00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:31.620
 to the weight

00:27:31.620 --> 00:27:32.380
 of eternity,

00:27:32.620 --> 00:27:33.420
 compared to the

00:27:33.420 --> 00:27:34.360
 weight of glory,

00:27:35.140 --> 00:27:36.500
 it is small.

00:27:37.620 --> 00:27:37.960
 It says

00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:38.759
 for our light

00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.560
 and who is writing

00:27:39.560 --> 00:27:39.860
 this?

00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:41.240
 Light and momentary

00:27:41.240 --> 00:27:41.580
 troubles.

00:27:42.780 --> 00:27:43.759
 The apostle Paul

00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:44.040
 right?

00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:45.080
 And in 2 Corinthians

00:27:45.079 --> 00:27:46.099
 he talks about

00:27:46.099 --> 00:27:48.199
 I've been shipwrecked.

00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:49.119
 I've been beaten.

00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:50.419
 I've been stoned.

00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:51.740
 I've been persecuted.

00:27:51.939 --> 00:27:52.699
 I've been chased

00:27:52.699 --> 00:27:54.000
 from pillar to post

00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:55.539
 because of my faith

00:27:55.539 --> 00:27:56.259
 in Jesus Christ.

00:27:56.379 --> 00:27:56.579
 He says

00:27:56.579 --> 00:27:57.399
 these are light

00:27:57.399 --> 00:27:58.119
 and momentary

00:27:58.119 --> 00:27:58.419
 troubles

00:27:58.419 --> 00:27:59.619
 in comparison

00:27:59.619 --> 00:28:01.220
 to what God

00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:02.099
 has planned for us.

00:28:03.299 --> 00:28:04.039
 For our light

00:28:04.039 --> 00:28:04.679
 and momentary

00:28:04.679 --> 00:28:04.960
 troubles

00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:05.639
 are achieving

00:28:05.639 --> 00:28:06.039
 for us

00:28:06.039 --> 00:28:06.960
 an eternal

00:28:06.960 --> 00:28:07.439
 glory

00:28:07.439 --> 00:28:08.039
 that far

00:28:08.039 --> 00:28:08.500
 outweighs

00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:08.960
 them all.

00:28:09.740 --> 00:28:10.699
 So we fix

00:28:10.699 --> 00:28:11.119
 our eyes

00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:11.720
 not on what

00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:12.079
 is seen

00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:12.460
 but what

00:28:12.460 --> 00:28:13.000
 is unseen

00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:13.480
 for what

00:28:13.480 --> 00:28:13.839
 is seen

00:28:13.839 --> 00:28:14.359
 is temporary

00:28:14.359 --> 00:28:16.179
 what is unseen

00:28:16.179 --> 00:28:17.779
 is eternal.

00:28:19.879 --> 00:28:20.799
 And so we have

00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:21.579
 a higher look.

00:28:21.959 --> 00:28:22.459
 Jesus said

00:28:22.459 --> 00:28:22.959
 when you see

00:28:22.959 --> 00:28:23.599
 all these things

00:28:23.599 --> 00:28:24.000
 happening

00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:24.799
 what is he?

00:28:24.919 --> 00:28:26.099
 Lift up your head

00:28:26.099 --> 00:28:27.379
 because your redemption

00:28:27.379 --> 00:28:28.659
 draws near.

00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:30.839
 And then a deeper look.

00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:32.979
 Verse 3 starts

00:28:32.979 --> 00:28:34.399
 consider him

00:28:34.399 --> 00:28:35.000
 who endured

00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:35.859
 such opposition

00:28:35.859 --> 00:28:36.740
 so that you will not

00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:37.339
 grow weary

00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:38.219
 and lose heart.

00:28:39.399 --> 00:28:40.039
 Consider.

00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:42.119
 think about

00:28:42.119 --> 00:28:42.859
 ponder

00:28:42.859 --> 00:28:44.700
 spend time

00:28:44.700 --> 00:28:45.259
 reflecting.

00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:47.079
 Now there is

00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:47.779
 a form of

00:28:47.779 --> 00:28:48.599
 worldly meditation

00:28:48.599 --> 00:28:48.960
 that says

00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:49.980
 just empty your mind

00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:50.519
 and be open

00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:51.039
 to whatever

00:28:51.039 --> 00:28:52.319
 thoughts may come.

00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:53.920
 Well it's no wonder

00:28:53.920 --> 00:28:54.619
 there's confusion

00:28:54.619 --> 00:28:55.339
 in the devil's

00:28:55.339 --> 00:28:55.720
 playground.

00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:57.379
 But there is

00:28:57.379 --> 00:28:58.279
 a godly form

00:28:58.279 --> 00:28:58.879
 of meditation

00:28:58.879 --> 00:28:59.680
 that means

00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:00.420
 literally

00:29:00.420 --> 00:29:01.819
 chew the cud

00:29:01.819 --> 00:29:03.200
 on God's word.

00:29:04.399 --> 00:29:05.319
 Whatever is true

00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:05.899
 noble

00:29:05.899 --> 00:29:06.399
 pure

00:29:06.399 --> 00:29:06.899
 right

00:29:06.899 --> 00:29:07.480
 lovely

00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:08.339
 admirable

00:29:08.339 --> 00:29:08.860
 excellent

00:29:08.860 --> 00:29:09.480
 praiseworthy

00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:10.660
 think on

00:29:10.660 --> 00:29:11.539
 these things

00:29:11.539 --> 00:29:13.059
 and the God

00:29:13.059 --> 00:29:13.620
 of peace

00:29:13.620 --> 00:29:15.360
 will be with you.

00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:17.440
 Consider

00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:21.120
 a farther look

00:29:21.120 --> 00:29:22.940
 beyond the immediate

00:29:22.940 --> 00:29:24.440
 a higher look

00:29:24.440 --> 00:29:25.779
 to all that God

00:29:25.779 --> 00:29:26.880
 has prepared for us

00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:27.740
 the eternal weight

00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:28.279
 of glory

00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:30.120
 a deeper look

00:29:30.120 --> 00:29:31.240
 spend time

00:29:31.240 --> 00:29:31.920
 pondering

00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:33.220
 who Jesus is

00:29:33.220 --> 00:29:34.200
 and what he has done.

00:29:35.420 --> 00:29:36.240
 And then

00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:38.559
 it says

00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:39.460
 in Hebrews

00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:40.200
 chapter 12

00:29:40.200 --> 00:29:40.759
 verse 12

00:29:40.759 --> 00:29:41.160
 therefore

00:29:41.160 --> 00:29:41.940
 strengthen

00:29:41.940 --> 00:29:42.640
 your feeble

00:29:42.640 --> 00:29:43.039
 arms

00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:43.519
 and your weak

00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:43.759
 knees

00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.279
 make level

00:29:44.279 --> 00:29:44.599
 paths

00:29:44.599 --> 00:29:45.099
 of your feet

00:29:45.099 --> 00:29:46.240
 so that

00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:46.579
 what is

00:29:46.579 --> 00:29:46.980
 lamed

00:29:46.980 --> 00:29:47.519
 may not

00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:48.240
 be disabled

00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:49.839
 but rather

00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:50.880
 healed.

00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:53.480
 That is

00:29:53.480 --> 00:29:54.039
 God's plan

00:29:54.039 --> 00:29:54.559
 for us.

00:29:55.140 --> 00:29:56.039
 Not fearful

00:29:56.039 --> 00:29:56.660
 not anxious

00:29:56.660 --> 00:29:57.519
 but boldly

00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:58.000
 confident

00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:58.980
 not faltering

00:29:58.980 --> 00:29:59.799
 but thriving.

00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:01.720
 And what's

00:30:01.720 --> 00:30:02.200
 at stake?

00:30:02.200 --> 00:30:05.000
 our eternal

00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:05.580
 well-being

00:30:05.580 --> 00:30:06.640
 is at stake.

00:30:08.420 --> 00:30:08.900
 God's

00:30:08.900 --> 00:30:09.160
 honor

00:30:09.160 --> 00:30:09.920
 is at stake.

00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:11.960
 People

00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:12.720
 look at us

00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:13.340
 and they say

00:30:13.340 --> 00:30:14.120
 they form

00:30:14.120 --> 00:30:14.600
 their opinion

00:30:14.600 --> 00:30:15.460
 of God

00:30:15.460 --> 00:30:16.319
 by what they

00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:16.900
 see in us.

00:30:17.840 --> 00:30:18.620
 That's a pretty

00:30:18.620 --> 00:30:19.500
 heavy responsibility.

00:30:19.799 --> 00:30:20.360
 If we had to try

00:30:20.360 --> 00:30:20.759
 and do that

00:30:20.759 --> 00:30:21.220
 on our own

00:30:21.220 --> 00:30:22.200
 it'd be hopeless.

00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:23.720
 But the Holy Spirit

00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:24.200
 is in us

00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:25.140
 to empower us

00:30:25.140 --> 00:30:26.559
 to show

00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:27.059
 the image

00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:27.640
 of Christ.

00:30:27.640 --> 00:30:29.700
 Jesus said

00:30:29.700 --> 00:30:30.180
 let your

00:30:30.180 --> 00:30:31.280
 light shine

00:30:31.280 --> 00:30:32.220
 such a way

00:30:32.220 --> 00:30:33.200
 before men

00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:33.660
 that men

00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:34.100
 will see

00:30:34.100 --> 00:30:34.840
 your good deeds

00:30:34.840 --> 00:30:35.620
 and glorify

00:30:35.620 --> 00:30:36.259
 your Father

00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:37.040
 who is in heaven.

00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:39.280
 And we will

00:30:39.280 --> 00:30:40.080
 have an influence

00:30:40.080 --> 00:30:40.600
 on others.

00:30:41.140 --> 00:30:42.080
 If we faithfully

00:30:42.080 --> 00:30:43.060
 walk with God

00:30:43.060 --> 00:30:44.320
 fixing your eyes

00:30:44.320 --> 00:30:44.900
 on Jesus

00:30:44.900 --> 00:30:46.580
 our life

00:30:46.580 --> 00:30:47.600
 will be an example

00:30:47.600 --> 00:30:48.080
 to others.

00:30:48.200 --> 00:30:48.580
 It will be an

00:30:48.580 --> 00:30:49.020
 encouragement

00:30:49.020 --> 00:30:49.640
 to others.

00:30:50.840 --> 00:30:51.940
 And praise God

00:30:51.940 --> 00:30:53.400
 that's what you

00:30:53.400 --> 00:30:54.140
 as a congregation

00:30:54.140 --> 00:30:54.920
 are to me.

00:30:55.259 --> 00:30:56.100
 When I spend time

00:30:56.100 --> 00:30:56.820
 here interacting

00:30:56.820 --> 00:30:57.240
 with you

00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:57.799
 you're an

00:30:57.799 --> 00:30:58.279
 encouragement

00:30:58.279 --> 00:30:58.740
 to me

00:30:58.740 --> 00:30:59.799
 and I bless

00:30:59.799 --> 00:31:00.420
 you for that.

00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:01.279
 And I praise

00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:02.099
 God for that.

00:31:02.359 --> 00:31:03.000
 And I trust

00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:04.039
 that I will be

00:31:04.039 --> 00:31:04.880
 the same for you

00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:06.220
 as I serve him.

00:31:06.900 --> 00:31:07.880
 May God bless you

00:31:07.880 --> 00:31:08.460
 as you continue

00:31:08.460 --> 00:31:09.279
 to serve him

00:31:09.279 --> 00:31:09.819
 faithfully.

00:31:10.839 --> 00:31:12.400
 And I'd like

00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:12.819
 to just

00:31:12.819 --> 00:31:13.720
 invite us

00:31:13.720 --> 00:31:14.180
 to close

00:31:14.180 --> 00:31:14.579
 with a word

00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:15.000
 of prayer.

00:31:22.339 --> 00:31:23.259
 Father in heaven

00:31:23.259 --> 00:31:24.880
 it is just

00:31:24.880 --> 00:31:25.519
 such a great

00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:25.960
 privilege

00:31:25.960 --> 00:31:26.759
 to belong

00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:27.259
 to you.

00:31:27.259 --> 00:31:29.059
 To know

00:31:29.059 --> 00:31:29.799
 that because

00:31:29.799 --> 00:31:30.259
 of what

00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:31.000
 Jesus Christ

00:31:31.000 --> 00:31:31.579
 has done

00:31:31.579 --> 00:31:34.140
 I can come

00:31:34.140 --> 00:31:34.640
 to you

00:31:34.640 --> 00:31:36.039
 with confidence

00:31:36.039 --> 00:31:37.000
 and with boldness

00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:38.579
 and obtain

00:31:38.579 --> 00:31:39.160
 the grace

00:31:39.160 --> 00:31:39.680
 and the mercy

00:31:39.680 --> 00:31:40.200
 that I need

00:31:40.200 --> 00:31:40.680
 to help me

00:31:40.680 --> 00:31:41.200
 in time of

00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:41.500
 trouble.

00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:43.960
 I thank you

00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:44.420
 Lord God

00:31:44.420 --> 00:31:44.960
 that we have

00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:45.420
 the freedom

00:31:45.420 --> 00:31:46.359
 to meet together

00:31:46.359 --> 00:31:47.319
 in this land

00:31:47.319 --> 00:31:48.980
 that we have

00:31:48.980 --> 00:31:49.420
 the freedom

00:31:49.420 --> 00:31:50.319
 to have your

00:31:50.319 --> 00:31:51.039
 word in our

00:31:51.039 --> 00:31:51.440
 hands

00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:52.859
 that we can

00:31:52.859 --> 00:31:53.160
 read

00:31:53.160 --> 00:31:53.500
 we can

00:31:53.500 --> 00:31:53.920
 study

00:31:53.920 --> 00:31:55.380
 we can

00:31:55.380 --> 00:31:55.800
 learn

00:31:55.800 --> 00:31:56.940
 we can

00:31:56.940 --> 00:31:58.420
 encourage one

00:31:58.420 --> 00:31:58.759
 another

00:31:58.759 --> 00:31:59.400
 we can teach

00:31:59.400 --> 00:32:00.000
 one another

00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:00.540
 the truths

00:32:00.540 --> 00:32:00.900
 that we have

00:32:00.900 --> 00:32:01.519
 learned from you

00:32:01.519 --> 00:32:04.440
 and I thank you

00:32:04.440 --> 00:32:05.220
 Lord that you are

00:32:05.220 --> 00:32:06.000
 the one that gives

00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:06.600
 us a healthy

00:32:06.600 --> 00:32:07.779
 perspective on life.

00:32:07.779 --> 00:32:09.220
 there are many

00:32:09.220 --> 00:32:09.879
 things in life

00:32:09.879 --> 00:32:10.579
 that are important

00:32:10.579 --> 00:32:11.119
 that we pay

00:32:11.119 --> 00:32:11.759
 attention to

00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:12.579
 we pay attention

00:32:12.579 --> 00:32:13.259
 to our work

00:32:13.259 --> 00:32:13.700
 and to our

00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:14.139
 families

00:32:14.139 --> 00:32:15.500
 and to our

00:32:15.500 --> 00:32:16.700
 daily responsibilities

00:32:16.700 --> 00:32:19.120
 but we recognize

00:32:19.120 --> 00:32:20.000
 Lord that these

00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:20.580
 are all things

00:32:20.580 --> 00:32:22.620
 that pass

00:32:22.620 --> 00:32:23.259
 away with

00:32:23.259 --> 00:32:23.660
 time

00:32:23.660 --> 00:32:25.380
 and the only

00:32:25.380 --> 00:32:26.039
 thing that we'll

00:32:26.039 --> 00:32:26.819
 endure for all

00:32:26.819 --> 00:32:27.740
 eternity is

00:32:27.740 --> 00:32:29.100
 our

00:32:29.100 --> 00:32:30.660
 relationship

00:32:30.660 --> 00:32:31.299
 with you

00:32:31.299 --> 00:32:34.059
 and our

00:32:34.059 --> 00:32:34.759
 relationship with

00:32:34.759 --> 00:32:35.480
 others that have

00:32:35.480 --> 00:32:36.200
 come to know you

00:32:36.200 --> 00:32:36.799
 and are part of

00:32:36.799 --> 00:32:37.360
 your family

00:32:37.360 --> 00:32:39.519
 and so I pray

00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:40.080
 Lord that you

00:32:40.080 --> 00:32:40.600
 would help us

00:32:40.600 --> 00:32:41.340
 as we look to

00:32:41.340 --> 00:32:41.680
 Jesus

00:32:41.680 --> 00:32:43.340
 to simplify

00:32:43.340 --> 00:32:44.059
 the things of

00:32:44.059 --> 00:32:44.539
 our life in

00:32:44.539 --> 00:32:44.980
 such a way

00:32:44.980 --> 00:32:45.360
 that we are

00:32:45.360 --> 00:32:46.080
 not distracted

00:32:46.079 --> 00:32:46.819
 from doing

00:32:46.819 --> 00:32:47.960
 what is most

00:32:47.960 --> 00:32:48.519
 important

00:32:48.519 --> 00:32:49.939
 loving you

00:32:49.939 --> 00:32:50.559
 with all of our

00:32:50.559 --> 00:32:50.819
 heart

00:32:50.819 --> 00:32:51.439
 with all of our

00:32:51.439 --> 00:32:51.679
 soul

00:32:51.679 --> 00:32:52.339
 with all of our

00:32:52.339 --> 00:32:52.619
 mind

00:32:52.619 --> 00:32:53.199
 with all of our

00:32:53.199 --> 00:32:53.619
 strength

00:32:53.619 --> 00:32:55.139
 and loving our

00:32:55.139 --> 00:32:55.439
 neighbor

00:32:55.439 --> 00:32:57.079
 as ourself

00:32:57.079 --> 00:32:59.399
 we know we

00:32:59.399 --> 00:33:00.000
 can't do it on

00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:00.319
 our own

00:33:00.319 --> 00:33:00.699
 and so we

00:33:00.699 --> 00:33:01.319
 depend on your

00:33:01.319 --> 00:33:01.740
 grace

00:33:01.740 --> 00:33:03.079
 we depend on you

00:33:03.079 --> 00:33:03.919
 living your life

00:33:03.919 --> 00:33:04.579
 through us

00:33:04.579 --> 00:33:05.899
 and we thank you

00:33:05.899 --> 00:33:06.480
 Lord that you've

00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:07.199
 promised to

00:33:07.199 --> 00:33:08.599
 not just begin a

00:33:08.599 --> 00:33:09.119
 work in us

00:33:09.119 --> 00:33:09.819
 but to bring it

00:33:09.819 --> 00:33:10.379
 to completion

00:33:10.379 --> 00:33:11.419
 until the day

00:33:11.419 --> 00:33:12.339
 of Jesus Christ

00:33:12.339 --> 00:33:13.519
 we praise you

00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:14.439
 in his wonderful

00:33:14.439 --> 00:33:15.179
 holy name

00:33:15.179 --> 00:33:16.059
 amen

00:33:16.059 --> 00:33:16.220
 amen