WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.620 Going through the book of Hebrews for quite some time now, I think most of you would probably know the main context of Hebrews. 00:00:08.620 --> 00:00:19.500 ! Obviously written to a Hebrew audience and talking about how Jesus is better than the Old Covenant. 00:00:19.500 --> 00:00:29.100 He's the fulfillment of the Old Covenant so that all the priests, sacrifices, everything that came before was a foreshadowing pointing to Christ. 00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:44.159 And this writer, whether it be Paul or Apollos or someone else, is writing to these Hebrew believers to help them see that they don't need to go back to the Old Covenant. 00:00:44.159 --> 00:00:50.879 Some people are telling them, you need to come back. You need to come back to the law of Moses. 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:57.079 And others may be on defense, and they're trying to figure out which way to kind of jump. 00:00:57.159 --> 00:01:01.479 Do we believe Jesus is the Messiah and that He's the fulfillment of these things? 00:01:01.519 --> 00:01:06.439 Or do we stay with the idea that the Pharisees and others carry? 00:01:07.099 --> 00:01:10.159 And so, it's addressing all these things. 00:01:10.159 --> 00:01:16.119 So, we pick up today in verse 14 of chapter 4. 00:01:17.439 --> 00:01:18.340 It says, 00:01:18.340 --> 00:01:45.719 Let us then, with confidence, draw near to the throne of grace, 00:01:45.719 --> 00:01:50.519 that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 00:01:51.640 --> 00:01:53.099 Just join me in prayer. 00:01:57.140 --> 00:02:10.300 Lord, we are very grateful that we have an eternal, perfect High Priest that stands between us and Your holiness. 00:02:10.300 --> 00:02:18.219 That we can draw near with assurance and confidence to You because of Him. 00:02:18.219 --> 00:02:23.460 And during this time, I pray that Your Spirit would be our teacher, 00:02:23.639 --> 00:02:30.400 that You would help us to hear the Word, believe the Word, and apply Your Word to our lives. 00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:37.800 That You would just meet us wherever we are in a state of doing very well and confident, 00:02:37.800 --> 00:02:41.680 or someone who is very downtrodden and discouraged. 00:02:41.680 --> 00:02:45.140 That You would just apply Your Word where needed. 00:02:46.240 --> 00:02:48.680 That You would just be honored. 00:02:49.820 --> 00:02:52.080 That Jesus would just be clearly seen. 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:55.580 We just ask that in His name. Amen. 00:02:55.580 --> 00:03:03.860 So, our passage today has a lot of really awesome things to look at, as always. 00:03:04.380 --> 00:03:07.160 But today, I want to focus in on this idea of confidence. 00:03:08.220 --> 00:03:13.700 Confidence to face God one day and to stand before God one day. 00:03:13.820 --> 00:03:18.520 And even now, while we're in this life, to have confidence before God. 00:03:20.520 --> 00:03:25.020 Would some of you say that, in general, you lack confidence? 00:03:25.580 --> 00:03:28.340 Just in general, in an earthly manner. 00:03:28.540 --> 00:03:32.220 You lack self-confidence just to face the world around you. 00:03:32.320 --> 00:03:42.280 Maybe it's like social situations where you go to a party, or a wedding, or a family gathering, or a job interview, 00:03:43.180 --> 00:03:44.840 and you just shut down. 00:03:44.939 --> 00:03:48.340 Like, you have no confidence just to face people around you. 00:03:48.340 --> 00:03:56.960 You're terrified of being for someone looking at you and then evaluating you and finding you lacking in some way. 00:03:57.120 --> 00:04:02.420 And so, you struggle with anxiety and self-doubt and uncertainty. 00:04:03.879 --> 00:04:07.920 You lack just confidence to face the normal, everyday things. 00:04:07.919 --> 00:04:14.319 And all of that is just a part of the human story, to some degree, of just originating in sin. 00:04:14.959 --> 00:04:15.519 So, don't worry. 00:04:15.579 --> 00:04:19.659 This isn't a self-help, get-some-confidence kind of message at all. 00:04:21.500 --> 00:04:23.240 You're the wrong place to hear that. 00:04:23.240 --> 00:04:38.699 On the other hand, a lot of pop psychology therapists, psychiatrists, they all understand why there are such things as guilt and shame and anxiety. 00:04:38.840 --> 00:04:40.019 They understand those things. 00:04:40.019 --> 00:04:43.479 And they'll say, like, well, you know, it came from your childhood. 00:04:43.939 --> 00:04:51.039 You were treated really harshly, and therefore you carry a very low self-esteem, and that's why you have anxiety. 00:04:51.539 --> 00:04:56.060 But the problem is, they can't answer the question of, like, why did those things exist? 00:04:56.919 --> 00:04:59.560 Why do things like anxiety even exist? 00:05:00.599 --> 00:05:03.439 And self-doubt and fear, like, where do they come from? 00:05:04.639 --> 00:05:07.259 They can't really understand the source of those things. 00:05:07.399 --> 00:05:09.060 And we have the answer. 00:05:09.180 --> 00:05:09.620 It's sin. 00:05:11.019 --> 00:05:18.979 And others of us here may be on the other side of it, where we're very confident, very assertive. 00:05:19.959 --> 00:05:26.279 We think that there's nothing that we can't face that we can't overcome, and we have a track record of accomplishments to kind of show us that. 00:05:28.659 --> 00:05:30.000 You're not very timid. 00:05:30.079 --> 00:05:31.779 You feel like you're sort of invincible. 00:05:32.759 --> 00:05:36.399 And our culture kind of breeds this kind of confidence in a lot of ways. 00:05:36.479 --> 00:05:38.519 We make people want to think that way. 00:05:38.519 --> 00:05:52.799 There are people who climb Mount Everest or won some championship fight or competition, engineering the world's greatest structures and machines and generals that have conquered empires, etc. 00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:57.360 Just a very strong confidence that you think that you think that you can do anything. 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:09.180 But whether you're lacking confidence or you have a kind of a false self-confidence, all of us need to ask this question. 00:06:09.180 --> 00:06:19.660 Like, in this very hour, would you lack confidence to stand and approach a holy, majestic, sovereign God? 00:06:19.660 --> 00:06:24.900 And the truth is, even the most confident of you would shriek. 00:06:25.320 --> 00:06:27.120 Like, you would be decimated. 00:06:28.080 --> 00:06:30.120 You would fall apart in terror. 00:06:30.120 --> 00:06:39.939 No argument you would bring to the throne and no sacrifice would be enough at all to make you stand before God that you would bring on your own account. 00:06:40.879 --> 00:06:50.280 We read in Scripture a lot of stories of very, like, moral, upright, good men, better than any of us, who were all of a sudden taken into God's presence. 00:06:50.279 --> 00:07:04.019 Isaiah, Isaiah, John, these men who knew God and worshipped God, but when they were faced with, like, the burning presence of God's holiness, they were, they couldn't even lift their head. 00:07:04.679 --> 00:07:08.319 And they were decimated by fear. 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:11.800 And that's how it is. 00:07:11.879 --> 00:07:20.180 A lot of the people in this world who don't know God, I've met some before, maybe you have, they think they're just going to, like, walk up to God one day and just say, 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:22.519 Hey, I'm not afraid of you. 00:07:22.759 --> 00:07:24.740 Like, here's kind of the deal. 00:07:25.399 --> 00:07:31.420 And Psalm 68 has something very scary to say. 00:07:31.659 --> 00:07:33.039 It talks about God's enemies. 00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:34.939 And it says, 00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:36.360 They will flee before Him. 00:07:37.260 --> 00:07:41.960 As smoke is driven away, they shall be driven away. 00:07:42.100 --> 00:07:42.800 Listen to this. 00:07:43.520 --> 00:07:48.240 As wax melts before a fire, so the wicked shall perish before God. 00:07:48.860 --> 00:07:49.640 They won't stand. 00:07:50.280 --> 00:07:54.120 Like, even the most confident of us will be decimated. 00:07:55.460 --> 00:07:59.500 So, what kills our confidence to face God? 00:07:59.500 --> 00:08:03.920 Well, in general, there's a deeper spiritual answer. 00:08:04.079 --> 00:08:04.899 It's sin. 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:12.759 But what decimates our confidence in a lot of ways is guilt and shame. 00:08:13.300 --> 00:08:15.620 Real things that are born out of sin. 00:08:17.339 --> 00:08:19.620 There's one writer I like that said this. 00:08:19.699 --> 00:08:19.920 He said, 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:21.759 Guilt and shame are twins. 00:08:22.900 --> 00:08:24.360 Born in the Garden of Eden. 00:08:25.280 --> 00:08:26.620 Only moments apart. 00:08:27.860 --> 00:08:29.879 And even though they're twins, they are not identical. 00:08:31.520 --> 00:08:33.659 Guilt is usually tied to an event. 00:08:34.120 --> 00:08:34.779 And it says, 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:36.220 You did something bad. 00:08:37.379 --> 00:08:38.800 Shame is tied to a person. 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:39.399 And it says, 00:08:39.580 --> 00:08:40.379 I am bad. 00:08:41.879 --> 00:08:43.180 Guilt is the wound. 00:08:43.300 --> 00:08:44.639 And shame is the scar. 00:08:44.639 --> 00:08:51.000 When you violate God's laws and rebel against Him, you feel guilt. 00:08:51.860 --> 00:08:56.740 And that emotion is simultaneously joined by shame. 00:08:57.720 --> 00:08:59.539 Guilt says you did something wrong. 00:08:59.679 --> 00:09:02.299 Shame says that's why you need to hide. 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:03.199 You're no good. 00:09:03.860 --> 00:09:05.139 You deserve to live in darkness. 00:09:05.419 --> 00:09:08.340 That's like how those two are kind of tied together. 00:09:09.460 --> 00:09:12.039 So, they will steal your confidence before God. 00:09:12.039 --> 00:09:18.379 And even as believers who have already given our lives to Christ and had our sins forgiven and paid for, 00:09:18.819 --> 00:09:21.839 we still struggle with guilt and shame a lot. 00:09:22.599 --> 00:09:25.699 And that's a gospel issue that we have to keep coming back to. 00:09:26.360 --> 00:09:33.240 But our writer today, he gives us a few things to hold on to. 00:09:33.319 --> 00:09:36.000 If you look at verse 14, it says, 00:09:36.360 --> 00:09:37.000 Hold fast. 00:09:37.899 --> 00:09:40.759 So, grasp on to this for dear life. 00:09:40.759 --> 00:09:43.439 Hold on to these things tightly. 00:09:44.279 --> 00:09:50.419 And a right understanding about what I'm about to say will give you confidence to approach God's throne. 00:09:51.740 --> 00:09:52.000 All right? 00:09:52.139 --> 00:09:56.259 So, I'm going to break this down in three different ways. 00:09:56.439 --> 00:09:59.939 But hold fast to these things. 00:10:00.279 --> 00:10:02.539 The first one is, hold fast. 00:10:03.559 --> 00:10:06.000 Jesus is our great high priest. 00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:08.320 Verse 14. 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:13.059 Since then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens. 00:10:13.220 --> 00:10:14.480 Jesus, the Son of God. 00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:17.279 Let us hold fast our confession. 00:10:18.919 --> 00:10:24.580 This isn't the first time this idea of Jesus being the high priest has been introduced in this book. 00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:27.600 Usually, someone would have just read this straight through. 00:10:27.720 --> 00:10:30.220 They would have just, you know, broken it up into chapters and verses. 00:10:30.220 --> 00:10:42.820 But the point being, Aaron and his descendants in Levitical priesthood were only serving an earthly copy or shadow of what's in heaven. 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:45.879 They fell short in many ways. 00:10:46.460 --> 00:10:50.800 They only could carry out their duties in a physical thing like the tabernacle or the temple. 00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:55.000 But they were a picture of what is like in heaven. 00:10:55.000 --> 00:11:04.779 And God temporarily appointed these sacrifices and these priests to be a substitute that he just put up with by his mercy, right? 00:11:04.899 --> 00:11:08.379 That we're going to point to a greater fulfillment in Christ. 00:11:09.240 --> 00:11:12.980 But no earthly priest ever has ascended into heaven. 00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:21.700 No earthly priest has gone before God's actual throne in heaven and made intercession for sinners. 00:11:21.700 --> 00:11:24.040 They all tasted death. 00:11:25.500 --> 00:11:27.520 And they can't continue in their office. 00:11:27.640 --> 00:11:32.080 And they were sinful, so they couldn't become a sacrifice for other sinners. 00:11:32.860 --> 00:11:34.800 They fell short in so many ways. 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:42.020 And I wanted to share with you probably my favorite word in the book of Hebrews. 00:11:43.340 --> 00:11:46.940 And oddly enough, it's not a word that's even in our text. 00:11:46.940 --> 00:11:52.720 But it's used in chapter 2 of Hebrews. 00:11:52.940 --> 00:11:54.120 Chapter 2, verse 10. 00:11:54.260 --> 00:11:58.260 And then the very well-known Hebrews 12, verse 2. 00:11:59.680 --> 00:12:01.540 And the word is archegos. 00:12:03.640 --> 00:12:04.160 Archegos. 00:12:05.060 --> 00:12:06.920 One of those words I think I know how to say okay. 00:12:08.520 --> 00:12:10.260 It's such an amazing word. 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:11.540 Just dive into this word. 00:12:12.200 --> 00:12:13.840 It's got a really rich history. 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:19.800 William Tyndale, who first, well, one of the first to translate the Bible into English, 00:12:20.379 --> 00:12:22.940 was a master of language and words. 00:12:23.420 --> 00:12:28.720 And when he was studying this, it was a word that he really took a lot out of. 00:12:29.500 --> 00:12:31.800 So that phrase in Hebrews 12 that we know, 00:12:32.019 --> 00:12:35.379 Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:38.660 he was the first one to actually write that in English. 00:12:38.800 --> 00:12:41.700 And it was from the archegos that he got that from. 00:12:41.700 --> 00:12:47.540 But what it means is a leader, a prince, 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:51.340 someone who goes before others and affords an example, 00:12:52.160 --> 00:12:55.780 a pioneer, someone who kind of goes and clears the way for others to follow. 00:12:56.960 --> 00:13:03.259 And kind of a picture, if you would, like an elite military group kind of going through the jungle. 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:06.840 And all of a sudden, they reach this huge canyon they can't really get across. 00:13:07.660 --> 00:13:08.840 There's no way around it. 00:13:08.900 --> 00:13:09.560 There's no time. 00:13:09.559 --> 00:13:12.719 And so this one guy is kind of the leader of the group, says, 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:14.579 I got this. 00:13:14.599 --> 00:13:19.419 And he figures out a way to get a line over across that little ravine. 00:13:19.959 --> 00:13:22.639 And he ties it to a tree on the other side. 00:13:22.939 --> 00:13:25.699 And he crosses over himself first. 00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:28.159 And it secures everything and makes it safe. 00:13:28.199 --> 00:13:29.959 And then he says, come on, you guys follow me. 00:13:30.019 --> 00:13:31.579 Like after that. 00:13:31.580 --> 00:13:34.360 That's sort of a picture of the archegos. 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:40.300 And even though it's not mentioned in this text, the principle of it is applied all throughout Hebrews. 00:13:40.440 --> 00:13:46.520 This idea that Jesus did a work and that he prepared the way for a lot of other people to follow him. 00:13:47.379 --> 00:13:47.720 Right? 00:13:47.720 --> 00:13:49.460 That's kind of where we get this. 00:13:49.460 --> 00:13:53.240 And example in Hebrews chapter 2, it says, 00:13:53.240 --> 00:14:23.240 00:14:23.240 --> 00:14:27.019 But just keep that word in your head throughout our study of Hebrews. 00:14:27.019 --> 00:14:32.080 And I'm sure we'll dive into it more in Hebrews chapter 12. 00:14:32.680 --> 00:14:40.779 But in our text, it gives us this idea that even though all the other priests of the Old Testament have died, 00:14:40.779 --> 00:14:47.720 never to live again in this life, it's over because Jesus put them out of business. 00:14:49.299 --> 00:14:52.500 He is the final high priest between God and man. 00:14:53.379 --> 00:14:55.459 And as Hebrews 7.16 says, 00:14:55.899 --> 00:14:59.000 He has his priesthood by an indestructible life. 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:00.600 Such awesome. 00:15:00.779 --> 00:15:02.139 Our lives are so destructible. 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:03.699 We fall apart so easy. 00:15:04.559 --> 00:15:08.720 Can you imagine having a life that is indestructible? 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:12.680 And Christ is our indestructible high priest. 00:15:13.379 --> 00:15:16.139 It says in our text that he passed through the heavens, 00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:22.440 which calls to mind his ascension that his followers witnessed in Acts chapter 1. 00:15:23.279 --> 00:15:23.660 It says, 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:26.240 When he had said these things, as they were looking on, 00:15:27.040 --> 00:15:31.200 he was lifted up and a cloud took him out of their sight. 00:15:32.340 --> 00:15:36.800 He ascended into heaven through the clouds into the very presence of God. 00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:42.579 And so before Christ, the holiest place was in the temple, 00:15:43.459 --> 00:15:47.659 in the Holy of Holies, where a priest would only enter once a year, right, 00:15:47.699 --> 00:15:50.519 to make atonement and make intercession for the people. 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:55.279 But Jesus didn't ascend into an earthly copy like the temple. 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:58.939 I think if any of you ever get a chance, 00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:00.779 we have a lot of people here who have been to Jerusalem. 00:16:00.939 --> 00:16:03.000 My favorite thing to go and see would probably be like the, 00:16:03.559 --> 00:16:05.439 what's left over of the temple mount. 00:16:06.659 --> 00:16:09.600 And just see, that's all that's left of that temple. 00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:11.959 It's like, what clearer way could God say, 00:16:12.059 --> 00:16:12.959 this is over. 00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:14.679 No more. 00:16:15.139 --> 00:16:15.579 There's a, 00:16:16.259 --> 00:16:19.199 we are now the temple of the Holy Spirit. 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:24.240 And Jesus didn't ascend into an earthly copy, 00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:26.460 but he ascended into heaven itself. 00:16:26.580 --> 00:16:28.360 He passed through the heavens. 00:16:29.060 --> 00:16:31.000 In chapter 9, verse 24, it says, 00:16:31.100 --> 00:16:32.220 For Christ has entered, 00:16:32.860 --> 00:16:35.280 not into holy places made with hands, 00:16:36.100 --> 00:16:38.040 which are copies of the true things, 00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:39.980 but into heaven itself, 00:16:40.660 --> 00:16:44.160 and now appears in the presence of God on our behalf. 00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:48.379 Where our high priest lives right now, 00:16:48.539 --> 00:16:49.740 this very minute, 00:16:50.699 --> 00:16:53.319 he has immediate access to God day and night. 00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:56.299 In chapter 7, verse 25, it says, 00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:59.799 He always lives to make intercession for us. 00:17:00.819 --> 00:17:03.559 Because of the sin, we need someone to be our advocate. 00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:08.460 We need someone to make intercession on our behalf to a holy God. 00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:11.640 And also, in verse 14, 00:17:13.220 --> 00:17:15.140 we see that Jesus is the Son of God. 00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:18.700 So, point being, 00:17:18.840 --> 00:17:22.720 he's not just some creature that's been exalted to a heavenly place. 00:17:23.420 --> 00:17:26.259 He's the divine Son of God that created all things. 00:17:26.340 --> 00:17:27.559 I read about that in chapter 1, 00:17:27.600 --> 00:17:28.860 if you want to go back and look. 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:32.720 He's the divine Son of God that created all things. 00:17:33.900 --> 00:17:35.640 He's perfect in every way. 00:17:35.640 --> 00:17:39.560 And that's why his sacrifice matters so much. 00:17:40.600 --> 00:17:43.620 That's why God can look at that and accept it. 00:17:44.020 --> 00:17:45.780 So, when Jesus goes into that place, 00:17:45.840 --> 00:17:48.560 he doesn't take the blood of lambs or bulls or goats. 00:17:48.620 --> 00:17:52.920 He takes his own body, his own blood. 00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:55.180 And when God looks at that, 00:17:55.280 --> 00:17:55.700 he says, 00:17:55.820 --> 00:17:56.820 That's enough. 00:17:57.740 --> 00:17:59.180 The debt's been paid, 00:17:59.900 --> 00:18:01.900 and my righteousness is vindicated. 00:18:02.680 --> 00:18:05.120 Because of the weight of that sacrifice. 00:18:05.640 --> 00:18:08.180 Nothing that we could ever produce. 00:18:08.920 --> 00:18:10.540 So, God overlooks our sins 00:18:10.540 --> 00:18:12.320 so that we can come into God's presence 00:18:12.320 --> 00:18:14.460 because of our great high priest 00:18:14.460 --> 00:18:16.620 who gave us his own blood 00:18:16.620 --> 00:18:19.300 so that we can stand in that place with him. 00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:21.380 And he always lives forever, 00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:23.300 making intercession for us. 00:18:24.680 --> 00:18:25.040 So, 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:27.300 that's number one. 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:28.860 Number two, 00:18:28.859 --> 00:18:31.899 hold fast. 00:18:32.139 --> 00:18:36.639 Jesus is our sympathetic high priest. 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:38.839 Verse 15, 00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:41.979 For we do not have a high priest 00:18:41.979 --> 00:18:45.559 who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, 00:18:46.139 --> 00:18:48.339 but one who in every respect 00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:50.839 has been tempted as we are. 00:18:50.839 --> 00:18:53.139 So, 00:18:53.959 --> 00:18:56.599 this would be huge in the Greco-Roman world 00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:57.859 because they had this idea 00:18:57.859 --> 00:18:58.559 that God 00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:00.500 was 00:19:00.500 --> 00:19:02.500 apothea. 00:19:02.659 --> 00:19:03.939 He did not have 00:19:03.939 --> 00:19:06.079 any kind of emotion 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:06.899 or feeling 00:19:06.899 --> 00:19:07.759 like we do 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:08.159 as 00:19:08.159 --> 00:19:09.439 human beings. 00:19:10.379 --> 00:19:11.399 They thought that 00:19:11.399 --> 00:19:12.819 if God did have emotions, 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:14.119 he could be kind of manipulated 00:19:14.119 --> 00:19:15.399 to do a certain thing. 00:19:16.359 --> 00:19:16.619 You ever 00:19:16.619 --> 00:19:17.519 notice that? 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:19.079 You can manipulate people 00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:20.139 by getting them to feel 00:19:20.139 --> 00:19:20.879 a certain way. 00:19:21.579 --> 00:19:21.660 Well, 00:19:21.660 --> 00:19:21.879 they thought, 00:19:21.980 --> 00:19:22.680 that can't be God. 00:19:22.819 --> 00:19:23.000 So, 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:24.119 stoic philosophers 00:19:24.119 --> 00:19:26.379 like Seneca, 00:19:27.740 --> 00:19:29.240 Emperor Marcus Aurelius, 00:19:29.420 --> 00:19:29.660 you know, 00:19:29.740 --> 00:19:30.220 gladiator, 00:19:31.339 --> 00:19:33.180 they believed that 00:19:33.180 --> 00:19:34.619 that was a central attribute 00:19:34.619 --> 00:19:35.119 of God, 00:19:35.220 --> 00:19:35.759 apothea, 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:37.139 without passion 00:19:37.139 --> 00:19:37.920 or suffering, 00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:39.440 making him 00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:40.839 a very indifferent God, 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:42.599 very stoic God. 00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:44.720 And 00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:46.339 we also know 00:19:46.339 --> 00:19:47.839 that the scripture, 00:19:48.099 --> 00:19:48.699 from the scripture, 00:19:48.839 --> 00:19:49.879 that the Jews 00:19:49.879 --> 00:19:51.259 had a much clearer picture 00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:51.839 of who God 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:52.740 actually was. 00:19:53.299 --> 00:19:54.179 They knew that he did, 00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:55.839 he wasn't void of emotion, 00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:57.720 but he was sovereign 00:19:57.720 --> 00:19:59.019 and that he was almighty. 00:20:00.179 --> 00:20:00.599 So, 00:20:01.980 --> 00:20:02.480 yes, 00:20:03.819 --> 00:20:04.959 God is God, 00:20:05.619 --> 00:20:06.539 but some of you 00:20:06.539 --> 00:20:06.939 may think 00:20:06.939 --> 00:20:08.240 he still has no idea 00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:09.279 like what I'm actually 00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:10.000 going through, 00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:11.399 how terrible 00:20:11.399 --> 00:20:12.699 life is down here 00:20:12.699 --> 00:20:13.339 and all the 00:20:13.339 --> 00:20:14.379 weaknesses 00:20:14.379 --> 00:20:15.859 that come in this life. 00:20:16.339 --> 00:20:17.099 Some of you 00:20:17.099 --> 00:20:18.379 are in great weakness 00:20:18.379 --> 00:20:19.899 right now. 00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:22.179 He has no idea, 00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:23.359 God has no idea 00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:23.980 what pain 00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:25.859 or abandonment 00:20:25.859 --> 00:20:26.519 or suffering 00:20:26.519 --> 00:20:27.099 or hardship, 00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:27.879 he doesn't know 00:20:27.879 --> 00:20:28.480 what that's like. 00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:29.539 So, 00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:31.119 you know, 00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:32.019 people kind of push 00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:32.619 God aside 00:20:32.619 --> 00:20:33.359 because of that. 00:20:34.439 --> 00:20:35.419 But we read 00:20:35.419 --> 00:20:36.039 in our text 00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:36.859 that Jesus 00:20:36.859 --> 00:20:38.779 is very, 00:20:38.919 --> 00:20:39.939 very sympathetic 00:20:39.939 --> 00:20:41.419 towards our position. 00:20:41.420 --> 00:20:43.539 and why is that? 00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:45.259 How is that? 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:47.200 Because Christ 00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:48.000 is the divine 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:48.660 Son of God, 00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:49.600 but he was made 00:20:49.600 --> 00:20:50.860 a man. 00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:51.580 We read in 00:20:51.580 --> 00:20:53.580 John chapter 1, 00:20:54.539 --> 00:20:55.160 in the beginning 00:20:55.160 --> 00:20:56.039 was the Word, 00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:58.820 the Word was with God 00:20:58.820 --> 00:20:59.440 and the Word, 00:20:59.560 --> 00:21:00.160 the Lagos, 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:01.220 was God. 00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:03.620 further down, 00:21:03.819 --> 00:21:04.480 and the Word 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:05.539 became flesh 00:21:05.539 --> 00:21:06.160 and dwelt 00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:06.980 among us. 00:21:07.660 --> 00:21:08.100 And we have 00:21:08.100 --> 00:21:09.059 seen his glory, 00:21:09.180 --> 00:21:09.579 the glory 00:21:09.579 --> 00:21:10.180 as the only 00:21:10.180 --> 00:21:11.079 Son of the Father 00:21:11.079 --> 00:21:11.839 full of grace 00:21:11.839 --> 00:21:12.500 and truth. 00:21:13.579 --> 00:21:14.440 So we know 00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:15.519 that he was divine 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:16.120 and we know 00:21:16.120 --> 00:21:16.880 that he was fully 00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:18.319 man at the same time. 00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:19.660 But we know 00:21:19.660 --> 00:21:20.140 that he didn't 00:21:20.140 --> 00:21:21.180 account his equality 00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:21.799 with God 00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:22.140 as something 00:21:22.140 --> 00:21:23.160 to be held on to. 00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:24.100 But he came down 00:21:24.100 --> 00:21:25.559 and emptied himself 00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:26.880 taking on the form 00:21:26.880 --> 00:21:28.340 of a servant 00:21:28.340 --> 00:21:29.260 in the likeness 00:21:29.260 --> 00:21:30.540 of man. 00:21:30.620 --> 00:21:31.560 He became a living, 00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:32.940 breathing man 00:21:32.940 --> 00:21:33.620 just like 00:21:33.620 --> 00:21:35.340 us. 00:21:36.760 --> 00:21:37.480 He took on 00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:38.320 human flesh, 00:21:39.120 --> 00:21:39.700 emotions, 00:21:40.560 --> 00:21:42.360 and all its 00:21:42.360 --> 00:21:43.120 inherent weaknesses. 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:45.180 He didn't just 00:21:45.180 --> 00:21:46.580 imagine how we feel, 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:48.000 he actually experienced 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:48.720 how we feel. 00:21:48.820 --> 00:21:49.460 Huge difference. 00:21:50.760 --> 00:21:51.860 He sympathizes 00:21:51.860 --> 00:21:52.540 with us, 00:21:52.760 --> 00:21:53.280 he's tasted 00:21:53.280 --> 00:21:54.060 our struggles. 00:21:54.820 --> 00:21:55.300 When you read 00:21:55.300 --> 00:21:55.920 the Gospels, 00:21:56.020 --> 00:21:56.560 you'll just 00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:57.759 watch the interactions 00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:58.359 that he has 00:21:58.359 --> 00:21:58.799 with people. 00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:00.599 Jesus suffered 00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:01.379 emotionally, 00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:03.099 greatly. 00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:03.960 Weeping, 00:22:04.919 --> 00:22:05.480 persecution, 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:06.200 rejected, 00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:06.819 grief, 00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:07.539 anguish. 00:22:09.099 --> 00:22:09.960 Isaiah calls him 00:22:09.960 --> 00:22:11.299 the man of sorrows. 00:22:11.419 --> 00:22:12.220 Like he defined 00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:13.399 what sorrow was. 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.359 So, 00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:16.419 if that's how you feel, 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:17.099 he can relate. 00:22:17.819 --> 00:22:18.299 Physically, 00:22:18.440 --> 00:22:19.159 he grew hungry, 00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:20.179 he grew fatigued, 00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:20.960 he got tired, 00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:21.700 he had to eat, 00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:24.200 he felt physical pain, 00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:26.819 he was whipped, 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:27.420 and killed, 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:27.920 and beaten, 00:22:29.180 --> 00:22:29.960 and then we know 00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:30.740 that he was tempted 00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:31.779 by all the forces 00:22:31.779 --> 00:22:32.259 of evil, 00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:34.000 even by Satan 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:34.539 himself. 00:22:34.620 --> 00:22:35.100 He was tempted 00:22:35.100 --> 00:22:36.000 to turn down 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:37.039 power, 00:22:37.340 --> 00:22:37.920 prestige, 00:22:39.120 --> 00:22:39.819 indulgence of 00:22:39.819 --> 00:22:40.840 natural desires 00:22:40.840 --> 00:22:42.039 on his way 00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:42.640 to the cross. 00:22:43.160 --> 00:22:43.620 You realize 00:22:43.620 --> 00:22:44.259 he could have had 00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:44.819 a hundred different 00:22:44.819 --> 00:22:45.420 ways out 00:22:45.420 --> 00:22:46.039 if he really 00:22:46.039 --> 00:22:47.420 had desired, 00:22:47.539 --> 00:22:47.840 he could have 00:22:47.840 --> 00:22:48.580 just backed out, 00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:49.799 but he didn't. 00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:51.220 He chose to honor 00:22:51.220 --> 00:22:51.879 his father 00:22:51.879 --> 00:22:54.079 and chose to 00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:55.079 save us. 00:22:55.919 --> 00:22:56.879 He lived as a child, 00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:58.019 lived as a boy, 00:22:58.139 --> 00:22:58.639 and then also 00:22:58.639 --> 00:22:59.639 as a man. 00:23:00.460 --> 00:23:00.960 He covered 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:01.899 that whole sphere. 00:23:03.099 --> 00:23:03.339 So, 00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:04.019 some people 00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:05.079 catch this. 00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:05.960 Yes, 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:06.659 he endured 00:23:06.659 --> 00:23:07.740 all that we endured 00:23:07.740 --> 00:23:08.220 for his, 00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:08.500 you know, 00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:09.439 30-ish years, 00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:11.379 but he was tempted 00:23:11.379 --> 00:23:13.319 just like we're tempted, 00:23:14.139 --> 00:23:14.779 but yet, 00:23:14.859 --> 00:23:15.319 it says, 00:23:15.379 --> 00:23:16.279 without sin. 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:17.759 So, 00:23:17.819 --> 00:23:18.819 he never caved in, 00:23:18.879 --> 00:23:19.940 he never broke 00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:22.160 to sinful temptation. 00:23:23.139 --> 00:23:23.440 It's helpful 00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:24.259 to be reminded 00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:24.599 of that. 00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:25.460 Just to be tempted 00:23:25.460 --> 00:23:26.220 does not mean 00:23:26.220 --> 00:23:26.839 you've sinned. 00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.799 You don't cross 00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:29.460 into it. 00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:30.539 You're being 00:23:30.539 --> 00:23:31.539 allured by it, 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:33.119 but by God's grace, 00:23:34.339 --> 00:23:34.779 you can turn 00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:35.440 away from it. 00:23:36.660 --> 00:23:37.039 So, 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:37.899 Jesus was tempted 00:23:37.899 --> 00:23:38.480 in every way 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:38.879 we are, 00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:39.639 yet without sin. 00:23:39.740 --> 00:23:40.359 Peter wrote, 00:23:41.639 --> 00:23:42.379 Jesus committed 00:23:42.379 --> 00:23:43.079 no sin, 00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:43.819 neither was any 00:23:43.819 --> 00:23:44.680 deceit found 00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:45.539 in his mouth. 00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:47.859 When he was reviled, 00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:49.440 that's the worst, 00:23:49.639 --> 00:23:50.399 when he was reviled, 00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:51.440 he did not revile 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:52.079 in return, 00:23:52.639 --> 00:23:53.359 and when he suffered, 00:23:53.500 --> 00:23:54.359 he did not threaten, 00:23:55.220 --> 00:23:56.099 but continued 00:23:56.099 --> 00:23:57.220 entrusting himself 00:23:57.220 --> 00:23:58.180 to him 00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:59.339 who judges justly. 00:24:00.099 --> 00:24:00.619 So, 00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:01.740 Jesus endured 00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:02.799 all these things, 00:24:02.879 --> 00:24:04.119 but did not sin. 00:24:04.899 --> 00:24:06.200 A lot of wise people 00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:06.960 throughout the history 00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:07.460 of the church 00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:08.319 have pointed out 00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:08.720 that 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:11.599 this makes 00:24:11.599 --> 00:24:12.119 like Jesus' 00:24:12.339 --> 00:24:13.059 temptations 00:24:13.059 --> 00:24:14.099 not weaker 00:24:14.099 --> 00:24:14.659 than ours, 00:24:14.740 --> 00:24:15.500 but stronger 00:24:15.500 --> 00:24:16.679 than ours. 00:24:18.139 --> 00:24:18.619 So, 00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:19.559 one of those men, 00:24:20.779 --> 00:24:21.839 C.S. Lewis, 00:24:22.619 --> 00:24:23.179 in his book 00:24:23.179 --> 00:24:24.019 Mere Christianity, 00:24:24.899 --> 00:24:26.019 written not too long 00:24:26.019 --> 00:24:27.539 after the Second World War 00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:28.720 in 1952, 00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:30.440 talks about this 00:24:30.440 --> 00:24:31.419 idea of temptation 00:24:31.419 --> 00:24:32.379 in regard to Christ. 00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:32.960 He says, 00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:35.140 no man knows 00:24:35.140 --> 00:24:37.019 how bad he is 00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:37.559 until he has 00:24:37.559 --> 00:24:39.460 tried very hard 00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:40.220 to be good. 00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:42.220 A silly idea 00:24:42.220 --> 00:24:42.840 is current 00:24:42.840 --> 00:24:44.039 that good people 00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:44.720 do not know 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.880 what temptation means. 00:24:46.740 --> 00:24:47.360 This is 00:24:47.360 --> 00:24:48.900 an obvious lie. 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:50.380 Only those 00:24:50.380 --> 00:24:51.299 who try to resist 00:24:51.299 --> 00:24:51.900 temptation 00:24:51.900 --> 00:24:52.900 know how strong 00:24:52.900 --> 00:24:53.340 it is. 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:54.700 After all, 00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:55.920 you find the strength 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:57.019 of the German army, 00:24:57.100 --> 00:24:57.440 because they just 00:24:57.440 --> 00:24:58.220 fought the German army, 00:24:58.640 --> 00:24:59.960 by fighting against it, 00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:01.000 not by giving in 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:01.319 to it. 00:25:02.200 --> 00:25:03.039 You find out 00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:03.539 the strength 00:25:03.539 --> 00:25:04.140 of the wind 00:25:04.140 --> 00:25:05.140 by trying to walk 00:25:05.140 --> 00:25:05.880 against it, 00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:07.400 not by laying down. 00:25:08.400 --> 00:25:09.180 A man who gives 00:25:09.180 --> 00:25:09.860 into temptation 00:25:09.860 --> 00:25:10.920 after five minutes 00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:12.220 simply does not know 00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:14.000 what it would have 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:14.519 been like 00:25:14.519 --> 00:25:15.259 an hour later. 00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:16.920 This is why 00:25:16.920 --> 00:25:17.620 bad people, 00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:18.579 in one sense, 00:25:19.120 --> 00:25:20.059 know very little 00:25:20.059 --> 00:25:21.360 about badness. 00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:23.980 They have lived 00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:24.819 a sheltered life 00:25:24.819 --> 00:25:26.019 by always giving in. 00:25:26.940 --> 00:25:27.860 We never find 00:25:27.860 --> 00:25:28.559 our strength 00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:30.179 of the evil 00:25:30.179 --> 00:25:31.399 impulse inside us 00:25:31.399 --> 00:25:32.000 until we try 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:32.599 to fight it. 00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:34.159 And Christ, 00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:35.919 because he was 00:25:35.919 --> 00:25:36.799 the only man 00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:37.980 who never yielded 00:25:37.980 --> 00:25:38.700 to temptation, 00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:41.099 is also the only man 00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:41.700 who knows 00:25:41.700 --> 00:25:42.799 to the full 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:44.039 what temptation 00:25:44.039 --> 00:25:44.919 really means. 00:25:45.619 --> 00:25:46.299 The only 00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:49.119 complete realist. 00:25:50.419 --> 00:25:50.799 So, 00:25:51.980 --> 00:25:54.339 my analogy 00:25:54.339 --> 00:25:55.220 is I like to go 00:25:55.220 --> 00:25:55.720 to the gym 00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:56.299 and work out, 00:25:56.359 --> 00:25:56.839 can't you tell? 00:25:56.839 --> 00:25:59.720 But one of my 00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:00.240 favorite things 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:00.819 to do to meet 00:26:00.819 --> 00:26:01.339 new guys 00:26:01.339 --> 00:26:02.099 and have gospel 00:26:02.099 --> 00:26:02.720 conversations 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:03.299 at the gym 00:26:03.299 --> 00:26:04.899 is just to walk 00:26:04.899 --> 00:26:05.399 in the middle 00:26:05.399 --> 00:26:06.299 of these guys 00:26:06.299 --> 00:26:06.779 that are just 00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:07.459 enormous, 00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:08.799 lifting these huge 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:11.240 dumbbells 00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:12.039 and barbells. 00:26:12.519 --> 00:26:13.379 And I met 00:26:13.379 --> 00:26:14.019 one guy, 00:26:15.439 --> 00:26:17.259 he's with the 00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:19.079 Hall County SWAT team, 00:26:19.579 --> 00:26:20.539 so he's pretty jacked. 00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:21.779 But I actually 00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:22.459 met him because 00:26:22.459 --> 00:26:23.299 he was just lifting 00:26:23.299 --> 00:26:24.299 some serious weights. 00:26:24.299 --> 00:26:24.799 I think he had 00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:25.740 almost every weight 00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:27.200 on the little thing 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:27.919 on his bar. 00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:28.440 00:26:29.299 --> 00:26:30.240 he just did a set 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:30.680 and he was doing 00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:32.379 like the catching. 00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:32.879 I just kind of 00:26:32.879 --> 00:26:33.740 walked up beside him 00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:34.299 and I reached down 00:26:34.299 --> 00:26:34.720 and I didn't even 00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:35.000 know him 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:35.399 and I was like, 00:26:37.579 --> 00:26:38.539 and he was like 00:26:38.539 --> 00:26:38.740 going, 00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:40.639 and I was like, 00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:40.799 man, 00:26:40.839 --> 00:26:41.099 I don't want to 00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:41.579 show you up 00:26:41.579 --> 00:26:42.119 and I just walked 00:26:42.119 --> 00:26:42.500 away. 00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:42.960 00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:44.720 but that's like 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:45.399 how I met him. 00:26:46.759 --> 00:26:47.099 But, 00:26:47.339 --> 00:26:48.460 example 00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:49.500 with weights, 00:26:50.500 --> 00:26:51.299 you know, 00:26:51.339 --> 00:26:52.079 I can bench press 00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:52.559 my weight, 00:26:52.639 --> 00:26:53.439 which isn't that bad. 00:26:54.379 --> 00:26:54.720 But, 00:26:55.299 --> 00:26:56.259 there's no way 00:26:56.259 --> 00:26:56.879 I could like 00:26:56.879 --> 00:26:57.859 take the full weight 00:26:57.859 --> 00:26:58.460 of like what is 00:26:58.460 --> 00:26:59.279 actually on 00:26:59.279 --> 00:27:00.779 that little weight 00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:03.039 holder thing. 00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:04.679 I don't even know 00:27:04.679 --> 00:27:05.079 what it's called. 00:27:06.419 --> 00:27:07.259 I look at that 00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:07.539 and I'm like, 00:27:07.579 --> 00:27:07.679 yeah, 00:27:07.679 --> 00:27:08.279 I couldn't bear 00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:08.779 all that. 00:27:09.299 --> 00:27:09.500 So, 00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:10.220 I don't really know 00:27:10.220 --> 00:27:10.919 like how much 00:27:10.919 --> 00:27:12.099 weight that really is 00:27:12.099 --> 00:27:12.599 because I've never 00:27:12.599 --> 00:27:13.119 done it. 00:27:13.159 --> 00:27:13.539 If I did, 00:27:13.599 --> 00:27:13.899 it would just 00:27:13.899 --> 00:27:14.799 pin me and kill me. 00:27:15.839 --> 00:27:16.119 And, 00:27:16.879 --> 00:27:17.199 but, 00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:18.139 like a guy 00:27:18.139 --> 00:27:18.659 like my buddy 00:27:18.659 --> 00:27:19.240 can pick up 00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:19.920 that whole thing 00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:20.200 though. 00:27:21.160 --> 00:27:21.420 So, 00:27:21.500 --> 00:27:22.400 it is sort of 00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:22.779 a little 00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:24.220 silly picture 00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:24.900 of what it's like 00:27:24.900 --> 00:27:26.359 with us. 00:27:26.559 --> 00:27:27.140 We can only 00:27:27.140 --> 00:27:28.380 do so much 00:27:28.380 --> 00:27:29.120 and then we break. 00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:29.839 We capitulate 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:30.579 before we feel 00:27:30.579 --> 00:27:31.140 the final 00:27:31.140 --> 00:27:32.279 full assault 00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:33.299 of what sin is. 00:27:33.700 --> 00:27:34.559 We cave in 00:27:34.559 --> 00:27:35.720 very easily. 00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:37.259 But, 00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:37.839 Jesus 00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:39.400 endured 00:27:39.400 --> 00:27:40.120 the full 00:27:40.120 --> 00:27:40.779 pressure 00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:42.759 of temptation. 00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:44.359 A lifetime 00:27:44.359 --> 00:27:44.880 of it. 00:27:45.880 --> 00:27:46.559 A whole lifetime 00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:46.940 of it. 00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:47.299 And then it 00:27:47.299 --> 00:27:48.059 climaxed. 00:27:48.099 --> 00:27:48.500 It even got 00:27:48.500 --> 00:27:48.980 worse 00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:49.740 at the 00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:50.460 spectacular 00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:51.180 abuse 00:27:51.180 --> 00:27:51.900 and abandonment 00:27:51.900 --> 00:27:52.519 that he faced 00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:53.259 at the cross 00:27:53.259 --> 00:27:54.900 and the passion 00:27:54.900 --> 00:27:55.420 that he had 00:27:55.420 --> 00:27:56.180 in that last 00:27:56.180 --> 00:27:56.660 week. 00:27:57.299 --> 00:27:57.660 So, 00:27:57.720 --> 00:27:58.359 he is capable 00:27:58.359 --> 00:27:58.880 of like 00:27:58.880 --> 00:27:59.799 unparalleled 00:27:59.799 --> 00:28:00.660 sympathy 00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:01.640 towards us. 00:28:03.720 --> 00:28:04.240 He went 00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:04.720 through far 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:05.200 more than 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:05.640 any of you 00:28:05.640 --> 00:28:05.960 have 00:28:05.960 --> 00:28:06.619 and far 00:28:06.619 --> 00:28:06.920 more than 00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:07.279 all of us 00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:07.859 combined. 00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:09.380 And because 00:28:09.380 --> 00:28:09.759 of that, 00:28:09.819 --> 00:28:10.079 I know 00:28:10.079 --> 00:28:10.779 deep down 00:28:10.779 --> 00:28:12.059 a lot of 00:28:12.059 --> 00:28:12.319 is to say, 00:28:12.339 --> 00:28:12.680 I just want 00:28:12.680 --> 00:28:13.259 somebody to 00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:14.039 understand me. 00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:14.420 Like, 00:28:14.779 --> 00:28:15.259 I get they 00:28:15.259 --> 00:28:15.720 can tell me 00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:16.500 truth and I 00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:16.839 get they can 00:28:16.839 --> 00:28:17.140 tell me the 00:28:17.140 --> 00:28:17.519 right thing to 00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:17.720 do, 00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:17.920 but I 00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:18.240 just don't 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:18.500 care. 00:28:18.600 --> 00:28:18.839 I want 00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:20.100 someone who 00:28:20.100 --> 00:28:20.720 knows what 00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:21.100 it's like, 00:28:21.140 --> 00:28:21.519 who's been 00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:21.819 there. 00:28:23.900 --> 00:28:24.440 You might 00:28:24.440 --> 00:28:24.720 have the 00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:25.059 privilege of 00:28:25.059 --> 00:28:25.380 doing that, 00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:25.579 but you 00:28:25.579 --> 00:28:26.039 might not. 00:28:26.120 --> 00:28:26.339 You just 00:28:26.339 --> 00:28:26.519 need to 00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:26.860 listen to 00:28:26.860 --> 00:28:27.600 truth sometimes. 00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:28.900 But, 00:28:29.420 --> 00:28:30.640 you do in 00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:31.000 Christ. 00:28:31.120 --> 00:28:31.779 He knows. 00:28:31.880 --> 00:28:32.440 He knows 00:28:32.440 --> 00:28:32.839 what it's 00:28:32.839 --> 00:28:33.180 like. 00:28:34.460 --> 00:28:34.960 No one 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:35.920 suffered more 00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:37.240 or endured 00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:38.100 more abuse. 00:28:39.100 --> 00:28:39.500 No one 00:28:39.500 --> 00:28:40.180 deserved it 00:28:40.180 --> 00:28:40.960 less or had 00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:41.539 some reason 00:28:41.539 --> 00:28:42.339 to fight back 00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:42.779 than him. 00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:44.679 We read 00:28:44.679 --> 00:28:45.099 earlier, 00:28:45.839 --> 00:28:46.139 just hold 00:28:46.139 --> 00:28:46.679 your place. 00:28:47.099 --> 00:28:47.339 Look at 00:28:47.339 --> 00:28:48.299 chapter 2. 00:28:49.079 --> 00:28:49.519 Rewind 00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:50.599 Hebrews 2 00:28:50.599 --> 00:28:51.799 verse 17. 00:28:53.939 --> 00:28:54.439 Hebrews 00:28:54.439 --> 00:28:55.019 chapter 2 00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:55.839 verse 17. 00:28:58.539 --> 00:28:59.019 Nathan 00:28:59.019 --> 00:28:59.459 kind of, 00:28:59.579 --> 00:28:59.720 I think, 00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:00.220 preached on 00:29:00.220 --> 00:29:00.679 this and 00:29:00.679 --> 00:29:01.720 nailed the 00:29:01.720 --> 00:29:02.259 same idea 00:29:02.259 --> 00:29:02.939 pretty well. 00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:05.279 Hebrews 2 00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:05.899 verse 17 00:29:05.899 --> 00:29:06.240 says, 00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:34.779 See that? 00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:35.879 There's the 00:29:35.879 --> 00:29:36.519 grounds of 00:29:36.519 --> 00:29:37.019 his sympathy. 00:29:37.180 --> 00:29:37.619 He's been 00:29:37.619 --> 00:29:37.960 there. 00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:39.059 And if 00:29:39.059 --> 00:29:39.539 you're getting 00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:41.240 wiped out, 00:29:41.359 --> 00:29:41.700 getting your 00:29:41.700 --> 00:29:42.460 clock cleaned 00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:43.359 by sin 00:29:43.359 --> 00:29:44.000 and temptation, 00:29:44.920 --> 00:29:45.899 he can 00:29:45.899 --> 00:29:46.379 help you. 00:29:47.160 --> 00:29:47.799 He knows 00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:48.160 what it's 00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:48.480 like. 00:29:49.819 --> 00:29:50.200 He's 00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:50.619 sympathetic 00:29:50.619 --> 00:29:51.819 towards where 00:29:51.819 --> 00:29:52.379 you are. 00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:53.839 And so 00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:54.539 right now, 00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:55.259 if you look 00:29:55.259 --> 00:29:55.680 back in 00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:56.460 Hebrews 4, 00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:57.240 we can go 00:29:57.240 --> 00:29:58.259 to him 00:29:58.259 --> 00:29:58.759 in prayer 00:29:58.759 --> 00:29:59.359 right now 00:29:59.359 --> 00:29:59.779 and just 00:29:59.779 --> 00:29:59.980 say, 00:30:00.099 --> 00:30:00.460 get me 00:30:00.460 --> 00:30:01.039 through this. 00:30:01.180 --> 00:30:02.259 Pray for 00:30:02.259 --> 00:30:03.019 deliverance 00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:04.099 from temptation 00:30:04.099 --> 00:30:04.919 and he 00:30:04.919 --> 00:30:05.359 will do 00:30:05.359 --> 00:30:05.579 it. 00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:08.019 I remember 00:30:08.019 --> 00:30:08.399 one time 00:30:08.399 --> 00:30:09.039 I was being 00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:10.139 tempted to 00:30:10.139 --> 00:30:10.519 do something 00:30:10.519 --> 00:30:11.000 I shouldn't 00:30:11.000 --> 00:30:11.439 do and I 00:30:11.439 --> 00:30:12.079 just cried 00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:12.599 out loud, 00:30:12.740 --> 00:30:12.859 like, 00:30:12.939 --> 00:30:13.159 Lord, 00:30:13.319 --> 00:30:14.199 everything in 00:30:14.199 --> 00:30:14.619 me right 00:30:14.619 --> 00:30:15.240 now wants 00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:15.500 to do 00:30:15.500 --> 00:30:15.859 this. 00:30:16.759 --> 00:30:17.039 But I 00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:17.379 know that 00:30:17.379 --> 00:30:17.959 you created 00:30:17.959 --> 00:30:18.379 me and 00:30:18.379 --> 00:30:18.659 you have 00:30:18.659 --> 00:30:19.399 power over 00:30:19.399 --> 00:30:20.299 everything 00:30:20.299 --> 00:30:20.719 that's in 00:30:20.719 --> 00:30:20.899 me. 00:30:20.959 --> 00:30:21.379 So help 00:30:21.379 --> 00:30:22.240 me in 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:22.779 this moment 00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:23.379 deny what 00:30:23.379 --> 00:30:24.000 this wants 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:25.039 and to 00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:25.500 endure. 00:30:26.459 --> 00:30:26.980 And I'm 00:30:26.980 --> 00:30:27.399 telling you, 00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:28.439 he delivers. 00:30:29.319 --> 00:30:29.719 He can 00:30:29.719 --> 00:30:30.659 sustain you. 00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:32.179 He understands. 00:30:32.379 --> 00:30:32.839 He can help 00:30:32.839 --> 00:30:33.500 those who are 00:30:33.500 --> 00:30:33.879 being 00:30:33.880 --> 00:30:34.360 tempted. 00:30:35.720 --> 00:30:35.980 He's 00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:36.620 tasted our 00:30:36.620 --> 00:30:37.020 struggle, 00:30:37.120 --> 00:30:37.340 like it 00:30:37.340 --> 00:30:37.560 says, 00:30:37.600 --> 00:30:38.180 in every 00:30:38.180 --> 00:30:38.880 respect. 00:30:39.620 --> 00:30:39.960 So this 00:30:39.960 --> 00:30:40.420 has meaning 00:30:40.420 --> 00:30:40.800 for us 00:30:40.800 --> 00:30:41.360 right now, 00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:41.720 like in 00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:42.160 the present 00:30:42.160 --> 00:30:42.900 as believers 00:30:42.900 --> 00:30:43.680 that can 00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:44.000 go to 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:44.460 God in 00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:44.940 prayer and 00:30:44.940 --> 00:30:45.420 get help 00:30:45.420 --> 00:30:46.740 and deliverance 00:30:46.740 --> 00:30:47.180 from our 00:30:47.180 --> 00:30:47.660 sin and 00:30:47.660 --> 00:30:48.120 temptation. 00:30:49.120 --> 00:30:49.300 But it 00:30:49.300 --> 00:30:49.840 also has a 00:30:49.840 --> 00:30:51.220 great future 00:30:51.220 --> 00:30:51.660 meaning that 00:30:51.660 --> 00:30:52.200 when we stand 00:30:52.200 --> 00:30:52.740 before God 00:30:52.740 --> 00:30:53.160 one day, 00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:53.640 we're standing 00:30:53.640 --> 00:30:54.160 with a high 00:30:54.160 --> 00:30:54.660 priest who 00:30:54.660 --> 00:30:55.140 knows, 00:30:55.560 --> 00:30:55.960 again, 00:30:56.060 --> 00:30:56.380 like where 00:30:56.380 --> 00:30:56.780 we're coming 00:30:56.780 --> 00:30:57.160 from. 00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:57.740 He knows. 00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:00.580 Have you 00:31:00.580 --> 00:31:01.480 experienced that 00:31:01.480 --> 00:31:02.020 deliverance 00:31:02.020 --> 00:31:02.320 before? 00:31:02.420 --> 00:31:02.580 Have you 00:31:02.580 --> 00:31:03.220 watched and 00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:03.700 prayed that 00:31:03.700 --> 00:31:03.920 you didn't 00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:04.380 fall into 00:31:04.380 --> 00:31:04.920 temptation? 00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:06.319 Most of 00:31:06.319 --> 00:31:06.539 us don't 00:31:06.539 --> 00:31:06.840 even want to 00:31:06.840 --> 00:31:07.100 put up a 00:31:07.100 --> 00:31:07.500 fight where 00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:07.840 it's like, 00:31:08.180 --> 00:31:08.759 okay, 00:31:09.180 --> 00:31:09.420 and we 00:31:09.420 --> 00:31:10.259 break and 00:31:10.259 --> 00:31:10.799 give in. 00:31:11.779 --> 00:31:13.319 But Jesus 00:31:13.319 --> 00:31:14.360 can sustain 00:31:14.360 --> 00:31:14.660 you, 00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:15.559 and He 00:31:15.559 --> 00:31:15.940 has. 00:31:17.380 --> 00:31:17.880 Thirdly, 00:31:18.220 --> 00:31:18.860 and lastly, 00:31:19.080 --> 00:31:20.640 back in 00:31:20.640 --> 00:31:21.299 chapter 4, 00:31:21.480 --> 00:31:22.340 verse 16, 00:31:23.259 --> 00:31:24.000 number 3, 00:31:24.180 --> 00:31:25.100 hold fast. 00:31:25.099 --> 00:31:26.559 Jesus, 00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:26.559 00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:26.559 00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:27.539 our high 00:31:27.539 --> 00:31:28.059 priest, 00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:29.719 gives us 00:31:29.719 --> 00:31:30.519 confidence. 00:31:32.019 --> 00:31:32.619 Jesus, 00:31:32.779 --> 00:31:33.119 our high 00:31:33.119 --> 00:31:33.379 priest, 00:31:33.459 --> 00:31:33.740 gives us 00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:34.219 confidence. 00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:35.579 Verse 16, 00:31:35.699 --> 00:31:36.179 let us 00:31:36.179 --> 00:31:37.000 then, 00:31:37.679 --> 00:31:38.480 with confidence, 00:31:39.240 --> 00:31:40.299 draw near to the 00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:41.099 throne of grace, 00:31:41.480 --> 00:31:42.199 that we may 00:31:42.199 --> 00:31:43.079 receive mercy 00:31:43.079 --> 00:31:44.099 and find grace 00:31:44.099 --> 00:31:44.719 to help in 00:31:44.719 --> 00:31:45.819 time of need. 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:48.819 Something I 00:31:48.819 --> 00:31:49.359 learned in my 00:31:49.359 --> 00:31:50.199 studies was this 00:31:50.199 --> 00:31:51.219 word confidence 00:31:51.220 --> 00:31:53.100 has a great 00:31:53.100 --> 00:31:53.900 usage in 00:31:53.900 --> 00:31:55.339 classical Greek 00:31:55.339 --> 00:31:57.000 literature that 00:31:57.000 --> 00:31:57.980 denotes free 00:31:57.980 --> 00:31:58.539 and open 00:31:58.539 --> 00:31:59.380 speech between 00:31:59.380 --> 00:32:01.480 citizens with 00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:02.000 one another. 00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:03.940 Free and 00:32:03.940 --> 00:32:04.700 open speech of 00:32:04.700 --> 00:32:05.360 citizens with 00:32:05.360 --> 00:32:05.860 one another. 00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:08.079 But the 00:32:08.079 --> 00:32:08.680 Greeks never 00:32:08.680 --> 00:32:09.480 used it to 00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:10.380 apply to having 00:32:10.380 --> 00:32:10.940 free and open 00:32:10.940 --> 00:32:11.779 speech with a 00:32:11.779 --> 00:32:12.400 deity like 00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:13.079 Zeus or 00:32:13.079 --> 00:32:13.380 Athena. 00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:13.759 It was never 00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:14.519 applied in that 00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:15.519 context. 00:32:15.579 --> 00:32:15.819 But what's 00:32:15.819 --> 00:32:16.539 really cool is 00:32:16.539 --> 00:32:17.000 the writer of 00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:17.519 Hebrews took 00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:18.759 that word and 00:32:18.759 --> 00:32:19.559 he applied it to 00:32:19.559 --> 00:32:20.100 a relationship 00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.660 with God. 00:32:21.460 --> 00:32:22.319 We can have 00:32:22.319 --> 00:32:23.620 free and open 00:32:23.620 --> 00:32:24.839 speech before 00:32:24.839 --> 00:32:25.140 God. 00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:25.680 Don't run too 00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:26.220 far with that. 00:32:26.500 --> 00:32:27.740 Like freedom of 00:32:27.740 --> 00:32:28.380 the press kind 00:32:28.380 --> 00:32:28.720 of stuff. 00:32:28.779 --> 00:32:29.100 That's not what 00:32:29.100 --> 00:32:29.400 it means. 00:32:29.920 --> 00:32:30.440 It just means 00:32:30.440 --> 00:32:30.819 that we can 00:32:30.819 --> 00:32:31.559 speak honestly 00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:32.380 to God with 00:32:32.380 --> 00:32:33.019 reverence and 00:32:33.019 --> 00:32:34.360 we can pour 00:32:34.360 --> 00:32:35.180 out our hearts 00:32:35.180 --> 00:32:36.740 before him. 00:32:38.339 --> 00:32:39.100 And the 00:32:39.100 --> 00:32:40.500 real blunt 00:32:40.500 --> 00:32:41.339 term is frank 00:32:41.339 --> 00:32:42.019 boldness, 00:32:42.900 --> 00:32:43.759 an outpouring of 00:32:43.759 --> 00:32:44.420 our heart to 00:32:44.420 --> 00:32:44.759 God. 00:32:46.059 --> 00:32:46.400 We can 00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:46.980 confidently 00:32:46.980 --> 00:32:47.779 approach him 00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:48.400 and speak 00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:49.100 with him. 00:32:49.460 --> 00:32:50.140 Because of 00:32:50.140 --> 00:32:50.539 Christ, 00:32:50.539 --> 00:32:51.299 our high 00:32:51.299 --> 00:32:51.720 priest, 00:32:52.099 --> 00:32:52.420 we can 00:32:52.420 --> 00:32:53.220 receive mercy 00:32:53.220 --> 00:32:53.759 and find 00:32:53.759 --> 00:32:54.899 grace to 00:32:54.899 --> 00:32:55.500 help in 00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:56.159 time of 00:32:56.159 --> 00:32:56.539 need. 00:32:57.799 --> 00:32:58.200 So, 00:32:58.500 --> 00:32:58.940 question, 00:32:59.099 --> 00:32:59.420 where does 00:32:59.420 --> 00:33:01.200 your confidence 00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:03.000 to face 00:33:03.000 --> 00:33:03.639 God one 00:33:03.639 --> 00:33:04.200 day come 00:33:04.200 --> 00:33:04.559 from? 00:33:05.899 --> 00:33:06.339 Church 00:33:06.339 --> 00:33:06.819 attendance, 00:33:07.139 --> 00:33:07.559 doing good 00:33:07.559 --> 00:33:07.980 works, 00:33:08.139 --> 00:33:08.960 giving generously, 00:33:09.619 --> 00:33:10.399 being a good 00:33:10.399 --> 00:33:11.180 moral person, 00:33:12.119 --> 00:33:12.920 not going to 00:33:12.920 --> 00:33:13.220 cut it. 00:33:14.579 --> 00:33:15.259 The last 00:33:15.259 --> 00:33:15.779 place I want 00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:16.259 you to look 00:33:16.259 --> 00:33:16.740 is just in 00:33:16.740 --> 00:33:17.740 our Hebrews 00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:18.240 as well, 00:33:18.339 --> 00:33:18.740 everything in 00:33:18.740 --> 00:33:18.980 Hebrews 00:33:18.980 --> 00:33:19.319 today. 00:33:19.420 --> 00:33:19.680 Hebrews 00:33:19.680 --> 00:33:20.339 chapter 10, 00:33:21.579 --> 00:33:22.259 we'll get 00:33:22.259 --> 00:33:22.759 there eventually. 00:33:22.880 --> 00:33:23.099 Hebrews 00:33:23.099 --> 00:33:23.700 chapter 10, 00:33:23.779 --> 00:33:24.380 just flip over 00:33:24.380 --> 00:33:26.460 to verse 19. 00:33:27.839 --> 00:33:28.599 Here's another 00:33:28.599 --> 00:33:29.900 picture of what 00:33:29.900 --> 00:33:30.299 we're talking 00:33:30.299 --> 00:33:30.680 about. 00:33:33.380 --> 00:33:33.900 10, 00:33:33.940 --> 00:33:34.400 19, 00:33:34.900 --> 00:33:36.019 says, 00:33:36.019 --> 00:33:36.420 therefore, 00:33:36.420 --> 00:33:37.279 brothers, 00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:39.059 since we have 00:33:39.059 --> 00:33:40.180 confidence to 00:33:40.180 --> 00:33:40.700 enter the 00:33:40.700 --> 00:33:41.519 holy places 00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:42.180 by the blood 00:33:42.180 --> 00:33:42.680 of Jesus, 00:33:43.359 --> 00:33:44.240 by the new 00:33:44.240 --> 00:33:45.079 and living way 00:33:45.079 --> 00:33:45.859 that He opened 00:33:45.859 --> 00:33:46.480 for us, 00:33:46.980 --> 00:33:47.379 through the 00:33:47.379 --> 00:33:47.720 curtain, 00:33:48.119 --> 00:33:48.619 that is, 00:33:48.700 --> 00:33:49.000 through His 00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:49.460 flesh, 00:33:50.359 --> 00:33:50.839 and since we 00:33:50.839 --> 00:33:51.500 have a great 00:33:51.500 --> 00:33:52.500 priest over the 00:33:52.500 --> 00:33:53.299 house of God, 00:33:54.039 --> 00:33:54.599 here's the same 00:33:54.599 --> 00:33:55.180 kind of language, 00:33:55.180 --> 00:33:55.880 let us draw 00:33:55.880 --> 00:33:57.539 near with a 00:33:57.539 --> 00:33:58.240 true heart 00:33:58.240 --> 00:33:59.259 and full 00:33:59.259 --> 00:33:59.960 assurance of 00:33:59.960 --> 00:34:00.380 faith, 00:34:01.100 --> 00:34:01.500 with our 00:34:01.500 --> 00:34:02.200 hearts sprinkled 00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:03.060 clean from an 00:34:03.060 --> 00:34:03.820 evil conscience 00:34:03.820 --> 00:34:04.480 and our bodies 00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:05.180 washed with 00:34:05.180 --> 00:34:05.799 pure water. 00:34:07.420 --> 00:34:07.779 So, 00:34:07.980 --> 00:34:09.059 Christ's 00:34:09.059 --> 00:34:09.760 blood, 00:34:10.760 --> 00:34:11.320 the torn 00:34:11.320 --> 00:34:11.880 curtain 00:34:11.880 --> 00:34:13.800 of the 00:34:13.800 --> 00:34:14.220 temple at 00:34:14.220 --> 00:34:14.659 that time, 00:34:15.200 --> 00:34:16.019 and Christ's 00:34:16.019 --> 00:34:17.099 great sympathetic 00:34:17.099 --> 00:34:18.579 high priestly 00:34:18.579 --> 00:34:19.680 work is our 00:34:19.680 --> 00:34:20.440 confidence and 00:34:20.440 --> 00:34:21.079 our assurance 00:34:21.079 --> 00:34:21.900 to stand before 00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:22.880 God one 00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:23.159 day. 00:34:23.159 --> 00:34:25.259 So, 00:34:25.859 --> 00:34:27.339 get this in 00:34:27.339 --> 00:34:27.759 your head. 00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:29.359 Our 00:34:29.359 --> 00:34:30.119 confidence and 00:34:30.119 --> 00:34:30.739 our assurance 00:34:30.739 --> 00:34:31.460 to approach 00:34:31.460 --> 00:34:33.239 God is 00:34:33.239 --> 00:34:35.219 created by 00:34:35.219 --> 00:34:36.059 realizing we 00:34:36.059 --> 00:34:36.699 have access 00:34:36.699 --> 00:34:37.299 to Him, 00:34:37.839 --> 00:34:38.920 not because of 00:34:38.920 --> 00:34:39.879 anything in us 00:34:39.879 --> 00:34:40.559 or anything we've 00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:40.819 done. 00:34:41.859 --> 00:34:42.579 Throw that 00:34:42.579 --> 00:34:42.859 away. 00:34:44.259 --> 00:34:45.239 The confidence 00:34:45.239 --> 00:34:45.960 that we need 00:34:45.960 --> 00:34:47.619 is created by 00:34:47.619 --> 00:34:48.420 realizing that 00:34:48.420 --> 00:34:49.179 Christ has done 00:34:49.179 --> 00:34:50.000 the work for 00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:50.699 us and that we 00:34:50.699 --> 00:34:51.399 are found in 00:34:51.399 --> 00:34:52.219 Him, not by 00:34:52.219 --> 00:34:52.719 something that 00:34:52.719 --> 00:34:53.139 you have 00:34:53.139 --> 00:34:53.460 done. 00:34:54.599 --> 00:34:55.519 So, it's not 00:34:55.519 --> 00:34:57.019 self-confidence, 00:34:57.219 --> 00:34:58.339 it's Christ's 00:34:58.339 --> 00:34:58.719 confidence. 00:34:59.940 --> 00:35:00.519 So, we can 00:35:00.519 --> 00:35:01.619 stand in God's 00:35:01.619 --> 00:35:02.359 presence again 00:35:02.359 --> 00:35:02.900 with full 00:35:02.900 --> 00:35:03.500 assurance, 00:35:04.940 --> 00:35:06.480 not because we 00:35:06.480 --> 00:35:07.239 paid our dues 00:35:07.239 --> 00:35:07.779 and we approved 00:35:07.779 --> 00:35:08.619 our mettle to 00:35:08.619 --> 00:35:09.679 God, but because 00:35:09.679 --> 00:35:11.379 Christ has 00:35:11.379 --> 00:35:12.539 done all that 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:13.199 is required 00:35:13.199 --> 00:35:14.420 to help us 00:35:14.420 --> 00:35:15.039 stand there. 00:35:16.079 --> 00:35:17.539 So, if you 00:35:17.539 --> 00:35:18.159 want to face 00:35:18.159 --> 00:35:18.819 God's judgment 00:35:18.819 --> 00:35:19.379 one day, you 00:35:19.379 --> 00:35:19.839 want to approach 00:35:19.839 --> 00:35:20.279 the throne, 00:35:20.379 --> 00:35:21.359 like now, 00:35:21.559 --> 00:35:22.099 freely, but 00:35:22.099 --> 00:35:22.860 also in the 00:35:22.860 --> 00:35:24.559 future, to 00:35:24.559 --> 00:35:26.339 have fear, a 00:35:26.339 --> 00:35:27.000 reverent fear 00:35:27.000 --> 00:35:27.559 of God, but 00:35:27.559 --> 00:35:28.199 to approach 00:35:28.199 --> 00:35:29.219 with confidence, 00:35:29.960 --> 00:35:30.579 you have to 00:35:30.579 --> 00:35:31.099 realize that 00:35:31.099 --> 00:35:31.920 that's based on 00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:32.480 your acceptance 00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:33.239 in Christ and 00:35:33.239 --> 00:35:34.279 not anything you 00:35:34.279 --> 00:35:36.179 bring at all. 00:35:36.179 --> 00:35:37.179 God's love. 00:35:37.179 --> 00:35:38.179 It's all about 00:35:38.179 --> 00:35:39.199 Jesus being our 00:35:39.199 --> 00:35:40.099 eternal high 00:35:40.099 --> 00:35:40.519 priest. 00:35:41.399 --> 00:35:42.019 High priest 00:35:42.019 --> 00:35:42.579 language may 00:35:42.579 --> 00:35:43.039 sound really 00:35:43.039 --> 00:35:43.739 foreign to you, 00:35:43.779 --> 00:35:43.960 right? 00:35:44.039 --> 00:35:45.419 But, point 00:35:45.419 --> 00:35:45.919 being, you 00:35:45.919 --> 00:35:46.819 need someone to 00:35:46.819 --> 00:35:47.399 go and stand 00:35:47.399 --> 00:35:49.079 between you and 00:35:49.079 --> 00:35:49.739 a holy God, 00:35:49.799 --> 00:35:50.419 because you're not 00:35:50.419 --> 00:35:51.039 going to be able to 00:35:51.039 --> 00:35:51.559 do it on your 00:35:51.559 --> 00:35:52.879 own, and Jesus 00:35:52.879 --> 00:35:53.799 is that person. 00:35:53.800 --> 00:35:57.680 So, imagine 00:35:57.680 --> 00:36:00.039 yourself in a 00:36:00.039 --> 00:36:00.760 context like 00:36:00.760 --> 00:36:02.440 Isaiah, where 00:36:02.440 --> 00:36:03.400 he was facing 00:36:03.400 --> 00:36:04.019 the throne of 00:36:04.019 --> 00:36:06.180 God, or John 00:36:06.180 --> 00:36:07.220 in Revelation 00:36:07.220 --> 00:36:08.880 4, where he 00:36:08.880 --> 00:36:09.800 looks upon this 00:36:09.800 --> 00:36:10.660 throne that has 00:36:10.660 --> 00:36:11.560 lightning around 00:36:11.560 --> 00:36:13.140 it and peals of 00:36:13.140 --> 00:36:15.600 thunder, tying to 00:36:15.600 --> 00:36:16.240 what Paul said, 00:36:16.280 --> 00:36:16.720 he lives in 00:36:16.720 --> 00:36:17.500 unapproachable 00:36:17.500 --> 00:36:18.360 light, God 00:36:18.360 --> 00:36:18.740 does. 00:36:18.739 --> 00:36:21.899 And, you're 00:36:21.899 --> 00:36:22.859 lying on your 00:36:22.859 --> 00:36:23.939 face in terror, 00:36:24.139 --> 00:36:24.939 afraid to 00:36:24.939 --> 00:36:26.199 approach and 00:36:26.199 --> 00:36:27.799 ascend those 00:36:27.799 --> 00:36:28.799 stairs to stand 00:36:28.799 --> 00:36:29.759 before God. 00:36:31.139 --> 00:36:31.839 You see the 00:36:31.839 --> 00:36:32.779 cherubim and 00:36:32.779 --> 00:36:34.179 other creatures 00:36:34.179 --> 00:36:34.839 singing the 00:36:34.839 --> 00:36:35.739 praises of God, 00:36:36.699 --> 00:36:37.319 and you're 00:36:37.319 --> 00:36:38.479 terrified. 00:36:39.199 --> 00:36:40.099 You think, if I 00:36:40.099 --> 00:36:40.939 approach that 00:36:40.939 --> 00:36:41.859 throne, I am 00:36:41.859 --> 00:36:42.199 done. 00:36:43.259 --> 00:36:44.379 I'm finished. 00:36:44.539 --> 00:36:45.939 I'm too sinful. 00:36:46.619 --> 00:36:47.139 I'm not 00:36:47.139 --> 00:36:47.579 confident. 00:36:48.739 --> 00:36:49.879 And then you 00:36:49.879 --> 00:36:51.039 feel like a 00:36:51.039 --> 00:36:52.359 real strong 00:36:52.359 --> 00:36:53.599 but gentle 00:36:53.599 --> 00:36:54.500 hand come on 00:36:54.500 --> 00:36:55.699 you, and you 00:36:55.699 --> 00:36:56.359 look up and you 00:36:56.359 --> 00:36:57.039 see the radiant 00:36:57.039 --> 00:36:59.399 face of the 00:36:59.399 --> 00:37:00.500 Son of God, and 00:37:00.500 --> 00:37:02.319 he says, you're 00:37:02.319 --> 00:37:02.859 right, if you 00:37:02.859 --> 00:37:03.419 approach that 00:37:03.419 --> 00:37:03.799 throne by 00:37:03.799 --> 00:37:04.559 yourself, you're 00:37:04.559 --> 00:37:05.319 finished. 00:37:06.439 --> 00:37:07.639 But I know, like 00:37:07.639 --> 00:37:08.319 the dark world 00:37:08.319 --> 00:37:08.899 that you came 00:37:08.899 --> 00:37:09.939 from, I've been 00:37:09.939 --> 00:37:10.739 there, I've 00:37:10.739 --> 00:37:12.579 tasted it, I 00:37:12.579 --> 00:37:14.459 know, I 00:37:14.459 --> 00:37:15.339 understand your 00:37:15.339 --> 00:37:17.839 weakness, but 00:37:17.839 --> 00:37:18.679 if you've given 00:37:18.679 --> 00:37:20.179 your life to 00:37:20.179 --> 00:37:20.839 me, you won't 00:37:20.839 --> 00:37:21.719 be consumed 00:37:21.719 --> 00:37:22.379 before this 00:37:22.379 --> 00:37:23.259 throne, and my 00:37:23.259 --> 00:37:24.139 father won't be 00:37:24.139 --> 00:37:24.739 dishonored. 00:37:25.179 --> 00:37:25.919 If you come 00:37:25.919 --> 00:37:27.219 through me, he 00:37:27.219 --> 00:37:28.000 will not turn 00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:29.159 me away, so he 00:37:29.159 --> 00:37:30.259 will accept you. 00:37:31.199 --> 00:37:31.659 He won't only 00:37:31.659 --> 00:37:32.339 accept you, but 00:37:32.339 --> 00:37:32.879 he'll bring you 00:37:32.879 --> 00:37:33.639 into his family 00:37:33.639 --> 00:37:34.379 and love you and 00:37:34.379 --> 00:37:35.199 make you one of 00:37:35.199 --> 00:37:35.699 his own. 00:37:36.659 --> 00:37:38.000 So come with me 00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:38.839 and approach this 00:37:38.839 --> 00:37:39.779 throne of grace 00:37:39.779 --> 00:37:40.739 with confidence, 00:37:41.419 --> 00:37:42.099 only through 00:37:42.099 --> 00:37:42.440 Jesus. 00:37:42.440 --> 00:37:45.539 that's our hope, 00:37:45.599 --> 00:37:46.019 and that's where 00:37:46.019 --> 00:37:47.519 our confidence is 00:37:47.519 --> 00:37:48.480 founded in his 00:37:48.480 --> 00:37:48.900 work. 00:37:49.500 --> 00:37:50.059 But he 00:37:50.059 --> 00:37:51.380 understands our 00:37:51.380 --> 00:37:52.340 weakness, he 00:37:52.340 --> 00:37:52.820 gets it. 00:37:53.700 --> 00:37:54.579 So no matter 00:37:54.579 --> 00:37:55.179 what you're going 00:37:55.179 --> 00:37:57.340 through, he's 00:37:57.340 --> 00:37:58.159 been there, he 00:37:58.159 --> 00:37:58.800 understands. 00:38:00.320 --> 00:38:01.000 So go to him 00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:02.559 now and ask for 00:38:02.559 --> 00:38:03.179 the grace to 00:38:03.179 --> 00:38:04.079 endure whatever it 00:38:04.079 --> 00:38:04.800 is, and he will 00:38:04.800 --> 00:38:05.240 help you. 00:38:06.860 --> 00:38:07.619 Let's go to the 00:38:07.619 --> 00:38:08.139 Lord in prayer.