WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:25.140 If you would, let your new Bibles turn with me to Hebrews chapter 10, page 1007, I believe. 00:00:25.140 --> 00:00:32.700 And we're going to continue our series in Hebrews this morning. 00:00:32.820 --> 00:00:41.260 If you remember, we've come to chapter 10 and we're spending three weeks camping out on verses 19 to 25. 00:00:41.659 --> 00:00:46.519 Looking at the three exhortations related to faith, hope, and love. 00:00:46.820 --> 00:00:50.980 So this week, hope is on the menu. 00:00:50.979 --> 00:00:59.799 And so, if you were there, let's read together Hebrews chapter 10, verses 19 to 25. 00:01:01.979 --> 00:01:10.799 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 00:01:10.799 --> 00:01:17.200 by the new living way that He opened up for us through the church, and that is through His flesh. 00:01:19.299 --> 00:01:24.879 And since we have a great high priest, a great priest over the house of God, 00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:29.479 let us draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith, 00:01:30.140 --> 00:01:32.799 with our hearts sprinkled clean from the evil conscience, 00:01:32.799 --> 00:01:35.759 and our bodies washed with pure water. 00:01:36.979 --> 00:01:40.879 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering. 00:01:41.539 --> 00:01:43.799 For He, the promise, is faithful. 00:01:45.099 --> 00:01:49.239 Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and new works, 00:01:49.560 --> 00:01:52.659 not neglecting to meet together as is to have a son, 00:01:53.299 --> 00:01:57.439 but encouraging one another and all the more 00:01:57.439 --> 00:01:59.640 as we see the day of God. 00:01:59.640 --> 00:02:02.500 Father, we pray with Him. 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:13.039 Oh Lord, we need You in the works. 00:02:15.020 --> 00:02:16.719 We need You every day. 00:02:16.879 --> 00:02:18.620 We need You as I should do this morning. 00:02:18.620 --> 00:02:26.379 God, that You would awaken our sleeping souls. 00:02:27.500 --> 00:02:29.900 You will soften our hard hearts. 00:02:30.680 --> 00:02:33.620 That You will open our dull ears. 00:02:36.200 --> 00:02:40.920 You will give sight to our blind eyes. 00:02:40.919 --> 00:02:44.939 You will bring light to our dead hearts. 00:02:45.159 --> 00:02:51.000 That we might take hold of our community 00:02:51.000 --> 00:02:54.879 and all the years I can tell us in Christ. 00:02:55.859 --> 00:02:58.199 God, I pray this morning that You would help me 00:02:58.199 --> 00:03:01.159 and that the words I speak 00:03:01.159 --> 00:03:06.099 and the fitting instruments in Your hands 00:03:06.099 --> 00:03:08.900 and that Your Word would speak 00:03:08.900 --> 00:03:11.419 to each of us this morning. 00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:15.699 Lord, that You would impart to us 00:03:15.699 --> 00:03:17.879 a hope that cannot be shared. 00:03:19.419 --> 00:03:21.780 We pray that we say this in Jesus' name. 00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:30.139 Christians have the best hope in the whole world. 00:03:34.299 --> 00:03:34.740 Yeah? 00:03:34.740 --> 00:03:34.879 Yeah? 00:03:36.080 --> 00:03:39.420 Okay, so, now some of you may be sitting there going, 00:03:39.640 --> 00:03:42.300 okay, that's kind of arrogant, isn't it? 00:03:42.820 --> 00:03:43.980 That you would say that, 00:03:44.040 --> 00:03:46.360 like I could just say it better than everyone else. 00:03:46.740 --> 00:03:47.560 Well, no. 00:03:48.120 --> 00:03:48.560 No. 00:03:48.780 --> 00:03:50.939 Because if the hope that Christians have 00:03:50.939 --> 00:03:52.719 was based on anything in us, 00:03:53.360 --> 00:03:55.260 then it would be an arrogant statement. 00:03:55.740 --> 00:03:58.180 But the Christian hope isn't about us. 00:03:58.620 --> 00:03:59.780 It's about God, 00:03:59.939 --> 00:04:02.640 what God has done for us. 00:04:02.639 --> 00:04:06.199 And when we talk about Christian hope, 00:04:06.479 --> 00:04:07.979 we need to start from the very beginning, 00:04:08.059 --> 00:04:09.039 make sure it works clear, 00:04:09.159 --> 00:04:11.599 because hope in our everyday conversation 00:04:11.599 --> 00:04:13.559 is used in many ways. 00:04:13.779 --> 00:04:15.919 I hope it's not going to rain tomorrow. 00:04:17.060 --> 00:04:19.699 Or, I hope I pass my class. 00:04:20.759 --> 00:04:24.039 We have some desire that tends to be used 00:04:24.039 --> 00:04:26.699 in our common vocabulary word 00:04:26.699 --> 00:04:28.339 as wishful thinking, 00:04:28.339 --> 00:04:30.779 or some kind of desire 00:04:30.779 --> 00:04:32.219 that we would have. 00:04:33.899 --> 00:04:34.560 And so, 00:04:35.299 --> 00:04:36.659 we need to clarify 00:04:36.659 --> 00:04:38.359 that the Christian hope 00:04:38.359 --> 00:04:40.679 is not that sort of 00:04:40.679 --> 00:04:43.159 uncertain future thing 00:04:43.159 --> 00:04:44.000 that we hope, 00:04:44.299 --> 00:04:45.819 that we think might happen, 00:04:46.019 --> 00:04:47.319 but it really doesn't know. 00:04:47.319 --> 00:04:50.980 The Bible uses hope. 00:04:50.980 --> 00:04:53.540 It uses it to describe 00:04:53.540 --> 00:04:56.920 a future good reality 00:04:56.920 --> 00:05:00.360 rooted in God's work for us 00:05:00.360 --> 00:05:01.639 that is certain 00:05:01.639 --> 00:05:04.039 to come to pass. 00:05:08.459 --> 00:05:11.100 Christians have the best hope 00:05:11.100 --> 00:05:12.759 in the whole world. 00:05:12.759 --> 00:05:15.920 And if you were 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:18.240 the recipient of the letter 00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:19.719 of Hebrews 00:05:19.719 --> 00:05:21.060 in the first century, 00:05:22.060 --> 00:05:23.120 and you read it through, 00:05:23.379 --> 00:05:24.300 I think this is 00:05:24.300 --> 00:05:25.779 one of the main messages 00:05:25.779 --> 00:05:27.060 that the writer of the Hebrews 00:05:27.060 --> 00:05:28.599 would want you to get, 00:05:29.060 --> 00:05:30.199 is that Christians have 00:05:30.199 --> 00:05:31.259 the best hope 00:05:31.259 --> 00:05:32.360 in the whole world. 00:05:36.259 --> 00:05:37.500 Why do I say that? 00:05:38.019 --> 00:05:39.159 Well, let's look at our passage 00:05:39.159 --> 00:05:39.920 from this morning. 00:05:39.920 --> 00:05:42.879 We've talked about it already. 00:05:43.259 --> 00:05:44.020 We're going to try 00:05:44.020 --> 00:05:44.920 to not rehash 00:05:44.920 --> 00:05:46.480 everything Greg said last week. 00:05:46.740 --> 00:05:47.420 But when you look 00:05:47.420 --> 00:05:47.960 at our passage, 00:05:48.120 --> 00:05:49.860 verses 19 through 22 00:05:49.860 --> 00:05:52.300 is a summary 00:05:52.300 --> 00:05:54.020 where the writer of the Hebrews 00:05:54.020 --> 00:05:55.740 is trying to remind us 00:05:55.740 --> 00:05:57.759 in very brief fashion 00:05:57.759 --> 00:05:59.000 of all the things 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:00.180 he's been teaching us 00:06:00.180 --> 00:06:01.780 about God 00:06:01.780 --> 00:06:02.980 and his work in Christ. 00:06:03.300 --> 00:06:04.620 And you see these two 00:06:04.620 --> 00:06:06.200 since statements. 00:06:06.759 --> 00:06:07.220 Since, 00:06:08.080 --> 00:06:08.960 we have 00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:11.120 look at it with me. 00:06:11.199 --> 00:06:11.799 So we get it right. 00:06:11.959 --> 00:06:12.719 Since we have 00:06:12.719 --> 00:06:14.120 confidence to enter 00:06:14.120 --> 00:06:15.539 the holy places 00:06:15.539 --> 00:06:16.739 by the blood of Jesus, 00:06:17.739 --> 00:06:19.099 by a new living way. 00:06:19.500 --> 00:06:20.819 And then since we have 00:06:20.819 --> 00:06:21.939 a great high priest, 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:23.579 there are two things 00:06:23.579 --> 00:06:24.399 that he wants us 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:25.159 to remember 00:06:25.159 --> 00:06:27.799 about what God has done 00:06:27.799 --> 00:06:29.000 to give us hope. 00:06:29.379 --> 00:06:30.459 The first one 00:06:30.459 --> 00:06:32.199 is the word of Christ. 00:06:32.459 --> 00:06:34.240 By the blood of Christ, 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:34.639 that is, 00:06:34.699 --> 00:06:35.959 by Jesus' death 00:06:35.959 --> 00:06:37.459 on the cross 00:06:37.459 --> 00:06:38.560 for sinners 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:39.799 like you and me, 00:06:40.339 --> 00:06:41.120 he has satisfied 00:06:41.799 --> 00:06:42.879 the wrath of God 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:43.560 in sin. 00:06:43.839 --> 00:06:44.279 He has, 00:06:44.279 --> 00:06:45.579 he has 00:06:45.579 --> 00:06:47.039 completed 00:06:47.039 --> 00:06:47.739 everything 00:06:47.739 --> 00:06:49.079 that needs to be done 00:06:49.079 --> 00:06:50.859 for people like us 00:06:50.859 --> 00:06:51.919 to approach 00:06:51.919 --> 00:06:53.039 a holy God. 00:06:54.299 --> 00:06:55.299 The death 00:06:55.299 --> 00:06:56.219 of Jesus Christ 00:06:56.219 --> 00:06:57.219 has opened up 00:06:57.219 --> 00:06:58.120 a new way 00:06:58.120 --> 00:06:58.959 so that we can 00:06:58.959 --> 00:06:59.539 walk into 00:06:59.539 --> 00:07:00.879 the very presence 00:07:00.879 --> 00:07:02.740 of holy perfection. 00:07:02.740 --> 00:07:05.199 not with fear 00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:06.280 and trembling, 00:07:06.939 --> 00:07:08.160 not with 00:07:08.160 --> 00:07:09.560 the certainty 00:07:09.560 --> 00:07:10.660 of condemnation 00:07:10.660 --> 00:07:11.740 for our 00:07:11.740 --> 00:07:13.139 wicked hearts 00:07:13.139 --> 00:07:14.120 and our rebellious 00:07:14.120 --> 00:07:14.720 natures, 00:07:15.939 --> 00:07:17.379 but with confidence 00:07:17.379 --> 00:07:19.280 and full assurance 00:07:19.280 --> 00:07:21.460 because of what 00:07:21.460 --> 00:07:22.379 Christ has done 00:07:22.379 --> 00:07:22.600 him. 00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:25.240 And so what is 00:07:25.240 --> 00:07:26.400 the work of Christ 00:07:26.400 --> 00:07:27.120 that he has done? 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:28.460 If you've been here, 00:07:28.579 --> 00:07:29.860 I hope this resonates 00:07:29.860 --> 00:07:30.519 deeply. 00:07:30.519 --> 00:07:33.139 Jesus is the 00:07:33.139 --> 00:07:34.279 perfect sacrifice 00:07:34.279 --> 00:07:35.339 that was offered 00:07:35.339 --> 00:07:36.819 in the heavenly temple 00:07:36.819 --> 00:07:37.599 for us 00:07:37.599 --> 00:07:38.699 so that we might 00:07:38.699 --> 00:07:40.060 finally enter 00:07:40.060 --> 00:07:41.120 into the holy 00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:41.639 of the Lord 00:07:41.639 --> 00:07:42.399 where God 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:43.299 himself 00:07:43.299 --> 00:07:44.979 manifests his presence 00:07:44.979 --> 00:07:46.060 so that we can 00:07:46.060 --> 00:07:47.519 actually know 00:07:47.519 --> 00:07:48.399 him. 00:07:51.039 --> 00:07:52.240 And the second 00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:52.699 ground 00:07:52.699 --> 00:07:54.079 in verse 21 00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:55.579 is in the person 00:07:55.579 --> 00:07:56.279 of Christ. 00:07:57.120 --> 00:07:58.099 Since we have 00:07:58.099 --> 00:07:59.379 this work 00:07:59.379 --> 00:07:59.939 that Christ 00:07:59.939 --> 00:08:00.500 has done, 00:08:00.719 --> 00:08:01.219 but also 00:08:01.219 --> 00:08:01.839 the person 00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:02.259 of who 00:08:02.259 --> 00:08:03.199 Christ is. 00:08:03.719 --> 00:08:04.079 Christ 00:08:04.079 --> 00:08:04.639 who is the 00:08:04.639 --> 00:08:05.019 Son, 00:08:05.300 --> 00:08:05.839 the final 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:06.500 word 00:08:06.500 --> 00:08:08.100 spoken to us. 00:08:08.219 --> 00:08:08.659 Christ 00:08:08.659 --> 00:08:09.180 who is 00:08:09.180 --> 00:08:10.439 the second 00:08:10.439 --> 00:08:10.839 person 00:08:10.839 --> 00:08:11.439 of the Trinity 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:11.959 who took 00:08:11.959 --> 00:08:12.800 on humanity 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:13.480 so he can 00:08:13.480 --> 00:08:14.139 identify 00:08:14.139 --> 00:08:15.420 with us 00:08:15.420 --> 00:08:16.019 in our 00:08:16.019 --> 00:08:16.500 weakness, 00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:18.219 yet without 00:08:18.219 --> 00:08:18.879 sin, 00:08:19.219 --> 00:08:19.819 so that he 00:08:19.819 --> 00:08:20.420 can be 00:08:20.420 --> 00:08:21.259 the perfect 00:08:21.259 --> 00:08:21.959 sacrifice. 00:08:22.459 --> 00:08:23.079 And not only 00:08:23.079 --> 00:08:23.300 that, 00:08:23.420 --> 00:08:24.180 he also is 00:08:24.180 --> 00:08:24.680 the high 00:08:24.680 --> 00:08:25.120 priest 00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:25.899 who then 00:08:25.899 --> 00:08:26.540 takes the 00:08:26.540 --> 00:08:27.000 sacrifice 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:27.800 into the 00:08:27.800 --> 00:08:28.459 very presence 00:08:28.459 --> 00:08:28.939 of God 00:08:28.939 --> 00:08:29.779 and offers 00:08:29.779 --> 00:08:30.199 it on 00:08:30.199 --> 00:08:31.219 our behalf. 00:08:32.559 --> 00:08:33.179 He does 00:08:33.179 --> 00:08:33.860 all the 00:08:33.860 --> 00:08:34.539 work and 00:08:34.539 --> 00:08:35.379 he himself 00:08:35.379 --> 00:08:35.799 is the 00:08:35.799 --> 00:08:36.600 one in 00:08:36.600 --> 00:08:37.360 his person 00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:38.079 who carries 00:08:38.079 --> 00:08:38.840 this out. 00:08:44.519 --> 00:08:45.240 Right 00:08:45.240 --> 00:08:45.539 if you 00:08:45.539 --> 00:08:45.939 said, 00:08:46.100 --> 00:08:46.899 because 00:08:46.899 --> 00:08:47.759 Christ 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:48.240 has opened 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:48.699 this way 00:08:48.699 --> 00:08:49.600 and because 00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:50.500 of who 00:08:50.500 --> 00:08:51.079 Christ 00:08:51.079 --> 00:08:52.000 is, 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:55.059 skipped 00:08:55.059 --> 00:08:55.440 down to 00:08:55.440 --> 00:08:56.240 verse 23, 00:08:57.059 --> 00:08:58.580 let us 00:08:58.580 --> 00:08:59.559 fall fast 00:08:59.559 --> 00:09:00.600 to the 00:09:00.600 --> 00:09:01.100 compassion 00:09:01.100 --> 00:09:03.019 of our 00:09:03.019 --> 00:09:03.879 hope 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:04.379 to the 00:09:04.379 --> 00:09:04.740 power of 00:09:04.740 --> 00:09:04.799 the 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:05.000 Lord. 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:09.759 Hope 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:10.100 is a 00:09:10.100 --> 00:09:10.460 future 00:09:10.460 --> 00:09:10.899 looking 00:09:10.899 --> 00:09:11.519 forward 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:12.460 to the 00:09:12.460 --> 00:09:12.940 goodness, 00:09:13.100 --> 00:09:13.399 to the 00:09:13.399 --> 00:09:13.720 certain 00:09:13.720 --> 00:09:14.259 goodness 00:09:14.259 --> 00:09:15.139 of what 00:09:15.139 --> 00:09:15.539 God 00:09:15.539 --> 00:09:16.139 has done. 00:09:17.139 --> 00:09:17.960 Not only 00:09:17.960 --> 00:09:18.500 has Christ 00:09:18.500 --> 00:09:19.159 done all 00:09:19.159 --> 00:09:19.559 of these 00:09:19.559 --> 00:09:19.960 things in 00:09:19.960 --> 00:09:20.420 the past, 00:09:20.519 --> 00:09:23.500 but there 00:09:23.500 --> 00:09:23.840 is a 00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:24.139 certain 00:09:24.139 --> 00:09:24.840 future 00:09:24.840 --> 00:09:25.720 that he 00:09:25.720 --> 00:09:26.580 has secured 00:09:26.580 --> 00:09:27.580 for us. 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:28.519 Do you 00:09:28.519 --> 00:09:29.080 remember 00:09:29.080 --> 00:09:29.920 chapter 6? 00:09:29.980 --> 00:09:30.480 Turn with me 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:30.900 back to 00:09:30.900 --> 00:09:31.680 chapter 6. 00:09:32.480 --> 00:09:33.240 It's actually 00:09:33.240 --> 00:09:34.120 kind of an 00:09:34.120 --> 00:09:34.879 inclusio. 00:09:35.080 --> 00:09:35.740 Chapter 6 00:09:35.740 --> 00:09:36.180 and chapter 00:09:36.180 --> 00:09:37.360 10 kind 00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:37.580 of 00:09:37.580 --> 00:09:38.280 frame 00:09:38.280 --> 00:09:38.560 this 00:09:38.560 --> 00:09:38.960 thing. 00:09:39.180 --> 00:09:40.860 Chapter 6, 00:09:41.280 --> 00:09:42.460 verse 18. 00:09:42.460 --> 00:09:42.580 18. 00:09:44.660 --> 00:09:45.379 I want 00:09:45.379 --> 00:09:45.620 you to 00:09:45.620 --> 00:09:46.060 see it. 00:09:46.420 --> 00:09:47.080 He's been 00:09:47.080 --> 00:09:47.620 making the 00:09:47.620 --> 00:09:48.420 argument about 00:09:48.420 --> 00:09:49.940 how God 00:09:49.940 --> 00:09:50.980 has prepared 00:09:50.980 --> 00:09:51.980 us and 00:09:51.980 --> 00:09:52.500 how God 00:09:52.500 --> 00:09:52.900 is going 00:09:52.900 --> 00:09:53.620 to prove 00:09:53.620 --> 00:09:54.180 himself to 00:09:54.180 --> 00:09:54.820 be trustworthy 00:09:54.820 --> 00:09:55.820 through an 00:09:55.820 --> 00:09:56.259 oath and 00:09:56.259 --> 00:09:56.600 through a 00:09:56.600 --> 00:09:57.200 promise that 00:09:57.200 --> 00:09:57.560 he made 00:09:57.560 --> 00:09:58.139 to Abraham 00:09:58.139 --> 00:09:58.960 and how 00:09:58.960 --> 00:09:59.379 there's this 00:09:59.379 --> 00:09:59.940 greater 00:09:59.940 --> 00:10:01.240 promise that 00:10:01.240 --> 00:10:01.700 he's made 00:10:01.700 --> 00:10:02.420 for us. 00:10:03.460 --> 00:10:03.740 So in 00:10:03.740 --> 00:10:04.500 verse 18 he 00:10:04.500 --> 00:10:04.720 says, 00:10:04.780 --> 00:10:05.360 so by two 00:10:05.360 --> 00:10:05.960 unchangeable 00:10:05.960 --> 00:10:06.600 things in which 00:10:06.600 --> 00:10:07.300 it is impossible 00:10:07.300 --> 00:10:08.120 for God to 00:10:08.120 --> 00:10:09.340 lie, we 00:10:09.340 --> 00:10:10.360 who have fled 00:10:10.360 --> 00:10:11.580 for refuge might 00:10:11.580 --> 00:10:12.220 have strong 00:10:12.220 --> 00:10:13.360 encouragement to 00:10:13.360 --> 00:10:14.400 hold fast to 00:10:14.400 --> 00:10:15.139 the hope set 00:10:15.139 --> 00:10:15.900 before us. 00:10:16.220 --> 00:10:16.620 That's the 00:10:16.620 --> 00:10:17.200 exact same 00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:17.860 phrase we see 00:10:17.860 --> 00:10:18.620 in chapter 10. 00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:19.840 Hold fast to 00:10:19.840 --> 00:10:20.280 the hope. 00:10:20.580 --> 00:10:21.320 Hold fast to 00:10:21.320 --> 00:10:21.900 the hope set 00:10:21.900 --> 00:10:22.460 before us. 00:10:22.660 --> 00:10:23.660 We have this 00:10:23.660 --> 00:10:24.639 as a sure 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:26.820 steadfast anchor 00:10:26.820 --> 00:10:28.200 of the soul. 00:10:28.820 --> 00:10:29.620 A hope that 00:10:29.620 --> 00:10:31.460 enters into the 00:10:31.460 --> 00:10:32.680 inner place behind 00:10:32.680 --> 00:10:33.960 the curtain where 00:10:33.960 --> 00:10:35.420 Jesus is gone as 00:10:35.420 --> 00:10:36.960 a forerunner on 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:37.900 our behalf. 00:10:38.900 --> 00:10:39.900 Having become 00:10:39.900 --> 00:10:40.840 high priest 00:10:40.840 --> 00:10:41.520 forever. 00:10:41.580 --> 00:10:42.340 in the order 00:10:42.340 --> 00:10:42.740 of the 00:10:42.740 --> 00:10:42.920 Lord, 00:10:42.980 --> 00:10:43.440 his name. 00:10:45.040 --> 00:10:45.820 Not only 00:10:45.820 --> 00:10:46.300 is Christ 00:10:46.300 --> 00:10:48.220 a forerunner 00:10:48.220 --> 00:10:48.780 for our 00:10:48.780 --> 00:10:49.120 future. 00:10:49.480 --> 00:10:49.800 What does 00:10:49.800 --> 00:10:50.379 this mean? 00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:51.000 Well, this 00:10:51.000 --> 00:10:51.520 word, we've 00:10:51.520 --> 00:10:51.980 talked about 00:10:51.980 --> 00:10:52.460 this before, 00:10:52.540 --> 00:10:52.920 but it means 00:10:52.920 --> 00:10:53.400 that he has 00:10:53.400 --> 00:10:54.340 gone ahead 00:10:54.340 --> 00:10:55.480 and secured 00:10:55.480 --> 00:10:56.160 away. 00:10:56.720 --> 00:10:57.600 He has placed 00:10:57.600 --> 00:10:58.520 the anchor 00:10:58.520 --> 00:11:00.320 of our hope 00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:01.240 in the very 00:11:01.240 --> 00:11:01.900 presence of 00:11:01.900 --> 00:11:02.540 God because 00:11:02.540 --> 00:11:03.500 he himself 00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:04.660 has gone 00:11:04.660 --> 00:11:05.220 there and 00:11:05.220 --> 00:11:06.340 now sits 00:11:06.340 --> 00:11:06.920 there. 00:11:06.919 --> 00:11:10.719 having made 00:11:10.719 --> 00:11:11.719 a way 00:11:11.719 --> 00:11:13.419 for us. 00:11:16.120 --> 00:11:17.000 I don't 00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:17.199 know if 00:11:17.199 --> 00:11:17.360 you've 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:17.899 ever been 00:11:17.899 --> 00:11:20.000 to the 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:20.779 forbidden 00:11:20.779 --> 00:11:21.659 city in 00:11:21.659 --> 00:11:21.979 Beijing. 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:23.459 It's a 00:11:23.459 --> 00:11:24.259 magnificent, 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:26.439 awe-inspiring 00:11:26.439 --> 00:11:27.120 place. 00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:27.179 place. 00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:29.460 And if 00:11:29.460 --> 00:11:29.639 you've 00:11:29.639 --> 00:11:30.600 ever seen 00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:32.580 any of 00:11:32.580 --> 00:11:33.179 the movies 00:11:33.179 --> 00:11:34.419 that feature 00:11:34.419 --> 00:11:36.580 those huge 00:11:36.580 --> 00:11:37.200 courtyards, 00:11:37.320 --> 00:11:37.860 basically the 00:11:37.860 --> 00:11:38.440 forbidden city 00:11:38.440 --> 00:11:39.240 is a series 00:11:39.240 --> 00:11:40.000 of gates 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:40.840 and courtyards 00:11:40.840 --> 00:11:41.399 and gates 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:42.120 and courtyards. 00:11:42.120 --> 00:11:42.879 And in the 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:43.659 very middle 00:11:43.659 --> 00:11:44.700 of it is 00:11:44.700 --> 00:11:45.340 the place 00:11:45.340 --> 00:11:47.080 where the 00:11:47.080 --> 00:11:47.840 emperor would 00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:50.519 entertain those 00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:51.139 who would come 00:11:51.139 --> 00:11:51.860 to see him. 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:52.720 And then beyond 00:11:52.720 --> 00:11:53.340 it is the 00:11:53.340 --> 00:11:55.039 private palace, 00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:55.820 so to speak. 00:11:56.179 --> 00:11:56.679 But you go 00:11:56.679 --> 00:11:57.759 through and 00:11:57.759 --> 00:11:58.460 as you walk 00:11:58.460 --> 00:11:59.019 in, you walk 00:11:59.019 --> 00:11:59.620 in and you pass 00:11:59.620 --> 00:12:00.419 these massive 00:12:00.419 --> 00:12:01.179 walls through 00:12:01.179 --> 00:12:01.840 this massive 00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:02.580 gate into 00:12:02.580 --> 00:12:03.179 this huge 00:12:03.179 --> 00:12:04.060 courtyard and you 00:12:04.060 --> 00:12:04.679 walk down 00:12:04.679 --> 00:12:05.360 into it and 00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:06.399 walk back up 00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:07.039 and through 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:08.080 another gate and 00:12:08.080 --> 00:12:08.820 then down and 00:12:08.820 --> 00:12:09.560 back up. 00:12:10.379 --> 00:12:10.899 And if the 00:12:10.899 --> 00:12:11.440 emperor was 00:12:11.440 --> 00:12:11.860 there, 00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:12.720 at least in 00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:13.759 my mind's eye, 00:12:14.460 --> 00:12:15.179 those courtyards 00:12:15.179 --> 00:12:15.639 were filled 00:12:15.639 --> 00:12:16.200 with soldiers. 00:12:17.379 --> 00:12:18.000 And there's 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:18.940 always a question 00:12:18.940 --> 00:12:19.580 as you walk 00:12:19.580 --> 00:12:20.019 through, 00:12:20.379 --> 00:12:21.100 are you actually 00:12:21.100 --> 00:12:21.480 going to get 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:22.100 to the emperor 00:12:22.100 --> 00:12:22.720 or not? 00:12:23.560 --> 00:12:24.419 Do you actually 00:12:24.419 --> 00:12:25.279 have access 00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:26.120 to him or not? 00:12:26.279 --> 00:12:26.740 And as you 00:12:26.740 --> 00:12:27.320 walk through, 00:12:27.399 --> 00:12:28.440 your very life 00:12:28.440 --> 00:12:29.259 is a danger 00:12:29.259 --> 00:12:30.460 because if you 00:12:30.460 --> 00:12:31.240 ever showed 00:12:31.240 --> 00:12:31.879 a threat, 00:12:32.460 --> 00:12:32.980 unless you're 00:12:32.980 --> 00:12:33.740 gently in a 00:12:33.740 --> 00:12:34.299 bad movie, 00:12:34.659 --> 00:12:36.159 you're never 00:12:36.159 --> 00:12:36.700 going to get 00:12:36.700 --> 00:12:38.980 there because 00:12:38.980 --> 00:12:40.000 he is well 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:40.580 protected. 00:12:40.580 --> 00:12:43.780 the holiness 00:12:43.780 --> 00:12:45.120 of the emperor 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:45.780 is protected 00:12:45.780 --> 00:12:46.639 by the guards 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:47.280 in each of 00:12:47.280 --> 00:12:48.240 these courtyards. 00:12:50.460 --> 00:12:51.220 Friends, 00:12:51.340 --> 00:12:52.600 Jesus has 00:12:52.600 --> 00:12:53.900 walked through 00:12:53.900 --> 00:12:54.759 the courtyards. 00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:55.800 He has 00:12:55.800 --> 00:12:56.860 satisfied every 00:12:56.860 --> 00:12:57.500 requirement, 00:12:57.820 --> 00:12:58.800 every demand. 00:12:59.400 --> 00:13:00.340 And when we 00:13:00.340 --> 00:13:01.280 walk into the 00:13:01.280 --> 00:13:01.720 heavenly, 00:13:02.120 --> 00:13:02.940 forbidden city 00:13:02.940 --> 00:13:04.259 of the presence 00:13:04.259 --> 00:13:04.980 of God, 00:13:04.980 --> 00:13:05.220 God, 00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:08.360 if we look 00:13:08.360 --> 00:13:08.879 ahead, 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:11.120 we see the 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:12.220 throne of God 00:13:12.220 --> 00:13:13.620 and Jesus 00:13:13.620 --> 00:13:15.080 standing at the 00:13:15.080 --> 00:13:15.659 right hand. 00:13:16.100 --> 00:13:17.300 And he is the 00:13:17.300 --> 00:13:17.920 one who is 00:13:17.920 --> 00:13:19.019 saying to the 00:13:19.019 --> 00:13:19.460 emperor, 00:13:19.740 --> 00:13:20.420 and therefore to 00:13:20.420 --> 00:13:21.120 all of the 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:21.560 angels, 00:13:21.899 --> 00:13:22.100 well, 00:13:22.360 --> 00:13:23.220 to all of the 00:13:23.220 --> 00:13:24.259 forces that 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:24.980 would protect 00:13:24.980 --> 00:13:26.279 the holiness 00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:26.899 of God, 00:13:26.899 --> 00:13:30.799 I vouch for 00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:31.079 him. 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:33.000 I have 00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:35.019 done what 00:13:35.019 --> 00:13:36.500 he needs to 00:13:36.500 --> 00:13:37.159 approach you. 00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:38.759 He is with 00:13:38.759 --> 00:13:39.000 me. 00:13:39.100 --> 00:13:39.740 He is here 00:13:39.740 --> 00:13:40.500 under my 00:13:40.500 --> 00:13:41.259 invitation, 00:13:41.699 --> 00:13:42.340 and he is 00:13:42.340 --> 00:13:43.860 here under my 00:13:43.860 --> 00:13:44.519 heart. 00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:48.079 Jesus is the 00:13:48.079 --> 00:13:48.840 forerunner who 00:13:48.840 --> 00:13:49.819 has gone ahead 00:13:49.819 --> 00:13:51.279 and now invites 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:52.259 us into the 00:13:52.259 --> 00:13:53.600 very presence 00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:54.220 of God, 00:13:54.419 --> 00:13:54.980 having done 00:13:54.980 --> 00:13:55.899 everything we 00:13:55.899 --> 00:13:56.259 needed. 00:13:57.000 --> 00:13:57.720 And this is 00:13:57.720 --> 00:13:59.480 now awful. 00:14:00.060 --> 00:14:00.759 This is not 00:14:00.759 --> 00:14:01.940 just a past 00:14:01.940 --> 00:14:02.800 reality of his 00:14:02.800 --> 00:14:03.080 death, 00:14:03.180 --> 00:14:03.759 but it is also 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:04.560 a future 00:14:04.560 --> 00:14:06.200 reality that 00:14:06.200 --> 00:14:06.779 for our 00:14:06.779 --> 00:14:07.399 eternity, 00:14:07.879 --> 00:14:08.840 we will be 00:14:08.840 --> 00:14:09.899 with Christ 00:14:09.899 --> 00:14:11.080 in that place 00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:11.980 with God. 00:14:19.659 --> 00:14:20.460 By his 00:14:20.460 --> 00:14:21.300 past life, 00:14:22.420 --> 00:14:22.720 death, 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:23.580 and resurrection, 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:24.720 Jesus, 00:14:24.980 --> 00:14:26.060 cured for us 00:14:26.060 --> 00:14:27.500 a certain 00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:28.740 future with 00:14:28.740 --> 00:14:30.340 God that 00:14:30.340 --> 00:14:31.120 cannot be 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:31.460 shaken, 00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:34.379 that cannot 00:14:34.379 --> 00:14:35.759 be overturned. 00:14:41.620 --> 00:14:42.120 As I was 00:14:42.120 --> 00:14:42.820 meditating on 00:14:42.820 --> 00:14:43.460 this tree this 00:14:43.460 --> 00:14:43.779 week, 00:14:44.600 --> 00:14:45.440 as I've been 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:46.500 thinking past 00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:46.879 for you, 00:14:47.019 --> 00:14:47.899 as I long 00:14:47.899 --> 00:14:49.519 for you to 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:50.800 get the weight 00:14:50.800 --> 00:14:51.659 of how 00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:52.860 glorious this 00:14:52.860 --> 00:14:53.320 is, 00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:54.160 that we 00:14:54.160 --> 00:14:54.760 have this 00:14:54.760 --> 00:14:55.440 past 00:14:55.440 --> 00:14:56.080 word and 00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:57.100 future hope 00:14:57.100 --> 00:14:57.860 that is 00:14:57.860 --> 00:14:58.720 certain and 00:14:58.720 --> 00:14:59.660 secure and 00:14:59.660 --> 00:15:00.800 completely done 00:15:00.800 --> 00:15:01.620 for us, 00:15:01.620 --> 00:15:05.140 my fear 00:15:05.140 --> 00:15:06.460 for you 00:15:06.460 --> 00:15:08.720 is rooted in 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:09.440 what I see in 00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:10.280 my own heart, 00:15:10.640 --> 00:15:12.820 which is a 00:15:12.820 --> 00:15:13.660 little bit of 00:15:13.660 --> 00:15:17.900 hope, 00:15:17.899 --> 00:15:18.100 hope. 00:15:18.100 --> 00:15:20.659 the hope that 00:15:20.659 --> 00:15:21.159 Christ has 00:15:21.159 --> 00:15:22.059 secured for us. 00:15:22.340 --> 00:15:23.139 This glorious, 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:24.179 wonderful hope 00:15:24.179 --> 00:15:25.620 doesn't actually 00:15:25.620 --> 00:15:28.500 seem particularly 00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:29.699 attractive to us. 00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:30.959 Now, some of you 00:15:30.959 --> 00:15:31.480 may be going, 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:32.340 no, this is the 00:15:32.340 --> 00:15:32.819 best thing in the 00:15:32.819 --> 00:15:33.340 world, amen, 00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:34.620 amen, and we'll 00:15:34.620 --> 00:15:35.419 get there at the 00:15:35.419 --> 00:15:35.600 end. 00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:37.340 But my fear is 00:15:37.340 --> 00:15:37.980 that for many 00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:38.480 of you, 00:15:40.100 --> 00:15:41.580 the hope of 00:15:41.580 --> 00:15:42.200 being with 00:15:42.200 --> 00:15:44.000 God in His 00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:44.800 presence for 00:15:44.800 --> 00:15:47.019 eternity isn't 00:15:47.019 --> 00:15:49.259 a very attractive 00:15:49.259 --> 00:15:49.779 thing. 00:15:50.460 --> 00:15:50.960 It's not 00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:51.560 something that 00:15:51.560 --> 00:15:52.060 grips our 00:15:52.060 --> 00:15:52.519 hearts. 00:15:53.659 --> 00:15:54.080 And I've been 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:54.740 thinking about 00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:56.200 why that is 00:15:56.200 --> 00:15:57.840 and trying to 00:15:57.840 --> 00:15:58.680 figure out what 00:15:58.680 --> 00:16:00.259 is it, what 00:16:00.259 --> 00:16:01.060 is it for the 00:16:01.060 --> 00:16:01.580 writer of the 00:16:01.580 --> 00:16:02.220 Hebrews that 00:16:02.220 --> 00:16:02.960 makes him have 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:04.000 to say, having 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:04.879 laid out how 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:05.860 glorious his 00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:06.980 work is in 00:16:06.980 --> 00:16:07.679 all sorts of 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:08.600 detail, why 00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:09.059 does he have 00:16:09.059 --> 00:16:10.039 to say, hold 00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:10.639 fast? 00:16:11.100 --> 00:16:11.960 Who in the 00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:12.600 world would 00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:13.860 turn away from 00:16:13.860 --> 00:16:14.720 access to the 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:15.799 unburnt world 00:16:15.799 --> 00:16:17.019 for all 00:16:17.019 --> 00:16:17.600 eternity? 00:16:19.720 --> 00:16:20.720 But we do 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:21.080 don't. 00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:24.460 We do turn 00:16:24.460 --> 00:16:24.720 away. 00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:25.559 It's hard to 00:16:25.559 --> 00:16:26.179 hold fast. 00:16:28.899 --> 00:16:29.500 Why? 00:16:30.700 --> 00:16:31.299 Why? 00:16:31.460 --> 00:16:31.960 Because I 00:16:31.960 --> 00:16:32.539 think it can 00:16:32.539 --> 00:16:33.960 be hard against 00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:36.080 what the 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:37.860 hope can be 00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:38.540 given to us. 00:16:39.980 --> 00:16:40.660 I think there 00:16:40.660 --> 00:16:40.960 are a number 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:41.720 of reasons for 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:42.060 this. 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:43.980 Sometimes I 00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:44.360 think as 00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:46.019 Christians we 00:16:46.019 --> 00:16:46.540 can be 00:16:46.540 --> 00:16:47.200 embarrassed. 00:16:48.740 --> 00:16:49.160 We can 00:16:49.160 --> 00:16:51.240 think, well, 00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:53.600 hope of heaven 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:54.639 is really nice, 00:16:54.900 --> 00:16:58.160 but I don't 00:16:58.160 --> 00:16:58.700 want to be one 00:16:58.700 --> 00:16:58.960 of those 00:16:58.960 --> 00:16:59.620 high-in-sky 00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:00.460 Christians who 00:17:00.460 --> 00:17:01.379 just pretends 00:17:01.379 --> 00:17:02.179 like everything's 00:17:02.179 --> 00:17:03.139 okay, I'm 00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:03.480 just going to 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:04.019 go to heaven. 00:17:04.680 --> 00:17:05.640 I think we 00:17:05.640 --> 00:17:05.960 can be 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:06.900 embarrassed about 00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:08.200 being high in 00:17:08.200 --> 00:17:09.140 the sky or 00:17:09.140 --> 00:17:10.000 too heavenly 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:10.640 minded and 00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:11.200 the earthly 00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:11.759 good or 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:13.119 whatever critique 00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:13.519 that you 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:14.079 have heard. 00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:14.839 And so we 00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:15.319 kind of 00:17:15.319 --> 00:17:16.420 downplay it in 00:17:16.420 --> 00:17:16.980 our hearts. 00:17:18.940 --> 00:17:19.880 I think 00:17:19.880 --> 00:17:22.740 honestly it's 00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:23.380 probably 00:17:23.380 --> 00:17:23.779 need to 00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:24.039 come in 00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:24.279 that 00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:24.620 though. 00:17:26.500 --> 00:17:27.539 I think 00:17:27.539 --> 00:17:28.079 that we 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:28.859 have lost 00:17:28.859 --> 00:17:30.140 the sweetness 00:17:30.140 --> 00:17:31.819 of hope 00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:33.359 and future 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:34.980 because we 00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:35.400 live in 00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:36.220 culture and 00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:36.700 because we 00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:37.400 have embraced 00:17:37.400 --> 00:17:39.079 values that 00:17:39.079 --> 00:17:40.440 we look for 00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:41.120 the present 00:17:41.120 --> 00:17:42.859 to be 00:17:42.859 --> 00:17:43.519 everything we 00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:44.000 hope for. 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:46.180 we are 00:17:46.180 --> 00:17:46.680 looking for 00:17:46.680 --> 00:17:47.380 this life, 00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:48.339 our 70 00:17:48.339 --> 00:17:48.880 or 80 00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:49.460 years, 00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:50.400 to actually 00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:50.819 be the 00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:51.339 fulfillment 00:17:51.339 --> 00:17:53.599 of our 00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:54.160 lives. 00:17:55.740 --> 00:17:56.839 And you 00:17:56.839 --> 00:17:57.359 know friends, 00:17:57.599 --> 00:17:58.700 this is not 00:17:58.700 --> 00:17:59.420 normal. 00:18:00.259 --> 00:18:00.940 If you go 00:18:00.940 --> 00:18:02.019 back and read 00:18:02.019 --> 00:18:03.059 throughout the 00:18:03.059 --> 00:18:04.140 history of the 00:18:04.140 --> 00:18:04.519 world, 00:18:05.380 --> 00:18:06.220 most people, 00:18:06.339 --> 00:18:06.900 and particularly 00:18:06.900 --> 00:18:07.900 in the church, 00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:09.119 most people 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:10.059 throughout history 00:18:10.059 --> 00:18:11.000 have thought 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:11.480 that we have 00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:12.180 a very short 00:18:12.180 --> 00:18:13.460 life here and 00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:14.160 then we die. 00:18:14.840 --> 00:18:15.779 And most 00:18:15.779 --> 00:18:16.460 people in the 00:18:16.460 --> 00:18:16.620 world, 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:17.279 throughout most 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:17.720 of history, 00:18:17.840 --> 00:18:18.220 have spent 00:18:18.220 --> 00:18:19.240 their time on 00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:20.440 earth trying 00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:21.500 to figure out 00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:22.500 how to be 00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:23.400 prepared for 00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:23.840 eternity. 00:18:25.960 --> 00:18:26.880 And the 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:27.440 church, 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:29.299 in its 00:18:29.299 --> 00:18:29.759 history, 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:31.000 has seen 00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:32.039 the Christian 00:18:32.039 --> 00:18:32.819 life as 00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:33.680 preparation 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:35.120 for heaven, 00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:38.340 not 00:18:38.340 --> 00:18:39.220 satisfaction 00:18:39.220 --> 00:18:40.880 here on 00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:41.240 earth. 00:18:43.460 --> 00:18:44.880 I think 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:45.200 that we 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:45.840 set our 00:18:45.840 --> 00:18:47.200 hopes on 00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:47.640 the things 00:18:47.640 --> 00:18:48.220 of this 00:18:48.220 --> 00:18:48.640 world. 00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:50.100 And so 00:18:50.100 --> 00:18:50.559 we have 00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:51.779 to get 00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:52.120 it all 00:18:52.120 --> 00:18:52.460 now. 00:18:55.100 --> 00:18:55.720 He knew 00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:56.900 the most 00:18:56.900 --> 00:18:57.779 boys wins, 00:18:58.120 --> 00:18:58.900 so on and 00:18:58.900 --> 00:18:59.400 so forth. 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:05.100 And when 00:19:05.100 --> 00:19:05.779 we focus 00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:06.640 our hearts 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:07.380 on the 00:19:07.380 --> 00:19:07.840 things of 00:19:07.840 --> 00:19:08.519 this world, 00:19:09.120 --> 00:19:10.660 hope slips 00:19:10.660 --> 00:19:11.220 away from 00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:11.540 us. 00:19:12.900 --> 00:19:13.259 You can 00:19:13.259 --> 00:19:13.720 simplify it 00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:14.480 different ways 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:15.920 because when 00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:16.640 we get what 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:17.480 we want and 00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:17.980 our hearts 00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:18.779 are satisfied, 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:20.019 when our 00:19:20.019 --> 00:19:20.960 desires and 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:21.640 longings are 00:19:21.640 --> 00:19:22.460 fulfilled in 00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:23.180 this world, 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:25.340 then hope 00:19:25.340 --> 00:19:26.019 seems unneeded. 00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:27.380 We don't need 00:19:27.380 --> 00:19:28.140 anything else. 00:19:28.540 --> 00:19:29.580 If I have 00:19:29.580 --> 00:19:30.380 everything that 00:19:30.380 --> 00:19:31.200 I'm longing for 00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:32.000 right now, 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:34.619 how good is 00:19:34.619 --> 00:19:34.920 it going to 00:19:34.920 --> 00:19:35.359 be if I 00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:35.980 haven't been 00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:36.619 with God? 00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:39.039 It doesn't 00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:39.579 seem any 00:19:39.579 --> 00:19:40.160 better than 00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:40.460 what I've 00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:40.920 got right 00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:41.359 now. 00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:46.259 And when 00:19:46.259 --> 00:19:46.740 we don't 00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:47.339 get what we 00:19:47.339 --> 00:19:47.720 want, 00:19:49.460 --> 00:19:50.119 when we 00:19:50.119 --> 00:19:51.279 face the 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:52.200 disappointments 00:19:52.200 --> 00:19:53.740 and the 00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:54.660 discouragements 00:19:54.660 --> 00:19:55.339 when the 00:19:55.339 --> 00:19:56.099 world isn't 00:19:56.099 --> 00:19:58.160 meeting our 00:19:58.160 --> 00:19:59.420 desires and 00:19:59.420 --> 00:20:00.160 satisfying our 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:00.420 health, 00:20:00.420 --> 00:20:03.580 we fall 00:20:03.580 --> 00:20:04.320 into despair. 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:09.320 We see 00:20:09.320 --> 00:20:10.019 hope as a 00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:11.140 dangerous thing 00:20:11.140 --> 00:20:12.120 that will only 00:20:12.120 --> 00:20:12.740 lead us 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:14.860 ultimately to 00:20:14.860 --> 00:20:15.400 discourage 00:20:15.400 --> 00:20:15.860 our lives 00:20:15.860 --> 00:20:17.620 because we 00:20:17.620 --> 00:20:18.120 won't get 00:20:18.120 --> 00:20:18.340 it. 00:20:21.860 --> 00:20:22.620 You see 00:20:22.620 --> 00:20:23.100 the danger? 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:23.940 So 00:20:23.940 --> 00:20:24.759 prosperity 00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:25.920 dulls are 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:26.340 needed for 00:20:26.340 --> 00:20:26.660 hope. 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:28.400 You know 00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:28.779 the C.S. 00:20:28.840 --> 00:20:29.460 Lewis quote 00:20:29.460 --> 00:20:31.160 but it 00:20:31.160 --> 00:20:31.819 has a 00:20:31.819 --> 00:20:32.079 slightly 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:32.440 different 00:20:32.440 --> 00:20:32.860 take in 00:20:32.860 --> 00:20:33.259 this world. 00:20:33.620 --> 00:20:34.240 Our 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:35.340 desires are 00:20:35.340 --> 00:20:36.360 too small, 00:20:36.620 --> 00:20:37.120 not too 00:20:37.120 --> 00:20:37.480 great. 00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:37.920 We're too 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:38.360 easily 00:20:38.360 --> 00:20:39.100 pleased with 00:20:39.100 --> 00:20:39.500 the things 00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:39.860 of this 00:20:39.860 --> 00:20:40.680 world and 00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:41.120 so we 00:20:41.120 --> 00:20:41.940 prefer the 00:20:41.940 --> 00:20:42.640 month-pies 00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:43.579 of this 00:20:43.579 --> 00:20:46.180 world to 00:20:46.180 --> 00:20:47.000 the glories 00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:48.059 and the 00:20:48.059 --> 00:20:49.940 joys in 00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:50.620 his image 00:20:50.620 --> 00:20:51.259 of the 00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:51.840 vacation in 00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:52.319 the sea. 00:20:59.000 --> 00:20:59.639 So 00:20:59.639 --> 00:21:00.679 prosperity 00:21:00.679 --> 00:21:01.379 dulls our 00:21:01.379 --> 00:21:02.519 heart and 00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:03.199 trials 00:21:03.199 --> 00:21:04.419 overwhelm 00:21:04.419 --> 00:21:04.699 them. 00:21:04.700 --> 00:21:08.259 when we 00:21:08.259 --> 00:21:09.940 get the 00:21:09.940 --> 00:21:10.460 news 00:21:10.460 --> 00:21:14.039 we get 00:21:14.039 --> 00:21:14.640 the call 00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:15.559 your dad 00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:15.900 is in 00:21:15.900 --> 00:21:16.180 hospital. 00:21:19.180 --> 00:21:19.860 You didn't 00:21:19.860 --> 00:21:20.279 need to get 00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:20.620 into the 00:21:20.620 --> 00:21:21.059 program. 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:25.559 I need to 00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:26.160 return this 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:27.080 ring to you. 00:21:27.079 --> 00:21:31.779 there's 00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:32.339 nothing more 00:21:32.339 --> 00:21:32.720 we can 00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:33.019 do. 00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:36.639 Feels like 00:21:36.639 --> 00:21:36.980 life 00:21:36.980 --> 00:21:37.699 crashing 00:21:37.699 --> 00:21:38.399 down around 00:21:38.399 --> 00:21:38.919 us, 00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.259 slipping 00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:40.759 through our 00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:41.299 fingers. 00:21:42.879 --> 00:21:43.559 Disappointment 00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:44.220 crushes our 00:21:44.220 --> 00:21:44.799 spirits. 00:21:47.539 --> 00:21:48.359 And when 00:21:48.359 --> 00:21:49.099 we put all 00:21:49.099 --> 00:21:49.359 of our 00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:50.099 hope in 00:21:50.099 --> 00:21:50.740 this life 00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:51.240 and it 00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:51.939 slips away, 00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:52.740 there's 00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:53.039 nothing 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:53.460 left. 00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:56.380 nothing 00:21:56.380 --> 00:21:56.960 wanted. 00:21:57.840 --> 00:21:58.380 So of 00:21:58.380 --> 00:21:58.840 course we 00:21:58.840 --> 00:21:59.259 despair. 00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:01.920 And we 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:02.500 might drown 00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:03.160 our despair 00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:04.180 and eat 00:22:04.180 --> 00:22:04.500 and drink 00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:04.740 and be 00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:05.019 married, 00:22:05.120 --> 00:22:05.380 for more 00:22:05.380 --> 00:22:05.700 we may 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:06.140 die. 00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:08.240 We may 00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:08.940 sink into 00:22:08.940 --> 00:22:09.559 darkness, 00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:10.940 loneliness, 00:22:11.259 --> 00:22:11.740 depression. 00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:17.079 When we 00:22:17.079 --> 00:22:17.559 make our 00:22:17.559 --> 00:22:18.059 present 00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:19.420 reality the 00:22:19.420 --> 00:22:19.960 greatest 00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:20.600 reality, 00:22:21.620 --> 00:22:22.220 the thing 00:22:22.220 --> 00:22:22.500 that we 00:22:22.500 --> 00:22:22.860 put our 00:22:22.859 --> 00:22:23.159 love is 00:22:23.159 --> 00:22:23.539 hope. 00:22:25.979 --> 00:22:26.819 Hope has 00:22:26.819 --> 00:22:27.240 more 00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:27.740 meaning 00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:28.019 than 00:22:28.019 --> 00:22:28.459 else. 00:22:31.740 --> 00:22:32.259 There's 00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:32.559 a third 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:33.079 reason why 00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:33.359 we can 00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:33.959 lose hope 00:22:33.959 --> 00:22:35.659 in the 00:22:35.659 --> 00:22:35.979 world. 00:22:36.359 --> 00:22:36.740 It's not 00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:37.139 true for 00:22:37.139 --> 00:22:37.500 those of 00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:37.740 us. 00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:38.079 It's true 00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:38.399 for the 00:22:38.399 --> 00:22:38.759 Hebrews 00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:39.259 though, 00:22:40.099 --> 00:22:40.500 those who 00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:40.959 are receiving 00:22:40.959 --> 00:22:41.539 this letter. 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:42.379 For them 00:22:42.379 --> 00:22:42.819 following 00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:43.559 Christ was 00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:43.899 a very 00:22:43.899 --> 00:22:44.519 cost of 00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:44.759 being 00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:45.519 in their 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:45.919 culture. 00:22:46.979 --> 00:22:47.219 I 00:22:47.219 --> 00:22:47.639 cost them 00:22:47.639 --> 00:22:47.859 their 00:22:47.859 --> 00:22:48.319 jobs. 00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:48.679 I 00:22:48.679 --> 00:22:49.299 cost them 00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:49.919 their 00:22:49.919 --> 00:22:50.519 belongings. 00:22:52.119 --> 00:22:52.619 In fact, 00:22:52.619 --> 00:22:53.899 chapter 10, 00:22:53.979 --> 00:22:54.319 if you look 00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:54.759 down in 00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:55.539 verse 34, 00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:57.079 it says, 00:22:57.559 --> 00:22:57.819 for you 00:22:57.819 --> 00:22:58.559 had compassion 00:22:58.559 --> 00:22:59.039 on those 00:22:59.039 --> 00:22:59.539 in prison, 00:22:59.679 --> 00:23:00.259 you joyfully 00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:00.899 accepted the 00:23:00.899 --> 00:23:01.539 plundering of 00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:02.119 your property. 00:23:03.559 --> 00:23:04.099 That seemed 00:23:04.099 --> 00:23:04.759 to be real 00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:05.739 for these 00:23:05.739 --> 00:23:06.539 believers that 00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:06.839 they were 00:23:06.839 --> 00:23:09.739 suffering deep 00:23:09.739 --> 00:23:10.219 social 00:23:10.219 --> 00:23:10.859 injustice, 00:23:11.679 --> 00:23:14.539 and probably 00:23:14.539 --> 00:23:15.219 material 00:23:15.219 --> 00:23:16.479 poverty, 00:23:17.419 --> 00:23:17.779 life 00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:19.000 and physical 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:19.559 suffering. 00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:20.839 for being 00:23:20.839 --> 00:23:21.279 a Christian. 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:25.059 It can be 00:23:25.059 --> 00:23:25.500 hard to 00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:25.740 hold on 00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:26.579 hope then 00:23:26.579 --> 00:23:27.019 too. 00:23:28.139 --> 00:23:28.759 Where is 00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.099 God? 00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:29.460 Have you 00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:29.799 abandoned 00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:30.119 me? 00:23:31.859 --> 00:23:32.359 I 00:23:32.359 --> 00:23:32.940 believed in 00:23:32.940 --> 00:23:33.359 you and 00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:34.919 what am I 00:23:34.919 --> 00:23:35.539 getting here? 00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:36.559 Suffering 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:36.759 and 00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.119 trial. 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:38.779 But do you 00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:39.519 see that even 00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:41.259 then, the 00:23:41.259 --> 00:23:41.960 reason why it's 00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:42.740 hard is because 00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:43.500 we think that 00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:44.319 the promises of 00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:44.799 God have 00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:45.419 meant to be 00:23:45.419 --> 00:23:46.299 fulfilled here 00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:46.940 and now 00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:47.639 in this 00:23:47.639 --> 00:23:47.980 time. 00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:56.259 instead of 00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:59.039 receiving our 00:23:59.039 --> 00:24:00.819 blessings and 00:24:00.819 --> 00:24:01.720 our prosperity 00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:02.360 as a 00:24:02.360 --> 00:24:03.180 forte of 00:24:03.180 --> 00:24:03.720 heaven, 00:24:04.900 --> 00:24:05.960 instead of 00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:07.500 receiving our 00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:09.279 trials as a 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:10.240 reminder that 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:11.019 this world is 00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:11.940 never meant 00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:13.220 to satisfy 00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:13.819 us, 00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:17.480 we lose 00:24:17.480 --> 00:24:17.880 hope. 00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:21.440 We lose 00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:21.759 hope. 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:25.920 But friends, 00:24:26.839 --> 00:24:27.539 holding on to 00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:27.940 hope is 00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:28.460 possible. 00:24:29.819 --> 00:24:30.700 Seeing hope 00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:31.299 as good 00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:32.779 and taking 00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:33.539 hold of it 00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:33.980 and holding 00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:34.880 fast to it. 00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:35.860 The image of 00:24:35.860 --> 00:24:36.660 holding fast is 00:24:36.660 --> 00:24:37.140 a great one. 00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:37.440 It's a 00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:38.259 nautical term 00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:39.759 where if you 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:40.440 take a rope 00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:41.339 and you tie it 00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:41.640 to the 00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:41.960 worry, 00:24:42.599 --> 00:24:42.880 yeah, 00:24:43.299 --> 00:24:43.779 and you 00:24:43.779 --> 00:24:44.140 pull, 00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:45.259 the idea is 00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:45.740 that when the 00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:46.480 knot is tied 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:47.319 well, 00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:48.200 it will hold 00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:48.599 fast. 00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:48.960 And the 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:50.019 harder the 00:24:50.019 --> 00:24:50.799 pressure is on 00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:51.279 the rope, 00:24:51.640 --> 00:24:52.279 the tighter 00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:53.059 the knot will 00:24:53.059 --> 00:24:53.380 be. 00:24:55.120 --> 00:24:55.559 Friends, 00:24:55.620 --> 00:24:56.120 this is the 00:24:56.120 --> 00:24:57.000 picture of what 00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:58.099 the writer of Hebrews 00:24:58.099 --> 00:24:58.960 is adoring us 00:24:58.960 --> 00:24:59.279 to do, 00:24:59.319 --> 00:24:59.759 is to take 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:00.980 hold of the 00:25:00.980 --> 00:25:01.480 hope in 00:25:01.480 --> 00:25:02.000 Christ 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:05.360 without 00:25:05.360 --> 00:25:06.259 wavering 00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:09.259 like that. 00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:10.539 so that when 00:25:10.539 --> 00:25:11.839 the greatest 00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:12.940 storms blow, 00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:16.059 so that when 00:25:16.059 --> 00:25:16.700 the greatest 00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:18.220 prosperity comes, 00:25:19.619 --> 00:25:20.379 we are not 00:25:20.379 --> 00:25:21.640 pulled away 00:25:21.640 --> 00:25:23.099 from this 00:25:23.099 --> 00:25:23.400 coming. 00:25:26.460 --> 00:25:27.099 Now, 00:25:27.319 --> 00:25:27.599 it would be 00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:28.599 very easy at 00:25:28.599 --> 00:25:29.259 this point to 00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:29.619 think, 00:25:30.259 --> 00:25:30.940 and I'll end 00:25:30.940 --> 00:25:31.339 the sermon 00:25:31.339 --> 00:25:31.759 with, 00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:33.119 so hold on, 00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:34.559 cling harder, 00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:35.920 do more, 00:25:36.039 --> 00:25:37.379 try harder to 00:25:37.380 --> 00:25:38.460 hold on. 00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:40.700 But thankfully, 00:25:40.900 --> 00:25:41.360 we would be 00:25:41.360 --> 00:25:42.120 verse 23. 00:25:42.860 --> 00:25:43.560 The writer of Hebrews 00:25:43.560 --> 00:25:44.340 knows that that 00:25:44.340 --> 00:25:44.860 is not 00:25:44.860 --> 00:25:45.800 actually the 00:25:45.800 --> 00:25:46.360 God's way. 00:25:46.359 --> 00:25:52.479 hold fast 00:25:52.479 --> 00:25:52.939 to the 00:25:52.939 --> 00:25:53.539 confession of 00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:53.819 hope 00:25:53.819 --> 00:25:54.099 without 00:25:54.099 --> 00:25:54.859 wavering 00:25:54.859 --> 00:25:57.019 for 00:25:57.019 --> 00:25:58.899 explanatory 00:25:58.899 --> 00:25:59.659 grounds. 00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:00.339 The reason 00:26:00.339 --> 00:26:01.299 for why 00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:01.939 we can do 00:26:01.939 --> 00:26:02.419 this 00:26:02.419 --> 00:26:04.699 is he 00:26:04.699 --> 00:26:05.819 promised 00:26:05.819 --> 00:26:07.259 his 00:26:07.259 --> 00:26:07.699 faithful. 00:26:10.879 --> 00:26:11.679 Friends, 00:26:11.879 --> 00:26:12.479 the reason 00:26:12.479 --> 00:26:13.119 why 00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:14.439 we can 00:26:14.439 --> 00:26:15.099 cling to 00:26:15.099 --> 00:26:15.479 hope 00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:16.660 is God 00:26:16.660 --> 00:26:18.220 will not 00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:18.960 let us 00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:19.299 go. 00:26:20.120 --> 00:26:20.740 In the 00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:21.299 argument of 00:26:21.299 --> 00:26:21.559 Hebrews, 00:26:21.740 --> 00:26:22.360 he's already 00:26:22.360 --> 00:26:23.140 proved how 00:26:23.140 --> 00:26:24.279 God was 00:26:24.279 --> 00:26:24.960 faithful in 00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:25.579 all of the 00:26:25.579 --> 00:26:26.259 promises and 00:26:26.259 --> 00:26:26.779 all the 00:26:26.779 --> 00:26:27.220 hopes that 00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:27.620 were laid 00:26:27.620 --> 00:26:28.059 out in the 00:26:28.059 --> 00:26:28.799 Old Testament 00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:30.019 found their 00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:30.720 critical and 00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:31.440 their fulfillment 00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:31.799 in the 00:26:31.799 --> 00:26:32.339 person of 00:26:32.339 --> 00:26:33.180 Jesus Christ. 00:26:33.539 --> 00:26:33.940 When he 00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:34.519 came, he 00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:34.960 was the 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:35.460 temple and 00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:36.160 the sacrifice 00:26:36.160 --> 00:26:36.500 and the 00:26:36.500 --> 00:26:37.099 high priest 00:26:37.099 --> 00:26:37.759 and the 00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:38.220 king. 00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:39.779 He was 00:26:39.779 --> 00:26:40.099 the one 00:26:40.099 --> 00:26:40.400 who would 00:26:40.400 --> 00:26:40.759 come and 00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:41.620 fulfill all 00:26:41.620 --> 00:26:42.079 of those 00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:42.620 hopes. 00:26:43.539 --> 00:26:43.839 And so 00:26:43.839 --> 00:26:44.160 he has 00:26:44.160 --> 00:26:44.740 already 00:26:44.740 --> 00:26:45.500 demonstrated 00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.060 his 00:26:46.060 --> 00:26:46.700 faithfulness 00:26:46.700 --> 00:26:47.320 in sending 00:26:47.320 --> 00:26:48.000 Christ to 00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:48.480 do what 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:48.779 he did 00:26:48.779 --> 00:26:49.080 on the 00:26:49.080 --> 00:26:49.560 cross. 00:26:51.060 --> 00:26:51.900 But friends, 00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:52.560 his faithfulness 00:26:52.560 --> 00:26:53.259 doesn't end 00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:53.600 there. 00:26:53.900 --> 00:26:54.080 His 00:26:54.080 --> 00:26:54.740 faithfulness 00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:55.900 is anchored 00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:56.759 in the 00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:57.380 cross saying, 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:58.300 I will not 00:26:58.300 --> 00:26:58.900 forsake you, 00:26:58.980 --> 00:26:59.740 I will not 00:26:59.740 --> 00:27:00.220 obey you, 00:27:00.220 --> 00:27:01.200 I have 00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:01.820 done all 00:27:01.820 --> 00:27:02.200 that I 00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:03.500 need to 00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:04.279 do for 00:27:04.279 --> 00:27:05.140 you to 00:27:05.140 --> 00:27:05.980 be secure 00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:06.660 in me. 00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:09.140 And that 00:27:09.140 --> 00:27:10.259 anchor now 00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:11.340 points forward 00:27:11.339 --> 00:27:12.579 and God's 00:27:12.579 --> 00:27:13.299 faithfulness 00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:14.079 looks ahead. 00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:14.980 It looks 00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:15.619 ahead to 00:27:15.619 --> 00:27:16.179 the dead 00:27:16.179 --> 00:27:17.419 where you 00:27:17.419 --> 00:27:18.480 can finally 00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:19.819 applaud all 00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:20.279 that he has 00:27:20.279 --> 00:27:20.939 accomplished 00:27:20.939 --> 00:27:22.079 in Christ. 00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:23.639 And the 00:27:23.639 --> 00:27:24.119 dead will 00:27:24.119 --> 00:27:24.659 be raised 00:27:24.659 --> 00:27:25.399 to life 00:27:25.399 --> 00:27:26.699 and sin 00:27:26.699 --> 00:27:27.059 will be 00:27:27.059 --> 00:27:27.839 no more. 00:27:30.839 --> 00:27:31.199 There will 00:27:31.199 --> 00:27:31.639 be no more 00:27:31.639 --> 00:27:32.220 sadness, 00:27:32.919 --> 00:27:33.740 no more 00:27:33.740 --> 00:27:34.159 sickness, 00:27:35.279 --> 00:27:35.679 no more 00:27:35.679 --> 00:27:36.240 tears. 00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:37.359 There will 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:37.899 be no more 00:27:37.899 --> 00:27:38.519 sorrow. 00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:39.279 There will 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:40.039 be no more 00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:40.500 death. 00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:42.799 And the 00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:43.480 prosperity 00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:43.980 that we 00:27:43.980 --> 00:27:44.419 have will 00:27:44.419 --> 00:27:44.759 be the 00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:45.659 riches of 00:27:45.659 --> 00:27:46.220 the presence 00:27:46.220 --> 00:27:46.759 of God 00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:47.059 which will 00:27:47.059 --> 00:27:47.240 be 00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:47.639 secure 00:27:47.639 --> 00:27:47.879 than 00:27:47.879 --> 00:27:48.519 anything. 00:27:51.579 --> 00:27:52.000 He 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:52.279 who 00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:52.799 promised 00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:53.079 is 00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:53.759 faithful. 00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:57.079 He 00:27:57.079 --> 00:27:57.599 has taken 00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:58.099 hold of 00:27:58.099 --> 00:27:58.659 us 00:27:58.659 --> 00:28:00.039 in Christ. 00:28:05.639 --> 00:28:06.779 And so 00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.019 the 00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:07.919 exhortation 00:28:07.919 --> 00:28:09.119 to hold 00:28:09.119 --> 00:28:09.919 fast is 00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:11.060 rooted in 00:28:11.060 --> 00:28:11.700 God's 00:28:11.700 --> 00:28:12.420 faithfulness 00:28:12.420 --> 00:28:13.740 and his 00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:15.000 taking hold 00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:15.740 of us 00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:16.720 in Christ. 00:28:17.120 --> 00:28:17.600 By doing 00:28:17.600 --> 00:28:18.039 what we 00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:18.500 could not 00:28:18.500 --> 00:28:19.480 do and 00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:20.039 by calling 00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:20.560 us to 00:28:20.560 --> 00:28:21.480 himself and 00:28:21.480 --> 00:28:22.039 by turning 00:28:22.039 --> 00:28:22.680 our hearts 00:28:22.680 --> 00:28:23.560 towards him 00:28:23.560 --> 00:28:24.160 and by 00:28:24.160 --> 00:28:25.060 allowing us 00:28:25.060 --> 00:28:25.720 to make a 00:28:25.720 --> 00:28:26.420 profession of 00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:26.920 faith, I 00:28:26.920 --> 00:28:28.279 believed that 00:28:28.279 --> 00:28:29.560 Jesus is all 00:28:29.560 --> 00:28:30.480 that I need. 00:28:32.660 --> 00:28:33.600 He has 00:28:33.600 --> 00:28:34.080 done this 00:28:34.080 --> 00:28:34.880 for us. 00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:36.460 And that 00:28:36.460 --> 00:28:37.120 is how 00:28:37.120 --> 00:28:38.019 we 00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:38.420 think 00:28:38.420 --> 00:28:38.720 about 00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:38.960 him. 00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:44.480 How do we 00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:44.920 cultivate 00:28:44.920 --> 00:28:46.579 this in 00:28:46.579 --> 00:28:47.079 our hearts? 00:28:47.400 --> 00:28:47.700 There are 00:28:47.700 --> 00:28:48.240 things to 00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:48.579 do. 00:28:49.100 --> 00:28:49.200 We're 00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:49.600 writing a few 00:28:49.600 --> 00:28:50.019 reasons to 00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:50.480 learn it out. 00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:51.140 Chapter 3, 00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:52.319 consider Jesus. 00:28:53.299 --> 00:28:53.759 Think on 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:54.079 him. 00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:55.059 Remind 00:28:55.059 --> 00:28:55.579 yourself 00:28:55.579 --> 00:28:56.299 potentially 00:28:56.299 --> 00:28:57.360 of who 00:28:57.360 --> 00:28:58.180 he is 00:28:58.180 --> 00:28:58.819 and what 00:28:58.819 --> 00:28:59.180 he has 00:28:59.180 --> 00:28:59.960 done for 00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:00.220 you. 00:29:02.779 --> 00:29:04.440 Chapter 7 00:29:04.440 --> 00:29:05.299 talks about 00:29:05.299 --> 00:29:06.259 boasting 00:29:06.259 --> 00:29:06.779 in our 00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:07.139 hope. 00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:08.279 Friends, 00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:08.659 do you 00:29:08.659 --> 00:29:09.359 boast about 00:29:09.359 --> 00:29:09.759 Jesus? 00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:10.579 Do you 00:29:10.579 --> 00:29:11.119 boast that 00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:11.539 the power 00:29:11.539 --> 00:29:11.940 of sin 00:29:11.940 --> 00:29:12.319 and death 00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:12.659 has been 00:29:12.659 --> 00:29:13.019 broken? 00:29:13.419 --> 00:29:13.819 Do you 00:29:13.819 --> 00:29:14.779 boast about 00:29:14.779 --> 00:29:15.259 the fact 00:29:15.259 --> 00:29:15.879 that if 00:29:15.879 --> 00:29:16.419 you die, 00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:16.839 you know 00:29:16.839 --> 00:29:17.759 exactly where 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:18.359 you're going? 00:29:18.759 --> 00:29:19.399 Not because 00:29:19.399 --> 00:29:19.919 you have 00:29:19.919 --> 00:29:20.500 done anything 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:21.200 to deserve 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:21.460 it. 00:29:23.940 --> 00:29:24.659 When you 00:29:24.659 --> 00:29:25.759 boast about 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.279 something, 00:29:26.879 --> 00:29:27.240 it's the 00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:27.639 thing that's 00:29:27.639 --> 00:29:28.240 captured your 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:28.839 affection to 00:29:28.839 --> 00:29:29.220 this thing 00:29:29.220 --> 00:29:29.799 everyone knows 00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:30.279 about you. 00:29:35.299 --> 00:29:36.259 draw near 00:29:36.259 --> 00:29:37.000 to Jesus. 00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:39.759 Seek 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:40.059 him. 00:29:40.639 --> 00:29:41.099 Seek 00:29:41.099 --> 00:29:41.519 him in 00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:42.059 personal 00:29:42.059 --> 00:29:42.859 devotions. 00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:43.740 Seek 00:29:43.740 --> 00:29:44.159 him in 00:29:44.159 --> 00:29:44.639 regular 00:29:44.639 --> 00:29:45.039 Bible 00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:45.500 reading. 00:29:46.099 --> 00:29:46.379 Seek 00:29:46.379 --> 00:29:46.680 him 00:29:46.680 --> 00:29:47.440 corporately 00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:47.759 by 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.259 coming 00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:48.819 and 00:29:48.819 --> 00:29:49.259 being 00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:49.980 together 00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:50.259 with 00:29:50.259 --> 00:29:50.440 his 00:29:50.440 --> 00:29:50.859 people, 00:29:51.539 --> 00:29:52.039 reminding 00:29:52.039 --> 00:29:52.539 us 00:29:52.539 --> 00:29:55.839 of the 00:29:55.839 --> 00:29:56.220 work that 00:29:56.220 --> 00:29:56.779 Christ has 00:29:56.779 --> 00:29:57.039 learned. 00:29:58.579 --> 00:29:59.019 And 00:29:59.019 --> 00:29:59.500 finally, 00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:01.039 we have a 00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:01.259 gospel 00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:02.759 in chapter 00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:03.359 12. 00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:04.960 Look to 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:05.379 Jesus, 00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:07.000 the author 00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:08.039 and effector 00:30:08.039 --> 00:30:08.480 of our 00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:08.879 faith, 00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:10.900 who 00:30:10.900 --> 00:30:11.279 through the 00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:12.019 joy set 00:30:12.019 --> 00:30:12.859 before him 00:30:12.859 --> 00:30:14.799 endured the 00:30:14.799 --> 00:30:15.299 cross, 00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:16.519 despising 00:30:16.519 --> 00:30:17.720 his shame, 00:30:18.379 --> 00:30:18.700 and now 00:30:18.700 --> 00:30:19.299 seated at 00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:19.660 the right 00:30:19.660 --> 00:30:21.000 hand of 00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:21.420 God the 00:30:21.420 --> 00:30:21.740 Father. 00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:27.559 Friends, 00:30:27.680 --> 00:30:28.319 it's possible 00:30:28.319 --> 00:30:28.799 to do 00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:29.140 this. 00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:31.819 Chapter 00:30:31.819 --> 00:30:32.220 11, 00:30:32.220 --> 00:30:32.440 the 00:30:32.440 --> 00:30:32.519 will 00:30:32.519 --> 00:30:32.880 remind 00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:33.100 us 00:30:33.100 --> 00:30:33.299 of 00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:33.700 those 00:30:33.700 --> 00:30:33.940 who 00:30:33.940 --> 00:30:34.240 died 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:34.420 in 00:30:34.420 --> 00:30:34.759 faith, 00:30:34.860 --> 00:30:35.059 having 00:30:35.059 --> 00:30:35.360 not 00:30:35.360 --> 00:30:35.940 received 00:30:35.940 --> 00:30:36.160 the 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:36.360 things 00:30:36.360 --> 00:30:36.860 promised, 00:30:37.620 --> 00:30:37.779 but 00:30:37.779 --> 00:30:37.980 having 00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:38.319 seen 00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:38.519 them 00:30:38.519 --> 00:30:38.660 and 00:30:38.660 --> 00:30:38.880 greeted 00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:39.140 them 00:30:39.140 --> 00:30:39.339 from 00:30:39.339 --> 00:30:39.920 afar, 00:30:40.299 --> 00:30:40.559 having 00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:41.180 acknowledged 00:30:41.180 --> 00:30:41.460 that they 00:30:41.460 --> 00:30:41.559 were 00:30:41.559 --> 00:30:42.000 strangers 00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:42.259 and 00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:42.680 exiles 00:30:42.680 --> 00:30:43.059 on the 00:30:43.059 --> 00:30:43.400 earth. 00:30:44.579 --> 00:30:44.819 These 00:30:44.819 --> 00:30:45.220 people 00:30:45.220 --> 00:30:45.700 who 00:30:45.700 --> 00:30:46.079 speak 00:30:46.079 --> 00:30:46.460 with us 00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:46.860 make it 00:30:46.860 --> 00:30:47.339 clear that 00:30:47.339 --> 00:30:47.600 they're 00:30:47.600 --> 00:30:48.039 seeking 00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:48.839 a better 00:30:48.839 --> 00:30:49.799 homeland, 00:30:50.039 --> 00:30:50.519 a different 00:30:50.519 --> 00:30:51.140 homeland, 00:30:52.600 --> 00:30:53.579 to seek 00:30:53.579 --> 00:30:53.960 a better 00:30:53.960 --> 00:30:54.920 country that 00:30:54.920 --> 00:30:55.200 is a 00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:55.480 heavenly 00:30:55.480 --> 00:30:55.880 one. 00:30:59.319 --> 00:31:00.100 As I 00:31:00.100 --> 00:31:00.380 was 00:31:00.380 --> 00:31:01.800 poking 00:31:01.800 --> 00:31:02.340 around, 00:31:04.360 --> 00:31:04.820 I found 00:31:04.820 --> 00:31:05.420 a story 00:31:05.420 --> 00:31:05.860 of a 00:31:05.860 --> 00:31:06.220 woman 00:31:06.220 --> 00:31:08.780 on her 00:31:08.780 --> 00:31:09.300 blog. 00:31:10.420 --> 00:31:11.640 Her name 00:31:11.640 --> 00:31:11.820 is 00:31:11.820 --> 00:31:12.380 Starry. 00:31:12.940 --> 00:31:13.700 She lived 00:31:13.700 --> 00:31:14.180 in England. 00:31:15.140 --> 00:31:15.640 She died 00:31:15.640 --> 00:31:16.540 last December 00:31:16.540 --> 00:31:17.440 of Hodgkin's 00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:18.040 lymphoma. 00:31:20.440 --> 00:31:21.560 Last month 00:31:21.560 --> 00:31:22.220 before she 00:31:22.220 --> 00:31:22.660 died, 00:31:23.300 --> 00:31:23.860 she wrote 00:31:23.860 --> 00:31:24.260 this. 00:31:24.259 --> 00:31:26.039 One 00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:26.359 thing I 00:31:26.359 --> 00:31:26.819 noticed, 00:31:27.400 --> 00:31:27.839 though, 00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:28.400 she's 00:31:28.400 --> 00:31:28.640 kind of 00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:28.859 got a 00:31:28.859 --> 00:31:29.059 funny 00:31:29.059 --> 00:31:29.339 grade 00:31:29.339 --> 00:31:29.680 writing, 00:31:29.900 --> 00:31:30.700 so bear 00:31:30.700 --> 00:31:31.019 with me. 00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:32.460 One 00:31:32.460 --> 00:31:32.740 thing I 00:31:32.740 --> 00:31:33.119 noticed, 00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:33.339 though, 00:31:33.359 --> 00:31:33.619 is that 00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:34.559 people will 00:31:34.559 --> 00:31:35.140 always tell 00:31:35.140 --> 00:31:35.440 me how 00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:35.920 faith and 00:31:35.920 --> 00:31:36.240 hope, 00:31:36.680 --> 00:31:37.099 it's an 00:31:37.099 --> 00:31:37.480 interesting 00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:38.119 concept, 00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:38.579 faith and 00:31:38.579 --> 00:31:38.759 hope, 00:31:38.839 --> 00:31:39.240 that is. 00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:40.559 It's 00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:40.980 interesting 00:31:40.980 --> 00:31:42.059 because the 00:31:42.059 --> 00:31:42.500 real and 00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:43.000 more important 00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:43.619 question is 00:31:43.619 --> 00:31:44.579 what should 00:31:44.579 --> 00:31:45.579 the object 00:31:45.579 --> 00:31:46.099 of my 00:31:46.099 --> 00:31:46.980 faith be 00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:47.299 revealed? 00:31:48.460 --> 00:31:49.279 What am I 00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:50.000 asking for 00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:50.779 faith and 00:31:50.779 --> 00:31:51.559 hope in? 00:31:51.559 --> 00:31:51.759 God, 00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:53.399 my faith 00:31:53.399 --> 00:31:53.799 and hope 00:31:53.799 --> 00:31:54.339 are firmly 00:31:54.339 --> 00:31:54.859 rooted in 00:31:54.859 --> 00:31:55.240 God. 00:31:56.659 --> 00:31:57.399 That does 00:31:57.399 --> 00:31:57.879 not mean 00:31:57.879 --> 00:31:58.220 that I'm 00:31:58.220 --> 00:31:59.339 praying and 00:31:59.339 --> 00:31:59.859 asking God 00:31:59.859 --> 00:32:00.519 to keep me 00:32:00.519 --> 00:32:01.179 alive. 00:32:02.519 --> 00:32:03.279 Having faith 00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:03.919 and hope in 00:32:03.919 --> 00:32:04.639 God is 00:32:04.639 --> 00:32:05.220 knowing that 00:32:05.220 --> 00:32:05.879 your salvation 00:32:05.879 --> 00:32:06.619 is safe. 00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:07.919 I know 00:32:07.919 --> 00:32:08.379 where I'm 00:32:08.379 --> 00:32:08.679 going. 00:32:09.639 --> 00:32:10.240 We've all 00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:11.059 got died at 00:32:11.059 --> 00:32:11.639 some point 00:32:11.639 --> 00:32:11.980 and of 00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:12.319 something. 00:32:14.319 --> 00:32:15.240 For me, 00:32:16.039 --> 00:32:17.099 that's what 00:32:17.099 --> 00:32:18.619 it means to 00:32:18.619 --> 00:32:19.299 have faith 00:32:19.299 --> 00:32:19.980 and hope. 00:32:21.559 --> 00:32:22.480 God loves 00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:22.799 me. 00:32:23.259 --> 00:32:23.639 He knows 00:32:23.639 --> 00:32:24.139 how hard 00:32:24.139 --> 00:32:24.619 this life 00:32:24.619 --> 00:32:24.960 is. 00:32:25.919 --> 00:32:26.339 I want 00:32:26.339 --> 00:32:26.599 to go 00:32:26.599 --> 00:32:27.759 home and 00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:28.200 have every 00:32:28.200 --> 00:32:28.740 tear wipe 00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:29.119 away. 00:32:30.279 --> 00:32:30.859 For my 00:32:30.859 --> 00:32:31.319 eyes, 00:32:31.879 --> 00:32:32.539 here in 00:32:32.539 --> 00:32:32.799 time, 00:32:32.899 --> 00:32:33.279 be well 00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:33.619 done, 00:32:34.279 --> 00:32:34.679 good and 00:32:34.679 --> 00:32:34.960 faithful 00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:35.500 servants. 00:32:35.859 --> 00:32:36.119 Welcome 00:32:36.119 --> 00:32:36.579 home, 00:32:37.299 --> 00:32:38.159 my child. 00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:39.339 Let's 00:32:39.339 --> 00:32:39.599 pray. 00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:39.720 Amen. 00:32:39.720 --> 00:32:39.819 Amen. 00:32:39.819 --> 00:32:39.879 Amen. 00:32:39.879 --> 00:32:39.940 Amen. 00:32:39.940 --> 00:32:40.319 Amen. 00:32:40.319 --> 00:32:40.819 Amen. 00:32:40.819 --> 00:32:41.379 Amen. 00:32:41.379 --> 00:32:41.879 Amen. 00:32:41.879 --> 00:32:41.940 Amen. 00:32:41.940 --> 00:32:43.819 Amen. 00:32:43.819 --> 00:32:43.879 Amen. 00:32:43.879 --> 00:32:43.940 Amen. 00:32:43.940 --> 00:32:45.879 Amen. 00:32:45.879 --> 00:32:45.940 Amen. 00:32:45.940 --> 00:32:47.879 Amen. 00:32:47.879 --> 00:32:47.940 Amen. 00:32:47.940 --> 00:32:48.000 Amen. 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:48.019 Amen. 00:32:48.019 --> 00:32:48.039 Amen. 00:32:48.039 --> 00:32:48.059 Amen. 00:32:48.059 --> 00:32:48.079 Amen. 00:32:48.079 --> 00:32:48.099 Amen. 00:32:48.099 --> 00:32:48.119 Amen. 00:32:48.119 --> 00:32:48.139 Amen. 00:32:48.139 --> 00:32:48.240 Amen. 00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:48.259 Amen. 00:32:48.259 --> 00:32:48.319 Amen. 00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:48.379 Amen. 00:32:48.379 --> 00:32:49.379 Amen. 00:32:49.380 --> 00:32:51.520 Amen. 00:32:51.520 --> 00:32:52.140 Amen. 00:32:55.560 --> 00:32:57.880 Amen. 00:32:59.200 --> 00:32:59.660 Amen. 00:33:03.660 --> 00:33:04.160 Amen. 00:33:04.700 --> 00:33:09.040 Amen. 00:33:09.040 --> 00:33:18.140 Amen. 00:33:18.140 --> 00:33:19.100 Amen. 00:33:19.100 --> 00:33:19.140 Amen. 00:33:19.140 --> 00:33:19.220 Amen. 00:33:19.220 --> 00:33:19.360 Amen. 00:33:19.380 --> 00:33:22.040 Lord, we want to repent this morning 00:33:22.040 --> 00:33:24.900 looking for satisfaction in this moment 00:33:24.900 --> 00:33:28.340 for thinking that these 70 years 00:33:28.340 --> 00:33:30.340 are the son of our lives. 00:33:32.420 --> 00:33:34.580 For you have created us for eternity. 00:33:39.020 --> 00:33:41.340 Create us for eternity with you. 00:33:42.440 --> 00:33:44.840 Lord, you have done all that we need in Christ 00:33:44.840 --> 00:33:46.400 and that that may be ours. 00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:49.080 We need you right now. 00:33:49.380 --> 00:33:54.580 Lord, I pray that you would help us 00:33:54.580 --> 00:33:55.900 to live with you. 00:33:57.220 --> 00:33:58.960 Help us to hold fast. 00:33:59.860 --> 00:34:00.960 Help us to hold patience. 00:34:04.020 --> 00:34:05.620 Lord, you are faithful. 00:34:06.380 --> 00:34:07.300 Lord, you do this. 00:34:07.820 --> 00:34:09.320 Lord, we pray to Jesus. 00:34:09.320 --> 00:34:10.140 Lord, we pray to Jesus. 00:34:22.720 --> 00:34:29.780 It's fitting to end the sermon on hope 00:34:29.780 --> 00:34:30.920 with the table. 00:34:30.920 --> 00:34:35.539 When Paul writes to the Corinthians 00:34:35.539 --> 00:34:37.480 about the Lord's table, 00:34:38.119 --> 00:34:41.059 he reminds us that this is a table of remembrance. 00:34:41.840 --> 00:34:44.680 We remember back to what Christ has done, 00:34:45.340 --> 00:34:47.240 but it's also a table of remembrance 00:34:47.240 --> 00:34:48.119 where we look forward 00:34:48.119 --> 00:34:49.179 and making fun real 00:34:49.179 --> 00:34:58.179 and making fun real 00:34:58.179 --> 00:35:00.019 of all the things that he hoped for. 00:35:02.219 --> 00:35:02.920 He said, 00:35:02.920 --> 00:35:04.019 for our sake of the Lord, 00:35:04.079 --> 00:35:05.300 but I also delivered to you 00:35:05.300 --> 00:35:07.639 that the Lord Jesus on the night 00:35:07.639 --> 00:35:08.380 when he was betrayed 00:35:08.380 --> 00:35:09.079 took bread 00:35:09.079 --> 00:35:10.400 and when he had given thanks, 00:35:10.480 --> 00:35:11.500 he broke it and said, 00:35:11.840 --> 00:35:12.740 this is my body, 00:35:12.880 --> 00:35:13.720 which is for you. 00:35:13.860 --> 00:35:15.639 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:35:16.320 --> 00:35:17.180 And in the same way, 00:35:17.220 --> 00:35:17.559 also, 00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:18.760 he took the cup 00:35:18.760 --> 00:35:20.440 after supper, 00:35:20.619 --> 00:35:20.940 saying, 00:35:20.940 --> 00:35:21.460 this cup 00:35:21.460 --> 00:35:22.179 is a new covenant 00:35:22.179 --> 00:35:22.920 in my blood. 00:35:23.039 --> 00:35:24.019 Do this as often 00:35:24.019 --> 00:35:25.159 as you drink it 00:35:25.159 --> 00:35:26.920 in remembrance of me. 00:35:27.039 --> 00:35:27.679 Or as often 00:35:27.679 --> 00:35:29.240 as you eat this bread 00:35:29.240 --> 00:35:30.079 and drink this cup, 00:35:30.139 --> 00:35:30.860 you proclaim 00:35:30.860 --> 00:35:32.420 the Lord's death 00:35:32.420 --> 00:35:33.980 until he comes. 00:35:37.639 --> 00:35:39.559 We live in the between times 00:35:39.559 --> 00:35:40.480 where 00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:42.740 the pastor of Christ 00:35:42.740 --> 00:35:44.099 that secured 00:35:44.099 --> 00:35:45.579 a certain future 00:35:45.579 --> 00:35:47.079 for all of our in Christ 00:35:47.079 --> 00:35:49.420 is able to give us hope 00:35:49.420 --> 00:35:50.559 today 00:35:50.559 --> 00:35:51.880 to persevere 00:35:51.880 --> 00:35:52.840 in faith. 00:35:53.340 --> 00:35:54.259 To persevere 00:35:54.259 --> 00:35:55.480 in cherishing, 00:35:56.139 --> 00:35:56.779 serving, 00:35:57.579 --> 00:35:58.239 and worshiping 00:35:58.239 --> 00:35:58.840 in Christ. 00:36:00.559 --> 00:36:02.059 And that's what we celebrate here. 00:36:03.739 --> 00:36:04.619 Let me ask those 00:36:04.619 --> 00:36:05.380 who are going to serve 00:36:05.380 --> 00:36:06.299 and come forward. 00:36:06.679 --> 00:36:07.759 And as they come forward, 00:36:07.900 --> 00:36:08.579 let me just say, 00:36:08.659 --> 00:36:09.820 if you're here this morning 00:36:09.820 --> 00:36:11.639 and if your hope 00:36:11.639 --> 00:36:13.000 has not been 00:36:13.000 --> 00:36:14.079 in security in Christ, 00:36:14.179 --> 00:36:16.119 if you don't know 00:36:16.119 --> 00:36:17.380 if that's where 00:36:17.380 --> 00:36:18.380 your hope is yet, 00:36:18.940 --> 00:36:19.880 we pray that you can just 00:36:19.880 --> 00:36:21.860 let these pass by. 00:36:22.800 --> 00:36:24.000 Let these pass by 00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:26.059 so that you can spend time 00:36:26.059 --> 00:36:27.160 considering 00:36:27.160 --> 00:36:28.960 what it is that 00:36:28.960 --> 00:36:29.760 would mean 00:36:29.760 --> 00:36:32.400 the body and blood 00:36:32.400 --> 00:36:33.019 of Christ 00:36:33.019 --> 00:36:34.160 that was shed 00:36:34.160 --> 00:36:35.140 for your sin 00:36:35.140 --> 00:36:37.300 and broken for you 00:36:37.300 --> 00:36:38.880 so that you might 00:36:38.880 --> 00:36:40.660 turn 00:36:40.660 --> 00:36:42.380 by the meaning of Christ 00:36:42.380 --> 00:36:44.140 have access 00:36:44.140 --> 00:36:44.660 to God 00:36:44.660 --> 00:36:46.140 so think 00:36:46.140 --> 00:36:47.019 on these things. 00:36:47.700 --> 00:36:48.760 But if you're here this morning 00:36:48.760 --> 00:36:49.300 and you know 00:36:49.300 --> 00:36:50.539 that Christ is your hope, 00:36:51.539 --> 00:36:52.619 even if your hope 00:36:52.619 --> 00:36:53.640 has been wavered, 00:36:53.920 --> 00:36:54.900 take hold of this 00:36:54.900 --> 00:36:55.700 as a reminder 00:36:55.700 --> 00:36:56.880 of the certainty 00:36:56.880 --> 00:36:58.119 of what God has done 00:36:58.119 --> 00:36:59.599 and the certainty 00:36:59.599 --> 00:37:01.619 of the future 00:37:01.619 --> 00:37:02.880 for all 00:37:02.880 --> 00:37:17.539 He's seen 00:37:17.539 --> 00:37:18.340 Jesus 00:37:18.340 --> 00:37:48.320 Thank you.