WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.339 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.339 --> 00:00:10.519 ! Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us. 00:00:11.960 --> 00:00:25.760 ! This morning, I want to show you that although waiting is a huge part of our lives, and that time's unbearable, 00:00:25.760 --> 00:00:34.539 so waiting is a feature of life and not a bug. It's part of life. 00:00:35.840 --> 00:00:43.740 I'm going to use an old European folktale. It's likely from the 18th century or 19th century, something like that, 00:00:43.939 --> 00:00:49.320 just to sort of bring us into this. And this is how the story goes. 00:00:49.320 --> 00:00:57.320 There's a schoolboy named Peter, and he's forever daydreaming, and his teacher sees him daydreaming in class. 00:00:58.280 --> 00:01:03.039 And, you know, what are you dreaming about this time, she asks. 00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:06.180 And he just says how great it will be to grow up, and I just can't wait. 00:01:06.840 --> 00:01:10.099 And she says, be patient. There's plenty of time for that. 00:01:11.060 --> 00:01:13.019 Being grown up isn't all fun, you know. 00:01:13.019 --> 00:01:23.519 And so, like, every—the thing about Peter, though, is that he's the kind of person that it's hard to enjoy whatever he's doing in the moment. 00:01:24.379 --> 00:01:30.659 Because he's always thinking, if it's summer, he's thinking about winter, you know, sledding and skiing and skating, whatever. 00:01:30.799 --> 00:01:33.420 And when it's winter, he's thinking about how great summer will be. 00:01:34.120 --> 00:01:37.299 And he's always daydreaming and can't wait for school to be over. 00:01:37.879 --> 00:01:39.280 Now, I can understand that. 00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:45.320 But then on Sunday nights, he just wishes it was going to be holidays next day. 00:01:45.460 --> 00:01:48.400 And just because Sunday night means schools the next day. 00:01:50.400 --> 00:01:57.200 Now, like every good folktale, as he's walking through the woods, he meets an old lady. 00:01:57.740 --> 00:02:02.460 And she's got this silver ball in her hand, and out of it is this gold thread. 00:02:02.459 --> 00:02:09.500 And she tells him that if you accept this and you take this, you'll be able to pull that gold thread. 00:02:09.579 --> 00:02:15.060 And everything that you're waiting for or that you want to avoid, you can't because you can go forward in time. 00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:17.759 But there's two things. 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:19.240 You can't go back. 00:02:19.579 --> 00:02:21.060 You can't stuff it back in. 00:02:22.199 --> 00:02:26.180 And if you tell people about this, you tell anyone, you will die. 00:02:27.359 --> 00:02:28.819 So Peter says, that sounds good. 00:02:28.919 --> 00:02:29.680 Let's do that. 00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:29.719 Let's do that. 00:02:30.379 --> 00:02:31.760 I'll take the silver ball. 00:02:31.939 --> 00:02:34.120 Because he says, now how easy life will be. 00:02:34.520 --> 00:02:37.379 Because if it's summer and I want it to be winter, I can pull the string. 00:02:37.460 --> 00:02:37.980 And it's winter. 00:02:38.580 --> 00:02:42.760 And if it's winter and I want it to be summer, and if that's school and I want to be over, he can do that. 00:02:42.780 --> 00:02:44.140 And so he starts to pull the string. 00:02:46.100 --> 00:02:47.260 So now he's an adult. 00:02:47.260 --> 00:02:52.520 And when payday seemed too far off, he gave the thread a little tug. 00:02:53.360 --> 00:02:55.740 And suddenly the week was drawing to a close. 00:02:55.819 --> 00:02:58.140 And it was Friday night, and he had money in his pocket. 00:02:58.139 --> 00:03:01.479 And I was thinking, yeah, isn't that kind of how life goes? 00:03:01.659 --> 00:03:03.479 A lot of our waiting is about money. 00:03:04.139 --> 00:03:05.359 I can't wait until I have enough. 00:03:05.419 --> 00:03:06.419 Or I can't wait to get paid. 00:03:06.519 --> 00:03:08.199 Or I can't wait until this happens. 00:03:08.259 --> 00:03:11.079 And a lot of our waiting is related to money. 00:03:13.059 --> 00:03:20.339 We've got a generation of people coming up that are just feeling the inflation in ways that my generation or not hasn't felt. 00:03:20.340 --> 00:03:24.420 And so a lot of waiting has to do with money in this world. 00:03:25.620 --> 00:03:27.240 Now he's older now a little bit. 00:03:27.340 --> 00:03:28.140 He's married. 00:03:28.699 --> 00:03:31.060 And his wife announces that they're going to have a child. 00:03:31.659 --> 00:03:33.980 And Peter was overjoyed and could hardly wait. 00:03:34.599 --> 00:03:39.780 When the child was born, he felt that he could never want for anything again. 00:03:39.780 --> 00:03:48.139 But whenever the child was ill or cried through the sleepless night, he gave the thread a little tug, just so the baby might be well and happy again. 00:03:48.699 --> 00:03:55.020 A lot of waiting in this world has to do with our children, right? 00:03:55.560 --> 00:03:58.379 Oh, I can't wait until they're this age or that age or this. 00:03:58.520 --> 00:04:03.240 Or, you know, there's a lot of things that we wait for for our children. 00:04:03.960 --> 00:04:05.180 A lot of hard things. 00:04:05.180 --> 00:04:08.319 Going ahead. 00:04:08.599 --> 00:04:09.439 Times were hard. 00:04:09.800 --> 00:04:10.780 Business was bad. 00:04:10.920 --> 00:04:18.199 And a government had come to power that squeezed the people dry with taxes and would tolerate no opposition. 00:04:19.079 --> 00:04:21.180 Now, again, this is from centuries ago. 00:04:21.560 --> 00:04:22.720 Nothing has changed. 00:04:23.939 --> 00:04:27.600 We are waiting on politicians all the time. 00:04:27.939 --> 00:04:31.620 We're waiting for this guy to get out or this one to get in, right? 00:04:31.620 --> 00:04:38.139 There are so many things and we doom scroll because we're waiting for the next word on the best thing that's going to happen, right? 00:04:38.139 --> 00:04:41.420 We just do a lot of waiting relative to politics and governing. 00:04:43.120 --> 00:04:49.639 Now, as the number of his kids started to grow, the story goes, his house became more overcrowded. 00:04:50.660 --> 00:04:52.220 He would have to extend it. 00:04:52.280 --> 00:04:53.639 He would have to get a bigger house. 00:04:54.180 --> 00:04:55.860 For that, he needed money. 00:04:56.660 --> 00:04:57.939 He had other worries, too. 00:04:57.939 --> 00:05:01.180 His mother was looking older and more tired every day. 00:05:02.040 --> 00:05:03.060 You know, there you go, right? 00:05:03.379 --> 00:05:04.620 We always think we're waiting. 00:05:04.759 --> 00:05:08.699 Man, if we had a bigger house, if we lived in a different neighborhood, there's a lot of waiting associated with that. 00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:13.579 And this brings up another point, too, because he was an only child and he had a mother and she was aging. 00:05:14.420 --> 00:05:23.100 When you have adult people in your life that are needing care outside of what you can offer, there's a lot of waiting involved in that. 00:05:23.100 --> 00:05:27.200 You're waiting for a place to land, a place to another place and all. 00:05:27.400 --> 00:05:29.740 There's so much waiting related to that. 00:05:31.939 --> 00:05:32.200 Okay. 00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:42.680 Too soon his mother died and as Peter stood at her gravesite, he wondered how it was that life passed so quickly, even without pulling the magic thread. 00:05:43.800 --> 00:05:43.900 Right? 00:05:44.060 --> 00:05:50.020 Life happens when you're waiting for life to happen so often. 00:05:50.019 --> 00:05:55.560 See, if this resonates with you, we're getting close to the end of our story. 00:05:56.159 --> 00:05:59.019 One night as he lay in bed, kept awake by his worries. 00:05:59.839 --> 00:06:00.620 Anybody do that? 00:06:03.120 --> 00:06:10.120 He thought how much easier life would be if all his children were grown up and launched upon their careers in life. 00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:13.339 Anybody in the house agree with that? 00:06:13.339 --> 00:06:22.019 I remember years ago, I got to speak at RUF here at UAH for the large group gathering and they were going through Ephesians. 00:06:22.279 --> 00:06:23.859 And so it was at Ephesians 6. 00:06:24.159 --> 00:06:28.279 And that's the part where it says, children, honor your mother and father. 00:06:28.959 --> 00:06:33.500 And my big point was, here's the best way for you to honor your mother and father. 00:06:34.159 --> 00:06:35.559 Get through college really quick. 00:06:35.939 --> 00:06:37.159 Get a job and move out. 00:06:37.160 --> 00:06:41.760 That was almost 20 years ago. 00:06:41.840 --> 00:06:43.360 I've never been invited back. 00:06:49.140 --> 00:06:50.000 Okay, here we go. 00:06:50.060 --> 00:06:53.720 But as soon as one trouble was solved, another seemed to grow in its place. 00:06:54.160 --> 00:06:56.340 Perhaps life would be easier if he retired. 00:06:59.480 --> 00:07:02.540 The trouble was that he didn't have enough money to live on. 00:07:02.540 --> 00:07:02.900 Wow. 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:08.020 We're waiting for our 401ks to grow, aren't we? 00:07:09.540 --> 00:07:11.260 All right, here is how it ends. 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:13.720 Eventually, he runs into the old lady again. 00:07:13.819 --> 00:07:17.620 He's an older man and he's really wished he had never pulled on the string. 00:07:18.340 --> 00:07:19.500 She gives him another chance. 00:07:19.520 --> 00:07:21.759 And this is how it ends, essentially along these lines. 00:07:22.420 --> 00:07:28.660 He said, I should like to live my life again as if for the first time, but without your magic ball. 00:07:28.660 --> 00:07:33.560 Then I will experience the bad things as well as the good without cutting them short. 00:07:34.320 --> 00:07:41.020 And at least my life will not pass as swiftly and meaninglessly as a daydream. 00:07:42.220 --> 00:07:44.940 The meaningless part is the thing that I think is important. 00:07:45.800 --> 00:07:48.540 There's so much that happens in the waiting. 00:07:49.560 --> 00:07:50.700 It really does. 00:07:53.300 --> 00:07:56.020 Waiting is a feature and not a bug of life. 00:07:56.019 --> 00:08:05.339 But I think we need to think through, well, what can we do so that in the things that make us wait about life, how do we not become bitter? 00:08:06.500 --> 00:08:08.519 How do we become better? 00:08:09.759 --> 00:08:11.959 I think that's what we need to see this morning. 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:16.159 We don't get to skip the hard things of life. 00:08:16.779 --> 00:08:19.759 Waiting is a feature and not a bug of life for sure. 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:27.219 And see, the reason I'm going here is because I started to notice as we've been going through Hebrews, and especially Hebrews 9, 00:08:27.819 --> 00:08:31.620 that the book of Hebrews, you could look at it through the lens of time. 00:08:32.139 --> 00:08:33.879 That it speaks of time. 00:08:35.039 --> 00:08:38.639 And it tries to help us locate where we are on God's timeline. 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:53.620 And if we can figure out where we are on God's timeline, his redemptive timeline, we can set our expectations, maybe not get bitter, but get better. 00:08:54.480 --> 00:08:56.039 This is the thing I want to know. 00:08:57.179 --> 00:08:58.919 And I want to learn with you about that. 00:08:59.240 --> 00:09:00.199 But it is about time. 00:09:00.360 --> 00:09:02.019 So take a look at Hebrews 1. 00:09:02.019 --> 00:09:05.579 And there it is. 00:09:06.199 --> 00:09:06.460 Okay. 00:09:07.179 --> 00:09:09.480 This is how the book starts of Hebrews. 00:09:10.179 --> 00:09:11.319 Almost like Star Wars. 00:09:11.419 --> 00:09:13.100 Long ago and at many times. 00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:17.620 So it's already talking about way long ago, many times. 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:21.559 And in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets. 00:09:22.039 --> 00:09:27.579 But in these last days, he has spoken to us by his son, whom he appointed the heir of all things. 00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:29.779 The word last days. 00:09:29.779 --> 00:09:37.379 The way that theologians explain it and the way that we should understand it is that the last days begin with the first appearance of Jesus. 00:09:37.919 --> 00:09:41.679 His coming, his birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension. 00:09:41.799 --> 00:09:42.860 That's his first appearance. 00:09:43.339 --> 00:09:47.860 And the last days are from that point until his second appearance until he returns. 00:09:48.319 --> 00:09:49.860 And that's the way to understand it. 00:09:49.860 --> 00:09:58.560 And the reason why that's important is because in our text, all of chapter 9, and I'm skipping the first chunk of it. 00:09:58.940 --> 00:10:01.060 Because there's a lot there and there's a lot to cover. 00:10:01.220 --> 00:10:04.680 But at the very end, it pulls together a couple of things. 00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:11.860 It looks at, and we've been looking at, the role of the high priest in the earthly tabernacle. 00:10:12.600 --> 00:10:15.240 We've been talking about it for weeks now. 00:10:15.240 --> 00:10:23.539 And the high priest on the day of atonement goes into the holy of holies. 00:10:24.580 --> 00:10:25.899 And then he comes back out. 00:10:25.960 --> 00:10:27.060 So there's two appearances. 00:10:27.240 --> 00:10:34.159 The first appearance of the high priest where there's a shedding of blood and the animals and the blood is shed. 00:10:34.220 --> 00:10:40.419 And then he goes inside to the holy of holies and does his work there interceding on behalf of the people. 00:10:40.419 --> 00:10:46.659 And so the way that the author of Hebrews explains it is there's two appearances of the high priest. 00:10:48.039 --> 00:10:51.159 And so we need to understand what's happened with the first appearance. 00:10:51.259 --> 00:10:52.179 What did the high priest do? 00:10:52.419 --> 00:10:56.419 And then what's going to happen at the second appearance of the high priest, our high priest Jesus. 00:10:56.959 --> 00:10:57.919 All right, there's the context. 00:10:58.199 --> 00:11:01.439 Let's read the text and let's see if we can figure out how to wait well. 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:03.339 Not get bitter, but get better. 00:11:03.539 --> 00:11:03.679 Okay? 00:11:04.459 --> 00:11:07.559 All right, hear now the written word of God. 00:11:07.559 --> 00:11:13.259 Indeed, under the law, almost everything is purified with blood. 00:11:13.339 --> 00:11:16.379 And without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. 00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:18.739 Very important passage. 00:11:20.059 --> 00:11:21.219 Blood needs to be shed. 00:11:21.379 --> 00:11:23.419 And we see here what happens. 00:11:24.299 --> 00:11:25.839 And it explains it really well. 00:11:26.059 --> 00:11:26.539 Here we go. 00:11:26.539 --> 00:11:33.659 Thus, it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites. 00:11:33.659 --> 00:11:37.879 But the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 00:11:38.360 --> 00:11:47.860 See, everything that the high priest did in the earthly temple and all the actions, all the rituals, everything was a foreshadow of the real thing, Jesus. 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:49.819 It was pointing. 00:11:49.939 --> 00:11:55.939 It was a pattern that was being set to say when Jesus comes, we can say now it's been accomplished once and for all. 00:11:56.019 --> 00:11:59.799 And perfectly and wonderfully, cosmically, transcendently. 00:12:00.199 --> 00:12:00.500 All right? 00:12:00.500 --> 00:12:03.980 I think I'm in verse 24. 00:12:04.200 --> 00:12:14.379 For Christ has entered not into the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into the heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 00:12:14.799 --> 00:12:21.519 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood, not his own. 00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:27.279 For then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. 00:12:27.279 --> 00:12:33.639 But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages. 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:35.699 And that's the word at the end of the ages. 00:12:36.259 --> 00:12:39.879 Anything that is approaching the second return is the end of the ages. 00:12:40.299 --> 00:12:44.159 Is it going to be another 1,000 years, another 2,000 years, another 1,000 seconds? 00:12:44.379 --> 00:12:45.079 We don't know. 00:12:45.159 --> 00:12:46.500 We're just in the end times. 00:12:47.699 --> 00:12:50.799 It's everything between Jesus first appearing and second appearing. 00:12:50.799 --> 00:12:59.059 It comes at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 00:12:59.779 --> 00:13:13.240 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. 00:13:13.719 --> 00:13:15.959 Those who are eagerly waiting for him. 00:13:16.699 --> 00:13:18.539 This is the reading of God's written word. 00:13:18.919 --> 00:13:19.699 Thanks be to God. 00:13:19.700 --> 00:13:22.420 Okay, so two appearances, right? 00:13:22.759 --> 00:13:23.440 Two appearances. 00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:28.840 And all that was done in the first appearance has paid our sin. 00:13:29.180 --> 00:13:32.180 It's covered completely our sin. 00:13:33.800 --> 00:13:39.860 And we know that Jesus will appear again, just like the high priest does as he goes into the Holy of Holies. 00:13:40.060 --> 00:13:41.420 He comes back out. 00:13:41.640 --> 00:13:44.100 And we should eagerly be awaiting that. 00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:47.180 And this is where we enter the story. 00:13:47.179 --> 00:13:49.539 So imagine the first appearing of Jesus. 00:13:49.899 --> 00:13:52.199 The second appearing of Jesus, our high priest. 00:13:52.599 --> 00:13:55.539 We're somewhere here in the middle of all this. 00:13:55.539 --> 00:14:04.799 And as Will taught last week, Jesus is now just like the high priest. 00:14:05.000 --> 00:14:06.539 He is our high priest. 00:14:07.099 --> 00:14:08.699 He's interceding for us. 00:14:08.740 --> 00:14:10.980 He's in the throne room of grace. 00:14:10.980 --> 00:14:15.560 He's there interceding for us. 00:14:15.560 --> 00:14:17.060 And we now have access. 00:14:17.620 --> 00:14:24.420 But it's important to know, just like at Six Flags or at the mall, you have to know where you are. 00:14:24.980 --> 00:14:28.080 You know, you are here on the mall maps, right? 00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:31.560 And so we are in between the two appearances of Jesus. 00:14:32.600 --> 00:14:36.740 And so that's important for us to know because in that time, there's just a lot of waiting. 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:39.400 Life happens in that time. 00:14:39.399 --> 00:14:44.579 And now, I know this feels really abstract. 00:14:45.100 --> 00:14:46.919 Okay, we're in between the two times of Jesus. 00:14:50.059 --> 00:14:51.819 And it can feel very abstract. 00:14:51.819 --> 00:14:54.860 Like, what does this have to do with me and my current situation? 00:14:56.120 --> 00:15:01.459 My timeline where I am right now, I didn't choose. 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:04.879 You maybe didn't choose where you are right now. 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:09.340 You're waiting for a job or you're waiting on a diagnosis. 00:15:09.500 --> 00:15:10.820 You're waiting for a door to open. 00:15:11.340 --> 00:15:13.740 And everybody else seems to be just kind of moving just fine. 00:15:14.840 --> 00:15:17.139 And as you compare, it gets hard to wait. 00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:21.320 And maybe your location on God's timeline, you are here. 00:15:21.419 --> 00:15:24.480 Maybe that time right there is a time of waiting for clarity. 00:15:24.820 --> 00:15:25.720 You're waiting for clarity. 00:15:25.820 --> 00:15:30.360 You're waiting for God to show you something and it hasn't come. 00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:36.460 And you're praying prayers and you hope they land on God's ears, but it doesn't feel like it. 00:15:38.100 --> 00:15:46.500 And you're waiting for someone in your life, someone you love dearly, to change. 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:53.200 You need to see change in their life because you know the path they're on is not good for their souls, let alone their lives. 00:15:53.340 --> 00:15:54.220 And you're waiting. 00:15:55.039 --> 00:15:56.340 And it never comes. 00:15:56.340 --> 00:16:08.940 My beautiful bride, Sherry, reminds me often that waiting is active because we are looking to Jesus to lead and we're looking to Jesus to rest in. 00:16:10.620 --> 00:16:19.759 We have to take our eyes off of our circumstance, the thing that we're waiting for, or the reason, you know, we just have to take our eyes off of that and put them on Jesus. 00:16:20.560 --> 00:16:25.180 Will's third point last week in the sermon was Jesus provides purposeful rest. 00:16:25.179 --> 00:16:35.539 And so I'm going to go there because I'm going to say this, that what waiting is in between the two appearings of Jesus, what waiting is, is actively resting in Jesus. 00:16:36.739 --> 00:16:43.659 And Will last week cited Matthew 11, come to me all you who are weary and burdens, and I will give you rest. 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:49.039 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart. 00:16:49.399 --> 00:16:54.319 And you will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. 00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:59.099 So I'm going to suggest two things, okay? 00:16:59.319 --> 00:17:00.259 Try to keep it simple. 00:17:01.699 --> 00:17:03.120 I'm going to suggest two things. 00:17:04.159 --> 00:17:08.919 Two things that you can do to actively rest in Jesus. 00:17:09.159 --> 00:17:13.919 The first thing is rest in his first appearance, which has happened. 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:17.859 Rest in his first appearance, which has already happened. 00:17:17.859 --> 00:17:21.699 Jack Miller, some of you may know who he is. 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:24.919 He wrote many letters when he was alive. 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:30.519 He's sort of the father of sonship approach to spiritual formation. 00:17:32.099 --> 00:17:36.159 But he would write letters to missionaries and people he was mentoring. 00:17:36.379 --> 00:17:37.439 He just wrote a number of letters. 00:17:37.579 --> 00:17:41.479 His daughter, after his death, pulled together some of those letters. 00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:43.500 And it's a book called The Heart of a Servant Leader. 00:17:43.860 --> 00:17:47.620 And he was writing a letter to a missionary who was newly out on the field. 00:17:47.740 --> 00:17:51.900 Listen to what he says, the primary work that this missionary is to do. 00:17:52.700 --> 00:17:59.319 Getting the glory of Christ before your eyes and keeping it there is the greatest work of the spirit that I can imagine. 00:17:59.319 --> 00:18:09.000 And there is no greater peace, especially in the times of treadmill-like activity, than doing it all for the glory of the Lord Jesus. 00:18:09.539 --> 00:18:10.240 Here it is. 00:18:10.500 --> 00:18:15.500 Thank much on the Savior's suffering for you on that dreadful cross. 00:18:16.099 --> 00:18:19.359 Thank much of your sin that provoked such suffering. 00:18:20.439 --> 00:18:25.460 And then enter by faith into the love that took away your sin and guilt. 00:18:26.299 --> 00:18:28.439 And then give your work your best. 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:33.460 Give it your heart out of gratitude for a tender, seeking, and patient Savior. 00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:46.080 Part of what you can notice about the earthly tabernacle with the first appearing of the high priest and he does all his activities and he gets the blood and he goes into the Holy of Holies. 00:18:46.420 --> 00:18:49.140 Once he's in the Holy of Holies, he's out of sight. 00:18:50.600 --> 00:18:54.920 And I think that's how I can feel about God sometimes, that he's just not there. 00:18:54.920 --> 00:19:12.580 And so what I'm asking myself to do more often, and I'm saying I commend it to you as well, is that there is something that we can do to sense God's presence when he doesn't feel there. 00:19:12.579 --> 00:19:23.279 Develop a rhythm and a habit of approaching the throne of grace with confidence, as the author of Hebrews says many times. 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:25.519 And I'm going to suggest that you do it this way. 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:32.379 Because you want to learn to do this before, during, and after periods and seasons of a lot of waiting. 00:19:33.180 --> 00:19:35.700 And waiting for us means you just don't know the outcome. 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:37.259 You don't know why you're here. 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:39.839 You don't know why, you know, you lost your job. 00:19:39.900 --> 00:19:41.119 You don't know why there were layoffs. 00:19:41.180 --> 00:19:42.720 You don't know why the doctors died. 00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:43.539 You don't have any idea. 00:19:43.539 --> 00:19:55.059 But develop a posture and a rhythm that looks something like this, where you can just take a deep breath, like Will was telling us earlier. 00:19:56.420 --> 00:20:02.460 I like to have coffee, but I like to just sit, take a deep breath, put your phone away, turn it off. 00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:05.279 Let God take care of the world. 00:20:06.399 --> 00:20:08.099 Let God take care of the world. 00:20:09.379 --> 00:20:11.440 Draw near the throne of grace. 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:15.039 Again, you want to be still and you can go. 00:20:15.180 --> 00:20:17.539 You have access now to the throne of grace. 00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:20.180 That's what the author of Hebrews is trying to pound away at. 00:20:20.220 --> 00:20:21.480 We have access now. 00:20:21.900 --> 00:20:25.480 We can go be with Jesus in the throne of grace. 00:20:27.620 --> 00:20:30.380 And then when you're at that place, ponder. 00:20:31.900 --> 00:20:38.600 Think through what does it mean that there is no longer any wrath left for you, that Jesus paid the penalty. 00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:40.299 Ponder what that means. 00:20:40.299 --> 00:20:42.539 Sit and ponder. 00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:44.599 He has no wrath left for you. 00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:48.419 You have access into the arms of Jesus. 00:20:50.399 --> 00:20:51.639 There you have it all. 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.740 You lack nothing. 00:20:52.879 --> 00:20:55.279 You have nothing to prove, protect, or lose. 00:20:55.279 --> 00:21:00.359 And it's there in the arms of Jesus that you can let go of outcomes. 00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:07.019 Everything that you're waiting for, you can say, Lord, I give it to you. 00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:10.519 The outcomes are yours, not mine. 00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:13.259 And you rest in his arms. 00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:18.740 Now, I think the best picture of this is Psalm 131. 00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:23.119 My heart is not proud, O Lord. 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:24.319 My eyes are not proud. 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:29.899 I can't figure out how all this is going to work out. 00:21:30.019 --> 00:21:31.879 That's the posture to take in his arms. 00:21:31.939 --> 00:21:33.019 Now, listen to this. 00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:37.319 But I have a stilled and quieted my soul. 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:39.539 You're in his arms. 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:41.319 Your soul is quiet. 00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:43.059 He's giving you rest. 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:45.259 And it's just like this. 00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:47.759 Like a weaned child with his mother. 00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:51.140 Like a weaned child is my soul within me. 00:21:52.420 --> 00:21:55.759 A weaned child doesn't need to nurse. 00:21:57.180 --> 00:22:00.319 The way that Psalm 23 starts, the Lord is my shepherd. 00:22:01.059 --> 00:22:02.500 I have everything I need. 00:22:03.339 --> 00:22:08.879 As a weaned child, you can just go to Jesus just to be in his arms. 00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:13.379 I'm saying that we have to do that more often. 00:22:13.380 --> 00:22:15.580 Just go and be in his arms. 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:21.360 Because as a weaned child, we have everything we need in Jesus' arms. 00:22:23.820 --> 00:22:24.800 That's resting. 00:22:25.960 --> 00:22:26.940 That's waiting. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:29.260 Go there regularly. 00:22:30.280 --> 00:22:32.200 Maybe even fall asleep while you're in his arms. 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:32.760 That's okay. 00:22:34.660 --> 00:22:36.800 He knows you're tired of waiting. 00:22:38.180 --> 00:22:42.160 You can let go of outcomes because Jesus has his arms around you. 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:51.460 And when you're in his presence, what you're saying is that you accept his wisdom and his timing for everything you're waiting for. 00:22:52.820 --> 00:22:54.279 And it's all going to be okay. 00:22:55.779 --> 00:22:57.759 That's what it means to take his first appearance. 00:22:57.940 --> 00:22:59.960 Where he paid the penalty for all of your sins. 00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:01.320 There's no wrath left for you. 00:23:01.420 --> 00:23:03.920 All that's left is the loving arms of Jesus. 00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:06.500 You can go and be there. 00:23:06.500 --> 00:23:09.200 I commend it to you. 00:23:10.140 --> 00:23:14.380 Now, the second place you rest is in his second appearance. 00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:18.319 Because it will happen. 00:23:19.640 --> 00:23:20.460 1 John 3. 00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:24.180 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us. 00:23:24.360 --> 00:23:26.340 That we should be called children of God. 00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:28.680 And that is what we are. 00:23:29.140 --> 00:23:31.279 We're weaned children of God. 00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:35.100 We have everything we need. 00:23:36.100 --> 00:23:37.779 Because Jesus has paid the penalty. 00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:40.000 We can go in his arms. 00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:41.200 We are weaned children. 00:23:41.840 --> 00:23:45.920 The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:48.519 Dear friends, now we are children of God. 00:23:48.580 --> 00:23:51.220 And what we will be has not yet been made known. 00:23:51.620 --> 00:23:53.539 But we know that when he appears. 00:23:53.779 --> 00:23:55.440 There's the second appearance of Jesus. 00:23:56.500 --> 00:23:57.800 We shall be like him. 00:23:58.060 --> 00:23:59.660 For we shall see him as he is. 00:23:59.800 --> 00:24:01.640 Everyone who has this hope. 00:24:01.900 --> 00:24:05.500 Of his the second appearing of our great high priest. 00:24:05.860 --> 00:24:07.460 Everyone who has that hope. 00:24:07.560 --> 00:24:08.380 Look what it says. 00:24:12.560 --> 00:24:14.360 Everyone who has that hope. 00:24:14.359 --> 00:24:16.379 In him purifies himself. 00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:17.539 Just as he is pure. 00:24:18.479 --> 00:24:21.779 This is saying that as we think about that second coming. 00:24:21.979 --> 00:24:23.679 As we think about what that means. 00:24:24.139 --> 00:24:25.699 Our souls are purified. 00:24:27.159 --> 00:24:29.199 That is amazing and transcendent. 00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:29.619 This is. 00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:31.039 Really? 00:24:31.399 --> 00:24:31.819 Yes. 00:24:32.859 --> 00:24:34.559 Everyone who sins breaks the law. 00:24:34.659 --> 00:24:35.939 In fact sin is lawlessness. 00:24:36.219 --> 00:24:38.819 But you know that he appeared. 00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:39.659 First appearance. 00:24:39.899 --> 00:24:41.679 So that he might take away our sins. 00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:45.840 This is living between the two appearances of our high priest. 00:24:46.740 --> 00:24:48.200 Described really well here. 00:24:48.900 --> 00:24:51.900 Now what's amazing about the second appearing of Jesus is. 00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:53.519 There will be an end of all evil. 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:55.440 An end of all worrying. 00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:58.480 An end of all waiting. 00:24:59.620 --> 00:25:01.160 It's one day it's going to go away. 00:25:01.160 --> 00:25:07.740 And we long for that because no one really warned us. 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:12.380 How painful it is to watch your children go through hardship. 00:25:13.940 --> 00:25:16.200 Watch a dear friend struggle with addiction. 00:25:17.580 --> 00:25:18.759 And lose. 00:25:20.300 --> 00:25:22.120 We're waiting and waiting and waiting. 00:25:22.800 --> 00:25:23.620 And it's painful. 00:25:24.900 --> 00:25:27.460 No one warns you that life isn't linear and predictable. 00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:30.000 Even when you do things right. 00:25:31.600 --> 00:25:32.160 Waiting. 00:25:33.420 --> 00:25:35.039 Is resting in Jesus. 00:25:35.340 --> 00:25:37.000 But it's letting go of outcomes. 00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:40.100 Waiting is letting go of outcomes and resting in Jesus. 00:25:41.700 --> 00:25:45.880 But the other part of it is we actually do hold on a outcome. 00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:49.700 We hold tightly to the outcome that is certain. 00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:53.079 That Jesus will return. 00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:56.120 And our salvation will be full and complete. 00:25:56.119 --> 00:25:59.539 We have to hold on to that while we're letting go of outcomes. 00:25:59.679 --> 00:26:01.579 Here and now in between the two appearings. 00:26:03.139 --> 00:26:04.199 It's both end. 00:26:06.059 --> 00:26:07.039 Because here's the deal. 00:26:07.139 --> 00:26:07.959 One way or another. 00:26:08.159 --> 00:26:10.459 You're either going to go to see Jesus. 00:26:10.819 --> 00:26:12.759 Because it's been appointed man once to die. 00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:14.639 Death rate is one per person. 00:26:14.719 --> 00:26:15.539 We're all going to make it. 00:26:17.439 --> 00:26:19.179 Or you'll be here when he returns. 00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:22.680 And it is certain. 00:26:23.400 --> 00:26:24.400 It is certain. 00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:27.220 Because as high priest. 00:26:27.340 --> 00:26:29.400 Jesus followed a pattern that was laid. 00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:30.900 And he fulfilled it perfectly. 00:26:32.039 --> 00:26:34.039 And we know as a result of that. 00:26:34.120 --> 00:26:35.920 He will fulfill the next part of that. 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:37.200 Which is his return. 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:41.779 To save those who are eagerly waiting for him. 00:26:41.860 --> 00:26:42.740 As verse 28 says. 00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:45.960 So Christ having been offered once to bear the sins of many. 00:26:46.140 --> 00:26:47.180 Will appear a second time. 00:26:47.220 --> 00:26:48.160 Not to deal with sin. 00:26:48.900 --> 00:26:49.539 That's over. 00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:51.279 That's why you can be in his arms. 00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:52.440 You're a weaned child. 00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:53.960 You have nothing that you need. 00:26:54.099 --> 00:26:55.440 Because you have it all in Jesus. 00:26:58.279 --> 00:26:59.519 He will appear a second time. 00:26:59.559 --> 00:27:00.240 Not to deal with sin. 00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:02.220 But to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. 00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:06.160 The fullness of salvation will explode in the world. 00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:07.700 And everything will be renewed. 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:09.259 And it will be amazing. 00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:10.220 And spectacular. 00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:12.099 We're to think a lot about that. 00:27:12.099 --> 00:27:14.259 We're to eagerly anticipate that. 00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:15.679 See you're. 00:27:16.399 --> 00:27:17.379 See first appearance. 00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:18.159 Second appearance. 00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:19.480 You're here. 00:27:19.939 --> 00:27:20.919 You and I are here. 00:27:22.099 --> 00:27:23.619 And being here is tough. 00:27:24.539 --> 00:27:25.459 A lot of waiting. 00:27:26.339 --> 00:27:28.159 But one day we'll be there. 00:27:29.579 --> 00:27:30.859 To see Jesus. 00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:35.119 For life to make sense in a way that we can't even imagine. 00:27:36.619 --> 00:27:38.519 You know when you lay me down to die. 00:27:38.619 --> 00:27:39.959 You lay me down to live. 00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:40.699 It's so true. 00:27:40.700 --> 00:27:44.480 But here and now. 00:27:44.900 --> 00:27:45.779 There's uncertainty. 00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:46.960 We're waiting. 00:27:47.539 --> 00:27:48.860 We don't know what the outcomes are. 00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:49.920 And we do want to let go. 00:27:51.120 --> 00:27:52.980 And the question is how long oh Lord. 00:27:54.080 --> 00:27:55.220 But we need to think often. 00:27:56.259 --> 00:27:57.279 About the there. 00:27:57.440 --> 00:27:58.400 While we're here. 00:27:58.960 --> 00:27:59.180 Right. 00:27:59.620 --> 00:28:00.740 Second Corinthians 4. 00:28:00.740 --> 00:28:02.480 Paul says. 00:28:02.900 --> 00:28:06.900 Being here between the two appearings of Jesus is light and momentary. 00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:08.319 They're light and momentary waiting. 00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:09.539 Light and momentary trouble. 00:28:09.960 --> 00:28:12.779 They're achieving for us an eternal glory that far awaits them all. 00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:16.319 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen. 00:28:16.440 --> 00:28:18.220 For what is seen is temporary. 00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:19.400 What is unseen is eternal. 00:28:20.160 --> 00:28:21.400 And then Romans 8 says. 00:28:21.859 --> 00:28:26.120 I can't even really consider the sufferings of the current time. 00:28:26.120 --> 00:28:26.339 Right. 00:28:26.339 --> 00:28:33.039 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that has been revealed in us. 00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:35.119 We're to think a lot about that glory. 00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:36.679 What it's like. 00:28:36.759 --> 00:28:37.099 And you know. 00:28:37.179 --> 00:28:37.720 Here's the deal. 00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:40.199 I'm going to close with this before we go to the table. 00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:46.480 When new heavens new earth is described in Revelation. 00:28:46.660 --> 00:28:49.420 It says things like it's you know gold this and you know. 00:28:49.640 --> 00:28:53.340 It's trying to describe something in ways that we can understand it. 00:28:54.360 --> 00:28:57.960 And so it's going to be better than streets of gold. 00:28:58.860 --> 00:29:00.700 It'll be better than that somehow. 00:29:01.580 --> 00:29:03.240 And in the same way when God. 00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:09.580 Jesus gives a clue about his return in the beginning of forever where there'll be no more waiting. 00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:11.580 It's something like this. 00:29:11.779 --> 00:29:12.360 Luke 12. 00:29:13.019 --> 00:29:16.000 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. 00:29:16.519 --> 00:29:17.600 Truly I say to you. 00:29:17.680 --> 00:29:19.440 He will dress himself for service. 00:29:19.819 --> 00:29:21.559 And have them recline at table. 00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:23.500 And he will come and serve them. 00:29:23.960 --> 00:29:26.259 And then when you pair that with Revelation 19. 00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:29.539 Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the lamb. 00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:34.080 We try to imagine like what a wedding would be like. 00:29:34.100 --> 00:29:34.960 A forever wedding. 00:29:35.480 --> 00:29:35.759 Like what. 00:29:36.019 --> 00:29:36.380 You know. 00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:37.840 What is that a pattern of? 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:40.160 Because the author of Hebrews has been saying all along. 00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:43.360 The rituals at the tabernacle. 00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.180 The things. 00:29:44.299 --> 00:29:44.980 The high priest. 00:29:45.059 --> 00:29:45.539 And the things that. 00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:47.000 All of that is a pattern. 00:29:47.360 --> 00:29:48.620 All of it's like a parable. 00:29:48.880 --> 00:29:50.580 And the true story is going to come. 00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:53.279 So when we say what's the wedding feast that lasts forever. 00:29:53.400 --> 00:29:54.160 What is that like? 00:29:54.180 --> 00:29:55.240 Or how about this. 00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:58.779 What does it mean that Jesus is the wait staff. 00:29:59.819 --> 00:30:02.120 At that wedding reception. 00:30:03.400 --> 00:30:03.920 We go. 00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:05.000 I don't know. 00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:08.299 What is that pattern for? 00:30:08.299 --> 00:30:09.419 I will say this. 00:30:12.019 --> 00:30:17.099 It will feel like being in his arms resting. 00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:21.399 Him taking care of me. 00:30:21.419 --> 00:30:22.599 That's what a waiter does. 00:30:22.680 --> 00:30:23.440 That's what a servant does. 00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:24.919 He takes care of his. 00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:25.720 Of his. 00:30:26.279 --> 00:30:27.379 The people at the table. 00:30:27.380 --> 00:30:29.980 But I know it will be amazing. 00:30:29.980 --> 00:30:31.660 Because he's the creator of the universe. 00:30:32.700 --> 00:30:34.920 And he's waiting on me. 00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:35.820 And what does that mean? 00:30:35.940 --> 00:30:36.620 Does it look like? 00:30:36.920 --> 00:30:37.840 I don't know. 00:30:37.920 --> 00:30:40.680 But I know it will feel like his arms are around me. 00:30:40.800 --> 00:30:41.820 And I'm being loved. 00:30:42.100 --> 00:30:43.140 And cared for. 00:30:43.340 --> 00:30:45.920 In ways that my soul longs for. 00:30:45.980 --> 00:30:47.120 And is waiting for. 00:30:47.820 --> 00:30:49.440 I know that to be true. 00:30:49.440 --> 00:30:52.259 See we'll enter then. 00:30:52.360 --> 00:30:53.200 In a timeline. 00:30:53.820 --> 00:30:55.180 That will never end. 00:30:57.259 --> 00:30:59.360 And it's characterized by everything. 00:30:59.360 --> 00:31:00.460 That we're waiting for. 00:31:00.559 --> 00:31:01.180 Every evil. 00:31:01.340 --> 00:31:02.279 Everything that just. 00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:03.440 All your shame. 00:31:03.960 --> 00:31:05.000 All of the pain. 00:31:05.340 --> 00:31:06.180 All of the waiting. 00:31:06.519 --> 00:31:07.380 All of the hope. 00:31:07.600 --> 00:31:09.220 Will just be wrapped up. 00:31:09.600 --> 00:31:11.340 In the loving arms of Jesus. 00:31:11.339 --> 00:31:15.599 And we will breathe salvation. 00:31:16.399 --> 00:31:18.459 And resting in the arms of Jesus. 00:31:19.159 --> 00:31:20.639 Is the wine we drink. 00:31:20.699 --> 00:31:21.699 And the bread we eat. 00:31:23.339 --> 00:31:24.619 Where waiting. 00:31:25.019 --> 00:31:26.379 Never happens again. 00:31:28.859 --> 00:31:31.139 I'm so grateful for the table. 00:31:33.579 --> 00:31:36.299 Because this does represent. 00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:39.240 The wedding supper of the lamb. 00:31:39.240 --> 00:31:39.319 And. 00:31:41.160 --> 00:31:41.799 You know. 00:31:41.859 --> 00:31:43.140 If anybody's really waiting. 00:31:43.140 --> 00:31:43.960 For anything. 00:31:44.059 --> 00:31:44.519 Right now. 00:31:44.660 --> 00:31:45.539 Jesus is waiting. 00:31:45.859 --> 00:31:46.579 For this time. 00:31:47.640 --> 00:31:48.700 For the time. 00:31:48.920 --> 00:31:49.759 When he. 00:31:50.339 --> 00:31:51.120 Drinks the wine. 00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:52.120 And breaks bread. 00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:52.799 With his people. 00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:54.680 He can't wait. 00:31:55.940 --> 00:31:56.900 And I can't wait. 00:31:57.500 --> 00:31:59.079 And that's what this represents. 00:32:01.700 --> 00:32:02.859 And we are people. 00:32:03.000 --> 00:32:04.519 Who are eagerly waiting for that. 00:32:04.620 --> 00:32:04.920 And so. 00:32:05.339 --> 00:32:06.759 As we approach this table. 00:32:06.859 --> 00:32:07.180 Let me. 00:32:07.660 --> 00:32:08.539 Give it a context. 00:32:08.539 --> 00:32:10.059 From God's word. 00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:12.299 These are the words. 00:32:12.319 --> 00:32:12.980 Of the institution. 00:32:12.980 --> 00:32:14.279 Of the supper of the Lord. 00:32:15.299 --> 00:32:16.240 Paul writes them. 00:32:16.339 --> 00:32:17.519 In 1 Corinthians 11. 00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:20.859 I received from the Lord. 00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:22.460 That which I passed on to you. 00:32:22.599 --> 00:32:23.399 That the Lord Jesus. 00:32:23.559 --> 00:32:24.019 On the night. 00:32:24.059 --> 00:32:24.940 In which he was betrayed. 00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:25.539 Took bread. 00:32:25.619 --> 00:32:26.539 And when he had given thanks. 00:32:26.579 --> 00:32:27.180 He broke it. 00:32:27.579 --> 00:32:27.980 And said. 00:32:28.059 --> 00:32:28.680 Take and eat. 00:32:28.680 --> 00:32:29.599 This is my body. 00:32:29.740 --> 00:32:30.940 Which is broken for you. 00:32:31.639 --> 00:32:33.259 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:32:34.539 --> 00:32:35.460 In the same way. 00:32:35.480 --> 00:32:36.019 After supper. 00:32:36.019 --> 00:32:37.339 He also took the cup. 00:32:37.420 --> 00:32:37.839 Saying. 00:32:39.180 --> 00:32:39.960 This cup. 00:32:40.359 --> 00:32:41.180 Is the new covenant. 00:32:41.180 --> 00:32:41.920 In my blood. 00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:42.440 This do. 00:32:42.519 --> 00:32:43.639 Whenever you drink it. 00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:45.059 In remembrance of me. 00:32:45.139 --> 00:32:46.759 For as often as you eat this bread. 00:32:46.819 --> 00:32:47.619 And drink this cup. 00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:49.240 You show forth the Lord's death. 00:32:49.740 --> 00:32:50.819 Until he comes. 00:32:52.819 --> 00:32:53.740 This table. 00:32:54.460 --> 00:32:55.500 Is for people. 00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:58.559 Who are longing. 00:32:58.559 --> 00:33:00.000 To see Jesus return. 00:33:01.059 --> 00:33:02.240 And what we want to do. 00:33:02.359 --> 00:33:03.160 Is sort of rehearse. 00:33:03.279 --> 00:33:04.339 What does it feel like. 00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:06.440 To sense God's love. 00:33:06.579 --> 00:33:07.660 His arms around us. 00:33:07.720 --> 00:33:08.519 What does it feel like. 00:33:08.579 --> 00:33:09.319 To think through. 00:33:09.839 --> 00:33:11.680 The blood that was shed for us. 00:33:11.700 --> 00:33:13.339 And that means there's no wrath left for us. 00:33:13.359 --> 00:33:14.619 And we can go into his presence. 00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:15.700 What does it mean. 00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:16.900 That Jesus lived the life. 00:33:17.099 --> 00:33:18.180 I should have lived. 00:33:18.200 --> 00:33:18.900 And died the death. 00:33:18.940 --> 00:33:19.579 I should have died. 00:33:19.640 --> 00:33:20.720 That he received the punishment. 00:33:21.180 --> 00:33:22.059 Completely for me. 00:33:22.099 --> 00:33:22.680 In his body. 00:33:22.680 --> 00:33:24.620 And at a cosmic level. 00:33:24.620 --> 00:33:26.640 That I can't even imagine. 00:33:28.960 --> 00:33:30.360 I want to see Jesus. 00:33:30.860 --> 00:33:32.420 And I want to experience something. 00:33:32.539 --> 00:33:33.200 That one day. 00:33:33.299 --> 00:33:33.720 Some way. 00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:34.180 In heaven. 00:33:34.560 --> 00:33:35.860 Jesus will be serving us. 00:33:35.880 --> 00:33:37.200 And we'll be part of a meal. 00:33:37.539 --> 00:33:38.660 And we'll be able to say. 00:33:38.759 --> 00:33:39.660 I know this. 00:33:41.400 --> 00:33:42.580 I know this. 00:33:43.380 --> 00:33:45.000 I'm ingesting the bread of Jesus. 00:33:45.420 --> 00:33:47.060 I know this. 00:33:47.539 --> 00:33:49.279 And it's better than I imagined. 00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:50.940 That's what we're waiting for. 00:33:51.240 --> 00:33:51.840 But listen. 00:33:51.839 --> 00:33:52.819 If you don't know Jesus. 00:33:53.059 --> 00:33:54.279 Don't take the bread or the wine. 00:33:54.359 --> 00:33:55.019 Take Jesus. 00:33:55.720 --> 00:33:57.139 He wants to invite you into that. 00:33:57.220 --> 00:33:58.220 He knows you're waiting. 00:33:58.399 --> 00:33:59.779 He knows the pain of this world. 00:33:59.859 --> 00:34:00.899 He experienced it. 00:34:01.439 --> 00:34:02.359 He knows it. 00:34:02.459 --> 00:34:03.279 So come to him. 00:34:04.199 --> 00:34:04.959 Come to him. 00:34:05.879 --> 00:34:07.839 This table is just not for Presbyterians. 00:34:08.480 --> 00:34:11.079 It's for people who have repented of their good works. 00:34:12.599 --> 00:34:15.000 We know what Jesus did for us. 00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:16.639 And as our high priest. 00:34:17.259 --> 00:34:18.940 And we need nothing in our hands we bring. 00:34:19.340 --> 00:34:19.880 We're done. 00:34:20.699 --> 00:34:21.400 We're undone. 00:34:21.840 --> 00:34:24.200 And we repent even of our good works. 00:34:24.820 --> 00:34:26.059 The filthy rags. 00:34:27.460 --> 00:34:28.860 So if you've confessed. 00:34:29.140 --> 00:34:30.519 You've professed Jesus. 00:34:31.360 --> 00:34:32.079 Any church. 00:34:32.660 --> 00:34:36.620 Any believing church that baptizes in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:34:36.720 --> 00:34:37.740 You're welcome to this table. 00:34:38.100 --> 00:34:40.940 Because I know you're eagerly awaiting him as well. 00:34:41.480 --> 00:34:41.820 Okay. 00:34:42.680 --> 00:34:43.079 Now. 00:34:43.940 --> 00:34:45.440 Let me give thanks in his name. 00:34:45.519 --> 00:34:45.740 Father. 00:34:45.739 --> 00:34:46.059 Father. 00:34:46.059 --> 00:34:48.739 Thank you for this meal. 00:34:50.419 --> 00:34:52.219 We're rehearsing what will be. 00:34:53.419 --> 00:34:55.599 We are grateful for your first appearing. 00:34:56.419 --> 00:34:57.979 And we long for your second. 00:34:59.199 --> 00:35:00.119 And so Father. 00:35:00.519 --> 00:35:02.039 We give thanks in Christ's name. 00:35:02.219 --> 00:35:02.419 Amen. 00:35:02.879 --> 00:35:03.059 Amen. 00:35:03.059 --> 00:35:07.199 For more information, visit us online at southwood.org. 00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:07.199 00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:14.569 For more information, visit us online at the 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