12-20-2020 – Sunday AM Sermon

In Bible Classes Videos, Live Streams, Sermons, The Book of Hebrews by Aaron Cozort

Automated Transcript:

<inaudible> Sorry.<inaudible> Okay. We should be working now. Note to self when fixing the problem that you don’t know what the issue is, don’t hit the wrong button because you may create far more problems than you had when, when You were just trying to fix the one problem you had. Yes, that’s fine. We can live without subtitles today. All right.

We are The book of Hebrews and we were going to get through chapter 10 and 11 this morning, but You know, I’m not sure we were ever going to get through chapter 10 and 11 this morning, but we were going to try, let’s begin with a word of prayer and then we’ll cover chapter 10 and then go through and cover the questions for nine and 10 as we Get started.

Dear heavenly father, we thank you for this day and its blessings. We thank you for all that you do for us on a daily basis. We thank you for your love and your care for your thing. The things that you do for us when we are struggling, the things you do for us, when we are blessed, we know we are always blessed by you.

We know that every good and perfect gift comes from above and we pray that we will continue to be thankful for all of those many wonderful things that you do. We pray that you be with families and loved ones and congregations that are dealing with losses as a result of COVID. And we pray that you will give them strength and comfort. During times of sorrow,

we pray that you will forgive us when we sin and fall short of your glory. All this, we pray in Jesus name. Amen, Amen. Hebrews chapter nine closes with, and as it is appointed men or for men to die once. So, or excuse me, I’m going to, I’m going to start over. It’s just not, that’s not working this morning.

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this, the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, to those who eagerly wait for him, he will appear a second time apart from sin, for salvation, for the law, having a shadow of good things to come and not the very image of the things can never with these same sacrifices,

which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. There is in, in addition to what we said on Wednesday concerning the sacrifices current concerning what was offered under the old law, there was this constant looking for that better thing that better sacrifice because even those under old law, granted forgiveness, granted salvation, granted the things that God would give them through the law and through their obedience and through their re repentance and reconciliation to God,

they still gig NYSED that offering was insufficient. How many times do you read about situations where there’s multiplied offerings, multiplied co goats and calves that were offered by an individual for as if one wasn’t enough because they understood the depth of sin and the inability of an animal to pay for that sin. And so we read here that these things we’re offered year by year,

time, after time, over and over, because the sacrifice was in sufficient. And yet he says Christ died once two, four, then would they not have ceased to be offered? He says, if these sacrifices were perfect, if they took care of everything that the, the sacrifice of Christ did, then you wouldn’t have continued offer them time. After time,

after time, instead, they would have been offered once, like the sacrifice of Christ he said for then they would not, would they not then have ceased to be offered for the worshipers? Once purified would have had no more consciousness of sins, but in those sacrifices, there is a reminder of sins every year for it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

Therefore, when he came into the world, he said, sacrifice and offering, you did not desire, but a body you have prepared for me in burn offerings and sacrifices for sin. You had no pleasure. Then I said, behold, I have come in the volume of the book. It is written of me to do your will. Oh God.

Previously saying sacrifice and offering burn offerings and offerings for seeing you did not desire nor had pleasure in them, which are offered according to the law. Then he said, behold, I come to do your Willow God. He takes away the first that he may establish the second. Okay. This whole soul section right here is here as one continual thought, going back to the old Testament,

prophecy, bringing it forward, then explaining what it means. He says this statement was made to indicate that Christ was going to remove the first covenant. Not that he was extending it, not that he was tacking onto it and becoming a part of it, but that he was going to remove it and then replace it. He said, these things were written that the,

that he might take away the first that he might establish the second. All right. The significance of that to these Jewish Christians was if they were in the situation of being unable to, or being unwilling, to stay with Christ, then they were going back to a law that didn’t have any power anymore to a covenant. There was no longer in existence to a covenant that was no longer binding and had no ability to save them because it had been taken away.

They couldn’t go, you know what? It was good enough for us then. So it’s good enough for us now. Now they couldn’t do that because Christ came to fulfill the law, but also to abolish that law, that law being the law of Moses. So verse 10 by that, will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all,

okay. The Hebrew writer, instead of leaving them in a position of saying, well, you know, you’re, you’re in a, you’re in a rough spot. You’re you’re, you’re going to, you’re going to live without any sacrifice. You’re not going to have anything because the blood of bulls and goats won’t do it. And those sacrifices are taken away and back covenants taken away and that law is taken away.

Now you’ve got nothing. He says, no, no, no, no, no. The exact opposite. Now you have a sacrifice. That’s better. Now you have an offering that’s better under a covenant. That’s better under a law. That’s better add a demonstrates that your sanctification, your becoming Holy, your being set apart by God was done, was accomplished by the blood of Christ through the will of God.

So he says, then in verse 11, every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices. This is under the law. Moses every day the priest comes and he stands at the temple and he waits and he offers sacrifices. He does it over and over and over again, which can never take away sins. But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for forever sat down at the right hand of God,

for those who would claim that Jesus Christ is not currently raining, that his kingdom does not currently exist. They have a real problem here because this says that he offered the sin, offered his blood for the sins. He offered the sacrifice for sins and having a complish that he sat down on his throne. He sat down at the right hand of God,

the father, and is raining right now. And that rain, that position, that power is part of the confidence we have in that salvation verse 13, from that time waiting til his enemies are made his footstool for, by one offering. He has perfected forever. Those who are being sanctified, but the Holy spirit also witnesses to us for after he had said before,

this is the covenant that I will make with them. After those days says the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts and into their minds. I will write them. Then he adds their sins and lawless deeds. I will remember no more. This again is going back to Jeremiah now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin,

therefore brethren having boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he consecrated for us through the veil that is his flesh and having a high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water drawing,

all the things that he said in chapter eight, chapter nine, chapter 10, drawing all of them forward to a conclusion he says, because that one sacrifice has been made one time forever. Now you and I, we sin. We fall short. We continually have to seek God’s forgiveness and repent for what we do wrong, but we don’t have to go find a new sacrifice.

We don’t go looking for a new atonement. We don’t go looking for a new sufficient sacrifice to cover our sin. We go back to the sacrifice over in first, John John describes it this way. He says that when we sin, the blood of Christ continues to cleanse us from the sin. The sin may happen again, but the blood doesn’t need the change.

We don’t need new blood. The blood was sufficient. It was us that needed the correction. And so the Hebrew writer is describing the power of the sacrifice. He says, now that we have this sacrifice before, when we have blood of bulls and goats, we had to go through our intermediary. We had to go through the high priests and even the high priest had to offer sacrifices for himself before he could enter the holiest.

Okay. Remember, we were talking about the tabernacle on Wednesday and we described the two portions of the tabernacle, the holiest of Holies, where the Ark of the covenant was. And then the Holy place, the main area where the priest went in every day. He said, before you, as, as a, as an Israel, I couldn’t even enter the Holy place.

Only the priest could, but the whole, the priest couldn’t enter the holiest of Holies till they offered a sacrifice for themselves. And then they could only do it once per year. He says now under the new covenant, under the new sacrifice, with a new mediator, he says, we have boldness to enter the holiest. The holiest here, the way he’s using that term is the Holy of Holies.

Okay. The holiest place. So he says, we now have the ability to enter into the presence of God because of the sacrifice of Christ. And we can do that. Not as the high priest entered the Holy place under the old law, the high priest actually add a garment that he wore on the day of atonement. And that garment had bells on the bottom of it.

Part of the reason for the bells was it’s described there. The idea you didn’t enter in to the holiest of Holies without being announced. Think about it. This, from this perspective, you have a King King sits on a throne. He’s sitting in his throne room and someone wants to come in to see the King. What do you generally have? Who waits at the door of the throne room?

You have the person who not only says whether or not you’re allowed to go in, but he also announces you first. You don’t enter into the presence of a King unless you’re announced first and yet. Now the Hebrew writer says we don’t only have the ability to enter the presence of God as those Israelites did through a high priest. Once per year, he says,

we now have boldness as Ziv, we’re a family member of the King to walk into his presence at any time, not once a year at any time to come into his presence as if we were his son, you see the laws and the rules for being announced were Pete, for people who weren’t part of the King’s family, it was often a, a different set of rules for a King’s children for a King’s family member for a King’s son.

And so here we have a different arrangement. We’ve got a different relationship that exists because of the blood of Christ, but he says this boldness, this access comes by a new and living way, which he consecrated, which he set apart, which he made Holy for us through the veil. That is his flesh. Under the old Testament, there was a veil in between the holiest of Holies in the tabernacle and the Holy place.

They could go in and out of the Holy place all throughout the year, but that veil separated them. And now the Hebrew writer says that veil was a type. It was a looking forward to the flesh of Christ. Interestingly, you remember when Christ died, when Christ said it is finished, gave up the ghost, a number of things occurred. The sun was darkened.

The earth shook graves were opened, but what else happened? The veil in the temple was rent. It was torn into from the bottom of the top or from the top to the bottom top to bottom. There’s a type apology here. And there’s a picture that God brought into physical form saying separation of me from my people is gone. They now have access because he died.

They now have boldness because he died and we have access to the throne of God continually. This goes back to chapter four. This isn’t the first time he said this. He’s just drawing in more of these types of Anna types. More of the picture. He says, verse 14, seeing then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens Jesus,

the son of God, let us hold fast. Our confession for we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points, tempted like as we are yet without sin, let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. So he said this before this isn’t new,

he’s not just introducing the idea. He’s giving you a more clear picture of the atonement that is found in Christ. Okay? So then he says, verse 21 and having a high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

He, again, he’s pulling together these pictures from the old Testament when Moses and Aaron sanctified the people of God, when they instituted the first tabernacle, when they offered the first sacrifices on that first day of consecration, they took the blood of a sacrifice and sprinkled it on the altar and on the sacrifices and on the people, they consecrated them ceremonially with this sprinkling of blood.

Now he’s using the figure and saying your heart, your conscience, your inward person, where the blood of the old Testament could come, could cleanse and consecrate the outward person. This sacrifice the blood of Christ cleanses the inward person. He said, your hearts have been sprinkled from an evil conscience and your bodies washed with pure water. Again, going back to the old Testament picture of the tabernacle worship.

When those high priests were to offer those sacrifices, when they were to enter into the Holy place, they first had to wash in that brazen Laver, okay. Before they could enter into the Holy place they had to wash you couldn’t go into the Holy place unless you washed. Well, now he says we have been given a washing and yet isn’t it interesting.

He describes the washing to be physical and the cleansing to be spiritual turn over to first Peter chapter three<inaudible> First Peter chapter three, verse 21. There is also an anti-tech, which now saves us baptism, not the removal of the field of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The same idea is carried forward.

In first, Peter chapter three, that baptism is the washing in which our inward person is washed. Even though the act is an outward act. In other words, it’s something our physical bodies do, but it is not as Peter’s describing, it’s not about washing off dirt. It’s not about washing away, filth on your body. It is about your heart.

And so here you have one of those passages where baptism in its anti type form is described as being directly connected to the blood of Christ. Verse 23, let us hold fast. The confession, that is the proclamation of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,

not getting the assembling of ourselves together as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another and so much. The more as you see the day approaching as the Hebrew writer reminds them of these things. He’s not telling them for the very first time that they’re supposed to assemble together. And he’s not telling them for the very first time that they’re supposed to be immersed in water for the remission of sins.

They’ve already done that. He’s reminding them of what it was they did. And he’s reminding them of what is so important about their association and fellowship with one another. He says, as you go through these struggles, as you go through these difficulties, the one thing that you don’t stop doing is assembling with one another because it is there that you provoke one another to love and good works.

Now it’s important to note that the first staking here is not the absence of a single time. It is the turning away from it. This is not a passage that describes, you know what, someone’s sick and they didn’t show up at church today. They’re forsaking the assembling. No, that’s not it. This is the turning no way from in turning away from Christ.

He says, when you are struggling, that is not the time to turn away from the assembly. That is not the time to turn your back on the, the assembly. That is the time to turn to the assembly and be there so many times when times are hard. When difficulties come, when hardships come into our lives, we go, you know what?

I just don’t have. I just don’t have the energy, the stamina that to get up, get dressed and get to worship. That is exactly the time where you need to get up, get dressed and go, go to worship because that’s when you need it. The most that’s when God says, listen, this time is especially for you right at that moment where you can be assembling with one another where you can be provoked to love and good works,

where you can have others. Look, look at you and care for you. It’s the moment when you say All right, I need this. And I know that when I come home, I’m going to be better than when I left, but it also Involves this other aspect. And that is us looking past ourselves. The one who comes to the assembly,

looking to better themselves, looking to be looked upon by others, looking to be encouraged by others, looking to be exhorted by others and never gives any Lot to anyone else is failing in their duties. In the assembly. Part of the, The Frank reality is it is by us assembling together and losing our focus on ourselves and putting our focus on someone else that we,

We find we get helped by helping others. So we need to be thoughtful in our approach Assemblies, not only to look for those who are struggling and encourage those who are struggling, but also to set aside our worries, our struggles, our difficulties Look to help others. Okay? Now in Verse 26, he’s not changing Topics. Here He is. He has gone through a discussion of the sacrifice.

He has gone through the discussion of the priesthood. He has gone through the discussion of the law. He has gone through the discussion of the T of the covenant. He has gone through all of these things. And now he’s about to give them a very Stark warning. All the passages in the book of Hebrews that are the most direct in warning these people about what they’re about to do verse 13 or verse 26 of chapter 10,

Is that passage He says for, if we sin Willfully, now this is not Connect Textually. This is not talking about, I know it’s wrong to lie. And I just told a lie That’s that is not the context here. Okay? The context is, I know I should not foresee Christ and his assembly, but I am going to choose to turn my back on him.

I am going to Context is I am going to return to the law of Moses and to Moses and to Judaism and for say Christ. That is the context, the departure from Christianity and obedience To Christ. That’s the willful sin being described here for if we sin willfully, after we have received the knowledge of the truth. So notice it’s a departure from the truth.

There no longer remains a sacrifice for sins. This is you walk away from Christ and what are you walking to? You’re not going to walk back to the blood of bulls and goats. They’re no longer a sacrifice for sins. You can’t go back to that. We’ve shown you. He took it away. So you walk away from the only sacrifice and you walk to no sacrifice for sins,

but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation, which will devour the adversaries notice. He just said, you walk away from Christ. You become an adversary of God because that’s, that’s who that judgements for. He said, you just walked into a judgment meant for adversaries, which meant you just became an adversary. Remember back in revelation, as we were going through those chapters,

two and three, where he writes to the church and one of the churches, he says, you repent or I’ll make war with you. God considers those who forsake him, who turned their back on him, who go back to the world. After they know the truth, to be his enemies. Notice he says anyone who has rejected Moses’s law does or dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

By the way, he’s pointing out this isn’t unusual. We shouldn’t think this is strange. If you violate the law under the law of Moses and two people testify against you in a court of law, you’re going to be put to death. But then he says of how much worse punishment do you suppose, will he be thought worthy? Who has trampled?

The son of God under foot counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing and insulted the spirit of grace. So you need to get right in your mind about what it is to me, what it means to depart from Christianity. Once you’ve become a Christian, he said, you have trodden under foot. The son of God,

you have said that sacrifice on that cross is completely value lists to me. What did Jesus describes? Salt? W w what did he say would happen to salt that had lost its value, lost its flavor. It was good for nothing good to be cast out and trodden under foot of men. He says the Christian who departs from Christianity. That’s what they’ve done to the son of God.

That’s how they view the son of God, or at least that’s how God views it. But he also says you’ve counted the blood of the covenant as on Holy use it that now that wasn’t any, anything special, this idea is profane or common. The various two, two of the very first priests, two of the sons of Aaron, when they were brought,

bringing the fire to the, to the altar were struck down by God. And the accusation God made is they didn’t put a difference between was common and what was Holy. And so here, he says, you’ve taken the blood of Christ, which is Holy. And you’ve treated it as if it’s common, just like anybody else’s blood, but also says,

and you have despised the spirit or insulted the spirit of grace for we know him who said, vengeance is mine. I will repay says the Lord. And again, the Lord will judge his people. He says, we were told this in the old Testament, God said, he’s going to judge. And God said, he judged under that law. And he’s certainly going to judge her under this law verse 31.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living. God. Then he says, verse 32. We’ll read down through verse 39, but recall, okay. Okay. Said this, he’s put forth the warning. He said, listen, you don’t want to fall into the hands of your God. And then he immediately reverses not goes back on what he says,

but reverses his tone and say, says, but remember, we’ve been through this before. He says, remember, recall the former days in which after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings. She’s remember when you were first converted, when you first became a Christian, when you first saw the light, there’s the illuminated idea. He said,

how you suffered and you did so willingly. You went through a great fight flight of afflictions. These is partly whilst you were made a spectacle, both by reproaches and tribulations. And partly while you became companions of those who were so treated for you had compassion on me and my chains and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven,

he says, do you remember back when you were first converted and you did all of these things you’re being asked to do now, now, and you did enjoy fully, you did it willingly. You did it without a second thought because of the salvation. When you had available and heaven, he says, therefore, do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward,

or you have need of endurance so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. Now he goes back to the old Testament. He says for yet a little while, and he who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith. But if anyone draws back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

He goes back to Habakkuk where Habakkuk is questioning how God’s going to use the Babylonian armies to defeat Israel, to defeat Judah and punish this people who are better than the Babylonians were. And God said the just will live by faith. The just will endure. I will protect the, just, but the wicked I’m going to punish. He says, verse 39.

As he closes this, what we have is this chapter. He says, but we are not notice again, as he’s done before with the led us. And he includes himself, he says, but we, you and me, all Christians, he says, but we are not of those who draw back to perdition. But of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

Now he’s going to make this statement about belief, about faith, to lead them into a whole long discussion of faith. So he said this, and we’ll leave it here. We’re going to kind of summarize chapter 11 as we start class on Wednesday, which will be done virtually, but he says, we do not draw back. We don’t go backwards.

We don’t go back to the old law. We keep our faith and obey God. And that is all of chapter 11, looking forward to chapter 12. Okay, let’s go over these questions for chapters nine and 10. What kind of sacrifices were offered under the law? Moses, lot of bulls and goats, gifts and sacrifices. Either one of those would be fine.

How often was it necessary to offer sacrifices continually year by year? Why was it necessary to offer sacrifices often? All right. Because they could never make one. Perfect. Is, is there is the, the text answer can never make one. Perfect. What kind of sacrifice was offered under Jesus’ law? His own blood. How often is it necessary to offer sacrifices?

Once, when does a covenant come into force? Yep. We went when the person whose covenant is dies, how was the first covenant put into force?<inaudible> Yeah. Sprinkling of blood or the blood of bulls and goats. What about the second? Okay. Blood of blood of Jesus. The law of Moses is spoken of as a blank of the good things to come Shadow.

Jesus’ flesh is the blank. The veil. Does God remember forgiven sins? No. That’s a discussion. We’ll have to get into some time. Yes or no. Does God require Christ followers to assemble? Yes. What is God’s punishment for those who neglect Christ and his blood Say what Fearful judgment fire, vengeance, all, all of those are, are applicable in good answers.

So, all right. We will have, I think I am correct in announcing this. Okay. I’m correct. In announcing this because I will be gone. A number of actually a number of people will be out. What we will be doing is we will have our services on our Bible study on Wednesday online, the zoom will be available. The live stream will be available,

but there won’t be anybody here. Okay. So make note of that for Wednesday, we’ll make sure everybody has what they need to get connected to that, but we’ll go over the end of Hebrews then. And then Sunday, since I will be out of town, Michael will be filling in and we’ll start a review of Jesus going into lessons on the second year of Jesus’ ministry,

starting the next Wednesday. So thank you for your attention. And you are dismissed<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Her. Name’s good to see everyone here today where happy to see you. And I know the re those that are watching online. I think we’ve got a lot of folks out today for the holidays. So it’s kinda unusual to see as few as we have here today,

but we’re glad that we’re able to come and be together and worship God together today and have Bible study. Aaron did a wonderful job this morning, and we miss all of you that are, haven’t been able to be with us for a while. And some others aren’t feeling well. So we want to continue to pray for these. We have a few announcements we want to make,

hopefully everyone remembered to get the Lord’s supper at the back. We just wanted to remind you of that or continue to pray for Joan Springer. Maria said she’s doing some better has good days and bad days though. And still not able to gain much weight at all, if any, and sometimes loses a few pounds. So keep, keep her in your prayers.

I also, Robin woods, we want to continue to pray for Robin and Jessica. Dale is still having problems. It’s talking to Michael and we want to continue to pray for Jessica, that they can determine what’s actually taking place with her and hopefully find out what it is and relieve her of all of that discomfort she’s experiencing Janie Marlin is, is doing well with her surgery on her knee.

She’s still having some nausea from some of the medications that she’s having to take. So keep her in your prayers. Also remember Dorothy Wilson still waiting at home, her stress test results. And I’m not sure why it’s taken them so long to find that out, but we want to keep her in your prayers. Also Rodale, they’ve been experiencing a lot of sorrow in their family and the loss of Rodale’s brother and his wife,

Leah van Cleve that’s and also Jessica hobby, hob D both of these are nieces of Becky Posner. Both of them have COVID and we certainly want to remember them and hope that they will be able to be treated for that. And everything will go alright with them. Jan, his dad is back at home and under hospice care. So they are back,

but they’re staying at home just in case they were around anyone that might’ve been affected with the virus. So keep them in your prayers. And then Cheryl’s dad who, who fell and has a fracture in his spine. He, he had his having to wear a back brace, but he is at home. And still, I know that he has good days and bad days.

So keep, keep him in your prayers. And also Aaron’s dad, Keith Cozort had surgery Friday for heart blockage. He had two stents put in and he is at home now. So we want to continue to pray for him that everything will be go hard with him. Elaina sharp, that Shelly Stax mother has double pneumonia, and she has a real bad infection on the,

on the back of her head. And we certainly were want to remember her and our prayers, that they were able to be able to help get her over that pneumonia and get that healed up. So probably in real serious condition though, and she’s in a Methodist hospital, our sympathy to the Wilson family and the loss of Rodale’s well already announced that his brother and his wife Demple.

So we weren’t at one other announcement. We will not meet at the building for service Wednesday for class, but it will be virtual. So don’t forget to tune in and be studying Hebrews chapter 11. So keep that in, in your Mark that down on your calendar, be sure and tune in for that. I believe that saw the announcements I had,

hopefully I didn’t overlook any. I do have one other thing I want to mention to you, Aaron and Eddie and the boys will be leaving tomorrow to go to Missouri and they’ll be gone for about a week. And so we want to remember them in our prayers that everything would go well for them. And we don’t want to, we do want to wish everyone,

a Merry Christmas and hope we will all have a safe holiday since we probably won’t see each other personally clean now. And next Lord’s day, this morning, Michael Dale will be leading our song service. Eric Halverson we’ll have our opening prayer. Mari Phillips will be taking care of the Lord’s table. Aaron Cozort would be bringing us the lesson. And then Jay Shafir we’ll have our closing prayer First song.

This morning will be number 31 and be still and know be still and know<inaudible> That. Ah,<inaudible><inaudible> the<inaudible> that, ah,<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> the<inaudible><inaudible> As long before our opening prayer, excuse me, will be number 797. Lord we come before the now<inaudible><inaudible> Oh,<inaudible><inaudible> we see the Lord<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> to see<inaudible> to<inaudible> and I know<inaudible> no,

we see<inaudible> we<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> the<inaudible> GRA. Oh man,<inaudible> fun. The God<inaudible><inaudible> free.<inaudible> the<inaudible> Please bow with me. God, our father in heaven, we come to you this morning, thanking you for another day here on earth and thanking you for the opportunity to be able to assemble here together, to fellowship with one another sing songs of praise to your name and study a portion of your word Lord.

There were numerous individuals listed on our sick list this morning. And we ask if it’d be your, will you wrap your loving arms around each and every one of them and provide them with the comfort that they need while they battle the individual needs to retain regain their health. And if it be your will provide them the means and the opportunity to regain their health so that they may come again to worship you.

But most importantly, to serve you, God, we also know that there are many amongst our number that are suffering from various ailments and illnesses that have not been mentioned. And we asked the same for them that you wrap your loving arms around them and around the caretakers and the providers, caregivers, and providers for these individuals that they may seek your knowledge and your wisdom and your patients and their times as they struggled to deal with providing help to them.

God, we also know that because of the holiday season, there are many amongst us. That’d be traveling. We asked that you provide safe journey for those that will travel to their destinations and return to their homes. And God, we also want to thank you for having sent your son Jesus here on earth years ago to teach us, but most importantly,

to die for our sins and to save us, give us that opportunity to one day, live with you forever in heaven in eternity, Lord, we also know that each and every one of us have our faults and have our shortcomings. And when we bring those shortcomings to you, we ask that you help us to deal with these shortcomings and prevent from doing them again.

But most importantly, forgive us, although shortcomings that we may serve you better as we live here on earth and wait for that day that we join you eternally in heaven. And now as brother Aaron prepares to bring us another portion of your word, we ask that you help each and every one of us listen intently and analyze it and see how we can use the word that he’s going to bring us your word to enlighten our lives,

to serve you better. But most importantly, to reach out to those that have either fallen away from your love, or have not had the opportunity to hear your word and understand your love so that they may one day have the same opportunity we do. And that is to live with you forever. In eternity. We pray all these things through your son,

Jesus name, amen. Long to prepare our minds for the Lord’s supper will be number 366 by Christ redeemed by Christ three<inaudible>. We keep the us<inaudible> and show the<inaudible> and to he<inaudible> his body given<inaudible><inaudible>. And as we drink, we see blah, and<inaudible> he? Oh, and that me Trey<inaudible> ah, with advent, we NA my wan bride chain me it,

and he<inaudible> At this time, we need to focus on the cross and the sacrifice that Jesus made for our sins. Let’s pray. Heavenly father, we’re thankful for this bread represent Jesus’ body was nailed to the cross for the sins of mankind. Pray heavenly father, you please forgive us of our sins. Amen. Like manner, heavenly father. We’re thankful for this fruit of the vine.

It represents Jesus blood that was shed on this cross for our sins. Let’s pray. Heavenly father that you please forgive us of our sins. Also, this we ask in Jesus name, amen. Separate from the Lord’s table. We’d have an opportunity to give his we as prosper. Let’s pray. Heavenly father. We’re thankful for the financial gains we have received from you through the years,

and we pray heavenly father you’ll accept proportion back to you in order to keep the church you’re at Collierville and doing the job that we’re doing here and help us having father be prosperous. This we ask in Jesus name. Amen. As long before the lesson this morning will be number 555. Siki first. If you’re able to stand for this song, Please,

number 555, okay. Siki first, the kingdom of God and<inaudible> and all these things shall be added unto you seeing, ah,<inaudible> scanned. It shall be given unto you C and G shall ah, knock, and the door be opened unto you singing. Ah,<inaudible> man shall not live by bread alone, but<inaudible> pro seeds from God seeing,

ah,<inaudible> you may be seated. Good morning. Sometimes I’m asked a question. I imagine you are too. When it comes around the time of the holidays or birthdays, someone will come up to you and ask, what do you want? Can you make a list? What do you want for Christmas? What do you want for your birthday? What sweetheart?

What do you want for your anniversary? That one probably shouldn’t be asked, but the others, what do you want? There’s nothing wrong with that question. It’s simply an expression of one person trying to do for another person and give to another person what it is that they actually want. But as we examine our lesson this morning, I want to notice what we should want and how to get it.

Not in view of Christmas or birthdays or any other holiday or gift exchanging time of the year. But in view of our lives, collagen’s chapter three, Paul writes to the church at Colossi, as he writes to these brethren in Colossians chapter three and verse one, we read if then you were raised with Christ, seek those things, which are above where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God,

set your mind On things above, not on things, Things on the earth. Sometimes it’s In view of the previous discussion in the previous question of what do you want the answer is, I don’t know. And usually that’s because we haven’t been thinking about it. If we stopped for a while and thought about it, we could come up with one or two things that we want,

whether we could afford them or not, that would be a completely different discussion, but some things that we Want, sometimes It may be basic. Sometimes it may be symbol. Sometimes it may just be, you know what? I want that meal. I just really enjoy that meal, whatever that is. But notice that when the Paul writes to the church at glossies is first of all,

seek those things that are above. But then he also says set your mind on the things above, be thinking about it. When we consider what it is as Christians that we really want, are we giving in our lives? Any thoughts To eternity As we go through our daily lives, as we examine what it is that we do on a daily basis,

what part of our day, what part of our life, what part of our decision making process depends entirely upon the time we spend Thinking about eternity, okay. Thinking about spiritual things. So he says, first of all, seek those things, which are above. Second of all, he says, set your mind on things that are above. But thirdly,

he says for you died. I don’t know if you know that if you’re a Christian, you do know that, but Paul just comes right out and says for you died And your life is hidden with Christ in God. The moment a person comes forward In their heart and in their mind and makes the decision I’m going to change. They’ve heard the word of God.

They’ve heard the gospel and they know it’s true. They know that Jesus Christ came to this earth. They know that he bled. They know that he died. They know that he went to that cross and they know why they know he died for their iniquity, for their sin, for their unrighteousness. And they know That he didn’t stay dead. Instead on third day,

he arose from that grave. He walked out of that tomb and ultimately he ascended back into the back to the father and that he is there right now. Now, as this passage describes sitting at the right hand of God and they know those things, They have heard and believe those things. And as a result of that, they have looked at what he told them to do.

They have Looked at their lives and they have looked at the word of God and they have looked at scripture and they’ve examined their lives against the mirror We’re of the soul. And they have found they don’t match. And so they have looked at those things and said, I have to change that. They know what he said, they’ve heard it. They believe it.

They know they have to change. And they Also know that above everything else. They want to serve him, go to Matthew chapter six, Matthew chapter six, as Jesus is giving the sermon on the Mount. He references possessions. And he says, beginning in verse 19, do not lay up for yourselves, treasures on earth, where Moth and rust destroy,

where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves, treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys where thieves do not break in and steal for where your treasure is there. Your heart will be also notice Jesus begins first with possessions. He begins first with what it is that you find Valuable. It really comes back to this question of what do you want?

And if when asked that question, the only thing you can find as an answer is this possession, that possession, this thing, that thing, this goal, that goal, this attainment, that attainment this job, that job, that If that’s all you want, Jesus said, you’ve set your treasure on things that are below you Set your treasure on things that are part of this earth.

You’ve set your treasure on things which will not last. And ultimately some ELLs we’ll take from you. You say, well, I’m going to, I’m going to protect what I have and I’m going to own a lot of firearms and I’m going to make sure and ensure everything. And I’m going to make sure to take precautions. I’m going to make sure no one gets my Stuff except solid And pointed out in Ecclesiastes.

These that one of these days you’re going to Die and Everything you’ve accumulated. I had accumulated a lot was going to be left to somebody else. All ultimately, no matter how much stuff it is, you’re leaving this life without it. They are now trying and have been For a number of years to figure out how to migrate someone’s consciousness from their body into a computer system.

So that that person can continue to live. Why? Because people are dead set on never leaving this temporary, The place. But Jesus said Where your treasure is there. Your heart will be also, but he doesn’t end there. He says, the lamp of the body is the Eye. If Therefore your eye is good, your whole body Will be full of light.

There, there are times where The way this is described and the way this is stated, it doesn’t really translate. But all the light, you experience All The light that you see, You don’t see, See it through your hand. You don’t see it through your foot. You see it through one little Part of your body and that’s your eye. And anyone who has ever had eye trouble can tell you That when your eyes start giving you problems,

it affects you In significant ways. When your eye stops sensing light, properly or stops, communicating that light properly to, to your, the rest of your body. You have difficulties in your entire body. Jesus said The light of the body, the Eye, If then your eye is good. Your whole body is full of light. But, But if your eye is bad,

your whole body will be full, Full of darkness. If your eyes stop seeing light, Not another appendage, you can rely on to solve the problem. There’s not another part of the body you can go to and say, can you just take over the duty of the eyes? They’re not working anymore? And while it is certainly true for those who,

who experienced blindness that over time, their other senses enhance themselves to make up for it. The reality is they don’t replace the eyes. He says, If your eye is bad, your whole body is full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness. How great is That darkness? Now imagine your eyes work Just fine. And hopefully they do.

But imagine the only thing day in and day out that you put your eyes to doing that you set before them are things you want. Possessions. Yeah. You want stated that during this time of year, beginning about three weeks ago, Jordy have employees at their jobs get very little accomplished As it Were. They checkout for about six weeks, starting in the beginning of December and going all the way till about the beginning of the first of the year.

Maybe a few weeks after they just don’t really get anything done for some employees. It’s because they’re spending more time shopping on their computer than working on their computer. Okay? But imagine if that’s your whole year, imagine if that’s your whole life, everything every day is about the next thing Want Jesus said your eye has turned to only allowing in darkness because all you’re focused on are possessions.

He says, you cannot verse 24, serve two masters for either. He will hate the one and love the other, Or LT will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God, God, and mammon or possessions money. Therefore I say to you do not worry about your life. What you do, You will eat or what you will drink nor about your body.

What you will put on is not life more than food and the body more than clothing. Look at the birds of the air for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns. Yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they, Jesus focuses on this problem. He focuses on the problem where is looking at what it is they want and failing to trust God to provide They’re looking at what it is they need.

They’re looking at what it is to go on through this life day in and day out. And instead of looking to God to give what, give them what they want. They’re looking to themselves To provide it. Someone has suggested that if you’re going to ask God for a garden, you should do it with a hole in your hand. And that’s true.

You should not expect God to miraculously appear before you everything you need, nor is that what Jesus is Teaching here. But Instead his discussion is about where your heart is. Is your heart set every day on the next days, possessions, the next days things, the next day is food. The next day is Raymond. And the things you need to subsist in this life,

or is your heart set Bet on God. But notice his addressing of this is not, God has the ability to do this. He does not say God is able. He says, God cares more for you than for the birds of the air that he already does it for. He doesn’t go to a discussion of God’s abilities as a pure abstract. He goes to God’s relationship To his children.

He goes on to say, which of you By worrying can add one cubit to his stature? How many times? Times I can’t, I can’t count them. How many times that I, As, as any pretty much that I know of any male growing up that is shorter than most of the other people. They know. How many times do they go to the,

the, the tape measure? Alright, am I taller? Am I taller? They scooch up on Their toes just a little bit. Especially if you had brothers That were all taller than you and they, And you’re like, you know, I, one of these days, I am going to be six feet tall. One of these days, I just know it.

I’ve got an uncle who’s over six feet tall. My dad’s six feet tall. I’m going to be six. I am not Six feet tall. And Do you know how much I can change that? Not at all. I mean, I wear cowboy boots all day long and I measure up to six feet doll, but I can not chain My stature.

Jesus said, How many of you by worrying, By Giving thought care, concern and focus of mind can change your stature, Not one inch. But then he goes on to say, so why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin. And yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed.

One of these. Now, If God, so clothes, the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven. Will he not much more clothe you? Oh, ye of little faith. Jesus says, as we look at our lives and yeah, If we turn our hearts, minds, focus and Tension to possessions and naughty eternity,

too Worrying and having anxiety About possessions and not eternity, he said, we have lost our grip on reality. We have lost Our grip on what truly matters. We have lost our faith in God, therefore verse 31, do not worry saying, what shall we eat Or what shall we drink? Or what shall we wear now? Did he say, do not Work?

No Jesus in, in no way, shape or form in this passage is accusing these Jews or his disciples of being those who should stop working. He said, they should stop worrying. They should stop their anxiety. They should stop their care and concern and focus as this being the highest priority For after all these things, the Gentiles seek for your Heavenly father knows that you Need these things.

As he did Dresses their care and concerns as he addresses their heart, as he addresses their eyes, as he addresses their minds and their focus, he reminds That they belong to a father who knew What they needed before They ever stepped foot on his earth. And he knows how to provide, but seek first, but seek First, the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.

Therefore he says, do not worry About tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about its own things sufficient for the day is its own trouble. So what do you want and how do you get it? First of all, we need to be certain about The things that should not be on the List. Rich Should not be on the list. You can go read in first Timothy chapter six,

beginning in verse five, going down through verse nine about all the things that come with riches is that to say that a person who’s rich has somehow done wrong is living in a state of sin. No, that’s not it to say. That would be to accuse those like Abraham and David and many others in the old Testament who were rich, but whose focus was never on rich Is the Hebrew writer and Hebrews chapter 13,

as he writes to these, Christians says, Let your conduct be without Covetousness, be, Be content with such things as you have For he Himself has said, I will never leave you Nor forsake you. The person whose focus and dependency and heart and mind is set on riches. Is there because of insecurity, do we realize that the person, Person who’s striving every day,

day in and day out for more Stuff only does. So because of in security, Because they do not value What they already have. They only value what They do not yet have. And yet when they get it, it is of no value. And yet they will not stop and realize what they’re doing to themselves. So the Hebrew writer says, be content with what you have and why,

how can we Do it? How can we have that mindset? He says, because your father said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. There’s times that I don’t feel as though that’s true. There’s times even this almost writer express there’s times where it seems as though you’re far from me. It seems as though you will, you will not do what I asked you.

It seems as though you’re not dealing with the situation and yet TRIBErs writer continues. And he says, so we may boldly say, Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me, remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.

He says, pay attention to those who taught you, pay attention to those who you’ve learned from pay attention to their actions when they endure difficulty and follow them. And here’s why you can verse eight. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. When Jesus is a Rose from the dead and came back into the presence of the apostles, they were locked in a room assembling by themselves.

They were afraid of the government. They were afraid of the people. They were afraid of them. Those who not too long ago had, had laid Palm leaves down on the road and cried out Hosanna Hosanna. And yet short time later had cried, crucify him, crucify him And Jesus came into their midst and said, Oh, ye of little faith.

They had been told what he was going to do. They had been told what was going to happen, but in the midst of their Care and concern for The things of this life, they had missed the importance of the things pertaining to that life. We need to be those who, first of all, do not set our hearts and minds on riches,

but certainly do not set our hearts and on Sinful pleasures. But instead on eternity, we need to understand that there are things have more value than riches. Proverbs chapter eight, verse 11 describes wisdom to be of more value than rubies. We are to be those who understand that knowledge and understanding are things that we are to want things we are to strive for things we are to study,

to attain and give diligence to attain because knowledge and understanding are those things that can correct our lives. Turn to second Peter chapter one, as we examine and answer what it is that we want and how to get it. Peter writes to these Christians and he says beginning in verse one, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us, by the righteousness of our God and savior Jesus Christ,

grace, and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus, our Lord, he said, first and foremost, may you have grace and peace. You need those. And they’re found in one place, the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ, but he then goes on and says, as his divine power has given to us, all things that pertain to life and godliness,

he said, in the knowledge of him, he has given you everything you need that pertains to life right now. And obedience to him through the knowledge of him who called you to glory and or by glory and virtue by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises. Not only has gone told you what he’s done for you. Not only has God told you what you need to do.

Not only has God given you everything you need to do what he said do, he’s also promised you what will happen when you do it, that through these, you may be partakers of the divine nature. Having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. So what do you want? And does it originate with your knowledge of God and your Lord,

Jesus Christ, but how do you get it? Peter goes on to say for this reason, give all diligence to add to your faith virtue and to your virtue knowledge and to knowledge, self control, and to sell control Perseverance and to perseverance godliness and to godliness, brotherly kindness, and to brotherly, kindness, love for if these things are yours, if those are the things you want,

and those are the things you work for, and those are the things you attain. He said for, if these things are yours and a bound, you will neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord, Jesus Christ for he who lacks these things is short-sighted even to blindness and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore,

brethren be even more diligent to make your call and election. Sure. For if you do these things you will never stumble for. So an entrance will be supplying to you, abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. What do you want? If what you want is entrance into the kingdom of God and an internal abode with him.

Then Peter has just told you how to get it, have your sins washed away through the gospel and obedience to it, and then add to your faith. Virtue, knowledge, perseverance, godliness, brotherly, kindness, and love, and rinse and repeat. And when you do, you will have everything you’ve ever wanted, not a pie in the sky.

Promise if what you want is what Jesus said. And that is to seek first, the kingdom of heaven and his righteousness. If you have need of the invitation, the invitation is open for you now together as we stand and as we sing, Geez, what can make me whole again? Nothing but the bla jeez, us. Oh,<inaudible> that makes<inaudible> no,<inaudible> no nothing but blah,

jeez, for my iPod on their side, I see nothing but a bla jeez, for my cleansing, this my plea, nothing but<inaudible> Oh,<inaudible> nah, man makes me<inaudible>. No, the found time. No, nothing but blah. Jeez, us nothing can.<inaudible> nothing but blah. Jeez, not good that I have done nothing but blah G she sees us.

Oh, precious is fuck. Nah, it makes me<inaudible>. No, the fam time. No, nothing but blah G sees us the song before the closing prayer will be number 626 Christ for the world. We seen Christ for the wo. We see the world to CRA nice. We Bree<inaudible><inaudible> that boy, the thing<inaudible> Christ<inaudible> Christ<inaudible> we see the woe to CRA nice.

We Bri. Oh man. No way.<inaudible> a loss by<inaudible> passions, task three genes.<inaudible> formed.<inaudible><inaudible> we see the woe to CRA nice. We Bree with one<inaudible> to share with us three pro Scouts to jam with us.<inaudible> for Christ Heavenly father. We’re indeed grateful for the privilege we’ve had to assemble and worship this hour.

We pray that our worship to you has been in spirit and truth and a sweet saver. As we prepare to depart, we’re mindful of those that are unable to be with us today. We pray your healing hands be placed upon them. And that they, once again, may return to their much wanted place. Be with those that are in harm’s way,

serving our country, grant them peace and reassurance at this special time of year, when families tend to get together, let them know that there are cared for, and that they have that hope of coming home. Soon as we go to prepare them for this special season, grant us an idea of oneness of helping one another, see the light and to be comforted by the fact that we’re just pilgrims here,

that our true homes need to be pointed toward heaven. Also, father, we fall short of our goals. Many times as we sin, we pray, you will forgive those sins, a repent and turn from them. Go with us. Now, as we depart, bless each of us with The blessings of knowing that we’re held in the hollow of your hand,

it’s in Jesus name, we pray.