back to index2020-9-20 Remembering to Persevere, Part 2
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If you can turn your Bibles with me to Hebrews 10. 00:00:10.200 |
We're going to be finishing up our sermon I started last week, 00:00:28.160 |
"But remember the former days when after being enlightened, 00:00:37.400 |
and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. 00:00:43.360 |
and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, 00:00:50.200 |
Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, 00:01:01.540 |
he who is coming will come and will not delay. 00:01:06.560 |
and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. 00:01:09.900 |
But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, 00:01:12.700 |
but of those who have faith to the persevering of the soul." 00:01:22.760 |
Thank you for the privilege that we have to come 00:01:26.540 |
to enter the throne of grace with confidence. 00:01:35.540 |
whatever we have been entangled with throughout the week, 00:01:38.640 |
I pray that this time that we may be able to offer it up 00:01:42.200 |
and give to you a worship that you truly deserve. 00:01:52.160 |
this is the second part of the text that we're looking at, 00:01:58.300 |
to the previous passage where he gives a warning. 00:02:01.400 |
He basically had 10 chapters of calling people back 00:02:06.400 |
to being anchored in Christ, the supremacy of Christ, 00:02:12.800 |
and warning them in the previous text a couple weeks ago 00:02:20.340 |
that if a Christian or someone professing to be Christian 00:02:26.560 |
where we no longer recognize him as a follower of Christ, 00:02:30.160 |
he says whatever we said in the past really doesn't matter 00:02:36.260 |
In fact, the most severest warning was found, 00:02:45.700 |
But again, the point of that was not simply to end with that. 00:02:50.500 |
The point of that is for the hearers to have a seriousness 00:02:55.140 |
of what he's been saying all up to that point, 00:03:06.240 |
And so the exhortation that we're looking at this, 00:03:11.040 |
started last week, was an exhortation to persevere 00:03:16.180 |
it's an exhortation to persevere by looking to the future, 00:03:24.100 |
So today we're gonna be looking at the exhortation 00:03:29.040 |
But just so that we can connect this to the passage 00:03:32.380 |
he starts by telling them, remember in the beginning, 00:03:48.200 |
pointing fingers and people snickering at them, 00:03:58.580 |
if Nero was in charge, which most people believe, 00:04:03.640 |
where Christians are being dragged into the Colosseum, 00:04:21.120 |
why would he remind them of the intense suffering 00:04:32.320 |
in the beginning, in the midst of this intense suffering, 00:04:41.540 |
So the distinction between what they were experiencing then 00:04:45.340 |
and what they were experiencing at the present time 00:04:47.720 |
is the way that they were responding to this persecution. 00:04:53.180 |
remember the beginning, how courageous you were. 00:04:59.840 |
He doesn't tell him that, he points him back, 00:05:01.740 |
the reason behind why you had joy in the midst of suffering 00:05:27.740 |
That's the whole point of what he's been trying to say 00:05:29.480 |
all through Hebrews, and he's gonna continue this point 00:05:31.720 |
all throughout, that if we're not remaining in Christ, 00:05:38.480 |
Right now, we're in the middle of a pandemic. 00:05:47.980 |
We have civil unrest because of race relations. 00:05:50.840 |
We have missionaries who are being kicked out 00:05:52.580 |
of the countries that they've been in for decades. 00:05:54.780 |
I mean, all kinds of craziness is happening right now. 00:06:03.580 |
if we pray, if we're faithful, maybe all this will pass 00:06:12.220 |
And maybe we can get back together, enjoy fellowship. 00:06:16.980 |
and maybe the political situation will be better. 00:06:22.080 |
And if we pray enough, our circumstances will calm down 00:06:33.440 |
He doesn't promise that things are gonna get back to normal. 00:06:46.320 |
Now, there are periods of life where we experience peace 00:06:58.480 |
But what he says is the distinction between joy and fear 00:07:13.580 |
when he repents of his sins in the book of Psalms, 00:07:23.720 |
The greatest concern that he had as a result of his sins 00:07:29.940 |
So when an individual is not anchored in Christ, 00:07:44.680 |
Maybe you didn't get the job that you wanted. 00:07:46.080 |
Maybe the circumstances isn't exactly what you wanted. 00:08:14.180 |
that as crazy as things have been in the past, 00:08:21.600 |
we also have to admit that there have been more opportunities 00:08:25.240 |
to glorify God in this midst because of this. 00:08:35.880 |
as we need to just persevere and get back to normal. 00:08:40.500 |
And not looking at it as an opportunity to glorify God. 00:08:44.900 |
That's the difference between an eternal perspective 00:08:51.100 |
"Remember, because you drifted away from Christ, 00:08:54.700 |
"that you forgot even in the midst of suffering 00:08:57.780 |
But today we're gonna be looking at the second part. 00:09:05.940 |
There is a reward coming if you continue to persevere. 00:09:08.640 |
Verse 34b, "Knowing that you have for yourselves 00:09:32.180 |
Verse 35, "Do not throw away your confidence, 00:09:46.540 |
So he repeats it over and over and over again in this text. 00:09:57.740 |
or after you set it down or after you bought a house 00:10:04.780 |
And that's why he says repeatedly over and over again, 00:10:29.160 |
And if you're living by flesh and not by faith, 00:10:40.280 |
So I don't mind, just like we put money in the bank, 00:10:43.220 |
we take it out of my pocket, put it in the bank. 00:11:05.480 |
You cannot see, you cannot taste, you cannot touch. 00:11:08.160 |
Why would an individual who has his security in his hands, 00:11:34.820 |
of eternal reward would be willing to let this go. 00:11:41.320 |
when we're suffering, we're having hard times, 00:12:07.120 |
"For momentary light affliction is producing for us 00:12:12.120 |
"an eternal weight of glory far beyond comparison." 00:12:19.720 |
that you're going through, it's momentary, right? 00:12:23.800 |
Compared to the eternal glory, it's momentary. 00:12:38.120 |
and saying, oh, I don't want to be his friend. 00:12:41.960 |
I think you and I all know that the first century Christians, 00:12:45.560 |
their persecution was very intense and physical. 00:12:49.480 |
You remember in Corinth, Apostle Paul was very concerned 00:12:53.000 |
about going in there because he was being beaten 00:12:57.080 |
And Jesus had to speak to him, not to be fearful 00:13:02.440 |
but he was heavily persecuted even in Corinth. 00:13:12.020 |
Many people, this was already happening during this period, 00:13:21.600 |
and the reason why he's able to call it momentary and light 00:13:24.560 |
is because he's comparing with the eternal glory 00:13:30.480 |
He's comparing his suffering to the eternal glory 00:13:41.980 |
You see why, if we take our eyes off of Christ, 00:13:51.000 |
I mean, when you're suffering, I mean, it feels intense. 00:13:54.280 |
And that's why his point is not to simply be courageous, 00:14:00.040 |
not to simply be organized and to be better disciplined, 00:14:03.320 |
but it says the Christ who saved you in the past 00:14:06.560 |
is the Christ that we need to be anchored to that's coming. 00:14:09.520 |
Again, in Romans 8, 18, "For I consider that the suffering 00:14:13.840 |
"of this present time are not worthy to be compared 00:14:18.140 |
"with the glory that is to be revealed to us." 00:14:30.200 |
is always voted as one of the top cities to live in 00:14:32.960 |
because it's safe, and the reason why the property value 00:14:44.600 |
"in comparison with a glory that is to be revealed," 00:14:53.200 |
And then in Philippians 3, 8, he says, "More than that, 00:14:55.340 |
"I count all things to be lost in view of the surpassing 00:15:10.040 |
He was one of the top scholars in the Jewish community. 00:15:14.680 |
People say that he may have already been a member 00:15:18.060 |
of the Sanhedrin, one of the senators of Israel. 00:15:27.200 |
He was already at the apex of what the Jewish community 00:15:37.120 |
But he says, in all that he has had, all the respect, 00:15:40.680 |
all the money, all the honor, all the fame that he had, 00:15:44.160 |
all the political power that he had, he says, 00:15:54.200 |
So the moment we take our eyes off of Christ, 00:15:59.600 |
how can we in our flesh look at what Apostle Paul had 00:16:04.080 |
We don't look at winning the lottery as dung. 00:16:08.200 |
We don't look at moving into a nice house as dung. 00:16:11.080 |
We don't look at getting promotions in our work as dung. 00:16:15.280 |
When these things happen, we say, "God was so good to me. 00:16:18.560 |
"What a blessing that my business is doing well. 00:16:23.040 |
"What a blessing my child was sick and now he is well." 00:16:29.460 |
It is only in comparison to the surpassing knowledge 00:16:34.020 |
So therefore, once we begin to drift away from him, 00:16:37.860 |
you cannot in your flesh win over the temptation, 00:16:45.140 |
I mean, you and I live in an area where if we dream it, 00:16:58.040 |
Majority of the world does not get to look at a magazine 00:17:01.880 |
in a beautiful place and say, "I'm gonna go there one day." 00:17:09.480 |
Majority, 99% of the world does not have the opportunity. 00:17:13.880 |
That's just like me saying, "One day, I'm gonna fly." 00:17:16.580 |
Because they're struggling to feed their children. 00:17:22.040 |
But in where you and I live, we think about career. 00:17:28.480 |
Even that idea of career, there's a bunch of things 00:17:35.000 |
The idea of having too much, so we gotta sell it for cheap. 00:17:38.800 |
Something that I bought, upgrading our phones. 00:18:07.760 |
win the temptation that you and I are surrounded by. 00:18:11.880 |
It is only in comparison to the surpassing knowledge 00:18:17.720 |
So the moment you take your eyes off of that, 00:18:26.720 |
That's why he says, "Do not throw away your confidence." 00:18:36.400 |
And in interpreting a text, what is one of the most 00:18:50.500 |
You guys have your mask on, so I have no idea 00:19:15.200 |
So you have to know, is that part of my normal vocabulary? 00:19:24.780 |
So, I mean, again, I didn't grow up using that term, 00:19:30.440 |
so you have to understand the context of who I am, 00:19:34.120 |
how old I am, would I use that, have I used that before? 00:19:39.680 |
you can't just take, this is what you think it means, 00:19:57.960 |
But boldness can mean a lot of things, too, right? 00:20:01.480 |
It can be bold, being courageous, not having fear. 00:20:10.760 |
prior to using it here, and so let me look at this 00:20:15.880 |
when he says, "Do not throw away your confidence," 00:20:20.320 |
But Christ was faithful as a son over his house, 00:20:22.880 |
whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence 00:20:38.040 |
He's talking about the blood sacrifice of Christ, 00:20:45.360 |
isn't because you're bold, isn't because you're righteous, 00:20:47.760 |
isn't because you've done these great things. 00:20:49.520 |
He says, "No, do not throw away the open door 00:20:52.400 |
"that Christ has given you, the blood sacrifice, 00:21:02.600 |
"the throne of grace so that we may receive mercy 00:21:08.480 |
Because you're older, because you're more experienced, 00:21:22.040 |
He said we are able to enter the throne of grace 00:21:24.320 |
with confidence because Christ covers us in our sins, 00:21:45.260 |
He's talking about the imputed righteousness of Christ. 00:21:50.720 |
"Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence 00:21:53.180 |
"to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 00:21:55.500 |
"by a new and living way, which he inaugurated for us 00:22:08.220 |
Confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus. 00:22:42.620 |
you will end up throwing away your confidence. 00:22:54.100 |
in his seven I Am statements in the book of John, 00:22:57.340 |
his last thing that he tells his disciples to do what? 00:23:02.260 |
He doesn't say go, before he goes, you have to remain. 00:23:17.380 |
That's why a Christian who's studying the Bible, 00:23:48.760 |
Unless we are absolutely dependent and anchored 00:24:00.240 |
You know, the problem is, when we first become Christians, 00:24:04.440 |
you know, we are so enamored by our justification. 00:24:14.680 |
and we recognize all the sinful things that we have done. 00:24:25.120 |
because that's me, that's what he did for me. 00:24:28.040 |
But for whatever the reason, after two months, 00:24:51.520 |
I know I'm not perfect, but I'm not as bad as them. 00:24:54.800 |
So for whatever the reason, we start out with justification, 00:24:58.880 |
and then we add our own righteousness as we go along. 00:25:03.600 |
the longer we compare our righteousness to other people. 00:25:20.660 |
who is not in dire need to fight to remain in Christ. 00:25:40.040 |
You don't have your parents looking over your shoulder, 00:25:42.440 |
and all of a sudden you're able to stay out late, 00:25:45.720 |
And there is great temptation that comes with the freedom. 00:25:50.400 |
With all the choices that are in front of you. 00:26:08.880 |
and all of a sudden you don't have the accountability 00:26:12.200 |
The majority of the people that are surrounding you 00:26:22.200 |
So if you're not anchored in Christ during that period, 00:26:27.160 |
In fact, the statistics say more than 60, 70%, 00:26:30.240 |
by the time they graduate, before they become 30, 00:26:35.520 |
You know who really needs to really cling on to Christ? 00:26:59.280 |
You have to anchor in Christ, you're desperate. 00:27:01.920 |
You know who else needs to really cling to Christ? 00:27:06.720 |
You know, you're living in coveting and watching, 00:27:12.440 |
And then your coveting and your mind starts to drift away, 00:27:15.280 |
and then after a while, it's like, "Why is God, 00:27:18.640 |
And your coveting causes you to drift away from Christ. 00:27:21.600 |
And if you're not careful and you're not anchored in Christ, 00:27:26.640 |
and all you are thinking about is the next stage of life, 00:27:29.160 |
and if you're not anchored in Christ, you can easily drift. 00:27:32.560 |
You know who else needs to really be anchored in Christ? 00:27:36.600 |
And you're looking to the next stage of life, 00:27:41.280 |
and all of a sudden you feel like you've arrived, 00:27:43.720 |
and then you're no longer actively pursuing Christ anymore 00:27:53.160 |
you're enjoying the things that God has given you, 00:27:55.480 |
the next thing you know, you've drifted together. 00:28:01.360 |
So during that period, if you're not really anchored 00:28:07.720 |
You know who else really needs to be anchored in Christ? 00:28:11.000 |
Brand new children, the parents who have kids. 00:28:18.120 |
or the parents who didn't get enough sleep last night, 00:28:21.440 |
they're free, what do you do in your free time? 00:28:28.160 |
So if you're not anchored in Christ during that period, 00:28:35.680 |
You're just trying to feed them and take care of them 00:28:37.920 |
and make sure they're not sick and not getting hurt. 00:28:43.640 |
for another human being, and you're huffing and puffing 00:28:50.480 |
you do that for a year, two years, five years, 10 years, 00:28:57.440 |
But you know who really needs to be anchored in Christ? 00:29:13.080 |
and we can just kind of drift and just kind of coast along, 00:29:29.520 |
we're just kind of waiting for the end to happen, 00:29:32.800 |
But there is a period when you don't need to worry so much, 00:29:44.120 |
where you don't have to be so worried about being anchored. 00:29:51.320 |
and I can tell you right now that every stage, 00:29:55.560 |
that you probably agree with everything that I said. 00:29:59.680 |
Most of you are sitting here probably thinking, 00:30:09.520 |
I didn't realize the temptation that's there. 00:30:14.200 |
And all of you, whatever stage in life that you're in, 00:30:18.520 |
you agree that there is pressure to constantly drift. 00:30:34.280 |
there's a different challenge waiting for you. 00:30:37.280 |
Every stage of your life until we meet Christ. 00:30:54.240 |
The spiritual battle is not just when we're young, 00:31:01.160 |
Until the day we die, we are in this spiritual battle. 00:31:05.760 |
that we are not anchored in Christ, we will drift. 00:31:22.440 |
Now, whenever you see anything in repetition in the Bible, 00:31:30.600 |
So if Jesus has something really important to say, 00:31:35.520 |
if Peter's about to put his foot in his mouth, 00:32:01.160 |
sometimes you'll see me banging on the pulpit. 00:32:10.480 |
Or if I plan it, I might put it up on the screen 00:32:18.760 |
the way they communicated is they did it by repetition. 00:32:32.720 |
I say all of this because he says in repetition, 00:32:54.920 |
One of the key elements of our assurance of salvation 00:33:01.240 |
You must persevere, because one of the true evidences 00:33:07.240 |
of our saving faith is perseverance of our faith. 00:33:22.040 |
becoming a Christian of his eyes being opened 00:33:31.720 |
Once you've seen it, once you've genuinely seen 00:33:43.280 |
"I'm gonna pretend like I've never seen that." 00:33:47.480 |
Just like if you've tasted something really good, 00:33:50.880 |
and you say, "Oh, I'm gonna act like I never." 00:33:55.160 |
No, what you've tasted, what you've experienced, 00:33:59.120 |
And that's what he means by perseverance of the saints. 00:34:06.400 |
you may struggle, but you can never shut that door again. 00:34:10.800 |
And that's why he says, you have to persevere. 00:34:14.120 |
You have to persevere, because that's not who you are. 00:34:32.200 |
who shrink back and are destroyed, that's not us. 00:35:05.800 |
"he who is coming will come and will not delay." 00:35:17.080 |
So again, what does it mean when he says it in repetition? 00:35:22.200 |
Let me read it the way that we should read it, okay? 00:35:38.800 |
He said we need to endure because this is momentary. 00:36:07.240 |
because we want something and then we come to church 00:36:10.600 |
and the pastor keeps telling you, "You can't have it." 00:36:22.920 |
And then you try to forget about it during the week 00:36:26.040 |
and then you come and you say, "You can't have it again." 00:36:31.920 |
of the things that you love, things that you want, 00:36:48.280 |
And remember the glory that's coming in this God. 00:37:11.600 |
the year's like, "Oh, that's just around the corner." 00:37:26.200 |
I don't know if any of you have been on a cruise. 00:37:31.840 |
You go on and you're supposed to enjoy yourselves. 00:37:39.800 |
There's not some train that you can just drive 00:37:47.640 |
You ventured out 'cause you wanted to see the hills, 00:38:08.840 |
They're going through the list and you're not there. 00:38:11.560 |
And so they're waiting and waiting and waiting. 00:38:25.440 |
And so for the people who are running to get to the boat, 00:38:38.440 |
it's like, "Oh my gosh, what is wrong with this boat? 00:38:40.480 |
"They said four o'clock, but now it's five o'clock. 00:38:45.200 |
"I told my friends that I was gonna meet them 00:38:48.920 |
So to one group, they didn't keep their promise 00:38:53.720 |
And then the other group saying they left too early. 00:39:02.320 |
"as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, 00:39:14.280 |
About 30 years after the death and resurrection of Christ, 00:39:19.160 |
the early church, early people say, "Where is he?" 00:39:23.880 |
If you know the context of the letter, 1 Peter, 00:39:35.440 |
I mean, our friends are being dragged in the Colosseum, 00:39:43.000 |
He said he's going to come, he's not going to delay. 00:39:54.400 |
But the reason why he hasn't come yet is because of me, 00:40:00.640 |
'Cause he was holding up the boat until we got in. 00:40:08.840 |
he's not going to delay any longer than he needs to 00:40:38.120 |
Unless you were born and you got saved at three months old 00:41:05.160 |
So no human being has really waited 2,000 years. 00:41:08.920 |
At best, maybe one, I don't know of any, possibly 100. 00:41:55.800 |
Even as you're pursuing, even as you make money, 00:41:58.520 |
even as your business is thriving, something is off. 00:42:02.960 |
Because God created us to be creatures of light. 00:42:09.680 |
You may find a little bit of life in the darkness, 00:42:28.320 |
"See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us." 00:42:33.240 |
The word see is translated in other parts of the Bible 00:42:39.720 |
It wasn't just meant to be just kind of casually look. 00:42:46.360 |
In other words, think carefully, meditate carefully. 00:42:50.120 |
If you do not see the great gift of salvation 00:42:57.000 |
behold what love the Father has bestowed on us 00:43:05.640 |
Even before you came in, we're all nicely dressed. 00:43:14.520 |
And we were presenting our best, but you know your sins. 00:43:42.000 |
"how great a love the Father has bestowed on us 00:43:45.240 |
"that we would be called the children of God, 00:43:49.160 |
Anchor in Christ, and anchor in Christ to come. 00:43:59.280 |
and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. 00:44:05.480 |
behold what manner of love and who we are in Christ, 00:44:09.680 |
that what we are experiencing now is only temporary 00:44:13.440 |
and is only partial, and whatever we are beholding, 00:44:17.400 |
the true ramification of this is coming in Christ. 00:44:20.640 |
We know that when he appears, he will be like him. 00:44:23.360 |
We will be like him because we will see him just as he is, 00:44:51.120 |
deliberately, willfully anchor ourselves in Christ, 00:44:56.240 |
So behold what manner of love that is given to us, 00:45:07.840 |
Heavenly Father, we thank you for your continued blessing. 00:45:16.080 |
I pray especially for my brothers and sisters 00:45:28.040 |
and we caught ourselves, our hearts being hardened, 00:45:35.160 |
just doesn't seem to matter as much as it used to. 00:45:37.680 |
Help us, Lord God, that your word would strengthen us. 00:45:52.720 |
Help us, Lord God, to groan along with the Holy Spirit. 00:46:01.840 |
Help us, Lord, that our confidence is in what you have done 00:46:14.240 |
as the world becomes darker and more and more lost 00:46:20.080 |
I pray, Father God, that your spirit would be mightier, 00:46:27.760 |
and that your church would do what you called us to do,