WEBVTT 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:08.720 This podcast is brought to you by Grand Parkway Baptist Church. 00:00:08.880 --> 00:00:12.480 Helping people to know, enjoy, and glorify God. 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:17.600 For more information about Grand Parkway, visit GrandProquay.org. 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:19.280 Good morning, Church. 00:00:19.679 --> 00:00:20.719 Let's try that again. 00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:22.000 Good morning, Church. 00:00:22.559 --> 00:00:25.359 Welcome to church on the first Sunday of spring break. 00:00:26.239 --> 00:00:30.239 Pray for those who woke up this morning in a panic because they forgot to spring forward. 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:34.880 They'll be here in the next service, or they'll just go to a brunch and call it a day. 00:00:34.960 --> 00:00:35.439 Amen? 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:37.280 Either way, I'm glad you're here. 00:00:37.359 --> 00:00:42.479 If you got a Bible, I invite you to take it, open up to Acts chapter 28, and we're going to finish the book of Acts this morning. 00:00:42.799 --> 00:00:47.039 Now, one of the things you'll notice is the book of Acts is kind of like the last episode of Seinfeld. 00:00:47.280 --> 00:00:48.320 It doesn't end with a bang. 00:00:48.479 --> 00:00:52.320 Jerry and Elaine don't profess their faith, their love for each other, and get married. 00:00:52.479 --> 00:00:53.679 It just kind of goes away. 00:00:53.759 --> 00:00:56.079 I mean, it's more of a whimper than a bang. 00:00:56.159 --> 00:01:00.880 And the book of Acts ends like it does because it's not a biography about the Apostle Paul. 00:01:01.119 --> 00:01:06.719 The book of Acts is really basically about the Lord Jesus and all that he began to do and teach. 00:01:06.959 --> 00:01:12.560 And it's an example of what happens when people surrender to the Holy Spirit's leadership in their life. 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:16.560 Now we want to say to you, the book is finished, but the mission isn't. 00:01:16.719 --> 00:01:17.359 Amen? 00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:20.159 The book is finished, but the mission isn't. 00:01:20.319 --> 00:01:20.799 What do you mean? 00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:23.920 The book demonstrates how you and I engage in the mission. 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:28.640 The messengers come and go, but the message and the mission are unchanged. 00:01:28.719 --> 00:01:32.079 Okay, so I want to talk to you this morning about how do we keep going, okay? 00:01:32.400 --> 00:01:35.200 We don't just close the book of Acts and kind of go, that was great. 00:01:35.359 --> 00:01:36.159 What's next? 00:01:37.200 --> 00:01:44.640 We journey to the book of Acts and we say, Holy Spirit, what how could you work through me like you worked through the men and women in the book of Acts? 00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:50.560 And the answer is yes, because God left his spirit here on the earth to continue the ministry of Jesus, okay? 00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:54.959 So I'm gonna finish reading the book of Acts, Acts chapter 28, verse 17. 00:01:55.120 --> 00:02:09.199 It says, after three days he called together the local leader of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 00:02:09.360 --> 00:02:15.680 When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. 00:02:15.919 --> 00:02:22.960 But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, though I had no charge to bring against my nation. 00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:31.439 For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain. 00:02:31.680 --> 00:02:40.479 And they said to him, We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here have reported or spoken any evil about you. 00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:48.159 But we desire to hear from you and what your views are, for with regard to this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against. 00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:52.560 When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. 00:02:52.719 --> 00:03:01.280 From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets. 00:03:01.439 --> 00:03:11.199 And some were convincing by some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved and disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement. 00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:20.639 The Holy Spirit was right and saying to your fathers through the Isaiah the prophet, go to this people and say, You will indeed hear, but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. 00:03:20.800 --> 00:03:34.319 For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and with their eyes they have closed, yet that they should see with their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them. 00:03:34.479 --> 00:03:39.520 Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles. 00:03:39.759 --> 00:03:40.639 They will listen. 00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:51.360 He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and he welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. 00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:52.159 See what I mean? 00:03:52.240 --> 00:03:53.120 It just kind of goes out. 00:03:53.199 --> 00:03:54.719 It's like no big crescendo. 00:03:54.879 --> 00:03:56.639 He doesn't save the world or anything. 00:03:57.039 --> 00:04:00.960 And so the question that I want to speak to this morning is how do we keep going? 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:05.759 Okay, how do we just keep living in the understanding that we've gleaned from the book of Acts? 00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:07.439 And there's basically four things. 00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:10.080 We keep going by embracing four things in the text. 00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:12.319 Number one, the corporate nature of faith. 00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:13.919 The corporate nature of faith. 00:04:14.159 --> 00:04:16.720 Did you notice when I was reading verses 17 to 22? 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:18.000 I would read it like this. 00:04:18.959 --> 00:04:23.759 After three days, he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and they and him and our. 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:27.120 What I'm trying to do is emphasize the singular and the plural. 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:33.759 When I say the corporate nature of faith, one of the things I want you to pick up on is that Christianity has always been we, not me. 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:43.279 And in verse 20, Paul says, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I'm wearing this chain, he's basically saying, I hope in who we've always hoped in, okay? 00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:46.319 I'm not, I'm not out here on my own doing my own kind of thing. 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:50.079 I don't have my own take on the faith, and that's why I'm I'm in prison. 00:04:50.399 --> 00:04:54.079 To see that, you'd have to go listen to a podcast by Rob Bell, but I digress. 00:04:54.240 --> 00:04:57.600 Paul says, listen, I believe what what the hope of Israel is this. 00:04:57.680 --> 00:05:03.439 This is this corporate belief that we as a nation, we as a people, the Jewish people have always believed, okay? 00:05:03.600 --> 00:05:08.240 The hope of Israel refers to the Jewish expectation that a Messiah is going to come. 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:09.519 A savior is going to come. 00:05:09.680 --> 00:05:20.319 Now, the Bible teaches that this has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ, which essentially it means that the Jewish people were looking forward to a savior, to a Messiah who would deliver them and bring restoration. 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:33.600 However, the Bible teaches in Jesus' incarnation and his coming in the manger, living a sinless life, okay, dying, rising from the dead, ascending back into heaven, that he has fulfilled all the prophecies around about this. 00:05:33.759 --> 00:05:41.279 And so Paul's saying, hey, this Jesus, this promised Messiah is Jesus, and what you've been waiting for has already come. 00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:46.800 And so he says, Listen, this is not my personal take on Christianity or religion. 00:05:47.040 --> 00:05:49.120 This is the hope of Israel. 00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:51.680 This is not an individualistic journey. 00:05:51.839 --> 00:05:54.720 See, he wasn't in change for his personal take on the faith. 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:57.040 And here's my concern cards on the table. 00:05:57.199 --> 00:06:02.319 One of the reasons Christianity is so ineffective in America is it's become so individualistic. 00:06:02.480 --> 00:06:05.439 People talk about my faith, my truth, my journey. 00:06:05.600 --> 00:06:08.240 But here Paul talks about the hope of Israel. 00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:10.240 This is why I'm wearing this chain. 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:13.680 I don't believe anything that hasn't always been true. 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:15.279 And so what do you see? 00:06:15.439 --> 00:06:20.160 What you see here is corporate faith that produces individual consequences. 00:06:20.399 --> 00:06:23.040 He says, I believe what's always been believed. 00:06:23.199 --> 00:06:24.879 Now it affects me individually. 00:06:25.040 --> 00:06:26.000 So stay with me. 00:06:26.399 --> 00:06:29.920 You see corporate faith that produces individual consequences. 00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:37.040 However, in our day, we've kind of reversed those two, and we have this individual faith that we want to produce corporate consequences. 00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:39.439 Now, again, listen carefully. 00:06:39.519 --> 00:06:40.959 It's not just a play on words. 00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:44.800 What you see in the Bible, right here in Acts 28, is Paul has this corporate faith. 00:06:44.959 --> 00:06:46.240 I believe in the hope of Israel. 00:06:46.399 --> 00:06:48.639 I believe what our forefathers have always believed. 00:06:48.720 --> 00:06:49.759 It's already come. 00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:53.279 You guys can't see it, you don't open your ears, you can't hear it. 00:06:53.439 --> 00:06:53.759 Okay? 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:56.480 So corporate faith produces individual consequences. 00:06:56.639 --> 00:06:58.720 However, in our day, we've reversed those two. 00:06:58.879 --> 00:07:00.160 We have individual faith. 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:02.399 We want that to produce corporate consequences. 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:06.000 Translation, if I'm doubting this, then none of it can be true for anyone. 00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:08.639 You cannot believe anything that I don't agree with. 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:10.959 That is the culture that we live in nowadays. 00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:14.720 People like I've got I've I've been praying in a restaurant before. 00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:19.759 If somebody at a table over walked over afterwards and said, Excuse me, what were you just doing? 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:23.839 And I'm like, Oh, I'm the wrong person, pew to tap on the shoulder. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:24.959 But I didn't say that. 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:26.560 I said I was just giving thanks to God. 00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:28.079 Well, you know, not always believe that. 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:29.199 That ain't my problem. 00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:33.600 And then it's awkward because now, babe, people get triggered. 00:07:33.920 --> 00:07:38.079 And if you get triggered, just because you use the word triggered, that don't mean squat to me, okay? 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:40.319 Your triggering is not my responsibility. 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:43.120 And so we live in a world where we got it reversed. 00:07:43.279 --> 00:07:46.720 Individual, individual faith has corporate consequences. 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:52.879 And so if if what you believe transgresses or triggers what I believe, then you can no longer believe that. 00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:53.519 No. 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:54.319 No. 00:07:54.480 --> 00:08:00.800 It's a great to quote to quote the great theologian Pancho Villa, I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees. 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:03.120 And so the lady just quietly walked back. 00:08:03.279 --> 00:08:04.959 I said, You can you can go back to your table. 00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:08.560 I didn't tap you on the shoulder when you didn't pray and say, Why didn't you not why didn't you pray? 00:08:08.720 --> 00:08:13.199 So don't tap me on my shoulder when I'm done and say, What are you doing in a public what's the public space? 00:08:13.360 --> 00:08:19.120 This is my meal, my table, I'm paying for the money's provided by my God, this food provided by my God. 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:21.920 So I'm just saying thanks to him for everything he provides. 00:08:22.160 --> 00:08:24.720 Now go back to your table, mind your business. 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:32.000 I'm just trying to eat my Mexican food before it gets cold in Lufkin, Texas, the seed of the Bible Belt. 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:33.360 You ever been to Lufkin? 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:35.440 They sell Bibles at the pick and pay, okay? 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:38.000 I mean, give me a break, lady, get out of here. 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:44.399 See, lots has been written about the and and in about what's driving this individualistic bent in American Christianity. 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:45.840 And I think it's simple, okay? 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:46.720 I think it's simple. 00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:48.159 I think we prefer, stick with me. 00:08:48.320 --> 00:08:51.120 I think we prefer pity to perspective. 00:08:51.440 --> 00:08:52.320 Let me say it again. 00:08:52.399 --> 00:08:54.240 I think we prefer pity to perspective. 00:08:54.320 --> 00:08:59.759 As long as it's just me and my experience, that I can I can appeal to the Christian subculture and get lots of pity. 00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:03.679 Now, I'm glad that the crowd is kind of down today, so I don't get so many emails. 00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:06.559 We'll have to fix and say, but I'm fixing to say this, okay? 00:09:06.799 --> 00:09:09.360 Like, I miss my friend Sherry Bement, okay? 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:10.399 Some of you know Sherry Bement. 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:11.679 She went home to be with her Lord. 00:09:11.840 --> 00:09:16.960 Sherry Bement, one time she had a surgery coming up, and I called her and I said, No, Sherry, hey, this is Pastor Sunshine. 00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:18.480 I want to call check on you anything. 00:09:18.559 --> 00:09:19.519 You need meals or anything? 00:09:19.679 --> 00:09:20.480 She goes, Meals? 00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:21.360 I can cook. 00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:22.799 I knew the surgery was coming. 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:25.679 I cooked two weeks of meals and put them in the freezer. 00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:30.159 Now she's of an other, she's of the older generation. 00:09:30.320 --> 00:09:35.120 If you're under 35 and you're gonna have a baby, you don't cook meals, you get a you get a meal train. 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:36.960 You need 40 meals. 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:39.279 That's pity. 00:09:39.679 --> 00:09:41.200 You don't need 40 meals. 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:43.279 A couple meals, great. 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:44.879 20 meals? 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:46.639 Come on, man. 00:09:46.960 --> 00:09:48.879 You feel how quiet I just got in here? 00:09:49.440 --> 00:09:52.399 Some of you men are like, I'm not even smiling at that. 00:09:52.639 --> 00:09:56.240 I'm just saying this: there's a durability to people over 45. 00:09:56.720 --> 00:09:58.159 Now I ain't hate on the younger generation. 00:09:58.240 --> 00:09:59.840 Don't send me emails if you want. 00:09:59.919 --> 00:10:01.120 I love reading them. 00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:02.559 I'm just saying. 00:10:02.799 --> 00:10:06.080 I mean, she was a classic example, and she would scoff at these younger women. 00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:07.679 They need to suck it up. 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:11.039 And I'm like, would you like to make that announcement next Sunday? 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:12.799 Because here's the thing. 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:15.840 Hey, now I've been accept off any. 00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:17.840 Let's just go ahead and get all the way in, okay? 00:10:18.080 --> 00:10:20.320 Like, this is a news flash, ladies. 00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:22.320 Having kids is exhausting. 00:10:25.039 --> 00:10:27.360 So, oh, oh, oh, you ain't going there. 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:28.080 You don't know. 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:33.600 I'm not saying it's not tiring, but you having kids is not the community's responsibility. 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:38.320 Oh, I'm losing y'all by the numbers here. 00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:38.960 Yes. 00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:41.120 Hey, we out here, let's just have at it, okay? 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:47.600 This is what you get when you come to church on the first Sunday of spring break when all your sinner friends are at the beach getting drunk right now. 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:52.559 I can't hear one more person say, Oh, especially you got one kid and you're how tired. 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:55.120 Hey, by the way, we don't tell you how many kids to have. 00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:57.360 So you have a bunch of kids and you look to us to help you. 00:10:57.519 --> 00:11:00.639 We don't, we'll help you some, but then we'll start resenting you. 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:04.240 Yes, because we didn't tell you how many kids. 00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:07.279 There's people in our church have 10, 11 kids. 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:10.960 Those people, families of big kids, they don't say a word. 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:13.919 I mean, I see the Burns family come in, they got 11 kids. 00:11:14.080 --> 00:11:16.399 They got everything from a baby to a 19-year-old. 00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:17.279 I just think. 00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:23.120 And those kids are running around, it's just chaos. 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:26.320 And the mom and dad are right in the middle of them, just like, hey, hey, how's everybody doing? 00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:27.039 Good, good, good. 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:30.720 And I'm like, they don't say, hey man, can you come to our house? 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:31.919 Because we're tired. 00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:36.639 No, they figured out they want to have 11 kids, that's their responsibility. 00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:38.639 They got 11 kids, they hold it down. 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:44.000 I wish y'all could see your faces. 00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:48.639 Again, here's I'm gonna stick to Landy like a good gymnast. 00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:51.679 Look at me. 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:55.519 I'm not saying it's not exhausting, it is exhausting, okay? 00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:56.399 We had kids. 00:11:56.639 --> 00:12:01.600 After our firstborn was born, I had to leave and get on a plane and go make money to pay for that kid. 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:03.919 Five days I was home and that was it. 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:05.919 We've never lived near family. 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:06.720 We don't have them. 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:12.240 There's people that will not take a church in another city because they don't get free babysitting from their parents. 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:15.519 I wish I was making that up, but I'm not. 00:12:15.759 --> 00:12:20.799 Oh, well, you know, we live here in this area in the Metroplex and we've got a support system. 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:24.000 Great, you're not called if you can't leave your support system. 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:28.399 I'm not saying it's not exhausting, it is exhausting. 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:33.440 Here's what this jerk is saying exhaustion does not equate to entitlement. 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:37.919 Ladies, I'll be down front to receive your praises as soon as we're done. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:38.960 And men, you do. 00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:43.840 Hey, it's not just women, men talk about man, we got two kids and it's hard. 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:47.840 Did we tell you to have them two kids? 00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:52.000 Somebody said to me one time, hey, would you like to come babysit our kids sometime? 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:52.480 Mm-mm. 00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:56.799 Because I would whip these wayward fools. 00:12:57.120 --> 00:13:00.240 They run roughshod over you, and they would not run roughshod over me. 00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:04.720 You would show up, I'd be shirtless out back smoking, and your kids would be mowing the yard. 00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:09.039 Be sure to edge that sidewalk now, kids. 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:10.000 Don't you miss that? 00:13:10.159 --> 00:13:11.840 I want it tight and right. 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:14.720 No, I don't want to look like a wild dog shooting. 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:16.240 I want that thing, yow. 00:13:18.159 --> 00:13:21.279 And then they said, Well, we have our own parody philosophy. 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:22.240 I can tell. 00:13:23.440 --> 00:13:24.320 I can tell. 00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:26.960 Again, I ain't mad at anybody, I ain't making fun of you. 00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:28.000 I got nobody in mind. 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:34.399 I'm just saying there's a generational difference in the way you think about exhaustion and whose responsibility is that you're exhausted. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:37.440 You're welcome. 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:41.919 Yes, you may be thinking, what's this got to do with the corporate nature of faith? 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:43.279 Here's what it's got to do with it. 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:49.919 If you're not careful, you can get a lot of pity in the religious subculture, but you never get perspective that only comes from the Bible. 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:51.039 What do you mean? 00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:57.039 If you look into scripture and you see those who've gone before you, you get perspective, or at least I get perspective. 00:13:57.200 --> 00:13:58.320 Allow me to demonstrate. 00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:00.000 I want to read a lot of the Bible this morning. 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:01.360 This is Hebrews chapter 11. 00:14:01.440 --> 00:14:02.480 I'll start reading verse 6. 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:03.679 It'll come up on the screen. 00:14:03.840 --> 00:14:04.639 Just hear this. 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:07.200 Just hear, these are people, they're just Christians. 00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:08.320 They're not super people. 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:11.840 Hebrews 11, verse 6, and without faith it is impossible to please him. 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:17.120 Whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and he rewards those who seek him. 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:25.360 By faith, Noah, being warned by God concerning events yet unseen and reverent fear, constructed an ark for the saving of his household. 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:30.480 By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:39.840 By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance, and he went out not knowing where he was going. 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:42.879 Hello! Not knowing. 00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:46.480 And he went out not knowing where he was going. 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:53.360 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:58.240 For he was looking forward to the city that's foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 00:14:58.399 --> 00:15:06.080 By faith, Sarah herself received power to receive, to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful, who had promised. 00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:15.200 Therefore, from one man and him as good as dead were born descendants, as many as the stars of heaven, as many as as innumerable grains of sand on the shore. 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:16.879 Skip down to verse 17. 00:15:17.039 --> 00:15:26.639 By faith, Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he would receive the promise, was in fact offering up his only son, of whom it was said, Through Isaac shall your offspring be named. 00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:32.480 He considered that God was able to even raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:36.399 Verse 20, by faith, Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:42.799 By faith, Jacob, when dying, blessed each of his sons, each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. 00:15:42.960 --> 00:15:48.960 By faith, Joseph at the end of his life made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions concerning his bones. 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:57.519 By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents because they saw that the child was beautiful and they were not afraid of the king's edict. 00:15:57.600 --> 00:16:06.639 By faith, Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the sons of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:12.799 He considered the reproach of Christ greater than wealth, greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt. 00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:14.639 He was looking for the reward. 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:20.240 By faith, he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:25.600 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch him. 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:28.639 By faith, the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land. 00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:32.000 But the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:35.919 By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down, and they had been encircled for seven days. 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:42.960 By faith, Rahab the prostitute did not did not perish with those who were disobedient because she has given a friendly welcome to the spies. 00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:44.559 And what more shall I say? 00:16:44.720 --> 00:17:04.160 For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barack, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouth of lines, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight, women received back their dead by the resurrection. 00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:09.279 Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:13.200 Others suffered mocking and flogging and even chains and imprisonment. 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:15.279 They were stoned, they were sawn in two. 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:19.119 Hello! Not a David Blaine magic trick. 00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:21.200 They were cut in half. 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:33.200 They were killed with a sword, they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated, of whom this world was not worthy, wandering around in deserts and mountains and in dens and in caves of the earth. 00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:38.799 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised. 00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:45.759 You mean to tell me I went through all this and I ain't getting no cookie? 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:56.960 Since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us, they should not be made perfect. 00:17:57.200 --> 00:17:59.680 Therefore, I'll let you say this. 00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:01.039 Here's perspective. 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:11.599 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also less out every weight in the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:21.279 Look into Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 00:18:21.519 --> 00:18:25.359 Now, the difference it does in them is that for them faith was a verb. 00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:29.519 And for us, tragically, faith has eroded into a noun. 00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:31.440 I just asked this simple question. 00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:34.960 By faith, by faith, by faith, by faith, by faith. 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:40.720 With the people of this kind of faith, would they recognize what you call faith? 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:43.759 That's all. 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:47.359 I'm not mad at anybody, I'm not mocking anybody. 00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:55.839 I'm just saying, hey man, I think faith has become so individualistic that everybody else is responsible for what you think you need. 00:18:56.240 --> 00:19:01.599 Some podcast got that language in the water with a generation of people and they've drunk it and they believe it. 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:07.359 I just want to push back and say, hey man, maybe maybe less pity and more perspective. 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:09.119 Maybe that. 00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:11.359 Here's the second way we keep going. 00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:13.200 We believe in the sufficiency of scripture. 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:14.799 It's verses 23, 27. 00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:16.240 If we get a little this guy, Paul. 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:19.039 Now, by the way, is there a picture on the screen behind me? 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:22.640 That's martial matters. 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:25.759 Some of you are wondering, he's just a kid that's trying to launch a music career. 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:28.480 Now you may be thinking, why do you have that in church? 00:19:28.640 --> 00:19:32.400 I read the King James 16, 11, and I don't even listen to secular music. 00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:36.319 Because when the Apostle Paul would talk to people, this is what it was like. 00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:41.839 The Apostle Paul was the real Slim Shady before Slim Shady, okay? 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:44.240 We act like we we don't have a context. 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:45.440 I just want to give you a context. 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:50.160 When Paul would get up and talk, people would like to pull their hair out, like, oh my gosh. 00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:57.680 His real name is Marshall Mathers, and his rap name, he goes by M and M, two M C M, but it's spelled E-M-I-N-E-M. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:59.839 Not that your kids would know or anything. 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:03.279 He came on the scene at the MTV Music Awards years ago. 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:07.759 He came out in a white t-shirt, and a bunch of kids came out in white t-shirts and bag baggy jeans. 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:11.440 And he said, There's more like me, walk like me, talk like me, blah, blah, blah, like me. 00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:13.279 And people are like, Who is this? 00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:14.400 And he changed. 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:21.279 Now, you ask all rappers in the music industry, who's the one person you do not want to have a rap battle with? 00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:23.200 It's this white kid from Eight Mile. 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:25.200 They're like, man, they just call him M. 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:26.960 will smoke you. 00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:28.640 That brother vicious. 00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:30.480 No one wants to go up against him. 00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:31.759 Now, why do I say that? 00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:33.759 I'm not, I'm not, don't send me emails. 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:35.440 I'm not endorsing his lifestyle. 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:37.279 I'm not even endorsing his music. 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:45.680 I'm saying to understand how otherworldly Paul was talking to his own people, this is what it was like. 00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:48.480 Some people were down with it, and some people wanted to kill him. 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:50.319 What do I mean the sufficiency of scripture? 00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:51.039 Here's what I mean. 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:52.960 Get a load of this Paul guy, okay? 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:55.039 He's just, he has a captive audience. 00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:56.880 Context, he has a captive audience. 00:20:56.960 --> 00:21:00.319 They they've come to his house, then more than came initially. 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:01.599 That's what verse 23 says. 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:06.400 When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. 00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:16.319 And from morning till evening, he expounded on them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince him both about Jesus from both from the law of Moses and from the prophets. 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:18.880 Now, when I say the sufficiency of scripture, what do I mean? 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:20.079 Think about this for a minute. 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:32.160 Think about our experienced lading culture, how somebody, some Christian goes through a little bit of hardship and they got a movie deal and a book coming out, and they're launching a podcast, and you can get a thermal coffee mug with our slogan on it. 00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:37.839 Just one time I want us to go through something really hard and not write a book about it. 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:41.680 It's just a Tuesday for people in the Bible. 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:46.720 Oh my gosh, it was raining and I had to get an umbrella. 00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:49.119 Okay? 00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:50.960 Toughen up a little bit. 00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:52.000 Come on, people. 00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:54.960 And you mean the sufficiency of scripture? 00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:55.839 Just get this in your mind. 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:57.279 Get a little this Paul guy. 00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:59.839 He has a captive audience, he just survived a heroin journey. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.359 That ended with a shipwreck. 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:03.119 He just healed an island full of people. 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:04.559 Remember that in chapter 27? 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:06.559 He healed the one guy that's public dad. 00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:07.920 And then everybody on the island comes. 00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:09.039 He heals all of them. 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:11.039 Would you not be gloating like, hello? 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:13.279 Who wants some of this magic? 00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:14.880 No. 00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:15.839 No. 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:20.160 And yet he chooses to talk about the Bible from morning till evening. 00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:22.000 He doesn't have a smartphone. 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:23.119 He doesn't have a slideshow. 00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:27.039 Here is me on the ship. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:30.400 I put my D down on my Yeti cooler to brace myself. 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:31.920 By the way, I'm sponsored by Yeti. 00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:34.079 I've got product on my resource table. 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:34.799 No. 00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:39.279 See, the entrepreneurial spirit is taking American Christianity hostage. 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:41.759 There ain't nothing we won't sell. 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:45.519 Now, by the way, we sold ourselves in order to sell all this junk. 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:51.839 Just the word from morning to evening, okay? 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:54.319 Why didn't he just set up a podcast and tell stories? 00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:54.960 Here's why. 00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:56.559 He has a high view of scripture. 00:22:56.640 --> 00:23:01.440 And people in the Bible always, all of them had a high view of scripture. 00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:03.839 Matter of fact, Scripture, get ready. 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:05.839 This is going to be insulting as well. 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:10.480 Scripture was bigger and better and more important than their experiences. 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:12.960 He said, What do you mean? 00:23:13.119 --> 00:23:14.559 I'll just read from Scripture. 00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:24.880 2 Peter chapter 1, verse 16, for we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:34.240 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was born to him by the majestic glory that said, This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased. 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:37.039 This is not about the Mount of Transfiguration, okay? 00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:42.960 We ourselves heard this very voice born from heaven for when we were with him on the holy mountain. 00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:44.480 Quite an experience, okay? 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:51.440 Not only did God speak on this mountain transfiguration, but Jesus floated up in the air and glowed. 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:54.559 I mean, that deserves a bumper sticker, bro. 00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:56.480 And look what the Bible says. 00:23:56.720 --> 00:24:00.319 He says, Hey, we had this incredible experience, verse 19. 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:13.359 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you would do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all. 00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:16.160 If this isn't true, then the rest of it doesn't matter. 00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:20.799 Knowing this, first of all, that no prophecy of scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:27.519 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:31.680 Now, if you're here and you're like, man, I don't know about this whole Christianity thing, I'm just kind of checking it out. 00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:32.880