Encouragement For The True Believer (Hebrews 10:32-33)

Fight for me, my heart is

Every anxious thought is tears now, it's a heavy weight upon my chest

As I lie in wake and wonder what the future will hold

Help me to remember that you're in control You're my courage when

I worry in the dead of night You're my strength cause I'm not strong enough to win your sight

You are greater than the battle raging in my mind I will trust you

Lord, I will fear no war I will lift my eyes,

I will lift my gaze, lay them in your hands When the winds and waves are coming, you shelter me

Even though I'm in the storm, the storm is not in me You're my courage when

I worry in the dead of night You're my strength cause I'm not strong enough to win this fight

You are greater than the battle raging in my mind

I will trust you Lord, I will fear no war I will fear no war

No power can come against me, cause you have overcome No darkness can overwhelm me, cause you've already won

No power can come against me, cause you have overcome No darkness can overwhelm me, cause you've already won

You're my courage when I worry in the dead of night You're my strength cause

I'm not strong enough to win this fight You are greater than the battle raging in my mind

I will trust you Lord, I will fear no war I will fear no war

Now as we do Adult Sunday School, we'll be rotating.

As you know, Cornel is teaching through Daniel, I'm teaching through 1 Samuel. And we are bringing some other men who are gifted teachers in the rotation as well.

We're going to try to do two weeks at least in being able to keep things so that we can understand the text and keep up with it.

Sometimes we'll just do one and rotate, but we're going to try to do two to three weeks at a time eventually.

So we'll have much more continuity that way. We'll be in 1

Samuel chapter 13, and I will be reading verses 1 through 12.

But let's go to the Lord in prayer first. Heavenly Father, we just thank you this morning for the freedom to be able to worship you collectively.

And we pray this morning, Father, that all we do in teaching and preaching of your word and singing of our songs and hymns and praise to you.

We pray that you would be lifted up and glorified. And may you be the one who gets all praise and glory as we worship you this day.

We ask that you be glorified now and that your Holy Spirit would illuminate for us this study.

And we just give you thanks in Jesus' precious name. Amen. So if you would, read with me verses 1 through 12 in 1

Samuel 13. Saul was 30 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for 42 years over Israel.

Now Saul chose for himself 3 ,000 men of Israel, of which 2 ,000 were with Saul in Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, while 1 ,000 were with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin.

He sent away the rest of the people, each to their tent, to his tent.

Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Gibeah, and the

Philistines heard of it. Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout the land, saying, Let the

Hebrews hear. All Israel heard the news that Saul had smitten the garrison of the

Philistines. And also that Israel had become odious to the

Philistines. The people were then summoned to Saul at Gilgal.

Now the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel, 30 ,000 chariots and 6 ,000 horsemen.

And the people liked the sand which was on the seashore in abundance. And they came up and camped in Michmash.

Each east of Bethaven. When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, for the people were hard -pressed, then the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in cliffs, in cellars, and in pits.

Also some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead.

But as for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him, trembling.

Now he waited seven days, according to the appointed time by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him.

So Saul said, Bring me the offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offerings.

And he offered the burnt offering. As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold,

Samuel came, and Saul went out to meet him and to greet him. But Samuel said,

What have you done? And Saul said, Because I saw the people were scattering from me, and you did not come within the appointed days, and that the

Philistines were assembling in Michmash, therefore I said, Now the

Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the

Lord. So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering. As we begin this text in verse 1, there are several interpretive challenges.

So we want to take a look at those. The Masoretic text, which is generally regarded as the most reliable and authoritative

Hebrew text of the Old Testament, reads, Saul was one year old when he began to reign, and he reigned for two years over Israel.

So there are several positions on this. The first position was perhaps the most common by some of the scholars and was taken by some of them.

It's to assume that something has been lost in the scribal transmission of the text.

It is on that assumption that some English versions correct it in the verse on the basis of future records.

The New International Version reads, Saul was 30 years old when he began king, and he reigned over Israel 42 years.

This reading is based on the Septuagint, the 3rd century BC Greek text of the

Old Testament Hebrew, as well as on Paul's statement in the book of Acts, chapter 13, verse 21.

It reads, Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul, the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for 40 years.

The second problem in the text in 13 .1 is that the original numbers were very unreliable.

Because of the textual problems, there was always some error with the numbers.

We found that earlier in the book of Samuel. We also do not know when

Saul was born, nor does scripture record how old he was when he died.

So the third approach to the text is that the text reads as it was meant to be read, however awkward.

For instance, the expression, son of a year, which is normally translated as one year old, this could mean at a certain age.

However, the most likely text means that it has been a year since Saul's anointing, when the events of chapter 13 took place.

Likewise, it is certain that Saul reigned for more than two years.

The New Testament puts the number at 40. However, we do not know the age of Saul when he had the accession as king.

It is not recorded in scripture. In John MacArthur's commentary on 1

Samuel 13, he states this. The probability of the best text reconstruction in verse 1 is,

Saul was one and perhaps 30 years old when he began to reign.

And when he reigned, two years over Israel. So, Saul's legitimacy as king went up through most of 1

Samuel. However, we read in chapter 16, verse 13,

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the

Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that date forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

So as we think about this, even now we're seeing where Saul has failed to obey

God's word and his commands through Samuel. And this is going to just continue until he's removed.

So, let's look at 1 Samuel beginning back in verse 13. He had successfully had a victory in battle against the

Amorites in chapter 11. And in chapter 12,

Samuel called the people to Israel to meet in Gilgal along with Saul. After addressing the people collectively, he promised to continue prayerful intercession on their behalf.

And then he closed with this strong admonition in 1

Samuel 12, verses 24 and 25. Only fear the Lord and serve him in truth with all your heart.

For consider what great things he has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, both you and your king will be swept away.

As Christians, we know that our obedience is not conditional.

However, in the Old Testament, some of their behavior was conditional on how

God would treat them. We read in, for instance, Deuteronomy chapter 28.

They were given this promise in verse 1 and verse 7. Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the

Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments which I command you today, the

Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

And these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the

Lord your God. Then again in 28 .7, we read, the

Lord shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you.

They will come out against you one way and will flee before you seven ways.

So that was the promise that the Israelites had. And they knew if they were obedient to God, he would bless them.

However, if they were disobedient, they would have the same warning, which

Samuel gave them in the closing of chapter 12. Verse 2, we read,

Now Samuel chose for himself 3 ,000 men of Israel, of which 2 ,000 were with Saul in Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, while 1 ,000 were with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin.

But he sent away the rest of the people, each to his tent. So as we consider this, the numbers, as most scholars think that they could not have had that many troops or that many chariots and horses.

So most commentators conclude that the 3 ,000 men would actually been somewhere around 2 ,000 and Jonathan's would be less than 1 ,000.

So Saul would have had what's equivalent at that time to one regiment and Jonathan would have had approximately one battalion.

And that's their battle. Military. I want to bring up a map to kind of show us where they were at this time.

Okay, Jonathan is down at Gibeah, if I can hold this steady enough. And Saul is going to,

I mean, excuse me, Jonathan is at Gibeah and Saul is at Gibeah.

So they're going to advance. Saul is going to attack the

Philistines and also Jonathan is going to attack

Gibeah. So as we consider that, this number going up against that great army, having chariots and horses and far superior weapons, is going to put fear in the

Philistines. The fronts,

Michmash, Bethel, and Gibeah, these three locations are in the mountains in an area north of Jerusalem.

Gibeah was located about one mile southeast of Michmash, separated by a deep ravine.

So we have to remember they were in a hill country, the Israelites at this time.

The fact that the Philistines had a garrison near the heart of Israel indicates the extent of the dominance they had over God's people

Israel. Gilgal was the town of Saul's confirmation as king, and the people of Gad and Gilead are located east of the

Jordan River. So Saul was about to respond to one of the greatest threats that Israel was facing at that time, that is the

Philistine army. These men were seasoned warriors. They'd already proven that earlier on in 1

Samuel. They slaughtered thousands of the Israelites. Michmash and Gibeah were the central locations on the west side of the

Jordan. So we saw that up there, and that's an important strategic area of where these battles are going to take place.

Saul was about to respond to this threat, and under his own command, his son

Jonathan was also one that would lead his military to attack

Gibeah. Michmash and Gibeah were central in the west side of the

Jordan, and the rest of the people, the rest of the Hebrews, he sent back to the tents, and he would summon them when he needed them.

But he kept 2 ,000 men with him.

They were more than just his troops. Some of them, most of them were his guards.

They stayed with Saul and surrounded him wherever he went. Saul may have selected these men following the war of the

Ammonites back in chapter 11. And as we think of that, he picked the best warriors out of all the military that he had.

These men were loyal to him, faithful to him, and they would have died for him, and they did, some of them, many of them.

So as he had this bodyguard and this army formed, the men might have been a disciplined part of the military, the most disciplined.

The other men also that he assigned to his son Jonathan, these also were trained military warriors.

After choosing the 3 ,000 men of Israel, 2 ,000 remained with Saul and Michmash, which is located 7 miles northeast of Jerusalem.

Saul then assigned 1 ,000 men to his son Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin.

Gibeah was located approximately 3 miles north of Jerusalem. These places are strategic in the battles.

Gibeah was also the location of Saul's home, as we read earlier, and his family and his father

Kish was there also in Gibeah. Verse 3, as we consider,

Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Gibeah, and the

Philistines heard of it. Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout the land, saying,

Let the Hebrews hear. So as Jonathan took this victory,

Saul would take the credit for it. He was the commander -in -chief. He was the king.

Even though he sent his son with that entourage of military, Saul was the one that would get the glory for it.

One of the commentators' observation of Jonathan's victory over the garrison, they said this, begin quote,

Saul may have intended that Jonathan should attack them while he held the northern end of the pass, which would be the first place assailed by the

Philistines in force. Saul must have intended war when he posted himself and Jonathan in such a commanding area.

He could go in either direction, so his military position was a great strategy.

When Saul blew the trumpet throughout the land, by sounding this trumpet, he was also summoning these additional troops.

He realized now that he was going to go up against them. However, Samuel may have been the one that led them in this battle.

Remember, Samuel still remains judge. He's also a prophet, and he's also going after the enemies, one of the greatest enemies of Israel.

Verse four, as we continue, all Israel heard the news that Saul had smitten the garrison of the

Philistines, and also that Israel had become odious to the

Philistines. The people were then summoned to Saul at Gilgal.

So now that he's gave the trumpet calls throughout Israel, he's summoning the rest of the

Hebrews, the rest that can enter into this battle, and he's going to meet them at Gilgal.

Being odious, they became odious to the Philistines. The Philistines may have underestimated

Israel's former capabilities, yet now under the command of their new king,

Saul had defeated the Ammonites, and now was brazen enough to enter into war against the enemy

Philistines. So the Philistines hated him. They were odious.

They were a stench to the Philistines. Verse five, now the

Philistines assembled to fight with Israel. 30 ,000 chariots, 6 ,000 horsemen, and the people like the sand which is on the seashore in abundance.

They came up and encamped in Micmash east of Beth -Avon.

Most commentators agree that the number of chariots most likely was 3 ,000 because they had approximately 3 ,000 horses.

So the number differential there is tremendous from what the original transcripts read.

However, the Philistines did respect the force of Saul.

They knew that he was going to be something. Brian, good question.

Brian asked, why would these scholars even question Scripture, especially with the final

Scripture that we have in the final translations? The essence of their investigating and taking a position against this was based on the

Masoretic text. It was unreliable, and that's where they took most of this.

So that was why they challenged it because mainly the numeral aspect of it.

The history was accurate, but the numeral part of it, the numbers, was not accurate.

So that's why they did, the scholars all challenged that. So we ended up what we have in the

New Testament, but yet these scholars recognized that the earlier most reliable transcript which they went from, the

Masoretic Hebrew Bible, was unreliable with the numbers of the troops.

Same thing that they did back in earlier part of 1 Samuel. Did I answer it?

Sorry. I know, I questioned that myself. That's why

I did some research. Okay, so as we continue, the Israelites were hiding themselves now.

People were hard -pressed. The text literally reads that the people were distressed.

This is in verse 6. The people were hard -pressed and distressed. When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, for the people were hard -pressed.

That means they felt pressured, pushed together, scared, fearful.

They felt they were ill -equipped to go against these terrendous army of the

Philistines. Literally, it means to be squeezed and pressed together in difficulties.

Now the Israelites, knowing that they were outnumbered by a superior force with far superior weapons, caused them to be fearful, understandably.

But they were looking to themselves and their army. They were not looking to Jehovah, their

God. The word thickets, they were hiding in thickets, is not even found anywhere else in Scripture, this particular word.

Most translators agree that the literal meaning is bushes, some of them thorn bushes.

Some of the commentators also consider that when they refer to cliffs or thorn bushes, both of which were located in the mountain regions.

So these were the Hebrews, the Israelites, that were going up in the mountains and they were hiding.

They were fearful. They didn't know what was going to happen. They knew from previous history that many of them had been annihilated by this fierce army of the

Philistines. Pits, this may have been, they were hiding in pits also.

This may have been cisterns where they had water storage and other forms, reservoirs used for storing water.

So some of them were going in these pits and caverns and cisterns.

Also, some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead, because the

Israelites had feared their enemy, the Philistines having been aware of the former battles which the people had suffered great losses and defeat, killing thousands.

We look back at 1 Samuel 4, verse 2. The Philistines drew up in battle array to meet

Israel. When the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the

Philistines who killed about 4 ,000 men on the battlefield. And in 4 .10,

we read, So the Philistines fought and Israel was defeated and every man fled to his tent.

And the slaughter was very great for there fell of Israel 30 ,000 foot soldiers.

That number was also disputed earlier if you look at the

MacArthur Bible footnotes. Verse 7, as we continue on.

Also, some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead.

But as for Saul, he was still in Gilgal and all the people that followed him trembling.

Now, some of the Hebrews that he had sent back to the tents, these were in hiding. His loyal military stayed with him, but it says they were trembling.

They were in fear of being massacred, but they were going to loyally follow their king and commander,

Saul. We read in Deuteronomy a couple of passages which

Saul should have been familiar with as a king. One is in Deuteronomy chapter 20, verse 1.

When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them for the

Lord your God brought you up from the land of Egypt and he is with you.

What more could they want than Yahweh being their guardian, their cover, their

God? He is the one they should have been looking to, but yet they were in fear and trembling.

Why? Because even their king was not looking to God. In the book of Joshua, following the death of Moses, the servant of the

Lord, the Lord spoke to Joshua and we read, Be strong and courageous for you shall give this people possession of the land which

I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous.

Be careful to do all according to the law which Moses, my servant, commanded you.

Do not turn from it to the right or to the left so that you may have success wherever you go.

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do all according to what is written in it.

Then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have success. Joshua 1 verses six through eight.

So now they've, back to Samuel, they've crossed the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead and Saul had remained in Gilgal.

As we look at verses eight and nine, we read, now he waited seven days according to the appointed time by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal and the people were scattering from him.

So Saul said, bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.

This is where we see Samuel once again, disobeying. Here, he's going to do something that was prohibited by the law of God.

He was forbidden. Only priests, Levites, could offer sacrifices to God.

But here, Samuel, a Benjamite, is taking it upon himself to offer this sacrifice.

Saul had been given instructions by Samuel that he should wait in Gilgal for a period of seven days and then he would meet him there.

Samuel had given Saul similar instruction earlier.

Remember back in chapter 10, first Samuel, verse eight, Samuel gave this command, and you shall go down before me to Gilgal and behold,

I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice peace offerings.

You shall wait there seven days until I come to you and show you what you should do.

So he did the same thing back in chapter 10. Chapter 10 is when he anointed Saul king.

Samuel was God's spokesman. He was the one that was leading Saul. And yet Saul was supposed to wait here.

This is what he was told. However, Samuel was right not there at the time he waited.

He didn't show up yet. As Saul waited in Gilgal for seven days for Samuel to arrive, he began to grow impatient.

And some of his men started to leave. They scattered, it says. Saul's impatience, when

Samuel did not show up at the appointed time, he decided to make this foolish decision and take it upon himself to offer burnt offerings and sacrifices to the

Lord. A grievous error on his part.

And the effects would be devastating to Samuel and his family. Yes, Nathel.

Amen. What Nathel said, just for the, so you can hear, is we do that today.

We go forward with something, not even seeking the Lord or his word.

Samuel did this, but Israel did that throughout their history. Remember, they were clinging to idols when

Samuel rebuked them. They were idolaters. And now they're just depending upon their king and his military.

They were so excited to see this king be appointed because now they could live in peace and ease.

Now they're confronted with the Philistines once again. And Saul being fearful, why?

His men were being scattered. They were going away and they didn't want to battle.

Not all of them. He still had this faithful group of troops that were loyal to him.

But many of those Hebrews that weren't hiding up in the mountains were scattering from King Saul.

The Levites were the only tribe that could perform the various sacrificial offerings on behalf of the

Israelites. Samuel's father, as you remember, back in chapter one, was

Alcana, who was a member of the Koahite branch of the tribe of Levi.

So his lineage, Samuel's lineage, he was within the tribe of Levi, but he was also a priest, prophet, and judge.

Samuel, as we viewed earlier, also served under the high priest Eli in Shiloh to take care of the

Ark of the Covenant. Samuel, being of the tribe of Levi, could also offer sacrifices unto the

Lord on behalf of Israel. Since this imminent threat of the

Philistines and their superior forces, this combined with Saul's army scattering from him caused him to feel hard -pressed and anxious.

Saul was responding to his circumstances. He was hard -pressed.

He knew he was facing an enemy that could overtake them.

He only responded out of fear and gave no consideration for regarding or regarding God's law or whether or not he disobeyed

God. Remember, when Samuel gave him orders, commands, he was

God's spokesman. He wasn't just the judge. He was the judge appointed by God.

He was also God's prophet. So when he told Samuel something, or Saul something, he was authoritative.

For Saul, to take this in his own hands, was arrogant and foolish.

He only responded out of fear and gave no consideration regarding his disobedience against the very

God, the one who had displayed his power and might over the Egyptians.

What was the last things that Samuel had said to Israel or Gilgal? In verses 24 and 25.

Verse 24 in chapter 12, he said, only fear the Lord and serve him in truth with all your heart.

For consider what great things he had done for you. Did Saul remember that God delivered the

Israelites from the Pharaoh? Did they remember what

Moses faced? In verses 10 through 12, as soon as he's finished offering the burn offering, behold,

Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. But Samuel said, what have you done?

And Saul said, because I saw that the people were scattering from me and that you did not come within the appointed days and that the

Philistines were assembling at Michmash. Therefore I said, now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal.

And I have not asked the favor of the Lord. So I forced myself and offered the burn offering.

It is possible that Samuel waited the full seven days to test

Saul's commitment to the Lord and his obedience to the

Lord. Whether or not he did it deliberately, Saul demonstrated that he was more committed to expedience than obedience.

That's a quote from John MacArthur. How often do we as Christians fail as Mattel just pointed out to obey

God's work and take things in our own hands, trusting not in God, but reacting to our circumstances.

Samuel's question here, what have you done? The question was direct and Saul's response did not show remorse or any contrition at all.

Rather his answer was simply to justify his disobedience.

He didn't care. He was just justifying what he did. He offered three excuses for his sin.

First, because I saw the people were scattering from me. So here

Saul shows that he was trying to justify his sin, disobeying God's law regarding the offering of sacrifice because of the circumstance.

I saw the people were scattering from me. That was his excuse. Saul observing that some of his men were scattering, this would greatly reduce his military forces.

That makes sense from a worldly viewpoint, perhaps, excluding God and his deliverance, the very

God that delivered him. So he used that excuse. Saul was not walking by faith.

He was walking by sight. He was looking at the enemy, at the overwhelming odds, their chariots, their horses, their well -armed army, and he was scared.

So he started presenting the offering.

The second was, you did not come to me in the appointed days.

Boy, that's brazen. Samuel, he's accusing him of being late.

When Samuel could do whatever he thought necessary, he was directed by God. And yet that was a second excuse.

You didn't come here at the appointed time. I stayed that seven days, not till the end, because Samuel did show up at the end.

Wasn't good enough. Third excuse. The Philistines were assembling at Michmash.

Therefore I said, now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked favor of the

Lord. So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering. Just that alone gives him away.

If he thought somehow he could give this offering freely, why did he have to force himself?

So he was cognitive that he wasn't supposed to offer the sacrifice.

And yet he did so. Saul's third excuse was perhaps the most telling because he feared that the

Philistines would attack. He had not yet asked the favor of the

Lord since Samuel had not arrived. He had to always go to Samuel.

He would not go directly to the Lord. He was not one of God's. He didn't have a heart for God.

And that would ultimately be his downfall. How do we as Christians respond to pressing circumstances?

Do we seek God's direction? Or we just press forward, responding to our circumstances?

That's a great illustration and lesson for us.

What a devastating result when somebody sins against the

Holy God. The folly of sin reaps devastating consequences which affect all of God's people.

Had Saul regarded obedience to God as a priority of his responsibility as king over God's people?

God's chosen people? It would not have only pleased

God, but his disobedience reaped devastating consequences that would alter his future as king, as well as his legacy.

Saul proved that he was not a man after God's heart, but rather a king like all other nations.

Even though God had selected Saul as king and he had been anointed by Samuel, had been chosen by the people,

Saul demonstrated that he relied on his own understanding rather than following God's holy commandments.

Even though Saul would lead Israel as their king for a period of time, his reign would soon end.

The lasting consequences of sin has massive effects on people who were under his leadership.

We see sometimes pastors today turning from God's word and embracing worldly market -driven methods to bring forth a false gospel, filling the buildings and their coffers by proclaiming a false gospel to lure those undiscerning souls, thinking that they are going to heaven when rather they are being led down the path of eternal destruction.

Verse 13, which we'll begin next time, Samuel said to Saul, You have acted foolishly.

You have not kept the commandment of the Lord, your God, which he commanded you.

For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.

What a devastating consequence. As we look at this, this isn't just a historical narrative.

This is a great lesson for all believers. So as we close,

I just pray that God would use this truth in each of us, our lives, as we go about our daily lives.

Father, we thank you for your holy word. We thank you, Father, that we can depend on your word as the only absolute in our lives.

And we thank you, Father, for your grace each day. And we thank you, Father, that you have chosen us as yours through your

Son. You have given us your grace and mercy, and you have poured out your

Son in death on the cross. And yet he rose on the third day and ascended to the right hand of our

Father. We just thank you, Lord, for your grace each day. We pray that we would be able to partake of your word, and by your grace, obey your word each day so that the outcome, ultimately, you would be glorified.

We just pray this in Jesus' precious name. Amen. Do you know that all the dark won't stop the light from getting through?

Do you wish that you could see it all? Is all creation growing?

Is a new creation coming? Is the glory of the

Lord to be a lightning thing amiss? Is it good that we remind ourselves of the

Lord? Is anyone worthy?

Is anyone whole? Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?

The Lion of Judah conquered the grave.

He is David, the ruler and the slave.

Is he worthy? Is he worthy of all blessing and honor and glory?

Is he worthy? He is the

Father true and Godly. Does the

Spirit move among us? And does

Jesus our Messiah hold forever those He loves?

Does our God intend to dwell above? He does.

Break the seal and open the scroll. The Lion of Judah conquered the dumb and the sick.

From every people and tribe and tongue

He has made us a kingdom and a priest of God to reign with the

Son. Is he worthy?

He is. He is

Jesus. How I trust

Him. How I prove Him.

Oh, Jesus, Jesus.

Precious Jesus. Oh, for grace to trust

Him more.

It is so sweet to trust in Jesus.

Just to take Him at His word.

Just to hear the rest of His promise.

Just to hold the Savior. It is so sweet to trust in Jesus.

Just from sin next up to sin.

Just from Jesus simply taking.

Life and rest and joy and peace.

He does. Jesus. How I trust

Him. How I prove

Him. Oh, Jesus, Jesus.

Precious Jesus. Oh, for grace to trust

Him more. It is so sweet to trust in Jesus.

Just to trust His clarity.

And in simple faith too.

Jesus, Jesus. How I trust

Him. How I prove

Him. Oh, Jesus, Jesus.

Precious Jesus. Oh, for grace to trust Him more.

How I trust Him. How I prove Him. Oh, Jesus, Jesus.

Precious Jesus. How I trust

Him. Oh, Jesus, Jesus. Precious Jesus. How I trust

Him. How I prove

Him. Oh, Jesus, Jesus. Precious Jesus. Oh, Jesus, Jesus. Precious Jesus. I scarce can take it in, to take away my sins.

It seems my soul might say goodbye to Thee.

How great, it seems my soul might say goodbye to Thee.

How great, I shall come with shouts of acclamation, and take me home where joy shall fill my heart.

Then I shall bow in humble adoration, and then proclaim, my

God, how great Thou art. It seems my soul might say goodbye to Thee.

To my heart, to sing Thy praise. Streams of mercy never cease.

Call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me some melodious song, sung by flaming tongues above.

Praise the mount fixed upon it.

Mount of Thy redeeming safety to override it.

Jesus saw me when a stranger, wandering from need to rescue, me from danger, interposed his precious cross.

How great a debt, daily

I'm constrained to be. Let Thy grace, like a feather, bind my heart to Thee.

Don't you leave me. Here's my heart, take and seal, seal it for Thy courts above.

All I adore, all to my heart, to sing

Your praise. Oh, to sing

Your praise, oh, to sing

Your praise. Prone to wander,

Lord, I flee. Prone to leave, Lord, God, I take and seal, seal it for Thy courts above.

Praise the Lord. His mercy is more, stronger than darkness.

New every morning, our sins, they are many.

His mercy is more. Love could remember no wrongs we have done.

Omniscient, all -knowing, He counts not their sum.

Thrown into a sea without bottom or shore, our sins, they are many.

His mercy is more. Praise the

Lord. His mercy is more, stronger than darkness.

New every morning, our sins, they are many.

His mercy is more. Patience would wait as we constantly run.

What Father so tender is calling us home.

He welcomes the weakest, the vilest, the poor.

Our sins, they are many. His mercy is more.

Praise the Lord. His mercy is more, stronger than darkness.

New every morning, our sins, they are many. His mercy is more.

What riches of kindness He lavished on us.

His blood was the payment. His life was the cost.

We stood beneath the debt we could never afford.

Our sins, they are many. His mercy is more.

So much more. His mercy is more.

Our sins, they are many. His mercy is more.

His mercy is more. Our sins, they are many.

His mercy is more. Our sins, they are many.

His mercy is more. Our sins, they are many.

His mercy is more. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost, but now

I'm found. But now I stand. Good morning.

Good morning, everybody. Welcome to Kootenai Church. We're glad that you could join us this morning.

If you would please stand as we sing this morning alive. My heart of stone was dead to you

Asleep within a world

That scorned its maker Until you breathed into my soul

And I woke up to you My glorious Savior You became my all

Now I am alive, I am alive in you

You are alive, you are alive in me

You called my name And raised me from the dead

Now I am alive, I am alive in you In you my life's completely new

I'm blameless in your eyes Because of Calvary The Father welcomes me with joy

Your spirit makes me know Your great love for me

Jesus, you're my all Jesus, you're my all

Now I am alive, I am alive in you You are alive, you are alive in me

You called my name And raised me from the dead

With a price that cannot be measured

Chosen before all time

You are my joy, my prize and my treasure

Jesus, you are my all Now I am alive,

I am alive in you You are alive, you are alive in me

You called my name And raised me from the dead

Now I am alive, I am alive in you I am alive,

I am alive in you You are alive, you are alive in me

Raised me from the dead Now I am alive,

I am alive in you This next song says,

I need no other argument I need no other plea It is enough that Jesus died And that he died for me

My faith has found a resting place My faith has found a resting place

Not in myth, eyes, nor creed I trust the ever -living one

His words for me shall be I need no other argument

I need no other plea It is enough that Jesus died

And that he died for me Enough for me that Jesus saves

This ends my fear and doubt A sinful soul,

I come to him He'll never cast me out I need no other argument

I need no other plea It is enough that Jesus died

And that he died for me My heart is waiting on the word

The written word of God Salvation by my

Savior's name Salvation through his blood I need no other argument

I need no other plea It is enough that Jesus died

And that he died for me I need no other argument

I need no other plea It is enough that Jesus died

And that he died for me By faith we see the hand of God In the light of creation's grand design

In the lives of those who prove his faithfulness

Who walk by faith and not by sight The fathers roamed the earth

With the power of his promise in their hearts

Of a holy city built by God's own hand

A place where peace and justice reign We will stand as children of the promise

We will fix our eyes on him, our souls reward

Till the race is finished and the work is done

Who walk by faith and not by sight By faith the prophets saw the day

When the longed -for Messiah would appear

With the power to break the chains of sin and death

And rise triumphant from the grave By faith the church was called to go

In the power of the Spirit to the lost

To deliver captives and to preach good news

In every corner of the earth We will stand as children of the promise

We will fix our eyes on him, our souls reward

Till the race is finished and the work is done

Who walk by faith and not by sight By faith the mountains shall be moved

And the power of the gospel shall prevail For we know in Christ all things are possible

For all who call upon his name We will stand as children of the promise

We will fix our eyes on him, our souls reward

Till the race is finished and the work is done

Who walk by faith and not by sight You may be seated.

Well, good morning. Just a couple of announcements. First, if you plan on joining us for our church campout, which is in a couple weeks, I would just remind you that the sign -up sheet for the campout as well as the barbecue on Saturday is out on the welcome table in the foyer and we are having it catered by Messi's Burgers.

So the worst tragedy that could strike you would be to show up on Saturday and not have your name on that list and there not be enough burgers for you when

Messi's is cooking the burgers. So make sure you sign up for that if you plan on joining us for that. And we have,

I think, four people right now that we're going to be baptizing on that Saturday. The details for that are in your bulletin and there are more details that are in the church newsletter as well.

And then after our service today, we need your help if you're an able -bodied man able to stack these chairs.

We need to stack all of the chairs that are in here. We're going to have the carpets shampooed this coming week so if you could help out with that and then come back on Sunday morning and lay them all out again, that would be great.

Turn, if you will, please, to Hebrews chapter 10. Hebrews chapter 10.

And we're going to read beginning at verse 26. And this is going to be the context that we've already looked at in recent weeks.

Begin reading at verse 26 and we're going to go read into chapter 11 to chapter 11 verse 6.

Hebrews chapter 10. You can keep your marker there today because we're going to be returning here for the message and looking at verse 35 and following.

Hebrews chapter 10, beginning at verse 26. For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.

Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

How much severe punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified and has insulted the

Spirit of Grace? For we know him who said vengeance is mine, I will repay and again the

Lord will judge his people. It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But remember the former days when after being enlightened you endured a great conflict of sufferings partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated.

For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.

Therefore do not throw away your confidence which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what was promised.

For yet in a very little while he who is coming will come and he will not delay. But my righteous one shall live by faith and if he shrinks back my soul has no pleasure in him.

But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous,

God testifying about his gifts and through faith though he is dead he still speaks. By faith

Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death and he was not found because God took him up for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.

And without faith it is impossible to please him for he who comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.

Will you bow your heads with me as we pray. Our gracious God we are thankful that you are a

God who has called us out of darkness and into light. The faith of which we read in your word is your gift to us as your people.

It is a work that you have wrought in our hearts to turn our eyes to Christ and to cause us to not focus upon earthly things but to seek a heavenly reward to seek a heavenly savior for our sin.

So we thank you for the great gift of faith and your mercy to us and giving it to us as your people. You have loved us and set your affections upon us and we are unworthy of that love.

We are unworthy even of the privilege and joy of being able to gather here with your people as your people to worship you.

We pray that you would lift our hearts in adoration and praise today that we would sing in a way that is worthy of our great

God to whom we sing and that you would fix our affections upon your grace upon Christ our savior upon the work of the

Holy Spirit in our lives and teach us and instruct us in your word. We pray that you would accomplish your every good pleasure and work for us as your people sanctifying us in the truth and uniting our hearts together in faith and in love for you, for the brethren for your word, for the truth and we pray that you would be working in us that which is pleasing in your sight and that as we walk with you as we seek to obey you that you would be honored through the lives and the testimony and our witness as your people.

Be glorified here today we pray in all that is said and done. May you be honored amongst your people both now and forevermore we pray in Christ's name.

Amen. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

Every anxious thought that steals my breath it's a heavy weight upon my chest as I lie awake and wonder what the future will hold help me to remember that you're in control you're my courage when

I worry in the dead of night you're my strength cause I'm not strong enough to win this fight you are greater than the battle raging in my mind

I will trust you more I will fear no more I will lift my eyes

I will lift my clothes lay them in your hands I'll leave them there when the winds and waves are coming you shelter me even though I'm in the storm the storm is not in me you're my courage when

I worry in the dead of night you're my strength cause I'm not strong enough to win this fight you are greater than the battle raging in my mind

I will trust you lord I will fear no more

I will fear no more I will fear no more no power can come against me cause you have overcome no darkness can overwhelm me cause you've already won no power can come against me cause you have overcome no darkness can overwhelm me cause you've already won you're my courage when

I worry in the dead of night you're my strength cause I'm not strong enough to win this fight you are greater than the battle raging in my mind

I will trust you lord I will fear no more

I will fear no more I will fear no more

I will fear no more would you please stand the church is one foundation is

Jesus Christ her lord she is his new creation by water and the word from heaven he came and sought her to be his holy bride with his own blood he bought her and for her life he died elect from every nation yet one for all the earth her charter of salvation one lord one faith one earth one holy day she blesses partakes one holy food and to one hope she presses with every grace endued with toil and tribulation and tumult evermore she waits the consummation of peace forever more till with the vision glorious her longing eyes are blessed and the great church victorious shall be the church at rest yet she on earth hath union with gods of three in one and mystics speak of union with those whose rest is won oh happy ones and holy lord give us grace that we like them the meek and lonely on high may dwell with thee in Galatians chapter one verses three through five it reads grace to you and peace from god our father and the lord jesus christ who gave himself for our sins so that he might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our god and father to whom be the glory forever the grace of god has reached for me and pulled me from the raging sea and I am safe on this solid ground the lord is my salvation

I will not fear when darkness falls his strength will help me scale these walls

I'll see the dawn of the rising sun the lord is my salvation who is like the lord our god strong to save faithful in love my debt is paid and the victory won the lord is my salvation my hope is hidden in the lord he vows each promise of his word when winter fades

I know spring will come the lord is my salvation in times of waiting times of need when

I know lost when I am weak I know his grace will renew these days the lord is my salvation who is like the lord our god strong to save faithful in love my debt is paid and the victory won the lord is my salvation and when

I reach the final day he will not leave me in the grave but I will rise he will call me home the lord is my salvation who is like the lord our god strong to save faithful in love my debt is paid and the victory won the lord is my salvation glory be to god the father glory be to god the son glory be to god the spirit the lord is my salvation the lord is my salvation the lord is my salvation you may be seated now please turn to hebrews chapter 10 again when you found your place let's pray together before we begin our father you are gracious and good to us as your people you have given us not only salvation in jesus christ but you have given us an infallible and authoritative and perfect and true revelation of who you are and what you have done for us in your son you have revealed to us what you demand of us what you expect your people to do and to believe and how we are to behave how we are to comport ourselves and walk in this world and we would pray now that you would help us to understand that open our eyes to your word in our hearts that we may be obedient and that we may understand the truth we pray that in the light of your word that we may see light and that our eyes and ears may be opened and that we may be able to behold in your word wonderful things we set this time apart to you and ask that you would help us in our study and in our understanding that you would be glorified through this time and are looking at your word this morning we ask this in christ name amen well our subject matter the last few weeks has been admittedly a little bit heavy we have been talking about apostates and departing from the truth and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries and judgment and damnation and hell and all of those subjects we come now to verse 32 and we turn something of a corner and from here on out it's going to be a little bit more encouraging because we now are faced with some subjects that are a bit more positive like persecution and trials and afflictions and suffering reproaches imprisonment and having your property seized because you are a christian so you can tell now that the passage ahead of us is a real spirit lifter and actually though I kind of joke about that the author does address those subjects but it is the way that he addresses those subjects that is very encouraging to the true believer because he addresses these realities of imprisonment and trials and afflictions and suffering and persecution but he does so in such a way as to encourage us to put courage into us because his goal is not to discourage us but rather to fix our attention and our hope and our expectation and our affection on things that are to come and in the way he addresses the reality of these trials he is really seeking to encourage us to stand strong and to stay faithful and to continue in the truth in the midst of those trials so the truth that he gives us in chapter 10 is really intended to encourage us not to discourage us and to make us down so yes we have looked at the reality of eternal damnation for the apostate but now we come to verse 32 and the author turns his attention back to those whom he believes are true believers to give them some encouragement in the midst of this life and actually all or most of chapter 10 has been addressed to believers and the intention behind that is to encourage us so he has said a number of things in chapter 10 you remember it wasn't very long ago in chapter 10 it was long ago chronologically in terms of weeks of our lives but back in verse 14 and 11 through 14 of chapter 10 the author encouraged us by reminding us that our salvation rests entirely and only and solely on the perfect finished complete and infinitely valuable work of the

Lord Jesus Christ on the cross he reminds us that all of our sins have been atoned for every last iniquity every last transgression every last violation of God's law for those who are in Jesus Christ has been paid in full as that sovereign son of God offered himself on the cross to die in our place and in our stead in doing so he perfected for all time those who are sanctified in him he encouraged us with that remember that all of your sins are taken out of the way that in that one death the

Lord Jesus Christ did what all of the sacrifices of all of the Old Testament animals could never do which was namely to pay the price for sin and in his one offering which inaugurated the new covenant he has inaugurated a covenant which has done and is doing something that the old covenant could never do which was to perfect the worshiper and as our high priest who intercedes for us he has done and is doing what no

Old Testament priest could ever do which is to offer a perfect intercession for all of those for whom he has died and he always lives to make intercession for us on our behalf all of that was encouraging truth and then the application of all of that he says in verse 19 beginning in verse 19 through 25 was that since these things are true since Christ by his death has gained us access to God made us acceptable to the father has perfected us forever and given us a high priest that is over the household of God since this is true you and I are to do three things remember what they are

I hope you remember what they are because you don't remember what they are you'll never be able to do them we are to hold fast to our confession of hope we are to gather together with other unbelievers to encourage them to do the same and we are to draw near to God we are to draw near to hold fast and to encourage others to do the same do you remember those three things

I got them in the wrong order because I temporarily forgot them but I'm trying to remember everything else that's in my message you just had to remember those three things we are to draw near to God we are to hold fast to our confession of hope and we are to meet with others to encourage them to do the same and those three things end up being an encouragement and a preventative really of apostasy because the apostate is one who does not draw near to God through Jesus Christ he stays just far enough away to be warmed by the truth but he never embraces it and the apostate does not hold fast to his confession of faith he abandons it and he walks away and exchanges it or trades it for something else that's not nearly as valuable and the apostate does not gather together with God's people to encourage others to hold fast and to draw near instead the apostate stops gathering with the people turns his back upon it and it is that abandonment of the truth and abandonment of the people of God that the author says is the willful sin committed in verse 26 and so he pauses in verse 26 to give this stern and solemn and very strongly worded warning to apostates those who would go on sinning willfully saying to them that if you are to turn from this truth which is so clear and from this salvation which has been purchased by the son if you do that you are trampling underfoot the son of God you are regarding as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he the

Christ was sanctified and you're insulting the spirit of grace and if you do this and continue sinning willfully like that you have nothing but the terrifying expectation of a judgment to come as you fall into the hands of the living

God and that is a terrifying thing so there is that warning but now we come to verse 32 and now we have some encouraging words in verse 32 here in chapter here in verse 32 the author returns back to addressing the audience that he is convinced is mostly made up of believers in fact he does the same thing in chapter 10 the warning passage of chapter 10 that he does back in the warning passage of Hebrews 6 remember the warning passage of Hebrews 6 after he warns those who have been enlightened and come to taste the heavenly gift he then turns after warning them of the damnation that will come upon them that they will be burned up like thorns and thistles warning them of that he then turns back to them and says but we are convinced of better things concerning you things that accompany salvation even though we're speaking in this way the author has in mind these two groups of people within his congregation there are the majority of his congregation of whom he is certain that they are saved he rests confidently in the fact that they know the truth that they understand the truth that they have embraced the truth but the author is also aware that there are people within his congregation people who would be reading this who are not genuinely saved they're false converts they're people who have made a superficial commitment to the truth they dance around the edges of Christianity and they are comfortable with Christianity as long as Christianity is comfortable but the minute

Christianity becomes uncomfortable they become uncomfortable with Christianity and they abandon it and walk away and the author is mostly addressing

Christians and believers so most of the instruction in the epistle is aimed at them but then he is aware that there are people who come who are hearing him who are not necessarily believers we can say the same thing about any address that I give here on a

Sunday morning anybody that you hear preach up here I am confident of the salvation of most of you but I also know that on any given

Sunday we can have a visitor who will step in here and who is comfortable with Christianity as long as Christianity is comfortable and they dance around and they play around the edges of Christianity keeping

Jesus at just enough distance so he doesn't interfere with their lives and they offer just enough obedience to pass themselves off as Christians and those are the ones who need that warning and those are the ones that he addresses in the warning passage well in chapter 10 we have the same pattern that we have in chapter 6 this dual focus there are people to whom he is writing he knows there are apostates in the making and there are people to whom he is writing whom he knows he is certain that they are genuine and true believers in fact that pattern of addressing both of those type of people with a little bit of a different emphasis it kind of is an illustration of the old adage that says biblical preaching should afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted it is exactly what biblical

Christian preaching does from the scriptures it offers comfort to the afflicted and then it afflicts the comfortable well verses 26 through verse 31 is affliction to the comfortable are you comfortable with your

Christianity are you comfortable with just dancing around the edges are you comfortable with coming here and just hearing the truth hearing the preaching of the word of God being warmed by the fellowship and the worship and seeing

Christianity in action people loving one another and serving one another and this makes you comfortable but yet you are comfortable enough to keep

Jesus at a distance so he doesn't interfere with your sin he doesn't call you to account are you comfortable with the Christianity that demands nothing of you in this life no sacrifice no service no commitment nothing but comfort and ease if that's the case verses 26 to 31 are for you and you read those verses and you can smell the sulfur you can feel the heat of eternity and you ought to because that's the intention but if you're afflicted in this world which most

Christians are then verses 32 to 39 is for you let's read it again but remember the former days when after being enlightened you endured a great conflict of sufferings partly by being made a public spectacle through approaches and tribulations and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated for you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one therefore do not throw away your confidence which has great reward for you have need of endurance so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what was promised for yet in a very little while he who is coming will come and will not delay but my righteous one shall live by faith and if he shrinks back my soul has no pleasure in him but we are not of those who shrink back to destruction but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul you notice how the emphasis in that passage is quite a bit different than the emphasis in verses 26 to 31 he is aware that there are two people in his congregation to whom he is writing those in the words of verse 39 look at it those who shrink back to destruction and the second group is those who have faith to the preserving of the soul so he is addressing those who need to be comforted in their affliction and he is encouraging them with the truth of their perseverance and the truth of the reward that they are to expect for their faithfulness and their obedience to the truth now as we before we jump into verse 32

I want to highlight a few themes that we find in these closing verses of chapter 10 take a couple of minutes just to cover them there are four of them that I want to highlight for you the first is the theme of blessing and reward in verses 26 to 31 we noted how often the themes of judgment and damnation and wrath and punishment and cursing came up right almost every verse or every other verse that theme was prominent in that warning to the apostates well the opposite is the case beginning in verse 32 we have now the themes of reward and eternal blessing and the saving of the soul it is the theme of blessing and reward that is emphasized in verses 32 to 39 notice in verse 34 he talks about having ourselves a better possession and a lasting one that's verse 34 verse 35 we have a great reward verse 36 when we've done the will of God we will receive what was promised and down in verse 39 we have the preserving of the soul the author is holding out the hope for us when he talks about a better possession and a lasting one he is holding out the hope for us of a possession that we will receive in eternity in heaven our final reward will be a possession where thieves do not break in and steal and moth and rust do not come in and corrupt and destroy but instead it is a lasting inheritance it is a permanent inheritance in verse 35 he says that if we hold on to our confidence then what we have what we're holding fast to has a great reward in verse 36 when we endure and when we do the will of God which is to endure we receive the reward what is the will of God that is described in verse 37 or 36 when he says so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what was promised what is

God's will that you hold fast to your faith that you hold fast your confidence that you not waver in unbelief that you approach

God with faith with confidence that you do not waver in that faith so that having not wavered in the face of this hostility and the sufferings and the afflictions that he mentions you and I will receive the reward if we are faithful all the way to the end and of course the single greatest blessing and reward that you and I could ever hope to receive is at the end of verse 39 he saves the best one for last we are those who have faith to the preserving of the soul that is worth more than anything else that is the greatest blessing the greatest reward the greatest cherished treasure that could possibly be offered to the people of God that we would actually have our souls preserved that is worth more than all that this world could offer us is it not?

It would be enough if all that the Lord gave us was just the preservation of our soul if we could just escape this world and receive for all of eternity an incorruptible and uncorrupted soul glorified in that state and to escape the wrath of God and just have our soul preserved that would be enough and if we were to lose everything in this world all of our possessions all of our health all of our comforts, our conveniences our prosperity if we were to lose all of that and just escape this world with our soul preserved would that not be sufficient?

That would be enough wouldn't it? This is what Jesus meant in Matthew 26, sorry 16 verse 26 when he said for what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

What greater reward can you hope for than to have your soul preserved? The wicked are those who gain everything in this life, the apostate is the one who gains everything in this life but ultimately sacrifices everything in the life to come and loses his own soul the righteous, the faithful are those who give up everything in this life and ultimately gain the next life and everything in it as well as their soul you know the difference could not be more stark what would you give in exchange for your soul?

What better reward could you have than to escape this world and not have your soul suffer the infinite and eternal everlasting indignation and wrath of God against you for your sin?

Just to have your soul preserved is sufficient, that would be enough but that is not all that God does, instead he preserves our soul so that he may lavish upon it untold blessing pleasure, joy glory and goodness for all of eternity, all of it unmerited all of it undeserved all of it actually ill deserved, it's not just that we don't deserve it, we actually deserve the opposite of that so God not only preserves our soul but he lavishes us with the blessings to come by putting all of that on our soul, if we could just escape this life with the soul and the soul only, we would be of all men most blessed, but that's not what the

Lord promises us, instead he promises that we escape this life with our soul and infinite and eternal reward for our service and our sacrifice and our faithfulness and our sonship, none of which we deserve all of which is the work of God through us and on us and for us it is all of grace so that not even our faithfulness not even our obedience can we take credit for, all of it is by his grace and all of it is his reward and again there is this contrast with the apostate who sacrifices all of that for a brief moment of pleasure taking everything this world has to offer so that he may not have any sufferings or afflictions in this life and that is that is the second theme of this passage is suffering and affliction see in the next life there is nothing good in store for the apostate nothing, and in the next life there is nothing bad in store for the righteous nothing, that is such a marked contrast in the next life for the apostate nothing good in the next life for the righteous, nothing bad everything the righteous ever endure that is bad is in this life and what is it, is it a hundred years?

you trade your soul you trade your soul for a mess of pottage, really a hundred years and everything in this world is going to be burned up and it's gone, and the righteous will get their soul and everything of eternal and lasting value in the life that is to come suffering and affliction, that is the second theme it is the major theme of this section and we've already looked at a bit of the language, look at verse 32, he talks about enduring a great conflict of sufferings, being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations look at verse 33 they had become sharers with those who were so treated, they showed sympathy to the prisoners, there were some of them who had been imprisoned, they accepted joyfully the seizure of their property, some of them had had their property seized, and then that's not all you get down to verse 38 and 39 sorry, verses 37 and 38 that's not the only mentions of suffering verses 37 and 38, when we look at that in its context, where that comes from in Habakkuk chapter 2 that passage again reminds us that in this life the righteous will suffer even his quotation from the

Old Testament is a reference to the suffering of the righteous in this life so one of the major themes here is suffering of the righteous in this life contrast that with the apostate you see it is often to avoid affliction it is often to avoid imprisonment and having their possessions taken that the apostate turns from the faith and sins willfully by abandoning the people of God because when persecution comes and the people of God are threatened from without by men, the apostate says

I'm not willing to pay that price words are cheap, but persecution is not so I'm not willing to endure imprisonment,

I'm not willing to associate with those who are so treated I'm not willing to have my possessions taken away from me

I have built up too much I have enjoyed too many conveniences I'm not willing to align myself with the

Christian people and have all of that disappear just for the hope of pie in the sky in the by and by the apostate is not willing to enjoy any of that he's not willing to endure any of it and so he departs, he leaves, but the true

Christian he endures a great conflict of suffering the true believer is made a public spectacle the true believer is willing to be imprisoned and willing to have everything in this life stripped from him knowing that he has a great reward in the life that is to come that again is the contrast between the righteous and the apostate, the true believer and the fake believer, the third theme is that of endurance and obedience and this runs through the passage as well, look at verse 32 remember the former days after being enlightened you endured a great conflict of sufferings he is reminding them of their perseverance and of their endurance verse 36 says that you have need of endurance so that when you have done the will of God you will receive what was promised, the will of God there is again a reference to their endurance and continuing in the faith, it is disobedience not to endure, in fact it is disobedience and it is disobedience and apostasy to turn from the faith and to walk away from it and instead exchange the confession or profession of faith in Christ for the ease and convenience of this world, that is an act of disobedience and the one who does that will not receive any reward, so all the way through this passage the author is trying to get us to persevere and not shrink back to destruction verse 39 but instead to have faith to the preserving of our soul to continue in the truth knowing that it may cost us everything that is described in verses 32 to 34 so that we may having done all of the will of God and been faithful and obedient in the midst of all of that to actually receive the reward that has been promised to the faithful, that is his point the fourth theme is the theme of faith now that's not something that marks the apostate the apostate has a faith he has a belief, remember it is an intellectual consent, he intellectually consents to certain things to be true and he looks as if he has faith, he looks as if he believes certain things because he gives a superficial and outward show of embracing some of those truths and some of the prospects of Christianity but he doesn't actually have genuine saving faith which is a gift from God he does not have the faith that will endure and persevere all the way to the end so though the apostate makes an intellectual assent, he does not have the faith to the preserving of the soul as is mentioned in verse 39 look at verse 38, my righteous one shall live by faith, again that is a quotation from Habakkuk chapter 2 that verse is quoted three times in the

New Testament and you're going to find this fascinating when we get there, that verse is quoted three times in the New Testament, once here, once in the book of Romans and once in the book of Galatians in the book of Galatians the emphasis of the author on quoting from Habakkuk chapter 2 verse 4 is on faith, it is by faith sorry, it is the just, that's, no yeah, that's right no, sorry,

Galatians chapter 5 again, you come here to hear me think out loud Galatians chapter 5, the emphasis of the quotation of that is on the one who lives, in the book of Romans the emphasis is on the just and in the book of Hebrews the emphasis is on the faith so three times that verse is quoted in the

New Testament and the emphasis is slightly different each time, the just shall live by faith, and the author quotes it here because he is going to transition into a discussion of faith so we get to the end of chapter 10, we get down to verse 39, we've read about faith and the righteous living by it in verse 38 then in verse 39 he says, we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but those who have faith to the preserving of the soul and then we would say, well it seems as if faith is the thing that distinguishes a true believer from a make believer, it seems as if true and genuine faith is that which marks out the true from the false and if that is the case, if all of this apostasy versus non -apostasy comes down to faith, if abandoning the truth or holding on to the truth comes down to the nature of faith, then wouldn't it be good if we had maybe a definition of faith, maybe a few examples or illustrations of what faith might look like, if we could maybe have a discussion on faith so that we could see what faith looks like in the real world and a few examples of people who persevered and endured under faith wouldn't that be a good idea?

And then what do we have in chapter 11? It is the Hebrews faith hall of fame. All those examples in the

Old Testament of men and women who endured through faith, all of the themes of verses 32 -39 and this warning passage and the encouragement that he is trying to drill into us in verses 32 -39, all of those themes come together and they are woven through the lives of those figures from the

Old Testament who are featured in Hebrews chapter 11. So do you want to know what faith looks like when it results in the saving of the soul and trusting

God to cover your sin? The example is Abel. Do you want to know what faith looks like when it issues in obedience to the command of God?

Then you turn to Abraham. Do you want to know what faith looks like when you are hoping for and longing for the fulfillment of promises that you do not even see fulfilled in your own lifetime?

Then the example is Abraham. Do you want to know what faith looks like in the life of a man who faces nothing but physical limitations and seeming impossibilities but he is faithful all the way to the end and yet still never sees the fulfillment of those promises?

Then the example is Abraham. Do you want to see what faith is when it endures in the face of hostility and suffering?

The example is Noah. Do you want to see what faith looks like when it embraces the reproaches of Christ and turns its back on all of the conveniences and the treasures and the ease of this life?

Then your example is Moses. Do you want to know what faith looks like that endures all the way to the point of death?

Then you look to those who have been sawn into and put to death by the sword, men and women of whom the world is not worthy.

All Hebrews chapter 11 is, well not all it is, but one thing it is is example after example after example of men and women who did the very thing the author is encouraging us to do.

That is to face the hostility and the hatred and the opposition the reproach of an ungodly world and to be faithful and obedient and steadfast and unwavering in the midst of it.

Are you facing a hostile world? I haven't checked recently, at least not since this morning but is the world outside hostile against Christianity?

Do you get the sense that it is a little bit? Do you get the sense that the world outside is becoming more and more hostile toward us as time goes on?

Even just a little bit more and more hostile? Or a lot bit more and more hostile? A lot bit more and more hostile.

A lot bit, I don't know if that's a word, but it should be. It's a lot bit more and more hostile. Friends I want you to ignore in the weeks to come the chapter break that is the end of chapter 10 and 11 because verses 32 through 39 is the introduction to the

Faith Hall of Fame. What is the author getting at verses 32 to 39? You have to be faithful and obedient and unwavering and you do not turn your back and you do not sell your soul and all of its eternal blessing for a pot of porridge in this world which will vanish and will burn up.

Instead we are to be like the men and the women of old. Abel and Abraham and Moses and Noah and David and all of the faithful patriarchs from the

Old Testament. They are examples of people who endured in faith even some not even receiving the promises in their own lifetime and yet they endured in faithfulness and obedience unwavering in their belief and their conviction that when they have done the will of God they will receive what was promised.

That's what they were looking for. God promised me this and his word is true and therefore I will receive it.

I just need to endure faithfully all the way to the end and even if it costs you your life and you are sawn in two or you are killed with the sword or you are thrown to lions or whatever it is

God will give you the faith to endure and our job is to endure and to persevere and to not waver at all against the world and its hostility and its hatreds for Christians and the truth.

Now let me offer you an outline for verses 32 -39. The section actually divides quite naturally into two sections.

In verses 32 -34 we are encouraged to look back to something. Notice in verse 32 he says, but remember the former days.

He is telling them to look back to something namely the reproaches that they endured. True saving faith and casting our lot in with Jesus Christ is going to ensure that you and I face hostility and adversity and suffering and affliction in this world.

Paul said in Acts chapter 14 that it is through many tribulations that we enter the kingdom of God and Jesus said if the world hated me it will hate you.

Well the world did hate him and it killed him and so the world is going to hate us because we are not of this world but we are chosen out of this world and so if we are going to cast our lot in with the one who was himself the object of all of the world's hostility and hatred their scorn and their reproach and their anger and their vitriol if we are going to cast our lot in with him and claim that we belong to him and we want to be like him and we want to have the same approach to the world that he had then guess what you should expect the same reproach and shame and hatred and animosity and vitriol that the world poured on him you yourself should expect that and if you do not expect it you are a fool and if you are not willing to endure it you are not a believer you are an apostate you must be willing to sell you must be unwilling to sell your soul for the pot of porridge that is this world and what it has to offer expect the tribulations expect the reproach and so the author says you ought to look back in time to those times when you endured that reproach in the name of Christ and for the sake of Christ you are to remember those things look back to the reproaches of faith verses 32 to 34 is all about the reproach that faith brings in the light of the world it's a reproach that brings to us tribulations and imprisonment and sufferings and affliction and even the requirement that we throw in our lot with those who are so treated that's the reproach of faith look back on the fact that you at one point cast the world behind you and said

I'm willing to embrace Christ you look back to that and all that you endured in your afflictions and your sufferings you look back verses 32 to 34 verses 35 to 30 verses 35 to 39 you have to look forward to something and it's not the reproaches of faith but the reward of faith and that is where he talks about us having a better possession and a lasting one a great reward that we receive what was promised and verse 39 ultimately the preserving of our soul verses 35 to 39 describes looking forward to something and that is the reward of faith verses 32 to 34 the reproach of faith trials tribulations suffering and affliction the world's hostility verses 35 to 39 the reward of faith you get what was promised you want an example of people who endured the world's hostility the reproach of faith and ended up receiving the reward and some of them yet to receive that reward that is verses 32 to 39 that is

Abraham and Noah and all of the saints of Hebrews chapter 11 so we must look back to enduring the reproach of faith verses 32 to 34 we must look forward to receiving the reward of faith verses 35 to 39 and by this point you're looking at the clock and you're saying to yourself much to your chagrin

Jim that sounds eerily like an overview of the passage and not really a studying of the details of the passage right if that is your fear listen you're absolutely right that is exactly what it is but it was a necessary overview of that passage so that we can understand how all of this in chapter 10 and 11 it's all connected and how the themes go from one chapter to another there's no chapter break there what the author wants us to do is understand what true faithfulness what what holding fast in faith unwavering looks like we might find out what it means to need to be unwavering at some point in our lives and verses chapter 10 verse 32 through the end of that faith chapter that's going to give us example after example of exactly what that looks like and what it looks like in our world so we will start looking at that next week let's pray father your mercy to us is great and your word is so clear it is encouraging to us it lifts our hearts in joy and affection to you your word has the power to sanctify us and to steal our hearts to give us the courage the unwavering faith and the grace to obey your word in all things and so we pray that you would do that work in us and that you would accomplish those good fruits in our lives so that we may glorify and honor you make us at the same time a bold and unwavering testimony to a lost dying corrupt and wicked world fill our hearts with compassion for those around us who need the truth and need the gospel so that they may escape the damnation that is to come for sin and also fill our hearts with affection for Christ and saving us from that sin and we pray that you would fill our hearts with courage and the desire for obedience that we may love you and that we may boldly testify with faith unwavering in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation all to the glory of Christ our

Lord in whose name we pray please stand living for Jesus a life that is true striving to please him in all that I do yielding allegiance glad hearted and free this is the pathway of blessing for me oh

Jesus Lord and Savior I give myself to thee for thou in thine atonement didst give thyself for me

I own no other master my heart shall be thy throne my life

I give it's for to live oh

Christ for thee alone living for Jesus who died in my place bearing on Calvary my sin and his grace such love constrains me to answer his call follow his waiting and give him my all let's sing the third verse living for Jesus wherever I am doing each duty in his holy name willing to suffer affliction or loss deeming each triumph a part of my cross oh

Jesus Lord and Savior I give myself to thee for thou in thine atonement didst give thyself for me

I need no other master my heart shall be thy throne my life

I give it's for to live oh

Christ for me alone Thank you and have a great week.

Drum from Emmanuel's feet

And sinners plunged beneath that flood

Lose all their guilty stains

Lose all their guilty stains

Lose all their guilty stains

And sinners plunged beneath that flood