1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:13,440 Welcome to Walk in the Truth podcast. 2 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:18,800 Today John Metter, lead pastor of Cross City Church, brings a message in the Origins series 3 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:22,400 that helps answer the five most important questions in life. 4 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:26,080 How you live today depends on how you answer these questions. 5 00:00:26,080 --> 00:00:33,400 Here's John Metter with the teaching on the five questions. 6 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:34,400 Well good morning. 7 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:37,240 We're going to be walking through our Origins series again today. 8 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:40,640 Please take your Bibles and turn to Genesis chapter 2 today. 9 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:46,080 Genesis chapter 2, we have over the last seven weeks covered the first chapter of the book 10 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:51,160 of Genesis and walked through six days of creation and had a great time walking through 11 00:00:51,160 --> 00:00:54,200 that as we've learned all that God did during creation. 12 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:56,160 We've seen all kinds of videos. 13 00:00:56,160 --> 00:01:02,200 We have looked at different scenarios, different explanations that attempt to explain how creation 14 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:03,200 came into existence. 15 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:08,360 And we keep coming back to God's word that says God spoke and it took place. 16 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:14,360 So now we're on day 7 and as you find Genesis chapter 2, keep in mind we're looking at the 17 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:18,440 capstone for the six days and also day 7. 18 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:22,880 Before we read the Bible today, let me remind you of something that probably you're aware 19 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:27,000 of, but I learned long ago a little sailing trick. 20 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:31,120 When I was young my parents would send me off to camp in the summer and it was just 21 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:34,560 kind of a rural camp but it had sailboats on the lake there. 22 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:37,080 Anybody ever sailed a boat before? 23 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:39,320 There's a few of us in the room perhaps that have. 24 00:01:39,320 --> 00:01:43,560 This wasn't a large boat that we learned to sail on and they taught us as kids, eight, 25 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:47,840 nine, ten year old kids that when you get on this boat there are some things that you've 26 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:51,280 got to learn about sailing in order to be safe. 27 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:52,280 You're going out on a lake. 28 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:54,920 You have a life jacket on but it's a big lake. 29 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:58,120 But they also kind of slipped this little piece of information in. 30 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:02,280 The lake is infested with water moccasins so you don't want to make a bad move on the 31 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:03,480 sailboat. 32 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:05,600 So naturally we were motivated learners. 33 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:08,320 We really wanted to learn how to sail the boat right. 34 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:12,720 All about the sails, all about the boom, be careful when it goes back and forth. 35 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:16,720 But the rudder was the part of the instruction that was so important. 36 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:23,400 Now the rudder is just a fiberglass or a plastic piece that goes on the transom or the back 37 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:25,800 of the boat. 38 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:31,320 That transom allows that rudder to be fixed in such a way where you turn it one way and 39 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:33,280 the front of the boat will change direction. 40 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:36,800 You turn it the other way and it will change in the opposite direction. 41 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:41,440 It is the steering mechanism of a sailboat. 42 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:46,200 They taught us that however you turn that rudder that's where the boat's going to go. 43 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:51,480 It's important that you know how to do that because it sets the direction for your life. 44 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:54,120 Now you said a little story as an illustration. 45 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:56,120 I never did tip the boat over. 46 00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:58,880 I never fell into the lake with water moccasins just to end the story. 47 00:02:58,880 --> 00:02:59,880 I'm here today. 48 00:02:59,880 --> 00:03:00,880 I'm alive. 49 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:02,600 I did not die on that lake. 50 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:06,000 But I learned the rudder turns the boat very effectively. 51 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:09,960 What I'm going to talk to you about today is the importance of the rudder in your life. 52 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:16,240 I believe that chapter two verses one through three talk about the rudder of the life of 53 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:17,240 every person. 54 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:20,040 Would you stand with me as we read God's word today? 55 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:25,800 Genesis chapter two beginning in verse one and here's what it says. 56 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:30,880 It says, thus the heavens and the earth were completed and all their host. 57 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:36,120 By the seventh day God completed his work which he had done and he rested on the seventh 58 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:39,680 day from all his work which he had done. 59 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:45,360 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because he rested from all his work which 60 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:48,040 God had created and made. 61 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:53,920 Father, I pray that you'll take this text and speak to us in a powerful way about how 62 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:59,440 what we do with this sets the direction of our lives one way or another. 63 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:00,720 Show us how it protects us. 64 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:07,200 Show us how understanding this principle guides us and leads us and ultimately causes us to 65 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:08,480 be in alignment with you. 66 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:10,520 Father, we ask this in Jesus' name. 67 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:13,200 All God's people said amen. 68 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:19,920 Please be seated if you would. 69 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:25,080 The seventh day obviously is the capstone for all of creation week. 70 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:29,160 It doesn't take long in reading these verses where you realize it's very different from 71 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:31,720 all the other days. 72 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:37,280 On day one, day two, day three, day four, day five, day six, God spoke and brought things 73 00:04:37,280 --> 00:04:41,920 into being that were not in being at the beginning. 74 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:46,320 Day one, he really created the earth and all the elements in the earth. 75 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:51,600 We showed you some pictures of what we thought it might have looked like, a spinning kind 76 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:54,120 of a sphere of water. 77 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:59,880 Then God separated the land from the water and created the boundaries. 78 00:04:59,880 --> 00:05:04,560 After that, God created the vegetation that went upon the dry land. 79 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:08,960 Then he created the fish that went in the sea, and the sea monsters it says. 80 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:14,800 He also created the birds that would fly in the air that God created that space up there 81 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:15,800 for. 82 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:19,840 In every instance, we looked at how God created something that would later on become important 83 00:05:19,840 --> 00:05:23,720 to the inhabitants of the earth day by day as they were created. 84 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:27,960 Finally, on day six, God created the beast on the earth and he created man. 85 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:33,760 He created Adam and Eve, the first man and the first woman, all that in the first chapter. 86 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:38,800 When you dive into chapter two, you're going to find a detailed explanation of day six. 87 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:44,080 When we get to chapter two, verses one through three, we're looking back on a full created 88 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:45,080 order. 89 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:49,920 Adam and Eve had been created, all the animals were created, and we began to see how God 90 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:55,520 sets the direction for life with the things that he says about day seven. 91 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:57,720 Day seven is going to speak to us today. 92 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:03,880 Day seven is going to speak to us about how we do what God actually did on day seven. 93 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:05,480 How do we rest? 94 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:07,600 How do we find a day that's blessed? 95 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:12,920 How do we set apart a day for important reasons in our lives today? 96 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:17,960 We're going to arrive at present day after we spend a few moments looking back at history. 97 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:21,320 As we dive into this, I want you to see this text in three different ways. 98 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:23,600 I want you to see three different important principles. 99 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:29,200 First of all, I want you to notice the first truth of the Bible is found right here in 100 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:31,720 chapter two, verses one through four. 101 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:33,240 Look at what it says in verses one and two. 102 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:36,680 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their host. 103 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:40,840 By the seventh day, God completed his work. 104 00:06:40,840 --> 00:06:43,960 This opening statement is the capstone from creation. 105 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:50,320 Basically, this statement says God created all the heavens and the earth. 106 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:54,840 In fact, if I were to word it in such a way where we could remember it, God alone created 107 00:06:54,840 --> 00:06:56,800 the world we live in. 108 00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:59,720 God alone created the world we live in. 109 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:05,720 I call that the first truth because even though God is creating from chapter one, verse one, 110 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:07,280 God spoke and it came into being. 111 00:07:07,280 --> 00:07:09,160 That's the truth. 112 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:12,920 All that God said to the animals, be fruitful and multiply, that's the truth. 113 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:19,040 All these creation truths bundled up into one are the first truth by which we live life, 114 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:20,800 the first truth. 115 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:25,920 God is looking at over creation and saying, these things, I have created this heaven and 116 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:28,920 this earth and all that you see. 117 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:33,240 Four times in these two or three verses, you see this statement. 118 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:41,000 God completed his work, which he had done, all his work, which God had created and made. 119 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:43,320 Four times in these few verses. 120 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:47,520 Whenever you see repetition, you know someone's trying to communicate something that they 121 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:49,560 don't want to be questioned about. 122 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:52,480 I thought back when I was growing up, my dad was a great dad. 123 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:57,120 He was a great father, but part of my dad's responsibility was to draw the boundaries 124 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:00,200 and the lines that I shouldn't cross over. 125 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:04,320 My dad knew how to say no every once in a while. 126 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:08,880 I remember one time I asked my father if I could go a certain place and he said no four 127 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:13,960 times in four distinct ways, leading me to the conclusion that I should never go there. 128 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:15,640 The first time he said no. 129 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:17,120 The second time he said absolutely no. 130 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:19,840 I asked him again and he said no. 131 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:23,000 This is what would probably happen if you go there. 132 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:27,760 The fourth time he said, all right, just try me and you'll see how bad it really gets. 133 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:30,120 No four different ways. 134 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:34,520 When you read the Bible and you see repeated emphasis on something, it's making a point 135 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:36,440 for us to carry away. 136 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:41,640 The emphasis of this particular repetition is God made this earth. 137 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:43,520 He created this earth. 138 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:44,760 God did his work. 139 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:46,280 God completed his work. 140 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:47,720 There is no debate. 141 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:51,520 God made the heavens and the earth. 142 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:55,440 The reason that is such an important statement is because everything else that you do in 143 00:08:55,440 --> 00:09:02,400 life is based on whether God created the heavens and the earth and whether he created you. 144 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:08,560 That is God's statement here closes the door to debate for all those that were present. 145 00:09:08,560 --> 00:09:13,560 If there were any other God who was eternal, this is where the debate would take place. 146 00:09:13,560 --> 00:09:16,480 But none of the leaders of the world religions are here. 147 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:17,680 Mohammed is not here. 148 00:09:17,680 --> 00:09:18,680 Gandhi is not here. 149 00:09:18,680 --> 00:09:20,240 Confucius is not here. 150 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:21,640 Brahma is not here. 151 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:24,400 No Satan's, no demons are speaking up. 152 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:27,260 There is no debate from anyone that's on the planet. 153 00:09:27,260 --> 00:09:33,640 No competing theories, no scientific conjecture that can articulate a reasonable, logical, 154 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:36,040 provable answer to the creation of the world. 155 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:41,440 Adam and Eve are not arguing with God at this point because they know God created the heavens 156 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:43,400 and the earth. 157 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:47,920 All that God created is a witness to creation's completion. 158 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:52,520 Then we have the Bible recording that to help us know, all right, God created the heavens 159 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:53,520 and the earth. 160 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:57,040 I know I've said it a lot of times. 161 00:09:57,040 --> 00:10:01,320 Sometimes as you know critics will say, well, yeah, of course the Bible says that. 162 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:02,320 It's the Bible. 163 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:06,920 I mean, it's the book that Christians and believers follow. 164 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:10,000 Of course you're going to quote the Bible. 165 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:13,000 But the reality is the Bible is the first book. 166 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:14,720 It's the book of truth. 167 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:19,800 It's the first way that man's communicated with each other one to one about God or about 168 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:21,120 anything else. 169 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:25,120 Recently I was listening to a philosopher. 170 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:26,640 His name is Jordan Peterson. 171 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:29,360 He's become very popular among younger people today. 172 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:31,900 He's a famous former atheist. 173 00:10:31,900 --> 00:10:36,400 At one point he was atheistic and he tried to explain the world away in so many different 174 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:38,720 ways other than God. 175 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:43,040 He talks about his visit to the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. 176 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:48,180 He talks about becoming familiar with how the process of the Bible actually came into 177 00:10:48,180 --> 00:10:55,120 being and how God spoke and inspired individuals wrote the scriptures down as we have it today. 178 00:10:55,120 --> 00:11:02,040 He began to believe that the Bible was the first book and that all books that we have 179 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:06,280 today and all learning emerged out of that first book and that first truth. 180 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:08,800 Then he made this statement. 181 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:12,400 It's not that the Bible is truth, he said. 182 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:18,040 It is the precondition for the manifestation of truth, which makes it way more truth than 183 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:19,040 truth. 184 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:20,320 I like the way he says it. 185 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:24,120 I don't believe he's a believer in Jesus Christ yet, but he's not an atheist anymore. 186 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:28,840 He's making the statement that the Bible is the precondition for all other things that 187 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:30,800 we consider to be true. 188 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:32,560 That this is our problem line. 189 00:11:32,560 --> 00:11:37,040 This is how we gauge every other philosophy, every other idea about how the earth came 190 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:38,040 into being. 191 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:39,140 Come from the Bible. 192 00:11:39,140 --> 00:11:43,960 We come and look at the Bible and compare it to what we've heard in order to see if 193 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:46,560 anything else we've heard is truth or not. 194 00:11:46,560 --> 00:11:48,320 It must be that way for us. 195 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:53,240 God created, he made the earth, he finished the earth, he completed the earth. 196 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:56,360 That truth is something that guides us in everything. 197 00:11:56,360 --> 00:12:00,400 Let me just give you some if-thens for a moment. 198 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:06,240 If God created the world, he alone is God and there is no other. 199 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:12,700 If God created the world, his design is flawless and his truth is truth. 200 00:12:12,700 --> 00:12:18,260 If God created the world, the most important relationship you can have is with him. 201 00:12:18,260 --> 00:12:23,080 If God created the world, the most dangerous place to be is in opposition to him. 202 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:28,580 I mean, if God created the world, it ought to change your life towards him and not away 203 00:12:28,580 --> 00:12:33,040 from him, towards his things and not just for your things. 204 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:38,720 Years later, Paul, the apostle, articulates a very concise statement about his view of 205 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:39,720 the world in general. 206 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:47,440 He says this in Romans chapter 11 verse 36, for from him and through him and to him are 207 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:48,440 all things. 208 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:50,680 To him be the glory forever. 209 00:12:50,680 --> 00:12:51,680 Amen. 210 00:12:51,680 --> 00:12:55,440 I love that line, for from him and for him and to him are all things. 211 00:12:55,440 --> 00:13:03,040 In other words, Paul says, I gauge my life based on how closely connected I am from his 212 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:07,040 purpose and for his reasons for my existence. 213 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:12,480 The first truth is the truth that creation is his and that we are his. 214 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:13,480 The first truth. 215 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:17,080 I bet if you keep reading in these verses, you're going to see something else and that 216 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:19,560 is the first priority. 217 00:13:19,560 --> 00:13:21,520 The first priority. 218 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:26,160 This is where God is beginning to clarify some things about that seventh day. 219 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:31,560 It said, and he rested on the seventh day in verse two and then in verse three. 220 00:13:31,560 --> 00:13:35,400 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it. 221 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:40,320 I want you to think about those phrases and I'm going to ask you to think about who he 222 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:42,640 spoke this to. 223 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:49,720 Adam and Eve are now standing there having been fully created by God to be mature individuals. 224 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:52,280 There they are in the Garden of Eden where God has placed them. 225 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:56,040 You'll find the details in Genesis chapter two, but as you know, it all took place in 226 00:13:56,040 --> 00:14:02,360 Genesis chapter one because God has completed creation by the time he spoke and articulated 227 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:04,760 the seventh day to be that day of rest. 228 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:09,840 Adam and Eve are standing there in the most beautiful place in the world you can imagine. 229 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:13,680 I don't know what is your most beautiful place in the world that you imagine, but if you 230 00:14:13,680 --> 00:14:16,520 want to get into this scene, think about that beautiful place. 231 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:20,920 For me, it's probably Mount Tahoe or Lake Tahoe where I could be on the mountain looking 232 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:23,000 down in that beautiful lake there. 233 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:27,640 Just imagine that you and one other person would be your wife. 234 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:32,560 Let's say my wife and I or Adam and Eve are standing there in that most beautiful place 235 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:33,560 in the world. 236 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:34,760 There's no other human beings. 237 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:39,920 There's only the birds that fly, only the sea duck and the fish that are in the sea. 238 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:44,320 There's only those creatures that God has created, but just Adam and Eve are standing 239 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:48,000 there in that garden, that most beautiful place, and God says, here's what I want you 240 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:49,120 to see. 241 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:51,560 I want you to see that I created you. 242 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:55,160 I want you to see that I created the birds and the fish in the sea. 243 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:59,800 I want you to see that I created the waters and the dry land and the vegetation and the 244 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:01,920 trees and everything that will bear fruit. 245 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:07,080 I want you to see all this, and I want you to see that I'm resting, and I want you to 246 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:15,520 bless this day, and I want you to sanctify this day so you can remember who I am. 247 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:17,000 The first priority. 248 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:20,400 Now think about this, this way. 249 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:26,760 The seventh day, which we're reading here, God's seventh day is Adam and Eve's first 250 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:28,340 day after creation. 251 00:15:28,340 --> 00:15:34,840 They were created on the sixth day, and now they wake up to the seventh day, and God said, 252 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:36,640 this is the day you're going to rest. 253 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:38,440 This is the day you're going to bless. 254 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:39,960 This is the day you're going to sanctify. 255 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:45,040 There's something pretty powerful about Adam and Eve being told by God, oh, this is your 256 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:48,720 first full day on the planet that I created for you, and I want you to look around and 257 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:54,080 see all this, and I want you to realize I am your creator, and I am your God, and I 258 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:55,680 have given you a place to live. 259 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:57,600 I have given you food for sustenance. 260 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:00,080 I've given you a job to do. 261 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:09,200 This is a priority for you to set aside this day, this time, and stand in awe of me. 262 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:14,400 When I say scripture that way, it stirs my heart for this seventh day in a really, really 263 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:15,400 big way. 264 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:21,160 It's almost as though God is saying, I created you yesterday, and so on this, the first full 265 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:26,280 day of the planet, I want you to rest and bless and sanctify this day. 266 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:31,760 So God rested from all this creation, the word rest simply means he ceased work, not 267 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:36,640 because God is tired, but because he's finished his work. 268 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:39,560 I think you know the scripture says over and over, God never gets tired. 269 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:44,840 I'm really glad God never gets tired, because I get tired, and I need a God who isn't ever 270 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:49,600 tired to help me when I'm worn out and when I'm weary, and that's exactly what Isaiah 271 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:54,880 40 is talking about when it says, do you not know, have you not heard the everlasting God, 272 00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:59,800 the Lord, the creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired? 273 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:01,840 Love that verse. 274 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:06,320 But that verse also informs us that God did not rest because he was weary, he did not 275 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:07,960 rest because he was tired. 276 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:15,960 He simply ceased that work that he was doing, and he paused because creation is worthy to 277 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:18,560 be observed and marveled at. 278 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:25,120 He paused because creation is now saluting and worshiping her creator. 279 00:17:25,120 --> 00:17:27,600 Again, get it in your mind's eye. 280 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:32,400 The waters are moving freely within their boundaries, the dry land is greening with 281 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:37,920 the vegetation, the sun, moon, and the stars are gleaming with the light that God has given 282 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:41,800 them and they're orbiting in the perfect positions that he's placed them in. 283 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:46,680 The trees of the field are clapping their hands as they were as the wind blows those 284 00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:47,840 leaves together. 285 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:52,880 The beast and the birds acknowledging his presence, the plants and the vegetation are 286 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:56,600 drinking in the midst of the sunlight and they're thriving and they're growing and 287 00:17:56,600 --> 00:18:01,720 Adam and Eve are standing there taking it all in with wonder and amazement in all of 288 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:06,520 who made them and what he has called them to do on the earth. 289 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:09,960 It's hard for us to get into that place, but that's what was going on. 290 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:15,480 An amazing moment that left them nothing else to do other than just be in awe of the God 291 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:23,000 who made all these things and who made them so that they could know him and so that he 292 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:24,560 would lead them. 293 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:28,480 The first priority is really that we recognize our creator. 294 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:34,440 Let me state it this way, the first priority of mankind is to acknowledge and worship God. 295 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:37,680 But you know that's your first priority. 296 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:41,520 Your first priority is not your job, your first priority is not your sports, your first 297 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:46,480 priority is none of the other things that we seem to put such high on the list. 298 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:53,040 But your first priority is to know and worship God, to recognize him for who he is, to be 299 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:59,080 able to affirm the fact that he created the heavens and the earth and you. 300 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:02,800 And in all of God's interactions with people through the years, he has helped them know 301 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:06,000 that first priority. 302 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:12,320 It's 2500 years later after this creation account that the law is given. 303 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:17,280 And in the book of Exodus when the law was given, the 10 commandments are given acknowledging 304 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:20,720 that we are to worship and know God. 305 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:25,400 Did you know that the first four of the 10 commandments all deal with how we interact 306 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:27,120 with God? 307 00:19:27,120 --> 00:19:30,040 Remember the first commandment is no other gods before me. 308 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:32,520 The second is no idols, no graven images. 309 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:35,360 The third one is don't take the name of the Lord in vain. 310 00:19:35,360 --> 00:19:38,280 And the fourth one is keep the Sabbath day holy. 311 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:44,760 In other words, that same priority of acknowledging and worshiping your creator is given to the 312 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:50,160 Israelites 2500 years later after God said this in the garden. 313 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:54,520 In Exodus chapter 20 it says, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth 314 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:58,080 and the sea and all that's in them and rested on the seventh day. 315 00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:01,920 Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 316 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:07,560 Now of course we know that Israel took the Sabbath day and turned it into a very fastidious 317 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:13,280 observance, very legalistic, gave all kinds of guidelines of what you could do and couldn't 318 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:18,000 do and basically began to turn it into a form of religion. 319 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:21,640 But the principle was still there and the principle is still important. 320 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:27,100 The principle is you need to acknowledge and worship the God that created you. 321 00:20:27,100 --> 00:20:33,960 So I don't commend the legalistic parts of the observation of Sabbath or Sabbath with 322 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:38,920 the Jewish people but I point out there are some great priorities to knowing and some 323 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:41,920 great benefits in knowing the priority of it. 324 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:47,720 Read the entire Bible and you'll find that God sets this aside over and over as an important 325 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:51,920 thing to do and that leads me to what I call the first principle, the first principle, 326 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:55,440 the first truth, the first priority and then the first principle. 327 00:20:55,440 --> 00:21:01,120 Now I'm going to trace the practice of rest to the scriptures for just a second. 328 00:21:01,120 --> 00:21:07,720 Here's God in the garden saying set aside this day, rest, bless, sanctify it. 329 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:10,600 God himself is seizing from his works. 330 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:15,640 The practice was pretty continuous until the law was given and then it became even more 331 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:20,260 important for the people of God as we read that verse a moment ago. 332 00:21:20,260 --> 00:21:24,880 But the practice on the first day of the week to worship the Lord in this way began with 333 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:31,000 the resurrection after Christ came, died after he lived perfect life for three years on the 334 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:33,440 planet, 33 years on the planet. 335 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:35,800 He had disciples following him for three years. 336 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:39,480 He died on the cross, was buried, rose again the third day. 337 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:45,560 The very first day of the week was Sunday which was the day of resurrection and that's 338 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:50,280 where Mary ran to the tomb and later on the disciples to find that Jesus had risen from 339 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:51,480 the dead. 340 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:56,080 From that moment forward those who followed Jesus Christ worshiped on the first day of 341 00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:59,240 the week or what's later on called the Lord's day. 342 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:02,480 As I trace that through scripture it's very consistent. 343 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:06,560 For example Acts chapter 20 verse 7 on the first day of the week when we were gathered 344 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:09,880 together Paul said about the church of Ephesus. 345 00:22:09,880 --> 00:22:14,220 He said to the church of Corinth on the first day of every week when you gather you read 346 00:22:14,220 --> 00:22:21,120 Revelation 1 10 where John is in this revelation of God and Jesus Christ he says I was in the 347 00:22:21,120 --> 00:22:23,720 Spirit on the Lord's day. 348 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:29,600 So for believers the Sabbath rests to the rest and worship of the first day in New Testament 349 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:33,400 times throughout scripture the principle is the same and here is that principle that's 350 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:36,960 important for you and I and this is where it really gets relevant and applicable for 351 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:37,960 us. 352 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:44,520 It's that a part of the day each week to bless and worship your Creator and Savior. 353 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:50,720 Not as a legalistic religious act but as a day of worship, a time of coming away from 354 00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:59,320 everything else and acknowledging God and loving God and growing in the Lord and following 355 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:03,000 Him in all His ways. 356 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:10,480 You know increasingly we learn from observing the church historically that the further people 357 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:15,720 move away from gathering together to worship the Lord in a consistent way the further away 358 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:20,360 they are from that practice the further they become away from believing the important things 359 00:23:20,360 --> 00:23:23,880 about faith and practicing that faith. 360 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:29,480 In other words by adhering to the idea of gathering to worship Him one day a week we 361 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:35,080 strengthen our faith, we strengthen the community of faith but certainly our own personal faith 362 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:40,760 and the more we move away from it the more difficult it seems to be to live it out. 363 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:49,280 Recent studies that are pretty accurate tell us that about 50% of those who were worshiping 364 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:51,840 pre-pandemic no longer worship post-pandemic. 365 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:58,440 In other words our attendance across churches across America at least is about half what 366 00:23:58,440 --> 00:23:59,440 it was pre-pandemic. 367 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:05,520 Now for some that's because they were cultural Christians that went and worshiped because 368 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:08,720 it was something that they felt they were supposed to do, it was helpful to them in 369 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:16,600 some way but when we began to disengage because of COVID only 50% of the people who were worshiping 370 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:19,440 before numerically speaking in America have come back. 371 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:23,600 Now that's not necessarily true of our congregation we've come back far stronger than that but 372 00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:26,960 it is true of many across America. 373 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:32,120 Whereas it used to be a pretty much a priority that most Christians worship at least twice 374 00:24:32,120 --> 00:24:38,720 a month the latest statistics say they worship together about one and a half times a month. 375 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:47,080 We've lost about that size of a number when it comes to regularly worshiping the Lord. 376 00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:51,720 I'd say all that except for comments on it's less of a priority than it was just a few 377 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:52,720 years ago. 378 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:57,520 And as you look back on Christianity when we don't gather we don't grow as much, when 379 00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:02,440 we don't gather we don't learn as much, when we don't gather we don't set apart God as 380 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:04,680 much as we should. 381 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:08,760 So here we have God in the very beginning saying here's the first truth I created all 382 00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:10,440 this I created you. 383 00:25:10,440 --> 00:25:15,280 Here's the first priority I want you to set aside this day to rest, I want you to set 384 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:20,960 aside this day to worship and sanctify this day as a special day acknowledge me in this 385 00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:25,000 and then we have this first principle that this should be a practice for all of us set 386 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:30,720 apart a day each week to bless and worship your creator and savior. 387 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:34,840 Let me give you three statements of why I believe this is so important for you to think 388 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:36,360 about. 389 00:25:36,360 --> 00:25:39,240 God alone deserves our worship. 390 00:25:39,240 --> 00:25:44,480 We need to remember who he is and rest and realignment are keys to life. 391 00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:48,680 I want to talk about each one of those before I conclude today. 392 00:25:48,680 --> 00:25:50,820 God alone deserves our worship. 393 00:25:50,820 --> 00:25:56,120 On the first seventh day that's the message to Adam and Eve to all the animals. 394 00:25:56,120 --> 00:26:02,360 Look at creation, look at your creator who will you worship? 395 00:26:02,360 --> 00:26:07,880 When I stop every Sunday to dedicate myself to worship the rest of the world is framed 396 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:10,240 better in terms of priority. 397 00:26:10,240 --> 00:26:13,040 No longer is it the most important thing. 398 00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:15,160 He is priority. 399 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:18,960 My job and my work and all these other things that are important to me are not on the same 400 00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:19,960 level. 401 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:25,400 When we worship and when we rest on the Lord's day we actually practice what we will be doing 402 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:31,560 in eternity for many, many periods of time where we know him better, where we grow with 403 00:26:31,560 --> 00:26:38,120 him, we walk with him, where we worship him, we acknowledge and see all that he's done. 404 00:26:38,120 --> 00:26:42,520 So we should have a day where we don't make it about us, a day where we make it about 405 00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:44,040 him. 406 00:26:44,040 --> 00:26:47,180 We make it about us enough during the course of the week. 407 00:26:47,180 --> 00:26:50,440 We need to make a day about him. 408 00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:53,560 And then we need to remember who he is. 409 00:26:53,560 --> 00:26:58,600 When my wife and I were married and first began to have our children it became quite 410 00:26:58,600 --> 00:27:05,600 busy in our home and we found that it was important to get away from all the kids and 411 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:09,480 have a breakfast once a week at Denny's in town. 412 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:13,800 They had these grand slam breakfasts for $1.99 and we went for those. 413 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:19,240 And we called it our staff meeting because in reality we had to kind of organize our 414 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:23,040 lives because of our family and how busy it was. 415 00:27:23,040 --> 00:27:26,800 But we did something else at those staff meetings at Denny's while we were eating grand slam 416 00:27:26,800 --> 00:27:27,800 breakfast. 417 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:31,800 By the way, we still enjoy going to breakfast these days even though it's not as busy as 418 00:27:31,800 --> 00:27:33,720 it was. 419 00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:35,880 We reconnected. 420 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:42,640 We remembered while we married, while we have a family, we remembered how we first began 421 00:27:42,640 --> 00:27:43,640 dating. 422 00:27:43,640 --> 00:27:45,800 We just remembered it. 423 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:51,800 If people need that memory to reconnect, how is it that we don't need that with God? 424 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:56,400 I mean we need to reconnect from time to time with people that we see, that we hear audibly, 425 00:27:56,400 --> 00:27:59,840 that we interact with, that we can be around in the presence of. 426 00:27:59,840 --> 00:28:03,680 Doesn't it make sense that God would also ask us to learn to reconnect with the one 427 00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:07,920 you can't see and you can't necessarily hear audibly? 428 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:13,200 You don't necessarily have him to pat you on the back physically even though all those 429 00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:17,280 needs can be taken care of in a relationship with God as you know. 430 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:20,920 It's important for us to reengage with the God of creation. 431 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:26,640 If you don't remember who he is, who will you turn to when life gets tough? 432 00:28:26,640 --> 00:28:30,640 When you don't remember that he created heavens and the earth, how is it that you think he's 433 00:28:30,640 --> 00:28:33,200 big enough to handle your problems? 434 00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:38,160 When you don't remember that God has a relationship with every element of creation, how can you 435 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:43,440 possibly believe that anything will fit together in the world that you live in today? 436 00:28:43,440 --> 00:28:46,080 You'll fear the future if you don't know the God of the future. 437 00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:48,960 You'll fear the past if you don't know the God of the past. 438 00:28:48,960 --> 00:28:54,440 We need to remember him and remember what it's like to know who he is. 439 00:28:54,440 --> 00:29:00,680 You know, when I see someone come to faith in Christ and get saved in a church service, 440 00:29:00,680 --> 00:29:04,600 that I remember that God did that with me too and he brought me to Christ. 441 00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:09,240 When I see someone baptized, I remember that I was baptized and I'm encouraged. 442 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:13,560 When I see people stand up and say, God answered my prayer, that I remember God answers my 443 00:29:13,560 --> 00:29:14,560 prayers too. 444 00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:19,680 When I see people healed of a sickness, that I remember God healed me many times. 445 00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:24,200 When God helps people through difficult times in life, that I remember God helped me through 446 00:29:24,200 --> 00:29:26,000 difficult times in life too. 447 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:30,720 Remembering who he is, remembering how he works resonates in the body in such a way 448 00:29:30,720 --> 00:29:37,680 it's almost impossible to forget who God is when you worship him on a regular basis. 449 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:39,960 That's the way God wanted it. 450 00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:45,960 He wants reminders for you so that you will know who he is. 451 00:29:45,960 --> 00:29:51,040 Anybody remember the blue laws that took place years ago? 452 00:29:51,040 --> 00:29:53,040 Raise your hand if you know what the blue laws are. 453 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:56,840 All right, raise your hand if you don't know what blue laws are, would you raise your hand? 454 00:29:56,840 --> 00:29:59,840 There was a bunch of you in here. 455 00:29:59,840 --> 00:30:02,200 You ought to Google it. 456 00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:07,720 Blue laws were laws in most communities in America where everything was closed except 457 00:30:07,720 --> 00:30:11,720 maybe a gas station or two, where everything shut down. 458 00:30:11,720 --> 00:30:13,560 Now some of you can't imagine that. 459 00:30:13,560 --> 00:30:18,200 Well, just think Chick-fil-A, okay? 460 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:22,120 Where everything shut down, where people just said, you know, I'm not going to work on that 461 00:30:22,120 --> 00:30:23,400 day. 462 00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:25,160 We're not going to sell things on that day. 463 00:30:25,160 --> 00:30:27,840 We're just going to relax and rest. 464 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:33,280 We're going to remember important things, remember family, remember God. 465 00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:35,400 We're going to cease from our labors on that day. 466 00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:38,040 I'm not suggesting we go back to blue laws. 467 00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:46,320 I'm suggesting that you and I learn to practice the idea of ceasing work, the idea of resting, 468 00:30:46,320 --> 00:30:50,120 remembering who we are, remembering who God is. 469 00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:52,160 It's incredibly important to our lives. 470 00:30:52,160 --> 00:30:55,880 Finally, rest and realignment are keys to life. 471 00:30:55,880 --> 00:30:59,720 You and I can do many things at a high rate of speed, but without the rhythm of rest and 472 00:30:59,720 --> 00:31:04,220 realignment, we may do them in a wrong way or we may burn out. 473 00:31:04,220 --> 00:31:08,040 We were not designed as human beings to go without rest. 474 00:31:08,040 --> 00:31:09,800 God designed us to rest. 475 00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:12,720 He designed us to realign. 476 00:31:12,720 --> 00:31:16,400 And so what I want you to do today is accept the gift of rest. 477 00:31:16,400 --> 00:31:19,180 The fact that God has told you, you can rest. 478 00:31:19,180 --> 00:31:20,600 You can cease from your labor. 479 00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:24,560 You can worship me. 480 00:31:24,560 --> 00:31:29,240 Years ago I pastored a church in Oklahoma and I remember going back a few years later 481 00:31:29,240 --> 00:31:33,160 and preaching a series of sermons with them. 482 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:37,960 And when I came back, I polled them one night and asked them how many people in the room 483 00:31:37,960 --> 00:31:43,800 could remember a message or two that I'd preach when I was there for those seven years. 484 00:31:43,800 --> 00:31:48,220 Several people had their hands up and I began to call on them one by one. 485 00:31:48,220 --> 00:31:52,120 What do you remember about the message that comes to your mind? 486 00:31:52,120 --> 00:31:55,320 The first person said, the anointed nap. 487 00:31:55,320 --> 00:31:59,400 And they were talking about when I preached through the Ten Commandments and talked about 488 00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:03,280 the day of rest and the fact that it was okay to go home on Sunday afternoon after church 489 00:32:03,280 --> 00:32:04,280 and have a nap. 490 00:32:04,280 --> 00:32:07,840 And in fact, I think they're called anointed naps and I sleep better then than any other 491 00:32:07,840 --> 00:32:10,280 time of the week. 492 00:32:10,280 --> 00:32:15,760 I asked the second person who had their hand up and that person also said an anointed nap. 493 00:32:15,760 --> 00:32:17,320 A third person, an anointed nap. 494 00:32:17,320 --> 00:32:20,760 I said, do you people remember anything I taught you over seven years besides the anointed 495 00:32:20,760 --> 00:32:21,760 nap? 496 00:32:21,760 --> 00:32:27,080 The amount of mind on it was it was an important practice for them. 497 00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:30,280 It was an important practice to get away and rest. 498 00:32:30,280 --> 00:32:36,000 And yes, I do believe theologically, only half joking that those Sunday afternoon naps 499 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:37,000 are anointed. 500 00:32:37,000 --> 00:32:38,000 They are awesome. 501 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:41,700 You have to try it sometimes. 502 00:32:41,700 --> 00:32:44,880 We need rest and realignment. 503 00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:47,520 They're keys to life. 504 00:32:47,520 --> 00:32:53,120 And I challenge you, clear your schedule on the Lord's day. 505 00:32:53,120 --> 00:32:55,840 Don't try to do so many things. 506 00:32:55,840 --> 00:32:56,840 Rest. 507 00:32:56,840 --> 00:32:59,560 Find a way to practice in your life. 508 00:32:59,560 --> 00:33:02,100 It's in scripture because we need it. 509 00:33:02,100 --> 00:33:07,640 But also it's in scripture because you personally need it. 510 00:33:07,640 --> 00:33:13,160 I guess in essence what I'm saying is make room in your life to wonder at God, to worship 511 00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:17,160 God, to marvel at his creation. 512 00:33:17,160 --> 00:33:21,900 Make time in your life where you're not trying to push the ball forward, but you know he's 513 00:33:21,900 --> 00:33:25,160 got everything in control in his hands. 514 00:33:25,160 --> 00:33:29,120 You'll have a much more balanced life when you do that. 515 00:33:29,120 --> 00:33:32,880 You know the relationship that God wants to have with us is so personal, so intimate, 516 00:33:32,880 --> 00:33:34,600 so daily. 517 00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:36,360 But this is the piece of that. 518 00:33:36,360 --> 00:33:39,240 This is the way that you can practice that. 519 00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:46,600 The bottom line on everything is that the only rest we ever really enter into is the 520 00:33:46,600 --> 00:33:50,560 rest that we have with Christ and with God through him. 521 00:33:50,560 --> 00:33:55,240 There's something in the Bible called the believer's rest that we're called to enter 522 00:33:55,240 --> 00:33:56,240 into. 523 00:33:56,240 --> 00:34:02,120 We're resting from trying to earn our favor with God, resting from trying to just do good 524 00:34:02,120 --> 00:34:05,240 works that he might notice us or be pleased with us. 525 00:34:05,240 --> 00:34:11,840 That rest comes in putting our faith and trust in Christ who did the work of salvation, who 526 00:34:11,840 --> 00:34:14,480 sacrificed his life on the cross. 527 00:34:14,480 --> 00:34:19,220 The Bible actually calls salvation as the believer's rest that we enter into because 528 00:34:19,220 --> 00:34:22,040 Christ did all that was necessary. 529 00:34:22,040 --> 00:34:25,680 Then he rested from that work of redemption. 530 00:34:25,680 --> 00:34:31,020 He sat down at the right hand of the Father, and he invites us to have the relationship 531 00:34:31,020 --> 00:34:36,960 with him that lets us enter into the spiritual rest of knowing everything is covered, knowing 532 00:34:36,960 --> 00:34:41,000 that our sins are forgiven, knowing that we have eternal life with him, and knowing that 533 00:34:41,000 --> 00:34:47,080 we can worship him in awe and wonder and never lose touch with who he is. 534 00:34:47,080 --> 00:34:52,880 I encourage you to have that same kind of rest in Jesus, and I encourage you to practice 535 00:34:52,880 --> 00:34:57,880 the regular consistent rhythm of having a day of rest and a day of worship and a day 536 00:34:57,880 --> 00:35:04,080 of wonder so that you will not lose touch with this God, this amazing God who created 537 00:35:04,080 --> 00:35:05,080 you. 538 00:35:05,080 --> 00:35:09,400 You know, in just a few moments we're going to close with the word of prayer. 539 00:35:09,400 --> 00:35:11,240 Our decision stations will be open. 540 00:35:11,240 --> 00:35:15,880 It's a great time at the end of our service to stop and talk to someone. 541 00:35:15,880 --> 00:35:20,160 I have a question, you might say, or I wonder about where I stand with Christ. 542 00:35:20,160 --> 00:35:23,640 I want to know, have I received eternal life? 543 00:35:23,640 --> 00:35:27,880 Have I received the salvation that Jesus promises, or have I not? 544 00:35:27,880 --> 00:35:29,840 I want to know. 545 00:35:29,840 --> 00:35:33,760 Or you might ask the question about how you follow the Lord in believers' baptism or being 546 00:35:33,760 --> 00:35:34,760 a part of this church. 547 00:35:34,760 --> 00:35:38,760 There are all kinds of questions you can have for those that are at the decision stations, 548 00:35:38,760 --> 00:35:39,760 but stop by. 549 00:35:39,760 --> 00:35:41,680 They're there manning those stations. 550 00:35:41,680 --> 00:35:45,440 They want to talk to you about incredibly important spiritual things that sometimes 551 00:35:45,440 --> 00:35:48,400 we just don't bring up with other people. 552 00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:49,400 Talk to them. 553 00:35:49,400 --> 00:35:52,480 They'd love to talk with you and pray with you. 554 00:35:52,480 --> 00:35:53,480 That's the first request. 555 00:35:53,480 --> 00:35:57,880 The second request is if you're a guest today, I would love to visit with you in guest reception. 556 00:35:57,880 --> 00:36:01,480 It's a room just outside the center exit doors across the hallway. 557 00:36:01,480 --> 00:36:02,640 You'll see the glass walls. 558 00:36:02,640 --> 00:36:03,880 You'll see me inside there. 559 00:36:03,880 --> 00:36:06,240 I'd love to meet you today. 560 00:36:06,240 --> 00:36:11,460 The third one is, as you leave today, take an origins card. 561 00:36:11,460 --> 00:36:14,880 Learn to invite people to come hear God's word being taught. 562 00:36:14,880 --> 00:36:18,720 Learn to invite them to come hear the good news of the gospel. 563 00:36:18,720 --> 00:36:23,920 It's incredibly important that the people around us know that Christ brings answers, 564 00:36:23,920 --> 00:36:25,840 that God is the answer. 565 00:36:25,840 --> 00:36:30,680 I invite you to invite them to worship with us. 566 00:36:30,680 --> 00:36:33,560 Would you stand with me for a moment? 567 00:36:33,560 --> 00:36:38,800 Father, today I am thankful for this day. 568 00:36:38,800 --> 00:36:43,280 Thankful that it's a day when we can acknowledge you, worship you, be in awe of you, wonder 569 00:36:43,280 --> 00:36:45,160 at all that you've done. 570 00:36:45,160 --> 00:36:50,560 Father, I know in this room today there are people who have a relationship with you, many 571 00:36:50,560 --> 00:36:51,560 of them. 572 00:36:51,560 --> 00:36:57,200 Father, I ask you today that you would further that relationship by all we've talked about 573 00:36:57,200 --> 00:37:00,320 today, by all that you've said about the seventh day. 574 00:37:00,320 --> 00:37:06,400 Lord, I also pray today that you'll allow those who maybe have never had a relationship 575 00:37:06,400 --> 00:37:12,920 with you to learn that they can and give them the boldness and the courage to talk to someone, 576 00:37:12,920 --> 00:37:15,880 to ask the questions, to get the answers. 577 00:37:15,880 --> 00:37:19,320 Father, I thank you so much that you have a plan for our life. 578 00:37:19,320 --> 00:37:21,040 You're a great creator. 579 00:37:21,040 --> 00:37:26,320 You're Lord over everything, and yet at the same time you know us and you call us to yourself 580 00:37:26,320 --> 00:37:30,480 today, I pray that we would answer that call. 581 00:37:30,480 --> 00:37:44,000 God thank you, Lord, in Jesus' name, amen.