1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,000 It's already been good today, hadn't it? 2 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:08,760 Man, God is so good to us. 3 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:11,280 Hebrews chapter 11 is where we are. 4 00:00:12,780 --> 00:00:16,960 I learned something early on as a dad of daughters. 5 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:22,340 I grew up with a brother. 6 00:00:22,340 --> 00:00:24,080 My dad had two brothers. 7 00:00:24,080 --> 00:00:25,940 My mom had three brothers. 8 00:00:25,940 --> 00:00:29,500 There haven't been a lot of women in my life. 9 00:00:31,580 --> 00:00:36,580 Until I became a dad, and we were watching a movie, 10 00:00:39,140 --> 00:00:41,460 it was a Disney movie, came on. 11 00:00:41,460 --> 00:00:44,020 And at the beginning of all Disney movies, 12 00:00:44,020 --> 00:00:46,700 especially movies that you show to girls, 13 00:00:46,700 --> 00:00:50,220 there's the castle and there's the thing that goes over 14 00:00:50,220 --> 00:00:53,500 and then the ferry comes over and there's Cinderella's Castle. 15 00:00:53,500 --> 00:00:55,300 Anybody know what I'm talking about this morning? 16 00:00:55,300 --> 00:00:59,620 And I remember sitting next to my oldest, Milana, one time 17 00:00:59,620 --> 00:01:02,140 and I said, Milana, what castle is that? 18 00:01:02,140 --> 00:01:03,620 She goes, that's Cinderella's Castle. 19 00:01:03,620 --> 00:01:04,900 I said, do you wanna go there? 20 00:01:04,900 --> 00:01:09,420 And she went, you can go there? 21 00:01:09,420 --> 00:01:10,940 I said, yeah. 22 00:01:10,940 --> 00:01:12,980 I was talking about Disney World, she goes, 23 00:01:12,980 --> 00:01:14,260 I said, would you like me to take you there? 24 00:01:14,260 --> 00:01:17,140 She said, yeah, I would love for you to take me there. 25 00:01:17,140 --> 00:01:19,900 And so I said, okay, maybe one day I'll take you there. 26 00:01:19,900 --> 00:01:21,660 Well, there's two problems with maybe. 27 00:01:21,660 --> 00:01:26,660 Maybe means you're definitely taking me there. 28 00:01:27,220 --> 00:01:28,060 Who agrees? 29 00:01:28,060 --> 00:01:31,180 To a little kid, maybe means what? 30 00:01:31,180 --> 00:01:33,380 We're going, that's the first problem, 31 00:01:33,380 --> 00:01:34,860 it's like a promise. 32 00:01:34,860 --> 00:01:38,340 The second problem is maybe for a parent means 33 00:01:38,340 --> 00:01:41,820 off one day, but to a kid maybe means 34 00:01:41,820 --> 00:01:43,820 we're going there tomorrow. 35 00:01:43,820 --> 00:01:45,740 That's what it means. 36 00:01:45,740 --> 00:01:47,780 Have you ever been there? 37 00:01:47,780 --> 00:01:50,900 And it wasn't very long the next day. 38 00:01:50,900 --> 00:01:54,140 Hey, when are we going to Cinderella's Castle? 39 00:01:54,140 --> 00:01:55,860 So at some point I need to take her. 40 00:01:55,860 --> 00:01:57,100 You guys are like, have you not taken her? 41 00:01:57,100 --> 00:01:59,060 I have not taken her. 42 00:01:59,060 --> 00:02:02,220 So I'm sorry, Milana, one day we may go. 43 00:02:02,220 --> 00:02:03,620 Maybe, maybe. 44 00:02:06,540 --> 00:02:09,660 As a dad, I learned the importance of a concept, 45 00:02:09,660 --> 00:02:11,300 the concept of a promise. 46 00:02:12,140 --> 00:02:14,380 For a hopeful kid, at least my kids, 47 00:02:14,380 --> 00:02:17,780 when they hear that we may go and do this or that, 48 00:02:17,780 --> 00:02:19,180 it's as good as done. 49 00:02:19,180 --> 00:02:21,860 And it's disappointing to be promised something 50 00:02:21,860 --> 00:02:23,740 and then to be let down. 51 00:02:23,740 --> 00:02:26,100 Anybody ever have that experience? 52 00:02:26,100 --> 00:02:28,660 Have you ever been promised something 53 00:02:28,660 --> 00:02:32,100 and then the person didn't come through? 54 00:02:32,100 --> 00:02:33,820 Have you ever been that person, 55 00:02:33,820 --> 00:02:38,580 that you promised something and then you didn't come through? 56 00:02:38,580 --> 00:02:41,740 I'll be there at nine on Thursday, 57 00:02:41,740 --> 00:02:45,020 and then you're there and no person to be found, right? 58 00:02:46,020 --> 00:02:48,540 Have you ever been put in a circumstance 59 00:02:48,540 --> 00:02:50,140 where you promised something 60 00:02:50,140 --> 00:02:53,860 and then something kept you from keeping your promise? 61 00:02:53,860 --> 00:02:57,220 We're walking through Hebrews chapter number 11, 62 00:02:57,220 --> 00:02:58,900 and I thought it was a beautiful reading today, 63 00:02:58,900 --> 00:03:00,580 but the ability did such a good job. 64 00:03:00,580 --> 00:03:02,060 Thank you for reading that for us. 65 00:03:02,060 --> 00:03:05,980 This is a beautiful passage of scripture because, 66 00:03:07,220 --> 00:03:09,580 well, first of all, it's true. 67 00:03:09,580 --> 00:03:12,180 And a lot of things that are true are beautiful. 68 00:03:12,180 --> 00:03:14,300 And I believe that the word of God is a beautiful thing, 69 00:03:14,300 --> 00:03:15,140 don't you? 70 00:03:16,020 --> 00:03:18,180 And so it's precious to us and that's good, 71 00:03:18,180 --> 00:03:22,340 but it's also beautiful because of the story 72 00:03:22,340 --> 00:03:24,460 that it tells and what it means for us. 73 00:03:25,900 --> 00:03:29,740 This is a passage of scripture, this passage in Hebrews 11, 74 00:03:29,740 --> 00:03:31,300 that's called the Hall of Faith. 75 00:03:31,300 --> 00:03:33,740 It's talking about faith in the last two weeks. 76 00:03:33,740 --> 00:03:38,500 We've gotten through the end of chapter 10 77 00:03:38,500 --> 00:03:40,660 where it says that it is written 78 00:03:40,660 --> 00:03:45,020 that the just shall live by faith. 79 00:03:45,020 --> 00:03:48,900 And then he says to those Hebrews that he's writing to 80 00:03:48,900 --> 00:03:50,980 in this incredible book of Hebrews, 81 00:03:50,980 --> 00:03:54,420 we're not of those who fall back into perdition, 82 00:03:54,420 --> 00:03:58,060 we're of those who move forward, who live by faith, 83 00:03:58,060 --> 00:04:00,780 and we believe under the saving of the soul. 84 00:04:00,780 --> 00:04:05,780 And last week we looked at this expression 85 00:04:06,020 --> 00:04:09,340 that the author, the preacher of Hebrews is giving us 86 00:04:09,340 --> 00:04:12,540 and giving us just example after example 87 00:04:12,540 --> 00:04:15,500 of what it means to be people who live by faith 88 00:04:15,500 --> 00:04:18,020 by looking back at the Old Testament 89 00:04:18,020 --> 00:04:21,460 to these people who had gone before, 90 00:04:21,460 --> 00:04:23,660 these Jewish believers who had gone before 91 00:04:23,660 --> 00:04:26,900 in the Old Testament who heard the word of God 92 00:04:26,900 --> 00:04:29,060 and responded to it and lived, 93 00:04:29,060 --> 00:04:31,740 they walked by being just people, 94 00:04:31,740 --> 00:04:33,660 the just shall live by faith. 95 00:04:33,660 --> 00:04:35,140 They walked by faith. 96 00:04:35,140 --> 00:04:38,460 Last week we looked at Abel who had an obedient faith, 97 00:04:38,460 --> 00:04:41,420 an Enoch who had a faith that walked with God. 98 00:04:41,420 --> 00:04:46,420 And we had this picture of Noah who believed 99 00:04:46,700 --> 00:04:48,860 and was saved because of his faith. 100 00:04:48,860 --> 00:04:50,340 And what an amazing thing. 101 00:04:50,340 --> 00:04:53,820 Today we come to this incredible story 102 00:04:53,820 --> 00:04:57,500 about a man and a promise. 103 00:04:57,500 --> 00:04:59,540 That's why I'm talking about promises. 104 00:05:01,700 --> 00:05:04,780 I want you to know that when man, 105 00:05:04,780 --> 00:05:07,540 that even though man breaks promises, 106 00:05:07,540 --> 00:05:10,660 we can be people who break promises. 107 00:05:10,660 --> 00:05:15,660 God always, always, always keeps his promises. 108 00:05:16,420 --> 00:05:21,260 What he said, he will do. 109 00:05:21,260 --> 00:05:24,220 What he said, he will do. 110 00:05:24,220 --> 00:05:26,260 When God promises something, 111 00:05:26,260 --> 00:05:28,780 you can take him to the bank. 112 00:05:28,780 --> 00:05:31,340 You can count on him to keep that promise. 113 00:05:31,340 --> 00:05:34,060 And today I want to talk to you about a promise 114 00:05:34,060 --> 00:05:36,060 that involves you. 115 00:05:36,060 --> 00:05:36,900 You say who me? 116 00:05:36,900 --> 00:05:37,980 Yes, you. 117 00:05:37,980 --> 00:05:40,780 God has made a promise through the people 118 00:05:40,780 --> 00:05:42,420 that we're reading about today 119 00:05:42,420 --> 00:05:45,340 that's a very important promise. 120 00:05:45,340 --> 00:05:49,180 And I believe that this story that you're going to hear about, 121 00:05:49,180 --> 00:05:53,180 the story of the promise of God will give you hope 122 00:05:53,180 --> 00:05:57,460 and faith in God and all that he wants to do. 123 00:05:57,460 --> 00:06:00,420 We have a good God. 124 00:06:00,420 --> 00:06:03,700 We have an incredible God who loves us 125 00:06:03,700 --> 00:06:05,900 and who gave his son for us 126 00:06:05,900 --> 00:06:08,220 and we can put our faith in him. 127 00:06:08,220 --> 00:06:11,500 And when we do, we know that he'll come through for us. 128 00:06:11,500 --> 00:06:13,820 The story that I want to read to you today 129 00:06:13,820 --> 00:06:17,940 we've already read is here in Hebrews 11 verses 8 through 16. 130 00:06:17,940 --> 00:06:20,620 And it involves, if you're looking at your Bible, 131 00:06:20,620 --> 00:06:25,620 I'm for tablets and I'm for phones and I'm for paper. 132 00:06:25,940 --> 00:06:26,780 I like it all. 133 00:06:26,780 --> 00:06:28,100 You have a Bible? 134 00:06:28,100 --> 00:06:29,820 Is it on your lap or on an app? 135 00:06:29,820 --> 00:06:31,820 It's somewhere, okay? 136 00:06:31,820 --> 00:06:35,420 Hebrews 11 verses 8 through 16 can be divided 137 00:06:35,420 --> 00:06:37,340 into three sections. 138 00:06:37,340 --> 00:06:40,060 You can see that in the first section by faith. 139 00:06:40,060 --> 00:06:41,180 Who's the first person? 140 00:06:42,140 --> 00:06:43,100 Who is it? 141 00:06:43,100 --> 00:06:44,340 Say it loud. 142 00:06:44,340 --> 00:06:45,180 Abraham. 143 00:06:45,180 --> 00:06:49,860 Then you get on to verse number 11 through faith also. 144 00:06:49,860 --> 00:06:50,700 Sarah. 145 00:06:50,700 --> 00:06:52,460 Who was Sarah to Abraham? 146 00:06:52,460 --> 00:06:55,700 Sarah was Abraham's wife. 147 00:06:55,700 --> 00:06:56,540 Okay? 148 00:06:56,540 --> 00:06:58,140 It was Abraham and Sarah. 149 00:06:58,140 --> 00:07:01,620 God changed their name to Abraham and Sarah. 150 00:07:01,620 --> 00:07:03,740 And so that's what you see. 151 00:07:03,740 --> 00:07:06,140 And then you get down to verse 13. 152 00:07:06,140 --> 00:07:09,340 It says, these all died in faith. 153 00:07:09,340 --> 00:07:11,380 And so that's the third section that takes us down 154 00:07:11,380 --> 00:07:14,620 through verse number 16, at least for today's preaching 155 00:07:14,620 --> 00:07:15,460 passage. 156 00:07:15,460 --> 00:07:18,020 And so you can divide it up those three ways. 157 00:07:18,020 --> 00:07:23,020 And what we're gonna see is that the word promise 158 00:07:23,500 --> 00:07:24,860 shows up a bunch too. 159 00:07:24,860 --> 00:07:26,860 You see it in verse nine. 160 00:07:26,860 --> 00:07:30,260 We've already read it, but you see it in verse nine 161 00:07:30,260 --> 00:07:33,940 by faith he surged into the land of, what's the next word? 162 00:07:33,940 --> 00:07:35,820 Promise. 163 00:07:35,820 --> 00:07:37,140 And he says in a strange country, 164 00:07:37,140 --> 00:07:39,060 dwelling in Tavernacles with Isaac and Jacob, 165 00:07:39,060 --> 00:07:42,340 the heirs with him of the same, what's the next word? 166 00:07:42,340 --> 00:07:43,180 Promise. 167 00:07:43,180 --> 00:07:44,020 It comes there. 168 00:07:44,020 --> 00:07:45,900 It also comes in verse 11. 169 00:07:45,900 --> 00:07:49,940 Through faith also, Sarah received strength to conceive. 170 00:07:49,940 --> 00:07:52,780 Seed and was delivered of a child when she was past age 171 00:07:52,780 --> 00:07:56,460 because she judged him faithful who had what? 172 00:07:56,460 --> 00:07:57,300 Promise. 173 00:07:57,300 --> 00:07:58,980 And then down in verse 13. 174 00:07:58,980 --> 00:08:01,980 These all died in faith not having received the, 175 00:08:02,860 --> 00:08:05,540 who agrees this is about promises. 176 00:08:05,540 --> 00:08:09,980 This is about a promise of God given to Abraham, 177 00:08:09,980 --> 00:08:13,220 given to Sarah and given to some others 178 00:08:13,220 --> 00:08:15,260 that we shall see their seed. 179 00:08:16,260 --> 00:08:18,220 So can I tell you the story? 180 00:08:18,220 --> 00:08:21,260 Can we understand together what this promise was for them 181 00:08:21,260 --> 00:08:23,540 and what it is for us? 182 00:08:23,540 --> 00:08:26,420 I want this to be intensely practical today 183 00:08:26,420 --> 00:08:28,060 because here's what's amazing. 184 00:08:28,060 --> 00:08:30,580 God has been doing something 185 00:08:30,580 --> 00:08:33,540 since the before the foundation of the world. 186 00:08:34,540 --> 00:08:39,220 God had a plan, God had a mission, and God had a story. 187 00:08:39,220 --> 00:08:41,300 And we're included in this story 188 00:08:41,300 --> 00:08:44,500 and we're gonna see part of this story today. 189 00:08:44,500 --> 00:08:46,900 And I think that at the end of this sermon, 190 00:08:46,900 --> 00:08:48,620 at least this is what I hope, 191 00:08:48,620 --> 00:08:52,140 that you'll have if you know Christ as your savior, 192 00:08:52,140 --> 00:08:56,100 just this incredible awe and an incredible wonder 193 00:08:56,100 --> 00:08:58,540 and a worshipful heart to the God 194 00:08:58,540 --> 00:09:01,260 who has made these incredible promises to us 195 00:09:02,140 --> 00:09:04,700 and who is deserving of our worship 196 00:09:04,700 --> 00:09:08,540 because he's been so gracious and merciful to us. 197 00:09:08,540 --> 00:09:11,380 And that you'll be excited about making sure 198 00:09:11,380 --> 00:09:14,180 everybody you possibly can tell knows this promise. 199 00:09:14,180 --> 00:09:16,620 And if you're here today and you don't know Christ as savior, 200 00:09:16,620 --> 00:09:20,820 I want you to know that God has offered something to you 201 00:09:20,820 --> 00:09:23,820 and you can be part of what God has been planning 202 00:09:23,820 --> 00:09:26,060 since before the foundation of the world. 203 00:09:27,020 --> 00:09:30,420 We can have a hope for our future through faith 204 00:09:30,420 --> 00:09:33,140 and the promise of God by asking and answering 205 00:09:33,140 --> 00:09:35,660 six questions of this text today. 206 00:09:35,660 --> 00:09:36,500 Are you ready? 207 00:09:36,500 --> 00:09:37,980 Here's the first question. 208 00:09:37,980 --> 00:09:40,060 What was the promise? 209 00:09:40,060 --> 00:09:42,060 What is the promise? 210 00:09:42,060 --> 00:09:42,980 Well, let's look at it. 211 00:09:42,980 --> 00:09:45,660 It says, it told us about it. 212 00:09:45,660 --> 00:09:48,740 I showed you already, there's already been made a promise. 213 00:09:48,740 --> 00:09:50,060 What is this promise? 214 00:09:50,060 --> 00:09:51,500 Well, if you have your Bible, 215 00:09:51,500 --> 00:09:56,500 go to Genesis, the first book in our Bible, 216 00:09:57,140 --> 00:10:02,140 Genesis chapter 12, look at verse number one. 217 00:10:02,620 --> 00:10:04,700 This is an amazing verse. 218 00:10:04,700 --> 00:10:09,700 If you want to understand God's mission that he's been on, 219 00:10:09,860 --> 00:10:11,500 you got to understand this first. 220 00:10:11,500 --> 00:10:12,660 Here's what it says. 221 00:10:13,780 --> 00:10:16,700 The promise that's being referred to is given to us, 222 00:10:16,700 --> 00:10:18,980 not just here, it's been given to us other places, 223 00:10:18,980 --> 00:10:21,500 but it's been given to us here in Genesis chapter 12, 224 00:10:21,500 --> 00:10:22,620 verse number one. 225 00:10:22,620 --> 00:10:24,140 Here's what it says. 226 00:10:24,140 --> 00:10:28,620 Now the Lord has said unto Abram, 227 00:10:28,620 --> 00:10:33,620 get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred 228 00:10:34,340 --> 00:10:39,340 and from thy father's house unto a land that I will show thee 229 00:10:39,620 --> 00:10:42,820 and I will make of thee a great nation 230 00:10:42,820 --> 00:10:46,620 and I will bless thee and make thy name great 231 00:10:46,620 --> 00:10:48,060 and thou shalt be a blessing 232 00:10:48,060 --> 00:10:50,500 and I will bless them that bless thee 233 00:10:50,500 --> 00:10:52,580 and curse him that cursed thee 234 00:10:52,580 --> 00:10:57,080 and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. 235 00:10:58,980 --> 00:10:59,820 Who agrees? 236 00:10:59,820 --> 00:11:00,860 That's a pretty cool promise. 237 00:11:00,860 --> 00:11:03,060 What a great promise. 238 00:11:03,060 --> 00:11:04,980 It came with a pretty difficult thing. 239 00:11:04,980 --> 00:11:08,100 Hey, get up and go and I'll show you where you're gonna go, 240 00:11:08,100 --> 00:11:10,900 but I'm gonna bless those that bless you and curse those. 241 00:11:10,900 --> 00:11:13,700 Who would take that promise from God? 242 00:11:13,700 --> 00:11:16,620 Hey, people who are with me get blessed. 243 00:11:16,620 --> 00:11:18,100 People who are against me get cursed. 244 00:11:18,100 --> 00:11:20,140 I think that's pretty cool. 245 00:11:20,140 --> 00:11:21,460 And I'm gonna get a land 246 00:11:21,460 --> 00:11:24,540 and I'm gonna get a people that's an incredible thing. 247 00:11:24,540 --> 00:11:25,780 So what did Abram do? 248 00:11:25,780 --> 00:11:28,380 I love this, verse four, this is his faith. 249 00:11:28,380 --> 00:11:31,340 So Abram departed as the Lord has spoken unto him. 250 00:11:31,340 --> 00:11:32,340 You know what's good? 251 00:11:33,380 --> 00:11:34,580 Faith obeys. 252 00:11:35,860 --> 00:11:37,140 It's good to be obedient. 253 00:11:37,140 --> 00:11:37,980 Who agrees with me? 254 00:11:37,980 --> 00:11:39,220 It's good to be obedient. 255 00:11:39,220 --> 00:11:41,940 God's called us to be obedient. 256 00:11:41,940 --> 00:11:43,940 So Abram departed as the Lord has spoken to him 257 00:11:43,940 --> 00:11:44,780 and Lot went with him 258 00:11:44,780 --> 00:11:47,700 and Abram was 70 and five years old 259 00:11:47,700 --> 00:11:50,220 when he departed out of Heron. 260 00:11:50,220 --> 00:11:51,820 This text that we're referring to 261 00:11:51,820 --> 00:11:54,860 is called the Abrahamic Covenant. 262 00:11:54,860 --> 00:11:56,980 The Abrahamic Covenant. 263 00:11:56,980 --> 00:12:00,820 It's the promise of God, the covenant of God to Abram 264 00:12:00,820 --> 00:12:04,740 that came with a command to leave where he lived, 265 00:12:04,740 --> 00:12:06,580 the ear of the Caldees, 266 00:12:06,580 --> 00:12:08,740 to go to the place that God would show him. 267 00:12:08,740 --> 00:12:11,460 So what's the promise that's being talked about? 268 00:12:11,460 --> 00:12:13,580 It's the promise to Abram, 269 00:12:13,580 --> 00:12:17,700 a covenant of Abraham for Abraham from God 270 00:12:17,700 --> 00:12:19,660 that God would be with him, that he would bless them, 271 00:12:19,660 --> 00:12:21,980 that in him all the nations of the earth would be blessed 272 00:12:21,980 --> 00:12:24,100 through a land and a people. 273 00:12:24,100 --> 00:12:25,780 We'll see that here in just a moment. 274 00:12:25,780 --> 00:12:26,780 So that's the first question. 275 00:12:26,780 --> 00:12:28,820 What was the promise that's the Abrahamic Covenant? 276 00:12:28,820 --> 00:12:30,380 Here's the second question. 277 00:12:30,380 --> 00:12:32,420 You're like, you got through a point in like three minutes? 278 00:12:32,420 --> 00:12:33,980 Yeah, isn't that cool? 279 00:12:33,980 --> 00:12:37,300 Cool, number two, don't expect that again. 280 00:12:37,300 --> 00:12:40,220 All right, number two, what's the second question? 281 00:12:40,220 --> 00:12:43,500 How is Abram a part of that promise? 282 00:12:43,500 --> 00:12:45,620 Well, if you go back to our text, 283 00:12:45,620 --> 00:12:48,260 Hebrews chapter 11 verse eight, it says this, 284 00:12:48,260 --> 00:12:53,260 by faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place 285 00:12:53,740 --> 00:12:56,660 which he should after receive for an inheritance, 286 00:12:56,660 --> 00:12:58,340 what's the next word? 287 00:12:58,340 --> 00:13:01,340 He obeyed, when God said, get up and go, 288 00:13:01,340 --> 00:13:04,260 Abraham got up and he went. 289 00:13:04,260 --> 00:13:05,540 Now when he got up and he left, 290 00:13:05,540 --> 00:13:07,460 did he know where he was going? 291 00:13:07,460 --> 00:13:09,340 The verse tells us they didn't have any idea 292 00:13:09,340 --> 00:13:11,100 where he was going, he didn't know. 293 00:13:11,100 --> 00:13:13,540 He's just gonna go wherever God shows him. 294 00:13:13,540 --> 00:13:14,780 How many of you guys would like to try it? 295 00:13:14,780 --> 00:13:18,800 Let's try an Abraham, Megan, next summer, Abraham vacation. 296 00:13:19,900 --> 00:13:23,980 We're just gonna load up the car and we're gonna go somewhere. 297 00:13:24,980 --> 00:13:26,900 Who wants to go on vacation with us? 298 00:13:26,900 --> 00:13:29,380 No, you can't go, no, you're not coming. 299 00:13:31,460 --> 00:13:33,580 Just go to a land that I'm gonna show you. 300 00:13:33,580 --> 00:13:35,060 What an amazing thing. 301 00:13:35,060 --> 00:13:36,860 Is that what it got, what did he do? 302 00:13:36,860 --> 00:13:41,860 Now think about, we have so much history to refer to. 303 00:13:44,540 --> 00:13:49,420 Right, we have so much of God revealing himself to us. 304 00:13:49,420 --> 00:13:53,420 In fact, Hebrews 11 is something that Abraham didn't have. 305 00:13:53,420 --> 00:13:54,860 He didn't know about a whole of things. 306 00:13:54,860 --> 00:13:56,300 He probably knew some of the people 307 00:13:56,300 --> 00:14:00,500 that had come before him for sure. 308 00:14:00,500 --> 00:14:03,100 But he didn't have what we have in knowing how God is 309 00:14:03,100 --> 00:14:04,340 and what God was doing. 310 00:14:04,340 --> 00:14:06,340 He just got God showing up and saying, 311 00:14:06,340 --> 00:14:09,140 Abraham, get up and go, you're gonna move. 312 00:14:09,140 --> 00:14:11,660 You're gonna leave your land, you're gonna leave your kindred 313 00:14:11,660 --> 00:14:14,260 and you're gonna go to a place where I'm gonna show you. 314 00:14:14,260 --> 00:14:17,300 What an incredible thing to ask. 315 00:14:17,300 --> 00:14:21,540 And when he was told to do that, he obeyed and he went out. 316 00:14:21,540 --> 00:14:24,780 It says not knowing whether he went. 317 00:14:24,780 --> 00:14:26,780 It involved a place. 318 00:14:26,780 --> 00:14:31,140 This promise involved a land, it involved a place. 319 00:14:31,140 --> 00:14:34,020 Genesis 11, 31 tells us that he went 320 00:14:34,020 --> 00:14:35,500 and terror took Abraham, his son, 321 00:14:35,500 --> 00:14:37,540 and a lot of the son of Abraham, his son son, 322 00:14:37,540 --> 00:14:39,820 and Sarah, his daughter-in-law, and son's Abraham's wife, 323 00:14:39,820 --> 00:14:43,180 and they went forth with him from Ur out of the Caledys 324 00:14:43,180 --> 00:14:44,740 to go to the land of Canaan, 325 00:14:44,740 --> 00:14:47,540 and they came unto Heron and dwelt there. 326 00:14:47,540 --> 00:14:49,300 He was promised a land. 327 00:14:49,300 --> 00:14:52,340 He was promised this progeny, this people. 328 00:14:52,340 --> 00:14:54,620 It took some faith to leave your home land 329 00:14:54,620 --> 00:14:56,620 to go where you've never been 330 00:14:56,620 --> 00:14:58,980 and not really know exactly where you're going. 331 00:15:00,020 --> 00:15:02,780 Verse eight says he went out knowing where he went. 332 00:15:02,780 --> 00:15:03,900 And then he says in verse nine, 333 00:15:03,900 --> 00:15:08,500 by faith he sojourned in the land of promise 334 00:15:08,500 --> 00:15:13,260 as in a strange country, dwelling in, 335 00:15:13,260 --> 00:15:14,100 what does it say next? 336 00:15:14,100 --> 00:15:16,300 Dwelling in tabernacles. 337 00:15:16,300 --> 00:15:19,260 This is tense with Isaac and Jacob. 338 00:15:19,260 --> 00:15:20,460 Who are Isaac and Jacob? 339 00:15:20,460 --> 00:15:24,620 Abraham begat Isaac, Isaac begat Jacob. 340 00:15:24,620 --> 00:15:27,580 This is his son and his grandson talking about that. 341 00:15:27,580 --> 00:15:32,580 The heirs with him of the same promise. 342 00:15:32,580 --> 00:15:34,220 It's the same promise because he said 343 00:15:34,220 --> 00:15:36,500 it's gonna be through your line 344 00:15:36,500 --> 00:15:40,220 that we're gonna have a nation of people 345 00:15:41,620 --> 00:15:43,900 and we'll see how many there would be. 346 00:15:43,900 --> 00:15:45,020 So it was through them. 347 00:15:45,020 --> 00:15:48,180 Abraham's faith demonstrated by his obedience, 348 00:15:48,180 --> 00:15:50,820 by his obedience that he had a generational impact 349 00:15:50,820 --> 00:15:52,860 through Isaac and Jacob. 350 00:15:52,860 --> 00:15:54,940 We read about his life in mere moments, 351 00:15:54,940 --> 00:15:57,940 but his life was revealed to him slowly over time. 352 00:15:57,940 --> 00:16:00,980 There were years of childlessness. 353 00:16:00,980 --> 00:16:02,740 That's the thing that's so interesting. 354 00:16:02,740 --> 00:16:05,620 We're gonna see this in looking at Sarah. 355 00:16:05,620 --> 00:16:07,820 He says you're gonna be the father of a great nation 356 00:16:07,820 --> 00:16:09,660 and how many kids did he have? 357 00:16:13,180 --> 00:16:15,980 Goose egg, zero, he had no kids. 358 00:16:15,980 --> 00:16:19,260 How old was he when he got that promise the first time? 359 00:16:19,260 --> 00:16:21,460 75 years old. 360 00:16:21,460 --> 00:16:22,300 Is there anybody? 361 00:16:22,300 --> 00:16:23,700 I'm not gonna have you stand. 362 00:16:25,620 --> 00:16:27,220 Anybody here over 75? 363 00:16:27,220 --> 00:16:28,500 Yes, there are. 364 00:16:28,500 --> 00:16:33,500 We're having baby dedication later, so you 75 year olds. 365 00:16:34,580 --> 00:16:36,260 Make sure you mark in your bulletins, right? 366 00:16:36,260 --> 00:16:39,420 That you're gonna write, that doesn't happen. 367 00:16:40,820 --> 00:16:43,260 There were years of childlessness, 368 00:16:43,260 --> 00:16:46,420 one in which the descendants would be like the stars, 369 00:16:46,420 --> 00:16:48,740 this promise that they'd be like stars in the sky 370 00:16:48,740 --> 00:16:50,780 in the sand of the seashore. 371 00:16:50,780 --> 00:16:53,500 He also demonstrated his faith by being a tent dweller 372 00:16:53,500 --> 00:16:55,260 and a sewjourner. 373 00:16:55,260 --> 00:16:58,180 He was nomadic, never permanently setting up residents 374 00:16:58,180 --> 00:17:00,900 while believing God's promise about a land. 375 00:17:00,900 --> 00:17:03,060 It says that they were dwelling in tabernacles, 376 00:17:03,060 --> 00:17:04,780 which literally means tents. 377 00:17:04,780 --> 00:17:07,540 Their son and their sons and sons lived in the promised land 378 00:17:07,540 --> 00:17:09,740 and passed down this faith and God, 379 00:17:09,740 --> 00:17:12,500 according to the promise to their kids. 380 00:17:12,500 --> 00:17:13,460 Why did he do it all? 381 00:17:13,460 --> 00:17:15,060 Verse 10, why? 382 00:17:15,060 --> 00:17:19,460 Because he looked for a city which had foundations, 383 00:17:19,460 --> 00:17:24,160 whose builder and maker is God. 384 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:27,400 The word here for looked, 385 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:30,560 it looked for is echodechomai 386 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:33,600 in Hebrews chapter 10 verse 13. 387 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:37,240 It's in that same verse, sorry, in Hebrews 10, 13, 388 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:40,440 it's the word that's translated expecting. 389 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:43,280 So when it says he was looking for one, 390 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:47,240 it wasn't like Nicholas Cage putting lemons 391 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:49,520 on the back of things, treasure map. 392 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:50,560 You guys know what I'm talking about? 393 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:51,720 No one knows what I'm talking about. 394 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:54,440 No one knows what I'm talking about. 395 00:17:54,440 --> 00:17:56,320 He's not searching as it, like he's searching for treasure. 396 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:59,280 Like there's this lost city that he's gotta find 397 00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:00,960 somewhere in this promised land. 398 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:03,720 When it says he's looking for, it says he's expecting 399 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:07,400 a city and the city he's looking for is not an earthly city. 400 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:10,960 He's looking for a city whose builder and maker was who? 401 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:13,120 God, that's exactly right. 402 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:16,720 Abraham would no longer have to be a sojourner 403 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:18,000 in a temporary land. 404 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:20,480 He lived in a temporary earthly tabernacle 405 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:25,000 while he looked forward to an eternal heavenly city. 406 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:28,920 He lived it by faith, by echo deco mai, 407 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:33,320 by looking forward by expecting a certain destination. 408 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:36,640 Now, as I read this text, as I read it this week, 409 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:38,400 I thought of this question. 410 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:40,360 If God told me to leave, 411 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:44,000 and that's all he told me to do when I do it. 412 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:47,640 If God told you to leave, 413 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:49,760 now before you just say yes, 414 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:51,640 think about what a big deal that was. 415 00:18:53,120 --> 00:18:55,680 When you traveled in ancient times, 416 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:58,400 you didn't travel on highways with exits 417 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:02,400 where there's fast food and gas stations. 418 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:05,560 When you got up and left your land and your kindred 419 00:19:05,560 --> 00:19:08,000 and your tribe, you're leaving all of the things 420 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:09,520 that you had set up for provision, 421 00:19:09,520 --> 00:19:12,120 all the things that you had set up for safety. 422 00:19:12,120 --> 00:19:13,720 People back then had lots of kids 423 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:15,760 because that was their social security. 424 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:19,680 Right, when I get older, my kids will take care of me. 425 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:22,200 Right, they didn't have nursing homes. 426 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:23,520 Are you with me? 427 00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:26,600 So when you get up and leave, that's a big deal to go 428 00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:28,560 where you were doing that. 429 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:31,480 So if God asked me to do that same thing, would I go? 430 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:33,360 If he told me to leave without telling me 431 00:19:33,360 --> 00:19:35,640 where I would end up, would I go? 432 00:19:35,640 --> 00:19:38,760 Now, I'm gonna tell you this, God does tell you to go. 433 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:41,360 He does give us commands. 434 00:19:41,360 --> 00:19:43,560 And when he tells us something in his word, 435 00:19:43,560 --> 00:19:48,560 to live by faith is to obey what he said and what he says. 436 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:53,000 I've heard people say this. 437 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:55,120 Yeah, Pastor Ben, I know what the Bible says, 438 00:19:55,120 --> 00:19:59,280 but I feel, I know what God said, 439 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:02,040 but I think God'll just forgive me. 440 00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:05,080 Yikes, indeed. 441 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:07,680 Don't be deceived. 442 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:11,480 This is a recipe for a bad life, 443 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:15,160 for a life filled with behavior that God will not bless. 444 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:18,040 We have to be diligent to live our faith 445 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:20,360 in obedience to God in front of our kids 446 00:20:20,360 --> 00:20:22,720 and to share our faith verbally with them. 447 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:24,320 It must go into their minds 448 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:26,360 and see them soaked down into their hearts. 449 00:20:26,360 --> 00:20:29,280 They must see that faith expressed. 450 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:31,000 They have to have faith, they need to hear. 451 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:32,360 Faith comes by hearing and hearing 452 00:20:32,360 --> 00:20:34,720 by the word of God, our kids. 453 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:37,400 We need our faith to be expressed, 454 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:39,400 but it also needs to be engaged. 455 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:41,280 We need to know the word of God. 456 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:43,120 We need to hear the word of God, 457 00:20:43,120 --> 00:20:47,280 but we also need to obey the word of God, 458 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:49,440 even when it's hard. 459 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:53,640 The other thing I thought of 460 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:56,120 when I thought about this text is this. 461 00:20:56,120 --> 00:20:58,520 At the end of the day, my home is a tent. 462 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:05,000 At the end of the day, my house is going away. 463 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:08,200 And so is yours. 464 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:10,120 Your stuff, your car, your job, 465 00:21:10,120 --> 00:21:12,360 it's all going away. 466 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:15,120 It's all going away. 467 00:21:15,120 --> 00:21:17,480 There's two things that are eternal that's on this earth, 468 00:21:17,480 --> 00:21:19,280 the souls of men and the word of God. 469 00:21:20,360 --> 00:21:21,520 Your relationship with God 470 00:21:21,520 --> 00:21:23,280 is what's gonna make it out of here. 471 00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:25,040 The cities that we live in 472 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:29,280 don't have heavenly architects, engineers or foundations. 473 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:33,640 It's not if it will be gone, it's when it will be gone. 474 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:39,760 So I need to live for the eternal. 475 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:44,480 I need to have grace my feet and faith my eyes 476 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:49,480 because the just shall live by faith. 477 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:52,240 I will leave this home, this city and this life. 478 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:54,480 I can live focused on the temporary 479 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:56,600 or I can live echo-deco-mai, 480 00:21:56,600 --> 00:22:00,920 looking forward to focused on expecting 481 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:03,840 that eternal life, that everlasting city. 482 00:22:03,840 --> 00:22:05,280 The Psalmist put it this way, 483 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:10,280 when we follow our good shepherd, surely goodness and mercy 484 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:12,640 shall follow me and I shall dwell 485 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:16,600 in the house of the Lord, what forever? 486 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:20,320 So how is Abraham involved? 487 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:22,520 It involved a place. 488 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:24,440 How was Sarah involved? 489 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:28,800 Well, in this promise there was a place 490 00:22:28,800 --> 00:22:31,000 but there was also a people. 491 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:32,720 In verses eight through 10, 492 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:35,120 we see Abraham as part of the promise. 493 00:22:35,120 --> 00:22:37,920 It was all of it but it was in this particular text 494 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:39,600 it's emphasizing that he was going to a place, 495 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:42,200 a city whose builder and maker was God. 496 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:43,880 Now he's moving on to Sarah 497 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:46,480 and emphasizes the other part of the promise. 498 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:48,480 Look at verse 11, through faith also, 499 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:53,480 Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed 500 00:22:55,680 --> 00:23:00,000 and was delivered of child when she was past age 501 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:05,000 because she judged him, God, faithful who had promised. 502 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:08,400 You see with Sarah, she was directly involved 503 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:11,120 because this promise to Abraham involved a people. 504 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:15,800 We see that Sarah's faith was demonstrated 505 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:17,720 in belief in the promise of God 506 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:20,400 to receive the promise of God about a people. 507 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:23,240 When it said that she received strength to conceive seed, 508 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:24,480 this was her believing God 509 00:23:24,480 --> 00:23:27,080 that she could even have a baby. 510 00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:30,360 Sarah was 90 years old. 511 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:37,320 Sarah was 90 years old. 512 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:40,960 Say that's old. 513 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:42,840 That's old. 514 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:44,760 If you're 90, I'm sorry. 515 00:23:44,760 --> 00:23:46,880 I hope it's not news to you. 516 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:48,520 That's old. 517 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:53,480 Especially in when you're talking about having children. 518 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:57,320 Talk about being past age. 519 00:23:57,320 --> 00:24:00,360 She was past age for sure. 520 00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:03,040 But what does it say she believed? 521 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:04,600 She believed not only to conceive 522 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:06,700 but to be delivered of a child. 523 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:11,200 Having kids takes energy. 524 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:14,120 Who agrees with me? 525 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:20,040 Sometimes as a parent, I have to get off the couch 526 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:24,080 when I don't want to get off the couch. 527 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:27,200 Sometimes when I don't feel like helping with dinner, 528 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:29,800 I got to help with dinner. 529 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:33,960 Sometimes when it's time to discipline my kids, 530 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:36,720 I don't want to do it. 531 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:38,280 Has anybody here felt that way? 532 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:44,320 But here she was, someone who did not see people 533 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:47,920 at 90 having kids believing that if God promised 534 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:51,000 at 90 years old that she'd have a kid that would happen. 535 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:57,160 She believed God that he could do it 536 00:24:57,160 --> 00:24:59,600 but also that he would do it 537 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:01,600 and that she would have the strength to be a parent. 538 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:04,720 She believed God and then she received God's promise. 539 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:05,560 Look at verse 12. 540 00:25:05,560 --> 00:25:08,520 Therefore, spring there even of one 541 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:11,400 and him as good as what? 542 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:13,760 Let's not be cross or crude. 543 00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:18,760 But what he's saying is people that age are not having kids. 544 00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:25,520 From a reproductive standpoint, he was as good as dead 545 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:30,600 but therefore spring there even of this one dead one. 546 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:35,120 So many as the stars of the sky and the multitude 547 00:25:35,120 --> 00:25:40,120 and as the sand which is by the seashore innumerable, 548 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:42,600 uncountable. 549 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:44,800 This is a reference to some other reiterations 550 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:45,880 of God's promise to Abraham. 551 00:25:45,880 --> 00:25:49,960 In Genesis 15.5, this is how God kind of reiterated 552 00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:51,720 this promise to Abraham. 553 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:53,720 It says, and he brought him forth abroad and said, 554 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:56,760 look now toward heaven and tell the stars 555 00:25:56,760 --> 00:25:57,960 if they'll be able to number them. 556 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:01,880 And he said, so shall thy seed be. 557 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:05,480 And he believed in the Lord and he the Lord 558 00:26:05,480 --> 00:26:09,720 countered it to him Abraham for what? 559 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:11,240 Righteousness. 560 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:14,040 Verse 17 of Genesis 22. 561 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:15,840 That in blessing I will bless thee 562 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:18,560 and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed 563 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:21,640 as the stars of the heaven and as the sand 564 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:24,200 which is upon the seashore and thy seed shall be 565 00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:28,160 possessed the gate of his enemies. 566 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:32,520 Abraham and Sarah plainly believed God 567 00:26:32,520 --> 00:26:35,440 and demonstrated their faith in his promise 568 00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:38,560 of a place and a people. 569 00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:40,680 A land and a people. 570 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:42,880 A place and a progeny. 571 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:45,560 This wasn't just a one time decision. 572 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:48,120 They embodied what it was said was earlier in this text 573 00:26:48,120 --> 00:26:52,000 this idea that the just shall live by faith. 574 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:53,960 We see that truth expressed in the answer to the next 575 00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:55,760 question that gives us hope for the future. 576 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:58,000 Number four, what was their perspective? 577 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:01,360 We get their perspective of themselves 578 00:27:01,360 --> 00:27:03,880 and they express it in the following three ways. 579 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:07,240 First, their perspective of themselves was given to us 580 00:27:07,240 --> 00:27:08,920 in verse 13 and 14. 581 00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:13,400 These all died in faith, not having received the promises 582 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:17,000 but having seen them afar off and were persuaded of them 583 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:20,120 and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers 584 00:27:20,120 --> 00:27:23,000 and pilgrims on the earth for they that say such things 585 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:25,440 declare plainly that they seek a country. 586 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:28,800 When it says these all it refers not only to Abraham 587 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:31,360 and Sarah but also to those who are mentioned 588 00:27:31,360 --> 00:27:34,840 in verse nine Isaac and Jacob and their kids. 589 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:38,960 All these people died, yes they saw some kids 590 00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:41,560 but they did not see sand of the seashore. 591 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:46,040 They did not see sky, stars in the sky, numbers. 592 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:50,080 They died without seeing that promise of in them 593 00:27:50,080 --> 00:27:51,720 all the nations there are being blessed. 594 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:54,520 They did not see it in their lifetime 595 00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:58,000 and the Bible says they saw it afar off. 596 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:03,000 They lived as if that promise was true. 597 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:06,320 The just shall live by faith. 598 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:08,920 They lived as if when God made that promise 599 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:10,280 he was gonna complete it. 600 00:28:10,280 --> 00:28:13,680 It says they were persuaded of them, they embraced them. 601 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:15,920 It impacted their view of themselves. 602 00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:19,200 It says they confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims. 603 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:20,440 What's a stranger and a pilgrim? 604 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:23,400 A stranger and a pilgrim is, a stranger means I'm a foreigner. 605 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:26,480 I'm living in a land that's not my home. 606 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:28,920 This earth is not my home. 607 00:28:28,920 --> 00:28:30,200 There's a city coming. 608 00:28:30,200 --> 00:28:33,120 That's where I'm a citizen, you get it. 609 00:28:33,120 --> 00:28:35,440 They said that we're foreigners, we're pilgrims. 610 00:28:35,440 --> 00:28:37,520 Not only did they live in tents and travel, 611 00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:39,480 they believed that this earth as home 612 00:28:39,480 --> 00:28:42,040 was not their permanent home. 613 00:28:43,040 --> 00:28:45,800 They had a temporary view of themselves. 614 00:28:45,800 --> 00:28:48,840 They had a temporary view or perspective of their home. 615 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:50,320 Look at what it says in verse 15. 616 00:28:50,320 --> 00:28:52,680 And if indeed they had been mindful of that 617 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:54,400 from which they came forth, 618 00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:56,680 they might have had opportunity to return. 619 00:28:57,600 --> 00:28:59,440 That's just saying, they didn't count important 620 00:28:59,440 --> 00:29:00,840 in the land that they came from. 621 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:03,040 Their physical location and their past 622 00:29:03,040 --> 00:29:04,200 was not important to them. 623 00:29:04,200 --> 00:29:06,440 Abraham and Sarah came out of Earl of the Caldees. 624 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:08,000 They didn't go back there, why? 625 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:11,720 Because that temporary distinction was not important. 626 00:29:11,720 --> 00:29:14,560 They believed God and left that place. 627 00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:16,920 This was an eternal decision. 628 00:29:16,920 --> 00:29:18,600 And you can also see that in their perspective 629 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:20,800 towards eternity, you see that in verse 16. 630 00:29:20,800 --> 00:29:24,880 But now they long for a better, that is a heavenly, 631 00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:27,480 a better what? 632 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:30,200 A better city, a better place. 633 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:31,240 I'm an American. 634 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:34,520 I'm an Ohioan. 635 00:29:35,880 --> 00:29:38,000 But there's a citizenship that trumps that. 636 00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:40,920 I'm a citizen of heaven. 637 00:29:42,400 --> 00:29:44,320 And when America is forgotten, 638 00:29:45,320 --> 00:29:47,680 not because of me, but because of Jesus, 639 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:51,280 I'm gonna be a citizen of that fair country, amen. 640 00:29:51,280 --> 00:29:52,920 That doesn't mean we don't have an allegiance 641 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:55,160 at some level to our own country, 642 00:29:55,160 --> 00:29:57,160 but there's an identity that's more important. 643 00:29:57,160 --> 00:29:58,720 And I'm in Christ. 644 00:29:58,720 --> 00:30:00,320 That's what's more important. 645 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:03,760 The land that was promised was a future city, 646 00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:07,360 an eternal city, a city whose foundations, 647 00:30:07,360 --> 00:30:09,200 it says we're God. 648 00:30:09,200 --> 00:30:11,560 Again, they weren't wandering around looking for a city 649 00:30:11,560 --> 00:30:13,760 like the lost city of Atlantis or something. 650 00:30:13,760 --> 00:30:15,960 They were living, believing in the eternal, 651 00:30:15,960 --> 00:30:20,160 invisible God who would give them to be with him in eternity. 652 00:30:20,160 --> 00:30:22,560 So because that was their perspective, 653 00:30:22,560 --> 00:30:24,960 here's the fifth question, 654 00:30:24,960 --> 00:30:26,360 and there's gonna be a huge payoff at the end, 655 00:30:26,360 --> 00:30:27,200 this is gonna be so exciting. 656 00:30:27,200 --> 00:30:29,360 Number five, what was God's perspective? 657 00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:32,280 It says in verse 16, 658 00:30:32,280 --> 00:30:35,280 but now they live for a better, that is a heavenly, 659 00:30:35,280 --> 00:30:36,120 and then it says this, 660 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:41,120 wherefore God is not ashamed of them to be called their God, 661 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:48,120 for he did prepare for them a city. 662 00:30:50,800 --> 00:30:53,440 God accounted their faith as righteousness. 663 00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:56,160 God gave them the righteousness of Christ. 664 00:30:56,160 --> 00:30:57,400 He did what he does now. 665 00:30:57,400 --> 00:30:58,920 When people put their faith in him, 666 00:30:58,920 --> 00:31:00,800 he places them in Christ. 667 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:02,760 He gives them Christ's righteousness. 668 00:31:02,760 --> 00:31:04,440 He takes away their sin. 669 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:06,800 Their identity is now the people of God. 670 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:10,400 Their destiny is now a new city, Mount Zion, new Jerusalem, 671 00:31:10,400 --> 00:31:11,920 heaven, eternity with God. 672 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:13,400 He was pleased with their faith 673 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:15,400 and he prepared for them a city. 674 00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:17,040 You remember what Jesus said? 675 00:31:17,040 --> 00:31:20,920 I go to prepare a place for you, 676 00:31:20,920 --> 00:31:24,720 and if I go, I will come to you again 677 00:31:24,720 --> 00:31:27,440 to receive you unto myself that where I am, 678 00:31:27,440 --> 00:31:28,800 there ye may be also. 679 00:31:28,800 --> 00:31:30,800 They said, how can we know where you're going? 680 00:31:30,800 --> 00:31:31,640 How can we know the way? 681 00:31:31,640 --> 00:31:36,240 Jesus said, I am the way, the truth in the life. 682 00:31:36,240 --> 00:31:40,160 No man comes to the Father, but by me. 683 00:31:41,320 --> 00:31:43,800 Right now, Jesus is preparing a place for us. 684 00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:46,760 It's gonna be incredible. 685 00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:49,640 So that leads to the final question about this promise. 686 00:31:51,280 --> 00:31:53,040 Remember the premise, 687 00:31:53,040 --> 00:31:56,360 what I'm not trying to get you to think about. 688 00:31:56,360 --> 00:31:58,760 We can have hope for our future through faith 689 00:31:58,760 --> 00:32:02,440 and the promise of God by asking these questions. 690 00:32:02,440 --> 00:32:04,080 Here's the last question. 691 00:32:04,080 --> 00:32:07,520 How does faith and the promise impact us? 692 00:32:08,520 --> 00:32:12,120 How does faith and the promise impact us? 693 00:32:12,120 --> 00:32:14,920 The promise impacts who we are right now. 694 00:32:14,920 --> 00:32:15,760 This is amazing. 695 00:32:15,760 --> 00:32:20,040 Go in your Bible to Galatians chapter number three. 696 00:32:20,040 --> 00:32:23,000 Galatians chapter number three. 697 00:32:41,920 --> 00:32:44,240 If I do this right, you'll be amazed at this. 698 00:32:44,240 --> 00:32:49,560 Verse six. 699 00:32:52,240 --> 00:32:55,280 Even as Abraham believed God 700 00:32:55,280 --> 00:32:58,640 and it was accounted unto him for righteousness. 701 00:32:58,640 --> 00:33:03,080 Here's a quote from Genesis about God's saving of Abraham. 702 00:33:03,080 --> 00:33:07,400 Abraham was accounted or imputed Christ's righteousness. 703 00:33:07,400 --> 00:33:09,920 God considered him as righteous, 704 00:33:09,920 --> 00:33:11,680 not only because of his works, 705 00:33:11,680 --> 00:33:12,760 not because of his works, 706 00:33:12,760 --> 00:33:15,720 but because of his faith that did produce some works. 707 00:33:15,720 --> 00:33:17,080 It's the same with us. 708 00:33:17,080 --> 00:33:20,080 When we believe God, put our trust in Christ, 709 00:33:20,080 --> 00:33:22,200 God gives us Christ's righteousness as well. 710 00:33:22,200 --> 00:33:24,000 Look at verse seven. 711 00:33:24,000 --> 00:33:25,120 He says this. 712 00:33:25,120 --> 00:33:29,880 No ye therefore, that they which are of faith, 713 00:33:29,880 --> 00:33:33,120 the same are the children of Abraham. 714 00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:35,040 Okay. 715 00:33:35,040 --> 00:33:36,260 What is he saying? 716 00:33:37,480 --> 00:33:38,640 Who is this written to? 717 00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:40,440 What book are we in as we're reading? 718 00:33:40,440 --> 00:33:43,160 Galatians, was it Galatia? 719 00:33:43,160 --> 00:33:46,440 Were these Galatians, Jews or Gentiles? 720 00:33:46,440 --> 00:33:48,640 They are Gentiles. 721 00:33:51,960 --> 00:33:55,120 He's saying you're of Abraham, but they're not Jewish. 722 00:33:56,040 --> 00:33:59,560 He says, no ye therefore, that they which are of faith, 723 00:33:59,560 --> 00:34:02,840 the same are the children of Abraham. 724 00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:06,540 We are not the children of Abraham and that we're Jewish. 725 00:34:06,540 --> 00:34:07,640 We're the children of Abraham 726 00:34:07,640 --> 00:34:09,680 and that we are given the righteousness of God 727 00:34:09,680 --> 00:34:12,240 in the same way he was given it. 728 00:34:12,240 --> 00:34:14,920 He responded to the revelation that God gave him. 729 00:34:14,920 --> 00:34:18,000 We respond in faith to the revelation that God gave us 730 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:20,520 and God imputes Christ's righteousness to our account. 731 00:34:20,520 --> 00:34:21,960 Look at, now here's the good part. 732 00:34:21,960 --> 00:34:23,220 Look at verse eight. 733 00:34:24,120 --> 00:34:28,320 And the scripture foreseeing that God would justify 734 00:34:28,320 --> 00:34:33,320 the heathen through faith preached before the what? 735 00:34:33,320 --> 00:34:38,320 The gospel unto Abraham saying, in thee shall all the nations 736 00:34:40,240 --> 00:34:41,480 be blessed. 737 00:34:42,840 --> 00:34:44,320 Okay, let's pause for a second. 738 00:34:44,320 --> 00:34:45,320 What's the gospel? 739 00:34:46,680 --> 00:34:48,320 Gospel means good news. 740 00:34:49,560 --> 00:34:53,280 The good news is this, that Jesus died for our sins 741 00:34:53,280 --> 00:34:55,200 according to the scriptures, that he was buried, 742 00:34:55,200 --> 00:34:57,240 that he was risen again on the third day 743 00:34:57,240 --> 00:35:00,080 according to the scriptures for our sins. 744 00:35:00,080 --> 00:35:02,320 You get the good news, you get the good news, 745 00:35:02,320 --> 00:35:05,880 you get the good news is that we can go to heaven. 746 00:35:14,000 --> 00:35:14,840 Thank you. 747 00:35:18,680 --> 00:35:20,520 If you're a heathen, raise your hand. 748 00:35:22,600 --> 00:35:24,640 I mean, we're saved now, we're sanctified, 749 00:35:24,640 --> 00:35:28,520 but the heathen he's talking about is people who are Jewish. 750 00:35:28,520 --> 00:35:33,520 He says here that when God said, in thee shall all the nations 751 00:35:35,400 --> 00:35:40,400 of the earth be blessed, he was talking about us. 752 00:35:43,320 --> 00:35:46,120 Missions is God's idea. 753 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:52,000 In fact, we are doing the mission of God when we do missions. 754 00:35:54,000 --> 00:35:57,480 All the, did you hear about Levi and Chelsea this morning 755 00:35:57,480 --> 00:35:59,320 in South Sudan? 756 00:35:59,320 --> 00:36:01,720 Women and men who don't know the gospel, 757 00:36:01,720 --> 00:36:06,400 hearing the gospel, like you're gonna meet them one day 758 00:36:06,400 --> 00:36:08,560 in heaven, people who didn't know Jesus, 759 00:36:09,880 --> 00:36:11,720 they're gonna be in heaven. 760 00:36:11,720 --> 00:36:14,320 Every nation, tribe and tongue in heaven. 761 00:36:15,480 --> 00:36:18,040 People, we got to baptize people today. 762 00:36:18,040 --> 00:36:20,080 That didn't make them go to heaven, 763 00:36:20,080 --> 00:36:21,800 it just showed, they just wanted to let you know, 764 00:36:21,800 --> 00:36:23,560 hey, I'm going to heaven because Jesus died for me 765 00:36:23,560 --> 00:36:25,640 and rose from the dead, and I'm identifying with him 766 00:36:25,640 --> 00:36:28,120 and I'm identifying with you, who's excited about that? 767 00:36:32,240 --> 00:36:34,440 The gospel got to Ohio. 768 00:36:37,200 --> 00:36:41,200 From the Ur of the Counties, through Abraham and Isaac 769 00:36:41,200 --> 00:36:44,160 and Jacob and Joseph and David and Moses, 770 00:36:44,160 --> 00:36:48,280 all the way down to Jesus, who made disciples, 771 00:36:48,280 --> 00:36:50,480 who said disciples, and he said, 772 00:36:50,480 --> 00:36:53,400 you're gonna be my witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea 773 00:36:53,400 --> 00:36:57,160 and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth 774 00:36:57,160 --> 00:37:01,760 because in the seed of Abraham, Jesus came, 775 00:37:01,760 --> 00:37:04,400 and because he came and he died and he rose again, 776 00:37:04,400 --> 00:37:07,680 he could save to the uttermost those who went before 777 00:37:07,680 --> 00:37:10,640 who believed in him and he could save to the uttermost 778 00:37:10,640 --> 00:37:12,760 those who come to him today by faith. 779 00:37:12,760 --> 00:37:17,160 And so you and I as Gentile, heathen people 780 00:37:17,160 --> 00:37:20,520 can be considered the sons and daughters of Abraham. 781 00:37:20,520 --> 00:37:24,080 We're part of God's family, his progeny. 782 00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:28,120 We haven't replaced Israel. 783 00:37:28,120 --> 00:37:29,960 I'm not saying that. 784 00:37:29,960 --> 00:37:33,520 What I'm saying is the same way Abraham gets to God 785 00:37:33,520 --> 00:37:36,920 and is right with God is the same way we are. 786 00:37:38,560 --> 00:37:42,360 So they which are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 787 00:37:42,360 --> 00:37:43,920 Look at this, verse 10, this is amazing. 788 00:37:43,920 --> 00:37:47,400 For as many as are the works of the law under the curse, 789 00:37:47,400 --> 00:37:51,160 what does that mean? It says it, for it is written, 790 00:37:51,160 --> 00:37:54,440 cursed is everyone that continues not in all things 791 00:37:54,440 --> 00:37:57,120 which are written in the book of the law to do them. 792 00:37:57,120 --> 00:37:59,080 I got to talk to a lady yesterday. 793 00:38:02,320 --> 00:38:04,400 I know an early lady, sweet lady, 794 00:38:05,400 --> 00:38:09,040 and I, she came last week for the first time, 795 00:38:09,040 --> 00:38:11,320 came to our house and I told her, 796 00:38:11,320 --> 00:38:13,760 hey, I'm not here to offend you. 797 00:38:13,760 --> 00:38:15,040 I know you go to church a lot. 798 00:38:15,040 --> 00:38:17,360 I know you have a religious background, 799 00:38:17,360 --> 00:38:19,640 but I'm here to tell you something that you need to know. 800 00:38:19,640 --> 00:38:20,600 You're a sinner. 801 00:38:21,800 --> 00:38:23,600 The Bible says you're a sinner. 802 00:38:23,600 --> 00:38:27,080 God has a law and all of us have broken God's law. 803 00:38:28,080 --> 00:38:29,320 All of us. 804 00:38:29,320 --> 00:38:31,280 If you're like, I haven't broken God's law, 805 00:38:31,280 --> 00:38:32,640 you just did, you're lying. 806 00:38:33,640 --> 00:38:35,880 We all broken God's law. 807 00:38:35,880 --> 00:38:38,720 And if you're trying to get to God 808 00:38:38,720 --> 00:38:42,400 based on keeping God's law, you've already broken it. 809 00:38:42,400 --> 00:38:45,880 And because you've broken it, it says you're cursed. 810 00:38:45,880 --> 00:38:47,800 Isn't that what it says right there? 811 00:38:49,480 --> 00:38:51,960 Verse 11, yeah, cursed is everyone that continues not 812 00:38:51,960 --> 00:38:53,280 in all the things which are written in the book 813 00:38:53,280 --> 00:38:54,680 of the law to do them. 814 00:38:54,680 --> 00:38:56,800 If you don't keep all of the law, 815 00:38:56,800 --> 00:38:59,280 you've broken the law, you're cursed. 816 00:38:59,280 --> 00:39:03,120 Verse 11, but that no man is justified by the law 817 00:39:03,120 --> 00:39:05,520 and the sight of God is evident. 818 00:39:05,520 --> 00:39:07,560 No one's made right, no one's justified, 819 00:39:07,560 --> 00:39:09,680 no one's declared righteous by doing good works. 820 00:39:09,680 --> 00:39:12,000 You can't do enough by doing good works. 821 00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:15,720 Good works to outdo the bad that you've done. 822 00:39:15,720 --> 00:39:20,720 And that's why it says, for the just shall live by faith. 823 00:39:22,200 --> 00:39:25,760 The law is not a faith, but the man that doeth them 824 00:39:25,760 --> 00:39:26,920 shall live in them. 825 00:39:26,920 --> 00:39:29,080 Christ hath redeemed us. 826 00:39:29,080 --> 00:39:31,760 Here's the good news, Christ hath redeemed us. 827 00:39:31,760 --> 00:39:34,040 You see this, are you with me in verse 13? 828 00:39:34,040 --> 00:39:36,680 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law 829 00:39:36,680 --> 00:39:40,560 being made a curse for us. 830 00:39:40,560 --> 00:39:42,200 For it is written, cursed is everyone 831 00:39:42,200 --> 00:39:43,640 that hangeth on a tree. 832 00:39:44,760 --> 00:39:47,240 God planned before the foundation of the world 833 00:39:47,240 --> 00:39:51,440 to sacrifice his son to raise him up on the tree 834 00:39:52,640 --> 00:39:57,120 and to pour his wrath out on Jesus for our sins. 835 00:39:58,840 --> 00:40:02,560 I'm forgiven because he was rejected. 836 00:40:03,720 --> 00:40:05,080 Do you get it? 837 00:40:05,080 --> 00:40:07,480 Because he took my punishment. 838 00:40:07,480 --> 00:40:10,880 I can be saved. 839 00:40:12,880 --> 00:40:16,040 Jesus said, if I be lifted up, I'll draw all men to me. 840 00:40:16,040 --> 00:40:20,640 And even as a snake was raised in the wilderness, 841 00:40:21,640 --> 00:40:24,920 even so must the son of man be lifted up. 842 00:40:29,920 --> 00:40:34,920 Verse 14, Jesus was cursed by being punished for my sin 843 00:40:34,920 --> 00:40:35,920 on a tree. 844 00:40:35,920 --> 00:40:38,240 Punished for my sin on a tree. 845 00:40:38,240 --> 00:40:42,280 Verse 14, that the blessing of Abraham 846 00:40:42,280 --> 00:40:45,320 might come on the Gentiles. 847 00:40:45,320 --> 00:40:46,400 Are you with me? 848 00:40:46,400 --> 00:40:48,880 Are you getting what I'm saying? 849 00:40:48,880 --> 00:40:50,760 That the blessing of Abraham might come 850 00:40:50,760 --> 00:40:55,640 unto the Gentiles through Jesus Christ 851 00:40:55,640 --> 00:40:59,880 that we might receive the promise of the spirit 852 00:40:59,880 --> 00:41:02,360 through faith. 853 00:41:02,360 --> 00:41:04,200 Wow. 854 00:41:05,880 --> 00:41:07,040 Through faith. 855 00:41:08,280 --> 00:41:13,160 When we put our trust in Jesus, God saves us. 856 00:41:13,160 --> 00:41:15,400 He blesses us in Christ. 857 00:41:15,400 --> 00:41:20,400 And it's in that way that all the nations of the earth 858 00:41:20,520 --> 00:41:23,440 shall be blessed. 859 00:41:25,120 --> 00:41:26,360 You guys are not blown away. 860 00:41:26,360 --> 00:41:29,580 This is amazing what God has done for us. 861 00:41:29,580 --> 00:41:34,580 So the promise doesn't just impact who we are now. 862 00:41:34,700 --> 00:41:37,260 It impacts also where we are going. 863 00:41:37,260 --> 00:41:39,580 Remember what it said all through that passage 864 00:41:39,580 --> 00:41:40,820 that he's building a city for us, 865 00:41:40,820 --> 00:41:42,700 that he's preparing a place for us. 866 00:41:42,700 --> 00:41:45,700 That there's a city whose builder and maker is God. 867 00:41:45,700 --> 00:41:48,940 Can I tell you, this is a book full of promises 868 00:41:48,940 --> 00:41:50,820 that have been made and kept. 869 00:41:53,380 --> 00:41:56,220 This is a book God has an incredible track record 870 00:41:56,220 --> 00:41:58,140 of keeping his promises. 871 00:41:58,140 --> 00:42:01,420 But not all of the promises have been completely fulfilled. 872 00:42:01,420 --> 00:42:05,340 And John the revelator tells us in Revelation chapter 21 873 00:42:05,340 --> 00:42:08,420 verse one, a vision that he sees that's yet to come. 874 00:42:08,420 --> 00:42:10,060 Are you ready for this? 875 00:42:10,060 --> 00:42:11,220 This is amazing. 876 00:42:12,500 --> 00:42:17,500 Verse one, and I saw a new heaven and a new earth. 877 00:42:17,500 --> 00:42:19,860 For the first heaven and the first earth were passed away 878 00:42:19,860 --> 00:42:21,380 and there was no more sea. 879 00:42:21,380 --> 00:42:26,380 And I John saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem 880 00:42:26,380 --> 00:42:30,020 coming down from God out of heaven. 881 00:42:30,020 --> 00:42:32,900 Prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 882 00:42:32,900 --> 00:42:35,580 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, 883 00:42:35,580 --> 00:42:38,100 behold the what? 884 00:42:39,460 --> 00:42:41,740 Does God write some cool stories or what? 885 00:42:42,940 --> 00:42:45,340 Does he choose words for a reason? 886 00:42:45,340 --> 00:42:48,540 Behold the tabernacle of God is with men 887 00:42:48,540 --> 00:42:51,580 and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people. 888 00:42:51,580 --> 00:42:54,940 And God himself shall be with them and be their God. 889 00:42:54,940 --> 00:42:58,380 Here's some really good news and God shall wipe away 890 00:42:58,380 --> 00:43:02,380 all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death. 891 00:43:05,940 --> 00:43:07,660 Who's for that? 892 00:43:07,660 --> 00:43:12,660 No more death, neither sorrow nor crying. 893 00:43:12,980 --> 00:43:16,780 Neither shall there be any more pain. 894 00:43:19,340 --> 00:43:22,740 For the former things are passed away. 895 00:43:22,740 --> 00:43:25,180 And he sat upon the throne said, behold, 896 00:43:25,180 --> 00:43:26,420 I make all things new. 897 00:43:26,420 --> 00:43:29,620 And he said unto me, right, for these words are true 898 00:43:29,620 --> 00:43:32,620 and faithful, he said unto me, it's done. 899 00:43:33,740 --> 00:43:37,340 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. 900 00:43:37,340 --> 00:43:40,940 I will give unto him that is a thirst 901 00:43:40,940 --> 00:43:44,740 of the fountain of the water of life freely. 902 00:43:44,740 --> 00:43:47,780 He that over cometh shall inherit all things 903 00:43:47,780 --> 00:43:52,780 and I will be his God and he shall be my son. 904 00:43:55,660 --> 00:43:59,100 Father Abraham had many sons. 905 00:44:00,740 --> 00:44:03,580 Many sons had Father Abraham. 906 00:44:06,860 --> 00:44:12,060 If you're in faith, I'm one of them and so are you. 907 00:44:12,060 --> 00:44:17,060 God is preparing a city and we're gonna get to go there 908 00:44:20,220 --> 00:44:24,140 if we know him as our savior, but don't stop reading. 909 00:44:26,580 --> 00:44:31,580 Verse eight, but the fearful and the unbelieving. 910 00:44:33,140 --> 00:44:35,060 What is that unbelieving person? 911 00:44:35,060 --> 00:44:38,380 There's someone that's not necessarily any worse. 912 00:44:38,380 --> 00:44:41,100 It's not about works. 913 00:44:43,020 --> 00:44:44,660 Do people of faith mess up? 914 00:44:45,580 --> 00:44:47,820 Do people of faith sin? 915 00:44:47,820 --> 00:44:50,420 Are we going to heaven because of our works? 916 00:44:50,420 --> 00:44:51,260 No. 917 00:44:55,340 --> 00:44:56,660 What's the difference? 918 00:44:56,660 --> 00:45:01,660 It's faith, but the fearful and the unbelieving 919 00:45:02,860 --> 00:45:05,980 and the abominable and murderers and hormoneers 920 00:45:05,980 --> 00:45:08,100 and sorcerers and idol archers. 921 00:45:08,100 --> 00:45:10,700 Well, Pastor Ben, I'm none of those things 922 00:45:10,700 --> 00:45:15,700 and all liars and all liars shall have their part 923 00:45:17,460 --> 00:45:20,980 in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, 924 00:45:20,980 --> 00:45:23,660 which is the second death. 925 00:45:26,220 --> 00:45:28,980 I've got good news and I've got bad news. 926 00:45:30,500 --> 00:45:34,580 The good news is you don't have to keep the law. 927 00:45:34,580 --> 00:45:36,500 You can't keep the law. 928 00:45:36,500 --> 00:45:41,500 You aren't made right with God through performance. 929 00:45:43,780 --> 00:45:45,060 You're not. 930 00:45:45,060 --> 00:45:48,300 If you're trying to perform to get God to love you, stop. 931 00:45:48,300 --> 00:45:49,700 He already loves you. 932 00:45:50,540 --> 00:45:53,540 If you're trying to get saved by saying certain prayers 933 00:45:53,540 --> 00:45:55,380 or doing certain religious ceremony 934 00:45:55,380 --> 00:45:58,940 or by belonging to a certain denomination or sect, 935 00:46:00,180 --> 00:46:02,300 if you're trying to be right with God 936 00:46:02,300 --> 00:46:07,300 and you're holding up the fact that your daddy was a preacher, 937 00:46:07,740 --> 00:46:11,740 your mama taught Sunday school, you coached Little League, 938 00:46:11,740 --> 00:46:13,820 any of your good works, the Bible says are righteous, 939 00:46:13,820 --> 00:46:15,500 this is like filthy rags. 940 00:46:17,220 --> 00:46:21,740 I can't do enough good to cover up for my bad. 941 00:46:21,740 --> 00:46:24,780 Cursed is every man that tries to get there 942 00:46:24,780 --> 00:46:27,940 based on the law because we can't keep the law. 943 00:46:27,940 --> 00:46:32,940 Jesus was cursed for us on a tree and if we put our faith 944 00:46:33,500 --> 00:46:36,260 and trust in him, the Bible says it this way, 945 00:46:36,260 --> 00:46:41,100 for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness 946 00:46:41,100 --> 00:46:44,540 and with the mouth confessions made to salvation. 947 00:46:44,540 --> 00:46:47,080 Without faith it's impossible to please God. 948 00:46:48,540 --> 00:46:51,180 And so God's been telling a story 949 00:46:51,180 --> 00:46:52,740 since before the foundation of the world. 950 00:46:52,740 --> 00:46:55,340 He had this plan that he would choose a people, 951 00:46:55,340 --> 00:46:57,920 that he would choose a land and that through this people 952 00:46:57,920 --> 00:47:00,580 and through this land he would bring his son, 953 00:47:00,580 --> 00:47:05,140 God would become flesh, he would become a man, 954 00:47:05,140 --> 00:47:09,500 he would be born of a virgin, not getting the sin nature 955 00:47:09,500 --> 00:47:13,180 which comes through the man, the father's line. 956 00:47:13,180 --> 00:47:16,340 He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary. 957 00:47:16,340 --> 00:47:19,380 He kept the law I could not keep. 958 00:47:19,380 --> 00:47:23,060 He became sin on the cross who knew no sin 959 00:47:23,060 --> 00:47:27,180 that we through faith might be made the righteousness of God 960 00:47:27,180 --> 00:47:31,280 and him, there's one way to get to heaven. 961 00:47:32,300 --> 00:47:33,900 His name is Jesus. 962 00:47:35,220 --> 00:47:38,360 And when we put our faith and trust in Jesus, 963 00:47:39,740 --> 00:47:44,740 God counts it to us as righteousness. 964 00:47:45,300 --> 00:47:49,340 God takes Jesus' righteousness and puts it on my account 965 00:47:49,340 --> 00:47:52,580 because he took my sin and put it to Jesus' account 966 00:47:52,580 --> 00:47:57,580 but Jesus didn't stay dead, he didn't stay dead. 967 00:47:59,580 --> 00:48:04,340 Jesus rose from the dead and he says this because I live, 968 00:48:05,260 --> 00:48:06,560 you can live also. 969 00:48:09,340 --> 00:48:14,340 So I'm begging you to search your own heart, 970 00:48:14,340 --> 00:48:20,020 and I'm asking you to ask this question, 971 00:48:20,020 --> 00:48:22,020 why do I think I'm going to heaven? 972 00:48:23,380 --> 00:48:24,900 Is it because of me? 973 00:48:24,900 --> 00:48:27,420 Is it because of my good works? 974 00:48:27,420 --> 00:48:30,100 I'm asking like not me, you. 975 00:48:30,100 --> 00:48:31,140 Do you think you're going to heaven 976 00:48:31,140 --> 00:48:33,260 because you're a good person? 977 00:48:33,260 --> 00:48:35,500 You're not, I like you. 978 00:48:35,500 --> 00:48:37,180 I like almost everybody in here. 979 00:48:37,180 --> 00:48:44,180 I'm human, I'm human, no. 980 00:48:47,820 --> 00:48:50,100 Humanly speaking, you may be a good person, 981 00:48:51,460 --> 00:48:52,580 but if you think you're going to heaven 982 00:48:52,580 --> 00:48:54,860 because you're a good person, you're wrong. 983 00:48:54,860 --> 00:48:59,660 God has been doing something for a long time 984 00:48:59,660 --> 00:49:01,580 and he's included you in it. 985 00:49:01,580 --> 00:49:05,300 He wants to be your savior and to be your God 986 00:49:05,300 --> 00:49:06,460 and for you to be his people 987 00:49:06,460 --> 00:49:09,060 and for you to live one day where he is, 988 00:49:09,060 --> 00:49:11,340 there's only one way to get there. 989 00:49:11,340 --> 00:49:14,540 It's through the righteousness of Jesus Christ. 990 00:49:14,540 --> 00:49:16,740 And when you put your faith and trust in him, 991 00:49:17,980 --> 00:49:22,180 God says you're saved, you're saved. 992 00:49:22,180 --> 00:49:35,180 Would you bow your head and close your eyes for me?