1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:08,000 Well, howdy. Well, glad to have everybody here today with us. I wanted to talk a little bit about 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:19,000 what it is to find a sanctuary, a place that we see as being safe. Now, in talking a little bit about a sanctuary, 3 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:26,000 we've been looking through the book of Hebrews for several weeks now, and we're understanding a bit more about how it is 4 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:36,000 that God was communicating to the people, but what was it that God was truly doing among His people in all of those contexts? 5 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:47,000 Now, what I want to ask you, though, is where would you consider to be your safe space? Where is a place that you feel is somewhere 6 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:56,000 that you can be and always feel at peace and at rest? Maybe it might be your home, maybe it might be your car, 7 00:00:56,000 --> 00:01:04,000 because maybe there are screaming kids in your home, it might even be a local coffee house because your car may not even be safe enough, 8 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:12,000 or maybe your church, we would hope, would be also a place that you would find as a place of peace, calm and rest. 9 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:20,000 I have decided that my safe space is Ireland, the country, the whole country, that is definitely my safe space. 10 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:29,000 So, I have decided I am going to declare it to be my emotional support country. So, I'm going to try and visit it every month, 11 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:43,000 the whole place is carpeted in green, Dublin, and Giant's Causeway, and going over to Cliffsoma here, all of it, definitely, but you know how emotional support animals 12 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:52,000 are able to fly for free with you, so therefore I think I should be able to fly to Ireland every month because it is my emotional support country. 13 00:01:52,000 --> 00:02:00,000 But for whatever reason, Continental Airlines hasn't quite seen it the same way, I think this is, I'm going to try to get the ACLU involved, 14 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:13,000 I will figure it out, okay, because this is for my mental health. But you see, the thing is that we are always looking for a place that we feel is ours, 15 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:25,000 something where we can really be ourselves, where we can find calm and a chance to step away from things, but have you noticed how often it is that our safe space, 16 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:37,000 we oftentimes think of it as it needs to be a place where we are alone. How often is it that we are wanting to make sure that the place that we can go by ourselves is our safe space, 17 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:47,000 why? Because it can be so difficult trying to be around people that you feel always accept you. 18 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:55,000 Are the people, is the place where you're going to be some place where you feel that you are always accepted? 19 00:02:55,000 --> 00:03:04,000 How often is it that I will see people joke, make jokes online about, hey, I was invited to a party, I found a reason not to go, 20 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:14,000 oh, fuf, or oh man, people wanted to go out dancing, I was able to get out of it, oh man, that was a close call. 21 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:23,000 Because so often it is that when people are getting together, they don't always feel like they can be comfortable in their own skin. 22 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:36,000 How often do we feel that we can be in a place but even more than the place, the people that are there, and whether or not we feel safe when we're there with them, 23 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:47,000 that we can truly be ourselves. See, imagine that you are going to a place that you may go regularly, and this might be your work, 24 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:58,000 or maybe a school, or maybe some community group that you regularly at, but imagine that deep down inside, you're always on edge, 25 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:04,000 because you're always wondering when that acceptance will come to an end. 26 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:16,000 When you're going to say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing, and something means that while everything was good, you go from a friend to an enemy. 27 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:22,000 There are so many times whenever we might be afraid of that, even with the people in our own lives. 28 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:28,000 The times whenever we wonder if friends are really friends, the people that we can actually open up to, 29 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:34,000 or whether we're worried that if we tell them what's truly going on, that all of a sudden we get rejected. 30 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:39,000 Times whenever we even wrestle with that, even with the people that we're related to. 31 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:46,000 How many people are we wondering about that we have Thanksgiving coming up, and we're making a list of all the things we don't talk about? 32 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:54,000 We can talk about, no, not sports, never mind. We can talk about, you know, our country, no, let's not talk about that. 33 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:57,000 We can talk about the weather, we live in Houston, it's terrible. 34 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:04,000 Okay, what can we actually talk about? Is the food any good? We can just hope. 35 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:13,000 But how often is it that whenever we truly express ourselves, are we in a community that we feel we're safe with? 36 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:18,000 And is that even true, even within our own church? 37 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:23,000 In our passage, we're looking at the tabernacle. 38 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:29,000 See, the tabernacle was the place with the presence of God. 39 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:38,000 But something to remember about this tent of meeting is that the place of God did not always mean that it was safe. 40 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:45,000 God's presence is there, yes. But did that mean it was safe? 41 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:54,000 How many places, how many spots throughout our passage did we realize that the priest would go to the tabernacle, 42 00:05:54,000 --> 00:06:01,000 and that there was always this fear that it was never going to be enough? 43 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:05,000 See, they could be in the front section of the tabernacle and everything would be okay. 44 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:11,000 Like the candles put out the bread, make sure you have the incense so everything smells great. 45 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:19,000 But every year, someone was going to go into that back room where the Holy of Holies was sitting. 46 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:27,000 And there was always this sense, is this person going to come back out alive? 47 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:35,000 Even to the point where they'd have to tie a rope around the person's ankle with bells on it. 48 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:42,000 Because if they ever heard those bells stop ringing, they knew something was wrong, 49 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:47,000 that something with the sacrifice had been done wrong, that something with the ceremony was wrong, 50 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:51,000 and they'd have to pull them out. 51 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:57,000 This really a place where people would feel safe. 52 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:03,000 And that's one of the things about this, is that oftentimes we struggle with the fear and the feeling 53 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:10,000 of whether or not being in the presence of God is actually safe. 54 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:15,000 Is this actually a place that we want to go because we can actually open up and come to God and say, 55 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:19,000 God, this is who I am. This is what I'm struggling with. 56 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:23,000 This is what I am afraid to face. 57 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:27,000 And do we actually feel that this is a place we can do that? 58 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:33,000 But you see, that's the thing about having the perfect sacrifice, is that it keeps saying in Hebrews 59 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:40,000 that time and time again, that the sacrifice would need to be made, but no longer. 60 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:45,000 Because Jesus is now the perfect sacrifice. 61 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:52,000 But are we allowing this to be the safe space? 62 00:07:52,000 --> 00:08:00,000 How often is it that we as people will oftentimes look to hurt people the most 63 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:05,000 at the moment when they realize that they're not like us? 64 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:14,000 MLK had said that Sunday morning was the most segregated time in America in any given week. 65 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:21,000 Because how regularly is it that we're only going to a place where we think that people are like us 66 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:26,000 and we can feel that we can open up because nobody's any different? 67 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:33,000 See, the presence of God, it's always good, but is it always safe? 68 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:40,000 That's not because of God in his work, because God wants to be with us. 69 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:47,000 And God has made a place that is safe for us because of giving his son to die for us 70 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:52,000 and forgiving us of all our sins, not just the ones that we committed up to this point, 71 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:55,000 all the ones hereafter. 72 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:59,000 But are we honest about it? 73 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:03,000 Are we willing to be that safe space? 74 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:06,000 Because it's not just where is your safe space. 75 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:13,000 It's also the question of who is your safe space? 76 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:21,000 Are we a place where people are able to be open and honest and to share the things that they're truly going through? 77 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:27,000 Or are people waiting for the moment when they lose their place because they didn't say the right thing, 78 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:30,000 the right time, the right way? 79 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:38,000 Is it that we are continually looking for the people who are going to affirm what we want to hear from them? 80 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:45,000 But are we in a place where people are able to express where they actually are and what they're actually seeing? 81 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:54,000 See, that's one of the things about this place is that it's not supposed to just be a safe space for the people who are like us, 82 00:09:54,000 --> 00:10:01,000 but rather it's supposed to be a place that is open and safe because we're forgiven by God. 83 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:09,000 Now, does that mean that we then just stop growing or changing? 84 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:12,000 That we acknowledge that, well, this is a safe space. 85 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:16,000 So whatever it is that you think we're seeing or believe, that's it. 86 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:19,000 You're here, nothing will ever change. 87 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:22,000 Definitely not. 88 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:30,000 Because that's the thing about it is that God is the one who is meant to change us and to transform us 89 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:34,000 and that we become who we're meant to be because of who he is. 90 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:40,000 But do we actually think that it's a place that is safe to be while we do that? 91 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:50,000 Because true friendship is about becoming better through that relationship while knowing that you're safe while you do so. 92 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:54,000 See, that's the thing about it is that oftentimes the church has gotten so caught up in, 93 00:10:54,000 --> 00:11:02,000 have you done enough to somehow prove to God that you are different and that you've somehow shown that you've changed enough 94 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:09,000 that he can love you and accept you and say, OK, yes, that person there, they're really a Christian. 95 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:15,000 Because if you think that that's where you're supposed to be, then either you're never going to feel safe in God's presence 96 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:23,000 because you're never there or you're lying to yourself in telling you that you are. 97 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:36,000 That's the thing about God's presence is a reason why we also acknowledge that it isn't safe is because we're supposed to die to the old 98 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:47,000 and become the new. But it's supposed to be safe because we also know that there is eternal life for us. 99 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:52,000 See, that's the thing about this is that we're supposed to be safe while we're here, 100 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:57,000 but also safe enough to be honest and ready to grow. 101 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:02,000 Because that's the thing is that we're supposed to grow with other believers. 102 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:06,000 We're not supposed to be here thinking that we've got it all figured out. 103 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:11,000 And boy, I'm really glad that the pastor said something today that showed me I'm on the right track. 104 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:14,000 Phew, I was a little bit worried for a minute there. 105 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:17,000 OK, good. He's preaching about all those other people. 106 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:21,000 Good. Check that one off of the list. 107 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:31,000 We're supposed to grow with other believers because of who God is, not because of who we are. 108 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:37,000 And that's the thing about this is that oftentimes we come here to worship 109 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:41,000 and we make sure that we go through all the trappings and everything that we're meant to do. 110 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:46,000 And man, we are afraid if anything looks a little bit different in our worship service because, 111 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:50,000 oof, man, that was my spirituality. 112 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:54,000 And man, if it didn't look exactly like what I was looking for. 113 00:12:54,000 --> 00:13:01,000 And yet somehow, then week after week, we don't ever change. 114 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:05,000 We come in and we do what we feel we're supposed to do. 115 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:10,000 And then that week we are still just as angry at the same people as we were. 116 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:14,000 We're still excluding the same people we were before. 117 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:19,000 We're still ignoring the same things we were supposed to look at in our own lives. 118 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:24,000 But the life in Christ, it's more than just this hour. 119 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:28,000 It's meant to be about the life that we live alongside each other, 120 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:34,000 but not just so that we gather together, have dinner, and be able to just enjoy the camaraderie. 121 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:39,000 I mean, believe me, I've had y'all's food. It's delicious. That would be great. 122 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:44,000 Oh, my goodness, that cherry's jubilee is still haunting my dreams. 123 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:51,000 Oof, okay. They don't have that in Ireland, but still. 124 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:57,000 But if that was all that there is to it, is that really the point? 125 00:13:57,000 --> 00:14:03,000 Are we really here just to make sure we've put in our time? 126 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:08,000 Or are we willing to admit that as a community, we're meant to challenge each other. 127 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:15,000 Not to fight each other, not as in I'm going to make sure you know that I hate what you stand for 128 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:19,000 and that you understand I really don't want anything to do with you. 129 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:22,000 You're only allowed in here because I can't change it. 130 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:29,000 But it's also not man. I'm really glad that you seem really nice and everything in your life seems pretty. 131 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:32,000 Let's have dinner and then go back to our life. 132 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:37,000 It's supposed to be that I care enough about you that I want to know that you're growing. 133 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:41,000 And I need to know that you're expecting the same from me. 134 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:47,000 That we know that we're in a place where we're supposed to be challenged to good works. 135 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:55,000 That we're supposed to be able to say this is a place where we're welcome and a place where we're meant to grow. 136 00:14:55,000 --> 00:15:01,000 That's why it is that we talk so much about small groups and community service 137 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:04,000 and being able to look for ways to share your faith. 138 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:08,000 And these are the things. 139 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:16,000 How easy it would be just to sit in that office and write the sermon and come here on Sunday morning 140 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:26,000 and make everything look good and then go back and just make sure that everybody feels comfortable and safe. 141 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:30,000 But then what would even be the point in the first place? 142 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:33,000 Because in reality, is that really why you're here? 143 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:43,000 Are you really here in the presence of God because you want a club that just makes you feel like you've got it all together? 144 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:51,000 Or is the point of being here because you want to know Jesus and how he changes your life? 145 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:54,000 And that is a challenge to each of you. 146 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:58,000 Are you a safe space? 147 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:03,000 Are you somebody who is not only willing to make it a place for others, 148 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:09,000 but also that you're willing to acknowledge that you need it for yourself? 149 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:14,000 Are you somebody who is not jumping at the opportunity to try to fix the people that are around you 150 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:19,000 because, oh boy, I heard you say something that really riles up my feathers, 151 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:26,000 so let me make sure that I tell you why it is that everything about you needs to be changed? 152 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:33,000 Or is it somebody who is willing to say, I hear you, I understand, let's pray together? 153 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:43,000 I hear you, I may not understand, but I still love you in Christ Jesus and let's still pray together. 154 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:48,000 Or more than that, are you willing to be the one to face things too? 155 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:52,000 To be willing to say, I know that I have things that I need to deal with, 156 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:57,000 and if I don't know that, then I really need to be a little more honest. 157 00:16:57,000 --> 00:17:05,000 Because as we grow in faith, the point is to be safe, but safe while we're being challenged. 158 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:13,000 To be safe in a space where we know that we're not supposed to see everybody who's just like us. 159 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:21,000 We're supposed to be in a place where we're willing to say that I don't have it all together. 160 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:34,000 And we noticed the times whenever people react the hardest is when someone realizes that they have something they have to face. 161 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:39,000 But wouldn't it be wonderful if this were the place that they could do that? 162 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:50,000 Because at the end of the day, we can appear everything that we think we're supposed to look like in the presence of God. 163 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:59,000 But the true point about the Word of God is that it actually changes our hearts and actually changes our minds. 164 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:03,000 We're supposed to be different because of Christ. 165 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:09,000 So if you haven't had the time to be challenged yourself in what you think and what you believe, 166 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:15,000 and if you haven't had the chance to create a place safe enough that others would hear as well, 167 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:24,000 then it means there's something that we need to change because it says that God will forget our sins. 168 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:30,000 But notice it says because he will be changing our hearts. 169 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:40,000 Because we are fully capable of going right back out there and doing all the same things that we did before. 170 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:46,000 But in Christ Jesus is to change us so that we don't want to be that anymore. 171 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:54,000 So wherever you may be in your life is that if this has not been a place that has been safe for you, 172 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:59,000 then help us fix that. Help us make it that. 173 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:04,000 But if it's also a place that you haven't felt has been challenged, we need to change that too. 174 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:12,000 So may we as the people of God, when we confess our sins and we confess our faith, 175 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:20,000 may we be willing to do that in a community that is safe and a place where we become safe for others as well, 176 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:25,000 in a world that keeps making that very, very difficult. 177 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:35,000 Thanks be to God.