Participants:
Series Code: SSP
Program Code: SSP210037S
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00:01 Welcome to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
00:03 We are studying this quarter, Rest in Christ. 00:08 And our Adult Bible Study Guide is available. 00:13 If you don't have one, 00:14 go online to ABSG.Adventist.org 00:19 so that you can follow along with us 00:22 and study some in advance even. 00:24 And what we're going to present today 00:28 is Longing for More. 00:30 It's a wonderful study and we're glad you're with us. 01:03 Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn. 01:05 And we are excited 01:06 to be getting deep into this study today, 01:09 Longing for More. 01:10 And we welcome you, hope you had your Bible 01:13 and a pen and pad. 01:14 Let me introduce the 3ABN family 01:16 that will be presenting today, Pastor John Lomacang. 01:20 Good to be here. 01:21 And once again, we are going to learn as we present. 01:25 Amen. 01:26 And then, my precious sister, Jill Morikone. 01:28 Thank you, Shelley, privileged to be here 01:30 and open up God's Word. 01:32 Then we have Pastor Kenny Shelton. 01:35 Always good. 01:36 I give God praise and honor 01:38 for the opportunity and privilege. 01:39 Amen! 01:41 And Pastor John Dinzey. 01:42 It's an honor and a privilege to be here as well. 01:44 And I'm looking forward to this study. 01:45 Oh, I'm looking forward to learning from each of you. 01:48 Jill, would you have our opening prayer please? 01:51 Holy Father, we come before You in the name of Jesus. 01:53 This is Your time, this is Your Word. 01:56 And we asked for the outpouring 01:58 and infilling of Your Holy Spirit. 02:00 Would You speak to us just now? 02:02 In Jesus' name, amen. 02:04 Amen. 02:05 Amen and amen. 02:07 Longing for More, how many of us are not? 02:10 Our memory text comes from 1 Corinthians 10:6, 02:15 and here, Paul's giving a brief history 02:18 of those whom God had redeemed 02:21 and brought out of bondage of slavery in Egypt. 02:25 And he briefly rehearses what they went through 02:28 on their 40-year journey in the desert. 02:32 And what happened is God redeemed these people, 02:37 brought them in covenant, 02:39 and then they broke covenant with God, 02:41 and they failed to enter into the Promised Land. 02:44 That's so sad. 02:45 So the memory text says, "Now these things..." 02:49 This is 1 Corinthians 10:6, and this is from the ESV. 02:54 "Now these things took place as examples for us, 02:59 that we might not desire evil as they did." 03:04 What does he mean as examples? 03:06 A good example of this kind of relationship 03:09 comes from Hebrews 8:5, 03:11 "They," the priests of the Old Testament temple service, 03:16 "serve as a copy and a shadow of the heavenly things. 03:21 For when Moses was about to erect the tent, 03:24 he was instructed by God, 03:25 'See that you make everything according to the pattern 03:30 that was shown you on the mountain.'" 03:34 So what we're going to be presenting this lesson 03:39 is it highlights the direct links 03:43 between earthly models or copies, 03:46 and heavenly realities. 03:49 In Exodus 25:10, God told Moses, 03:55 build the sanctuary according to the pattern 03:58 that I showed you on the mountain. 04:02 And so, all of the earthly sanctuary, all of the rituals, 04:07 the procedures, these were types, they were symbols, 04:12 they were models, if you were, 04:14 examples of what was going on in heaven. 04:18 And we know that right now, 04:20 Jesus is our high priest in the heavenly sanctuary. 04:25 So with this in mind, we can better understand 04:28 what Paul was talking about 04:31 in 1 Corinthians 10. 04:35 Now Sunday's lesson is baptized into Moses. 04:38 And I'm just going to say this, I got to back up a little bit 04:41 because you can't understand 1 Corinthians 10, 04:46 unless you read the verses immediately preceding it. 04:50 And you know, when the Bible was written, 04:52 there was no division of verses and chapters, 04:56 so it's all one story. 04:59 In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 is where we will begin. 05:04 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul says, "Do you not know 05:10 that those who run in a race all run, 05:13 but one receives the prize?" 05:16 Then he says, 05:17 "Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 05:20 And everyone who competes for the prize 05:23 is temperate in all things. 05:26 Now they do it," 05:27 they're temperate, 05:29 "to obtain a perishable crown, 05:31 but we for an imperishable crown. 05:36 Therefore, I run thus, not with uncertainty. 05:40 Thus I fight, not as a shadow boxer, 05:44 not as one who beats the air, 05:46 but I discipline my body and I bring it into subjection, 05:50 lest, when I have preached to others, 05:54 I myself should become disqualified." 05:59 Paul ran a disciplined life. 06:02 And I want to tell you something, 06:03 the Christian life is not a sprint, 06:06 it's a marathon. 06:08 He ran in a serious way, 06:11 because he didn't want to be a castaway. 06:14 He wanted to obtain the prize. 06:17 And now Paul transitions to illustrate 06:21 how the lack of self-discipline 06:24 can lead to disqualification for God's covenant people. 06:30 And, you know, the Bible clearly says in several places, 06:34 God says that He keeps covenant 06:37 with those who keep covenant with Him. 06:40 So let's look at 1 Corinthians 10:1. 06:43 1 Corinthians 10:1, "Moreover..." 06:47 Considering these things that you need to run, 06:50 and be temperate and run to obtain the prize. 06:54 "Moreover, brethren, 06:55 I did not want you to be unaware 06:57 that all of our fathers were under the cloud, 06:59 all were passed through the sea" 07:02 Christ's presence, 07:03 He was the angel of the covenant 07:05 that went with them, 07:06 Christ's presence, the angel of the Lord, 07:10 He was a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. 07:14 And when they got to the Red Sea, 07:17 He opened it for the Hebrew children 07:20 to pass through on dry ground, 07:22 and then He closed it on the Egyptian army, 07:25 and they drowned. 07:27 So 1 Corinthians 10:2 says, 07:29 "All were baptized into Moses 07:34 in the cloud and in the sea." 07:38 I believe this word baptized here 07:40 is used in a metaphorical sense. 07:43 They didn't get wet going through the sea. 07:46 But the people were immersed in Moses' authority 07:51 and his divine leadership. 07:55 It indicates oneness, solidarity, 07:59 with Moses as their leader. 08:01 And, you know, in Romans 6:3, it says, "Do you not know 08:06 that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus 08:11 were baptized into His death?" 08:14 See, this is a symbolic thing, being baptized in Christ 08:17 means we were supposed to take the same cup, die to self. 08:22 And He says in Galatians 3:27, 08:25 "As many as you who were baptized into Christ, 08:29 you've put on Christ." 08:31 We recognize Christ's authority. 08:34 We are supposed to become one with Him. 08:37 When we're united with Christ, 08:39 we place our saving faith in Him and there's a miracle 08:44 of a spiritual union with Christ, 08:47 when we're thinking the union of His death, 08:51 and the union of His resurrection. 08:54 And then guess what? 08:55 Positionally, we are, then, we stand up 08:59 and we're standing in the righteousness of Christ. 09:02 We put on Christ's righteousness. 09:06 But if you're saying you're clothed 09:08 with Christ's righteousness, guess what? 09:10 Your conduct should show it. 09:13 That's what we, 09:14 it should be practical before men. 09:17 So what water baptism is? 09:20 And people will ask me sometimes, 09:22 do you think water baptism is important? 09:24 Absolutely! 09:26 It's a commandment. 09:27 Jesus said, "Go make disciples, 09:30 baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son 09:32 and the Holy Spirit." 09:34 And it depicts this reality of what has happened, 09:39 that we've died to self, we're buried with Christ, 09:42 and we come up to live in newness. 09:44 But now listen to what He says in 1 Corinthians 10:3, 09:48 all, he was talking to those Hebrew children 09:51 who came out in the Exodus, 09:52 "All ate this same spiritual food." 09:56 The giving of the manna 09:59 was provided as by the spiritual power of God, 10:04 we could say. 10:05 Spiritual food, there was no other food for them to eat, 10:08 they were dependent 10:10 upon what God gave them directly. 10:14 And manna fell from heaven 10:16 sufficient for each day's need. 10:21 The only time that there was something different 10:25 was on preparation day, a double portion. 10:28 Praise God. 10:29 So they wouldn't have to go out and gather on Sabbath. 10:33 But get this, 10:35 if they refused to eat the manna, 10:39 they would have perished. 10:40 Yeah, that's right. 10:42 And Jesus said, "I am the bread of life." 10:44 That's right. 10:45 The Word of God is compared to bread. 10:50 And if we don't partake of it, 10:52 we will not partake of Jesus. 10:56 In Matthew 4:4, He said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, 11:00 but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." 11:03 And He sustains us by His mighty word of power. 11:07 1 Corinthians 10:4, says, 11:09 "All drank from the same spiritual drink, 11:13 for they drink of that spiritual Rock 11:16 that followed them." 11:18 We don't have to guess what he's saying, 11:20 because Paul says, "That Rock was Christ." 11:23 God first instructed Moses to strike the rock, 11:28 and the water came forth after that, 11:30 it was only to be struck once, right? 11:32 After that he was supposed to speak to the rock. 11:36 And the rock is what... 11:39 You know, there is a Jewish legend 11:41 that the actual rock followed them in the desert, 11:44 but we know who that rock is. 11:47 It was the pre-incarnate Christ, 11:50 who never left them or forsake them. 11:53 All of God's dealings with His covenant children 11:56 and fallen humanity have been through Christ. 11:59 So He is the living water that will quench our thirst. 12:05 I love what Jesus said in John 7:37-39, 12:09 John 7:37 begins, 12:11 and Jesus, it says, "On the last day of the feast," 12:13 that great day of the feast, 12:15 "Jesus stirred and He cried out, saying, 12:18 'If anyone thirst, let him come to Me and drink. 12:24 He who believes Me, as the Scripture has said 12:28 out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" 12:34 What is He referring to? 12:35 Well, he describes it. 12:37 Paul explains in verse 39, "But this He spoke concerning," 12:41 excuse me, this is John that's explaining, 12:44 "This he spoke concerning the Spirit, 12:46 whom those believing in Him would receive, 12:49 for the Holy Spirit was not yet given 12:51 because Jesus was not yet glorified." 12:55 But now 1 Corinthians 10:5 says, 12:58 "With most of them God was not well pleased for their bodies 13:02 were scattered in the wilderness." 13:04 Actually, I think that's an understatement. 13:08 They all died except for Joshua and Caleb 13:11 are the only two people who were over the age at 19, 13:15 who got to enter with the next generation 13:17 into the Promised Land. 13:18 They died in the desert because of their failure 13:21 of self-discipline and their indulgence 13:24 of their every desire. 13:25 Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:6, 13:28 "These things have become our examples, 13:30 to the intent that we should not lust 13:33 after evil things as they lusted." 13:37 So what he's doing, and I'm not going to get finished here, 13:40 but what he's doing is corresponding 13:43 their behavior, as types as warnings, 13:47 as patterns as models and examples. 13:50 This is a sobering illustration 13:53 of the misuse of freewill. 13:57 It's an example, a tupos in the Greek, 14:01 a type or pattern of behavior 14:04 and it's an example to be shunned. 14:07 Okay. 14:08 Thank you, Shelley. 14:10 Wow. 14:11 It's nice that we're focusing on the sanctuary 14:13 in this lesson, because the sanctuary 14:15 is the symbolic place where all the things we've talked about, 14:19 as the Bible says, "Your way, O, Lord is in the sanctuary." 14:23 And as Shelley brought out in Exodus 25:8, 14:27 the Lord said, "Let them make me a sanctuary 14:29 that I may dwell among them." 14:31 But I want to point out some things 14:32 about the Old Testament symbols, 14:35 rituals and sacrifices, as compared 14:38 to how the New Testament reflects on, 14:41 in other words shines a brighter light on that. 14:44 You know, the writer points out on the Monday's lesson 14:47 entitled Rituals and Sacrifice. 14:49 And read what they pointed out in the very beginning, it says 14:51 the Old Testament system of ritual and sacrifices 14:55 such as found in Leviticus offers more examples 14:59 of what we saw yesterday, that is in the prior lesson. 15:04 Old Testament symbols pointing to New Testament truths 15:09 though modern readers of the Bible, 15:12 often Passover these rituals, they do contain 15:15 many important spiritual truths 15:18 that can be of great value to those who study them. 15:24 Let's go to the Book of Leviticus 15:26 and let's look at one of the examples 15:27 that are brought out in the lesson. 15:29 Leviticus 4:32-35, 15:33 and this is one of the sin offerings 15:36 that were regularly observed among the children of Israel. 15:40 The Bible is very specific. 15:41 Then we're going to talk about the types 15:43 and the anti-types and then four points 15:45 about the sacrificial system as it relates 15:48 to post Jesus. 15:52 Leviticus 4:32-35, it says, "If he brings a lamb, 15:56 as his sin offering, he shall bring a female without blemish. 16:00 Then he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, 16:04 and kill it as a sin offering at the place 16:07 where they kill the burnt offering. 16:10 The priest shall take some of the blood 16:11 of the sin offering with his finger, 16:14 put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, 16:17 and pour all the remaining blood at the base of the altar. 16:21 He shall remove all his fat, 16:24 as the fat of the lamb is removed 16:26 from the sacrifice of the peace offering. 16:29 Then the priest shall burn it on the altar, 16:32 according to the offerings made by fire to the Lord. 16:36 So the priest shall make atonement for his sin 16:41 that he has committed, and it shall be forgiven him." 16:45 Now the amazing thing about this, first of all, 16:47 I'm going to just say, I am so glad 16:49 that we don't have to do that today. 16:52 Can you imagine the blood baths with the millions of Christians 16:56 if the sacrificial system was still enforced today? 17:00 But what I want to point out is the Old Testament 17:02 in many ways is the New Testament concealed, 17:06 and the New Testament, 17:08 in many ways is the Old Testament reveals. 17:11 So when you understand the sacrificial system, 17:14 than the life in the ministry of Jesus, 17:17 there's a bright light turned on halogen, 17:20 if I could use that terminology, 17:22 all of a sudden, everything about the life of Jesus 17:24 becomes, as the shepherds found out, 17:27 when they were keeping watch over their flock by night. 17:29 The Bible says, "Suddenly, 17:31 there was with the angels a multitude of Heavenly hosts." 17:35 And Ellen White talked about that experience, 17:37 she says, the reason why the shepherds 17:40 were met with one angel first, 17:42 that the angels had to give them time 17:44 for their eyes to adjust to the light. 17:46 All right. 17:48 So when you study the sacrificial system, 17:50 your eyes begin to adjust to the light 17:52 that's prevalent in the life of Christ. 17:54 And you begin to see, "Okay, what is the altar mean? 17:56 What is the laver mean? 17:57 What are the lampstands mean? 17:59 What do all these rituals mean? 18:00 What about the sacrificial system and all their specifics? 18:03 And why was God such a detailed God?" 18:06 Because they all point to something 18:07 in the life of Christ. 18:09 The rituals and sacrifices are object lessons 18:13 of the ministry of Christ. 18:14 Let's go to Luke 24:44, 18:17 and see this brought out in the words of Christ. 18:20 Jesus said this Himself. 18:23 "Then He said to them..." Luke 24... 18:26 Luke 24:44, 18:28 "Then He said to them, 18:29 'These are the words which I spoke to you 18:31 while I was still with you, that all things,'" 18:34 how many things? 18:36 All things. 18:37 "'All things must be fulfilled, 18:39 which were written in the Law of Moses, 18:42 and the Prophets, and the Psalms concerning Me.'" 18:46 Notice the Old Testament, the New Testament concealed, 18:50 the New Testament the Old Testament revealed. 18:52 Jesus says, 18:54 "Now through My life, 18:55 you will understand the Law of Moses, 18:56 you will understand the prophets 18:58 and you will understand the Psalms 18:59 of all the things concerning Me." 19:01 In other words, you may see my shadow, 19:04 but you will have no dimensional relationship 19:07 with me until the substance appears. 19:10 So let's look at two examples 19:11 of the shadows and the substance. 19:14 Exodus 12:17, let's look at the shadow. 19:18 "So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, 19:21 for on this same day I will have brought your armies out 19:26 of the land of Egypt. 19:27 Therefore you shall observe this day 19:29 throughout your generations as an everlasting ordinance." 19:32 What? 19:33 Unleavened bread, 19:35 and then also when the Israelites 19:36 were in the wilderness, 19:37 Jesus gave them bread every day. 19:40 What did He say in John 6:32? 19:42 "Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, 19:45 Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, 19:47 but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.'" 19:50 In other words, He says, "I am the true bread." 19:52 That's why Matthew 4:4, 19:54 "Man shall not live by bread alone, 19:56 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." 19:59 Look at another example. 20:01 Exodus 12:3, another symbol, another shadow, 20:04 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 20:06 'On the tenth day of this month 20:08 every man shall take for himself a lamb, 20:11 according to the house of his father, 20:14 a lamb for a household.'" 20:17 How was Jesus introduced? 20:19 John 1:29, "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, 20:23 and said, 'Behold! 20:24 The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!'" 20:27 The religious leaders knew what the lamb meant, 20:29 but they refuse to accept the living lamb, 20:32 the living sacrifice. 20:34 But the question is, what purpose was the law at all? 20:37 Galatians 3:19, "What purpose then does the law serve? 20:40 It was added because of transgression till the seed 20:43 should come to whom the promise was made, 20:46 and it was appointed through angels 20:48 by the hand of a mediator." 20:50 When Jesus made the promise to Adam and Eve 20:52 in the Garden post transgression, 20:54 He made it clear about the seed. 20:56 The seed was what Satan sought to prevent. 20:59 That's why he tried to kill the firstborn in Egypt, 21:04 because he knew the seed was coming. 21:06 That's why he tried to kill Jesus, when He was born, 21:09 children up to two years old and under, 21:11 because he knew the seed was coming. 21:13 He was fearful of the seed because it was forecasted 21:16 continuously through the ceremonial system. 21:20 But here are the four reasons 21:21 why the ceremonial system was temporary. 21:23 Let's go to the Book of Hebrews. 21:25 Hebrews 9:9-10. 21:27 First of all, "It was symbolic." 21:31 Hebrews 9:9-10, we read, 21:34 "It was symbolic for the present time 21:36 in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered, 21:38 which cannot make him who performed the service perfect 21:41 in regard to conscience, 21:43 concerning only in foods and drinks, 21:46 various washings, 21:47 and fleshy ordinances imposed 21:50 until the time of reformation." 21:53 That's why the Bible says until the seed should come, 21:56 when Jesus came, it was the time of reformation. 22:01 The system was reformed, 22:02 it was no longer need to go out searching for lamb. 22:04 That's why when Jesus died, 22:06 the temple curtain was torn from top to bottom. 22:08 Second reason, it was a shadow. 22:10 Hebrews 10:1, "For the law, having a shadow 22:14 of good things to come and not the very image of those things 22:18 can never with these same sacrifices, 22:22 which they offer continually, year by year, 22:25 make those who approached perfect." 22:28 It was symbolic, but according to what he just said here, 22:31 it was also faulty. 22:34 Hebrews 8:7. 22:35 Let's look at Hebrews 8:7. 22:38 "For if the first covenant had been faultless, 22:41 then no place would have been sought for a second." 22:44 Now let's go to Hebrews 9:13-14, 22:47 to see why it was faulty. 22:49 Hebrews 9:13, "For if the blood of bulls and goats 22:53 and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean 22:57 sacrifices or sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh," 23:00 look at verse 14, 23:02 "how much more shall the blood of Christ 23:04 who through the eternal spirit offered Himself 23:06 without spot to God, purge your conscience from the dead works 23:11 to serve the living God?" 23:13 And lastly, it was inadequate. 23:16 Hebrews 10:4, let's look at that, 23:19 "For it is not possible," it is not what? 23:22 Possible. 23:24 "It is not possible that the blood of bulls 23:27 and goats could take away sins." 23:29 Verse 5, "Therefore, when he came into the world, he said, 23:34 'Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, 23:38 but a body You have prepared for Me, 23:40 in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin 23:43 You had no pleasure.'" 23:44 So now finally, 1 Samuel 15:22, 23:48 summarizes the purpose for all both of them. 23:51 "So Samuel said, 'Has the Lord 23:54 a great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, 23:58 as in obeying the voice of the Lord? 24:01 Behold," here's a summary of it all, 24:03 "to obey is better than to sacrifice 24:07 and to heed than the fat of rams." 24:10 If Adam and Eve had only obeyed, 24:13 there would be no need for a shadowy system. 24:16 We would have had the substance who is Christ. 24:18 Amen. 24:20 That was wonderful, John. 24:21 Thank you so much. 24:23 We are going to continue this wonderful study 24:27 in just a moment. 24:28 Stay tuned. 24:30 Okay. Praise the Lord. 24:35 Ever wish you could watch a 3ABN Sabbath School Panel 24:38 again, or share it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter? 24:42 Well, you can by visiting 3abnsabbathschoolpanel.com 24:46 A clean design makes it easy to find the program 24:50 you're looking for. 24:51 There are also links to the Adult Bible Study Guide 24:54 so you can follow along. 24:56 Sharing is easy. 24:58 Just click share and choose your favorite social media. 25:01 Share a link, save a life for eternity. 25:06 Oh, we've got so much more. 25:07 We're going to continue now 25:09 on Tuesday's lesson with Jill Morikone. 25:11 Thank you so much, Shelley and Pastor John, 25:13 what an incredible lesson and study. 25:15 Thank you. 25:17 We're going to continue in the Book of Hebrews. 25:18 So turn to Hebrews Chapter 4, and the rest of the panel 25:22 we're going to be in Hebrews Chapter 4. 25:25 Now interestingly, my lesson on Tuesday 25:27 is The "Example" of Rest. 25:31 It's actually Hebrews 4:1-11, 25:34 but because Pastor Kenny and Pastor Johnny 25:36 are also covering some of that, 25:37 we're going to go back to Hebrews 3. 25:39 We're going to pick it up in Hebrews 3:12, 25:42 and we're going to read through 4:3, 25:46 and then we'll kind of unpack it. 25:48 Hebrews 3:12. 25:50 "Beware, Brethren, lest there be in any of you 25:52 an evil heart of unbelief in departing 25:57 from the living God, but exhort one another daily, 26:00 while it is called 'Today,' lest any of you be hardened 26:04 through the deceitfulness of sin. 26:07 For we have become partakers of Christ 26:09 if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast 26:13 until the end, while it is said, 'Today, 26:16 if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts 26:19 as in the rebellion.' 26:21 For who, having heard, rebelled? 26:23 Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? 26:28 Now with whom he was angry, 40 years? 26:31 Was it not with those who sinned, 26:34 whose corpses fell in the wilderness? 26:37 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter 26:40 his rest, but to those who did not obey? 26:43 So we see they could not enter in because of unbelief." 26:47 Now let's go to Chapter 4, 26:49 we'll read the first three verses, 26:51 "Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, 26:55 let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 26:59 For indeed, the gospel was preached to us 27:01 as well as to them, 27:03 but the word which they heard did not profit them, 27:06 not be mixed with faith in those who heard it. 27:10 For we have believed do enter that rest, as He has said, 27:14 'So I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest,' 27:19 although the works were finished 27:20 from the foundation of the world.'" 27:22 So what is the thought progression here 27:24 of Paul, and then we're going to jump 27:27 into what this rest encompasses. 27:30 But first, let's just look at that thought progression. 27:33 Number one, God originally intended 27:36 that Moses should lead Israel into the Canaan rest. 27:39 That was the intention. 27:41 But neither Moses nor the generation that left Egypt, 27:45 neither one of them entered into Canaan. 27:48 Number two, 27:49 Joshua did lead the next generation into Canaan, 27:53 but because of their unbelief, 27:56 he could not lead them into God's spiritual rest. 28:00 Number three, in the days of David, God renewed 28:03 the invitation to enter into His spiritual rest. 28:06 But it was obvious by the New Testament times 28:08 that Israel as a nation 28:09 had not yet entered into God's rest. 28:13 Number four, God's invitation and promise 28:17 had not lapsed by default, 28:19 for when God determines a certain objective 28:21 He will ultimately achieve it, despite human failures. 28:27 Number five, since God's people have not as yet entered 28:30 into His rest, it is certain that there remains a rest 28:34 for the people of God. 28:37 Number six, if Christians would come boldly 28:40 into the throne of grace, or Christ ministers 28:43 as the high priest of our profession, 28:46 they will find one who can be touched with the feelings 28:49 of their infirmities and will find grace to help 28:52 in their time of need. 28:55 In doing so, they begin to enter 28:58 Christ's spiritual rest, that rest of soul 29:03 for which He has provided for every repentant sinner. 29:07 Thus, the privilege that Israel failed to find, 29:11 we can find as Christians today. 29:14 Number seven, faith is the key 29:17 to entering into Christ's rest. 29:20 We see that very clearly in Hebrews 4. 29:23 We already read verses 2 and 3, 29:25 "The gospel was preached to us as well as to them 29:28 but the word which they heard did not profit them 29:30 because it was not mixed with faith, and those who heard it." 29:35 So what is this rest? 29:36 I would submit to you that this rest encompasses two things. 29:39 It encompasses that assurance of salvation, 29:43 that freedom in Christ, that peace 29:46 that you and I have when we truly understand grace. 29:50 And we can rest our entire weight 29:53 on the promises of God's Word. 29:56 I would also submit to you that it encompasses the rest 29:59 that you and I find in the Sabbath, 30:03 in the Sabbath day. 30:05 We see the correlation between the two. 30:08 The Sabbath rest really expresses our faith 30:10 in two ways. 30:11 It testifies that we have received grace, 30:13 it testifies that we have received God's goodness 30:17 and His salvation. 30:19 It also demonstrates that we are waiting eagerly 30:22 for the consummation of these gifts 30:24 at the second coming of Christ. 30:27 The Sabbath is a weekly visible sign 30:28 that God's the one who sanctifies us, 30:30 that He's the one who redeemed us, 30:32 that He's the one who will recreate us in His image. 30:36 You know, if you look at the history, 30:37 and Paul had talked about the history of the Israelites, 30:40 you see that they were in bondage. 30:41 They were freed from slavery in Egypt, 30:45 but they were never really freed from slavery to sin. 30:49 You see, they never understood salvation 30:52 by grace through faith. 30:53 I'm sure there were pockets that understood 30:55 that I'm not saying that. 30:57 But by and large, as a people, as a movement, 31:01 they did not understand that. 31:03 Remember, when the law was given at Mount Sinai, 31:05 what did they say? 31:06 Oh, that the Lord has said, we will do. 31:10 They thought they could somehow earn God's favor. 31:13 They could somehow obey in their own strength. 31:16 And yet it was only by grace that they could do that. 31:20 We also see that Israel, as a nation, 31:23 did not enter truly into the Sabbath rest, either. 31:26 We see that they were lacks in their Sabbath observance, 31:31 we see that throughout the history of Israel. 31:34 And then we see, I think Ryan referenced this 31:36 on a previous lesson that they flipped, 31:39 and they became super ultra, I'm going to say, 31:43 conservative, for lack of a better word. 31:45 They became strict, that's a better word, 31:47 in their observance of the Sabbath. 31:50 So they went from the lack side to the strict side, 31:53 and neither way entered into the Sabbath rest 31:57 that they were supposed to. 31:59 We see this not just in the Old Testament, 32:00 but we see in the New Testament. 32:03 If you think about this concept of grace and assurance 32:06 and rest in Christ, we see that clearly Paul says 32:10 in Ephesians 2:8, "By grace you're saved through faith 32:14 that not of yourselves is the gift of God, 32:16 not of works, lest anyone should boast." 32:19 But yet the Judaizers taught. 32:20 We see this in Acts Chapter 15, with the Jerusalem Council, 32:24 we see this in the entire Book of Galatians. 32:27 They talk, yes, you need grace. 32:29 But works have to be added to that grace, 32:32 in order to achieve salvation. 32:35 They taught that the Gentile Christians 32:37 had to be circumcised in order to be saved. 32:40 It was a religion of grace plus works with equal salvation. 32:46 In fact, Paul says in Galatians 3:3, "Are you so foolish? 32:49 Having begun in the spirit, 32:51 are you now made perfect in the flesh? 32:54 And in Galatians 5, to me, this is one of the saddest verses 32:57 in all of Scripture. 32:58 Galatians 5:4, "You have become estranged from Christ," 33:04 or separated from Christ, 33:06 "you who attempt to be justified by law, 33:09 you have fallen from grace." 33:13 You mean if you're thinking, 33:15 "God, I just want to obey Your law better, 33:17 and I want to keep Your commandments better." 33:19 If we don't do it in the grace of Christ, 33:23 can we actually become separated from Christ? 33:27 So how do we achieve this rest? 33:28 How do we achieve freedom in Christ knowing 33:31 with assurance that you are saved, 33:34 knowing that your faith can rest 33:36 on the promises of God's Word knowing 33:38 that every week on the Sabbath, 33:41 you can in a special way experience His rest? 33:46 John 1:7, I love this verse. 33:49 It says, "If we walk in the light 33:51 as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, 33:53 and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son, 33:56 cleanses us from all sin." 33:58 We can have assurance in Jesus 34:00 that His blood will cleanse us from all sin, 34:02 we can have assurance in Jesus, 34:04 that we are saved by grace through faith. 34:06 Grace is a gift. 34:08 Salvation is a gift. 34:09 Faith is a gift, and even works, they're a gift too 34:14 because God created those beforehand 34:17 that we should walk in them. 34:19 Grace is not a license to sin, not at all. 34:22 It is freedom to walk in faith, freedom to trust the promises 34:26 of the Word of God by faith. 34:28 What does He say? 34:29 All His promises are yes and amen 34:32 in Christ Jesus. 34:34 Jesus came to set us free from the dominion of Satan, 34:37 from the curse of the law, from the penalty of sin, 34:41 from the power of sin and soon when He comes again, 34:44 we will be delivered from the presence of sin. 34:48 Philippians 1:6, "Being confident of this very thing 34:52 that He who began a good work in you 34:54 will carry it forward to completion." 34:57 So reach out to Jesus, experience the rest 35:00 that He intended for you to have in Him, 35:04 and especially on His Sabbath day. 35:07 Praise the Lord. 35:08 I'll tell you, awesome. 35:10 You know the last thing you use them there, 35:11 you know, we talk about what has to do 35:13 with the hardening of the heart. 35:15 He's begun a good work. 35:16 He said, I'll finish that work if we don't harden our hearts. 35:19 That's Wednesday's lesson, Harden Not Your Hearts. 35:22 We see in Scripture many times about different ones 35:24 as the Spirit came through the Holy Spirit work 35:26 and they just rejected, you know, rejected the spirit, 35:29 rejected the message in the heart. 35:31 You know, every time we reject what is truth, 35:33 it gets a little bit harder when you need favor 35:35 so on so forth with that. 35:36 So Wednesday's lesson deals with that, 35:38 but there's one word that sticks out in my mind. 35:40 2 Corinthians just jot it down, 6:2, you know it very well. 35:44 I'm sure it says, "Now is the acceptable time, 35:47 now is the," what? 35:48 "Now is the day of salvation." 35:50 I've heard that over and over in life, 35:52 and I've been impressed over the years. 35:54 And I think being around different people 35:55 who are energetic and love Jesus and out 35:57 in the harvest field working for souls, everything's today. 36:00 Let's do it today. Why? 36:02 Because we know today is the day of salvation. 36:04 Things can change. 36:05 And most of us know that the Wednesday's lesson 36:08 at least brings out at least to me this word, 36:10 today, I'm just going to highlight, 36:11 it's actually today is, to me expresses an emergency. 36:15 It expresses a time 36:17 that something's going to have to be done, 36:19 it's got to be done rather quickly. 36:20 Decisions have to be made, and they're not to be put off, 36:23 we're talking about spiritual certainly decision, 36:25 of course, other decisions too. 36:26 You know, we're encouraged, 36:29 I think as those who are working in the field, 36:31 I called the harvest field, 36:33 saying Jesus is soon to come and we're encouraged 36:36 as people come forward, 36:37 and they're grasping the message. 36:38 And then all of a sudden, 36:40 it's like they're in the school, 36:41 always of learning and never come to the knowledge, 36:42 you know. 36:44 And so the heart gets hardened and not making the decision. 36:47 We encourage them, "Today is the day, 36:49 have you heard his voice?" 36:51 Psalms 95, if you go there, just read those, 95:7, 36:55 says, kind of what we've been talking about here, 36:57 for He is our God, Psalms 95:7, He is what? 37:01 He's our God and we are the people of His pastures. 37:04 How personal that becomes, notice, 37:06 the sheep of his hand... 37:08 What's the next word? 37:09 Today, if you will hear his voice harden not your heart, 37:12 to the day of provocation or irritation I like to say, 37:15 as in the days of temptation in the wilderness. 37:19 So what is today? 37:21 Today emphasizes the importance 37:23 it was and it is in the context of rest. 37:27 And a lot said about rest. 37:30 Here we see two important points, many, many more, 37:32 two important points to me is number one is a warning. 37:36 We need to be very cautious, 37:38 we need to make sure when God warns in the Word of God, 37:39 we pay heed to that and also number two 37:43 seem like always comes a plea. 37:46 He plea, begs to come in. 37:48 And so in that we look for God's people 37:49 are not to, why? 37:51 So God's people are not to repeat 37:52 the mistakes that Israel made. 37:54 I think this lessons more has brought that out 37:57 rather beautifully here. 37:59 You know, maybe just share just a little personal experience 38:02 and we've talked a lot about the spiritual rest 38:04 and even the physical rest. 38:06 I've heard it on this panel and different ones 38:08 come apart and rest, Jesus said it Himself. 38:11 Sometimes we're not always willing to do that, 38:13 sometime we just don't make that decision. 38:16 We know we should we, you know, eat properly, 38:18 want to do the right thing and get the amount of rest. 38:20 But sometimes we choose to do the wrong thing 38:23 and there's consequences when we make wrong choices. 38:26 I can remember many years ago so it goes back, 38:28 this is before 3ABN started. 38:30 Many people never realize I was in construction. 38:34 And that big problem I always had was I love to work. 38:38 And it's not always bad but when you overdo it, 38:40 it's wrong because I knew and I was always reminded 38:42 that we had to be temperate in all things. 38:44 And so anyway, I love to work as other times 38:47 I couldn't sleep at night. 38:48 Oh, some of you ever get that way you probably not, 38:50 but me couldn't sleep. 38:51 I'm thinking about what I'm going to do the next day. 38:52 And so where we had a house, 38:54 or maybe there was lights or something in it, 38:56 I might go to work at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning. 38:58 You know, that's silly. 39:00 Because it had on my mind, couldn't sleep anyway. 39:02 I understand. 39:03 And I would go and work. 39:05 I remember one day that I was went to pour some concrete 39:09 as, probably maybe a 24 by 24, 24 by 30, 39:12 that's pretty good slab, 39:13 you know, if you got one guy to help you well, 39:15 July, in middle of July, well, was it hot humidity. 39:18 And so anyway, the guy didn't show up. 39:20 So I was left here with semi truck, 39:22 you know, they coming and they're backing 39:23 and then they're going to pour. 39:25 I taught, "Oh, well hey, you know, yeah, 39:26 I'm just gonna say, Jared, pour, bring it on. 39:28 I don't know if any of you have ever done that. 39:30 You know, back about there I thought, 39:32 "Well, okay, so nobody there so I had to port strike it, 39:36 float it, you know, work all around the edges 39:38 and I had a concrete machine. 39:40 And, you know, I didn't take time to drink water 39:43 and naturally you should. 39:44 So by the end of those models, I was getting lightheaded. 39:47 So I got it done. 39:48 And I was floating it 39:50 for the last time of the machine. 39:51 And I said, "Lord, help me to get this thing done." 39:55 And praise God, He's merciful and good. 39:57 I did what I shouldn't have been doing. 39:59 And just as I got it done, 40:01 I wanted to get it off of the concrete. 40:02 So I kind of threw the machine off the concrete. 40:04 And then I just got real dizzy and lightheaded. 40:06 And I went over to the shade tree, 40:09 and I passed out. 40:10 Well, there was no one there, 40:11 you know, to help, no one there, say, 40:13 "Oh, you need water, you need your," 40:14 whatever replaced. 40:16 So I'll just say when I came to, 40:19 when I came to, 40:20 came to my senses, 40:22 you know, something that was dreadfully was wrong. 40:24 And of course, I was lighter, it was a heatstroke. 40:27 And so it played a very bad part 40:30 in my life at that time. 40:32 Because as a heat stroke, and again, 40:34 we're talking about this is rest, 40:35 I want you to apply to that for those of you 40:36 who are overdoing it any way, 40:38 in any way, the physical part, spiritual part, 40:40 just try and get back to a balance in Word of God. 40:43 And so for a long time, what happened was is that, 40:47 you know, I could feel the coldness, 40:48 I could feel the sweat, I could feel all the things 40:50 and all the symptoms of it. 40:52 But after that it was more than six months, 40:54 I kept trying to go to work and I did have other guys 40:57 that was working, kind of hold it down. 40:58 I could not, if you want to hold a piece of sheetrock up, 41:01 I could hold it up for maybe two or three seconds, 41:03 my arms would shake and quiver, 41:05 and they just drop, I could hardly walk, 41:07 I had nothing, no strength in my arms at all. 41:11 Before you say, it doesn't matter, 41:12 bring it on, you know. 41:14 And that wasn't the only aspect of it. 41:17 And so I sat down and I began to think, 41:19 Lord, "What has happened?" 41:22 The Lord impressed, that sometimes we don't follow 41:24 what He says in His Word, and there's consequences. 41:27 And you have to pay. 41:28 And even though He gives you a victory, 41:29 or maybe it's overcome, there's still some scars that lasts, 41:33 maybe through your whole life. 41:34 I find it still lasting for months afterwards, 41:37 my hands would shake just like this. 41:39 I couldn't control my hand shake, 41:41 there was no strength in the body, 41:43 the mind didn't want to work anymore. 41:46 And I sat down several weeks afterwards, 41:48 and the other man and called and said, 41:49 Bill, something, whatever it was, 41:51 it was just a like 12 by 12. 41:53 I could not, I'm serious, I could not add 12 and 12. 41:59 Every time I would go and press the mind 42:01 that I needed to do something 42:02 the mind would say back to me, can't. 42:05 There's nothing left. 42:07 If you overdo it in the physical aspect of it, 42:09 it begins before you fall apart. 42:11 It takes from the brain, right? 42:13 It takes from the brain and uses 42:15 that energy to where you can't. 42:17 I sat there over that paper and I tried to add 42:19 what would come up to 24. 42:21 I couldn't do it. 42:22 I sat there until the tears just ran. 42:25 There's nothing left. 42:26 I can't even think anymore. 42:27 I can't react. I can't do any more. 42:29 And I'm thinking, you know, there needs to be a change, 42:31 change needs to take place. 42:32 But now what do, as it were, how do I make this change, 42:35 and, you know, some of you are saying today 42:37 I need to make that change too, 42:38 because I'm falling off this, this cliff, 42:41 seemed like there's no stopping. 42:43 And so I sat down, I began to think about the Holy Spirit 42:46 impressed in mind. 42:47 You know, Kenny, redeem the time. 42:50 I thought, "How do I redeem the time? 42:52 I've messed it all up so bad. 42:54 Now I can't already think 42:56 I can't concentrate on anything. 42:59 And I don't say that as a gesture anything right now 43:01 so sometimes you might think even years later, 43:04 those things still hit every once in a while. 43:06 You know, there are scars that are left. 43:09 And so, I said it right then, Lord, 43:12 what I have, I don't know what's left. 43:15 But if there's anything left to this mind, what I have... 43:19 Forgive me for I've neglected Your Word. 43:22 I haven't done. 43:23 There wasn't bad things, it was maybe good thing, 43:25 but there's over done, you know, and the physical aspect. 43:28 And so I asked, I said, "Lord, please forgive me of this, 43:31 help me to do the right thing, help me to balance my life." 43:34 And what I have left? 43:36 And I really say that, I don't know, 43:38 I don't think I have anything left. 43:40 But what I have left I give unto thee. 43:43 What I have left, I give unto thee. 43:46 And praise God, He accepted that how wonderful and gracious 43:49 and kind and we heard about the rest. 43:51 He's saying, "Kenny, you're heavy laden, come to me, 43:52 I'll give you rest." 43:54 That's what this whole quarter has been about. 43:55 And I came to Him and He gave rest and He gave healing, 43:58 but it was months and months down the road 44:02 that I didn't know when or if it would come. 44:05 But it came in the sense that He is able, 44:08 what He's promised He's able to do. 44:10 So what little bit as I always say that I had 44:14 that God has given me I gave to Him. 44:17 And He honored that and He glorified. 44:20 And He said, "I'll increase that." 44:23 And He has done that in so many different ways 44:26 that I praise Him. 44:27 So those of you who are today that's going through this 44:30 and you're all torn up and you don't know 44:33 and you're looking for that spiritual rest, 44:34 you're looking for the physical rest, 44:36 your life is all torn apart, 44:38 I beg and plead with you don't overdo it. 44:40 Go to Him. 44:41 He is your rest. 44:43 He has promised over and over this. 44:46 Let me take that burden. 44:47 How often have you heard it in this quarter? 44:48 I'll take that burden. 44:50 I want to take it. 44:51 You can't handle it anymore. 44:52 And you think you can handle it, 44:54 and look what happened to Kenny. 44:55 Look what happened to millions of others. 44:57 You don't have to handle it alone. 44:59 I guarantee you that 45:00 because He's going to be there with you. 45:02 Even when you make a mess of it, 45:03 you turn to Him and ask for forgiveness 45:04 in the new life and just simply say, 45:06 "What I have left, Lord, I give unto thee." 45:08 He'll take it. He'll bless it. 45:09 He'll multiply more than you're able to believe or think. 45:12 Amen. 45:13 Amen. Praise the Lord. 45:15 Praise the Lord. 45:16 Well, we move now to Thursday's portion of the lesson 45:18 and Thursday's portion of the lesson 45:19 is entitled Conquering a Heavenly City. 45:24 Conquering a Heavenly City. 45:25 This moves us to Hebrews 4:8-11. 45:30 And before continuing, I have to say 45:32 that as you look at Hebrews Chapter 4, 45:34 some have taken Hebrews Chapter 4 to say, 45:37 well, this is talking about the Sabbath day here 45:39 and that's all this is talking about. 45:41 And some have taken no, 45:43 this is not talking about the Sabbath day, 45:44 actually, this does away with the Sabbath day 45:49 is what some people are trying to preach here. 45:51 But as you look at the context of this, 45:53 you will realize that you're talking about both here, 45:57 the seventh day Sabbath, 45:58 you're talking about the rest, the spiritual rest 46:01 and the final rest that God will give to His people. 46:03 Now let's go quickly here to Hebrews Chapter 4, 46:06 let's begin in verse 8. 46:08 Now it says here, "For if Joshua 46:09 had given them rest, then He would not 46:12 afterward have spoken of another day." 46:16 I'm reading from the New King James, 46:17 if you're following along in the King James, 46:20 your Bible says, "For if Jesus had given them rest, 46:23 then he would not afterward have spoken of another day." 46:26 The word Jesus here, the name of Jesus, 46:30 is not the correct place for Jesus, 46:32 because you're talking about Moses, 46:34 you're talking about the experience of the past. 46:37 This is talking about Joshua. 46:39 Moses was not able to take the people of Israel 46:43 into the Promised Land, 46:44 he died before he was able to see it far away. 46:47 But he was not able to do it. 46:48 The task was then given to Joshua. 46:51 Joshua was supposed to lead the people into the Canaan, 46:54 and into the Promised Land. 46:56 But even though Joshua, as you heard already 46:59 led the people into the Promised Land, 47:03 the people did not receive the spiritual rest, 47:07 that they were supposed to receive 47:09 that God had promised to them. 47:10 And I'm moving now to another scripture 47:13 that is found in the Book 47:16 of Exodus Chapter 33. 47:20 Exodus Chapter 33. 47:22 Notice here, notice here, 47:26 verse 13 and 14. 47:29 "Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace 47:34 in Your site," this is Moses talking to God, 47:37 "show me now Your way that I may know You, 47:41 and that I may find grace in Your sight. 47:43 And consider that this nation is your people.'" 47:48 And God answered, "And He said, 47:49 'My presence will go with you, 47:52 and I will give you rest.'" 47:56 This is the promise God made to Moses 47:58 and the people of Israel. 48:01 Like I said, Moses was not able to lead the people into Israel. 48:06 Joshua had to do this. 48:08 And unfortunately, the people did not receive the rest, 48:13 the rest that God had promised because of unbelief, unbelief. 48:19 So now, notice how the Scripture continues 48:23 in Hebrews Chapter 9. 48:25 It says, "There remains therefore a rest 48:29 for the people of God." 48:31 It's Hebrews 4:9, yeah. 48:33 Hebrews 4:9. 48:34 Hebrews 4:9. Yes, thank you. 48:36 "There remains there for a rest for the people of God. 48:39 For he who has entered His rest has himself also cease 48:43 from his own works, as God did from His." 48:47 Now this is talking about, stop doing, 48:49 trying to earn heaven by your own way. 48:52 Accept Jesus Christ, He is our salvation. 48:57 He is the one that promise you rest, the true rest, 49:02 that only you can get through by faith, 49:06 and you're saved through grace. 49:08 And the promised rest that He gives to us 49:12 is available to all. 49:13 It is not just to the Hebrew people. 49:15 Notice Galatians 3:26-29. 49:19 "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 49:24 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ 49:27 have put on Christ. 49:29 There is neither Jew nor Greek, 49:31 there's neither slave nor free, 49:32 there's neither male nor female, 49:34 for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 49:37 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, 49:40 and heirs according to the promise." 49:42 So the promise is now unto all the world 49:47 who accept Jesus Christ as personal Savior. 49:50 And I say to you, there is a wonderful rest coming 49:54 to the people of God. 49:56 And you know, you could have a foretaste of heaven here 50:00 if you surrender your heart to the Lord 50:02 completely and follow Him with all your heart. 50:05 And I'm telling you, we went to Dominican Republic. 50:08 We did a Ten Commandments weekend there. 50:10 We worked really hard. 50:12 And Brother Juan Horessa said, "Hey, I want you guys... 50:16 What are you doing on Sunday?" 50:18 He says, well, we have to stay till Monday 50:21 because we have to talk to the conference 50:23 and to work out and details. 50:25 He says on Sunday, you guys have worked hard. 50:27 I want you to come to my house. 50:29 It's out of the city. 50:30 It's a beautiful place and you're by the beach 50:32 not too many people there. 50:35 And we looked at each other, Idalia says, "Sure." 50:37 And the rest of the team said, "Yes, let's do this." 50:40 We went to this house. 50:42 And I tell you, we got to the wall of the house. 50:47 And over the wall of the house was hanging 50:50 what is known as cashew apple. 50:52 Pastor Lomacang probably loves some cashew apples. 50:55 You have probably eaten cashew nuts. 50:56 They're actually seeds. 50:58 They're actually seeds from the plant. 50:59 So the cashew apple, these were beautiful. 51:04 Idalia said, "Let's step out of the car and get some." 51:07 We started grabbing these cashew apples. 51:11 And they were so delicious. 51:13 I said, "These are perfectly ripe." 51:16 The most delicious cashew apples 51:18 you have ever tasted in your life. 51:20 These don't seem to be from the earth she said, 51:22 they're so good. 51:24 And Brother Rossa says, 51:26 "Hey, you haven't even gone inside yet. 51:28 Come inside, there's more." 51:30 And we went inside. 51:32 And there inside was a mango tree, 51:35 one of my favorite fruits. 51:36 And I'm telling you, the mangoes looked wonderful. 51:40 And they were just hanging from the tree. 51:43 You didn't have to climb the tree, 51:44 you could just grab them, they were just so low. 51:47 And they were perfectly ripe. 51:49 I took a bite out of this first mango. 51:53 I said, "Wait a minute, 51:54 this is the best mango I've ever tasted!" 51:58 It seems like it's not from this earth. 52:00 And it was still so delicious, so juicy. 52:01 And everybody was just grabbing mangoes, enjoying the mangoes. 52:05 And it was so wonderful, so delicious. 52:08 And I grabbed another one. 52:10 And I said, "Wait a minute, 52:11 this seems too good to be true." 52:15 And because it was like you're in heaven now, 52:17 this seems too good to be true. 52:19 Seconds later, it was like an army of mosquitoes, 52:22 "Hey, there are some fresh meat here." 52:25 And they were just biting us all over the place. 52:28 And, you know, you started doing this, 52:31 you couldn't enjoy the mangoes anymore, 52:32 because you're just, you know. 52:34 And Brother Rossa felt so bad. 52:36 Everybody's just trying to fight these mosquitoes off. 52:38 And we said, "Wait a minute," 52:40 because, you know, the interesting thing is, 52:42 I said to myself, "This seems too good to be true." 52:45 And sure enough on earth, things do not last. 52:49 These are temporal things. 52:51 You know, we're in this world, 52:52 there's a great controversy between good and evil. 52:55 We may enjoy peace here, 52:56 but the peace we're going to enjoy 52:58 when God finally gives us that rest cannot be compared. 53:03 So I encourage you to hold on to Jesus, 53:06 follow Him with all your heart, 53:08 there remains a rest from the people of God. 53:11 God wanted to take the people of Israel 53:14 into the Promised Land, give them rest 53:17 from trying to earn salvation on their own, 53:19 give them rest from their enemies, 53:22 and they would enjoy the fruits of the land, 53:24 they would enjoy like a heaven on earth. 53:29 They were not able to enter in because of unbelief. 53:32 And there are some today that are maybe listening to me 53:35 that you may not enter in because of unbelief. 53:40 Through Jesus Christ, we can have complete victory, 53:42 through Jesus Christ we can have salvation complete 53:47 through Jesus Christ, through the blood of the Lamb. 53:50 Let's take you to Revelation Chapter 21 53:53 that speaks of the time 53:55 when the rest begins to happen to completion. 53:59 This is Revelation 21:1-4. 54:02 "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth," 54:05 oh, the first heaven and the first earth, 54:08 "had passed away. 54:09 Also there was no more sea. 54:11 Then I, John, saw the Holy City, 54:15 New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 54:19 prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 54:21 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 54:24 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, 54:27 and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people." 54:31 God Himself will be with them and be their God. 54:34 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. 54:38 There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. 54:42 There shall be no more pain, 54:43 for the former things have passed away.'" 54:46 Complete deliverance from the enemy 54:50 and from Satan and from any evil doers, 54:53 God's people will finally enjoy the rest, 54:58 complete rest that He has promised for us. 55:01 So do not harden your heart as the people of Israel 55:06 did, soften your heart, and listen to that Jesus says, 55:10 "Come onto Me, and I will give you rest." 55:14 Amen. 55:15 I love to hear you tell a story, John. 55:18 Praise the Lord. 55:20 Let's take just a moment 55:21 and have a closing talk for our days. 55:24 While speaking about the sanctuary, 55:26 I love the focal point of it. 55:28 And I would narrow it down to Hebrews 7:25. 55:31 "Therefore He is able to save to the uttermost 55:35 those who come to God through Him, 55:38 since He," as of today, 55:41 "ever lives to make intercession for us." 55:45 And so, my brethren, accept the Christ, 55:47 who is the ultimate sacrifice, 55:50 the only provision for our salvation. 55:52 Amen! 55:54 Talking about rest, 55:56 the Israelites did not enter into Christ rest. 55:59 And many times many Christians today 56:02 have not entered into His rest. 56:04 Well, I'm just want to appeal to you 56:06 to open up your heart to Jesus. 56:07 Let Him come in. 56:09 Lay the entire weight of your faith 56:12 on the promises of the Word of God. 56:14 And you can have rest for your soul. 56:16 Amen. 56:18 Praise the Lord. 56:19 You know, I really believe that we are on the borders 56:21 of the Promised Land. 56:23 And so our lives our conduct, 56:25 our hearts needs to be in tune with heaven right now. 56:27 We need to pray like never before 56:29 that we enter in because we love God 56:32 and keep His commandments. 56:34 And I say to you listen, His invitation is still open. 56:38 That's the good news. 56:39 Accept that invitation right now. 56:41 He'll give you rest. 56:42 Amen, amen. 56:43 I take it to Hebrews Chapter 4 again. 56:46 And it says, "There remains 56:47 a rest for the people of the Lord." 56:49 But look at verse 11, "Let us therefore 56:52 be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone 56:57 fall according to the same example of disobedience." 57:01 Let us obey the Lord. 57:03 Trust in the Lord. 57:04 And let us be diligent to enter into that rest. 57:07 Amen and amen. 57:08 Thank you all so much for your study. 57:11 And what's on my heart right now 57:13 is, are you longing for more? 57:16 Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, 57:18 "God put eternity in our hearts." 57:21 We were meant to have communion with Him. 57:26 We were meant to live in unity with Him. 57:29 I can tell you what, God is longing for more. 57:32 He's longing for more of a commitment, 57:34 He is longing for us to give Him our hearts. 57:40 And so we hope that you'll take this time 57:43 to trust in Him and pray to Him 57:46 and let Him respond to that prayer. 57:49 And please join us next time for lesson number 12. 57:54 We're going to do a study on Jonah, 57:57 the restless prophet. 57:59 Till then just stay in touch with God. 58:04 Amen. Amen. |
Revised 2021-09-20