March 7, 2021 Sunday Morning Service

Since we have all this technology, it takes a little longer to sit up here. So but we're excited to bring you this message this morning. And if you look in your bulletin, I'm going to be teaching on something different this morning the what's in the bulletin. I'm going to save that for another time, but we have been in a series of lessons talking about I am And we're going back to the Old Testament talking about some of the I am Expressions that are found there in the Old Testament. So I decided that the lesson that was scheduled for today would take a little too long. And so I decided to move it for another day. But at the same time it is cited that as I Was preparing this lesson that I would have to make this into two lesson. So the smoke we're going to have part 1 and then next time we'll have part two of this particular lesson was thinking about the lesson and some of the things that I was reading. I thought to myself. We need to be grateful for the country. We live in.

Read about the stories of Christians. In other countries you read about the stories of people in poverty, and you read about all the crime and all the military exercises against the citizens of one country and you realize just how blessed we are living in peace. I say peace relatively speaking some are more peaceful than others, but in relative terms were talking about a country that is experiencing. Great. Peace, Great Piece. Which reminds me that also that we need to pray for our country. We need to pray that it continues to be peaceful. We need to pray for the citizens our fellow brothers and sisters Americans pray for them. Pray for their well-being play for their peace and pray for their families and above all pray that kindness kindness returns to our land and that each person expresses that kindness one to another what Peter cell tells us in 1st Peter chapter to love one another love fervently one another and we need to do that and stop all the bickering and complaining and get back to loving as we ought to and then we also have to pray for our leaders. It doesn't matter what side of the aisle what party they belong then it doesn't matter if you don't like them or you don't like their policies, we're still commanded to pray for our leaders. Just think about the many Jews who despise the Roman Empire for the tyranny of that day gave the Jews.

The Jews lived under tyranny and Jesus comes along and says he pray for your leaders in Authority pray for your government because God has instituted the government to be a minister of God for good watching out for the citizens of the country. And so we need to pray for our leaders that they make the proper the right decisions Godly decisions based upon Godly principles. Yeah. They may not be Christians. But they surely no Godly principles and we need to pray that they follow those Godly principles and I understand also that this is not our citizenship Paul tells us where our citizenship is, right. He says our citizen Citizenship is above. It's a bomb in the heavenlies. And so that's where our true home is. That's where we want to go. That's where we want to be. That's what we're striving for. That's what we're working for. That's what we're hopefully living for something Beyond this realm and then finally if we're striving to be part of that realm part of that citizenship. I like for you this week to go back to The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew Chapter 5 read those the attitude because Jesus the Same this is the type of person I want in my kingdom. Read those Beatitudes Matthew chapter 5. And decide what do you think or who do you think God is when he offers those types of characteristics and qualities that we should have in our lives. So we need to live like our citizenship is in heaven. That's my first sermon for this morning is going to be a little bit longer not too much longer but a little bit longer we're talking about I am last week. We spoke about how God is a way maker. He made a way of Salvation. He made the way given to the Israelites. Remember, they were all backed into the corner. Pharaoh in his armies had pushed them to the Red Sea. They couldn't go to the left. I couldn't go to the right. And they certainly couldn't go backwards. But God was there to let them go backwards or forwards for that matter because after God separated the waters they were able to walk on dry ground and then been able to pursue the future. To go back to the future on the other side. So there is a definite line of demarcation there with the Red Sea. They're leaving. What is behind? And they're going on forward to what is ahead. How do I get Paul says in Philippians chapter 3 beginning of verse 14 leaving the things of the past behind and pressing forward to the things which are ahead. And there are a lot of people. A lot of people who identify themselves with what took place in the past. lots of people you might know some people like that. Perhaps leave experience rape. Proudly been abused. Perhaps they've been in an addiction. It could be any number of things maybe mommy and daddy work good to them. Maybe they were good to Mommy and Daddy. But in the overall scheme of things a lot of people look back to their past and they're stuck there. Pork rib easily done that he could have easily said, you know, I killed Christians. I had Christians put to death. The Paul says I moved on. I'm forgetting the past because that's no longer me and I'm moving forward pressing on to Greater Heights. And so it is with us. We need to the pressure because God is still there making ways for you and me and he still making ways for us collectively as a church as a congregation. Remember if God has given each of us a commission go into all the world and preach the gospel. Then he hasn't abandon us that Commission. That assignment that we've all been given is still there. And if that assignment is still there for each one of us then God is still there ready and willing to make a way we just have to take hold of the opportunity before us o God is a way maker we talked last week keeper. He keeps his promises. And as we consider the promises of God, we love to sing that song Standing on the Promises of God and oldie but goodie, but Soulful of Truth. We're Standing on the Promises of God. God said it and I'm holding him to it. How do I hold him to it by doing what he has asked me to do. He said Doug just like that song. I gave myself for Z. What have you done done for me? Right we can sit there and put our own names in there. What have you done for me? I'll tell you when I put my name there. I do shake and tremble. What have I done compared to what he has done? Nothing, really. But what he has asked us to do is to follow him to be like him in the best way that we can and to do what he says in the best way that we can giving it our all giving it our best ability to do those things.

The I am who is a great promise keeper. We got to consider the fact of a great man of the Bible called Abraham. Abraham and that's what we've been talking about at least in the scripture reading. And let's see if we can change us. Because as we think about Abraham was thinking about a real man of God. You know God had asked him to leave his home. To leave the city that he was brought up in and to go to a place. He had no idea where he be going. He said okay. I'm I'm all yours. I'm ready to go. I'm packed and going. So he was a real real God follower Center. Yeah, he's sitting along the way he wasn't a perfect man by any stretch. He lied. He ridiculed and mocked God remember from home. We just read God told Abraham. I will bless you and make you the father of many nations. and then in chapter 17 Abraham laughed

why the 99 years old? What do you mean you're going to bless me to be the father of many nations now from the human standpoint understand that it's an impossibility. But God always makes a way and God always keeps his promises. So he left. He left a duck the ideas that Abraham actually ridicules God.

Have you ever when you were younger your parents said something to you and you just went to who you start mumbling under your breath and then your parent says what did you say? Black whatever he was doing what God already knew what he was saying.

But the point is is that he mocked God in 1 chapter later. One chapter later. He makes the same promise to Sarah and Sarah left of ridiculing God. The question we asked last week is And this is the most important thing about us. What do you think about God? Who do you think God is? Well again, remember, he's a Waymaker today. He's a promise keeper. And so Abraham Waldo. He said he was not a pretender when it came to say.

He fell because he was in perfect, but he was not a pretender when it came to True saving Faith. There's a website called fake a vacation. This came out sometime last year during the pandemic because no one was traveling. So the whole purpose behind the website is you take pictures of yourself of your family. You tell the people that you're going to send your pictures to. Where would you like to go? Where would you like to be and we'll put you there and saw this became up the hot item among people, especially those who go over onto Facebook because they want to impress their Facebook friends. Facebook friends I have close to 5,000 Facebook friends, and I know I'm probably a few hundred. I don't know half the people 3/4 of the people on my Facebook list of friends. But anyhow, we need to understand that not everybody is our friend and acquaintance. They might be a Facebook friend, but they might not be true friend, but this idea of a fake vacation. You put those pictures that you had or well, I'll just show you.

The picture on the left is the real picture of a wedding that took place at someone's house. The picture on the right they just moved over and put it into a beach wedding. Right? It's so people are so old. Wow. What a lovely wedding you had and of course, it was all fake. They're pretending this guy is proposing to his his wife soon-to-be wife. Looks like on a frozen lake in snow. No, I don't know I probably would say no if that was the case, but in any of that that just transferred that picture over to the next and it looks like they're now in Las Vegas proposing what a beautiful place to have a proposal. You guys must have been so happy and in reality they were freezing.

Same thing here here. We have a couple having fun at home. And now they're having fun at Disney same exact picture Pretenders fake vacation and the same thing with us. We can there's a lot of Christians that walk this Earth claim to be Christian followers of Jesus, but as Peter points out and also John 1st John he talks about the identity of those who truly are Christians those who follow Christ. What makes the difference obedience Obedience which gets back to devotion? Which gets back to your thought about who is God? How do you perceive God? Well, y'all makes a big difference. So Jesus said if you abide in my word, you are what my disciples are my disciples indeed. So that's what he saying. He says if you abide in my word doesn't mean if you read my word the abiding there is knowing the word and applying the living the word abiding in his word his teachings living them out. That's what he means. So if you abide in my word, truly you were on my disciples. There's a true disciple are there is a disciple or a pseudo disciple. And I'm so it is anybody can claim to be anything. They want I guess even in today you can identify as a tree you can identify as a woman you can identify as anything you'd like to be you can identify but God knows the real and the fake the real in the face. So as we think about the idea of Abraham, he's not a fake follower and he goes after God he follows God he believes God and I think there in lies the difference between what makes a true disciple. As opposed to a false disciple that is they believe God. They believe God. No. As you think about that. People are going to say well I believe in God. I know he exists. That's not what I said. I said Do you believe God?

big difference and as we think about past that as we think about that idea that concept noticed what happened to Moses and you know this well. And the Lord spoke to Moses saying take the ride you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together speak to the Rock before their eyes and it will yield its water now, you know the story don't you what happened? He struck The Rock. God did not say take the rod and strike The Rock. He says take your rod and speak to the Rock. Thought you shall bring water for them out of the Rock and give drink to the congregation and their animals. So Moses took the ride from before the Lord as he commanded him and Moses and Aaron gather the assembly together before the rock seems like everything is going pretty well to plan. He said to them. Now you rebels

he took that he's been thinking about this because these people have been on his back night and day ever since they left Egypt they have been complaining Moses. Is this in Moses that he's going to kill us. We want to go back we need to do this. Must we bring water for you out of the rock. Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod and water came out a bundling and the congregation in their animals drink now notice then oh Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron because you did not believe me. Just follow me in the eyes of the children of Israel. Therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them. Moses believed in God he talked to God. He loved God. But on this occasion, he did not believe God and so it was he said what was the difference? He did not owe back. Disobedience obedience is always the Difference Maker and it is so here when we understand that the promise that God gives to mankind is this Just the way he gave the promise to Abraham. He said I want you to leave everything behind and I want you to hold to the promise. I'm going to give you that still in the future. Know where does faith come in that God says it's still in the future and you live your life. Like you're heading toward that promise in the future. You take hold of it. That's faith. Show all God's promises are predicated on faith. But faith is predicated on obedience. You can't separate Faith from obedience because obedience demonstrates face. And faith is demonstrated by our obedience. So it's necessary for us to show the difference whenever you think about this idea of obedience. I'm going to read to you from the book of Hebrews. You can follow along if you like Hebrews 11 beginning of birth date. I don't have this up on the board. by faith Abraham obeyed what he was called to go out to the place. Which he would receive an inheritance and he went out not knowing where he was going. Bus safety dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob. The Heirs with him of the same promise for he walked For the city which has foundations are for he waited for the city which has foundations whose Builder and maker is God by it safe. Sarah herself also receive strength to conceive seed and she bore a child when she was past the aid because she judged him. You have promised again. There's a whole idea of Salvation God's promise man's faith. That's exactly what Paul Simon season chapter 2 for by Grace. Have you been saved through up? Thanks. promise and faith What do you think about God who was God in your heart? Have you accepted his promise and or his promises? So as we consider the idea of Abraham would have more in detail, I think about unbelief. Because unbelief is the opposite of Faith. There is pissed this faith. Eleanor is a pistachio. No face. Unbelief, and that's what I'm going to show us here is that unbelief is disobedience. And that's exactly what Moses fell into. He could not enter into the land of promise because of his unbelief, which was his Disobedience to God God gave him something to do and he refused to do it. He did not act with God God's intentions in mind. So Hebrews chapter 3 as the holy spirit says the Holy Spirit speaks, right? How does he speak? Well we go back to the book of Psalm. That's what he means. That's where he's calling from the holy spirit Spirit says today and so I'm not E5 if you will hear his voice do not Harden your hearts as in the Rebellion. In the day of trial in the wilderness where your father's was tested me tried me and saw my Works 40 years. Therefore. I was angry with that generation and said they always go astray where in their heart is where it all begins. What do you think of God? Always go astray in the heart and they have not known my ways teachings. So I swore in my rap. They shall not enter my rest beware Brethren lest. Lee Lester be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing the word there is literally falling away. To fall away. You heard that expression. So-and-so has fallen away.

All of us are follow. But not all of us are falling away. What's the difference? We all sin. But we all like Abraham keep pressing forward. Abraham was not perfect. But he kept pressing forward as they say he got off the ground shook. The dust off himself has kept on going but a lot of people identify themselves by their past and they don't press forward. Someone will say it's in so much in my life kind of reminds me of a George Strait song. Talking about the father. He says, I don't know if they're going to let me in. Well, you got a problem. All right, if you don't see why your dad but but the point is is that a lot of people to send and they say off. I'm so bad. I'm terrible God's not going to let me and he won't save me.

But that's not true. God says you can repent and you can change and you can continue to be my child remember if we walk in the light as he is in the light. We have fellowship with one another in the blood of Jesus Christ. His son cleanses us from all sin.

Get your butt. We deceive ourselves if we say we have no sin. We deceive ourselves if we say we have no sin. So along the way as we walk in the light. We're going to stumble because we're not perfect. We're going to think wrong things and thinking wrong things and dwelling on things that are bad is simple right 2nd Corinthians chapter 10 verse 5 tells us to bring every Wicked thought under subjection to Jesus Christ.

And so he says keep on doing that. A lot of times we struggle with emotional things in our hearts and our minds and we continue to have these bad thoughts. Whatever those thoughts might be. But they're the holy spirit's and you keep on doing that. You keep on trying to pursue suppress those bad and awful thoughts and you will be victorious you will be you keep pressing on nothing in this life is going to be easy.

So we need to understand the idea of keep pressing on but those three words up there in the pink evil heart of unbelief and departing. Ross Anonymous in that context you have a evil Hearts because of your unbelief. It's because of your departing. You're the party because of your unbelief and your evil heart and you have unbelief because of your evil heart in your departing your Falling Away. So he says departing from the Living God, but exhort one another daily wildest call today lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of Sin Sin so deceitful it deceives us. Any idea of an evil or hardened heart, you know Paul talks about the fact that one's conscience could become so seared. That doing good and doing bad doesn't mean anything to them anymore because of repetition the more you sin and the more you like it the less you're going to come back to the Lord and when you have a dead conscience or a seared conscience. It's almost an impossibility. That's what the Hebrews writer tells us in chapter 6. Coming to repentance is a is a chore because a lot of people just don't care whether they're guilty or not.

So then again people who live in the past and they say well I'm so bad. God won't let me in on that. He can never forgive me my sin again. He says that his blood cleanses us from what you just want to be willing to change and that's the problem really to change. They've identified themselves by the problems of the past and I kind of get comfortable with it. It's hard for them to to bail out of that situation. But again, we keep pressing forward. We keep moving forward in the direction of the future of God's promise. He says for we have become partakers of Christ If We Hold again, If we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end if then you got to do something for God, it's not about God doing everything for us. We have to exercise our faith and believe not in God but believe God so he says wow that said today if you will hear his voice do not Harden your hearts as in the Rebellion for who having heard Rebelle indeed was it not all who came out of Egypt led by Moses was he angry 40 years was it not with those who send who's corpses fell in the wilderness and to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who what did not obey what happened to them? How are they described so we see that they could not enter in because of what unbelief unbelief is equal to Disobedience and disobedience is equal to unbelief. You have faith in God you do what God says. You don't have faith in God you don't do what he says that's called unfade unsafe and unfaced person and unbelieving person. So the question before us still needs to be answered. If perhaps this week, you could answer that question by the end of the week. What do you think of God? What do you think? of God