Greater Than (14)
Notes
Transcript
Greater Than
Greater Than
Good morning. It is good to see you all this morning. I alos want to welcome everyone online. I haven’t asked in a while, but I want o ask and encourage everyone to like, subscribe and share our messages on Sundays.
We are in our final 2 weeks of Hebrews and we will be closing out our summer with a quick series called “Tradition or Truth?” and I wanted to give you a short preview. Watch this: VIDEO
VIDEO
Thank you for everyone who talked to me or sent in topics. This is going to be fun little series and I hope you join us and invite others to come.
Today we are looking at part 2 of Great Start/ Greater Finish that we started las week. Please turn in you Bibles Apps, hieroglyphics to Hebrews 12
Great Start / Greater Finish Pt. 2
Great Start / Greater Finish Pt. 2
As your turning there , what is the most awe inspiring thing you have ever seen? Call some things out.
We have had the blessing of traveling and seeing some amazing stuff over our lives. Lived in Europe for a number of years and saw amazing architecture, art, and landscapes. I have been in a place where the sky was so clear and void of any man made light you could see the clouds of the Milky Way.
But that take your breath away moment?
I remember we lived in Colorado Springs. I was getting out of the military , preparing for mission, hike Cheyenne Mnt, open vista.
Last week we talked about what a finisher looks like. A finisher - runs light, focuses forward, sees adversity as opportunity, and doesn’t finish alone.
But how do we actually do that?
That's what I want to key into today. This race and its destination is beyond anything you could dream of and worth more than you could ever imagine.
Please stand with me as we read the most important words you will hear today.
18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them.
20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.
26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
Let’s pray
Great Start / Greater Finish Pt. 2
Great Start / Greater Finish Pt. 2
We love to travel. Always have. I actually prefer to drive if at all possible.
A lot of people will tell you its not the destination. its the journey.
Well, for me it is both. I love the drive because I want to see all the things along the way, but the destination has to be worth it.
We used to drive like 12-14 hrs in day driving from the bottom of Italy in Sicily to Germany like once a year.
That’s a long drive, especially when your daughter s are very young.
We got see amazing things like the Alps driving, but the destination was getting to be with a group of people we loved and had not seen for months. It was so worth it.
Martin Luther King Jr. once said:
Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.
Great Start / Greater Finish Pt. 2
Great Start / Greater Finish Pt. 2
Every race or journey starts with that first step. It often feels like it is the hardest one to take, until you take it.
As the race continues, there are moments when doubt and exhaustion sets in. You may think you have gone far enough and want to quit. Here is where you need to be reminded the destination is worth it.
At some time, you can actually see the destination, you know it is there and nothing is going to stop you from reaching it.
The question is then how? How do we do this?
It is all about what you choose to look at and focus on.
Look back - see or remember your need.
18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them.
Look back - see or remember your need.
I know last week I said finishers focus forward.
We do, but we also must never forget where we have come from.
The author here is referencing the moment God was giving the law to the Jews.
This week read through Exodus 19-20.
The story God had Moses gather the people at Mt Sinai. The mountain is on fire,
The people respond in fear, as in I am getting out of here.
20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”
Look back - see or remember your need.
Everyone of us has moment when God shows up and we have top decide will I trust or turn away.
It may be only one time, and today may that be that day for you.
For those of us who know Him, we need to remember that day.
It is the day we came form fear and death to life and hope.
Life outside of Christ is life driven by fear. Fear I won’t measure up, fear of the unknown, the future, you name it.
We either see our need of freedom from that fear or we remember we have been freed.
When that happens we can then:
Look up - see the glory of what is coming.
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Look up - see the glory of what is coming.
The author here wants to show the incredible difference between what was and is now due to Christ.
Mt Sinai was marked by fear. The Old Covenant of law.
Aren’t you glad we have moved to Mt Zion. The New Covenant of grace marked by hope.
Look what it says
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,
Look up - see the glory of what is coming.
This is the city that Abraham was looking for.
9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
Look up - see the glory of what is coming.
All those listed in chapter 11 are small portion of the OT Saints who have citizenship in God's city.
The Church is there
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Look up - see the glory of what is coming.
The Savior we await is there, Jesus
Notice it says the Christ’s blood speaks better than Abel’s.
Abel's blood spoke cries for justice and brings guilt and despair
Christ's blood speaks mercy for sinners and frees us from guilt and opens the way into the presence of God.
When the journey gets hard, look up.
As you look up, don’t forget to:
Look ahead - see the unshakable Kingdom
25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.
Look ahead - see the unshakable Kingdom
God is still speaking today.
In fact, we can see God’s providential hand in the world and we have the full Word of God.
We have no excuse if we choose not to listen.
God held those under the OT Covenant accountable, how much are we held under the New Covenant.
God is shaking things up. The things that are temporal are being revealed
We are to build our lives on the eternal the unshakeable.
28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
Look ahead - see the unshakable Kingdom
We can stand and be confident because what we stand on and build our lives on in Christ cannot be shaken.
There is more shaking to come, but if the foundation of our life is Christ, no matter what you will stand.
Great Start / Greater Finish Pt. 2
Great Start / Greater Finish Pt. 2
Listen and obey, receive grace daily, and don't get distracted by the rumblings and shaking in the world.
Keep running your race.
We can be confident even when the world is frightened.
Retired Army Chaplain and author James Collins once said:
“In the Christian race of life, we are not running to win—we have already won. We are just running to finish.”
Great Start / Greater Finish Pt. 2
Great Start / Greater Finish Pt. 2
We all have a finish line and we are all running a race.
The question is the destination worth it.
No other belief system in all of history gives purpose and hope in life as trust and faith in Christ.
If you are running after any thing else, it will disappoint.
My prayer for my life is that I can confidently say:
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Talk about taking your breath away. I cannot even imagine when I enter His city. I hope your destination is worth it. I know mine is.
Let’s Pray
