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00:00:11Let us pray
00:00:14Praise, honour and glory be to you, O Christ
00:00:17Who, from the cross, looked in upon your mother
00:00:22Overwhelmed with grief and tears
00:00:24And so truly took compassion on her sorrow
00:00:28Commending her to the care of your disciple John
00:00:31As also you commended John
00:00:33And in him, all of us, to her maternal care
00:00:39Grant me to love and honour your mother
00:00:41With the purest and most ardent love
00:00:43That I may have her for my mother
00:00:46And be worthily acknowledged by her as her son
00:00:50Grant that in every necessity
00:00:52And especially at the hour of my death
00:00:55I may find her ever present and at hand to help me
00:01:01Praise, honour and glory be to you, O Christ
00:01:04Who, with your wounds gaping
00:01:07And your head crowned with thorns
00:01:09While hanging in misery upon the cross
00:01:12Declared that you were without any consolation
00:01:17Grant that in all adversity
00:01:19In times of temptation and desolation
00:01:21I may fly with faith to you, my most holy Father
00:01:26And putting no confidence in myself
00:01:28Grant that I may place all my hopes in you alone
00:01:31And entirely resign myself and trust in you
00:01:37Wound my innermost soul
00:01:39With the remembrance of your wounds
00:01:41Write and imprint them upon my heart
00:01:44Satiate me wholly with your blood
00:01:46That all my intentions may be fixed in you alone
00:01:49And that I may seek and find and hold you fast
00:01:53Possessing you for ever and ever
00:01:57Praise, honour and glory be to you, O Christ
00:02:00Who, when your body was exhausted from the loss of blood
00:02:04Gasped for breath
00:02:05And cried out on the cross
00:02:07That you were tormented with thirst
00:02:09While you burnt with unspeakable desire
00:02:12For our salvation
00:02:15Give me grace to thirst most ardently
00:02:17After your honour and the salvation of souls
00:02:20And be ready cheerfully to spend myself for them
00:02:25According to your will
00:02:28Grant that no love of any transitory object
00:02:31May possess my soul
00:02:32That I may never attach myself to any creature
00:02:36And that even when I am bound to love
00:02:38I may love only in you
00:02:41But give me grace to love you above all
00:02:44And with my whole soul
00:02:45And quietly to rest in you
00:02:50Praise, honour and glory be to you, O Christ
00:02:53Who, when you were thirsty
00:02:55Even at the point of death
00:02:57Permitted a sponge filled with vinegar
00:03:00To be offered to you
00:03:01And that by tasting this
00:03:03You might make satisfaction for our gluttony
00:03:06Giving us an example of poverty
00:03:10Grant me the grace to despise any unlawful pleasure and delight
00:03:14And to avoid any excess in eating and drinking
00:03:17And may I use with moderation and thanksgiving
00:03:20Whatever you do give me for the support of my poor body
00:03:26So cleanse, I beg you
00:03:28The taste of my heart
00:03:29That it may relish nothing except that which is pleasing to you
00:03:33And may find nothing but bitterness in whatever displeases you
00:03:39Praise, honour and glory be to you, O Christ
00:03:42You, the greatest lover of the human race
00:03:45For when you were bringing out the work of our redemption to a close
00:03:51Brought yourself as a holy victim upon the altar of the cross
00:03:54For the sin of all mankind
00:03:58May this be the only end, I beg you
00:04:00Of all my thoughts, words and works
00:04:04Namely, to seek your honour with an upright and sincere heart
00:04:08And to desire nothing save you alone
00:04:12Grant that I may never grow weary or lukewarm in your service
00:04:16But a fervent spirit always be ever renewed within me
00:04:20That I may daily be more and more inflamed to love and praise you
00:04:26Praise and honour and glory be to you, O Christ
00:04:29Who willingly underwent death
00:04:32When commending yourself to your Father
00:04:34And bending your adorable head
00:04:36You gave up the ghost
00:04:38And thus, by laying down your life for your sheep
00:04:42Showed yourself to be the Good Shepherd
00:04:48You are dead, only begotten Son of God
00:04:50You are dead, my beloved one
00:04:52That I may live for ever
00:04:55What hope, what confidence is laid up for me
00:04:57In your death and in your blood
00:04:59I glorify you, I give you thanks as far as in me lies
00:05:04Give me grace to die entirely, to sin
00:05:06And all evil desires
00:05:08And to live to you alone
00:05:11May I think of you alone
00:05:13May my understanding exercise itself
00:05:15In nothing except you
00:05:18That, clad in your grace and with holy charity
00:05:21I may soon after the close of this life
00:05:24Come to you
00:05:25The true paradise
00:05:27O good Jesus, by your bitter passion and death
00:05:30Grant to me the living pardon and grace
00:05:33And to the faithful departed rest and everlasting light
00:05:39Praise, honour and glory be to you, O Christ
00:05:41At his death the sun withdrew its light
00:05:45And the veil of the temple was divided in two
00:05:49The earth quaked and the rocks were cut
00:05:52And the graves opened
00:05:56May the rays of your grace never leave me
00:05:58I beg you, you son of righteousness
00:06:02You that are my God
00:06:05May they always lighten
00:06:06Even the very inmost recesses of my heart
00:06:09That I may joyfully serve you for ever
00:06:13Tear away from me the veil of hypocrisy
00:06:16Make the ground of my soul quake with saving penitence
00:06:20Rend in tomb this heart of stone of mine
00:06:24That, being wholly renewed within
00:06:26I may despise anything perishable
00:06:29And love only the things that are of heaven
00:06:32Amen
00:06:37O Lord, open our lips
00:06:39And our mouths shall sing your praise
00:06:50Lord, open our lips
00:06:51O be joyful in the Lord
00:06:54On your hands
00:06:56Turn the Lord with gladness
00:07:00And come in the days
00:07:03We'll turn to your tongue
00:07:06Be sure that the Lord
00:07:10He is lost
00:07:40CHOIR SINGS
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00:13:21And will always show you all thy praise
00:13:28From generation to generation
00:13:38Glory be to the Father
00:13:43And to the Son
00:13:47And to the Holy Ghost
00:13:54As it was in the beginning
00:13:58Is now and ever shining
00:14:03World without end
00:14:11Amen
00:14:23Hear, Lord, the shepherd of Israel
00:14:29Thou that leadest chosen like a sheep
00:14:36Joy, thyself also
00:14:40Thou that sittest upon her cherries
00:14:48Before he came, angel, he had her nurse
00:14:58Serve up thy strength and love and help us
00:15:04Turn us the name, O God
00:15:10Show the light like the heavens
00:15:15And we shall be known
00:15:20Our Lord, God of hosts
00:15:25Thy love is lovely
00:15:29I agree with thy people that may have
00:15:36Thou keepest bread with thy bread of taste
00:15:44And give us ten
00:15:47And let us rest on days
00:15:50Who would drink
00:15:54Thou hast laid us the very strife
00:15:58And for our neighbors
00:16:03And the maiden is not as a stone
00:16:10Tell us the name, O God of hosts
00:16:16Who show the light of thy countenance
00:16:21And we shall be known
00:16:27Thou hast brought her life at the meeting
00:16:35Thou hast brought her life at the meeting
00:16:41Thou hast brought her life at the meeting
00:16:44Thou hast brought her life at the meeting
00:16:50Thou hast brought her life at the meeting
00:16:52Thou hast brought her life at the meeting
00:16:52Thou hast brought her life at the meeting
00:16:53Thou hast brought her life at the meeting
00:16:53Thou hast brought her life at the meeting
00:16:53Thou hast brought her life at the meeting
00:16:53Thou hast brought her life at the meeting
00:16:53Thou hast brought her life at the meeting
00:16:53Thou hast brought her life at the meeting
00:16:54Thou hast brought her life at the meeting
00:16:54Thou hast brought her life at the meeting
00:16:59Thou hast brought her life at the meeting
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00:27:22who enters God's rest has also rested from his works, just as God did from his own work.
00:27:30And we must make every effort to enter that rest, so that none may fall by following the
00:27:37same pattern of disobedience. For the Word of God lives and is active and sharper than any
00:27:44double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, joint from marrow.
00:27:53It is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart. No creature can hide from God,
00:28:00but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him we must render an account to.
00:28:08Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,
00:28:13Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest
00:28:20incapable of sympathising with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted himself in every way,
00:28:28just as we are, and yet was without sin. Therefore, let us confidently approach the throne of grace,
00:28:36grace, to receive mercy, and find grace whenever we need help. This is the Word of the Lord.
00:28:45Thanks be to God.
00:29:03As you look at your own heart, is it at rest? Have you entered, brothers and sisters, into the rest
00:29:13of God?
00:29:14Do you have that deep peace of Christ, fit tonight, filling your mind, your heart, your life?
00:29:23Or is there anxiety, strife, turmoil, or unrest? What is the condition of your heart?
00:29:32Let us beware, let us be careful. God has given us the promise of rest.
00:29:38So let us take heed that we enter into that rest. For it is very possible that even though God
00:29:46has a rest
00:29:47and desires it of you to come into that rest, it is possible that you don't know or experience that
00:29:55rest
00:29:56that God would have you want to know and experience in Christ.
00:30:04Jesus said, after all, come to me, all who are working and heavy laden.
00:30:11I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Learn of me.
00:30:16For I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your soul.
00:30:21For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
00:30:25Matthew chapter 11 verses 28 to 30
00:30:30Have you found that rest for your soul? Do you rest in Jesus?
00:30:36That is the issue for there are many who are not resting in Jesus.
00:30:43There are many Christians who cannot rest in Jesus, but still labour under a work ethic in order to be
00:30:50pleasing to God.
00:30:53Or who just through unbelief have not made that total commitment of their life and the affairs of their life
00:31:00to him.
00:31:02Knowing that he is faithful and will keep that which I have committed.
00:31:07But they haven't made that commitment, and so they do not know the rest.
00:31:14Verse 2 continues,
00:31:15For unto us was the good news preached, as well as to them.
00:31:20But the word preached did not profit them, because it wasn't mixed with faith in the ones that heard it.
00:31:28God has promised rest.
00:31:30I need to believe that.
00:31:33I enter into it by faith.
00:31:36If I don't enter by faith, then I will remain in mental turmoil and strife.
00:31:43Do you believe that God wants you to experience his rest?
00:31:47Do you believe that God is in control of your life?
00:31:51Do you believe God loves you?
00:31:54If you believe these things, then you have entered into that rest.
00:31:59Because, after all, why should I worry?
00:32:03God is in control.
00:32:05God will take care of it.
00:32:08The way we sometimes act, you would think that God has abdicated the throne.
00:32:13That he wasn't in control anymore.
00:32:17But God is in control if you have surrendered and submitted your life to him.
00:32:23You just have to believe and trust him, knowing that he is able to take care of you.
00:32:32For verse 3 tells us, for we who have believed enter into the rest.
00:32:39And the key to entering into the rest is this.
00:32:44It is the rest that can only come through faith.
00:32:49Now, a lot of people will say to you, but it's so hard to rest in faith.
00:32:54It would be so much easier to rest if God would just show me what it is that he is
00:33:00doing.
00:33:01If God would just explain to me why he has allowed this to happen to me.
00:33:06And what he is going to work out from it.
00:33:09The good that may come.
00:33:12If I could just see that, then I would certainly rest more easily.
00:33:18It is hard to rest in faith.
00:33:23You may find it hard to rest in faith.
00:33:25But the only place you will ever rest is in faith.
00:33:28You cannot rest in works, in your skills, in your efforts.
00:33:33Never will you find rest until you come to that rest of faith.
00:33:39Lord, I have given it completely over to you.
00:33:42I cannot do anything about this, Lord.
00:33:45I have no control over these circumstances, Lord.
00:33:48I turn it over to you and I place it entirely in your hands, O God.
00:33:53And I am just going to trust you.
00:33:55And I will watch and see what you do.
00:33:58Knowing that you have promised that you will work.
00:34:02I am just going to believe you, Lord.
00:34:05And just to work out for me a perfect plan in my life.
00:34:10And in the circumstances by which I am surrendered.
00:34:13And in this I rest.
00:34:17And in complete commitment, we find complete rest.
00:34:21That total commitment and abandonment to God is the place of perfect peace.
00:34:26And God will keep you in perfect peace if your mind is set, fixed upon him.
00:34:33But verse 3 tells us,
00:34:35For we who have believed enter the rest, as he said,
00:34:38As I have sworn in my wrath, if they enter into my rest.
00:34:43Although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
00:34:50Now, as far as the works are concerned, they have been wrought by God.
00:34:55All I am to do is to believe the work of God.
00:35:00What must we do, they asked Jesus, to do the work of God?
00:35:07And Jesus replied in John 6, 28,
00:35:11This is the work of God.
00:35:13Believe in him who has been sent.
00:35:21It is a finished work that Christ has accomplished for us.
00:35:26You cannot add anything to your salvation.
00:35:29You cannot add a single thing to your acceptance by God.
00:35:34He has accepted you in and through the finished work of Christ.
00:35:39You cannot add to your righteousness.
00:35:43As Paul wrote to the Galatians,
00:35:45In chapter 3, the first three verses,
00:35:48You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you,
00:35:51that you should turn so soon from the truth?
00:35:55Having begun in the spirit,
00:35:57are you now going to be made even more perfect in the flesh?
00:36:03As the children of Israel began with a spiritual relationship with God,
00:36:08being brought out of Egypt by the power of God,
00:36:11now they thought that by their own efforts,
00:36:14they were going to have to go in and take the land for themselves.
00:36:18And thinking that by their own works,
00:36:21they had to take the land.
00:36:22They looked at the giants and they looked at the problems and they said,
00:36:26We cannot do this.
00:36:28And they failed to enter into the rest.
00:36:33There are so many Christians delivered miraculously by the power of God's spirit from a life of sin.
00:36:41Now, God holds them in this rich life in the spirit,
00:36:46walking in the spirit,
00:36:48walking after the spirit,
00:36:49walking in a life of complete obedience to God.
00:36:52And they say,
00:36:53Oh, I could never do that.
00:36:55That's beyond my capacity.
00:36:57I can't be that good.
00:37:01Having begun in the spirit,
00:37:03somehow they think that God has turned to them and said,
00:37:05All right, off you go.
00:37:07You see what you can do from here on.
00:37:11And they even quote that unfortunate verse from Philippians chapter 2, verse 12.
00:37:16Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
00:37:23And that scripture verse used to shake me up.
00:37:26I had that preached to me for so long.
00:37:28Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
00:37:32But they never completed the rest of the verse.
00:37:35For it is God which works in both you to will and to do of his good pleasure.
00:37:43Don't ever worry about half a verse.
00:37:46You don't have the whole truth in half a verse.
00:37:50If you finish the complete verse,
00:37:52it makes all the difference in the world.
00:37:54It takes it off me and puts it upon him.
00:37:57It takes it from being in my own strength and puts it upon his.
00:38:01My abilities and it puts it upon his ability.
00:38:06It is God who works in me,
00:38:08both to will and to do.
00:38:10I don't have it.
00:38:12I can't do it.
00:38:13But God is able to do for me what I cannot
00:38:16and can never do for myself.
00:38:20So I believe in trust in God to do it.
00:38:23I rest in God.
00:38:24And as I rest in God,
00:38:26I have that peace within.
00:38:29Look, I'm not perfect.
00:38:31Not by a very, very long way indeed.
00:38:34But I'm making the journey.
00:38:36God is working.
00:38:37He is able to do what I cannot do for myself.
00:38:41Having begun in the spirit,
00:38:43I must remain in the spirit,
00:38:45walking after the spirit,
00:38:47yielding to the spirit that God might work.
00:38:51But in the meantime,
00:38:52I rest.
00:38:54So I fail.
00:38:55So I rest.
00:38:57God is able to make me stand.
00:38:59He is able to keep me from falling.
00:39:00I am believing him
00:39:02and trusting him,
00:39:05resting in him
00:39:06and in his finished work.
00:39:11For in verses four and five continue,
00:39:14for he spoke of a certain place
00:39:15of the seventh day in this way.
00:39:18God rested on the seventh day
00:39:20from all his works.
00:39:22And in this place again,
00:39:23if they shall enter into my rest.
00:39:27God rested on the seventh day
00:39:29from all his work,
00:39:30that is his creative work.
00:39:32Because the creation had been finished.
00:39:36Once the creation was finished,
00:39:38there was no longer the necessity
00:39:39for creative work.
00:39:41So God rested on the seventh day.
00:39:44Now, God established then
00:39:47the Sabbath day.
00:39:48He said six days you will labor
00:39:50and do your work.
00:39:51And the seventh is a day of rest.
00:39:54Exodus 23, 12.
00:39:56Because the Lord rested on the Sabbath day.
00:40:02Now, this Sabbath day rest
00:40:03was established by the law in Moses
00:40:05as a type of the rest
00:40:07that the believer is to experience
00:40:09in Jesus Christ.
00:40:13The problem is that they made a work
00:40:15out of the Sabbath day rest
00:40:16and how you ought to see
00:40:18they work at it today.
00:40:20It is a real task
00:40:22to keep that Sabbath day rest.
00:40:24And it really takes working at it.
00:40:26They have made all manner of rules
00:40:28and regulations
00:40:29concerning the Sabbath day rest.
00:40:32You shall not bear a burden
00:40:34on the Sabbath day.
00:40:36What constitutes
00:40:37bearing a burden?
00:40:41Well, false teeth
00:40:42are something that you carry
00:40:44so you cannot wear false teeth
00:40:45on the Sabbath day.
00:40:47Maybe also false eyelashes
00:40:49would fall into the same category
00:40:51but the rabbis didn't have
00:40:52to deal with them.
00:40:55You are not to use money
00:40:57on the Sabbath day
00:40:57to buy or sell.
00:40:59But there is a nice little convenience
00:41:01in that you can use a credit card.
00:41:04You are not paying for it today.
00:41:07There is some kind of mental imbalance
00:41:09with credit cards
00:41:11where you think you are not paying.
00:41:14It is a lot easier
00:41:15to shove the card across the counter
00:41:17than it is the bills, isn't it?
00:41:21Somehow you got the feeling
00:41:22that you are not paying for it.
00:41:24It is just a card.
00:41:27But Colossians 2, 16 and 17
00:41:30tell us
00:41:30the Sabbath day was only a shadow
00:41:32of the rest
00:41:33that the people of God
00:41:34would experience in Christ Jesus.
00:41:37The substance is Christ.
00:41:40Therefore, let no man judge you
00:41:42in respect to new moon,
00:41:44Sabbath days and so forth,
00:41:46which are all a shadow
00:41:47of things to come.
00:41:49But the substance is Jesus.
00:41:55There are those today
00:41:57who would judge us
00:41:58because of the Sabbath day.
00:42:00There are those
00:42:01that would even introduce
00:42:02the Sabbath day worship
00:42:03to the church
00:42:04and introduce the laws
00:42:06of the worship
00:42:06on the Sabbath day
00:42:08to the church.
00:42:10But if you are going to seek
00:42:11to be justified
00:42:12by the law,
00:42:13you better realise
00:42:14the curse
00:42:15that is involved
00:42:16within it.
00:42:17because it says
00:42:18in Galatians 3, 10,
00:42:20Cursed is every man
00:42:22who continues
00:42:22not in the whole law
00:42:23to do all the things
00:42:25that are written
00:42:25within it.
00:42:29Now, one of the things
00:42:31in the Sabbath
00:42:32that you could not do
00:42:33was light a fire.
00:42:35The minute you turn
00:42:36the ignition switch
00:42:37in your car,
00:42:38you light a fire.
00:42:39that little spark
00:42:41that sets fire
00:42:42to the fuel
00:42:43in the cylinder
00:42:44is a fire.
00:42:47You cannot turn
00:42:48on a light switch.
00:42:49It is kindling
00:42:50a fire
00:42:50within the bulb.
00:42:55Hebrews 4,
00:42:56verses 6 and 7,
00:42:57Seeing therefore
00:42:58it remains
00:42:59that some must
00:43:00enter therein,
00:43:01and they to whom
00:43:02it was first preached
00:43:03did not enter
00:43:04because of unbelief.
00:43:06Again he limited
00:43:07a certain day
00:43:08saying to David,
00:43:09Today.
00:43:12Notice,
00:43:13throughout our text
00:43:14there has been
00:43:15today,
00:43:15today,
00:43:16today,
00:43:16today,
00:43:16some five times
00:43:18or so.
00:43:19The emphasis
00:43:20is always
00:43:21today.
00:43:23And so he limited
00:43:24it to a certain day.
00:43:27And although David
00:43:28in Psalm 95
00:43:29said today,
00:43:30and this was a long time
00:43:32after the failure
00:43:32of the wilderness,
00:43:34they had still not
00:43:36entered into the rest.
00:43:38God was speaking
00:43:39speaking of the day
00:43:40that they could
00:43:40long after their failures.
00:43:43And so,
00:43:44in verse 7,
00:43:45after a long time
00:43:46it says,
00:43:46Today,
00:43:47if you hear his voice,
00:43:48do not harden your hearts.
00:43:53So David was pleading
00:43:54with the people
00:43:55of his day.
00:43:57Today,
00:43:58hear God's voice.
00:44:00Do not harden your hearts.
00:44:01Do not follow
00:44:02the example
00:44:03of those in the wilderness.
00:44:08verse 8 continues,
00:44:10For if Jesus,
00:44:12Joshua,
00:44:13had given them rest,
00:44:14then he would not
00:44:16after have spoken
00:44:17of another day
00:44:17in which they would
00:44:19enter into that rest.
00:44:25Joshua,
00:44:26of which Jesus
00:44:27is the Greek translation,
00:44:31is a reference
00:44:32to the Joshua
00:44:33who took over
00:44:33after the death
00:44:34of Moses.
00:44:36Again,
00:44:37one of their
00:44:37great leaders.
00:44:40Joshua,
00:44:40who brought them
00:44:41into the land,
00:44:43did not bring them
00:44:44into rest.
00:44:46And that's
00:44:47the most interesting thing.
00:44:49There are even those
00:44:50who have come
00:44:51to the land of promise
00:44:52who have not yet
00:44:53entered into the rest,
00:44:55the rest that God
00:44:56wants you to experience
00:44:57as his child.
00:45:01A rest
00:45:02in the completed,
00:45:03finished work of Christ
00:45:04for our righteousness
00:45:05standing before God.
00:45:08My hope
00:45:09is built on nothing less
00:45:11than the blood
00:45:12and righteousness
00:45:13of Christ.
00:45:14I dare not trust
00:45:16the sweetest frame,
00:45:17but wholly lead
00:45:18on Jesus' name.
00:45:21I am resting in him.
00:45:22He has done the work
00:45:24of salvation for me.
00:45:25He paid the price
00:45:27for my sins.
00:45:28He is the one
00:45:29who has made me
00:45:30righteous
00:45:30by my faith
00:45:31and trust in him.
00:45:34It is a completed,
00:45:36finished work.
00:45:37There is nothing
00:45:38in the slightest
00:45:39that I can add
00:45:40to complement it.
00:45:42It is once and for all
00:45:43accomplished for me
00:45:44by him.
00:45:47Now I have to have
00:45:48faith
00:45:49and to believe
00:45:50and enter into the rest.
00:45:53If I don't believe
00:45:54I can go in
00:45:56on my
00:45:56own efforts
00:45:59in my struggles,
00:46:01my strivings,
00:46:02my endeavours
00:46:03and all of these
00:46:04works that I seek
00:46:05to do in my
00:46:05fervid desire
00:46:06and activity
00:46:07to try to be better
00:46:08or to improve
00:46:10my relationship
00:46:10with God
00:46:11by my own effort.
00:46:13It will get me
00:46:14so far
00:46:15but not
00:46:16all the way
00:46:17in
00:46:18to find rest.
00:46:22Alternatively,
00:46:23I can simply
00:46:24believe that
00:46:24Jesus did it all
00:46:25and enter
00:46:27completely
00:46:27into the rest
00:46:28of faith.
00:46:35Returning to
00:46:36verse 9
00:46:37For if
00:46:38Jesus
00:46:39Joshua
00:46:39had given them
00:46:40rest
00:46:40then he wouldn't
00:46:41have spoken
00:46:42of another day.
00:46:44There remains
00:46:45therefore
00:46:45a rest
00:46:46to the people
00:46:47of God.
00:46:48There is a place
00:46:49of rest
00:46:49for God's people.
00:46:51Verse 10
00:46:52For he that is
00:46:53entered into his
00:46:54rest
00:46:54has also ceased
00:46:55from his own
00:46:56works
00:46:56as God did
00:46:57from his.
00:47:02Once the work
00:47:03was finished
00:47:03God ceased.
00:47:05He rested
00:47:06on the seventh day.
00:47:08Once the work
00:47:09of redemption
00:47:09was finished
00:47:10by Jesus Christ
00:47:11God rested
00:47:12as far as man's
00:47:13redemption
00:47:13is concerned.
00:47:16Jesus said
00:47:17I came to do
00:47:17the will of the Father
00:47:18and to finish
00:47:19his work.
00:47:21John 4
00:47:2234
00:47:22The work
00:47:24of redemption
00:47:25of man
00:47:26and on the cross
00:47:27it was finished.
00:47:29He cried out
00:47:30It
00:47:31is
00:47:31finished.
00:47:33Man's
00:47:33redemption
00:47:34is complete.
00:47:39Now if
00:47:39we have
00:47:40entered
00:47:40into his
00:47:41rest
00:47:41we have
00:47:41ceased
00:47:42from our
00:47:42own
00:47:42works
00:47:43even as
00:47:44God did
00:47:44from his.
00:47:45there is
00:47:46nothing
00:47:46that God
00:47:46will do
00:47:48now
00:47:48to save
00:47:49you
00:47:49more
00:47:49than what
00:47:50he has
00:47:50already
00:47:50done
00:47:51in providing
00:47:52the perfect
00:47:53way to
00:47:53salvation
00:47:54through
00:47:54Jesus
00:47:55Christ.
00:47:56Now it
00:47:57is up to
00:47:57you
00:47:58to believe
00:47:58and to
00:47:59accept
00:48:00that which
00:48:01God has
00:48:01provided
00:48:02the perfect
00:48:03complete
00:48:04work of
00:48:04salvation
00:48:05and acceptance
00:48:06before God
00:48:07and our
00:48:09endeavour
00:48:09and labour
00:48:10to be accepted
00:48:10by God.
00:48:12We are
00:48:13accepted in
00:48:13Christ.
00:48:14As Paul
00:48:15said one
00:48:15of the
00:48:16blessings
00:48:16is that
00:48:17we are
00:48:17accepted
00:48:18in the
00:48:19Beloved.
00:48:27Verse 11
00:48:28continues
00:48:29Let us
00:48:31labour
00:48:31therefore
00:48:33Is this a
00:48:34contradiction
00:48:34in terms?
00:48:35Let us
00:48:36labour
00:48:37therefore
00:48:37to enter
00:48:38into that
00:48:39rest.
00:48:44There is
00:48:44a rest.
00:48:45Let us
00:48:46work
00:48:46to enter
00:48:47it.
00:48:47Let us
00:48:48work at
00:48:48entering
00:48:49into it
00:48:49because
00:48:50Satan
00:48:50is going
00:48:51to
00:48:51challenge
00:48:51you
00:48:51at
00:48:52every
00:48:52step.
00:48:53You
00:48:54will
00:48:54hear
00:48:54these
00:48:55voices
00:48:55saying
00:48:55to you
00:48:56you
00:48:56cannot
00:48:56do
00:48:56it.
00:48:57You
00:48:57cannot
00:48:58live
00:48:58that
00:48:58kind
00:48:58of a
00:48:59life.
00:48:59You
00:48:59cannot
00:48:59live
00:49:00a
00:49:00life
00:49:00of
00:49:00purity
00:49:01and
00:49:01righteousness
00:49:01and
00:49:02holy.
00:49:03Holy?
00:49:04You're
00:49:04not
00:49:04holy.
00:49:05How can
00:49:05you live
00:49:05a life
00:49:06of holiness?
00:49:08That
00:49:09is
00:49:09his
00:49:09work
00:49:10in
00:49:10me
00:49:10and
00:49:10I
00:49:10believe
00:49:11and
00:49:11trust
00:49:11in
00:49:12him.
00:49:13He
00:49:13is
00:49:13able
00:49:14to
00:49:14do
00:49:14for
00:49:14me
00:49:14what
00:49:15I
00:49:15cannot
00:49:15do
00:49:16for
00:49:16myself.
00:49:17So
00:49:17do
00:49:17not
00:49:18listen
00:49:18to
00:49:18the
00:49:19murmurings
00:49:19of
00:49:19Satan.
00:49:21I
00:49:21must
00:49:21believe
00:49:22and
00:49:22trust
00:49:22in
00:49:23him
00:49:23to
00:49:23do
00:49:23it.
00:49:25No,
00:49:26I
00:49:26can't
00:49:26myself,
00:49:27but
00:49:27through
00:49:27him
00:49:28I
00:49:28can
00:49:28do
00:49:29anything.
00:49:30It
00:49:30can
00:49:30be
00:49:31all
00:49:31that
00:49:31God
00:49:31would
00:49:32have
00:49:32me
00:49:32to
00:49:32be
00:49:33through
00:49:33the
00:49:33work
00:49:34of
00:49:34Jesus
00:49:34Christ
00:49:34within
00:49:35my
00:49:35heart
00:49:35and
00:49:35faith.
00:49:36Therefore,
00:49:41Satan
00:49:42constantly
00:49:42challenges
00:49:43my
00:49:43faith
00:49:44and
00:49:44trust
00:49:44in
00:49:44Jesus.
00:49:46Satan
00:49:47comes
00:49:47along
00:49:48and
00:49:48puts
00:49:48turmoil
00:49:49in
00:49:49your
00:49:50heart.
00:49:50He
00:49:51wants
00:49:51you
00:49:51to
00:49:51be
00:49:52in
00:49:52a
00:49:52state
00:49:52of
00:49:52permanent
00:49:53restlessness
00:49:54as
00:49:55he
00:49:55would
00:49:55encourage
00:49:56me
00:49:56in
00:49:57my
00:49:57endeavours
00:49:58and
00:49:58works
00:49:59because
00:49:59he
00:49:59knows
00:50:00that
00:50:00I
00:50:00will
00:50:00fail.
00:50:02Anything
00:50:03I
00:50:03try
00:50:03in
00:50:03my
00:50:03flesh
00:50:04will
00:50:04fail.
00:50:06I
00:50:07think
00:50:07Satan
00:50:07is
00:50:08behind
00:50:08the
00:50:09incentives
00:50:09for
00:50:10every
00:50:11fleshly
00:50:11endeavour
00:50:12because
00:50:12he
00:50:13knows
00:50:13that
00:50:13all
00:50:13you
00:50:14do
00:50:14in
00:50:14your
00:50:14flesh
00:50:15is
00:50:15weak
00:50:15and
00:50:16will
00:50:16fail
00:50:16and
00:50:17so
00:50:18you
00:50:18get
00:50:18discouraged
00:50:18and
00:50:19upset
00:50:19and
00:50:20you
00:50:20lose
00:50:20your
00:50:20rest
00:50:21and
00:50:21peace
00:50:21in
00:50:21Christ.
00:50:23How
00:50:24important
00:50:24it
00:50:24is
00:50:25that
00:50:25we
00:50:25work
00:50:26to
00:50:26enter
00:50:27that
00:50:27rest
00:50:28lest
00:50:29any
00:50:29man
00:50:29fall
00:50:30after
00:50:30the
00:50:30same
00:50:31example
00:50:31of
00:50:32unbelief
00:50:33as
00:50:36they
00:50:36did
00:50:37in
00:50:37the
00:50:37Old
00:50:37Testament
00:50:39because
00:50:40they
00:50:40believed
00:50:40in
00:50:41themselves
00:50:41they
00:50:42put
00:50:42their
00:50:43trust
00:50:43in
00:50:43themselves
00:50:44and
00:50:44their
00:50:44power
00:50:44to
00:50:45whip
00:50:45the
00:50:45giants
00:50:45and
00:50:46they
00:50:46knew
00:50:46that
00:50:46they
00:50:47could
00:50:47never
00:50:47do
00:50:47this
00:50:48and
00:50:49so
00:50:49through
00:50:49unbelief
00:50:50they
00:50:51fell
00:50:53verse
00:50:5412
00:50:54continues
00:50:55for
00:50:55the
00:50:56word
00:50:56of
00:50:56God
00:50:56is
00:50:56alive
00:50:57and
00:50:57powerful
00:50:57it
00:50:58is
00:50:58sharper
00:50:58than
00:50:59any
00:50:59two
00:50:59edged
00:51:00sword
00:51:00piercing
00:51:01even
00:51:02to
00:51:02the
00:51:02dividing
00:51:03asunder
00:51:03of soul
00:51:04and spirit
00:51:05of joint
00:51:06and marrow
00:51:07is a
00:51:08discerner
00:51:08of the
00:51:09thoughts
00:51:09and intents
00:51:10of the
00:51:10heart
00:51:12God's
00:51:13word
00:51:13again
00:51:14there is
00:51:15a
00:51:15scripture
00:51:15that people
00:51:16so often
00:51:17misquote
00:51:17and that
00:51:19is
00:51:192
00:51:19corinthians
00:51:203
00:51:216
00:51:21the
00:51:21letter
00:51:21kills
00:51:22but the
00:51:23spirit
00:51:23gives
00:51:23life
00:51:26and
00:51:27people
00:51:27in
00:51:27misquoting
00:51:28that
00:51:28use
00:51:29to
00:51:30refer
00:51:31to
00:51:31just
00:51:31the
00:51:31scripture
00:51:32the
00:51:32teaching
00:51:32of
00:51:33the
00:51:33scriptures
00:51:33they
00:51:33say
00:51:34oh
00:51:34but
00:51:34the
00:51:35letter
00:51:35kills
00:51:37not
00:51:37so
00:51:39he
00:51:39was
00:51:39referring
00:51:40to
00:51:40the
00:51:41context
00:51:41of
00:51:42the
00:51:42letter
00:51:42of
00:51:42the
00:51:43law
00:51:43and
00:51:43trying
00:51:44to
00:51:44be
00:51:44righteous
00:51:45by
00:51:45your
00:51:45works
00:51:46that
00:51:46will
00:51:46kill
00:51:46you
00:51:47if
00:51:48you
00:51:48try
00:51:48to
00:51:48live
00:51:49under
00:51:49the
00:51:49law
00:51:49that
00:51:50will
00:51:50kill
00:51:50you
00:51:52it
00:51:52will
00:51:52condemn
00:51:53you
00:51:53to
00:51:53death
00:51:53every
00:51:54time
00:51:54and
00:51:55so
00:51:55the
00:51:55letter
00:51:55the
00:51:56law
00:51:56kills
00:51:58the
00:51:58letter
00:51:59of
00:51:59the
00:51:59law
00:51:59will
00:51:59wipe
00:52:00you
00:52:00out
00:52:00every
00:52:00time
00:52:01you
00:52:01will
00:52:01fail
00:52:02but
00:52:03the
00:52:03spirit
00:52:03gives
00:52:04life
00:52:05here
00:52:06it
00:52:06declares
00:52:07that
00:52:07the
00:52:07word
00:52:07of
00:52:08god
00:52:08is
00:52:09alive
00:52:10it
00:52:10is
00:52:10powerful
00:52:11it
00:52:12is
00:52:12sharper
00:52:12than
00:52:13a
00:52:13two
00:52:13edged
00:52:13sword
00:52:14and
00:52:14as
00:52:14such
00:52:14pierces
00:52:15even to
00:52:16the
00:52:16dividing
00:52:16asunder
00:52:17of soul
00:52:18and spirit
00:52:21there is a lot of worship
00:52:23that is purely psychic
00:52:25and touches our emotions
00:52:26and that is soul-ish
00:52:28but it is not necessarily
00:52:29spiritual
00:52:31it does not really touch our spirit
00:52:33the liturgy
00:52:34the incense
00:52:35the candles
00:52:36the robes
00:52:36the chants
00:52:37make quite an experience
00:52:40as you sit
00:52:41as you sit there
00:52:41you are entranced
00:52:42by the beauty
00:52:43of the liturgy
00:52:44and you go away
00:52:45with the sense
00:52:46of having worshipped
00:52:47god
00:52:49but if the word of god
00:52:51was not really taught
00:52:52all you experienced
00:52:54was a
00:52:54soulish
00:52:55experience
00:52:57it did not really
00:52:58feed
00:52:59your spirit
00:53:01it is only the word of god
00:53:02that can
00:53:03feed
00:53:03the spirit
00:53:04of man
00:53:05you don't grow spiritually
00:53:07in psychic
00:53:09or emotional
00:53:10experiences
00:53:10you grow spiritually
00:53:12through the word of god
00:53:15in the same token
00:53:16in the pentecostal service
00:53:18with a highly emotionally
00:53:19charged meeting
00:53:21where
00:53:21when as the people leave
00:53:23they declare the blessedness
00:53:24of the service
00:53:25the preacher
00:53:26didn't even get a chance
00:53:27to preach
00:53:28the spirit came down
00:53:30and we were also
00:53:31blessed
00:53:31today
00:53:33it seems
00:53:34that the pinnacle
00:53:35of the spiritual experience
00:53:37for them
00:53:37is when the preacher
00:53:38doesn't get a chance
00:53:39to preach
00:53:40god intervened
00:53:42tonight
00:53:43they've had a very powerful
00:53:45a very emotional
00:53:46experience
00:53:46but not necessarily
00:53:48a spiritual one
00:53:51for it is the word of god
00:53:53that is able to divide
00:53:54soul and spirit
00:53:56that is something
00:53:57hard for us to divide
00:54:00a man's soul
00:54:01and spirit
00:54:01are so intertwined
00:54:03such that there is
00:54:04a crossover network
00:54:05between the two
00:54:06and it is hard
00:54:07for us to discern
00:54:08when it has really
00:54:09touched me spiritually
00:54:10or just touched me
00:54:12in a psychic way
00:54:14in an emotional way
00:54:16in fact
00:54:17the division
00:54:17is so fine
00:54:18it is only the word of god
00:54:19that can make
00:54:20that distinction
00:54:22between that
00:54:23which is for the soul
00:54:24and that which is
00:54:25for the spirit
00:54:27then it is the discerner
00:54:29of the thoughts
00:54:29and intents
00:54:30of the heart
00:54:32I'm going to trust
00:54:33in the finished work
00:54:34of Jesus
00:54:35or I'm going to trust
00:54:36in my own works
00:54:37and my own efforts
00:54:38to finish the work
00:54:39of redemption
00:54:40in me
00:54:41and make perfection
00:54:44if I'm trusting
00:54:45in my own work
00:54:46I cannot rest
00:54:47because I'm not certain
00:54:48my own work
00:54:49of what motive
00:54:51they really are
00:54:54some things we do
00:54:55that apparently
00:54:56on the outward side
00:54:57have a very
00:54:58marvellous appearance
00:54:59it looks so good
00:55:01but if our hearts
00:55:02were honestly examined
00:55:04the reason why
00:55:05I did these things
00:55:06was in order
00:55:06that I might look good
00:55:08and so I made sure
00:55:09that everybody
00:55:10was watching
00:55:10when I did it
00:55:12I started whistling
00:55:13Jesus loves me
00:55:14so loud
00:55:15that everybody
00:55:16would turn
00:55:17and then I did
00:55:18my little thing
00:55:19and they said
00:55:20my my isn't that marvellous
00:55:22and so the motivation
00:55:24is often wrong
00:55:27the motivation
00:55:28behind my works
00:55:29is so often wrong
00:55:32be careful
00:55:33Jesus said
00:55:34that do you do not
00:55:35your righteousness
00:55:37before men
00:55:37to be seen by men
00:55:39Matthew chapter 6
00:55:41verse 1
00:55:43may God help us
00:55:45that is so often so
00:55:47behind my righteous acts
00:55:49is that desire
00:55:50to be seen
00:55:51by men
00:55:51that I might be known
00:55:53by men
00:55:53as a righteous person
00:55:55be careful of that
00:55:56Jesus said
00:55:58take heed
00:55:59be careful
00:56:00that this doesn't
00:56:01happen to you
00:56:03for we are told
00:56:04that we are all
00:56:05going to stand
00:56:06before the judgment
00:56:07seat of Christ
00:56:07to receive the things
00:56:09that we have done
00:56:10while in our bodies
00:56:12whether they be good
00:56:13or evil
00:56:13and our works
00:56:14are going to be judged
00:56:15of the manner
00:56:16or salt
00:56:17which they were
00:56:21now the judgment
00:56:22of our works
00:56:22when we stand
00:56:23before the Lord
00:56:24and our works
00:56:25are brought
00:56:25before him
00:56:26those works
00:56:27are going to be judged
00:56:29but they are going
00:56:30to be judged
00:56:31not so as to
00:56:32what I did
00:56:32or didn't do
00:56:33but at what
00:56:34motivated me
00:56:36to do it
00:56:37and because
00:56:38that is the judgment
00:56:39the motivation
00:56:41that prompted
00:56:41the work
00:56:43a lot of the good
00:56:44things we have done
00:56:45are going to be
00:56:45tossed out
00:56:47my works
00:56:48will be judged
00:56:49by fire
00:56:50if any of them
00:56:51remain
00:56:52I will be rewarded
00:56:53for them
00:56:55as a child of God
00:56:57I work
00:56:58so many times
00:56:59people take these
00:57:00things of the New Testament
00:57:02as Peter said
00:57:03for writings of Paul
00:57:05and they rest them
00:57:07to their own destruction
00:57:09as Paul points out
00:57:11by the works
00:57:12of righteousness
00:57:13no man
00:57:13shall be justified
00:57:14in the sight
00:57:15of God
00:57:16he points out
00:57:17the necessity
00:57:18of resting
00:57:18in the finished
00:57:19work of Jesus
00:57:22people say
00:57:23well then
00:57:23there is no sense
00:57:24in doing anything
00:57:25because after all
00:57:26it doesn't count
00:57:27it's not so
00:57:31I do many things
00:57:32but the motive
00:57:33behind them
00:57:34is my love
00:57:35for Jesus Christ
00:57:37I do not look
00:57:38to my works
00:57:39to make me righteous
00:57:41I do not look
00:57:42to my works
00:57:42to make me
00:57:43accepted
00:57:43I do not look
00:57:44to my works
00:57:45and point to the works
00:57:46when I come before God
00:57:47and say
00:57:47Lord look at what
00:57:48I've done
00:57:50the works
00:57:51are just the response
00:57:52of my heart
00:57:52for all that God
00:57:54has done for me
00:57:55in my life
00:57:57I don't look
00:57:57for credit
00:57:58for the work
00:57:59I've done
00:58:00it is just
00:58:01the feeble
00:58:02weak
00:58:02natural response
00:58:03of my heart
00:58:04in understanding
00:58:06all that God
00:58:06has done for me
00:58:08I want to do
00:58:09my own
00:58:10pitiful little bit
00:58:11for God
00:58:14as David said
00:58:15in Psalm 116
00:58:16what shall I render
00:58:18to the Lord
00:58:18for all his benefits
00:58:20to me
00:58:21when I think
00:58:22of all the things
00:58:23that God has done
00:58:24for me
00:58:24my spirit cries out
00:58:25what can I give
00:58:26to God
00:58:27look how much
00:58:28he's given me
00:58:29look how much
00:58:30God has done
00:58:31for me
00:58:31what can I give
00:58:32to God
00:58:32to show my
00:58:33appreciation
00:58:35by thankfulness
00:58:35for all these
00:58:36benefits and blessings
00:58:37that have been
00:58:38bestowed upon me
00:58:41and just to show
00:58:42my appreciation
00:58:43and love
00:58:44I go out
00:58:45and do
00:58:45what I can
00:58:46to show God
00:58:47I love him
00:58:48and that I
00:58:49appreciate all
00:58:50that he has done
00:58:53but I don't
00:58:54then turn
00:58:55and say
00:58:55God look
00:58:56you ought to
00:58:57love me
00:58:57because look
00:58:58what I've done
00:58:59for you
00:59:00God you ought
00:59:01to bless me
00:59:01because look
00:59:02at what I have
00:59:03been doing
00:59:03no
00:59:05what I've done
00:59:06I've done
00:59:06because you
00:59:07blessed me
00:59:08he has blessed
00:59:09me so much
00:59:11I want to
00:59:11respond
00:59:13be careful
00:59:14that you do
00:59:15not try to put
00:59:15God in the
00:59:16respondent position
00:59:18let us all
00:59:19praise the Lord
00:59:20because the Lord
00:59:21inhabits the praises
00:59:22of his people
00:59:23and we want to
00:59:24be blessed
00:59:24by God
00:59:26so let us
00:59:27all lift up
00:59:27our hands
00:59:28and praise
00:59:28the Lord
00:59:29so that God
00:59:29will bless
00:59:30us
00:59:31you see
00:59:32you try to
00:59:33initiate
00:59:33and let God
00:59:34respond
00:59:36God will
00:59:37surely
00:59:37respond
00:59:38if you
00:59:38initiate
00:59:40this is not
00:59:41so
00:59:43what kind of
00:59:44real praise
00:59:45is it
00:59:45if I'm only
00:59:46praising with a
00:59:47selfish motive
00:59:48of being blessed
00:59:51is that true
00:59:52praise to God
00:59:53or is this
00:59:54something selfish
00:59:56I want a blessing
00:59:57so I'm going to
00:59:58praise God
01:00:00no
01:00:02the true
01:00:03praise
01:00:03is that
01:00:04which
01:00:04rises
01:00:05spontaneously
01:00:06from my
01:00:07heart
01:00:07God
01:00:07when I realise
01:00:09how good
01:00:09he has been
01:00:10to me
01:00:11and his blessings
01:00:12upon me
01:00:14oh God
01:00:15you are so good
01:00:15I love you
01:00:16Lord
01:00:17I know
01:00:18I don't
01:00:18deserve anything
01:00:20well I know
01:00:21that I deserve
01:00:22something
01:00:22but certainly
01:00:23not blessings
01:00:23I deserve
01:00:25a good card
01:00:26kick up the
01:00:26backside
01:00:28and yes
01:00:29look what God
01:00:30has done
01:00:30for me
01:00:31God
01:00:32you are so
01:00:32good
01:00:33I love you
01:00:34Lord
01:00:35and just
01:00:36that which
01:00:37rises from
01:00:37my heart
01:00:38in spontaneous
01:00:39responses
01:00:40to God
01:00:41God
01:00:42is the
01:00:42initiator
01:00:43God
01:00:44so loved
01:00:45that he
01:00:45gave
01:00:45and now
01:00:47I respond
01:00:47God
01:00:48has blessed
01:00:49me
01:00:49I respond
01:00:50there is
01:00:51no work
01:00:52I can offer
01:00:52to God
01:00:53that will
01:00:54cause God
01:00:54to even
01:00:55contemplate
01:00:56responding
01:00:57God
01:00:58is the
01:00:58initiator
01:00:59always
01:01:00I am
01:01:00the
01:01:01respondent
01:01:03and yet
01:01:04for so many
01:01:04years
01:01:05I fasted
01:01:06in order
01:01:06that God
01:01:06might work
01:01:07in my life
01:01:08you know
01:01:09I want
01:01:10God
01:01:10to respond
01:01:11to me
01:01:11and so
01:01:11my fasting
01:01:12was works
01:01:14I haven't
01:01:15fasted
01:01:15for a long
01:01:15time
01:01:16there may
01:01:17be a day
01:01:17when I'll
01:01:18go back
01:01:18to it
01:01:18again
01:01:19but when
01:01:19I do
01:01:19it will
01:01:20be on
01:01:20an entirely
01:01:21different
01:01:21basis
01:01:22than that
01:01:23which it
01:01:24was in
01:01:24my early
01:01:25years
01:01:26but my
01:01:26motives
01:01:27were wrong
01:01:29I read
01:01:30I read
01:01:30all the
01:01:30books
01:01:30about
01:01:31fasting
01:01:31and how
01:01:31you can
01:01:32get
01:01:32God
01:01:32to
01:01:33really
01:01:33work
01:01:35all
01:01:35you
01:01:35have
01:01:35to
01:01:36do
01:01:36is
01:01:36fast
01:01:38but they
01:01:38had the
01:01:39whole
01:01:39thing
01:01:39worked
01:01:39out
01:01:39in five
01:01:40days
01:01:41this
01:01:41will
01:01:41happen
01:01:41in ten
01:01:42days
01:01:42that
01:01:42will
01:01:42happen
01:01:43in fifteen
01:01:43oh man
01:01:44the whole
01:01:45thing
01:01:45was mapped
01:01:45out
01:01:45how much
01:01:46do you
01:01:46want
01:01:47this
01:01:47is
01:01:47how
01:01:47long
01:01:47it
01:01:47takes
01:01:49God
01:01:50is
01:01:50the
01:01:51initiator
01:01:51let's
01:01:52respond
01:01:53to
01:01:53his
01:01:53love
01:01:56my
01:01:57works
01:01:57are to
01:01:58be
01:01:58judged
01:01:58and the
01:01:59word
01:01:59of
01:01:59God
01:01:59is
01:02:00the
01:02:00discerner
01:02:01of the
01:02:01thoughts
01:02:01and the
01:02:02intents
01:02:02of the
01:02:02heart
01:02:04what
01:02:04chance
01:02:05do I
01:02:05have
01:02:05when my
01:02:06judgment
01:02:06will be
01:02:07the
01:02:07motivation
01:02:08behind
01:02:08the
01:02:08work
01:02:08and not
01:02:09the
01:02:09work
01:02:09itself
01:02:11as
01:02:11they
01:02:11said
01:02:12to
01:02:12Jesus
01:02:12in that
01:02:12day
01:02:13Lord
01:02:13Lord
01:02:13open
01:02:14to
01:02:14us
01:02:15have
01:02:15we
01:02:15not
01:02:15prophesied
01:02:16in
01:02:16your
01:02:16name
01:02:17and
01:02:17cast
01:02:17out
01:02:17devils
01:02:18and
01:02:18done
01:02:18many
01:02:18mighty
01:02:19works
01:02:20and
01:02:21Jesus
01:02:21replied
01:02:22Matthew
01:02:2227
01:02:2322
01:02:24I
01:02:25never
01:02:25knew
01:02:25you
01:02:26go
01:02:26away
01:02:27you
01:02:28workers
01:02:28of
01:02:28iniquity
01:02:30oh
01:02:30yes
01:02:31they
01:02:31did
01:02:32all
01:02:32these
01:02:32things
01:02:32but
01:02:33they
01:02:34did
01:02:34them
01:02:34in
01:02:34such
01:02:34a
01:02:35way
01:02:35they
01:02:35were
01:02:35bringing
01:02:35glory
01:02:36and
01:02:36fame
01:02:37to
01:02:37themselves
01:02:39they
01:02:39merchandised
01:02:40the things
01:02:41of God
01:02:41they
01:02:42enriched
01:02:42their
01:02:42own
01:02:43pockets
01:02:44and
01:02:44yet
01:02:44they
01:02:44came
01:02:45to
01:02:45God
01:02:45in
01:02:45that
01:02:45day
01:02:46and
01:02:46tried
01:02:46to
01:02:46say
01:02:46Lord
01:02:46we
01:02:47healed
01:02:47the
01:02:47sick
01:02:47we
01:02:48cast
01:02:48out
01:02:48devils
01:02:49we
01:02:49did
01:02:49all
01:02:49these
01:02:50marvelous
01:02:50things
01:02:50yes
01:02:53but
01:02:53you
01:02:54did
01:02:54them
01:02:54for
01:02:54your
01:02:54own
01:02:54glory
01:02:55you
01:02:56did
01:02:56them
01:02:56in
01:02:56such
01:02:56a
01:02:57way
01:02:57as
01:02:57you
01:02:57brought
01:02:57glory
01:02:58and
01:02:58wealth
01:02:59all
01:03:00to
01:03:00yourself
01:03:01verse 13
01:03:02tells us
01:03:03neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight
01:03:06but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him with whom we have to do
01:03:14you are never going to be able to hide anything from God
01:03:18your life is an open book to him
01:03:21there is not one single thought that you have ever thought that he does not know
01:03:27you cannot hide from God
01:03:30David said to God
01:03:32you know my thoughts before I think them
01:03:35everything is open
01:03:37everything is naked before him
01:03:39God knows everything I do and he knows exactly why I do it
01:03:45that's why I don't want to depend upon my works
01:03:48I want to depend upon the finished work of Jesus Christ
01:03:52I'm glad that I can have my standing in his finished work
01:03:56not my efforts or my works
01:04:03let us consider the apostle and the high priest of our confession Jesus Christ
01:04:08Hebrews 3 verse 1
01:04:114 14
01:04:12seeing then that we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens
01:04:16Jesus the son of God let us hold fast our confession
01:04:20seeing that we have this great high priest
01:04:23not entered into the holy of holies which was only a model of heaven
01:04:27but has entered into the very depths of heaven itself for us
01:04:32this great high priest
01:04:38let us hold fast to this new confession in Christ
01:04:41that confession of Christ
01:04:44verse 15 tells us
01:04:46we have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our weaknesses
01:04:50but was in all ways tempted as we are and yet was without sin
01:04:57we have in Christ a glorious high priest
01:05:00he has passed into heaven to make intercession for me
01:05:04but he is a sympathetic high priest
01:05:07because he understands my weakness
01:05:09because he became man and experienced the temptations that man experiences
01:05:15he knows my problems
01:05:16he knows my weaknesses
01:05:18and so he can empathize with me
01:05:22what a glorious high priest we have
01:05:26verse 16 continues
01:05:29let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace
01:05:35but how can I ever come boldly to the throne of grace
01:05:38except through Jesus Christ
01:05:41dare you come boldly to the throne of grace
01:05:44asking God to accept your works
01:05:46or to reward you for what you have done
01:05:49Lord look what I've done for you this week
01:05:52can I have my reward now please
01:05:55no I'll tell you
01:05:56I can only come to God through Jesus Christ
01:05:59I don't dare go to God on my own
01:06:02but through him
01:06:03I can come boldly
01:06:04because my great high priest understands
01:06:07my weaknesses
01:06:10for he was tempted just like I am
01:06:13that is why he is able to help me
01:06:15in my time of temptation
01:06:19so I come boldly to the throne of grace
01:06:21not just to the justed power of God
01:06:24to receive the works rewards
01:06:27I don't come to the paymaster
01:06:29to get my pay for the work
01:06:31that I have done
01:06:32but I come to the throne of grace
01:06:36and verse 16 continues on to say
01:06:39that I might obtain mercy
01:06:41and find grace to help me
01:06:43in my time of need
01:06:46so I approach God
01:06:48on the basis of his grace and mercy toward me
01:06:51not on the basis of my works
01:06:53and my deserving
01:06:55because I approach God
01:06:57on the basis of his goodness
01:06:59and his grace toward me
01:07:00I can approach boldly
01:07:03and can always receive the help that I need
01:07:06I can find grace
01:07:08to help me in my time of need
01:07:10because I am coming on the basis
01:07:12of God's invitation to me
01:07:14as his child
01:07:19now in our minds
01:07:20because we hold in our minds
01:07:22this concept of rewards for goodness
01:07:24and for good works
01:07:26that we carry from childhood
01:07:29if you are good today
01:07:30you can have ice cream
01:07:32for dessert tonight
01:07:34so instilled in me from a child
01:07:37is this reward for goodness
01:07:38and punishment for badness
01:07:41no ice cream for you tonight
01:07:43you have been bad today
01:07:46even Santa Claus we hear
01:07:48makes out the list
01:07:49and checks it twice
01:07:50to see if you are going to get
01:07:52a bundle of sticks
01:07:53because you have been naughty
01:07:56it is hard for us to think
01:07:57in terms of grace
01:08:00but it is important
01:08:01that we come to God
01:08:02by virtue of his grace
01:08:04and not by virtue of our merit
01:08:06our goodness
01:08:07or our works
01:08:10because if I come
01:08:11by virtue of my goodness
01:08:12then most of the time
01:08:14I can't come
01:08:16if I come by the virtue
01:08:18of God's grace
01:08:18I can come any time
01:08:21if I come on the virtue
01:08:22of my desserts
01:08:23then I'll get very little
01:08:25because I deserve
01:08:26very little
01:08:28but if I come on the basis
01:08:29of grace
01:08:30it is wide open
01:08:32everything
01:08:32anything I might need
01:08:34is there
01:08:34richly
01:08:36freely bestowed upon me
01:08:37because God loves me
01:08:40he is a merciful
01:08:41gracious
01:08:42loving
01:08:43compassionate God
01:08:44who knows my needs
01:08:46and also my weaknesses
01:08:47and can sympathize
01:08:49and empathize
01:08:50with me
01:08:51and for me
01:08:53so how are you going
01:08:55to approach God
01:08:56on the basis
01:08:57of your goodness
01:08:58your efforts
01:08:59your successful works
01:09:01or on the basis
01:09:03of the finished work
01:09:04of Jesus Christ
01:09:08knows now
01:09:09I'm going to rest
01:09:10because I'm not
01:09:11resting in myself
01:09:12in my righteousness
01:09:13but I am resting
01:09:14in his finished work
01:09:15for me
01:09:17here I have arrived
01:09:19God
01:09:19not on the basis
01:09:20of I've had a good week
01:09:21and everything
01:09:21has been flowing well
01:09:23but I come on the basis
01:09:25that you love me
01:09:26you've invited me
01:09:27to come
01:09:28to receive
01:09:29of your grace
01:09:30through Jesus
01:09:31I believe you
01:09:33Lord
01:09:34to help me
01:09:36though I don't
01:09:37deserve it
01:09:38to bless me
01:09:39though I'm not
01:09:40worthy of it
01:09:41but it is just
01:09:42because you are
01:09:43a God of love
01:09:44and the God
01:09:45who is so gracious
01:09:46and merciful
01:09:47Lord
01:09:47bless me now
01:09:50and I believe
01:09:51and trust God
01:09:52to bless me
01:09:53and so he does
01:09:54because the blessings
01:09:56are always predicated
01:09:57upon the faith
01:09:58and the believing
01:09:58in him
01:09:59to do so
01:10:02for lack of blessing
01:10:03does not come
01:10:04from the lack
01:10:04of your devotion
01:10:05but from your lack
01:10:06of faith
01:10:08that's a hard one
01:10:09to grasp
01:10:09isn't it
01:10:11though I haven't
01:10:11been faithful
01:10:12in my devotions
01:10:13this week
01:10:14I really shouldn't
01:10:15ask God
01:10:15to help me
01:10:16I've really
01:10:17failed him again
01:10:20there is no use
01:10:21in asking
01:10:22because I know
01:10:23he won't help me
01:10:24because I did
01:10:25such a miserable
01:10:26thing during the week
01:10:28I just know
01:10:29that I dare not
01:10:30ask him
01:10:30for anything
01:10:31I just know
01:10:32he won't do it
01:10:33I just know
01:10:35and you know what
01:10:36if you have
01:10:37that attitude
01:10:37he won't
01:10:39if you don't
01:10:40believe him
01:10:42see the lack
01:10:43of blessing
01:10:43isn't the lack
01:10:44of devotion
01:10:44it's the lack
01:10:45of faith
01:10:46believing God
01:10:47to do it
01:10:49many times
01:10:50my failures
01:10:51get in the way
01:10:51of my faith
01:10:52because I am
01:10:53looking to my
01:10:54works
01:10:54rather than
01:10:55to his
01:10:56finished work
01:10:58if God
01:10:59can help us
01:10:59to grasp
01:11:00this concept
01:11:01then your life
01:11:02is going to rest
01:11:03and God
01:11:03is going to bless you
01:11:05and as a result
01:11:06of the blessings
01:11:07of God
01:11:07you are going
01:11:08to be responding
01:11:09to God
01:11:10in continual praise
01:11:11and thanksgiving
01:11:12awe and wonder
01:11:13at all that God
01:11:14has done for you
01:11:16he is so great
01:11:17so merciful
01:11:18so marvellous
01:11:19that you are
01:11:21just going to be
01:11:21constantly rejoicing
01:11:23and praising him
01:11:24oh God
01:11:25you are so good
01:11:27I love you
01:11:27you are marvellous
01:11:29to me
01:11:29and God
01:11:30will continue
01:11:31to bless
01:11:31and bless
01:11:32and bless
01:11:32and bring you
01:11:34into that rest
01:11:35that he has
01:11:35for his people
01:11:38oh God
01:11:39help us
01:11:39we pray
01:11:40to believe
01:11:40your word
01:11:41and to trust
01:11:42in your word
01:11:43and to believe
01:11:43in the finished
01:11:44work of Jesus
01:11:45Christ
01:11:45our great
01:11:47high priest
01:11:48who has made
01:11:49the way
01:11:50for us
01:11:50to come boldly
01:11:51to the throne
01:11:52of grace
01:11:53to receive
01:11:54the mercy
01:11:54and grace
01:11:55in our times
01:11:56of need
01:11:57oh Lord
01:11:58how thankful
01:11:59we are
01:12:00for your grace
01:12:01toward us
01:12:02and your goodness
01:12:03and mercy
01:12:03that endures
01:12:05forever
01:12:05how thankful
01:12:07we are
01:12:07to Jesus Christ
01:12:08our Lord
01:12:09and Saviour
01:12:10our great
01:12:11high priest
01:12:12who has finished
01:12:13the work
01:12:13of redemption
01:12:14so that we
01:12:15may rest
01:12:16in his finished
01:12:17work
01:12:18Lord
01:12:19I am saved
01:12:20because I believe
01:12:21in Jesus
01:12:22as my Saviour
01:12:23and because I am saved
01:12:24I surrender my life
01:12:26to you
01:12:26as my Lord
01:12:27that I may obey you
01:12:30and do whatever
01:12:30you want me to do
01:12:33that I may be a servant
01:12:35that is pleasing
01:12:36in the eyes
01:12:37of his Master
01:12:37because I love you
01:12:39Lord
01:12:40because you first
01:12:41loved me
01:12:43Amen
01:12:46and now may the Lord
01:12:47be with you
01:12:48to bless you
01:12:49and pour out
01:12:50upon your life
01:12:51the riches
01:12:51of his love
01:12:52and grace
01:12:52and mercy
01:12:53toward you
01:12:55through Jesus
01:12:55Christ our Lord
01:12:56may you abound
01:12:58and be rich
01:12:59in all things
01:13:00in Christ Jesus
01:13:01Amen
01:13:07Let us pray
01:13:09Grant
01:13:10we beseech you
01:13:11almighty God
01:13:12that like
01:13:13as we believe
01:13:14your only begotten
01:13:15Son our Lord
01:13:16Jesus Christ
01:13:17has ascended
01:13:18into the heavens
01:13:19so we may also
01:13:22in heart
01:13:22and mind
01:13:23ascend with him
01:13:25and with him
01:13:26continually dwell
01:13:27who lives
01:13:29and reigns
01:13:29with you
01:13:30and the Holy Spirit
01:13:31one God
01:13:33world without end
01:13:34Amen
01:13:41May the Lord
01:13:42bless us
01:13:42and keep us
01:13:43from all evil
01:13:44bringing us
01:13:46to everlasting life
01:13:48Amen
01:14:15Amen