The Daily Office, Thursday, May 21, 2026

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00:00:11Let us pray

00:00:14Praise, honour and glory be to you, O Christ

00:00:17Who, when standing before Pilate

00:00:19Kept silent at all the unjust accusations

00:00:23And slanders of the Jews

00:00:24And as a gentle lamb that did not open its mouth

00:00:28Did not contradict them

00:00:30When they brought forward their charges against you

00:00:34Give me grace never to be disturbed

00:00:37By the false accusations of others

00:00:39But may I overcome every injury

00:00:41By silence and meekness

00:00:44Give me the grace of perfect humility

00:00:46So that I may never desire praise

00:00:48Nor refuse any measure of contempt

00:00:53Praise, honour and glory be to you, O Christ

00:00:56You, lamb without spot

00:00:58Against whom the pious Pharisees and scribes

00:01:02Raged with obstinate hatred

00:01:05For a low Pilate testified

00:01:07That he found no cause of death in you

00:01:10Yet they would not be satisfied with anything

00:01:13Except your death

00:01:16Grant me grace to imitate your innocence and patience

00:01:20That I may both lead a godly life

00:01:22And for so doing

00:01:24If I am spoken of evenly

00:01:27That I may remain at rest in you

00:01:30Giving way to no indignation

00:01:33But giving thanks to you

00:01:35In all adversity

00:01:38Praise, honour and glory be to you, O Christ

00:01:42Who will lead in the greatest of indignity

00:01:46In the manner of a wicked criminal

00:01:49Through the middle of the city

00:01:50From one judgment seat to another

00:01:52And from Pilate to Herod and back again

00:01:56Amidst the noise and shouts of the people

00:01:59Give me grace never to be overcome

00:02:01By the injuries of my enemies

00:02:03Nor to be exasperated by slander

00:02:07May I never feel any false shame

00:02:09At being despised

00:02:10But may I receive everything in meekness

00:02:14And endure all things in silence for your honour

00:02:17That, by the assistance of your grace

00:02:20I may in patience possess my soul

00:02:25Praise, honour and glory be to you, O Christ

00:02:28Who when Herod asked you many vain and foolish questions

00:02:31And when you were falsely wounded in different ways

00:02:35By priest and scribe

00:02:38Humbly kept a meet and becoming silence

00:02:41Give me grace to restrain my tongue

00:02:44In a manner well-pleasing to you

00:02:47Do not permit me to utter hurtful words

00:02:49Do not permit me to be taken up with fruitless stories

00:02:53But give me grace to say what is right

00:02:55Profitable and honest

00:02:57According to your will

00:03:01May I behold the sin of evil speaking

00:03:05And be always glad

00:03:07To think and speak well

00:03:08Of any man

00:03:11Praise, honour and glory be to you, O Christ

00:03:14Who condemned by your silence

00:03:16The foolish curiosity of Herod

00:03:18And who would not

00:03:21Gratify his curious eyes

00:03:23By the performance of any miracle

00:03:26Because he did not have his own salvation at heart

00:03:29And did there in this way

00:03:32Teach us to avoid all ostentation

00:03:34Before the great ones of this world

00:03:37Pour into my heart

00:03:39A spirit of deep humility

00:03:42Mortify and quench within me

00:03:43Any desire for vain glory

00:03:46Grant

00:03:47That I may never do anything

00:03:49In order to gain praise of man

00:03:50But may always act

00:03:52With a single eye

00:03:53Upon the glory of your most holy name

00:03:56And may come before you

00:03:58Day by day

00:03:59In a true spirit

00:04:00Of humility and meekness

00:04:06Praise, honour and glory be to you, O Christ

00:04:08Who didn't refuse to be set to nothing

00:04:11By Herod and his men of war

00:04:13Nor to be clothed in a white garment

00:04:16And to be mocked and laughed at

00:04:17As though a fool and a madman

00:04:20Give me grace, O Lord

00:04:22To choose rather to be an outcast with you

00:04:25Than to be glorious in the world

00:04:28May I think it better and more honourable

00:04:30To suffer reproach for your name

00:04:32Than to prosper in the vain honours of the world

00:04:37Give me grace

00:04:38That truly acknowledging my own sins

00:04:41And my own unworthiness

00:04:42I may be as nothing in my own sight

00:04:45But may always despise and accuse myself

00:04:49And daily lament

00:04:50Over my own weakness and wretchedness

00:04:54Praise, honour and glory be to you, O Christ

00:04:57Who was sent back with shame

00:04:59Clothed in a false garment

00:05:00From Herod the Pilate

00:05:02And in all things

00:05:03Obeyed your enemies

00:05:05Going backwards and forwards

00:05:06According to their pleasure

00:05:09Grant that I may not shrink

00:05:11From being despised

00:05:12Nor refuse obedience

00:05:14Nor refuse obedience

00:05:14Even to those

00:05:15Who wish nothing but bad for me

00:05:19Give me grace

00:05:20To have no feelings

00:05:21For the things of this world

00:05:23But to think of and care for

00:05:25And love you alone

00:05:27May you alone be my honour

00:05:29My delight

00:05:30My love

00:05:31My glory

00:05:32And my joy

00:05:33Amen

00:05:38O Lord open our lips

00:05:40And our mouths

00:05:42Will sing your praise

00:05:50O be joyful in the Lord

00:05:54Come in hands

00:05:57Serve the Lord with gladness

00:06:00And come in light

00:06:03And turn through the storm

00:06:07He is born as the Lord

00:06:11He is born

00:06:13This is he that has made us

00:06:16That lost me ourselves

00:06:18We are his people

00:06:22And the sheep of his master

00:06:26Who do you obey

00:06:28Into his peace with Christ

00:06:31And into his cross with grace

00:06:37Be thankful unto him

00:06:40And speak full of his name

00:06:45For the Lord is gracious

00:06:49His mercy is everlasting

00:06:55And his truth and joy

00:06:59From generation to generation

00:07:08Glory be to the Father

00:07:12And to the Son

00:07:15And to the Holy Ghost

00:07:20As it was in the beginning

00:07:23His love and effort shall be

00:07:29World without end

00:07:37Amen

00:07:49Praise the Lord

00:07:52O my Son

00:07:54O Lord my God

00:07:57God

00:07:58Be commessing voice

00:08:00God

00:08:02God

00:08:04Be how

00:08:04God

00:08:07He is

00:08:08God

00:08:09You

00:08:10God

00:08:11Your

00:08:12God

00:08:13He is

00:08:16You

00:08:17He is

00:08:18He is

00:08:24He is

00:08:25in the waters

00:08:27and making

00:08:29the gods his chariots

00:08:31and hold

00:08:33them upon the

00:08:35wings of the

00:08:37people.

00:08:39He made them

00:08:41his angels

00:08:42and his ministers

00:08:47of many

00:08:48crowns.

00:08:50He made the

00:08:52foundations of

00:08:54the land

00:08:56that is

00:08:58never to do

00:09:00but any time

00:09:02of time

00:09:04and sit with the

00:09:06king and

00:09:07sit with the

00:09:08cross

00:09:09from all

00:09:12to stand and

00:09:13come in.

00:09:16And I

00:09:17will use

00:09:19with me

00:09:20as the voice

00:09:22of my

00:09:23father

00:09:24there are

00:09:26of

00:09:26faith.

00:09:28With all the

00:09:30silence

00:09:31and years

00:09:32and jobs

00:09:34for the

00:09:35man is

00:09:36relieved,

00:09:38even to the

00:09:40place which love

00:09:42has the

00:09:43white and

00:09:44poor.

00:10:12CHOIR SINGS

00:10:43CHOIR SINGS

00:11:13CHOIR SINGS

00:11:43CHOIR SINGS

00:12:08CHOIR SINGS

00:12:38CHOIR SINGS

00:13:09CHOIR SINGS

00:13:23CHOIR SINGS

00:13:25CHOIR SINGS

00:13:52CHOIR SINGS

00:13:54CHOIR SINGS

00:13:56CHOIR SINGS

00:14:14CHOIR SINGS

00:14:15CHOIR SINGS

00:14:28CHOIR SINGS

00:14:59CHOIR SINGS

00:15:00CHOIR SINGS

00:15:09CHOIR SINGS

00:15:11CHOIR SINGS

00:15:14CHOIR SINGS

00:15:17CHOIR SINGS

00:15:28CHOIR SINGS

00:15:31I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live, I will praise my God, God, I am my

00:15:44King.

00:15:46And so shall my world please him, my joy shall be the Lord.

00:15:56As the civilization becomes a part of the earth, and the unlawly shall come to our head, praise the Lord,

00:16:12O my Son, praise the Lord.

00:16:22Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

00:16:33As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, the Lord will come to our head, amen.

00:17:02The Epistle to the Hebrews, Chapter 11

00:17:09Now, faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.

00:17:15For by it the people of old received God's commendation.

00:17:20By faith we understand that the worlds were set in order at God's command,

00:17:25so that the visible has its origin in the invisible.

00:17:30By faith Abel offered God a greater sacrifice than Cain,

00:17:36and through his faith he was commended as righteous,

00:17:40because God commended him for his offerings.

00:17:43And through his faith he still speaks, though he is dead.

00:17:48By faith Enoch was taken up, so that he did not see death,

00:17:53and he was not to be found, because God took him.

00:17:56For before his removal he had been commended as having pleased God.

00:18:02Now, without faith it is impossible to please him,

00:18:05for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists,

00:18:09and that he rewards those who seek him.

00:18:13By faith Noah, when he was warned about things not yet seen,

00:18:19with reverend regard constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family.

00:18:23Through faith he condemned the world,

00:18:26and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

00:18:31By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place

00:18:35he would later receive as an inheritance,

00:18:38and he went out without understanding where it was he was going.

00:18:44By faith he lived as a foreigner in the promised land,

00:18:47as though it were a foreign country,

00:18:49living in tents with Isaac and Jacob,

00:18:52who were fellow heirs of the same promise.

00:18:55For he was looking forward to the city with firm foundations,

00:18:59whose architect and builder is God.

00:19:03By faith even Sarah herself was barren,

00:19:06and he was too old.

00:19:08He received the ability to procreate,

00:19:11because he regarded the one who had given the promise

00:19:14to be trustworthy.

00:19:17So in fact children were fathered by one man,

00:19:20and this one as good as dead,

00:19:22like the numbers of the stars in the sky,

00:19:25like the innumerable grains of sand on the seashore.

00:19:30These all died in faith,

00:19:31without receiving the things promised,

00:19:34but they saw them in the distance,

00:19:36and welcomed them,

00:19:37and acknowledged that they were strangers and foreigners

00:19:40on the earth.

00:19:43For those who speak in such a way

00:19:44make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.

00:19:48In fact,

00:19:49if they had been thinking of the land that they had left,

00:19:52they would have had opportunity to return.

00:19:55But as it is,

00:19:56they aspire to a better land,

00:19:58that is a heavenly one.

00:20:00And so God is not ashamed

00:20:01to be called their God,

00:20:03for he has prepared a city for them.

00:20:07By faith,

00:20:08Abraham,

00:20:09when he was tested,

00:20:10offered up Isaac.

00:20:12He had received the promises,

00:20:14and yet he was ready to offer up

00:20:15his only son.

00:20:17For God had told him,

00:20:19through Isaac,

00:20:20descendants will carry on your name.

00:20:23And he reasoned that God

00:20:24could even raise him from the dead.

00:20:26And in a sense,

00:20:28he received him back from there.

00:20:34By faith also,

00:20:36Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau

00:20:38concerning the future.

00:20:41By faith,

00:20:42Joseph,

00:20:43Jacob,

00:20:44as he was dying,

00:20:45blessed each of the sons of Joseph,

00:20:47and worshipped as he leant on his staff.

00:20:51By faith,

00:20:52Joseph,

00:20:53at the end of his life,

00:20:54mentioned the exodus of the sons of Israel,

00:20:57and gave instructions about his burial.

00:21:01By faith,

00:21:02when Moses was born,

00:21:03his parents hid him for three months,

00:21:06because they saw the child was beautiful,

00:21:08and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

00:21:12By faith,

00:21:13when he grew up,

00:21:14Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,

00:21:18choosing rather to be ill-treated with the people of God,

00:21:21than to enjoy sin's fleeting pleasure.

00:21:24He regarded abuse suffered for Christ to be greater than wealth,

00:21:29the treasures of Egypt,

00:21:31for his eyes were fixed on the reward.

00:21:35By faith,

00:21:36he left Egypt without fearing the king's anger,

00:21:39for he persevered as though he could see the one who is invisible.

00:21:45By faith,

00:21:45he kept the Passover,

00:21:47and the sprinkling of the blood,

00:21:49so that the one who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.

00:21:57By faith,

00:21:58they crossed the Red Sea,

00:21:59as if on dry ground,

00:22:01but when the Egyptians tried it,

00:22:03they were all swallowed up.

00:22:06By faith,

00:22:07the walls of Jericho fell after the people marched around them.

00:22:12By faith,

00:22:13Rahab the prostitute escaped the destruction of the disobedient,

00:22:17because she welcomed the spies in peace.

00:22:21What more can I say?

00:22:23For time will fail me,

00:22:25if I tell of Gideon,

00:22:27Barak,

00:22:27Samson,

00:22:28Jephthah,

00:22:29of David,

00:22:29and Samuel,

00:22:30and all the prophets,

00:22:32for through their faith they conquered kingdoms.

00:22:34Administered justice,

00:22:36gained what was promised,

00:22:37and shut the mouths of lions.

00:22:40Quenched,

00:22:40raging fire,

00:22:42escaped the edge of the sword,

00:22:44gained strength in weakness,

00:22:45and became mighty in battle,

00:22:48putting foreign armies to flight.

00:22:50And women received back their dead,

00:22:53raised to life.

00:22:56But others were tortured,

00:22:57not accepting release,

00:22:59to obtain the resurrection to a better life.

00:23:03Others experienced mocking and flogging,

00:23:06even chains and imprisonment.

00:23:08They were stoned,

00:23:10sawn in half,

00:23:11murdered by the sword.

00:23:13And they went about in sheepskins and goatskins.

00:23:16They were destitute,

00:23:18afflicted,

00:23:19ill-treated,

00:23:20and the world was not worthy of them.

00:23:22They wandered in deserts,

00:23:24mountains and caves,

00:23:25and openings in the earth.

00:23:28All these were commended for their faith,

00:23:30and yet they did not receive what was promised.

00:23:33For God had provided something better for us,

00:23:36so that they would be made perfect together with us.

00:23:41This is the word of the Lord.

00:23:44Thanks be to God.

00:23:52Verse 1

00:23:53opens with a definition of faith.

00:23:57Faith is the substance of things hoped for,

00:24:01the evidence of things not seen.

00:24:05But this is not merely a definition of faith,

00:24:08as a discoloration of what faith does.

00:24:10It is the substance of things that are hoped for.

00:24:14And the word substance has been translated

00:24:17as substantiating of the things that we hope for.

00:24:20And the evidence that the word has been translated

00:24:23conviction of the things that are not seen.

00:24:27I am convicted of truths,

00:24:29though I may not have seen them.

00:24:31I am convicted of their existence.

00:24:35There is evidence for the existence of God,

00:24:37and it causes me to believe in God.

00:24:40Even though I have never seen God,

00:24:42the evidence of his existence,

00:24:44creates that faith in my heart.

00:24:48There are many things we believe in

00:24:50that we don't or haven't seen.

00:24:52We believe in the wind,

00:24:54though we have never seen the wind.

00:24:56We see the effects, though.

00:24:58We see the trees that blow in its force.

00:25:01We see the leaves blowing.

00:25:02We see the dust carried.

00:25:05We see the evidence of it.

00:25:06You can feel it.

00:25:08We might say,

00:25:09oh, that is a cold, biting wind.

00:25:12Or, oh, that's one of those warm Santa Anas,

00:25:16or Boras.

00:25:17And you feel the wind.

00:25:19You see the evidence of it,

00:25:20and so we believe in the wind,

00:25:22even though we don't actually see the wind itself.

00:25:27Let us think of a magnetic force.

00:25:29I believe in it,

00:25:30but I've never seen it.

00:25:32I see its effect,

00:25:33as I bring opposite poles together,

00:25:35and I watch them attract.

00:25:38And so I believe in the magnetic powers,

00:25:40or the magnetic force,

00:25:42even though I have never seen it.

00:25:45I see evidence of God.

00:25:47I feel the presence of God.

00:25:49I feel the power of God.

00:25:51I feel the love of God.

00:25:53I see the evidence of God's existence,

00:25:55and so, faith.

00:25:58I believe in the existence of God,

00:26:00even though I have never seen God.

00:26:02And yet, I do not ever doubt his existence,

00:26:06because the evidence is all around me.

00:26:09Faith, the substantiation of the things that I hoped for,

00:26:13for the evidence of things not seen.

00:26:18Verse 2 tells us,

00:26:20For by it, that is, by faith,

00:26:22the elders obtained a good report.

00:26:26And so we have evidence of what men have wrought by faith.

00:26:31And as he starts to,

00:26:32well, before he gets into it, really,

00:26:34he starts with just the creation of the world itself.

00:26:38In verse 3 we read,

00:26:40Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed,

00:26:43by the word of God,

00:26:45so that the things which are seen are not made of things which do appear.

00:26:52An interesting statement, especially from a scientific standpoint.

00:26:57The Bible tells us that God said,

00:27:00Let there be light.

00:27:01God said,

00:27:02Let the waters above the firmament

00:27:04be divided from the waters beneath the firmament.

00:27:08God said,

00:27:09Let the earth bring forth herb-yielding seed after its kind.

00:27:14God said,

00:27:15And so we believe that God spoke the seed world into existence,

00:27:19so that the things we can see today

00:27:21were made out of things which did not appear then.

00:27:26An example, really, of faith,

00:27:28or an evidence of faith,

00:27:29the substance of things hoped for,

00:27:32the evidence of things not seen.

00:27:35So God took unseen things and made the seed,

00:27:39made the universe in which we live,

00:27:41the worlds.

00:27:43Looking at that a little more closely,

00:27:45God made everything out of things that do not appear.

00:27:51We know that the universe,

00:27:52everything,

00:27:53is made up of atoms which are invisible.

00:27:57We know they exist,

00:27:59and yet they are invisible.

00:28:01And so all of the material things that we see

00:28:03are made up of things that cannot be seen.

00:28:06Atoms,

00:28:07protons,

00:28:08electrons.

00:28:10And so by faith,

00:28:11we believe that the worlds were formed by the word of God,

00:28:15so that the things we can see,

00:28:17the things that appear,

00:28:18are made out of things which cannot be seen,

00:28:21or do not appear.

00:28:24Fascinating.

00:28:29And then our apostle begins to list

00:28:32those men of faith from the Old Testament,

00:28:35listing them in chronological order,

00:28:37as far as their appearances in the Bible,

00:28:40until we get to David and Samuel.

00:28:42And only there does he reverse the chronological order.

00:28:47And so the first to appear on the scene was Abel.

00:28:51Verse 4 we read,

00:28:53By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain,

00:28:57by which he obtained witness that he was righteous,

00:29:01God testifying of his gifts,

00:29:03and,

00:29:04by it he being dead yet continues to speak.

00:29:10In other words,

00:29:11the example speaks to us today of Abel,

00:29:14who offered his sacrifice to God through faith.

00:29:17It was by his faith that he was declared by God to be righteous.

00:29:25Now,

00:29:25there's a lot been made over the sacrifices of Cain and Abel over the generations.

00:29:31How Cain being a farmer brought the fruit of the ground to the Lord.

00:29:36Probably some of the produce he had cultivated.

00:29:40Whereas Abel,

00:29:42being a husbandman,

00:29:43brought an animal,

00:29:45a lamb to God as a sacrifice.

00:29:48When they offered their sacrifices,

00:29:50the Lord accepted Abel's,

00:29:52but not Cain's.

00:29:54Now,

00:29:55quite how this was demonstrated,

00:29:56we do not know.

00:29:58But when Cain saw that his offering was rejected,

00:30:01and his brothers was accepted,

00:30:03he was angry with the Lord for rejecting his offering.

00:30:07And the Lord said to him,

00:30:09Why are you angry that your offering was rejected?

00:30:14If it was rejected,

00:30:16it was because sin lies at your door.

00:30:20Declaring,

00:30:21basically,

00:30:21that had it been offered properly,

00:30:23it would have been accepted,

00:30:25if only his heart had been right.

00:30:31There has been much made over the years,

00:30:33that the fact that one was a blood sacrifice,

00:30:36and the other was not,

00:30:37but an offering of the fruit of the ground.

00:30:41Some have suggested that that is the reason

00:30:43why God accepted Abel's offering.

00:30:45Because he offered a blood sacrifice,

00:30:47and rejected Cain's.

00:30:49Because it was really the product

00:30:51of the works of his own hands,

00:30:53that he brought to the Lord.

00:30:56A lot has been made over that,

00:30:58but here,

00:30:59in this commentary,

00:31:00in the letter to the Hebrews,

00:31:03it gives us the reason

00:31:04why one was rejected,

00:31:05and the other accepted.

00:31:07One was offered in faith,

00:31:09and the other was not,

00:31:11just as the work of a man's hands.

00:31:18There are those today who offer in faith,

00:31:21and there are those today who offer works

00:31:23for righteousness.

00:31:25There are those who seek to be righteous

00:31:27by their faith in the Lord,

00:31:29and those who seek to be righteous

00:31:30by their works.

00:31:34The interesting thing

00:31:35is that when God

00:31:36inaugurated

00:31:38the law of sacrifice

00:31:39and all through Moses,

00:31:42there was the meal offering

00:31:44which was acceptable to God.

00:31:46It was the bringing in

00:31:48of the grain that you had grown,

00:31:50grinding it to flour

00:31:51and making little cakes

00:31:52and baking them,

00:31:53and offering them

00:31:55to the Lord

00:31:55as a peace offering,

00:31:57an offering that indicated

00:31:59the consecration of service

00:32:00to God,

00:32:02and it was called

00:32:03the meal offering.

00:32:05So it was an offering

00:32:07that was perfectly legitimate,

00:32:09an offering that expressed

00:32:11a sort of communion with God,

00:32:12as did the peace offering.

00:32:16But here was Cain,

00:32:19seeking communion with God

00:32:20when he had sin in his heart,

00:32:23and God rejected the sacrifice

00:32:25and told him first

00:32:27to deal with the sin

00:32:28in his heart.

00:32:33Jesus,

00:32:34in the Sermon of the Mount,

00:32:36said that if a man

00:32:37comes to the altar

00:32:38in the knowledge

00:32:40that his brother

00:32:40has summat against him,

00:32:43he ought first

00:32:44to go to his brother

00:32:45and reconcile their differences,

00:32:46and then offer his gift

00:32:48to the Lord.

00:32:50Matthew 5, 23, 24.

00:32:54Many times,

00:32:55a person tries to shortcut himself

00:32:57into fellowship with God.

00:33:00First of all,

00:33:01not realising that it is sin

00:33:02that has alienated him from God,

00:33:05and therefore he can have

00:33:06no kind of communion

00:33:08or fellowship with God

00:33:10until that sin issue

00:33:12has been properly dealt with.

00:33:15And that was Cain's failure

00:33:17to deal with the sin's issue,

00:33:18and God put the finger

00:33:20right on it.

00:33:22If your offering is rejected,

00:33:24it is because sin

00:33:25is at the door

00:33:26of your tent.

00:33:27Take care of that first,

00:33:29and then offer your gift

00:33:31to the Lord.

00:33:32And so one,

00:33:34Abel,

00:33:34offered in faith

00:33:35and was accepted.

00:33:37It was a testimony

00:33:38of his righteousness.

00:33:41Early in history,

00:33:42then,

00:33:43God is giving witness

00:33:44of the righteousness

00:33:45through faith.

00:33:50The epistle continues

00:33:52in verse 5.

00:33:53By faith,

00:33:54Enoch was translated

00:33:55that he should not see death,

00:33:57and was not found

00:33:59because God

00:34:00had translated him.

00:34:01For before his translation,

00:34:03he had this testimony

00:34:04that he pleased God.

00:34:09What a great testimony.

00:34:11Here's a man

00:34:12that declares

00:34:13that he pleased God.

00:34:15That is the very purpose

00:34:16of our existence,

00:34:17to bring pleasure to God.

00:34:21In the fourth chapter

00:34:22of the book of Revelation,

00:34:24where John sees

00:34:24the cherubim

00:34:25that are at the throne of God

00:34:26worshipping the Lord,

00:34:28declaring the holiness

00:34:29and eternal character

00:34:30of God,

00:34:31the twenty-four elders

00:34:33fall on their faces

00:34:34before the throne,

00:34:35and take their crowns

00:34:36and cast them

00:34:37into the glassy sea,

00:34:38and they say,

00:34:39You are worthy,

00:34:40O Lord,

00:34:41to receive glory,

00:34:42and honour,

00:34:43for you have created

00:34:44all things,

00:34:45and for your pleasure

00:34:46they are and were created.

00:34:49Revelation 4.11

00:34:52The basic fact

00:34:54of our existence.

00:34:55You were created

00:34:56for God's pleasure.

00:34:58A person who lives

00:34:59for his own pleasure

00:35:00is living out of sync

00:35:02with God.

00:35:03It is interesting

00:35:04how that a person

00:35:05living for his own pleasure

00:35:07is constantly

00:35:08pursuing pleasure,

00:35:09constantly trying

00:35:10to find something new,

00:35:12something different,

00:35:13something new.

00:35:15Enoch had the testimony

00:35:16that he pleased God.

00:35:21And we are told

00:35:22in verse 6

00:35:23that without faith

00:35:24it is impossible

00:35:25to please God.

00:35:29And so we have

00:35:30the witness of faith.

00:35:32It was through faith

00:35:32that Abel

00:35:33was declared righteous

00:35:34by the Lord

00:35:35and accepted by God.

00:35:36Through faith,

00:35:38Enoch,

00:35:38as he walked with God,

00:35:39was translated

00:35:40that he should not

00:35:41see death.

00:35:42But before then

00:35:43he had this witness.

00:35:44He pleased God.

00:35:46How did he please God?

00:35:48Through his faith.

00:35:50For without faith

00:35:51it is impossible

00:35:52to please God.

00:35:54But verse 6

00:35:55tells us

00:35:56for he who comes

00:35:57to God

00:35:57must believe

00:35:58that he is

00:35:59and he that is

00:36:00a rewarder

00:36:01of those

00:36:01who diligently

00:36:02seek him.

00:36:05So first of all

00:36:06we have to believe

00:36:07in the existence

00:36:08of God

00:36:09but also

00:36:10we then have to believe

00:36:11that God is good

00:36:12and that God

00:36:13rewards those

00:36:14who diligently

00:36:15seek him.

00:36:19The next example

00:36:20we have

00:36:20in verse 7

00:36:21is Noah.

00:36:23For by faith

00:36:24Noah

00:36:24being warned

00:36:25by God

00:36:25of things

00:36:26not seen

00:36:27as yet.

00:36:29Faith

00:36:30the substance

00:36:31of things

00:36:31hoped for

00:36:32and the evidence

00:36:33of things

00:36:33not seen.

00:36:35Up until

00:36:36the time of Noah

00:36:37it had never

00:36:38rained upon the earth.

00:36:40The earth

00:36:40was watered

00:36:41by a mist

00:36:42that came up

00:36:43out of the ground

00:36:43every evening.

00:36:46There was

00:36:46no doubt

00:36:47a very heavy

00:36:47moisture blanket

00:36:48around the earth

00:36:49as God

00:36:50divided the waters

00:36:51above

00:36:51from the waters

00:36:52beneath.

00:36:54On this heavy

00:36:54water blanket

00:36:55in the atmosphere

00:36:56no doubt

00:36:57accounted

00:36:57for the discoveries

00:36:58of the geological

00:37:00strata

00:37:00of asparagus

00:37:01ferns

00:37:0260 to 70 feet

00:37:03tall.

00:37:05It probably

00:37:06accounted

00:37:06for the longevity

00:37:07of life

00:37:08averaging 900

00:37:10years or so

00:37:11for the moisture

00:37:12blanket

00:37:13shielded the earth

00:37:14from much

00:37:15of the cosmic

00:37:16radiation

00:37:16that causes

00:37:17the mutation

00:37:18and decay

00:37:19of the cells

00:37:19and the breakdown

00:37:21and the ageing

00:37:22process.

00:37:25This period

00:37:26of the

00:37:27antediluvians

00:37:28with the long

00:37:28life

00:37:29and with the

00:37:29tremendous

00:37:30growth of plants

00:37:31and trees

00:37:31they had never

00:37:32seen rain

00:37:33before.

00:37:35God said

00:37:35he was going

00:37:36to cause it

00:37:36to rain

00:37:37upon the earth

00:37:38for 40 days

00:37:39and 40 nights.

00:37:41Noah tried

00:37:42to warn

00:37:43the people

00:37:43of the

00:37:44impending

00:37:44flood

00:37:45that was

00:37:45going to

00:37:46come

00:37:46but they

00:37:47mocked him.

00:37:48For 100 years

00:37:50we read

00:37:50he was building

00:37:51this giant

00:37:51ship

00:37:52out in an

00:37:53area

00:37:53that had

00:37:53never

00:37:54known rain.

00:37:55A preacher

00:37:56of righteousness.

00:37:58Verse 7

00:37:59continues

00:38:00By faith

00:38:01Noah being

00:38:01continued

00:38:02by God

00:38:02of being

00:38:03warmed

00:38:04by God

00:38:05of things

00:38:05not yet

00:38:06seen

00:38:06moved

00:38:07with reverence

00:38:08as he

00:38:09prepared an

00:38:09ark

00:38:10for the

00:38:10saving

00:38:11of his

00:38:11household

00:38:12by which

00:38:13he condemned

00:38:13the world

00:38:14and became

00:38:15heir of the

00:38:16righteousness

00:38:17which is

00:38:18through faith.

00:38:20Again

00:38:21the whole

00:38:22chapter

00:38:22is about

00:38:23that it is

00:38:24through faith

00:38:25that a person

00:38:26is accounted

00:38:27righteous

00:38:27before God.

00:38:28It is

00:38:29believing

00:38:30in God

00:38:30which is

00:38:31more important

00:38:31than anything

00:38:32else

00:38:32not my

00:38:33works

00:38:34for they

00:38:35only follow.

00:38:36Works

00:38:37follow

00:38:38logically

00:38:38on

00:38:38from my

00:38:39faith

00:38:39but works

00:38:41cannot

00:38:41themselves

00:38:41produce

00:38:42faith

00:38:42neither

00:38:43can they

00:38:44substitute

00:38:44for faith.

00:38:46Faith

00:38:46does not

00:38:47work

00:38:48but work

00:38:51does not

00:38:52produce

00:38:52faith.

00:38:54I cannot

00:38:55say that I

00:38:56believe with

00:38:57all of my

00:38:57heart

00:38:57without my

00:38:58life

00:38:59conforming

00:39:00to what

00:39:00I believe.

00:39:01There has

00:39:02to be that

00:39:03conformity

00:39:03but first

00:39:04there has

00:39:05to be

00:39:05faith.

00:39:06My faith

00:39:07in God

00:39:07provokes

00:39:08my work

00:39:09for God.

00:39:12Now

00:39:13Noah

00:39:13condemned

00:39:14the world

00:39:14by his

00:39:15belief

00:39:15and faith

00:39:16in God

00:39:16and became

00:39:17the heir

00:39:18of righteousness

00:39:19which is

00:39:20faith.

00:39:21And so

00:39:22verse 8

00:39:22continues

00:39:23by faith

00:39:24Abraham

00:39:24when he

00:39:25was called

00:39:25to go

00:39:26out into

00:39:26a place

00:39:27which he

00:39:28should

00:39:28afterwards

00:39:29receive

00:39:29as an

00:39:30inheritance

00:39:31obeyed

00:39:31and he

00:39:32went out

00:39:33not knowing

00:39:34where he

00:39:34would be

00:39:34going.

00:39:38God

00:39:38first said

00:39:39to Abraham

00:39:39leave this

00:39:40place

00:39:40get out

00:39:41of the land

00:39:42of your

00:39:42fathers

00:39:42and go

00:39:43into a

00:39:43land

00:39:43that I

00:39:44will show

00:39:44you.

00:39:46How often

00:39:47God

00:39:47leads us.

00:39:48He leads

00:39:49us just

00:39:49one step

00:39:50at a time

00:39:50and that

00:39:51is our

00:39:51problem.

00:39:53We don't

00:39:53like being

00:39:54led one

00:39:55step at a

00:39:55time.

00:39:57If he

00:39:57tells us

00:39:58to go

00:39:58I want him

00:39:59to tell me

00:40:00where we

00:40:01are going.

00:40:01I like

00:40:02to complete

00:40:03my journey

00:40:04before I

00:40:04start.

00:40:05I like

00:40:05him to

00:40:05spell out

00:40:06all.

00:40:08Maybe I

00:40:09don't want

00:40:09to do

00:40:10what he's

00:40:10got in

00:40:10mind

00:40:11when we

00:40:11get down

00:40:11the road.

00:40:14The Holy

00:40:15Spirit said

00:40:15to Philip

00:40:16in Samaria

00:40:16go down

00:40:17to Gaza

00:40:17in the

00:40:18desert.

00:40:19That's all.

00:40:20Here he

00:40:21is in the

00:40:22midst of a

00:40:22great

00:40:22revival.

00:40:24Many

00:40:24Samaritans

00:40:25are coming

00:40:26to the

00:40:26Lord being

00:40:27baptized and

00:40:28filled with

00:40:28the Holy

00:40:29Spirit.

00:40:30And the

00:40:31Lord commands

00:40:31him to

00:40:32leave this

00:40:32marvellous

00:40:33move of

00:40:33the Spirit

00:40:33and go

00:40:34down into

00:40:34the desert.

00:40:35Go

00:40:35down to

00:40:36Gaza.

00:40:38So

00:40:39Philip

00:40:39went.

00:40:40Of

00:40:40course he

00:40:41had two

00:40:42steps.

00:40:42The Lord

00:40:43said go

00:40:43and he

00:40:44said where?

00:40:45To Gaza.

00:40:47Abraham

00:40:47only had

00:40:48one.

00:40:49Go out

00:40:50of the

00:40:50land.

00:40:51So

00:40:52Abraham

00:40:52began the

00:40:53journey not

00:40:53knowing where

00:40:54he would

00:40:54be going.

00:40:56Hey, where

00:40:57are you

00:40:57going?

00:40:57I don't

00:40:58know.

00:40:58You mean

00:40:59you're

00:40:59moving your

00:40:59whole family

00:41:00and you

00:41:00don't know

00:41:01where you're

00:41:01going?

00:41:01Yep.

00:41:04Well, if

00:41:05you don't

00:41:05know where

00:41:06you're

00:41:06going, how

00:41:07are you

00:41:07going to

00:41:07know when

00:41:08you get

00:41:08there?

00:41:09Well, I'll

00:41:10be told.

00:41:12And so

00:41:13by faith

00:41:13Abraham, when

00:41:14he was

00:41:14called to

00:41:15go out

00:41:15into a

00:41:16place, which

00:41:17he would

00:41:17later receive

00:41:18for an

00:41:18inheritance,

00:41:19obeyed.

00:41:20And he

00:41:21went out, not

00:41:22knowing where

00:41:23he would be

00:41:23going.

00:41:25Verse 9.

00:41:26By faith he

00:41:27lived in the

00:41:28land of

00:41:28promise, as

00:41:29in a strange

00:41:30country, dwelling

00:41:31in tents with

00:41:32Isaac and

00:41:33Jacob, the

00:41:34heirs with

00:41:34him of the

00:41:35same promise.

00:41:38So here, when

00:41:39he came to

00:41:40the land and

00:41:40stood on

00:41:41Bethel, the

00:41:42centre of

00:41:43the land, a

00:41:44wonderful vantage

00:41:45point, God

00:41:46said to

00:41:47Abraham, look

00:41:48to the

00:41:48north, the

00:41:49east, the

00:41:50south and

00:41:50the west, as

00:41:51far as you

00:41:51can see.

00:41:53I have

00:41:54given you

00:41:54this land to

00:41:55your seed

00:41:56forever.

00:41:57It is

00:41:58yours.

00:42:00And so he

00:42:01journeyed

00:42:01throughout the

00:42:02land.

00:42:02He went

00:42:02down to

00:42:03Hebron and

00:42:04back up to

00:42:04the area of

00:42:05Shechem.

00:42:06But he

00:42:07was a

00:42:07stranger and

00:42:08a pilgrim

00:42:08there.

00:42:09He lived

00:42:10in tents.

00:42:11He didn't

00:42:11build any

00:42:12cities.

00:42:12He didn't

00:42:13build any

00:42:13homes.

00:42:14He just

00:42:15lived in

00:42:15tents, though

00:42:17the whole

00:42:17land was

00:42:18his by the

00:42:18promise of

00:42:19God.

00:42:20And yet he

00:42:21dwelt in

00:42:21it as a

00:42:22stranger.

00:42:24Verses 9

00:42:25and 10

00:42:26continue.

00:42:27For he

00:42:27was looking

00:42:28for the

00:42:28eternal

00:42:28city of

00:42:29God, a

00:42:30city which

00:42:31has foundations,

00:42:32whose

00:42:32builder and

00:42:33maker is

00:42:34God.

00:42:35Through

00:42:36faith, Sarah

00:42:37herself received

00:42:38the strength to

00:42:38conceive, and

00:42:39was delivered

00:42:40of a child when

00:42:41she was past

00:42:42the age, because

00:42:43she judged him

00:42:44faithful who

00:42:45was promised.

00:42:50as we read of

00:42:51these great

00:42:52people of

00:42:52faith, we

00:42:53see that they

00:42:54made their

00:42:54mark in

00:42:54history because

00:42:55of their

00:42:56faith.

00:42:57When Sarah

00:42:58comes onto the

00:42:59scene, her

00:42:59faith is spoken

00:43:00of that in

00:43:01her old age,

00:43:02she was over

00:43:03ninety, she

00:43:04had never had

00:43:04a child, and

00:43:07yet she received

00:43:07strength to

00:43:08conceive and

00:43:09bore the

00:43:10son, even

00:43:11though she was

00:43:12past childbearing

00:43:13age, because

00:43:14she judged

00:43:15him faithful.

00:43:19But remember

00:43:20though that

00:43:20Sarah's faith

00:43:21was not always

00:43:22so perfect.

00:43:24A lot of

00:43:24times we

00:43:25read of these

00:43:25people of

00:43:26faith and

00:43:26we think

00:43:27them out of

00:43:28our own

00:43:28league.

00:43:29They are the

00:43:30sort of

00:43:30super saints.

00:43:32I could

00:43:32never possibly

00:43:33attain to

00:43:34that.

00:43:38But when

00:43:38the Lord

00:43:39was talking

00:43:39to Abraham

00:43:40concerning

00:43:41his son

00:43:41that he

00:43:42was going

00:43:42to give

00:43:42him, Abraham

00:43:44said, O

00:43:46Lord, let

00:43:47Ishmael live

00:43:48before you.

00:43:49And the

00:43:50Lord said, I

00:43:51will bless

00:43:52Ishmael and

00:43:53make of him

00:43:53a nation, but

00:43:55Sarah is going

00:43:56to bear a

00:43:56child, and

00:43:57through Sarah

00:43:58shall your

00:43:58seed be

00:43:59called.

00:44:05As she

00:44:06was eavesdropping

00:44:07from the

00:44:07tent, listening

00:44:08to what the

00:44:08Lord was

00:44:09saying to

00:44:09Abraham, and

00:44:12the Lord

00:44:12said to

00:44:12him, Through

00:44:13Sarah your

00:44:14seed shall

00:44:14be called,

00:44:15she burst

00:44:15into laughter.

00:44:17That is

00:44:17incredulous, and

00:44:18so the angel

00:44:19of the Lord

00:44:19said, Why

00:44:20did Sarah

00:44:21laugh?

00:44:21And she

00:44:22said, I

00:44:23wasn't

00:44:23laughing.

00:44:26It was

00:44:27significant when

00:44:28the child was

00:44:28born.

00:44:29They named

00:44:30him Laughter,

00:44:32Isaac, because

00:44:33they had

00:44:34laughed at

00:44:34how incredulous

00:44:35it seemed that

00:44:36Sarah conceive

00:44:37in her old

00:44:38age.

00:44:40Verse 12,

00:44:41And therefore

00:44:42there sprang

00:44:43even of one,

00:44:44of him as

00:44:45good as

00:44:45dead, as

00:44:46many as

00:44:47the stars of

00:44:48the sky in

00:44:48multitude, and

00:44:50the sand which

00:44:50is by the

00:44:51seashore innumerable.

00:44:53And so

00:44:54there came

00:44:54from Abraham

00:44:55an innumerable

00:44:56host of

00:44:57people.

00:44:59Verse 13,

00:45:00These all

00:45:01died in

00:45:02faith.

00:45:04Wait a

00:45:04moment.

00:45:05Are you

00:45:06supposed to

00:45:07die in

00:45:07faith?

00:45:08I thought

00:45:08that if you

00:45:09had enough

00:45:09faith you

00:45:10wouldn't

00:45:10die.

00:45:11Just have

00:45:12enough faith

00:45:12and you

00:45:13will never

00:45:13be sick.

00:45:14Have

00:45:14enough faith

00:45:15and you

00:45:15can drive

00:45:15out any

00:45:16kind of

00:45:16car you

00:45:17want or

00:45:17live in

00:45:18any kind

00:45:18of home

00:45:18you want

00:45:19if just

00:45:19you have

00:45:20enough

00:45:20faith.

00:45:22these all

00:45:23died in

00:45:23faith.

00:45:24So clearly

00:45:25the faith

00:45:26message had

00:45:26not reached

00:45:27them yet.

00:45:30But verse

00:45:3113 continues,

00:45:33These all

00:45:34died in

00:45:34faith not

00:45:35having received

00:45:36the promises.

00:45:37What promises?

00:45:39That is the

00:45:40promises of

00:45:41the Messiah

00:45:41that God

00:45:42had given

00:45:42them.

00:45:43They believed

00:45:44in God's

00:45:44salvation that

00:45:45he promised

00:45:46that he would

00:45:46provide.

00:45:47they all

00:45:48died in

00:45:48faith before

00:45:50the receiving

00:45:50of the

00:45:51promise.

00:45:53For,

00:45:54as verse

00:45:5513 continues,

00:45:56having seen

00:45:56them afar off

00:45:57they were

00:45:57persuaded of

00:45:58them and

00:45:59they held

00:45:59on to

00:46:00them and

00:46:00they confessed

00:46:01that they

00:46:01were strangers

00:46:02and pilgrims

00:46:03on the

00:46:03earth.

00:46:07So they

00:46:07had a

00:46:08proper attitude

00:46:08to the

00:46:09world,

00:46:09a proper

00:46:10perspective

00:46:11of life.

00:46:11I am

00:46:11only a

00:46:12stranger

00:46:12and a

00:46:13pilgrim

00:46:13here.

00:46:14I am

00:46:14satisfied to

00:46:15dwell in

00:46:16a tent

00:46:17in a

00:46:17foreign

00:46:17land.

00:46:17This is

00:46:18not my

00:46:18home.

00:46:19I am

00:46:20passing

00:46:20through.

00:46:21I am

00:46:22just a

00:46:22transient

00:46:23living here.

00:46:24I am

00:46:25still looking

00:46:25for my

00:46:26eternal

00:46:26home.

00:46:27I am

00:46:27looking for

00:46:27my dwelling

00:46:28with God

00:46:29in his

00:46:29eternal

00:46:30kingdom.

00:46:31And so

00:46:32they saw

00:46:32the promises.

00:46:33They were

00:46:34given the

00:46:34promises of

00:46:35the kingdom

00:46:35of God.

00:46:37Abraham

00:46:37looked for

00:46:38that city

00:46:39which had

00:46:40foundation,

00:46:40whose maker

00:46:41and builder

00:46:42was God.

00:46:43He was

00:46:44looking for

00:46:44the kingdom

00:46:45of God

00:46:45and confessing

00:46:46that I

00:46:47am not

00:46:47permanent

00:46:47here.

00:46:48I am

00:46:48just a

00:46:49passer-by.

00:46:49I am

00:46:50a stranger

00:46:51and a

00:46:51pilgrim

00:46:52to this

00:46:52earth.

00:46:53I belong

00:46:54to the

00:46:54heavenly

00:46:54kingdom,

00:46:55a citizen

00:46:56of the

00:46:56heavenly

00:46:57kingdom.

00:46:58And so

00:46:59they saw

00:46:59the promises.

00:47:00They were

00:47:01persuaded of

00:47:01the truth

00:47:02of the

00:47:02promises.

00:47:03They

00:47:04embraced

00:47:04or held

00:47:05on to

00:47:05the

00:47:05promises

00:47:06and they

00:47:06made

00:47:07their

00:47:07good

00:47:07confession.

00:47:08I am

00:47:09just a

00:47:09stranger

00:47:10and a

00:47:11pilgrim

00:47:11here.

00:47:14verses

00:47:1414 and

00:47:1515

00:47:15tell us,

00:47:16For they

00:47:17say such

00:47:17things that

00:47:18declare plainly

00:47:19that they

00:47:19are seeking

00:47:20for a

00:47:21country.

00:47:22Now truly,

00:47:23if they

00:47:23had been

00:47:23mindful of

00:47:24that country

00:47:24from whence

00:47:25they came

00:47:25out,

00:47:26they would

00:47:26have had

00:47:27the opportunity

00:47:27to return.

00:47:29For when

00:47:30they came

00:47:30to Haran,

00:47:31Abraham could

00:47:32easily have

00:47:33turned around

00:47:33and gone

00:47:34back into

00:47:34Babylon.

00:47:35You can

00:47:36always turn

00:47:37around.

00:47:39But no,

00:47:40they continued

00:47:40on in

00:47:41obedience to

00:47:42God.

00:47:43Verse 16

00:47:44tells us

00:47:44that they

00:47:45desire for

00:47:46a better

00:47:46country,

00:47:47that is,

00:47:48a heavenly

00:47:49country.

00:47:51Wherefore God

00:47:51is not ashamed

00:47:52to be called

00:47:52their God,

00:47:53for he has

00:47:54prepared for

00:47:55them a

00:47:55city.

00:47:58That's an

00:47:59interesting point.

00:48:00God is not

00:48:01ashamed to be

00:48:02called their

00:48:02God.

00:48:04This may

00:48:04suggest that

00:48:05God is

00:48:06ashamed of

00:48:06some people

00:48:07who call

00:48:08him God.

00:48:09And the way

00:48:09some people

00:48:10act,

00:48:10perhaps we

00:48:11couldn't

00:48:11blame him.

00:48:12I pray that

00:48:13I will never

00:48:14be an

00:48:15embarrassment

00:48:15to God,

00:48:16at least

00:48:17going forward,

00:48:18because I'm

00:48:19sure I have

00:48:20been many

00:48:20times in the

00:48:21past.

00:48:22I am afraid

00:48:23that I have

00:48:24done many

00:48:24things that

00:48:25God has

00:48:26been embarrassed

00:48:27by, in

00:48:28the sense

00:48:29that people

00:48:29said,

00:48:30oh well,

00:48:31he's a

00:48:31Christian.

00:48:32And God

00:48:33was sort

00:48:34of ashamed

00:48:34that I

00:48:35should be

00:48:35identified

00:48:36in this

00:48:36way.

00:48:39Verses

00:48:4017-19

00:48:41read,

00:48:42By faith

00:48:42Abraham,

00:48:43when he

00:48:43was tested,

00:48:44offered up

00:48:44Isaac.

00:48:45and he

00:48:46that had

00:48:46received the

00:48:47promises,

00:48:48offered up

00:48:48his only

00:48:49begotten

00:48:49son,

00:48:50of whom

00:48:51it was

00:48:51said,

00:48:52that in

00:48:52Isaac

00:48:52shall your

00:48:53seed be

00:48:54called,

00:48:55giving that

00:48:56God was

00:48:57able to

00:48:57raise him

00:48:58up,

00:48:58even from

00:48:59the dead,

00:49:00from whence

00:49:01he had also

00:49:01received him

00:49:02in a

00:49:02figure.

00:49:05So this is an

00:49:06interesting insight

00:49:07on the story

00:49:07of Abraham

00:49:08offering up

00:49:09his son

00:49:09Isaac to

00:49:10the Lord.

00:49:13Paul, when he

00:49:14wrote to the

00:49:14Corinthians,

00:49:15said,

00:49:16The gospel

00:49:17that I

00:49:17declared to

00:49:18you, how

00:49:19that Christ

00:49:19died according

00:49:20to the

00:49:20scriptures, and

00:49:21was buried

00:49:21according to

00:49:22the scriptures,

00:49:23and rose again

00:49:24on the third

00:49:24day according

00:49:25to the

00:49:26scriptures.

00:49:261 Corinthians

00:49:2715, 1-4.

00:49:29He was, of

00:49:30course, referring

00:49:31to the

00:49:32Old Testament

00:49:32scriptures.

00:49:34We know

00:49:35there that

00:49:35was predicted

00:49:36in the

00:49:36Old Testament

00:49:37the death

00:49:37of Christ,

00:49:38in Isaiah

00:49:3953, numbered

00:49:41with the

00:49:41transgressors in

00:49:42his death, and

00:49:43Psalm 22, a

00:49:45soul poured

00:49:46out to

00:49:46death.

00:49:47We know

00:49:48that the

00:49:48scriptures

00:49:48prophesied he

00:49:49would be

00:49:50buried and

00:49:51make his

00:49:51grave with

00:49:52the rich.

00:49:55But where

00:49:56in the

00:49:56Old Testament

00:49:57is there a

00:49:57prophecy of

00:49:58his rising

00:49:59again on

00:49:59the third

00:50:00day?

00:50:01It was

00:50:02prefigured in

00:50:03Jonah, and

00:50:04Jesus brought

00:50:04that out.

00:50:05As Jonah

00:50:06was three

00:50:06days and

00:50:07three nights

00:50:07in the

00:50:08belly of

00:50:08the whale,

00:50:09so shall

00:50:10the Son

00:50:10of Man

00:50:10be three

00:50:11days and

00:50:11three nights

00:50:12in the

00:50:12heart of

00:50:13the earth,

00:50:14Matthew

00:50:1412, 40.

00:50:17But where

00:50:17in the

00:50:18scripture, the

00:50:18Old Testament,

00:50:20do we read

00:50:20of the

00:50:20resurrection after

00:50:21three days?

00:50:25And we

00:50:26go to the

00:50:26story of

00:50:27Abraham, where

00:50:28God said to

00:50:29Abraham, Abraham

00:50:31take your

00:50:32son, your

00:50:33only son Isaac,

00:50:34and offer

00:50:35him as a

00:50:35sacrifice in

00:50:36the place that

00:50:37I will show

00:50:38you.

00:50:39Genesis 22, 2.

00:50:44A lot of

00:50:45people from

00:50:45the secular

00:50:46world take

00:50:47this particular

00:50:47story to put

00:50:48down the

00:50:49Bible and

00:50:49to put down

00:50:50God.

00:50:51God, what

00:50:52kind of a

00:50:52sacrifice would

00:50:53it be that

00:50:54requires a

00:50:54man to

00:50:55offer his

00:50:55son as a

00:50:56human sacrifice?

00:50:58And because

00:50:59they only read

00:51:00the story in

00:51:01a cursory

00:51:02manner, they

00:51:03are confused

00:51:04and they

00:51:04ridicule that

00:51:05such a God

00:51:05would require

00:51:06such a thing

00:51:07of a man.

00:51:10take your

00:51:12son, your

00:51:12only son, said

00:51:14God.

00:51:15Was Isaac

00:51:16his only

00:51:16son?

00:51:17No, he

00:51:18had another

00:51:19son by

00:51:19Hagar, called

00:51:20Ishmael, who

00:51:22was born

00:51:22thirteen years

00:51:23before Isaac.

00:51:25But as

00:51:26God said,

00:51:27through Isaac

00:51:27shall your

00:51:28seed be

00:51:28called.

00:51:29So God

00:51:30did not

00:51:31recognise

00:51:32Abraham's

00:51:32work of

00:51:33the flesh.

00:51:33He only

00:51:34recognised the

00:51:35work of the

00:51:35spirit, the

00:51:36son of the

00:51:37promise, Isaac.

00:51:40Again, we

00:51:41usually picture

00:51:42Isaac, because

00:51:44of the Sunday

00:51:44school drawings

00:51:45and pictures

00:51:46that we had, of

00:51:47being maybe

00:51:47eight to ten

00:51:48years old, and

00:51:49we see this

00:51:49one hundred

00:51:50year old

00:51:50Abraham,

00:51:51one hundred

00:51:52and eight

00:51:52actually at

00:51:53this time,

00:51:54leading the

00:51:54little eight

00:51:55year old

00:51:55boy towards

00:51:56Mount Moriah,

00:51:57where he is

00:51:58going to offer

00:51:58him as a

00:51:59human sacrifice

00:52:00to God.

00:52:02The idea

00:52:03being of

00:52:03God asking

00:52:04Abraham to

00:52:05give up the

00:52:06most cherished

00:52:06possession that

00:52:07he had given

00:52:08to him,

00:52:09testing Abraham.

00:52:12Will you

00:52:13hold back

00:52:14anything from

00:52:14me, Abraham?

00:52:21Isaac was

00:52:22probably twenty

00:52:23seven years

00:52:24old by this

00:52:25time, not

00:52:26just a little

00:52:27boy.

00:52:28The

00:52:29scriptures

00:52:29would indicate

00:52:30that he's

00:52:30in his

00:52:31late twenties,

00:52:32so that

00:52:33means Abraham

00:52:33was probably

00:52:34approaching

00:52:35one hundred

00:52:35and thirty.

00:52:37And Isaac,

00:52:38being in the

00:52:39prime of his

00:52:40youth, could

00:52:40easily have

00:52:41overpowered

00:52:41his dad and

00:52:42said, OK,

00:52:42dad, that's

00:52:43enough, what's

00:52:44going on

00:52:44here?

00:52:46Can't really

00:52:47imagine him

00:52:48being willing

00:52:49to be tied

00:52:49up and put

00:52:50on the

00:52:51altar that

00:52:53his father

00:52:53had built.

00:52:55Isaac was

00:52:56willingly

00:52:57submissive to

00:52:58his father's

00:52:58will.

00:53:01For three

00:53:02days they

00:53:03had journeyed

00:53:04from Hebron

00:53:04and in the

00:53:05mind of

00:53:06Abraham, for

00:53:07those three

00:53:07days his

00:53:08son Isaac

00:53:09was already

00:53:09dead, because

00:53:11he knew that

00:53:12God had

00:53:12required him

00:53:13to offer

00:53:13as a

00:53:14sacrifice in

00:53:15the place

00:53:15that he

00:53:16would show

00:53:16him.

00:53:18After three

00:53:19days the

00:53:20Lord showed

00:53:20to Abraham

00:53:21Mount

00:53:21Moriah, and

00:53:23so Abraham

00:53:24said to the

00:53:24servants,

00:53:25wait here, I

00:53:26and the

00:53:27young man

00:53:27will go and

00:53:28will worship

00:53:29God and

00:53:29will come

00:53:29again.

00:53:35There is

00:53:36employed in

00:53:36that particular

00:53:37text what

00:53:38is known

00:53:38grammatically in

00:53:39the Hebrew

00:53:40as a

00:53:41poly

00:53:41synodatum,

00:53:43that is, the

00:53:44repetition of

00:53:45the word over

00:53:46and over

00:53:47again, where

00:53:48you find

00:53:48and, and,

00:53:49and, and,

00:53:50which in

00:53:52the grammatical

00:53:52structure indicates

00:53:53a continued

00:53:54deliberate action,

00:53:56no hesitation,

00:53:57just the

00:53:58movement

00:53:58continued and

00:54:00deliberate

00:54:00quickly, quickly.

00:54:03But it is

00:54:05interesting, I

00:54:06and the lad

00:54:07will go and

00:54:08will worship

00:54:09God and

00:54:10will come

00:54:10again.

00:54:13And so

00:54:14hidden in

00:54:14these words,

00:54:15he declares

00:54:16that Isaac is

00:54:17going to come

00:54:18back with

00:54:19him.

00:54:22Now, Abraham

00:54:23figures God's

00:54:24got a problem

00:54:24because God

00:54:25has said,

00:54:26through Isaac

00:54:26will your

00:54:27seed be

00:54:28called.

00:54:29Isaac has

00:54:30not yet

00:54:30had any

00:54:31children.

00:54:32Isaac was

00:54:33going to have

00:54:33children because

00:54:34God has to

00:54:35keep his

00:54:36word.

00:54:37I don't know

00:54:37what's going

00:54:38to happen,

00:54:38but I know

00:54:39that God

00:54:39will do it.

00:54:40God always

00:54:41honours his

00:54:42promise.

00:54:43I know

00:54:44that God's

00:54:44word is

00:54:45faithful,

00:54:46God's word

00:54:46is true,

00:54:47and so God

00:54:48will keep

00:54:48his word.

00:54:49And God

00:54:50has said,

00:54:51now offer

00:54:52up Isaac.

00:54:53And so I

00:54:54will offer

00:54:54up Isaac,

00:54:55but somehow

00:54:56God's going

00:54:57to perform

00:54:57some sort

00:54:58of miracle

00:54:58because Isaac

00:54:59doesn't have

00:55:00any children.

00:55:02And so he

00:55:02believed,

00:55:03notice,

00:55:04he believed

00:55:04that God

00:55:05was able

00:55:05to raise

00:55:06him up

00:55:06really from

00:55:07the dead.

00:55:07He believed

00:55:07in the

00:55:08resurrection.

00:55:09God was

00:55:10going to

00:55:10be able

00:55:10to raise

00:55:11this boy

00:55:11up from

00:55:12the dead

00:55:12if necessary

00:55:13to keep

00:55:13his promise.

00:55:15Through

00:55:15Isaac

00:55:16shall your

00:55:16seed be

00:55:17called.

00:55:19And so

00:55:19he went

00:55:20on in

00:55:20faith,

00:55:21nothing else

00:55:22in the

00:55:22word of

00:55:23God.

00:55:24Through

00:55:24Isaac

00:55:25shall your

00:55:26seed be

00:55:26called.

00:55:27I'll go

00:55:28do it

00:55:28because God

00:55:29has something

00:55:30in mind.

00:55:31He will

00:55:31raise him

00:55:32from the

00:55:32dead or

00:55:33something

00:55:34because I

00:55:35and the

00:55:35lad will

00:55:35go and

00:55:36we will

00:55:37come back

00:55:37again.

00:55:42And so

00:55:42Isaac was

00:55:43with his

00:55:43father now

00:55:44and the

00:55:44two of

00:55:44them were

00:55:45walking

00:55:45towards the

00:55:46top of

00:55:46Mount Moriah

00:55:47and the

00:55:48young man

00:55:48said,

00:55:49Father,

00:55:49we have

00:55:50the wood

00:55:50and we've

00:55:51got the

00:55:51fire,

00:55:52but where

00:55:52is the

00:55:53sacrifice?

00:55:54Haven't

00:55:54you forgotten

00:55:55something,

00:55:55Dad?

00:55:57And Abraham

00:55:58said,

00:55:59My son,

00:56:00the Lord

00:56:01will provide

00:56:01himself a

00:56:02sacrifice.

00:56:04Genesis

00:56:0422,

00:56:057 to

00:56:068.

00:56:07An

00:56:08interesting

00:56:08prophecy.

00:56:10He will

00:56:11not provide

00:56:12a sacrifice

00:56:12for himself,

00:56:14he will

00:56:15provide

00:56:15himself a

00:56:16sacrifice.

00:56:19And when

00:56:20they came

00:56:20to Mount

00:56:21Moriah,

00:56:21Abraham

00:56:22bound

00:56:22Isaac

00:56:23and put

00:56:23him on

00:56:24the altar

00:56:24and raised

00:56:25the knife

00:56:26and God

00:56:26said,

00:56:27OK,

00:56:27far enough

00:56:28Abraham,

00:56:29hold it

00:56:29right there.

00:56:31I know

00:56:31that you

00:56:32will not

00:56:32withhold

00:56:33anything

00:56:33from me.

00:56:34Look,

00:56:35over there

00:56:35is a ram

00:56:36caught by

00:56:37its horns

00:56:38in a thicket.

00:56:40Offer that

00:56:41to me

00:56:41on the

00:56:42altar.

00:56:44And so

00:56:45that Abraham

00:56:45took the

00:56:46ram and

00:56:46offered it

00:56:47on the

00:56:47altar,

00:56:48and he

00:56:48called the

00:56:49name of

00:56:49the place

00:56:49Jehovah

00:56:50Jehira.

00:56:51And then

00:56:52he prophesied

00:56:52in the

00:56:53mount of

00:56:54the

00:56:54Lord

00:56:54it

00:56:54shall

00:56:54be

00:56:55seen.

00:56:56Genesis

00:56:5622,

00:56:5710 to

00:56:5814.

00:56:59Jehovah

00:57:00sees.

00:57:00The word

00:57:01is Jehovah

00:57:02as vision.

00:57:03And we

00:57:04translate it

00:57:04Jehovah

00:57:05will provide.

00:57:08Well,

00:57:09the word

00:57:09provide,

00:57:10the base

00:57:10word of

00:57:11provide is

00:57:11vision,

00:57:12provision.

00:57:15With God

00:57:15there is

00:57:16very little

00:57:16difference

00:57:17between vision

00:57:18and provision.

00:57:20God sees,

00:57:20God will

00:57:21take care of

00:57:21it.

00:57:22God will

00:57:23provide.

00:57:26In the

00:57:27mount of

00:57:27the Lord

00:57:28it shall

00:57:28be seen.

00:57:30Take

00:57:31now your

00:57:31son,

00:57:32your only

00:57:32son.

00:57:33For God

00:57:34so loved

00:57:34the world

00:57:35that he

00:57:35gave his

00:57:36only begotten

00:57:37son.

00:57:41And as

00:57:41Isaac was

00:57:42three days

00:57:42and three

00:57:43nights dead

00:57:43in the

00:57:44mind of

00:57:44his father,

00:57:45so Jesus

00:57:46would be

00:57:46three days

00:57:46and three

00:57:47nights before

00:57:48his resurrection.

00:57:50Interesting.

00:57:52Coincidental.

00:57:54But it

00:57:55was on

00:57:56Mount Moriah

00:57:56where the

00:57:57cross was

00:57:57placed upon

00:57:58which Jesus

00:57:59would be

00:57:59put to

00:58:00death.

00:58:01The

00:58:01mount of

00:58:02the Lord

00:58:02where Abraham

00:58:03offered his

00:58:04son,

00:58:04Isaac.

00:58:05Two

00:58:05thousand years

00:58:06later,

00:58:06God offered

00:58:07his only

00:58:08begotten

00:58:08son and

00:58:10God provided

00:58:10himself a

00:58:11sacrifice for

00:58:12our sin.

00:58:13For God

00:58:14was in

00:58:15Christ reconciling

00:58:16the world

00:58:16to himself.

00:58:21Now if we

00:58:22did not have

00:58:23Hebrews to

00:58:24give us a

00:58:24commentary on

00:58:25the story of

00:58:26Abraham,

00:58:26we too might

00:58:27be confused

00:58:28at God's

00:58:29demand.

00:58:30But we

00:58:31believe and

00:58:33read here that

00:58:33it was through

00:58:34absolute faith in

00:58:35the word of

00:58:36God that

00:58:36Abraham was

00:58:37willing to

00:58:37go through

00:58:38this whole

00:58:38experience,

00:58:40believing so

00:58:41powerfully in

00:58:41the word of

00:58:42God.

00:58:44He knew that

00:58:45God would,

00:58:46if necessary,

00:58:47raise Isaac

00:58:47from the

00:58:48dead in

00:58:49order that

00:58:49he might

00:58:50fulfill his

00:58:50word.

00:58:51Through God,

00:58:53through Isaac,

00:58:53shall your

00:58:54seed be

00:58:55called.

00:58:58So

00:58:58understanding

00:58:59that God

00:58:59was able to

00:59:00raise him

00:59:01even from

00:59:01the dead,

00:59:02from whence

00:59:02also he

00:59:03received him

00:59:04in a

00:59:04figure.

00:59:05So in

00:59:05other words,

00:59:06he was an

00:59:07impossible

00:59:07child anyway.

00:59:08He was a

00:59:09miracle.

00:59:10His birth was

00:59:10long beyond

00:59:11any natural

00:59:12possibility for

00:59:13a birth.

00:59:13And so he

00:59:14was, in a

00:59:15sense, received

00:59:16from the

00:59:17dead.

00:59:17A miracle

00:59:18child to

00:59:19begin with.

00:59:20And we

00:59:21knew that

00:59:21God, having

00:59:22given him by

00:59:23a miracle,

00:59:24could also by

00:59:25a miracle

00:59:25sustain him,

00:59:26until the

00:59:27promise of

00:59:28God was

00:59:28fulfilled through

00:59:31Isaac.

00:59:32And so we

00:59:33continue from

00:59:34verse 20 to

00:59:3522, through

00:59:36the history of

00:59:39Israel.

00:59:40By faith,

00:59:42Isaac blessed

00:59:42Jacob and

00:59:43Esau, concerning

00:59:45the things to

00:59:45come.

00:59:46By faith,

00:59:47Jacob, when he

00:59:47was dying,

00:59:48blessed the

00:59:48sons of

00:59:49Joseph, and

00:59:50worshipped as

00:59:51he leant upon

00:59:52the top of

00:59:52his staff.

00:59:54By faith,

00:59:55Joseph, when

00:59:56he died, made

00:59:57mention of the

00:59:57exodus of the

00:59:58children of

00:59:59Israel, and

01:00:00gave a

01:00:01commandment

01:00:01concerning his

01:00:02bones.

01:00:04And so

01:00:05following the

01:00:06faith of the

01:00:06father, Abraham

01:00:07passed on to

01:00:09Isaac, who by

01:00:10faith blessed his

01:00:11boys Jacob and

01:00:12Esau, and

01:00:13prophesied of

01:00:13the things to

01:00:14come.

01:00:15By faith, Jacob

01:00:17himself blessed

01:00:17his sons, and

01:00:18the sons of

01:00:19Joseph, Ephraim

01:00:20and Manasseh.

01:00:22And now, by

01:00:23faith, Joseph, when

01:00:24he was ready to

01:00:25die, when he

01:00:26was in Egypt, with

01:00:27great power and

01:00:28authority, and

01:00:29he knew that

01:00:30one day the

01:00:31people of

01:00:31God must go

01:00:32home, and

01:00:33possess the

01:00:34land that God

01:00:34had promised to

01:00:36Abraham.

01:00:37He knew that

01:00:38they would not

01:00:38be in Egypt

01:00:39forever, and

01:00:40so he made

01:00:41them promise,

01:00:42when you

01:00:42return to the

01:00:43land, I want

01:00:44you to take

01:00:44my bones out

01:00:45of Egypt, take

01:00:46them back to

01:00:47the land.

01:00:48So knowing

01:00:49that God's

01:00:50word will be

01:00:50fulfilled, that

01:00:52the land would

01:00:52one day be

01:00:54theirs, some

01:00:55three hundred

01:00:56years later, after

01:00:57his death, when

01:00:58the children of

01:00:59Israel began

01:00:59their trek from

01:01:00Egypt to the

01:01:01promised land.

01:01:02With them, they

01:01:04carried the

01:01:05mummy of

01:01:05Joseph to

01:01:06bury it in the

01:01:07land of

01:01:08promise.

01:01:10And so, in

01:01:11verse 23, we

01:01:12come to

01:01:13Moses, the

01:01:14jump of

01:01:15several hundred

01:01:15years.

01:01:16By faith

01:01:17Moses, when

01:01:18he was born, was

01:01:19hid for three

01:01:20months by his

01:01:21parents, because

01:01:22they saw that he

01:01:23was a beautiful

01:01:24child, and they

01:01:25were not afraid of

01:01:26the king's

01:01:27commandment.

01:01:30Pharaoh had

01:01:30commanded that

01:01:31all the Hebrew

01:01:32boys be thrown

01:01:33into the Nile,

01:01:34drowned, for he

01:01:35was afraid that the

01:01:36Hebrews, because

01:01:37they were having so

01:01:38many children, would

01:01:39become a threat to

01:01:40Egypt.

01:01:42As they had

01:01:42begun to multiply

01:01:43more rapidly than

01:01:44the Egyptians, he

01:01:46could foresee the

01:01:46time coming, when

01:01:48they would be

01:01:48stronger, and

01:01:49overthrow the

01:01:50Egyptians, and

01:01:51make the Egyptians

01:01:52become their

01:01:53slaves.

01:01:54And so he

01:01:55ordered all the

01:01:56baby boys to

01:01:57be drowned in

01:01:58the Nile.

01:02:00When Moses was

01:02:01born, by faith, his

01:02:02parents hid him.

01:02:03They disobeyed the

01:02:05order of Pharaoh.

01:02:07They saw he was a

01:02:08special child, and

01:02:09they were not

01:02:10afraid of the

01:02:10king's

01:02:11commandment.

01:02:13Verse 24

01:02:14moves on.

01:02:16which, in this

01:02:18particular case, was

01:02:20forty years old, when

01:02:22Moses came to age.

01:02:24Having been

01:02:25schooled in the

01:02:25schools of Egypt, in

01:02:27the sciences and

01:02:28the arts, Moses,

01:02:29having been raised in

01:02:30Pharaoh's palace, having

01:02:32been adopted by

01:02:33Pharaoh's daughter, having

01:02:34at his disposal all the

01:02:36riches of Egypt, all the

01:02:37glory of Egypt, verse 25

01:02:41continues, chose rather to

01:02:43suffer affliction with the

01:02:44people of God, than to

01:02:46enjoy the pleasures of

01:02:47sin for a short time.

01:02:50This was a very

01:02:52interesting choice.

01:02:55He could have gone on as

01:02:57the son of Pharaoh's

01:02:58daughter and enjoyed

01:02:59through his lifetime the

01:03:00pleasures of sin, but that

01:03:02would have been a very

01:03:03short time, though he

01:03:06lived to be one hundred and

01:03:07twenty, still short in

01:03:10comparison to the fact

01:03:11that he has been gone for

01:03:13three thousand seven

01:03:14hundred years now.

01:03:16But he chose rather to

01:03:18identify himself with God's

01:03:19people, suffering the

01:03:21affliction of God's people,

01:03:22than to enjoy the pleasures

01:03:24of sin for a season.

01:03:26For he realised that the

01:03:28pleasures of sin do not

01:03:29last.

01:03:29You may give yourself over

01:03:31to indulgence, you may

01:03:32find great pleasure and

01:03:34excitement in the

01:03:35indulging of your flesh, but

01:03:37it doesn't last, it

01:03:38quickly grows old.

01:03:40Moses made the right

01:03:42choice.

01:03:44Verse 26 tells us why.

01:03:47For he esteemed the

01:03:49reproach of Christ greater

01:03:51riches than the treasures

01:03:53that might be found in

01:03:55Egypt.

01:03:57So on the one side you

01:03:58have the son of Pharaoh's

01:03:59daughter, with all the

01:04:00glory of the royal palace.

01:04:02You have the riches of

01:04:03Egypt at your disposal.

01:04:07And on the other you

01:04:08have the affliction of the

01:04:09people of God, the

01:04:10reproach of Christ.

01:04:11You have the immediate

01:04:12advantage and the eternal

01:04:13advantage to choose

01:04:15between.

01:04:17Moses wisely chose the

01:04:19eternal rather than the

01:04:20immediate.

01:04:22Oh God, give us that kind

01:04:24of wisdom that in our

01:04:25choices we will always take

01:04:27the long view and look at

01:04:28eternity rather than any

01:04:30short-term gain.

01:04:32That we will not just take

01:04:33that which seems to be so

01:04:35exciting, so temporarily

01:04:36beneficial, but that we'll

01:04:39look and find where the

01:04:40path leads.

01:04:42What is the end of the

01:04:43story?

01:04:44What is the end of the

01:04:45path?

01:04:46Moses, by faith, chose the

01:04:48path of suffering,

01:04:49affliction over the path of

01:04:51ease and glory, esteeming the

01:04:53reproach of Christ greater

01:04:55riches than any treasures

01:04:56of Egypt because, as we

01:04:59find in verse 26, he had

01:05:02respect unto the

01:05:04recompense of the reward.

01:05:06Because he looked at the

01:05:08eternal aspect, the eternal

01:05:10reward, the eternal reward of

01:05:12following Jesus Christ, the

01:05:14eternal reward of living for

01:05:16him so far outweighs any

01:05:18temporal or worldly advantage

01:05:20that we might possibly have in

01:05:23living after the flesh.

01:05:26Verse 27 continues, By faith

01:05:29he forsook Egypt, not fearing

01:05:32the wrath of the king, for he

01:05:34endured as seeing him who is

01:05:36invisible.

01:05:40The secret of his endurance,

01:05:42that ability to see God and to

01:05:44see the work of God and the hand

01:05:45of God.

01:05:47If I can see the hand of God in

01:05:48my hour of suffering, if I can

01:05:50see the hand of God in the

01:05:52moment of trial or affliction,

01:05:54then I can endure.

01:05:56When I start to get weak, I

01:05:58start to question and I start

01:05:59to say, Why, O God?

01:06:02If I can only just come to the

01:06:04realisation that all things are

01:06:06working together for the good of

01:06:07those who love God and that God

01:06:10has a wonderful purpose.

01:06:12And when I can see God, then I

01:06:13can endure and I can say, Well,

01:06:15God, I really don't understand,

01:06:17but you've got a reason and a

01:06:19plan and all is going to work for

01:06:21the good of your people.

01:06:23And I endure as seeing the one

01:06:26who is invisible, the substance of

01:06:28things hoped for and the evidence

01:06:30of things not seen.

01:06:34Verse 28.

01:06:35Through faith, Moses kept the

01:06:38Passover.

01:06:40The final plague to come upon Egypt

01:06:43would be the death of the firstborn

01:06:45child of every family in Egypt.

01:06:47The Lord said, I will pass through

01:06:50the land this night and the firstborn

01:06:52in every house will be slain.

01:06:54Command the children of Israel that

01:06:56they take a lamb from their flock,

01:06:58the first year, to kill it and put

01:07:00the blood in a basin and with

01:07:02hyssop sprinkle the blood upon the

01:07:04lentils and the doorposts.

01:07:09Sprinkling on the lentils and the

01:07:10doorposts, interestingly enough,

01:07:13gives you the sprinkling in the shape

01:07:15of a cross.

01:07:17And when I pass through the land tonight,

01:07:19I will see the blood and I will pass

01:07:22over that house and the firstborn

01:07:24will be spared.

01:07:25The lamb sacrificed for the house,

01:07:29the substitutionary lamb preserving the

01:07:31firstborn, the lamb dying instead of the

01:07:34firstborn.

01:07:35And there we get a very beautiful picture

01:07:37of the substitutionary work of Christ

01:07:40Jesus, the lamb of God, who died in our

01:07:43place that we might have life.

01:07:46And so by faith, Moses kept the Passover.

01:07:53We read on, verses 28 and 29, and by

01:07:56faith Israel passed through the Red Sea

01:07:59as on dry land and the Egyptians, when

01:08:01they attempted to follow, were drowned.

01:08:06Moving on, the successor to Moses was

01:08:09Joshua, and we read in verse 30, by

01:08:11faith the walls of Jericho fell down

01:08:14after they were encompassed about for

01:08:17seven days.

01:08:19In the city of Jericho, there lived a

01:08:21woman whose name was Rahab, who had

01:08:23received the spies that Joshua had sent,

01:08:26who delivered them from the inhabitants

01:08:28of Jericho.

01:08:30Verse 31, by faith the harlot Rahab did not

01:08:35perish with those who did not believe, when

01:08:37she received the spies with peace.

01:08:43Verse 32 continues, what more can I say?

01:08:46I simply don't have the time to tell of

01:08:48Gideon, or Barak, or Samson, or Jericho.

01:08:53These are all men from the book of Judges, who

01:08:56became Judges of Israel, and who through

01:08:58their faith delivered the children of

01:09:00Israel from their enemies.

01:09:02And moving on from Judges, we come to

01:09:04David.

01:09:06And it's interesting that David doesn't

01:09:08get much of a look in here, just his name

01:09:11listed.

01:09:13And then we read about Samuel.

01:09:16And as we said earlier, this is the only

01:09:18place where the chronological order is

01:09:20broken.

01:09:22Samuel is listed after David, and so that's

01:09:25the only break in the chronologic.

01:09:29And the writer probably was in his mind

01:09:31just taking from the beginning of the men

01:09:33of the Old Testament, who by faith their

01:09:36lives were made outstanding.

01:09:39Now here's what they did through faith.

01:09:42Who, through faith, verse 33 into 35, they

01:09:47wrought righteousness, they obtained

01:09:49promises, they stopped the mouths of

01:09:51lions, probably referring here to Daniel,

01:09:54they quenched the violence of the fire, the

01:09:57three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace, and

01:09:59they escaped the edge of the sword.

01:10:01Out of weakness they were made strong, they

01:10:04were valiant in fight, they turned to

01:10:06flight the armies of the aliens.

01:10:09Women received their dead raised to life

01:10:11again.

01:10:12This is the first part.

01:10:14In the first section is pretty much

01:10:16powerful, positive kind of reaction and

01:10:18responses to faith.

01:10:21These are the positive sides to faith, the

01:10:23subduing of kingdoms, the obtaining of

01:10:25promises, the stopping of the mouths of

01:10:27lions, quenching the violence of the fire,

01:10:31making people strong out of their weakness,

01:10:33valiant in fight, turning to flight the

01:10:36armies of the aliens, and the women receiving

01:10:39their dead back to life.

01:10:42But the man of faith can also know defeat

01:10:44and discouragement.

01:10:46Being a man of faith does not mean that you

01:10:49will always have things going your way.

01:10:51You will not always have the victory.

01:10:53You are not always going to drive a fancy

01:10:55car.

01:10:56You are not always going to be kept free of

01:10:58trouble because it continues in verse 35.

01:11:02Others were tortured and not accepting

01:11:05deliverance.

01:11:07Their faith caused them to make their stand

01:11:10firm for God and they were tortured for

01:11:12their faith.

01:11:13It is possible for a person to be victorious

01:11:16over the enemy, to wax valiant in battle, to

01:11:18subdue the aliens.

01:11:20But it is also possible for the man of faith to

01:11:23be tortured for his faith.

01:11:25God does not always deliver those who believe

01:11:27and trust in him.

01:11:29This is the fallacy of this faith teaching

01:11:32today.

01:11:33It only looks at the first half of the list and

01:11:36ignores the second.

01:11:37But that isn't the reality.

01:11:40Through faith they believed to the point of not

01:11:43accepting deliverance.

01:11:44They were tortured.

01:11:46This happened in the early church.

01:11:50James was beheaded by Herod.

01:11:53Stephen was stoned by faith.

01:11:56Men of faith and yet men were tortured for

01:11:58their faith.

01:12:00Not accepting deliverance, verse 35 tells us

01:12:03that they may obtain a better resurrection.

01:12:07For it is surely better to have a resurrection to

01:12:10eternal life than resurrection into damnation.

01:12:12That they might have that better resurrection to

01:12:17eternal life.

01:12:19Verse 36 and 37 continue this theme.

01:12:23Others had trials of cruel mockings and

01:12:26scourgings.

01:12:27Indeed, moreover of bondage and imprisonment.

01:12:31They were stoned.

01:12:33As was Zechariah and also, as believed,

01:12:36Jeremiah.

01:12:37They were sawn asunder.

01:12:40Cut in two.

01:12:42Isaiah, that marvellous prophet that we have

01:12:44enjoyed, his revelations.

01:12:48Manasseh, the evil son of Hezekiah,

01:12:50ordered him cut in half.

01:12:52Man of faith.

01:12:54Miravulous spiritual insights.

01:12:58And yet we read.

01:12:59They were tempted.

01:13:00They were slain with the sword.

01:13:02They wandered about in sheepskins and goatkins,

01:13:05being destitute, afflicted and tormented,

01:13:08of whom the world was not worthy.

01:13:12What a statement.

01:13:14What a remarkable statement concerning these men.

01:13:17The world was not worthy of them.

01:13:18And yet, what things they endured as the result of their faith in God.

01:13:26Your faith in God is not always going to bring you tremendous triumph and victories over the enemy.

01:13:32But your faith in God will sustain you through any kind of exigency that you may face in life.

01:13:37That's the thing.

01:13:39Do I have faith?

01:13:40The faith.

01:13:41The quality of faith that endures.

01:13:45I like the faith that brings me over the top,

01:13:47that grants me the victory, that subdues the aliens, and I like that.

01:13:52But I am also interested that I have that faith that will see me through the trials, the sufferings.

01:14:00Verses 38 and 9

01:14:02They wandered in the deserts and the mountains, in the dens and caves of the earth.

01:14:07And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise.

01:14:15They all believed, and here's the good report of them.

01:14:18And yet they died in faith, and did not receive the promise.

01:14:23For God, we read in verse 40,

01:14:26Having provided some better thing for us,

01:14:29that they without us should not be made perfect.

01:14:34They all died in faith, believing the promise that God would indeed send his salvation through his Son.

01:14:41They all believed there would be made the provision for their sins by God.

01:14:45God had promised this would be.

01:14:48All we, like sheep, have gone astray.

01:14:50We have all turned to our own ways,

01:14:52but God will lay on him the iniquities of us all.

01:14:56Isaiah 53, 6

01:14:58They believed the promise of God,

01:15:00that he would provide salvation.

01:15:02They died believing that promise,

01:15:05and yet in their death they did not enter into the kingdom of God,

01:15:08and into that eternal glory.

01:15:11The sacrifices that they made,

01:15:14were all made in faith,

01:15:15as they looked forward to the sacrifice that God would one day make,

01:15:19when he would send his only begotten Son.

01:15:23But the sacrifices they made,

01:15:25could not put away sin.

01:15:26All they did,

01:15:27was point to the future,

01:15:29when God would provide the perfect sacrifice,

01:15:32through his only begotten Son.

01:15:35So when they died,

01:15:36they did not immediately enter into the heavenly kingdom,

01:15:39but they had to wait upon the promise of God to be fulfilled.

01:15:46In Luke 16,

01:15:48Jesus gives the story of the certain rich man,

01:15:51who fared sumptuously every day,

01:15:53and there was a poor man,

01:15:54who was daily brought and laid at his gate,

01:15:56covered with sores,

01:15:57and the dogs would come and lick his sores.

01:16:04He would eat the scraps of food,

01:16:06that were thrown down to him,

01:16:07from the rich man's table.

01:16:09And it so happened,

01:16:11that the rich man died,

01:16:13and the poor man died,

01:16:15and the poor man was carried by angels,

01:16:18into Abraham's bosom.

01:16:22And in hell,

01:16:23the rich man lifted up his eyes,

01:16:26being in torment.

01:16:27And seeing Abraham afar off,

01:16:29and Lazarus there being comforted in Abraham's bosom,

01:16:33said,

01:16:33Father Abraham,

01:16:34send Lazarus to me,

01:16:35that he might take his finger,

01:16:37and dip it in the water,

01:16:38and touch my tongue,

01:16:40for I am tormented in his heat.

01:16:43But Abraham said,

01:16:44Son,

01:16:45do you remember,

01:16:46that in your lifetime you had all the good things,

01:16:49and Lazarus the bad?

01:16:51Now he is comforted,

01:16:52while you are tormented.

01:16:54And beside that,

01:16:55there is a gulp that is fixed between us.

01:16:57So it is impossible,

01:16:59for those who are over here,

01:17:00to come there,

01:17:01and for those that are there,

01:17:02to come here.

01:17:05And he responded,

01:17:06I pray then,

01:17:07that if he cannot come to me,

01:17:09please send him back,

01:17:10toward my brothers,

01:17:11that they don't come,

01:17:13to this awful place.

01:17:16Abraham said,

01:17:28Jesus taught that prior to his death,

01:17:30hell was divided into the two compartments.

01:17:33Those who were comforted by Abraham,

01:17:36Lazarus being comforted in Abraham's bosom,

01:17:39Abraham the father of those who believed.

01:17:42As those who would follow the faithful steps of Abraham,

01:17:45would die and would come to him,

01:17:47in this compartment of hell.

01:17:49Abraham would say,

01:17:51don't worry,

01:17:51God is faithful.

01:17:52He has promised,

01:17:54and will send his son.

01:17:55He'll send the Saviour,

01:17:56and we will get out of here.

01:18:02Isaiah in chapter 61,

01:18:04on the prophecy of the coming of Jesus Christ.

01:18:08The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

01:18:10because he has anointed me,

01:18:12to preach the good tidings to the meek,

01:18:14to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,

01:18:17the day of the vengeance of our God.

01:18:20He said,

01:18:21I have come to open the prison,

01:18:22to those who were bent,

01:18:24setting the captive free.

01:18:26So we are told,

01:18:27that when Jesus died for our sins,

01:18:29he descended into hell,

01:18:30and he preached,

01:18:31according to Peter,

01:18:32to the souls that were in prison.

01:18:34He came to set the prisoners free,

01:18:37and to open the doors,

01:18:38to those who were captive.

01:18:40So that when Jesus rose again,

01:18:41Matthew's gospel tells us in the 27th chapter,

01:18:44the graves of many of the saints were open,

01:18:47and we see walking around the streets of Jerusalem,

01:18:50after his resurrection.

01:18:53Paul tells us,

01:18:54that when he ascended,

01:18:55he led the captives from captivity.

01:18:58For he who has ascended,

01:19:00is the same one,

01:19:00who first of all descended,

01:19:02into the lower parts of the earth.

01:19:04And when he ascended,

01:19:05he led the captives,

01:19:06from their captivity.

01:19:08He fulfilled the promise,

01:19:10he emptied that part of hell.

01:19:12They all died in faith,

01:19:14not having received.

01:19:16They didn't die and enter,

01:19:17into the kingdom of God,

01:19:18but they died and waited with Abraham,

01:19:21being comforted,

01:19:22by the man of faith,

01:19:23that God would indeed,

01:19:24keep his promise,

01:19:25and be faithful to his word.

01:19:28And when Jesus came,

01:19:29he declared deliverance,

01:19:30to the captive.

01:19:32I have done it.

01:19:33Sin is put away.

01:19:34The sacrifice is complete.

01:19:35We're getting out of here.

01:19:37And he led the captives,

01:19:39from their captivity,

01:19:40opening the prison doors,

01:19:42to those,

01:19:42who had been bound.

01:19:45It is through Jesus,

01:19:46that the door,

01:19:47has been made open to heaven.

01:19:50So just as Jesus said to Martha,

01:19:52grieving over her brother Lazarus,

01:19:54if you live and believe in me,

01:19:56you will never die.

01:19:57Oh,

01:19:58you'll be changed,

01:19:59yes,

01:19:59in a moment,

01:20:00in the twinkling of an eye.

01:20:01Death,

01:20:02is a metamorphosis.

01:20:04My spirit moves out of the old tent,

01:20:06into the new,

01:20:07a building of God,

01:20:08not made with hands,

01:20:10that is eternal in heaven.

01:20:12While living in this tent,

01:20:14I often groan earnestly,

01:20:15desiring to be free,

01:20:17not that I be unclothed,

01:20:18or an unembodied spirit,

01:20:20but that I want to be clothed,

01:20:21with a body which is coming from heaven.

01:20:25For I know that as long as I live in this body,

01:20:28I am absent from the Lord.

01:20:30But I would choose rather,

01:20:31to be absent in this body,

01:20:34and to be present with the Lord.

01:20:38Philippians 1,

01:20:3923 and 24,

01:20:40Paul says,

01:20:41I am in a street between two,

01:20:43having a desire to depart,

01:20:45and be with Christ,

01:20:46which is far better.

01:20:48Nevertheless,

01:20:48it is for now better,

01:20:50for your sakes,

01:20:51that I remain.

01:20:53And again,

01:20:54writing in 2 Corinthians 12,

01:20:56he says,

01:20:57There was a man in Christ about 14 years ago,

01:21:00whether in the body or out of the body,

01:21:02I don't know,

01:21:03but he was caught up to the third heaven.

01:21:05And there he heard things,

01:21:07and if I tried to describe them in human language,

01:21:09it would be a crime.

01:21:11So glorious were the things,

01:21:13that they defy description.

01:21:16This corruption,

01:21:181 Corinthians 15,

01:21:1953,

01:21:20must put on incorruption.

01:21:22This mortal must put on immortality.

01:21:25That's what death is to the child of God.

01:21:28The sting is gone.

01:21:301 Corinthians 15,

01:21:3155,

01:21:32Where death is your sting?

01:21:34O grave,

01:21:34where is your victory?

01:21:36Jesus has removed the sting of death,

01:21:38by taking away our sin.

01:21:40And so for the child of God,

01:21:42it is the glorious coronation day.

01:21:45This robe of flesh I will drop,

01:21:47and rise to receive the everlasting prize.

01:21:50What a glorious hope we have in Jesus.

01:21:54Now these of the Old Testament,

01:21:56theirs was a different case.

01:21:58They all died in faith,

01:21:59not having received the promise.

01:22:01For you see,

01:22:02God provided some better thing for us.

01:22:05They,

01:22:06without the finished work of Christ,

01:22:07could not enter into the kingdom of God.

01:22:10And it was only through that finished work,

01:22:12that the door opened,

01:22:13as he preached to the souls in prison,

01:22:15and led them home.

01:22:17But now ours,

01:22:18is the immediate victory.

01:22:20We enter directly into the glorious promise of God.

01:22:24And to be absent from this body,

01:22:26is to be continually present with the Lord.

01:22:31Let us pray.

01:22:33Thank you,

01:22:34Father,

01:22:35for all that you have done for us,

01:22:37for that goodness,

01:22:38for the blessings,

01:22:39for the richness that is ours,

01:22:40through your Son,

01:22:41Jesus Christ,

01:22:42for the promise,

01:22:43and for the hope.

01:22:45O Lord,

01:22:46O Lord,

01:22:46how excellent is your name in all the earth.

01:22:49How excellent are your works toward us,

01:22:52your children.

01:22:53O Lord,

01:22:54we thank you for the gift of faith,

01:22:56that you have given to each man a measure of faith.

01:22:59Lord,

01:23:00we pray that you will continue the work of your Spirit,

01:23:03within our hearts,

01:23:05as we yield ourselves to you,

01:23:07to walk in eternal fellowship with you,

01:23:09through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ,

01:23:11to live in that hope of eternal life,

01:23:14and through him.

01:23:16Looking forward to that day,

01:23:18when we shall be changed and fashioned,

01:23:20like unto his own glorious image,

01:23:23according to the mighty power of the Spirit of God,

01:23:25that even works in our lives today.

01:23:29Lord,

01:23:30we believe and we trust in you.

01:23:32We know that your word is sure.

01:23:35Through heaven and earth,

01:23:36we may pass away.

01:23:39Your word is something you will keep forever.

01:23:42Thank you, O Lord,

01:23:43for the unchanging promises

01:23:45on which our souls are truly anchored,

01:23:47through Jesus Christ,

01:23:49our Redeemer.

01:23:50Amen.

01:23:54Suppose your name will ever get listed

01:23:56in this hallmark of faith that God has.

01:24:00How I thank the Lord

01:24:01for the work of his Spirit,

01:24:03as he helps us in our weaknesses,

01:24:05that I do not rely on my faithlessness,

01:24:08my work,

01:24:09my ability,

01:24:10but upon his faithfulness,

01:24:13his work,

01:24:13for I know he is able.

01:24:16May the Lord be with you

01:24:18and strengthen you

01:24:19and bless you

01:24:20and keep you in all your ways

01:24:21as you walk in fellowship with him.

01:24:23May your life be enriched

01:24:25through the fullness of that mercy and grace

01:24:27that he has extended toward us

01:24:30through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

01:24:33May God bless you

01:24:34and give you a beautiful time.

01:24:37Strengthened by the Lord,

01:24:38may you abound in all things

01:24:40to Christ the glory

01:24:41and the praise and the honour

01:24:43of our God, our Saviour

01:24:45and our Lord

01:24:47in his precious and holy name.

01:24:49Amen.

01:24:55Let us pray.

01:24:57O God, the King of glory,

01:24:59who has exalted your only Son,

01:25:01Jesus Christ,

01:25:02with great triumph

01:25:03unto your kingdom in heaven,

01:25:06we beseech you,

01:25:08leave us not comfortless,

01:25:10but send to us

01:25:12your Holy Spirit

01:25:13to comfort us

01:25:14and exalt us

01:25:15to the same place

01:25:17whither our Saviour

01:25:18Jesus Christ

01:25:19is gone before,

01:25:21who lives and reigns with you

01:25:23and the Holy Spirit,

01:25:25one God,

01:25:25world without end.

01:25:27Amen.

01:25:33May the Lord bless us

01:25:34and keep us from all evil,

01:25:36bringing us to everlasting life.

01:25:41Amen.

01:26:15Amen.

01:26:37Amen.

01:26:37You

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