God Is Reliable (Part C)

Promises to Abraham are are alive to this very day as well. Multiplying I will multiply there all over the world kind of funny sometimes to see is a Jew speaking Chinese in China but they're all over the place, the testimony to that. So Abraham is given as the example of one who experienced God's faithfulness. We lay hold of God's promises and fight to keep them.

This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Hebrews. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now, here's Pastor Rick with his study called God is reliable in Hebrews chapter 6, you know, David Livingstone, that great man of God that went through Africa with the gospel and succeeded in doing so, so many of those Africans love that man is a man died on his knees in prayer, they found him dead on his knees is talking to God and then he's talking the cod you know his favorite verse that shows up in his journals whenever he meets with something that is huge and meet Rick Wright sings about a slip of the tree that night because the Lions when stuff comes. His favorite versus low. I am with you always. Very simple promise from God will get back to that is remove the promises, but Matthew chapter 4. This is some sticky stuff that messes up our approach to Christianity. G this is Jesus in the wilderness Satan. These are the words of Satan, the voice of the devil. If you are the son of God doubt he starts out with doubt command these stones to become bread. Then Matthew 46. If you are the son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, he shall give his angels charge over you, and in their hands they shall bear you up. SU – your foot against a stone. He name may not of been using that tone with that was in there. Matthew 2740 you will destroy the temple and build it in three days. This is that the Pharisees merges the murders of Christ while he's hanging on the cross is what they're saying them, save yourself. If you are the son of God, come down from the cross. What is all that have to do with me.

Just this Satan's tactics are not new because the old ones work just fine and he comes to us and he says God is God and he'll deal with this for you will take this pain away to give you what you want, expect a miracle is not accurate is not the whole story. That's not the whole word of God.

If it were Saul would not have gone to the axman for Christ. Peter would not have been martyred for Christ. Jesus told him Peter when you get older going to take you and you go to stretch out your arms and that's going to be it for you for my namesake. So all these verses Satan is saying to the individual. Make sure you prove God make sure he does it your way. If you're on the cross get him to get you off the cross. If you're hungry get him to make bread for you. If you're falling get him to insulate you see that's only some of the truth. That's what Elias some of the truth has to have an element of truth in it to work. Fact is we serve Christ unconditionally. Once we've met him and nobody else deserves that.

But him. That's what makes him worthy unconditional because he will never do wrong.

The devil will stir us to demand God repeatedly prove himself to us over and over and over again. If you are the son of God and get me off this cross. Jesus said, take up your cross I put you there. So may it be lined up with Scripture, and he says these things verse 10. Now we have gotten to the second verse for God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward his name and that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister is always says God is fair even though it's called you to be sheep among wolves. Which of the services and seem favorite in the spiritual world is very fair is this God calls you to function in an unfair life. That's where the contest is that's the arena that's where the fight is to become is a test of loyalties of who we will serve in this life.

Hebrews 11 six. For he who comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. This, by faith you have enough information. Faith is never a jump in the dark. It is a leap in the light, you have enough light enough information to make a move on it and say to been doing it since there've been saints. Do you ever feel that you put more into your Christian service, especially those of user and you get back. I do all I have. I don't think I'm right when I feel that way a normal I know how to handle that have to work through it in my head. On one hand but all the time you see the difference is I will say to God, I haven't gotten this, that and that and I put this in and I've done that the Lord understand. I know because you've taught me these are my feelings, but here is my faith, whatever you want here I am when I wake up tomorrow.

May you find me that man that says whatever you want here I am a Christian perspective, there is nothing wrong with that. First John 314 we know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren.

He who does not love his brother abides in death. The airport love is love is pretty important in Christianity. That's a scary verse.

If you been harboring loveless in this towards the brethren. Christians can be the most difficult to love one reason.

In all fairness is because we expect more from each other. Maybe sometimes less from ourselves. In this sense, we expect others to forgive us, but do we forgive them we really forgive them and cut deep.

It's not as easy as 1-2-3, but it is doable.

Nonetheless, all we ask God to help us believe.

The thing that we claim to believe and help us to believe nothing but the truth. Verse 11 and we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope here comes until the end since that endurance. This is not high rhetoric is no good talking, and I'd all but is not reality, it is reality there's no other way but to finish it except try to hundred times. Well you got hundred more times, maybe to try. That's what separates you from the unbeliever the unbeliever is not trying to please Christ. The unbeliever is not trying to take hits for Christ, the unbeliever, not trying to love people for Christ sake we are that you fail secondary that you go at it as primary. Satan knows that's wise trying to knock you out of the race get you to start living in a fantasy world about your faith make you comfortable with things that aren't true. You know what happens when Christians become comfortable with things are true, they turn off unbeliever, he can't save them now because they know it's a lie is that preaching things that just the world knows is not true and you want people to come to Christ. I have found when you given the truth nothing but the truth so help you God. They listen, they might not like you. That's not for you as you just being unlikable, but you will find people come to come to Christ that way people can come to Christ without us. But how much better that were part of the process. How much better when people come into the church and they find genuine people, and not a bunch of fake calls not a bunch of people just smile in your face because it's expected of them with people who are smiling because they serve the Lord. They know what they're supposed to do. They understand the benefit of it. They know what they like to receive and they know that it is in fact do unto others as you would have them do unto you presents Jesus Christ. First Corinthians 9 do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize run in such a way that you may obtain it means run hard that Greek word for diligence there meets haste or effort or diligence or work, or eagerness all those things are, and that one Greek word diligence, he says, until the end. What if I get tired take a little break out of any of you ever been on a forced march or may just a hard job have a hard job you get a break. You want to break to not end you don't want to go back to work. You don't want to go back to the to the March list again how life is work hard serve right the blessed hope to the end. Verse 12 that you do not become sluggish but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. So there is a gold there is a goal and there is a finish line reward.

It happens.

Galatians 69. Let us not grow weary while doing good pause there.

I have gotten weary while doing good, but I see it happening and I don't agree with, and I find it before Jesus Christ. I didn't do that if I got tired of something I stop doing but not now.

Now I know my duty. I know where I belong and I go do it.

Sometimes I don't do it as well as other times you all of never seen that you just see a perfect sermon every single Sunday.

Never misspeak a word never get a Scripture verse wrong never confuse Moses for know something like that. I can't tell you, you know what a little mistake in the pulpit last all week. Just a just asunder the adult study. If you read days ago I guy got a little twisted. I shouldn't tell you that wasn't a big point but that was part of my conversation driving home with the Lord is your fault. I break right back to reality. Galatians 6 is not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart. There is the key. Don't lose heart.

Verse 13 we made it to the And were not even rushing for when God made a promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no one greater. He swore by himself. Verse 14. Saying, surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you he is quoting Genesis 2215 to 17, especially verse 17 is talking about God's promises. He saying we have better things that belong to our salvation.

We got these promises. In this precedents. There is evidence that these promises were fulfilled and they were fulfilled, Abraham they were fulfilled there be no Jews promises to Abraham are alive to this very day in Israel multiplying I will multiply there all over the world. Kind of funny sometimes to see is a Jew speaking Chinese in China but they're all over the place, the testimony to that. So Abraham is given as the example of one who experienced God's faithfulness.

We lay hold of God's promises and fight to keep them so the swear here though as you should say where God's ward is not to be taken in the sense that we do is see when humans make interest.

Christians were not to swear was supposed to say yes or no.

But when humans use the word swear they mean super yes there's a yes and there's a super group or yes and that is not what's being met here when God swears he's saying I'm making it law. This is not revocable.

And so there it's emphatic. It's we don't want to say condescending because that has carries the thought of Vince insulting you know your your your your lower than me and we are but God doesn't treat us that way.

So we use another word anthropomorphic is God coming in to us approaching us in human terms in terms will get it will understand this. So it worked and you were to say to Abraham who promised you these things, God oh, the unbeliever will get this, the unbeliever cannot. You cannot just throw down the word God in Jesus Christ and expect them to go all okay. We believe we know what's in back of all that our work. Part of it is helping the world with their wrong definitions that wrong definitions about Jesus Christ about God. Most of them some of them have the right, just definition to just flat out rejected and was nothing to do with them, but others have allowed Satan to write their dictionaries for them and we have to come along hopefully and turn the lights on and show them the flaws in that sort of thinking, but verse 15. So after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise patiently endured.

Let's talk about that patiently endured, it would be 25 years before that promise was answered before Isaac came along after God gave him this promise be 25 more years and then God was say bring them to the altar present him a burnt offering for me. It would be 15 years after this that Abraham would die. It would be 60 years before his first grandchild was born God's word came out true. In spite of all of the world waiting. Let me tell you, Satan tells me as a pastor when you and Bill at church, no one having started construction not finish didn't count the cost.

While we haven't really started one number two God then comes along and says what you lack that the building is going to give you what is my list. I have all I need to pastor, there is strength in just letting God do it, even as the years tick by is not mine.

This church are his people this pulpit. I miss person as best I can be.

So we wait.

Now I don't want that one.

For one moment make that sound like it hasn't been painful. It is pain painful to the senses of reason is painful to want to desire, but there's something superior within us that overrules all of that and puts it in its place, sometimes daily, sometimes not. But I can say that everything in this place that we have is God given through God's people every single thing in there is joy in that and satisfaction. But then he comes, the devil doesn't that make you better than the ones that don't do it that way yes no it doesn't, because not that would ruin everything but the joy is and I don't I plow my field, not players. They plow their fields and not mine and we can keep it that way in our private lives. We are stronger when we start coveting we start judging we start analyzing everybody else drift into trouble.

Okay another sermon coming up here. Let's move on. Verse 16. For men indeed swear by the greater and an oath of confirmation is for them and end of all dispute well when you make a promises by someone higher and better. Elsa demeaned and when.

In those days, and in that culture mutants you know it Richmond with swear by his slave there that would be you know throw the whole thing out of line, but when you made an oath and the oath was taken by the one that you were making it to as serious and valid. That was enough were supposed to have that response with God.

When God says something we're supposed to condition ourselves to say that how it's going to be our God has a way of speaking to us. Of course, through his word, but also taking something out of his word and applying it right to our lives is saying to us this this job is for you. I've open these doors. For example, and this is where I'm going to put you and then we get a lot of courage. Oftentimes, yes, that is what the Lord has done were very grateful for a job and then the trouble comes they hire somebody that we really don't like and we have to default back to that promise God put me here not to run away from the circumstance. The people I don't like what he put me and to talk with him through these problems.

These things belong to our faith. Verse 17 thus God determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise that the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath, the immutability means change looseness. God does not change Archaea change my mind. That's what that word means any saying God does not change. That's why Livingston again had that promise is so important to him.

I am with you always.

I will never leave you nor forsake you. He knew the one who made the promise was worth trusting, and it showed in his life that does not mean he did not suffer in life. Verse 18. That by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us to unchangeable things is counsel which is his will communicated through his word. It does not fade and the other one is he doesn't lie those two unchangeable things should encourage us.

So bottom line promise is only as good as the character of the person who makes if a dirty rotten no good liar makes a promise is useless and yet God makes a promise is invaluable.

Second Corinthians 4. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed, perplexed, but not in despair persecuted, but not forsaken struck down not destroyed a man since someone whose within the eyes of Jesus Christ. See yeah the we would on the apostle Paul. You think I get out of these things that I would be excused by the opposite. He suffered a suffered faithfully and elected as an example is the writer has told us that we are to watch those who have their faith to follow those guidelines.

He says in verse 18, in which it is impossible for God to lie, as fact we might have strong consolation there's force behind that who have fled for refuge now and where new Christians we are eager to embrace these things. But as the years go by. We just taken of his who might not be so ready to embrace them. We need to work on that and be as eager as we was in the early days just wiser where he says have fled for refugees talking about the city of refuge for the Jews, you accidentally kill someone, you could run to the city of refuge and the family could not inflict revenge on you.

You'd be safe in that city.

You stay in that city of found innocent until the high priest died. Here's the lesson behind that. Who is our high priest, Jesus Christ.

He has died. What is happened that with his death. Our guilt is been taken away.

We three and this is where where is going is as we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge in Christ to lay hold of the hope set before us strenuous action to lay hold of something we have to lay hold of the kingdom of God with both hands. Verse 19 this hope we have as an anchor of the soul will sure and steadfast, which enters the presence behind the veil, the hope of God's faithfulness life life is the sea sold your soul, my soul. That's the ship on the sea of life. The anchors open Christ embracing what you said, believing him no matter what understanding this life is not all there is understanding that if I to die on the cross is more that's not the end of me is not a wasted life is no wasted life and we do for Christ's sake anchors fight the drift. They hold the ship with the captain wanted held who is the captain of our salvation according to Hebrews 210 is Jesus Christ is called the captain of our salvation were translated as Capt. wants to hold us in holiness, not flowing with the latest fad cultural opinion that is so often misguided, even idiotic as we see today, hope for us is more than a wish to reality that's going to be may not come again as smoothly as we want, but it's going to be 100 years from now where will you be what is going to happen to you.

What's life going to be like for you hundred years from now.

For the Christian that hope is settled for the world they just make it up. I'm going to be walking through the poppy field service poppy field. Verse 20 where the forerunner has entered for us. Even Jesus, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek forerunner is the one who arrives first. The followers arrive second.

That is Christ, the firstfruits of the resurrection. First Samuel chapter 2 God speaking says then I will raise up for myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in my heart and my mind I will build him a sure house, he shall walk before my anointed forever.

God's high priest, higher than any of the priests in the Old Testament we know what God's will is for us, plus lots of love to bring us into that heaven that will never fade. Never go away. The rich and joyful forever move you've been listening to cross reference radio the daily radio ministry of Pastor Rick asked Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia.

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