0:00 Hebrews chapter 5 verse um verse 8. We can start with 8. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. And uh Hebrews chapter 6:12, 0:23 so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. And verse 19, this hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and 0:41 steadfast, and one which enters within the veil. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for gathering us again today. Thank you, Father, for this body of Christ into which you have integrated all of us as redeemed and washed in your 1:00 blood. And as we come together, we look up to you, Lord, that you would speak to us the message that you have for us. I'm just your messenger, Lord, but the message is from you. I pray that you'd strengthen me and guide me and 1:16 help me as I want to speak the words you have placed in my heart. I pray that you'd make me forget things that you don't want me to speak and help me to say the exact words you want me to say. I may the words that are coming from you 1:31 strengthen, help and encourage, edify, build the body of Christ. I pray father because you know the needs of all of us that you would minister to each one of us from the word you give us. Your word gives life lord send forth your word and 1:47 heal us. Bless us with your presence today in Jesus name I pray. Amen. Okay. Um before I share the message um I have a uh I just wanted to ask few facts of the 2:05 Bible especially uh for the children and so let's go uh just just few facts I know we study the Bible as a God's word but it's also good to know some of the facts of the Bible right how the Bible came into existence why we read the 2:22 Bible why this book is so special of all the books that we read. Um, so let me ask few questions. Maybe children can answer. So how many books are there in the Bible? Children, anybody? 2:39 66. That's right. How many authors, distinct authors? I know writer of Hebrews we don't know but approximately how many authors the physical authors the human beings who wrote the Bible [laughter] there are only 66 books so it must be 2:58 less than 66 anybody children how many of yeah >> 20 no okay adults >> 40 yes you're right 40 and approximately 3:16 how many years it took for like for all the books to be completed like timeline wise how many years it took how many hundreds of years I should say was that 50 years like I'm including the Old 3:34 Testament from Moses all the way to Revelation 1600 >> 1600 Close. Yeah. And how many languages it is written the original text? I mean 3:53 >> three. Yeah. Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. Okay. So these are the facts. Yeah. I think most of you got the right. Got it right. 40 distinct authors and 66 books. It took 1500 years for this book to be written in three different languages. 4:11 The people who wrote the Bible lived in three different continents and um yeah obviously they were not sitting together in a room and writing and talking to each other. They were disconnected from one another. Many of them lived in 4:25 different timelines. Uh but and they wrote the book. But the beauty of this book is you see one single thread going through all the books of the Bible. the God's redemptive story, God's love towards the human beings and how he how 4:42 everything came into existence, the Messiah, his coming is his sacrifice, all of that and what is going to happen in the future, all the prophecies, everything. So, they were not uh they were not sitting together, but they were all in different places, 5:00 different time zones. But this is the verse I I hope all of us are familiar with this verse. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us who is the ultimate author of the book. Right? I hope all of us memorize this verse. All scripture is inspired by God. 5:18 Is given by the inspiration of God. So the Holy Spirit is ultimate author of the book. Holy Spirit moved the people who lived uh in different times but the message is the same because the ultimate author is the Holy Spirit and the books 5:35 of the Bible went through a process of called canonization and they were tested before they were included in the Bible. That's why this book is so precious. God has preserved this book for us to read and why we fall in love because this is 5:50 time- tested. Many people's life has been lives have been changed by the words in this scripture because they are divinely inspired. So you this picture I just created to just get an idea. So God is the ultimate author and you see 6:07 starting from Moses, you know, all the way King David and all the way to uh writers of the gospels and John wrote the book of revelation at the end in the island of Patmos and the Holy Spirit inspired all of them as we see in 2 6:25 Timothy 3:16. Um but the story is the same and they are not uh even though they were not in close connection because they were in touch with the Holy Spirit they were uh inspired by God the message is very well connected and 6:40 that's why we can see if you want to study the Bible you see one verse you see all the related words here and there and you get an idea of what's God's heart is all about and not only that there's one more slide I want to show um 6:54 you see the occupations of all this uh authors they're not like all kings they're not all uh maybe uh tax collectors there are people from different backgrounds right you see what uh there are kings there are people who 7:11 worked in the government like Matthew for example tax collectors there people who worked in the uh in the the king's court like Neahhemiah we saw before right Daniel was there and Amos you know what was the occupation of Amos, prophet 7:27 Amos was a shepherd, right? And people coming from all sorts of uh backgrounds, priests, Ezra, right? And musicians and people like David is a king and also a musician and writer of Hebrews we don't even know. And this is how different 7:44 backgrounds God used all of them to write his story for us. So the entire Bible uh it's not written by certain sect of people, people coming from different backgrounds, different uh uh occupations, different levels of education, everything. So but because 8:02 the author is God himself, the message is so powerful. Okay. But today uh among all the books of the Bible, 66 books we just saw, one book stands out to me that is the book of Hebrews. Why Hebrews? Now if you follow through the through the 8:20 Bible from brother Zach also if you see uh there are a lot of books where he spent one hour but for the book of Hebrews he spent four hours there's definitely this is one of my favorite book one of the uh distinct features of 8:33 the book of Hebrews is we don't know the writer for sure who that is but uh many of many people say it's Paul but this is one book where uh the writer of Hebrews brings the divinity of Christ and the humanity of Christ in the right 8:50 perspective. Um first it talks about in in the first chapter itself uh he talks about Jesus in if you open your Bible chapter 1 verse two in the last days he has spoken to us in his son he appointed 9:07 head of all things through him he made the world he's referring Jesus Christ as the creator of the world he is the radiance of his glory exact representation of his nature he uph holds all things by the word of his power 9:24 when he has made the purification of sins. He's like talking about Jesus glory. The ra he's he is the radiance of his glory exact representation of the nature of God. He upholds all things. So and there are many other verses like 9:39 that where we see the divinity of Christ. Christ as God. But it doesn't stop there. This is the book that will give us lot of glimpses about the humanity of Christ. The truth that Jesus came in the flesh uh the most 9:58 transformative truth if you read the new covenant truths Jesus coming in the flesh uh makes so much difference. It's not like Jesus lived on this earth like God. He lived he came in the flesh like you and me. And there are so many verses 10:14 and some of them we're going to see today uh the uh the the humanity of Jesus. But the writer of Hebrews, you know, he starts with that divinity and then he explains to us the human human side of Jesus Christ. And um for most 10:31 part of our message today, we'll be spending uh in chapter 5 and chapter 6. Few verses from chapter 5 and few verses from chapter 6. Here and there we'll be referring few more verses but uh we want to start with that. So first part of the 10:47 message I want to focus on this one this subject the sufferings of Christ. Um when it comes to the sufferings of Christ I know this is a season the Easter season the good Friday season many I was a Catholic once and this week 11:01 was called holy week I think I went to church so many times when in my college my friends were like confused why are you going to church on Thursday, Friday, Saturday night and Sunday. Yeah this is a special week. Um but growing up when I 11:16 see the sufferings of Christ I al I was always thinking about the cross rightfully and my focus was on the physical sufferings of Jesus physically how much he went through the pain the suffering on the cross for me and when 11:31 we got married I think uh in back in 2004 we got married in 2003 but the movie Passion of Christ came in 2004 I remember going to that movie and crying And we wanted to do one more time. We went there again. We saw the sufferings 11:47 that I mean depicted in the movie caused so much pain. My lord has to go through so much of physical suffering. That's where I started. But then God opened my eyes. It's not just the physical suffering as Josh was explaining. It's 11:59 being forsaken by father. My my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? And because the the gravity, the punishment, the wrath of God was poured out on Jesus when he was suffering on the cross. That's why he went through that agony. 12:15 And if you want to read more, Psalm 20, Psalm 22 is the best psalm to read to understand what Jesus went through that exactly. That's one level. Then God opened my eyes through the new covenant teachings about the sufferings of Jesus 12:30 Christ throughout his life. That is we have to we need to have the revelation from the Holy Spirit to understand what he went throughout his life not just on the cross from the moment he was born uh so he lived 33 and a half years as we 12:45 know so what are the things some of the things that we are going to see here uh in these verses that the writer of Hebrews is giving us a glimpse so the very first uh verse we can read from chapter 5:7 um I put couple of verses in the slide 13:02 But I think it's it's good if you can open your Bibles. In the days of his flesh, he offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the one who is able to save him from the death. And he was heard because of his piety. 13:21 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from the things which he suffered. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from the things which he suffered. We heard so much about obedience today. Even the memory verse 13:37 Anish beautifully explained about the simple obedience even in the songs and um we heard about that. So even though he was a son, he was not exempt from the suffering but he learned obedience. Why did he have to learn? Because he was God before he came, he 13:56 took the form of flesh. Obedience is something foreign to him. He learned obedience through the things he suffered. And God has ordained sufferings in his life so that he will go through that sufferings. One day he will be an example for us. He will be a 14:13 forerunner for us. Without Christ going through the sufferings that he went through, he cannot be my example. That's why in the days of this flesh he offered, he prayed and cried out prayers and supplications with loud crying. He 14:28 was subjected to all the temptations, all the sufferings that we normally go through in our own lives. And uh what was the purpose purpose of his sufferings? And we see that in verse 9. And having been made perfect, he became 14:46 to all those who obey him the source of eternal salvation for all of us. Now we want to obey him. He has become the source of eternal salvation. He was made perfect. He was tested. How can you know a certain product is perfect? 15:05 He it has to be tested. It has to go through this process of testing to prove that it is perfect. And Christ himself had to go through that for you and for me to prove that he is perfect. He was made perfect. He was he became so that 15:21 he became the source of eternal salvation. What are the some of the things he suffered? Like what are the some of the things we suffer? We suffer we go through sicknesses. We go through betrayal. We go through agony. We go 15:34 through grief. Many of our family uh church family members who are going through grief because some of their family members have departed, have passed away. Um we have unbelieving family members. We are being crying out 15:49 day and night on their behalf. Jesus had them. Jesus went through poverty. Uh many of us go through financial difficulties. Jesus went through poverty. He was our only sole bread winner. He was misunderstood. He was misunderstood by his own family members 16:06 uh many people many religious people. He became the target of religious people their jealousy and he was lonely. There was one time he went to Mount of Olives all by himself. Nobody invited him and um you know above all there are a lot of 16:21 times he was called out by names. He was a bilob um he was um gluttonous man, a drunkard. Um he was a deceiver. Um not only that sometimes I think Pharisees they say we are not born uh of uh we are not born of fornication or we are not 16:41 illegitimate pointing to the rumors that was spread out in Nazareth when Mary was pregnant even before she got married. Lot of things he was called and we could relate and he could relate to us. That's why we can never say to Jesus, Lord, you 16:57 don't know what I'm going through right now. Because he in the same book of Hebrews, multiple times, uh, chapter 2 and chapter 4, it says that he himself was tempted in which he suffered. He has suffered. He is able to come to the aid 17:13 of those who are tempted. And there's another place in chapter 4 uh we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses but in all points in all points tempted just as we are yet without sin. He has been tempted in all 17:32 things. He was subjected to the gravity of sin. He was subjected to all these uh things that I just read about. And it is not a complete or comprehensive list. As we go through the gospels, as we go through these books, we get a glimpse. 17:46 The Holy Spirit has to open our eyes to see the sufferings of Christ. And he learned obedience through the things he suffered. Because of that, in verse 10, he was designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melkisedc. 18:04 Melisedc is a uh is a uh is a kind of high priest uh not in the order of uh Levites but he Jesus beca Jesus became a high priest in the order of Melkisedc. He is a mysterious figure. He comes his name is his name appears in Genesis and 18:24 Jesus Christ was ordained as the high priest in the order of Melkisedc. And this is the interesting thing later on in the verse uh the writer of Hebrews says concerning Jesus. We have much to say. We have much to say 18:41 but it is hard to explain since you have come dull since you have become dull of hearing. It's a sad verse. If you want to see the writer of Hebrews wants to say we have lot more things we want to say about Jesus. how he suffered, how he 18:56 went through, how he became the source of eternal salvation. But it is hard to explain because he became dull of hearing. Um [clears throat] so uh that that's a that's a challenge he was facing. You know, this is a problem when I prepare slides, I move on 19:14 with my message, but I don't move the slides. And um so this one was this is the one that I wanted to show when I was explaining the sufferings of Christ throughout his life how he became the forerunner. Um he was despised and 19:28 forsaken even you can read in Isaiah chapter 53. Uh he was also called a man of sorrows right he went through all the afflictions. So that's why we can he can relate to us when we go through sufferings we can go to him confidently 19:43 because he was tested before us. So throughout his life, throughout many phases of his life, you know, his co closest, he betrayed him, right? You know, he's like he's one of the disciples. So he went through the betrayal um of trust. It's very painful. 20:00 I I went through and even uh recent very recently also when you trust someone with money uh okay investors somewhere, oh they are Christians, they'll take care of my money properly. that you know they betrayed and you know we we go 20:14 through a lot of things we trust in leaders in the church when they fall into sin it's a betrayal of trust we go through that and in this case Judas his old closest coworker betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver so he can relate to us 20:28 he knows when what we go through um so the writer of Hebrews as he as he explains to this uh before we go there I think I also want to say what was what was uh the response from Paul and Peter when they meditated on the sufferings of 20:46 Christ. Um particularly Paul we see that in uh Philippians 3:10 uh that I may know Christ the power of his resurrection. I think today's Easter Sunday the world is celebrating everyone talks about resurrection. Everyone say I want to 21:02 know the power of resurrection. But he did not stop there. I want to know the fellowship of his sufferings. The apostle Paul had a longing to partake in the in the fellowship of his sufferings, Christ's sufferings. And um 21:16 this is also an interesting verse uh difficult to understand but it is there in the Bible. Colossians 1:4 Colossians 1:4 uh please open. [clears throat] It says 21:35 uh now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of his body which is the church in filling up what is lacking in 21:53 Christ's afflictions. So it's Paul is telling that I do my share on behalf of his body the church which is the church in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions. We saw Christ's afflictions and sufferings but 22:09 there's something lacking which is it's almost like um there's something that we need to fill in and the body of Christ Jesus Christ in his physical body went through the sufferings when he lived uh on on this earth but now as a body of 22:24 Christ with the Holy Spirit within us we go through the sufferings and we we fulfill what is lacking and Paul did his part and we do our part in lacking what in fulfilling what is lacking in Christ afflictions. If you don't understand the 22:38 words, go and pray and ask God to reveal what it what it means. But I see there is a part we need to play in taking part in Christ's afflictions. And just like uh Paul's uh prayer, fellowship of his sufferings. And not only that, through 22:53 the sufferings, God doesn't stop there. He also comforts us. Uh it's in 2 Corinthians chapter 1 uh verse 5. 2 Corinthians chapter 1:5. For just as the suffering of sufferings 23:09 of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. Again, he is mentioning our sufferings as sufferings of Christ. So as the sufferings of Christ are in abundance, so also is our comfort. So God doesn't 23:27 leave us just in through the suffering. He also comforts us. He gives us sufferings through one side, he also comforts us. And this comfort is not only for us. So that in the future when we go through the sufferings what with 23:40 whatever comfort we get we comfort others. Unless I go through certain suffering I will never be able to comfort those who go through similar sufferings um uh in the future. That's what we see in the next verse. So along 23:54 with the sufferings God gives us the comfort. And Romans 8:18 talks about the eternity perspective compared to the glory that should be revealed. Um it is nothing. Romans 8:18 if you want to read uh it's a great if you bring the 24:12 perspective of eternity you know the kind of suffering that we go through Lord compared to eternity this is a small blip in the timing but I will go through. So uh in Romans 8:18 he says for I consider that the sufferings of 24:29 this present time are not worthy to be compared to with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Compared with the glory the sufferings are not comparable. It is like they are not worthy to be compared. So when we bring the eternity into 24:45 perspective, our afflictions, we get encouragement and um and in um first Peter I think if we want to understand about the context of suffering, Peter writes about sufferings in first Peter. First Peter the theme is 25:04 all suffering. I want to highlight few verses um so that we understand. The first one is um in 1 Peter chapter 2 verse 21. 1 Peter chapter 2 21. For you have been called for this 25:22 purpose since Christ also suffered for you leaving you as an example for you to follow in his footsteps. Um he suffered for us so that he will be an example. Then the other verse is I want to show 25:39 you is 1 Peter 4:12. [snorts] 1 Peter 4:12. Beloved, do not be surprised that at the fiery audial among you which comes upon you for your testing as though some strange thing were happening to you. But 25:58 to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing so that also the revelation of his glory, you may rejoice with exaltation. So when we go through the suffering, let us remember that is not something 26:13 strange that is happening. And there's another place Bible says it is for this afflictions we are appointed onto. It's not only for the blessings in Christ, we also partake in his sufferings. That's what we are destined. Um so don't be 26:29 disturbed, don't be surprised when we go through the sufferings because God has appointed them for us and uh not only that it is not something unique that is happening to me. The believers across the world are going through similar 26:42 Christ went through, Paul went through, the believers who are living right now are also going through and I'm also going through. Uh Josh explained about the prayer requests, right? Some people are at gunpoint. Sometimes you deny your 26:54 faith um and save otherwise you'll be killed. Some people are going through afflictions of that level or some people are going through loss of job, loss of health and many other relationship issues. So it's not just something oh I 27:10 go through this I am the only one who is going through. No my dear brothers and sisters. So it's not something strange that is happening to you but to the degree to the extent God has allowed you to go through the sufferings keep on 27:23 rejoicing. This is the encouragement Peter is giving so that at the revelation of his glory you may rejoice with exaltation. It's a amazing how um Bible puts sufferings and the joy sufferings and rejoicing together. I don't think any other religion will do 27:39 that. suffering is not is not just pain but in the midst of the pain we have Christ's comfort Christ's presence I was thinking about this and as I was talking to my wife yesterday if God gives us two choices you want a life where you don't 27:54 have any suffering nothing a just like a smooth sail or you want a life where you are going through rough times rough weather storm but Jesus is with you all the time which one do you choose which one do you choose Do you want fellowship of his suffering 28:11 so that you know what he went through? So that I can lean on him, depend on him so that I know him more and more or a life of complete rest where there are no trials, easy life, uh everything is smooth. I tell you Christians, as a 28:24 Christian, I made more progress in my spiritual life in the times of adversity, not in the times of prosperity. The temptation to backslide is more in the times of prosperity. So God knows for all his children. That's why he has ordained the sufferings and 28:40 through the sufferings he also gives us the comfort and uh first Peter also talks about this trusting of our faith is like a is like purification of our faith it will be become like a pure gold pure gold for Jesus so this there are a 28:56 lot of things that we can partake in suffering so look at Christ suffering look at what Paul went through look at all these things and we get an encouragement and uh the writer of Hebrews again let's go back to Hebrews chapter 5 the writer of Hebrews wants to 29:13 talk more about uh Christ suffering uh but the thing is he says uh verse 12 for though by this time you ought to be teachers you need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God and you have come to need milk 29:33 and not solid food by this time you should have grown grown but you are still satisfied with the milk. Babies start with milk. Um we have Juliana right Angus in our church right now having drinking milk. That's very normal for the infants uh to drink milk. 29:51 Uh I had three children they all start with that but there will be a time when they will say okay they're ready for solid foods. I think it is five 6 months. I remember with our f for the first born my wife was so excited when 30:04 the doctor gave permission now we can feed solid food yes my baby is ready it's not just milk milk they it's like a bootstrapping your body u builds in the initial milk and once the digestive system is ready we need to have solid 30:18 food but look at this picture what do you think is there something wrong here something wrong we could be like this if we are satisfied I have repented of my sins I have u you know I'm born again now I got baptized and I stay there stay there 30:34 not making any progress I'm satisfied with milk I'm satisfied with milk so it says again verse 13 for everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness for he is 30:51 an infant for he's an infant so we keep drinking milk we are not accustomed to the word of righteousness is for is an infant. It's okay for infants when they start they drink milk but we cannot stay there like that even compared to that 31:06 with an education if my child is not progressing in education 10 years later is still dad I am so good at dude look at me I can say all the ABCs I can count 1 to 10 and 10 years later it's still the same as a parent I'll be very sad 31:22 and same my heavenly father wants me to progress go beyond the milk go to the solid food the solid food is understand what Christ went through in this flesh understand he was suffer he suffered like you and me he went through all the 31:39 temptations like you and me so he will be my example I don't have to give any reason Lord this is too much for me you allowed me to go through this he went through me before so he became my forerunner I can go to him he's not a 31:51 high priest who cannot sympathize he will sympathize because he was tested and tried and the writer of Hebrews is saying I want to say so many things but you are you became dull of hearing. I pray that in us in CFC we won't become 32:04 dull of hearing. We want solid food. Father give I'm not satisfied with the milk. Give me solid food. I hope we'll get the solid meat because this is what this is the feast we need to be feeding on. But solid food is for the mature who 32:20 because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Are we practicing our senses to train to discern good and evil? These are good and evil like simple steps of obedience. When God is telling us to do something, 32:38 are we taking the steps of obedience? Are we training? Lord, teach me your ways. I want to discern what is good and evil. This looks very like a gray area. I want to understand your word. What is your word telling me? Give me food. Give 32:52 me mana daily. Whatever you have given to me yesterday is not sufficient. I want today give me solid food. I'm not satisfied with milk. Not the elementary teachings. That's why in 61 I think the chapter divisions uh we we don't have to 33:07 worry. So we are now going going to chapter 6 verse1. It says therefore leaving the elementary teaching about Christ. Let us press on to maturity not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith towards God. Repentance from good dead 33:27 works. There was once upon a time I was listening to the basic Christian teachings and one of the subject was about dead works. When I heard the dead works, I felt like these are not teachings of uh elementary teachings. 33:40 This is like solid. It's like a PhD level teaching. I felt because of the content. I spoke to brother Zach. It's like you're saying you included that in elementary teachings, brother. He said, "Yeah, this is the worst. Look, 33:52 [laughter] the repentance from the dead works are like elementary teaching, right? Now, we need to move from the elementary teaching after we destress on to maturity. We are not going to stop. Our goal is to become Christlike 34:07 and we keep press pressing on to maturity. Compared to last year, compared to the year before, we need to keep making progress to the mountaintop which is being Christlike, being conformed to the image. Uh may this be our moto. May this word challenge us to 34:21 press on and not to be satisfied with milk but to eat solid food and move on and uh seek for the understanding of what Christ went through in this life so that we can partake in his sufferings. [clears throat] The next one um we are moving on. I 34:39 think there are few verses about later on about apostasy sin of apostasy people falling fallen away. I don't want to spend time I don't think it is applicable here I hope and um so I want to move on to the other verses in 34:52 chapter 6 uh verses 9 onwards um there we it talks about [clears throat] Abraham's faith um so let's read from verse 10 chapter 6 verse 10 35:12 for God is not just as to forget get your work and the love which have you have shown towards his name in having ministered and is still ministering to the saints. He's talking about like uh after he talks about this sin of 35:28 apostasy saying we are convinced of better things we are convinced of better things concerning you and the things that accompany salvation. One of the things um God has once God begins a good work is our love uh towards his name and 35:42 what we do the ministering to the saints. What we do here in the church is also ministering to one another. Not just singing, not just sharing the verses or even sharing a message like this. Even our one-on-one conversations, 35:54 we are ministering to one another. Ministering to the saints. And God is not unjust to forget your work and your love towards the saints. And [clears throat] uh the next verse it says and we desire that each one of you show the same 36:11 diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end. So whatever you are doing ministering and uh to the saints and with the same religions continue until the end. It's not just the beginning the end is also 36:29 important. Continue until the end. Show the same faith. And this is the actual the my focus on the word uh of this message uh second part of this message is on the verse 12. [snorts] And so that you will not be sluggish 36:45 but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Who through faith and patience inherit the promise promises. So [clears throat] uh and he takes the example of Abraham. 37:03 Abraham became the father of the faith right and Abraham was given a promise about that he will have a child when he was 75 and he was he had the child when he was 100. So there is a 25 years of waiting and he had faith. He had faith 37:22 but he also needed patience. So one of the outcome of sufferings when we the subject of sufferings we go through um in James it says um one of the things that God perfects in us is patience through the sufferings in our lives he 37:37 works and he makes us more patient and he wants to become more patient in I think if you read in James chapter 1 verse two consider it all my joy my brethren you encounter various trials knowing the testing of your faith Faith 37:55 produces endurance or patience. So we have patience and we have faith. We need to both faith and patience are needed in order to obtain the promise. Why? I mean the writer of Hebrews is taking the example from Abraham. Abraham 38:12 was given the promise but the promise was not fulfilled when he was 76. Okay. Promise was at 75. Now you have a child at 76. No, it happened when it he was 100 100 years old. So [clears throat] 38:28 and um so this was this this picture I hope uh makes us understand the journey for him was not easy. So he through the faith and patience he inherited the promise but numerous times I believe he would have been tested with the 38:47 discouragement or self-pity or any other uh negative thoughts okay God gave me the promise but what about this it's happening okay maybe next year maybe next year maybe next year 80 years pass 90 years pass nothing happens he still 39:05 remembers her promise yeah nothing has passed pass but the faith and patience are like two legs right he is making progress faith and patience I have faith but I need to have patience I need to move I need to move and then ultimately 39:19 he inherited the promise when he was uh 100 years old please turn with me to Romans chapter 4 there there are few verses which give an idea of what our father of faith went through uh Romans chapter 4 >> [clears throat] 39:38 >> Romans 4:18 in hoping in hope against hope he believed so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken. And verse 19, 39:56 without becoming weak in faith, he contemplated his own body. now as good as dead since he was about 100 years old and the deadness of Sarah's womb. Yet with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew 40:14 strong in faith giving glory to God. So with respect to promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but he grew strong in faith. So during this time of fading waiting he grew strong in faith not weak giving glory to god that's how he became 40:33 an example for us in faith and it was counted to him as righteousness so many of us have faith and we also need patience many of us have patience but we also need faith faith and patience through which uh we inherit the promises 40:49 of God 6:12 Um and why and so this is how um he waited and he obtained the promise of God. Um the writer of Hebrews also wants us um 41:06 to put our hope um in two things. Um one uh so let's read verse 16. For men swear by one greater than themselves and with them an oath is given as a confirmation. So normally 41:22 people uh swear take an oath right and in the same way God desiring even more to show to the hails of his promise the unchangeableness of his purpose interpose with an oath so that by two unchangeable things in which it is 41:40 impossible for God to lie we have taken refuge um we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement there's a lot to process here in these verses. That's why Hebrews has a lot of meat. Um I want to just put this uh picture so that it'll 41:57 make it easy to understand. So about the hope um Abraham had on two things. One, God has given a promise and it is impossible for God to lie. It is impossible. So two unchangeable things. 42:15 It is impossible for God to lie. That's God's promise. And also God's oath and not only that not only he would have stopped okay I have given the promise but he also gave oath like he's he took oath um u because men swear by one 42:31 greater than themselves in the same way God desiring even more to show to their hairs of the promise the unchangeableness of his purpose interpose with an oath he took an oath so on these two things the hope is built this is the hope that we have as an 42:48 anchor of soul. Next verse says, "And that's why Abraham was unwavering in his faith. He had numerous temptations, but he kept his faith going and he finally inherited the promise through faith and patience because of these two immutable 43:07 things, through things, two things, unchangeable things. So our hope is also like that. Not on man's words. Man's words will change, man will, men will change. But God never changes. He makes a promise. He will keep it. Uh let's 43:22 exercise the hope uh faith and patience so that we will also be in the hall of faith. In Hebrews chapter 11, so and so inherited the promise through faith and patience. No matter what you are going through, brothers and sisters, I know in 43:36 the church many of us are going through various afflict afflictions. But I want to encourage you all that put your hope in these two things. God's promise is impossible for God to lie. Um [clears throat] so he wants to show us the hairs of the 43:53 promise. All of us uh the unchangeableness of his purpose. He has not changed. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. He wants to show that in our lives. He wants to prove that in our lives too. And the best way is how we respond in our 44:09 suffering. How we respond when God has given a promise. He has not fulfilled how I exercise my faith and prove that God, you make a promise, you'll fulfill it. I'm going to exercise faith and patient patience. And finally, this 44:23 hope, this hope built on these two immutable things. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul. Meditate on anchor. I don't have time to go through that a lot. Um, we're coming to the end of the message. A hope both sure and 44:39 steadfast and one which enters the whale within the whale and people who are on the seas they understand the purpose of the anchor. A huge ship can be anchored with an an uh into the shore or wherever it is it wants to stay stationary 44:53 regardless of what is going through in the storm. The ship can be stable with the anchor anchor of the soul. If you go to the root word of the soul here the word is also translated as life. anchor for your life is this hope built on the 45:09 promise of God who for whom it is impossible to lie and also the in the case of Abraham he took an oath and this hope which is sure and steadfast will become like an anchor of your soul of my soul of my life and your life and uh no 45:27 matter what our life the [clears throat] life may go through storms life boat may be rocked but our anchor is on God's promises. God's promises. And um no matter what's going on in the storm, some I heard I I saw uh I read this 45:45 quote. Sometimes God calms a storm, sometimes he calms his child. He doesn't calm the storm, he calms us. So with these promises no matter what is going on right now we have wars and and un times of uncertaintity and lot of things 46:02 are going on in our lives but we have a anchor of the soul um this hope on God's promises as sure and steadfast uh I just put few promises in this slide uh you can claim these promises add your faith God's word comes and you add your 46:22 faith now we also are reminded Have patience Lord make these promises real in my life. You said that your grace is sufficient for me and um no matter what I go go through I will this is my anchor. I will come back to you. I will 46:36 come to you for the grace of God. And God also said I will never leave you nor forsake you. Lord I feel I am lonely. I nobody understands me but even if everyone leaves me you will never leave me nor forsake me. uh 1 Corinthians 46:51 10:13, Lord, this temptation is too much. No, no. Uh God is faithful. He will not allow us to be tested or tried beyond what we are able. And nothing is impossible for God. Uh don't measure God's by the human standards. For God, 47:06 nothing is impossible. Um [clears throat] and um and Isaiah 59:1 it says, "Behold, the Lord's hand is not too short to save, nor his ear so dull to hear." What a promise. We think that we, you know, 47:25 yeah, sometimes we bring God to our level. No, let's remember that God's hand is not too short to s that it cannot save. His hand is powerful. Nothing is impossible for him. and uh let's commit our life our all the things 47:41 that we go through into his hands and he can take care of it and uh yeah you you also another promise do not fear I am with you do not fear my child I will be with you I I will take care of you uh do not be anxiously look about look about 47:57 you sometimes the anxiety comes because we want to be in control of our lives we want to be in control of our life situations but God is saying I am your God I will strengthen you. I will take care of you. Surely I will uphold you 48:09 with my righteous right hand. May this become our anchors. May these promises become our anchor. Um so that we will enter into a life of rest. All the believers are promised a life of rest. Uh we are not promised a life of uh life 48:27 where there are no storms but a life of rest is promised to all the believers. Hebrews 4:3 again so many verses we have seen in four uh sorry Hebrews uh the book of Hebrews solid meat here I encourage you all to go and meditate on 48:41 this verses that you heard today so that this hope will be the anchor of the soul so that our life will be unmovable and unshakable. May the Lord help us. Praise God for these uh reminders and 49:10 words of encouragement. The Lord has enabled us to listen this morning um not just only from the adults but also from uh our boys. God's word is a light 49:29 and it is a lamp unto our feet and light unto our path. So as I was listening this morning I kind of got a a theme inbuilt theme uncoordinated that is obedience and the obedience of 49:46 faith. Um Jesus our Lord and then uh our hero and uh our role model. He was the one who set that uh as a son of man, son of 50:03 God who came down and became a ransom for all through the exemplary life of obedience. obedience to the father's will and uh and who took that bitter pill 50:27 for our salvation. He became the ransom. And uh I was meditating on what I heard a week back from one of our sisters in Sunday 50:42 school. She spoke on the uh Jesus first miracle John chapter 2. Um uh when I was listening uh this morning uh I see that 51:01 the simple obedience what he might have shown at home growing up uh without knowing and he knew everything by the way like he knows that but there is imperfect Joseph and Mary were asking him to do certain things he might have did it that simple obedience 51:20 that might have given this on a confidence in in this um miraculously God permitted that to written for our faith to be grown. This is not their own home. They are not 51:40 hosting this wedding. They were guests and Jesus was there and his mom came to know about the problem there and then he knew she knew who can who can help her help this family the host family not to 51:57 be embarrassed. So he she straight goes to Jesus. Hey we ran out of wine. And then he responded to her. And what blowed me out was what she went and told to the servants. 52:15 John chapter 2:5, "Whatever he says to you, do it." And uh they could have questioned when Jesus said, "Fill these six jars." Those jars were kept outside the home. 52:33 They could have say like a wine ran out. Can't we use those vessels, those empty vessels? They didn't question it, but they cleansed those outside parts and simple obedience and they saw the miracle. 52:53 So that's what brothers and sisters when the Lord has chosen you and chosen us through a particular um suffering or a trial uh simple obedience when we see the we see the miracle. So I just want to encourage you with that and 53:10 the light of what we heard. Uh you don't know what is crowding our hearts uh as brother Josh exhorted with that lies lust um bitterness biggest thing is unforgiveness of the spirit. No brothers and sisters, let's 53:27 examine our hearts. What is crowding in where we could not hear and what is stopping that simple obedience of faith that freshness may come out of our lives 53:46 while the Lord is doing his work. Let us press on maturity, growth in faith and not to be sluggish and be imitiators of faith what our Lord has shown to us. 54:04 Obey obedience of faith. May the Lord help us throughout this week. Thank you so much for taking out your time to join via Zoom and in person. I believe the Lord has blessed you. uh may his holy spirit and grace be abundantly be given 54:20 so that uh I just want to end with this verse which blessed me this week. Luke chapter brother Josh also quoted this Luke chapter 22 and verse 31 and 32. Simon Simon behold Satan has demanded 54:38 permission to sift you like a wheat but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. That's what the Lord Jesus is praying for you and me sister. When he put into certain trial when he is uh allowing certain trials and problems or 54:54 sufferings coming into our life, he is interceding for us. He's not leaving us alone as an orphans. He's going to come as an aid. He's going to intercede for you for what? Our faith. Everything may fail. Our plans may fail. And as brother said that 55:13 wars, rumors of the wars, AI taking over the jobs, it could be anything. We are not alone in this. Our Lord Jesus Christ is praying for us. The church is praying for you. Be strong. Be strong in obedience, in faith, simple obedience. 55:29 May the Lord help us. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for sending your son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who came down in humility, who took that bitter pill of suffering 55:52 for my sins. He didn't question. Was so painful losing his fellowship with you. He took it so seriously. But yet Lord you took it my Lord Jesus help us. Help us even in our uncertaintity in 56:09 our unknowing may our faith be grown. Simple obedience of faith may grown. This is coming from from our own father trusting in your guidance in leading in your guidance. Fill us with your holy spirit. By our own strength we can do 56:27 this lord. Thank you for seeing that our lack of strength in this area. You sent an aid. You are willing to help us. Lord, fill us with your Holy Spirit. Lead us throughout this week to grow in faith. In Jesus precious name we pray. 56:45 Amen. You are welcome to have lunch with us. So made the
