Fact-Checking Your Worship - Part B

Able though. He died at an early age, preaches a message to every generation. He is still speaking today so this is call this the sermon of that God.

And what sermon is he preaching what is the continual lesson he is saying to the Hebrews in Judeo horse struggling with her faith in her eyes for us today symbol the same message throughout the just shall live by faith. Studying Scripture is so vital to our Christian life propels our faith worship and service today on connect with Skip Heitzig Skip shares what you can cultivate a humble worshipful heart through God's word. But before we begin want to let you know about a resource that will empower your life as you immerse yourself in God's truth fake news used to be restricted to tabloids at the grocery store checkout used to be so obvious. Chimpanzee had put on human body, but now there are entire websites dedicated to helping us figure out a story, speech or statistic is true or not there Skip Heitzig with an important question. Is there such a thing as absolute truth. Commentators think about that question we would help you get started in answering that question with two brand-new book with my pastor Skip why truth matters God suicide is the Bible makes truth claims in some of those claims are pretty absolute, but how can you know it's really true. These resources will help you better understand the nature of true you can pursue God's truth in your life and there are way to thank you for your gift of $35 or more today to help expand this Bible teaching outreach. Your copies when you get online securely connectwithskip.com/offer or call 892 1888 Chapter 11 for today study so let's join Skip the very best. There was a quality satellite no I sort of feel like I want to give.

This is what I think he said to get what God requires. That's what he wants. I believe that the very best that I have my can get the sickest lamb or the scrawny is goat or some little reject animal I wanted nothing's too good for God. It's sort of like David and Rhonda a.k.a. or Nan in the Old Testament.

David wanted to find a special site for the temple, and he found one happens to be the temple mount today, but at first it was just a threshing floor and outworn and said oh if you can get this to God I'll give it to you. You can have it. It's free if you're using this for worship and take it.

I'm in a charger for Davis in the know give you the fair market value on in Sedona now this is for God limit his give it is a gift. David said I refuse to give God something unless it costs me it's gonna cost you, and it cost stable.

It was the very best that he had offered so Kane admitted the right kind of offering and the right quality of offer. You can immediately see just from this few verses in Genesis for the difference between these two worshipers. One was religious.

One was righteous, one offered a sacrifice one offered a better sacrifice one live by feeling one live by faith. In short, to sum it all up, sort of, the irreducible minimum of all this is simply this. Abel brought to God what God wanted Cain brought to God what Cain wanted was all about Kane in effect what Cain was doing in bringing this was denying his own sin and the need for the shedding of blood. Abel obviously believed that he was a sinner who needed forgiveness.

Now what I why this is so important because the New Testament makes it big deal out of this not only here in Hebrews 11 contrasting Cain and able able hero of faith Amanda faith, but twice in the New Testament. Cain is seen as a role bad example of the book of Jude talks about the way of Cain wall under them. It says, for they have gone the way of Cain, then in first John chapter 3 verse 12 it says Cain, who was of the wicked one. Cain was of the devil. He followed the devil's suggestions. It was worship, but it was not God's worship.

He was of the wicked one the way of Cain. What is the way of Cain the way of Cain is self-styled worship. It's the way of personal righteousness. It's the way of false religion. Cain believed in God. Obviously Szilagyi disputed that the existence of God. He was not an atheist. He believed in God obviously brought a sacrifice and offering to God. He acknowledged God. You can look at this. What Cain believed in God.

But Cain did not believe God is a big difference. He believed in God, all I believe in the co-op power greater than I am.

There's a God who rules over everything, but he didn't believe God he didn't believe the revelation God had given of the need for a blood sacrifice. Now whenever the blood of Jesus Christ is pushed aside and replaced with anything else you have the way of Cain, you have the way of Cain the way of Cain takes the narrow road of the cross and broadens it into a 12 Lane Freeway that says anybody can believe anything because all roads lead to God. You've heard that before. A lot of people complain about Christianity I've heard these complaints. I've had this total right to my face. You Christians you're so narrowminded of your ever had somebody tell your narrowminded are you a high garbage on the spot so so I've had people say skip. You are so narrowminded you Christian or narrowminded my responses. You're wrong I'm not narrowminded. I'm worse than that I'm close minded. There's only one way to heaven and that is through Jesus Christ and belief in what he has done for you is not Jesus plus anything or anyone else. Jesus called it a narrow way. He said I am the way, the truth, the life.

No one comes to the father except through me. So I have a close mind, and we have been brainwashed.

You're right, Jesus washed my brain and then he closed it up as I don't need to be open to anything or anyone else know, it's funny this whole notion about all roads lead to God as a matter what you believe any way is okay. It only seems to work with religion.

In most people's minds. You can't take that principal and had to work well in other aspects of life. For example if you went to the doctor you'd want the right cure. Not just any cure what the doctor said to you is okay Dr. which I do which I take what he said you will do whatever you think is best to follow your own heart. Go home and find your own path for wellness.

All roads lead to health as long as your sincere and happy or he would be out of practice and he should be at a praxis because that's called a plaque and you'd be called dead. Probably you wouldn't survive.

There has to be a set of absolutes to get you through to health so all roads don't lead to God any more than all roads lead to perfect health. So that's that's the first thing that enables faith produced a right sacrifice.

Second, it produced a right standing back to our text in Genesis 11 verse four by faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which here's the second part, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts was at me. What is a mean that God testified or witnessed about him.

Well, it could mean that it was a verbal affirmation.

When Abel brought the sacrifice of the animal and should and killed it. God could've simply said, well done game or Abel. Well done.

Good job. Or it could have been a physical manifestation. If I were to look at other portions of Scripture we should always do that by comparing Scripture with Scripture. It could simply mean when God testified that God brought fire down from heaven to consume his sacrifice.

You know I say that because five times the Bible shows that when God approved of animal sacrifices he brought fire down from heaven like lightning and consumed With King David when he offered a sacrifice happened with Solomon at the dedication of the temple and it also happened with Elijah in in the contest with the prophets of bail first Kings chapter 18 on Mount Carmel, so God could address it. Good job verbally speaking or fire comes from heaven consumes it, showing the God is saying right, but the heart of the passage here the heart. The real idea is that God declared able to be righteous because of his faith.

That's the idea when it says he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts. In other words, God made a declaration that Abel was righteous, because able believed now nothing is said of Cain and Abel is terms of their other activities or their character back in Genesis 4 you know it. And so we know Abel really was a nicer guy.

Cain was of a bad egg all the time didn't say that and talk about his character. Indeed, Abel may have been a nicer guy sweeter guy happier got more blessed guy. Then came Borat told. In fact, it doesn't matter what really matters is the sacrifice because at the end of the day, no matter how good you are, you still need the blood sacrifice. That's the point you're saved by faith, not by your good works, so Abel's righteousness is a declared righteousness. God declares that testifies, because Abel is still a sinner little bit of background, the book of Hebrews is being written to get through Hebrews right. Hebrews Jewish people probably church congregation somewhere in Israel. That's what we believe are they came to faith in Christ. But there struggling with their faith in Christ and their tempted to go back into the old covenant and leave that simple faith in Christ.

So he goes. Don't do that. The just art made just by their faith right so and here's an example good goes all the way back to evil. Abel was the first guy who didn't follow a lot before the law. He believed in God and God imputed to Abel a righteousness. Eight. A declaration so he's he's kind of unpacking that for what he saying is that righteousness is something imputed by God not earned by us right. Romans chapter 3 all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God that it's is this right afterwards, being justified freely means without a cause without earning anything, being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, so a right standing with God.

Whether you're able, or your you in this day and age, a right standing with God comes through faith in God's revelation number one that we are all sinners. Number two that we need a blood sacrifice in our place. Number three. When we believe in that substitute we are declared righteous by God.

It's a verdict. It is a declaration.

It is a proclamation so righteousness is never earned by the center. It is accomplished by the Savior's never earned by the center. It's always accomplished by the Savior. And that's why people hate it.

They hated because they want to work for them because you're told no, you can't earn it. They take umbrage to it. That's human pride human pride wants to earn man is incurably addicted to working for his own salvation.

Salvation is not a process.

It is a position. It is a proclamation.

It is as instant as turning on a light switch. So when you say I believe in you Jesus. I believe what you did for me on the cross is enough. God turns on the switch.

Righteous justified set free for a given. The cross then becomes the spiritual sponge that absorbs all of our sins instantly to declaration you believe you're saved stack quick that instantaneous but that's not all real faith is obedient right able believed, but he showed that he believed by bringing the sacrifice was faith, but it was obedient faith.

He brought the animal James is faith without works is dead faith without works is dead. True faith then produces an obedient follow-through. No one supports the talk about the follow-through. Back in the swing and you hit the ball all about the follow-through with the bat when you play golf. I remember my golf coach and my dad saying you gotta follow-through you don't stop with the ball you follow-through not follow-through is a large determination of the accuracy of what our bongos and so many sports it's about the follow-through the shot can't be executed properly without the follow-through works are the follow-through of faith. If it's real faith, it will work. It will produce.

He will be seen in obedience. So Abel's faith produce three things a right sacrifice. A righteous standing because he by faith brought that offering believing in God. God saw his faith declared him righteous, testified that in about 1/3 thing a repeating sermon, a repeating sermon back to our text and chapter 11 verse four by faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain.

That's the right sacrifice through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts. That's righteous standing God accomplished righteousness giving it to him because of the faith available and finally a repeating sermon is the rest of that tax that says and threw it. He Abel being dead still speaks that he was guilty of his name means vapor. He lived for a while as an adult he brought a sacrifice. His brother killed him. We go back to Genesis chapter forfeiture. Hopefully it still marked back to Genesis chapter 4 in verse four Abel brought of the firstborn of his flock and their fat, the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but he did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. He brought what he thought he wanted God to want that to Lord said to Cain, why are you angry. Why is your countenance fallen you could see it in his face already. He's that it's beat you know he wore his heart on his sleeve.

We like to say that's an expression of the word. You can see by a person's facial expressions, body language, what they're thinking and if you do, does this you know it's different than that right so Abel brings his offering. God respects it is, I thought I'd be smiling did not respect Keynes. His countenance fell. He became angry, so God said why art thou bunged out why are you so angry. Why is your countenance fallen verse seven. If you do well if you lived right if you did, what it is right.

If you did what I required that you do will you not be accepted. Your brother did right. He brought the right sacrifice. You did not. If you were to bring the right sacrifice and you workable Bahamian believe the requirement you be accepted and if you do not do well, sin is lying or crouching literally at the door like an animal ready to pounce.

And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it. This is God appealing to him. This is God giving him another chance is God coming to him and not dissing him at Urbana. She would say hey you could do right. Why didn't you do right now. Why didn't Cain at that point say Lord, you're right. I'm sorry there's no hint at all of any patents any repentance any turning her at all. Any any reconsideration at all. He just stays bunged up. God calls him on it. God invites him to change, but notice what he says sin lies at the door and its desire is for you and you should rule over you know if you know rule over your sin, your sin is going to rule over you. Your sin will dominate you if you don't wrestle it to the ground. It is going to eat your lunch.

Dude.

So what you do after this appeal, says Cain was talking with his brother sort of thing come out. Helena, what are talking about something and it came to pass, when they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. And the Lord said to Cain, where is Abel your brother and he said I don't know. So now he he compounds his sin by what ally murder now is lying to God like how stupid is that that are now am I my brother's keeper and he the Lord said what have you done know God is looking for information he's looking for an account from the sky. He wants him to fess up. What have you done the voice of your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. He's dead, but he is still talking. So now you are cursed from the earth which is opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. Cain knew exactly what he was doing in killing his brother. Some people try to excuse Cain the Xylocaine can really be held responsible. He did know what he was doing. He had never seen death before any never seen.

He had just seen death, his brother bought an animal and killed the animal. He knew what happens when you deliver a certain kind of wound to a living being.

He had watched in that offering of his brother so in delivering that wound to an animal. His brother now Cain delivers a wound to him and kills him snuffs out his life back to Hebrews 11 when it says true, it being dead, he still speaks. The primary meaning is this Abel, though he died at an early age.

He preaches a message to every generation. He is still speaking today so this is your call this sermon about that guy and what sermon is he preaching what is the continual lesson he is saying to the Hebrews in Judeo horse struggling with their faith in Christ were to us today samples the same message throughout the just shall live by faith.

The just shall live by faith. He is a preacher. Can Abel is of the value of faith of the excellence of faith and of the need for faith. There's an old pirate saying.

In fact, I at least I think it is II saw to Disneyland and Pirates of the Caribbean you know when you're going down that first little waterfall and has the little scroll talking on the lonely dead man entail no details. Dead men tell no tales actually dead men do tell some tales of this one does. And that is faith has value. And here's the truth. Every life makes a mark and every life becomes a testimony for better or for worse. James Moffitt said this death is never the last word.

When a man leaves this world, be he righteous or unrighteous.

He leaves something in the world he may leave something that will grow and spread like a cancer or poison or he may leave something like the fragrance or perfume blossom of beauty that permeates the atmosphere with beauty. Whatever you do, you are leaving your mark. You are leaving your legacy. Abel left his cane left his and the message he still preaches to every generation, picked up in this list. Going back to Habakkuk chapter 2 is the just shall live by faith. What message are you leaving, I've always let the little poem you are writing a gospel, a chapter each day by the things that you do and the words that you say people here what you say and they see what you do. So what is the gospel according to you, Cain had his gospel. This is the best.

I got better be good enough for God is what I feel he should like or this is what I know God wants, he requires a blood sacrifice. I believe that I can be justified if I believe that revelation of God and bring that animal sacrifice Abel's face made him a martyr. Cain's unbelief made him a murderer. Both of them were legacies both of them are sermons that are still lingering on the Vista that concludes give a text message from his series back that you Skip to share how you can keep these messages coming your way to connect you and others to God's truth. It's a great comfort to me that no matter where we go or what we do.

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