Rebellious Hearts (Part C)

A lot of Christians believe once you become a Christian, you lose your free will. I don't my free will is very act and this is its choice to be with Jesus for he will never leave me nor forsake email out things that I don't like is discussed but he will never and I don't plan to ever leave by his hand in his hand only. That will always be so.

He's promised, Peter said Kept by God. 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 about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching. Now here's Pastor Rick in Hebrews chapter 3 with his study called rebellious hearts Peter taking up the Old Testament attracted to the forceful language. The dog returning to vomit all over against that kind of an insult or fact well the time came when they could not into the promised land. What happened unto them, got there muscles in the swords. Together they decided they were going to go in any way that ended in disaster because their brand of disobedience was without surrender to God.

There is a disobedience that is out of weakness. We all know that. But then there is one that is born of rebellion, I am against God. I am not going to do what he says and that's what Job men who who is hardened himself against God and prospered no one so the generation that conquered the land that second generation that went into the promised land did so because they submitted to God and are very particular about this. So much so that when the two and half tribes that were satisfied with the on promised land east of Jordan were now going back to their territory, having help their brothers subdue the land. What did God say to them what it what what happened while they said as they were leaving. You know what we want to build a monument here in Ebenezer we would say, so that our brothers remember that went with them and they are with us and we are dedicated largely built a memorial altar. Well, the Jews in the promised land. They got word of this and they thought they were going activate that off altar. Contrary to Scripture and worship bad so they they called war rally they sent Phineas over there and I had a little discussion with them and they found out know this was just a memorial that no intention of sacrificing one.

My point is that generation that went into that promised land.

They are very serious about following the Lord submitted all they had their mistakes, no question, but for the most part. In comparison, they were very serious. We look at them we say that's what were supposed to be.

I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest now verse 12.

Beware brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief and departing from the living God is a universal warning watcher steps in the presence of the Lord. It is a passionate appeal. The right into the of this letter is passionate he is for the people to very serious about his faith and his serious about their care there on collision course and he's taken steps to do to deal with this on their behalf go to just look the other way when one's businesses will find you want to go to hell, but out but he doesn't do that. So this passionate appeal.

He had his doubts about them. I believe this is Paul. As we discussed in the introductions, I could be wrong, but is not likely, joke Galatians Paul writing to the Galatians he said this about them because they were doing some similar things he says I would like to be present with you now and change my tone, for I have my doubts about you right point blank what needed to be said, just as you go around saying your Christian just because you were so solid a Christian when I was there, doesn't mean well let me put it this way, things change these kind of things don't have to change but if they do, I'm not going to join you. I'm going to reach out try to rescue you, so your nieces beware brethren using I have my doubts about you that's been no known from the beginning, he says, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief. Personalizing the warning to everyone in every age. This can happen to you. They had.

They were on course for this evil heart unbelief. Not believing God. That was the case with the ancestors perished in the wilderness.

They doubted that God was adequate. The doubted they didn't like his ways. He should just give us away why we have a sort.

Why do we have to eat manna every day.

Why can't one day be Schram the next day. It's really mignon. Why does it have to be that no one I don't think said. That way, but that was the spirit of their rebellion at one time they did fuss with God man again. He says indwell them. They brought that on themselves. Again, the should been right into the promised land and departing from the living God. The word here in the Greek remember for those well for those of you who don't know the New Testament was originally written in the Greek language we translate into various languages of the world. A suit with that Greek word for departing is a compound word. This is made of two Greek words to stand off or to stand apart to discontinue and so it is properly translated departing pieces. He selling them less to be in you and evil heart of unbelief in leaving the place you were you're with Christ now. Now you want to leave Christ. That's an evil heart.

You don't want to do that men are free to reject God. Otherwise, unbelief been wiped out by just make everybody believers. A lot of Christians believe once you become a Christian, you lose your free will. I don't believe that my free will is very active and this is its choice to be with Jesus for ever.

He will never leave me nor for Satan email out things that I don't like. As we discussed what he will never leave.

And I don't plan to ever leave him by his hand in his hand only. That will always be so. And he's promised. As Peter said Kept by God. Well apostasy. It is willful it is intellectual. It's not only is it intellectual but it is ultimately an intellectual decision starts off emotionally. In some cases a letter like with that religion. They get to do this they get know they get to have that we can have that none begins to feel and to finally you come to that place were you D side you going to leave Christ behind Val and he departed.

Never return Peter. He stumbled hard return Judas. His betrayal was fueled by rejection.

Peters. Peters, lack of confession cowardice at the moment was fueled by weakness was confusion and that also is very confusing is that one point is very ready to fight for Christ, but it reached when you know what to do.

Plus, he failed just that's the that's that's the way to handle that he failed but his reason for failure was born of weakness not rebellion against God in that sense, Jesus always knows who will come to him. He knows who will leave, but he doesn't because it doesn't drive us away.

John's Gospel six versus 64. There are some of you. Jesus said who do not believe for Jesus new John writes from the beginning who they were, who did not believe in who would betray him knows it all.

Verse 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called today lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Encourage other believers to persevere and not to depart is what is telling them is giving them the solution to their problem build each other up. What should he say tear each other down. Of course not. Christian interaction fellowship with solid believers strengthening to cheer each other on its mutual it's not lopsided I get to come up to the pulpit and I get to encourage you from the Scripture. Many of you encourage me when I'm not in the pulpit you come up you guys want to encourage you some of you have a keen perception of that you you understand the unique challenges of the pastor in the assembly. You know this is not a secret life in Christ for me was a lot easier before I became a pastor but as a pastor is not saying what Christ has bound the sacrifice to the Holter can go anywhere there would have to be serious serious overriding of the system to escape and I don't intend to do that because who's hardened himself against him and prospered. Why would I expect to be victorious there to take the hardship to take the things that come with and we all should know about these things because it belongs to our faith, yet life is hard in itself.

We all need encouragement.

There will be things that will come our way that we are we. We pray, frankly, hate but that is not excuse enough. That is not an excuse to stop believing and stop trusting and again used solid reasoning, reasoning with these people who were flirting with leaving the faith. He did not simply insist insistence is not an argument is so despicable okay what that's just insistence tell me why it's true. That's what he is been doing well. If there were such a thing as unconditional salvation election. I did do anything I want him some saved to be no need to do any of the stuff would this would be futile. Why do I encourage them to not depart from the faith of it was all automatic know we have a free will. That's why can't get away from is no such thing as love without free will, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

That's where it starts. Sin is seductive era.

That's you know what is wrong what you have to do is ask Steve about that someone takes them versus here when I was preparing this is I listed the verses I'm going to read is only about seven 811 and I felt when I seen orbit takes thin it out a little bit and I felt the Holy Spirit leave it as is, those words are important for this verse.

So let's see if let's see if we can see it.

James chapter 1. Put your goggles on. When James talks.

Sparks are going to fly therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word how many Christians don't to that which is able to save your souls be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves, tricking yourself lying to yourselves, playing a move on yourself, don't do it. Luke's Gospel six verse 46. But why do you call me Lord, Lord, and can't do things I say you playing games with me. Peter could say because he's can't Judas would say I don't want to. Jeremiah 17. We all know this one. The heart is deceitful above all things, the very thing that we think is not deceitful window, but God knows my heart, yet he does is deceitful above all things is pretty high and desperately wicked not little bit you know it, not you goes on I Yahweh search the heart test the mind even to give every man according to his ways. According to the fruit of his doings. So God knows my heart that's my only rest he knows my heart so I don't know what I go to him. He pointed out. And that's how the solutions are gained. If I want to turn my shoulder against him.

Turn my back to him thinking.

I know my heart that I am a fool. Jesus will always stay with you. You will stay with him. That is a promise. John 15 six if anyone does not abide in me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered. They gather them and throw them into the fire and they are burned. Abiding is not a get. Do you know of failing or committing a sin that is not so I committed a sin are not abiding in Christ, just on certain one level that is true but not on this level that Jesus is talking about is talking about being a believer being saved and tries loving him wanting him. If you turn your back on that what you think is to going to heaven you think you going to go to heaven if you side consciously with Satan against Christ are you are, could you be that dent what you were never saved, although please do. I know you're safe. Where is the assurance and that I know I'm saved because Scripture tells me, and if I don't know that my my authority as a Christian to swing my sword of truth is normally diminished. It is lost is so blessed assurance is imperative to know good as I stand with Christ to my flesh fights.

It doesn't do it I mess up, but I know who is the Lord, and there is no other. And I'm not going to bow down to anybody but him that is abiding with Christ and it is invincible in hell knows it. So do you and so does God. So none of this fretting that's why John and his first things I've written to you these things that you may know that you have eternal life. Peter, because of these things warning believers here, Peter says now the righteous one is scarcely saved. Will there where will the ungodly and the center appear we just make it in by the blood of Christ.

So to tamper with these things, brethren, you're playing with your destiny.

Peter is quoting Proverbs 11 so the Holy Spirit steps on toes not because he's clumsy because he's careful and if he has to get your attention. He'll hurt your feelings to keep you straight. And that's what this letter is doing knowing that you reap what you sow is so rebellion judgment you will get.

That is the lesson, but if you reap apartment of his soul.

Faith just to trust in God knows knows my heart.

He knows I'm weak but I'm going to trust it in his hands you good.

If you are sincere.

There comes a time when it's too late for the unbeliever. We don't know when that time is. But we know that lesson from no one there came a time when the door to the ark shut Genesis 7 so those that entered, male and female of all flesh went in as God had commanded the Lord shut them in so serious business. That's what the Bible looses telling us through and through is not the Bible does not say it is getting SSO doesn't do that to become hardened and hardest become calloused and different cold insensitive to the touch of God.

Verse 14 for we have become partakers of Christ. If we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. How many Christians unwelcome those words because it tells them in this relationship you have a responsibility. Christ is he going to do all the dying and all the loving and you don't have to do it of course is silly.

Christ loves you, you love them back will be automatic. If you know him. If you don't you ask him he'll give it to you the imparted word, and so John 15 elaborates on that verse 15 now Hebrews.

While it is said, today, and this is the second time he warns if you will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion emphasis on a critical point right now. Verse 16 for who, having heard rebelled. Let me reread that with the? For who, having heard rebelled and Dee was it not all came out of Egypt led by Moses. Of course he knows there was Caleb and Joshua defect is that in.

But here's the next historical a historical example of failure of Israel to believe so that these can see the example and not repeated themselves and he spends the rest of this chapter, stressing this very point. Verse 17. Now, with whom was he angry 40 years, was it not with those of sin was corpses fell in the wilderness less right to the point so that you are your believer you love Jesus.

Do you think God is going to allow testing your life to see if you mean you young men and you young women is probably going to come very likely in the form of an unbeliever who you are attracted to romantic if they are not a believer.

Don't go near it. Once you bitten that poison will go through your veins instantly keep your distance. Know who you are. Trust God to provide you with a companion but again, why should God give you a companion when your life is not set in his direction with your own duck God. Can you give me someone so we could both ignore you together. What happens when you say Lord, can you give me a helpmate so we can serve you and make me the leader getting that leaderboard. I thought that was kind of funny, but some of your little slow in that bullets finish up because of knows what to wear and twilight zone here at time very serious though you going to harden your heart if you start partaking of forbidden fruit that silly line about what I love them in the presence of that throne of God the sins you do 2 x 2 you shall answer one by one. I know I said this just a few weeks at a put that in this you think I'm losing it on those grounds. Don't think that your emotions justify your rebellion against God, but I feel it you feel the wrong thing, but I really feel it when you really dumb because the Bible is made it clear in your opting out and you still want to be accepted and this marks God, and that's what the Hebrew letter is about you been brought into the faith and now you want out because there are things you he'll make you feel closer to God and they do not, I'm sure he had many enemies. When Stevie read this this this letter was read verse 17 where he says whom is angry for 40 years there corpses littered the wilderness proof that again.

Seeing the miraculous does not generate faith, guarantee faith, hearing powerful scripture messages from Pat well for me. I'm sorry I'm a little giddy this morning but let's put it back back to where it belongs. Hearing the truth from the word of God from the people of God is not enough in and of itself to guarantee you are going to stand tall for Christ.

You still have to do it. He will help you with. Start out early. Don't be one of those who 30 years later has to come back and try to clean up the mess that you've made. She did listen to God in the early years, you want to pastor that hides these kind of things from you or tells you what you already know they hardened their hearts against God. He did not did not fail them but they hardened anyway. They died without God because of their rebellious hearts. Verse 18 and to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who do not obey. As a consequence, so there is the fear of risk of leaving Christ. We should all be very aware, we who love the Lord don't live that way I don't wake up in the morning voice open only even today, not even thought I wake up in the morning I pray that I be more popular with people I don't I wish I wake up and I pray for my urgent needs and we would mean using the flock you so certain lost souls.

God is put on my heart. They they come second. The first was God that I will bring shame your name something goofy and messed it all up.

Then I get to the lost souls. I pray for those who are serious consists of situations in their life and I get that 1st cup of coffee in a minute and life's good so that's just of the door opening thoughts on telling you try to wake up with a prayer in my eyes for his open hearts to hear get enraptured last night. Maybe tomorrow.

But anyway, verse 18, and who, to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who do not obey, so it's not magic is not who they just didn't make the check list know there's a reason why they didn't enter and it's because they rebel verse 19. So we see the could not enter in because of unbelief.

That's because he's telling them it's not what you just you know you were tall enough you know you did. You didn't you are good enough shot, no, you can believe and verse 19. So we see that they could not enter because of unbelief.

What I want to close it with this first Corinthians 15 to point out that the Scripture always has this in front of us were never to take it lightly, never to take our salvation for granted on multiple levels. The cost Christ because God and not something were to just treat lightly is the most precious thing we have our cell. There's nothing more. Print your kids are not more precious.

Whatever else then your salvation.

That is everything and if you want to give your kids something that is precious.

Give them that salvation to share it. That's what we we understand will anyway. Moreover brethren I declare to you the gospel which I preach to you, which also you received and in which you stand. By which also you are saying if you hold fast that word which I preach to you unless you belief or nothingness recess see the apostles wise enough to know you never want to treat Christianity lightly move you've been listening to cross reference radio the daily radio ministry of Pastor Rick asked Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia. As we mentioned at the beginning of today's broadcast. Today's teaching is available free of charge at our website. Simply log on to cross reference radio.com that's cross reference radio.com would also like to encourage you to subscribe to the cross reference radio podcast subscribing ensures that you stay current with all the latest teachings from Pastor Rick, you can subscribe cross reference radio.com or simply search for cross reference radio your favorite podcast to the next time as Pastor Rick continues teaching through the book of Hebrews right here on cross reference radio