Christian Living (Part B)

What do I run from this beast baby so much that pull it off me on the car right away. Jesus, of course, promised, promised that he would speak to us anything he promised he doesn't chat or understand God does not chatter. It is a walk every five minutes we do in our bunk is high and holy.

This is very important. Jesus is my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. 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 hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching Christian living is the title of Pastor Rick's message and today he will be teaching in Hebrews chapter 12. These are the children of God, was led by the Spirit. What about those who are led by the spirit.

One of the lead, but they say Jesus is Lord with an outlet by him. The Lord leads these master's commander who you led by your own wisdom you have enough Bible knowledge. I understand you do not need to check with Jesus Christ.

As you know everybody's doing it that way. That is a blueprint for gossip and disaster and self will being in irritant everybody around you if I asked which one of you is ever irritated someone else and been on the wrong side of the irritation everybody should raise their hands and then if I said well which one of you have sought the Lord to stop doing that and to redirect your energies into something that is profitable for him, which would be profitable for others, and I hope everyone within raise their hands. Also, in acts, we find this ongoing this concept of being led by God Paul that great apostle. You would think that while he is seen Jesus he received instruction personally homeschooled by Jesus and the faith you would think they just want to be on automatic pilot. Now just fulfill the imperatives laid on him at the beginning, but all through his life. We find Paul dependent on the Holy Spirit. Paul wanted to minister in a certain area instead of saying well. The gospel is not there. We've got the gospel with going. What else you know work with what could be wrong with instead of doing that they sought the Lord, and this is what Luke writes about that moment he says after they had come to my seer. They tried to go to Bithynia but the spirit did not permit them. Not bad weather made of used bad weather. They knew this was from God himself were talking about laying aside those things that cause us to not gain altitude and one of them is not being led by the Lord. Now there are times where the Lord says you know they're just certain formulas that are out there that you don't need me to lead.

If the dog is chasing you than it is wise to run from him.

You know, Lord, do I run from this beast baby some ways it can do that and pull it off me.

I'm on the roof of a car right away. Jesus, of course, promised he promised that he would speak to us anything he promised it.

It doesn't chat or understand God does not chatter. It is a walk every five minutes we do now monkey is high and holy. This is very important. Jesus is my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me can follow Jesus and someone else at the same time. Unless you ubiquitous and you're not. But what happens when you've been following the Lord, you know it's him release you think you do. You act upon it and it fails wasn't him or not, will sometimes it wasn't. Sometimes it may have been the point is the next time you might be a little bit more sober minded and you are following and that's what God wants is not glorified by silliness.

Christian immaturity does not do honor to Christ Hennessey burn that out of us. Failure mishap. I've been led by the Lord in my life as a pastor many times, but there are times if I was that I know that was him and it didn't happen the way I thought it was. Was it still him. So the next time I'll be a little bit more careful, but I hope I do not become so careful that I become timid, cowardly, striking that balance requires an ongoing relationship all the time. That does not demand from Christ, but expects that I follow his demands, and often waiting as part of that process can take years, but if you're not laying aside every weight that so easily ensnares. You guess what you going to be ensnared. It tells us that next clause and the sin which so easily ensnares us. There is sin because of all sorrow and pain in creation in humans and animals and insects and anything all death is wrong.

It is because of sin. That is the problem with sin is not something removed in this life over its judgment is for the believer. Sin remains in this life is to be grappled with to be engaged to fight against so easily so easy for the Christian to sin just like that. Who can deny it is sitting in your your your car, your writing on your bicycle so you hear that you're listening to Christian songs like I have must put this here, listen you listen to Christian music done in a studio with people who get paid to get better and better at doing it in the studio. Then you go to a church and you're frustrated that they're not as good as a studio performance watch that that is sin that is wrong.

Don't do that.

If that is you become the critic of the musicians means be different if a song like me then you could criticize them, but back on course.

Are you listening to Christian music in your car or your or your whatever ureters and the next thing you know you're insane and angry at somebody else because they don't have enough turn fluid signal turn fluid in their signal and use our hate that guy is a bit much don't you think will depend bum in the flesh or not is a farm in the flesh. That's not a bit much is not an off but if I'm in the spirit I'm convicted instantly. The Senate so easily perceptive and that's a mild example. I don't need to intensified you can do it on your own.

So if others live by faith, lets us get serious about doing likewise. That's what he is saying to them, therefore, let us lay aside the things that are holding us back, but let's respond to the challenge my pastor.

I responded and I fell okay to lie there just lie there, go ahead. Satan will be merciful to you. Of course, that's a lie. Satan will never be merciful to you and if you think he is he setting you up for something worse. Maybe he is saying you know what I'm going to be merciful to this one so I can destroy all those we see it when pastors stumble, do we not some sin. The pastor stumbles into that is a disqualifying sin and whole congregation turned upside down. So, let us lay aside every weight in the sin which so easily ensnares is now one of the thing about that clause and thus sin. That is the definite article, the thus sin is a particular sin he saying, let us lay aside each one has a particular want for you it might be no you like cereal without milk and view it might mean you know what I'm saying each one has to struggle with something their sins that have just never been a problem for me there problem for others but just don't bother me. Then there are others that may bother me that don't bother others and so you know which one is the sin that so easily ensnares you trips you up snare a booby-trap. Next thing you know your dangling from a tree upside down because you been snared, he says let us run with endurance. Who's going to be your running partner anatomy politically. I mean to go running with through this life.

Endurance what I'm all alone know you're not endurance is going to be with you quote comforting endurance is discomfort with hope. If it is endurance with Christ so you can just endure unbelievers endure you go I just grin and bear it. But to do it with Christ is to do it with hope of better things to target victory. According to his directions. According to him, as the Scripture has said.

So Paul writes to the Corinthians he says.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, that is not to be dismissed. Knowing what we know about the Corinthian church. I almost can never really create the universe without commenting on the church. I am so glad I do not pastor the church at Corinth. They had padded walls. They didn't but they should because they had enough cooks.

There and so we read this I meant is not high-minded like were better than them just read the Corinthian letters that this is Christianity. It's not perfect it's imperfect but our Lord is perfect, and that's where we're going in right now will work through these things. And as for me and my house noncurrent but back to this. Therefore, my beloved brethren who had given him such grief, he still love them, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not for nothing in the Lord. That's what he says your labor is not for nothing in the Lord outside the Lord as nothing inside the Lord.

It is everything. So we run with endurance being steadfast, immovable bit you know there been times in my Christian walk. I felt immovable. That's the Lord within there been times that I haven't felt so immovable, that's me, and yet here I still stand that's him. That is the process otherwise would be insulated from all trouble. We just my little take shortcut go to heaven. That's where there is no more trouble but endurance looks forward if it has. If it is set in whole it looks forward critical point, not backwards, forgetting those things which are behind something's got behind need to be remembered, but not those things that will drag you down to pull down altitude kind are constantly remembering where you hurt my feelings that they will. You did this when you said that well I failed and I did some of that stuff needs to be put in the trash heap and burn forever taken outside of the camp and buried not trudged up every every time you feel like you're in the mood to dredge it up, forgetting those things which are behind, reaching forward to those things which are ahead, said by a man who had been stone beaten ship wrecked chased he knew how to forget those things which are behind and reach forward to those things which are ahead.

We have scriptural example of these things so none of us are with excuse would know how to do it. Look in the Scripture, and you can seek the Lord and together you will figure it out you going to take hits in the process. That's all right you toughen up you can take it. That's called endurance. Endurance is discomfort. Endurance hurts it's never fun.

I don't think anyone who runs a marathon, while the running, so this is wonderful hope and make anyway it looks forward to better things.

That's with hope in Christ is Hebrews 6 verse nine. Beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you. Yes, things that accompany salvation, how many Christians a sour post oversell though I thought Christ was going to do so much more for me, like what what we would do for him in return.

I was going to spend whatever you gave me. That's what I was going to do is not up will be the best preacher mankind is ever seen. We tend to think of hope as an anemic word when it is compared with words like true faith and love. We like that don't explain laws faith without it, you know, nothing gets done. Love all I want to receive it and want to give it what about hope when things are apparently hopeless. That's when hope kicks in.

I anybody and I hope it's sunny out hope it's sunny well that's kind of silly, but what about when things are down where's your hope, then again, hope targets victory. We cannot endure in Christ without hope we can endure like the world without hope in Christ, but we cannot endure like believers without hope in Christ were not always hoping for relief were hoping for testimony that we can come through this honoring him whatever this may be so what happens between hope happening and hope fulfilled his revealing that's what you discover how strong or weak, you are and could take from hope. Having from having it to you get to heaven before it is fulfilled, where you going to do in between all of that. If you don't understand grace and you try to follow Jesus in your own strength. Not only will you fail which you will bother other people a lot. You will be an irritant. Great confusion and disappointment await those who confess Christ and never entered into grace. There always serving by the law truth. This is what Jesus said, will we not going to diminished at all.

However, it takes more than just add true there were any other way than we wouldn't have things such as faith, hope and love. But we do have those things. Yes, love is critical, but you can have Christian love without Christian truth. You cannot have Christian truth without hope was a sense of having it does no hope that satisfies it ultimately gives you satisfaction and all the things that happen to us that sin that so easily besets us what you want to do it that you don't understand Christ's grace towards you and you will be able to let it flow from you. How are you going to do that how you going to let come from you. What is not in you this you believe in magic. I hope not. So, too many suppose that grace is a pass for disobedience. It is not, not ever.

Grace is what happens when I run out. Nothing left. I can obey I can't get it done.

I'm too weak but Christ is still strong and he does not toss me into the trash.

He doesn't cast me out. I not evicted.

If I still love him and want him and them determined to serve him no matter what. I don't care what all the naysaying voices on earth may say to you, Christ speaks louder if you will listen.

That's what allows us to stand in the face of opposition of the naysayers of the antichrist of the eight easiest of the agnostics that allows us to stand in front of them and say, you may not have heard his voice I have and I then given it up for you.

I would like to give you some of it but I'm not given it up for you. There's nothing about you more appealing than Jesus Christ. When I read of him dying for me to take my sin away. I don't read about you dying for me. In fact I don't even read about you being good enough to die for me.

Truth is, you know, I know that no one is good enough to die for anybody else to take their sin away. You may be strong enough, brave enough to die for someone else to save their physical life. You can't take away their sin so we run to finish and if you not running to finish.

Why bother enduring because the alternative is unacceptable, undesirable. It is worse.

I rather endure in my suffering then be delivered from my suffering without Christ and that's what persecution is all about to try to get the Christians to say opposite to try to get us to cave in.

As I renounce Christ because I don't want to suffer anymore and so we do well as I mentioned earlier to study the lives of those who suffered when the world was not worthy so that if it comes our turn to suffer. Our magazine is already loaded with determination, with faith and grace and hope truth in love, and everything else we need to still be a Christian, you know, and father parts of the world people are coming to Christ knowing what's waiting for them in this world we we come to Christ. Here was well you know was mom dad going to think or what is my wife going to think or what are they going to think and work my friends that's pretty much the extent of our pressure is increasing. But in places like Syria and other parts of the world. Korea you give your life to Christ. If anybody finds out you will be given your life for Christ very good chance every brutal way. Remember those who are in chains as though change with them what what about those who persecute remember those who are persecuted as a persecuted with them run to finish at pause here for a moment and ask, is anyone thinking well you know preaching is overrated.

Sounds good when you're getting it was the purpose of all let's let's put us side-by-side. You know, let's look at the trash that's coming out a Netflix how they're trying to reshape what is moral and what is not moral. How the calling evil good and good evil to those of people not sitting on the sermon. Those are people not coming under the preaching of the Holy Spirit. Those are the people of the world that have stiff arm the creator of heaven and earth, the hero of Calvary. Jesus Christ, that's what you get going on the Internet into any new site. Just look at the headlines and you tell me of those people sitting on the Christ. I mean, of course, there are one or two stories where there is a champion for the cause of righteousness, but overall it is all that will bring you down and then it gets even better.

Read the comments really what's out there in the heads of people terrified not only the anger but the stupidity these people are there so different from God, just so not interested in anything he has to say they've got all the answers they attack people they they speak without any platform of truth as though it is the final authority and it is not something that we look at you say well I'm better than them. Don't do that. We just see it for what it is and say truth matters.

This cannot be something that goes on judged well will need to get through this.

We still got time. He says the race that is set before you.

Are you gonna like this. Some of you that there were no remember your Bibles, your New Testament was originally written in the Greek language and that is translated into other languages.

Well, that word in the Greek race. The word is all gone from which we get our English word agony. Now all of a sudden the rich language begins to break through so you can say that agony that is set before us. That's life. All it's not all agony but it has, it does kick in from time to time. There are things that it's like someone just split the Laurentian side of our heart or stomach area of our lives so is dealing with them to deal with life in Christ.

The conflict that will come their way. The contention, the violence, the fighting, only Paul uses this word and other evidence led us showing up so many times in his writing is post not others. And then this word are gone.

He uses it in Philippians 130 having the same conflict that's that word are gone, which you saw in me, and now here is in me then second Timothy is as I have fought the good all gone.

The good agony the conflict. I have fought the fight what fight the fight of life in Christ they saying this is on death row is about to leave this life. It is believed he says I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race have kept the faith.

And then he goes into that ablative you're finally there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, so the race is set before us and that is the race of life who you competing against Satan. No is the enemy will come against you. We do fight him and his forces the life is me. My sinful nature. The Christian is not into competition in the life of Christ we are at war against our own sinful nature is no getting around in front of us have a choice cast into this life we don't volunteer to be born, only one has ever done that we all have to face this life, and then after this life, we must face God about this life. 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