065 - The City of the Living God!

You pick up your Bible. One more is there something here for me. I mean it's just words printed on paper right well it may look like just print on a page, but it's more than Inc. join us for the next half hour, as we explore God's word together as we learn how to explore it on our own.

As we ask God to meet us there in its pages welcome to more than you ever been in ground disoriented and you don't know what's going to happen you feel like everything is coming down around you that I've been having really been that bad will it can be awfully disorienting.

Well, there's a bigger bigger make the final earthquake shake well read that today on more than welcome to our dining with their Bibles open like we always are.

When we come to to do this from usually are coffee but I drink my golf. So glad you're with us this morning and we are we are doing the second of Hebrews 12.

Last week we talked the cloud of witnesses, where we fix our eyes look where you're going or you're going to be distracted and go where you're looking to write so you know this is the kind of the wrapup of chapter 12 where he says you know because you haven't come to that kind of experience that Old Testament Sinai experience you've come new covenant to a new place to mount Zion go look where you're going to go. We are looking for another way of saying this is the new covenant versus the old right well he's actually going to use that phrase here so so with with a view toward were you looking right contrast yet.

Let me let me take this offer, you weren't Hebrews chapter 12 verse eight okay and he's going to talk about the old he's got a reference back to the experience annexes which were going to be stuck as has been doing all along along the book got justice because it because they did what they did is an example for us. He says this will understand so so harkening back to Mount Sinai in the desert annexes 19 and 20. Around that area.

This I picks up in verse 18 for you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire, darkness and gloom and a tempest, and the sound of the trumpet and the voice whose words made the that here is big, but no further messages be spoken to them, but they could not endure in order that was given which is even if a beast touches the mountain shall be stolen. Indeed, so terrifying was the site that Moses said, I tremble with fear stop at stop the vivid picture of the base of melts and if you go back and read in Exodus 19 and 20 email.

It took me a long time to discover this, but when they first came to the mountain. This sounds terrified them smoke in the fire terrified them. They said wall Moses.

We don't want to hear the voice of God as you go talk to him and come back and tell us what he said because the whole experience was so overwhelming and just emphasized God is holy and separate and other than you are.

Yeah, this is the same guy that was traveling with them in the desert if they cross the river early this was right after thing running a red light after that. This is the first time I got really speaks in the way writers terrified they realized their dealing with the God whose big and mother and who is to be feared.

Actually right yeah yeah yeah and so he so what he's saying right.

Here's a habit you haven't come to that. That's not your experience now you know were were passed that away. However I won't say that were really passed that because it's the same it's the same God. And this is really a depiction in a visible existence with Israel about how God is just a very just God and so out of this experience, I should remember when there there. The guy doesn't doesn't rattle their cages there.

Mount Sinai just around the cages.

This is the giving of the law.

So this is a very sobering thing that this this this booming voice in that sense says okay so here's the deal. Here's a contract and there come the 10 Commandments, so that's that's the before. That's the just got this for God while consuming fire and all along the writer of Hebrews has been saying now all of that happened to them. Real place real-time people, but we have something better something better and better covenant. We have a better mediator. We have a better Savior. We have Rob assist so you know he sets up this section say you haven't come to that right Old Testament old cousin.

What have you come, you have come so that contrast is what's in view here and that's restarts in 2222 is the pivot where he talks about what you have, on the terrifying voice of Mount Sinai, but 2022 but you have come to Mount Zion different mountain and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel referred to the blood of Abel.

Earlier in chapter 11. If you recall, he was Genesis through poor Genesis. Four were after Ables killed his blood to the ground and came think I got away with it right got to know your his blood is crying from the ground justice so but it's but this is blood from Jesus but is crying in a different kind way. So he's comparing to mountains to mount to Christ focal places right so I would encourage you as good Bible students to just pick apart this comparison a little bit drag down Old Testament cross-references go back and read Exodus 19 and 20 and also Moses elaborates on it a little bit in Deuteronomy 5 so go back and look at those things and consider their experience and look at the contrast with mount Zion right place where God touches down when the temple was built and where the cross happened right, which in the earthly manifestation of it was still to come in the nation. Visually, the their trek when they left Egypt was to go to mount a good amount Sinai Mount Sinai first was a law crying a lot just right, God is there and then a generation later there in the promised land in their in science. Okay so these both. Both of these things coexist in their human experience and for us from a spiritual sense.

They also coexist, but but focus on what we've come to look what he says is at this Mount Zion.

This is figurative and real in the right will spread sense. So he uses this word to unite not become not just to Mount Zion but you also come to the city.

City of the living God. And you know we've emphasized before about the city idea.

I love the whole picture.

The city idea because back in their time, and even the wild West in America city was was an uncommon place of protected order assembly of of peace and joy and order a minute. It was just such a contrast to the wild and woolly nature of nature outside well and the contrast here. Sinai was in the wilderness exactly and told us back in chapter 11 Moses or Abraham was seeking a city seeking architect yelled at W. God Pl. of great design for peace and where will people dwell together. Yeah, it's a it's a wonderful metaphor and I like and he's going to use it many times before he finishes the book because it's just such a great this is the promise fulfilled. It's a city a great city where God will be the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and guess who's there innumerable angels wow that's cool in festal gathering, I mean it's it's a celebration it's a joyful play way that sounds to me like Revelation and I think this is chapter 14 I just looked at it, but yeah, this incredible heavenly gathering this cloud of witnesses, not just human witnesses but angelic with angelic witnesses.

Yeah, cool cool celebrating yeah got host of heaven. That's what he's getting at here and and to you know to the assembly of the first born who are enrolled in heaven. There's a lot right there, though jumping around joy because even that assembly is actually two words. It means Gen. assembly and also Nicosia called called one so they were called out to this, and that's the assembly of the firstborn of course dramatically as her sword. Christ yeah right right inheritor and and and you are those who are enrolled in heaven, that the word that were enrolled as the same. We use registration, you sign you write down something you get your name on a list and it's referred to other places the Bible I can Revelation multiple times. The book of life. Do you remember certain there when Jesus sent out the apostles the first time and I came back crowing because they cast out demons, and all these hearings and he says hey don't rejoice in that. Rejoice in this, that you are looking at arms are written. That's an analytic tell you did to 1020 way I can write 1020 rejoice that your names are written in heaven's vestry Senior this is assembly of all those people whose names are right there and and by the way, if you are following Jesus. Your name is written when the roll is called up yonder and I'll be there when you talk about a registration like that.

It's it's it's signed Inc. it's written in your pocket so it's a real emphasis on the fact that your name is there and won't be raised you're there. Here, there, so this assembly of all those people and that and then another two to God, who is by way the judge of all, he's not giving away from God's justice and this is the judge of all, and also to the spirits of the righteous made. I mean the perfect to get his Telesis of the enemy completed all that they were intended to be the collection of all those of gotten to the end and then finally, what a great crowd 24 and asked and to Jesus. Amen. The mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which Reno goes back to the Temple imagery right to call ask officials are unable to come into the presence of God holy of holies and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks much better than the blood of Abel. There is a better better better better better hope better ministry, better covenant better promises better priesthood better sacrifices.

Those are all things that the writer of Hebrews has laid out detail for us and he's kind of summing it all up in this beautiful picture. This is this is her hope this is you know we talked last summer but were your eyes placed re-looking this is where you should be looking contrast right@night at mountain in the wilderness where it the threat it was a threat of death. If you try and come in fear and keep your distance.

God is not messing around. But here God is established peace through the blood of the cross of Jesus we are drawn in. We are made holy. Where called and fellowship with him. It's such an amazing contrast givest Shell and I know it's I just love the section altogether and I and II really latch heavily on this idea of the city.

The city and you know your he talked about that.

I guess it was with Abraham back in Hebrews 11 that he was looking forward to a city that has foundations right right that God designed that God designed and built me. That's what that's that's exactly you we in Hebrews 1116 races that you know. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called to God because he's prepared for them. City Asante Jesus and had I'm going to prepare a place where I am yearning to be right in the city you live inside bounded abounded walled place.

Yes, there is a king is there. By the way to when people ask me whatever you going to be like. I'm tempted always go back to this because this doesn't tell me anything about streets of gold, but it does tell me who's going to be there.

Yes, that's what thrills my heart that's that that's what is listed as this is this is the city and guess who's going to be living in that city will God himself is what angels are in celebration mode, the assembly, the firstborn, who had their names written in the book. I mean an end to Jesus the mediator of the skunk. That's was going to. That's what excites me. That's why I want heaven and that's where my focus is aimed and not on here now.

I'm thinking that Revelation 20 2122 says in, and that lamp is the Lamb yeah yeah any right right a very light that comes in that city is from the Lamb cell. That's this is where this is where our focus on to be where are you looking this is where look so if you want to be encouraged in Bible study. Students look through the New Testament for this imagery of the city find it here in Hebrews and you'll find it big time. In Revelation time.

It's so thew the writer of Hebrews is laying down that picture. And John is given this amazing picture to write down for us in Revelation: we need about that city right toward the end of the book is Chapter 2122 yeah yeah it's it's very encouraging and again we we lose some of the imagery of how wonderful a city is, but every time you see we every time you see is bogus pressure and in terms of Abraham or someone is is relegated to living in a tent writing site contrast laundering they're not living in the city so the right. There are passing through kind of get by residence in that sense and so and Paul uses imagery as well that even her life right now I'm living in this tent right and saw impasto not living in a city up at the city is coming. The permanent dwelling place is coming in so that then imagery is really power going there and I'm going to the island because the streets are made of gold know exactly. So heaven is not what it's going to be like but who's going be like, who's going to be there so that's that's what he painted for us a great picture where I should be set so 2525 after see to it that you do not refuse him who's speaking right for if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth he still talking about signing their much less will we escape, if we reject him learns from heaven at that time, his voice shook the earth but now he's promised.

Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.

This phrase, yet once more indicates the removal of things that are shaken.

That is, things that have been made in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken. That's let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe consuming fire. I'm stunned. He's harkening back to that Old Testament idea of the consuming fire. The fire that consumes the whole burnt offering and you know how does that fit in this picture of a kingdom that can't be shaken. In this contrast between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion old covenant and the new covenant you Bible study. Students camp there for a little bit and track down that idea of a consuming fire shows up in Deuteronomy shows a number of places that you know if fire judges. It clinches it. We have a daughter who's a sculptor and we've talked a lot about clay which is when you win, fire pot, it renders permanent condition that clay to this idea that God is a consuming fire.

He has the last word right on the judgment and its it's us it's a stark contrast on things are temporary versus things are yeah you know because it again. Jesus also uses the idea of annual testament of grass you know grass is great is the bar fire and its ingress is clearly a temporary thing anyway so so the uses metaphor to talk about things that are temporary versus what's going to remain in also. One of the grass fire comes up the edge my brick house is not to hurt my Brickhouse will take will take the grass right right so temporary versus permanent. What's temporary what's permanent at this point is making here is that your existence right now in this place is the temporary Harare and and and there's going to be another shaking happening be like a fire this, take out the things that are temporary, so are you latched onto the temporary you latched onto the permanent well and you know this book has been filled with warnings and he says in verse 25 and see to it that you don't refuse right because if they didn't escape when they refused him worn from Earth, much less we escape if we reject him worn from how to take ski resort. He says now don't drift, don't count. Don't neglect don't turn away. Don't harden your heart.

Don't refuse him right. He still speak, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a site is something you should be told was then shipped to you and this is this is a promise of great life with great benefit to us, so he saying don't be distracted, don't be entangled here. You know, set your heart and your focus to what's to come. But don't don't refuse him who's speaking because there is a shaking that's coming. There is an inevitable shaking. This final judge. I was thinking about this shaking and the writer here is referring back to when the earth shook designer, but you know there was a there was a shaking of the earth when Jesus died at the cross, God was shaking kind of foreshadowing in judgment to of sin.

Foreshadowing that final shaking to remove all the things that are temporary right right time shaking the table and I see the thing up and I it's it's sobering. When I read that yet. Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. Everything is going to be shaken like thing about beating a rug and right getting all the dirt out and that's you know a loving God in a very just way is is listening to our prayers and God. When will I be in a place with you. Will there will be no more sin ranks is outdoor about going to beat the carpet one more time writing this into going to go away. So what's left is enduring and positive in good and the bad will be gone more times since we think we see that imagery and revelation.

When John says I looked and heavens were rolled up like a scroll right is this picture of God's just shaking out the scenery curtains just rolled them up and all and you see the eternal things that were hidden along that's referred to as the day of the Lord today and I like how he says the day of the Lord is all too real tough because it implies very strongly that there is a date predetermined on the calendar and God's, and it will come regards to what you think what you think about that hanky I passage that there that's how you I looked at because for the writer of Hebrews when he makes easy grab these tiny little fragments of the Old Testament, knowing that his readers know the rest of the SH but no I start reading for a first before the one he quotes because he says in Haggai 2 verse 55. As for the promise which I made you when you came in Egypt my spirit is abiding in your midst, do not feel fear, for thus says the Lord of hosts once more in a little while. I'm going shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land, and I'll shake all nations, and they'll come with the wealth of the nations and I will fill this house with glory White House is he talking about what Haggai was a prophet in Zerubbabel's time, when the first wave of returnees came back to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem that had been destroyed by the Babylonians and so Haggai is encouraging Mama God saying you know your rebuild this brick-and-mortar building but I'm going to feel bigger greater temple with glory in the future.

Even more, and then he says in verse eight Haggai to the silver's mind and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts, and the latter glory of this house will be greater than the says the Lord of hosts, and in this place I shall give people peace is the Lord of hosts for five times in these verses the Lord of hosts. Who's that well the one who reigns over everything. All that angelic host of angels and souls of righteous men made complete Yep Yep Yep shaking is still the kind God has promised it to fill it with glory and in this mount Zion. He has made peace right.

Colossians says he Ephesians says he's made peace by the blood of his cross. Yep, so this shaking isn't just to be punitive now shaking is to remove all the influence of sin and get shake out everything that does is take out all the stuff because that stuff is not permanent going away you and you get your wise just yet under the junk that you're experiencing right now because the proximity of sin, but there's a day coming. He'll shake it yet once more shake you in Christ are going to come through the shaking right if if you you know if you're a follower of Christ attached to his righteousness. In that sense that's permanent and that won't go away, then that will assist that will be sustained through the wrath of God, but all the stuff gone and in fact I you know a great great picture going back to Passover when the people are leaving Egypt. You know they were inside their houses with the Passover lamb with the blood of the door and the wrath of God came to its work to the whole area and presumably it would've been taken out to the wrath was universal across all the people there in Goshen at the time, but with their houses marked they were preserved from it.

So they were still under that wrath. Just like us right here under that wrath, but because of the blood of the Lamb get the pass through. They were in side the houses they had gone and I think I said this last week through that bloodsoaked doorway and you said if you're a follower of Christ. I would emphasize that the New Testament idea is not are you a follower of Christ, but are you in Christ. I did a survey of that a couple years ago and liked 900 times in the New Testament in Christ. Christ in you shows up.

We just don't see followers accepting the Gospels and there were lots of people who followed who didn't necessarily follow through the shaking writings that hard, and they fell away, so I would say if you are in Christ, he is in you, you will come through the shots, a great study to do all the grace to do that which it explains why when Paul says Christ in you is the hope of glory is existing past the judgment right so Christ in you that the key that's the that's the permanent indelible key for you, making it pass judgment Christ in you, that's your hope of glory. Being in glory. That's what it's talking about what what a great way for him to close down in verse 28 so you know let's be grateful and offer to God an acceptable shippable words. Where have we seen that phrase before or right shows up, it shows up in Romans 12 Romans 12 acceptable worship because look, regardless of the junk you're going through right now and that's the contrast were getting up regardless of all the stuff that you need to remain under because life is suboptimal right now because the presence of sin.

We have received a kingdom which cannot be shaken that that is a reality that's a permanent thing. We received a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and this place it were right in right now is a kingdom that will be shaken. It'll be be shaken clean of all that sinfulness. But we have received a kingdom that cannot be shaken so let's worship with reference to know God is a consuming fire. That's the shaking stucco. So Paul says in Romans 12 one.

I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, right because God is merciful and merciful toward us and to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of ship there it is spiritual is that people worship well pleases God presenting our whole cell, so no go. I'm just kind of at the end of our time. Don't conform to this world but be trained to transform by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what the will of God is that is passing through. This place is a temporary play and it's going to be shaken awfully by the rapid justice of God, so be thankful you received a kingdom that cannot be shaken and give thanks city that God has prepared for you to be and where you will be with him. Jesus with all the others. Those who make perfect righteousness. Fix your eyes on you going. That's the goal.

Well, we come back next week we started to 13 the last chapter and were excited about that is will give us some practical tips for how you live Larry Frank from here. Until that so I'm Jim and I'm doing with this in you next week, more than Inc. that's what I as