July 24, 2016 - Elevation Ballantyne Sermon notes Pastor Steven Furtick Sermon Title: My Confidence is Coming Back Scripture: Hebrews 10: 19 to 39: A Call to Persevere in Faith: 19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, It is mine to avenge; I will repay, and again, The Lord will judge his people. 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For, In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay. 38 And, But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back. 39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. Sermon notes for My Confidence is coming back by Pastor Steven: Are you excited for the word of God today? Let s get to it. Please go to Hebrews 10: 35 to 37. This is a scripture that is so loaded with power that I could almost read it, drop the mic, and then walk off the stage and not even say anything about it. However, I am not going to do that and I have few things to say about it. Instead of a title, let s make a fake declaration today say this loud and proud so that you can tell the devil that you mean business shout it so loud that your neighbor will be startled when you say it are you ready? - Say this: My confidence is coming back. It is coming back quickly. You know that God kind of confidence not that Instagram confidence posting something four times and then taking it down if you did not get enough likes in three minutes not that post that has half of your body hanging out of my clothes that reflects the fact that you look good not that confidence. That is not confidence, that is compensation. I want a God kind of confidence It is important that I say that because confidence has a context. For example, saying something in a biblical context is different than saying something in the Kim Kardashian context. Page 1
The main point to make here is that context in important. The writer of Hebrews has a daunting task. He is trying to strengthen and re-construct the confidence of a group of Christians who are in crisis. In order to do this, the writer deploys two rhetorical devices. He uses contrast and context. The writer is tying to get Christians to focus on Christ while in a state of crisis. Consider Peter: When Peter did that (focusing on Christ) in his crisis, he transcended the laws of buoyancy and it is amazing what you can get up above when you focus on Christ in your crisis. In order to bring them to this focal point of Christ in crisis the writer starts in chapter 1 by providing a context of the superiority of Christ and the new covenant. In this context and in this setting, the writer presents a picture of Christ who is better. Better than the angles in theological term we call this the superiority of Christ. He is better than anything that you can name. Better than anything that you can inhale. Better than anything that you can snort. Better than anything that you can chug. Better than anything that you can date. Better than anything that you can give your life to. He is better. Shout this: He is better. He is better than the mediator of the old covenant that being Moses. It is in this context that he must present to people a motivation for perseverance by establishing their confidence in crisis. Not only does the writer of Hebrews provide a contrast (the mosaic sacrificial system in the temple-cultic law) to the hope that we have in Jesus Christ to the extent that the sacrifice has been made once and for all. A Pastor Steven Classic: Do you know how I know this? I saw your cars pulling into the parking lot today and I did not see any bulls or oxen tied to your bike rack of your vehicle for you to take your knife and slit their throats for you to make atonement for your sins. Instead you came in with confidence in knowing that Christ is enough to atone for our sins and make right all of our mistakes. The author of Hebrew is re-establishing the confidence in people who have lost their confidence in life. I have found out in life that you can lose a lot of things and get them back if you keep your confidence. The devil can t take your calling. The bible says that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance because God does not change his mind when you lose your way. Therefore, since the devil can t take your calling, he attacks your confidence. If you can get the devil to give him your confidence, the devil can keep you from shaping your calling. If he can get you to believe that you are raising your kids in a way that is detrimental and destructive, he can get you to repeat the patterns and miss the opportunity for progress because he stripped you of your confidence. You can have a great calling and no confidence. Joyce Myers says that a believer without confidence is a like a jet without fuel all that equipment and no power available to get above the weight of the circumstances - she will expand on this a bit when she visits us for code orange revival. Got confidence? Remember that saying Got Milk? Christians without confidence this should be an oxymoron. I think that the whole context of the new testament is confidence. If it does not make you more confident it is not in the gospel. If you ever heard someone preach to you and walked out and said crap! You did not hear the gospel in the correct context. The author of Hebrews is providing context to those in crisis. Perhaps this same writer should provide some guidance and instruction to our nation as well. Page 2
Consider this modern day comment: This is the worst it has ever been! Really? You mean today is worse than slavery? Can we not put our present station in the right context? During a recent pastor s conference, a young white pastor stated that racial tensions are the worst they have ever been! Really? In the meeting was an elderly African American pastor that lived through segregation in the 1950s and 1960s said the following: Young man I appreciate the sentiment, but allow me to provide some context and about 15 mins later the young white pastor wanted out of the room. Pastor Steven s son asked the following question recently: Are all presidential elections this crazy? He is only 10 and he is looking for some context. When considering the rest of the world, we have a pretty clean transition of power. In some countries, power does not change hands unless blood runs in the street. Sometimes you have lost your relationships because you have lost your context that is a person did one thing to offend you prompting you to walk away from the hundreds of things that caused you to love time. The devil is a master of trying to create a crisis in your life by causing you to lose your sense of context. Say this: Keep in context. Consider the Garden in Gen: To Eve, the serpent says did God really say that you could not eat from any tree in the garden? looking at all things you can t do when God said that you could only not eat from one tree where God communicates all of the things that you can do where Christianity not about boring rules and regulations. How many of you know that we have great high priest who s name is Jesus and the author of Hebrews wants you to get your confidence back. But you can t have confidence without context. Let s now review a few more verses in Hebrews that provide context for the admonition do not throw away your confidence. See Hebrews 10: 19 to 35. Here we read that Christians are losing friends and suffering loss in their personal life due to their faith and they are in need of encouragement. We may not be accessing our confidence right now but we have it. How many of you have a phone? How many of you are talking on it right now? Just because you have it doesn t mean that you are using it. Sometimes we think we need more confidence, when all that we need to do is use the confidence that we already have by way of the virtue of the power of Christ in us today. I feel like preaching today. Can I? Because someone is going to get their confidence back by the time I put down my microphone. The Lord told me that some of you are losing your confidence. God wants us to know that we have confidence that enter into the most holy place that was the place that where only the high priests could enter - Where the presence of God is so strong in the holy place that if you did not go in ceremoniously and clean, you would fall down dead. How many of you are glad for a new covenant? I think the whole top section of Blakeney and the preacher would fall over dead on the stage if we had to be clean as a condition for going to church. The writer of Hebrews is a telling us about a new covenant and he is excited about it. Come on in to this most holy place. How do you do that? By the blood of Jesus. This is a new and living way open for us through this curtain which is his body. And since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and full assurance that faith brings. Having our hearts sprinkled to cleans us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water let us hold unswervingly to the hope that we profess for he who promises to be faithful. You have not always been faithful to God, yet God has always been faithful to you. Page 3
Let us consider how we must spur each other on for good deeds. Let s talk about the three things where Christian confidence comes from? There are three in the text and they all start with the letter C (or they will when I get done with them) Your Conscience: o It is kind of hard to have confidence if you do not have a good conscience. o Some of you lost your confidence because you lost your conscience. Now because of unresolved bitterness, forgiveness that God has initiated but you have not completed, or something that you are hiding, you can t go forth with confidence. o The devil is masterful at this. Because if he can t get to your calling through your confidence, he will get to your confidence through your conscience so he will temp you to do something that will defile your conscience and now that you have a defiled conscience, you no longer have confidence. o To come into the presence of God requires confidence. o As we have read in Hebrews, God is the only place where your conscience can be cleansed. o The most holy place that place of surrender that contact with God - is where the blood of Jesus is sprinkled to purify your conscience. o However, if you do not have confidence, you will not come in. o So the only place that can heal your conscience you will not go into. Some stop coming to church at the precise time that you need it the most. o Don t let the devil tell you that you do not need to come to church today (for the on-line viewing audience). o But the context of our relationship with God in not our behavior. It is the blood of His son shed for us - so when those drops hit the ground, mercy hits our life and grace covers our sin. o His compassion covered all of the wrong things that we had done, will do, and even the things that we are doing right now. o So I can come into the presence of God with my head held high like a child of the king I am not a slave to fear. My sprit cries out, Aba father I need you right now. Help! I am in a crisis, come on in. o God says: I know what you did in your 20s and what you did at 9:47 AM. Come on in. o We need you to know that the context of Christian confidence is not the ability to conform to a set of behaviors this is old covenant. This is bringing a turtle dove to church to be sacrificed. o But we have a great a high priest and he is the context of my confidence. o The context of my confidence is a clear conscience. We also need a community: o You need some people in your life. o Say this to your neighbor: I need people like you in my life. o Let s not get in the habit of not meeting together. o Recall that story of Pastor Steven been told of his potential for leadership by Jackie at Mocks Corner United Methodist Church in SC. o The temptation that is being presented by the author of Hebrews is the same temptation to turn back where no sooner that you get started in the pursuit of a promise from God, you lose your confidence and turn back because certain people don t like it or certain people don t agree with you or certain people don t endorse your decision to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. o That is what you need certain other people. o A Pastor Steven Classic: You must follow Christ for yourself, but you can t follow Christ by yourself. o So you need a new community. o Someone to look you in the eyes and say: Hey man, you are still good and you need to press on. Page 4
o Everyone has a confidence deterioration committee in each of our heads where one committee member called passed experience will sneak up with you quickly as you attempt move toward God (recall the tread mill that is now a coat rack). And there is the committee member of self-loathing and doubt. o Recall the profit Elisha teaching a new protégée to open his eyes lord to see that their enemies where surrounded by the armies of the living God. o I believe that God wants to bring people in your life that are able to surround what is surrounding you until you are able to see the protection, provision, and promise of God come to pass. o When Elevation Church built this Ballantyne campus the design was such that we can all see each other and surround each other. o When we come to church troubled, and weak, and tested, know that we are surrounded. o If you want to go back another person says, I will not let you. You have come too far by faith and I will not let you go backwards. o Recall the new song: I believe that will see you do it again. This is my confidence and you have never failed me yet. o During a staff meeting Pastor Steven did an alter call for those that are in a crisis of conscience more than 50 percent of the staff came to stage. o Key point: A lack of confidence need not be a death of your calling. I have seen too many lives abandoned at the cross roads of confidence had they pressed on just a little bit more they would have achieved brake though. o And the Devil has got you some now where you are that Hebrews 10 cross road of confidence trying to decide if living a life of Christian values will worth it or go back to the old way. o Key point: He is who is coming will come and not delay. When the devil comes this is a good sign that you are in proximity to the promise that you have been pressing towards. o Ponder this: If 50% of my staff admitted they were having a crisis of conscience (and they were being paid to be Christians) what is going on in the congregation? I can t image the tension that the devil creates in your mind and the mistakes that are replayed in your head that five-minute clip that runs in your head every time that you step out. o Only the blood of Jesus can clear your conscience and you have the blood of Jesus, therefore be confident. o You are around the right people and we are going to do this together. And, it is going to take consistency: o You see those biceps, that did come from one visit to the gym. o Confidence comes from consistency. o This includes attending church and reading your bible on a consistent basis. o Recall Sirena Williams after she won her most recent grand slam title: How do you deal with this all of this pressure? Answer: (and instant classic)... well I have played a lot of tennis. o A lot of confidence comes from people who know how to preserver during a dry season: a. saying a lot of prayers, b. forgiving a lot of people, c. read a lot of bible verses. o So do not throw away your confidence it will be richly rewarded. o In vs. 32, you need to look back. Remember when you first endured the light. o You made it and you are still here. o Some times the best way to handle this is when you look back. o Recall the amazing story of pastor Steven when he was a young preacher. God says, you have done it before and you will do it again. o Believe God in what God has done and what God will do in the future. Page 5
o I will keep preaching until you all have the Hebrews 10 ability to have sustained confidence. How do we get our confidence back? We get it back in the GAP. Can I talk about the GAP? After you have done the will of God, you will receive what is promised. So, we are on a journey and we are making progress. However, in the mist of our journey we lose our confidence. Where did we lose it? We lost it in the GAP. There is always a Gap. There is a space of time between when you have done the will of God and when the will of God become apparent. There are three parts to this: a. where I want to be, b. who I am now and c. where I was. And I am frustrated with who I am vs. where we want to be here I get discouraged and weary and want to quit. The Church that the writer of Hebrew is addressing those that are not walking away from their faith as they are weakening in it. It is not that we no longer believe in Jesus anymore, it is matter of wanting to withdraw from the fullness of the promise of a life in him. It is in this gap that most struggle. However, there is a second gap: The distance between where I was and where I am. Now we are going to put this in context. Everyone needs to look back and tell the devil that I am not where I want to be but I am a lot better than where I was. I am not who I was (where this GAP contains all of the lions and bears that you slain). Therefore, If I already made it this far and through so many battles, I think I will press on to what the end is going to be. Praise him right now. Praise builds confidence. Do not throw away your confidence. You are responsible for your own confidence. If you lost your confidence, you can get it back. Get it back. You have come too far to quit. See we say Hebrews 13:6. Hebrews 13:6New International Version (NIV): 6 So we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Page 6