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PASTOR WOOD’S Message notes
Message Notes: Veterans Sunday
Title: “All In”
Text: Hebrews 9:24-28
Intro: Remember Who you worship. Creator of the Universe. Jesus is all in with our salvation. Sin ruins us and cannot coexist with God. The old is scrapped and the new takes it place.
I. Learning from the Original Tabernacle.
A. A copy of the True Tabernacle in heaven.
1. High Priest/Day of Atonement.
2. Sacrifices for himself and for people.
3. Kipporeth—Golden cover of the Ark.
B. Jesus is our High Priest.
1. Jesus alone goes first into the Holy of Holies.
2. Appears—Perfect Tense.
3. Jesus appears as perfected humanity.
4. Mediates, prepares, and advocates for His people.
C. Death and Judgement
1. Death is guaranteed because of sin.
2. Sin brings judgement which is also guaranteed.
3. Jesus coming back is guaranteed.
4. Resurrection is equally guaranteed to the faithful.
II. Lessons from Vets.
A. GK Chesterton–“The true Soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.”
1. Fight for the guy next to you.
2. Work as a unit to accomplish the mission.
3. Our mission is Gospel.
4. Success rides on faith and fellowship.
B. Jesus is about transforming us into His image.
1. Jesus is a giver.
2. He is ALL IN, giving Himself for all of us.
3. Not “some” but with “all” of your heart, mind, and soul.
4. A partial effort in a combat zone will get someone killed and jeopardize the mission.
5. The world we live in is a combat zone and its favorite weapon is selfish thinking.
C. Jesus sees the difference.
1. Difference from the rich and the widow.
2. “They gave out of their wealth.”
3. Another layer of being fakes.
4. “She gave out of her poverty.”
D. An illustration with Milk and Coke.
1. Milk represents faithfulness.
2. Coke represents the world.
3. We want to look like milk but mix in the Coke.
4. Looks like milk but doesn’t taste like milk.
5. Many convince others and themselves that they are milk.
6. Revelation 3:16—Spit out.
7. https://www.instagram.com/conduit.church/reel/C7HvoaXOg5X/
E. Jesus wants us to see the widow.
1. Jesus notices her. Others don’t.
2. She was all in.
3. Caution: we can convince ourselves of a lot and overlook the widow’s example.
4. When Jesus looks at us do we look like the widow or the pharisee? Look carefully!
F. “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.”
1. Not just two pennies but all of our heart, mind, and soul.
2. Widow. Poor. Still shows up.
3. Jesus sees through our smokescreens.
4. If can’t see real self we risk missing the real truth about Jesus and His Word.
III. Think of others first.
A. A Navy Seal Admiral, William McRaven, talks about an important lesson Seals learn: Think first of others.
1. Learn that he had cancer.
2. Chris asked someone to put up a list of the people who’d been injured in combat the night before. Then he gave me a look, and I knew what it meant.
3. Hugh Delehanty, “Q&A William McRaven,” AARP Bulletin (April, 2023), p. 30
B. Jesus thinks first of us.
1. His mission.
2. Shared in humanity.
3. Endured our sin.
4. Even on the cross—thinks of others.
C. Hebrews 9:28. “And Jesus will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”
1. Day of Atonement.
2. The High Priest is inside the Holy of Holies.
3. He is mediating for the people behind the veil alone.
4. The people outside would wait anxiously for him to reappear.
5. Rejoiced when He returned because they knew that God had accepted the sacrifice.
6. When Jesus returns there will be great rejoicing.
7. Difference—He returns to take us with Him into the Holy of Holies/The Father’s house.
D. Remember that on the 7th day of creation God rested.
1. 7th Day rested with His creation/with Adam and Eve.
2. Final Sabbath rest means resting with the Lord.
3. Spiritually and Physically ALL IN.
Conclusion: A true soldier is all in and mobilized for the mission.
This is similar to the intensity and commitment of Jesus. We have a level of importance too big to ignore, greater than the rest of Creation itself. In Your prayers remember Whom you are talking to. Remember also the widow who herself was a veteran of faith worthy of celebrating. Perhaps by her example we will learn to do better and really be ALL in for Jesus.
Taking it Home
1. Can you relate to the young preacher’s illustration of milk and Coke? (Worth viewing)
2. Does the example of the widow at the Temple challenge you? Does your life right now look more like a Pharisee or the widow? Be honest. The Lord can see the difference.
3. What do you foresee is the biggest temptation or obstacle that you use to hold yourself back from being all in with Jesus and His Word? What kinds of things are you doing right now that signal whether you are all in or not all in?
Consider Reading all of Hebrews 9 and 10
PRINTABLE PDF: VeteransDay.PDF
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Dear Grace Congregation
I am very humbled and grateful to have been in the Lord’s service for 25 years. I am grateful to have served here at Grace for twenty of those years. Thanks to all of you for making our family a part of Grace’s family these twenty years. Thank you for the kindness, the fun, and the joy of last Sunday’s celebration. Thank you for the great meal and fellowship. Thanks to the youth for remembering Michigan Jones so fondly. Thank you for your cards and gifts and for the many expressions of love. Thank you for putting up with all my VBS ideas and hanging in there with me each year. Thank you for your patience when I am a little slow or dull. Thank you for including us in your own milestones. Thank you for allowing me to continue to work side by side with you in this ministry. The family of Grace has been very consistent in its support of its staff and is a big reason I remain here as pastor. We love this congregation and look forward to many more years together with you.
Love in Christ
Pastor Matthew Woods (PW)