1 00:00:01,720 --> 00:00:08,360 Good morning, everybody. Joyce and I are extremely 2 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:17,720 honored to be with you here today and rejoices our heart to 3 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:24,800 be a a part of the blessing your pastor and his wife and the 4 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:28,160 pastoral staff of this church. What a blessing. 5 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:33,360 And we rejoice with you. How many of you know that you 6 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:37,880 can go to Bible school and you can learn theology and you can 7 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:41,960 learn other things, but that doesn't make you a pastor. 8 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:49,600 Being a pastor means being called from God and set in by 9 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,480 God. And we're grateful for the 10 00:00:52,480 --> 00:00:56,520 calling of God on Pastor Blake and his wife Cassie. 11 00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:01,200 They're a wonderful team. They're a wonderful example. 12 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:06,880 And we're just honored to be here on this special day. 13 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:12,080 We were blessed yesterday that have the opportunity to be 14 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:14,880 together with some folks teaching for a little while. 15 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:18,320 We have been hosted so graciously. 16 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:22,920 Beautiful room is down here at the Hampton and Pastor and his 17 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:25,920 wife have just hosted us and been gracious and we are 18 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:29,360 thankful for that. And we're grateful for the 19 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:32,960 opportunity to minister to you this morning. 20 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:39,160 And I've asked my wife to read the passage of Scripture. 21 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:43,600 You may turn to it in Ephesians, not Ephesians, Philippians, 22 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:49,880 chapter 2, starting in verse 5. And I've asked her if she like, 23 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:53,920 please make some comments and then she'll read and pray before 24 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:57,400 we start a ministry. So good to be with you all, just 25 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:01,480 to see so many happy smiling faces and where the joy of the 26 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:06,400 Lord is, there's peace, there's victory, and the presence of the 27 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:08,479 Lord is so great within this place. 28 00:02:08,479 --> 00:02:12,040 We're just happy to be here. I was thinking this morning too 29 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:16,160 about how the pastor's appreciation and the Scripture 30 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:19,800 came to. Blessed are the feet of those up 31 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:21,760 on the mountain who bring good news. 32 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:25,320 So we've all got blessed feet, blessed feet, and we're 33 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:27,760 believing that those blessed feet are going to take you 34 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:31,840 mighty places in the Lord, that He has His hand upon a lot of 35 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:34,800 you for something good. And you may not know what it is 36 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:38,160 at this time, but if you go forth serving the Lord, you will 37 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:42,040 see the Lord open up doors for you, doors that you cannot even 38 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:44,120 imagine. But to know that the Lord has 39 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:48,240 His hand up on you and He will make a way where there's God to 40 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:51,200 be no way. So know that your God is able, 41 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:54,600 he's able to see you through. He's able to carry you through. 42 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,640 He's able to make a way for you when you think of there is no 43 00:02:58,640 --> 00:03:01,120 way. Thank God and the Lord and know 44 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:05,040 that the Lord he is God. He's able to do all that he 45 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:09,360 wants to do for he has plans and purposes for you beyond and 46 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:13,240 above what you can even imagine. So hold on to the word of the 47 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:15,640 God. I was singing of that song too, 48 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:19,320 of trusting in the Lord. The scripture says that those 49 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:21,440 who know the Lord will trust in him. 50 00:03:21,640 --> 00:03:24,760 For those who seek his face, He will never forsake us. 51 00:03:24,920 --> 00:03:29,440 So we just keep on keeping on his faith and to know the Lord 52 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:33,040 will make a way and He will provide for our every need. 53 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:35,480 So we're just thankful for to be here. 54 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:39,440 I'm thankful too that this community has a history of the 55 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:43,760 military and I know that there are several military in this 56 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:46,680 place today. And we just want to thank you 57 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:49,520 for all that you do for our country. 58 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:53,440 We thank you for the sacrifices that you make, the places that 59 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:56,200 you go, and how you protect our nation. 60 00:03:56,400 --> 00:04:08,040 And we just say thank you, thank you, thank you. 2/5 to 13. 61 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:12,680 Let this mind be in you, which is also in Christ Jesus, who 62 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:16,480 being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal 63 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:19,839 with God, but made himself of no reputation. 64 00:04:20,079 --> 00:04:22,280 Take in the form of a bond servant. 65 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:26,040 And coming in the likeness of men, and being found in 66 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:30,280 appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to 67 00:04:30,280 --> 00:04:33,360 the point of death, even the death of the cross. 68 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:38,200 Therefore God also has has highly exalted him and given Him 69 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:42,480 the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus 70 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:46,840 every knee should bow of those in heaven and of those on earth 71 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:50,440 and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should 72 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:54,480 confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the 73 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:57,680 Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you 74 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:03,560 have also obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more 75 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:07,640 in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and 76 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:12,600 trembling for his God, who works in you both to will and do for 77 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:16,000 His good pleasure. Let's pray, Heavenly Father, we 78 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:19,400 just thank you that you are God. You are the God who is more than 79 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:22,400 enough, and you are the God who is able to do exceedingly 80 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:24,880 abundantly above all that we ask and think. 81 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:28,280 We thank you for your presence here today and we thank you, 82 00:05:28,280 --> 00:05:31,680 Holy Spirit, for what you have done in our midst. 83 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:34,400 All riot ready. And Lord, we just thank you for 84 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:38,040 what you're going to do. We pray God, your blessings upon 85 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:40,240 my husband as he ministers the word. 86 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:43,840 I pray God that his tongue would be that as a ready writer 87 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:48,000 declaring the word of the Lord and Father God, that that word 88 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:52,000 would not return unto your void. As you said, we believe that it 89 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:56,040 will fall upon good ground and it will bring forth much fruit. 90 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:59,480 So we thank you, Holy Spirit, for what you're going to do and 91 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,880 we give you praise and thanks for it all in Jesus name. 92 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:03,520 Amen. Amen. 93 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:07,360 Thank you my love. Just hold on to that. 94 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:08,840 Take it down. Leave my body here. 95 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:11,160 Let me help you down these types. 96 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:27,440 I'm so grateful for my wife. As Pastor Blake has mentioned, 97 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:32,760 we've been a part of this congregation for many years. 98 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:40,800 We were here in the 80s, and of course, Pastor Tom and Marsha 99 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:46,040 were students at Liberty when we were on staff there, and this 100 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:49,760 church helped support us while we were on the mission field. 101 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:53,240 And we're just grateful and honored to have the privilege to 102 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:56,720 be with you. We're so grateful for your 103 00:06:56,720 --> 00:07:01,120 pastor Blake and his wife Cassie, and the work they're 104 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:03,400 doing in the Kingdom. We're grateful for each one of 105 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:06,280 you. How many of you know that our 106 00:07:06,280 --> 00:07:12,400 God is still God? He's not a Democrat, he's not a 107 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:16,760 Republican. He's God, and there's come a day 108 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:21,040 when every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that 109 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:27,640 Jesus Christ is Lord. We're so grateful. 110 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:31,520 I want you to turn in your Bible. 111 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:33,880 I'll tell you the truth. I'm grateful for you guys here 112 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:36,400 on this front. Row, you got Bibles and poems. 113 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:40,400 Glory to God, you are near the heart of God, I'll tell you. 114 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:44,960 Oh, thank you. So I want to just I want to 115 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:51,520 minister all this passage, but let me begin in Psalms chapter 2 116 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:59,400 and I want to just use one verse of way of introduction Psalm 2. 117 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:04,440 It's a it. I would just love to talk to you 118 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:15,880 about the Psalm, but well, the fact is, I, I pastor, I, I don't 119 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:17,680 see a clock around here. Where's your clock? 120 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:21,480 Oh, up there. Thank God I. 121 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:24,280 Got to see that because you'd have been here till 4:00. 122 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:27,480 Well, Hallelujah, you might be here now. 123 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:31,960 I'll get you out about 3:30. Yeah. 124 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:35,240 All right. Notice with me on on this. 125 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:41,559 It's such a powerful song. Notice I'm just going to read 126 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:45,560 one verse. Well, let me read more. 127 00:08:45,560 --> 00:08:51,880 Now this Look, go to verse 10. Now. 128 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:58,680 Therefore be wise, O kings, and be instructed, you judges of the 129 00:08:58,680 --> 00:09:03,480 earth. What about it? 130 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:13,920 To the kings, the presidents, the senators, the governors, the 131 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:20,840 mayors in America, do they need to hear the voice of God? 132 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:27,960 Yeah, yeah, he says so he says, therefore be wise. 133 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:31,840 O kings, be instructed. You judges of the earth, serve 134 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:35,920 the Lord with fear, rejoice with trembling. 135 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:44,680 What's your next word? Kiss the song, lest he be angry, 136 00:09:44,680 --> 00:09:49,440 and you perish in the way when his wrath is kindled just a 137 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:55,120 little. Blessed are all those who put 138 00:09:55,120 --> 00:10:00,840 their trust in him. My point in reading that to you 139 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:06,520 is the word kiss not used that much in scripture. 140 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:12,560 That's a relational word. You just don't go down to 141 00:10:12,560 --> 00:10:14,640 Walmart and kiss. Everybody comes in. 142 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:18,600 Do you? I mean, I hope you don't. 143 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:25,600 No, but you kiss those you love, don't you? 144 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:41,880 So kiss is a relational word. And Christianity is a relational 145 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:49,960 religion, but it has to be learned. 146 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:58,520 It will not come natural because the scripture says the natural 147 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:02,320 man does not understand the things of God. 148 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:07,160 And we have to learn to be a Christian. 149 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:14,480 Naturally you reject God. Naturally you stand against God 150 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:20,480 because of your nature, not because you're a mean person per 151 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:26,640 SE. But when you were born, sin was 152 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:33,560 woven into the fabric of your nature, and your nature is to 153 00:11:33,560 --> 00:11:39,320 resist God. And when you're born again, you 154 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:42,920 enter into a new relationship with the Lord. 155 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:49,360 And when you kiss him, that's an indication of an intimate 156 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:53,160 relationship. And how many of you know that? 157 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:59,680 America all over the world. People are hungry for intimacy 158 00:11:59,680 --> 00:12:03,640 with someone that will be faithful to the end. 159 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:07,000 And how many of you know? Our God is faithful. 160 00:12:07,640 --> 00:12:10,160 He will do. What He said He would do. 161 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:14,240 He loves you, and He will love you to the end. 162 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:22,280 Therefore, we have to learn how to express our love to Him, lest 163 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:27,800 we wind up standing against Him, rejecting Him, withstanding Him, 164 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:30,520 rather than embracing Him. Does that make sense to you? 165 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:35,240 See, there's there are churches that are trying to serve the 166 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:37,080 Lord, but they don't really know him. 167 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:39,560 They're not intimate with him at all. 168 00:12:39,560 --> 00:12:43,800 They know about something about religion and the ceremony and 169 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:48,240 all of that. But hey, this thing not only 170 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:52,120 works on Sunday mornings, it works Monday mornings and Friday 171 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:55,440 afternoon of all times. How many of you know that? 172 00:12:56,680 --> 00:12:58,520 You believe that or you wouldn't be here? 173 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:01,240 This church has taught that for years. 174 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:07,280 Now. I want to, I want to talk to 175 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:10,480 you, and I'm going to move around a little bit. 176 00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:15,760 I think the Holy Spirit wants to speak to you, and I hope that I 177 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:18,680 can be faithful to what the Holy Spirit wants to say. 178 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:28,600 So I've asked some men to help me, and I'll ask them to come up 179 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:32,120 on the platform as they will please. 180 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:39,440 That's OK. Let let those stay right there 181 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:41,120 for now. That might be the best place for 182 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:42,680 them. You guys come on over here. 183 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:45,960 This is good. All right? 184 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:48,000 This this is great. It's right here. 185 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:49,960 This is good for you. This is good. 186 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:51,160 This is good. Come right here. 187 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:55,480 OK. Now I want to I want you to I 188 00:13:55,480 --> 00:14:02,000 want you to think about these guys because this guy, this guy 189 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:11,960 is rich. Now keep in mind now keep keep 190 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:17,480 in mind these these they don't generally come on the stage in 191 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:20,240 the middle of the sermon. So they feel a little 192 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:22,720 self-conscious. So you, you you help them out 193 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:30,080 and encourage them once a while. OK, so this this guy is rich and 194 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:37,480 he owns a huge company and and has got more money than he can 195 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:40,880 spend. He has a beautiful place up in 196 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:45,360 the mountains. He has a a wonderful home down 197 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:48,520 in the Caribbean. He's got a yacht you wouldn't 198 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:52,400 believe. He's got more money than he can 199 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:55,680 spend, pretty much has a pretty wife. 200 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:56,760 Oh, beautiful. Wife. 201 00:14:58,280 --> 00:14:59,520 Amen. Amen. 202 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:01,240 Amen. Thank God. 203 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:06,240 There we go. All right now, this brother, 204 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:10,600 he's a good man. He, he is just the kind of guy, 205 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:14,480 we'll help you out if he can't. But he has struggles. 206 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:20,320 He don't own any place in the mountains. 207 00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:23,120 Matter of fact, he doesn't even have a good tent. 208 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:32,200 He lives in a in a very small house and he's working hard to 209 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:38,720 make payments on a used car. Had a little trouble alcohol, 210 00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:46,400 been through three divorces and his marriage is just a little 211 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:55,320 bit in trouble at the moment. And this brother, this brother 212 00:15:55,320 --> 00:16:01,840 here, well, he's been taking college classes of the night. 213 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:06,600 He's a he's a student. He's doing the best he can. 214 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:16,720 He's a little confused. He's trying to determine what 215 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:18,480 kind of music he needs to listen to. 216 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:20,720 He comes over here to church once a while here. 217 00:16:20,720 --> 00:16:23,880 Pastor Blake. He's not sure about this Bible 218 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:28,320 stuff. And then he likes pretty girls, 219 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:31,080 but he can't find one that likes him. 220 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:38,480 You know the struggle. You've been there. 221 00:16:39,680 --> 00:16:43,800 Yeah. Now, when you think about these 222 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:50,720 three characters, which one you think's the best? 223 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:59,320 In the eyes of God, huh. Now listen, wait a minute, wait 224 00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:02,640 a minute. I said this man had the money, 225 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:10,400 and I said this man is poor and this man is confused. 226 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:18,000 Now, which one of those men do you know that God loves best? 227 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:32,520 What are you saying to me that you think in the eyes of God 228 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:34,760 that these three guys are? Equal. 229 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:42,320 I mean, this guy's got the money, he's got the power, he's 230 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:48,840 got a place that what's a lot like Mara Lago, huh? 231 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:54,720 Is there a difference before God? 232 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:04,280 Are you saying that these three men are equal before God? 233 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:09,400 Look over to your neighbor and say you got the goods. 234 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:16,280 Yeah. Yeah. 235 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:20,520 See, it doesn't matter how big your house is, it doesn't matter 236 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:23,920 how much money you got. It doesn't matter what your 237 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:29,360 struggles have been through the years financially or socially or 238 00:18:29,360 --> 00:18:31,960 culturally. It doesn't matter if you're 239 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:35,800 trying to work through some issues and to get yourself 240 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:39,800 straightened out. You're equal before God with 241 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:42,680 everyone else. Equality. 242 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:47,040 They're all the same. If we had a man up here from 243 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:50,920 China, or we had a man from India or a man from Africa, how 244 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:55,920 many of you know, before God, we're all just men, mankind. 245 00:18:56,120 --> 00:19:01,560 That's what I'm trying to say. Do we understand that, that 246 00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:05,800 there is nothing that we can do that makes us as a person 247 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:10,800 superior to any other person? We're all equal. 248 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:14,760 Are we in agreement? All right. 249 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:22,280 When you think about this now, let's just say that this man 250 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:27,600 represents God, God Almighty, Jehovah. 251 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:33,040 That's who he represents. This man, let's say he 252 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:40,960 represents the Lord Jesus Christ, the word that became 253 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:44,560 flesh and dwelt among us, the Lord Jesus. 254 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:49,800 And this man represents the Holy Spirit. 255 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:59,560 Now are they equal or is God the Father superior? 256 00:20:05,270 --> 00:20:10,030 How many of you think that God the Father is not superior to 257 00:20:10,030 --> 00:20:11,950 the God the Son? Raise your hand. 258 00:20:15,510 --> 00:20:19,040 Some of you are not sure. Huh. 259 00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:24,480 You see, what's it take to be God? 260 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:26,680 If someone said. Where you work. 261 00:20:27,120 --> 00:20:35,360 If they said to you, tell me about your God, what would you 262 00:20:35,360 --> 00:20:39,120 tell them? What would you say if they said 263 00:20:39,120 --> 00:20:43,120 to you? What makes your God, God? 264 00:20:47,560 --> 00:20:51,720 What would you say? You probably could answer that 265 00:20:51,720 --> 00:21:00,080 in a variety of ways, but I have found in my journey that there 266 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:04,480 are about 5 things that I can remember because I have 5 267 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:06,400 fingers. So I can remember these five 268 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:16,440 things OK. Number one, God is eternal #2 269 00:21:17,120 --> 00:21:28,760 He's immutable #3 he's all powerful #4 he's all wise and #5 270 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:33,680 he's everywhere present. Now think about that. 271 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:40,920 We're talking about now what it means to be God because we 272 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:44,800 worship God. And what's it mean to be God? 273 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:52,280 And sometimes we in the church have not looked at the three 274 00:21:52,280 --> 00:22:00,720 persons of the Trinity as equal. We have considered the Son to be 275 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:06,720 less than the Father and the Holy Spirit kindly as a junior 276 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:10,960 God. There's an interesting verse 277 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:16,240 that we have to deal with in John 14, and I think it's 16. 278 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:25,920 And in that verse Jesus said the Father is greater than I. 279 00:22:33,670 --> 00:22:36,150 Some of you fellows are looking here at your Bible. 280 00:22:36,750 --> 00:22:48,520 Have I got that right? John, 1416. 1428 look at the 281 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:59,390 28th verse. Yeah, I got it right. 282 00:22:59,390 --> 00:23:03,190 Read it. Remember what I told you. 283 00:23:03,310 --> 00:23:05,190 I'm going away. But if I will come back, but I 284 00:23:05,230 --> 00:23:07,350 will come back to you again. If you really love me, you would 285 00:23:07,750 --> 00:23:10,790 be happy that I'm going to the Father who is greater than I am. 286 00:23:10,790 --> 00:23:15,750 I'm going to the Father who is greater than I. 287 00:23:15,750 --> 00:23:21,200 Now that verse captured my attention and I said, how is it 288 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:29,440 that Jesus can be greater than the Father or the Father greater 289 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:32,600 than Jesus? How can that be if they're 290 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:49,800 equal? They had the same attributes and 291 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:53,320 Jesus said that he's greater than I. 292 00:23:55,480 --> 00:24:00,280 I want you to think about this because in the circles where I 293 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:03,880 come from, this wasn't taught so much. 294 00:24:06,120 --> 00:24:16,480 But think about this. Our God is a God who? 295 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:28,480 Relates to us only in covenantal terms and before the foundation 296 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:35,120 of the world. God the Father, God the Son, God 297 00:24:35,120 --> 00:24:39,600 the Holy Spirit entered into what the Bible calls the 298 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:45,120 everlasting covenant. Hebrews 13, verse 20, the 299 00:24:45,120 --> 00:24:49,240 everlasting covenant. Here's how I think it may have 300 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:54,840 went. I think that the Father was 301 00:24:54,840 --> 00:25:01,240 always the Father. See, we're the children of God, 302 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:07,000 but he was a father. Before he had children. 303 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:10,440 In other words, his nature is that of the father. 304 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:14,560 How many of you know that in this community there are men 305 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:17,600 that have children, but they're really not fathers? 306 00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:26,760 This is a father. He has a father nature and he 307 00:25:26,760 --> 00:25:30,200 wants children because that's his nature. 308 00:25:34,360 --> 00:25:39,920 And how was he going to do this? And he reasoned in his heart, 309 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:48,800 says Logos, the word. It's the logic, it's the 310 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:53,800 reasoning, the the capacity to think through how we going to do 311 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:59,000 this. How can I have a family? 312 00:26:02,320 --> 00:26:03,920 He said. I know what I'll do. 313 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:11,400 I'll bring I can speak on earth into existence and then I'll 314 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:17,080 take part of that earth and I'll make it to look like me. 315 00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:25,080 And then I'm going to breathe into its nostrils life. 316 00:26:26,360 --> 00:26:32,560 And when that life comes into him, he will look just like me 317 00:26:32,560 --> 00:26:38,120 and act just like me, and I'll call him my son. 318 00:26:39,680 --> 00:26:46,200 How many of you know that in the New Testament that Adam is 319 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:54,560 called the Son of God? God had this in his heart, so he 320 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:59,080 communed together with the other members of the Godhead, and he 321 00:26:59,080 --> 00:27:02,360 said this is what I'm thinking about doing. 322 00:27:14,090 --> 00:27:17,050 And as he thought that through, he said, you know, if I make 323 00:27:17,050 --> 00:27:22,410 them like me, I have to give them a free will. 324 00:27:24,850 --> 00:27:31,770 And if I give them a free will, they may choose to go against 325 00:27:31,770 --> 00:27:38,280 me. And he was reasoning about that. 326 00:27:39,840 --> 00:27:45,160 And the word said, well, father, I'll tell you what I'll do. 327 00:27:46,440 --> 00:27:52,920 I'll go down there and I will tell them about you, so they'll 328 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:57,480 know for sure. And the Father said, yeah, but 329 00:27:57,480 --> 00:28:04,720 the problem is if they, if they disobey my will, then that sin 330 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:06,600 nature is going to get into them. 331 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:10,320 And the wages of sin is death. They have to die. 332 00:28:12,080 --> 00:28:14,800 And the word says, well, I'll tell you what, I'll go down 333 00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:22,280 there and I'll live among them and I won't sin and I'll bear 334 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:27,880 their sin. Yeah, God said, that's it. 335 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:34,600 That's a good idea. But the Holy Spirit said, you 336 00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:40,760 know, wait a minute, even though you redeem them, they're going 337 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:44,080 to be tempted and they're going to run into troubles and they're 338 00:28:44,080 --> 00:28:48,280 going to run into things that disrupt their routine. 339 00:28:48,280 --> 00:28:52,320 And they, they, they may well reject you. 340 00:28:55,600 --> 00:29:04,160 But he said, I'll go, I'll go down there and I will, I'll get, 341 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:10,640 I'll, I'll, I'll live in their hearts and I'll teach them the 342 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:13,880 way of the Lord and I will sanctify them. 343 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:25,060 I will make them holy. You see, in any covenant that 344 00:29:25,060 --> 00:29:27,660 God makes, there are three parts. 345 00:29:28,100 --> 00:29:32,180 There could be more parts, but for our thinking this morning, 346 00:29:32,180 --> 00:29:37,160 let's say there's three. Number one, there is the word. 347 00:29:39,360 --> 00:29:45,880 In the beginning was the word #2 There is the blood. 348 00:29:47,760 --> 00:29:51,200 There has to be the blood. Jesus said I'll die for Him. 349 00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:56,040 He was a lamb slain before the foundation of the world. 350 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:03,360 And then there has to be a token or a seal. 351 00:30:05,560 --> 00:30:10,400 I'm married, right? You see the seal, There's the 352 00:30:10,400 --> 00:30:14,520 ring. When you receive Jesus Christ as 353 00:30:14,520 --> 00:30:19,960 your Savior, you are sealed by the Holy Spirit. 354 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:27,560 And as many as are led by the Spirit, they are the sons of 355 00:30:27,560 --> 00:30:38,760 God. Now, like each of you men to 356 00:30:38,760 --> 00:30:43,640 walk over there and pick up one chair and bring it over, set 357 00:30:43,640 --> 00:30:59,060 them right here. Now wait a minute. 358 00:30:59,060 --> 00:31:03,980 Let the Father set here, let the Son set here, Let the holy, 359 00:31:04,460 --> 00:31:06,540 there we go, the Holy Spirit sitting over there. 360 00:31:06,540 --> 00:31:13,560 Are we good? Let me know that Jesus Christ is 361 00:31:13,560 --> 00:31:16,920 seated in heaven on the throne of God. 362 00:31:16,920 --> 00:31:20,440 I don't think we have to explain that a lot, but the problem is 363 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:29,120 the Word, the Word. They have made a covenant 364 00:31:29,120 --> 00:31:37,240 together, which is a binding, solemn relational agreement that 365 00:31:37,240 --> 00:31:42,480 binds unto death. You're only one of the things 366 00:31:42,480 --> 00:31:47,920 that most everyone in here is familiar with is the marriage 367 00:31:48,120 --> 00:31:53,720 covenant, right? And it's for better or for 368 00:31:53,720 --> 00:32:01,200 worse, or richer or poorer, until what death do us part, 369 00:32:01,200 --> 00:32:05,640 it's forever. So the Trinity, we've explained, 370 00:32:05,640 --> 00:32:12,240 this is the point now we've explained that the Trinity has 371 00:32:12,240 --> 00:32:17,600 bound themselves together in an everlasting covenant before the 372 00:32:17,600 --> 00:32:24,080 foundation of the world. That's not Plan B, that was to 373 00:32:24,080 --> 00:32:26,640 start with. That's how God, your God 374 00:32:27,160 --> 00:32:30,720 functions. See, for some of you this 375 00:32:30,720 --> 00:32:35,840 morning and this congregation, some of you are hurting this 376 00:32:35,840 --> 00:32:40,960 morning and you're feeling like God is afar off. 377 00:32:42,360 --> 00:32:46,120 We've all been there and some of you are there today. 378 00:32:47,920 --> 00:32:54,120 Now you have to answer the question every day of your life, 379 00:32:54,640 --> 00:33:02,880 Where is God? Is he in Jerusalem? 380 00:33:10,040 --> 00:33:14,040 Paul said it this way to those intellectuals there in Athens. 381 00:33:14,040 --> 00:33:21,560 He said it's in God that we live and move and have our being. 382 00:33:24,160 --> 00:33:32,640 God's not over there. He's here and we're moving 383 00:33:32,640 --> 00:33:37,000 within God. We don't understand that we are 384 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:41,480 functioning within about a four dimension life. 385 00:33:43,000 --> 00:33:45,640 We understand the width of the thing. 386 00:33:45,640 --> 00:33:49,920 We understand the length of a thing, We understand the height 387 00:33:49,920 --> 00:33:52,840 or the depth of a thing. We understand something about 388 00:33:52,840 --> 00:33:56,120 time. But God says it this way in 389 00:33:56,120 --> 00:33:58,480 Isaiah. He says my ways are higher than 390 00:33:58,480 --> 00:34:02,200 your ways as far as the heavens are above the earth. 391 00:34:03,560 --> 00:34:09,920 And so some have said that God must have at least 20 to 25 392 00:34:09,920 --> 00:34:13,239 dimensions. We functioning for Heard heard a 393 00:34:13,239 --> 00:34:17,320 man speak the other day that had been a nuclear scientist for 394 00:34:17,320 --> 00:34:20,080 like 30-5 years. And he had worked in that 395 00:34:20,080 --> 00:34:24,360 dimension of that field of work. He had worked there for those 396 00:34:24,360 --> 00:34:29,320 years and he talked about the dimensions that God is in and we 397 00:34:29,320 --> 00:34:33,000 don't know and he didn't know what it was, but he said he's 398 00:34:33,000 --> 00:34:37,280 probably 20 dimensions and his his. 399 00:34:37,560 --> 00:34:42,600 What he said was that after the resurrection of Jesus Christ was 400 00:34:42,960 --> 00:34:46,440 of the disciples were in that room and the door was locked for 401 00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:53,840 fear after Jesus was raised from the dead, Then suddenly Jesus 402 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:57,200 appeared in that room. The door was locked. 403 00:34:57,800 --> 00:34:59,520 Jesus appears in the. Room. 404 00:35:02,160 --> 00:35:06,880 And he said that Jesus did not come through the door or through 405 00:35:06,880 --> 00:35:10,560 the window or through the walls. He just showed up. 406 00:35:11,880 --> 00:35:17,160 He was there like it was when they were on the road to Emmaus 407 00:35:17,160 --> 00:35:18,880 and the disciples were talking to him. 408 00:35:19,120 --> 00:35:20,520 He just raised him. The dead. 409 00:35:20,520 --> 00:35:22,840 They didn't know. They they were just talking to 410 00:35:22,840 --> 00:35:25,680 him and telling him what had happened in Jerusalem. 411 00:35:25,920 --> 00:35:29,320 They had dinner and suddenly they knew who he was. 412 00:35:29,320 --> 00:35:32,200 They saw the marks in his hands and he disappeared. 413 00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:35,680 What am I saying here this morning? 414 00:35:35,680 --> 00:35:39,240 I'm saying one thing, that we serve a great God. 415 00:35:41,760 --> 00:35:46,240 And he's able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all we can ask 416 00:35:46,240 --> 00:35:50,720 or think, and he functions within a structure of a 417 00:35:50,720 --> 00:35:54,600 governmental structure, but he is the author of of a 418 00:35:54,600 --> 00:35:57,840 governmental structure. And that structure boils back 419 00:35:57,840 --> 00:36:02,440 down to a covenant. So the Scripture says in the 420 00:36:02,440 --> 00:36:15,040 fullness of time the word. The Word in the fullness of 421 00:36:15,040 --> 00:36:20,120 time. The Word came out of eternity, 422 00:36:24,480 --> 00:36:35,080 and though he thought it not robbery to be equal with God, he 423 00:36:35,080 --> 00:36:43,640 made himself of no reputation. And took upon himself the form 424 00:36:44,240 --> 00:36:48,040 of a servant and the. Word is due. 425 00:36:48,040 --> 00:36:58,920 Loss he now has humbled himself, he has left the glory and he's 426 00:36:58,920 --> 00:37:05,920 taken on flesh born in Bethlehem in a stable there with the cows 427 00:37:05,920 --> 00:37:08,400 and the donkeys and the. All that goes. 428 00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:13,760 With all that, he decided that he was going to come down and 429 00:37:13,760 --> 00:37:17,440 walk among us, and when he was 12 years old, he was in the 430 00:37:17,440 --> 00:37:21,360 temple and he could answer questions that astounded the 431 00:37:21,360 --> 00:37:27,120 doctors. Then he came back. 432 00:37:28,360 --> 00:37:31,200 From that visit down in Jerusalem, he came back to 433 00:37:31,200 --> 00:37:36,840 Nazareth and for about 30 years he was subject to his Mama and 434 00:37:36,960 --> 00:37:42,280 Papa, although that he was God that had become in the flesh. 435 00:37:42,760 --> 00:37:47,080 He served his parents faithfully for 30 years. 436 00:37:49,640 --> 00:37:53,800 And Paul says in the Scripture that Joyce read this morning, 437 00:37:54,600 --> 00:37:59,560 let this mind be in you. That was in Christ Jesus also. 438 00:38:01,800 --> 00:38:06,280 The law and the prophets came by Moses. 439 00:38:07,560 --> 00:38:14,840 But grace, everybody say grace, grace, grace and truth came by 440 00:38:14,840 --> 00:38:19,400 the Lord Jesus Christ. And of his grace we have 441 00:38:19,400 --> 00:38:26,560 received grace among grace. What is Grace? 442 00:38:29,480 --> 00:38:33,400 I'm talking to you. Beg your pardon. 443 00:38:34,880 --> 00:38:40,440 Unmerited favor. That's a good, wonderful answer. 444 00:38:41,280 --> 00:38:43,920 How many of you need some unmerited favor today? 445 00:38:45,160 --> 00:38:48,640 Yeah. Let me give you another 446 00:38:48,640 --> 00:38:56,160 definition. It's the presence, grace. 447 00:38:56,440 --> 00:39:01,640 It's the presence of God's loving kindness and power that 448 00:39:01,640 --> 00:39:06,320 favors you. And if God be for you, come on. 449 00:39:07,680 --> 00:39:15,560 Yeah, Who can be against you? Hey, look to your neighbor and 450 00:39:15,560 --> 00:39:23,400 say we're winners. Yes, Oh yeah, the devil said. 451 00:39:23,920 --> 00:39:26,160 I'm going to wipe him, wipe him out. 452 00:39:26,720 --> 00:39:30,680 I'm going to take him down. I'm going to nail him to a 453 00:39:30,680 --> 00:39:33,240 cross. Yeah. 454 00:39:34,560 --> 00:39:41,440 Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also 455 00:39:41,440 --> 00:39:46,320 in me for in my Father's house there are many mansions. 456 00:39:46,760 --> 00:39:52,400 And if it were not so, I would not have told you I go away, but 457 00:39:52,400 --> 00:39:56,760 I come again to get you that where I am there you may be also 458 00:39:56,800 --> 00:40:00,600 stuck to your neighbor and say the best is yet to come. 459 00:40:00,600 --> 00:40:07,960 Neighbor, give these people a pill. 460 00:40:08,200 --> 00:40:11,200 They're not even excited about going to heaven and pastor, give 461 00:40:11,200 --> 00:40:15,480 them a pill wherever. Hey Jesus, come back here where 462 00:40:15,520 --> 00:40:23,200 you think you're going. Yeah, here's what it is, he 463 00:40:23,200 --> 00:40:29,080 said. He went about doing good and 464 00:40:29,080 --> 00:40:39,080 healing all who were oppressed of the devil, Huh. 465 00:40:40,520 --> 00:40:49,880 He went about doing good and what healing all who were what 466 00:40:49,880 --> 00:40:53,600 oppressed of the. Devil oppressed of the devil, 467 00:40:55,040 --> 00:40:59,720 huh? How many of you think the devil 468 00:40:59,720 --> 00:41:02,320 is a liar? Yeah. 469 00:41:03,680 --> 00:41:06,280 Who do you think he tells his lies to? 470 00:41:08,120 --> 00:41:11,640 Yeah. You shall know the truth, and 471 00:41:11,640 --> 00:41:21,200 the truth shall what, ah, does freedom come by the American 472 00:41:21,200 --> 00:41:28,560 Constitution? Our freedom comes from the Lamb 473 00:41:28,560 --> 00:41:33,480 of God. Yeah, we're here today to 474 00:41:33,480 --> 00:41:37,840 celebrate Jesus Christ. He is our Savior. 475 00:41:38,160 --> 00:41:43,200 He is our Redeemer, He is our Lord, He is our King. 476 00:41:43,280 --> 00:41:53,160 Blessed be the name of Jesus. Now, Jesus, you stand here. 477 00:41:57,720 --> 00:41:59,160 Now I want you to think about this. 478 00:42:03,960 --> 00:42:07,360 Thank you, love. Think about this. 479 00:42:09,280 --> 00:42:11,360 Think about the times when Jesus sinned. 480 00:42:18,120 --> 00:42:31,570 Thank you, sugar. Catch my hand. 481 00:42:32,850 --> 00:42:43,360 Thank you. It's OK. 482 00:42:43,680 --> 00:42:44,480 Oh, yeah. Come on. 483 00:42:47,000 --> 00:42:48,160 Yeah. Not not not them. 484 00:42:48,200 --> 00:42:49,520 Just me. Thank you. 485 00:42:49,640 --> 00:42:51,400 Thank you. You're not ready to come back. 486 00:42:55,240 --> 00:42:57,280 All right, Come on, now. Look at your Bible. 487 00:42:58,880 --> 00:43:02,880 Look at your Bible. All right? 488 00:43:03,160 --> 00:43:06,880 Look at verse 5, chapter 2 of Philippians, verse five. 489 00:43:07,600 --> 00:43:14,080 OK, Now here it is. Let this mind be in you. 490 00:43:18,840 --> 00:43:23,640 It was in Christ Jesus who, being in the form of God, did 491 00:43:23,640 --> 00:43:32,160 not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made himself 492 00:43:32,160 --> 00:43:44,920 of no reputation. Taking the form of a slave 493 00:43:45,880 --> 00:43:50,120 coming in the likeness of man and being found in the 494 00:43:50,120 --> 00:43:51,840 appearance of man. He what? 495 00:43:55,040 --> 00:44:02,000 How many of you know that God gives grace to the humble? 496 00:44:04,680 --> 00:44:12,040 Are you fasting? See the purpose of fasting? 497 00:44:12,040 --> 00:44:18,000 David said. I humbled my soul with fasting. 498 00:44:18,760 --> 00:44:23,200 Fasting does not earn you brownie points in heaven. 499 00:44:25,560 --> 00:44:28,400 It doesn't earn you grace in heaven. 500 00:44:29,520 --> 00:44:39,880 Fasting humbles your arrogant soul, and God then gives grace 501 00:44:40,200 --> 00:44:46,680 to the humble, and His grace is sufficient for you and me, 502 00:44:46,960 --> 00:44:51,440 regardless of what's before us. Think about this. 503 00:44:55,400 --> 00:45:02,360 How many times does the pastor sit in his office with a couple 504 00:45:02,360 --> 00:45:08,680 that he married a few years ago that were so in love and now 505 00:45:09,040 --> 00:45:13,080 they're biting one another and chewing one another and you know 506 00:45:13,080 --> 00:45:15,880 what they say? They say he's wrong. 507 00:45:17,040 --> 00:45:22,000 He is so wrong and I'm right. And he looks back at her and he 508 00:45:22,000 --> 00:45:28,920 says she's wrong and I'm right. Do you believe that or not? 509 00:45:34,160 --> 00:45:37,200 You don't get to heaven because you're right. 510 00:45:39,800 --> 00:45:43,280 You get to heaven because you believe and trust in the Lord 511 00:45:43,280 --> 00:45:46,440 Jesus Christ. That's the gospel. 512 00:45:50,520 --> 00:46:01,360 Now think about this. Jesus went about doing good 513 00:46:02,080 --> 00:46:04,520 Pastor. What time is this service over? 514 00:46:09,080 --> 00:46:11,520 What time soonish? Soonish. 515 00:46:12,600 --> 00:46:15,040 When you're reaching. Buddy, no, no, don't say that 516 00:46:15,040 --> 00:46:18,720 because I I can go for a wait. Around now. 517 00:46:19,160 --> 00:46:20,480 Around what? Around now. 518 00:46:20,520 --> 00:46:21,440 About now, Around now. Keep going. 519 00:46:21,560 --> 00:46:26,080 Keep going, keep going. I mean, I don't. 520 00:46:26,080 --> 00:46:32,520 Want to go past your time? Holy knife, keep going. 521 00:46:37,400 --> 00:46:40,160 Keep going. Listen. 522 00:46:47,240 --> 00:46:53,160 Hey, listen, listen. You all bear witness with me, he 523 00:46:53,160 --> 00:46:56,800 said. Keep going, all right? 524 00:46:57,480 --> 00:47:01,560 Here it is. He went about doing good and 525 00:47:01,560 --> 00:47:03,440 healing. All. 526 00:47:03,440 --> 00:47:15,120 Who were oppressed of the devil, but there came a time when he is 527 00:47:15,120 --> 00:47:20,480 down in Jericho. OK, he's in Jericho and the 528 00:47:20,480 --> 00:47:28,520 fullness of time has come. He gets to Martha and Mary and 529 00:47:28,520 --> 00:47:34,320 Lazarus house. He goes and spends the Passover, 530 00:47:34,400 --> 00:47:37,480 about the Passover, the Sabbath with them. 531 00:47:37,480 --> 00:47:41,280 Sabbath is over. On Friday afternoon He has 532 00:47:41,280 --> 00:47:44,960 dinner with them. Saturday morning he gets up and 533 00:47:44,960 --> 00:47:49,000 heads into Jerusalem to celebrate what we call Palm 534 00:47:49,000 --> 00:47:52,520 Sunday. He heads up the mountain and as 535 00:47:52,520 --> 00:47:54,760 he gets near the top, there's a little village. 536 00:47:54,760 --> 00:47:58,200 There's a couple disciples. He sends them over there to get 537 00:47:58,200 --> 00:48:02,800 the get a get a donkey and the mother and the colt. 538 00:48:03,880 --> 00:48:07,200 They come back with it. And Jesus then is the top of 539 00:48:07,200 --> 00:48:10,120 Mount Olives, and he heads down riding on that. 540 00:48:10,120 --> 00:48:14,760 Colt. Of a donkey and as he goes, they 541 00:48:14,760 --> 00:48:17,400 go before him, and they take their clothes, and they. 542 00:48:17,960 --> 00:48:19,600 Spread their garments on the ground. 543 00:48:19,600 --> 00:48:23,080 They put palm leaves and they say, Hosanna, blessed is the 544 00:48:23,080 --> 00:48:27,320 Lord, He's coming, the King is coming, the king is coming. 545 00:48:27,320 --> 00:48:30,160 And they celebrate. Now he's at the bottom of the 546 00:48:30,160 --> 00:48:33,160 Mount of Olives, and he heads up to Mount Zion. 547 00:48:33,160 --> 00:48:36,560 And as he heads up, he begins to weep. 548 00:48:37,560 --> 00:48:40,720 And he said, oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how I would gather 549 00:48:40,720 --> 00:48:44,400 you under my wings as the hen gathers her checks, but you 550 00:48:44,400 --> 00:48:50,560 would not. He said you have missed your day 551 00:48:50,560 --> 00:48:57,000 of visitation and let me know today is a day of salvation. 552 00:48:57,920 --> 00:49:03,160 He said you missed your day of, of, of visitation and your city 553 00:49:03,160 --> 00:49:09,640 is left to you desolate. He got into Jerusalem and I'm 554 00:49:09,640 --> 00:49:13,080 not going through all he did when he got there, but when he. 555 00:49:13,320 --> 00:49:18,320 Wound up standing in front of the the people that had 556 00:49:18,320 --> 00:49:31,280 authority so interesting they began to question him. 557 00:49:31,960 --> 00:49:39,440 He went through 5 trials and he fulfilled the scripture that was 558 00:49:39,440 --> 00:49:47,160 spoken of by Isaiah. He was led as a lamb to the 559 00:49:47,160 --> 00:49:49,440 slaughter. Come on. 560 00:49:50,560 --> 00:49:55,680 And he opened not his mouth. What am I saying to you? 561 00:49:56,480 --> 00:50:01,080 I'm saying there is a time to stand up and speak up and shut. 562 00:50:01,080 --> 00:50:05,760 Up. Sometimes we talk about 563 00:50:05,760 --> 00:50:09,360 everything under the sun. There comes a time, I don't care 564 00:50:09,360 --> 00:50:11,400 whether you're right or whether you're wrong. 565 00:50:11,400 --> 00:50:15,800 There comes a time to say this is my day, this is the fullness 566 00:50:15,800 --> 00:50:19,600 of time and I don't care what you say, I've got nothing more 567 00:50:19,600 --> 00:50:22,720 to add to it. I'm just here to serve you. 568 00:50:25,880 --> 00:50:29,800 Are you getting this? Jesus said I didn't come to be 569 00:50:29,800 --> 00:50:34,680 served, I came to serve. And they began to accuse him and 570 00:50:34,680 --> 00:50:41,480 find witnesses to falsely accuse him and give him trouble, find 571 00:50:41,480 --> 00:50:45,080 fault. He opened out his mouth and 572 00:50:45,080 --> 00:50:50,600 finally at the high priest said to him, are you the Son of God? 573 00:50:52,920 --> 00:51:01,360 And he said it is as you say, I'm his son, I am the Son of 574 00:51:01,360 --> 00:51:04,560 God. And that high priestess says 575 00:51:04,560 --> 00:51:08,720 tourist garment. And he said this is blasphemy, 576 00:51:08,960 --> 00:51:13,840 he can't be the Son of God. And they sent him to Pilate. 577 00:51:14,080 --> 00:51:17,040 Pilate examined him. He said I find no fault, sent 578 00:51:17,040 --> 00:51:19,640 him to Herod. Herod said I can't find fault, 579 00:51:19,640 --> 00:51:23,280 sent him back to Pilate. Pilate said I can't find any 580 00:51:23,280 --> 00:51:25,560 fault. But the people prevailed. 581 00:51:28,880 --> 00:51:33,120 What people said, Crucify him. Crucify him. 582 00:51:33,960 --> 00:51:37,520 Was it the Pagan people from the other side of the earth? 583 00:51:37,520 --> 00:51:40,120 No, it was the religious people of Jerusalem. 584 00:51:40,440 --> 00:51:45,160 I'm not here to accuse them, but I'm saying that too many times. 585 00:51:45,160 --> 00:51:48,520 You and me, we have opportunities and we align 586 00:51:48,520 --> 00:51:51,960 ourselves with the purposes of the devil, and it's time we 587 00:51:51,960 --> 00:51:59,760 stand up and speak the truth. Come hell or high water, let the 588 00:51:59,760 --> 00:52:07,240 redeem the Lord. Say so and crucified him. 589 00:52:08,800 --> 00:52:12,400 Crucified him. They could find no fault, but 590 00:52:12,400 --> 00:52:17,560 made a political decision. See a lot of political decisions 591 00:52:17,560 --> 00:52:19,880 being made that's going to impact the church. 592 00:52:19,880 --> 00:52:25,800 Are we ready for it? Think about this, after they 593 00:52:25,800 --> 00:52:35,240 crucified him, they buried him. Three days later, early in the 594 00:52:35,240 --> 00:52:39,600 morning on the first day of the week, they went, the women went, 595 00:52:40,600 --> 00:52:44,600 and when they got there the stone was rolled away and the 596 00:52:44,600 --> 00:52:48,800 Angel said, he is not here, he is. 597 00:52:51,000 --> 00:53:01,880 He is risen. And Mary, she was there by the 598 00:53:01,880 --> 00:53:07,880 empty tomb, thinking that they had stolen his body, and she was 599 00:53:07,880 --> 00:53:14,480 a weeping. And the resurrected Lord said to 600 00:53:14,480 --> 00:53:26,800 her, Mary. And she said, Oh my Lord, she 601 00:53:26,960 --> 00:53:34,360 raised up and went to hug him. And he said, Don't cling to me, 602 00:53:35,360 --> 00:53:38,040 for I've not yet ascended to the Father. 603 00:53:46,680 --> 00:53:51,960 He had prayed, Father, restore unto me the glory that I had 604 00:53:51,960 --> 00:53:54,680 with you before the foundation of the world. 605 00:53:55,280 --> 00:53:59,560 And he came back up and ascended to his Father. 606 00:54:00,640 --> 00:54:08,040 And he went in the temple of heaven, Hebrews Chapter 9. 607 00:54:08,040 --> 00:54:14,560 He went into the Tabernacle not made with hands, but in the 608 00:54:14,560 --> 00:54:21,080 eternal temple of God. And he went before the Father 609 00:54:21,080 --> 00:54:27,400 who was sitting on his throne, and he sprinkled his blood, not 610 00:54:27,400 --> 00:54:31,520 the blood of bulls and goats, but his own precious sinless 611 00:54:31,520 --> 00:54:37,160 blood that he shed on Calvary's cross, sprinkled his blood. 612 00:54:37,160 --> 00:54:41,680 They're making atonement for your sin and for my sin. 613 00:54:42,000 --> 00:54:46,120 And then he came back down and he walked inside. 614 00:54:46,120 --> 00:54:49,640 It didn't walk. He came back downstairs after he 615 00:54:49,640 --> 00:54:55,080 got the preacher down these steps, he came back down and 616 00:54:55,080 --> 00:54:59,160 entered into that room where those disciples were, and he was 617 00:54:59,160 --> 00:55:08,000 with them for 40 days talking about what For those 40 days? 618 00:55:08,000 --> 00:55:12,600 Acts chapter one said he talked to them about the government of 619 00:55:12,600 --> 00:55:16,320 God. God is into government. 620 00:55:16,320 --> 00:55:21,680 He's into structure and Jesus said before he went to the 621 00:55:21,680 --> 00:55:28,000 cross, he said I will build my church and the gates of hell 622 00:55:28,160 --> 00:55:33,000 will not prevail against it. So in 40 days he went back to 623 00:55:33,000 --> 00:55:38,840 heaven and he was seated at the right hand of God. 624 00:55:39,480 --> 00:55:42,320 So we're going to put him down since he's just a show, we're 625 00:55:42,320 --> 00:55:44,400 just going to put him on the left hand of God. 626 00:55:45,240 --> 00:55:53,720 Praise God. And after 10 days he sent the 627 00:55:53,720 --> 00:55:57,720 Holy Spirit. When the day of Pentecost was 628 00:55:57,720 --> 00:56:05,200 fully come, there was a sound of a mighty rushing wind, and they 629 00:56:05,200 --> 00:56:08,760 received the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues as the 630 00:56:08,760 --> 00:56:19,200 Spirit gave them evidence. They preach the gospel that 631 00:56:19,320 --> 00:56:23,920 Jesus Christ, the Son of God had become a man, died on the cross, 632 00:56:24,240 --> 00:56:29,960 made an atonement for our sin, and now if you will believe on 633 00:56:29,960 --> 00:56:34,800 him, then the Holy Spirit will come to live right in your 634 00:56:34,800 --> 00:56:40,040 heart, and you shall be called the Son of God. 635 00:56:40,840 --> 00:56:45,000 And John says, what manner of love is this, that the Father is 636 00:56:45,040 --> 00:56:49,560 poured upon us, that we should be called the children of God? 637 00:56:50,520 --> 00:56:53,640 Look to your neighbor and say, welcome to the family, child of 638 00:56:53,640 --> 00:57:02,000 God. And so the Holy Spirit now comes 639 00:57:02,000 --> 00:57:07,000 for a purpose. He comes for a purpose. 640 00:57:07,720 --> 00:57:13,240 It says what Jesus said when he, the Holy Spirit comes, it says 641 00:57:13,240 --> 00:57:20,320 that he will convict you of sin, of righteousness, and of 642 00:57:20,320 --> 00:57:25,360 judgment. This guy lost, he's a lost 643 00:57:25,360 --> 00:57:31,720 Sinner and he doesn't care of flip for God, but the Holy 644 00:57:31,720 --> 00:57:36,280 Spirit begins to work on him and he begins to think, well, 645 00:57:36,280 --> 00:57:40,400 something is wrong. And then people over there, 646 00:57:40,400 --> 00:57:43,880 Liberty Church, they're praying for him and God saying the 647 00:57:43,880 --> 00:57:49,240 Father is saying to Jesus, he said to Jesus, you died for that 648 00:57:49,240 --> 00:57:51,840 guy, think about him, you messed up. 649 00:57:53,240 --> 00:57:57,840 Jesus said I died for him. Hey, you're special. 650 00:57:57,840 --> 00:58:00,160 Look your neighbor and say you got the goods. 651 00:58:01,240 --> 00:58:05,040 Yeah, come on. And Jesus said he's worth it, 652 00:58:05,040 --> 00:58:09,320 Father, he said. Father said, bring him in. 653 00:58:10,760 --> 00:58:13,000 Suddenly this guy breaks down, man. 654 00:58:13,000 --> 00:58:16,000 He's crying. He's God. 655 00:58:16,040 --> 00:58:20,400 I'm so sorry. And as he repents, he's going 656 00:58:20,400 --> 00:58:24,000 this way. But as he repents, that Holy 657 00:58:24,000 --> 00:58:28,240 Spirit turns him around and he starts going this way. 658 00:58:29,000 --> 00:58:34,920 His sins are forgiven. The Holy Spirit comes into his 659 00:58:34,920 --> 00:58:37,000 heart. Stay right there, Holy Spirit. 660 00:58:38,360 --> 00:58:44,080 And now he begins to walk with God, and he begins to have new 661 00:58:44,080 --> 00:58:48,680 found authority because Jesus has purchased him with his 662 00:58:48,680 --> 00:58:51,280 blood. The Holy Spirit is coming to his 663 00:58:51,280 --> 00:58:54,280 heart. And now this dear brother is 664 00:58:54,280 --> 00:58:59,880 seated in heavenly places. Hey, there he is. 665 00:59:00,560 --> 00:59:06,120 Hey, think about it. Yeah. 666 00:59:07,360 --> 00:59:11,840 Now, the Holy Spirit, how many know the Holy Spirit's working 667 00:59:11,840 --> 00:59:15,440 here today? Yeah, he comes here because he 668 00:59:15,440 --> 00:59:19,360 loves you and he wants to bring you into what God created you 669 00:59:19,360 --> 00:59:24,000 for. So now I'm just going to say 670 00:59:24,000 --> 00:59:27,960 this man, his name is Peter. So, Peter. 671 00:59:30,080 --> 00:59:32,720 Then he's got to come back and pay his bills. 672 00:59:36,360 --> 00:59:40,960 Now think about this. He is here. 673 00:59:41,560 --> 00:59:44,240 Where do you work? Parker Parker Boats. 674 00:59:44,960 --> 00:59:47,520 Over to the military base, yeah. Hopefully soon. 675 00:59:47,840 --> 00:59:50,200 Soon. OK, All right. 676 00:59:50,840 --> 00:59:53,640 He goes by this job. Look at this. 677 00:59:55,080 --> 00:59:57,480 It's time right there. Time right there. 678 00:59:57,880 --> 01:00:02,320 See. He is seated there. 679 01:00:03,400 --> 01:00:07,520 He is a citizen there, but a resident here. 680 01:00:09,440 --> 01:00:12,720 You got that. So what I want to leave with you 681 01:00:12,720 --> 01:00:18,760 this morning is I want you to know that you're seated in 682 01:00:18,760 --> 01:00:24,160 heavenly places. If you know Jesus Christ, you're 683 01:00:24,160 --> 01:00:28,640 not seated in this in this county, what's what's your 684 01:00:28,640 --> 01:00:32,680 county seat? County seat, yeah, OK for Craven 685 01:00:32,680 --> 01:00:33,880 County. Yeah. 686 01:00:35,080 --> 01:00:37,600 Is there a city newborn? Is that it? 687 01:00:37,600 --> 01:00:39,280 That's the city newborn. Yes. 688 01:00:39,280 --> 01:00:41,080 OK. Is it where the courthouse is? 689 01:00:41,160 --> 01:00:41,960 Yes. Yeah. 690 01:00:42,520 --> 01:00:44,320 See, he didn't even know that because he's never been to 691 01:00:44,320 --> 01:00:48,080 court. He's just a good man. 692 01:00:48,480 --> 01:00:52,600 All right, See you have a county seat, newborn. 693 01:00:53,800 --> 01:00:56,600 That's the county seat that that means that's where headquarters 694 01:00:56,600 --> 01:00:58,480 of government for this county is. 695 01:00:58,880 --> 01:01:02,120 They answer to your state capitol who answers to 696 01:01:02,120 --> 01:01:05,360 Washington DC God's in charge of it all. 697 01:01:06,000 --> 01:01:10,440 He sets up government. So you have to understand that 698 01:01:10,440 --> 01:01:16,360 when Jesus came, his first message you read in Mark and it 699 01:01:16,360 --> 01:01:23,080 comes chapter one, verse 14, and it says repent for the Kingdom 700 01:01:23,080 --> 01:01:25,440 of God is at hand. He didn't say repent from 701 01:01:25,440 --> 01:01:27,840 drunkenness or stealing and all that. 702 01:01:27,840 --> 01:01:32,520 He just said repent because the Kingdom of God is at hand now. 703 01:01:34,000 --> 01:01:38,280 Now he's seated there. That's the source of his 704 01:01:38,280 --> 01:01:44,320 authority. He's here holding his job with 705 01:01:44,320 --> 01:01:48,520 the government or the military, whatever it is, but that's his 706 01:01:48,520 --> 01:01:53,480 authority. If this authority comes against 707 01:01:53,480 --> 01:01:57,400 that authority, which will happen sometimes, which one's he 708 01:01:57,400 --> 01:01:58,840 going to be? Now, that's another whole 709 01:01:58,840 --> 01:02:00,280 message. And I don't want to go into 710 01:02:00,280 --> 01:02:01,840 that. I want to, I want to finish my 711 01:02:01,840 --> 01:02:07,640 message. Look back in your Bible. 712 01:02:07,640 --> 01:02:10,880 We're going to conclude this and just within the hour. 713 01:02:15,320 --> 01:02:20,440 Now look at this Philippians chapter 2 And he says this. 714 01:02:20,600 --> 01:02:29,240 He says, Therefore, my beloved, you who have always obeyed not 715 01:02:29,240 --> 01:02:37,360 as in my presence, only work out your salvation with fear and 716 01:02:37,360 --> 01:02:46,800 trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to 717 01:02:46,800 --> 01:02:55,600 do his good pleasure. Verse 14 says do all things 718 01:02:56,240 --> 01:03:00,520 without complaining and disputing. 719 01:03:02,760 --> 01:03:07,880 Now here's here's here's the problem and I'm closing. 720 01:03:10,360 --> 01:03:21,120 The problem is we want to be right and the Holy Spirit says, 721 01:03:21,120 --> 01:03:23,600 listen to me. You don't have to. 722 01:03:23,840 --> 01:03:27,400 You have a free will and you never have to listen to the Holy 723 01:03:27,400 --> 01:03:30,320 Spirit. You can go your own way if you 724 01:03:30,320 --> 01:03:34,800 want to, but God loves you and he says I want you to line up 725 01:03:34,800 --> 01:03:39,480 with who I am, that you would have the mind of Christ. 726 01:03:46,120 --> 01:03:50,640 I worked, I was on boards over the years of Christian schools, 727 01:03:52,400 --> 01:03:56,440 and I've been so distressed about the fact that in some of 728 01:03:56,440 --> 01:04:02,080 our students who were on the honor roll get out of the 729 01:04:02,080 --> 01:04:05,800 Christian School and get married and soon get a divorce. 730 01:04:07,040 --> 01:04:12,040 In other words, they had all the answers to get on the honor 731 01:04:12,040 --> 01:04:16,360 roll, but that did not transform their character. 732 01:04:17,640 --> 01:04:22,120 And what I'm saying to you this morning is that God is going to 733 01:04:22,120 --> 01:04:26,360 take you through some things in the days ahead where you're not 734 01:04:26,360 --> 01:04:32,080 going to have the answers. You're just going to have to 735 01:04:32,080 --> 01:04:37,600 trust Him and lean not on your own understanding and all your 736 01:04:37,600 --> 01:04:40,160 ways. Acknowledge Him and He'll direct 737 01:04:40,160 --> 01:04:45,200 your paths. We're into education in this 738 01:04:45,200 --> 01:04:47,240 country. We're spending billions of 739 01:04:47,240 --> 01:04:52,720 dollars. Workout your own salvage. 740 01:04:52,720 --> 01:04:55,880 Know the truth. Know the basis of your 741 01:04:55,880 --> 01:04:59,600 salvation, what it means to know the cross and what Jesus 742 01:04:59,800 --> 01:05:02,160 accomplished for you on the cross. 743 01:05:02,400 --> 01:05:06,360 Know the Holy Spirit and as many as are led by the Spirit. 744 01:05:06,560 --> 01:05:11,280 They are the sons of God that we together can bring to bear the 745 01:05:11,280 --> 01:05:15,640 Kingdom of God and the blessings of God upon this community. 746 01:05:15,840 --> 01:05:17,880 Does that mean everybody gets saved? 747 01:05:17,880 --> 01:05:20,880 No, Jesus came to seek and to save. 748 01:05:20,880 --> 01:05:24,040 But when Jesus went back to heaven, there were still a lot 749 01:05:24,040 --> 01:05:26,160 of people. They weren't saved, but he said 750 01:05:26,160 --> 01:05:29,000 it is finished. What am I saying? 751 01:05:29,200 --> 01:05:32,840 Today is a day of salvation, but there's coming today when you're 752 01:05:32,840 --> 01:05:37,000 going to stand before God and be ready to meet the Lord. 753 01:05:37,120 --> 01:05:48,000 Stand together with me. Aren't you grateful for a 754 01:05:48,000 --> 01:05:51,280 Savior? Aren't you grateful for the 755 01:05:51,280 --> 01:05:56,080 person of the Holy Spirit? Are you right with God? 756 01:05:57,400 --> 01:06:00,680 Is the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart this morning? 757 01:06:00,680 --> 01:06:09,360 Do you know Him as your Savior? There isn't a person in this 758 01:06:09,360 --> 01:06:14,040 room that's guaranteed that you'll be here tomorrow. 759 01:06:18,240 --> 01:06:22,800 Today is the day and the Holy Spirit may be speaking to you 760 01:06:22,800 --> 01:06:28,000 because he's still here and he's still working and Jesus is still 761 01:06:28,000 --> 01:06:30,120 there and he's interceding for you. 762 01:06:30,120 --> 01:06:35,080 Before the Father, just before Jesus died, he gathered his 763 01:06:35,080 --> 01:06:40,000 disciples to the Last Supper, and he said, this cup is the cup 764 01:06:40,000 --> 01:06:43,560 of New Testament, the new Covenant in my blood. 765 01:06:43,560 --> 01:06:46,800 Take it and drink it and remembrance of me. 766 01:06:46,800 --> 01:06:49,400 This is my body which is broken for you. 767 01:06:49,640 --> 01:06:53,240 He wants to bring you into a covenantal relationship with 768 01:06:53,240 --> 01:06:56,840 Himself. But you cannot be passive. 769 01:06:57,320 --> 01:07:02,400 You have to take a step of faith and say I want to receive Jesus 770 01:07:02,400 --> 01:07:06,480 Christ and the Holy Spirit is speaking to me and I know today 771 01:07:06,480 --> 01:07:08,440 is my day and I want you to pray for me. 772 01:07:08,760 --> 01:07:11,920 And no one's bowing their heads, no one's closing their eyes. 773 01:07:14,440 --> 01:07:19,360 The Holy Spirit speaking to you today and saying, I need Jesus 774 01:07:19,360 --> 01:07:23,000 as my Savior. I want to serve him. 775 01:07:24,920 --> 01:07:29,440 I want to lay my will down. I want to do his will now. 776 01:07:29,440 --> 01:07:30,760 I want you to just raise your hand. 777 01:07:30,760 --> 01:07:33,840 By raising your hand, you're saying, Cara, I want you to pray 778 01:07:33,840 --> 01:07:36,160 for me. Thank you, brother. 779 01:07:36,200 --> 01:07:38,920 Thank you, brother. Thank you. 780 01:07:47,800 --> 01:07:53,200 So grateful, Lord, we're so grateful we give it. 781 01:07:54,000 --> 01:07:56,320 Go ahead and pray, Pray for your salvation. 782 01:07:56,320 --> 01:08:00,240 Please, Father, we just pray for these people that have lifted 783 01:08:00,240 --> 01:08:03,680 their hands and Father, that they would surrender totally and 784 01:08:03,680 --> 01:08:06,920 completely to you. We thank you Lord, that you see 785 01:08:06,920 --> 01:08:09,520 the heart. And Lord God, your word says 786 01:08:09,520 --> 01:08:12,240 that if you believe in your heart and confess with your 787 01:08:12,240 --> 01:08:16,800 mouth that you shall be saved. So Lord, we thank you for those 788 01:08:16,920 --> 01:08:20,120 who have confessed you as your Lord and as the Lord and Savior 789 01:08:20,120 --> 01:08:24,359 today and Father, that you would go with him and I pray God that 790 01:08:24,359 --> 01:08:26,880 you would fill him with your precious Holy Spirit. 791 01:08:27,120 --> 01:08:31,439 We thank you Lord, for this is a new day, a new day and we give 792 01:08:31,439 --> 01:08:34,080 you praise for what you've done in Jesus name, Amen.