1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:02,960 Welcome to the Illuminate Church podcast. 2 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:05,520 We hope today's message is encouraging to you. 3 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:13,720 This message is definitely an interesting one because I was 4 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:17,200 supposed to preach next Sunday. It's supposed to be after our 5 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:19,440 Unrest series. Pastor Tim will be back next 6 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:23,000 Sunday. And so I got thrown to today and 7 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:25,520 I was praying through like what this would look like. 8 00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:29,520 And so I heard Pastor Tim's message and God just spoke 9 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:31,600 something to me. And so I was super excited. 10 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:34,120 I wrote down the whole message and I sent it to the Pastor Tim 11 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:38,880 and he goes, wow, that is great. But it has nothing to do with 12 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:41,920 our series. I was like, so where do we go 13 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:43,640 from here? And he was like, you know what? 14 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:46,480 I want you to run with it. So aren't you grateful that we 15 00:00:46,480 --> 00:00:49,320 have a lead pastor that listens to the Lord like he is not 16 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:52,160 ashamed of God interruptions. He's ready to be obedient to the 17 00:00:52,160 --> 00:00:54,040 Holy Spirit. And I believe that's what it is 18 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:56,720 today. And so this series, I want you 19 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:59,200 to imagine any, anyone seen Ice Age before? 20 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:03,320 Anyone. OK, fun fact, Ice Age came out 21 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:05,600 23 years ago. Yeah. 22 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:07,880 So if you felt old, I'm sorry. All right? 23 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:11,200 But that that's the reality. Does anyone remember the 24 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:13,920 squirrel in Ice Age? OK, Yeah. 25 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:15,360 It's so cool. It's like this whole. 26 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:18,640 I remember being a kid putting the VHS. 27 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:20,480 They're like, I don't know what you're talking about. 28 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:24,360 I already lost the youth and that the VHS in in the whole 29 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:26,160 system here. And you know, you pop it in and 30 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:28,800 it starts whining it. And I remember like watching 31 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:32,280 this whole squirrel on the screen and like halfway through 32 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:34,000 it, I'm like, this is so entertaining. 33 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:37,040 But like I literally that has nothing to do with the movie. 34 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:38,400 Like I feel like I got bamboozled. 35 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:41,600 But once I got done, I'm like, this was the greatest thing 36 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:44,240 ever. That's what I hope this message 37 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:46,400 is for you today. All right, so it wasn't planned. 38 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:48,960 You're coming here for unrest, but here I am. 39 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:51,160 I'm so grateful I'm here. So I hope God speaks to you 40 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:52,280 today. I'm really am excited. 41 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:56,720 Last Sunday, Pastor Tim the the heart of the message was talking 42 00:01:56,720 --> 00:01:59,080 about a preparation for a wedding. 43 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:02,600 I think he brought up this list that there was like 72 things 44 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:05,960 from like this website of these, this planning and preparation 45 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:08,720 process before you get to the big day. 46 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:12,760 And so when I was thinking through that, I just was 47 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:15,360 reminded of my wife and I's wedding. 48 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,560 We got married in August of 2020 in Key West. 49 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:21,120 Super excited for it was a destination wedding. 50 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:24,200 It was during the COVID year, true story. 51 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:28,360 We had flights booked, hotels booked, venue booked, everything 52 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:31,920 booked, family flying in. And Key West was actually shut 53 00:02:31,920 --> 00:02:34,560 down. And so here we are literally a 54 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:38,920 month before the wedding and I am on the Key West government 55 00:02:38,920 --> 00:02:43,120 page, like refresh, refresh. Like Lord, please, I'm trying to 56 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:44,560 marry this girl. Like help me out here. 57 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:47,920 Praise God. Three weeks before Key West open 58 00:02:47,920 --> 00:02:49,800 and I was able to get married. Praise God for that. 59 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:52,600 My wife and I will hit five years. 60 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:54,800 Actually exciting stuff. We just found out yesterday, 61 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:56,320 December 12th, we'll be having a boy. 62 00:02:56,320 --> 00:03:00,720 So exciting stuff. We're pumped for that, but 63 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:02,400 that's enough for the good news. Let's get to the bad stuff. 64 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:06,160 So, so the wedding, right? So everyone flies in, We have 65 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:08,440 about 20 people, right? Small wedding, COVID wedding, 66 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:10,520 fun stuff. And so all the planning and 67 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:12,840 preparation. And so we got all of the family 68 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:15,240 together and we said, hey, listen, it's going to be on the, 69 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:19,240 the beach in Key West. Each stair had a, a label, a 70 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:21,000 number label. In a sense, you're like, hey, 71 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:26,240 the numbers, it's #10 make sure you figure out where it is if 72 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,320 it's a little confusing for you because you want to make sure 73 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:31,720 that you are ready. And so, yeah, everyone's good. 74 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:34,360 We, we, you know, I was like 123 break, you know, we all go do 75 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:36,240 our thing. And then so here we are. 76 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:38,840 It's the, it's the night of the wedding, right before the 77 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:41,280 sunset. And I'll never forget it. 78 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:43,080 I was sitting there at the altar. 79 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:48,280 We had the chairs up. And I'm noticing that five key 80 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:52,720 people are not there. OK, when the wedding has like 20 81 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:56,480 people, that's like 25%. OK, So like, we're running low 82 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:57,840 on this one. So I'm like, hey, they're like, 83 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:01,560 we're missing quite a few. And all of a sudden I see my 84 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:04,800 wife come over the sand dune and she starts walking. 85 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:07,960 And so I'm sitting there, like, or standing there like, what do 86 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:09,960 I do? Like, do I stop it? 87 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:12,880 Do I not stop it? And she starts walking and I 88 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:14,920 start crying. So I definitely didn't stop it, 89 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:16,600 right. So she walks down the aisle. 90 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,240 It's this beautiful moment. And we're face to face. 91 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:23,120 And all of a sudden, sudden I see my my eyes, my wife's eyes 92 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:26,040 dart. And she darts left and darts 93 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:28,880 left again and darts left again. I'm like, yeah. 94 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:31,360 And all of a sudden she starts crying. 95 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:36,360 And she goes, I can't do this. And so my wife walks back up the 96 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:40,160 altar, back over the sand beam, and then the people show up. 97 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:43,160 They get seated. And Can you imagine as the 98 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:47,200 bridegroom, the frustration, the anger, like I wanted to beat 99 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:50,840 someone up. Holy Spirit said no. 100 00:04:50,840 --> 00:04:53,400 I said, OK, Holy Spirit, I wanted to fight. 101 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:56,520 They're not going to invite me back after this. 102 00:04:57,600 --> 00:04:59,760 No, but I'm like, come on. Like we, we plan. 103 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:01,440 This is the moment we plan for this. 104 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:03,760 And you're late. And so my wife comes down the 105 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:06,120 altar and I cry again. I'm just going to be honest. 106 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:07,600 All right? I bawl my eyes out. 107 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:10,400 She comes down. It's a beautiful wedding, but 108 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:11,640 you know, a little bad taste in my mouth. 109 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:14,880 So we get back to the pool. There's this this pool at the 110 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:17,240 hotel with this whole, this is where our reception was going to 111 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:20,760 be at. And I see tape, like caution 112 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:23,840 tape around the pool. And so I go up to the hotel guy. 113 00:05:23,840 --> 00:05:26,200 I'm like, hey, you know, what's with the tape around the pool? 114 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:27,440 Like that's part of the experience. 115 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:29,400 You know, we hang out, eat food and then we get in the pool and 116 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:32,480 relax. He goes, Oh yeah, someone, a 117 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:37,920 child poo pooed in the pool. I'm like, Lord, what are we 118 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:39,960 doing here? Like help a brother out. 119 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:41,240 I'm just trying to have a good wedding. 120 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:44,280 So I was that was frustrated. And so anyways, we have a 121 00:05:44,280 --> 00:05:45,600 beautiful night. It's amazing. 122 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:50,240 But but I would be lying to you if I was not disappointed. 123 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:54,400 I would be lying to you if those moments weren't frustrating. 124 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:58,160 It's because we had prepared and prepared and prepared for this 125 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:03,480 moment and they weren't ready. We were prepared for this moment 126 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:07,040 and the hotel was not ready for the arrival. 127 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:10,400 And the disappointment was knowing all the time, energy 128 00:06:10,840 --> 00:06:14,400 and, and and money that was spent and they just weren't 129 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:15,760 ready. And so when I asked the 130 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:20,680 question, Are you ready? What's the first thing that 131 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:23,760 comes to mind? For some of you it's a work 132 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:25,960 deadline. Listen, they've sent like 18 133 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:27,640 emails. Y'all got to get it done, OK? 134 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:30,040 Some of you, that's for you. For some of you it's maybe a 135 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:32,320 relationship decision. You're like, should I be in? 136 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:34,600 Should I be out? For some of you it's rent or 137 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:37,720 mortgage being due. For some of you it's their exam 138 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,760 or paper or hopefully you pass and you don't have any exams or 139 00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:43,200 exam or papers. Or maybe it's a trip. 140 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:45,560 Like you're one of those people that plan all the trips and you 141 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:48,040 have every detail and every that's already. 142 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:51,160 Or maybe it's even a hard conversation that you know you 143 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:53,120 need to have, but you're just waiting on. 144 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:57,280 And last week, Pastor Tim shared something very powerful that's 145 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:00,720 really been sitting on my heart. And it's the it's the the heart 146 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:03,320 of this message. He said that when we practice 147 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:07,720 the Sabbath, it's like welcoming the bride on the wedding. 148 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:14,760 We prepare, we expect, and we make space for the honored guest 149 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:19,200 of God's presence to arrive. And when I heard that the Lord 150 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:24,040 spoke this message, if Sabbath is a weekly rehearsal for 151 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:28,760 welcoming the presence of God, then Sabbath trains us to be 152 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:33,640 ready for him, not just for a week, but for eternity. 153 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:38,040 And so the question is, Are you ready? 154 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:42,480 Because the fact is, Jesus is coming back whether you're ready 155 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:44,520 or not. The moment of the return of 156 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:46,720 Jesus will not wait for convenience. 157 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:49,480 It won't be rescheduled around your calendar. 158 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:51,920 You don't get a notification the day before. 159 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:55,080 You don't get to ask for an extension when it comes. 160 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:58,680 Our eternity is sealed. And at that moment, the question 161 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:00,840 won't be, how successful were you? 162 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:04,120 The question won't be how happy were you? 163 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:07,000 The question won't be how much money did you make? 164 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:11,960 It will be, did you know Jesus? Did you follow Jesus? 165 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:19,800 Were you ready for Jesus? We don't practice Sabbath just 166 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:25,680 to rest from something. We practice Sabbath to rest for 167 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:31,400 someone and his name is Jesus. And I, I remember when I stood 168 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:34,480 there at the altar and my wife had to walk back. 169 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:38,799 Can I be honest? No matter how many times it 170 00:08:38,799 --> 00:08:44,039 took, I would still be ready. Hopefully only one time next 171 00:08:44,039 --> 00:08:46,000 time. OK, let's be honest here, but it 172 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:48,480 doesn't matter. No matter if we had to do 345, I 173 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:51,120 was going to be ready for her arrival. 174 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:53,600 Is that the same mentality you have for Jesus? 175 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:57,520 That regardless of what happens, you'll stand there waiting. 176 00:08:58,680 --> 00:09:00,040 So what does it mean to be ready? 177 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:02,600 I believe God gives us the answer in His Word. 178 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:06,080 We're going to be in Revelation chapter 22, verses 12 to 17. 179 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:08,440 If you want to flip to your pages there, if you need a 180 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:10,960 Bible, we have ushers that will hand out Bibles. 181 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:13,280 If you want to pop your hand up, they will give you a Bible. 182 00:09:13,680 --> 00:09:17,200 Revelation chapter 22. It's the second easiest chapter 183 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:19,120 to find in the Bible. OK, the easiest chapter is 184 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:22,880 Genesis 1 is the beginning. Revelation 22 is the last 185 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:24,760 chapter is the end. OK, so to keep flipping to them 186 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:26,600 pages, you'll get there eventually. 187 00:09:31,560 --> 00:09:34,840 And so Revelation chapter 22, the thing about a story is you 188 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:37,520 don't read a book. I suppose we have one more over 189 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:40,360 here to the side. We don't we don't read a book at 190 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:42,440 the very end because I mean, we don't understand what's 191 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:44,760 happening before, right? If we don't understand the 192 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:48,440 context, we won't understand the culmination of the story. 193 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:52,440 And So what is the context? We see in Genesis chapter 1, God 194 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:56,440 creates everything, male and male and female and creation. 195 00:09:56,440 --> 00:09:59,160 And it was good, good. And in Genesis chapter 3 or 196 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:03,520 Genesis chapter 2, God put Adam and Eve over creation to steward 197 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:08,400 it and to rest to enjoy the good things that God had created. 198 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:11,240 In Genesis chapter 3, we know the fall of Adam and Eve. 199 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:14,560 They decided to become a gods for themselves and and take and 200 00:10:14,560 --> 00:10:18,160 eat of the fruit. And because of that moment, sin, 201 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:23,640 darkness, pain, evil entered into the world and Adam and Eve 202 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:27,960 were separated from the garden. And the question was, how do we 203 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:32,320 get back there? And so God and his glory and his 204 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:36,280 grace decided to to show himself to someone named Abraham. 205 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:40,200 And he said, through you there will be a worldwide blessing. 206 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:42,640 And you are going to have a people, and I'm going to give 207 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:45,880 you a land from my glory. And so we see the story of 208 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:47,960 Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. 209 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:51,040 After Joseph, the Israelites are enslaved in Egypt. 210 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:54,800 We get this these beautiful moments for God is is sending 211 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:59,960 these these mass miracles to free the Israelites out of the 212 00:10:59,960 --> 00:11:02,680 slavery of Egypt. And then we get the person of 213 00:11:02,680 --> 00:11:05,400 Moses who's who's following God as a servant of God. 214 00:11:05,560 --> 00:11:08,400 They get out into the wilderness and then God says, we have a 215 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:13,120 people, I'm promising you a place and then you need a law. 216 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:16,840 You need a way for you to live in relationship with me. 217 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:20,320 And so the story of the Israelites, if I had to sum up 218 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:23,960 the Old Testament, it says is God says, do this. 219 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,400 And Israel says, I ain't doing that. 220 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:28,440 OK, I'm going to be honest. That's kind of what happens. 221 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:31,440 Like literally after Moses comes down from the Mount Sinai, like, 222 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:34,800 hey, God spoke and like, hey, this golden calf looks so good. 223 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:36,800 Like, what are we doing here? That's that's kind of what 224 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:38,600 happens. And So what happens is Israel 225 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:40,840 gets judged for their disobedience. 226 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:45,240 And what happens is we see them cry out and say we need a king 227 00:11:45,560 --> 00:11:48,720 to save us. And so even though God was their 228 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:51,560 king, it was a theocracy. God was in control. 229 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,000 They said, you know, I'm going to give you what you want. 230 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:55,800 I'm going to give you a king after your own heart. 231 00:11:56,120 --> 00:12:00,200 And we get the story of Saul. And then God chooses King David, 232 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:03,360 who will be a man after my own heart and I'm going to fulfill 233 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:06,960 my promises through him. And then we get King Solomon. 234 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:09,520 And after Solomon, there was more disobedience. 235 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:13,240 The, the, the country of Israel split up the northern and the 236 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:16,840 southern Kingdom. And then we get this 400 years, 237 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:20,040 it's called the intertestamental period of silence. 238 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:24,320 There was no prophecies. There was no hope, there was no 239 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:26,200 vision. It was awaiting. 240 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:30,720 And all of a sudden this man named John the Baptist shows up 241 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:34,320 and says, repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand. 242 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:38,000 And while he's preaching his message, we see this man come 243 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:43,560 over and he says, look, behold the Lamb of God who takes away 244 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:47,120 the sin of the world. This man named Jesus enters the 245 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:52,560 space declaring his Kingdom and his king ship that I'm going to 246 00:12:52,560 --> 00:12:56,840 have a people that serve me and I'm going to rule and reign over 247 00:12:56,840 --> 00:12:58,360 them. And we're going to spread this 248 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:01,080 Kingdom on this earth. I'm not going to find a people 249 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:04,520 that circumcised in flesh. I'm going to find a people that 250 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:08,680 circumcised in heart, born again by the Spirit of God. 251 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:10,600 And so Jesus lives the perfect life. 252 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:13,680 He fulfills the law. He dies in place for our sins. 253 00:13:13,680 --> 00:13:16,960 He raised again and he gives us his Holy Spirit. 254 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:20,760 He says, listen, it's better for me to leave so I can give you my 255 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:24,800 Holy Spirit. And so now we are a part of that 256 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:28,720 story. You are a part of that story, 257 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:34,520 the story of God rescuing a people for his own possession. 258 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:40,120 And so we find ourselves as exiles in a land that we're in 259 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:45,200 this world, but we're not of this world that we're in this 260 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:47,800 country. But our ultimate kingship is 261 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:51,320 King Jesus. It's him. 262 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:55,200 And then we get the Book of Revelation, this story we're 263 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:57,400 about, this chapter we're about to read because it's a 264 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:02,360 revelation of Jesus to the church where he makes a 265 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:04,440 statement. I'm coming soon. 266 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:09,320 I'm coming soon. I am going to restore what was 267 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:11,920 broken because I don't know if you live in the world that I 268 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:15,520 live in is yes, and we've been redeemed and saved by grace. 269 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:19,000 But the world is crazy. The world is broken, the world 270 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:22,320 is evil and the question is that God created it as good. 271 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:25,760 So what do we do now? This is the return and waiting 272 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:29,720 of King Jesus who's going to restore all things and we get 273 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:31,880 this picture. I'm going to read this here 274 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:36,000 chapter before in Revelation 21. It says here in verse 2. 275 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:41,400 I also saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down out 276 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:46,840 of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her 277 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:49,880 husband. Then I heard a loud voice from 278 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:52,720 the throne. Look, God's dwelling is with 279 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:56,840 humanity and He will live with them and they will be his 280 00:14:56,840 --> 00:15:01,800 peoples and the God himself will be with them and will be their 281 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:04,440 God. He will wipe every tear from 282 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:07,040 their eyes. Death will will be no more 283 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:11,160 grief, crying and pain will be no more because the previous 284 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:14,240 things have passed away. Then the one seated on the 285 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:22,000 throne said, look, I am making everything new, say new, making 286 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:25,280 everything new. And he also said right, because 287 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:28,560 these words are faithful and true. 288 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:36,040 So the question is, Are you ready and how do you know if you 289 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:38,520 are? We see a couple things here, 290 00:15:38,520 --> 00:15:42,080 proclamation and exhortation and an invitation. 291 00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:46,080 Let's start here in chapter 22, starting in verse 12. 292 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:53,280 Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each 293 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:57,800 person according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, 294 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:01,040 the 1st and the last, the beginning and the end. 295 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:03,440 So what is the proclamation of Jesus? 296 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:06,720 A promise of his return. When will that happen? 297 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:11,120 Jesus says soon in the Greek. It literally means swiftly. 298 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:14,320 If you had to describe the second coming of Jesus in one 299 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:17,240 phrase, it's repeated all throughout the New Testament. 300 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:21,440 I am like a thief in the night. You won't expect it. 301 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:24,120 I'm coming at any time and you better be ready. 302 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:28,040 And so I I remember as a child getting the dreadful phone call 303 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:30,840 from my parents, remember picking up that phone and they 304 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:35,120 said, hey, I'm a be home soon. The house better be clean. 305 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:38,400 Anyone else? And guess what you started 306 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:40,280 doing? You started moving real quick. 307 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:42,240 I mean, I was such a good kid. I'm like, I'm gonna wash the 308 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:43,480 dishes. Like, they're not even gonna get 309 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:45,160 nothing on me. I'm gonna do everything right. 310 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:46,840 I'm gonna clean up my room. I'm gonna make sure my my 311 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:48,760 clothes are folded. I'm gonna do the dishes and, and 312 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:53,600 make sure everything's spotless. And just to be clear, Soon was 313 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:55,520 never the same. OK? 314 00:16:55,760 --> 00:17:00,560 My parents version of Soon was 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or three 315 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:04,400 hours or any time in between. All I know is you better be 316 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:06,119 ready. And So what happened is my 317 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:12,240 expectation of them coming home moved me to action. 318 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:16,839 What's the principle? Our lack of action reveals our 319 00:17:16,839 --> 00:17:19,359 lack of faith. Because if you really believe 320 00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:23,000 Jesus was coming back, shouldn't it move you to something? 321 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:28,760 Why? Why does Jesus come back? 322 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:33,080 He says that I am going to repay each person according to his 323 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:35,360 work. The word payment, it literally 324 00:17:35,360 --> 00:17:37,920 means wage. And so with what? 325 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:41,640 It's according to what you have done in First Corinthians, the 326 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:44,680 biblical principle, First Corinthians 3 verse 13 to 15, it 327 00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:48,200 says the fire will test the quality of each one's work. 328 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:51,840 If anyone's work that he has built survives, he will receive 329 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:54,440 a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, 330 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:59,360 he will experience loss, but he himself will be saved, but only 331 00:17:59,360 --> 00:18:03,000 as through fire. One of my favorite movies is 332 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:04,800 Gladiator. Not a Christian movie. 333 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:06,040 OK, let's just get that out of the way. 334 00:18:06,120 --> 00:18:08,200 But it's a great movie. It's a classic movie movie. 335 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:11,280 Russell Crowe opens the scene. There's this beautiful scene 336 00:18:11,360 --> 00:18:15,120 where the the Romans are going to attack the Barbarians and 337 00:18:15,120 --> 00:18:17,920 he's trying to encourage them and he's trying to get them 338 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:20,840 ready for battle. And he says this quote that 339 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:25,360 gives me goosebumps every time. He says what we do in this life 340 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:30,320 echoes in eternity. Here's the truth behind it. 341 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:36,480 Work for yourself, last for a moment, work for Jesus, last for 342 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:39,640 eternity. Things that we do in our life 343 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:41,560 that are self-centered only focus on us. 344 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:43,840 It's only just a moment and it feels good. 345 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:49,680 But the work for the Kingdom we will receive the reward and, 346 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:51,760 and, and, and how will Jesus come back? 347 00:18:52,120 --> 00:18:56,480 I will say in authority, Jesus shifts from what he is doing to 348 00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:58,200 the authority in which he will do it. 349 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:02,400 So on this earth in the Gospels we see Jesus in his earthly 350 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:05,120 unglorified state. The Book of Revelation is 351 00:19:05,120 --> 00:19:08,200 written by John who is one of Jesus disciples. 352 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:11,560 And so this was a disciple that lived with Jesus, that walked 353 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:15,880 with Jesus, that ate with Jesus, that for 3 1/2 years was one of 354 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:19,880 his inner circles. But that was Jesus here. 355 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:26,000 And when Revelation One, when John sees the glorified King, he 356 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:30,000 says I fell at my feet as though I was dead. 357 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:35,960 When he saw Jesus in his glory, in His Majesty and his dominion, 358 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:41,520 the only response is woe is me, because he saw the King not just 359 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:44,480 as a man, but fully enthroned in his glory. 360 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:48,120 And Jesus, he's in this space of a timeless existence. 361 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:51,320 He's not worried about the past, He's not worried about the 362 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:53,720 present, He's not worried about the future. 363 00:19:53,960 --> 00:19:56,000 We get this words, Alpha and Omega. 364 00:19:56,120 --> 00:19:59,280 They are the 1st and the last letters of the Greek alphabet. 365 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:03,040 So what is Jesus saying? Nothing in your life that is 366 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:05,880 being written is a surprise to him because He knows your story, 367 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:09,920 the whole story, not just your story, but from beginning to the 368 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:13,880 end, He is the Alpha. He is the Omega, He is the 369 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:20,200 beginning, and He is the end. So readiness is being expectant 370 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:24,560 of His return. Are you ready? 371 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:28,480 Let's continue in verse 14 and 15. 372 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:32,680 Blessed are those who wash their robes so that they may have 373 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:37,720 right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. 374 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:41,440 Outside are the dogs, the sorcerer's, the sexually 375 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:45,240 immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who 376 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:49,800 loves and practices falsehood. So we get here an exhortation. 377 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:53,680 What is the exhortation? A purity from his people. 378 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:56,800 And so we get 2 categories. We get those that are blessed to 379 00:20:56,800 --> 00:21:00,080 enter and those that are barred from entry. 380 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:03,320 So what does it mean to be blessed in the text we read here 381 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:07,080 that those who have been who have washed their robes. 382 00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:09,840 What's interesting though, is this is not the first time this 383 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:11,840 was said. If you actually go back to 384 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:15,560 Revelation Chapter 7, verse 13 and 14, it says this. 385 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:19,440 It says then one of the elders asked me, who are these people 386 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:21,880 in white robes and where did they come from? 387 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:26,800 I said to him, Sir, you know. Then he told me, these are the 388 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:29,040 ones coming out of the great tribulation. 389 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:34,960 They washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the 390 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:36,880 Lamb. Why is that important? 391 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:38,080 Can I get a little nerdy here for a second? 392 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:39,960 Is that OK? Let's just dive into the text. 393 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:45,720 So in the underlying Greek in in Chapter 7 verse 14, it is an 394 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:47,760 heiress tense. What does that mean? 395 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:54,960 This happened at a point of time in the past in verse chapter 22, 396 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:58,600 verse 14. It is a present tense, which 397 00:21:58,600 --> 00:22:01,960 means it's a continual process. Why does that matter? 398 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:07,280 Jesus has cleansed these people Chapter 7 verse team and and is 399 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:09,440 cleansing these people in chapter 22. 400 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:12,520 It's the justification, the moment where you are made right 401 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:14,480 with God. You have repentance and faith in 402 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:17,000 Jesus and Jesus washes you clean. 403 00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:20,880 And then there's a process of afterward of sanctification 404 00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:24,800 where Jesus continues to to wash you, to make you clean, to 405 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:27,440 sanctify you by the power of the Holy Spirit, to make you the 406 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:30,160 image of a son. That is the process that we are 407 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:32,480 seeing here. And what is the result of this 408 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:35,880 cleansing? It's a partaking in eternity 409 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:38,840 seated with God in the heavenly places. 410 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:44,480 And then we get those who are barred, and what do we see about 411 00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:46,560 them? At the end, it talks about those 412 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:51,440 who love and practice falsehood. It's this idea of being devoid 413 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:56,120 of truth because being devoid of truth lead you to a place of 414 00:22:56,120 --> 00:22:59,000 false worship. If you're not living in truth, 415 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:02,200 you're going to create truth for yourself and therefore follow 416 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:04,320 the things of this world. And so we see this. 417 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:06,280 We talk about spiritual warfare a lot. 418 00:23:06,360 --> 00:23:08,760 Yes, there's deliverance and there's demonic activity in the 419 00:23:08,760 --> 00:23:13,120 world, but most spiritual warfare is an issue of truth and 420 00:23:13,120 --> 00:23:16,200 lies. Jesus said I am the truth. 421 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:20,120 Jesus said the truth will set you free and the enemy is called 422 00:23:20,120 --> 00:23:22,320 the Father of lies. So if we're talking about 423 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:26,920 spiritual warfare, the reality of it is truth and lies, because 424 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:31,680 here's the reality that beliefs affect your being and your 425 00:23:31,680 --> 00:23:35,680 behavior. Beliefs affect what you think 426 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:39,320 about yourself and what you think about yourself effects 427 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:42,480 what you do and how you act. And so we get a couple pictures 428 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:44,480 here. It uses the word dogs, which is 429 00:23:44,480 --> 00:23:47,200 this picture of someone who isn't willing to come back to 430 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:49,560 the house, someone who is, who is, who is dirty, who is 431 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:51,320 unclean. And so this is what that would 432 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:53,600 look like. That because I've been saved by 433 00:23:53,600 --> 00:23:55,680 grace, that gives me a license to sin. 434 00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:58,680 That's a belief. So now my being is I don't need 435 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:01,120 to change. And the behavior is I stay in 436 00:24:01,120 --> 00:24:04,440 sin, or we get this picture of sorcerers, that God's not 437 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:07,080 enough. I'm going to control my destiny. 438 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:10,120 And I'm now going to turn to other things like witchcraft, 439 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:13,280 like cards, like crystals, all these things that are not of 440 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:15,080 God. And it stems from a belief. 441 00:24:15,560 --> 00:24:18,040 What about murders? My anger is justified. 442 00:24:18,360 --> 00:24:20,760 I'm the victim. I'm going to hurt others. 443 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:23,400 Idolaters. God wants me happy. 444 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:26,960 My worth is in my stuff, therefore I worship my success. 445 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:28,800 Or what about lovers of falsehood? 446 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:33,120 Jesus isn't the truth. I decide what is true and then I 447 00:24:33,120 --> 00:24:39,080 reject God and lead others away. Our belief effects who we are in 448 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:41,080 what we do. I remember when I worked at a 449 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:44,960 warehouse, one of my managers, he was a believer and he was 450 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:47,560 frustrated that his wife would not go to church. 451 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:50,400 And so him and I were having some conversations like, hey, 452 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:52,520 like, you know what it was her did she used to go? 453 00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:54,640 Did she not like what happened? He's like, yeah, she used to go 454 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:56,520 to church. And then something happened. 455 00:24:56,520 --> 00:24:57,560 She said, I was like, what happened? 456 00:24:57,560 --> 00:24:59,800 He goes, well, her, her cat passed away. 457 00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:04,080 Now, just to be clear, 50% of you are like, that's not a big 458 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:06,800 deal, OK? You're like, I don't like cats. 459 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:09,320 The other 50% are like, I completely understand. 460 00:25:09,320 --> 00:25:11,320 Like if my cat passed away, I definitely get it. 461 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:15,200 But he's sharing with me that her cat passed away and she he 462 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:19,120 said that since that moment she got angry at God and she fell 463 00:25:19,120 --> 00:25:21,680 away from church. She no longer attends because of 464 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:23,720 that. And he was like, I don't get it. 465 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:28,880 Like I don't get why would God allow my cat to pass away? 466 00:25:29,120 --> 00:25:31,720 And I'm sitting there obviously not having all the answers. 467 00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:34,760 I don't know why God does things or doesn't do things, but He 468 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:38,880 spoke to me in that moment. He said to reveal who she 469 00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:44,480 belongs to. Because our behavior reveals our 470 00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:48,200 belonging. Our ability to step foot in this 471 00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:52,280 house week in and week out shows that we do belong in His house, 472 00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:55,560 that we are a child of God. First, John 219 says. 473 00:25:55,720 --> 00:26:00,280 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us, for if 474 00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:02,880 they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. 475 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:08,360 However, they went out, so that it might be made clear that none 476 00:26:08,360 --> 00:26:12,360 of them belongs to us. What am I saying here? 477 00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:16,720 That readiness is living in purity. 478 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:22,840 Are you ready? Are you ready? 479 00:26:22,880 --> 00:26:29,040 Verse 16 and 17 I, Jesus, have sent my angels to attest these 480 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:32,760 things to you for the churches. I am the root and the descendant 481 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:35,040 of David, the bright morning star. 482 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:41,000 Both the Spirit and the Bride say, come, let anyone who here 483 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:42,880 say, come, let the one who is thirsty come. 484 00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:47,600 Let the one who desires to take the water of life freely. 485 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:53,000 And then we get an invitation, which is a plea for restoration. 486 00:26:53,640 --> 00:26:55,560 That's what we get here in verse 16. 487 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:57,440 It talks about the descendant of David. 488 00:26:58,040 --> 00:27:00,200 And this was a call back to the Old Testament. 489 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:04,600 We actually read this promise made to King David in Second 490 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:09,200 Samuel 7, verse 12 through 13. It says when your time comes and 491 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:12,840 you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up after you your 492 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:17,720 descendant who will come from your body, and I will establish 493 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:20,920 His Kingdom. He is the one will build a house 494 00:27:20,920 --> 00:27:25,600 for My name, and I will establish the throne of His 495 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:30,680 Kingdom forever. Over 1000 years before this Book 496 00:27:30,680 --> 00:27:34,760 of Revelation was written, Jesus is declaring this was already 497 00:27:34,760 --> 00:27:37,440 the plan. This was always the plan, this 498 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:40,200 was always the future, that I would be established as an 499 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:43,880 offspring of David and I would make things all right and true 500 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:46,160 and restored. And the question is, Are you 501 00:27:46,160 --> 00:27:48,640 ready? And he gives us an invitation. 502 00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:50,520 We had this invitation first to Jesus. 503 00:27:50,520 --> 00:27:54,600 It says both the Spirit and the bride say, come, let me ask you 504 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:56,880 this church, are you wanting to see him? 505 00:27:58,440 --> 00:28:02,320 Because a ready church isn't dormant, but expectant. 506 00:28:03,120 --> 00:28:05,640 It's moving. It's not just sitting around, 507 00:28:05,760 --> 00:28:07,800 it's walking and building God's Kingdom. 508 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:10,600 And then there's an invitation to us individually. 509 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:15,640 Are you ready to see him? Because a ready church isn't 510 00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:20,760 rebellious, but repentant. A ready church is willing to 511 00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:23,960 acknowledge when the Holy Spirit is challenging us and convicting 512 00:28:23,960 --> 00:28:26,880 us and go back to the cross where we conceive grace and 513 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:29,360 mercy. And then there's an invitation 514 00:28:29,360 --> 00:28:32,560 to the believer. Are you ready to know him? 515 00:28:34,040 --> 00:28:39,120 Not just an idea of Jesus, not just a religious system, but the 516 00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:44,320 King enthroned in glory. Are you ready to know him? 517 00:28:45,040 --> 00:28:48,720 My last point, readiness is accepting His invitation for 518 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:50,960 restoration. Are you ready? 519 00:28:56,560 --> 00:29:01,480 When I was a kid, I did not have the easiest childhood. 520 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:05,040 My stepfather was a retired drill instructor and for a long 521 00:29:05,040 --> 00:29:09,680 time I lived my life and anger my whole life I was told that I 522 00:29:09,680 --> 00:29:12,880 would never be anything or do anything or amount to anything. 523 00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:16,440 And so I wanted to prove. I wanted to prove that I could 524 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:20,400 be someone and prove my stepfather wrong. 525 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:24,720 And so for most of my life I lived with this quote, which was 526 00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:30,000 my life mantra by Frank Sinatra. It says the greatest revenge is 527 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:33,280 massive success. And all I wanted to do was I 528 00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:38,320 wanted to get to a place where I could prove that I could be 529 00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:41,360 something that I could do something that you were wrong 530 00:29:41,640 --> 00:29:44,480 about me. And so I had this dream. 531 00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:46,120 I was living in San Diego at the time. 532 00:29:46,360 --> 00:29:51,000 There was this massive, it was a $5.5 million penthouse in 533 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:53,560 downtown San Diego. It was beautiful. 534 00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:55,960 I was like, I think I can afford the payments and no, absolutely 535 00:29:55,960 --> 00:29:57,280 not. It's like $80,000 a month. 536 00:29:57,280 --> 00:29:59,200 Like what the hell? We who affords This is crazy. 537 00:29:59,680 --> 00:30:01,440 But I was like, this is me. This I wanted. 538 00:30:01,440 --> 00:30:03,160 And by the way, this is also like pre COVID. 539 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:05,240 So like really it's probably like 10 million now. 540 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:07,720 So at this point, God called me the ministry that the ship has 541 00:30:07,720 --> 00:30:08,960 sailed. OK, let's just be honest here. 542 00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:13,320 I've already accepted that. But I had this dream that I was 543 00:30:13,320 --> 00:30:15,800 going to have this penthouse and I was going to be on top of the 544 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:19,480 world, and I was going to prove that I could be something. 545 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:23,320 By God's grace, he saved me by that ideology. 546 00:30:24,120 --> 00:30:28,080 And it was about four or five years later, I was taking a 547 00:30:28,080 --> 00:30:30,760 missions trip to Thailand. And if you've ever been to 548 00:30:30,760 --> 00:30:34,880 Southeast Asia, very inexpensive if you have U.S. dollars, like 549 00:30:35,040 --> 00:30:38,040 we were able to book a five star hotel for the price of La 550 00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:40,520 Quinta. OK, It was like $100. 551 00:30:40,720 --> 00:30:43,840 Crazy, crazy. And I'll never forget this 552 00:30:43,840 --> 00:30:47,320 moment. We went up to the very top of 553 00:30:47,320 --> 00:30:49,480 this hotel in downtown Bangkok, Thailand. 554 00:30:50,040 --> 00:30:54,080 And I come out of this elevator and there's this affinity pool 555 00:30:54,560 --> 00:30:58,640 with these lights, and there's this awesome music and there's 556 00:30:58,720 --> 00:31:03,000 all of these buildings. And I was like, I'm on top of 557 00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:05,040 the world. This is it. 558 00:31:05,840 --> 00:31:11,960 And in that moment, I felt emptiness because I realized I 559 00:31:11,960 --> 00:31:15,800 had been lied to my whole life. I thought this was it. 560 00:31:16,640 --> 00:31:19,400 This was the dream, this was the future. 561 00:31:19,720 --> 00:31:24,120 This is what life had to offer. And after that moment of 562 00:31:24,160 --> 00:31:29,000 emptiness, the Holy Spirit filled me with joy because in 563 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:31,480 that moment I knew. Because I had Jesus, I had 564 00:31:31,480 --> 00:31:35,000 everything. In that moment I knew that I was 565 00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:38,800 ready because I found the greatest treasure. 566 00:31:39,440 --> 00:31:45,600 If the world gives me everything and I don't have Jesus, I have 567 00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:48,680 nothing. But if the world gives me 568 00:31:48,680 --> 00:31:53,360 nothing, but I have Jesus, I have everything. 569 00:32:03,490 --> 00:32:09,290 And so a church, a bride that is ready is 1 Hoping for the 570 00:32:09,290 --> 00:32:13,850 promise of his return, living in purity and accepting the 571 00:32:13,850 --> 00:32:17,330 invitation for restoration. What if you live like that? 572 00:32:18,250 --> 00:32:20,890 Anxiety would lose its grip because you know who holds the 573 00:32:20,890 --> 00:32:22,850 future. It's not you, it's Jesus. 574 00:32:23,330 --> 00:32:26,130 Sin would lose its appeal because you'd see the surpassing 575 00:32:26,130 --> 00:32:29,040 worth of His glory. Church wouldn't be a Sunday 576 00:32:29,040 --> 00:32:30,680 event. It would be a preview of 577 00:32:30,680 --> 00:32:33,480 eternity. Cities could change because 578 00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:37,440 communities would be saturated with grace and truth. 579 00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:40,840 And the world would not just hear about Jesus, they would 580 00:32:40,840 --> 00:32:46,480 encounter him through you. That's the church that is ready. 581 00:32:49,160 --> 00:32:52,040 And I didn't read this during first service, but I just. 582 00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:59,240 That's what the Lord wants. I'm going to read this in tech 583 00:32:59,240 --> 00:33:00,680 booth. Relax, not out there. 584 00:33:00,760 --> 00:33:03,280 So you're good. I want to read this this text 585 00:33:03,280 --> 00:33:07,040 here. Revelation 19, verse 11 And then 586 00:33:07,040 --> 00:33:10,200 I saw heaven opened and there was a White Horse. 587 00:33:10,920 --> 00:33:12,960 It's writer is called faithful and true. 588 00:33:13,640 --> 00:33:17,280 And with justice he rages, he with he judges and wake makes 589 00:33:17,280 --> 00:33:20,120 war. His eyes were like a fiery flame 590 00:33:20,360 --> 00:33:22,120 and many crowns were on his head. 591 00:33:22,520 --> 00:33:26,400 He had the name written that no one knows except himself. 592 00:33:27,120 --> 00:33:31,000 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word 593 00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:33,480 of God. The armies that were in heaven 594 00:33:33,480 --> 00:33:37,360 followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. 595 00:33:37,840 --> 00:33:40,800 A sharp sword came from his mouth so that he might strike 596 00:33:40,920 --> 00:33:43,920 the nations with it. He will also rule them with an 597 00:33:43,920 --> 00:33:46,400 iron rod. He will trample the winepress of 598 00:33:46,400 --> 00:33:48,480 the fierce anger of God the Almighty. 599 00:33:48,640 --> 00:33:53,840 And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh. 600 00:33:54,320 --> 00:33:59,760 King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Are you ready? 601 00:34:02,480 --> 00:34:05,560 Thanks for joining us today. We hope God is speaking to your 602 00:34:05,560 --> 00:34:08,159 heart through this message. If you'd like to connect with 603 00:34:08,159 --> 00:34:15,360 us, you can text connect to 407-588-0115 or visit Illuminate 604 00:34:15,480 --> 00:34:17,960 dot church. Have a great week.