1 00:00:01,520 --> 00:00:02,800 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. 2 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:05,840 Speaker 2: I'm the pastor of Elevation Church and this is our podcast. 3 00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 2: I wanted to thank you for joining us today. 4 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: Hope this inspires you. Hope it builds your faith. 5 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 2: Hope it gives your perspective to see God is moving 6 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 2: in your life. 7 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: Enjoy the message. 8 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 3: First of all, I want to thank you for being 9 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 3: the absolute, in my correct, humble opinion, a most amazing 10 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 3: church on the planet. And it's so good to see 11 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 3: you today because I believe that you are the greatest 12 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 3: church on the planet. I feel it's my job to 13 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:39,880 Speaker 3: bring you the greatest preachers on the planet. So any 14 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:43,320 Speaker 3: given Sunday you might get to hear a word from 15 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:49,959 Speaker 3: Holly Ferdick on Mother's Day. That might happen. You might 16 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 3: come one Sunday and you might just stuck with me. 17 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 3: But today you get to hear from Priscilla Shire. And 18 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 3: I'm telling you this because you must have done something right. 19 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 3: Touch your neighbor and say you must have lived right 20 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:12,480 Speaker 3: to get to hear Priscilla. She and Jerry are two 21 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 3: of the greatest generals for the Kingdom of God. We 22 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 3: are so thankful to have them here with us today. 23 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 1: We are ready to preach you down, woman of God. 24 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:24,920 Speaker 3: Thank you for your ministry touching millias around the world, 25 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 3: elevation for the first time. 26 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:30,959 Speaker 2: Help me welcome Priscilla child. 27 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 4: Welcome morning, family. I don't even know what to say. 28 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 1: Like, God is up in here. Y'all are my people. 29 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 1: Y'all came to have church Jesus. Sit where I am 30 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 1: lifted up. I will just start drawing people to myself. 31 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 1: I love being in this house. I'm so grateful. I'm 32 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:10,239 Speaker 1: gonna tell you before you sit down that you need 33 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 1: to know that the Lord must love you. Listen to me, 34 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 1: that He has entrusted the state of your spiritual growth 35 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:23,680 Speaker 1: and your soul to leaders who actually have integrity. Listen 36 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 1: to me. I wish I could tell you that at 37 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:32,080 Speaker 1: every church it is that way. It is not so. 38 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:37,079 Speaker 1: God must have a thing for y'all, that he has 39 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:40,640 Speaker 1: allowed your spiritual development this side of Heaven to be 40 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 1: attached to people who actually loved Jesus. Would you celebrate 41 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 1: Stephen and holland Thurdit. Thank you, thank you, thank you, 42 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 1: thank you for loving each other, thank you for loving 43 00:02:57,880 --> 00:02:59,919 Speaker 1: your kids, and thank you for loving the House of God. 44 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: We're so grateful Okay, y'all, I'm so grateful to be 45 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:08,079 Speaker 1: with you. I don't want you to stand up too long, 46 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:09,839 Speaker 1: but you're gonna have to stand up while I read 47 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 1: this scripture. You gonna want to stand up while I 48 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: read the scripture because the presence of God is so 49 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 1: thick in this room, and I believe He's gonna put 50 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 1: an exclamation point on his presence in these moments we're 51 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 1: gonna read together. From Revelation chapter four. I go to 52 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 1: the kind of church where sometimes we just stand up 53 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:33,399 Speaker 1: for the reading of God's word, just to remind ourselves 54 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 1: that every single time we come to the pages of 55 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:40,120 Speaker 1: the book, God is speaking, that we should expect to 56 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 1: feel the warm breath of God brushing across our cheeks 57 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 1: as he speaks a present word over our lives. Revelation 58 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 1: chapter four, John says, after these things, I looked and behold, 59 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 1: there was a door standing open in the heavens, and 60 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 1: there was like the first which I had heard before, 61 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 1: the sound of a trumpet speaking. And the voice said, 62 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 1: come up here, and I'm gonna show you some things 63 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 1: which are to take place. And verse two. Immediately I 64 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 1: was in the spirit, and behold, a throne was standing 65 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 1: in the heavens, and one sitting on the throne. And 66 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 1: he who was sitting on the throne was like a 67 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 1: jasper stone and a sardius in appearance. And there was 68 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:28,840 Speaker 1: a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. 69 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 1: And around the throne there were twenty four smaller thrones. 70 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 1: And on those thrones I saw twenty four elders, and 71 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 1: they were clothed in white garments, golden crowns on their 72 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 1: head Verse five. And from the throne that preceded flashes 73 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 1: of lightning and sounds and peels of thunder. There were 74 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 1: seven lamps of fire burning around the throne, which are 75 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 1: the seven spirits of God. Verse six. And before the 76 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:58,160 Speaker 1: throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal. 77 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 1: And in the center and a on the throne, there 78 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:05,160 Speaker 1: were four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. 79 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 1: The first creature was like a lion, the second creature 80 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 1: like a calf. The third creature had a face like 81 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 1: a man. The fourth creature was like a flying eagle. 82 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 1: And the four living creatures, each one of them having 83 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 1: six wings full of eyes around and within all day 84 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 1: and all night long, they did not cease. 85 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 5: To say, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, 86 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 5: who was, and is and. 87 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 1: Is to come. And when the living creatures gave glory 88 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 1: and honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne, 89 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 1: to him who lives forever. The twenty four elders just 90 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:48,919 Speaker 1: started taking off their crowns and setting them out the 91 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 1: feet of Jesus, casting them before the throne. And they said, 92 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 1: worthy are you God, to receive glory and honor and 93 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:03,480 Speaker 1: power and authority. For thou didst create all things, and 94 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 1: for you they exist and were created. Lord. The church says, worthy, 95 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 1: you alone are worthy of the praise. And Father, we 96 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:19,160 Speaker 1: will not let the rocks cry out in our place. 97 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: We will voluntarily say, Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord 98 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:30,039 Speaker 1: God Almighty. We are your sons and your daughters. We 99 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:33,479 Speaker 1: are in your presence to hear from you speak. Lord. 100 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 1: We are listening in Jesus' name. Everybody agreed and said, amen, Amen, 101 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 1: you may take your seats. I would say it was 102 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:53,080 Speaker 1: three decades ago that I was in a little small 103 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:55,919 Speaker 1: women's retreat, can't even call it a conference. There were 104 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 1: probably about thirty eight of us in that little room. 105 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:01,159 Speaker 1: There was a woman that stood up to give her testimony. 106 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 1: I will never forget. I was in my twenties at 107 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:06,279 Speaker 1: the time. She probably was in her sixties. Her name 108 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 1: was Dorry van Stone. We called her Miss Dorry. Everybody 109 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 1: was hanging on every word that Miss Dorry shared with us, 110 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 1: because as she gave her testimony, it was so riveting 111 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:19,600 Speaker 1: and disturbing that it was hard to wrap your mind around. 112 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 1: She and her sister were neglected and basically abused at 113 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 1: the hands of their mother, the one who was supposed 114 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 1: to love them and take care of them. She would 115 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 1: leave for days on end, leaving her at five years old, 116 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 1: to take care of her two year old sister. When 117 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 1: mom did return, most of the time, she was frustrated 118 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 1: and just angry that she had kids to begin with. 119 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 1: She would tell them that to their face, they knew 120 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 1: they were not loved, they knew they were not valued, 121 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 1: and because of her anger and frustration, she would often 122 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: just close the door of a closet, put them inside, 123 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:56,200 Speaker 1: and leave them there for hours that would oftentimes turn 124 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 1: into days. Dorry was recounting how she was trying to 125 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:01,480 Speaker 1: figure out how she gonna eat, how she's gonna feed 126 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 1: her little sister. The bumps in the night would terrify 127 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 1: them because they didn't feel protected and covered. She remembers 128 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 1: one day her mom coming home and saying, hey, we're 129 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 1: gonna take a little drive. They got in the car, 130 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 1: thinking that finally, this is a day when Mom's doing 131 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 1: something with us to just enjoy some time together as 132 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:23,239 Speaker 1: mother and daughters. They took a drive, a long drive 133 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 1: that ended up at a driveway that was long and windy, 134 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 1: and that long driveway ended up at a front door 135 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 1: where there were stone steps that went up to two 136 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:36,720 Speaker 1: huge doors, pillars on either side. Mom rang the doorbell, 137 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 1: and then Dorry, at seven years old, can remember that 138 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 1: before anybody had even answered the door, she turned around 139 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 1: and noticed that her mother had already gone back down 140 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:49,120 Speaker 1: the stairs, had gotten in the car and was driving away. 141 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:51,679 Speaker 1: And that was the day they were dropped off at 142 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 1: an orphanage. Those two girls suffered more abuse in the 143 00:08:57,120 --> 00:09:00,120 Speaker 1: orphanage than they had at home. From there, they were 144 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 1: transferred from one foster home to the next foster home, 145 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 1: and their lives really didn't get any better along the way. 146 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 1: She described the fact that there were some missionaries, some 147 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 1: college students really from a university neighboring who came by 148 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:16,280 Speaker 1: to share Jesus with the kids and the orphanage, and 149 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 1: she remembers giving her life to Jesus, and as she 150 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:21,679 Speaker 1: described to us on that day, her life from that 151 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 1: point forward. She said, the truth is, my circumstances didn't 152 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 1: really change any time soon after I met the Lord, 153 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 1: she said, still to this day, she's in her sixties. 154 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 1: Still to this day, I don't know why the Lord 155 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:38,560 Speaker 1: let those circumstances, those difficulties go on as long as 156 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:41,439 Speaker 1: they did. But he said, now, she said, now, in hindsight, 157 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:44,959 Speaker 1: looking back, there is something I recall that I couldn't 158 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:48,000 Speaker 1: put a finger on then, But now I know what 159 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:51,400 Speaker 1: God was doing. She said. There were often times where 160 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:54,079 Speaker 1: I'd be in the dark, dark corners of those closets 161 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 1: that I had been locked in, And she said, the 162 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:58,680 Speaker 1: only way I can describe it is that there was 163 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:02,200 Speaker 1: something of a window that seemed to open up, a 164 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:05,559 Speaker 1: little veil that was torn down between Earth and Heaven. 165 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 1: She said, I couldn't describe it when I was six, 166 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:11,240 Speaker 1: But now I know that the Lord was giving me 167 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:14,800 Speaker 1: opportunity to know that His presence was with me. She said, 168 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:18,480 Speaker 1: I would feel a peace that passes all understanding. I 169 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:22,079 Speaker 1: would know that I was not alone, even though physically 170 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 1: I was. Somehow, at six, and at seven, and at 171 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 1: eight and nine years old, in devastating circumstances, the Lord 172 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:34,000 Speaker 1: let this window allow me to know that his presence 173 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:41,079 Speaker 1: was with me. Knowing he was near changed everything. I 174 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 1: took a break during the lunchtime at that conference. I'm 175 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:47,320 Speaker 1: twenty four years old, maybe twenty five. I grabbed one 176 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 1: of her books she had written, I don't even know 177 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:51,960 Speaker 1: if it's in print anymore, called The Girl Nobody Loved. 178 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:54,720 Speaker 1: I sat in the corner with my little box lunch, 179 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:57,920 Speaker 1: reading through that book, and I'll never forget watching a 180 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:01,320 Speaker 1: shadow come towards me and reaching as I looked up 181 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 1: that Miss Dorry was watching me read her book. She 182 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:08,360 Speaker 1: walked over to me. She put her hand on my shoulder, 183 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 1: and then she took the other hand and wiped a 184 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:13,680 Speaker 1: tear that she saw falling down my face. As I 185 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 1: read the details that she hadn't been able to share 186 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 1: with us in the spoken word, but on the page, 187 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:21,040 Speaker 1: what this woman had gone through in her childhood, I 188 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:24,080 Speaker 1: could not believe. She saw me crying, walked over to 189 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 1: me wipe the tear. She put her hand on my 190 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 1: shoulder and she said, sweet girl, don't you cry for me. 191 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:36,840 Speaker 1: God was with me the whole time. Knowing He's with 192 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:45,640 Speaker 1: you makes all the difference in the world. John is 193 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:49,920 Speaker 1: in a dark closet, it's called the Island of Patnas. 194 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:54,200 Speaker 1: He is in the middle of devastating and difficult circumstances. 195 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:59,000 Speaker 1: And this is John, jesus disciple we're talking about. This 196 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 1: is the one who had walked with Jesus, who had 197 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:03,679 Speaker 1: talked with Jesus. This is the one who had been 198 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:05,640 Speaker 1: in the presence of Jesus. This is the one who 199 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:08,679 Speaker 1: said about his own self in his gospel, I'm the 200 00:12:08,679 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 1: one who Jesus loves. This is the one who had 201 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:14,600 Speaker 1: seen Jesus perform miracles. I mean, John was right there 202 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:18,440 Speaker 1: when lame folks started walking, and blind people started seeing, 203 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 1: and the death started hearing. He heard Jesus preach and 204 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 1: teach words coming out of the mouth of the Son 205 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 1: of the Living God right in his presence. They had 206 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:31,320 Speaker 1: heard preaching and teaching before from the religious leaders, the 207 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:35,120 Speaker 1: Pharisees and the Sadducees. But when Jesus opened up his mouth, 208 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:37,720 Speaker 1: something was different. They ain't never heard nothing like this. 209 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:41,440 Speaker 1: Think about how you'd feel if Jesus were your Bible study. 210 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:45,720 Speaker 1: Teacher John was there, he had walked with Jesus in 211 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:48,200 Speaker 1: the flesh. But by the time we meet John in 212 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 1: the Book of Revelation, his circumstance has completely changed. He 213 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 1: is now and what would call what some would call 214 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:59,200 Speaker 1: the dark night of the soul. He has been exiled 215 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 1: to pat Miss for his allegiance to Jesus Christ, for 216 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 1: his refusal to bend the knee and to go in 217 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:09,079 Speaker 1: opposition of Christ in his kingdom. He has been sent 218 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:12,559 Speaker 1: to basically what was a place that had been relegated 219 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:15,720 Speaker 1: by the Roman government to be for criminals and enemies 220 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 1: of the state. And there he sits on Patness in 221 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:24,200 Speaker 1: the midst of difficulty, discouragement, and complete devastation. And in 222 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:27,400 Speaker 1: Revelation chapter four he says, something happened to me on 223 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 1: this particular day. The Lord opened up something of a window, 224 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:35,080 Speaker 1: a door between Earth and Heaven. So even though I 225 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 1: was in the midst of difficulty, hardship, devastation, and darkness, 226 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:43,720 Speaker 1: I had opportunity to see what was happening in the heavenles, 227 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 1: to catch a glimpse of God's presence, and to sense 228 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 1: his peace and his power and his joy and knowing 229 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 1: that God was there. John says that makes all the difference. 230 00:13:55,840 --> 00:14:00,199 Speaker 1: Patnus was a rock quarry. They would send people there 231 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 1: that were a threat to the Roman government. They perceived 232 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:06,320 Speaker 1: to be a rock cory, meaning all day all they 233 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 1: did was hammer at those rocks to basically do work 234 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 1: in hard toil. It would have been devastating for their 235 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 1: physical bodies, devastating for their souls, not being able to 236 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:20,480 Speaker 1: get off of this island, which was ten miles off 237 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 1: of the coast of the mainland. In the agenc there 238 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:27,960 Speaker 1: was no escape, no means of reprieve. The rock cory 239 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 1: would have been like think Nelson Mandela on Robin Island. 240 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:37,040 Speaker 1: You saw or could see the deterioration to Nelson Mandela's 241 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:39,800 Speaker 1: body after he was there for those twenty seven years. 242 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:42,760 Speaker 1: How the sun reflecting off of the rocks that were 243 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 1: all around caused there to be a glare in their 244 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:49,240 Speaker 1: eyes that would deteriorate their eyesight. How breathing in all 245 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 1: of the dust that was gathering off of those rocks 246 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 1: would cause there to be a deterioration in their long capacity. 247 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 1: In other words, John was deteriorating from the inside out. 248 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 1: His the circumstances were completely devastating and there was no escape. 249 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 1: And he was not in that situation for doing something wrong. 250 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:12,680 Speaker 1: He was there for doing something right. I suspected in 251 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 1: a room this size, with this many people in this room, 252 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 1: and on the other side of the screen, there are 253 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:20,760 Speaker 1: so many of you who are amongst hard things on 254 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:24,720 Speaker 1: a rock quarry. There's hard things everywhere you look, difficulties 255 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 1: everywhere you step, and no matter where you look, it 256 00:15:28,280 --> 00:15:30,960 Speaker 1: seems like there is absolutely no means of escape. And 257 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:35,160 Speaker 1: what makes it hard relationally or financially, or in your health, 258 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 1: or in the raising of kids, or in the business 259 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:41,360 Speaker 1: or in the ministry. This year on pactness in your life. 260 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 1: What makes it more difficult for you to swallow is 261 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 1: not that you have been perfect, but you have been purposeful. 262 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 1: You've been on these streets trying to follow God, trying 263 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:53,800 Speaker 1: to honor Him as a husband or as a wife, 264 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 1: or as a single person, or a parent, or a 265 00:15:56,520 --> 00:16:00,320 Speaker 1: teenager or a university student or a business builder or 266 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:02,840 Speaker 1: a ministry leader. Yeah, I've been perfect, but you've been 267 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 1: trying to follow God and you've ended up on pack 268 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:11,040 Speaker 1: miss anyway, John knows exactly how it feels to be 269 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:16,400 Speaker 1: out here, honor in God and life be hard, John says. 270 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:22,080 Speaker 1: Look up. He says, when I looked up Revelation chapter four, 271 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:25,480 Speaker 1: verse one, there was a door standing open in the heavens, 272 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:30,200 Speaker 1: which means there is access always to God's power, to 273 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:34,480 Speaker 1: God's presence, to God's peace, to God's perspective in the 274 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 1: midst of difficult circumstances. He says, there was a door, 275 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 1: and the door was standing open. It was set in 276 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:47,040 Speaker 1: the open position, which means there is always opportunity for 277 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:50,040 Speaker 1: you and I to lean on the throes of heaven, 278 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 1: even while we're standing in the difficult things of earth. 279 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 1: The door was standing open. The reason why this principle, 280 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:00,560 Speaker 1: this little principle of the door standing open open, y'all, 281 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 1: is so important for believers like you and me to 282 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:05,600 Speaker 1: get a grasp on the reason why it is so 283 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:09,080 Speaker 1: weighty right here in this verse is because just several 284 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:13,160 Speaker 1: verses earlier, the end of chapter three, verse twenty, Jesus 285 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 1: is describing a church at Laodicea, the lukewarm in different 286 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:21,679 Speaker 1: apathetic church, and here's how he describes them. He says, 287 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:26,920 Speaker 1: I'm standing on the outside of their door knocking. I'm 288 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:30,040 Speaker 1: hoping somebody's gonna open up this door that has been closed. 289 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:33,919 Speaker 1: He is writing about the church, and he says, the 290 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 1: door of the church has been caught. How Jesus standing 291 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:38,840 Speaker 1: on the outside of the door of his own church. 292 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:42,919 Speaker 1: Jesus says, the Church has closed the door to me, 293 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:46,480 Speaker 1: which means it is possible for us to be in 294 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:52,439 Speaker 1: here and him to be out there. It means it 295 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:55,879 Speaker 1: is possible, y'all, for us to be so consumed with 296 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:59,960 Speaker 1: personalities and with programs and with platitudes, and we don't 297 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:02,720 Speaker 1: even realized that the presence of God is not even 298 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:10,080 Speaker 1: in the room. Because we close the door through our indifference. 299 00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:13,000 Speaker 1: We close the door through our apathy, we close the 300 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:16,879 Speaker 1: door through our rebellion, we close the door through our stubbornness. 301 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:19,640 Speaker 1: And Jesus and his grace and in his mercy and 302 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 1: his goodness and his kindness to us, even when we 303 00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 1: close the door, he's so merciful that he stands on 304 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:31,320 Speaker 1: the outside of it, still knocking to have relationship with us. 305 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:35,879 Speaker 1: So the reason why chapter four, verse one is so 306 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:39,320 Speaker 1: important is because where we close the door in chapter three, 307 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:42,120 Speaker 1: he opens it back up in chapter four, verse one. 308 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:45,600 Speaker 1: Even when you've closed it. You need to know that 309 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:49,199 Speaker 1: the door of heaven is still open. It remains in 310 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:52,600 Speaker 1: the open position for you and me standing on earth 311 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:57,080 Speaker 1: with access to heaven. Then John says, I heard a voice. 312 00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:00,399 Speaker 1: The voice was loud and clear like a trumpet, and 313 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:08,200 Speaker 1: the voice said, come up here, the invitation of a lifetime. 314 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:11,240 Speaker 1: That if you and I can grab hold of this invitation, 315 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 1: it changes the way we relate to all the hard 316 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 1: stuff of earth, because there you are stepping on all 317 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:20,159 Speaker 1: the rocks of patnus, all the difficult conversations and the 318 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:24,199 Speaker 1: difficult people, the difficult problems, the difficult realities, the things 319 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:27,479 Speaker 1: that jolt us and stagger us and disappoint us, the 320 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 1: betrayals that hurt us and break our hearts, the different 321 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 1: things that we face in life that we cannot believe 322 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:36,480 Speaker 1: that life holds. Because I don't know if y'all noticed 323 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:42,119 Speaker 1: or not, but life is out here lifing. Me and 324 00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:43,960 Speaker 1: my girlfriends get on the phone and we be like 325 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 1: life is ghetto. Earth is kind of ghetto. Can I 326 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:56,399 Speaker 1: get one witness? You're gonna need to hear the voice 327 00:19:56,400 --> 00:20:00,679 Speaker 1: of the Holy Spirit saying to you, come up here, 328 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:05,240 Speaker 1: which means it is possible. It is important and necessary 329 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:08,960 Speaker 1: for believers in Jesus Christ to live in two places 330 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:12,920 Speaker 1: at the exact same time, with your feet firmly planted 331 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:15,879 Speaker 1: on the realities of art, but your mind fixed on 332 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:25,679 Speaker 1: things eternal. Because it's gonna be imperative, it's gonna be 333 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:28,199 Speaker 1: necessary for you and I to make it, to accept 334 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:30,640 Speaker 1: this invitation that we're always coming up here. Like we're 335 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:32,960 Speaker 1: in the argument, we're about to say that, but first 336 00:20:33,040 --> 00:20:36,520 Speaker 1: we're gonna come up here. We're about to comment that, 337 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:39,119 Speaker 1: we're about to post that, but first let me pause 338 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:43,320 Speaker 1: and come up here. We're about to make a decision 339 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:46,359 Speaker 1: about our finances, about our parenting, about our marriage, about 340 00:20:46,359 --> 00:20:49,080 Speaker 1: whether to stay, about whether to go. But first, before 341 00:20:49,119 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 1: I choose, before I walk, before I decide, before I 342 00:20:52,840 --> 00:20:56,000 Speaker 1: make that choice and decision, I'm accepting the invitation to 343 00:20:56,080 --> 00:21:06,840 Speaker 1: come up here. I'm coming up through prayer, through worship, 344 00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:10,640 Speaker 1: through the reading of God's word. Lord, what is your perspective? 345 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:13,720 Speaker 1: How do I reflect your character? How do I say 346 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:15,960 Speaker 1: what you would say and act, how you would act 347 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:18,840 Speaker 1: and respond, how you would respond, So that I don't 348 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:21,679 Speaker 1: just wait to get to heaven to experience heaven, but 349 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 1: I bring Heaven to Earth right now. So that I'm 350 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:28,280 Speaker 1: experiencing it and offering it to everybody that's around me. 351 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:32,640 Speaker 1: John says, I heard the invitation, and the invitation changed 352 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:40,919 Speaker 1: my life. Okay, access invitation. John says, just in case 353 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:45,359 Speaker 1: life's been so hard, the rocks, the hard stuff of 354 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:49,480 Speaker 1: Patnus have so overwhelmed you recently that you're gonna have 355 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:52,719 Speaker 1: a hard time picturing this door. You're gonna have a 356 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:56,520 Speaker 1: hard time setting your eyes, fixing your eyes on Jesus. 357 00:21:56,560 --> 00:21:58,120 Speaker 1: You're gonna have a little bit of a hard time, 358 00:21:58,160 --> 00:22:01,360 Speaker 1: you admit it, doing what Paul says in Colossians chapter three, 359 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:04,119 Speaker 1: verse one. If then you have been raised up with Christ, 360 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:07,719 Speaker 1: keep seeking the things above where Christ is seated at 361 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:10,000 Speaker 1: the right hand of the Father. Sets your mind on 362 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:12,440 Speaker 1: things above, not on things that are on the earth, 363 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 1: For you have died and your life is hidden in 364 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:17,679 Speaker 1: Christ with God. He says, Just in case you know 365 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 1: that right now, because life is out here doing the most, 366 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:23,320 Speaker 1: you're gonna have a little bit of a hard time 367 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:27,560 Speaker 1: capturing what it is that I'm describing. He says, elevation, 368 00:22:27,680 --> 00:22:30,320 Speaker 1: would you, just for this Sunday morning, come grab my 369 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:33,960 Speaker 1: hand and let me take you to this door. Even 370 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:35,879 Speaker 1: if you can't make it on your own, he says, 371 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:37,880 Speaker 1: Just sit with me for a moment. Let me take 372 00:22:37,880 --> 00:22:40,800 Speaker 1: you to the door, because if I can show you 373 00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:44,320 Speaker 1: what's on the other side of this door, it's gonna 374 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:47,679 Speaker 1: shift the way you relate to everything happening here on earth. 375 00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:52,119 Speaker 1: He says, Grab my hand and let me show you 376 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:55,640 Speaker 1: verse two that immediately when I was in the spirit, 377 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:58,719 Speaker 1: he says, behold. Now, can I just I didn't even 378 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:00,159 Speaker 1: get to the thing behind the door yet, but I 379 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 1: just gotta tell y'all. Anytime you see the word behold 380 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:07,720 Speaker 1: in scripture, it means get ready. It was the best 381 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:11,240 Speaker 1: word that the English translators could come up with for 382 00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:13,840 Speaker 1: what the original writers were trying to describe. It means 383 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:16,920 Speaker 1: sit on the edge of your seat. This is the time, 384 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:20,400 Speaker 1: with your chin in your hands, your eyes peeled, your 385 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:24,359 Speaker 1: mind fresh, get ready to look and see what is 386 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:27,600 Speaker 1: on the other side of this door. John says, take 387 00:23:27,680 --> 00:23:29,639 Speaker 1: my hand and let me take you to the door, 388 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:34,200 Speaker 1: and behold. The very first thing I saw Verse two 389 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:41,280 Speaker 1: was a throne. He says. If you don't see anything 390 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:44,240 Speaker 1: else on the other side of this door, I'm gonna 391 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:46,840 Speaker 1: need you to know that the very first thing that 392 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:49,959 Speaker 1: captured my attention when I look through this open window 393 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:52,919 Speaker 1: into heaven that the Lord gave me access to, is 394 00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 1: that I saw there was a throne and it was 395 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:59,880 Speaker 1: set in the heavens. With everything else being so uch 396 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:04,560 Speaker 1: shakable and so unreasonable and so it's unstable, he says, 397 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:07,680 Speaker 1: I was so relieved to see there was one thing 398 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:10,760 Speaker 1: that had not changed, and that is that there was 399 00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:13,880 Speaker 1: a throne and it was set in the heavens. It 400 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:19,760 Speaker 1: is unmovable, it is unchangeable, it is untouched, it is unbothered. 401 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:23,640 Speaker 1: It is unaffected by the things of Earth. There is 402 00:24:23,760 --> 00:24:27,040 Speaker 1: no coup that is powerful enough to overthrow it. There 403 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:30,800 Speaker 1: is no person influential enough to usurpent. There is no 404 00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:35,679 Speaker 1: dictator that is forceful enough to seize it. He says, Look, behold, 405 00:24:36,040 --> 00:24:38,840 Speaker 1: there is a throne and it is still set in 406 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:44,119 Speaker 1: the heavens. This changes everything because what it means is 407 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:48,119 Speaker 1: Earth doesn't have the final say. This changes everything because 408 00:24:48,119 --> 00:24:50,480 Speaker 1: it means that the stuff that is happening here that 409 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:54,280 Speaker 1: seems so unreasonable, And we wonder whether we're tethered to 410 00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:59,359 Speaker 1: anybody's sovereign, whether there's oversight, whether somebody's presiding, Does anybody 411 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:03,399 Speaker 1: know they've seen the tears that are falling from my eyes, 412 00:25:03,480 --> 00:25:06,600 Speaker 1: the unrest that keeps me up at night, the things 413 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:10,040 Speaker 1: that give me anxiety and concern over my children, or 414 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:12,840 Speaker 1: my marriage, or my finances or my health. I feel 415 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:16,560 Speaker 1: like nobody's watching over me. John says, if you'll just 416 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 1: look through this door, you will see there is a 417 00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:24,040 Speaker 1: sovereign ruler who is seated, unmoved and unchanged, and he's 418 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:33,000 Speaker 1: on the throne. Revelation is a overwhelming book for all 419 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:36,479 Speaker 1: of us. John Canny. He don't even know what he's 420 00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:39,960 Speaker 1: talking about. Half the time. He's trying to describe creatures 421 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 1: he can't find the words to describe. He's doing the 422 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:45,159 Speaker 1: best he can to pull images from that which he 423 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:47,920 Speaker 1: knows folks can at least kind of try to relate 424 00:25:48,040 --> 00:25:51,679 Speaker 1: to to describe what he see. It's completely overwhelming. So 425 00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:54,280 Speaker 1: there's a lot there that is intimidating to us when 426 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:56,320 Speaker 1: we read through the Book of Revelation, we sometimes just 427 00:25:56,359 --> 00:25:59,640 Speaker 1: steer clear of it. But there's one thing you can 428 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:04,679 Speaker 1: miss dozens of times throughout the book. Thirteen times in 429 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:10,480 Speaker 1: this chapter alone, John keeps saying there's a throne. He says, 430 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:12,200 Speaker 1: you may not get all this other stuff, But don't 431 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:19,600 Speaker 1: miss this. There's a throne. There is a throne. There 432 00:26:19,680 --> 00:26:23,679 Speaker 1: is a seat of authority, a seat of ultimate sovereignty, 433 00:26:24,040 --> 00:26:27,399 Speaker 1: a seat of ultimate power. He says, don't miss the 434 00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:31,359 Speaker 1: fact that the central future of our future as the 435 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:36,000 Speaker 1: Church and the central feature of our day today life 436 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:39,280 Speaker 1: for believers, not just Christians that go to church on 437 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:41,879 Speaker 1: Sunday or you know, read a verse the day to 438 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:45,520 Speaker 1: keep the devil away. Not that. No, I'm talking about disciples. 439 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:50,399 Speaker 1: I'm talking about kingdom minded on mission believers for Jesus Christ. 440 00:26:50,840 --> 00:26:54,199 Speaker 1: John says, the central feature of all of our lives 441 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:57,040 Speaker 1: has to be there is a throne. Everything we do 442 00:26:57,280 --> 00:27:00,679 Speaker 1: orbits around the fact that we are pledged allegiance to that. 443 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 1: We understand we have a king, and he has a kingdom. 444 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:06,960 Speaker 1: He is seated on a throne, and he has sovereign rule. 445 00:27:07,359 --> 00:27:12,479 Speaker 1: He has either orchestrated or allowed every single thing that 446 00:27:12,520 --> 00:27:16,760 Speaker 1: has happened in our experiences. Nothing has escaped his notice, 447 00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:20,840 Speaker 1: nothing is beyond his grasp. Our lives are in the 448 00:27:20,920 --> 00:27:25,879 Speaker 1: palm of his hand. The reason why this would have 449 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:28,840 Speaker 1: mattered so much to the first century believers that this 450 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:32,280 Speaker 1: letter was originally going to is because the throne of 451 00:27:32,359 --> 00:27:38,800 Speaker 1: the Emperor in Rome was so influential, so powerful, and 452 00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:43,160 Speaker 1: it was antichrist. To be a Christian in this time 453 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:46,399 Speaker 1: period was almost unthinking. It would cost you your life. 454 00:27:46,560 --> 00:27:49,080 Speaker 1: It was the whole reason why John was exiled to Patnas. 455 00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:51,439 Speaker 1: Because if you were going to pledge allegiance, if you 456 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:53,440 Speaker 1: were going to start living in the way that aligned 457 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:56,800 Speaker 1: with this new king named Jesus and the church that 458 00:27:56,880 --> 00:27:59,440 Speaker 1: he had set up, and if you believed in the death, 459 00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:02,480 Speaker 1: burial and resurrection, if you were gonna reorientate the way 460 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:05,440 Speaker 1: you did everything, the way you did politics, the way 461 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:07,640 Speaker 1: you did business, the way you did ministry, the way 462 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:10,040 Speaker 1: you steered your kids, the way you steered your education. 463 00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:13,080 Speaker 1: If you were gonna orient your life around the king 464 00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:16,159 Speaker 1: and his kingdom, you had to go up against the 465 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:19,919 Speaker 1: government of the day and all of its systems. It 466 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:33,560 Speaker 1: was antichrist. I don't know if you've noticed everything around 467 00:28:33,680 --> 00:28:39,840 Speaker 1: us is anti Christ. If we're gonna be deced, listen, 468 00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:42,200 Speaker 1: we're are the young believers in the room. Listen to 469 00:28:42,240 --> 00:28:44,840 Speaker 1: your anti Priscilla. Where are you You're eighteen to twenty 470 00:28:44,840 --> 00:28:47,520 Speaker 1: five years old. Listen to your anti Priscilla. You gonna 471 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:53,200 Speaker 1: have to have some backbone, and you can, and you will. 472 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:56,240 Speaker 1: You're gonna have to have some spiritual meat on your bones. 473 00:28:56,280 --> 00:28:59,320 Speaker 1: You're gonna have to have some spiritual fiber to be 474 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:07,040 Speaker 1: able to firm against the schemes of the enemy, because y'all, 475 00:29:07,240 --> 00:29:09,080 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm not that old, but I'm saying to 476 00:29:09,120 --> 00:29:11,880 Speaker 1: you a few decades ago, it used to be that 477 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:15,800 Speaker 1: people at least respected the moral compass of the scriptures, 478 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:19,080 Speaker 1: even if they weren't Christians, even if they wasn't coming 479 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:21,240 Speaker 1: all the way with this Jesus stuff, they knew that 480 00:29:21,440 --> 00:29:23,960 Speaker 1: at least this was the way to be a good citizen. 481 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:29,720 Speaker 1: Not anymore. If you make a decision to stand for Christ, 482 00:29:29,960 --> 00:29:34,040 Speaker 1: you're gonna have to stand alone, flat footed, by yourself, 483 00:29:34,200 --> 00:29:37,840 Speaker 1: on your social media page, on your platform, on your job, 484 00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:41,520 Speaker 1: and say there is a standard of truth that is 485 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:46,400 Speaker 1: non negotiable and has not changed. You're gonna have to 486 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:56,840 Speaker 1: have backbone for that. The first century believers know exactly 487 00:29:56,960 --> 00:30:00,640 Speaker 1: how it feels to have to stand firm and anti 488 00:30:00,840 --> 00:30:05,440 Speaker 1: christ culture. And John says to them, there's a throne. 489 00:30:06,560 --> 00:30:11,400 Speaker 1: They're not in charge, he is. John says, I looked 490 00:30:11,440 --> 00:30:13,920 Speaker 1: up and I saw a throne and not only did 491 00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:16,480 Speaker 1: I see a throne that was situated, but I saw 492 00:30:16,560 --> 00:30:19,720 Speaker 1: somebody sitting on the throne, A throne that is above 493 00:30:19,840 --> 00:30:24,040 Speaker 1: every earthly throne, above all powers, above all human authorities, 494 00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:28,720 Speaker 1: above all seats of influence, above all presidents, above all administrations, 495 00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:33,120 Speaker 1: above all monarchs, above all kings, above all governmental systems, 496 00:30:33,160 --> 00:30:37,440 Speaker 1: above all institutions, above all establishments. There is a throne. 497 00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:40,520 Speaker 1: It has not been replaced, it has not been moved, 498 00:30:40,720 --> 00:30:43,560 Speaker 1: it has not been diminished in power. And John says 499 00:30:43,840 --> 00:30:47,800 Speaker 1: it is also not unoccupied, because I saw the throne 500 00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:55,080 Speaker 1: and somebody was sitting on it. Because what good is 501 00:30:55,120 --> 00:30:59,400 Speaker 1: a throne if ain't nobody worthy sitting on the throne? 502 00:31:00,680 --> 00:31:04,160 Speaker 1: John said, Can we find somebody worthy? Can we find 503 00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:08,320 Speaker 1: somebody righteous? Can we find somebody who should be seated 504 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:11,920 Speaker 1: in this position of influence? He said, I looked up 505 00:31:12,240 --> 00:31:16,040 Speaker 1: and I saw Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, 506 00:31:16,240 --> 00:31:26,200 Speaker 1: who was and is and is to come. All right, amen, 507 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:45,200 Speaker 1: thank you Jesus. I'm so grateful that he's on the throne. 508 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:50,520 Speaker 1: I do not know how people are making it that, 509 00:31:50,680 --> 00:31:52,960 Speaker 1: do not know. There is a king and he's on 510 00:31:53,040 --> 00:31:59,120 Speaker 1: the throne. In the Middle East, the ancient near east. 511 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:04,120 Speaker 1: When there was a war or a battle raging, Kings 512 00:32:04,160 --> 00:32:07,880 Speaker 1: didn't sit. When there was a battle that was in 513 00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:13,240 Speaker 1: full swing. Kings stood, they paced, they watched, they wanted oversight. 514 00:32:13,720 --> 00:32:17,680 Speaker 1: They did not rest. The only time a king sat 515 00:32:17,760 --> 00:32:21,880 Speaker 1: down is once the battle had already been won, to 516 00:32:22,040 --> 00:32:25,800 Speaker 1: demonstrate to everybody in the sphere of influence that the 517 00:32:25,920 --> 00:32:32,440 Speaker 1: victory had already been secured. John says, look through the door. 518 00:32:33,160 --> 00:32:35,120 Speaker 1: If you look through the door, you're gonna see that 519 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:38,040 Speaker 1: there's not just a throne, but there is a king 520 00:32:38,120 --> 00:32:42,040 Speaker 1: who's sitting down on the throne to let you know 521 00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:52,320 Speaker 1: that the battle has already been won. Amen, I'm saying 522 00:32:52,400 --> 00:32:55,720 Speaker 1: you and I are not fighting for victory, we're fighting 523 00:32:55,920 --> 00:33:01,800 Speaker 1: from victory. There's a throne. 524 00:33:02,640 --> 00:33:06,120 Speaker 5: Since you win, brother, you win. 525 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:09,480 Speaker 1: The enemy can try to form a weapon against you, 526 00:33:09,560 --> 00:33:13,520 Speaker 1: but the weapon has no hope of prospering. There is 527 00:33:13,640 --> 00:33:16,920 Speaker 1: no scheme of the enemy that can prosper about your life. 528 00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:21,720 Speaker 1: Why because the king is sitting down on the throne. 529 00:33:22,440 --> 00:33:26,560 Speaker 1: And in the presence of the sitting king, every single 530 00:33:26,720 --> 00:33:29,440 Speaker 1: creature that can't even fully be described. 531 00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:33,640 Speaker 5: John said, I can't even give language to what I saw, 532 00:33:34,040 --> 00:33:39,720 Speaker 5: but I know what I heard they said, Holy, Holy, Holy, 533 00:33:45,120 --> 00:34:01,280 Speaker 5: is the Lord God Almighty, who. 534 00:34:01,320 --> 00:34:06,400 Speaker 1: Was, and is and is to come. And then anybody 535 00:34:06,440 --> 00:34:08,960 Speaker 1: in the vicinity that had a crown on their head, 536 00:34:10,080 --> 00:34:13,680 Speaker 1: they took it off as quick as they could. They 537 00:34:13,880 --> 00:34:16,440 Speaker 1: laid it at the feet of the only one worthy 538 00:34:17,840 --> 00:34:23,000 Speaker 1: and said, worthy are you God, to receive glory and 539 00:34:23,120 --> 00:34:28,319 Speaker 1: honor and power and authority. Why, because you're sitting on 540 00:34:28,400 --> 00:34:33,800 Speaker 1: the throat, would you bow your heads with me? Please? 541 00:34:45,400 --> 00:34:47,680 Speaker 1: If you were in this room and you have not 542 00:34:47,960 --> 00:34:51,240 Speaker 1: seen the throat, you do not have a relationship with Jesus. 543 00:34:52,480 --> 00:34:57,279 Speaker 1: Life has been difficult, and you are doing it unattached 544 00:34:57,320 --> 00:35:01,440 Speaker 1: to the realities of heaven. Life's too hard for that, brother, 545 00:35:01,880 --> 00:35:04,320 Speaker 1: Life's too hard for that sister. You're gonna need an anchor. 546 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:08,320 Speaker 1: You're gonna need relationship with this throne, relationship with the 547 00:35:08,360 --> 00:35:12,040 Speaker 1: one who is seated on the throne. If you do 548 00:35:12,160 --> 00:35:14,920 Speaker 1: not know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that like John, 549 00:35:15,040 --> 00:35:17,760 Speaker 1: you can look through this doorway and know that Jesus 550 00:35:17,840 --> 00:35:20,959 Speaker 1: is here, that he is real, that he's got your back, 551 00:35:21,040 --> 00:35:24,360 Speaker 1: I offer you Jesus today. Do not leave without knowing 552 00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:27,840 Speaker 1: that you have a relationship with Jesus Christ. He is 553 00:35:27,920 --> 00:35:32,959 Speaker 1: the only thing that is unshakable in this very unstable, 554 00:35:33,120 --> 00:35:37,359 Speaker 1: unshakable world, while every head is bowed and eyes are 555 00:35:37,400 --> 00:35:39,919 Speaker 1: closed and believers are praying. If you have never made 556 00:35:39,960 --> 00:35:43,000 Speaker 1: that decision, but you want to today, would you just 557 00:35:43,080 --> 00:35:45,160 Speaker 1: raise your hand and lift your eyes so that mine 558 00:35:45,200 --> 00:35:47,160 Speaker 1: meet yours? And I know that's a decision you need 559 00:35:47,200 --> 00:35:50,320 Speaker 1: to make today. You want to get it fixed. Anybody 560 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:53,680 Speaker 1: just wave at me if that's a decision you need 561 00:35:53,719 --> 00:35:55,799 Speaker 1: to make. Yes, ma'am, I see you, sweet girl. Yes, 562 00:35:55,840 --> 00:35:57,719 Speaker 1: I see you. If they're in the awa. Anybody else, 563 00:35:57,800 --> 00:36:00,319 Speaker 1: just wave at me. Come on, yes, I see y'all. 564 00:36:00,360 --> 00:36:02,680 Speaker 1: Don't be embarrassed, don't be ashamed. Ain't nobody got time 565 00:36:02,719 --> 00:36:11,040 Speaker 1: for that. Anybody else. Listen. Jesus is coming back soon. 566 00:36:11,080 --> 00:36:14,359 Speaker 1: I see y'all. Time is short. Come on, y'all, we can't. 567 00:36:14,400 --> 00:36:19,680 Speaker 1: We gotta stop playing games. Life's too hard. I see you, 568 00:36:19,840 --> 00:36:23,040 Speaker 1: I see you, young man. Amen. Anybody else just wave 569 00:36:23,120 --> 00:36:25,680 Speaker 1: at me. Yeah, I see you up there. Dozens of 570 00:36:25,719 --> 00:36:29,080 Speaker 1: hands are up all over the room. I see you, says, yeah, 571 00:36:29,120 --> 00:36:35,320 Speaker 1: I see y'all. Hey see you. Okay, see you brother, Okay. 572 00:36:35,360 --> 00:36:38,000 Speaker 1: The Bible says, you confess with your mouth, and you 573 00:36:38,080 --> 00:36:41,200 Speaker 1: believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, you 574 00:36:41,480 --> 00:36:45,279 Speaker 1: shall be saved. He already did all the hard work. 575 00:36:45,320 --> 00:36:47,680 Speaker 1: All you have to do is receive the gift. So 576 00:36:47,760 --> 00:36:51,400 Speaker 1: I'm gonna pray this prayer. You repeat the prayer after me. 577 00:36:51,480 --> 00:36:54,799 Speaker 1: Okay out loud. In fact, the entire church. Can we 578 00:36:54,840 --> 00:36:57,520 Speaker 1: all pray this prayer together? That way we can build 579 00:36:57,560 --> 00:36:59,600 Speaker 1: an atmosphere of faith for those who are praying it 580 00:36:59,640 --> 00:37:03,400 Speaker 1: for the very first time. Okay, let's pray together, Lord Jesus. 581 00:37:04,600 --> 00:37:09,000 Speaker 1: I am a sinner in need of a savior, and 582 00:37:09,120 --> 00:37:15,680 Speaker 1: I believe that you are that savior. So today I 583 00:37:15,880 --> 00:37:22,680 Speaker 1: place faith alone in Christ alone to remove my sins. 584 00:37:23,960 --> 00:37:27,880 Speaker 1: Take up residence in me, in the person of the 585 00:37:27,920 --> 00:37:34,479 Speaker 1: Holy Spirit, right now, in Jesus' name, In Jesus' name, 586 00:37:35,040 --> 00:37:36,440 Speaker 1: Come on, everybody. 587 00:37:36,040 --> 00:37:45,880 Speaker 2: Shouting, man, thank you for joining us. Special thanks to 588 00:37:45,920 --> 00:37:48,799 Speaker 2: those of you who give generously to this ministry. Is 589 00:37:48,840 --> 00:37:51,839 Speaker 2: because of you that this ministry is possible. You can 590 00:37:51,880 --> 00:37:54,759 Speaker 2: click the link in the description to give now, or 591 00:37:54,840 --> 00:37:58,520 Speaker 2: visit Elevation Church dot org slash podcast for more information. 592 00:37:59,080 --> 00:38:01,680 Speaker 2: And if you enjoyed the post, you can subscribe. 593 00:38:02,120 --> 00:38:03,440 Speaker 1: You can share it with your friends. 594 00:38:03,719 --> 00:38:06,000 Speaker 2: You can click the share button, Take a screenshot and 595 00:38:06,040 --> 00:38:08,160 Speaker 2: share it on your social stories and tag us at 596 00:38:08,200 --> 00:38:15,759 Speaker 2: Elevation Church. Thanks again for listening. God bless you.