1 00:00:01,520 --> 00:00:02,800 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. 2 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:05,840 Speaker 2: I'm the pastor of Elevation Church and this is our podcast. 3 00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:08,320 Speaker 2: I wanted to thank you for joining us today. Hope 4 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:11,040 Speaker 2: this inspires you. Hope it builds your faith. Hope it 5 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 2: gives your perspective to see God is moving in your life. 6 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 2: Enjoy the message. 7 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:18,280 Speaker 1: This week. 8 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:21,479 Speaker 2: I'm working from Genesis chapter twenty eight, verses ten through 9 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:24,639 Speaker 2: twenty two, and I want to visit Jacob and I 10 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 2: want to visit him from this perspective. I want to 11 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:30,479 Speaker 2: talk about the Gate of Purpose and we'll look at 12 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:33,840 Speaker 2: it together. Did you come to help me preach today? 13 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:38,519 Speaker 2: I believe this is something that we do together. These 14 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 2: sermons do go out all over the world, and it's 15 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:43,640 Speaker 2: the chemistry that we have together as the Word of 16 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 2: God goes forth from heaven and released into the earth 17 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 2: that makes a difference. And so I want to thank 18 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 2: you for your active participation, for your giving, for your service, 19 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 2: for your prayers, and for bringing people to church with you. 20 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: It makes a difference. 21 00:00:55,160 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 2: Touch somebody say it matters, It matters. It matters how 22 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 2: you engage with the message. It matters if you lean in. 23 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 2: It matters that you're here and we are so grateful 24 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 2: for your presence today. 25 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 1: Genesis chapter twenty eight Amen. 26 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 2: Genesis chapter twenty eight, Verse ten. Jacob left Beersheba and 27 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:16,759 Speaker 2: set out for Haran. When he reached a certain place, 28 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 2: a certain place. God can bless you anywhere, a certain 29 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 2: place where is. It doesn't matter. God can bless you anywhere, anytime, anyone, anywhere. 30 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 2: When he Jacob the Deceiver, reached a certain place, he 31 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 2: stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking 32 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:38,319 Speaker 2: one of the stones there, put it under his head 33 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 2: and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in 34 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 2: which he saw a stairway resting on earth, with its 35 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:46,919 Speaker 2: top reaching to heaven. 36 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: There's a lady that's sure. 37 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:51,520 Speaker 2: All that glitters is gold, and she's no, that's another 38 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 2: thing that's not. The Bible and the angels of God 39 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 2: were ascending and descending on this stairway. There above it 40 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 2: stood the Lord. There above its stood the Lord. He's 41 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 2: always above it. He's always above the affairs of human men. 42 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 2: He's always above the plots and schemes and dreams and 43 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 2: dictates of humanity. There above it stood the Lord, and 44 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:14,520 Speaker 2: he said, I am the Lord, the God of your 45 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 2: father Abraham, and the God of Isaac. In other words, 46 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 2: this did not start with you. This is a continuation 47 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 2: of aggressive revelation of who God is. And I will 48 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:25,920 Speaker 2: give you and your descendants the land on which you 49 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:29,519 Speaker 2: are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of 50 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 2: the earth, and you will spread out to the west 51 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 2: and to the east, to the north and to the south. 52 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 2: What God is about to do is so big that 53 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 2: you cannot contain it, not with your mind, not geographically, 54 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 2: not demographically, it will not be contained. All the peoples 55 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:49,400 Speaker 2: on the earth will be blessed through you. See what 56 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 2: God can do through you. And Jacob is seeing a 57 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:57,960 Speaker 2: vision while he's sleeping on the ground in the midst 58 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 2: of a very difficult season in an uncertain time. So 59 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 2: he said, I'm gonna bless the earth through you and 60 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 2: your offspring, and I am with you. Here comes the promise, 61 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:12,639 Speaker 2: and we'll watch over you wherever you go, and. 62 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 1: I will bring you back to this land. 63 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 2: I will not leave you until I have done what 64 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 2: I have promised you. 65 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 1: So if it's not done, it's not over. 66 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:26,760 Speaker 2: If it's not good, God's not finished yet, give some time. 67 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 2: It will play out, and I will not leave you 68 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 2: until I have accomplished that which I've spoken concerning you. 69 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 1: Now. 70 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 2: When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, surely the 71 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 2: Lord is in this place, and I was not aware 72 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:47,440 Speaker 2: of it. And he was afraid, and said, how awesome 73 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:50,200 Speaker 2: is this place? This is none other than the House 74 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 2: of God. This is the gate of heaven. This is 75 00:03:56,360 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 2: the gate of Heaven. Early the next morning, Jacob took 76 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 2: the stone he had placed under his head and set 77 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 2: it up as a pillar and poured oil on top 78 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 2: of it. He called that place Bethel, So the city 79 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 2: used to be called Luz. Bethel means house of God. Okay, 80 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:16,840 Speaker 2: like beth Lehem, house of bread, Bethel house of God, 81 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:20,600 Speaker 2: l l yhon El Shadai Lohem l God beth L 82 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:21,160 Speaker 2: house of God. 83 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:25,479 Speaker 1: Okay, Okay, we got that. Then Jacob made a vow saying. 84 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:28,599 Speaker 2: If God will be with me and will watch over 85 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 2: me on this journey i am taking, and will give 86 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:33,599 Speaker 2: me food to eat and clothes to wear, so that 87 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 2: I returned safely to my father's house, then the Lord 88 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 2: will be my God, and this stone that I have 89 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 2: set up as a pillar will be God's house. And 90 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:45,160 Speaker 2: of all that you give me, I will give you 91 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:49,479 Speaker 2: a tenth. Now listen closely rock Hill, because my focus 92 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 2: is on the following verses, verse seventeen. How awesome is 93 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 2: this place? This is none other than the House of God. 94 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:59,800 Speaker 2: This is the gate of. 95 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 1: Early. 96 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:04,920 Speaker 2: The next morning, Jacob took the stone he had placed 97 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 2: under his head and set it up as a pillar 98 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 2: and poured oil on top of it. So it's an 99 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:13,040 Speaker 2: unusual title, but I want to speak to you about 100 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 2: the pillow and the promise. The pillow and the promise, 101 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 2: And I think this is one you'll never forget. You know, 102 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:26,920 Speaker 2: when you're about to get married, you start having certain 103 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:29,840 Speaker 2: conversations and you start trying to figure out are we're 104 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:33,640 Speaker 2: on the same page, Like how many kids do you 105 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:34,159 Speaker 2: want to have? 106 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:35,839 Speaker 1: And I just want to. 107 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:37,880 Speaker 2: Suggest have the first one and kind of see how 108 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 2: it goes before you go sett in a number, you know, 109 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 2: sample the product a little bit, you know, like they've 110 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 2: walked around Costco to eat a little bit of the 111 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 2: sausage before you buy the whole. 112 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 1: How many kids? Here's another one. 113 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 2: How many years do we want to be married as 114 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:09,480 Speaker 2: just human beings before we become indentured servants and uber drivers? 115 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:11,760 Speaker 2: How many years do we want to be married just 116 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:13,279 Speaker 2: before we start having kids? 117 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 1: But here's one you never think of, and you need to. 118 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:17,200 Speaker 2: If you're a man, you need to put this in 119 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 2: the conversation. When you're getting ready to bring that to me, Jonathan, 120 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:23,720 Speaker 2: you need to ask how many. 121 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:36,039 Speaker 1: He knows how many of these are we going to put. 122 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:41,839 Speaker 2: On the bed that we are not allowed to sleep 123 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:49,680 Speaker 2: on because God forbid we sleep on a pillow? We 124 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 2: are an eight throw pillow family. Just in case you're wondering, eight. 125 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:56,000 Speaker 2: I counted them. 126 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 1: It's eight, bro eight, eight of these. 127 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 2: Eight ten minute routines for me to go through every 128 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:06,920 Speaker 2: night before I get in my bed. 129 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 1: I'm serious. It took me. How long we've been married, 130 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:11,440 Speaker 1: fifteen years. 131 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 2: It took me fourteen and a half years to come 132 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 2: to terms with the idea that there are pillows on 133 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 2: my bed for the sole purpose of taking them off 134 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 2: before I. 135 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:32,120 Speaker 1: Get in it. I can't lie to you now. 136 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 2: I'm kind of into it now now Sometimes when Holly's gone. 137 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 1: Don't tell her I don't put them on or take 138 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 1: them off. 139 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 2: Wild and crazy when she leaves town. But now I 140 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 2: got it down. I know where every pillow goes. 141 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 1: I got it. 142 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:53,040 Speaker 2: I know the configuration. I have been taught. I have 143 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 2: been taught I know which pillows. 144 00:07:56,040 --> 00:08:01,679 Speaker 1: The karate chop you ever choughed the pillow you will. 145 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:11,360 Speaker 2: It was just hard for me to realize that the 146 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 2: purpose of the pillow was not from my head. 147 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 1: I just couldn't understand it's decorative, it's a throw pillow. 148 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 2: I got an idea, let's throw it away. 149 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 1: Now I bring it up. 150 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 2: Obviously, I'm going to get in a little trouble in 151 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 2: my marriage because of this, but I think it'll help 152 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 2: me illustrate my point, because I was intrigued that Jacob 153 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 2: was sleeping on something that he wasn't supposed to sleep on. Now, 154 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 2: in his case, Jacob seventy seven years old, has to 155 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 2: sleep and spend the night on a rock, but it's 156 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:48,320 Speaker 2: the closest thing. 157 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 1: He has to a pillow. 158 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:52,960 Speaker 2: And I thought about calling this message between a rock 159 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 2: and a hard place, but I thought you would think 160 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 2: that was corny. You give me that polite little preacher 161 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 2: laughter that you give when your preacher's trying to be human. 162 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 2: I thought about saying that Jacob has made his bed 163 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 2: and now he has to lie in it, and certainly 164 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:14,319 Speaker 2: the cliche applies here because he has manipulated his way 165 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:18,440 Speaker 2: into a blessing from his father that has caused him 166 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 2: to have to hide from his brother and about sixty 167 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 2: miles into his journey, which probably would have taken a 168 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 2: few days from Beersheba to the place formerly known as 169 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:37,439 Speaker 2: Luhs and now known as Bethel. After this stunning revelation, 170 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:41,679 Speaker 2: which is the source of much theological speculation, and we 171 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:45,560 Speaker 2: cannot cover appropriately in the time we have allotted here today. 172 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:47,599 Speaker 1: But what he sees is spectacular. 173 00:09:48,559 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 2: And yet I think the context is significant because it 174 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 2: is not at his destination that God appears. 175 00:09:57,000 --> 00:10:00,319 Speaker 1: But it is along the way. 176 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:05,960 Speaker 2: It's sixty miles outside of Beersheba. He is not yet 177 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:09,360 Speaker 2: to Laban's house, where arrangements have been made for his 178 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:14,960 Speaker 2: safety and provision, where he will ultimately meet Rachel and Leah. 179 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:16,959 Speaker 2: And he loves Rachel, but he has to go through 180 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 2: Leah to get to Rachel. All of that is yet 181 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:21,719 Speaker 2: to happen. But God shows up. And one time I 182 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 2: preached a sermon called when God shows up in the 183 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:27,679 Speaker 2: middle of nowhere. But I was playing with it because 184 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 2: I took the word nowhere, and then I moved the 185 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 2: w over and spaced it, and it was then now here, 186 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 2: when nowhere became now here. You remember, and we talked 187 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 2: about when God shows up in the middle of nowhere 188 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 2: and he's laying on the cold ground and the. 189 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:41,720 Speaker 1: Sun has set. 190 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 2: The Bible points out it's no longer safe for him 191 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:46,960 Speaker 2: to travel. And sometimes God will arrange the conditions of 192 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:52,840 Speaker 2: your life so that you have to stop. Some revelation 193 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 2: cannot be given while you are on the run, only 194 00:10:56,160 --> 00:11:02,440 Speaker 2: when you have stopped running for long enough. And it 195 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:07,440 Speaker 2: is significant that Jacob sees the activity of God, not 196 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 2: in his manipulation, but in his sleep. And in his 197 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 2: sleep he sees something that would have been very familiar 198 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:17,560 Speaker 2: in Mesopotamian culture, because their gods were said to have 199 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:20,320 Speaker 2: come down the staircases to the earth and. 200 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:22,560 Speaker 1: Back up, and back down and back up. 201 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:25,000 Speaker 2: Jacob's dream is a little different because if you'll notice, 202 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:26,560 Speaker 2: this is just a little thing. It's not really going 203 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:29,839 Speaker 2: to be on the final exam, but they were ascending 204 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 2: and descending. The order is important because it didn't start 205 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 2: in heaven. 206 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:34,959 Speaker 1: It started on earth. 207 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 2: They went up and then they went down, and they 208 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:41,679 Speaker 2: went up and then they went down. And so when 209 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:43,920 Speaker 2: we pray, let your kingdom come, you will be done 210 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 2: on earth as it is in Heaven. Often God is 211 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 2: awaiting initiative on earth to release what Heaven has in store. 212 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:54,400 Speaker 2: These messengers that ascended and descended. 213 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:55,960 Speaker 1: The stairs were going back and forth. 214 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 2: And they were working. In the course of human history, 215 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 2: God is always on the move. The messengers, the angels 216 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:06,280 Speaker 2: were going up and down. And Jacob saw it in 217 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:10,280 Speaker 2: his sleep, not when he was stealing his brother Esau's blessing. 218 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:12,720 Speaker 2: He didn't see it then because he was trying to 219 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 2: make it happen, Not when he was taking his birthright. 220 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 2: He didn't see it then because he was in a 221 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:20,559 Speaker 2: mental space of trying to figure out how am I going. 222 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 1: To get the blessing. 223 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 2: Now, notice this, Isaac gave Jacob a blessing, but God 224 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:31,720 Speaker 2: made Jacob a promise. People can give blessings, but only 225 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:37,320 Speaker 2: God can make promises, And the promise is this. God 226 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:41,040 Speaker 2: is illustrating through Jacob what Proverbs nineteen will later record. 227 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:44,960 Speaker 2: Many are the plans in a person's heart, but is 228 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 2: the purpose. 229 00:12:45,679 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 1: Of the Lord that will prevail. This is a living. 230 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:54,480 Speaker 2: Demonstration of how no matter how Jacob schemed and dreamed, 231 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 2: God met him in an unusual place and showed him 232 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:04,360 Speaker 2: how determined God is to fulfill his purpose on the earth. 233 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:11,559 Speaker 1: Purpose is determined. Purpose is determined. 234 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:16,560 Speaker 2: God has made up his mind what he wants to 235 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:20,080 Speaker 2: do and who he wants to do it through. And 236 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:24,320 Speaker 2: purpose is determined. If you have a strong willed child, 237 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:25,920 Speaker 2: just wave your hand at me. I'll know we're in 238 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:30,560 Speaker 2: the same club. Purpose is more determined than your most 239 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:34,959 Speaker 2: strong willed child. And when the purpose of God makes 240 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:38,320 Speaker 2: up its mind to accomplish something in the earth, you 241 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:42,440 Speaker 2: almost can't mess it up. You almost can't send it back. 242 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 2: There is no return to Sinder. For as the rains 243 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:49,160 Speaker 2: fall from the heaven and water the earth, so shall 244 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 2: be his word that proceeds from his mouth. 245 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 1: I'm getting a little excited a little early is determined. 246 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 2: The gifts of God are without repentance, So something that 247 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:07,800 Speaker 2: you did when you were seventeen cannot reverse what God 248 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:12,960 Speaker 2: planned while you were still in your mother's womb. Purpose 249 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:17,360 Speaker 2: is determined. Nobody can break up with you and cast 250 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:20,160 Speaker 2: the purpose of God for your life to be interrupted. 251 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 2: Nobody can fire you and interrupt the purpose of God. 252 00:14:23,360 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 2: There is no stopping what God has started until it 253 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:35,400 Speaker 2: is complete. He will see it through. He doesn't change 254 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:39,240 Speaker 2: his mind. When Jacob blows it, He tracks him down 255 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 2: and meets with him in his sleep. Determined, determined. The 256 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:54,840 Speaker 2: purpose of God is determined. A theological term would be predestined. 257 00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 1: Yeah. 258 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, all things work together for the good of those 259 00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 2: who love the Lord and are called a chort to 260 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 2: his purpose for those he fore knew. He also predestined 261 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 2: that we might be the first born among many brothers 262 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:12,840 Speaker 2: and sisters. And those he called he also justified, and 263 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 2: those he justified he also glorified, and those he glorified 264 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,280 Speaker 2: he glorified to the end that his purpose might prevail 265 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:22,400 Speaker 2: in the earth. To break it down into real simple language, 266 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 2: all I'm trying to say is God is still working. 267 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 2: God was working in the things you did wrong the 268 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:32,560 Speaker 2: things you did right. The activity of God cannot be 269 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:35,880 Speaker 2: stopped by human decision or mistakes. 270 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 1: In fact, some. 271 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 2: Of your greatest mistakes will be the seed of your 272 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 2: greatest miracles. It's called purpose, and it always prevails. And 273 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:48,520 Speaker 2: God is so determined that he meets with Jacob in 274 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 2: a certain place when the sun is set because he 275 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:55,360 Speaker 2: made up his mind. I am the God of Abraham, 276 00:15:55,480 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 2: Isaac and Jacob. But when we say that purpose is determined, 277 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:07,760 Speaker 2: I think it's important to make a distinction that purpose 278 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:10,240 Speaker 2: is not only determined by God, but it is also 279 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:14,680 Speaker 2: determined by us. The way I would put it is this. 280 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 2: This is point number two. Purpose is determined before it 281 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:26,800 Speaker 2: is discover I'll explain that from the text. When Jacob 282 00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 2: awoke from his sleep, he thought, surely the Lord is 283 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 2: in this place and I was not aware of it. Now, 284 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 2: God did not show up when Jacob woke up. Jacob 285 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:44,520 Speaker 2: woke up to the fact that God was there all along. 286 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:47,760 Speaker 2: Can I get you to hit your neighbor and tell 287 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 2: him wake up? 288 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:54,520 Speaker 1: Wake up? Woke is not a new term. 289 00:16:55,200 --> 00:17:06,920 Speaker 2: Jacob was woke, but God did not God. God did 290 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:12,560 Speaker 2: not show up when Jacob saw it. He was waiting 291 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:18,919 Speaker 2: to be seen in something very common. And I believe 292 00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:23,520 Speaker 2: that it's good to pray for God to be with us, 293 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:28,160 Speaker 2: But I think it's better to pray that we could 294 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:33,360 Speaker 2: see where He has already been, because He's been. 295 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:37,719 Speaker 1: There all along. When you pray God be with us, 296 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:38,840 Speaker 1: it's kind of redundant. 297 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 2: Tell you why he said, I will not leave you 298 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:49,879 Speaker 2: nor forsake you. Surely I will be with you even 299 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:53,720 Speaker 2: to the end of the age. Now, if it's not 300 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:57,600 Speaker 2: over God is still here, so I don't have to 301 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:00,320 Speaker 2: ask him to do what he already promised to do. 302 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:04,000 Speaker 1: All I have to do is wake up to the. 303 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 2: Reality that he's been working all along. 304 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:12,120 Speaker 1: Calm down. By the time you see it. 305 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 2: By the time you see it, it's it's already been 306 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:17,639 Speaker 2: happening by the time you see it. 307 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:19,879 Speaker 1: By the time you got to church today, we had 308 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:23,560 Speaker 1: already done so much what you think we started when 309 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:24,120 Speaker 1: you got here. 310 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:29,119 Speaker 2: At some of our locations that meet in high schools 311 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:33,960 Speaker 2: and theaters, and we don't own the building, they're portable locations. 312 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:37,040 Speaker 2: And they're portable because as soon as we're done, we 313 00:18:37,119 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 2: have to take everything out. And they're portable because during 314 00:18:40,359 --> 00:18:43,320 Speaker 2: the week there's something else. But when we show up 315 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:46,800 Speaker 2: in there, guess what it becomes a church. It's not 316 00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:49,520 Speaker 2: a church because we put a steeple on it. 317 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:50,080 Speaker 1: It's not a. 318 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 2: Church because it says church on the sign. In fact, 319 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:57,560 Speaker 2: when you say I'm going to church, you're not exactly correct. 320 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 2: You are bringing the church to a bill because that's 321 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:01,760 Speaker 2: what you are. 322 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 1: You are a carrier of the presence. 323 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:16,560 Speaker 3: Of Almighty God. Jacob is so funny to me. God 324 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:19,000 Speaker 3: is here and I didn't know it. 325 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 1: How can you miss God? 326 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:27,359 Speaker 2: How can God be in the actual place and you 327 00:19:27,359 --> 00:19:31,160 Speaker 2: didn't see it? But he could only see it when 328 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:33,840 Speaker 2: he was asleep, and then he woke up to see 329 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 2: what God was doing all along. That purpose is determined 330 00:19:38,359 --> 00:19:44,879 Speaker 2: before it is discover he wakes up, okay, because remember 331 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:48,720 Speaker 2: we got a rock and Jacob makes it a pillow. 332 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:53,400 Speaker 2: So he is repurposing the rock to make it a pillow. 333 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 2: It's not exactly a temper pedic, but it will work. 334 00:19:57,280 --> 00:20:00,920 Speaker 2: Sometimes you can't be picky. Sometimes gotta take whatever you got. 335 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 2: You know what I'm saying. 336 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:04,359 Speaker 1: It's not my favorite song, but I'm gonna worship. 337 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:06,680 Speaker 2: To it anyway, because I don't need my favorite song 338 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:07,360 Speaker 2: to worship God. 339 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:09,400 Speaker 1: It'll work. It'll work. 340 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:12,280 Speaker 2: It's not a lot of money, but I'm gonna make 341 00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:15,639 Speaker 2: it work. Okay, my husband isn't exactly okay, then we're 342 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:20,840 Speaker 2: gonna skip that part. And he says, this will work, 343 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 2: this will work, And when he lays down, I'm gonna 344 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:25,800 Speaker 2: do this for you. I'm gonna demonstrate this for you. 345 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:27,960 Speaker 2: Not many preachers would go to this extent to bring 346 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:31,480 Speaker 2: the point across. But if I gotta lay down on this, 347 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 2: this monitor to show you what Jacob did and the 348 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:36,360 Speaker 2: situation he was in. 349 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:41,160 Speaker 1: I will lay down on this monitor that's not even comfortable, 350 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:43,680 Speaker 1: not even kind of comfortable. 351 00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:56,680 Speaker 2: But it'll work. It'll work, it'll work, and he sees 352 00:20:56,680 --> 00:20:59,359 Speaker 2: some way. He sleeps and he wakes up and he goes, well, 353 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:04,840 Speaker 2: that was awesome, that was amazing. 354 00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:08,400 Speaker 1: This is the house of God. 355 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:14,760 Speaker 4: Well, first, the Bible says he was afraid because fear 356 00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:21,080 Speaker 4: is the flip side of faith. Fear is what you 357 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 4: feel that enables you to open yourself to faith. 358 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:30,320 Speaker 2: Fear is the sensation that leads you to something greater 359 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:32,840 Speaker 2: than yourself, that causes you to have faith that God 360 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:33,320 Speaker 2: is greater. 361 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:39,240 Speaker 1: So first he was afraid. Then he was excited and 362 00:21:39,359 --> 00:21:47,840 Speaker 1: he said this is awesome, this is awesome. Wow, this 363 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:51,040 Speaker 1: is lit. He would have said it who. 364 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:58,760 Speaker 2: That's what Moses said it to burning bush. 365 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:04,440 Speaker 1: Now this is the house of God. 366 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:08,280 Speaker 2: Remember Now he took some oil, rubbed it on the 367 00:22:08,359 --> 00:22:11,119 Speaker 2: rock and said, this is the house of God. 368 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:11,800 Speaker 1: Pointing at the rock. 369 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 2: God doesn't live in a rock, except that one verse 370 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:20,400 Speaker 2: that says that if we don't praise him, the rocks 371 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:21,000 Speaker 2: will cry out. 372 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:25,200 Speaker 1: See God can show up anywhere. That's the point. 373 00:22:25,359 --> 00:22:28,119 Speaker 2: The point is he took some oil is symbolic of 374 00:22:28,119 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 2: the Holy Spirit, of the joy of the Lord. But 375 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:33,919 Speaker 2: it's also when something special was being consecrated, like a 376 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 2: king or a priest, they would pour oil on it. 377 00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:39,760 Speaker 2: It was a part of the consecration. And the rock 378 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:44,320 Speaker 2: is something common. And so Jacob consecrates something that is 379 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:49,520 Speaker 2: common and says, this is the house of God, pointing 380 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 2: at a rock. 381 00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:54,639 Speaker 1: This is where God lives. No, he doesn't. God doesn't 382 00:22:54,640 --> 00:23:00,879 Speaker 1: live in a rock, but he can't. He can't notice this. 383 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:05,040 Speaker 1: When Jacob says this is the gate of heaven. He 384 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:08,920 Speaker 1: didn't say that because God said it. God didn't say 385 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:11,720 Speaker 1: this is the gate of heaven. Jacob said, this is 386 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:12,439 Speaker 1: the gate of heaven. 387 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:18,439 Speaker 2: So apparently I have the ability to be in a 388 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:24,560 Speaker 2: common situation. You hear me an uncertain situation and put 389 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:28,040 Speaker 2: some oil on it, and put some holy ghost. 390 00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:31,760 Speaker 5: On it, and put some purpose on it. And if 391 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:35,760 Speaker 5: I say it's a gate, it'll be a gate. And 392 00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:38,960 Speaker 5: if I say it's a blessing, it'll be a blessing. 393 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 5: And if I say God isn't it, God isn't it. 394 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:46,960 Speaker 5: And if I say it's a church, it'll be a church. 395 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:50,600 Speaker 5: And if I say it's a setup, it is a setup. 396 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:54,359 Speaker 5: And if I say it's an opportunity, it is an opportunity. 397 00:23:55,880 --> 00:23:59,280 Speaker 1: Try it out. Somebody shout, this is the gate, this 398 00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:02,480 Speaker 1: is the gate. He wakes up, He goes, this is crazy. 399 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:05,600 Speaker 1: This is awesome, this is awesome, this is awesome. It's awesome. 400 00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:07,919 Speaker 1: It's awesome something. 401 00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:11,120 Speaker 2: So he takes the rock that he made the pillow, 402 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:13,600 Speaker 2: and he takes the pillow and makes it a pillar. 403 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:17,879 Speaker 2: The rock became the pillow, the pillow became the pillar. 404 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 2: It is what you make of it. If you say 405 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:27,119 Speaker 2: it's a gate, it will be a gate. If you 406 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:30,720 Speaker 2: point to your pain and say, this pain is a 407 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:35,000 Speaker 2: portal to the glory of God, and something that is 408 00:24:35,040 --> 00:24:37,879 Speaker 2: going to come through this pain is going to bring 409 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:41,720 Speaker 2: me deeper joy. It will bring the joy of the 410 00:24:41,760 --> 00:24:43,760 Speaker 2: Lord into your situation. 411 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:47,760 Speaker 1: So point to your pain and say, this is the gate. 412 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:51,400 Speaker 1: This is the gate. 413 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:56,520 Speaker 2: I can look at something that seems so ordinary, a 414 00:24:56,640 --> 00:24:59,919 Speaker 2: moment that seems so trivial, a job that I had, 415 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:01,679 Speaker 2: can become the gate. 416 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:02,840 Speaker 1: If I point at. 417 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:09,160 Speaker 2: It and annoy it. God didn't call it the gate. 418 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 2: Jacob did, and it became what he called it. This 419 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:22,200 Speaker 2: is the gate. This is the gate. Shout it out. 420 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:23,040 Speaker 2: This is the gate. 421 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 1: This is the. 422 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:27,520 Speaker 2: Moment, this is the time, this is the season, this 423 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:29,719 Speaker 2: is the day that the Lord has made. 424 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:31,840 Speaker 1: I will rejoice and be glad in it. 425 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:35,000 Speaker 2: If the enemy had his way, I'd be so focused 426 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 2: on tomorrow and what it holds that I would miss 427 00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:40,240 Speaker 2: the provision of the strength that God wants to bring 428 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:41,160 Speaker 2: while I am. 429 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:45,199 Speaker 1: In in Bethel. But this is the gate. This is 430 00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:47,720 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, y'all. I just thowt some made me laugh. 431 00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:51,159 Speaker 2: I pictured you're going to work, and I pictured the 432 00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:53,199 Speaker 2: person that annoys you so much coming up to you, 433 00:25:54,480 --> 00:25:56,399 Speaker 2: and I picture you not saying it out loud, but 434 00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:58,360 Speaker 2: just smirk a little bit and say to yourself, this 435 00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:02,439 Speaker 2: is the gate. Because God is gonna use the people 436 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:07,480 Speaker 2: that I can't stand to make me patient. You've been 437 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:11,840 Speaker 2: praying for patience. It's gonna come through the gate of Pete. 438 00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:14,960 Speaker 2: You know, Pete at work, Pete with the bad breath, 439 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:16,560 Speaker 2: Pete who takes all the credit. 440 00:26:16,840 --> 00:26:17,720 Speaker 1: Pete is the gate. 441 00:26:22,320 --> 00:26:26,439 Speaker 2: He missed the whole point too, He missed the whole point. 442 00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:29,000 Speaker 1: This is the gate. I'm gonna come back here. 443 00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:31,879 Speaker 2: God, if you bless me if you give me a car, 444 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:34,720 Speaker 2: and if you watch over me. He's trying to negotiate 445 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:38,480 Speaker 2: something God already told him he was gonna do. Anyway, 446 00:26:39,680 --> 00:26:42,399 Speaker 2: One time, Pastor Mickey took me to visit a businessman 447 00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:45,359 Speaker 2: and I was asking him for money because I wanted 448 00:26:45,359 --> 00:26:48,560 Speaker 2: to bring in some preachers for the Fellowship of Christian. 449 00:26:48,240 --> 00:26:49,919 Speaker 1: Athletes for our high school. 450 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:52,560 Speaker 2: And he taught me something as a seventeen year old. 451 00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:55,320 Speaker 2: Because Eugene Oliver started writing the check and I had 452 00:26:55,359 --> 00:27:00,200 Speaker 2: only said three words, we're trying to and he said 453 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:00,640 Speaker 2: how much. 454 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 1: The first thing I didn't know is put a few 455 00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:06,400 Speaker 1: more zeros on it. If somebody asked that question. Because 456 00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:08,119 Speaker 1: I asked him for five hundred dollars, I wish I 457 00:27:08,119 --> 00:27:08,640 Speaker 1: would go back. 458 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:13,480 Speaker 2: But while he was writing the check, I kept talking, 459 00:27:13,480 --> 00:27:15,959 Speaker 2: we're gonna take the money we're gonna use, and Pastor 460 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:17,800 Speaker 2: Mickey put his hand on my LIGs. 461 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:21,439 Speaker 1: It squeezed me. He looked at me. He didn't say 462 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:22,640 Speaker 1: anything till we got out of there. 463 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:31,120 Speaker 6: He said, I'm gonna teach you something right now when 464 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:32,040 Speaker 6: he's writing the check. 465 00:27:33,320 --> 00:27:39,199 Speaker 1: Shut up, shut up. 466 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:43,479 Speaker 6: I don't know, but maybe you could look at your 467 00:27:43,520 --> 00:27:50,480 Speaker 6: neighbor and say, shut up, it's already done. 468 00:27:52,560 --> 00:27:55,160 Speaker 1: It's already done. 469 00:27:56,119 --> 00:27:58,000 Speaker 2: Trying to strike a bargain with God, who already said 470 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:01,960 Speaker 2: he'd be with you. Well, if you will, then uh will? 471 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:06,159 Speaker 2: God is not an if then God. The promises of 472 00:28:06,160 --> 00:28:11,520 Speaker 2: God are yes and amen. He's already done. That's what 473 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:14,040 Speaker 2: he saw sleeping on that rock. This is the game, 474 00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:19,040 Speaker 2: so it means I can go into any situation, even 475 00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:25,040 Speaker 2: the uncomfortable ones. Isn't it crazy that God used the 476 00:28:25,040 --> 00:28:27,760 Speaker 2: place of Jacob's discomfort to give him his greatest revelation. 477 00:28:29,760 --> 00:28:32,040 Speaker 2: Don't you think that seventy seven year old man woke 478 00:28:32,119 --> 00:28:35,000 Speaker 2: up with a sore neck after sleeping on a rock, 479 00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:38,600 Speaker 2: But he said, it's awesome not because of how it felt, 480 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:40,200 Speaker 2: but because. 481 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:41,080 Speaker 1: Of what I saw. 482 00:28:42,440 --> 00:28:45,120 Speaker 2: Not because of what I felt, but because of who 483 00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:45,400 Speaker 2: I know. 484 00:28:46,720 --> 00:28:52,680 Speaker 1: This is awesome this place. How awesome is this place? 485 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:56,120 Speaker 1: You know? You can say that anywhere, not just in Hawaii, right, 486 00:28:57,360 --> 00:29:01,720 Speaker 1: not just in church. This is the game and it's. 487 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:03,680 Speaker 2: The gate because I gave it a purpose. Purpose is 488 00:29:03,720 --> 00:29:06,560 Speaker 2: what allows you to see that. Let me say it 489 00:29:06,640 --> 00:29:12,480 Speaker 2: like this, In every place there is a purpose. In 490 00:29:12,600 --> 00:29:17,080 Speaker 2: every place, there is a purpose. But before it is discovered. 491 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:19,960 Speaker 2: It must be determined, and God will allow you to 492 00:29:20,080 --> 00:29:23,400 Speaker 2: determine the purpose of the place you're in. So you 493 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:27,440 Speaker 2: can simply survive it, or you can be strengthened by it. 494 00:29:28,720 --> 00:29:32,000 Speaker 2: You can resent it, or you can be like John 495 00:29:32,160 --> 00:29:34,840 Speaker 2: who on the island of Patmos wrote the Book of Revelation. 496 00:29:35,360 --> 00:29:37,440 Speaker 1: You decide the purpose for the place. 497 00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:40,280 Speaker 2: Is this going to be the place where you become 498 00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:44,040 Speaker 2: bitter and lay down and die from your disappointment, or 499 00:29:44,120 --> 00:29:46,360 Speaker 2: is this going to be the place that you discover 500 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:49,640 Speaker 2: a dream, a deeper source to drink from all the 501 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:58,000 Speaker 2: good grasses in the valley. You can only get strength 502 00:29:58,040 --> 00:30:02,120 Speaker 2: from certain places. This is something that Jacob could not 503 00:30:02,360 --> 00:30:06,960 Speaker 2: get anywhere else but here in this place. The Lord 504 00:30:07,040 --> 00:30:10,920 Speaker 2: is in this place. Remember he still got four hundred 505 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:14,240 Speaker 2: and ninety miles to go before he gets to his destination. 506 00:30:14,360 --> 00:30:19,080 Speaker 2: But the Lord is in this place. It means that 507 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:23,160 Speaker 2: he is with me on the way. He's with me 508 00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:27,080 Speaker 2: on the way, and any time I want to, I 509 00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:30,720 Speaker 2: can open a gate to the revelation of his goodness. 510 00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:31,840 Speaker 1: This is the gate. 511 00:30:32,640 --> 00:30:34,880 Speaker 2: Difficult time with your teenagers, I get it. 512 00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:39,160 Speaker 1: This is the gate. This is the gate. They got 513 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:40,960 Speaker 1: quiet on that one. I must have hit a nerve. 514 00:30:42,680 --> 00:30:45,880 Speaker 2: Just just walk around pointing to stuff, winking and stuff. 515 00:30:46,080 --> 00:30:49,680 Speaker 1: This is the gate. Make it a gate, Make it 516 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:53,440 Speaker 1: a gate, Make it a gate this season. This is 517 00:30:53,480 --> 00:30:56,400 Speaker 1: the gate. I'm not waiting this is the gate. 518 00:30:57,240 --> 00:31:00,600 Speaker 2: I'm not waiting for a relationship before I feel significant. 519 00:31:00,920 --> 00:31:01,720 Speaker 1: This is the gate. 520 00:31:02,560 --> 00:31:05,200 Speaker 2: I'm made in the image of God, all by myself. 521 00:31:05,520 --> 00:31:08,280 Speaker 1: This is the cat. This is the season. This is 522 00:31:08,320 --> 00:31:10,840 Speaker 1: the time. That's just the year. Now when I'm. 523 00:31:10,680 --> 00:31:13,240 Speaker 2: Forty five, not when I get the debt paid out. 524 00:31:13,560 --> 00:31:17,280 Speaker 2: This is the day I will rejoice anthy glad in. 525 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:23,200 Speaker 1: It, enter his gates with thanksgiving. You hear this word 526 00:31:23,240 --> 00:31:27,200 Speaker 1: God gave me. This is the gate. 527 00:31:27,920 --> 00:31:35,240 Speaker 6: This is the gate, and it is determined before it 528 00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:38,600 Speaker 6: is discovered. So Jacob decides, I guess this rock is 529 00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:40,560 Speaker 6: as good as any I'm making a monument. 530 00:31:40,680 --> 00:31:41,880 Speaker 1: It was a very common. 531 00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:44,440 Speaker 2: Practice, he said, I'll set this up to remember how 532 00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:45,760 Speaker 2: God met with me. 533 00:31:46,240 --> 00:31:49,960 Speaker 1: Here. After he was sleeping on something. 534 00:31:51,560 --> 00:31:55,840 Speaker 2: That he wasn't supposed to sleep on, After he was 535 00:31:55,840 --> 00:31:59,800 Speaker 2: sleeping on something that he wasn't supposed to be sleeping. 536 00:31:59,520 --> 00:32:06,800 Speaker 7: On, after he was sleeping on something. I'm asleep on 537 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:15,520 Speaker 7: this thing. After he was sleeping after he wait a man, 538 00:32:15,600 --> 00:32:16,280 Speaker 7: Jesus did this. 539 00:32:17,720 --> 00:32:23,720 Speaker 1: This is not just a Jacob thing. Let me see 540 00:32:23,720 --> 00:32:27,040 Speaker 1: if I can find it, Mark four thirty five. I 541 00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:27,600 Speaker 1: found it. 542 00:32:30,720 --> 00:32:35,440 Speaker 2: When Jesus was sleeping in something that he wasn't supposed 543 00:32:35,440 --> 00:32:36,200 Speaker 2: to be sleeping at. 544 00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:41,680 Speaker 1: And there's a commonality. There's there's a common threat. I 545 00:32:41,720 --> 00:32:42,400 Speaker 1: wonder do you see it? 546 00:32:42,440 --> 00:32:45,720 Speaker 2: In verse thirty five, it says that when evening came, 547 00:32:48,080 --> 00:32:50,400 Speaker 2: Jacob breasted on the rock when the sun went down. 548 00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:58,200 Speaker 2: Jesus is on a boat as evening approaches, and he 549 00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:05,080 Speaker 2: said to his disciples, let's go over to the other side. 550 00:33:05,400 --> 00:33:08,000 Speaker 2: Next verse, leaving the crowd behind. 551 00:33:08,600 --> 00:33:12,440 Speaker 1: They took him along just as he was in the boat. 552 00:33:12,680 --> 00:33:16,840 Speaker 2: There are also other boats with him. A furious squall, 553 00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:20,719 Speaker 2: not a word we often use, just a raging storm 554 00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:24,920 Speaker 2: came up and the waves broke over the boat so 555 00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:28,080 Speaker 2: that it was nearly swamp. Now we're going to see 556 00:33:28,080 --> 00:33:31,520 Speaker 2: a contrast between what Jesus did and what. 557 00:33:31,440 --> 00:33:32,400 Speaker 1: The disciples did. 558 00:33:33,280 --> 00:33:36,880 Speaker 2: Because Jesus, in the middle of a life threatening storm 559 00:33:36,880 --> 00:33:40,760 Speaker 2: where the survival of the mission was at stake, was 560 00:33:40,800 --> 00:33:41,920 Speaker 2: in the stern. 561 00:33:48,160 --> 00:33:56,840 Speaker 8: Sleeping in the storm. Jesus found a pillow. Somewhere in 562 00:33:56,840 --> 00:34:00,000 Speaker 8: that boat he found a pillow, and he laid it, 563 00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:07,400 Speaker 8: said down and went to sleep, and the disciples woke him. 564 00:34:07,560 --> 00:34:14,000 Speaker 8: The disciples were awakened by their fear, and Jesus was 565 00:34:14,040 --> 00:34:19,799 Speaker 8: asleep in his purpose. I'll show you, And they said 566 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:20,440 Speaker 8: to him. 567 00:34:21,120 --> 00:34:24,759 Speaker 1: Don't you care if we tried watch wrong with you? 568 00:34:28,440 --> 00:34:29,200 Speaker 1: Don't you care? 569 00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:32,640 Speaker 2: The only way for us to understand the meaning of 570 00:34:32,680 --> 00:34:37,480 Speaker 2: this passage is to contrast what they thought with what 571 00:34:37,560 --> 00:34:39,319 Speaker 2: he knew. 572 00:34:39,960 --> 00:34:41,359 Speaker 1: But first watch what he did. 573 00:34:41,520 --> 00:34:46,680 Speaker 2: He got up, rebuked the wind for disturbing his rim cycles. 574 00:34:47,880 --> 00:34:52,120 Speaker 1: And said to the waves, shut up, be still. 575 00:34:53,600 --> 00:34:57,320 Speaker 2: I think you need to say that sometimes to your thoughts, Hello, 576 00:34:58,400 --> 00:35:01,919 Speaker 2: to your monkey mind, to you're amigdal. Sometimes the most 577 00:35:01,960 --> 00:35:06,440 Speaker 2: spiritual thing you can say is shut up. And the 578 00:35:06,480 --> 00:35:09,200 Speaker 2: wind died down. It was completely calm. He said to us, 579 00:35:09,200 --> 00:35:10,879 Speaker 2: dec that was why he's afraid. He said, no faith, 580 00:35:12,520 --> 00:35:16,359 Speaker 2: And they were terrified, like Jacob, because the flip side 581 00:35:16,400 --> 00:35:19,279 Speaker 2: of faith is always fear. And they were terrified and 582 00:35:19,360 --> 00:35:20,200 Speaker 2: asked each other. 583 00:35:20,239 --> 00:35:23,520 Speaker 1: Who is this? Oh, I thought you knew now. 584 00:35:24,239 --> 00:35:28,560 Speaker 2: It took an uncomfortable situation to show them the revelation 585 00:35:28,600 --> 00:35:29,200 Speaker 2: of who was. 586 00:35:29,160 --> 00:35:32,200 Speaker 1: With them all along, and they were not aware. Do 587 00:35:32,200 --> 00:35:32,640 Speaker 1: you see it? 588 00:35:34,320 --> 00:35:38,080 Speaker 2: Even the wind and the waves obey him. 589 00:35:38,239 --> 00:35:39,439 Speaker 1: Who is this now? 590 00:35:39,680 --> 00:35:43,200 Speaker 2: What started as a storm turned into a sermon, and 591 00:35:43,320 --> 00:35:45,879 Speaker 2: Jesus preached who he was, not by what he said, 592 00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:49,319 Speaker 2: but by what he did. He took a pillow and 593 00:35:49,400 --> 00:35:52,520 Speaker 2: laid his head down because he knew something that they 594 00:35:52,560 --> 00:35:57,640 Speaker 2: did not know, that in every purpose there is a promise. 595 00:36:00,120 --> 00:36:04,400 Speaker 1: Every purpose there is a promise. I will not leave. 596 00:36:04,239 --> 00:36:07,600 Speaker 2: You until I have accomplished everything that I have created you. 597 00:36:07,680 --> 00:36:10,200 Speaker 1: For in every purpose there is a problem. In every 598 00:36:10,200 --> 00:36:13,040 Speaker 1: place there is a purpose. But in every purpose there 599 00:36:13,120 --> 00:36:14,400 Speaker 1: is a promise. 600 00:36:15,480 --> 00:36:19,680 Speaker 2: Because this is Mark chapter four, And in Mark chapter five, 601 00:36:19,800 --> 00:36:23,120 Speaker 2: Jesus is going to meet a man who is possessed 602 00:36:23,160 --> 00:36:25,960 Speaker 2: with so many demons that he simply calls himself legion, 603 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:30,319 Speaker 2: which means many, so overcome by issues and oppression that 604 00:36:30,360 --> 00:36:34,120 Speaker 2: he doesn't even know his identity anymore. And he'll meet 605 00:36:34,120 --> 00:36:36,840 Speaker 2: the man and free the man, and cast the demons 606 00:36:36,840 --> 00:36:38,600 Speaker 2: out of the man, and send the man back into 607 00:36:38,640 --> 00:36:39,360 Speaker 2: the capitalists. 608 00:36:39,960 --> 00:36:41,000 Speaker 1: And when the man goes. 609 00:36:40,840 --> 00:36:43,680 Speaker 2: Back into the capitalist to tell the people Mark five 610 00:36:43,840 --> 00:36:47,520 Speaker 2: twenty how much the Lord has done for him. The 611 00:36:47,560 --> 00:36:51,000 Speaker 2: Gospel enters a whole new region, and the mission is born. 612 00:36:51,239 --> 00:36:56,080 Speaker 2: That was pronounced in Genesis when God told Jacob, I'm 613 00:36:56,080 --> 00:36:57,520 Speaker 2: gonna bless the whole earth through you. 614 00:36:58,280 --> 00:37:01,560 Speaker 1: That happened in Mark chapter So. 615 00:37:01,680 --> 00:37:07,800 Speaker 2: What Jesus knew was I can't drown in Mark chapter four. 616 00:37:12,400 --> 00:37:19,960 Speaker 2: So I'm gonna get a pillow because I got a promise. 617 00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:24,240 Speaker 1: You hear me, Church, I might. 618 00:37:24,080 --> 00:37:26,279 Speaker 2: Be lying down, but that doesn't mean I'm not preaching. Heart. 619 00:37:27,719 --> 00:37:31,040 Speaker 2: When you've got a promise from God, let me tell 620 00:37:31,040 --> 00:37:34,560 Speaker 2: you what to do when God gives you a promise. 621 00:37:34,600 --> 00:37:36,160 Speaker 1: How many of you have a promise. 622 00:37:35,760 --> 00:37:38,000 Speaker 2: From God and you really believe it that He will 623 00:37:38,040 --> 00:37:38,600 Speaker 2: be with you? 624 00:37:39,120 --> 00:37:41,000 Speaker 1: Come on, how many of you have to promise from God? 625 00:37:41,920 --> 00:37:45,520 Speaker 2: How many of you have a promise from God that. 626 00:37:45,560 --> 00:37:50,360 Speaker 1: He will not fail you? When you've got a promise, 627 00:37:51,360 --> 00:37:52,359 Speaker 1: let me show you what to do. 628 00:37:52,600 --> 00:37:56,000 Speaker 2: When you got a promise, sleep on it, Touch the 629 00:37:56,040 --> 00:37:56,719 Speaker 2: person next you. 630 00:37:57,000 --> 00:37:57,640 Speaker 1: Sleep on it. 631 00:37:58,840 --> 00:38:01,240 Speaker 2: I'm not going to stress about it. I'm not gonna 632 00:38:01,239 --> 00:38:04,400 Speaker 2: weep about it. I'm not gonna expend any more energy 633 00:38:04,760 --> 00:38:08,479 Speaker 2: trying to manipulate it. I'm gonna do what Jesus did. 634 00:38:08,760 --> 00:38:12,080 Speaker 2: I'm gonna find a pillow because I got a promise, 635 00:38:12,320 --> 00:38:15,880 Speaker 2: and I'm about to sleep on it. And while I sleep, 636 00:38:16,400 --> 00:38:20,920 Speaker 2: God is strategizing, And while I sleep, the angels are coming. 637 00:38:21,239 --> 00:38:24,759 Speaker 2: And while I sleep, the provision is being made. And 638 00:38:24,800 --> 00:38:28,400 Speaker 2: while I rest, the promise of God is coming to pass. 639 00:38:28,760 --> 00:38:36,799 Speaker 1: In my situation, this is the game. Come on, three 640 00:38:36,920 --> 00:38:41,520 Speaker 1: two one. 641 00:38:42,360 --> 00:38:49,960 Speaker 2: You got a promise, it's your pillow. What good is 642 00:38:49,960 --> 00:38:53,960 Speaker 2: the promise if you're not gonna believe it. When you 643 00:38:54,080 --> 00:38:58,120 Speaker 2: got a promise from God, you can rest your soul 644 00:38:59,040 --> 00:39:04,520 Speaker 2: and rest your and rest assord that in every purpose 645 00:39:04,640 --> 00:39:05,720 Speaker 2: there is a promise. 646 00:39:07,520 --> 00:39:11,799 Speaker 9: And he said in Mark four thirty five, let us 647 00:39:12,280 --> 00:39:17,719 Speaker 9: go to the other side. It was the proof that 648 00:39:17,800 --> 00:39:22,239 Speaker 9: we cannot die in the storm because there is a 649 00:39:22,400 --> 00:39:28,919 Speaker 9: purpose on the other side. How I make it through 650 00:39:29,040 --> 00:39:31,840 Speaker 9: this season, in this storm, in this valley. 651 00:39:32,440 --> 00:39:37,040 Speaker 6: Is that I know there's something on the other side. 652 00:39:38,200 --> 00:39:43,879 Speaker 6: Every valley is between two mountains, there is something on 653 00:39:44,400 --> 00:39:45,440 Speaker 6: the other side. 654 00:39:46,120 --> 00:39:46,799 Speaker 1: Sleep on it. 655 00:39:48,800 --> 00:39:53,319 Speaker 6: Sleep on it. Gostor cares upon him. He cares for 656 00:39:53,440 --> 00:39:57,640 Speaker 6: you to sleep on it. I feel so awkward up 657 00:39:57,640 --> 00:40:04,240 Speaker 6: here showing how Jesus was the promise. 658 00:40:06,160 --> 00:40:13,120 Speaker 1: A pillow and the promise. Hey, you know what, I 659 00:40:13,239 --> 00:40:18,120 Speaker 1: just realized I'm He wasn't sleeping on a pillow. He 660 00:40:18,239 --> 00:40:19,280 Speaker 1: was sleeping on purpose. 661 00:40:22,400 --> 00:40:25,920 Speaker 2: He knew that no matter what storm I go through, 662 00:40:26,640 --> 00:40:31,560 Speaker 2: no matter what season I'm in, the purpose of God 663 00:40:32,239 --> 00:40:32,920 Speaker 2: will prevail. 664 00:40:33,840 --> 00:40:36,400 Speaker 1: Sleep on it. Sleep on it. 665 00:40:37,480 --> 00:40:40,680 Speaker 2: Therefore, since we have this promise of entering into His rest, 666 00:40:41,200 --> 00:40:41,680 Speaker 2: let us. 667 00:40:41,640 --> 00:40:43,759 Speaker 1: Take heed that we do not fall short of it. 668 00:40:45,640 --> 00:40:49,279 Speaker 2: There is a purpose that produces rest, and there is 669 00:40:49,320 --> 00:40:51,520 Speaker 2: a promise that produces peace. 670 00:40:52,960 --> 00:40:56,680 Speaker 1: To sleep on it. It was a rock, it became 671 00:40:56,719 --> 00:41:00,600 Speaker 1: a pillow. It was a pillow, it became a pillar. 672 00:41:01,560 --> 00:41:04,120 Speaker 2: And what you're going through right now is going to 673 00:41:04,120 --> 00:41:09,319 Speaker 2: be the foundation of the revelation of who God really is. 674 00:41:10,120 --> 00:41:10,719 Speaker 1: Sleep on it. 675 00:41:14,239 --> 00:41:20,319 Speaker 2: Sleep on it, and I'll give you the ground you're 676 00:41:20,360 --> 00:41:25,560 Speaker 2: lying on, and I will not leave you nor forsake 677 00:41:25,640 --> 00:41:29,800 Speaker 2: you until I have done everything I promised you. I 678 00:41:29,840 --> 00:41:32,680 Speaker 2: can lay my head on that, I can bang my 679 00:41:32,719 --> 00:41:36,439 Speaker 2: life on that I can trust my children to God, 680 00:41:36,560 --> 00:41:37,320 Speaker 2: knowing that. 681 00:41:39,760 --> 00:41:47,160 Speaker 1: The Lord is in this place, the storm, the valley, 682 00:41:47,440 --> 00:41:49,560 Speaker 1: the wilderness, this place. 683 00:41:51,400 --> 00:41:53,520 Speaker 6: We all have those places in our lives where we're 684 00:41:53,520 --> 00:41:57,000 Speaker 6: passing through and we wonder what is the purpose of this? 685 00:41:58,239 --> 00:42:04,360 Speaker 1: But faith declares what Jacob declared. Surely the Lord is 686 00:42:04,400 --> 00:42:11,719 Speaker 1: in this place, and I I was not aware, but 687 00:42:11,800 --> 00:42:15,799 Speaker 1: now I am. I see it now. Thank you for 688 00:42:15,920 --> 00:42:16,480 Speaker 1: joining us. 689 00:42:16,800 --> 00:42:19,239 Speaker 2: Special thanks to those of you who give generously to 690 00:42:19,320 --> 00:42:22,800 Speaker 2: this ministry. Is because of you that this ministry is possible. 691 00:42:23,280 --> 00:42:25,440 Speaker 2: You can click the link in the description to give 692 00:42:25,560 --> 00:42:29,680 Speaker 2: now or visit Elevationchurch dot org slash podcast for more 693 00:42:29,719 --> 00:42:33,520 Speaker 2: information and if you enjoyed the podcast, you can subscribe. 694 00:42:33,800 --> 00:42:35,120 Speaker 1: You can share it with your friends. 695 00:42:35,400 --> 00:42:37,680 Speaker 2: You can click the share button, take a screenshot and 696 00:42:37,719 --> 00:42:39,839 Speaker 2: share it on your social stories and tag us at 697 00:42:39,880 --> 00:42:40,719 Speaker 2: Elevation Church. 698 00:42:40,800 --> 00:42:47,400 Speaker 1: Thanks again for listening. God bless you