WEBVTT - The Pillow & The Promise

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<v Speaker 1>Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm the pastor of Elevation Church and this is our podcast.

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<v Speaker 2>I wanted to thank you for joining us today. Hope

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<v Speaker 2>this inspires you. Hope it builds your faith. Hope it

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<v Speaker 2>gives your perspective to see God is moving in your life.

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<v Speaker 2>Enjoy the message.

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<v Speaker 1>This week.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm working from Genesis chapter twenty eight, verses ten through

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<v Speaker 2>twenty two, and I want to visit Jacob and I

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<v Speaker 2>want to visit him from this perspective. I want to

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<v Speaker 2>talk about the Gate of Purpose and we'll look at

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<v Speaker 2>it together. Did you come to help me preach today?

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<v Speaker 2>I believe this is something that we do together. These

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<v Speaker 2>sermons do go out all over the world, and it's

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<v Speaker 2>the chemistry that we have together as the Word of

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<v Speaker 2>God goes forth from heaven and released into the earth

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<v Speaker 2>that makes a difference. And so I want to thank

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<v Speaker 2>you for your active participation, for your giving, for your service,

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<v Speaker 2>for your prayers, and for bringing people to church with you.

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<v Speaker 1>It makes a difference.

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<v Speaker 2>Touch somebody say it matters, It matters. It matters how

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<v Speaker 2>you engage with the message. It matters if you lean in.

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<v Speaker 2>It matters that you're here and we are so grateful

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<v Speaker 2>for your presence today.

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<v Speaker 1>Genesis chapter twenty eight Amen.

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<v Speaker 2>Genesis chapter twenty eight, Verse ten. Jacob left Beersheba and

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<v Speaker 2>set out for Haran. When he reached a certain place,

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<v Speaker 2>a certain place. God can bless you anywhere, a certain

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<v Speaker 2>place where is. It doesn't matter. God can bless you anywhere, anytime, anyone, anywhere.

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<v Speaker 2>When he Jacob the Deceiver, reached a certain place, he

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<v Speaker 2>stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking

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<v Speaker 2>one of the stones there, put it under his head

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<v Speaker 2>and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in

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<v Speaker 2>which he saw a stairway resting on earth, with its

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<v Speaker 2>top reaching to heaven.

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<v Speaker 1>There's a lady that's sure.

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<v Speaker 2>All that glitters is gold, and she's no, that's another

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<v Speaker 2>thing that's not. The Bible and the angels of God

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<v Speaker 2>were ascending and descending on this stairway. There above it

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<v Speaker 2>stood the Lord. There above its stood the Lord. He's

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<v Speaker 2>always above it. He's always above the affairs of human men.

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<v Speaker 2>He's always above the plots and schemes and dreams and

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<v Speaker 2>dictates of humanity. There above it stood the Lord, and

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<v Speaker 2>he said, I am the Lord, the God of your

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<v Speaker 2>father Abraham, and the God of Isaac. In other words,

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<v Speaker 2>this did not start with you. This is a continuation

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<v Speaker 2>of aggressive revelation of who God is. And I will

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<v Speaker 2>give you and your descendants the land on which you

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<v Speaker 2>are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of

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<v Speaker 2>the earth, and you will spread out to the west

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<v Speaker 2>and to the east, to the north and to the south.

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<v Speaker 2>What God is about to do is so big that

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<v Speaker 2>you cannot contain it, not with your mind, not geographically,

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<v Speaker 2>not demographically, it will not be contained. All the peoples

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<v Speaker 2>on the earth will be blessed through you. See what

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<v Speaker 2>God can do through you. And Jacob is seeing a

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<v Speaker 2>vision while he's sleeping on the ground in the midst

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<v Speaker 2>of a very difficult season in an uncertain time. So

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<v Speaker 2>he said, I'm gonna bless the earth through you and

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<v Speaker 2>your offspring, and I am with you. Here comes the promise,

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<v Speaker 2>and we'll watch over you wherever you go, and.

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<v Speaker 1>I will bring you back to this land.

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<v Speaker 2>I will not leave you until I have done what

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<v Speaker 2>I have promised you.

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<v Speaker 1>So if it's not done, it's not over.

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<v Speaker 2>If it's not good, God's not finished yet, give some time.

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<v Speaker 2>It will play out, and I will not leave you

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<v Speaker 2>until I have accomplished that which I've spoken concerning you.

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<v Speaker 1>Now.

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<v Speaker 2>When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, surely the

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<v Speaker 2>Lord is in this place, and I was not aware

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<v Speaker 2>of it. And he was afraid, and said, how awesome

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<v Speaker 2>is this place? This is none other than the House

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<v Speaker 2>of God. This is the gate of heaven. This is

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<v Speaker 2>the gate of Heaven. Early the next morning, Jacob took

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<v Speaker 2>the stone he had placed under his head and set

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<v Speaker 2>it up as a pillar and poured oil on top

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<v Speaker 2>of it. He called that place Bethel, So the city

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<v Speaker 2>used to be called Luz. Bethel means house of God. Okay,

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<v Speaker 2>like beth Lehem, house of bread, Bethel house of God,

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<v Speaker 2>l l yhon El Shadai Lohem l God beth L

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<v Speaker 2>house of God.

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<v Speaker 1>Okay, Okay, we got that. Then Jacob made a vow saying.

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<v Speaker 2>If God will be with me and will watch over

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<v Speaker 2>me on this journey i am taking, and will give

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<v Speaker 2>me food to eat and clothes to wear, so that

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<v Speaker 2>I returned safely to my father's house, then the Lord

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<v Speaker 2>will be my God, and this stone that I have

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<v Speaker 2>set up as a pillar will be God's house. And

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<v Speaker 2>of all that you give me, I will give you

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<v Speaker 2>a tenth. Now listen closely rock Hill, because my focus

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<v Speaker 2>is on the following verses, verse seventeen. How awesome is

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<v Speaker 2>this place? This is none other than the House of God.

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<v Speaker 2>This is the gate of.

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<v Speaker 1>Early.

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<v Speaker 2>The next morning, Jacob took the stone he had placed

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<v Speaker 2>under his head and set it up as a pillar

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<v Speaker 2>and poured oil on top of it. So it's an

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<v Speaker 2>unusual title, but I want to speak to you about

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<v Speaker 2>the pillow and the promise. The pillow and the promise,

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<v Speaker 2>And I think this is one you'll never forget. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>when you're about to get married, you start having certain

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<v Speaker 2>conversations and you start trying to figure out are we're

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<v Speaker 2>on the same page, Like how many kids do you

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<v Speaker 2>want to have?

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<v Speaker 1>And I just want to.

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<v Speaker 2>Suggest have the first one and kind of see how

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<v Speaker 2>it goes before you go sett in a number, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>sample the product a little bit, you know, like they've

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<v Speaker 2>walked around Costco to eat a little bit of the

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<v Speaker 2>sausage before you buy the whole.

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<v Speaker 1>How many kids? Here's another one.

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<v Speaker 2>How many years do we want to be married as

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<v Speaker 2>just human beings before we become indentured servants and uber drivers?

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<v Speaker 2>How many years do we want to be married just

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<v Speaker 2>before we start having kids?

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<v Speaker 1>But here's one you never think of, and you need to.

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<v Speaker 2>If you're a man, you need to put this in

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<v Speaker 2>the conversation. When you're getting ready to bring that to me, Jonathan,

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<v Speaker 2>you need to ask how many.

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<v Speaker 1>He knows how many of these are we going to put.

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<v Speaker 2>On the bed that we are not allowed to sleep

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<v Speaker 2>on because God forbid we sleep on a pillow? We

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<v Speaker 2>are an eight throw pillow family. Just in case you're wondering, eight.

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<v Speaker 2>I counted them.

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<v Speaker 1>It's eight, bro eight, eight of these.

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<v Speaker 2>Eight ten minute routines for me to go through every

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<v Speaker 2>night before I get in my bed.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm serious. It took me. How long we've been married,

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<v Speaker 1>fifteen years.

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<v Speaker 2>It took me fourteen and a half years to come

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<v Speaker 2>to terms with the idea that there are pillows on

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<v Speaker 2>my bed for the sole purpose of taking them off

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<v Speaker 2>before I.

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<v Speaker 1>Get in it. I can't lie to you now.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm kind of into it now now Sometimes when Holly's gone.

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<v Speaker 1>Don't tell her I don't put them on or take

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<v Speaker 1>them off.

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<v Speaker 2>Wild and crazy when she leaves town. But now I

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<v Speaker 2>got it down. I know where every pillow goes.

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<v Speaker 1>I got it.

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<v Speaker 2>I know the configuration. I have been taught. I have

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<v Speaker 2>been taught I know which pillows.

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<v Speaker 1>The karate chop you ever choughed the pillow you will.

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<v Speaker 2>It was just hard for me to realize that the

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<v Speaker 2>purpose of the pillow was not from my head.

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<v Speaker 1>I just couldn't understand it's decorative, it's a throw pillow.

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<v Speaker 2>I got an idea, let's throw it away.

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<v Speaker 1>Now I bring it up.

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<v Speaker 2>Obviously, I'm going to get in a little trouble in

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<v Speaker 2>my marriage because of this, but I think it'll help

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<v Speaker 2>me illustrate my point, because I was intrigued that Jacob

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<v Speaker 2>was sleeping on something that he wasn't supposed to sleep on. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>in his case, Jacob seventy seven years old, has to

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<v Speaker 2>sleep and spend the night on a rock, but it's

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<v Speaker 2>the closest thing.

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<v Speaker 1>He has to a pillow.

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<v Speaker 2>And I thought about calling this message between a rock

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<v Speaker 2>and a hard place, but I thought you would think

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<v Speaker 2>that was corny. You give me that polite little preacher

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<v Speaker 2>laughter that you give when your preacher's trying to be human.

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<v Speaker 2>I thought about saying that Jacob has made his bed

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<v Speaker 2>and now he has to lie in it, and certainly

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<v Speaker 2>the cliche applies here because he has manipulated his way

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<v Speaker 2>into a blessing from his father that has caused him

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<v Speaker 2>to have to hide from his brother and about sixty

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<v Speaker 2>miles into his journey, which probably would have taken a

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<v Speaker 2>few days from Beersheba to the place formerly known as

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<v Speaker 2>Luhs and now known as Bethel. After this stunning revelation,

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<v Speaker 2>which is the source of much theological speculation, and we

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<v Speaker 2>cannot cover appropriately in the time we have allotted here today.

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<v Speaker 1>But what he sees is spectacular.

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<v Speaker 2>And yet I think the context is significant because it

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<v Speaker 2>is not at his destination that God appears.

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<v Speaker 1>But it is along the way.

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<v Speaker 2>It's sixty miles outside of Beersheba. He is not yet

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<v Speaker 2>to Laban's house, where arrangements have been made for his

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<v Speaker 2>safety and provision, where he will ultimately meet Rachel and Leah.

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<v Speaker 2>And he loves Rachel, but he has to go through

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<v Speaker 2>Leah to get to Rachel. All of that is yet

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<v Speaker 2>to happen. But God shows up. And one time I

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<v Speaker 2>preached a sermon called when God shows up in the

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<v Speaker 2>middle of nowhere. But I was playing with it because

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<v Speaker 2>I took the word nowhere, and then I moved the

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<v Speaker 2>w over and spaced it, and it was then now here,

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<v Speaker 2>when nowhere became now here. You remember, and we talked

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<v Speaker 2>about when God shows up in the middle of nowhere

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<v Speaker 2>and he's laying on the cold ground and the.

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<v Speaker 1>Sun has set.

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<v Speaker 2>The Bible points out it's no longer safe for him

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<v Speaker 2>to travel. And sometimes God will arrange the conditions of

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<v Speaker 2>your life so that you have to stop. Some revelation

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<v Speaker 2>cannot be given while you are on the run, only

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<v Speaker 2>when you have stopped running for long enough. And it

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<v Speaker 2>is significant that Jacob sees the activity of God, not

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<v Speaker 2>in his manipulation, but in his sleep. And in his

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<v Speaker 2>sleep he sees something that would have been very familiar

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<v Speaker 2>in Mesopotamian culture, because their gods were said to have

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<v Speaker 2>come down the staircases to the earth and.

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<v Speaker 1>Back up, and back down and back up.

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<v Speaker 2>Jacob's dream is a little different because if you'll notice,

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<v Speaker 2>this is just a little thing. It's not really going

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<v Speaker 2>to be on the final exam, but they were ascending

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<v Speaker 2>and descending. The order is important because it didn't start

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<v Speaker 2>in heaven.

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<v Speaker 1>It started on earth.

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<v Speaker 2>They went up and then they went down, and they

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<v Speaker 2>went up and then they went down. And so when

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<v Speaker 2>we pray, let your kingdom come, you will be done

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<v Speaker 2>on earth as it is in Heaven. Often God is

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<v Speaker 2>awaiting initiative on earth to release what Heaven has in store.

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<v Speaker 2>These messengers that ascended and descended.

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<v Speaker 1>The stairs were going back and forth.

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<v Speaker 2>And they were working. In the course of human history,

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<v Speaker 2>God is always on the move. The messengers, the angels

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<v Speaker 2>were going up and down. And Jacob saw it in

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<v Speaker 2>his sleep, not when he was stealing his brother Esau's blessing.

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<v Speaker 2>He didn't see it then because he was trying to

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<v Speaker 2>make it happen, Not when he was taking his birthright.

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<v Speaker 2>He didn't see it then because he was in a

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<v Speaker 2>mental space of trying to figure out how am I going.

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<v Speaker 1>To get the blessing.

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<v Speaker 2>Now, notice this, Isaac gave Jacob a blessing, but God

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<v Speaker 2>made Jacob a promise. People can give blessings, but only

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<v Speaker 2>God can make promises, And the promise is this. God

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<v Speaker 2>is illustrating through Jacob what Proverbs nineteen will later record.

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<v Speaker 2>Many are the plans in a person's heart, but is

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<v Speaker 2>the purpose.

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<v Speaker 1>Of the Lord that will prevail. This is a living.

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<v Speaker 2>Demonstration of how no matter how Jacob schemed and dreamed,

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<v Speaker 2>God met him in an unusual place and showed him

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<v Speaker 2>how determined God is to fulfill his purpose on the earth.

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<v Speaker 1>Purpose is determined. Purpose is determined.

0:13:12.800 --> 0:13:16.560
<v Speaker 2>God has made up his mind what he wants to

0:13:16.600 --> 0:13:20.080
<v Speaker 2>do and who he wants to do it through. And

0:13:20.240 --> 0:13:24.320
<v Speaker 2>purpose is determined. If you have a strong willed child,

0:13:24.400 --> 0:13:25.920
<v Speaker 2>just wave your hand at me. I'll know we're in

0:13:25.920 --> 0:13:30.560
<v Speaker 2>the same club. Purpose is more determined than your most

0:13:30.760 --> 0:13:34.959
<v Speaker 2>strong willed child. And when the purpose of God makes

0:13:35.040 --> 0:13:38.320
<v Speaker 2>up its mind to accomplish something in the earth, you

0:13:38.440 --> 0:13:42.440
<v Speaker 2>almost can't mess it up. You almost can't send it back.

0:13:43.000 --> 0:13:45.800
<v Speaker 2>There is no return to Sinder. For as the rains

0:13:45.840 --> 0:13:49.160
<v Speaker 2>fall from the heaven and water the earth, so shall

0:13:49.240 --> 0:13:51.480
<v Speaker 2>be his word that proceeds from his mouth.

0:13:51.520 --> 0:13:58.920
<v Speaker 1>I'm getting a little excited a little early is determined.

0:13:59.400 --> 0:14:03.800
<v Speaker 2>The gifts of God are without repentance, So something that

0:14:03.880 --> 0:14:07.800
<v Speaker 2>you did when you were seventeen cannot reverse what God

0:14:07.920 --> 0:14:12.960
<v Speaker 2>planned while you were still in your mother's womb. Purpose

0:14:13.600 --> 0:14:17.360
<v Speaker 2>is determined. Nobody can break up with you and cast

0:14:17.440 --> 0:14:20.160
<v Speaker 2>the purpose of God for your life to be interrupted.

0:14:20.400 --> 0:14:23.120
<v Speaker 2>Nobody can fire you and interrupt the purpose of God.

0:14:23.360 --> 0:14:26.640
<v Speaker 2>There is no stopping what God has started until it

0:14:26.680 --> 0:14:35.400
<v Speaker 2>is complete. He will see it through. He doesn't change

0:14:35.440 --> 0:14:39.240
<v Speaker 2>his mind. When Jacob blows it, He tracks him down

0:14:39.840 --> 0:14:47.360
<v Speaker 2>and meets with him in his sleep. Determined, determined. The

0:14:47.360 --> 0:14:54.840
<v Speaker 2>purpose of God is determined. A theological term would be predestined.

0:14:55.840 --> 0:14:57.000
<v Speaker 1>Yeah.

0:14:57.120 --> 0:14:58.640
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, all things work together for the good of those

0:14:58.640 --> 0:15:00.440
<v Speaker 2>who love the Lord and are called a chort to

0:15:00.520 --> 0:15:05.000
<v Speaker 2>his purpose for those he fore knew. He also predestined

0:15:05.560 --> 0:15:09.320
<v Speaker 2>that we might be the first born among many brothers

0:15:09.320 --> 0:15:12.840
<v Speaker 2>and sisters. And those he called he also justified, and

0:15:12.880 --> 0:15:16.600
<v Speaker 2>those he justified he also glorified, and those he glorified

0:15:16.600 --> 0:15:19.280
<v Speaker 2>he glorified to the end that his purpose might prevail

0:15:19.400 --> 0:15:22.400
<v Speaker 2>in the earth. To break it down into real simple language,

0:15:22.440 --> 0:15:25.480
<v Speaker 2>all I'm trying to say is God is still working.

0:15:26.240 --> 0:15:29.240
<v Speaker 2>God was working in the things you did wrong the

0:15:29.240 --> 0:15:32.560
<v Speaker 2>things you did right. The activity of God cannot be

0:15:32.600 --> 0:15:35.880
<v Speaker 2>stopped by human decision or mistakes.

0:15:35.920 --> 0:15:37.360
<v Speaker 1>In fact, some.

0:15:37.240 --> 0:15:40.120
<v Speaker 2>Of your greatest mistakes will be the seed of your

0:15:40.160 --> 0:15:45.920
<v Speaker 2>greatest miracles. It's called purpose, and it always prevails. And

0:15:46.000 --> 0:15:48.520
<v Speaker 2>God is so determined that he meets with Jacob in

0:15:48.560 --> 0:15:52.920
<v Speaker 2>a certain place when the sun is set because he

0:15:52.960 --> 0:15:55.360
<v Speaker 2>made up his mind. I am the God of Abraham,

0:15:55.480 --> 0:16:01.880
<v Speaker 2>Isaac and Jacob. But when we say that purpose is determined,

0:16:03.240 --> 0:16:07.760
<v Speaker 2>I think it's important to make a distinction that purpose

0:16:07.840 --> 0:16:10.240
<v Speaker 2>is not only determined by God, but it is also

0:16:10.360 --> 0:16:14.680
<v Speaker 2>determined by us. The way I would put it is this.

0:16:14.680 --> 0:16:20.880
<v Speaker 2>This is point number two. Purpose is determined before it

0:16:21.000 --> 0:16:26.800
<v Speaker 2>is discover I'll explain that from the text. When Jacob

0:16:26.800 --> 0:16:31.080
<v Speaker 2>awoke from his sleep, he thought, surely the Lord is

0:16:31.120 --> 0:16:36.120
<v Speaker 2>in this place and I was not aware of it. Now,

0:16:36.160 --> 0:16:40.200
<v Speaker 2>God did not show up when Jacob woke up. Jacob

0:16:40.240 --> 0:16:44.520
<v Speaker 2>woke up to the fact that God was there all along.

0:16:46.400 --> 0:16:47.760
<v Speaker 2>Can I get you to hit your neighbor and tell

0:16:47.800 --> 0:16:48.360
<v Speaker 2>him wake up?

0:16:50.320 --> 0:16:54.520
<v Speaker 1>Wake up? Woke is not a new term.

0:16:55.200 --> 0:17:06.920
<v Speaker 2>Jacob was woke, but God did not God. God did

0:17:06.960 --> 0:17:12.560
<v Speaker 2>not show up when Jacob saw it. He was waiting

0:17:13.160 --> 0:17:18.919
<v Speaker 2>to be seen in something very common. And I believe

0:17:20.080 --> 0:17:23.520
<v Speaker 2>that it's good to pray for God to be with us,

0:17:24.240 --> 0:17:28.160
<v Speaker 2>But I think it's better to pray that we could

0:17:28.160 --> 0:17:33.360
<v Speaker 2>see where He has already been, because He's been.

0:17:33.160 --> 0:17:37.719
<v Speaker 1>There all along. When you pray God be with us,

0:17:37.760 --> 0:17:38.840
<v Speaker 1>it's kind of redundant.

0:17:39.720 --> 0:17:44.000
<v Speaker 2>Tell you why he said, I will not leave you

0:17:44.080 --> 0:17:49.879
<v Speaker 2>nor forsake you. Surely I will be with you even

0:17:50.280 --> 0:17:53.720
<v Speaker 2>to the end of the age. Now, if it's not

0:17:53.840 --> 0:17:57.600
<v Speaker 2>over God is still here, so I don't have to

0:17:57.640 --> 0:18:00.320
<v Speaker 2>ask him to do what he already promised to do.

0:18:00.680 --> 0:18:04.000
<v Speaker 1>All I have to do is wake up to the.

0:18:03.920 --> 0:18:06.600
<v Speaker 2>Reality that he's been working all along.

0:18:08.520 --> 0:18:12.120
<v Speaker 1>Calm down. By the time you see it.

0:18:12.440 --> 0:18:15.800
<v Speaker 2>By the time you see it, it's it's already been

0:18:15.840 --> 0:18:17.639
<v Speaker 2>happening by the time you see it.

0:18:17.960 --> 0:18:19.879
<v Speaker 1>By the time you got to church today, we had

0:18:19.920 --> 0:18:23.560
<v Speaker 1>already done so much what you think we started when

0:18:23.600 --> 0:18:24.120
<v Speaker 1>you got here.

0:18:25.840 --> 0:18:29.119
<v Speaker 2>At some of our locations that meet in high schools

0:18:29.240 --> 0:18:33.960
<v Speaker 2>and theaters, and we don't own the building, they're portable locations.

0:18:34.720 --> 0:18:37.040
<v Speaker 2>And they're portable because as soon as we're done, we

0:18:37.119 --> 0:18:40.320
<v Speaker 2>have to take everything out. And they're portable because during

0:18:40.359 --> 0:18:43.320
<v Speaker 2>the week there's something else. But when we show up

0:18:43.320 --> 0:18:46.800
<v Speaker 2>in there, guess what it becomes a church. It's not

0:18:46.840 --> 0:18:49.520
<v Speaker 2>a church because we put a steeple on it.

0:18:49.520 --> 0:18:50.080
<v Speaker 1>It's not a.

0:18:50.080 --> 0:18:53.720
<v Speaker 2>Church because it says church on the sign. In fact,

0:18:53.880 --> 0:18:57.560
<v Speaker 2>when you say I'm going to church, you're not exactly correct.

0:18:57.920 --> 0:19:01.080
<v Speaker 2>You are bringing the church to a bill because that's

0:19:01.119 --> 0:19:01.760
<v Speaker 2>what you are.

0:19:02.760 --> 0:19:05.840
<v Speaker 1>You are a carrier of the presence.

0:19:07.320 --> 0:19:16.560
<v Speaker 3>Of Almighty God. Jacob is so funny to me. God

0:19:16.680 --> 0:19:19.000
<v Speaker 3>is here and I didn't know it.

0:19:20.160 --> 0:19:21.760
<v Speaker 1>How can you miss God?

0:19:23.440 --> 0:19:27.359
<v Speaker 2>How can God be in the actual place and you

0:19:27.359 --> 0:19:31.160
<v Speaker 2>didn't see it? But he could only see it when

0:19:31.200 --> 0:19:33.840
<v Speaker 2>he was asleep, and then he woke up to see

0:19:33.840 --> 0:19:37.280
<v Speaker 2>what God was doing all along. That purpose is determined

0:19:38.359 --> 0:19:44.879
<v Speaker 2>before it is discover he wakes up, okay, because remember

0:19:44.880 --> 0:19:48.720
<v Speaker 2>we got a rock and Jacob makes it a pillow.

0:19:49.760 --> 0:19:53.400
<v Speaker 2>So he is repurposing the rock to make it a pillow.

0:19:54.160 --> 0:19:56.480
<v Speaker 2>It's not exactly a temper pedic, but it will work.

0:19:57.280 --> 0:20:00.920
<v Speaker 2>Sometimes you can't be picky. Sometimes gotta take whatever you got.

0:20:01.640 --> 0:20:02.280
<v Speaker 2>You know what I'm saying.

0:20:02.440 --> 0:20:04.359
<v Speaker 1>It's not my favorite song, but I'm gonna worship.

0:20:04.119 --> 0:20:06.680
<v Speaker 2>To it anyway, because I don't need my favorite song

0:20:06.720 --> 0:20:07.360
<v Speaker 2>to worship God.

0:20:07.440 --> 0:20:09.400
<v Speaker 1>It'll work. It'll work.

0:20:10.600 --> 0:20:12.280
<v Speaker 2>It's not a lot of money, but I'm gonna make

0:20:12.320 --> 0:20:15.639
<v Speaker 2>it work. Okay, my husband isn't exactly okay, then we're

0:20:15.640 --> 0:20:20.840
<v Speaker 2>gonna skip that part. And he says, this will work,

0:20:21.359 --> 0:20:23.760
<v Speaker 2>this will work, And when he lays down, I'm gonna

0:20:23.800 --> 0:20:25.800
<v Speaker 2>do this for you. I'm gonna demonstrate this for you.

0:20:25.840 --> 0:20:27.960
<v Speaker 2>Not many preachers would go to this extent to bring

0:20:28.000 --> 0:20:31.480
<v Speaker 2>the point across. But if I gotta lay down on this,

0:20:31.480 --> 0:20:35.280
<v Speaker 2>this monitor to show you what Jacob did and the

0:20:35.320 --> 0:20:36.360
<v Speaker 2>situation he was in.

0:20:36.560 --> 0:20:41.160
<v Speaker 1>I will lay down on this monitor that's not even comfortable,

0:20:42.480 --> 0:20:43.680
<v Speaker 1>not even kind of comfortable.

0:20:44.960 --> 0:20:56.680
<v Speaker 2>But it'll work. It'll work, it'll work, and he sees

0:20:56.680 --> 0:20:59.359
<v Speaker 2>some way. He sleeps and he wakes up and he goes, well,

0:20:59.480 --> 0:21:04.840
<v Speaker 2>that was awesome, that was amazing.

0:21:05.720 --> 0:21:08.400
<v Speaker 1>This is the house of God.

0:21:08.640 --> 0:21:14.760
<v Speaker 4>Well, first, the Bible says he was afraid because fear

0:21:14.920 --> 0:21:21.080
<v Speaker 4>is the flip side of faith. Fear is what you

0:21:21.240 --> 0:21:25.000
<v Speaker 4>feel that enables you to open yourself to faith.

0:21:27.560 --> 0:21:30.320
<v Speaker 2>Fear is the sensation that leads you to something greater

0:21:30.400 --> 0:21:32.840
<v Speaker 2>than yourself, that causes you to have faith that God

0:21:32.920 --> 0:21:33.320
<v Speaker 2>is greater.

0:21:34.240 --> 0:21:39.240
<v Speaker 1>So first he was afraid. Then he was excited and

0:21:39.359 --> 0:21:47.840
<v Speaker 1>he said this is awesome, this is awesome. Wow, this

0:21:47.880 --> 0:21:51.040
<v Speaker 1>is lit. He would have said it who.

0:21:53.080 --> 0:21:58.760
<v Speaker 2>That's what Moses said it to burning bush.

0:21:59.400 --> 0:22:04.440
<v Speaker 1>Now this is the house of God.

0:22:05.000 --> 0:22:08.280
<v Speaker 2>Remember Now he took some oil, rubbed it on the

0:22:08.359 --> 0:22:11.119
<v Speaker 2>rock and said, this is the house of God.

0:22:11.000 --> 0:22:11.800
<v Speaker 1>Pointing at the rock.

0:22:14.320 --> 0:22:18.840
<v Speaker 2>God doesn't live in a rock, except that one verse

0:22:18.840 --> 0:22:20.400
<v Speaker 2>that says that if we don't praise him, the rocks

0:22:20.400 --> 0:22:21.000
<v Speaker 2>will cry out.

0:22:22.280 --> 0:22:25.200
<v Speaker 1>See God can show up anywhere. That's the point.

0:22:25.359 --> 0:22:28.119
<v Speaker 2>The point is he took some oil is symbolic of

0:22:28.119 --> 0:22:30.600
<v Speaker 2>the Holy Spirit, of the joy of the Lord. But

0:22:30.680 --> 0:22:33.919
<v Speaker 2>it's also when something special was being consecrated, like a

0:22:34.000 --> 0:22:36.520
<v Speaker 2>king or a priest, they would pour oil on it.

0:22:36.520 --> 0:22:39.760
<v Speaker 2>It was a part of the consecration. And the rock

0:22:39.920 --> 0:22:44.320
<v Speaker 2>is something common. And so Jacob consecrates something that is

0:22:44.320 --> 0:22:49.520
<v Speaker 2>common and says, this is the house of God, pointing

0:22:49.520 --> 0:22:50.000
<v Speaker 2>at a rock.

0:22:50.720 --> 0:22:54.639
<v Speaker 1>This is where God lives. No, he doesn't. God doesn't

0:22:54.640 --> 0:23:00.879
<v Speaker 1>live in a rock, but he can't. He can't notice this.

0:23:01.280 --> 0:23:05.040
<v Speaker 1>When Jacob says this is the gate of heaven. He

0:23:05.119 --> 0:23:08.920
<v Speaker 1>didn't say that because God said it. God didn't say

0:23:08.920 --> 0:23:11.720
<v Speaker 1>this is the gate of heaven. Jacob said, this is

0:23:11.760 --> 0:23:12.439
<v Speaker 1>the gate of heaven.

0:23:13.600 --> 0:23:18.439
<v Speaker 2>So apparently I have the ability to be in a

0:23:18.480 --> 0:23:24.560
<v Speaker 2>common situation. You hear me an uncertain situation and put

0:23:24.600 --> 0:23:28.040
<v Speaker 2>some oil on it, and put some holy ghost.

0:23:27.800 --> 0:23:31.760
<v Speaker 5>On it, and put some purpose on it. And if

0:23:31.760 --> 0:23:35.760
<v Speaker 5>I say it's a gate, it'll be a gate. And

0:23:35.840 --> 0:23:38.960
<v Speaker 5>if I say it's a blessing, it'll be a blessing.

0:23:39.720 --> 0:23:43.000
<v Speaker 5>And if I say God isn't it, God isn't it.

0:23:43.760 --> 0:23:46.960
<v Speaker 5>And if I say it's a church, it'll be a church.

0:23:47.680 --> 0:23:50.600
<v Speaker 5>And if I say it's a setup, it is a setup.

0:23:50.920 --> 0:23:54.359
<v Speaker 5>And if I say it's an opportunity, it is an opportunity.

0:23:55.880 --> 0:23:59.280
<v Speaker 1>Try it out. Somebody shout, this is the gate, this

0:23:59.359 --> 0:24:02.480
<v Speaker 1>is the gate. He wakes up, He goes, this is crazy.

0:24:02.560 --> 0:24:05.600
<v Speaker 1>This is awesome, this is awesome, this is awesome. It's awesome.

0:24:05.760 --> 0:24:07.919
<v Speaker 1>It's awesome something.

0:24:08.080 --> 0:24:11.120
<v Speaker 2>So he takes the rock that he made the pillow,

0:24:11.280 --> 0:24:13.600
<v Speaker 2>and he takes the pillow and makes it a pillar.

0:24:14.720 --> 0:24:17.879
<v Speaker 2>The rock became the pillow, the pillow became the pillar.

0:24:18.680 --> 0:24:23.280
<v Speaker 2>It is what you make of it. If you say

0:24:23.400 --> 0:24:27.119
<v Speaker 2>it's a gate, it will be a gate. If you

0:24:27.280 --> 0:24:30.720
<v Speaker 2>point to your pain and say, this pain is a

0:24:30.760 --> 0:24:35.000
<v Speaker 2>portal to the glory of God, and something that is

0:24:35.040 --> 0:24:37.879
<v Speaker 2>going to come through this pain is going to bring

0:24:37.960 --> 0:24:41.720
<v Speaker 2>me deeper joy. It will bring the joy of the

0:24:41.760 --> 0:24:43.760
<v Speaker 2>Lord into your situation.

0:24:44.400 --> 0:24:47.760
<v Speaker 1>So point to your pain and say, this is the gate.

0:24:50.520 --> 0:24:51.400
<v Speaker 1>This is the gate.

0:24:53.000 --> 0:24:56.520
<v Speaker 2>I can look at something that seems so ordinary, a

0:24:56.640 --> 0:24:59.919
<v Speaker 2>moment that seems so trivial, a job that I had,

0:25:00.280 --> 0:25:01.679
<v Speaker 2>can become the gate.

0:25:01.760 --> 0:25:02.840
<v Speaker 1>If I point at.

0:25:02.720 --> 0:25:09.160
<v Speaker 2>It and annoy it. God didn't call it the gate.

0:25:10.240 --> 0:25:16.840
<v Speaker 2>Jacob did, and it became what he called it. This

0:25:16.920 --> 0:25:22.200
<v Speaker 2>is the gate. This is the gate. Shout it out.

0:25:22.240 --> 0:25:23.040
<v Speaker 2>This is the gate.

0:25:24.200 --> 0:25:24.800
<v Speaker 1>This is the.

0:25:24.800 --> 0:25:27.520
<v Speaker 2>Moment, this is the time, this is the season, this

0:25:27.600 --> 0:25:29.719
<v Speaker 2>is the day that the Lord has made.

0:25:29.840 --> 0:25:31.840
<v Speaker 1>I will rejoice and be glad in it.

0:25:32.080 --> 0:25:35.000
<v Speaker 2>If the enemy had his way, I'd be so focused

0:25:35.040 --> 0:25:37.800
<v Speaker 2>on tomorrow and what it holds that I would miss

0:25:37.840 --> 0:25:40.240
<v Speaker 2>the provision of the strength that God wants to bring

0:25:40.320 --> 0:25:41.160
<v Speaker 2>while I am.

0:25:41.000 --> 0:25:45.199
<v Speaker 1>In in Bethel. But this is the gate. This is

0:25:45.240 --> 0:25:47.720
<v Speaker 1>I'm sorry, y'all. I just thowt some made me laugh.

0:25:47.720 --> 0:25:51.159
<v Speaker 2>I pictured you're going to work, and I pictured the

0:25:51.160 --> 0:25:53.199
<v Speaker 2>person that annoys you so much coming up to you,

0:25:54.480 --> 0:25:56.399
<v Speaker 2>and I picture you not saying it out loud, but

0:25:56.520 --> 0:25:58.360
<v Speaker 2>just smirk a little bit and say to yourself, this

0:25:58.400 --> 0:26:02.439
<v Speaker 2>is the gate. Because God is gonna use the people

0:26:02.440 --> 0:26:07.480
<v Speaker 2>that I can't stand to make me patient. You've been

0:26:07.480 --> 0:26:11.840
<v Speaker 2>praying for patience. It's gonna come through the gate of Pete.

0:26:12.280 --> 0:26:14.960
<v Speaker 2>You know, Pete at work, Pete with the bad breath,

0:26:15.080 --> 0:26:16.560
<v Speaker 2>Pete who takes all the credit.

0:26:16.840 --> 0:26:17.720
<v Speaker 1>Pete is the gate.

0:26:22.320 --> 0:26:26.439
<v Speaker 2>He missed the whole point too, He missed the whole point.

0:26:26.680 --> 0:26:29.000
<v Speaker 1>This is the gate. I'm gonna come back here.

0:26:29.080 --> 0:26:31.879
<v Speaker 2>God, if you bless me if you give me a car,

0:26:32.080 --> 0:26:34.720
<v Speaker 2>and if you watch over me. He's trying to negotiate

0:26:34.800 --> 0:26:38.480
<v Speaker 2>something God already told him he was gonna do. Anyway,

0:26:39.680 --> 0:26:42.399
<v Speaker 2>One time, Pastor Mickey took me to visit a businessman

0:26:42.760 --> 0:26:45.359
<v Speaker 2>and I was asking him for money because I wanted

0:26:45.359 --> 0:26:48.560
<v Speaker 2>to bring in some preachers for the Fellowship of Christian.

0:26:48.240 --> 0:26:49.919
<v Speaker 1>Athletes for our high school.

0:26:50.600 --> 0:26:52.560
<v Speaker 2>And he taught me something as a seventeen year old.

0:26:52.680 --> 0:26:55.320
<v Speaker 2>Because Eugene Oliver started writing the check and I had

0:26:55.359 --> 0:27:00.200
<v Speaker 2>only said three words, we're trying to and he said

0:27:00.240 --> 0:27:00.640
<v Speaker 2>how much.

0:27:02.560 --> 0:27:04.320
<v Speaker 1>The first thing I didn't know is put a few

0:27:04.320 --> 0:27:06.400
<v Speaker 1>more zeros on it. If somebody asked that question. Because

0:27:06.400 --> 0:27:08.119
<v Speaker 1>I asked him for five hundred dollars, I wish I

0:27:08.119 --> 0:27:08.640
<v Speaker 1>would go back.

0:27:11.760 --> 0:27:13.480
<v Speaker 2>But while he was writing the check, I kept talking,

0:27:13.480 --> 0:27:15.959
<v Speaker 2>we're gonna take the money we're gonna use, and Pastor

0:27:16.000 --> 0:27:17.800
<v Speaker 2>Mickey put his hand on my LIGs.

0:27:17.920 --> 0:27:21.439
<v Speaker 1>It squeezed me. He looked at me. He didn't say

0:27:21.480 --> 0:27:22.640
<v Speaker 1>anything till we got out of there.

0:27:24.760 --> 0:27:31.120
<v Speaker 6>He said, I'm gonna teach you something right now when

0:27:31.119 --> 0:27:32.040
<v Speaker 6>he's writing the check.

0:27:33.320 --> 0:27:39.199
<v Speaker 1>Shut up, shut up.

0:27:41.720 --> 0:27:43.479
<v Speaker 6>I don't know, but maybe you could look at your

0:27:43.520 --> 0:27:50.480
<v Speaker 6>neighbor and say, shut up, it's already done.

0:27:52.560 --> 0:27:55.160
<v Speaker 1>It's already done.

0:27:56.119 --> 0:27:58.000
<v Speaker 2>Trying to strike a bargain with God, who already said

0:27:58.000 --> 0:28:01.960
<v Speaker 2>he'd be with you. Well, if you will, then uh will?

0:28:02.240 --> 0:28:06.159
<v Speaker 2>God is not an if then God. The promises of

0:28:06.160 --> 0:28:11.520
<v Speaker 2>God are yes and amen. He's already done. That's what

0:28:11.600 --> 0:28:14.040
<v Speaker 2>he saw sleeping on that rock. This is the game,

0:28:14.800 --> 0:28:19.040
<v Speaker 2>so it means I can go into any situation, even

0:28:19.960 --> 0:28:25.040
<v Speaker 2>the uncomfortable ones. Isn't it crazy that God used the

0:28:25.040 --> 0:28:27.760
<v Speaker 2>place of Jacob's discomfort to give him his greatest revelation.

0:28:29.760 --> 0:28:32.040
<v Speaker 2>Don't you think that seventy seven year old man woke

0:28:32.119 --> 0:28:35.000
<v Speaker 2>up with a sore neck after sleeping on a rock,

0:28:35.040 --> 0:28:38.600
<v Speaker 2>But he said, it's awesome not because of how it felt,

0:28:39.400 --> 0:28:40.200
<v Speaker 2>but because.

0:28:39.880 --> 0:28:41.080
<v Speaker 1>Of what I saw.

0:28:42.440 --> 0:28:45.120
<v Speaker 2>Not because of what I felt, but because of who

0:28:45.160 --> 0:28:45.400
<v Speaker 2>I know.

0:28:46.720 --> 0:28:52.680
<v Speaker 1>This is awesome this place. How awesome is this place?

0:28:52.720 --> 0:28:56.120
<v Speaker 1>You know? You can say that anywhere, not just in Hawaii, right,

0:28:57.360 --> 0:29:01.720
<v Speaker 1>not just in church. This is the game and it's.

0:29:01.600 --> 0:29:03.680
<v Speaker 2>The gate because I gave it a purpose. Purpose is

0:29:03.720 --> 0:29:06.560
<v Speaker 2>what allows you to see that. Let me say it

0:29:06.640 --> 0:29:12.480
<v Speaker 2>like this, In every place there is a purpose. In

0:29:12.600 --> 0:29:17.080
<v Speaker 2>every place, there is a purpose. But before it is discovered.

0:29:17.200 --> 0:29:19.960
<v Speaker 2>It must be determined, and God will allow you to

0:29:20.080 --> 0:29:23.400
<v Speaker 2>determine the purpose of the place you're in. So you

0:29:23.440 --> 0:29:27.440
<v Speaker 2>can simply survive it, or you can be strengthened by it.

0:29:28.720 --> 0:29:32.000
<v Speaker 2>You can resent it, or you can be like John

0:29:32.160 --> 0:29:34.840
<v Speaker 2>who on the island of Patmos wrote the Book of Revelation.

0:29:35.360 --> 0:29:37.440
<v Speaker 1>You decide the purpose for the place.

0:29:38.320 --> 0:29:40.280
<v Speaker 2>Is this going to be the place where you become

0:29:40.320 --> 0:29:44.040
<v Speaker 2>bitter and lay down and die from your disappointment, or

0:29:44.120 --> 0:29:46.360
<v Speaker 2>is this going to be the place that you discover

0:29:46.520 --> 0:29:49.640
<v Speaker 2>a dream, a deeper source to drink from all the

0:29:49.680 --> 0:29:58.000
<v Speaker 2>good grasses in the valley. You can only get strength

0:29:58.040 --> 0:30:02.120
<v Speaker 2>from certain places. This is something that Jacob could not

0:30:02.360 --> 0:30:06.960
<v Speaker 2>get anywhere else but here in this place. The Lord

0:30:07.040 --> 0:30:10.920
<v Speaker 2>is in this place. Remember he still got four hundred

0:30:10.960 --> 0:30:14.240
<v Speaker 2>and ninety miles to go before he gets to his destination.

0:30:14.360 --> 0:30:19.080
<v Speaker 2>But the Lord is in this place. It means that

0:30:19.200 --> 0:30:23.160
<v Speaker 2>he is with me on the way. He's with me

0:30:23.840 --> 0:30:27.080
<v Speaker 2>on the way, and any time I want to, I

0:30:27.120 --> 0:30:30.720
<v Speaker 2>can open a gate to the revelation of his goodness.

0:30:31.000 --> 0:30:31.840
<v Speaker 1>This is the gate.

0:30:32.640 --> 0:30:34.880
<v Speaker 2>Difficult time with your teenagers, I get it.

0:30:35.200 --> 0:30:39.160
<v Speaker 1>This is the gate. This is the gate. They got

0:30:39.240 --> 0:30:40.960
<v Speaker 1>quiet on that one. I must have hit a nerve.

0:30:42.680 --> 0:30:45.880
<v Speaker 2>Just just walk around pointing to stuff, winking and stuff.

0:30:46.080 --> 0:30:49.680
<v Speaker 1>This is the gate. Make it a gate, Make it

0:30:49.720 --> 0:30:53.440
<v Speaker 1>a gate, Make it a gate this season. This is

0:30:53.480 --> 0:30:56.400
<v Speaker 1>the gate. I'm not waiting this is the gate.

0:30:57.240 --> 0:31:00.600
<v Speaker 2>I'm not waiting for a relationship before I feel significant.

0:31:00.920 --> 0:31:01.720
<v Speaker 1>This is the gate.

0:31:02.560 --> 0:31:05.200
<v Speaker 2>I'm made in the image of God, all by myself.

0:31:05.520 --> 0:31:08.280
<v Speaker 1>This is the cat. This is the season. This is

0:31:08.320 --> 0:31:10.840
<v Speaker 1>the time. That's just the year. Now when I'm.

0:31:10.680 --> 0:31:13.240
<v Speaker 2>Forty five, not when I get the debt paid out.

0:31:13.560 --> 0:31:17.280
<v Speaker 2>This is the day I will rejoice anthy glad in.

0:31:17.400 --> 0:31:23.200
<v Speaker 1>It, enter his gates with thanksgiving. You hear this word

0:31:23.240 --> 0:31:27.200
<v Speaker 1>God gave me. This is the gate.

0:31:27.920 --> 0:31:35.240
<v Speaker 6>This is the gate, and it is determined before it

0:31:35.360 --> 0:31:38.600
<v Speaker 6>is discovered. So Jacob decides, I guess this rock is

0:31:38.640 --> 0:31:40.560
<v Speaker 6>as good as any I'm making a monument.

0:31:40.680 --> 0:31:41.880
<v Speaker 1>It was a very common.

0:31:41.600 --> 0:31:44.440
<v Speaker 2>Practice, he said, I'll set this up to remember how

0:31:44.480 --> 0:31:45.760
<v Speaker 2>God met with me.

0:31:46.240 --> 0:31:49.960
<v Speaker 1>Here. After he was sleeping on something.

0:31:51.560 --> 0:31:55.840
<v Speaker 2>That he wasn't supposed to sleep on, After he was

0:31:55.840 --> 0:31:59.800
<v Speaker 2>sleeping on something that he wasn't supposed to be sleeping.

0:31:59.520 --> 0:32:06.800
<v Speaker 7>On, after he was sleeping on something. I'm asleep on

0:32:06.880 --> 0:32:15.520
<v Speaker 7>this thing. After he was sleeping after he wait a man,

0:32:15.600 --> 0:32:16.280
<v Speaker 7>Jesus did this.

0:32:17.720 --> 0:32:23.720
<v Speaker 1>This is not just a Jacob thing. Let me see

0:32:23.720 --> 0:32:27.040
<v Speaker 1>if I can find it, Mark four thirty five. I

0:32:27.080 --> 0:32:27.600
<v Speaker 1>found it.

0:32:30.720 --> 0:32:35.440
<v Speaker 2>When Jesus was sleeping in something that he wasn't supposed

0:32:35.440 --> 0:32:36.200
<v Speaker 2>to be sleeping at.

0:32:37.440 --> 0:32:41.680
<v Speaker 1>And there's a commonality. There's there's a common threat. I

0:32:41.720 --> 0:32:42.400
<v Speaker 1>wonder do you see it?

0:32:42.440 --> 0:32:45.720
<v Speaker 2>In verse thirty five, it says that when evening came,

0:32:48.080 --> 0:32:50.400
<v Speaker 2>Jacob breasted on the rock when the sun went down.

0:32:52.320 --> 0:32:58.200
<v Speaker 2>Jesus is on a boat as evening approaches, and he

0:32:58.240 --> 0:33:05.080
<v Speaker 2>said to his disciples, let's go over to the other side.

0:33:05.400 --> 0:33:08.000
<v Speaker 2>Next verse, leaving the crowd behind.

0:33:08.600 --> 0:33:12.440
<v Speaker 1>They took him along just as he was in the boat.

0:33:12.680 --> 0:33:16.840
<v Speaker 2>There are also other boats with him. A furious squall,

0:33:17.800 --> 0:33:20.719
<v Speaker 2>not a word we often use, just a raging storm

0:33:21.480 --> 0:33:24.920
<v Speaker 2>came up and the waves broke over the boat so

0:33:24.960 --> 0:33:28.080
<v Speaker 2>that it was nearly swamp. Now we're going to see

0:33:28.080 --> 0:33:31.520
<v Speaker 2>a contrast between what Jesus did and what.

0:33:31.440 --> 0:33:32.400
<v Speaker 1>The disciples did.

0:33:33.280 --> 0:33:36.880
<v Speaker 2>Because Jesus, in the middle of a life threatening storm

0:33:36.880 --> 0:33:40.760
<v Speaker 2>where the survival of the mission was at stake, was

0:33:40.800 --> 0:33:41.920
<v Speaker 2>in the stern.

0:33:48.160 --> 0:33:56.840
<v Speaker 8>Sleeping in the storm. Jesus found a pillow. Somewhere in

0:33:56.840 --> 0:34:00.000
<v Speaker 8>that boat he found a pillow, and he laid it,

0:34:00.080 --> 0:34:07.400
<v Speaker 8>said down and went to sleep, and the disciples woke him.

0:34:07.560 --> 0:34:14.000
<v Speaker 8>The disciples were awakened by their fear, and Jesus was

0:34:14.040 --> 0:34:19.799
<v Speaker 8>asleep in his purpose. I'll show you, And they said

0:34:19.800 --> 0:34:20.440
<v Speaker 8>to him.

0:34:21.120 --> 0:34:24.759
<v Speaker 1>Don't you care if we tried watch wrong with you?

0:34:28.440 --> 0:34:29.200
<v Speaker 1>Don't you care?

0:34:29.719 --> 0:34:32.640
<v Speaker 2>The only way for us to understand the meaning of

0:34:32.680 --> 0:34:37.480
<v Speaker 2>this passage is to contrast what they thought with what

0:34:37.560 --> 0:34:39.319
<v Speaker 2>he knew.

0:34:39.960 --> 0:34:41.359
<v Speaker 1>But first watch what he did.

0:34:41.520 --> 0:34:46.680
<v Speaker 2>He got up, rebuked the wind for disturbing his rim cycles.

0:34:47.880 --> 0:34:52.120
<v Speaker 1>And said to the waves, shut up, be still.

0:34:53.600 --> 0:34:57.320
<v Speaker 2>I think you need to say that sometimes to your thoughts, Hello,

0:34:58.400 --> 0:35:01.919
<v Speaker 2>to your monkey mind, to you're amigdal. Sometimes the most

0:35:01.960 --> 0:35:06.440
<v Speaker 2>spiritual thing you can say is shut up. And the

0:35:06.480 --> 0:35:09.200
<v Speaker 2>wind died down. It was completely calm. He said to us,

0:35:09.200 --> 0:35:10.879
<v Speaker 2>dec that was why he's afraid. He said, no faith,

0:35:12.520 --> 0:35:16.359
<v Speaker 2>And they were terrified, like Jacob, because the flip side

0:35:16.400 --> 0:35:19.279
<v Speaker 2>of faith is always fear. And they were terrified and

0:35:19.360 --> 0:35:20.200
<v Speaker 2>asked each other.

0:35:20.239 --> 0:35:23.520
<v Speaker 1>Who is this? Oh, I thought you knew now.

0:35:24.239 --> 0:35:28.560
<v Speaker 2>It took an uncomfortable situation to show them the revelation

0:35:28.600 --> 0:35:29.200
<v Speaker 2>of who was.

0:35:29.160 --> 0:35:32.200
<v Speaker 1>With them all along, and they were not aware. Do

0:35:32.200 --> 0:35:32.640
<v Speaker 1>you see it?

0:35:34.320 --> 0:35:38.080
<v Speaker 2>Even the wind and the waves obey him.

0:35:38.239 --> 0:35:39.439
<v Speaker 1>Who is this now?

0:35:39.680 --> 0:35:43.200
<v Speaker 2>What started as a storm turned into a sermon, and

0:35:43.320 --> 0:35:45.879
<v Speaker 2>Jesus preached who he was, not by what he said,

0:35:45.920 --> 0:35:49.319
<v Speaker 2>but by what he did. He took a pillow and

0:35:49.400 --> 0:35:52.520
<v Speaker 2>laid his head down because he knew something that they

0:35:52.560 --> 0:35:57.640
<v Speaker 2>did not know, that in every purpose there is a promise.

0:36:00.120 --> 0:36:04.400
<v Speaker 1>Every purpose there is a promise. I will not leave.

0:36:04.239 --> 0:36:07.600
<v Speaker 2>You until I have accomplished everything that I have created you.

0:36:07.680 --> 0:36:10.200
<v Speaker 1>For in every purpose there is a problem. In every

0:36:10.200 --> 0:36:13.040
<v Speaker 1>place there is a purpose. But in every purpose there

0:36:13.120 --> 0:36:14.400
<v Speaker 1>is a promise.

0:36:15.480 --> 0:36:19.680
<v Speaker 2>Because this is Mark chapter four, And in Mark chapter five,

0:36:19.800 --> 0:36:23.120
<v Speaker 2>Jesus is going to meet a man who is possessed

0:36:23.160 --> 0:36:25.960
<v Speaker 2>with so many demons that he simply calls himself legion,

0:36:26.000 --> 0:36:30.319
<v Speaker 2>which means many, so overcome by issues and oppression that

0:36:30.360 --> 0:36:34.120
<v Speaker 2>he doesn't even know his identity anymore. And he'll meet

0:36:34.120 --> 0:36:36.840
<v Speaker 2>the man and free the man, and cast the demons

0:36:36.840 --> 0:36:38.600
<v Speaker 2>out of the man, and send the man back into

0:36:38.640 --> 0:36:39.360
<v Speaker 2>the capitalists.

0:36:39.960 --> 0:36:41.000
<v Speaker 1>And when the man goes.

0:36:40.840 --> 0:36:43.680
<v Speaker 2>Back into the capitalist to tell the people Mark five

0:36:43.840 --> 0:36:47.520
<v Speaker 2>twenty how much the Lord has done for him. The

0:36:47.560 --> 0:36:51.000
<v Speaker 2>Gospel enters a whole new region, and the mission is born.

0:36:51.239 --> 0:36:56.080
<v Speaker 2>That was pronounced in Genesis when God told Jacob, I'm

0:36:56.080 --> 0:36:57.520
<v Speaker 2>gonna bless the whole earth through you.

0:36:58.280 --> 0:37:01.560
<v Speaker 1>That happened in Mark chapter So.

0:37:01.680 --> 0:37:07.800
<v Speaker 2>What Jesus knew was I can't drown in Mark chapter four.

0:37:12.400 --> 0:37:19.960
<v Speaker 2>So I'm gonna get a pillow because I got a promise.

0:37:21.800 --> 0:37:24.240
<v Speaker 1>You hear me, Church, I might.

0:37:24.080 --> 0:37:26.279
<v Speaker 2>Be lying down, but that doesn't mean I'm not preaching. Heart.

0:37:27.719 --> 0:37:31.040
<v Speaker 2>When you've got a promise from God, let me tell

0:37:31.040 --> 0:37:34.560
<v Speaker 2>you what to do when God gives you a promise.

0:37:34.600 --> 0:37:36.160
<v Speaker 1>How many of you have a promise.

0:37:35.760 --> 0:37:38.000
<v Speaker 2>From God and you really believe it that He will

0:37:38.040 --> 0:37:38.600
<v Speaker 2>be with you?

0:37:39.120 --> 0:37:41.000
<v Speaker 1>Come on, how many of you have to promise from God?

0:37:41.920 --> 0:37:45.520
<v Speaker 2>How many of you have a promise from God that.

0:37:45.560 --> 0:37:50.360
<v Speaker 1>He will not fail you? When you've got a promise,

0:37:51.360 --> 0:37:52.359
<v Speaker 1>let me show you what to do.

0:37:52.600 --> 0:37:56.000
<v Speaker 2>When you got a promise, sleep on it, Touch the

0:37:56.040 --> 0:37:56.719
<v Speaker 2>person next you.

0:37:57.000 --> 0:37:57.640
<v Speaker 1>Sleep on it.

0:37:58.840 --> 0:38:01.240
<v Speaker 2>I'm not going to stress about it. I'm not gonna

0:38:01.239 --> 0:38:04.400
<v Speaker 2>weep about it. I'm not gonna expend any more energy

0:38:04.760 --> 0:38:08.479
<v Speaker 2>trying to manipulate it. I'm gonna do what Jesus did.

0:38:08.760 --> 0:38:12.080
<v Speaker 2>I'm gonna find a pillow because I got a promise,

0:38:12.320 --> 0:38:15.880
<v Speaker 2>and I'm about to sleep on it. And while I sleep,

0:38:16.400 --> 0:38:20.920
<v Speaker 2>God is strategizing, And while I sleep, the angels are coming.

0:38:21.239 --> 0:38:24.759
<v Speaker 2>And while I sleep, the provision is being made. And

0:38:24.800 --> 0:38:28.400
<v Speaker 2>while I rest, the promise of God is coming to pass.

0:38:28.760 --> 0:38:36.799
<v Speaker 1>In my situation, this is the game. Come on, three

0:38:36.920 --> 0:38:41.520
<v Speaker 1>two one.

0:38:42.360 --> 0:38:49.960
<v Speaker 2>You got a promise, it's your pillow. What good is

0:38:49.960 --> 0:38:53.960
<v Speaker 2>the promise if you're not gonna believe it. When you

0:38:54.080 --> 0:38:58.120
<v Speaker 2>got a promise from God, you can rest your soul

0:38:59.040 --> 0:39:04.520
<v Speaker 2>and rest your and rest assord that in every purpose

0:39:04.640 --> 0:39:05.720
<v Speaker 2>there is a promise.

0:39:07.520 --> 0:39:11.799
<v Speaker 9>And he said in Mark four thirty five, let us

0:39:12.280 --> 0:39:17.719
<v Speaker 9>go to the other side. It was the proof that

0:39:17.800 --> 0:39:22.239
<v Speaker 9>we cannot die in the storm because there is a

0:39:22.400 --> 0:39:28.919
<v Speaker 9>purpose on the other side. How I make it through

0:39:29.040 --> 0:39:31.840
<v Speaker 9>this season, in this storm, in this valley.

0:39:32.440 --> 0:39:37.040
<v Speaker 6>Is that I know there's something on the other side.

0:39:38.200 --> 0:39:43.879
<v Speaker 6>Every valley is between two mountains, there is something on

0:39:44.400 --> 0:39:45.440
<v Speaker 6>the other side.

0:39:46.120 --> 0:39:46.799
<v Speaker 1>Sleep on it.

0:39:48.800 --> 0:39:53.319
<v Speaker 6>Sleep on it. Gostor cares upon him. He cares for

0:39:53.440 --> 0:39:57.640
<v Speaker 6>you to sleep on it. I feel so awkward up

0:39:57.640 --> 0:40:04.240
<v Speaker 6>here showing how Jesus was the promise.

0:40:06.160 --> 0:40:13.120
<v Speaker 1>A pillow and the promise. Hey, you know what, I

0:40:13.239 --> 0:40:18.120
<v Speaker 1>just realized I'm He wasn't sleeping on a pillow. He

0:40:18.239 --> 0:40:19.280
<v Speaker 1>was sleeping on purpose.

0:40:22.400 --> 0:40:25.920
<v Speaker 2>He knew that no matter what storm I go through,

0:40:26.640 --> 0:40:31.560
<v Speaker 2>no matter what season I'm in, the purpose of God

0:40:32.239 --> 0:40:32.920
<v Speaker 2>will prevail.

0:40:33.840 --> 0:40:36.400
<v Speaker 1>Sleep on it. Sleep on it.

0:40:37.480 --> 0:40:40.680
<v Speaker 2>Therefore, since we have this promise of entering into His rest,

0:40:41.200 --> 0:40:41.680
<v Speaker 2>let us.

0:40:41.640 --> 0:40:43.759
<v Speaker 1>Take heed that we do not fall short of it.

0:40:45.640 --> 0:40:49.279
<v Speaker 2>There is a purpose that produces rest, and there is

0:40:49.320 --> 0:40:51.520
<v Speaker 2>a promise that produces peace.

0:40:52.960 --> 0:40:56.680
<v Speaker 1>To sleep on it. It was a rock, it became

0:40:56.719 --> 0:41:00.600
<v Speaker 1>a pillow. It was a pillow, it became a pillar.

0:41:01.560 --> 0:41:04.120
<v Speaker 2>And what you're going through right now is going to

0:41:04.120 --> 0:41:09.319
<v Speaker 2>be the foundation of the revelation of who God really is.

0:41:10.120 --> 0:41:10.719
<v Speaker 1>Sleep on it.

0:41:14.239 --> 0:41:20.319
<v Speaker 2>Sleep on it, and I'll give you the ground you're

0:41:20.360 --> 0:41:25.560
<v Speaker 2>lying on, and I will not leave you nor forsake

0:41:25.640 --> 0:41:29.800
<v Speaker 2>you until I have done everything I promised you. I

0:41:29.840 --> 0:41:32.680
<v Speaker 2>can lay my head on that, I can bang my

0:41:32.719 --> 0:41:36.439
<v Speaker 2>life on that I can trust my children to God,

0:41:36.560 --> 0:41:37.320
<v Speaker 2>knowing that.

0:41:39.760 --> 0:41:47.160
<v Speaker 1>The Lord is in this place, the storm, the valley,

0:41:47.440 --> 0:41:49.560
<v Speaker 1>the wilderness, this place.

0:41:51.400 --> 0:41:53.520
<v Speaker 6>We all have those places in our lives where we're

0:41:53.520 --> 0:41:57.000
<v Speaker 6>passing through and we wonder what is the purpose of this?

0:41:58.239 --> 0:42:04.360
<v Speaker 1>But faith declares what Jacob declared. Surely the Lord is

0:42:04.400 --> 0:42:11.719
<v Speaker 1>in this place, and I I was not aware, but

0:42:11.800 --> 0:42:15.799
<v Speaker 1>now I am. I see it now. Thank you for

0:42:15.920 --> 0:42:16.480
<v Speaker 1>joining us.

0:42:16.800 --> 0:42:19.239
<v Speaker 2>Special thanks to those of you who give generously to

0:42:19.320 --> 0:42:22.800
<v Speaker 2>this ministry. Is because of you that this ministry is possible.

0:42:23.280 --> 0:42:25.440
<v Speaker 2>You can click the link in the description to give

0:42:25.560 --> 0:42:29.680
<v Speaker 2>now or visit Elevationchurch dot org slash podcast for more

0:42:29.719 --> 0:42:33.520
<v Speaker 2>information and if you enjoyed the podcast, you can subscribe.

0:42:33.800 --> 0:42:35.120
<v Speaker 1>You can share it with your friends.

0:42:35.400 --> 0:42:37.680
<v Speaker 2>You can click the share button, take a screenshot and

0:42:37.719 --> 0:42:39.839
<v Speaker 2>share it on your social stories and tag us at

0:42:39.880 --> 0:42:40.719
<v Speaker 2>Elevation Church.

0:42:40.800 --> 0:42:47.400
<v Speaker 1>Thanks again for listening. God bless you