(MUSIC)
GOOD EVENING, LORD OF HOSTS CHURCH. ARE YOU READY TO LIFT UP
A PRAISE TO THE KING OF KINGS? COME ON, Y'ALL, WE'RE COMING IN
TONIGHT TO MAKE HIM FAMOUS AND HIS NAME GLORIOUS TO ALL, FOR HE
IS HOLY, HE IS MIGHTY, HE IS THE LORD OF THE
BREAKTHROUGH. LET'S RAISE IT UP TONIGHT, COME ON.
(MUSIC)
LET'S CELEBRATE, 'CAUSE WE'RE IN
A PLACE OF VICTORY TONIGHT, AMEN?
(WORSHIP MUSIC)
(MUSIC)
COME ON, JUST THE KICK AND THE DRUMS.
COME ON, CHURCH. CAST YOUR CARES UPON THE LORD OF LORDS. HE'S
ALREADY GOT WHAT YOU NEED. YOU JUST HAVE TO
GET OUT OF THE WAY. REPEAT THAT, COME ON.
(MUSIC)
WE GIVE YOU PRAISE. WE GIVE YOU PRAISE. OH, THERE'S NO ONE LIKE
THE LORD. THERE'S NO ONE LIKE THE LORD. HE’S UNSHAKABLE. HE'S
IMMOVABLE. HE'S UNDISPUTABLE. KING OF KINGS SEATED ON HIGH.
HE'S SEATED ON HIGH. HE'S SEATED ON HIGH. OH, WE GIVE YOU PRAISE.
WE GIVE OUR HEARTS TO YOU. WE GIVE OUR HEARTS. EVERY PART OF
OUR HEART TO YOU. COME AND HAVE YOUR WAY. COME AND HAVE YOUR
WAY. COME AND HAVE YOUR WAY. COME AND HAVE YOUR WAY.
(MUSIC)
WE SERVE ALMIGHTY GOD. I WAS TELLING ANTHONY TODAY THAT,
PASTOR ANTHONY, I WAS IN THE HOUSE AND I WAS READING OVER I
BELIEVE IT WAS 1 CHRONICLES AROUND THE 22ND VERSE, I BELIEVE
IT IS. THAT MIGHT BE... BUT DAVID WAS GIVING SOLOMON HIS
LAST INSTRUCTIONS AND ONE OF THE THINGS HE TOLD SOLOMON WAS MAKE
GOD, NOW THIS IS IN THE AMPLIFIED, HE SAID MAKE GOD YOUR
VITAL NECESSITY. SEE I DON'T WANT TO BE, I DON'T WANT NO AIR
BETWEEN US. WE JUST HUNGER AND THIRST FOR HIM. EVERYTHING THAT
WE DO IS BECAUSE OF HIM. EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE, WE
STAND, WE TALK, WE SING, WE PRAISE, WE WALK, WE RUN, WE
SING, ALL THE THINGS, IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF HIM. AND WITHOUT HIM,
WE ARE NOTHING. AND SO I HEARD THAT AND I KEPT HEARING,
(WORSHIP MUSIC)
OH, HALLELUJAH, WE WORSHIP YOU IN THIS PLACE, FATHER. WE WANNA
BE WRAPPED UP IN YOU. AND WE GIVE YOU THE GLORY TONIGHT. WE
GIVE YOU THE GLORY AND THE HONOR. YOU PROVIDED EVERYTHING
WE NEED FOR LIFE AND GODLINESS. YOU GIVE US BREATH. YOU GIVE US
THE ABILITY TO GET OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING. YOU GIVE US
MOVEMENT. YOU GIVE US STRENGTH. YOU EVEN GIVE US HONOR IN THIS
WORLD. AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF YOU. THANK YOU, LORD. YOU GIVE
US PROTECTION. YOU GIVE US FAVOR. YOU CLOTHE US IN YOUR
RIGHTEOUSNESS BECAUSE OF WHAT JESUS HAS DONE. YOU TAKE AWAY
SIN FROM OUR LIFE. YOU GIVE US POWER OVER THE ENEMY.
HALLELUJAH. YOU GIVE US VICTORY. FROM VICTORY TO VICTORY TO
VICTORY WE GO BECAUSE WE'RE OVERCOMERS IN YOU AND WE WORSHIP
YOU TONIGHT FOR THAT. YOU GIVE US THE ANGELS TO WATCH OVER US
AND PROTECT US. YOU GIVE US SUPERNATURAL CONNECTIONS, DIVINE
CONNECTIONS. YOU GIVE US RELATIONSHIPS SO THAT WE CAN BE
ENCOURAGED. YOU GIVE US RELATIONSHIPS SO THAT WE CAN
ENCOURAGE OTHERS. OH, HALLELUJAH, WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY
WE HAVE TO BE WORKERS TOGETHER WITH YOU ON THIS EARTH. AND WE
JUST WORSHIP YOU TONIGHT. WE GIVE YOU GLORY AND WE GIVE YOU
HONOR. WE EXPRESS OUR THANKFULNESS TO YOU. WE'RE SO
THANKFUL. WE'RE SO THANKFUL TONIGHT, LORD. IT'S ONLY YOU.
OH, IT'S ONLY YOU. JESUS, JESUS, JESUS. REMARKABLE JESUS.
HALLELUJAH. HOW MANY OF YOU ARE THANKFUL TONIGHT? HALLELUJAH.
GIVE HIM A SHOUT OF PRAISE. HALLELUJAH. THANK YOU, JESUS.
THANK YOU, JESUS. THERE'S A HEALING ANOINTING IN THE HOUSE
TONIGHT. IF YOU'VE BEEN DEALING WITH SOME KIND OF SICKNESS, I'M
JUST GONNA HAVE YOU RUN UP HERE REALLY QUICK. WE'RE GONNA PRAY
FOR YOU TONIGHT. BELIEVE THAT GOD TOUCHES YOUR BODY. HE'S THE
HEALER OF ALL OUR DISEASES. HALLELUJAH. PASTOR KEITH, WOULD
YOU COME UP HERE QUICKLY? I'M GONNA HAVE YOU PRAY FOR THE
ONLINE AUDIENCE. ONLINE AUDIENCE, IF YOU'RE WATCHING
TONIGHT, YOU'RE DEALING WITH SOMETHING, JUST LIFT YOUR HANDS
AND RECEIVE THE HEALING TOUCH OF GOD FROM THROUGH THE AIRWAVES AS
PASTOR KEITH PRAYS AN ANOINTED PRAYER TONIGHT. AND I'M GOING TO
HAVE HIM PRAY, AND I'M GOING TO COME DOWN AND MINISTER TO THESE
THAT ARE IN FRONT. FATHER, AS THOSE THAT ARE LISTENING AND
THOSE ARE WATCHING, AS THEY EXTEND THEIR FAITH RIGHT NOW, I
DECLARE THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS MEETS YOU THERE.
AND IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, I DECLARE THE WHOLENESS
OF GOD RESTORES YOUR BODY, THAT THE SPIRIT OF LIFE WITHIN YOU IS
QUICKENED AND BRINGS WHOLENESS, HEALING, DELIVERANCE,
RESTORATION, AND LIFE. THE VERY ESSENCE OF GOD ENTERS INTO THE
ROOM WHERE YOU ARE AND INTO YOUR BODY, AND I DECLARE THAT
WHOLENESS RESTORES, THAT WHOLENESS BRINGS THE KNOWLEDGE
OF THE LOVE OF GOD TO BRING LIFE TO ALL YOUR FLESH, AMEN. AMEN
AND AMEN, THANK YOU JESUS. WHILE I WAS SITTING UP HERE TONIGHT,
THE LORD JUST REMINDED ME OF A VERSE AND I USUALLY CAN TELL
WHEN IT'S SOMETHING THAT HE WANTS ME TO BRING FORTH. IT
COMES OUT OF, I THINK, THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY, CHAPTER 24, AND
IT SAYS, "DON'T MUZZLE THE OX." I MAY NOT BE GETTING THIS RIGHT,
BUT IT'S SOMETHING LIKE, "DO NOT MUZZLE THE OX THAT TREADETH THE
GRAIN." AND IT GOES BACK TO THE IDEA THAT SOME OF THE
TASKMASTERS THAT HAD THE OXEN WORKING FOR THEM WOULD MUZZLE
THESE OXEN SO THAT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO EAT, BUT HE'D WANT THEM
TO CONTINUE TO WORK. AND THE IDEA IS THE SERVANT OR THE
LABORER IS WORTHY OF THEIR PAY. IN THE OXEN'S CASE, IT WAS
WORTHY OF HIM BEING ABLE TO EAT. THAT WAS HIS PAY. AND I JUST
FEEL LIKE THERE MIGHT BE SOMEONE WATCHING ONLINE OR SOMEONE HERE
TONIGHT, AND YOU SAY, PASTOR DOUG, THAT'S ME. I FEEL LIKE
I'VE BEEN MUZZLED IN SOME WAY IN MY LIFE. IN OTHER WORDS, MAYBE
IT'S THROUGH YOUR EMPLOYMENT. YOU'RE FEELING LIKE YOU'RE NOT
BEING TREATED FAIRLY. OR MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING ELSE IN YOUR LIFE
THAT THERE'S BEEN A MUZZLING EFFECT. AND WE'RE GOING TO JUST
DEMAND THAT SATAN TAKES HIS HANDS OFF OF YOU TONIGHT AND
RELEASES YOU TO RECEIVE EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DUE AND THAT THERE'S
SUPERNATURAL INCREASE. SO IF THAT'S YOU, IS THERE ANYONE
HERE? JUST RAISE YOUR HAND IF IT'S SOMEONE HERE. COME ON UP
HERE. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? IF A COUPLE OF YOU COME ON UP, AND IF
YOU'RE WATCHING ONLINE TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO AGREE WITH YOU
AND BELIEVE THAT THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO JUST BE FREED
FROM ANYTHING THAT SATAN WOULD TRY AND MUZZLE YOU FROM
RECEIVING WHAT IS DUE YOU IN JESUS NAME. FATHER FOR EACH ONE
OF THESE THAT ARE UP HERE TONIGHT AND FOR ANYONE ELSE
THAT'S WATCHING ONLINE I COMMAND DEVIL TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF THEM
IN JESUS NAME YOU WILL NO LONGER MUZZLE THEM OR KEEP THEM FROM
THE DIVINE SUPERNATURAL FAVOR THAT JESUS HAS FOR THEM. TONIGHT
WE JUST RECEIVE IT NOW AND WE SAY ANY INFLUENCE OR POWER OF
SATAN OR SOMEONE WORKING ON BEHALF OF SATAN WILL BE BROKEN
IN THE NAME OF JESUS. AND THESE THAT ARE HERE AND THOSE THAT ARE
WATCHING ONLINE, THEY WILL RECEIVE EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE
DUE AND I SAY BECAUSE THEY ARE SOWERS AND GIVERS, THEY HAVE THE
ABILITY TO RECEIVE. WE REBUKE THE DEVOURER FROM THEIR BEHALF
IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS. AND WE CLAIM THAT PROMISE. THEY
RECEIVE TONIGHT AND IT WILL START RIGHT AWAY, BUT YOU'RE
GONNA SEE THE INCREASE THROUGH 2026, I BELIEVE. AND YOU'RE
GONNA LOOK BACK AT DECEMBER OF 2026, AND YOU'RE GONNA SAY, LOOK
WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE. AMEN, IN JESUS NAME. AND IF YOU'RE
WATCHING ONLINE, LET US KNOW, YOU CAN CALL THE TOLL FREE
NUMBER, OR YOU CAN EMAIL US, CONTACT US, AND WE WANNA HEAR
WHAT GOD'S DOING IN YOUR LIFE AND HEAR THE BLESSING THAT GOD
HAS FOR YOU. AND JUST THE TESTIMONY OF IT, AMEN? SAME
THING FOR YOU HERE, LET US KNOW WHAT GOD'S DONE, BECAUSE IT'S
GONNA CHANGE, IN JESUS' NAME. AND EVERYONE THAT AGREES SAID,
AMEN. AMEN, PRAISE GOD, THANK YOU, JESUS. WELL, HALLELUJAH,
WHY DON'T YOU DO THIS? WHY DON'T YOU TURN AROUND AND SHAKE HANDS
WITH A FEW PEOPLE? FIND SOMEONE YOU DON'T
KNOW TONIGHT AND GREET THEM IN JESUS' NAME.
(MUSIC)
WELL AMEN AND AMEN. GOOD EVENING AGAIN. IT'S GOOD TO BE
IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, ISN'T IT? I COULD JUST FEEL THE
TANGIBLE ANOINTING IN HERE. IT'S JUST, BREAKTHROUGH IS HERE,
FOLKS. BREAKTHROUGH IS HERE. WELL, IT'S OFFERING TIME RIGHT
NOW. THERE'S A FEW OF YOU. IT'S OKAY, BY THE TIME WE'RE DONE,
YOU ALL ARE GONNA BE JUMPING FOR JOY. THE TITLE OF THIS OFFERING
MESSAGE IS HEART CHECK. SO WE'RE GONNA READ FROM LUKE 12:29. IT
SAYS, "I REPEAT, DON'T LET WORRY ENTER YOUR LIFE." SO THAT MEANS
JESUS SAID IT PRIOR TO THIS, SO HE'S REPEATING IT FOR EMPHASIS.
UNDERLINE IT, REHEARSE IT, SAVE IT, JESUS SAVES. DON'T LET WORRY
ENTER YOUR LIFE. LIVE ABOVE THE ANXIOUS CARE ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL
NEEDS. DID YOU HEAR THAT? LIVE ABOVE THE ANXIOUS CARES ABOUT
YOUR PERSONAL NEEDS. VERSE 30, PEOPLE EVERYWHERE SEEM TO WORRY
ABOUT MAKING A LIVING, BUT YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS YOUR, HOW
MANY NEEDS, JUST ONE, JUST TWO, A FEW, EVERY NEED AND WILL, HE
WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU. EACH AND EVERY DAY, HE WILL SUPPLY YOUR
NEEDS AS YOU SEEK HIS KINGDOM PASSIONATELY ABOVE ALL ELSE.
THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE SCRIPTURES THAT I'M
STANDING ON FOR THIS YEAR. BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THOSE
SCRIPTURES THAT CUTS AND DIVIDES BETWEEN FLESH AND SPIRIT. HERE'S
WHAT I MEAN BY THAT. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN SO FAITHFUL IN YOUR
GIVING AND IT CLEARLY SHOWS. I MEAN, LOOK AT WHAT YOUR
OBEDIENCE HAS DONE. SO THAT'S NOT WHAT'S THE QUESTION TONIGHT.
THE QUESTION IN THE HEART CHECK PART IS, DO YOU TRUST HIM? YOU
CAN OBEY, BUT THERE'S ALSO THE TRUST PART OF IT. AND I'M SAYING
THAT BECAUSE, HOW MANY KNOW THAT DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN THE POWER
OF THE TONGUE? BUT DEATH AND LIFE ARE CONCEIVED IN THE HEART.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT YOUR EXTERNAL CONVERSATIONS, BUT THE
CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU ARE HAVING WITHIN YOURSELF. SO AFTER
YOU GIVE YOUR OFFERING, AFTER YOU HIT THAT SUBMIT BUTTON ON
YOUR PHONE, WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING HOME, WHAT ARE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU'RE HAVING WITHIN YOUR HEART? BE HONEST
WITH YOURSELF. LORD, I'VE BEEN GIVEN FOR 20 YEARS AND NOTHING'S
HAPPENED. THAT IS WHAT WE CALL CONFIRMATION BIAS. YOU KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE IN YOUR HEART, YOU CAME INTO AGREEMENT WITH THE LAW OF
SIN AND DEATH. HEART CHECK. TOLD YOU Y'ALL WEREN'T READY FOR
THIS. CAN WE GO BACK TO VERSE 29? DON'T LET WORRY ENTER YOUR
LIFE. IN THE PREVIOUS, THERE'S A PREVIOUS VERSE IN LUKE 12, AND
JESUS LITERALLY SAYS THAT WORRYING SUBTRACTS FROM YOUR
LIFE. SO EVERY TIME, THERE IT IS, SO IF WORRYING ADDS NOTHING,
BUT ACTUALLY SUBTRACTS FROM YOUR LIFE, WHY WOULD YOU WORRY ABOUT
GOD'S CARE OF YOU? DO YOU TRUST IN WHAT GOD SAYS? BECAUSE IF YOU
DON'T, THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR. YOU RENDER YOUR GIVING AND YOUR TIES
OBSOLETE BY NOT TRUSTING IN HIM. SO FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE
BELIEVING AND STANDING, FIGHTING TO GET OUT OF CYCLES, IT'S
SIMPLE, STOP WORRYING. LIVE CAREFREE IN THE CARE OF GOD AS
YOU LIVE ABOVE THE ANXIOUS CARES ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL NEEDS. "BUT
PASTOR ANTHONY, THAT SOUNDS SO HARD. "HOW DO YOU DO THAT?" IT'S
SIMPLE. JUST SPEND MORE TIME PURSUING GOD. THINK LESS ABOUT
THE NEGATIVE THINGS AND THINK MORE ABOUT ON GOD. IS IT REALLY
THAT SIMPLE? YES, IT IS. SO MY CHALLENGE TO YOU TONIGHT AS YOU
GIVE IN OBEDIENCE IS NOW IT'S TIME TO ENTER INTO TRUSTING. AND
JUST ASK YOURSELF THIS AS YOU'RE GIVING. JUST SAY, "SELF, WHAT IS
IT THAT'S KEEPING ME "FROM ALLOWING GOD TO CAPTURE MY
HEART?" YOU'LL BE SURPRISED BY WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT REVEALS
BACK TO YOU. GUYS, IT'S TIME TO STOP GETTING IN THE WAY OF
OURSELVES. SURRENDER TO GOD SO THAT YOU CAN BEGIN TO LIVE ABOVE
THE ANXIOUS CARES OF YOUR PERSONAL NEEDS. CAN WE GO BACK
TO VERSE 32 REALLY QUICK? SO DON'T EVER BE AFRAID DEAREST
FRIENDS YOUR LOVING FATHER JOYOUSLY GIVES YOU HIS KINGDOM
REALM WITH HOW MANY PROMISES? ALL LIVE CAREFREE IN THE CARE OF
GOD. AMEN GO AHEAD AND PUT UP THE GIVING INFORMATION ON THE
SCREEN. YOU CAN GIVE VIA SNAIL MAIL. BY THE WAY, DID THE U.S.
POST OFFICE FIX THEMSELVES YET? PROBABLY NOT, THEY HAD A PARTIAL
SHUTDOWN, SO OKAY, YEAH, WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT. THAT'S WHY
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO GET AN AGREEMENT IN THEIR HEARTS WITH
GOD. YOU CAN JUST BUY THE POST OFFICE AND YOU CAN BE THE MAIL
CARRIER. WEBSITE, MOBILE APP, TEXT TO GIVE, ALL THE FUN
THINGS. AGAIN, WE LOVE AND ARE SO APPRECIATIVE OF ALL OF YOU,
ALL OF OUR ONLINE E-CHURCH. WE LOVE YOU. WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR
YOUR GIVING AND YOUR FAITHFULNESS IN THAT. NOW IT'S
TIME FOR THE BLESSINGS AND THE GOODNESS OF GOD TO BE
RECIPROCATED IN YOUR LIFE. IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO STOP WORRYING.
STOP WORRYING AND TRUST AS YOU PURSUE THE KINGDOM OF GOD. AMEN.
LET'S STAND UP REALLY QUICK. I JUST WANNA PRAY A QUICK BLESSING
OVER YOU GUYS IF THE GUYS ARE DONE SERVING THE PEOPLE. PASTOR
DOUG HAS A GREAT MESSAGE TONIGHT. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE
GIVE YOU ALL PRAISE AND GLORY FOR YOUR GOODNESS AND FOR THE
THINGS THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE. FATHER, I ASK THAT YOU
WOULD RELEASE A FRESH IMPARTATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
TO SEARCH THE HEARTS OF EVERY SINGLE PERSON, GOD. CAUSE THEM
TO POSITION THEMSELVES, TO ALLOW YOU TO CAPTURE THEIR HEARTS, TO
SURRENDER ALL SO THAT THEY CAN EXPERIENCE THE FULLNESS OF ALL
OF YOUR HEAVENLY BENEFITS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM. AND I
THANK YOU, GOD, THAT THEY PROSPER AND THEY WALK IN
INCREASE AS THEY LIVE ABOVE THE ANXIOUS CARES ABOUT THEIR
PERSONAL NEEDS AND LIVE CAREFREE IN YOU, IN YOUR NAME, AMEN. ALL
RIGHT, PLEASE GIVE A WARM WELCOME AS PASTOR DOUG
COMES TO THE STAGE. THANK YOU, PASTOR ANTHONY.
(CONGREGATION APPLAUDING)
HALLELUJAH, YOU CAN BE SEATED. PRAISE GOD. JUST KIND OF BASKING
IN THE PRESENCE OF THE GOD TONIGHT 'CAUSE IT'S SO GOOD.
HALLELUJAH, PRAISE GOD. WELL, I'M GONNA GET RIGHT INTO THIS
TONIGHT BECAUSE JANET TELLS ME SHE STILL WANTS ICE CREAM EVEN
THOUGH IT'S COLD OUT AND THE ICE CREAM SHOP
CLOSES EARLY SO WE GOTTA GET HER OUT OF HERE.
(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)
BUT TONIGHT, IF YOU'RE TAKING NOTES, FOR SOME OF YOU THAT DO
THAT YET, MY MESSAGE IS ENTITLED THE SEVEN BLESSINGS FROM
REVELATION, PART ONE. IT'S PART ONE BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY I'M
GONNA GET THROUGH SEVEN TONIGHT, SO SOMETIME WE'LL GET BACK TO
THIS. BUT BEFORE WE SPECIFICALLY DIG INTO THE SEVEN BLESSINGS, I
NEED TO LAY A LITTLE FOUNDATION ABOUT THE BOOK OF REVELATION.
IT'S A BOOK OF THE FUTURE PROPHECY, BUT IT'S REALLY MUCH
MORE THAN THAT. THE BOOK OF REVELATION IS ESSENTIAL BECAUSE
IT UNVEILS TO US THE EXALTED CHRIST. IT OPENS A CURTAIN TO
GIVE US A PEEK OR A VIEW OR A PICTURE OF JESUS IN HIS
GLORIFIED STATE RATHER THAN WHAT WE SEE IN THE OTHER 65 BOOKS OF
THE BIBLE WHERE WE SEE PICTURES OF JESUS AND HIS EARTHLY
MINISTRY BASICALLY. THAT'S THE SIGNIFICANCE OF REVELATION. WE
COULD HAVE AN ENTIRE MESSAGE REALLY JUST TALKING ABOUT
OVERALL THE BOOK OF REVELATION, NOT GETTING INTO DETAIL AND JUST
TALK ABOUT WHY IT'S SUCH A KEY BOOK. BUT SOME PEOPLE SAY, WHY
DO YOU WANNA STUDY REVELATION? IT'S TOO DIFFICULT TO
UNDERSTAND, OR IT REALLY DOESN'T AFFECT ME IN MY LIFE TODAY. SO
LET ME JUST QUICKLY, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE ACTUAL MESSAGE,
JUST THROW OUT THREE REASONS WHY THIS BOOK IS SO IMPORTANT TO
COMPREHEND AND STUDY. NUMBER ONE, IT REVEALS THE TRUE NATURE
OF CHRIST. IT SHOWCASES JESUS AS THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA, THE
BEGINNING AND THE END, THE LIVING ONE WHO HOLDS THE KEYS OF
DEATH AND HELL. IT GIVES US A FULLER, MORE AUTHORITATIVE
PICTURE OF HIM IN HIS GLORY. NUMBER TWO, IT EMPOWERS US AS
BELIEVERS TO BE OVERCOMERS. THE BOOK CALLS US AS CHRISTIANS TO
BE OVERCOMERS IN EVERY AREA OF OUR LIFE, AND IT URGES US TO
HAVE A LIFE OF CONTINUOUS OBEDIENCE AND VICTORY OVER
EVERYTHING THAT SATAN WOULD THROW AT US. AND THEN NUMBER
THREE, IT HELPS US UNDERSTAND GOD'S PLAN FOR THE AGES. YOU
KNOW, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I LIKE KNOWING WHAT THE PLAN
IS. EVEN IF I'M GOING TO TAKE A TRIP, I WANT TO HAVE IT PLANNED
OUT. I WANT TO KNOW WHERE I'M GOING, WHERE I'M GOING TO BE AND
WHAT I'M GOING TO DO. I MEAN, NOT THAT YOU CAN'T DO SOMETHING
SPONTANEOUS, BUT IT'S AND I THINK YOU GUYS THAT ARE HERE IN
A PROPHETIC CHURCH PROBABLY WOULD MOSTLY FIT INTO THAT GROUP
TOO, AND THAT YOU LIKE TO KNOW THE PLAN BECAUSE YOU WANT TO
HEAR ABOUT THE FUTURE. YOU'RE INTERESTED IN WHAT GOD SAYS IS
GOING TO HAPPEN AND THEN SEE IT COME TO PASS. WELL, THAT'S WHAT
REVELATION REALLY IS. IT'S GOD'S PLAN FOR MAN IN THE FUTURE. AND
THE BOOK SERVES AS A ROADMAP TO UNDERSTAND GOD'S ULTIMATE
PURPOSE AND PLAN FOR MANKIND AND THE EARTH. AND IT GIVES US
INSIGHTS TO THE GLORIOUS FUTURE THAT'S AHEAD FOR US. AND THAT'S
GOOD TO KNOW WHAT THAT FUTURE IS. AND WE'LL SEE IT ISN'T JUST
ABOUT THE FUTURE, BUT THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT WE CAN APPLY TO
OUR LIVES TODAY THAT ARE IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION. SOME OF YOU
MIGHT KNOW THIS, BUT REVELATION IS THE ONLY BOOK IN THE BIBLE
THAT MOTIVATES ITS READERS BY PROMISING A BLESSING TO THOSE
THAT READ, HEAR, AND OBEY IT. AND ALSO, IT'S THE ONLY BOOK
THAT HAS A CURSE ATTACHED TO IT FOR THOSE THAT TAMPER WITH IT.
THE BLESSINGS FOUND IN REVELATION 1:3, AND WE'RE GOING
TO SPEND A LITTLE TIME ON REVELATION 1:3 TONIGHT IN A
MOMENT, BUT LET ME JUST TO START OUT, WE'LL GIVE YOU THAT VERSE
HERE. IT SAYS, "BLESSED IS HE WHO READS AND THOSE WHO HEAR THE
WORDS OF THIS PROPHECY AND KEEP THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN
IN IT, FOR THE TIME IS NEAR." AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE CURSE,
EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T LIKE READING IT. WE'LL READ THE CURSE
TONIGHT. REVELATION 22:18-19 SAYS, "FOR I TESTIFY TO EVERYONE
WHO HEARS THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK. IF ANYONE
ADDS TO THESE THINGS, GOD WILL ADD TO HIM THE PLAGUES THAT ARE
WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK. AND IF ANYONE TAKES AWAY FROM THE WORDS
OF THIS BOOK OF THIS PROPHECY, GOD SHALL TAKE AWAY HIS PART
FROM THE BOOK OF LIFE, FROM THE HOLY CITY, AND FROM THE THINGS
WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK." THAT'S A SOBERING THOUGHT. AND
NATURALLY, WE LIKE ALL THE POSITIVE MOTIVATION
MUCH BETTER. AND REVELATION HAS SOME POSITIVES,
AND WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE TONIGHT, AND WE'RE GONNA
LOOK AT AT LEAST THREE OF THE SEVEN BLESSINGS. HOW MANY OF YOU
ACTUALLY KNEW THERE WERE SEVEN BLESSINGS LISTED IN THE BOOK OF
REVELATION FOR BELIEVERS? ANYONE AWARE OF THAT FACT? MANY OF YOU
WERE, OKAY. WELL, WE'RE GONNA START ON AN ADVENTURE TONIGHT
AND BEGIN LOOKING AT THESE. I'M GONNA ATTEMPT, LIKE I SAID, TO
LOOK AT THE FIRST THREE. AS WE INVESTIGATE THESE PROMISES
TONIGHT, MY PRAYER IS THAT WE WILL DRAW SOME UNDERSTANDING,
SOME KNOWLEDGE AND ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE BLESSINGS. NOW, WE'RE
ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE BEATITUDES OF JESUS FROM THE SERMON ON THE
MOUNT, MATTHEW CHAPTER FIVE. THE BEATITUDES ARE THE DECLARATIONS
OF BLESSEDNESS THAT WERE SPOKEN BY JESUS. AND EACH ONE OF THE
BEATITUDES BEGAN WITH "BLESSED ARE." AN EXAMPLE, MATTHEW 5:8 IS
AN EXAMPLE, SAYS, "BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART, FOR THEY
SHALL SEE GOD." AND EVERY ONE OF THEM STARTED, "BLESSED ARE." SO
IT'S A BLESSING, THE BEATITUDES. THE SEVEN BLESSINGS OR
BEATITUDES GIVEN BY JESUS TO THE APOSTLE JOHN AND WRITTEN DOWN IN
THE BOOK OF REVELATION, WE CAN CALL THEM THE SEVEN BLESSINGS,
OR YOU COULD CALL THEM THE SEVEN BEATITUDES IN REVELATION. SEVEN
WONDERFUL BLESSINGS STRAIGHT FROM GOD. THIS GREEK WORD THAT
IS USED AND TRANSLATED BLESSED IS THE SAME GREEK WORD THAT'S
USED BY JESUS IN THE BEATITUDES, MATTHEW 5. IT'S THE SAME GREEK
WORD THAT WE FIND EVERY TIME IN THE BLESSINGS IN REVELATION. AND
THAT WORD MEANS HAPPY, IT MEANS BLISSFUL, OR LITERALLY TO BE
ENLARGED. THE WORD BLESSED IS MORE THAN SUPERFICIAL HAPPINESS.
BEING BLESSED IS MORE THAN JUST HAVING NICE THINGS, HAVING SOME
MONEY IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT, SAYING I'M ABLE TO DRIVE A NICE
CAR, OR I HAVE A GREAT FAMILY. IT'S MORE THAN THAT. BLESSED
REFERS TO A STATE OF SPIRITUAL WELLBEING AND SPIRITUAL
PROSPERITY. THE WORD BLESSED THAT WE LOOK AT TONIGHT ACTUALLY
MEANS SUPREMELY BLESSED OR VERY HAPPILY BLESSED. SO WE'LL
REMEMBER THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THESE TONIGHT. THE BOOK OF
REVELATION WAS RECORDED BY THE APOSTLE JOHN, AND AT THE TIME
THAT JOHN PENNED THE BOOK OF REVELATION, HE WAS THE LAST
LIVING APOSTLE THAT WAS APPOINTED BY JESUS THAT REMAINED
ON EARTH. THE OTHERS WERE MARTYRED OR GONE BY THAT TIME.
AND DURING THIS TIME THERE WAS A VERY WICKED AND EVIL ROMAN
EMPEROR. HIS NAME WAS EMPEROR DOMITIAN, AND HE WAS ON A
RAMPAGE TO PERSECUTE AND KILL CHRISTIANS. AND HE ATTEMPTED TO
POISON THE APOSTLE JOHN IN EPHESUS, BUT JOHN DIDN'T EVEN
GET ILL FROM IT. AND EARLY CHRISTIAN HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS
INDICATE THAT THEY ALSO PUT JOHN IN A POT OF BOILING OIL, TRIED
TO BOIL HIM TO DEATH IN THE TOWN SQUARE AS A WARNING TO THE OTHER
CHRISTIANS. YOU KNOW WHAT? THE OIL, THE BOILING OIL, JUST THINK
OF THAT, DIDN'T EVEN HARM JOHN AT ALL. JOHN EVEN PREACHED FROM
THIS POT OF OIL AND PEOPLE GOT SAVED WHILE HE WAS PREACHING.
I'D SAY THE HAND OF GOD WAS ON APOSTLE JOHN. SO WE SHOULDN'T
DOUBT WHAT HE SAYS IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION, RIGHT? I JUST
THOUGHT OF THAT. GOD KEPT HIM ALIVE AND PRESERVED HIM FOR
THAT. BECAUSE AFTER THEY TOOK HIM OUT OF THAT POT OF OIL, THEY
SAID, "WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THIS GUY." THEY THREW HIM
ON A BOAT AND SHIPPED HIM OVER TO AN ISLAND CALLED PATMOS,
WHICH IS ABOUT 30 MILES FROM THE COAST OF MODERN DAY TURKEY. AND
SO HE'S PUT ON THIS DESERTED ISLAND. JESUS COMES TO HIM THERE
AND REVEALS HIMSELF TO JOHN. AND THE BIBLE SAYS THE EXPERIENCE
WAS SO OVERWHELMING TO JOHN THE APOSTLE THAT HE FELL AT JESUS'
FEET AS IF HE WERE DEAD. AND THEN JOHN STARTS TO PEN THE BOOK
OF REVELATION. HIS FIRST ASSIGNMENT WAS WRITING THE SEVEN
LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES IN ASIA. PASTOR BRENDA TAUGHT, I
THINK, A COUPLE OF MESSAGES LAST NOVEMBER ON THE SEVEN CHURCHES.
AND IT WAS VERY ENCOURAGING. SHE EXPLAINED HOW THOSE SEVEN
CHURCHES RELATE TO CHURCHES THAT ARE IN EXISTENCE TODAY IN 2026
AND HOW WE COULD SEE SIMILARITIES AND THE WARNINGS
THAT WERE IN THE WORD ABOUT THE THINGS THAT SOME OF THESE SEVEN
CHURCHES WERE DOING THAT WERE OFF. BASICALLY, I'LL SAY THAT.
BUT WE HAVE SEVEN SUPREMELY BLESSED OR HAPPY STATEMENTS
SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE BOOK OF REVELATION AND WE'RE GOING TO
SEE THAT THEY ALSO HAVE SOME APPLICATION TO US IN 2026. WE'LL
PUT UP THE SEVEN HERE QUICKLY. I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S TOO SMALL FOR
YOU TO EVEN READ, BUT LET ME JUST GIVE YOU THE FIRST THREE
THAT WE'RE GOING OVER TONIGHT AND THEN WE'LL DO SOMETHING
BETTER NEXT TIME. NUMBER ONE, IT COMES OUT OF REVELATION 1:3. WE
READ THAT VERSE. IT TALKS ABOUT READING IT, HEARING IT, AND
TAKING IT TO HEART, OR KEEPING IT. AND THEN NUMBER TWO, THERE'S
A SPECIAL BLESSING FOR THOSE THAT DIE IN THE LORD THAT COMES
FROM REVELATION 14:13. AND NUMBER THREE, THE REVELATION
16:15 EXPLAINS THAT WE NEED TO STAY AWAKE AND REMAIN CLOTHED.
IT TALKS ABOUT DON'T BE NAKED. WELL, THERE'S SOME MEANING TO
THAT. NOT JUST TAKING OFF YOUR CLOTHES, BUT WE'LL TALK ABOUT
THE SPIRITUAL MEANING OF THAT. SO JUST STAY CLOTHED, FOLKS,
WHILE YOU'RE HERE TONIGHT, ESPECIALLY, SO.
(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)
OKAY. SO THE FIRST THREE BLESSINGS. NUMBER ONE, THOSE WHO
READ THE WORD, HEAR THE WORD, AND KEEP THE WORD. NUMBER TWO,
THOSE WHO DIE IN THE LORD. AND NUMBER THREE, THOSE WHO STAY
AWAKE AND REMAIN CLOTHED. THOSE ARE WHAT WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT
TONIGHT. SO BLESSING NUMBER ONE. WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT THIS
SCRIPTURE A LITTLE CLOSER BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF MEANING
IN THIS. REVELATION 1:3, LET'S LOOK AT THAT AGAIN. BLESSED IS
HE WHO READS AND THOSE WHO HEAR THE WORDS OF THIS PROPHECY AND
KEEP THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN IT FOR THE TIME IS
NEAR. SO THERE'S A BLESSING, A TRIFLE BLESSING, JUST RIGHT IN
THIS SCRIPTURE FOR READING, HEARING, AND KEEPING THE WORDS
OF THE PROPHECY. LET'S SEE HOW THAT APPLIES TO US TODAY. THE
BLESSING OF READING. BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO READS THE WORD OF
THIS PROPHECY. NOW REMEMBER, IN THE EARLY CHURCH, IT WAS A
LITTLE DIFFERENT. LITERACY WAS NOT AS WIDESPREAD AS IT IS
TODAY. THE COPIES OF THE SCRIPTURES WERE NOT WIDELY
AVAILABLE. EVERYONE DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO SCRIPTURES. WE'RE A
BLESSED PEOPLE TODAY IN THAT WE COULD HAVE A BIBLE IN EVERY ROOM
OF OUR HOUSE IF WE WANTED TO, OR MAYBE EVEN TWO. WE CAN HAVE IT
IN OUR DEVICES. WE CAN TURN ON OUR COMPUTERS OR TELEVISIONS AND
FIND THE GOSPEL 24 HOURS A DAY. WE ARE REALLY BLESSED. WE REALLY
DON'T HAVE A REASON TO BE IGNORANT, DO WE? AND WHEN YOU
THINK BACK AT THESE PEOPLE, THEIR WAY TO GET IT SOMETIMES,
THE ONLY WAY WAS JUST TO GO OUT AND HEAR THE PREACHED WORD IF
THEY DIDN'T HAVE A COPY OF THE SCRIPTURES. THE PUBLIC READING
OF SCRIPTURE WAS A VITAL MEANS OF COMMUNICATION. READING ALOUD
WAS A SACRED ACT THAT INVOLVED PROCLAIMING GOD'S TRUTH. THE
MOST EFFECTIVE EVANGELISM IN HISTORY ALL REVOLVED AROUND THE
PREACHING OF THE WORD OF GOD. PRAISE GOD. AND SOMETIMES WE
TAKE IT TOO LIGHTLY. WE HEAR PASTOR HANK READ A VERSE TO US,
AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DISTRACTED. WE DON'T HONOR IT
THE WAY WE SHOULD, I THINK. WE NEED TO HONOR THE READING OF THE
WORD. IN FACT, IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT DURING THE TRIBULATION
PERIOD, GOD EVEN SENDS AN ANGEL TO LOUDLY PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL TO
THE WORLD SO THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LEFT ALIVE DURING THAT
TIME OF TRIBULATION ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE. AMAZING. WE'LL TALK MORE
ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED DURING THE TRIBULATION.
IT'S AMAZING. BUT PAUL INSTRUCTED TIMOTHY IN 1 TIMOTHY
4:13. PAUL WAS A MENTOR TO TIMOTHY, A YOUNG PASTOR. HE'S
GIVING HIM INSTRUCTION, AND HE SAID IN 1 TIMOTHY 4:13, I WANT
TO READ IT OUT OF THE AMPLIFIED, IT SAYS, "UNTIL I COME, DEVOTE
YOURSELF TO PUBLIC READING OF SCRIPTURE, TO PREACHING AND
TEACHING THE SOUND DOCTRINE OF GOD'S WORD." THAT WAS PAUL'S
INSTRUCTION TO TIMOTHY. SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE READ. AND THEN
THE BLESSING OF HEARING IS IN THIS VERSE. "BLESSED ARE THOSE
WHO HEAR THE WORDS OF THIS PROPHECY." HEARING, IN A
BIBLICAL SENSE, GOES BEYOND MERELY PERCEIVING SOUND. IT
IMPLIES LISTENING WITH ATTENTION AND INTENTION, ALLOWING THE
WORDS TO PENETRATE OUR HEARTS AND OUR MINDS. HEARING IS A
FIRST STEP TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING AND THEN ULTIMATELY OBEDIENCE.
HAVE ANY OF YOU HERE OR WATCHING ONLINE EVER BEEN ACCUSED OF NOT
HEARING WHAT A PERSON SAYS TO YOU? MOST OF THE HUSBANDS CAN
SAY, "YES, I'VE BEEN ACCUSED OF THAT." SOMETIMES WE AREN'T GOOD,
THE BEST LISTENERS. BUT YOU MIGHT HAVE EVEN BEEN TRYING TO
LISTEN PARTIALLY, OR PARTIALLY LISTENING WHEN SOMEONE'S
SPEAKING TO YOU. SOMETIMES DISTRACTIONS ARE AROUND YOU AND
IT'S HARD TO ALWAYS COMPLETELY FOCUS AND LISTEN. SOMETIMES YOU
ATTEMPT TO FOCUS ON THE CONVERSATION BUT YOUR MIND IS
ELSEWHERE AS THE PERSON'S TALKING TO YOU. OR MAYBE YOU'RE
ALREADY FORMULATING A RESPONSE TO THAT PERSON WHILE THEY ARE
EXPLAINING WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO TELL YOU. HAS THAT EVER
HAPPENED TO ANYONE HERE? I'M SURE IT HAS. WE THINK WE KNOW
WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, SO WE'RE ALREADY TRYING TO COME UP
WITH OUR RESPONSE. WELL, MAYBE IF WE'D LISTEN BETTER, WE FIND
OUT THAT IT ISN'T EXACTLY WHAT WE THINK THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO
TELL US. WE OFTEN LISTEN, BUT WE DON'T REALLY HEAR. AND SOMETIMES
THAT'S AN ISSUE EVEN IN THE CHURCH. THERE'S A HUGE PROBLEM
WHEN PEOPLE DO NOT HEAR INSTRUCTION FROM THE WORD OF GOD
OR THE HOLY SPIRIT. IN FACT, THERE'S AN OLD TESTAMENT
PROPHECY ABOUT A COMING FAMINE OF HEARING THE WORDS OF THE
LORD. IT'S FOUND IN AMOS. LET'S READ THAT. IT SAYS, AMOS 8:11
SAYS, "THE TIME IS SURELY COMING, SAYS THE SOVEREIGN LORD,
"WHEN I WILL SEND A FAMINE ON THE LAND." IT'S NOT A FAMINE OF
BREAD OR WATER, BUT OF HEARING THE WORDS OF THE LORD. ISN'T
THAT INTERESTING? I WASN'T FAMILIAR WITH THAT SCRIPTURE
UNTIL I STARTED STUDYING THIS. I THOUGHT, MAN, THAT'S
INTERESTING. IT'S NOT A FAMINE THAT WE'D LIKE FOOD, BUT IT'S
JUST A FAMINE OF THE WORD OF THE LORD. PEOPLE WILL STAGGER FROM
SEA TO SEA AND WANDER FROM BORDER TO BORDER, SEARCHING FOR
THE WORD OF THE LORD, BUT THEY WILL NOT FIND IT. HUMANITY HAS
PLUGGED ITS SPIRITUAL EARS TO THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD AND TO
THE VOICE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN LARGE PART. MAN IS ATTEMPTING TO
FILL THE SPIRITUAL VOID WITH FLESHLY FOOD. AND I COMPARE THIS
TO THE SITUATION OF HAVING A GROUP OF FIVE-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN
WITH A TABLE IN FRONT OF THEM. AND ON ONE SIDE OF THE TABLE IS
GREAT-LOOKING HAMBURGERS AND FRENCH FRIES AND DONUTS AND
PASTRIES AND SODA POP, WHAT WE COULD CALL COMFORT FOOD. AND THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE IS THE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, HEALTHY
GRAINS, THE FOOD THAT'S ACTUALLY GOOD FOR US. WHICH SIDE OF THE
TABLE ARE 99 PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN GOING TO RUN TO?
PROBABLY THE HAMBURGERS AND THE FRIES AND THE POP. BUT WHAT WILL
THAT DO FOR THEM LONG TERM? A CONTINUAL DIET OF THIS WILL MAKE
THEM UNHEALTHY. IN THE SAME WAY, WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT, FIRST
OF ALL, WE ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS. CONTINUALLY FEEDING OUR SPIRITS
THROUGH HEARING GOD'S WORD WILL HELP US BUILD A STRONG SPIRIT
AND BUILD A STRONG MAN. IF WE ONLY FEED THE FLESH, THEN WE CAN
BECOME SPIRITUALLY ANOREXIC. WE ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS THAT NEED
SPIRITUAL FOOD. WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT. AND AS WE STAY
CONNECTED TO GOD THROUGH HIS WORD AND THE GUIDANCE OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT, WE WILL GROW STRONG. SO REVELATION 1:3
PROMISES A BLESSING FOR READING, A BLESSING FOR HEARING, AND
FINALLY, IT PROMISES A BLESSING FOR KEEPING THE WORD OF GOD. THE
BLESSING OF KEEPING, IT SAYS, TO KEEP THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE
WRITTEN IN THE BOOK. TO KEEP THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY MEANS TO
OBEY THEM AND TO GUARD THEM. OBEYING AND GUARDING THE WORD OF
GOD IN OUR LIVES IS THE PRINCIPLE THAT WE CAN BE
THINKING ABOUT AND REALLY APPLYING TO EVERYTHING IN THE
BIBLE AS A WHOLE. WHY DO WE GUARD SOMETHING? BECAUSE IT'S
VALUABLE. WHY DID PASTOR HANK DECIDE TO HAVE POLICE OFFICERS
IN THIS BUILDING WHEN YOU WERE PRESENT? BECAUSE YOU'RE
VALUABLE. PASTORS TAKE CARE OF THEIR SHEEP. WE'RE NOT GOING TO
TAKE ANY RISK THAT SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN TO YOU. SO WE DO
EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER THAT WE CAN DO TO PROTECT. AND THAT'S
BECAUSE YOU'RE VALUABLE. WHY DOES JESUS WARN US TO KEEP OR
GUARD THE INFLUENCE OF THE WORD OF GOD IN OUR LIVES? HMM, DO YOU
SUPPOSE THAT'S VALUABLE? BECAUSE KEEPING OUR SPIRITUAL GUARD UP
IS SO IMPORTANT. WHEN THE DEVIL ATTACKS OR THE THIEF STEALS FROM
US, IT'S NORMALLY AT A TIME WHEN WE HAVE BECOME CARELESS AND LET
OUR GUARD DOWN. WE'VE ALLOWED THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE TO
CREEP IN AND WE GET OFF TRACK. AND WE PULL AWAY FROM GOD'S
PROMISES. WE PULL AWAY FROM STANDING IN FAITH. AND THAT'S
DECEPTION THAT THE DEVIL TRIES TO BRING INTO OUR LIFE AND
GRADUALLY CAUSES US TO BECOME MORE CARELESS IN OUR WALK WITH
GOD. AFTER A VIOLENT STORM ONE NIGHT, A STATELY LARGE TREE WAS
FOUND LYING ACROSS A PATHWAY IN A PARK, AND NOTHING BUT A
SPLINTERED STUMP WAS LEFT OF THIS TREE. AND WHEN A CLOSER
EXAM WAS DONE OF THIS TREE, THEY FOUND THAT IT WAS ROTTEN AT THE
CORE BECAUSE THOUSANDS OF TINY INSECTS HAD EATEN AWAY AT ITS
HEART. THE WEAKNESS OF THE TREE WAS NOT BROUGHT ON BY THE SUDDEN
STORM. IT BEGAN THE VERY FIRST MOMENT THAT THE FIRST INSECT
NESTLED WITHIN THE BARK OF THE TREE. HMM. THAT'S A LESSON FOR
US. WE CAN'T LET THOSE INSECTS HAVE ANY INFLUENCE IN OUR LIFE.
NOTHING CAN COME IN AND BREAK THE ARMOR. WHY DON'T YOU STAND
WITH ME FOR A MINUTE? WE'RE GOING TO JUST REPEAT THIS PRAYER
TONIGHT. I WANT YOU TO REPEAT AFTER ME. FATHER, IN THE NAME OF
JESUS, WE COME AGAINST ANY OPENING OR ANY CRACK IN OUR
ARMOR. WE SAY WE WILL NOT ALLOW SATAN ANY ENTRANCE INTO OUR
LIVES. FATHER, WE ASK YOU HELP US TO STAY WATCHFUL, ALERT, AND
ON GUARD. DEVIL, WE SPEAK TO YOU. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED ANY
ENTRANCE OR ANY OPENING TO DEVISE OR OPERATE YOUR SCHEMES
OR YOUR PLANS OF DESTRUCTION IN MY LIFE. IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN,
AMEN. YOU CAN BE SEATED. I THOUGHT YOU NEEDED A STRETCH
BREAK. I DON'T WANT YOU TO FALL ASLEEP TONIGHT. BUT WE'RE
GUARDING AND PROTECTING THE TREASURE OF THE WORD OF GOD IN
OUR LIFE. THE MOST IMPORTANT TREASURE WE'LL EVER HAVE. IT'S
THE WAY OF SALVATION FOR EVERYONE ON EARTH. NO WONDER THE
DEVIL TRIES TO DECEIVE US. IT'S THE ANSWER FOR EVERYONE. IT'S
THE CURE FOR SPIRITUAL CANCER. SO IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE HAVE
REMAINING ON THE EARTH, JESUS TOLD US TO OCCUPY TILL HE COMES.
REMEMBER THAT SCRIPTURE OUT OF LUKE 19:13? ONE OF THE WAYS WE
START THAT PROCESS OCCUPYING IS BY READING, HEARING, AND KEEPING
GOD'S WORD. AND SOMEONE TOLD ME ONCE, THEY ALWAYS REMEMBER THEIR
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER TAUGHT THEM THAT THE WORD BIBLE IS AN
ACRONYM MEANING BASIC INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE LEAVING
EARTH. I THOUGHT THAT WAS KIND OF NEAT. BASIC INSTRUCTIONS
BEFORE LEAVING EARTH. YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF
TIME ON THIS EARTH, BUT WE HAVE AN ANSWER IN THE BIBLE. THAT'S
OUR INSTRUCTION BOOK FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME THAT WE'RE HERE
SO THAT WE CAN SPEND ETERNITY WITH HIM AND DO IT ABUNDANTLY
WHILE WE'RE HERE, BUT THEN HAVE A SUCCESSFUL, BLESSED ETERNITY
WITH REWARDS, BECAUSE WE'RE PROMISED REWARDS IN ETERNITY IF
WE'RE FAITHFUL WITH WHAT HE'S GIVEN US TO DO DOWN HERE. WE
DON'T DO WORKS TO GET SAVED, BUT WE CAN DO WORKS TO RECEIVE
REWARDS IN HEAVEN. PEOPLE GET THAT MIXED UP SOMETIMES. THE
AVERAGE MAN IS THINKING THEY HAVE TO DO WORKS TO GET TO
HEAVEN. IT'S NOT THE WAY THAT IT WORKS. THAT'S RELIGION. WELL,
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT LATER. I GOT OFF TRACK. HALLELUJAH. WELL,
REVELATION 1:3, "BLESSED IS HE THAT READS AND HEARS AND KEEPS
THE WORD." BLESSING NUMBER TWO IS FOR THOSE THAT DIE IN THE
LORD. REVELATION 14:13. LET'S READ THAT TONIGHT. IT SAYS,
"THEN I HEARD A VOICE FROM HEAVEN SAYING TO ME, 'WRITE,
BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHO DIE IN THE LORD FROM NOW ON. YES, SAYS
THE SPIRIT, THAT THEY MAY REST FROM THEIR LABORS AND THEIR
WORKS FOLLOW THEM. THE WHOLE NATURE OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION
IS FORWARD LOOKING. AND THIS VERSE WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE
FUTURE. JOHN IS DESCRIBING THE MIDPOINT OF THE TRIBULATION AT
THE TIME WHEN THE EARTH IS GETTING READY TO ENTER INTO THE
GREAT TRIBULATION, WHICH IS THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEAR
PERIOD OF THE TOTAL SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION. THE SEALS AND
TRUMPETS JUDGMENTS ARE OVER AT THIS POINT IN TIME. THE
ANTICHRIST HAS BEEN REVEALED TO THE EARTH AND HIS RULING.
SCRIPTURE INDICATES THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE TRIBULATION
SAINTS ON EARTH AT THIS TIME WILL GO TO HEAVEN THROUGH
MARTYRDOM BECAUSE THEY REFUSE THE MARK OF THE BEAST. NOW,
REMEMBER THIS VERSE, REVELATION 14:13. "THEN I HEARD A VOICE
FROM HEAVEN SAYING, 'BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHO DIE IN THE LORD
FROM NOW ON.'" SO HE'S SPEAKING RIGHT THERE TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT
WILL DIE ON EARTH BECAUSE OF THE PERSECUTION THAT'S TAKING PLACE.
AND THEN THEY'LL BE WELCOMED INTO HEAVEN BY JESUS. AND THE
APOSTLE JOHN IS ENCOURAGING THESE SAINTS, TO STAY FAITHFUL,
THAT GOD'S MERCY IS STILL AVAILABLE TO THEM. EVEN DURING
THAT TERRIBLE TRIBULATION TIME, GOD CONTINUES TO HAVE A PLAN OF
MERCY AND REDEMPTION FOR THOSE WILLING TO SERVE HIM AND REFUSE
WHAT THE DEVIL'S TRYING TO DO. JUST THINK OF THAT, THAT'S HOW
AMAZING GOD IS. THINK OF THOSE ALIVE DURING THAT TRIBULATION
PERIOD. IT COULD BE THAT THEY'RE EVEN ALIVE TODAY. SOME OF THEM
CURSING GOD. SOME OF THEM SHAKING THEIR FISTS AT GOD. OR
JUST ATHEISTS, NONBELIEVERS, DON'T BELIEVE IN ANYTHING. IT'S
AMAZING THAT GOD STILL HAS A PLAN OF REDEMPTION, A PATH
FORWARD TO THEM. HE EVEN SENDS THAT ANGEL THAT PROCLAIMS THE
GOOD NEWS TO THEM WHILE THEY'RE THERE. SO THEY HAVE A CHANCE.
GOD GIVES THEM A, YOU KNOW, PASTOR HANK SAYS THAT A LOT. GOD
HAS A REDEMPTIVE PLAN OF MERCY THE MINUTE THE EVIL HAPPENS.
WELL, ALL THAT EVIL'S GOING ON, AND THE ANTICHRIST IS DOING HIS
THING, GOD HAS ANOTHER PLAN FOR THOSE PEOPLE. IF THEY'LL JUST
MAKE THE DECISION AT THAT POINT EVEN, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY'LL
WAKE UP AT THAT POINT. WE HOPE THEY WAKE UP BEFORE THEY GET TO
THAT POINT, BUT IF THEY DON'T, THEY HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE. AND WE
CAN PRAISE GOD FOR THAT. HE'S SO MERCIFUL, HE'S SO GOOD. HE COULD
HAVE JUST SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? I GAVE THEM THEIR CHANCE. THEY'RE
GOING TO HELL NOW. BUT HE HAS A PLAN OF REDEMPTION, EVEN DURING
THE TRIBULATION. WELL, HOW DOES THIS A VERSE REALLY APPLY TO US
TODAY? I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION 'CAUSE I HAVE AN ANSWER
FOR YOU. TO DIE IN THE LORD MEANS TO DIE IN A STATE OF FAITH
AND OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST. THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF WE TRULY
HAVE FAITH, WE'LL ALWAYS STRIVE TO WALK IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S
WORD AND THE DIRECTION OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT. NOW, THE SECOND
PART OF REVELATION 14:13 BRINGS A PROMISE OF REST. IT SAYS,
"YES, SAYS THE SPIRIT, THAT THEY MAY REST FROM THEIR LABORS AND
THEIR WORKS FOLLOW THEM." REST FROM LABOR, LET'S TALK ABOUT
THAT FOR A SECOND. LIFE ON EARTH CAN BE MARKED WITH HARD WORK,
SOMETIMES STRUGGLE, AND SOMETIMES IT'S HARDSHIP. THE
TERM LABOR HERE REFERS TO BOTH, THE WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO TO
SURVIVE AND LIVE, AND IT ALSO APPLIES TO THE CHALLENGES THAT
WE FACE JUST BECAUSE WE LIVE OUT OUR FAITH IN A FALLEN WORLD. YOU
KNOW, BECAUSE OF WHAT ADAM AND EVE DID, WE HAVE TO WORK. SIN
BROUGHT US TO A PLACE WHERE GOD SAYS, "OKAY, YOU WILL TOIL.
YOU'LL HAVE TO WORK FOR WHAT YOU RECEIVE." JUST LIKE THE OX HAS
TO WORK TO TREAD OUT THE GRAIN, BOB, SOME OF US HAVE TO WORK.
NOW, BOB'S IN A POSITION HE DOESN'T HAVE TO WORK IF HE
DIDN'T WANT TO, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT ALL LIKE BOB. SOME OF
US HAVE TO WORK, DON'T WE, PASTOR KEITH? I JUST WANTED TO
MAKE SURE PASTOR KEITH IS STILL AWAKE. HE LOOKED LIKE HE WAS A
LITTLE SLEEPY THERE. BUT THIS IS A PROMISE OF REST THAT ASSURES
US THAT EVERYTHING WILL RETURN TO THE WAY THAT IT ORIGINALLY
WAS IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN. WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT KIND OF REST.
YOU SEE, IF IT WASN'T FOR THE SIN NATURE COMING IN, IT WOULD
HAVE BEEN THAT WAY IN THE WORLD FOR ADAM AND EVE AND THE
FOLLOWERS WITHOUT SIN. THE GOOD NEWS IS THIS REST THAT WE WILL
ENTER INTO AT THAT POINT IS NOT JUST A TEMPORARY VACATION. WE
ALL LIKE VACATIONS WHERE WE CAN GET OUT OF TOWN OR GO DO
SOMETHING FOR A WEEK, BUT THEN IT'S OVER AND WE'RE BACK TO OUR
WORK. BUT THIS REST IS FOREVER. WE HAVE ETERNAL REST FROM THE
FIGHT WITH EVIL, SIN AND WICKEDNESS. WE'LL HAVE THINGS TO
DO. THE BIBLE ASSURES US THAT WE'LL HAVE ASSIGNMENTS IN
HEAVEN. BUT IT'S GONNA BE FUN. WE DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH ANY
SATANIC PRESSURE ANYMORE. WE'RE JUST DOING GOD'S WORK. THAT'S
REST. IT'S CHARACTERIZED BY PEACE, CONTENTMENT, AND THE
ABSENCE OF PAIN AND SORROW. HALLELUJAH. IT'S A REST THAT CAN
ONLY BE FOUND IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD. ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT THIS
PICTURE, A MARATHON RUNNER WHO FINALLY CROSSES THE FINISH LINE,
ALL OF THAT TRAINING AND THE HOURS OF RUNNING AND THE HEAT
AND THE COLD AND THE WIND AND THE RAIN ARE OVER. THE RUNNER
EXPERIENCES A PROFOUND SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, THE RELIEF FROM
PHYSICAL STRAIN, AND THE JOY THEY EXPERIENCE WHEN THEY'VE
ACTUALLY COMPLETED THE RACE. THE REST IS EVEN GREATER FOR US AS
BELIEVERS WHO RUN THIS RACE AND CROSS THE FINISH LINE AND THEN
ENTER INTO ETERNAL REST AFTER A LIFE OF FAITHFUL ENDURANCE.
LET'S READ 2 TIMOTHY 4, VERSES 7 AND 8, WHERE IT TELLS US, "I
FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, "I FINISHED THE RACE, AND I'VE KEPT
THE FAITH. "FINALLY, THERE'S LAID UP FOR ME THE CROWN OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS, "WHICH THE LORD, THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE, "WILL GIVE
ME ON THAT DAY, AND NOT TO ME ONLY, "BUT TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE
LOVED HIS APPEARING." HALLELUJAH, THAT'S A SPECIAL
BLESSING THAT BELIEVERS IN THIS LIFE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO BECAUSE
WE LOVE HIS APPEARING. WE DON'T FORGET THAT HE'S COMING AGAIN.
AND IT'S NOT JUST A CESSATION FROM WORKING. THE FINAL PART OF
REVELATION 14, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS ONE. IT SAYS, "AND THEIR
WORKS FOLLOW THEM." THAT'S AN AMAZING PROMISE. WHEN WE DIE IN
THE LORD AND WE REST FROM OUR LABOR, OUR WORKS FOLLOW US. THIS
IS ANOTHER ASSURANCE. THERE'S MANY VERSES IN THE BIBLE THAT
TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT WE WILL BE GREATLY REWARDED FOR OUR ACTIONS
AND FAITHFULNESS WHILE WE'RE ON THIS EARTH. IT CONFIRMS THAT OUR
LABOR IN THE LORD IS NOT IN VAIN. WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR GOD
RIGHT NOW WILL FOLLOW YOU. ONCE YOU ARE GONE INTO ETERNITY,
YOU'RE LAID TO REST, WHATEVER HAPPENS, YOUR WORKS THAT YOU HAD
DONE WHILE YOU WERE HERE ON EARTH WILL FOLLOW YOU. YOUR
WORKS CONTINUE TO DO GOOD IN THE SAME TRAJECTORY AS WHEN YOU WERE
ON THE EARTH. THAT'S AMAZING. AS YOU WALK OUT GOD'S PLAN ON
EARTH, YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT YOU'RE PLANTING SEEDS FOR THE
FUTURE. AMEN. AND THAT'S NOT JUST YOUR WORKS. THAT INCLUDES
YOUR GIVING. YOU'RE LAYING UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN WHEN YOU'RE
GIVING. THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT YOU PUT INTO YOUR WORK AND THEN
YOU PUT IT INTO GOD'S WORK BECAUSE YOU PUT MAMMON OR OUR
MONEY SYSTEM INTO WORK FOR GOD'S PLAN SO THAT WE CAN SPREAD THE
GOSPEL AND PEOPLE CAN GET SAVED, HEALED, DELIVERED, ENCOURAGED BY
THE WORD OF THE LORD, THAT BUILDS UP TREASURE IN HEAVEN FOR
YOU. WHAT A PROMISE. REPEAT THIS AFTER ME. WHEN I LEAVE THIS
EARTH, MY WORKS WILL FOLLOW ME. I WILL BE REWARDED IN ETERNITY.
WHAT I DO HERE ON EARTH FOR CHRIST PLANTS A SEED FOR MY
FUTURE. BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHO DIE IN THE LORD FROM NOW ON.
YES, SAYS THE SPIRIT, THAT THEY MAY REST FROM THEIR LABORS AND
THEIR WORKS FOLLOW THEM. AMEN. YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS VERSE IS
TRUE FOR THOSE BELIEVERS THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE US AND ARE NOW
WITH GOD. SOME OF YOU HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS, HUSBANDS, WIVES,
WHATEVER THAT ALREADY HAVE GONE HOME. THEIR WORKS HAVE FOLLOWED
THEM. THEIR GOOD WORKS AS BELIEVERS FOLLOW THEM. THEY'RE
GETTING REWARD. THE VERSE IS TRUE FOR EVERY BELIEVER THAT'S
ALIVE TODAY. WHETHER YOU'RE HERE OR WATCHING ONLINE WITH US,
SOMEDAY WHEN YOU LEAVE THIS WORLD, YOUR WORKS WILL FOLLOW
YOU. AND IT'S A GREAT PROMISE TO THE TRIBULATION SAINTS IN THE
FUTURE. ISAIAH 26:19 SAYS THIS, "BUT THOSE WHO DIE IN THE LORD
WILL LIVE. "THEIR BODIES WILL RISE AGAIN. "THOSE WHO SLEEP IN
THE EARTH WILL RISE UP AND SING FOR JOY, FOR YOUR LIFE-GIVING
LIGHT WILL FALL LIKE DEW ON YOUR PEOPLE IN THE PLACE OF THE
DEAD." HALLELUJAH. SO NUMBER THREE BLESSING IS FOR THOSE WHO
WATCH AND KEEP THEIR GARMENTS ON. OTHER TRANSLATIONS SAY THOSE
THAT STAY AWAKE AND REMAIN CLOTHED. REVELATION 16:15, I
WANT TO READ OUT OF THE NEW KING JAMES. IT SAYS, "BEHOLD, I AM
COMING AS A THIEF. BLESSED IS HE WHO WATCHES AND KEEPS HIS
GARMENTS, LEST HE WALK NAKED AND THEY SEE HIS SHAME." NOW, OUR
TIMELINE IN REVELATION, WE'RE NOW IN THE FINAL PART OF THE
LAST 3 AND 1/2 YEARS OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION. AND MOST THAT
ARE LEFT ALIVE ON EARTH ARE EXPERIENCING THE BOLD JUDGMENTS
AT THIS TIME THAT ARE DESCRIBED IN REVELATION. THE ANTICHRIST,
THE MAN THAT'S POSSESSED BY SATAN, IS ACTIVELY SEARCHING OUT
ANYONE THAT WOULD FAIL TO WORSHIP HIM. YET IN THE MIDST OF
THIS HELL ON EARTH, JESUS HAS A BLESSING FOR THOSE THAT ARE
STILL ALIVE AND FOLLOWING HIM. THIS BLESSING IS NOT JUST FOR
THESE PEOPLE, BUT IT HAS A DIRECT APPLICATION TO OUR LIVES
TODAY IN THE TIME WE LIVE. I WANT TO READ THIS VERSE FROM THE
NIV. I DON'T NORMALLY USE THE NIV, BUT I THOUGHT THIS WAS A
REALLY GOOD TRANSLATION THAT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU
TONIGHT. REVELATION 16:15 SAYS, "LOOK, I COME LIKE A THIEF.
BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO STAYS AWAKE AND REMAINS CLOTHED SO AS
NOT TO GO NAKED AND BE SHAMEFULLY EXPOSED." JESUS
REMINDS US THAT HE'S COMING LIKE A THIEF, AND THEN HE GOES ON TO
SAY, "BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO WATCHES OR STAYS AWAKE." NOW,
THE IDEA OF STAYING AWAKE OR BEING WATCHFUL ISN'T JUST LIKE
BEING SUPER AWARE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE AROUND
YOU. IT INVOLVES UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES THAT YOU'RE LIVING IN
AND THE TACTICS THAT THE ENEMY WOULD ATTEMPT TO USE AGAINST US.
THE DEVIL'S PLAN IS TO DECEIVE US SO THAT WE WILL BE KILLED OR
THAT HE WOULD AT LEAST DESTROY THE PLAN THAT GOD HAS FOR OUR
LIVES. THAT'S HIS GOAL. NOW, DURING THE TIMES OF KING DAVID,
WHEN HE WAS BEING HUNTED DOWN BY SAUL, THERE WAS A KIND OF A
CIVIL WAR GOING ON IN ISRAEL, REALLY. AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
CAME TO DAVID'S SIDE IN THE FIGHT. IN 1 CHRONICLES 12,
THERE'S A LIST OF THOSE THAT JOINED DAVID'S SIDE. AND ONE
PARTICULAR GROUP YOU'VE HEARD OF, IT WAS CALLED THE TRIBE OF
ISSACHAR. AND THEY WERE KNOWN SUPREMELY FOR THEIR WISDOM. BUT
THIS IS WHAT INTRIGUES ME. IT WAS THE NATURE OF THEIR WISDOM.
IN THE BOOK OF CHRONICLES, WE READ THIS, 1ST BOOK OF
CHRONICLES, "FROM THE TRIBE OF ISSACHAR, THERE WERE 200
LEADERS. ALL OF THESE MEN UNDERSTOOD THE SIGNS OF THE
TIMES, AND THEY KNEW THE BEST COURSE FOR ISRAEL TO TAKE." THEY
KNEW THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES AND HOW TO BEST LIVE IN LIGHT OF THE
PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES. SO FIRST, WE DO NEED TO KNOW THE SIGNS OF
THE TIMES. WE NEED TO KNOW THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES MORE THAN
JUST A HEADLINE OR A TWEET OR SOMETHING WE SEE ON MEDIA. IT'S
REALLY KNOWING WHAT'S SIGNIFICANT IN THE HAPPENINGS OF
OUR WORLD AND UNDERSTANDING GOD'S HEART AND HIS PLAN FOR
MANKIND AND THE EARTH. HOW MANY OF YOU ARE THANKFUL THAT WE ARE
PART OF A PROPHETIC HOUSE? WE HAVE PASTORS THAT HEAR GOD'S
HEART AND THEY GIVE US DIRECTION ON HOW TO LIVE. SOMETIMES I
THINK HOW COULD PEOPLE BE MISSING OUT ON GETTING WORDS
FROM GOD THAT AFFECT THE NATION IN THE WAY THAT WE RECEIVE IT.
SOMETIMES WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED, FOLKS. NOT EVERY CHURCH
HAS THAT. WE ARE UNIQUELY POSITIONED IN ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT TIMES OF HISTORY. SO IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW WHAT
GOD'S HEART IS. WE'RE LIVING AT A TIME WHEN THE GREATEST REVIVAL
IN HUMAN HISTORY IS HAPPENING BEFORE THE END OF THE CHURCH
AGE. GOD WILL CONCLUDE THE CHURCH AGE WITH A MIGHTY REVIVAL
OF SOULS. I BELIEVE A BILLION SOUL HARVEST IS COMING. AND IT'S
OUR JOB TO OCCUPY UNTIL HE COMES. REMAIN ALERT, EDUCATED,
AND AWARE, AND ALSO INVOLVED. THIS MADE ME THINK OF THE SEVEN
MOUNTAINS OF INFLUENCE THAT LANCE WALLNAU SO ELOQUENTLY
TEACHES, TALKING ABOUT RECLAIMING THE SEVEN MOUNTAINS,
THE MOUNTAINS OF IMPACT IN OUR SOCIETY AND CULTURE, WHETHER
IT'S BUSINESS AND ECONOMY, GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS, FAMILY,
THE CHURCH, MEDIA, EDUCATION, ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT. THE
AMERICAN CHURCH HAS ALLOWED SATAN TO TAKE CONTROL OF A LARGE
SEGMENT OF MOST ALL OF THESE AREAS. AND IF EVERY
BIBLE-BELIEVING CHRISTIAN WOULD MAKE THEIR LIFE'S FOCUS, AS GOD
DIRECTS YOU, TO JUST GET INVOLVED IN SOME WAY IN ONE OF
THOSE AREAS, AMERICA WOULD SEE A DRAMATIC CHANGE. IT'S TIME TO
TAKE IT BACK. HALLELUJAH. AND IT STARTS WITH US EDUCATING
OURSELVES TO MAKE SURE WE POSSESS A TRUE CHRISTIAN
WORLDVIEW. YOU KNOW, STATISTICS TELL US THAT ONLY 6% OF AMERICAN
CHRISTIANS ACTUALLY POSSESS A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW. MANY ARE ALL
THE WAY OVER INTO THE SOCIALIST AREA, BUT THEY CALL THEMSELVES
CHRISTIANS. BACK TO OUR VERSES WE CONCLUDE TONIGHT. EDDIE, YOU
CAN COME ANYTIME. REVELATION 16:15 AGAIN, NEW KING JAMES
VERSION. BEHOLD, I'M COMING AS A THIEF. BLESSED IS HE WHO WATCHES
AND KEEPS HIS GARMENTS, LEST HE WALK NAKED AND THEY SEE HIS
SHAME. THE LAST PART OF VERSE 15 IS SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT
BEING STRONG IN CHARACTER. IN OTHER WORDS, DON'T BE NAKED OR
SHAMEFULLY EXPOSED. IN OTHER WORDS, THERE'S A BLESSING IN
STORE FOR THOSE THAT MAINTAIN HOLINESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND
THEY'RE NOT EXPOSED AS BEING SHAMEFUL. THE REFERENCE TO
KEEPING ONE'S GARMENT ON SO THAT HE DOESN'T GO ABOUT NAKED AND
EXPOSED COMES FROM THE CUSTOM OF THE DAY WHEN MEN WERE WEARING
LOOSE-FITTING ROBES. WHEN A MAN WALKED QUICKLY OR RAN OR CLIMBED
THE STEPS, THE ROBE COULD BECOME UNTIED AND FALL OPEN. MEN
WEARING ROBES NEEDED TO BE ALERT AND CAREFUL ABOUT THEIR BEHAVIOR
SO THEIR ROBES DIDN'T SLIP OPEN. STAYING CLOTHED IN A SPIRITUAL
SENSE MEANS BELIEVERS NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THEIR BEHAVIOR. WE
ARE CLOTHED IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS CHRIST AND WE ABIDE IN
CHRIST AND WE STAY IN THE POSITION OF READINESS AND
RIGHTEOUSNESS. THE PROPHET ISAIAH SAID IN ISAIAH 61 VERSE
10, "I AM OVERWHELMED WITH THE JOY IN THE LORD MY GOD, FOR HE
HAS DRESSED ME WITH THE CLOTHING OF SALVATION AND DRAPED ME IN A
ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. I AM LIKE A BRIDEGROOM DRESSED FOR HIS
WEDDING, OR A BRIDE WITH HER JEWELS. YOU KNOW, MAN'S WAY IS
TO ATTEMPT TO DO AS ADAM AND EVE DID, TRY AND COVER THEIR GUILT,
THE GUILT OF THEIR SINS, WITH THEIR OWN WORKS. THAT'S MAN'S
WAY. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT'S THE DEFINITION OF RELIGION. MAN
TRYING TO MAKE HIS OWN WAY TO HEAVEN. ONLY OUR DECISION TO
ACCEPT THE GIFT OF SALVATION THAT JESUS PROVIDED WILL SAVE US
FROM ETERNITY IN HELL. HALLELUJAH. CHARLES SPURGEON,
THE FAMOUS BAPTIST PREACHER OF THE LATE 1800S, SAID THIS, "OUR
ROBES WILL BE WHITE BECAUSE HIS ROBES WERE RED." HALLELUJAH.
THANK YOU, JESUS. WHY DON'T YOU STAND WITH ME TONIGHT? SO
BLESSING NUMBER ONE IS FOR THOSE THAT READ THE WORD, HEAR THE
WORD, AND KEEP THE WORD. BLESSING NUMBER TWO IS FOR THOSE
THAT DIE IN THE LORD, THAT THEY REST FROM THEIR LABORS AND
REMEMBER THEIR WORKS FOLLOW THEM. YOUR WORKS FOLLOW YOU. AND
BLESSING NUMBER THREE IS FOR THOSE THAT WATCH AND KEEP THEIR
GARMENTS. THEY STAY AWAKE AND REMAIN CLOTHED. WE UNDERSTAND
THE TIMES. WE REMAIN STRONG IN CHARACTER AND STAY CLOSE TO GOD.
AMEN. HALLELUJAH. FATHER, I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO SHARE YOUR WORD. I ASK, LORD, THAT WE ALL
RECOMMIT TO BE PURPOSELY DRIVEN BY ETERNITY, TO DO WHAT WE CAN
WHILE WE'RE ON THIS EARTH. LORD, I HOPE YOU'VE OPENED OUR EYES AT
THIS POINT IN TIME TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE IS IN SOME WAYS FOR
THE PEOPLE OF THIS EARTH. BUT YOU GIVE US A JOB TO DO TO
OCCUPY UNTIL YOU COME. SO LORD, WE RECOMMIT TONIGHT TO DO THAT,
TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO BRING THE GOOD NEWS OF SALVATION TO
THOSE AROUND US, TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN THIS WORLD. AND WE
THANK YOU, LORD, THAT YOU DON'T JUST TELL US TO DO SOMETHING OR
COMMAND US TO DO SOMETHING, BUT YOU EMPOWER US BY THE POWER OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE ABILITY THAT YOU GIVE US WITH THE GIFTS
AND TALENTS AND ANOINTINGS THAT YOU PROVIDE. SO WE THANK YOU FOR
IT IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS. AMEN. AMEN. WELL, GOD BLESS YOU
TONIGHT. DON'T MISS OUT. NEXT SUNDAY, BE IN THE HOUSE OF THE
LORD. I KNOW PASTOR HANK'S GOING TO HAVE A WONDERFUL MESSAGE IN
JESUS' NAME. GO AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT. THANK YOU.
AND JANET, GET YOUR ICE CREAM, JANET.