WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:05.459 (MUSIC) 00:05.459 --> 00:10.740 GOOD EVENING, LORD OF HOSTS CHURCH. ARE YOU READY TO LIFT UP 00:10.740 --> 00:16.019 A PRAISE TO THE KING OF KINGS? COME ON, Y'ALL, WE'RE COMING IN 00:16.019 --> 00:21.870 TONIGHT TO MAKE HIM FAMOUS AND HIS NAME GLORIOUS TO ALL, FOR HE 00:21.870 --> 00:26.859 IS HOLY, HE IS MIGHTY, HE IS THE LORD OF THE 00:26.859 --> 00:30.864 BREAKTHROUGH. LET'S RAISE IT UP TONIGHT, COME ON. 00:30.864 --> 00:41.207 (MUSIC) 00:41.207 --> 00:43.209 LET'S CELEBRATE, 'CAUSE WE'RE IN 00:43.209 --> 00:44.878 A PLACE OF VICTORY TONIGHT, AMEN? 00:44.878 --> 01:03.563 (WORSHIP MUSIC) 01:47.106 --> 01:56.115 (MUSIC) 05:20.987 --> 05:22.488 COME ON, JUST THE KICK AND THE DRUMS. 05:27.994 --> 05:37.170 COME ON, CHURCH. CAST YOUR CARES UPON THE LORD OF LORDS. HE'S 05:37.170 --> 05:41.507 ALREADY GOT WHAT YOU NEED. YOU JUST HAVE TO 05:41.507 --> 05:44.177 GET OUT OF THE WAY. REPEAT THAT, COME ON. 06:10.036 --> 06:32.057 (MUSIC) 06:32.057 --> 06:43.903 WE GIVE YOU PRAISE. WE GIVE YOU PRAISE. OH, THERE'S NO ONE LIKE 06:43.903 --> 06:55.019 THE LORD. THERE'S NO ONE LIKE THE LORD. HE’S UNSHAKABLE. HE'S 06:55.019 --> 07:09.480 IMMOVABLE. HE'S UNDISPUTABLE. KING OF KINGS SEATED ON HIGH. 07:09.480 --> 07:20.759 HE'S SEATED ON HIGH. HE'S SEATED ON HIGH. OH, WE GIVE YOU PRAISE. 07:24.300 --> 07:34.245 WE GIVE OUR HEARTS TO YOU. WE GIVE OUR HEARTS. EVERY PART OF 07:34.245 --> 07:40.293 OUR HEART TO YOU. COME AND HAVE YOUR WAY. COME AND HAVE YOUR 07:40.293 --> 07:52.805 WAY. COME AND HAVE YOUR WAY. COME AND HAVE YOUR WAY. 07:52.805 --> 08:07.821 (MUSIC) 08:07.821 --> 08:14.033 WE SERVE ALMIGHTY GOD. I WAS TELLING ANTHONY TODAY THAT, 08:14.040 --> 08:20.000 PASTOR ANTHONY, I WAS IN THE HOUSE AND I WAS READING OVER I 08:20.000 --> 08:24.504 BELIEVE IT WAS 1 CHRONICLES AROUND THE 22ND VERSE, I BELIEVE 08:24.504 --> 08:33.570 IT IS. THAT MIGHT BE... BUT DAVID WAS GIVING SOLOMON HIS 08:33.570 --> 08:39.928 LAST INSTRUCTIONS AND ONE OF THE THINGS HE TOLD SOLOMON WAS MAKE 08:39.928 --> 08:45.240 GOD, NOW THIS IS IN THE AMPLIFIED, HE SAID MAKE GOD YOUR 08:45.240 --> 08:53.639 VITAL NECESSITY. SEE I DON'T WANT TO BE, I DON'T WANT NO AIR 08:53.639 --> 09:01.529 BETWEEN US. WE JUST HUNGER AND THIRST FOR HIM. EVERYTHING THAT 09:01.529 --> 09:07.409 WE DO IS BECAUSE OF HIM. EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE, WE 09:07.409 --> 09:12.929 STAND, WE TALK, WE SING, WE PRAISE, WE WALK, WE RUN, WE 09:12.929 --> 09:17.639 SING, ALL THE THINGS, IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF HIM. AND WITHOUT HIM, 09:17.639 --> 09:21.894 WE ARE NOTHING. AND SO I HEARD THAT AND I KEPT HEARING, 09:23.395 --> 09:28.902 (WORSHIP MUSIC) 16:44.336 --> 16:48.456 OH, HALLELUJAH, WE WORSHIP YOU IN THIS PLACE, FATHER. WE WANNA 16:48.460 --> 16:53.409 BE WRAPPED UP IN YOU. AND WE GIVE YOU THE GLORY TONIGHT. WE 16:53.409 --> 16:57.580 GIVE YOU THE GLORY AND THE HONOR. YOU PROVIDED EVERYTHING 16:57.580 --> 17:03.909 WE NEED FOR LIFE AND GODLINESS. YOU GIVE US BREATH. YOU GIVE US 17:03.909 --> 17:07.059 THE ABILITY TO GET OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING. YOU GIVE US 17:07.059 --> 17:13.390 MOVEMENT. YOU GIVE US STRENGTH. YOU EVEN GIVE US HONOR IN THIS 17:13.390 --> 17:18.578 WORLD. AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF YOU. THANK YOU, LORD. YOU GIVE 17:18.578 --> 17:24.578 US PROTECTION. YOU GIVE US FAVOR. YOU CLOTHE US IN YOUR 17:24.578 --> 17:29.200 RIGHTEOUSNESS BECAUSE OF WHAT JESUS HAS DONE. YOU TAKE AWAY 17:29.200 --> 17:34.054 SIN FROM OUR LIFE. YOU GIVE US POWER OVER THE ENEMY. 17:34.054 --> 17:39.789 HALLELUJAH. YOU GIVE US VICTORY. FROM VICTORY TO VICTORY TO 17:39.789 --> 17:43.990 VICTORY WE GO BECAUSE WE'RE OVERCOMERS IN YOU AND WE WORSHIP 17:43.990 --> 17:49.990 YOU TONIGHT FOR THAT. YOU GIVE US THE ANGELS TO WATCH OVER US 17:49.990 --> 17:55.329 AND PROTECT US. YOU GIVE US SUPERNATURAL CONNECTIONS, DIVINE 17:55.329 --> 18:02.109 CONNECTIONS. YOU GIVE US RELATIONSHIPS SO THAT WE CAN BE 18:02.109 --> 18:05.980 ENCOURAGED. YOU GIVE US RELATIONSHIPS SO THAT WE CAN 18:05.980 --> 18:11.920 ENCOURAGE OTHERS. OH, HALLELUJAH, WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY 18:11.920 --> 18:17.650 WE HAVE TO BE WORKERS TOGETHER WITH YOU ON THIS EARTH. AND WE 18:17.650 --> 18:21.069 JUST WORSHIP YOU TONIGHT. WE GIVE YOU GLORY AND WE GIVE YOU 18:21.069 --> 18:25.329 HONOR. WE EXPRESS OUR THANKFULNESS TO YOU. WE'RE SO 18:25.329 --> 18:34.114 THANKFUL. WE'RE SO THANKFUL TONIGHT, LORD. IT'S ONLY YOU. 18:34.114 --> 18:40.180 OH, IT'S ONLY YOU. JESUS, JESUS, JESUS. REMARKABLE JESUS. 18:40.180 --> 18:45.099 HALLELUJAH. HOW MANY OF YOU ARE THANKFUL TONIGHT? HALLELUJAH. 18:45.099 --> 18:48.849 GIVE HIM A SHOUT OF PRAISE. HALLELUJAH. THANK YOU, JESUS. 18:48.849 --> 18:52.839 THANK YOU, JESUS. THERE'S A HEALING ANOINTING IN THE HOUSE 18:52.839 --> 18:55.869 TONIGHT. IF YOU'VE BEEN DEALING WITH SOME KIND OF SICKNESS, I'M 18:55.869 --> 18:58.779 JUST GONNA HAVE YOU RUN UP HERE REALLY QUICK. WE'RE GONNA PRAY 18:58.779 --> 19:03.819 FOR YOU TONIGHT. BELIEVE THAT GOD TOUCHES YOUR BODY. HE'S THE 19:03.819 --> 19:09.160 HEALER OF ALL OUR DISEASES. HALLELUJAH. PASTOR KEITH, WOULD 19:09.160 --> 19:11.230 YOU COME UP HERE QUICKLY? I'M GONNA HAVE YOU PRAY FOR THE 19:11.230 --> 19:13.839 ONLINE AUDIENCE. ONLINE AUDIENCE, IF YOU'RE WATCHING 19:13.839 --> 19:17.589 TONIGHT, YOU'RE DEALING WITH SOMETHING, JUST LIFT YOUR HANDS 19:17.589 --> 19:23.529 AND RECEIVE THE HEALING TOUCH OF GOD FROM THROUGH THE AIRWAVES AS 19:23.529 --> 19:26.230 PASTOR KEITH PRAYS AN ANOINTED PRAYER TONIGHT. AND I'M GOING TO 19:26.230 --> 19:29.049 HAVE HIM PRAY, AND I'M GOING TO COME DOWN AND MINISTER TO THESE 19:29.049 --> 19:35.109 THAT ARE IN FRONT. FATHER, AS THOSE THAT ARE LISTENING AND 19:35.109 --> 19:42.700 THOSE ARE WATCHING, AS THEY EXTEND THEIR FAITH RIGHT NOW, I 19:42.700 --> 19:51.023 DECLARE THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS MEETS YOU THERE. 19:51.023 --> 19:56.319 AND IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, I DECLARE THE WHOLENESS 19:56.319 --> 20:02.799 OF GOD RESTORES YOUR BODY, THAT THE SPIRIT OF LIFE WITHIN YOU IS 20:02.799 --> 20:08.259 QUICKENED AND BRINGS WHOLENESS, HEALING, DELIVERANCE, 20:08.259 --> 20:15.400 RESTORATION, AND LIFE. THE VERY ESSENCE OF GOD ENTERS INTO THE 20:15.400 --> 20:21.359 ROOM WHERE YOU ARE AND INTO YOUR BODY, AND I DECLARE THAT 20:21.359 --> 20:27.329 WHOLENESS RESTORES, THAT WHOLENESS BRINGS THE KNOWLEDGE 20:27.329 --> 20:38.220 OF THE LOVE OF GOD TO BRING LIFE TO ALL YOUR FLESH, AMEN. AMEN 20:38.220 --> 20:44.743 AND AMEN, THANK YOU JESUS. WHILE I WAS SITTING UP HERE TONIGHT, 20:44.743 --> 20:49.319 THE LORD JUST REMINDED ME OF A VERSE AND I USUALLY CAN TELL 20:49.319 --> 20:53.220 WHEN IT'S SOMETHING THAT HE WANTS ME TO BRING FORTH. IT 20:53.220 --> 20:58.349 COMES OUT OF, I THINK, THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY, CHAPTER 24, AND 20:58.349 --> 21:01.470 IT SAYS, "DON'T MUZZLE THE OX." I MAY NOT BE GETTING THIS RIGHT, 21:01.470 --> 21:05.009 BUT IT'S SOMETHING LIKE, "DO NOT MUZZLE THE OX THAT TREADETH THE 21:05.009 --> 21:08.579 GRAIN." AND IT GOES BACK TO THE IDEA THAT SOME OF THE 21:08.579 --> 21:14.309 TASKMASTERS THAT HAD THE OXEN WORKING FOR THEM WOULD MUZZLE 21:14.309 --> 21:17.339 THESE OXEN SO THAT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO EAT, BUT HE'D WANT THEM 21:17.339 --> 21:23.819 TO CONTINUE TO WORK. AND THE IDEA IS THE SERVANT OR THE 21:23.819 --> 21:29.490 LABORER IS WORTHY OF THEIR PAY. IN THE OXEN'S CASE, IT WAS 21:29.490 --> 21:34.170 WORTHY OF HIM BEING ABLE TO EAT. THAT WAS HIS PAY. AND I JUST 21:34.170 --> 21:36.930 FEEL LIKE THERE MIGHT BE SOMEONE WATCHING ONLINE OR SOMEONE HERE 21:36.930 --> 21:41.250 TONIGHT, AND YOU SAY, PASTOR DOUG, THAT'S ME. I FEEL LIKE 21:41.250 --> 21:46.500 I'VE BEEN MUZZLED IN SOME WAY IN MY LIFE. IN OTHER WORDS, MAYBE 21:46.500 --> 21:49.859 IT'S THROUGH YOUR EMPLOYMENT. YOU'RE FEELING LIKE YOU'RE NOT 21:49.859 --> 21:54.450 BEING TREATED FAIRLY. OR MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING ELSE IN YOUR LIFE 21:54.450 --> 21:58.740 THAT THERE'S BEEN A MUZZLING EFFECT. AND WE'RE GOING TO JUST 21:58.740 --> 22:02.700 DEMAND THAT SATAN TAKES HIS HANDS OFF OF YOU TONIGHT AND 22:02.700 --> 22:08.009 RELEASES YOU TO RECEIVE EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DUE AND THAT THERE'S 22:08.009 --> 22:10.920 SUPERNATURAL INCREASE. SO IF THAT'S YOU, IS THERE ANYONE 22:10.920 --> 22:13.559 HERE? JUST RAISE YOUR HAND IF IT'S SOMEONE HERE. COME ON UP 22:13.559 --> 22:17.220 HERE. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? IF A COUPLE OF YOU COME ON UP, AND IF 22:17.220 --> 22:21.869 YOU'RE WATCHING ONLINE TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO AGREE WITH YOU 22:21.869 --> 22:25.349 AND BELIEVE THAT THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO JUST BE FREED 22:25.349 --> 22:29.460 FROM ANYTHING THAT SATAN WOULD TRY AND MUZZLE YOU FROM 22:29.460 --> 22:34.529 RECEIVING WHAT IS DUE YOU IN JESUS NAME. FATHER FOR EACH ONE 22:34.529 --> 22:37.470 OF THESE THAT ARE UP HERE TONIGHT AND FOR ANYONE ELSE 22:37.470 --> 22:43.863 THAT'S WATCHING ONLINE I COMMAND DEVIL TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF THEM 22:43.863 --> 22:49.230 IN JESUS NAME YOU WILL NO LONGER MUZZLE THEM OR KEEP THEM FROM 22:49.230 --> 22:55.470 THE DIVINE SUPERNATURAL FAVOR THAT JESUS HAS FOR THEM. TONIGHT 22:55.470 --> 23:01.740 WE JUST RECEIVE IT NOW AND WE SAY ANY INFLUENCE OR POWER OF 23:01.740 --> 23:08.369 SATAN OR SOMEONE WORKING ON BEHALF OF SATAN WILL BE BROKEN 23:08.369 --> 23:12.630 IN THE NAME OF JESUS. AND THESE THAT ARE HERE AND THOSE THAT ARE 23:12.630 --> 23:16.920 WATCHING ONLINE, THEY WILL RECEIVE EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE 23:16.920 --> 23:24.180 DUE AND I SAY BECAUSE THEY ARE SOWERS AND GIVERS, THEY HAVE THE 23:24.180 --> 23:28.589 ABILITY TO RECEIVE. WE REBUKE THE DEVOURER FROM THEIR BEHALF 23:28.589 --> 23:32.579 IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS. AND WE CLAIM THAT PROMISE. THEY 23:32.579 --> 23:37.619 RECEIVE TONIGHT AND IT WILL START RIGHT AWAY, BUT YOU'RE 23:37.619 --> 23:40.559 GONNA SEE THE INCREASE THROUGH 2026, I BELIEVE. AND YOU'RE 23:40.559 --> 23:44.940 GONNA LOOK BACK AT DECEMBER OF 2026, AND YOU'RE GONNA SAY, LOOK 23:44.940 --> 23:49.079 WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE. AMEN, IN JESUS NAME. AND IF YOU'RE 23:49.079 --> 23:51.329 WATCHING ONLINE, LET US KNOW, YOU CAN CALL THE TOLL FREE 23:51.329 --> 23:56.519 NUMBER, OR YOU CAN EMAIL US, CONTACT US, AND WE WANNA HEAR 23:56.519 --> 24:00.000 WHAT GOD'S DOING IN YOUR LIFE AND HEAR THE BLESSING THAT GOD 24:00.000 --> 24:03.690 HAS FOR YOU. AND JUST THE TESTIMONY OF IT, AMEN? SAME 24:03.690 --> 24:06.029 THING FOR YOU HERE, LET US KNOW WHAT GOD'S DONE, BECAUSE IT'S 24:06.029 --> 24:10.170 GONNA CHANGE, IN JESUS' NAME. AND EVERYONE THAT AGREES SAID, 24:10.170 --> 24:15.539 AMEN. AMEN, PRAISE GOD, THANK YOU, JESUS. WELL, HALLELUJAH, 24:15.539 --> 24:18.089 WHY DON'T YOU DO THIS? WHY DON'T YOU TURN AROUND AND SHAKE HANDS 24:18.089 --> 24:20.250 WITH A FEW PEOPLE? FIND SOMEONE YOU DON'T 24:20.250 --> 24:23.462 KNOW TONIGHT AND GREET THEM IN JESUS' NAME. 24:23.462 --> 25:08.842 (MUSIC) 25:08.842 --> 25:16.497 WELL AMEN AND AMEN. GOOD EVENING AGAIN. IT'S GOOD TO BE 25:16.500 --> 25:20.424 IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, ISN'T IT? I COULD JUST FEEL THE 25:20.424 --> 25:25.019 TANGIBLE ANOINTING IN HERE. IT'S JUST, BREAKTHROUGH IS HERE, 25:25.019 --> 25:30.869 FOLKS. BREAKTHROUGH IS HERE. WELL, IT'S OFFERING TIME RIGHT 25:30.869 --> 25:36.089 NOW. THERE'S A FEW OF YOU. IT'S OKAY, BY THE TIME WE'RE DONE, 25:36.089 --> 25:40.980 YOU ALL ARE GONNA BE JUMPING FOR JOY. THE TITLE OF THIS OFFERING 25:40.980 --> 25:49.215 MESSAGE IS HEART CHECK. SO WE'RE GONNA READ FROM LUKE 12:29. IT 25:49.215 --> 25:55.289 SAYS, "I REPEAT, DON'T LET WORRY ENTER YOUR LIFE." SO THAT MEANS 25:55.289 --> 25:58.980 JESUS SAID IT PRIOR TO THIS, SO HE'S REPEATING IT FOR EMPHASIS. 25:58.980 --> 26:06.180 UNDERLINE IT, REHEARSE IT, SAVE IT, JESUS SAVES. DON'T LET WORRY 26:06.180 --> 26:11.670 ENTER YOUR LIFE. LIVE ABOVE THE ANXIOUS CARE ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL 26:11.670 --> 26:19.470 NEEDS. DID YOU HEAR THAT? LIVE ABOVE THE ANXIOUS CARES ABOUT 26:19.470 --> 26:25.980 YOUR PERSONAL NEEDS. VERSE 30, PEOPLE EVERYWHERE SEEM TO WORRY 26:25.980 --> 26:30.839 ABOUT MAKING A LIVING, BUT YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS YOUR, HOW 26:30.839 --> 26:37.710 MANY NEEDS, JUST ONE, JUST TWO, A FEW, EVERY NEED AND WILL, HE 26:37.710 --> 26:43.140 WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU. EACH AND EVERY DAY, HE WILL SUPPLY YOUR 26:43.140 --> 26:49.826 NEEDS AS YOU SEEK HIS KINGDOM PASSIONATELY ABOVE ALL ELSE. 26:53.039 --> 26:55.650 THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE SCRIPTURES THAT I'M 26:55.650 --> 27:02.130 STANDING ON FOR THIS YEAR. BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THOSE 27:02.130 --> 27:09.180 SCRIPTURES THAT CUTS AND DIVIDES BETWEEN FLESH AND SPIRIT. HERE'S 27:09.180 --> 27:14.160 WHAT I MEAN BY THAT. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN SO FAITHFUL IN YOUR 27:14.160 --> 27:17.819 GIVING AND IT CLEARLY SHOWS. I MEAN, LOOK AT WHAT YOUR 27:17.819 --> 27:24.477 OBEDIENCE HAS DONE. SO THAT'S NOT WHAT'S THE QUESTION TONIGHT. 27:24.480 --> 27:34.890 THE QUESTION IN THE HEART CHECK PART IS, DO YOU TRUST HIM? YOU 27:34.890 --> 27:41.160 CAN OBEY, BUT THERE'S ALSO THE TRUST PART OF IT. AND I'M SAYING 27:41.160 --> 27:44.789 THAT BECAUSE, HOW MANY KNOW THAT DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN THE POWER 27:44.789 --> 27:51.837 OF THE TONGUE? BUT DEATH AND LIFE ARE CONCEIVED IN THE HEART. 27:51.837 --> 27:55.529 IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT YOUR EXTERNAL CONVERSATIONS, BUT THE 27:55.529 --> 28:00.990 CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU ARE HAVING WITHIN YOURSELF. SO AFTER 28:00.990 --> 28:04.829 YOU GIVE YOUR OFFERING, AFTER YOU HIT THAT SUBMIT BUTTON ON 28:04.829 --> 28:09.569 YOUR PHONE, WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING HOME, WHAT ARE THOSE 28:09.569 --> 28:15.809 CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU'RE HAVING WITHIN YOUR HEART? BE HONEST 28:15.809 --> 28:18.869 WITH YOURSELF. LORD, I'VE BEEN GIVEN FOR 20 YEARS AND NOTHING'S 28:18.869 --> 28:23.970 HAPPENED. THAT IS WHAT WE CALL CONFIRMATION BIAS. YOU KNOW WHY? 28:23.970 --> 28:26.538 BECAUSE IN YOUR HEART, YOU CAME INTO AGREEMENT WITH THE LAW OF 28:26.538 --> 28:31.950 SIN AND DEATH. HEART CHECK. TOLD YOU Y'ALL WEREN'T READY FOR 28:31.950 --> 28:41.880 THIS. CAN WE GO BACK TO VERSE 29? DON'T LET WORRY ENTER YOUR 28:41.880 --> 28:46.410 LIFE. IN THE PREVIOUS, THERE'S A PREVIOUS VERSE IN LUKE 12, AND 28:46.410 --> 28:50.250 JESUS LITERALLY SAYS THAT WORRYING SUBTRACTS FROM YOUR 28:50.250 --> 28:55.589 LIFE. SO EVERY TIME, THERE IT IS, SO IF WORRYING ADDS NOTHING, 28:55.589 --> 28:58.559 BUT ACTUALLY SUBTRACTS FROM YOUR LIFE, WHY WOULD YOU WORRY ABOUT 28:58.559 --> 29:09.930 GOD'S CARE OF YOU? DO YOU TRUST IN WHAT GOD SAYS? BECAUSE IF YOU 29:09.930 --> 29:15.779 DON'T, THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR. YOU RENDER YOUR GIVING AND YOUR TIES 29:15.779 --> 29:21.390 OBSOLETE BY NOT TRUSTING IN HIM. SO FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE 29:21.390 --> 29:29.730 BELIEVING AND STANDING, FIGHTING TO GET OUT OF CYCLES, IT'S 29:29.730 --> 29:42.299 SIMPLE, STOP WORRYING. LIVE CAREFREE IN THE CARE OF GOD AS 29:42.299 --> 29:49.261 YOU LIVE ABOVE THE ANXIOUS CARES ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL NEEDS. "BUT 29:49.261 --> 29:51.900 PASTOR ANTHONY, THAT SOUNDS SO HARD. "HOW DO YOU DO THAT?" IT'S 29:51.900 --> 29:58.230 SIMPLE. JUST SPEND MORE TIME PURSUING GOD. THINK LESS ABOUT 29:58.230 --> 30:03.059 THE NEGATIVE THINGS AND THINK MORE ABOUT ON GOD. IS IT REALLY 30:03.059 --> 30:10.740 THAT SIMPLE? YES, IT IS. SO MY CHALLENGE TO YOU TONIGHT AS YOU 30:10.740 --> 30:17.789 GIVE IN OBEDIENCE IS NOW IT'S TIME TO ENTER INTO TRUSTING. AND 30:17.789 --> 30:22.859 JUST ASK YOURSELF THIS AS YOU'RE GIVING. JUST SAY, "SELF, WHAT IS 30:22.859 --> 30:26.400 IT THAT'S KEEPING ME "FROM ALLOWING GOD TO CAPTURE MY 30:26.400 --> 30:32.115 HEART?" YOU'LL BE SURPRISED BY WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT REVEALS 30:32.115 --> 30:37.246 BACK TO YOU. GUYS, IT'S TIME TO STOP GETTING IN THE WAY OF 30:37.246 --> 30:46.664 OURSELVES. SURRENDER TO GOD SO THAT YOU CAN BEGIN TO LIVE ABOVE 30:46.664 --> 30:51.944 THE ANXIOUS CARES OF YOUR PERSONAL NEEDS. CAN WE GO BACK 30:51.944 --> 30:57.434 TO VERSE 32 REALLY QUICK? SO DON'T EVER BE AFRAID DEAREST 30:57.434 --> 31:00.736 FRIENDS YOUR LOVING FATHER JOYOUSLY GIVES YOU HIS KINGDOM 31:00.736 --> 31:08.236 REALM WITH HOW MANY PROMISES? ALL LIVE CAREFREE IN THE CARE OF 31:08.236 --> 31:14.535 GOD. AMEN GO AHEAD AND PUT UP THE GIVING INFORMATION ON THE 31:14.535 --> 31:21.914 SCREEN. YOU CAN GIVE VIA SNAIL MAIL. BY THE WAY, DID THE U.S. 31:21.914 --> 31:25.575 POST OFFICE FIX THEMSELVES YET? PROBABLY NOT, THEY HAD A PARTIAL 31:25.575 --> 31:28.875 SHUTDOWN, SO OKAY, YEAH, WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT. THAT'S WHY 31:28.875 --> 31:31.664 SOMEBODY NEEDS TO GET AN AGREEMENT IN THEIR HEARTS WITH 31:31.664 --> 31:34.365 GOD. YOU CAN JUST BUY THE POST OFFICE AND YOU CAN BE THE MAIL 31:34.365 --> 31:40.335 CARRIER. WEBSITE, MOBILE APP, TEXT TO GIVE, ALL THE FUN 31:40.335 --> 31:45.016 THINGS. AGAIN, WE LOVE AND ARE SO APPRECIATIVE OF ALL OF YOU, 31:45.016 --> 31:50.295 ALL OF OUR ONLINE E-CHURCH. WE LOVE YOU. WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR 31:50.295 --> 31:53.085 YOUR GIVING AND YOUR FAITHFULNESS IN THAT. NOW IT'S 31:53.085 --> 31:56.924 TIME FOR THE BLESSINGS AND THE GOODNESS OF GOD TO BE 31:56.924 --> 32:03.088 RECIPROCATED IN YOUR LIFE. IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO STOP WORRYING. 32:03.088 --> 32:09.704 STOP WORRYING AND TRUST AS YOU PURSUE THE KINGDOM OF GOD. AMEN. 32:09.704 --> 32:12.016 LET'S STAND UP REALLY QUICK. I JUST WANNA PRAY A QUICK BLESSING 32:12.016 --> 32:17.266 OVER YOU GUYS IF THE GUYS ARE DONE SERVING THE PEOPLE. PASTOR 32:17.266 --> 32:22.006 DOUG HAS A GREAT MESSAGE TONIGHT. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE 32:22.006 --> 32:25.276 GIVE YOU ALL PRAISE AND GLORY FOR YOUR GOODNESS AND FOR THE 32:25.276 --> 32:28.996 THINGS THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE. FATHER, I ASK THAT YOU 32:28.996 --> 32:33.226 WOULD RELEASE A FRESH IMPARTATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 32:33.226 --> 32:38.385 TO SEARCH THE HEARTS OF EVERY SINGLE PERSON, GOD. CAUSE THEM 32:38.385 --> 32:42.315 TO POSITION THEMSELVES, TO ALLOW YOU TO CAPTURE THEIR HEARTS, TO 32:42.315 --> 32:48.164 SURRENDER ALL SO THAT THEY CAN EXPERIENCE THE FULLNESS OF ALL 32:48.164 --> 32:52.785 OF YOUR HEAVENLY BENEFITS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM. AND I 32:52.785 --> 32:56.924 THANK YOU, GOD, THAT THEY PROSPER AND THEY WALK IN 32:56.924 --> 33:02.596 INCREASE AS THEY LIVE ABOVE THE ANXIOUS CARES ABOUT THEIR 33:02.596 --> 33:08.535 PERSONAL NEEDS AND LIVE CAREFREE IN YOU, IN YOUR NAME, AMEN. ALL 33:08.535 --> 33:10.824 RIGHT, PLEASE GIVE A WARM WELCOME AS PASTOR DOUG 33:10.824 --> 33:12.585 COMES TO THE STAGE. THANK YOU, PASTOR ANTHONY. 33:12.585 --> 33:14.055 (CONGREGATION APPLAUDING) 33:14.055 --> 33:19.846 HALLELUJAH, YOU CAN BE SEATED. PRAISE GOD. JUST KIND OF BASKING 33:19.846 --> 33:22.635 IN THE PRESENCE OF THE GOD TONIGHT 'CAUSE IT'S SO GOOD. 33:22.635 --> 33:25.965 HALLELUJAH, PRAISE GOD. WELL, I'M GONNA GET RIGHT INTO THIS 33:25.965 --> 33:29.325 TONIGHT BECAUSE JANET TELLS ME SHE STILL WANTS ICE CREAM EVEN 33:29.325 --> 33:32.115 THOUGH IT'S COLD OUT AND THE ICE CREAM SHOP 33:32.115 --> 33:34.694 CLOSES EARLY SO WE GOTTA GET HER OUT OF HERE. 33:34.694 --> 33:40.185 (CONGREGATION LAUGHING) 33:40.185 --> 33:42.795 BUT TONIGHT, IF YOU'RE TAKING NOTES, FOR SOME OF YOU THAT DO 33:42.795 --> 33:47.385 THAT YET, MY MESSAGE IS ENTITLED THE SEVEN BLESSINGS FROM 33:47.385 --> 33:52.007 REVELATION, PART ONE. IT'S PART ONE BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY I'M 33:52.007 --> 33:55.905 GONNA GET THROUGH SEVEN TONIGHT, SO SOMETIME WE'LL GET BACK TO 33:55.905 --> 34:00.346 THIS. BUT BEFORE WE SPECIFICALLY DIG INTO THE SEVEN BLESSINGS, I 34:00.346 --> 34:03.615 NEED TO LAY A LITTLE FOUNDATION ABOUT THE BOOK OF REVELATION. 34:03.615 --> 34:06.615 IT'S A BOOK OF THE FUTURE PROPHECY, BUT IT'S REALLY MUCH 34:06.615 --> 34:11.565 MORE THAN THAT. THE BOOK OF REVELATION IS ESSENTIAL BECAUSE 34:11.565 --> 34:17.626 IT UNVEILS TO US THE EXALTED CHRIST. IT OPENS A CURTAIN TO 34:17.626 --> 34:23.385 GIVE US A PEEK OR A VIEW OR A PICTURE OF JESUS IN HIS 34:23.385 --> 34:30.195 GLORIFIED STATE RATHER THAN WHAT WE SEE IN THE OTHER 65 BOOKS OF 34:30.195 --> 34:36.014 THE BIBLE WHERE WE SEE PICTURES OF JESUS AND HIS EARTHLY 34:36.014 --> 34:40.576 MINISTRY BASICALLY. THAT'S THE SIGNIFICANCE OF REVELATION. WE 34:40.576 --> 34:44.896 COULD HAVE AN ENTIRE MESSAGE REALLY JUST TALKING ABOUT 34:44.896 --> 34:48.856 OVERALL THE BOOK OF REVELATION, NOT GETTING INTO DETAIL AND JUST 34:48.856 --> 34:52.005 TALK ABOUT WHY IT'S SUCH A KEY BOOK. BUT SOME PEOPLE SAY, WHY 34:52.005 --> 34:54.795 DO YOU WANNA STUDY REVELATION? IT'S TOO DIFFICULT TO 34:54.795 --> 35:00.224 UNDERSTAND, OR IT REALLY DOESN'T AFFECT ME IN MY LIFE TODAY. SO 35:00.224 --> 35:04.096 LET ME JUST QUICKLY, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE ACTUAL MESSAGE, 35:04.096 --> 35:08.175 JUST THROW OUT THREE REASONS WHY THIS BOOK IS SO IMPORTANT TO 35:08.175 --> 35:11.596 COMPREHEND AND STUDY. NUMBER ONE, IT REVEALS THE TRUE NATURE 35:11.596 --> 35:16.396 OF CHRIST. IT SHOWCASES JESUS AS THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA, THE 35:16.396 --> 35:20.385 BEGINNING AND THE END, THE LIVING ONE WHO HOLDS THE KEYS OF 35:20.385 --> 35:24.525 DEATH AND HELL. IT GIVES US A FULLER, MORE AUTHORITATIVE 35:24.525 --> 35:29.206 PICTURE OF HIM IN HIS GLORY. NUMBER TWO, IT EMPOWERS US AS 35:29.206 --> 35:33.556 BELIEVERS TO BE OVERCOMERS. THE BOOK CALLS US AS CHRISTIANS TO 35:33.556 --> 35:37.905 BE OVERCOMERS IN EVERY AREA OF OUR LIFE, AND IT URGES US TO 35:37.905 --> 35:42.556 HAVE A LIFE OF CONTINUOUS OBEDIENCE AND VICTORY OVER 35:42.556 --> 35:46.335 EVERYTHING THAT SATAN WOULD THROW AT US. AND THEN NUMBER 35:46.335 --> 35:50.985 THREE, IT HELPS US UNDERSTAND GOD'S PLAN FOR THE AGES. YOU 35:50.985 --> 35:55.695 KNOW, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I LIKE KNOWING WHAT THE PLAN 35:55.695 --> 35:59.835 IS. EVEN IF I'M GOING TO TAKE A TRIP, I WANT TO HAVE IT PLANNED 35:59.835 --> 36:02.025 OUT. I WANT TO KNOW WHERE I'M GOING, WHERE I'M GOING TO BE AND 36:02.025 --> 36:03.974 WHAT I'M GOING TO DO. I MEAN, NOT THAT YOU CAN'T DO SOMETHING 36:03.974 --> 36:09.525 SPONTANEOUS, BUT IT'S AND I THINK YOU GUYS THAT ARE HERE IN 36:09.525 --> 36:12.525 A PROPHETIC CHURCH PROBABLY WOULD MOSTLY FIT INTO THAT GROUP 36:12.525 --> 36:14.416 TOO, AND THAT YOU LIKE TO KNOW THE PLAN BECAUSE YOU WANT TO 36:14.416 --> 36:17.744 HEAR ABOUT THE FUTURE. YOU'RE INTERESTED IN WHAT GOD SAYS IS 36:17.744 --> 36:21.494 GOING TO HAPPEN AND THEN SEE IT COME TO PASS. WELL, THAT'S WHAT 36:21.494 --> 36:26.744 REVELATION REALLY IS. IT'S GOD'S PLAN FOR MAN IN THE FUTURE. AND 36:26.744 --> 36:29.865 THE BOOK SERVES AS A ROADMAP TO UNDERSTAND GOD'S ULTIMATE 36:29.865 --> 36:34.635 PURPOSE AND PLAN FOR MANKIND AND THE EARTH. AND IT GIVES US 36:34.635 --> 36:38.416 INSIGHTS TO THE GLORIOUS FUTURE THAT'S AHEAD FOR US. AND THAT'S 36:38.416 --> 36:42.255 GOOD TO KNOW WHAT THAT FUTURE IS. AND WE'LL SEE IT ISN'T JUST 36:42.255 --> 36:45.436 ABOUT THE FUTURE, BUT THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT WE CAN APPLY TO 36:45.436 --> 36:49.936 OUR LIVES TODAY THAT ARE IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION. SOME OF YOU 36:49.936 --> 36:52.846 MIGHT KNOW THIS, BUT REVELATION IS THE ONLY BOOK IN THE BIBLE 36:52.846 --> 36:57.376 THAT MOTIVATES ITS READERS BY PROMISING A BLESSING TO THOSE 36:57.376 --> 37:04.005 THAT READ, HEAR, AND OBEY IT. AND ALSO, IT'S THE ONLY BOOK 37:04.005 --> 37:10.063 THAT HAS A CURSE ATTACHED TO IT FOR THOSE THAT TAMPER WITH IT. 37:10.063 --> 37:12.615 THE BLESSINGS FOUND IN REVELATION 1:3, AND WE'RE GOING 37:12.615 --> 37:14.822 TO SPEND A LITTLE TIME ON REVELATION 1:3 TONIGHT IN A 37:14.822 --> 37:17.565 MOMENT, BUT LET ME JUST TO START OUT, WE'LL GIVE YOU THAT VERSE 37:17.565 --> 37:21.585 HERE. IT SAYS, "BLESSED IS HE WHO READS AND THOSE WHO HEAR THE 37:21.585 --> 37:25.215 WORDS OF THIS PROPHECY AND KEEP THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN 37:25.215 --> 37:29.264 IN IT, FOR THE TIME IS NEAR." AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE CURSE, 37:29.264 --> 37:31.396 EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T LIKE READING IT. WE'LL READ THE CURSE 37:31.396 --> 37:36.076 TONIGHT. REVELATION 22:18-19 SAYS, "FOR I TESTIFY TO EVERYONE 37:36.076 --> 37:39.255 WHO HEARS THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK. IF ANYONE 37:39.255 --> 37:42.376 ADDS TO THESE THINGS, GOD WILL ADD TO HIM THE PLAGUES THAT ARE 37:42.376 --> 37:46.514 WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK. AND IF ANYONE TAKES AWAY FROM THE WORDS 37:46.514 --> 37:50.235 OF THIS BOOK OF THIS PROPHECY, GOD SHALL TAKE AWAY HIS PART 37:50.235 --> 37:53.474 FROM THE BOOK OF LIFE, FROM THE HOLY CITY, AND FROM THE THINGS 37:53.474 --> 37:59.474 WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK." THAT'S A SOBERING THOUGHT. AND 37:59.474 --> 38:02.175 NATURALLY, WE LIKE ALL THE POSITIVE MOTIVATION 38:02.175 --> 38:06.615 MUCH BETTER. AND REVELATION HAS SOME POSITIVES, 38:06.615 --> 38:09.014 AND WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE TONIGHT, AND WE'RE GONNA 38:09.014 --> 38:13.936 LOOK AT AT LEAST THREE OF THE SEVEN BLESSINGS. HOW MANY OF YOU 38:13.936 --> 38:18.106 ACTUALLY KNEW THERE WERE SEVEN BLESSINGS LISTED IN THE BOOK OF 38:18.106 --> 38:23.985 REVELATION FOR BELIEVERS? ANYONE AWARE OF THAT FACT? MANY OF YOU 38:23.985 --> 38:26.925 WERE, OKAY. WELL, WE'RE GONNA START ON AN ADVENTURE TONIGHT 38:26.925 --> 38:29.505 AND BEGIN LOOKING AT THESE. I'M GONNA ATTEMPT, LIKE I SAID, TO 38:29.505 --> 38:33.166 LOOK AT THE FIRST THREE. AS WE INVESTIGATE THESE PROMISES 38:33.166 --> 38:37.335 TONIGHT, MY PRAYER IS THAT WE WILL DRAW SOME UNDERSTANDING, 38:37.335 --> 38:41.324 SOME KNOWLEDGE AND ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE BLESSINGS. NOW, WE'RE 38:41.324 --> 38:45.166 ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE BEATITUDES OF JESUS FROM THE SERMON ON THE 38:45.166 --> 38:52.456 MOUNT, MATTHEW CHAPTER FIVE. THE BEATITUDES ARE THE DECLARATIONS 38:52.456 --> 38:56.655 OF BLESSEDNESS THAT WERE SPOKEN BY JESUS. AND EACH ONE OF THE 38:56.655 --> 39:03.436 BEATITUDES BEGAN WITH "BLESSED ARE." AN EXAMPLE, MATTHEW 5:8 IS 39:03.436 --> 39:06.615 AN EXAMPLE, SAYS, "BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART, FOR THEY 39:06.615 --> 39:11.206 SHALL SEE GOD." AND EVERY ONE OF THEM STARTED, "BLESSED ARE." SO 39:11.206 --> 39:14.686 IT'S A BLESSING, THE BEATITUDES. THE SEVEN BLESSINGS OR 39:14.686 --> 39:18.646 BEATITUDES GIVEN BY JESUS TO THE APOSTLE JOHN AND WRITTEN DOWN IN 39:18.646 --> 39:22.635 THE BOOK OF REVELATION, WE CAN CALL THEM THE SEVEN BLESSINGS, 39:22.635 --> 39:26.445 OR YOU COULD CALL THEM THE SEVEN BEATITUDES IN REVELATION. SEVEN 39:26.445 --> 39:29.835 WONDERFUL BLESSINGS STRAIGHT FROM GOD. THIS GREEK WORD THAT 39:29.835 --> 39:34.606 IS USED AND TRANSLATED BLESSED IS THE SAME GREEK WORD THAT'S 39:34.606 --> 39:40.215 USED BY JESUS IN THE BEATITUDES, MATTHEW 5. IT'S THE SAME GREEK 39:40.215 --> 39:44.445 WORD THAT WE FIND EVERY TIME IN THE BLESSINGS IN REVELATION. AND 39:44.445 --> 39:49.275 THAT WORD MEANS HAPPY, IT MEANS BLISSFUL, OR LITERALLY TO BE 39:49.275 --> 39:54.346 ENLARGED. THE WORD BLESSED IS MORE THAN SUPERFICIAL HAPPINESS. 39:54.346 --> 39:57.945 BEING BLESSED IS MORE THAN JUST HAVING NICE THINGS, HAVING SOME 39:57.945 --> 40:01.724 MONEY IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT, SAYING I'M ABLE TO DRIVE A NICE 40:01.724 --> 40:06.346 CAR, OR I HAVE A GREAT FAMILY. IT'S MORE THAN THAT. BLESSED 40:06.346 --> 40:10.215 REFERS TO A STATE OF SPIRITUAL WELLBEING AND SPIRITUAL 40:10.215 --> 40:14.175 PROSPERITY. THE WORD BLESSED THAT WE LOOK AT TONIGHT ACTUALLY 40:14.175 --> 40:19.403 MEANS SUPREMELY BLESSED OR VERY HAPPILY BLESSED. SO WE'LL 40:19.403 --> 40:21.525 REMEMBER THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THESE TONIGHT. THE BOOK OF 40:21.525 --> 40:24.916 REVELATION WAS RECORDED BY THE APOSTLE JOHN, AND AT THE TIME 40:24.916 --> 40:27.764 THAT JOHN PENNED THE BOOK OF REVELATION, HE WAS THE LAST 40:27.764 --> 40:31.876 LIVING APOSTLE THAT WAS APPOINTED BY JESUS THAT REMAINED 40:31.876 --> 40:36.769 ON EARTH. THE OTHERS WERE MARTYRED OR GONE BY THAT TIME. 40:36.769 --> 40:39.960 AND DURING THIS TIME THERE WAS A VERY WICKED AND EVIL ROMAN 40:39.960 --> 40:45.900 EMPEROR. HIS NAME WAS EMPEROR DOMITIAN, AND HE WAS ON A 40:45.900 --> 40:50.340 RAMPAGE TO PERSECUTE AND KILL CHRISTIANS. AND HE ATTEMPTED TO 40:50.340 --> 40:53.820 POISON THE APOSTLE JOHN IN EPHESUS, BUT JOHN DIDN'T EVEN 40:53.820 --> 40:58.891 GET ILL FROM IT. AND EARLY CHRISTIAN HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS 40:58.891 --> 41:06.420 INDICATE THAT THEY ALSO PUT JOHN IN A POT OF BOILING OIL, TRIED 41:06.420 --> 41:09.900 TO BOIL HIM TO DEATH IN THE TOWN SQUARE AS A WARNING TO THE OTHER 41:09.900 --> 41:13.530 CHRISTIANS. YOU KNOW WHAT? THE OIL, THE BOILING OIL, JUST THINK 41:13.530 --> 41:18.030 OF THAT, DIDN'T EVEN HARM JOHN AT ALL. JOHN EVEN PREACHED FROM 41:18.030 --> 41:22.530 THIS POT OF OIL AND PEOPLE GOT SAVED WHILE HE WAS PREACHING. 41:22.530 --> 41:25.710 I'D SAY THE HAND OF GOD WAS ON APOSTLE JOHN. SO WE SHOULDN'T 41:25.710 --> 41:30.001 DOUBT WHAT HE SAYS IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION, RIGHT? I JUST 41:30.001 --> 41:33.811 THOUGHT OF THAT. GOD KEPT HIM ALIVE AND PRESERVED HIM FOR 41:33.811 --> 41:36.900 THAT. BECAUSE AFTER THEY TOOK HIM OUT OF THAT POT OF OIL, THEY 41:36.900 --> 41:39.360 SAID, "WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THIS GUY." THEY THREW HIM 41:39.360 --> 41:43.710 ON A BOAT AND SHIPPED HIM OVER TO AN ISLAND CALLED PATMOS, 41:43.710 --> 41:49.260 WHICH IS ABOUT 30 MILES FROM THE COAST OF MODERN DAY TURKEY. AND 41:49.260 --> 41:53.400 SO HE'S PUT ON THIS DESERTED ISLAND. JESUS COMES TO HIM THERE 41:53.400 --> 41:58.081 AND REVEALS HIMSELF TO JOHN. AND THE BIBLE SAYS THE EXPERIENCE 41:58.081 --> 42:02.581 WAS SO OVERWHELMING TO JOHN THE APOSTLE THAT HE FELL AT JESUS' 42:02.581 --> 42:07.800 FEET AS IF HE WERE DEAD. AND THEN JOHN STARTS TO PEN THE BOOK 42:07.800 --> 42:10.771 OF REVELATION. HIS FIRST ASSIGNMENT WAS WRITING THE SEVEN 42:10.771 --> 42:16.231 LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES IN ASIA. PASTOR BRENDA TAUGHT, I 42:16.231 --> 42:20.280 THINK, A COUPLE OF MESSAGES LAST NOVEMBER ON THE SEVEN CHURCHES. 42:20.280 --> 42:23.190 AND IT WAS VERY ENCOURAGING. SHE EXPLAINED HOW THOSE SEVEN 42:23.190 --> 42:28.561 CHURCHES RELATE TO CHURCHES THAT ARE IN EXISTENCE TODAY IN 2026 42:28.561 --> 42:32.161 AND HOW WE COULD SEE SIMILARITIES AND THE WARNINGS 42:32.161 --> 42:36.061 THAT WERE IN THE WORD ABOUT THE THINGS THAT SOME OF THESE SEVEN 42:36.061 --> 42:42.728 CHURCHES WERE DOING THAT WERE OFF. BASICALLY, I'LL SAY THAT. 42:42.728 --> 42:46.920 BUT WE HAVE SEVEN SUPREMELY BLESSED OR HAPPY STATEMENTS 42:46.920 --> 42:49.831 SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE BOOK OF REVELATION AND WE'RE GOING TO 42:49.831 --> 42:55.440 SEE THAT THEY ALSO HAVE SOME APPLICATION TO US IN 2026. WE'LL 42:55.440 --> 43:00.001 PUT UP THE SEVEN HERE QUICKLY. I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S TOO SMALL FOR 43:00.001 --> 43:03.030 YOU TO EVEN READ, BUT LET ME JUST GIVE YOU THE FIRST THREE 43:03.030 --> 43:05.550 THAT WE'RE GOING OVER TONIGHT AND THEN WE'LL DO SOMETHING 43:05.550 --> 43:09.777 BETTER NEXT TIME. NUMBER ONE, IT COMES OUT OF REVELATION 1:3. WE 43:09.777 --> 43:13.621 READ THAT VERSE. IT TALKS ABOUT READING IT, HEARING IT, AND 43:13.621 --> 43:16.710 TAKING IT TO HEART, OR KEEPING IT. AND THEN NUMBER TWO, THERE'S 43:16.710 --> 43:19.440 A SPECIAL BLESSING FOR THOSE THAT DIE IN THE LORD THAT COMES 43:19.440 --> 43:23.911 FROM REVELATION 14:13. AND NUMBER THREE, THE REVELATION 43:23.911 --> 43:30.181 16:15 EXPLAINS THAT WE NEED TO STAY AWAKE AND REMAIN CLOTHED. 43:30.181 --> 43:33.210 IT TALKS ABOUT DON'T BE NAKED. WELL, THERE'S SOME MEANING TO 43:33.210 --> 43:36.420 THAT. NOT JUST TAKING OFF YOUR CLOTHES, BUT WE'LL TALK ABOUT 43:36.420 --> 43:39.121 THE SPIRITUAL MEANING OF THAT. SO JUST STAY CLOTHED, FOLKS, 43:39.121 --> 43:40.621 WHILE YOU'RE HERE TONIGHT, ESPECIALLY, SO. 43:40.621 --> 43:42.240 (CONGREGATION LAUGHING) 43:42.240 --> 43:47.101 OKAY. SO THE FIRST THREE BLESSINGS. NUMBER ONE, THOSE WHO 43:47.101 --> 43:51.001 READ THE WORD, HEAR THE WORD, AND KEEP THE WORD. NUMBER TWO, 43:51.001 --> 43:53.641 THOSE WHO DIE IN THE LORD. AND NUMBER THREE, THOSE WHO STAY 43:53.641 --> 43:55.920 AWAKE AND REMAIN CLOTHED. THOSE ARE WHAT WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT 43:55.920 --> 43:59.581 TONIGHT. SO BLESSING NUMBER ONE. WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT THIS 43:59.581 --> 44:01.920 SCRIPTURE A LITTLE CLOSER BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF MEANING 44:01.920 --> 44:05.760 IN THIS. REVELATION 1:3, LET'S LOOK AT THAT AGAIN. BLESSED IS 44:05.760 --> 44:10.050 HE WHO READS AND THOSE WHO HEAR THE WORDS OF THIS PROPHECY AND 44:10.050 --> 44:12.420 KEEP THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN IT FOR THE TIME IS 44:12.420 --> 44:17.221 NEAR. SO THERE'S A BLESSING, A TRIFLE BLESSING, JUST RIGHT IN 44:17.221 --> 44:20.670 THIS SCRIPTURE FOR READING, HEARING, AND KEEPING THE WORDS 44:20.670 --> 44:23.820 OF THE PROPHECY. LET'S SEE HOW THAT APPLIES TO US TODAY. THE 44:23.820 --> 44:27.331 BLESSING OF READING. BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO READS THE WORD OF 44:27.331 --> 44:31.260 THIS PROPHECY. NOW REMEMBER, IN THE EARLY CHURCH, IT WAS A 44:31.260 --> 44:34.740 LITTLE DIFFERENT. LITERACY WAS NOT AS WIDESPREAD AS IT IS 44:34.740 --> 44:38.130 TODAY. THE COPIES OF THE SCRIPTURES WERE NOT WIDELY 44:38.130 --> 44:43.201 AVAILABLE. EVERYONE DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO SCRIPTURES. WE'RE A 44:43.201 --> 44:46.110 BLESSED PEOPLE TODAY IN THAT WE COULD HAVE A BIBLE IN EVERY ROOM 44:46.110 --> 44:50.460 OF OUR HOUSE IF WE WANTED TO, OR MAYBE EVEN TWO. WE CAN HAVE IT 44:50.460 --> 44:56.851 IN OUR DEVICES. WE CAN TURN ON OUR COMPUTERS OR TELEVISIONS AND 44:56.851 --> 45:00.811 FIND THE GOSPEL 24 HOURS A DAY. WE ARE REALLY BLESSED. WE REALLY 45:00.811 --> 45:03.420 DON'T HAVE A REASON TO BE IGNORANT, DO WE? AND WHEN YOU 45:03.420 --> 45:06.391 THINK BACK AT THESE PEOPLE, THEIR WAY TO GET IT SOMETIMES, 45:06.391 --> 45:09.331 THE ONLY WAY WAS JUST TO GO OUT AND HEAR THE PREACHED WORD IF 45:09.331 --> 45:12.931 THEY DIDN'T HAVE A COPY OF THE SCRIPTURES. THE PUBLIC READING 45:12.931 --> 45:16.561 OF SCRIPTURE WAS A VITAL MEANS OF COMMUNICATION. READING ALOUD 45:16.561 --> 45:20.190 WAS A SACRED ACT THAT INVOLVED PROCLAIMING GOD'S TRUTH. THE 45:20.190 --> 45:24.630 MOST EFFECTIVE EVANGELISM IN HISTORY ALL REVOLVED AROUND THE 45:24.630 --> 45:29.940 PREACHING OF THE WORD OF GOD. PRAISE GOD. AND SOMETIMES WE 45:29.940 --> 45:36.331 TAKE IT TOO LIGHTLY. WE HEAR PASTOR HANK READ A VERSE TO US, 45:36.331 --> 45:40.411 AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DISTRACTED. WE DON'T HONOR IT 45:40.411 --> 45:43.771 THE WAY WE SHOULD, I THINK. WE NEED TO HONOR THE READING OF THE 45:43.771 --> 45:50.670 WORD. IN FACT, IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT DURING THE TRIBULATION 45:50.670 --> 45:57.510 PERIOD, GOD EVEN SENDS AN ANGEL TO LOUDLY PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL TO 45:57.510 --> 46:01.170 THE WORLD SO THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LEFT ALIVE DURING THAT 46:01.170 --> 46:06.121 TIME OF TRIBULATION ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE. AMAZING. WE'LL TALK MORE 46:06.121 --> 46:08.971 ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED DURING THE TRIBULATION. 46:08.971 --> 46:13.141 IT'S AMAZING. BUT PAUL INSTRUCTED TIMOTHY IN 1 TIMOTHY 46:13.141 --> 46:18.331 4:13. PAUL WAS A MENTOR TO TIMOTHY, A YOUNG PASTOR. HE'S 46:18.331 --> 46:22.179 GIVING HIM INSTRUCTION, AND HE SAID IN 1 TIMOTHY 4:13, I WANT 46:22.179 --> 46:25.170 TO READ IT OUT OF THE AMPLIFIED, IT SAYS, "UNTIL I COME, DEVOTE 46:25.170 --> 46:29.460 YOURSELF TO PUBLIC READING OF SCRIPTURE, TO PREACHING AND 46:29.460 --> 46:32.400 TEACHING THE SOUND DOCTRINE OF GOD'S WORD." THAT WAS PAUL'S 46:32.400 --> 46:38.340 INSTRUCTION TO TIMOTHY. SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE READ. AND THEN 46:38.340 --> 46:41.371 THE BLESSING OF HEARING IS IN THIS VERSE. "BLESSED ARE THOSE 46:41.371 --> 46:44.431 WHO HEAR THE WORDS OF THIS PROPHECY." HEARING, IN A 46:44.431 --> 46:49.831 BIBLICAL SENSE, GOES BEYOND MERELY PERCEIVING SOUND. IT 46:49.831 --> 46:55.650 IMPLIES LISTENING WITH ATTENTION AND INTENTION, ALLOWING THE 46:55.650 --> 47:00.181 WORDS TO PENETRATE OUR HEARTS AND OUR MINDS. HEARING IS A 47:00.181 --> 47:05.826 FIRST STEP TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING AND THEN ULTIMATELY OBEDIENCE. 47:05.826 --> 47:10.050 HAVE ANY OF YOU HERE OR WATCHING ONLINE EVER BEEN ACCUSED OF NOT 47:10.050 --> 47:14.490 HEARING WHAT A PERSON SAYS TO YOU? MOST OF THE HUSBANDS CAN 47:14.490 --> 47:19.291 SAY, "YES, I'VE BEEN ACCUSED OF THAT." SOMETIMES WE AREN'T GOOD, 47:19.291 --> 47:26.010 THE BEST LISTENERS. BUT YOU MIGHT HAVE EVEN BEEN TRYING TO 47:26.010 --> 47:30.391 LISTEN PARTIALLY, OR PARTIALLY LISTENING WHEN SOMEONE'S 47:30.391 --> 47:34.891 SPEAKING TO YOU. SOMETIMES DISTRACTIONS ARE AROUND YOU AND 47:34.891 --> 47:39.210 IT'S HARD TO ALWAYS COMPLETELY FOCUS AND LISTEN. SOMETIMES YOU 47:39.210 --> 47:41.791 ATTEMPT TO FOCUS ON THE CONVERSATION BUT YOUR MIND IS 47:41.791 --> 47:47.190 ELSEWHERE AS THE PERSON'S TALKING TO YOU. OR MAYBE YOU'RE 47:47.190 --> 47:50.670 ALREADY FORMULATING A RESPONSE TO THAT PERSON WHILE THEY ARE 47:50.670 --> 47:54.871 EXPLAINING WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO TELL YOU. HAS THAT EVER 47:54.871 --> 47:57.990 HAPPENED TO ANYONE HERE? I'M SURE IT HAS. WE THINK WE KNOW 47:57.990 --> 48:00.721 WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, SO WE'RE ALREADY TRYING TO COME UP 48:00.721 --> 48:04.471 WITH OUR RESPONSE. WELL, MAYBE IF WE'D LISTEN BETTER, WE FIND 48:04.471 --> 48:07.710 OUT THAT IT ISN'T EXACTLY WHAT WE THINK THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO 48:07.710 --> 48:14.161 TELL US. WE OFTEN LISTEN, BUT WE DON'T REALLY HEAR. AND SOMETIMES 48:14.161 --> 48:18.001 THAT'S AN ISSUE EVEN IN THE CHURCH. THERE'S A HUGE PROBLEM 48:18.001 --> 48:20.550 WHEN PEOPLE DO NOT HEAR INSTRUCTION FROM THE WORD OF GOD 48:20.550 --> 48:23.940 OR THE HOLY SPIRIT. IN FACT, THERE'S AN OLD TESTAMENT 48:23.940 --> 48:28.320 PROPHECY ABOUT A COMING FAMINE OF HEARING THE WORDS OF THE 48:28.320 --> 48:32.371 LORD. IT'S FOUND IN AMOS. LET'S READ THAT. IT SAYS, AMOS 8:11 48:32.371 --> 48:35.731 SAYS, "THE TIME IS SURELY COMING, SAYS THE SOVEREIGN LORD, 48:35.731 --> 48:39.570 "WHEN I WILL SEND A FAMINE ON THE LAND." IT'S NOT A FAMINE OF 48:39.570 --> 48:43.793 BREAD OR WATER, BUT OF HEARING THE WORDS OF THE LORD. ISN'T 48:43.793 --> 48:46.231 THAT INTERESTING? I WASN'T FAMILIAR WITH THAT SCRIPTURE 48:46.231 --> 48:48.481 UNTIL I STARTED STUDYING THIS. I THOUGHT, MAN, THAT'S 48:48.481 --> 48:51.391 INTERESTING. IT'S NOT A FAMINE THAT WE'D LIKE FOOD, BUT IT'S 48:51.391 --> 48:57.090 JUST A FAMINE OF THE WORD OF THE LORD. PEOPLE WILL STAGGER FROM 48:57.090 --> 49:01.081 SEA TO SEA AND WANDER FROM BORDER TO BORDER, SEARCHING FOR 49:01.081 --> 49:06.420 THE WORD OF THE LORD, BUT THEY WILL NOT FIND IT. HUMANITY HAS 49:06.420 --> 49:09.518 PLUGGED ITS SPIRITUAL EARS TO THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD AND TO 49:09.518 --> 49:13.291 THE VOICE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN LARGE PART. MAN IS ATTEMPTING TO 49:13.291 --> 49:18.510 FILL THE SPIRITUAL VOID WITH FLESHLY FOOD. AND I COMPARE THIS 49:18.510 --> 49:22.291 TO THE SITUATION OF HAVING A GROUP OF FIVE-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN 49:22.291 --> 49:27.061 WITH A TABLE IN FRONT OF THEM. AND ON ONE SIDE OF THE TABLE IS 49:27.061 --> 49:30.360 GREAT-LOOKING HAMBURGERS AND FRENCH FRIES AND DONUTS AND 49:30.360 --> 49:35.221 PASTRIES AND SODA POP, WHAT WE COULD CALL COMFORT FOOD. AND THE 49:35.221 --> 49:38.371 OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE IS THE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, HEALTHY 49:38.371 --> 49:42.960 GRAINS, THE FOOD THAT'S ACTUALLY GOOD FOR US. WHICH SIDE OF THE 49:42.960 --> 49:48.320 TABLE ARE 99 PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN GOING TO RUN TO? 49:48.320 --> 49:52.740 PROBABLY THE HAMBURGERS AND THE FRIES AND THE POP. BUT WHAT WILL 49:52.740 --> 49:56.641 THAT DO FOR THEM LONG TERM? A CONTINUAL DIET OF THIS WILL MAKE 49:56.641 --> 50:00.541 THEM UNHEALTHY. IN THE SAME WAY, WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT, FIRST 50:00.541 --> 50:04.471 OF ALL, WE ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS. CONTINUALLY FEEDING OUR SPIRITS 50:04.471 --> 50:07.833 THROUGH HEARING GOD'S WORD WILL HELP US BUILD A STRONG SPIRIT 50:07.833 --> 50:13.351 AND BUILD A STRONG MAN. IF WE ONLY FEED THE FLESH, THEN WE CAN 50:13.351 --> 50:19.920 BECOME SPIRITUALLY ANOREXIC. WE ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS THAT NEED 50:19.920 --> 50:22.800 SPIRITUAL FOOD. WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT. AND AS WE STAY 50:22.800 --> 50:25.380 CONNECTED TO GOD THROUGH HIS WORD AND THE GUIDANCE OF THE 50:25.380 --> 50:29.490 HOLY SPIRIT, WE WILL GROW STRONG. SO REVELATION 1:3 50:29.490 --> 50:33.721 PROMISES A BLESSING FOR READING, A BLESSING FOR HEARING, AND 50:33.721 --> 50:39.135 FINALLY, IT PROMISES A BLESSING FOR KEEPING THE WORD OF GOD. THE 50:39.135 --> 50:43.246 BLESSING OF KEEPING, IT SAYS, TO KEEP THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE 50:43.246 --> 50:47.115 WRITTEN IN THE BOOK. TO KEEP THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY MEANS TO 50:47.115 --> 50:50.896 OBEY THEM AND TO GUARD THEM. OBEYING AND GUARDING THE WORD OF 50:50.896 --> 50:54.106 GOD IN OUR LIVES IS THE PRINCIPLE THAT WE CAN BE 50:54.106 --> 50:56.806 THINKING ABOUT AND REALLY APPLYING TO EVERYTHING IN THE 50:56.806 --> 51:01.126 BIBLE AS A WHOLE. WHY DO WE GUARD SOMETHING? BECAUSE IT'S 51:01.126 --> 51:08.068 VALUABLE. WHY DID PASTOR HANK DECIDE TO HAVE POLICE OFFICERS 51:08.068 --> 51:11.655 IN THIS BUILDING WHEN YOU WERE PRESENT? BECAUSE YOU'RE 51:11.655 --> 51:15.405 VALUABLE. PASTORS TAKE CARE OF THEIR SHEEP. WE'RE NOT GOING TO 51:15.405 --> 51:20.025 TAKE ANY RISK THAT SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN TO YOU. SO WE DO 51:20.025 --> 51:24.585 EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER THAT WE CAN DO TO PROTECT. AND THAT'S 51:24.585 --> 51:29.295 BECAUSE YOU'RE VALUABLE. WHY DOES JESUS WARN US TO KEEP OR 51:29.295 --> 51:34.315 GUARD THE INFLUENCE OF THE WORD OF GOD IN OUR LIVES? HMM, DO YOU 51:34.315 --> 51:40.246 SUPPOSE THAT'S VALUABLE? BECAUSE KEEPING OUR SPIRITUAL GUARD UP 51:40.246 --> 51:44.266 IS SO IMPORTANT. WHEN THE DEVIL ATTACKS OR THE THIEF STEALS FROM 51:44.266 --> 51:47.775 US, IT'S NORMALLY AT A TIME WHEN WE HAVE BECOME CARELESS AND LET 51:47.775 --> 51:52.485 OUR GUARD DOWN. WE'VE ALLOWED THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE TO 51:52.485 --> 51:57.766 CREEP IN AND WE GET OFF TRACK. AND WE PULL AWAY FROM GOD'S 51:57.766 --> 52:03.405 PROMISES. WE PULL AWAY FROM STANDING IN FAITH. AND THAT'S 52:03.405 --> 52:06.706 DECEPTION THAT THE DEVIL TRIES TO BRING INTO OUR LIFE AND 52:06.706 --> 52:09.315 GRADUALLY CAUSES US TO BECOME MORE CARELESS IN OUR WALK WITH 52:09.315 --> 52:15.016 GOD. AFTER A VIOLENT STORM ONE NIGHT, A STATELY LARGE TREE WAS 52:15.016 --> 52:19.695 FOUND LYING ACROSS A PATHWAY IN A PARK, AND NOTHING BUT A 52:19.695 --> 52:25.036 SPLINTERED STUMP WAS LEFT OF THIS TREE. AND WHEN A CLOSER 52:25.036 --> 52:28.815 EXAM WAS DONE OF THIS TREE, THEY FOUND THAT IT WAS ROTTEN AT THE 52:28.815 --> 52:33.135 CORE BECAUSE THOUSANDS OF TINY INSECTS HAD EATEN AWAY AT ITS 52:33.135 --> 52:37.606 HEART. THE WEAKNESS OF THE TREE WAS NOT BROUGHT ON BY THE SUDDEN 52:37.606 --> 52:43.365 STORM. IT BEGAN THE VERY FIRST MOMENT THAT THE FIRST INSECT 52:43.365 --> 52:48.646 NESTLED WITHIN THE BARK OF THE TREE. HMM. THAT'S A LESSON FOR 52:48.646 --> 52:53.746 US. WE CAN'T LET THOSE INSECTS HAVE ANY INFLUENCE IN OUR LIFE. 52:53.746 --> 52:56.356 NOTHING CAN COME IN AND BREAK THE ARMOR. WHY DON'T YOU STAND 52:56.356 --> 52:59.476 WITH ME FOR A MINUTE? WE'RE GOING TO JUST REPEAT THIS PRAYER 52:59.476 --> 53:02.775 TONIGHT. I WANT YOU TO REPEAT AFTER ME. FATHER, IN THE NAME OF 53:02.775 --> 53:10.186 JESUS, WE COME AGAINST ANY OPENING OR ANY CRACK IN OUR 53:10.186 --> 53:17.476 ARMOR. WE SAY WE WILL NOT ALLOW SATAN ANY ENTRANCE INTO OUR 53:17.476 --> 53:26.476 LIVES. FATHER, WE ASK YOU HELP US TO STAY WATCHFUL, ALERT, AND 53:26.476 --> 53:33.496 ON GUARD. DEVIL, WE SPEAK TO YOU. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED ANY 53:33.496 --> 53:41.326 ENTRANCE OR ANY OPENING TO DEVISE OR OPERATE YOUR SCHEMES 53:41.326 --> 53:48.885 OR YOUR PLANS OF DESTRUCTION IN MY LIFE. IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN, 53:48.885 --> 53:52.215 AMEN. YOU CAN BE SEATED. I THOUGHT YOU NEEDED A STRETCH 53:52.215 --> 53:56.865 BREAK. I DON'T WANT YOU TO FALL ASLEEP TONIGHT. BUT WE'RE 53:56.865 --> 54:00.585 GUARDING AND PROTECTING THE TREASURE OF THE WORD OF GOD IN 54:00.585 --> 54:04.576 OUR LIFE. THE MOST IMPORTANT TREASURE WE'LL EVER HAVE. IT'S 54:04.576 --> 54:07.246 THE WAY OF SALVATION FOR EVERYONE ON EARTH. NO WONDER THE 54:07.246 --> 54:11.775 DEVIL TRIES TO DECEIVE US. IT'S THE ANSWER FOR EVERYONE. IT'S 54:11.775 --> 54:15.525 THE CURE FOR SPIRITUAL CANCER. SO IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE HAVE 54:15.525 --> 54:19.786 REMAINING ON THE EARTH, JESUS TOLD US TO OCCUPY TILL HE COMES. 54:19.786 --> 54:23.956 REMEMBER THAT SCRIPTURE OUT OF LUKE 19:13? ONE OF THE WAYS WE 54:23.956 --> 54:29.115 START THAT PROCESS OCCUPYING IS BY READING, HEARING, AND KEEPING 54:29.115 --> 54:35.385 GOD'S WORD. AND SOMEONE TOLD ME ONCE, THEY ALWAYS REMEMBER THEIR 54:35.385 --> 54:40.036 SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER TAUGHT THEM THAT THE WORD BIBLE IS AN 54:40.036 --> 54:44.655 ACRONYM MEANING BASIC INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE LEAVING 54:44.655 --> 54:47.925 EARTH. I THOUGHT THAT WAS KIND OF NEAT. BASIC INSTRUCTIONS 54:47.925 --> 54:50.385 BEFORE LEAVING EARTH. YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF 54:50.385 --> 54:54.525 TIME ON THIS EARTH, BUT WE HAVE AN ANSWER IN THE BIBLE. THAT'S 54:54.525 --> 54:57.646 OUR INSTRUCTION BOOK FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME THAT WE'RE HERE 54:57.646 --> 55:01.726 SO THAT WE CAN SPEND ETERNITY WITH HIM AND DO IT ABUNDANTLY 55:01.726 --> 55:07.126 WHILE WE'RE HERE, BUT THEN HAVE A SUCCESSFUL, BLESSED ETERNITY 55:07.126 --> 55:11.025 WITH REWARDS, BECAUSE WE'RE PROMISED REWARDS IN ETERNITY IF 55:11.025 --> 55:15.496 WE'RE FAITHFUL WITH WHAT HE'S GIVEN US TO DO DOWN HERE. WE 55:15.496 --> 55:20.295 DON'T DO WORKS TO GET SAVED, BUT WE CAN DO WORKS TO RECEIVE 55:20.295 --> 55:24.045 REWARDS IN HEAVEN. PEOPLE GET THAT MIXED UP SOMETIMES. THE 55:24.045 --> 55:26.956 AVERAGE MAN IS THINKING THEY HAVE TO DO WORKS TO GET TO 55:26.956 --> 55:30.556 HEAVEN. IT'S NOT THE WAY THAT IT WORKS. THAT'S RELIGION. WELL, 55:30.556 --> 55:36.706 WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT LATER. I GOT OFF TRACK. HALLELUJAH. WELL, 55:36.706 --> 55:41.925 REVELATION 1:3, "BLESSED IS HE THAT READS AND HEARS AND KEEPS 55:41.925 --> 55:46.126 THE WORD." BLESSING NUMBER TWO IS FOR THOSE THAT DIE IN THE 55:46.126 --> 55:50.985 LORD. REVELATION 14:13. LET'S READ THAT TONIGHT. IT SAYS, 55:50.985 --> 55:54.646 "THEN I HEARD A VOICE FROM HEAVEN SAYING TO ME, 'WRITE, 55:54.646 --> 55:58.485 BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHO DIE IN THE LORD FROM NOW ON. YES, SAYS 55:58.485 --> 56:02.115 THE SPIRIT, THAT THEY MAY REST FROM THEIR LABORS AND THEIR 56:02.115 --> 56:05.385 WORKS FOLLOW THEM. THE WHOLE NATURE OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION 56:05.385 --> 56:09.195 IS FORWARD LOOKING. AND THIS VERSE WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE 56:09.195 --> 56:13.876 FUTURE. JOHN IS DESCRIBING THE MIDPOINT OF THE TRIBULATION AT 56:13.876 --> 56:16.606 THE TIME WHEN THE EARTH IS GETTING READY TO ENTER INTO THE 56:16.606 --> 56:19.335 GREAT TRIBULATION, WHICH IS THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEAR 56:19.335 --> 56:23.416 PERIOD OF THE TOTAL SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION. THE SEALS AND 56:23.416 --> 56:26.715 TRUMPETS JUDGMENTS ARE OVER AT THIS POINT IN TIME. THE 56:26.715 --> 56:31.186 ANTICHRIST HAS BEEN REVEALED TO THE EARTH AND HIS RULING. 56:31.186 --> 56:34.155 SCRIPTURE INDICATES THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE TRIBULATION 56:34.155 --> 56:37.545 SAINTS ON EARTH AT THIS TIME WILL GO TO HEAVEN THROUGH 56:37.545 --> 56:43.215 MARTYRDOM BECAUSE THEY REFUSE THE MARK OF THE BEAST. NOW, 56:43.215 --> 56:46.425 REMEMBER THIS VERSE, REVELATION 14:13. "THEN I HEARD A VOICE 56:46.425 --> 56:50.206 FROM HEAVEN SAYING, 'BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHO DIE IN THE LORD 56:50.206 --> 56:56.056 FROM NOW ON.'" SO HE'S SPEAKING RIGHT THERE TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT 56:56.056 --> 57:01.005 WILL DIE ON EARTH BECAUSE OF THE PERSECUTION THAT'S TAKING PLACE. 57:01.005 --> 57:04.126 AND THEN THEY'LL BE WELCOMED INTO HEAVEN BY JESUS. AND THE 57:04.126 --> 57:09.735 APOSTLE JOHN IS ENCOURAGING THESE SAINTS, TO STAY FAITHFUL, 57:09.735 --> 57:14.835 THAT GOD'S MERCY IS STILL AVAILABLE TO THEM. EVEN DURING 57:14.835 --> 57:20.565 THAT TERRIBLE TRIBULATION TIME, GOD CONTINUES TO HAVE A PLAN OF 57:20.565 --> 57:26.356 MERCY AND REDEMPTION FOR THOSE WILLING TO SERVE HIM AND REFUSE 57:26.356 --> 57:28.664 WHAT THE DEVIL'S TRYING TO DO. JUST THINK OF THAT, THAT'S HOW 57:28.664 --> 57:34.155 AMAZING GOD IS. THINK OF THOSE ALIVE DURING THAT TRIBULATION 57:34.155 --> 57:40.815 PERIOD. IT COULD BE THAT THEY'RE EVEN ALIVE TODAY. SOME OF THEM 57:40.815 --> 57:46.456 CURSING GOD. SOME OF THEM SHAKING THEIR FISTS AT GOD. OR 57:46.456 --> 57:52.365 JUST ATHEISTS, NONBELIEVERS, DON'T BELIEVE IN ANYTHING. IT'S 57:52.365 --> 57:56.175 AMAZING THAT GOD STILL HAS A PLAN OF REDEMPTION, A PATH 57:56.175 --> 57:59.445 FORWARD TO THEM. HE EVEN SENDS THAT ANGEL THAT PROCLAIMS THE 57:59.445 --> 58:03.675 GOOD NEWS TO THEM WHILE THEY'RE THERE. SO THEY HAVE A CHANCE. 58:03.675 --> 58:06.496 GOD GIVES THEM A, YOU KNOW, PASTOR HANK SAYS THAT A LOT. GOD 58:06.496 --> 58:10.065 HAS A REDEMPTIVE PLAN OF MERCY THE MINUTE THE EVIL HAPPENS. 58:10.065 --> 58:13.275 WELL, ALL THAT EVIL'S GOING ON, AND THE ANTICHRIST IS DOING HIS 58:13.275 --> 58:17.385 THING, GOD HAS ANOTHER PLAN FOR THOSE PEOPLE. IF THEY'LL JUST 58:17.385 --> 58:21.106 MAKE THE DECISION AT THAT POINT EVEN, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY'LL 58:21.106 --> 58:23.746 WAKE UP AT THAT POINT. WE HOPE THEY WAKE UP BEFORE THEY GET TO 58:23.746 --> 58:28.876 THAT POINT, BUT IF THEY DON'T, THEY HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE. AND WE 58:28.876 --> 58:33.735 CAN PRAISE GOD FOR THAT. HE'S SO MERCIFUL, HE'S SO GOOD. HE COULD 58:33.735 --> 58:37.126 HAVE JUST SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? I GAVE THEM THEIR CHANCE. THEY'RE 58:37.126 --> 58:41.356 GOING TO HELL NOW. BUT HE HAS A PLAN OF REDEMPTION, EVEN DURING 58:41.356 --> 58:49.396 THE TRIBULATION. WELL, HOW DOES THIS A VERSE REALLY APPLY TO US 58:49.396 --> 58:52.396 TODAY? I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION 'CAUSE I HAVE AN ANSWER 58:52.396 --> 58:57.346 FOR YOU. TO DIE IN THE LORD MEANS TO DIE IN A STATE OF FAITH 58:57.346 --> 59:01.485 AND OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST. THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF WE TRULY 59:01.485 --> 59:05.865 HAVE FAITH, WE'LL ALWAYS STRIVE TO WALK IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S 59:05.865 --> 59:09.346 WORD AND THE DIRECTION OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT. NOW, THE SECOND 59:09.346 --> 59:14.445 PART OF REVELATION 14:13 BRINGS A PROMISE OF REST. IT SAYS, 59:14.445 --> 59:20.175 "YES, SAYS THE SPIRIT, THAT THEY MAY REST FROM THEIR LABORS AND 59:20.175 --> 59:23.626 THEIR WORKS FOLLOW THEM." REST FROM LABOR, LET'S TALK ABOUT 59:23.626 --> 59:28.215 THAT FOR A SECOND. LIFE ON EARTH CAN BE MARKED WITH HARD WORK, 59:28.215 --> 59:32.326 SOMETIMES STRUGGLE, AND SOMETIMES IT'S HARDSHIP. THE 59:32.326 --> 59:36.826 TERM LABOR HERE REFERS TO BOTH, THE WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO TO 59:36.826 --> 59:40.905 SURVIVE AND LIVE, AND IT ALSO APPLIES TO THE CHALLENGES THAT 59:40.905 --> 59:45.885 WE FACE JUST BECAUSE WE LIVE OUT OUR FAITH IN A FALLEN WORLD. YOU 59:45.885 --> 59:52.335 KNOW, BECAUSE OF WHAT ADAM AND EVE DID, WE HAVE TO WORK. SIN 59:52.335 --> 59:56.146 BROUGHT US TO A PLACE WHERE GOD SAYS, "OKAY, YOU WILL TOIL. 59:56.146 --> 59:59.925 YOU'LL HAVE TO WORK FOR WHAT YOU RECEIVE." JUST LIKE THE OX HAS 59:59.925 --> 01:00:04.036 TO WORK TO TREAD OUT THE GRAIN, BOB, SOME OF US HAVE TO WORK. 01:00:04.036 --> 01:00:06.405 NOW, BOB'S IN A POSITION HE DOESN'T HAVE TO WORK IF HE 01:00:06.405 --> 01:00:11.985 DIDN'T WANT TO, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT ALL LIKE BOB. SOME OF 01:00:11.985 --> 01:00:16.905 US HAVE TO WORK, DON'T WE, PASTOR KEITH? I JUST WANTED TO 01:00:16.905 --> 01:00:19.117 MAKE SURE PASTOR KEITH IS STILL AWAKE. HE LOOKED LIKE HE WAS A 01:00:19.117 --> 01:00:26.356 LITTLE SLEEPY THERE. BUT THIS IS A PROMISE OF REST THAT ASSURES 01:00:26.356 --> 01:00:30.226 US THAT EVERYTHING WILL RETURN TO THE WAY THAT IT ORIGINALLY 01:00:30.226 --> 01:00:34.634 WAS IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN. WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT KIND OF REST. 01:00:34.634 --> 01:00:38.326 YOU SEE, IF IT WASN'T FOR THE SIN NATURE COMING IN, IT WOULD 01:00:38.326 --> 01:00:42.376 HAVE BEEN THAT WAY IN THE WORLD FOR ADAM AND EVE AND THE 01:00:42.376 --> 01:00:47.085 FOLLOWERS WITHOUT SIN. THE GOOD NEWS IS THIS REST THAT WE WILL 01:00:47.085 --> 01:00:51.106 ENTER INTO AT THAT POINT IS NOT JUST A TEMPORARY VACATION. WE 01:00:51.106 --> 01:00:53.266 ALL LIKE VACATIONS WHERE WE CAN GET OUT OF TOWN OR GO DO 01:00:53.266 --> 01:00:56.947 SOMETHING FOR A WEEK, BUT THEN IT'S OVER AND WE'RE BACK TO OUR 01:00:56.947 --> 01:01:04.117 WORK. BUT THIS REST IS FOREVER. WE HAVE ETERNAL REST FROM THE 01:01:04.117 --> 01:01:10.086 FIGHT WITH EVIL, SIN AND WICKEDNESS. WE'LL HAVE THINGS TO 01:01:10.086 --> 01:01:13.686 DO. THE BIBLE ASSURES US THAT WE'LL HAVE ASSIGNMENTS IN 01:01:13.686 --> 01:01:16.867 HEAVEN. BUT IT'S GONNA BE FUN. WE DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH ANY 01:01:16.867 --> 01:01:21.786 SATANIC PRESSURE ANYMORE. WE'RE JUST DOING GOD'S WORK. THAT'S 01:01:21.786 --> 01:01:26.166 REST. IT'S CHARACTERIZED BY PEACE, CONTENTMENT, AND THE 01:01:26.166 --> 01:01:31.056 ABSENCE OF PAIN AND SORROW. HALLELUJAH. IT'S A REST THAT CAN 01:01:31.056 --> 01:01:35.706 ONLY BE FOUND IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD. ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT THIS 01:01:35.706 --> 01:01:39.637 PICTURE, A MARATHON RUNNER WHO FINALLY CROSSES THE FINISH LINE, 01:01:39.637 --> 01:01:42.487 ALL OF THAT TRAINING AND THE HOURS OF RUNNING AND THE HEAT 01:01:42.487 --> 01:01:45.907 AND THE COLD AND THE WIND AND THE RAIN ARE OVER. THE RUNNER 01:01:45.907 --> 01:01:50.617 EXPERIENCES A PROFOUND SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, THE RELIEF FROM 01:01:50.617 --> 01:01:54.097 PHYSICAL STRAIN, AND THE JOY THEY EXPERIENCE WHEN THEY'VE 01:01:54.097 --> 01:01:59.047 ACTUALLY COMPLETED THE RACE. THE REST IS EVEN GREATER FOR US AS 01:01:59.047 --> 01:02:03.246 BELIEVERS WHO RUN THIS RACE AND CROSS THE FINISH LINE AND THEN 01:02:03.246 --> 01:02:06.847 ENTER INTO ETERNAL REST AFTER A LIFE OF FAITHFUL ENDURANCE. 01:02:06.847 --> 01:02:13.567 LET'S READ 2 TIMOTHY 4, VERSES 7 AND 8, WHERE IT TELLS US, "I 01:02:13.567 --> 01:02:17.286 FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, "I FINISHED THE RACE, AND I'VE KEPT 01:02:17.286 --> 01:02:21.097 THE FAITH. "FINALLY, THERE'S LAID UP FOR ME THE CROWN OF 01:02:21.097 --> 01:02:24.396 RIGHTEOUSNESS, "WHICH THE LORD, THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE, "WILL GIVE 01:02:24.396 --> 01:02:28.836 ME ON THAT DAY, AND NOT TO ME ONLY, "BUT TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE 01:02:28.836 --> 01:02:32.317 LOVED HIS APPEARING." HALLELUJAH, THAT'S A SPECIAL 01:02:32.317 --> 01:02:38.496 BLESSING THAT BELIEVERS IN THIS LIFE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO BECAUSE 01:02:38.496 --> 01:02:44.097 WE LOVE HIS APPEARING. WE DON'T FORGET THAT HE'S COMING AGAIN. 01:02:44.097 --> 01:02:48.036 AND IT'S NOT JUST A CESSATION FROM WORKING. THE FINAL PART OF 01:02:48.036 --> 01:02:51.876 REVELATION 14, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS ONE. IT SAYS, "AND THEIR 01:02:51.876 --> 01:02:57.456 WORKS FOLLOW THEM." THAT'S AN AMAZING PROMISE. WHEN WE DIE IN 01:02:57.456 --> 01:03:03.726 THE LORD AND WE REST FROM OUR LABOR, OUR WORKS FOLLOW US. THIS 01:03:03.726 --> 01:03:06.157 IS ANOTHER ASSURANCE. THERE'S MANY VERSES IN THE BIBLE THAT 01:03:06.157 --> 01:03:10.356 TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT WE WILL BE GREATLY REWARDED FOR OUR ACTIONS 01:03:10.356 --> 01:03:14.407 AND FAITHFULNESS WHILE WE'RE ON THIS EARTH. IT CONFIRMS THAT OUR 01:03:14.407 --> 01:03:18.577 LABOR IN THE LORD IS NOT IN VAIN. WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR GOD 01:03:18.577 --> 01:03:24.336 RIGHT NOW WILL FOLLOW YOU. ONCE YOU ARE GONE INTO ETERNITY, 01:03:24.336 --> 01:03:30.757 YOU'RE LAID TO REST, WHATEVER HAPPENS, YOUR WORKS THAT YOU HAD 01:03:30.757 --> 01:03:35.407 DONE WHILE YOU WERE HERE ON EARTH WILL FOLLOW YOU. YOUR 01:03:35.407 --> 01:03:40.056 WORKS CONTINUE TO DO GOOD IN THE SAME TRAJECTORY AS WHEN YOU WERE 01:03:40.056 --> 01:03:44.827 ON THE EARTH. THAT'S AMAZING. AS YOU WALK OUT GOD'S PLAN ON 01:03:44.827 --> 01:03:48.036 EARTH, YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT YOU'RE PLANTING SEEDS FOR THE 01:03:48.036 --> 01:03:52.867 FUTURE. AMEN. AND THAT'S NOT JUST YOUR WORKS. THAT INCLUDES 01:03:52.867 --> 01:03:55.777 YOUR GIVING. YOU'RE LAYING UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN WHEN YOU'RE 01:03:55.777 --> 01:03:59.347 GIVING. THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT YOU PUT INTO YOUR WORK AND THEN 01:03:59.347 --> 01:04:03.516 YOU PUT IT INTO GOD'S WORK BECAUSE YOU PUT MAMMON OR OUR 01:04:03.516 --> 01:04:07.626 MONEY SYSTEM INTO WORK FOR GOD'S PLAN SO THAT WE CAN SPREAD THE 01:04:07.626 --> 01:04:12.157 GOSPEL AND PEOPLE CAN GET SAVED, HEALED, DELIVERED, ENCOURAGED BY 01:04:12.157 --> 01:04:16.086 THE WORD OF THE LORD, THAT BUILDS UP TREASURE IN HEAVEN FOR 01:04:16.086 --> 01:04:21.217 YOU. WHAT A PROMISE. REPEAT THIS AFTER ME. WHEN I LEAVE THIS 01:04:21.217 --> 01:04:28.226 EARTH, MY WORKS WILL FOLLOW ME. I WILL BE REWARDED IN ETERNITY. 01:04:29.766 --> 01:04:36.516 WHAT I DO HERE ON EARTH FOR CHRIST PLANTS A SEED FOR MY 01:04:36.516 --> 01:04:42.547 FUTURE. BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHO DIE IN THE LORD FROM NOW ON. 01:04:42.547 --> 01:04:46.086 YES, SAYS THE SPIRIT, THAT THEY MAY REST FROM THEIR LABORS AND 01:04:46.086 --> 01:04:51.067 THEIR WORKS FOLLOW THEM. AMEN. YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS VERSE IS 01:04:51.067 --> 01:04:54.817 TRUE FOR THOSE BELIEVERS THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE US AND ARE NOW 01:04:54.817 --> 01:04:58.777 WITH GOD. SOME OF YOU HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS, HUSBANDS, WIVES, 01:04:58.777 --> 01:05:02.226 WHATEVER THAT ALREADY HAVE GONE HOME. THEIR WORKS HAVE FOLLOWED 01:05:02.226 --> 01:05:05.407 THEM. THEIR GOOD WORKS AS BELIEVERS FOLLOW THEM. THEY'RE 01:05:05.407 --> 01:05:08.527 GETTING REWARD. THE VERSE IS TRUE FOR EVERY BELIEVER THAT'S 01:05:08.527 --> 01:05:12.666 ALIVE TODAY. WHETHER YOU'RE HERE OR WATCHING ONLINE WITH US, 01:05:12.666 --> 01:05:15.306 SOMEDAY WHEN YOU LEAVE THIS WORLD, YOUR WORKS WILL FOLLOW 01:05:15.306 --> 01:05:18.757 YOU. AND IT'S A GREAT PROMISE TO THE TRIBULATION SAINTS IN THE 01:05:18.757 --> 01:05:25.327 FUTURE. ISAIAH 26:19 SAYS THIS, "BUT THOSE WHO DIE IN THE LORD 01:05:25.327 --> 01:05:29.887 WILL LIVE. "THEIR BODIES WILL RISE AGAIN. "THOSE WHO SLEEP IN 01:05:29.887 --> 01:05:33.487 THE EARTH WILL RISE UP AND SING FOR JOY, FOR YOUR LIFE-GIVING 01:05:33.487 --> 01:05:37.567 LIGHT WILL FALL LIKE DEW ON YOUR PEOPLE IN THE PLACE OF THE 01:05:37.567 --> 01:05:44.556 DEAD." HALLELUJAH. SO NUMBER THREE BLESSING IS FOR THOSE WHO 01:05:44.556 --> 01:05:50.077 WATCH AND KEEP THEIR GARMENTS ON. OTHER TRANSLATIONS SAY THOSE 01:05:50.077 --> 01:05:55.246 THAT STAY AWAKE AND REMAIN CLOTHED. REVELATION 16:15, I 01:05:55.246 --> 01:05:57.847 WANT TO READ OUT OF THE NEW KING JAMES. IT SAYS, "BEHOLD, I AM 01:05:57.847 --> 01:06:03.157 COMING AS A THIEF. BLESSED IS HE WHO WATCHES AND KEEPS HIS 01:06:03.157 --> 01:06:08.317 GARMENTS, LEST HE WALK NAKED AND THEY SEE HIS SHAME." NOW, OUR 01:06:08.317 --> 01:06:11.677 TIMELINE IN REVELATION, WE'RE NOW IN THE FINAL PART OF THE 01:06:11.677 --> 01:06:15.427 LAST 3 AND 1/2 YEARS OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION. AND MOST THAT 01:06:15.427 --> 01:06:18.666 ARE LEFT ALIVE ON EARTH ARE EXPERIENCING THE BOLD JUDGMENTS 01:06:18.666 --> 01:06:21.757 AT THIS TIME THAT ARE DESCRIBED IN REVELATION. THE ANTICHRIST, 01:06:21.757 --> 01:06:25.447 THE MAN THAT'S POSSESSED BY SATAN, IS ACTIVELY SEARCHING OUT 01:06:25.447 --> 01:06:30.456 ANYONE THAT WOULD FAIL TO WORSHIP HIM. YET IN THE MIDST OF 01:06:30.456 --> 01:06:34.056 THIS HELL ON EARTH, JESUS HAS A BLESSING FOR THOSE THAT ARE 01:06:34.056 --> 01:06:37.686 STILL ALIVE AND FOLLOWING HIM. THIS BLESSING IS NOT JUST FOR 01:06:37.686 --> 01:06:41.347 THESE PEOPLE, BUT IT HAS A DIRECT APPLICATION TO OUR LIVES 01:06:41.347 --> 01:06:45.847 TODAY IN THE TIME WE LIVE. I WANT TO READ THIS VERSE FROM THE 01:06:45.847 --> 01:06:50.347 NIV. I DON'T NORMALLY USE THE NIV, BUT I THOUGHT THIS WAS A 01:06:50.347 --> 01:06:53.436 REALLY GOOD TRANSLATION THAT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU 01:06:53.436 --> 01:06:58.027 TONIGHT. REVELATION 16:15 SAYS, "LOOK, I COME LIKE A THIEF. 01:06:58.027 --> 01:07:02.527 BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO STAYS AWAKE AND REMAINS CLOTHED SO AS 01:07:02.527 --> 01:07:07.387 NOT TO GO NAKED AND BE SHAMEFULLY EXPOSED." JESUS 01:07:07.387 --> 01:07:10.177 REMINDS US THAT HE'S COMING LIKE A THIEF, AND THEN HE GOES ON TO 01:07:10.177 --> 01:07:16.297 SAY, "BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO WATCHES OR STAYS AWAKE." NOW, 01:07:16.297 --> 01:07:19.597 THE IDEA OF STAYING AWAKE OR BEING WATCHFUL ISN'T JUST LIKE 01:07:19.597 --> 01:07:22.626 BEING SUPER AWARE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE AROUND 01:07:22.626 --> 01:07:26.617 YOU. IT INVOLVES UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES THAT YOU'RE LIVING IN 01:07:26.617 --> 01:07:29.766 AND THE TACTICS THAT THE ENEMY WOULD ATTEMPT TO USE AGAINST US. 01:07:29.766 --> 01:07:33.936 THE DEVIL'S PLAN IS TO DECEIVE US SO THAT WE WILL BE KILLED OR 01:07:33.936 --> 01:07:36.996 THAT HE WOULD AT LEAST DESTROY THE PLAN THAT GOD HAS FOR OUR 01:07:36.996 --> 01:07:41.527 LIVES. THAT'S HIS GOAL. NOW, DURING THE TIMES OF KING DAVID, 01:07:41.527 --> 01:07:45.277 WHEN HE WAS BEING HUNTED DOWN BY SAUL, THERE WAS A KIND OF A 01:07:45.277 --> 01:07:48.757 CIVIL WAR GOING ON IN ISRAEL, REALLY. AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE 01:07:48.757 --> 01:07:52.836 CAME TO DAVID'S SIDE IN THE FIGHT. IN 1 CHRONICLES 12, 01:07:52.836 --> 01:07:56.047 THERE'S A LIST OF THOSE THAT JOINED DAVID'S SIDE. AND ONE 01:07:56.047 --> 01:07:58.777 PARTICULAR GROUP YOU'VE HEARD OF, IT WAS CALLED THE TRIBE OF 01:07:58.777 --> 01:08:03.666 ISSACHAR. AND THEY WERE KNOWN SUPREMELY FOR THEIR WISDOM. BUT 01:08:03.666 --> 01:08:08.088 THIS IS WHAT INTRIGUES ME. IT WAS THE NATURE OF THEIR WISDOM. 01:08:08.088 --> 01:08:11.856 IN THE BOOK OF CHRONICLES, WE READ THIS, 1ST BOOK OF 01:08:11.856 --> 01:08:15.336 CHRONICLES, "FROM THE TRIBE OF ISSACHAR, THERE WERE 200 01:08:15.336 --> 01:08:18.367 LEADERS. ALL OF THESE MEN UNDERSTOOD THE SIGNS OF THE 01:08:18.367 --> 01:08:23.497 TIMES, AND THEY KNEW THE BEST COURSE FOR ISRAEL TO TAKE." THEY 01:08:23.497 --> 01:08:26.886 KNEW THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES AND HOW TO BEST LIVE IN LIGHT OF THE 01:08:26.886 --> 01:08:31.087 PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES. SO FIRST, WE DO NEED TO KNOW THE SIGNS OF 01:08:31.087 --> 01:08:35.167 THE TIMES. WE NEED TO KNOW THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES MORE THAN 01:08:35.167 --> 01:08:39.636 JUST A HEADLINE OR A TWEET OR SOMETHING WE SEE ON MEDIA. IT'S 01:08:39.636 --> 01:08:42.367 REALLY KNOWING WHAT'S SIGNIFICANT IN THE HAPPENINGS OF 01:08:42.367 --> 01:08:46.417 OUR WORLD AND UNDERSTANDING GOD'S HEART AND HIS PLAN FOR 01:08:46.417 --> 01:08:50.796 MANKIND AND THE EARTH. HOW MANY OF YOU ARE THANKFUL THAT WE ARE 01:08:50.796 --> 01:08:54.367 PART OF A PROPHETIC HOUSE? WE HAVE PASTORS THAT HEAR GOD'S 01:08:54.367 --> 01:08:59.587 HEART AND THEY GIVE US DIRECTION ON HOW TO LIVE. SOMETIMES I 01:08:59.587 --> 01:09:02.617 THINK HOW COULD PEOPLE BE MISSING OUT ON GETTING WORDS 01:09:02.617 --> 01:09:06.310 FROM GOD THAT AFFECT THE NATION IN THE WAY THAT WE RECEIVE IT. 01:09:06.310 --> 01:09:09.845 SOMETIMES WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED, FOLKS. NOT EVERY CHURCH 01:09:09.845 --> 01:09:15.337 HAS THAT. WE ARE UNIQUELY POSITIONED IN ONE OF THE MOST 01:09:15.337 --> 01:09:18.306 IMPORTANT TIMES OF HISTORY. SO IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW WHAT 01:09:18.306 --> 01:09:22.777 GOD'S HEART IS. WE'RE LIVING AT A TIME WHEN THE GREATEST REVIVAL 01:09:22.777 --> 01:09:26.046 IN HUMAN HISTORY IS HAPPENING BEFORE THE END OF THE CHURCH 01:09:26.046 --> 01:09:29.976 AGE. GOD WILL CONCLUDE THE CHURCH AGE WITH A MIGHTY REVIVAL 01:09:29.976 --> 01:09:34.896 OF SOULS. I BELIEVE A BILLION SOUL HARVEST IS COMING. AND IT'S 01:09:34.896 --> 01:09:39.577 OUR JOB TO OCCUPY UNTIL HE COMES. REMAIN ALERT, EDUCATED, 01:09:39.577 --> 01:09:44.856 AND AWARE, AND ALSO INVOLVED. THIS MADE ME THINK OF THE SEVEN 01:09:44.856 --> 01:09:48.636 MOUNTAINS OF INFLUENCE THAT LANCE WALLNAU SO ELOQUENTLY 01:09:48.636 --> 01:09:55.146 TEACHES, TALKING ABOUT RECLAIMING THE SEVEN MOUNTAINS, 01:09:55.146 --> 01:09:58.896 THE MOUNTAINS OF IMPACT IN OUR SOCIETY AND CULTURE, WHETHER 01:09:58.896 --> 01:10:03.277 IT'S BUSINESS AND ECONOMY, GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS, FAMILY, 01:10:03.277 --> 01:10:08.947 THE CHURCH, MEDIA, EDUCATION, ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT. THE 01:10:08.947 --> 01:10:11.917 AMERICAN CHURCH HAS ALLOWED SATAN TO TAKE CONTROL OF A LARGE 01:10:11.917 --> 01:10:16.327 SEGMENT OF MOST ALL OF THESE AREAS. AND IF EVERY 01:10:16.327 --> 01:10:20.407 BIBLE-BELIEVING CHRISTIAN WOULD MAKE THEIR LIFE'S FOCUS, AS GOD 01:10:20.407 --> 01:10:24.457 DIRECTS YOU, TO JUST GET INVOLVED IN SOME WAY IN ONE OF 01:10:24.457 --> 01:10:29.346 THOSE AREAS, AMERICA WOULD SEE A DRAMATIC CHANGE. IT'S TIME TO 01:10:29.346 --> 01:10:35.106 TAKE IT BACK. HALLELUJAH. AND IT STARTS WITH US EDUCATING 01:10:35.106 --> 01:10:38.317 OURSELVES TO MAKE SURE WE POSSESS A TRUE CHRISTIAN 01:10:38.317 --> 01:10:43.957 WORLDVIEW. YOU KNOW, STATISTICS TELL US THAT ONLY 6% OF AMERICAN 01:10:43.957 --> 01:10:50.226 CHRISTIANS ACTUALLY POSSESS A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW. MANY ARE ALL 01:10:50.226 --> 01:10:53.737 THE WAY OVER INTO THE SOCIALIST AREA, BUT THEY CALL THEMSELVES 01:10:53.737 --> 01:11:00.858 CHRISTIANS. BACK TO OUR VERSES WE CONCLUDE TONIGHT. EDDIE, YOU 01:11:00.858 --> 01:11:06.108 CAN COME ANYTIME. REVELATION 16:15 AGAIN, NEW KING JAMES 01:11:06.108 --> 01:11:10.127 VERSION. BEHOLD, I'M COMING AS A THIEF. BLESSED IS HE WHO WATCHES 01:11:10.127 --> 01:11:14.146 AND KEEPS HIS GARMENTS, LEST HE WALK NAKED AND THEY SEE HIS 01:11:14.146 --> 01:11:18.287 SHAME. THE LAST PART OF VERSE 15 IS SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT 01:11:18.287 --> 01:11:22.936 BEING STRONG IN CHARACTER. IN OTHER WORDS, DON'T BE NAKED OR 01:11:22.936 --> 01:11:26.117 SHAMEFULLY EXPOSED. IN OTHER WORDS, THERE'S A BLESSING IN 01:11:26.117 --> 01:11:31.579 STORE FOR THOSE THAT MAINTAIN HOLINESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND 01:11:31.579 --> 01:11:34.936 THEY'RE NOT EXPOSED AS BEING SHAMEFUL. THE REFERENCE TO 01:11:34.936 --> 01:11:39.016 KEEPING ONE'S GARMENT ON SO THAT HE DOESN'T GO ABOUT NAKED AND 01:11:39.016 --> 01:11:42.917 EXPOSED COMES FROM THE CUSTOM OF THE DAY WHEN MEN WERE WEARING 01:11:42.917 --> 01:11:46.818 LOOSE-FITTING ROBES. WHEN A MAN WALKED QUICKLY OR RAN OR CLIMBED 01:11:46.818 --> 01:11:51.947 THE STEPS, THE ROBE COULD BECOME UNTIED AND FALL OPEN. MEN 01:11:51.947 --> 01:11:55.217 WEARING ROBES NEEDED TO BE ALERT AND CAREFUL ABOUT THEIR BEHAVIOR 01:11:55.217 --> 01:11:59.717 SO THEIR ROBES DIDN'T SLIP OPEN. STAYING CLOTHED IN A SPIRITUAL 01:11:59.717 --> 01:12:05.087 SENSE MEANS BELIEVERS NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THEIR BEHAVIOR. WE 01:12:05.087 --> 01:12:08.657 ARE CLOTHED IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS CHRIST AND WE ABIDE IN 01:12:08.657 --> 01:12:13.247 CHRIST AND WE STAY IN THE POSITION OF READINESS AND 01:12:13.247 --> 01:12:17.337 RIGHTEOUSNESS. THE PROPHET ISAIAH SAID IN ISAIAH 61 VERSE 01:12:17.337 --> 01:12:24.646 10, "I AM OVERWHELMED WITH THE JOY IN THE LORD MY GOD, FOR HE 01:12:24.646 --> 01:12:28.757 HAS DRESSED ME WITH THE CLOTHING OF SALVATION AND DRAPED ME IN A 01:12:28.757 --> 01:12:33.528 ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. I AM LIKE A BRIDEGROOM DRESSED FOR HIS 01:12:33.528 --> 01:12:39.467 WEDDING, OR A BRIDE WITH HER JEWELS. YOU KNOW, MAN'S WAY IS 01:12:39.467 --> 01:12:44.778 TO ATTEMPT TO DO AS ADAM AND EVE DID, TRY AND COVER THEIR GUILT, 01:12:44.778 --> 01:12:49.068 THE GUILT OF THEIR SINS, WITH THEIR OWN WORKS. THAT'S MAN'S 01:12:49.068 --> 01:12:53.327 WAY. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT'S THE DEFINITION OF RELIGION. MAN 01:12:53.327 --> 01:12:57.797 TRYING TO MAKE HIS OWN WAY TO HEAVEN. ONLY OUR DECISION TO 01:12:57.797 --> 01:13:04.157 ACCEPT THE GIFT OF SALVATION THAT JESUS PROVIDED WILL SAVE US 01:13:04.157 --> 01:13:09.016 FROM ETERNITY IN HELL. HALLELUJAH. CHARLES SPURGEON, 01:13:09.016 --> 01:13:12.587 THE FAMOUS BAPTIST PREACHER OF THE LATE 1800S, SAID THIS, "OUR 01:13:12.587 --> 01:13:18.226 ROBES WILL BE WHITE BECAUSE HIS ROBES WERE RED." HALLELUJAH. 01:13:18.226 --> 01:13:22.516 THANK YOU, JESUS. WHY DON'T YOU STAND WITH ME TONIGHT? SO 01:13:22.516 --> 01:13:26.686 BLESSING NUMBER ONE IS FOR THOSE THAT READ THE WORD, HEAR THE 01:13:26.686 --> 01:13:30.587 WORD, AND KEEP THE WORD. BLESSING NUMBER TWO IS FOR THOSE 01:13:30.587 --> 01:13:33.797 THAT DIE IN THE LORD, THAT THEY REST FROM THEIR LABORS AND 01:13:33.797 --> 01:13:38.327 REMEMBER THEIR WORKS FOLLOW THEM. YOUR WORKS FOLLOW YOU. AND 01:13:38.327 --> 01:13:41.867 BLESSING NUMBER THREE IS FOR THOSE THAT WATCH AND KEEP THEIR 01:13:41.867 --> 01:13:46.096 GARMENTS. THEY STAY AWAKE AND REMAIN CLOTHED. WE UNDERSTAND 01:13:46.096 --> 01:13:50.806 THE TIMES. WE REMAIN STRONG IN CHARACTER AND STAY CLOSE TO GOD. 01:13:50.806 --> 01:13:54.646 AMEN. HALLELUJAH. FATHER, I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY 01:13:54.646 --> 01:13:59.988 TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO SHARE YOUR WORD. I ASK, LORD, THAT WE ALL 01:13:59.988 --> 01:14:08.686 RECOMMIT TO BE PURPOSELY DRIVEN BY ETERNITY, TO DO WHAT WE CAN 01:14:08.686 --> 01:14:11.988 WHILE WE'RE ON THIS EARTH. LORD, I HOPE YOU'VE OPENED OUR EYES AT 01:14:11.988 --> 01:14:17.417 THIS POINT IN TIME TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE IS IN SOME WAYS FOR 01:14:17.417 --> 01:14:20.568 THE PEOPLE OF THIS EARTH. BUT YOU GIVE US A JOB TO DO TO 01:14:20.568 --> 01:14:26.297 OCCUPY UNTIL YOU COME. SO LORD, WE RECOMMIT TONIGHT TO DO THAT, 01:14:26.297 --> 01:14:29.657 TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO BRING THE GOOD NEWS OF SALVATION TO 01:14:29.657 --> 01:14:33.226 THOSE AROUND US, TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN THIS WORLD. AND WE 01:14:33.226 --> 01:14:36.318 THANK YOU, LORD, THAT YOU DON'T JUST TELL US TO DO SOMETHING OR 01:14:36.318 --> 01:14:40.278 COMMAND US TO DO SOMETHING, BUT YOU EMPOWER US BY THE POWER OF 01:14:40.278 --> 01:14:46.608 THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE ABILITY THAT YOU GIVE US WITH THE GIFTS 01:14:46.608 --> 01:14:51.407 AND TALENTS AND ANOINTINGS THAT YOU PROVIDE. SO WE THANK YOU FOR 01:14:51.407 --> 01:14:55.787 IT IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS. AMEN. AMEN. WELL, GOD BLESS YOU 01:14:55.787 --> 01:14:58.907 TONIGHT. DON'T MISS OUT. NEXT SUNDAY, BE IN THE HOUSE OF THE 01:14:58.907 --> 01:15:01.367 LORD. I KNOW PASTOR HANK'S GOING TO HAVE A WONDERFUL MESSAGE IN 01:15:01.367 --> 01:15:04.217 JESUS' NAME. GO AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT. THANK YOU. 01:15:04.217 --> 01:15:06.646 AND JANET, GET YOUR ICE CREAM, JANET.