From Arcadia, California,
the Carter report presents
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"The Living
Word" around the world.
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Hello friend, I'm John Carter,
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it's my privilege today
to welcome you to worship.
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We're here today to study
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the Living Word
of the Living God.
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Today it is my great honor
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to introduce to
you a great preacher
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from the land down
under from Australia,
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Pastor James Venegas.
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He is the new
pastor of our church
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right here in
Southern California,
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our church at the
Carter Report center.
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Would you please join me
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in welcoming this man of God,
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Pastor James Venegas?
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What a joy and
privilege it is for me
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to be here at the Carter Report.
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It's just
unbelievable for a young pastor
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who grew up in Australia.
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And I saw Pastor Carter,
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when he came to
the Sydney Opera House
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and I was just a mere little boy
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and then to be
here in his pulpit
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at the Carter Report
it's nothing short of amazing
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and I just praise God
for His leading us here
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and we're here just to serve
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and to share the Word
of God with you today.
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And we feel that the message
that we've brought with us today
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is a message of great
importance for us as Christians
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and as a church, as
Seventh-day Adventist.
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It's a message that's been
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sitting on my
heart for quite sometime.
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And it's a
message that I believe
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is revolutionary
to us and for us.
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And we need to heed the
message from the Lord today.
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We will discover as we go along
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that the glorious kingdom of God
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is a reality not
just in the future
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not just something
that we look forward to
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at the end of time but
it's a reality here now
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that plays itself out
in our very, very lives.
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Let's just open with the
word of prayer as we begin.
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Our Father in heaven, we
just want to invite You to come
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to anoint these words,
to anoint this message.
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Thank You for the
truth of Your word
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and we just ask that it
will speak to us as we open it.
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And we pray in Jesus name, amen.
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Over a 100 years ago an
ageing inspired Christian lady,
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Ellen White left us
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a short little
phrase in one of her books.
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That I believe speaks directly
to our day and age today
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and it reads like this.
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"The fifth chapter of Revelation
needs to be closely studied."
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Did you hear that?
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"The fifth chapter of Revelation
needs to be closely studied.
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It is of great importance
to those who shall act a part
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in the work of God
in these last days."
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The fifth chapter of Revelation.
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Now my first thought,
my initial thought is why,
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why the fifth chapter.
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What is it in this
chapter that is so important?
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What is that in the
chapter 5 of Revelation
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that is so special
that Ellen White has to,
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has to point it
out in particular
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for us to keep an
eye on in the last days?
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Why this book?
What does it contain?
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I would have
expected her to say,
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you need to study Revelation 14,
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because Revelation 14 is
important for the last days
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or perhaps
Revelation 12 or Revelation 18
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but why does she
mentioned Revelation 5.
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Well, let's open up the Bibles
to Chapter 5 of Revelation
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to try to extract from the word
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what important
message is there for us
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in the last days
of earth's history.
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Revelation 5 and
starting at verse 1.
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Revelation 5:1 and it says
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"Then I saw in the right hand
of him who sat on the throne
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a scroll with
writing on both sides
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and sealed with seven seals."
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This is the
Apostle John speaking
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on the Isle of
Patmos, his envision
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and he sees a throne
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and a scroll with seals
on both sides. And he says.
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"And I saw a mighty angel
proclaiming in a loud voice,
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'Who is worthy
to break the seals
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and open the scroll?'
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But no one in heaven or on earth
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or under the earth
could open the scroll
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or even look inside it. I wept.
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John says, and wept
because no one was found
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who was worthy to open
the scroll or look inside it.
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Then one of the elders
said to me, 'Do not weep!
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See, the Lion of
the tribe of Judah,
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the Root of
David, has triumphed.
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He is able to open the
scroll and its seven seals."'
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The focus on the
previous Chapter,
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Chapter 4 was on the throne room
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of the ancient of days of God,
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the Father of the reign of God.
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That's what it was about,
the reign of God, the Father.
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And now we
enter this throne room
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through the eyes of John
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and we find it
shifting to a scroll
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and this scroll is so important
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that it has
writing on both sides
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and it doesn't only have
one string with one seal,
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it has seven seals.
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And so the person
to read this scroll,
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the person to unveil the
truth that is kept inside of it,
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that person would have
to go through one at a time
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breaking the wax seals.
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One at a time to try to reveal
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what important
message is held in the scroll.
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The scroll is so important
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because it holds the book
of the destiny of humankind.
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It actually holds
the full Revelation
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that is coming in the book.
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And humankind
needs to know what coming
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and yet no one is
worthy, no one is found worthy
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in heaven and on earth to
even break open those seals
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and reveal the
ultimate destiny of humankind.
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Only someone above the
order of creation could do it.
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Only someone divine
could actually unfold
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the future plan
for God's people.
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And so there we
find John weeping
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because the search
went out, the call went out
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and no one, absolutely no
one is found to break the seals
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and give this revelation.
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And then we find in verse 6
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that when John looks up to see
this lion from tribe of Judah,
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he sees something completely
different and distinct.
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Let's read, verse 6, it
says, "Then I saw a Lamb,
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looking as if it had been slain,
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standing in the
center of the throne,
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encircled by the four
living creatures and the elders.
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He had seven
horns and seven eyes,
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which are the
seven spirits of God
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sent out into all the earth.
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He came and took the scroll
from the right hand of him
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who sat on the throne."
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From the ancient of
days, from God the Father.
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"And when he had taken
it, the four living creatures
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and the twenty-four elders
fell down before the Lamb.
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Each one had a harp
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and they were holding
golden bowls full of incense,
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which were the
prayers of the saints."
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So we have a
lot of imagery here.
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Not only do we
have the throne room
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in the ancient of
days God the Father,
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suddenly the call goes out,
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who is worthy to
crack these seals open
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and then we hear
that it is the lion
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from the tribe of Judah.
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It's a powerful animal
and when John lifts his eyes
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to see this lion, he sees what?
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What did he see?
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He sees, he sees a lamb
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and the word for
lamb in Revelation here
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is a word that implies
a tiny weak little lamb
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and on top of that
this lamb was slain.
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It was killed it
was not looking pretty.
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So the contrast
between these two images
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couldn't be more powerful.
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On the one hand you've got
the majestic king of the jungle,
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the lion that whose
roar is so powerful.
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And then on the
other, on the other hand
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you have this
tiny little slain lamb.
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Almost a weak,
almost a weak figure
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compared to the powerful lion.
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And I believe that this imagery
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is deliberately
laid side by side.
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We call that juxtaposing.
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Deliberately
it's laid to contrast,
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so we can look at them
both and say to ourselves well.
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Well, that's a powerful animal
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and yet that's a very much
domesticated weak looking animal
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and yet both of these images
represent the one individual.
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Both of these
images combine to represent
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the person of Jesus Christ
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and why He came
to this earth to do.
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And you cannot have
one image over the other,
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you can't have the
powerful lion image for Jesus
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or the lamb image for Jesus,
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You must have both to have
a balanced view of the gospel.
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You must have both
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a powerful lion
and a slain lamb.
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That's who Jesus was.
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Let me ask you an
important question.
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Why--and it may seem
like a simple question
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to you but
nonetheless, why do you think
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or what was the primary purpose
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for Jesus coming
to this earth to die?
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What was the
main reason Jesus came
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from His kingdom of
heaven from immortality
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through this broken world
to gives His life on the cross?
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Why did He have to die?
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And it seems like
such an obvious question,
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Christianity one on one.
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I mean we know
why Jesus came to die?
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Don't we?
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Why did Jesus
come to die, tell me?
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Well, and my answer standard
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as a Seventh-day Adventist
Christian answer would be
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Christ by His own
sacrificial choice was punished
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or penalized in
my place as a sinner,
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for you and me
as our substitutes.
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Thus satisfying
the demands of justice
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so that God could
justly forgive my sins
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and that's what He did.
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This understanding is
what the theologians call
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substitutionery atonement.
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Which means that Jesus came
as a lamb to take our place,
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to die the death
that we deserved to die.
00:11:38.82\00:11:42.37
He died to give us life
and to forgive our sins.
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And this is the
way that Jesus used
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to restore us
back to God the Father,
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something we call atonement.
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At one ment Jesus
comes to die for our sins.
00:11:57.73\00:12:01.70
And this truth-- is
foundational to Christianity
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but let me tell you that
the image of a slain lamb
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is only part of the picture.
00:12:13.28\00:12:16.61
There is a
greater or bigger reason
00:12:16.64\00:12:19.53
for why Jesus
came to this earth.
00:12:19.56\00:12:21.90
Now you may think I'm
speaking out of turn here
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or speaking blasphemy.
00:12:24.89\00:12:26.03
How could you tell me
00:12:26.06\00:12:27.41
that Jesus came
for another reason
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then other than to come
and save us from our sins
00:12:30.58\00:12:33.01
and take our place on the cross?
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I mean surely that's the main
and only reason that there is
00:12:35.49\00:12:40.17
and its true as far it goes
but there is another bigger,
00:12:40.20\00:12:44.65
more cosmic,
more universal reason
00:12:44.68\00:12:47.13
for why Jesus left
His throne room in heaven
00:12:47.16\00:12:50.08
and came to this world.
00:12:50.11\00:12:51.83
You see, if someone
in the first century
00:12:51.86\00:12:54.25
after cross was
asked that question,
00:12:54.28\00:12:56.24
why did Jesus come to die?
00:12:56.27\00:12:58.09
Or what was the
purpose for Jesus coming.
00:12:58.12\00:13:00.62
They would have answered it
00:13:00.65\00:13:01.68
completely
different to you and I.
00:13:01.71\00:13:04.73
What they would have said
00:13:04.76\00:13:06.13
is that Jesus came
to destroy the devil
00:13:06.16\00:13:12.49
and triumph over evil. Amen.
00:13:12.52\00:13:16.19
That Jesus came to this world
not just to forgive our sins
00:13:16.22\00:13:20.34
and to take our
place from the cross
00:13:20.37\00:13:22.31
but He came for a bigger purpose
00:13:22.34\00:13:25.25
to destroy the devil
and triumph over evil.
00:13:25.28\00:13:28.75
Let me show you in
scripture where that is found.
00:13:28.78\00:13:31.05
We're looking at 1
John 3:8, 1 John 3:8,
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it's just a bit
early than Revelation.
00:13:36.60\00:13:39.23
It's not far away. 1 John 3:8.
00:13:39.26\00:13:44.13
This gives us the very
reason that we're talking about.
00:13:44.16\00:13:47.21
1 John 3:8, it says,
00:13:47.24\00:13:51.47
"He who does what is
sinful is of the devil,
00:13:51.50\00:13:55.06
because the devil has been
sinning from the beginning."
00:13:55.09\00:13:58.20
And then it says
this, and listen carefully,
00:13:58.23\00:14:00.62
I'm reading the NIV here.
00:14:00.65\00:14:02.42
It says "The reason
the Son of God appeared
00:14:02.45\00:14:06.42
was to destroy
the devil's work."
00:14:06.81\00:14:11.48
Did you get that?
00:14:11.51\00:14:13.63
The reason the
Son of Man appeared
00:14:13.66\00:14:16.43
was to destroy the devil's work.
00:14:16.46\00:14:21.46
That's an interesting concept.
00:14:21.49\00:14:22.96
I mean I don't know about you
00:14:22.99\00:14:24.50
but having
growing up in my church
00:14:24.53\00:14:28.94
I very rarely have
heard this topic discussed
00:14:28.97\00:14:36.23
or even preached too often.
00:14:36.26\00:14:39.94
We are very big on
subsitutionery atonement
00:14:39.97\00:14:43.01
or what we call
penal substitution.
00:14:43.04\00:14:45.06
But rarely do we talk
about the other images
00:14:45.09\00:14:47.91
that describe
what Jesus came to do
00:14:47.94\00:14:50.50
when He came to this earth.
00:14:50.53\00:14:52.54
There's fellow by the
name of Dr. George Knight
00:14:52.57\00:14:55.40
and he is someone that
I love to read from his,
00:14:55.43\00:14:58.46
he's amazing historian.
I think he is retired now.
00:14:58.49\00:15:01.49
He read a book recently
called the Apocalyptic Vision
00:15:01.52\00:15:04.61
and the Neutering of Adventism.
00:15:04.64\00:15:07.08
That is a strong
title if there ever was one.
00:15:07.11\00:15:10.35
And he in that book
00:15:10.38\00:15:11.41
basically lays down the
fact that it is important
00:15:11.44\00:15:14.55
and fundamental to believe
that Jesus won the victory
00:15:14.58\00:15:17.78
by dieing in our place
00:15:17.81\00:15:19.09
as the substitutionery
lamb on the cross.
00:15:19.12\00:15:21.80
That is foundational
it cannot be removed,
00:15:21.83\00:15:24.47
fundamental to Christianity.
00:15:24.50\00:15:26.40
But he says, that if
you only have the lamb
00:15:26.43\00:15:30.82
you only have half the gospel.
00:15:30.85\00:15:33.90
If you only have the
slain lamb on the cross,
00:15:33.93\00:15:36.71
he says Dr. George
Knight, not just me,
00:15:36.74\00:15:39.22
you only have half the gospel.
00:15:39.25\00:15:42.53
The other half he says
00:15:42.56\00:15:44.31
is the triumphant
lion of the tribe of Judah.
00:15:44.34\00:15:50.13
He suggest that Adventism
must preach the Lamb of God
00:15:50.16\00:15:54.25
and the lion of
the tribe of the Judah
00:15:54.28\00:15:56.40
and that's how we achieve a
fully balanced gospel message.
00:15:56.43\00:16:00.40
Both images describing
the work of Jesus Christ.
00:16:03.80\00:16:07.80
Let me tell you something
that we don't often think about.
00:16:10.33\00:16:14.09
At creation Adam and Eve
00:16:14.12\00:16:15.75
were given
dominion over the world.
00:16:15.78\00:16:18.79
They were invited
by God into His world
00:16:18.82\00:16:21.45
and asked to name the animals.
00:16:21.48\00:16:25.29
And in a way God was saying,
00:16:25.32\00:16:27.43
guys I want you
to be a part of this.
00:16:27.46\00:16:29.37
I want you to have some
ownership over my creation.
00:16:29.40\00:16:32.20
I want you to name them.
00:16:32.23\00:16:33.51
I wanted to look
after the nature.
00:16:33.54\00:16:35.25
I want you to have a dominion
over this earth as human beings.
00:16:35.28\00:16:39.19
I want you to be
stewards of my world
00:16:39.22\00:16:41.91
but very early on,
our primordial parents
00:16:41.94\00:16:45.90
did not use this
authority very well.
00:16:45.93\00:16:48.60
In fact early on we surrendered
00:16:48.63\00:16:51.32
our dominion over this earth
00:16:51.35\00:16:54.31
to another to Satan.
00:16:54.34\00:17:00.55
And the consequences
have been catastrophic.
00:17:00.58\00:17:04.50
We invited into our domain
00:17:04.53\00:17:07.75
a cosmic
battle, cosmic conflict.
00:17:07.78\00:17:11.36
We allowed the pollution of
the demonic realm to come in.
00:17:11.39\00:17:16.76
We opened the door,
we cracked the door open
00:17:16.79\00:17:18.90
to Satan to
come in to our world.
00:17:18.93\00:17:21.42
He was restricted to that tree,
00:17:21.45\00:17:24.44
of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil.
00:17:24.47\00:17:26.18
He couldn't tear away from that.
00:17:26.21\00:17:29.46
And in
succumbing to his temptation
00:17:29.49\00:17:32.80
Adam and Eve basically ushered
00:17:32.83\00:17:34.65
the devil in to the
world to reek absolute havoc.
00:17:34.68\00:17:40.10
And so the
authority was kind of usurped.
00:17:40.13\00:17:43.03
It was kind of
surrendered to Satan or Satan
00:17:43.06\00:17:46.94
and his powerful regime,
00:17:46.97\00:17:49.76
the kingdom of darkness.
00:17:49.79\00:17:54.63
If you don't believe me,
let me show you once again,
00:17:54.66\00:17:57.59
The Book of John, this
time the Gospel of John,
00:17:57.62\00:18:00.28
John 12:31, John 12:31.
00:18:00.31\00:18:06.91
"Now is the time for
judgment on this world,
00:18:06.94\00:18:09.94
now the prince of this
world will be driven out.
00:18:09.97\00:18:14.42
But, I when I am
lifted up from the earth
00:18:14.45\00:18:16.98
will draw all men to myself."
00:18:17.01\00:18:19.48
You notice what it
said there in verse 31.
00:18:19.51\00:18:21.95
You notice that it
referred to Satan to the devil
00:18:21.98\00:18:25.78
as the prince of this world
00:18:25.81\00:18:30.07
and you notice that
that is in red letters,
00:18:30.10\00:18:33.00
That Jesus in
fact, conformed the fact
00:18:33.03\00:18:36.76
that the devil actually
had taken over the world
00:18:36.79\00:18:39.50
and established his own
kingdom of darkness here.
00:18:39.53\00:18:42.19
That he had taken over
dominion that you usurped it
00:18:42.22\00:18:45.24
and Jesus basically admits it,
00:18:45.27\00:18:47.74
that he had become the
prince of this world of course,
00:18:47.77\00:18:51.47
that he was driving him out.
00:18:51.50\00:18:53.60
He acknowledged the fact.
00:18:53.63\00:18:56.80
Come with me to
Luke 4:5, Luke 4:5.
00:18:56.83\00:19:02.99
And this is where
Jesus was being put through
00:19:06.98\00:19:10.80
some temptations in
the wilderness by Satan.
00:19:10.83\00:19:17.26
This is the Luke 4:5-8.
00:19:17.29\00:19:24.08
And I want you to listen
carefully to what it says,
00:19:24.11\00:19:26.97
"The devil led Him
Jesus up to a high place
00:19:27.00\00:19:30.51
and showed Him in an instant
all the kingdoms of the world.
00:19:30.54\00:19:35.66
And he said to Him,
00:19:35.69\00:19:37.61
I will give you all
their authority and splendor,
00:19:37.64\00:19:41.11
for it has been given to me."
00:19:41.14\00:19:44.06
Did you get that.
00:19:44.09\00:19:45.42
I'll give you all the kingdoms,
00:19:45.45\00:19:48.87
all the authorities of
the world and splendor,
00:19:48.90\00:19:52.25
"For they have been given to me,
00:19:52.28\00:19:54.02
and I can give
it to anyone I want.
00:19:54.05\00:19:57.75
So if you worship
me, it will be yours."
00:19:57.78\00:20:02.39
And notice what Jesus says,
"Jesus answered, 'It is written,
00:20:02.42\00:20:06.52
Worship the Lord your
God and serve him only.'".
00:20:06.55\00:20:12.31
Powerful words, it is written
00:20:15.78\00:20:18.44
Jesus didn't
beat around the bush.
00:20:18.47\00:20:20.33
He didn't engage with
any discussion with the devil
00:20:20.36\00:20:23.53
went straight to the
word and rebuke the devil.
00:20:23.56\00:20:27.42
But, I want you
to notice something.
00:20:27.45\00:20:29.62
Did Jesus
question this authority
00:20:29.65\00:20:33.35
that Satan was claming was his?
00:20:33.38\00:20:36.21
Did Jesus say to him,
hold on a minute what?
00:20:36.24\00:20:38.99
You are saying you
got authority of this
00:20:39.02\00:20:40.95
over this world, I created
it, you don't have authority,
00:20:40.98\00:20:45.13
I mean Jesus would have
rightly been able to say that
00:20:45.16\00:20:47.65
and yet He doesn't.
00:20:47.68\00:20:50.06
He doesn't question the fact
00:20:50.09\00:20:52.87
that Satan is claiming to be
00:20:52.90\00:20:54.99
to have
dominion over this earth.
00:20:55.02\00:20:57.34
He accepts it, He accepts it.
00:20:57.37\00:21:00.03
People often wonder
00:21:00.06\00:21:02.15
why bad things
happen to good people.
00:21:02.18\00:21:07.25
And how evil things
happen in this world
00:21:07.28\00:21:11.60
but when you see
this for what it is.
00:21:11.63\00:21:15.18
When you see that
the devil is at work
00:21:15.21\00:21:17.39
and this is kind of his realm
that Jesus had to come into,
00:21:17.42\00:21:22.41
these things should
not be surprising to us.
00:21:22.44\00:21:26.28
It shouldn't be surprising
00:21:26.31\00:21:28.30
the bad things
happen in our world.
00:21:28.33\00:21:31.88
It's amazing that
good things happen,
00:21:31.91\00:21:35.30
given the dark cloud
that hovers over this place.
00:21:35.33\00:21:40.30
Did you get that?
00:21:40.33\00:21:41.46
We've just
flipped it on its head.
00:21:41.49\00:21:43.22
We often blame God why
is this happening to me,
00:21:43.25\00:21:45.44
it shouldn't happen to me.
00:21:45.47\00:21:46.73
God is a good God,
He is a loving God.
00:21:46.76\00:21:48.84
You know, things
should be going well for me,
00:21:48.87\00:21:50.39
why do bad things
happen to good people.
00:21:50.42\00:21:52.68
But if you look at it this way,
00:21:52.71\00:21:54.73
that there is a dark
cloud hovering over this world,
00:21:54.76\00:21:57.09
this evil there is
a dominion going on,
00:21:57.12\00:22:01.43
you just thank God for
the good that still happens,
00:22:01.46\00:22:04.53
for the activity of God
in this world even still,
00:22:04.56\00:22:08.79
Even given that there
is a dark cloud over it.
00:22:08.82\00:22:14.70
This world is not
what it was originally
00:22:14.73\00:22:17.74
designed for, even this week,
00:22:17.77\00:22:21.16
we had our first funeral
here in the Untied States
00:22:21.19\00:22:25.55
and we said the same words.
00:22:25.58\00:22:27.13
This was, this was not
what we were designed to do.
00:22:27.16\00:22:30.26
We were designed to live
for eternity with no separation
00:22:30.29\00:22:33.78
and He were having to say
goodbye to this dearly beloved
00:22:33.81\00:22:37.01
and we kind of revolt,
we don't want to accept it,
00:22:37.04\00:22:40.03
because we
weren't created for it.
00:22:40.06\00:22:42.11
We were created
for something more,
00:22:42.14\00:22:44.00
something has gone
wrong in our world,
00:22:44.03\00:22:46.22
it is, it is in fact a
very inevitable war zone
00:22:46.25\00:22:51.67
as a result of
what Satan has done
00:22:51.70\00:22:55.46
and war zones are ugly.
00:22:55.49\00:22:58.32
This world is now
caught in the crossfire
00:22:58.35\00:23:02.46
of a cosmic battle
between good and the evil
00:23:02.49\00:23:06.31
that's why this
world is so contradictory,
00:23:06.34\00:23:08.55
that's why you can enjoy
00:23:08.58\00:23:10.46
beautiful music
and beautiful art
00:23:10.49\00:23:13.67
and enjoy wonderful
relationships on one hand,
00:23:13.70\00:23:16.93
and then what's the news,
turn on the news of an evening
00:23:16.96\00:23:19.62
and see horrible
crime and violence and stuff
00:23:19.65\00:23:24.86
that just doesn't make sense.
00:23:24.89\00:23:27.34
This world seems to have
a contradiction going on.
00:23:27.37\00:23:31.45
On the one hand you
can see the glory of God
00:23:31.48\00:23:33.84
everywhere in nature
00:23:33.87\00:23:35.57
and on the other
we see lots of things
00:23:35.60\00:23:38.16
that definitely
do not glorify God,
00:23:38.19\00:23:41.12
we live in a war zone.
00:23:41.15\00:23:45.59
We are in a war zone, a
zone that I saw horrible
00:23:45.62\00:23:49.83
so difficult to live through
00:23:49.86\00:23:51.73
that the other
universes don't understand
00:23:51.76\00:23:53.76
what we are going
through, it is a unique story
00:23:53.79\00:23:55.99
that only we can tell,
00:23:56.02\00:23:57.85
only we can tell the others like
because we lived through that
00:23:57.88\00:24:01.75
and you never
want to go there again.
00:24:01.78\00:24:04.45
It is a dubious privilege
to be here in this war zone.
00:24:04.48\00:24:11.33
So much evil still in our world,
00:24:11.36\00:24:16.04
so the world is not
as it was created to be,
00:24:16.07\00:24:18.65
it is not the ideal God
00:24:18.68\00:24:19.85
that world that
God made it to be,
00:24:19.88\00:24:22.21
so Jesus comes into this world,
00:24:22.24\00:24:25.20
yes to reconcile
us back to the Father,
00:24:25.23\00:24:27.41
yes to save us from our sins,
00:24:27.44\00:24:29.17
yes to forgive us
for our individual sin
00:24:29.20\00:24:33.62
but he ultimately
comes for even greater
00:24:33.65\00:24:36.37
more universal
more cosmic reason.
00:24:36.40\00:24:39.38
He comes as an act of war
00:24:39.41\00:24:41.76
to put an end to
this bloody battle,
00:24:41.79\00:24:45.30
to defeat the
enemy, to free the slaves,
00:24:45.33\00:24:49.32
to bring glory back to God,
00:24:49.35\00:24:52.53
to bring in His principles
and to end the dominant power
00:24:52.56\00:24:56.35
and reign of Satan,
that was the bigger picture
00:24:56.38\00:24:59.62
for why Jesus
came to this world.
00:24:59.65\00:25:02.96
He came as the lion
at the time of Judah
00:25:02.99\00:25:05.49
as a powerful war like figure
00:25:05.52\00:25:08.36
to reclaim this
world back to God.
00:25:08.39\00:25:11.48
So He doesn't just come to
get rid of individual sins.
00:25:14.58\00:25:20.85
He comes to destroy sin itself.
00:25:20.88\00:25:26.06
He comes to
destroy the principalities
00:25:26.09\00:25:28.54
and the powers
00:25:28.57\00:25:30.09
that are behind all
of the sins in our world,
00:25:30.12\00:25:33.77
not just to
forgive us for racism,
00:25:33.80\00:25:37.98
but to destroy
racism all together,
00:25:38.01\00:25:41.73
not just to heal our sick bodies
00:25:41.76\00:25:43.95
but to vanquish the virus
00:25:43.98\00:25:46.09
that makes us all
sick in the first place.
00:25:46.12\00:25:49.11
Not just to help the poor
00:25:49.14\00:25:51.09
but to destroy
the principalities
00:25:51.12\00:25:53.22
and powers behind poverty.
00:25:53.25\00:25:56.64
He comes to restore us.
00:25:56.67\00:25:58.21
He comes to restore this earth
00:25:58.24\00:26:00.89
to the dome in
which God is king,
00:26:00.92\00:26:04.70
the way it was meant to be.
00:26:04.73\00:26:07.16
He comes to
restore the kingdom of God.
00:26:07.19\00:26:08.96
Are you with me?
00:26:08.99\00:26:11.70
In the New Testament the term
00:26:11.73\00:26:12.98
the kingdom of God
is a dominant theme.
00:26:13.01\00:26:15.94
And this is why I'm surprised
00:26:15.97\00:26:17.17
that we don't
hear about it much,
00:26:17.20\00:26:19.29
it is so
dominant, I mean in Mathew,
00:26:19.32\00:26:21.91
the Book of
Mathew we find the term,
00:26:21.94\00:26:24.14
the kingdom of God
at least four times,
00:26:24.17\00:26:26.70
then we find it 14
times in the Book of Mark.
00:26:26.73\00:26:29.61
32 times in Luke,
00:26:29.64\00:26:31.56
and then we have
a synonymous term
00:26:31.59\00:26:33.02
called the kingdom of heaven
00:26:33.05\00:26:34.59
which is founded
throughout Mark about 32 times
00:26:34.62\00:26:38.36
the kingdom of
heaven is talked about,
00:26:38.39\00:26:41.36
making this possibly the
major theme of the gospels,
00:26:41.39\00:26:46.57
the kingdom of God
its there everywhere.
00:26:46.60\00:26:51.12
Jesus talked about
it, He taught about it,
00:26:51.15\00:26:53.84
he told parables about it
and yet we don't talk about it.
00:26:53.87\00:27:00.36
The Kingdom of God
and Christ as King.
00:27:00.39\00:27:05.46
The reason why Jesus
goes to such great lengths
00:27:05.49\00:27:09.43
to teach about His kingdom
is that the Jews were so fixed
00:27:09.46\00:27:15.14
on an idea that they thought
about the Kingdom of God.
00:27:15.17\00:27:19.05
You see this poor nation
had been subjugated for so long
00:27:19.08\00:27:24.95
for hundreds and
hundreds of years
00:27:24.98\00:27:27.53
at the hands of many, many
different kings and kingdoms,
00:27:27.56\00:27:31.52
so much so that
they lost their identity,
00:27:31.55\00:27:33.71
they were just so sick and tired
00:27:33.74\00:27:36.14
of being slaves to someone else,
00:27:36.17\00:27:38.54
that they long for a Messiah
00:27:38.57\00:27:40.42
a Christ to come, a king to come
00:27:40.45\00:27:42.91
and they expected
this king to come of course
00:27:42.94\00:27:45.97
to liberate them
from this enslavement.
00:27:46.00\00:27:48.37
And so they thought it was
going to be something visible,
00:27:48.40\00:27:51.14
something powerful and strong.
00:27:51.17\00:27:53.90
Some military action
00:27:53.93\00:27:55.45
that this Messiah
was going to come with
00:27:55.48\00:27:57.52
to reclaim God's
people back to God.
00:27:57.55\00:28:01.79
And because Jesus know
that the kingdom was different,
00:28:01.82\00:28:04.87
He had to go to great
lengths to explain the kingdom,
00:28:04.90\00:28:09.63
His kingship to His people.
00:28:09.66\00:28:12.24
Let me grab a little
example from Luke 17,
00:28:12.27\00:28:15.82
Luke 17 where Jesus is
00:28:15.85\00:28:22.17
engaging with the Pharisees
00:28:22.20\00:28:25.40
and He mentions this kingdom,
00:28:25.43\00:28:28.63
Luke 17:20,
00:28:28.66\00:28:33.48
Luke 17:20
00:28:33.51\00:28:37.86
and it says, "Once, having
been asked by the Pharisees
00:28:37.89\00:28:42.64
when the kingdom
of God would come,
00:28:42.67\00:28:45.99
Jesus replied,
'The kingdom of God
00:28:46.02\00:28:48.53
does not come with
your careful observation,
00:28:48.56\00:28:52.03
nor will people say,
Here it is, or There it is,
00:28:52.06\00:28:55.98
because the
kingdom of God is" where?
00:28:56.01\00:29:02.14
Now there is couple of versions
of scripture on this point.
00:29:02.17\00:29:06.55
Some of them say, the
kingdom of God is in your midst.
00:29:06.58\00:29:11.73
Have you got that version?
00:29:11.76\00:29:14.31
Another version,
mine, the NIV says
00:29:14.34\00:29:16.34
the kingdom of
God is within you.
00:29:16.37\00:29:21.77
Very interesting take
00:29:21.80\00:29:25.46
that was completely
unexpected for the Pharisees.
00:29:25.49\00:29:30.36
They believed Pharisees
and many Jewish leaders there
00:29:30.39\00:29:33.48
that the kingdom
could be brought about
00:29:33.51\00:29:35.26
by observable visible means.
00:29:35.29\00:29:38.42
For example the
Pharisees believed that
00:29:38.45\00:29:40.93
they could hasten
the kingdom of God,
00:29:40.96\00:29:42.70
through their religious
lives and enforceable laws,
00:29:42.73\00:29:47.59
they were big on
external righteousness
00:29:47.62\00:29:49.99
or goodness,
rules and regulations
00:29:50.02\00:29:53.54
and they felt by
looking after the outside
00:29:53.57\00:29:56.15
and how the outside came across
00:29:56.18\00:29:58.14
they would be able to
hasten the kingdom of God
00:29:58.17\00:30:00.94
and bring it into our midst.
00:30:00.97\00:30:03.43
Very rule dominated.
00:30:03.46\00:30:06.40
Then there was another
group called the Jewish Zealots,
00:30:06.43\00:30:09.47
these guys were
completely different,
00:30:09.50\00:30:11.29
these guys were firebrand Jews.
00:30:11.32\00:30:13.87
They wanted to bring
about the kingdom of God
00:30:13.90\00:30:15.97
in a more aggressive passion.
00:30:16.00\00:30:18.34
They believe that if enough
Jews with faith and courage
00:30:18.37\00:30:22.21
would come together
and confront the Romans
00:30:22.24\00:30:25.17
in a physical
battle, in a physical revolt
00:30:25.20\00:30:29.04
then God would intervene,
honor their faithfulness
00:30:29.07\00:30:31.62
and give them the victory.
00:30:31.65\00:30:34.62
They believe that, that
in establishing the kingdom
00:30:34.65\00:30:37.63
by force or violence,
00:30:37.66\00:30:40.54
they would be
able to reclaim it back
00:30:40.57\00:30:42.17
for God, tragic, tragic view.
00:30:42.20\00:30:47.00
Well, many of us
don't realizes that
00:30:47.03\00:30:48.92
it was these guys the Zealots
00:30:48.95\00:30:51.47
this ideology
that lead to a revolt
00:30:51.50\00:30:56.38
in around in and around 70 AD,
00:30:56.41\00:30:59.03
only another 40 years from
when Jesus left this earth.
00:30:59.06\00:31:03.38
The Zealots
revolted against the Romans,
00:31:03.41\00:31:06.63
and the Romans
persuade them back to Jerusalem
00:31:06.66\00:31:09.22
they encircled
Jerus-- they siege Jerusalem,
00:31:09.25\00:31:12.47
they didn't allow
any food to go in,
00:31:12.50\00:31:14.27
they didn't allow
any one to come out.
00:31:14.30\00:31:16.23
They ended up burning the
place, ransacking the place.
00:31:16.26\00:31:19.09
They killed just about
everyone they could see.
00:31:19.12\00:31:21.86
They even destroyed the
second temple of Solomon
00:31:21.89\00:31:25.16
or Herod's temple
they destroyed it.
00:31:25.19\00:31:27.71
And you know how
many Jews died back then?
00:31:27.74\00:31:31.04
I've read that
over one million Jews
00:31:31.07\00:31:34.34
in Jerusalem died
because of this ideology,
00:31:34.37\00:31:39.62
let's take it by
force of the Zealots.
00:31:39.65\00:31:44.71
There was another group still,
00:31:44.74\00:31:46.68
these were the
signs of the times
00:31:46.71\00:31:49.63
Jews that
believe that they would
00:31:49.66\00:31:51.48
bring about the kingdom
00:31:51.51\00:31:52.86
simply by
watching prophetic signs
00:31:52.89\00:31:55.32
and just sitting on my hands
00:31:55.35\00:31:56.84
watching for
the signs to happen.
00:31:56.87\00:32:00.76
And there was a
general assumption
00:32:00.79\00:32:03.06
that the kingdom would be
associated with a territory
00:32:03.09\00:32:06.29
and the people,
the Israelite nation.
00:32:06.32\00:32:10.21
So, you have the
Pharisees on one hand
00:32:10.24\00:32:12.39
who are trying to
bring in the kingdom
00:32:12.42\00:32:13.53
through the externals
and observable behavior.
00:32:13.56\00:32:16.60
Then you got the
Zealots on the other hand
00:32:16.63\00:32:18.26
trying to bring
it back by force.
00:32:18.29\00:32:19.98
You got other Jews
watching the signs of the times
00:32:20.01\00:32:22.54
to see if this
kingdom is coming.
00:32:22.57\00:32:24.99
And everyone is believing
that it's a territorial thing,
00:32:25.02\00:32:27.45
it's about God's
people, the nation of Israel
00:32:27.48\00:32:31.33
and Jesus comes along
00:32:31.36\00:32:33.37
to clear up these
misunderstandings.
00:32:33.40\00:32:38.41
The Pharisees want
Jesus to weigh in on this,
00:32:38.44\00:32:40.79
of this hot potato issue,
00:32:40.82\00:32:43.33
but no matter which
way Jesus would answer,
00:32:43.36\00:32:45.31
they would entrap Him.
00:32:45.34\00:32:48.36
And so said Jesus
responds as He always does,
00:32:48.39\00:32:51.62
doesn't really acknowledge
the question that have missed,
00:32:51.65\00:32:54.62
that have missed the point,
00:32:54.65\00:32:57.37
he cuts straight
to their assumptions
00:32:57.40\00:32:59.13
and he says guys,
00:32:59.16\00:33:02.50
the kingdom of God is
not as you think it is.
00:33:02.53\00:33:06.45
In fact the kingdom of God
00:33:06.48\00:33:07.70
is in your midst,
it's all ready here.
00:33:07.73\00:33:11.66
In fact the kingdom of God
00:33:11.69\00:33:14.23
is standing
right in front of you.
00:33:14.26\00:33:18.79
Jesus here is
referring to Himself
00:33:18.82\00:33:23.03
because Jesus is the
embodiment of the kingdom.
00:33:23.06\00:33:26.97
You see a kingdom in God's
term it's not about territory,
00:33:27.00\00:33:31.01
it's not about a
nation, it's about authority
00:33:31.04\00:33:34.89
and the Lordship
00:33:34.92\00:33:36.57
and so because
Jesus gave God the Father
00:33:36.60\00:33:39.10
absolute
authority over His life,
00:33:39.13\00:33:42.16
then Jesus was well
and truly the embodiment
00:33:42.19\00:33:44.68
of the kingdom of
God, where ever He went,
00:33:44.71\00:33:46.95
the kingdom was there with Him.
00:33:46.98\00:33:50.18
He was the full manifestation
of the kingdom of God.
00:33:50.21\00:33:53.55
He is what the
kingdom looks like
00:33:53.58\00:33:55.53
because He is the
kingdom and so where Jesus is,
00:33:55.56\00:33:59.81
so is the kingdom of God.
00:33:59.84\00:34:03.75
And there are plenty
of verses to support this.
00:34:03.78\00:34:06.63
I just want to quickly
take you through some of these,
00:34:06.66\00:34:08.95
so grab your Bibles,
we are going to flick
00:34:08.98\00:34:10.75
through a couple
of different verses
00:34:10.78\00:34:12.90
that show us that
the kingdom of God
00:34:12.93\00:34:14.86
is certainly a present
reality where Jesus is.
00:34:14.89\00:34:18.10
First one is
Mathew 10, Mathew 10
00:34:18.13\00:34:23.07
and I have to keep it come fast
00:34:23.10\00:34:25.18
because I want cover
just the few of these verses.
00:34:25.21\00:34:28.51
Mathew 10:7-8
00:34:28.54\00:34:34.11
and he says,
this is Jesus speaking
00:34:34.14\00:34:36.22
"As you go, preach this message,
00:34:36.25\00:34:38.62
'The kingdom of heaven is near.'
00:34:38.65\00:34:42.25
Heal the sick, raise the dead,
00:34:42.28\00:34:44.40
cleanse those who have leprosy,
00:34:44.43\00:34:46.67
drive out demons.
00:34:46.70\00:34:48.26
Freely you have
received, freely give."
00:34:48.29\00:34:51.80
Another passage is in Chapter 16
00:34:51.83\00:34:54.50
just a few pages onwards,
00:34:54.53\00:34:56.46
Mathew 16:18
00:34:56.49\00:35:01.28
"And I tell you
that you are Peter,
00:35:01.31\00:35:03.36
and on this rock me
I will build my church,
00:35:03.39\00:35:07.79
and the gates of
Hades will not overcome it.
00:35:07.82\00:35:11.59
I will give you the keys
of the kingdom of heaven,
00:35:11.62\00:35:14.92
whatever you bind on
earth will be bound in heaven,
00:35:14.95\00:35:18.94
and whatever you loose on
earth will be loosed in heaven."
00:35:18.97\00:35:24.33
I'll unpack this
in just a minute.
00:35:24.36\00:35:25.96
Let's keep going
with our overview,
00:35:25.99\00:35:27.66
but obviously that he is
talking about a key to kingdom,
00:35:27.69\00:35:31.00
to the kingdom here now
on earth as it is in heaven.
00:35:31.03\00:35:35.51
Let's look up, Mark 1, Mark 1:14
00:35:35.54\00:35:41.54
And it says, "After
John was put in prison,
00:35:41.57\00:35:43.86
Jesus went into Galilee,
00:35:43.89\00:35:45.15
proclaiming the
good news of God.
00:35:45.18\00:35:47.66
The time has come, 'he said.
00:35:47.69\00:35:49.97
'The kingdom of God is near,
00:35:50.00\00:35:52.53
Repent and
believe the good news!'"
00:35:52.56\00:35:55.53
Again Jesus is talking about
the kingdom in present terms,
00:35:55.56\00:35:59.04
is He not or He
is talking in future,
00:35:59.07\00:36:00.79
it definitely seems like
00:36:00.82\00:36:01.85
he is talking in
present, present terms.
00:36:01.88\00:36:04.92
How about Mark 9,
00:36:04.95\00:36:07.87
Mark 9:1, Mark 9:1,
00:36:07.90\00:36:12.97
"Jesus said to them,
'I tell you the truth,
00:36:13.00\00:36:15.67
some who are standing
here will not taste death
00:36:15.70\00:36:20.73
before they see the kingdom
of God come with power."'
00:36:20.76\00:36:26.07
You ever read that before.
00:36:26.10\00:36:27.92
You ever thought
what's He talking about?
00:36:27.95\00:36:30.90
Some of you
here will never take,
00:36:30.93\00:36:32.26
would not taste death
00:36:32.29\00:36:33.55
before the kingdom
of God comes in power.
00:36:33.58\00:36:36.24
Obviously Jesus is talking about
00:36:36.27\00:36:38.06
a more immediate
revolution of His kingdom,
00:36:38.09\00:36:42.25
then the final couple of
verses one we find in Luke 10,
00:36:42.28\00:36:47.96
Luke 10: 8 to 9
00:36:47.99\00:36:54.28
and it reads,
00:36:54.31\00:36:57.30
"When you enter a town,
00:36:57.33\00:36:58.36
this is Jesus
talking to his disciples,
00:36:58.39\00:37:00.38
and are welcomed eat
what is set before you.
00:37:00.41\00:37:03.33
Heal the sick who
are there and tell them,
00:37:03.36\00:37:05.84
'The kingdom of
God is near you.'
00:37:05.87\00:37:08.59
But when you enter a town
00:37:08.62\00:37:09.65
and are not welcomed, go
into its streets and say,
00:37:09.68\00:37:11.86
'Even the dust of your town
00:37:11.89\00:37:13.40
that sticks to our feet
we wipe off against you.
00:37:13.43\00:37:17.01
Yet be sure of this,
the kingdom of God is near."
00:37:17.04\00:37:22.56
And one final
example is in Chapter 11
00:37:22.59\00:37:25.67
over the page, Chapter 11:20.
00:37:25.70\00:37:28.86
Jesus again saying
"But, if I drive out demons
00:37:32.68\00:37:36.57
by the finger of God,
00:37:36.60\00:37:38.25
then the kingdom of
God has come to you."
00:37:38.28\00:37:44.67
And of course
you can go on and on,
00:37:44.70\00:37:46.73
we can look at
the whole of Mathew 13
00:37:46.76\00:37:49.79
the parables
there of the kingdom.
00:37:49.82\00:37:52.08
You can go and have a
look at them yourselves
00:37:52.11\00:37:54.75
and you will see
that surely Jesus
00:37:54.78\00:37:58.39
could not be mentioning
the kingdom in immediate terms
00:37:58.42\00:38:01.14
when He knew that it would
be more than 2,000 years away.
00:38:01.17\00:38:04.75
Surely Jesus wouldn't
be getting their hopes up
00:38:04.78\00:38:07.13
about a kingdom that
would be coming soon,
00:38:07.16\00:38:09.41
or was in the midst
if the kingdom of God
00:38:09.44\00:38:12.05
would be coming 2000
years or more into the future,
00:38:12.08\00:38:15.82
Jesus wouldn't,
wouldn't be doing that.
00:38:15.85\00:38:18.20
He wouldn't be lifting
their hopes in such away
00:38:18.23\00:38:21.93
as to believe
that that it was soon.
00:38:21.96\00:38:24.70
So, obviously these
passage are not referring
00:38:24.73\00:38:26.97
to the glorified kingdom
of heaven at the end of time.
00:38:27.00\00:38:30.50
Obviously these kingdoms,
these verses on the kingdom
00:38:30.53\00:38:33.07
are not talking
about the kingdom
00:38:33.10\00:38:34.59
that would be
established at the second time.
00:38:34.62\00:38:37.26
They are talking about,
00:38:37.29\00:38:38.94
there is a clear
concept here about a kingdom
00:38:38.97\00:38:41.18
that had already
arrived with Jesus
00:38:41.21\00:38:44.55
in some way at the
first coming of Jesus cross.
00:38:44.58\00:38:49.34
And he goes on to say that only
those with open hearts and minds
00:38:49.37\00:38:52.63
would be able
to see this kingdom
00:38:52.66\00:38:54.90
and of course the Pharisees
were too full of jealousy
00:38:54.93\00:38:58.68
and their own pride to
see it, they couldn't see it.
00:38:58.71\00:39:04.65
They were scandalized by this.
00:39:04.68\00:39:10.20
I think the application is
clear as it is important for us.
00:39:10.23\00:39:16.14
It is so foundational
00:39:16.17\00:39:18.16
because it is so
contrary to our culture
00:39:18.19\00:39:21.78
and to the
society in which we live.
00:39:21.81\00:39:24.28
It's so apposite even to
some religions of our day.
00:39:24.31\00:39:31.91
It's so
strongly opposes the idea
00:39:31.94\00:39:34.36
that the kingdom is the
same as religion per say.
00:39:34.39\00:39:40.19
And the reason I say that
00:39:40.22\00:39:41.70
is because the
religion that atheist see
00:39:41.73\00:39:44.47
day in day out, week and
week, week out on the news
00:39:44.50\00:39:48.02
is the religion
of child molesters
00:39:48.05\00:39:50.82
is a religion of holy
wars is a religion of conflict,
00:39:50.85\00:39:55.84
is a religion of contradictions,
it's a religion of lies
00:39:55.87\00:40:01.66
and of
televangelists that dupe people
00:40:01.69\00:40:03.97
and make a lot of money.
00:40:04.00\00:40:07.57
This is often the kingdom that
people associate with Christ
00:40:07.60\00:40:12.76
and with the church
00:40:12.79\00:40:14.30
and yet it is so far removed
from the real kingdom of God
00:40:14.33\00:40:19.72
that is meant
to be in our midst.
00:40:19.75\00:40:22.01
The kingdom simply
put is all about Jesus.
00:40:22.04\00:40:27.91
The kingdom looks like Jesus.
00:40:27.94\00:40:31.69
The kingdom looks
like Jesus especially
00:40:31.72\00:40:34.35
as He was dying on the cross.
00:40:34.38\00:40:36.79
That was the
greatest revaluation
00:40:36.82\00:40:38.75
of the kingdom of God
the world has ever seen,
00:40:38.78\00:40:41.64
sacrificial, self
sacrificing love on the cross.
00:40:41.67\00:40:45.44
That is what the
kingdom of God looks like.
00:40:45.47\00:40:49.86
Therefore it is already
and Ellen White backs this up.
00:40:49.89\00:40:53.44
The kingdom is already
00:40:53.47\00:40:54.50
a spiritual
reality in our midst.
00:40:54.53\00:40:57.54
It's with in us through
the present of the Holy Spirit.
00:40:57.57\00:41:02.06
Remember Jesus
said, wherever, wherever
00:41:02.09\00:41:04.10
that the spirit
was going to reveal
00:41:04.13\00:41:05.88
the things that he taught,
00:41:05.91\00:41:07.21
and so because he said that
00:41:07.24\00:41:08.50
wherever he was the
spirit was in their midst
00:41:08.53\00:41:11.31
and because the Holy Spirit
00:41:11.34\00:41:12.40
is now the presence
of Christ inside of us,
00:41:12.43\00:41:16.05
then it stands to
reason at the kingdom of God
00:41:16.08\00:41:19.72
is now within through the
presence of the Holy Spirit.
00:41:19.75\00:41:23.56
So, the kingdom of God,
00:41:27.85\00:41:28.94
the kingdom of God
is completely different
00:41:28.97\00:41:32.72
to what we often see represented
in our world as Christianity.
00:41:32.75\00:41:37.17
In fact Jesus said
00:41:37.20\00:41:38.80
that His kingdom
was not of this world.
00:41:38.83\00:41:43.46
There is no vitriol
in the kingdom of heaven.
00:41:43.49\00:41:46.22
There is no violence.
00:41:46.25\00:41:48.12
There is no particular group
of people that can lay claim
00:41:48.15\00:41:51.98
to citizenship of this kingdom
00:41:52.01\00:41:53.41
and it is a
kingdom that is from above,
00:41:53.44\00:41:55.61
that is centered on Jesus Christ
that looks like Jesus Christ.
00:41:55.64\00:42:01.29
Earthly
institutions have offered
00:42:01.32\00:42:03.21
absolutely nothing to do
with the true kingdom of God.
00:42:03.24\00:42:06.51
In fact the kingdom
that Jesus speaks off
00:42:06.54\00:42:08.87
is in direct
contradiction to such mentality.
00:42:08.90\00:42:12.13
Jesus
demonstrates that the kingdom
00:42:12.16\00:42:13.50
cannot be brought
about by observables,
00:42:13.53\00:42:16.16
by lifestyle, by
force or even by belief.
00:42:16.19\00:42:20.73
Did you hear me?
00:42:20.76\00:42:22.96
It just doesn't come about
00:42:22.99\00:42:24.06
by having the head
knowledge of belief
00:42:24.09\00:42:28.90
and it is not synonymous
00:42:28.93\00:42:30.20
with any people
group or religion
00:42:30.23\00:42:32.34
and this was a
scandal in those days
00:42:32.37\00:42:34.39
and it is a scandal today.
00:42:34.42\00:42:39.09
Again the
kingdom looks like Jesus.
00:42:39.12\00:42:45.46
It means that, we, you and I
00:42:45.49\00:42:49.13
are now to be in the
presence of Jesus in this world.
00:42:49.16\00:42:53.83
We are now to be the
body of Christ in our world
00:42:53.86\00:42:56.65
because we have
God's presence within us.
00:42:56.68\00:42:59.83
We are royal priesthood,
we are a holy nation.
00:42:59.86\00:43:05.54
We are set apart to
be the kingdom of God,
00:43:05.57\00:43:09.13
the dome over which God is king,
00:43:09.16\00:43:11.64
that's what kingdom means.
00:43:11.67\00:43:13.54
We are to be where
God has his authority.
00:43:13.57\00:43:17.12
Ellen White says, "When the soul
surrenders itself to Christ,
00:43:17.15\00:43:20.00
a new power takes
possession of the new heart.
00:43:20.03\00:43:24.14
A change is wrought
00:43:24.17\00:43:25.20
which man can never
accomplish for himself.
00:43:25.23\00:43:27.60
It is a supernatural work,
00:43:27.63\00:43:30.08
bringing a supernatural
element into human nature.
00:43:30.11\00:43:33.44
But unless we yield ourselves
to the control of Christ,
00:43:33.47\00:43:36.61
we shall be
dominated by the wicked one.
00:43:36.64\00:43:39.63
We must inevitably be
under the control of the one
00:43:39.66\00:43:43.85
of one or the other
of these two great powers
00:43:43.88\00:43:47.77
that are contending for
the supremacy of our world."
00:43:47.80\00:43:50.41
And she says, "It
is not necessary for us
00:43:50.44\00:43:52.23
to deliberately
choose the service
00:43:52.26\00:43:54.82
of the kingdom of darkness
00:43:54.85\00:43:56.30
in order to come
under its dominion.
00:43:56.33\00:43:58.71
Did you hear that?
00:43:58.74\00:44:00.56
She says that you
don't have to choose
00:44:00.59\00:44:02.81
the kingdom of darkness
00:44:02.84\00:44:04.15
to align
yourself with the devil.
00:44:04.18\00:44:07.31
She says that we
have only to neglect
00:44:07.34\00:44:10.24
to ally ourselves to
the kingdom of light.
00:44:10.27\00:44:15.25
So if we don't ally ourselves
to the kingdom of Christ,
00:44:15.28\00:44:18.88
we are naturally by
default with the devil.
00:44:18.91\00:44:22.11
If we do not co-operate
with the heavenly agencies,
00:44:22.14\00:44:25.68
Satan will take
possession of the heart,
00:44:25.71\00:44:27.98
and will make it
his abiding place.
00:44:28.01\00:44:30.38
The only defense
she says against evil
00:44:30.41\00:44:32.82
is the indwelling
of Christ in the heart
00:44:32.85\00:44:36.31
through faith in
His righteousness.
00:44:36.34\00:44:38.67
There is no
sitting on the fence,
00:44:38.70\00:44:40.60
we are either for
God or against God.
00:44:40.63\00:44:45.94
So I'm primary calling a saints
00:44:45.97\00:44:48.51
who obey God's commandments
and remain faithful to Jesus.
00:44:48.54\00:44:53.70
Foremost
fundamental job description
00:44:53.73\00:44:56.31
is that we be
imitators of Christ,
00:44:56.34\00:44:59.42
that we live in love,
00:44:59.45\00:45:00.86
as Christ loved us and
gave Himself up for us.
00:45:00.89\00:45:04.20
We are to imitate the
word in Greek is mimetic.
00:45:04.23\00:45:07.31
We are to be
imitators, we have to mimic God
00:45:07.34\00:45:09.87
as he was
revealed in Jesus Christ.
00:45:09.90\00:45:12.64
And thus we cooperate
in the work of the kingdom
00:45:12.67\00:45:17.24
and there we can
say your kingdom come,
00:45:17.27\00:45:20.13
your will be done on
earth as it is in heaven.
00:45:20.16\00:45:24.39
We line ourselves up
with the will of God in heaven
00:45:24.42\00:45:27.76
as we live out God's
kingdom here on earth.
00:45:27.79\00:45:30.14
Does it make sense to you?
00:45:30.17\00:45:34.53
We are first, we have to
seek first the kingdom of God
00:45:34.56\00:45:40.31
and his righteousness,
this is what matters.
00:45:40.34\00:45:42.84
We can build nice buildings
that are esthetically pleasing
00:45:42.87\00:45:46.79
but from the
perspective of the kingdom
00:45:46.82\00:45:48.34
they are worthless
00:45:48.37\00:45:49.46
unless they are conforming
us to the image of God
00:45:49.49\00:45:52.33
and we can, we can
have wonderful sermons.
00:45:52.36\00:45:54.62
We can do the
most amazing things
00:45:54.65\00:45:56.97
but unless we
are being conformed
00:45:57.00\00:45:58.60
as the people to
the kingdom of God,
00:45:58.63\00:46:00.77
through the
presence of the Holy Spirit,
00:46:00.80\00:46:02.38
these things are worthless.
00:46:02.41\00:46:05.31
We need to be
learning how to swim upstream
00:46:05.34\00:46:08.43
in this culture
in which we live.
00:46:08.46\00:46:10.70
We need to swim
against the current of culture.
00:46:10.73\00:46:13.13
We need to look different
to the world in which we live.
00:46:13.16\00:46:16.46
We need to look like Jesus.
00:46:16.49\00:46:19.30
Further we, we need
to proactively proclaim,
00:46:19.33\00:46:22.15
sorry reclaim when
it's a proactively reclaim
00:46:22.18\00:46:25.17
the strongholds of
Satan in the power of God,
00:46:25.20\00:46:28.06
not by our own strength
not by force, not by violence
00:46:28.09\00:46:31.43
but by the power of the spirit
00:46:31.46\00:46:33.84
through self
sacrifice and through love,
00:46:33.87\00:46:36.83
and starting with our
very hearts and our minds.
00:46:36.86\00:46:40.65
And then continuing on to
take in captive all the emotions
00:46:40.68\00:46:44.63
and the attitudes, our
behaviors and our habits.
00:46:44.66\00:46:48.10
Then we move on
to our marriages.
00:46:48.13\00:46:50.43
We need to
reclaim them back for God.
00:46:50.46\00:46:52.29
We need to
reclaim that too for God.
00:46:52.32\00:46:54.29
We need to then reclaim
our very homes back to God,
00:46:54.32\00:46:57.49
to make it the dome
in which God is king.
00:46:57.52\00:47:00.07
His authority needs
to be over our homes.
00:47:00.10\00:47:04.01
Then we move on
to those around us,
00:47:04.04\00:47:06.26
our neighbors, our
friends, our co-workers,
00:47:06.29\00:47:08.90
our very church and beyond.
00:47:08.93\00:47:12.67
Where there is
despair, we bring hope.
00:47:12.70\00:47:15.52
Where there is
unbelief, we bring faith.
00:47:15.55\00:47:18.19
Where there is
hatred, we bring love.
00:47:18.22\00:47:20.42
Where there is bitterness,
we bring forgiveness.
00:47:20.45\00:47:23.66
Where there is
sadness, we bring joy.
00:47:23.69\00:47:26.20
Where there is
sickness, we bring healing.
00:47:26.23\00:47:28.49
Where there is conflict,
we bring reconciliation.
00:47:28.52\00:47:35.27
Note, that we are not
waging war against people.
00:47:35.30\00:47:37.70
The Bible says that our
struggle in Ephesians 6,
00:47:37.73\00:47:40.87
"Our struggle is not
against flesh and blood,
00:47:40.90\00:47:43.03
but against the rulers,
against the authorities,
00:47:43.06\00:47:44.95
against the
powers of this dark world
00:47:44.98\00:47:46.87
and against spiritual forces
of evil in the heavenly realms."
00:47:46.90\00:47:50.37
So therefore if it
has flesh and blood
00:47:50.40\00:47:53.23
brothers and sisters
it is not your enemy.
00:47:53.26\00:47:57.13
If it has flesh and blood
00:47:57.16\00:47:59.09
these are the one
we have to reclaim.
00:47:59.12\00:48:01.10
These are the
ones we have to love.
00:48:01.13\00:48:04.31
These are the
ones that need a Savior
00:48:04.34\00:48:06.26
that are dying in their sins.
00:48:06.29\00:48:09.81
The message of the gospel
00:48:09.84\00:48:10.90
is not just about
the cross of Calvary,
00:48:10.93\00:48:13.33
it's about the empty tomb.
00:48:13.36\00:48:15.03
It's about the
triumphant message of Jesus
00:48:15.06\00:48:17.74
who has already
conquered sin and Satan,
00:48:17.77\00:48:21.73
It's a victorious message
00:48:21.76\00:48:23.02
that Jesus has
already reclaim back
00:48:23.05\00:48:25.57
what was rightfully
His, including you and me.
00:48:25.60\00:48:29.00
The enemy is
defeated, praise God.
00:48:29.03\00:48:33.49
This good news has
two implications for us
00:48:33.52\00:48:35.99
one is that we can
experience this now.
00:48:36.02\00:48:38.90
We do not have to wait
till the glorified kingdom come.
00:48:38.93\00:48:43.10
We can start living
in the presence of Christ
00:48:43.13\00:48:45.23
in His kingdom even now.
00:48:45.26\00:48:47.31
And let me add more to this.
00:48:47.34\00:48:48.85
We are not to sit on our hands,
00:48:48.88\00:48:51.02
watching the signs of the times,
00:48:51.05\00:48:52.94
watching to see when
Jesus is going to come.
00:48:52.97\00:48:55.42
We need to expect Him, we
need to watch these signs,
00:48:55.45\00:48:58.12
but we don't sit on
our heads and do it.
00:48:58.15\00:49:00.30
We need to be living out
00:49:00.33\00:49:01.90
as members of
the kingdom of God,
00:49:01.93\00:49:03.91
so Jesus when He returns
00:49:03.94\00:49:05.28
who find us busy
doing the King's business.
00:49:05.31\00:49:08.94
We ought to be sign
doers, not the sign watchers.
00:49:08.97\00:49:12.82
We ought to be
spreading the everlasting gospel
00:49:12.85\00:49:15.33
through our nation, to the world
00:49:15.36\00:49:17.34
and then the end
will come, Matthew 25.
00:49:17.37\00:49:21.22
And let me tell you that
despite all the instability
00:49:21.25\00:49:24.20
in our world the
chaos in our lives,
00:49:24.23\00:49:28.04
we must
continue to keep our eyes
00:49:28.07\00:49:30.30
firmly focused on
Jesus and His soon return.
00:49:30.33\00:49:33.88
Don't give up,
00:49:33.91\00:49:35.54
because despite of
what you are going through,
00:49:35.57\00:49:37.00
God is still on His throne.
00:49:37.03\00:49:38.88
He is still in control
and your destiny ensure.
00:49:38.91\00:49:42.54
Because the slain lamb
is also the triumphant king
00:49:42.57\00:49:45.54
who will soon come and
bring an end to sin in death
00:49:45.57\00:49:48.22
and assure His glorious kingdom
your victory is guaranteed.
00:49:48.25\00:49:54.26
Jesus will reign supreme,
00:49:54.29\00:49:56.41
He will wipe away every tears
00:49:56.44\00:49:57.89
from our eyes there
will be no more death,
00:49:57.92\00:49:59.71
sorrow, crying,
there will be no more pain,
00:49:59.74\00:50:02.48
for the former
things have passed away.
00:50:02.51\00:50:05.13
And let me ask you.
00:50:05.16\00:50:06.19
Who is worthy to
open that scroll?
00:50:06.22\00:50:09.04
Only one,
Jesus. Jesus is worthy.
00:50:09.07\00:50:13.02
He is our King of
kings and Lord of lords.
00:50:13.05\00:50:17.29
The ending of our
passage and our time is up.
00:50:17.32\00:50:20.71
In Revelation 5 in the section
between 18 verse 8 and 14,
00:50:20.74\00:50:26.72
Revelation 5:8-14
and we'll finish here,
00:50:26.75\00:50:32.94
When Christ subjected are
under his glorious dominion
00:50:32.97\00:50:38.35
and his very presence
00:50:38.38\00:50:40.70
we read what they say
00:50:40.73\00:50:44.88
in that very Chapter
of Chapter Revelation 5:8.
00:50:44.91\00:50:50.92
Actually we'll start in verse 9
00:50:50.95\00:50:52.76
"And then they sang a new song,
00:50:52.79\00:50:56.36
these are the
four living creatures
00:50:56.39\00:50:57.62
and the 24 elders
00:50:57.65\00:50:59.19
'You are worthy
to take the scroll
00:50:59.22\00:51:02.21
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
00:51:02.24\00:51:05.36
with your blood you
purchased man for God
00:51:05.39\00:51:07.70
from every tribe and
language and people and nation.
00:51:07.73\00:51:11.09
You have made
them to be a kingdom
00:51:11.12\00:51:13.63
and priests to serve our God,
00:51:13.66\00:51:16.14
and they will
reign on the earth.
00:51:16.17\00:51:17.90
Then I looked says John
00:51:17.93\00:51:18.96
and I heard the
voice of many angels,
00:51:18.99\00:51:20.36
numbering
thousands upon thousands,
00:51:20.39\00:51:22.29
and ten thousand
upon ten thousand.
00:51:22.32\00:51:24.18
They encircled the throne
00:51:24.21\00:51:25.40
and the living
creatures and the elders.
00:51:25.43\00:51:27.07
And in a loud voice they sang.
00:51:27.10\00:51:28.70
'Worthy is the Lamb,
who was slain, to receive
00:51:28.73\00:51:31.35
power and wealth
and wisdom and strength
00:51:31.38\00:51:34.22
to receive and honor
and glory and praise!'
00:51:34.25\00:51:38.60
And then I heard
every creature in heaven
00:51:38.63\00:51:42.13
and on earth and under
the earth and on the sea,
00:51:42.16\00:51:44.78
and all that is in them,
singing, we are going to sing,
00:51:44.81\00:51:50.35
'To him who sits on the throne
00:51:50.38\00:51:52.79
and to the Lamb
be praise and honor
00:51:52.82\00:51:55.77
and glory and power,
00:51:55.80\00:51:57.28
for ever and ever. Amen.
00:51:57.31\00:52:01.03
Question, do you want to
be a part of that kingdom?
00:52:01.06\00:52:05.60
Do you want to
make a stand for Christ
00:52:05.63\00:52:08.36
and live as a
citizen of his kingdom
00:52:08.39\00:52:10.75
in your sphere of
influence wherever you might be?
00:52:10.78\00:52:14.43
Do you want to live a life
00:52:14.46\00:52:15.93
that looks unlike this
world, but looks like Jesus?
00:52:15.96\00:52:20.62
If you do and I
invite you to pray with me
00:52:20.65\00:52:24.07
as we ask Jesus to come
00:52:24.10\00:52:26.35
and establish the
kingdom in our midst.
00:52:26.38\00:52:31.16
The Carter report is a
self supporting ministry
00:52:31.19\00:52:34.30
with a global mission.
00:52:34.33\00:52:36.03
We believe that the
most important thing
00:52:36.06\00:52:38.05
that we can do in
this tremendous hour
00:52:38.08\00:52:40.85
is to tell people
about the Lord Jesus Christ
00:52:40.88\00:52:44.04
because Jesus said,
00:52:44.07\00:52:45.68
"I am the way, the
truth and the life."
00:52:45.71\00:52:48.55
We do not believe that
this is business as usual.
00:52:48.58\00:52:52.66
We believe that we are
living in the closing hours
00:52:52.69\00:52:55.95
in the history of this world.
00:52:55.98\00:52:57.67
Bless your heart, friend.
00:52:57.70\00:52:59.06
Look at the signs that are being
fulfilled almost every day.
00:52:59.09\00:53:02.92
The signs of the
times are shouting at us
00:53:02.95\00:53:06.05
and they are saying
Jesus is coming soon.
00:53:06.08\00:53:09.54
I want you to be my
partner in global mission.
00:53:09.57\00:53:13.03
I want you to be my partner
00:53:13.06\00:53:14.84
in helping to tell the
world about the coming of Jesus.
00:53:14.87\00:53:18.66
I want you to be my
partner in the preaching
00:53:18.69\00:53:21.81
of the distinctive truths
of the Three Angels' Messages.
00:53:21.84\00:53:26.47
Please check us out
00:53:26.50\00:53:28.72
at the new Carter
Report website, catereport.org.
00:53:28.75\00:53:33.62
We have a special section
whereby you can ask questions
00:53:33.65\00:53:38.41
and I will give you the answers
00:53:38.44\00:53:40.32
from the Living
Word of the Living God,
00:53:40.35\00:53:43.88
that is the cartereport.org.
00:53:43.91\00:53:48.44
My friend, we
want you to join us
00:53:48.47\00:53:51.45
in the mission to
preach the gospel in China,
00:53:51.48\00:53:55.78
in India, in
Australia, in Africa,
00:53:55.81\00:53:59.74
in United States of
America wherever people are lost
00:53:59.77\00:54:03.92
and wherever people need to hear
00:54:03.95\00:54:06.21
the good news that Jesus saves.
00:54:06.24\00:54:10.00
Please check us out,
00:54:10.03\00:54:11.39
the new carter report
website, cartereport.org.
00:54:11.42\00:54:16.47
I want to hear from you today.
00:54:16.50\00:54:18.91
People need the Lord
00:54:31.68\00:54:37.70
People need the Lord
00:54:37.73\00:54:44.10
At the end of broken dreams
00:54:44.13\00:54:50.78
He's the open door
00:54:50.81\00:54:56.33
People need the Lord
00:54:56.36\00:55:02.93
People need the Lord
00:55:02.96\00:55:09.29
When will we realize
00:55:09.32\00:55:16.58
People need the Lord
00:55:16.61\00:55:21.35
We are called to take His light
00:55:33.33\00:55:40.74
To a world where
wrong seems right
00:55:40.77\00:55:47.04
What could be too great a cost
00:55:47.07\00:55:52.45
For sharing life
with one who's lost
00:55:52.48\00:56:00.24
Through His love
our hearts can feel
00:56:00.27\00:56:06.76
All the grief they bear
00:56:06.79\00:56:13.21
They must hear the words of life
00:56:13.24\00:56:19.67
Only we can share
00:56:19.70\00:56:25.67
People need the Lord
00:56:25.70\00:56:31.71
People need the Lord
00:56:31.74\00:56:37.69
At the end of broken dreams
00:56:37.72\00:56:43.71
He's the open door
00:56:43.74\00:56:49.64
People need the Lord
00:56:49.67\00:56:55.78
People need the Lord
00:56:55.81\00:57:02.08
When will we realize
00:57:02.11\00:57:07.97
That we must give our lives
00:57:08.00\00:57:12.97
For people
00:57:13.00\00:57:16.20
Well, they need the Lord
00:57:16.23\00:57:24.20
People
00:57:29.29\00:57:33.63
need the Lord
00:57:33.66\00:57:41.63