Hello, and welcome once again
to Foundation of Our Faith.
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My name is CA Murray,
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and it is my
privilege and pleasure
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to welcome you to
edition number three
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in this series,
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where the Word of
God is being preached
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with power and with conviction.
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Our speaker is
Pastor Furman Fordham II,
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powerful young man.
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And I still call
him a young man of God
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who has been anointed by God,
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and I am sure God will bless him
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as he speaks to us
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through his
manservant on this day.
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Pastor Fordham has
an impressive resume,
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and when you work for the Lord
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and dedicate
yourself to the Lord,
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and give your
talents to the Lord,
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then the Lord is pleased
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to give you
fruit for your labor.
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He's pastored in
a number of places
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across these United States
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and also served as a
youth pastor in Melbourne,
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Australia.
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So God has given him a
wide breadth of experience,
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and he is using that
experience to serve the Lord
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and to motivate his church
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to do great things for the Lord.
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He's pastored in several places
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and is currently
the senior pastor
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of the Riverside Church
in Nashville, Tennessee.
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He is the husband
of one wife, Jennifer
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and the father of three sons.
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So he is a busy
man serving the Lord,
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serving his
family, serving the church.
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In 2009, I want to get this in,
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he coauthored a book
called Mission Driven Ministry
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and that seems to
be the burden of...
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I want to call him pop of
Furman Fordham's ministry.
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In that he seeks
to have his church
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moved out of the
church in his community
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and do things for the Lord.
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And whenever you use
that and do that for the Lord,
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then God gives you His blessing
and gives you His favor.
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I just want to
mention his son's names,
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we've got Furman
III, Irving, and Jennings,
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young men who are
growing up in the fear
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and admonition of Jesus Christ.
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I like this, the last
little bit of the biography
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that I see here.
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It is saying that his purpose
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and the statement of his purpose
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is to be a growing
Christian, an adoring husband,
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an exceptional
father, an excellent pastor.
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In another
words, he wants to serve
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and serve successfully
in all of these capacities,
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and I think when
you dedicate yourself
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to serving the
Lord on this wise,
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then you are precisely
where God wants you to be
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and doing precisely
what God wants you to do,
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and God gives you blessings
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and gives you
fruit for your labor.
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So we expect a powerful
message from him this day
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as he speaks on the
subject of a prequel,
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God will bless him
and bless us through Him.
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Our music is coming
from Chavvah Lister.
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In talking with her
husband just a little bit ago,
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you know, she stay around us,
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work long enough you begin
to meet the children of people
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that you knew makes
you feel a little old
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but it also lets you know
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that the work of
God is in good hands.
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And once one
generation leaves the scene,
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then God brings
other young people
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to carry the mantle
and lift up the mighty
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and matchless name of Jesus.
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She will be
bringing our music ministry
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and after she shall
have sung for the Lord,
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then we will
hear from our friend,
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our Pastor Furman Fordham.
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Would you join me
now in a word of prayer?
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Father God, we
praise You, we thank You,
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we glorify Your name,
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for truly You are a God
who is worthy to be praised.
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We thank You for the
ministry of preaching
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and the
ministry that is of music
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as both of these lift our heads
and our hearts towards heaven.
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May we be pleased to
sit in heavenly places,
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this day,
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and may You be pleased
to give us Your presence,
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Your power, and Your spirit
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as together we seek
to glorify Your name
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and take one more step along
that road that leads to glory.
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Bless the sitting this day.
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We praise You, we thank
You for Your promise to hear
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and answer the prayer of faith
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in Jesus name, amen and amen.
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And now, Chavvah Lister
and after she shall have sung,
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the man of God
Pastor Furman Fordham II.
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He promised us
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That He would be a counselor
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A mighty God
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And the prince of peace
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He promised us
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That He would be a father
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And that He would love us
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With a love that would not cease
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Oh, I tried Him
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And I found that
His promises are true
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He's everything
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He said that He would be
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The finest words I
know cannot begin to tell
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Just to watch Jesus
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Really means to me
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For He's more wonderful
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Than my mind can conceive
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He's more wonderful
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Than my heart can believe
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He goes beyond my highest hopes
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And fondest
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Dreams
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He's everything
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That my soul ever longed for
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Everything He's promised
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And so much more
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More than amazing
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More than marvelous
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More than
miraculous could ever be
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He's more than wonderful
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That's what Jesus is to me
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I stand amazed when I
think the King of Glory
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Should come to dwell
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Within the heart of man
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I marvel just to know
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He really loves me
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When I think of who He is
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And who I am
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For He's more wonderful
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Than my mind can conceive
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He's more wonderful
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Than my heart can believe
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He goes beyond my highest hopes
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And my fondest dreams
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Yes, He's everything
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That my soul ever longed for
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Everything He's
promised and so much more
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More than amazing
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More than marvelous
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More than
miraculous could ever be
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He's more than wonderful
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That's what Jesus is
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He's everything, yeah,
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That my soul ever longed for
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Everything He's
promised and so much more
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More than amazing
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More than marvelous
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More than miraculous
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Could ever be
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He's more than wonderful
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More than wonderful
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That's what Jesus
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Is to me
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That's what Jesus
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Is to me
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Is He more than
wonderful to you?
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Praise God that
we serve a loving God
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who can be described
as more than wonderful.
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We want to thank Chavvah
for ministering to our hearts
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in song.
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I also appreciate Pastor Murray
for his kind introduction.
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It is a blessing to be
with the Dare to Dream family,
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and we thank you for tuning into
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our Foundation of
Our Faith program.
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I do believe that the
Foundation of Our Faith
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is the good news
of God's amazing love
00:11:04.46\00:11:08.70
as communicated
through Jesus Christ.
00:11:08.73\00:11:12.03
And I am hopeful that you
might experience God's love
00:11:12.07\00:11:17.11
as we look at His work together.
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I am beginning with 1 John 3
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and I'd like to read verse 8
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in the New King
James Version of the Bible,
00:11:27.85\00:11:30.42
1 John 3:8
00:11:30.45\00:11:35.56
in the New King
James Version of the Bible.
00:11:35.59\00:11:38.03
It reads, "He who
sins is of the devil,
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for the devil has
sinned from the beginning.
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For this purpose,
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the Son of God was manifested,
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that He might destroy
the works of the devil."
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I like to read that again,
"He who sins is of the devil,
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for the devil has
sinned from the beginning.
00:12:05.99\00:12:08.22
For this purpose,
00:12:08.26\00:12:10.19
the Son of God was manifested,
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that He might destroy
the works of the devil."
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I've entitled our
study for this presentation,
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the prequel, the prequel.
00:12:23.20\00:12:26.07
Would you pray with me?
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Hover over me Holy Spirit,
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bathe my
trembling heart and brow.
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Fill me with thy
hallowed presence.
00:12:36.32\00:12:39.82
Come o come and fill me now.
00:12:39.85\00:12:42.72
Fill me now, fill me
now, only you can fill me now.
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So fill me with
thy hallowed presence,
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come please come
00:12:51.90\00:12:55.30
and fill us now.
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In the name of
Jesus, we pray amen.
00:12:59.77\00:13:04.38
The prequel,
Francis Ford Coppola
00:13:04.41\00:13:10.55
well known movie The Godfather,
00:13:10.59\00:13:14.82
won its fair
share of Oscar Awards,
00:13:14.86\00:13:19.93
when it was
first presented in 1972
00:13:19.96\00:13:24.77
but two years later
00:13:24.80\00:13:27.57
it was followed by Godfather 2,
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which got even more Oscar Awards
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and became in the minds of
many an even better picture
00:13:34.81\00:13:40.65
than its predecessor.
00:13:40.68\00:13:42.78
What was
interesting about this sequel,
00:13:42.82\00:13:47.42
Godfather 2 is that
it not only continued
00:13:47.46\00:13:53.36
describing the events of
the Godfather and his family
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picking up from
where Godfather 1 left off,
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but it went before Godfather 1,
00:14:01.10\00:14:04.64
it went prior to Godfather 1.
00:14:04.67\00:14:08.24
In the purest sense of the word,
00:14:08.28\00:14:11.41
it was a prequel.
00:14:11.45\00:14:14.08
It gave events
00:14:14.12\00:14:15.75
that existed prior to
the movie Godfather 1.
00:14:15.78\00:14:21.62
Well, our verse today says,
"He who sins is of the devil,
00:14:21.66\00:14:27.06
for the devil has
sinned from the beginning."
00:14:27.10\00:14:30.77
When we think
about the beginning,
00:14:30.80\00:14:33.57
we normally think
about Genesis 1:1,
00:14:33.60\00:14:38.41
"In the beginning
God created the heavens
00:14:38.44\00:14:41.98
and the earth and the
earth was without form,
00:14:42.01\00:14:45.65
and void, and
darkness was on the face of...
00:14:45.68\00:14:48.95
And we think about
the creation of earth
00:14:48.98\00:14:53.36
as being the beginning.
00:14:53.39\00:14:55.59
But the Bible has a
prequel, it gives us insight,
00:14:55.62\00:15:02.56
an awareness
regarding a beginning
00:15:02.60\00:15:05.83
that came before that
Garden of Eden beginning
00:15:05.87\00:15:10.14
and that beginning goes
all the way back to heaven.
00:15:10.17\00:15:15.38
It's described in
the Book of Revelation,
00:15:15.41\00:15:18.61
this prequel can
be seen in a vision
00:15:18.65\00:15:22.42
that John has in
Revelation 4 and 5.
00:15:22.45\00:15:28.79
As we look at Revelation 4
00:15:28.82\00:15:31.76
and read beginning with verse 1,
00:15:31.79\00:15:34.96
I want to make you aware
that John is sharing his vision
00:15:35.00\00:15:41.70
while he is a prisoner
on the island of Patmos.
00:15:41.74\00:15:46.68
He has been made a prisoner
00:15:46.71\00:15:49.58
because he's been
preaching the Word of God.
00:15:49.61\00:15:52.55
He is the last
remaining apostle,
00:15:52.58\00:15:55.68
the other apostles
have all been killed
00:15:55.72\00:15:58.85
and he alone is still alive
00:15:58.89\00:16:01.76
witnessing to the good news
of Jesus' death, resurrection,
00:16:01.79\00:16:06.80
and ascension,
and His soon return.
00:16:06.83\00:16:10.10
And because of the
disdain and the animosity
00:16:10.13\00:16:14.07
regarding his preaching,
he has been put in prison,
00:16:14.10\00:16:18.27
and it's while John is in prison
00:16:18.31\00:16:21.01
that he receives
this vision of God
00:16:21.04\00:16:24.51
and it is
communicated in what we have
00:16:24.55\00:16:27.95
known as The Book of Revelation.
00:16:27.98\00:16:30.55
In Revelation 4, John
lets us in on his vision.
00:16:30.59\00:16:35.96
Verse 1 says, "After
these things I looked,
00:16:35.99\00:16:39.79
and behold, a door
standing open in heaven.
00:16:39.83\00:16:44.00
And the first voice
00:16:44.03\00:16:45.37
which I heard was like a trumpet
00:16:45.40\00:16:47.50
speaking with me,
saying, 'Come up here,
00:16:47.54\00:16:50.44
and I will show you things
00:16:50.47\00:16:52.11
which must take
place after this.'
00:16:52.14\00:16:55.08
Immediately I was in the Spirit,
00:16:55.11\00:16:57.28
and behold, a
throne set in heaven,
00:16:57.31\00:17:01.18
and One sat on the throne.'
00:17:01.22\00:17:03.99
"Right now John does not tell us
00:17:04.02\00:17:06.35
who is seated on the throne,
00:17:06.39\00:17:08.42
but you can imagine that
if this is a throne in heaven,
00:17:08.46\00:17:12.69
then we should imagine
that the King of Heaven
00:17:12.73\00:17:15.83
might be seated on the throne.
00:17:15.86\00:17:17.67
And he's described in verse 3
00:17:17.70\00:17:20.20
as one who had, jasper
00:17:20.24\00:17:22.44
and a sardius
stone in appearance,
00:17:22.47\00:17:24.87
there was a
rainbow around the throne,
00:17:24.91\00:17:27.34
and in
appearance like an emerald.
00:17:27.38\00:17:29.44
Around the
throne were 24 thrones,
00:17:29.48\00:17:32.98
and on the thrones I
saw 24 elders sitting,
00:17:33.01\00:17:37.59
clothed in white robes,
00:17:37.62\00:17:39.92
and they had crowns
of gold on their heads.
00:17:39.95\00:17:43.36
And from the throne
proceeded lightnings,
00:17:43.39\00:17:47.30
thunderings, and voices.
00:17:47.33\00:17:49.36
Seven lamps of fire were
burning before the throne,
00:17:49.40\00:17:53.10
which are the
seven Spirits of God.
00:17:53.13\00:17:56.14
Now as we continue to
read about this vision,
00:17:56.17\00:18:00.68
it would start to look
like a sci-fi thriller.
00:18:00.71\00:18:04.81
Look at what
John says in verse 6,
00:18:04.85\00:18:08.58
"Before the throne
there was a sea of glass,
00:18:08.62\00:18:12.52
like crystal.
00:18:12.55\00:18:14.46
And in the midst of the
throne, and around the throne,
00:18:14.49\00:18:17.93
were four living
creatures full of eyes in front
00:18:17.96\00:18:24.27
and eyes in back."
00:18:24.30\00:18:26.20
Now don't get too
confused, don't get too afraid,
00:18:26.23\00:18:30.54
just imagine that John is
giving us a glimpse of heaven
00:18:30.57\00:18:36.24
and he's describing
these exotic creatures
00:18:36.28\00:18:40.05
who have eyes all on the
front and eyes all on the back.
00:18:40.08\00:18:45.52
it's a sci-fi
thriller and he says,
00:18:45.55\00:18:49.09
"The first living creature,
verse 7, was like a lion,
00:18:49.12\00:18:53.63
the second living
creature like a calf,
00:18:53.66\00:18:56.93
the third living
creature had a face like a man,
00:18:56.97\00:19:00.47
and the fourth living creature
was like a flying eagle."
00:19:00.50\00:19:04.74
It may seem as if
this is crazy, and foolish,
00:19:04.77\00:19:09.21
and some kind of picture
00:19:09.24\00:19:11.08
that's not worthy of our notice.
00:19:11.11\00:19:13.18
But when John is
penning his vision,
00:19:13.21\00:19:18.32
while on the island of Patmos,
00:19:18.35\00:19:22.59
he has to get his letter
through the hands of the guards
00:19:22.62\00:19:27.50
who probably are
going to read its contents
00:19:27.53\00:19:31.67
to make sure it's
appropriate for dissemination.
00:19:31.70\00:19:34.90
And if John is telling stories
about crazy four faced beings
00:19:34.94\00:19:41.14
that got eyes all on the
front and eyes all on the back,
00:19:41.18\00:19:45.11
his wardens are gonna say,
"This old man has gone crazy.
00:19:45.15\00:19:48.55
Let his letters go
back to the mainland."
00:19:48.58\00:19:52.22
And when the Christians
00:19:52.25\00:19:54.36
on the mainland
read John's vision,
00:19:54.39\00:19:58.43
they are so rooted and grounded
in the Old Testament Scriptures
00:19:58.46\00:20:04.23
that they pick up hints
00:20:04.27\00:20:06.90
regarding what
John is describing.
00:20:06.94\00:20:10.44
If you were to turn with
me in the Book of Ezekiel.
00:20:10.47\00:20:14.14
Look at Ezekiel 1,
00:20:14.18\00:20:16.51
and you'll notice
starting with verse 4
00:20:16.54\00:20:19.88
that Ezekiel had a vision
that was similar to John's.
00:20:19.91\00:20:24.79
Ezekiel 1:4 says,
"Then I, Ezekiel looked,
00:20:24.82\00:20:29.16
and behold, a whirlwind
was coming out of the north,
00:20:29.19\00:20:31.76
and a great cloud with
raging fire engulfing itself,
00:20:31.79\00:20:35.20
and brightness was all around it
00:20:35.23\00:20:36.87
and radiating out of its
midst like the color of amber,
00:20:36.90\00:20:39.93
out of the midst of the fire.
00:20:39.97\00:20:41.37
Also from within it
00:20:41.40\00:20:43.47
came the likeness of
four living creatures."
00:20:43.51\00:20:47.61
Remember, John
described these four creatures
00:20:47.64\00:20:51.48
and this was their appearance,
they had the likeness of a man,
00:20:51.51\00:20:56.38
"Each one had four faces,
and each one had four wings.
00:20:56.42\00:21:00.89
Their legs were straight,
and the soles of their feet
00:21:00.92\00:21:03.39
were like the
soles of calves' feet.
00:21:03.43\00:21:05.29
They sparkled like the
color of burnished bronze.
00:21:05.33\00:21:07.86
The hands of a man
were under their wings
00:21:07.90\00:21:10.03
on their four sides,
00:21:10.07\00:21:11.40
and each of the
four had faces and wings.
00:21:11.43\00:21:13.67
Their wings touched one another.
00:21:13.70\00:21:15.34
The creatures did
not turn when they went,
00:21:15.37\00:21:17.61
but each one went
straight forward."
00:21:17.64\00:21:19.44
Look at verse 10,
00:21:19.47\00:21:20.98
"As for the
likeness of their faces,
00:21:21.01\00:21:24.05
each had the face of a man,
00:21:24.08\00:21:27.28
each of the four
had the face of a lion
00:21:27.32\00:21:30.52
on the right side,
00:21:30.55\00:21:32.42
each of the four had the
face of an ox on the left side,
00:21:32.45\00:21:36.79
and each of the four
had the face of an eagle."
00:21:36.83\00:21:40.43
Ezekiel is describing
the same four descriptions
00:21:40.46\00:21:46.97
that John is describing.
00:21:47.00\00:21:49.84
When John's readers
get the Book of Revelation
00:21:49.87\00:21:54.34
and read about his
vision in chapter 4,
00:21:54.38\00:21:57.91
they automatically remember
00:21:57.95\00:22:00.42
what Ezekiel wrote about
in his book in chapter 1.
00:22:00.45\00:22:04.05
They are
comparing the Old Testament,
00:22:04.09\00:22:06.89
and they are allowing it
00:22:06.92\00:22:08.59
to help them
understand John's vision,
00:22:08.62\00:22:11.73
and we are going to do the same.
00:22:11.76\00:22:14.13
I do not want you
to worry right now
00:22:14.16\00:22:17.00
about what these
creatures look alike,
00:22:17.03\00:22:20.20
but notice back in Revelation
4 what they are doing.
00:22:20.24\00:22:25.61
Revelation 4:8, "The
four living creatures,
00:22:25.64\00:22:29.71
having six wings
00:22:29.74\00:22:31.38
were full of eyes
around and within.
00:22:31.41\00:22:34.48
And they do not
rest day or night,
00:22:34.52\00:22:38.52
saying, "Holy, holy, holy.
00:22:38.55\00:22:43.89
Lord God Almighty, who
was and is and is to come!"
00:22:43.93\00:22:50.77
Those four living creatures
00:22:50.80\00:22:52.77
regardless of
what they look like,
00:22:52.80\00:22:55.50
doesn't matter how
many eyes they have,
00:22:55.54\00:22:58.31
whether they are on
the front, and in the back,
00:22:58.34\00:23:01.34
doesn't matter
how spooky they look
00:23:01.38\00:23:03.55
and how crazy they look.
00:23:03.58\00:23:05.18
Notice what they are doing,
they rest not day or night,
00:23:05.21\00:23:10.52
they just cry,
"Holy, holy, holy.
00:23:10.55\00:23:16.52
Lord God Almighty, who
was and is and is to come!"
00:23:16.56\00:23:22.06
If you were to look at
these living creatures,
00:23:22.10\00:23:25.27
you would find them crying,
00:23:25.30\00:23:27.07
"Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty."
00:23:27.10\00:23:31.07
That's what they are doing day
00:23:31.11\00:23:33.38
and that's what
they are doing night.
00:23:33.41\00:23:35.24
And then the
Bible says in verse 9,
00:23:35.28\00:23:38.15
"Whenever the living
creatures give glory,
00:23:38.18\00:23:42.18
and honor, and thanks to
Him who sits on the throne."
00:23:42.22\00:23:45.75
And remember when they do
it, they do it day and night,
00:23:45.79\00:23:50.13
"And whenever
the living creatures
00:23:50.16\00:23:53.13
give glory and
honor and thanks to Him
00:23:53.16\00:23:55.60
who sits on the throne,
who lives forever and ever,
00:23:55.63\00:23:59.03
the 24 elders, they
fall down before Him
00:23:59.07\00:24:03.54
who sits on the throne.
00:24:03.57\00:24:05.17
And they worship Him
who lives forever and ever,
00:24:05.21\00:24:09.31
and cast their
crowns before the throne."
00:24:09.34\00:24:12.28
So these 24 elders,
00:24:12.31\00:24:15.15
whenever those
four living creatures
00:24:15.18\00:24:18.15
are worshipping God,
00:24:18.19\00:24:19.79
the 24 elders
cast down their crowns
00:24:19.82\00:24:23.56
and they start worshipping God.
00:24:23.59\00:24:25.83
Now remember that
the four living creatures
00:24:25.86\00:24:28.86
worshipped God day and night,
00:24:28.90\00:24:31.73
that means that the 24 elders
00:24:31.77\00:24:34.64
are casting down
their crowns day and night.
00:24:34.67\00:24:37.87
John is being
shown a vision of heaven
00:24:37.91\00:24:41.91
where all of the
inhabitants are engaged
00:24:41.94\00:24:46.38
and engrossed in
24/7 worship of God.
00:24:46.41\00:24:50.89
This is a picture of
heaven in its pristine holiness
00:24:50.92\00:24:56.12
where every being
just lives to worship God
00:24:56.16\00:25:00.23
and to praise God.
00:25:00.26\00:25:01.83
And the reason
why they worship God
00:25:01.86\00:25:04.53
is found in verse 11.
00:25:04.57\00:25:06.47
They are worshipping
Him but because they say,
00:25:06.50\00:25:09.80
"You are worthy, O Lord
00:25:09.84\00:25:12.64
to receive glory
and honor and power,
00:25:12.67\00:25:16.71
for You created all things,
and by Your will they exist
00:25:16.75\00:25:21.78
and were created."
00:25:21.82\00:25:23.28
The reason why the
inhabitants of heaven
00:25:23.32\00:25:27.06
are worshipping God is
00:25:27.09\00:25:28.92
because they
consider Him worthy,
00:25:28.96\00:25:33.03
worthy to receive their worship
00:25:33.06\00:25:37.20
because He created them.
00:25:37.23\00:25:40.67
All throughout the
Old Testament Scriptures,
00:25:40.70\00:25:44.54
the children of
Israel consider their God
00:25:44.57\00:25:48.58
as the only God
because He was the Creator God.
00:25:48.61\00:25:54.18
All of the rest of
the gods were idols
00:25:54.22\00:25:57.52
that could not
speak and could not act
00:25:57.55\00:26:01.22
but their God was the
Creator of heaven and earth.
00:26:01.26\00:26:05.03
The reason why we worship God
00:26:05.06\00:26:08.36
and consider Him
worthy of our worship
00:26:08.40\00:26:11.33
is because He created us.
00:26:11.37\00:26:15.50
It's natural and intuitive
for creatures to discern
00:26:15.54\00:26:20.98
that their Creator
is worthy of worship
00:26:21.01\00:26:23.75
and it's natural and
intuitive for the Creator
00:26:23.78\00:26:26.65
to recognize and expect
00:26:26.68\00:26:28.75
that the creatures
ought give worship.
00:26:28.78\00:26:31.82
I remember growing up as a
boy, I watched The Cosby Show.
00:26:31.85\00:26:37.29
I was the same
age as Theo Huxtable,
00:26:37.33\00:26:41.66
we grew up together
00:26:41.70\00:26:43.47
and I remember
that first episode
00:26:43.50\00:26:46.13
where Heathcliff Huxtable
00:26:46.17\00:26:49.84
was going into
Theo Huxtable's room,
00:26:49.87\00:26:53.17
which was always
dirty, and always a mess,
00:26:53.21\00:26:55.94
so he's
stepping over old clothes
00:26:55.98\00:26:58.88
and stepping over pizza boxes.
00:26:58.91\00:27:01.18
And he finally
has a conversation
00:27:01.22\00:27:03.85
with Theo and Theo
was not understanding
00:27:03.89\00:27:06.72
the necessity of
making sure he applies himself
00:27:06.76\00:27:10.96
and get good grades.
00:27:10.99\00:27:12.33
He's not recognizing
that he needs to follow
00:27:12.36\00:27:15.33
the instructions of
his father and his mother
00:27:15.36\00:27:17.83
and finally
Heathcliff Huxtable says,
00:27:17.87\00:27:20.90
"I brought you in this
world and I'll take you out."
00:27:20.94\00:27:25.84
The implication is,
00:27:25.87\00:27:27.41
"I created you and I
am due respect from you."
00:27:27.44\00:27:33.11
And any parent worth their salt
00:27:33.15\00:27:35.75
recognizes and
believes the same thing.
00:27:35.78\00:27:38.52
And it is understood intuitively
00:27:38.55\00:27:42.56
that creatures owe their worship
00:27:42.59\00:27:46.80
and their praise to
the one who created them.
00:27:46.83\00:27:50.63
Heaven at this
point, in John's vision,
00:27:50.67\00:27:55.10
is a perfect portrait
of all of God's creation
00:27:55.14\00:28:00.68
recognizing that He is creator
00:28:00.71\00:28:03.85
and He is worthy of
their worship and praise.
00:28:03.88\00:28:08.58
But then when we
change to Revelation 5,
00:28:08.62\00:28:13.42
the scene in John's movie
00:28:13.46\00:28:17.13
adjusts its focus.
00:28:17.16\00:28:20.43
In verse 1, it says,
00:28:20.46\00:28:22.16
"And I saw in
the right hand of Him
00:28:22.20\00:28:26.23
who sat on the throne a scroll."
00:28:26.27\00:28:30.24
Some kind of document,
00:28:30.27\00:28:32.67
"Written inside and on the back,
00:28:32.71\00:28:35.68
and sealed with seven seals."
00:28:35.71\00:28:38.31
The being who is
seated on the throne
00:28:38.35\00:28:41.78
is now shown with a document,
as if he's been served papers.
00:28:41.82\00:28:48.76
And the Bible goes
on in verse 2 to say,
00:28:48.79\00:28:51.36
"Then I saw a strong angel
proclaiming with a loud voice,
00:28:51.39\00:28:56.73
"Who is worthy
to open the scroll
00:28:56.77\00:29:00.00
and to loose its seals?"
00:29:00.04\00:29:03.07
Now there are two
ways of interpreting
00:29:03.10\00:29:07.94
this strong angel's question.
00:29:07.98\00:29:11.31
The strong angel
could be like a cheerleader
00:29:11.35\00:29:15.15
at a high school basketball game
00:29:15.18\00:29:17.49
and the strong
angel is giving the cheer
00:29:17.52\00:29:20.86
and expecting a
response, "Who's worthy?"
00:29:20.89\00:29:24.13
"God's worthy."
00:29:24.16\00:29:25.59
"Who's worthy?" "God's worthy."
00:29:25.63\00:29:27.83
It can be a positive question,
00:29:27.86\00:29:31.13
eliciting and
expecting a positive response
00:29:31.17\00:29:35.07
or a strong angel
00:29:35.10\00:29:38.44
could be asking a
challenging question,
00:29:38.47\00:29:43.28
a probing question.
00:29:43.31\00:29:45.91
Almost like some of
those African-American ladies
00:29:45.95\00:29:49.88
that I'm familiar with
who know how to twist the neck
00:29:49.92\00:29:53.56
and shake the head
00:29:53.59\00:29:54.92
and he might be saying
with his hands on his hip,
00:29:54.96\00:29:57.89
"Who's worthy?"
00:29:57.93\00:30:00.53
And when we look at the response
00:30:00.56\00:30:04.97
from the inhabitants
of heaven it becomes clear
00:30:05.00\00:30:10.37
that the latter
interpretation is preferred.
00:30:10.41\00:30:15.74
This angel, this strong angel
00:30:15.78\00:30:19.51
is not just asking
but actually challenging,
00:30:19.55\00:30:24.59
challenging whether
or not God is worthy?
00:30:24.62\00:30:28.82
Who is worthy
00:30:28.86\00:30:30.69
to open the scroll
and to loose its seals?
00:30:30.73\00:30:33.56
The expectation is that all
of the inhabitants of heaven
00:30:33.60\00:30:38.97
would respond by
pointing to the King
00:30:39.00\00:30:41.90
who's on the throne.
00:30:41.94\00:30:43.27
They just got
finished worshipping Him
00:30:43.30\00:30:46.27
day and night
24/7 casting crowns
00:30:46.31\00:30:50.71
before His feet
00:30:50.75\00:30:52.08
because they
considered Him worthy.
00:30:52.11\00:30:54.92
And now that the question is
asked regarding who is worthy?
00:30:54.95\00:30:59.49
I'm expecting everyone
to say, "God is worthy."
00:30:59.52\00:31:04.19
But the Bible says
in verse 3 of chapter 5,
00:31:04.23\00:31:08.46
"No one in
heaven or on the earth
00:31:08.50\00:31:13.37
or under the earth
00:31:13.40\00:31:15.90
was able to open the
scroll, or to look at it.
00:31:15.94\00:31:20.14
So I wept much,
00:31:20.18\00:31:22.31
because no one was
found worthy to open
00:31:22.34\00:31:28.15
and read the
scroll, or to look at it."
00:31:28.18\00:31:33.62
John is pictured as weeping
00:31:33.66\00:31:35.89
because he recognizes the
significance of this scene
00:31:35.92\00:31:41.63
in his movie.
00:31:41.66\00:31:43.00
He recognizes that
there is now a question
00:31:43.03\00:31:47.47
concerning whether
or not God is worthy.
00:31:47.50\00:31:53.27
All of creation is in peril,
00:31:53.31\00:31:58.28
if there is a powerful
being who is not loving,
00:31:58.31\00:32:04.09
and gracious, and kind,
00:32:04.12\00:32:06.05
and interested in the
life of His creatures.
00:32:06.09\00:32:10.69
If God is not a loving God
00:32:10.73\00:32:13.80
and not worthy of
His creatures worship,
00:32:13.83\00:32:16.93
then that means
that God is an angry God.
00:32:16.97\00:32:20.80
God is a God who is
not interested in the life
00:32:20.84\00:32:25.47
and the blessing
of His creatures,
00:32:25.51\00:32:27.74
He is to be feared, and
He is to be hidden from,
00:32:27.78\00:32:32.41
and the whole
universe would be in peril,
00:32:32.45\00:32:35.98
if God is not worthy.
00:32:36.02\00:32:40.19
And John is now weeping
00:32:40.22\00:32:42.72
because there is
a question in heaven
00:32:42.76\00:32:49.13
concerning whether or not
00:32:49.16\00:32:51.63
God is worthy
to receive worship?
00:32:51.67\00:32:56.91
I believe that this
00:32:56.94\00:33:00.48
interlude in the movie
00:33:00.51\00:33:04.11
that John is been
given in Revelation 4
00:33:04.15\00:33:07.92
and Revelation 5 is
eluding to the crisis,
00:33:07.95\00:33:12.15
the war that
took place in heaven
00:33:12.19\00:33:15.06
where there was a question
regarding the character of God
00:33:15.09\00:33:20.66
and whether or not He
was worthy to be worshiped.
00:33:20.70\00:33:24.47
The readers of John's vision
00:33:24.50\00:33:27.14
would go back to
that Book of Ezekiel
00:33:27.17\00:33:30.41
and they would
research to find more cues.
00:33:30.44\00:33:33.51
I want to encourage us
to also go back to Ezekiel.
00:33:33.54\00:33:37.78
This time Ezekiel 28,
00:33:37.81\00:33:41.08
and I want us to notice
00:33:41.12\00:33:42.78
what the Bible
says in Ezekiel 28
00:33:42.82\00:33:46.25
beginning with verse 11.
00:33:46.29\00:33:48.32
Ezekiel says,
00:33:48.36\00:33:49.69
"Moreover the word
of the Lord came to me,
00:33:49.72\00:33:52.69
saying, 'Son of man,
take up a lamentation,
00:33:52.73\00:33:56.77
a sad song, a funeral
dirge for the king of Tyre.'"
00:33:56.80\00:34:02.30
Tyre was an ancient city
00:34:02.34\00:34:04.34
similar to the
cities of our day.
00:34:04.37\00:34:06.44
The King of Tyre would
have been the equivalent
00:34:06.47\00:34:09.41
of a mayor of a city
or a governor of a state,
00:34:09.44\00:34:13.21
and Ezekiel is being
told to sing a sad song
00:34:13.25\00:34:17.59
for the King of Tyre.
00:34:17.62\00:34:19.22
But as he sings
about the King of Tyre
00:34:19.25\00:34:22.86
and talks about
his future and his end,
00:34:22.89\00:34:25.79
it becomes obvious
that he's comparing him
00:34:25.83\00:34:29.30
to another figure
00:34:29.33\00:34:31.20
who is highlighted
00:34:31.23\00:34:33.77
in Ezekiel
28:12, 13, 14, and 15.
00:34:33.80\00:34:39.01
"Son of man,
00:34:39.04\00:34:40.38
take up a lamentation
for the King of Tyre,
00:34:40.41\00:34:42.61
and say to him,
'Thus says the Lord God,
00:34:42.64\00:34:45.31
'You were the
seal of perfection,
00:34:45.35\00:34:49.88
full of wisdom
and perfect in beauty.
00:34:49.92\00:34:53.52
You were in Eden,
the garden of God,
00:34:53.56\00:34:57.43
every precious
stone was your covering
00:34:57.46\00:35:00.83
the sardius, topaz, and diamond,
00:35:00.86\00:35:03.47
Beryl, onyx, and
jasper, sapphire, turquoise,
00:35:03.50\00:35:07.00
and emerald with gold.
00:35:07.04\00:35:08.50
The workmanship of
your timbrels and pipes
00:35:08.54\00:35:11.61
was prepared for you on
the day you were created.
00:35:11.64\00:35:15.38
You were the anointed cherub
who covers, I established you.
00:35:15.41\00:35:20.98
You were on the
holy mountain of God.
00:35:21.02\00:35:24.25
You walked back and forth
00:35:24.29\00:35:26.59
in the midst of
the fiery stones.
00:35:26.62\00:35:29.92
It's obvious that Ezekiel
00:35:29.96\00:35:32.49
is not just
speaking about a human king
00:35:32.53\00:35:36.40
who resides in Tyre.
00:35:36.43\00:35:38.37
He's comparing
him to another being,
00:35:38.40\00:35:42.10
a being who was
an anointed cherub,
00:35:42.14\00:35:45.54
an angel who God set on
the very mountain of God.
00:35:45.57\00:35:50.98
He was right there beside
God as God's right hand man.
00:35:51.01\00:35:55.85
I remember
growing up in the 80's
00:35:55.88\00:35:58.29
we would take these
pictures, these banquet pictures
00:35:58.32\00:36:01.82
where you'd sit in
this huge wicker chair
00:36:01.86\00:36:04.76
and you'd have
your partner beside you
00:36:04.79\00:36:07.06
who would have
like the palm branch.
00:36:07.10\00:36:09.23
And we would take these pictures
00:36:09.26\00:36:10.97
as if the king was
in the wicker chair
00:36:11.00\00:36:13.27
and the right hand
man was right beside us.
00:36:13.30\00:36:15.70
Where God is describing it
00:36:15.74\00:36:17.67
as if this angel
is His right hand man,
00:36:17.71\00:36:21.24
right on the
holy mountain of God.
00:36:21.28\00:36:23.98
Well, if you are on
the holy mountain of God,
00:36:24.01\00:36:27.85
if you are right beside God,
00:36:27.88\00:36:30.45
and all of the
inhabitants in heaven
00:36:30.49\00:36:34.62
consider God worthy of
worship and worthy of praise,
00:36:34.66\00:36:39.66
and all they do
24/7 is worship God.
00:36:39.69\00:36:44.63
And thank God, and honor
God, and give praise to God,
00:36:44.67\00:36:49.87
then as the right
hand man beside God,
00:36:49.90\00:36:53.38
you see countless beings
00:36:53.41\00:36:55.94
continually giving
God worship and praise.
00:36:55.98\00:36:59.61
The environment of
heaven at first was one
00:36:59.65\00:37:02.85
where God would give life
and in response to the life
00:37:02.88\00:37:07.42
His creatures would give praise,
00:37:07.46\00:37:09.49
God would give blessings,
00:37:09.52\00:37:11.43
and God would give glory,
and God would give wisdom,
00:37:11.46\00:37:15.06
and God would give honor
00:37:15.10\00:37:16.60
and in response all of His
creatures would give worship.
00:37:16.63\00:37:20.34
And this angel, this cherubim
00:37:20.37\00:37:23.24
who is on the right hand of God
00:37:23.27\00:37:25.21
is right there beholding it all.
00:37:25.24\00:37:29.58
But then Ezekiel 28:15 says,
00:37:29.61\00:37:36.55
"You were perfect in your ways
00:37:36.58\00:37:39.69
from the day you were created
00:37:39.72\00:37:42.69
till iniquity was found in you."
00:37:42.72\00:37:47.53
Iniquity is
another word for sin.
00:37:47.56\00:37:50.57
There was some kind of sin
00:37:50.60\00:37:54.27
that was found inside
of God's right hand man.
00:37:54.30\00:37:59.64
It goes on to say in verse 16,
00:37:59.67\00:38:02.14
"By the abundance
of your trading..."
00:38:02.18\00:38:05.08
He was trading something,
he was selling something,
00:38:05.11\00:38:09.92
"By the
abundance of your trading
00:38:09.95\00:38:12.05
you became filled
with violence within,
00:38:12.09\00:38:14.66
and you sinned.
00:38:14.69\00:38:16.02
Therefore, I cast
you as a profane thing
00:38:16.06\00:38:19.36
out of the mountain of
God, and I destroyed you,
00:38:19.39\00:38:22.63
O covering cherub,
00:38:22.66\00:38:24.00
from the midst of
the fiery stones."
00:38:24.03\00:38:25.93
Verse 17, "Your
heart was lifted up
00:38:25.97\00:38:30.41
because of your beauty,
00:38:30.44\00:38:32.51
you corrupted your wisdom
for the sake of your splendor.
00:38:32.54\00:38:37.21
I cast you to the
ground, laid you before kings,
00:38:37.25\00:38:41.15
that they might gaze at you."
00:38:41.18\00:38:43.42
Ezekiel is describing his vision
00:38:43.45\00:38:46.29
where this angel who was
right on the right hand of God
00:38:46.32\00:38:50.63
is now filled with iniquity
and his heart is lifted up
00:38:50.66\00:38:55.60
because of his beauty.
00:38:55.63\00:38:57.40
The beauty that God gave
00:38:57.43\00:38:59.87
is supposed to
elicit a worship response
00:38:59.90\00:39:04.07
in the recipient.
00:39:04.11\00:39:05.44
But this being, now
has his heart lifted up,
00:39:05.47\00:39:09.98
he's developing a sense of pride
00:39:10.01\00:39:13.35
because of what he's been given.
00:39:13.38\00:39:16.22
And slowly but surely
00:39:16.25\00:39:18.85
what's happening in
the heart of this creature
00:39:18.89\00:39:22.29
is not a desire
to acknowledge God
00:39:22.32\00:39:26.16
and thank God for
the gifts he's received,
00:39:26.19\00:39:29.43
but being filled with
pride he wants to be affirmed.
00:39:29.46\00:39:34.30
He wants to be thanked,
00:39:34.34\00:39:36.30
he wants to be acknowledged
for the beauty, and the wisdom,
00:39:36.34\00:39:41.44
and the gifts that he possesses.
00:39:41.48\00:39:44.08
A shift has occurred
and Ezekiel 28:18 says,
00:39:44.11\00:39:50.22
"You defiled your sanctuaries
00:39:50.25\00:39:52.45
by the multitude
of your iniquities,
00:39:52.49\00:39:55.02
by the iniquity
of your trading."
00:39:55.06\00:39:58.16
He started selling something,
started advertising something.
00:39:58.19\00:40:04.93
We compare this
portion of Scripture
00:40:04.97\00:40:08.80
with another Old
Testament prophet Isaiah.
00:40:08.84\00:40:12.74
Notice what Isaiah says
00:40:12.77\00:40:14.71
in Isaiah 14:12.
00:40:14.74\00:40:21.68
Isaiah says,
00:40:21.72\00:40:23.18
"How you are fallen from heaven,
00:40:23.22\00:40:27.66
O Lucifer, son of the morning.
00:40:27.69\00:40:30.36
How you are cut
down to the ground,
00:40:30.39\00:40:34.46
you who weakened the nations."
00:40:34.50\00:40:36.63
Then he answers
his question by saying,
00:40:36.67\00:40:41.34
"You've said in your heart,
'I will ascend into heaven,
00:40:41.37\00:40:46.17
I will exalt my throne
above the stars of God.
00:40:46.21\00:40:50.15
I will also sit on the
mount of the congregation
00:40:50.18\00:40:54.38
on the farthest
sides of the north.
00:40:54.42\00:40:56.65
I will ascend above
the heights of the clouds.
00:40:56.69\00:41:00.12
I will be like the Most High.'"
00:41:00.16\00:41:03.22
Isaiah is
describing the same being
00:41:03.26\00:41:06.73
that Ezekiel was describing
00:41:06.76\00:41:08.86
and I am suggesting
that it is the same situation
00:41:08.90\00:41:13.37
that John was seeing.
00:41:13.40\00:41:15.54
There was a strong angel
00:41:15.57\00:41:17.81
who was on the right hand of God
00:41:17.84\00:41:20.08
who observed all of these beings
00:41:20.11\00:41:23.14
worshipping God 24 hours a day.
00:41:23.18\00:41:26.82
And while he is
observing them worshipping God,
00:41:26.85\00:41:30.09
no one ever
pauses to say to him,
00:41:30.12\00:41:34.09
"Lucifer, you look
quite brilliant today.
00:41:34.12\00:41:38.03
You look quite dazzling today."
00:41:38.06\00:41:41.26
And Lucifer
over a period of time
00:41:41.30\00:41:45.07
starts coveting the desire
to be affirmed for his beauty,
00:41:45.10\00:41:51.31
to be
acknowledged for his gifts,
00:41:51.34\00:41:54.18
and pride rather than
wanting to worship God
00:41:54.21\00:41:59.75
for the life and
gifts that have been given,
00:41:59.78\00:42:03.75
he wanted to be
worshipped as God.
00:42:03.79\00:42:09.32
A shift has taken place
00:42:09.36\00:42:12.59
and one of God's creatures
00:42:12.63\00:42:17.63
is now yearning, desiring,
00:42:17.67\00:42:22.27
ye plotting and planning
00:42:22.30\00:42:25.44
how he can be worshiped as God.
00:42:25.47\00:42:32.41
Bible says in Isaiah 14,
00:42:32.45\00:42:36.18
he said, "I will set my throne
00:42:36.22\00:42:41.52
above the heights of the clouds.
00:42:41.56\00:42:44.99
I will be alike the Most High."
00:42:45.03\00:42:50.50
It's interesting to
me that he didn't say,
00:42:50.53\00:42:53.13
"I will be above the Most High."
00:42:53.17\00:42:57.41
You know, you can't even
conceive of an above God.
00:42:57.44\00:43:03.01
Our minds can't even
grasp a greater than God.
00:43:03.04\00:43:07.25
So the most that this angel
00:43:07.28\00:43:10.45
could aspire to is
being like God, equal to God.
00:43:10.49\00:43:16.86
But if you could make yourself
00:43:16.89\00:43:20.93
appear to be equal to God,
00:43:20.96\00:43:23.93
how are you going to get
worship from other creatures
00:43:23.97\00:43:28.30
who know that God is God.
00:43:28.34\00:43:32.54
That means that this angel
00:43:32.57\00:43:35.51
is going to have
to pull off a coup.
00:43:35.54\00:43:38.98
He has to remove
God from His throne
00:43:39.01\00:43:42.88
so that he can set
himself on God's throne.
00:43:42.92\00:43:47.06
And he comes up with the idea
00:43:47.09\00:43:51.83
that if he can pull
down God's character,
00:43:51.86\00:43:57.43
if he can distort God's picture,
00:43:57.47\00:44:01.44
If he can make
God's creatures think
00:44:01.47\00:44:05.57
that God is not
worthy of worship,
00:44:05.61\00:44:08.58
that God is it not
loving and other centered,
00:44:08.61\00:44:12.45
that God does not
care about His creatures.
00:44:12.48\00:44:15.78
If he can deface
the picture of God,
00:44:15.82\00:44:20.02
the image of God,
00:44:20.06\00:44:21.69
if he can change the movie
00:44:21.72\00:44:23.86
and the minds of God's creatures
00:44:23.89\00:44:26.03
regarding the character of God,
00:44:26.06\00:44:28.80
then God's
creatures will not worship God
00:44:28.83\00:44:33.34
and they might worship him.
00:44:33.37\00:44:37.27
And that's exactly what he does.
00:44:37.31\00:44:40.88
The selling, the trading,
00:44:40.91\00:44:42.94
that's being
described in Ezekiel
00:44:42.98\00:44:46.28
is him going around
suggesting, implying,
00:44:46.31\00:44:51.25
insinuating that God is
not worthy to be worshiped,
00:44:51.29\00:44:56.56
that God does not have
00:44:56.59\00:44:58.63
the best interest of
His creators in mind.
00:44:58.66\00:45:01.83
That God is only
interested in beings
00:45:01.86\00:45:06.03
who are controlled by Him
and respond to His every win,
00:45:06.07\00:45:10.67
but God at heart
is not a loving being.
00:45:10.71\00:45:15.18
And there's a question now
00:45:15.21\00:45:17.45
in the minds of the
inhabitants of heaven.
00:45:17.48\00:45:20.98
The universe is confused
00:45:21.02\00:45:23.95
because they no
longer have confidence
00:45:23.99\00:45:27.56
that God is
worthy to be worshiped
00:45:27.59\00:45:33.06
and that's where we
found John and his vision.
00:45:33.09\00:45:37.07
In Revelation 5
where he is weeping,
00:45:37.10\00:45:42.70
because there is no certainty
00:45:42.74\00:45:45.77
that God is
worthy to be worshiped.
00:45:45.81\00:45:51.45
The prequel, prior
00:45:51.48\00:45:54.58
to the beginning
of earth's history
00:45:54.62\00:45:57.35
is that there was
an angel in heaven
00:45:57.39\00:46:00.36
who wanted to
be worshiped as God
00:46:00.39\00:46:03.29
and in an effort
to secure worship
00:46:03.32\00:46:06.13
that only belongs to God,
he discredited God's character,
00:46:06.16\00:46:11.17
started a smear campaign,
00:46:11.20\00:46:13.90
deceived the inhabitants
of heaven into thinking
00:46:13.94\00:46:18.34
that God was not
worthy of their worship.
00:46:18.37\00:46:23.78
That God was not love.
00:46:23.81\00:46:30.22
Bible says in Revelation
5:4 that John wept much
00:46:30.25\00:46:35.99
because no one was
found worthy to open
00:46:36.02\00:46:40.76
and read the
scroll or to look at it.
00:46:40.80\00:46:44.20
But then verse 5 gives hope,
00:46:44.23\00:46:47.70
"But one of the elder
said to me, 'Do not weep.
00:46:47.74\00:46:53.58
Behold the lion of
the tribe of Judah,
00:46:53.61\00:46:56.75
the root of David has prevailed
00:46:56.78\00:46:58.95
to open the scroll
and to loose it seals.'"
00:46:58.98\00:47:01.95
Whenever the Bible uses the word
00:47:01.98\00:47:04.95
but, there is a transition
going on from some bad news
00:47:04.99\00:47:09.49
to some good news.
00:47:09.52\00:47:11.19
The wages of sin is death
00:47:11.23\00:47:13.53
but the gift of
God is eternal life.
00:47:13.56\00:47:17.10
Weeping may endure for a night,
00:47:17.13\00:47:19.63
but joy comes in
the morning time.
00:47:19.67\00:47:22.80
So I wept much
00:47:22.84\00:47:24.44
because no one was
found worthy to open
00:47:24.47\00:47:27.54
and read the
scroll or to look at it,
00:47:27.58\00:47:29.84
but one of the elder said to me,
00:47:29.88\00:47:33.21
"Do not worry, John.
00:47:33.25\00:47:34.92
Do not weep, John,
00:47:34.95\00:47:36.48
behold the lion of
the tribe of Judah."
00:47:36.52\00:47:39.99
That's code word
for Jesus the Christ.
00:47:40.02\00:47:43.06
Jesus is the lion,
00:47:43.09\00:47:44.86
the king who came down
to this jungle of earth.
00:47:44.89\00:47:48.50
He was the word
that was with God,
00:47:48.53\00:47:50.83
who was God, the same that
was in the beginning with God
00:47:50.87\00:47:54.77
and the word became
flesh and dwelt among us.
00:47:54.80\00:47:59.41
Jesus Christ is the
word that became flesh
00:47:59.44\00:48:03.48
and He's the lion
of the tribe of Judah.
00:48:03.51\00:48:06.85
His family tribe
was the Judah tribe
00:48:06.88\00:48:10.55
and He's the root of David
00:48:10.59\00:48:13.22
talking about the
descendant of King David,
00:48:13.25\00:48:16.49
coming from the
family line of David.
00:48:16.52\00:48:19.06
John is being told, don't weep,
don't worry, Jesus is coming,
00:48:19.09\00:48:25.70
He's prevailed
to open the scroll
00:48:25.73\00:48:29.24
and to loose its seals.
00:48:29.27\00:48:31.17
"And I looked..."
00:48:31.21\00:48:32.54
Verse 6, "And behold,
in the midst of the throne
00:48:32.57\00:48:36.98
and of the four
living creatures,
00:48:37.01\00:48:39.45
and in the midst of the elders,
00:48:39.48\00:48:42.25
stood a lamb
00:48:42.28\00:48:45.39
as though it had been slain."
00:48:45.42\00:48:50.73
The way
00:48:50.76\00:48:53.16
that Jesus prevailed
00:48:53.19\00:48:58.03
and served the crisis
00:48:58.07\00:49:01.70
concerning the character of God
00:49:01.74\00:49:05.77
was by dying on the cross
00:49:05.81\00:49:11.08
to save God's creation,
00:49:11.11\00:49:15.98
and Jesus who is God,
00:49:16.02\00:49:20.32
who reveals God,
00:49:20.36\00:49:23.29
is manifesting God
00:49:23.32\00:49:26.76
by dying for
the creation of God.
00:49:26.80\00:49:32.73
The Lamb that John see slain
00:49:32.77\00:49:36.37
is Jesus on the cross.
00:49:36.40\00:49:41.24
The surface unspiritual
might see it as foolishness,
00:49:41.28\00:49:46.38
but those who are enlightened
with the spiritual eye,
00:49:46.41\00:49:51.15
know it is the power
of God for our salvation.
00:49:51.19\00:49:55.39
Jesus' death on the cross
00:49:55.42\00:49:58.79
is a picture of
the character of God.
00:49:58.83\00:50:02.40
What does 1 John 4 say?
00:50:02.43\00:50:05.43
Turn with me to 1 John 4,
00:50:05.47\00:50:08.57
and notice what the Bible
says beginning in verse 9,
00:50:08.60\00:50:12.51
"In this the love of God
was manifested toward us."
00:50:12.54\00:50:17.85
This is how the love
of God was revealed to us.
00:50:17.88\00:50:22.82
"That God sent His only
begotten Son into the world,
00:50:22.85\00:50:27.49
that we might live through Him.
00:50:27.52\00:50:30.06
And this is love,
not that we love God,
00:50:30.09\00:50:33.93
but that He loved us
00:50:33.96\00:50:35.63
and sent His Son to
be the propitiation,
00:50:35.66\00:50:39.70
the sacrifice for our sins."
00:50:39.73\00:50:42.14
The love of God is revealed
00:50:42.17\00:50:45.57
when God is in Christ
00:50:45.61\00:50:48.64
reconciling the
world unto Himself.
00:50:48.68\00:50:52.25
Jesus dying on the cross
00:50:52.28\00:50:55.42
shows us God.
00:50:55.45\00:51:00.79
The Bible says in John 1:18,
00:51:00.82\00:51:07.36
"No one has
seen God at any time,
00:51:07.40\00:51:11.37
but the only begotten Son,
00:51:11.40\00:51:15.40
who is in the
bosom of the Father."
00:51:15.44\00:51:17.47
It means He is so close to God
00:51:17.51\00:51:19.97
because He is God,
He has declared Him,
00:51:20.01\00:51:23.78
He has made him known.
00:51:23.81\00:51:26.05
Going back to our
original text, 1 John 3:8,
00:51:26.08\00:51:32.25
"He who sins is of the devil,
00:51:32.29\00:51:37.33
for the devil has
sinned from the beginning."
00:51:37.36\00:51:41.73
The original sin,
00:51:41.76\00:51:44.83
the prequel to
the Garden of Eden,
00:51:44.87\00:51:48.60
the sin that took
place in heaven was Lucifer,
00:51:48.64\00:51:53.58
God's created angel in pride
00:51:53.61\00:51:57.38
wanting to be worshipped as God,
00:51:57.41\00:52:00.32
exchanging other centered love
for selfish self-exaltation,
00:52:00.35\00:52:06.49
that is the root
and the core of sin.
00:52:06.52\00:52:10.23
And the devil
sinned from the beginning
00:52:10.26\00:52:13.40
and he advanced this sin
by deceiving God's creatures
00:52:13.43\00:52:19.03
concerning the character of God.
00:52:19.07\00:52:21.64
Because if you think God
00:52:21.67\00:52:23.71
is not worthy of
being worshipped,
00:52:23.74\00:52:26.01
if you think God at
His core is not loving,
00:52:26.04\00:52:29.94
if you think He does not have
00:52:29.98\00:52:32.15
the best interest of
His creatures at heart,
00:52:32.18\00:52:35.02
then you will not
love and worship God.
00:52:35.05\00:52:39.85
So what Lucifer
who became Satan did,
00:52:39.89\00:52:43.73
was he deceived the world
00:52:43.76\00:52:47.20
concerning the character of God.
00:52:47.23\00:52:51.60
Knowing that if you
see God as untrustworthy,
00:52:51.63\00:52:58.44
if you see God as a being
whose anger must be appeased,
00:52:58.47\00:53:05.25
if you see God
as a fiendish ogre,
00:53:05.28\00:53:10.19
who is yearning to
cruelly stoke his children
00:53:10.22\00:53:14.76
in an eternally burning hell,
00:53:14.79\00:53:18.53
there is no way that
you will love, and trust,
00:53:18.56\00:53:24.97
and worship that kind of God.
00:53:25.00\00:53:29.47
God knew that His creatures
00:53:29.50\00:53:33.27
could only trust Him
00:53:33.31\00:53:37.48
if they could truly see Him,
00:53:37.51\00:53:42.48
and in order to
see God most clearly,
00:53:42.52\00:53:48.39
God could not just
give them a religion,
00:53:48.42\00:53:53.96
God could not just give
them theological doctrine,
00:53:54.00\00:53:59.50
God had to give them Jesus,
00:53:59.53\00:54:03.67
Jesus shows us God.
00:54:03.71\00:54:09.08
And when we see the loving,
00:54:09.11\00:54:14.95
selfless,
00:54:14.98\00:54:16.75
unconditional heart of Jesus,
00:54:16.79\00:54:22.09
it convicts us
regarding the character of God,
00:54:22.12\00:54:27.26
1 John 3:8, "He who
sins is of the devil,
00:54:27.30\00:54:31.50
for the devil has
sinned from the beginning.
00:54:31.53\00:54:33.77
For this purpose,
00:54:33.80\00:54:35.20
this is why the Son
of God was manifested,
00:54:35.24\00:54:39.47
that He might destroy
the works of the devil."
00:54:39.51\00:54:44.15
The devil had convinced
us that God did not love us,
00:54:44.18\00:54:48.35
that God was not
interested at us,
00:54:48.38\00:54:51.05
that at the most
00:54:51.09\00:54:52.45
God would be
interested in busting us,
00:54:52.49\00:54:55.69
consuming us,
00:54:55.72\00:54:57.29
having us to burn
forever in the flames of hell.
00:54:57.33\00:55:01.73
But Jesus was sent to
reveal the true heart of God,
00:55:01.76\00:55:08.37
to paint an
accurate picture of God
00:55:08.40\00:55:11.44
and we see it most
clearly when Jesus as God,
00:55:11.47\00:55:17.98
not demanding that His
creatures earn His love,
00:55:18.01\00:55:23.22
or show that
they deserve His love,
00:55:23.25\00:55:26.29
or try to win His love.
00:55:26.32\00:55:28.69
But while they are yet sinners
rebelling against His love,
00:55:28.72\00:55:34.46
Jesus unconditionally
displays His love,
00:55:34.50\00:55:40.07
that's God.
00:55:40.10\00:55:45.97
And that
00:55:46.01\00:55:47.74
loving picture of God
00:55:47.78\00:55:54.35
takes away the
distorted image produced
00:55:54.38\00:56:00.26
and painted in the prequel.
00:56:00.29\00:56:04.83
And the Bible goes on
00:56:04.86\00:56:07.43
to show the sequel
of what takes place
00:56:07.46\00:56:11.53
when people see Jesus
and recognize that He's God.
00:56:11.57\00:56:16.10
Revelation 5:9,
00:56:16.14\00:56:20.34
And they sang a
new song, saying,
00:56:20.38\00:56:23.35
"You are worthy
to take the scroll,
00:56:23.38\00:56:26.35
and to open its seals.
00:56:26.38\00:56:28.18
For you were slain,
00:56:28.22\00:56:29.68
and have redeemed us
to God by Your blood.
00:56:29.72\00:56:32.92
Out of every tribe and
tongue and people and nation,
00:56:32.95\00:56:36.22
and have made us
kings and priests to our God
00:56:36.26\00:56:39.19
and we shall reign on the earth.
00:56:39.23\00:56:41.30
Then I looked, and I
heard the voice of many angels
00:56:41.33\00:56:44.00
around the throne,
the living creatures,
00:56:44.03\00:56:45.80
and the elders,
00:56:45.83\00:56:47.17
and the number of them
was 10,000 times 10,000,
00:56:47.20\00:56:50.11
and thousands of thousands,
saying with a loud voice,
00:56:50.14\00:56:53.24
'Worthy is the
Lamb who was slain,
00:56:53.27\00:56:55.94
to receive power
and riches, and wisdom,
00:56:55.98\00:56:58.71
and strength, and
honor, and glory, and blessing.
00:56:58.75\00:57:01.95
And every creature
00:57:01.98\00:57:03.45
which is in heaven
and which is on earth
00:57:03.49\00:57:05.49
and under the earth
and such as are in the sea,
00:57:05.52\00:57:07.82
and all that are in
them, I heard saying,
00:57:07.86\00:57:10.39
Blessing and honor and
glory and power be to Him
00:57:10.43\00:57:14.93
who sits on the
throne, and to the Lamb.'"
00:57:14.96\00:57:19.23
When we see Jesus
and worship Jesus,
00:57:19.27\00:57:24.11
it makes us know that
we should worship God,
00:57:24.14\00:57:29.01
for He is worthy to be praised.
00:57:29.04\00:57:33.15